Jill's Blog

My New Blog

2007-10-10T13:47:00.001-05:00

I have a fun, new blog so be sure to check it out and make a new bookmark.

www.jillhiggins.com/blog

I won't be updating this blog anymore, but it will be around so that you can have access to earlier events.

I also have a pretty, new splash page for my website - so check that out too when you get a chance to do so.

Fun Times - Good News

2007-10-09T08:43:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while because I was in Williamsburg for a fun wedding. I will have those images up soon.

The sky was full of pretty, white, fluffy clouds as I was coming home Sunday.

And the good news is that I have a new, super cool blog on the way. Be on the lookout for a post in the next day or two with a link to the new blog!

Ashley's Bridal Fashion Session at the River

2007-09-30T20:03:00.001-05:00

Get ready for some fun fashion sessions coming up over the next few days. These photos were taken at the river. I don't really know what river. :)

We started out on dry land, but Ashley was a trooper! You see the crate she is sitting on? It was full of crabs! Seriously!

I loved how this image turned out because what you see is actually her reflection in the water. In photoshop, I rotated the image 180 degrees. Does that make sense?

Getting a little closer to the water...

Venturing out a little deeper...

Taking the plunge...

Thank you Ashley for being so awesome and trusting us to try different things!

Georgia Bridal Portraits, Valdosta Wedding Photography

Fashion Show - Amanda's Models and Talent

2007-09-28T22:37:00.001-05:00

Tonight I shot some photos at a fashion show at Mathis City Auditorium. The models from Amanda's Models and Talent did a great job! I grabbed a few (okay - a lot) of photos for the blog, some more for the slideshow, and I still have even more that I didn't have room to show.

Be sure to see the slideshow: FASHION SLIDESHOW.

Be sure to see the slideshow: FASHION SLIDESHOW.

I am currently offering special rates for modeling shoots. Please contact me at jill@jillhiggins.com if you would like to schedule a session.

Sally Turns Two - A Fairy Visit

2007-09-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

Today, the sweetest little fairy visited my house.

Her name is Sally, and she is about to turn two!

She will have a fairies and leprachauns party next weekend with all of her closest friends.

Be sure to see Sally's slideshow: FAIRY SLIDESHOW

Josie & Cooper on the Ravenel Bridge

2007-09-24T18:55:00.001-05:00

Josie and Cooper will be married next spring in Charleston. "Back in the day" when I was an elementary teacher, Josie and I taught school together at Memminger Elementary. We became friends quickly when we met at new teacher orientation because we both have the same weird sense of humor.

When I first met Cooper, I knew he was the one - so I am so excited that they finally figured it out and became engaged! :) ha When I told Josie he was the one, I think she said something like, "Whatever!"

I met them at the Cistern, and they enjoyed a picnic dinner that Josie packed.

Josie and Cooper have their own signature laugh. I think they should get it trademarked!

After shooting at the Cistern we drove over to Mt. Pleasant and walked up to the top of the new Ravenel Bridge.

Congrats Josie and Cooper!

Charleston Wedding Photographers, Cooper River Bridge, Ravenel Bridge

It's Time to Book Christmas Sessions!

2007-09-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it's that time already? I have a few dates open for Christmas sessions, and I even have two days scheduled for reduced rates. The first session will take place in the south Georgia snow (a.k.a. cotton field).

I am offering two new sets of Christmas card designs this year: the couture collection and the modern collection. Here are a couple of examples from the couture collection.

These cards are printed on 5x7 art paper and also feature pretty designs on the inside and on the back. If you would like to schedule a session, send me an email for more information or call 229-560-1889. I am currently scheduling Christmas sessions in Valdosta, Thomasville, Tallahassee, and Charleston.

Meredith and Stirling's Wedding on Hilton Head Island

2007-09-20T16:29:00.000-05:00

Meredith and Stirling were married Saturday in a beautiful ceremony at the Westin on Hilton Head Island. You may recognize them from their get to know you session which was posted just a couple of weeks ago.

Meredith & Stirling's Slideshow: SLIDESHOW

Purchase prints from the wedding: PICTAGE

I thought I would start by posting two of my favorite portraits from the day.

This is Meredith:

This is Meredith's niece Tally. (a.ka. the precious flower girl)

I love photographing weddings at the Westin and was there just a few months ago for Lori and Ryan's wedding.

Click here for more information on weddings at the Westin.

A quick ring shot...

When I arrived, Meredith was getting ready in her suite. Her mom, her sister Laura, and her friends Suzie and Kristen were helping her out.

Suzie working on Meredith's eyes...

Kristen working on her hair...

I like this shot of Meredith's dress in the closet.

Meredith had a sweet wedding book on her bedside table, so I couldn't resist another ring shot.

I always love seeing the bride's face when once she is in her dress!

Ahhhh.....beach weddings are so relaxing and fun.

Tally was so funny when she came down the aisle. Rather than throwing more petals from her basket, she was stopping to try to pick up the petals along the way! :)

I loved the beautiful flowers hanging from the buckets on the chairs.

The ceremony was wonderful. Just as the service began, the sun broke from behind the clouds and beamed down on Meredith and Stirling.

A few shots on the beach before heading up for the reception...

It just doesn't get much better than a cake cutting under the breezy beachside palm trees.

Don't forget to check out their slideshow.

Hilton Head Island Wedding Photographers, Westin Wedding Photography

Looking for Senior Reps

2007-09-19T07:39:00.001-05:00

I am looking for senior reps for the 2007-2008 school year for Lowndes, Brooks, and Thomas counties. If you know anyone that might be interested, please tell them to check out this link for more information. Senior reps get free photo sessions, cool photo goodies, and the opportunity to earn cash!

For more information - call 229.560.1889 or email jill@jillhiggins.com.

Hanging out in Charleston...

2007-09-18T19:22:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted here in a few days because I have been out of town. I had a great wedding in Hilton Head Saturday which I will post later this week, and I have been in Charleston since then. Brian is attending a conference, and I am spending time having fun and hanging out with friends.
Sha and I went downtown today to roam the streets, and of course we took our cameras along. The weather was perfect - probably the best day of the year. Afterwards we had a delicious lunch at S.N.O.B. - one of my fav restaurants.

Hahahaha...Sha is going to kill me for this one...but it is so funny!

Katie and Joey's Wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation

2007-09-13T09:49:00.000-05:00

Katie and Joey were married at Lowndes Grove Plantation. Their wedding was not only beautiful - but so much fun!

Katie & Joey's Wedding Slideshow: SLIDESHOW

Purchase prints from the wedding: PICTAGE

Katie's bouquet...

A few getting ready shots...

As Katie's makeup was being done, we watched the rain falling outside. (Rain on your wedding day is good luck!)

Katie was so beautiful. She wore a simple, but elegant gown with buttons from her grandmother's wedding gown.

Luckily, the rain stopped just in time!

Katie and Joey decided to see each other before the ceremony, so we had Joey wait for her down on the front lawn. I love when couples do this - it is so sweet!

I love their expressions when they see each other for the first time!

I also think that it is great that they get to spend a little quiet time together without a lot of people around. This is usually one of the only times that they get to do this.

Then it was time for the ceremony which was held under the beautiful oak trees on the side lawn.

Go dawgs! Katie graduated from UGA so they made a grand entrance through sword bearers into their reception. Oh wait ... I think that had something to do with the "other" bulldogs. ha Just kidding Joey. Joey graduated from the Citadel in case I have confused you.

Katie's dad was awesome and performed the best song.

After the first dance and dinner --- Deas-Guys got everyone on their feet. Be sure to check out their website if you need a band because they rocked the house - everyone had so much fun.

Ever wonder what happens when you invite rugby players to a wedding?

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Sooo....funny!

Katie's grandparents were celebrating their anniversary so they all shared a dance together.

