THE WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA

ANNIE BANTON

Hey there! I'm a 28 year old wife, mom to THREE kids, and a real life story teller!

As a life-long Christ follower, I find it nearly impossible not to find the things and people of this world fascinating and beautiful, therefore I do my best to capture them in photographs that can be admired for years to come. When I lost my mom to cancer in 2019, my love of photography and the lasting emotional capabilities it holds, grew so much deeper for me.

♥️ I'm a medical mama as of May 2024. My son, Everett, was born with a rare genetic metabolic disease called Methylmalonic Acidemia, Cobalamin B. Basically, his body cannot process & use protein! It's been an insane journey with him so far, but with our great team of doctors behind us, we are very hopeful for his future.

Fun Facts about me:

1. I LOVE Jesus! My happy place is when I get together with my friends and family to worship and soak in His love.
2. In November of 2020 I decided to have VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) weight loss surgery. Since then I have lost about 130 lbs and am a much happier and healthier version of myself! Because of this, I feel I know how to capture bodies of ALL sizes in a natural and beautiful way!
3. I rely far too heavily on iced coffee to get me through the day... Dunkin', Jackson Avenue, or Milk & Honey. You can find me at one of these coffee spots ordering my signature iced mocha on the daily!
4. TV shows that are on shuffle while I edit are usually New Girl, Parks & Rec, or The Office.

CHARITY SMITH

Hi guys! I'm Charity Smith! I'm a 25 year old animal-loving gal who loves the super simple things in life. I live on the outskirts of Mattoon with my husband Christian, and our 20+ animals (including dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, and a bearded dragon). You can almost always find me barefoot outside, gardening or tending to our fur-babies!

Although I have always loved taking photos, I started in Photography with Annie in 2017 and have learned 90% of what I know from watching and shooting with her. I've evolved from just shooting weddings with Annie to now taking on every day sessions myself, which has been a BLAST! I specialize in Weddings & Couples, but also love working with families & Seniors!

Fun Facts about me:

1. I'm a Matcha Latte junkie!
2. My favorite color is yellow, so much so that I painted my front door & refrigerator that color!
3. Other than photography & gardening, I also love to bake & play with DIY crafts.
4. YES, Annie & I are family! She married my big brother, so we've been close friends (and considered each other family) for over 12 years now!