Halloween Wedding

Mallory's favorite holiday is Halloween. I was really excited when I discussed her bridal portraits and she wanted to shoot at the cemetery. How fun! We may even get to do a "trash the dress" session at some point.
Mallory and Jevon at so in-love and that joy is contagious. It's hard to be around them and not see the bond between them. Isn't love grand?
Mallory really wanted to do a Tim Burton themed reception, but compromised with a fall theme. But we did get that bridal session in at the cemetery. I'm posting a couple of the images here and the rest can be seen in her Client Gallery on my website.
The actually wedding day was beautiful! I love this fall weather. Mallory is so beautiful is was a joy to shoot every shot of this special day! Her mom is a friend of mine and it was great spending time with their family during this important moment of their lives. I'm honored to have been chosen to capture their moments.
I'll admit to being a bit jealous of their honeymoon trip to Greece with a layover in ROME!!! But I'll get over it (one day).

A Mother's Love

Cheryl is the mother of four! Harrison is her baby (check out that red hair and those curls). Her husband is ready for those curls to go, but you know us moms...we have a hard time with our babies growing up. Cheryl wanted some special images with the baby before the haircut. Here are a few of the images from that effort. Isn't he precious? Almost makes me want another baby - Almost, but NOT!

Emily & A.J. Tie the Knot

After having her bridal session rained out twice and the threat of rain on the wedding day, I am happy to say that Emily and A.J.'s wedding went off without MUCH of a hitch (Melanie, wedding planner/coordinator, florist and caterer had a bit of a fender-bender, but everyone was okay).
The day started at the Church of God in Athens and if you aren't in the south you'll be surprised to learn that there was a heat index of 105!!! Can you say hot and humid? Thankfully, it was an indoor ceremony.
Emily and A.J. had their "first look" and a moment of privacy and then the day of shooting and celebrating was off and running.
Bob Watson performed a beautiful ceremony and then ended by adding "wait for it, wait for it" before allowing the kiss. Of course, Emily is falling back in laughter. She's got such a cute laugh (Pics in client gallery on website.)
From the church we traveled to the Donnell house for the reception. (This is when Melanie had her bit of trouble.) We aren't sure, but this place COULD be haunted. There were a lot of flickering lights and some paintings of some serious people on the walls of this place! But Melanie and her "team" had done an amazing job setting up the great food buffet and Christie's cakes were once again the stars of the food lines. The groom's cake was an Alabama cake (Roll Tide!) and looked awesome.
I was warned by their "group" of close friends to be ready with the camera as they were leaving, so I waited to see what was up. Once Emily was safe in the truck, A.J. was attacked with super-soaker water guns. I'm guessing his tux doesn't get the respect her dress does! He was drenched (again, pics in their client gallery). I wish them ALL THE BEST in their new lives as Mr. and Mrs. Macomber!

May - the New June?

I know when I got married 23 years ago, June was THE month to get married. It was considered special to be a "June bride." Now, it seems, that May is the new June. The last few years I've booked May full and only had a couple June weddings. Not sure when things changed, why or how, but times "they are a changing." Here are a couple of images from my May brides.

This weekend my own daughter is getting married. Watch for her images soon (not take by me, but a Moma's gotta brag a little).

Fun at the Park

Being the mother of three girls, I'll admit to loving giggly girls. I love the sound of a little girl's laughter and the silliness that usually invokes it. The Maxson girls are no exception to the norm of giggly little girls. I met the family after worship Sunday evening to take some pictures of the girls. The roses at the park are beautiful and their mother really wanted pictures there with the girls wearing their Easter dresses. We also hoped to get some in play outfits on the huge rocks at the park, but they were blocked off due to landscaping work that is in progress. The girls brought their new puppy Sam and we attempted pictures with him, you can see how well that went. Between the puppy running away and the girls getting tickled with one another, it was a very entertaining session!

Growing Up

Ryan is the firstborn son of one of my past wedding couples. I shot his newborn pics and was excited when they wanted me to shoot his 6 month pics as well. Doesn't he have the most beautiful blue eyes? Not having a studio space makes it a bit tough, so I set up a backdrop in my kitchen by the large window, a barnwood rug in my foyer by the front door and then shot some on my bed. I used natural light for all of these. I love his precious smile and those blue eyes!

Due Any Time Now???