Katie dancing with her grandfather...

This guy was really tearing up the dance floor - he has some serious moves.

The night ended with everyone circling around Katie and Joey for one last song.

The grand exit...

Be sure to check out their slideshow and visit Pictage to see all of the images.

Be sure to show Katie and Joey some love in the comments section!

Lowndes Grove Plantation Wedding, Citadel, University of Georgia, Deaz Guys

Trash the Dress Sessions Featured in Charleston Weddings Magazine

2007-09-10T09:55:00.000-05:00

I was thrilled to learn that the latest issue of Charleston Weddings Magazine (fall/winter) has an article that features some of my trash the dress sessions. These sessions are so much fun, and I hope more brides will take advantage of this fun way to celebrate wearing their fabulous gown!

In case you are just now hearing about trash the dress, be sure to check out the links to see more examples. These sessions are so much fun and are not about destroying a wedding dress.

Charleston Weddings Magazine is a high caliber, beautiful publication so be sure to pick up the latest issue!

A few of my "trash the dress" slideshows:
Old Barn and Guitar
Shem Creek/Shrimp Boats
Urban Strawberries & Champagne
Charleston Waterfront Park

Mark Eric's Trash the Dress website:
http://www.trashthedress.com/

Thank you Sha for sending this copy of the magazine to me! :)

Charleston Weddings Magazine, Trash the Dress Photographers, Valdosta Trash the Dress, Valdosta Wedding Photography

What's on your refrigerator?

2007-09-07T11:38:00.000-05:00

I have been meaning to snap a picture of what is on my refrigerator because I love it! Getting thank you notes is always great, but this one came from Kade. You can see his "day in the life of..." session here. He sent me a sweet note with a beautiful picture. Thank you Kade!

Sterling & Meredith in Charleston

2007-09-05T11:52:00.000-05:00

Sterling and Meredith will be married later this month at the beach in Hilton Head, and I am really looking forward to their wedding. I met them downtown in Charleston the other day for a get to know you shoot since I had not yet had the opportunity to meet them.

Sterling was a little nervous for a few minutes (lol) but loosened right up, and we got these great images of the two of them.

I also took some more "traditional" shots since they were unsure what the wanted to use for their matted print that they will have guests sign at the wedding.

Sorry to make this so short, but I want to get these posted in time for you to get things ready for your wedding. It was great meeting you - see you on the 15th!

You can view all of the images here.

[Hilton Head Island Wedding Photography, Waterfront Park Charleston, Georgia Wedding Photographers]

* Launch Party Fun *

2007-08-31T21:47:00.001-05:00

My launch party was so much fun - we had a great crowd, great food, and great music. The party was held in Quitman at McCard & Company. They have a store full of beautiful things (both new and old) so be sure to check them out when you are in Quitman.

PARTY SLIDESHOW: Click Here.

"PHOTO BOOTH" SLIDESHOW: Click Here.

Scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the image of the band to hear their music.

The party started at 7:00, and we had a store full of people by 7:05. It was great seeing people I had not seen in a while and also meeting so many new people.

Photos and albums were displayed throughout the store. We even had a big screen television and a couple of laptops running slideshows of images.

There were several favors for people to take home. One was a box filled with chocolates and a coupon for free photo greeting cards with any photo session.

I love sticky notes (probably because I taught school for so long), so I had to have those too. lol

These cute ladies from Florida were our first guests to arrive.

We had a registration table where guests could enter to win a free portrait session and album valued at $860! Several magazines that I have had photos featured in where also on display on this table. One of the magazines includes a "trash the dress" article featured in the newest issue of Charleston Weddings Magazine. If you don't know what "trash the dress is, you can see some examples in my blog archives by clicking here.

Mr. Bob was our awesome bartender for the evening.

The koozies were a big hit.

Lisa Harp of Plat du Jour did the food, and it was not only delicious, but beautifully presented. Everyone was talking about how pretty and yummy it was - thanks Lisa and Kristy!

Lauri squared. ha

A guest looking through a wedding album of a destination wedding in Belize.

Talking to Bonnell Holmes from the Quitman Free Press...

Dixie Remedy Company provided music that was perfect for the evening. It was fun having them placed up in the front window of the store. I am certainly no expert on instruments so I can't tell you what they were playing - but they were playing acoustic, unique instruments and it sounded so good! Maybe Chip will see this and leave a comment at the bottom of this post to tell you more about what they play. You may recognize Chip ( in the center) from Tanners Lane. Tanners Lane is a fun rock n' roll cover band - they played at my wedding over 11 years ago!

Talking to friends from Church...

Hmmm...these ladies look like they are up to something! just kidding!
They are good friends of my mama and I am so glad they came.

And last but not least....the winner of the portrait session and album was...

Congrats Jessica - I know it will be a fun session! Diana Nash, my photographer friend from Savannah drew the winning name. Thank you Diana for coming to the party and for taking most of the images on this blog post!

The party sure was fun - we will have to make it an annual event!

Thank you so much Jack and Jonathan from McCard and Company for letting us have the party at the store and for moving all of that heavy furniture around and thank you also to Margie, Dot, and Victor of McCard & Company as well.

And....thank you to everyone else who helped me out so much. I really appreciate it!

Be sure to click here to see a short slideshow of images from the night.

We also had a photo booth style area set up and you don't want to miss the images that were captured there. Click here to see those images.

And...I made a (very short) video clip at the party. Check it out by clicking below and hear the great music of Dixie Remedy Company. I wish I had recorded longer so you could hear more of their music.

It's Party Time

2007-08-30T07:35:00.000-05:00

Tonight I have having a "launch" party to promote my wedding and portrait photography coverage in south Georgia. As well as working in the Charleston - Hilton Head area, I am now available for coverage in Valdosta, Thomasville, and the surrounding areas with no travel fee.

It should be a lot of fun. Dixie Remedy Company will be live in the window of McCard & Company! You may recognize their faces from Tanners Lane.

Be on the lookout for fun party photos coming soon!

Canouan Island Wedding Photos of Synda and Alex

2007-08-25T14:10:00.001-05:00

Here are a few more photos from the Canouan Island wedding. This first image is from the lawn of the Villa Monte Carlo at Raffles Resort.

After the reception, we drove down to the beach to get a few shots of Synda and Alex.

They were having so much fun... and then ...

...in the blink of an eye...Synda went DOWN! It was great. Without warning, Alex just threw Synda in the water. I know the middle picture is as blurry as it can be - but I love it even more for that reason because it really shows the spontaneity of the moment.

Synda was a great sport and loved it. The sky was getting darker and darker by the second and we could see the storm approaching from the sea.

We only had a few minutes to get a few quick shots before we were soaked by the heavy rain.

Synda and Alex retreated to a poolside cabana to enjoy a little more quiet time together before getting ready for their cocktail reception.

If you haven't already seen them, be sure to scroll down to see the rest of their wedding photos.

It was great fun, so if you find yourself in need of Canouan Island wedding photographers, be sure to give me a call. I would love a good excuse to return to the island soon! :)

~ Scalloping in the The Deep Blue Sea ~

2007-08-24T08:39:00.000-05:00

After church Sunday, we threw on our swimsuits and went to Dekle Beach to go scalloping for the day. I might add that this was my first scalloping adventure.

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors.

The water is not actually deep as I suggested in the title...I just thought it sounded better. ha :)

As you can see, the water is shallow and crystal clear. But...as you can also see, the bottom is quite grassy. I don't know about you - but I am not too crazy about walking around in deep, underwater grass where I don't know what is lurking below. After choking on about a gallon of salt water while stuggling to stay afloat while putting on my mask and snorkle, I decided it might be in my best interest to toughen up and get over not wanting to stand! :)

Brian was the first to dive in to go search for scallops.

