Lacey & Kati~The Friendship Project

I have known Lacey for a few years now. I also have grown to adore her. Why wouldn't I? She is so stinkin' funny! Super creative. Strong willed. She knows what she wants and gets it. She also is super thoughtful. When my dad was in the hospital...she texted me numerous times to not only check on the situation, but to check on me. I can definitely see why Kati loves her so much!

Working with these two was a photographers dream! They had the most super cute outfits, props and shoes! I knew being around them would be fun....little did I know the conversations that would take place, giggles these two shared and private jokes. They laughed at the same silly things, (at the same time I may add!), finished each others sentences and worried about the same small details. There were times I swore they shared a brain!

A few months ago this lovely lady above (Kati) sent me the cutest letter of friendship about her cousin Lacey. I made sure to save it because I knew that they had a special bond that not only friends have, but family share.

"My bestfriend is lacey but not only is she my bff she is my cousin aka my soul sister." Not many people can say that they have someone in this life that is so close to them that they feel their souls connect. What a special and incredible gift!

I learned through our time together that Lacey is the big cousin who usually takes charge. Kati is the little cousin who follows along with most of Lacey's wacky ideas...Okay, they didn't particularly "say" wacky ideas, but I have the feeling she comes up with some doozies! LOL

When you are born into a family, quite honestly, you never know what your going to get! You may fight, hate each other and rarely speak. Or your individual little families intertwine and most of your memories hold each other. How lucky are these two that family and friendship go hand in hand for them. They share the same blood, the same childhood memories, and the same features. If we could all be so lucky!

"A cousin is a little bit of your childhood that can never be lost"

The photos of these two being silly and playful are definitely my favorites! They both have this infectious smile. A little girl giggle that almost instantly gets you giggling as well. They had a really hard time being "serious" when they were together and it resulted in some really great future band names and photographs. Their sense of style is on point! They even showed up with almost the exact same sunglasses!

"I was at a very low point in my life and a situation happened and everything came crashing down around me and I had no one. But little did I know I did have someone , I had her and my great aunt who we call mom mom. They loved us unconditionally and with open arms I never felt alone with them by my side." What an incredible gift. To feel like someone is there. Someone cares and someone loves you.....

"You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends"

How extraordinary when you get so lucky that your BFF happens to house a little of the same DNA!? How perfect when your bestie loves your kids almost as much as you do? Worries about them, celebrates with them and cries with you when they grow up. To me, that is one of the truest tests of friendship....their love not only for you, but your children as well.

I worked with Gina over at Gina Marie Photography on this project. It has become so near and dear to my heart! Working with her is so easy. It's like we've been doing it for such a long time, but in reality I've only known her for less than a year! Here are a few behind the scenes shots of her in action.

"She has taught me what the true meaning of family and best friends are. Her little family and mine are my life our friendship is everlasting."

As with our other Friendship Project participants there were a ton of outtakes from this shoot. I will leave you with a few of those. Hopefully they give you a good giggle as we all experienced during our short time together shooting. Everyone should be so lucky to be besties/cousins with someone who makes them laugh so stinkin' much! Thanks to Kati and Lacey for going along with our hair brain ideas. I hope you love the outcome as much as we do!