Wow! I have been blessed recently with couples who just dive right into their E-Session. This was not only my first time working with Alessandra and Michael, but my first time meeting them. I took them to my new fav spot to shoot and they did the rest. We had a blast and I am so happy I was able to capture the connection they obviously have.

“OMG! Thank you soooo much! We LOVE them!!!!!!! You are amazing!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! AMAZING!  You made us even more excited for our big day” – Tia+Josh

It’s not that simple happiness isn’t good enough, and it’s not to discount positive moments presented to us by the world but the choice to feel joy and be elevated by it is something that can’t be made for us. I see happy people all the time who still seem like they are missing something. Happiness compared to joy is like contentment compared to excitement. Both are ok but one will take you places beyond the status quo.

There is a certain kind of excitement, passion and radiance that joy adds to the world. Simply being happy is a more personal, individual thing that is less contagious. To allow yourself to experience the world’s gifts and expect that they will move you to a place where passion intersects spirituality is a key to everything good in life.

I see this in the couples I am fortunate enough to work with. I see joy radiating from them and when the priest, pastor or officiant talks about never forgetting to say I love you, I think a better interpretation of the sentiment would be to never allow joy to leave your life. Foster within you a need to feel the intense goodness of the life you live and in return your life will continue to reward you with more to feel that way about.

The very best marriages, I believe, are those where joy is so clearly present. It only takes a few moments in the presence of an old married couple to realize that while they will say communication is the key to a long, happy marriage, the truth often is held in the sparkle in their eyes and the smile that still touches their lips as they do their communicating. It’s not the words they say but the joy they give and receive that makes the difference.

When we lose our ability to feel and present joy to the world, we lose our ability to love and that is surely no way to live.

So let’s all vow to be conveyor of joy this holiday season. It could change the world if only in our little corner of it

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and with any luck at all, a joy-filled 2012 – Robert McClory

Thanks to Bake Me a Cake in Winter Park for letting us shoot in their shop. Check them out for some of the best wedding cakes in Orlando!!!