This is my mama driving the boat. Divers beware! :)

This is me all water logged after a few hours of snorkeling...

He may kill me for this, but this picture is sooo funny. This is Randy coming up from snorkeling.

...and the fresh scallops...

If you are interested in knowing more, I cound this blog that tells a little more about scalloping.

Reception at the Villa Monte Carlo on Canouan Island

2007-08-17T08:25:00.000-05:00

After the ceremony, everyone was transported to the Villa Monte Carlo at Raffles Resort.

The Villa Monte Carlo is high on a hill overlooking the northern Grenadines, with sweeping views of the resort and the reef.

Everyone enjoyed the view and warm breezes during cocktail hour.

(You can click on any photo to see a larger version.)

After cocktail hour, everyone moved into the ballroom for a delicious island lunch. Linnyette Richardson-Hall of Premiere Event Management had everything looking fabulous. Can you believe she brought all of the linens with her?? Isabella said there was quite a bit of frenzied luggage re-packing at the airport to get all the weight distributed proportionally!

I love that she pays such attention to detail. The place settings were beautiful, and she even found pewter palm tree place card holders. The hibiscus was also a running theme for the wedding and beautiful cut-outs of the flower were used on the name cards.

Everyone enjoyed the steel drum music during the reception. These guys were really good!

And of course, what would a reception be without a few speeches? lol

Check out the bling on their cake - the sparkly, pink M was great!

Hahahaha - this image makes me laugh so hard. Synda's mom is very surprised as she pulls a special piece of paper out of her favor box! But - you will have to watch the show Married Away on the Style network to find out what the surprise is.

The Married Away television crew film the family one last time at the reception...

Standing:
Isabella, Brian, and Jay
Seated:
Linyette

Linyette is the owner of Premiere Event Management, and from what I understand, she is the wedding planner in the Baltimore, D.C. area. She has appeared on quite a few television shows including Whose Wedding Is It Anyway and Married Away. Isabella is one of Linyette's interns. Brian and Jay were filming as part of the Married Away crew.

Last but not least, stay tuned for pictures of the happy bride and groom. And...see who ends up in the water!

Wedding Ceremony at Raffles Resort on Canouan Island

2007-08-16T13:29:00.001-05:00

It was finally time for the ceremony at the beautiful chapel.

Father Garraway is a minister at the Episcopal Church on Canouan Island, and he officiated. Everything looked beautiful with pink rose petals strewn down the aisle. I loved how they made a heart for Synda and Alex to stand in.

This is Synda's mom. She claimed not to be photogenic, but I think she looked striking and so elegant!

The steel drum music was perfect for this island ceremony.

Larissa (on the right) was the first family member we met when Ruth and I landed at the airport and shared a ride to Raffles Resort. She was lots of fun and looked beautiful too. I'm not kidding - this was a good looking crowd! Synda and Alex had cute fans so their guests could keep cool.

Alex's grandmother soon joined in the conversation...

Korinna cracked me up as she walked down the aisle with a big pout on her face. I think she was even more adorable with a nervous pout!

Here comes the bride...

Does she look happy or what?

I decided to try to incorporate Father Garraway's Bible in the foreground while Alex and Synda were praying in the background.

There were several readings by friends...

Then they were pronounced husband and wife and everyone cheered and took pictures! I love this shot because it shows how excited their friends were for them. This is one of the major advantages to having two photographers at a wedding - you are able to capture so many more things!

Last, they signed the marriage register. If this register looks old...it is! You have to click on the image to see it larger and to read all the comments. This book has been around since 1910 registering all the weddings on Canouan Island! Look at the larger image and read how they list Synda's condition...too funny.

Oops...I just realized that it is probably too small for you to read even when the larger view is shown. Her condition is listed as: spinster. :) lol

Reception pics will be next.

A few more pre-wedding pics from Canouan

2007-08-15T13:36:00.001-05:00

All the girls were gathered in Synda's villa to get ready for the ceremony.

It is great having a make-up artist in the family!
(You can click on any of the photos to see them a little larger.)

I love this shot with the steam rising up from the iron.

Everyone in the bridal party was so pretty...

Little Kailee was so cute.

And Korinna was the cutest little flower girl!

This shot of her having her hair done is one of my favorites.

After hanging out with the girls for a while, we decided to go check on Alex and the guys.

It's so funny how different the guys' room always looks! :) ha

This is Alex, the handsome groom...

Then we went back to Synda's room to snap a few quick shots of her getting into her gown before the ceremony. You can certainly see the happiness on her face!

One last shot of Synda's ring finger with just an engagement ring! :)

Synda put her earrings on....

.... and it was time to head to the chapel!

Canouan Island - Part IV - The Wedding Day - Pre Wedding

2007-08-14T08:30:00.001-05:00

The wedding day finally arrived. I found a Raffles calendar in the room and circled their date with a heart so all the other guests this month will know what a special day it was! :) ha

We started the day at Synda's villa.

She was relaxed and happy - and enjoying time with family and friends. I love this shot I caught of her walking by her dress with a big smile on her face - I think it really shows the anticipation of the day.

Synda's colors were chocolate and pink, so her bridesmaids were all decked out in pink. And her makeup artist was also decked out in chocolate! ha - inside joke!

Synda had beautiful gift bags awaiting her bridesmaids filled with all kinds of fun treats!

I loved Synda's simple flower arrangement and thought it was perfect for her wedding and the Canouan Island surroundings.

A ring shot featuring Raffles Resort...

Her shoes were gorgeous, and I love the starfish pin she wore in her hair.

The beautiful chapel...

Stay tuned for the ceremony!

Canouan Island Wedding - Part III

2007-08-13T09:20:00.000-05:00

Later in the afternoon, Synda and Alex joined their wedding guests for a fun game of beach volleyball.

Synda showed them what she's got! :)

After volleyball and fun time spent swimming in the longest pool I have ever seen, everyone got dressed and headed to rehearsal and then to Jambu's for the rehearsal dinner. The food was excellent!

I don't shoot a lot of posed photos, but Alex asked me to take this picture of him with his dad, and I really liked it! They look so much alike in this image.

Canouan Island Wedding Part II

2007-08-13T08:57:00.000-05:00

It is fun having this much time to spend on a wedding. Usually I only have time to post a few quick images on my blog.

So....when I last left off - Ruth's luggage was MIA. It did finally arrive much, much later thank goodness!

I think I mentioned in my last post that each villa came with a golf cart, so we had a great time riding around and checking everything out. There are so many turtles on the island!

I loved the little pools in front of these beautiful, hillside villas! Raffles Resort is a fabulous place to stay.

After touring the resort area and getting in some beach time, we went to Synda's villa to hang out with her and the bridesmaids for a while. This images shows Synda coming out of her room to show off her wedding gown. The television crew is filming the reaction she gets.

Television crew? That's right - everything from this wedding was caught on film! This wedding was filmed for the Style Network's television show called Married Away. Keep an eye out for the show this fall - I will let you know when it airs.

This shot of Synda's mom checking out her dress is one of my favorites. Her face says the dress is perfect!

I love this shot of Synda after everyone left and we were talking about how things had been going. Synda has a beautiful smile and was so much fun to spend time with!

More pictures to come soon!

Canouan Island Wedding Part 1

2007-08-06T21:32:00.000-05:00

Ruth and I headed to the airport at 3:30 a.m. yesterday and arrived here at 5:00 p.m. It took a lot of flights to get to Canouan. We went from Atlanta to Miami to San Juan to St. Lucia - and finally to Canouan.

This is what the island looked like from the plane...

Staff from the resort met us at the airport with chilled, scented towels and bottled water. Then they whisked us (and my luggage) away to the resort. Unfortunately...Ruth's luggage didn't make it. Although I'm so glad mine did arrive, I'm a little jealous of the emergency kit the resort gave her because she has some cute new clothes from Raffles!