Karla emailed me to set up a time to do her maternity pictures. She was worried that she'd have the baby before getting the pictures made (so she had the back-up plan of an impomptu session at the hospital, if necessary). Thankfully, she made it in plenty of time. From the looks of her, you'd think she still had months before the baby is due. I was this size at 6 months!
She brought her daugher and son so we could do images for a collage to match others she's had done in the past. Micah would much rather ride the tricycle that have his picture made, so we had a few moments break now and again with him riding around us on the trike. The bribe of candy worked really well with him! I sent them home with chocolate in their tummies and Peeps in their hands! Karla is going to love me for the sugar high they were having on the ride home! Watch the blog for pics of the newborn in the next few weeks.

Springtime Ballerina

What little girl hasn't wanted at one time or another to be a ballerina? I think it crossed my mind a time or two, I seem to recall walking on my toes on occasion. For me, the true goal was to be a cowgirl or a world class gymnast, so I walked on my hands as much as I walked on my toes. But today I spent some time with Hannah who has been able to follow her dream to become a dancer. She has these cool shoes that make it SO MUCH EASIER to stand on your toes. Why didn't I have those? I spent some time with Hannah in my make-shift garage studio and then we went out to do some pictures in the great outdoors (hey, it's finally spring-like here!!!) Here are a few images from our session.

Decisions, Decisions, Decsions - The Cake

Throughout my years shooting weddings I've seen some very beautiful and very creative cakes. Personally, I can't imagine having to narrow down the choices. Thankfully, my mom's cousin made my cake and it was amazing and delicious.
But can you imagine... the tasting and having to pick just a few layer choices?
Or the design when today's cake artists can do such AMAZING cakes (Have you seen
Ace of Cakes or Cake Boss, I mean, really?!?)
I've seen some great theme cakes (Darth Vader, Alabama and Auburn, even a hideous Tennessee cake, drums, and all edible!). I'm posting a few images of some of the creative cakes that I've seen. Check out the Alabama hats, both are cake! How cool is that. The drum is cake as well! Enjoy...

I have step-sisters! How odd...

My mom's wedding was today. I'm exhausted.
It's hard to be the daughter who is helping
get everything ready and the photographer who
is trying to document the day.
Did I say I'm exhausted? We had a LOT of
amazing people help out with this event.
My dear, sweet friend Tammie did all the
beautiful flowers, Moma's cousin Sue and her
friends Elizabeth and Linda took care of food
and decorating, etc.

What started out as a small ceremony for immediate family with cake, nuts and mints became a nice event with close friends and family and Sue took charge with food and she and Elizabeth created a feast. All were fed WELL and we all took home a LOT of leftovers. I may not have to cook for days!

My brother Phillip walked mother in and along the way she handed out roses to her family members. Now, those who know me are aware that I cry at Hallmark commercials, well, as you will see from the pics, it isn't just me! The entire place, including the singers was choking back the tears. My mom's younger brother is a DUDE (motorcycles, leather chaps, the works) and even HE was tearring up. I love the Nikon has such a great autofocus system!

So, as the day ends I have a step-father, step sisters, and a much larger and very special new family.

Winter Blues Got Ya Down?

Are you as ready for summer as I am? I do love winter - cuddling under blankets, fire in the fire pit, wearing my sweaters, and the spring that follows. Admit it, we wouldn't appreciate spring nearly as much if winter didn't preceed it!

I thought it would be nice dearing these dreary, winter days to spread a little sunshine through laughter. So, I'm sharing some images that I hope will bring a smile to your face and some warmth into your heart!

My Mom's Getting Married - Yikes!

My father passed away almost 5 years ago. This last year my mom met Bobby. He's a great guy, really sweet, and they have a blast together. I'm so thankful the Lord has brought them together. Just before Christmas Bobby gave Moma a rock (I say rock because it is a hunk of shiny stone) and they are getting married at the end of January. Yup, we are moving a bit quicker here in the south this month. Thankfully, she has lot of help to pull this off.
I took them out today to do some pics because I want to do a guest sign-in book with pics of the two of them. Here's a bit of insight into how that session went:
Moma: I want you to make me look like Marilyn Monroe, and DON'T put these on Facebook
Me: Moma stop laughing and look at the camera and I'm going to put them on Facebook
Moma: I don't want to have wrinkles or a double chin
Me: I know, Moma, I know
Moma: Can you photoshop my hair brown, I'm thinking about a new color
Me: Sure, Moma I can do that, want a pink stripe, too?
Me: Moma, stop laughing and look at the camera - Bobby, look at the camera
Moma: Do NOT put these on Facebook, I am your mother!

Needless to say, it was fun to be with them and I think I got some great images. The rest can be seen in their Client Gallery on my website.