We are staying at Raffles Resort, and it is super nice. This image shows a view of the resort area from the balcony of our room on the hill.

Each room here also comes with its on golf cart. I thought this golf cart parking area was so cute.

This is one of the restaurants that overlooks a pool where we had dinner last night.

This place is great! If I can talk Brian into packing up and moving down here, I may need to send you all a change of address again soon! :) ha

Stay tuned to see if Ruth's luggage ever arrives.

Waiting to go to the airport...

2007-08-05T17:35:00.000-05:00

I am at my cousin's house in Atlanta staying here until it is time to go to the airport. Ruth should be here anytime, and I am looking forward to going with her to photograph the wedding!

My cousin has cute twin girls.

This is Ashlyn in her pirate hat...

This is Ansley...

While I was here, I decided to let them choose the winner for the latest contest.

Steven Kang is the winner. I will send your gift certificate as soon as I return!

Another Birthday Celebration!

2007-08-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

We celebrated my granny's 75th birthday Saturday night. (She may kill me for that - but it's such a big one!) Everyone went to my mama's house, and we spent most of the day relaxing in and around the pool.

Her long-time friends came over and joined us for dinner.

After dinner we enjoyed delicious homemade ice cream, pound cake, and a blueberry cake from Red Velvet Bakery.

Happy Birthday Granny! Love you.

~ A Birthday Celebration ~

2007-08-01T21:36:00.000-05:00

Saturday night I took a break from unpacking to go photograph a birthday party at my friend Lisa's house. Everything always looks so great when Lisa throws a party.

If you look in the left corner of the porch you will see a wood cut-out of Lisa's dad - the guest of honor.

Lisa had tables set up all over her house, and everything looked fabulous.

This was a surprise party for Mr. Chauncey. This images shows some of the guests peeking out to see his expression as he was arriving.

As Mr. Chauncey was arriving...

...I caught this photographer sneaking around taking pictures of the cake in the next room. :)
This is Foley. He and his brother were taking pictures all night - and they were doing an awesome job!

I love the collection of family photos in the hallway!

Everyone sang happy birthday...

Chip and Lisa

I had to snap a quick picture of Grace Margaret - she is so pretty.

A delicious dinner was served...

We took a few family photos before I left.

Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey

Mr. Chauncey - the guest of honor. Happy Birthday!

You can see their slideshow here or view all of their photos here.

Who stole my camera?

2007-07-31T13:46:00.000-05:00

Someone stole my camera. That is the only explanation I have. So...someone confess. Here are the days surrounding the mysterious photos...

Brian and I crammed lots of things into our last few days in Charleston. We went to see the Hunley, we ate at several places we had been meaning to go to, and we went to the aquarium.

And then someone stole my camera? Because we were moving, I haven't had a chance to transfer images from my point and shoot camera to my computer in a couple of weeks. So...I did that today. And look what I found! I have NO idea who these people are or where these pictures were taken.

So in after the mystery photos were taken, we went out to Edgars at Wild Dunes to have dinner with Russ and Thuy and Lea and to listen to Mark.

Before moving into our new house - I must confess - I enjoyed a couple of luxurious days soaking in the pool and being lazy at my mama's house in the country.

But there is still a mystery to be solved here. Who stole my camera???

While I am waiting for the confession - be sure to enter this month's contest. I will draw a winner tomorrow!

Signing out for a few days...

2007-07-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

The packers come tomorrow and we will be moving Wednesday. So...I will be busy packing and unpacking for the next week. Then, as soon as we get almost settled into our new house - I leave for a destination wedding at Canouan Island. Therefore, it may be a while before I am able to blog again. In the meantime - be sure to enter the current contest. I will draw a winner when I return from Canouan.

Live on the Early Show with Hootie & the Blowfish

2007-07-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

The Early Show (CBS) aired live from Charleston this morning so we headed down to the battery bright and early to watch Harry, Dave, and musical guest Hootie and the Blowfish. I went with my photographer friend Lea, my florist friend Thuy, and Teresa - my aunt who is visiting from Tallahassee. Sorry...she doesn't have a website. ha!

I'm so glad I have fun friends who are not too cool to do such silly things!

We arrived really early (about 6:00 a.m.), and they guys from Hootie and the Blowfish were warming up.

The sunrise over the harbor was beautiful.

Harry Smith, anchor of The Early Show was happy to see us . . .

. . . and ran over for a quick group picture! lol

Then Dave Price saw us and waved hello.

He also asked for a group photo! hahaha I love the way he is looking over at his shoulder at Lea to see who was back there.

I think everyone in Charleston skipped work this morning watch. One lady even had a "Hey Boss - we'll be late!" sign.

At 7:00 the show began...

There were even boaters out in the harbour watching.

This picture is so funny. Lea yelled hello to Darius Rucker and he was giving the peace sign. But the look on his face at this moment is so funny. Now I'm wondering if it wasn't really a peace sign - but a secret symbol for the police to restrain us! ha

Dean Felber...

Mark Bryan...

Hootie and the Blowfish were awesome!

Fun times! Thanks for going Teresa, Lea, and Thuy!

A Day In the Life of Kade

2007-07-19T13:11:00.000-05:00

Kade is a super cute almost first grader who belongs to my friend Sha. I went over Tuesday morning to have some fun and shoot a day in the life session.

Kade has a cool, blue room filled with all kinds of fun boy things.

I had lots of fun hanging out with him. We played dinosaurs.

Then we played Simon Says, but Kade was way too smart for me to fool him.

He showed off his skills on his big sister's computer.

Then we went outside to play.

I love this shot - it cracks me up!

This really wasn't posed. Kade flopped down on his bed for a minute when we headed back inside.

He soon came to life again as king of the bobbleheads.

He has quite an extensive collection. His favorite is the Comcast bobblehead...probably because he loves hockey and his dad works at Comcast. Anyway - Mr. Comcast was in serious talks with the Georgia Bulldog. And I hate to say it - but I think the bulldog was going to win.

I love this picture of Kade digging for toys under his bed!

Kade built a really tall tower, and he wanted me to take a picture that would make him look tall too!

Outside for a quick ride...

What a cutie...

You can see all of Kade's photos on this slideshow

you can see a preview of a "Day In the Life of Kade" photo album.

Katie & Joey at Avondale Wine and Cheese

2007-07-18T15:17:00.000-05:00

Katie and Joey will be getting married this fall at Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston. I met them Monday night for their get to know you session.

Katie and Joey mentioned on their questionnaire that they like wine tasting so I made arrangements to meet them at Avondale Wine and Cheese. It is a cute little spot on the Savannah Highway that you should check out! They don't have a website, but their phone number is 843-769-5444. Thank you Manoli for letting us take over the place with our cameras! :)

Katie and Joey tasted some wine (obviously...)

...and then we roamed around the store looking for photo ops.

Katie and Joey were great sports and did whatever I asked...you gotta love that!

Joey was really excited about showing the photos to all his friends from work. I think this shot will be his favorite for showing off to the buddies...
But seriously...I have always loved the cute wall at Poe's and have always wanted to use it!

It was really hot outside, but we walked around and got some great shots.

Most people probably don't know it - but there is a beautiful waterfall to the right of this garage door setting. Or something like that.

Although you really can't see it in the picture, Joey has a small G tatto on his leg. It stands for Georgia. Right Katie? Go dawgs!

A little sun flare...

Sweet - I love the lines in this one.

I love these shots which were actually taken on the side of a thrift store building.

I loved the black and green. The green wall is Sublime Pies and Cakes. I'm dying to try one of their key lime pies.

I couldn't resist this cute "I heart" window.

We finished by going back to Avondale Wine & Cheese and took a few traditional shots.

I can't forget the photobooth style strip...

Thanks Katie and Joey for letting us videotape. If that works out - I'll be sure to send you a link.

You can see their slideshow here or view all of the photos and make purchases here.

Contest

2007-07-13T18:47:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder to enter the contest for free ice cream!

Jennifer & Gavin's Wedding Album

2007-07-13T18:45:00.000-05:00

Jennifer and Gavin were married in April at beautiful Middleton Plantation. I just finished their album design if you would like to take a peek...

William and Stephanie - Charleston

2007-07-13T08:53:00.000-05:00

This is William. You may recognize him. He is President of the South Carolina Geode Society. I recently did a fashion shoot with him for the cover of their latest newsletter.

Hahaha just kidding! William was striking a silly pose and I caught it. But I have to pick on him ever since I read on his wedding blog something about the cake lady being his favorite vendor. I just can't seem to forgive him for that. But I know...it's time to move on! lol

Stephanie and William were married in May. You can see their wedding photos by going to my May blog archives. Yesterday we had a photo shoot downtown so that they would have some non-wedding photos. We met in the garden of their friend's beautiful Church Street home.

Yesterday must have been the hottest day of the year. Did I mention we did this shoot at 1:00? That was totally crazy to do - but it was the only time we could do it. Stephanie and William looked great though!

A little kiss by the geodes...

Don't ask what this shot was all about. We were just having a little weird, artsy fun. I think the heat was beginning to get to us.

You can see all of William and Stephanie's photos here.

It was great seeing you two again! Give William and Stephanie a call at Beacon Communications if you need any computer help! They are great!

Jane and Marshall In the Old Village - Mt. Pleasant

2007-07-11T13:22:00.000-05:00

I met Jane and Marshall in the old village for their get to know you session. It must have been the most humid night ever in the history of the world. Somehow they managed to look amazing in spite of the hot, sticky weather.

Jane and Marshall will be getting married at Caneel Bay Resort in St. John in January. It is always wonderful to get away for a tropical destination wedding when it is cold at home. I can't wait!

We started out at their church - St. Andrews Episcopal...

And then we headed down to the marsh...

Then we walked around town. A cute older couple on their bikes kept passing us and encouraging Marshall to kiss Jane - it was so cute.

This picture makes me laugh. We were trying something that didn't exactly work, but I think they look so cute!

Before calling it a day we went back to the church for a few more photos.

It was great to finally meet you Jane and Marshall. I am looking forward to your wedding!

You can view their slideshow here or make purchases here.

Tami's Photos at Folly Beach

2007-07-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

Tami will be getting married in the Dominican Republic in May. Although I am unable to photograph her wedding because I am already booked in Charleston - she came down from Greenville for a photo session at Folly Beach. I just don't understand why she won't change her wedding date for me! :) ha

Tami's fiance is in Iraq so we took some photos for him. We trekked down the quarter mile trail to get to the beach park at Folly. Although it was super hot and humid Saturday - Tami still looked great after the long, hot walk!

It was great meeting you Tami (and Amy and Rhonda too!)

I hope I get to meet Tom one day!

The Kynoch Family at IOP

2007-07-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Kynoch...

I met them and their family at the Isle of Palms Friday night for a photo session. Their family was totally out of control. I couldn't get them to stand still - they kept jumping and doing crazy things.

Then the grandkids charged the camera.

Fighting broke out...

...and Cole declared himself king of the beach.

But finally I tamed them and they settled down for some sweet photos...

---------------------------------------------------------------
:) haha...just kidding you guys!
You were all super fun, and I had a great time with you.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the proud parents...

...their handsome sons...

...and their beautiful daughters...

You can see their slideshow here and view all photos and make purchases here.

Who you callin' shortcake?

2007-07-04T21:53:00.000-05:00

It's time for a new contest. For some reason, all of my contests seem to involve food. Before watching fireworks tonight, Brian and I stopped by Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. I had to get the Who You Callin’ Shortcake? that is made with strawberry ice cream, yellow cake, graham cracker pie crusts, strawberries and whipped topping. Yuuuummmmy!

So - I thought that a $10 gift certificate to Cold Stone Creamery was in order for this month's contest.

To win the gift certificate - just leave a comment and tell me the year the first Cold Stone Creamery opened (I graduated from high school that year).

This contest is open to anyone: friends, client, random blog stalkers, etc!
Just leave a comment below with the correct year.

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T08:29:00.000-05:00

I hope you all have fun plans for celebrating the 4th of July. Have a great day!

I'm out for the day - but you can leave a message...

Create your own Fridge

You can't make this stuff up...

2007-06-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

I'm just getting around to posting pictures of what I did last weekend. I'm doing this so my mama can get a good laugh. You see...my husband is a thirty something trapped in the body of a sixty something year old. His hobby is gold prospecting, and he even has a website where he sells gold dirt (a.k.a. concentrates). No kidding.

Well...Brian talked me into going camping/prospecting with him in North Carolina. Technically, we had a room - not a tent. But there was no room service or restauraunt on site, and accommodations were sparse...close enough to camping for me!

Friday night we arrived in time to say hello to some of Brian's friends that were there and then we headed out for Mexican. (Okay...I confess...I'm not really a camper.) But we did come back and make s'mores around the campfire of our friends who were actually camping.

Sometimes - it doesn't take much to amuse me - I had some fun playing with a slow shutter speed and Conley's glow sticks.

Here is proof that I really did do some prospecting. This may not be a shocker for some of you...but I don't exactly like to get dirty. Just for frame of reference...do you remember the plaster of paris hand print that every child makes growing up? Well...I'm probably the only person who made it to adulthood without one. I don't remember this, but apparently I don't have one because I refused to put my hands in the gooey, green plaster when I was four years old in Vacation Bible School. :)

The contraption in front of me is called a highbanker. We shoveled a HUGE pile of dirt into it. After almost three hours of shoveling - we were left with an impressive amount of gold.

This is the Broad river that runs along Heather Grove. After we finished running the highbanker, we headed down to the river so Brian could run his dredge.

I walked down the river and looked for things to take pictures of. I found some clover...

...and some prettyugly texture on an old bridge. (I made up the word prettyugly.)

This is Brian's five inch dredge. It is like a big vaccum cleaner. It has a big hose that he uses under water to suck up dirt. It dumps the water out in the sluice box and the concentrates with gold are left behind.

I didn't take part in the dredging. It looked like a lot of hard work. You have to throw lots of rocks out of the water to get to the dirt.

The river was full of people dredging. This girl was dredging for the first time. They use regulators so that they can go deep and stay under water for a long time.

Crazy, huh? But I swear it's true. I'll have to get a picture of the gold that we found.
If you want to know more about gold prospecting, be sure to check out Brian's Gold Grubbin' site. He even has a link to his popular gold forum on the site.

Photographers on the Run!

2007-06-27T08:43:00.001-05:00

I finally got an ipod about a month ago after I lost my Creative mp3 player. Yesterday I went out and bought some Nike+ shoes and the sport kit. Now - I'm ready for a challenge. In case you don't know how it works...

Runners can place a small sensor under their shoe insole and connect a receiver to their iPod nano to track statistics during and after their workout. Your workout progress and statistics such as pace, total time, and total distance are updated on-screen and with audio cues through your headphones. When you return to your desktop, sync your iPod nano and upload to Nike to track your progress over time and compare with friends.

The experience begins during your workout, but doesn't end there. You can connect to the Nike+ website and track your running statistics and improvement over time, tracking your individual goals along the way. You can share your training information with others, and setup virtual races with friends to compare your times over the same course.

I did my first run this morning to try it out - I can't believe how accurate it is. Anyway...I logged into Nike.com and set up a challenge. I set up a challenge to run 50 miles and would love to have some company.

If people sign up - this first challenge could be a trial run. After this challenge we could come up with fun things to do and maybe even a prize for the winner.

If you are interested - let me know and I will add your name to the challenge. You don't have to be a photographer - you can be a photographer's friend! :) Let me know if you have any questions about what you need to get started. You can also click on the button below to sign up!

Shalyn & Kevin at the Palmer House

2007-06-25T18:04:00.000-05:00

Shalyn and Kevin were married last weekend (June 16th) at the Palmer Home at 5 East Battery in Charleston. The Palmer Home is a beautiful place for intimate weddings and offers a spectacular view of the Charleston Harbour.

Shalyn's dress was covered in exquisite beading.

Her shoes perched on one of the antique chairs in the guest room...

Brooklyn (a.k.a. the flower girl) gives Shalyn's sister a helping hand as they get ready for the ceremony...

The beautiful bride...

The handsome groom...

The scrumptious wedding cake...

Shalyn looks so much like her dad.

The sand ceremony was very sweet...but also very funny for those of us with a front row view!

And...a sweet shot of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson....

Congrats Shalyn and Kevin! I enjoyed spending time with you.
You may view all of their photos here and make purchases if you wish.

Congrats to Jaime & Jay!

2007-06-21T17:27:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Jaime and Jay! One of their wedding photos is the opening announcement image in the June issue of Charleston Magazine. They were married at Boone Hall in March.

Jaime and Jay are on the left...in the big picture of them under the oak tree.

~ Party Time ~

2007-06-20T09:42:00.000-05:00

My friend Lea had a going away party for Brian and me last night. It was so much fun. The party was held at the Property Owners Beach House at Wild Dunes so we had a great view of the beach. The place looked so cute because Lea had it decorated with lots of cute flip flop stuff. Lea's dad made super delicious lasagna and there was even vegetarian lasanga for me! Yum. Thanks Lea!!! And thanks to all of our wonderful friends who came!

Lea, Me, Brian

Kelli's Bridal Session at Cypress Gardens

2007-06-19T15:52:00.000-05:00

Kelli was married in October and we photographed a bridal session for her Saturday morning at Cypress Gardens. It is so much fun to have a session after the wedding so you don't have to worry about getting the dress dirty!

Kelli hopped in a boat and paddled out in the swamp.

There were gators everywhere!

Kelli dared them to mess with her! :) ha

It was fun Kelli! You can see the slideshow here!

Deanna & Matthew's Wedding Album

2007-06-18T12:27:00.001-05:00

Deanna and Matthew were married on May 5th at Skidaway Island. You can click here to see their wedding album design. The first image shows the front and back cover design. The second image will be the first page. The remaining images will show two page spreads.

Getting Trashed at Isle of Palms

2007-06-12T14:16:00.000-05:00

A photographer friend has launced a new site: Let's Get Trashed that will be a photographer showcase for fun photos of seniors/teens. Don't worry - it is not what you might think! In fact, we would love to create a new meaning for the term! This is a teen version of Trash the Dress - a website for bridal sessions. The basic concept is;

"You’ve endured 12 (or more) years of hard work. You’ve spent many late nights cramming for exams. You’ve spent many weekends finishing up homework instead of hanging out with friends. You have arrived. This is your Senior Year. It all comes down to this. It’s 12th and Life…enjoy it while you can. Go to Homecoming, Go to Prom, Walk down the Aisle to get your diploma- and when it’s all said and done, get the memories that you deserve. Get Trashed! No, we aren’t talking about getting wasted, we’re talking about taking the material things that represent this milestone, and release some pure deep energy by drowning the gown, trashing the tux, and destroying the dress (or at least just get them dirty!) While your at it, get some great memories to hold on to by hooking up with an artistic photographer to create some stunning art together. These are your memories- make them count."

So...I headed to the beach at Isle of Palms to meet Mariah, Alex, and Elizabeth to trash their dresses. It was a very windy day at the beach - but it felt great outside!

We eased into the trashing by starting out with portraits that just involved sitting in places they would not normally sit for fear of getting their dresses dirty.

It didn't take long for the girls to venture out in the water. I love this first shot of Alex getting smashed by the waves.

Elizabeth in the sand...

Mariah in the sand...

More water shots...

These girls look fierce! And I mean that in a good way! :)

And then it was time to really get in the water and make some waves!

The beach was quite crowded - I wish you could have seen the looks of amazement that some beach goers had when they saw the girls in the water with their dresses!

You can check out their slideshow here or make purchases here.

Melissa and Ike at Sullivan's Island

2007-06-11T13:49:00.000-05:00

After the photo session with Kelli & Matt - I had another session with Melissa and Ike. They were fun also, and I had a great time!

Melissa...

Ike...

These two laughed a lot too - lots of fun!

A walk down the beach...

The sunset was pretty and orange!

A quick silhouette shot before we left.

Thanks Melissa and Ike. Maybe next time we'll get the "other" shot. hahahaha :)

You can see Melissa and Ike's slideshow here.

You can make purchases here.
(Photos will be ready on 6-12)

Kelli & Matt at Sullivan's Island

2007-06-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

I was so glad to finally meet Kelli & Matt last night. They were married a few months ago and wanted to have a fun photo session at the beach.

Kelli...

Matt...

Kelli and Matt were laid back and ready for anything.

They were even up for the slippery rocks.

Sweet...

Kelli has a bubbly personality and I loved that she was full of laughter.

And Matt was great too!

Well...at least he was nice...until he threw Kelli in the water.

Just kidding! He is a nice guy and decided not to throw her in afterall. :)

I had fun Kelli and Matt!

You can see their slideshow here.

You can view all of their photos and make purchases here.
(These photos will be ready 6-12-07.)

Is This Any Way to Treat a Vera Wang?

2007-06-10T08:28:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I have been doing lots of "trash the dress" sessions this spring and summer, and my work has been featured on the Trash the Dress website. I found out this morning that an article about the website is in the style section of New York Times today.

Trashing the dress really is so much fun! I have a few slots open if you would like to schedule a session in July.

- - - The Desports - - -

2007-06-07T15:57:00.001-05:00

Last night I went downtown with the Desports for a photo session. They have two awesome chocolate labs: Chloe and Seven.

This is Seven. He is a great brother and makes sure everyone is where they need to be. You may remember Seven from his birthday pawtee.

And this is Seven's sister Chloe.

This photo of her giving her dad a big kiss cracks me up.

Chloe is a smart girl and knows how to work it for a snack...

A few shots around the cistern...

This is Doreen (a.k.a. Drill Sergeant). I work out with a group of friends three times a week and Doreen keeps us in line (or tries to) when we try to sit down and talk about chocolate and good food. She is leaving us and moving away to Scott AFB in IL next week. We are going to miss her very much!

This is Col. Hula. Oops...I mean Col. Desport. (I can't imagine where that slip came from.)

Next, we stopped by Waterfront Park for some pineapple fountain shots. Chloe and Seven loved the water very much.

You can see their slideshow here.

Christi & Robert's Labyrinth of Love

2007-06-03T13:22:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed being a part of Christi and Robert's vow renewal at the Isle of Palms in celebration of their 2oth wedding anniversary. We started the evening at their beach house where I took a few quick photos of the grandchildren.

I tricked Ryan and Derek into this pose with a game of Simon Says...I'm so sneaky.

Cute little Brigid

Everybody wanted to love on Kai. I love this sweet shot of Kai with his dad.

The vow renewal was held on the beach with a labyrinth used in the ceremony. Christi's friend Jackie was here from Haiti and helped set up everything on the beach.

Braden was the drum master and got a little practice in before the ceremony.

Christi and daughters waiting for the ceremony to begin...

I thought it was great how the children and grandchildren all had a special part in the ceremony. Erin began with opening words.

Christi walks the labyrinth...

The renewal of vows...

Ryan and Derek were not only great ring bearers, but they were very good during the candle lighting too.

Christi and RB presented the children with these beautiful necklaces...

Everything was beautiful!

Christi and RB walk the labyrinth together...

I don't know how I get so lucky in getting the BEST clients. I always have so much fun and feel a little sad to leave...somewhat like you feel when you finish a great book and you are not quite ready to say goodbye to the characters. Friday night was no exception.

You can see the slideshow here or you may go to pictage to view all of the photos and make purchases.

Stephanie & Ryan's Hilton Head Island Wedding

2007-05-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

Brian and I were in Hilton Head Saturday for Stephanie and Ryan's wedding. Stephanie's aunt and uncle have a fabulous waterfront home and the ceremony was held on the back lawn.

Stephanie was looking gorgeous and was almost ready when we arrived. Her bridesmaids helped her tie her sash, and she was ready to go.

Her shoes were great and I loved the lace detail on her exquisite Monique Lhuillier wedding gown.

The girls were having lots of fun as you can see from the photo below. I think it's time for a contest. If you know why they are laughing so hard - leave a comment and let me know why. I'll choose a winner at random from everyone who responds. The winner will get a $15 Pictage gift certificate to use to purchase a print.

Ryan arrived and was ready to go too!

We took Ryan out on the dock and had Stephanie walk up to him. We stood back and got some fun shots of them seeing each other for the first time.

Then we headed down to the beach for a few shots.

Then we headed back to the house for some shots around the pool.

And then...it was time for the ceremony to begin. Stiles and Savannah were so cute and did a great job. Of course, I need to mention Caroline and Claire - they were both awesome too!

Before we knew it, Mr. Berger was walking Stephanie down the aisle...

The rose petals scattered on the lawn were so pretty.

I loved this shot of Stephanie, Ryan, and Cameron checking out their wedding rings. Cameron loved having her picture taken and was always jumping in the shots. (haha - just kidding Cameron!)

After the ceremony, everyone went to the Country Club of Hilton Head for the reception. Brian is a great photographer, and I love this shot he got of Stephanie and Mr. Berger.

Stiles wasted no time hitting the dance floor. This shot was no accident...it was a well orchestrated (Saturday Night Fever?) move that Stiles spontaneously performed!

This dance shot just makes me laugh every time I see it...

Uhhh...I'm not sure what is going on here...but we thought Stephanie's brother was so much fun!

The future Ladies Man Award goes to this guy. I believe he was the best dance of the evening, and he was taking all of the ladies for a spin around the dance floor.

I hated to leave the reception - everyone had so much fun.

Stephanie and Ryan - I hope you are having a great time in Hawaii!

Click here to view their slideshow

Click here to see all of the images and make purchases.

(These images will be ready to view Friday afternoon.)

South Georgia Wedding

2007-05-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

I was glad to be home to photograph Jim and Jana's wedding - and I was so glad that Brian was there to help.

The wedding was in a beautiful little spot in the country...

...with the perfect party house that belongs to family friends. Actually, these family friends (Fred and Sandra) are responsible for introducing Jim and Jana.

Jana looked gorgeous and I loved her dress - it was so different!

And of course Jim looked great too!

We walked around the property and got some photos of Jim and Jana before the ceremony.

Then we jetted off to a tropical island for a few more photos. (haha) It does look like it though, huh? If only the smoky, south Georgia haze were not in the background to let you know otherwise.

A family shot...

Garrett and Bailey walked up to the house with Janna to get ready for the ceremony...

...while Paige and Logan make sure Jim is ready to go.

I have to add...that Paige (in the middle) was our flower girl...oh...almost eleven years ago.

The ceremony was held under the pines and was pefect. Chelsea sang beautifully, and we all think she should be the next American Idol winner!

After a delicious dinner, Jim and Jana had their first dance under the stars.

Soon after, everyone else joined in for lots of dancing.

You can see Jim and Jana's slideshow here or you can log in to Pictage to view all of the photos.

House Hunting in GA

2007-05-28T18:36:00.000-05:00

Brian and I had a great time in Georgia. The week started off with a fun little supper to celebrate Brian coming home. We spent most of the next week house hunting. We finally lucked up and found one!

Brian helped me photograph my cousin's wedding Friday night. I am working on those images and should have them up tomorrow or Wednesday. Here is a quick pic that I snapped of my cute brother (Sam) and his girlfriend Alex at the wedding.

New Contest Winner & Other Random Stuff...

2007-05-20T19:39:00.001-05:00

In case you are wondering why I have been slack about returning emails this week...I have been having fun with Brian since he has some time off work since he returned. Earlier this week, we went for a short stay at the Woodlands and the best dinner I have ever had. If you haven't been, it is something you have to do!

We also went to a fun luau going away party for my friend Doreen. She is the mother of Seven and Chloe for those of you that are always commenting on the dog birthday party!

Today was such a beautiful day that we decided to ride out to Folly Beach for a little while.

Brian ran into a few of his heroes...mostly John Wayne.

We had a great pizza for lunch at Woody's.

I loved the color on the Seashell restaurant across the road.

Then we came home and I got Brian to choose a winner for the Yummi-Licious Cookie Contest. There were lots of entries this time ... but the lucky winner is ...

So...congrats Catherine. I haven't checked out her email address yet, but I'm assuming this is Catherine G....a bride whose destination wedding I will be photographing in Mexico in November. Brian and I are leaving in the morning to go to Georgia to visit family and look for a house so I will go get your cookies as soon as I am back in town!

Stephanie & William's Beach Wedding

2007-05-20T18:56:00.000-05:00

William is a computer magician and always works magic on my computer when I am ready to throw it out the window. I used to like him a lot until I read his wedding blog and caught him saying that the food vendors were his favorite. How dare he?? Now he is at the bottom of my favorite clients list. Just kidding! :) William is a super guy and so is his beautiful, sweet, new bride - Stephanie. Well...she is not a super guy - but you know what I mean!

I was happy to have Sha with me yesterday as we started the day at the Francis Marion.

We went up to see Stephanie, and she looked amazing. I loved her short dress and thought it was perfect for a beach wedding.

Her cute, strappy shoes...

The rings...

William looked great too and was prepared with some GQ poses...

The Francis Marion is next to St. Matthews so we thought that would be a great place for William and Stephanie to see each other. I think this is my favorite image of the day!

William and Stephanie are so perfect together, and it was easy to see how happy they were.

Awwww.....

After we took a few photos, it was time to head to Sullivan's Island for their ceremony on the beach. We went to the front of the hotel and waited for their Black Cab ... and waited ... and waited ... but they never showed. Fortunately, some of the family members had hired a limo so a couple of the family members were sweet and got out of the limo to make room for Stephanie and William. We took advantage of the limo and got a few great shots at the beach while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The weather was perfect!

Soon...Stephanie and William were married and the crowd cheered...

While everyone headed back to the Francis Marion for the reception, we took a few minutes to get a few photos on the beach.

Mr. & Mrs. Poteet arrive at the reception...

The first dance...

Stephanie and William had lots of fun guests. I thought this lady was so pretty, and I loved her smile.

And then...just as everything was going great...this guy pulled Stephanie aside to show her how his pics were better than the photographer's. (haha-just kidding!) But I wasn't worried - because I was quite sure that no matter how good he was - I was betting that he didn't have a picture of "nekkid man!" (I'm sure that only a handful will get that joke - but I couldn't resist.)

I always love the fun dance moves...

Thanks Stephanie and William for letting me be a part of your fun day. I had a great time and really enjoyed meeting your family!

Be sure to check out their slideshow here or view all of their photos (and make purchases if you wish) here.

You will not actually be able to view all of the photos until Monday night or Tuesday morning, but I wanted to get this blog posted before I leave to go out of town tomorrow.

Lewis Family Photos

2007-05-17T16:03:00.000-05:00

Sunday morning I left Simpsonville, SC (where Saturday's wedding was) bright and early to head home to Charleston. On the way, I stopped outside Columbia to photograph the Lewis family. Alan is from south Georgia, and his mother was the principal at the school where I first taught. She was the best, and I loved working for her! I am also friends with Alan's sister Lynn, so it was fun to photograph this family.

Be sure to watch their slideshow here or sign in to Pictage to see all of the photos.

This is cute, little McClain who recently turned one.

This is big brother Joe with the gorgeous blue eyes.

These two were so much fun - 100% boys!

A group shot with Deanna, Alan, McClain, and Joe...

I always like to snap a few quick photos of the couple since they usually don't have their picture taken alone very often once the children come along!

It was Mother's Day - the perfect day to get a shot with Deanna and both of her boys. They are so lucky to have great parents and a mom who stays home and spends lots of time with them!

Christina & Adam's Wedding on the Farm

2007-05-17T15:13:00.000-05:00

Christina and Adam live in Philadelphia, but were married Saturday on a family farm in Pelzer, SC. I was so excited to see the location - a hay field full of pretty wildflowers!

I loved their colorful wedding cake depicting Adam's biking interest!

Christina got dressed in a great, old farm house that was her great grandmother's home. Although the house is vacant Mrs. Lindsey told me that the family members get together there on Sundays for lunch when they can. As everyone was everything set up, I looked out the kitchen window to see a storm approaching.

The house was full of things that hold special memories for the family. I found a newsclipping of her grandparents and photographed Christina's ring on it.

Christina was so much fun and was up for anything with photos. My friend Amy Martin came down from Charlotte to shoot with me today and we had a great time photographing Christina in the rustic setting.

Christina's bridesmaids kept me laughing. They really like to pick each other up! (a little inside joke of theirs!)

After a lengthy downpour, the sky finally cleared. Christina and Adam decided to proceed with their wedding in the field. The chairs were quickly wiped dry and the ceremony began. Christina's parents were so sweet - I love this shot of Mr. Lindsey walking her down the aisle.

Mr. & Mrs. Szczepanski...

Christina was such a trooper! Even though the tall, grassy field was soaking wet and muddy - she was totally game with going out in in for some photos with Adam. The groomsmen quickly whisked her out into the field to the big round haybale.

The super cool wedding party...

...and some great dance moves later in the evening!

Christina and Adam - I enjoyed your wedding, your family and friends so much. I was sad to leave when it was time to go.

You can view the slideshow here or go here to see all of the photos and make purchases.

My "Mini-Vacation"

2007-05-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

After my Friday wedding in Hilton Head, I headed to a little town outside of Greenville, SC for a wedding Saturday. Bright and early Sunday morning, I stopped outside Columbia on my way home for a portrait session with the Lewis family. Then...Sunday evening I picked up this cute guy at the airport...

For those of you that don't know him...that is my awesome husband Brian. He has been deployed for the last 4.5 months. We are taking a "mini-vacation" tomorrow and Thursday. So...if you need to reach me - I'll be back in touch Thursday evening or Friday morning.

As for Christina and Adam (Saturday's wedding) and the Lewis family - I actually have your photos partially edited and will have them up as soon as possible. If not by Friday, they will be up sometime on Monday.

In the meantime, you have a few days to enter my yummy-licious contest. Some people have asked...who can enter? Anyone...clients, friends, photographers, blog stalkers, and any random people who stumble upon my blog! :)

Lori & Ryan's Hilton Head Island Wedding

2007-05-15T09:32:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was crazy busy but lots of fun. Friday, I traveled to Hilton Head Island to photograph Lori & Ryan's wedding at the Westin. To see the story of the day, click here: Lori & Ryan's Slideshow. If it doesn't, you can go here to see all of their photos at Pictage.

The grounds of the Westin are very pretty and make a great location for a wedding.

A quick ring shot with one of the flowers that would later go in Lori's hair...

Lori looked gorgeous and I loved the detail of her beautiful Melissa Sweet gown.

Lori & Ryan decided to see each other before the ceremony under an arbor overlooking the ocean. I love this sweet moment...

It was quite steamy outside so after about 10 minutes we headed inside to cool off and get a few more photos. I loved Lori's special way of remembering loved ones on her wedding day - she tied tiny, framed photographs to her bouquet.

It was just as steamy inside!

The small, but efficient and fabulous wedding party - Scott and Gretchen were very helpful and served as superb bouncers! lol

The ceremony took place on the boardwalk overlooking the ocean with lots of family and friends.

All of the guests received cute bags filled with flower petals to toss as Mr. & Mrs. Ginter walked down the aisle together.

We took a few photos on the beach before heading to the reception.

Lori an Ryan had such a great idea. They put rocks out on the reception table and asked their guests to write messages on them.

The first toast of the evening came from this cute little guy!

The first dance...

Don't forget to see all of their photos at Pictage after watching their slideshow.

Happy Mothers Day!

2007-05-13T00:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to my fabulous mama! Love you!

Yummy-licious New Contest!

2007-05-10T16:25:00.000-05:00

My friend Thuy and I recently went to to the It's In the Bag Purse Auction that the Center for Women puts on each year. These are the two that I most wanted and fought hard for - but I was outbid!

While I was drooling over these purses - Thuy discovered the greatest cookie on earth. I thought surely she must be exaggerating about how good it was. But no...she was right on! Charleston Cookie Company provided to die for cookies for the event. I've been thinking about them ever since.

So...that is where the contest comes in. YOU get a chance to eat the yummiest cookies on earth. This is what we thought were the BEST: the marble fudge cookies.

After visiting their website, I'm also dying to try the almond cookies:

You know you want some - so don't be shy. Just leave a comment and tell me what your favorite sweet treat is. I'll put all the names in a basket and choose one at random. If you are the winner, I will send you a half-dozen marble fudge cookies and a half-dozen almond cookies. Now - you won't have as much time to enter this contest - because I'm dying to go personally pick them up so I can buy some for myself! Leave a comment - you have until May 20th. Be sure to leave your email address if you don't have a blogger account so I can get the cookies to you if you win! Good luck!

New Website!

2007-05-09T09:10:00.000-05:00

My new website went live last night - my favorite thing about it is that I can display larger images than on my previous site. My previous site will be used for the portraits side of my business. The portraits website will be "under construction" for a few days.

You can see the new website here!

Deanna & Matthew's Cinco de Mayo Wedding

2007-05-07T16:46:00.000-05:00

Deanna and Matthew were married Saturday on Skidaway Island. I'm so glad that their wedding was lots of fun - I was totally under the weather, but their festive evening kept me going! You can see their slideshow here. When the slideshow ends you will be prompted to sign in at Pictage where you can see all of the photos.

We started the day at a beautiful home on Skidaway Island where Deanna was staying. She slipped into her dress and got ready to go see Matthew.

I took a few detail photos while I was there, including this shot of Matthew's ring.

Once Deanna was ready, I left to go meet Matthew and deliver a letter from his sweet bride-to-be.

Then it was time for Deanna and Matthew to see each other for the first time. I always love seeing the groom's face when he sees his bride!

After Deanna and Matthew had spent some time together we made our way to Delegal Creek where the ceremony was held. Deanna went upstairs to put on her veil and pin her fathers boutonniere.

The ceremony was so pretty overlooking the creek. Afterwards, everyone was transported to the Plantation for the reception. Because it was Cinco de Mayo, their were festive touches throughout the evening.

They even toasted with margaritas in champagne flutes!

Cute, personalized macaras at each place setting...

The grandparents were so cute.

Deanna wasted no time showing off her dance moves.

Matthew made a quick change and was soon on the dance floor too.

Towards the end of the night, they took turns with the pinatas...so much fun!

Be sure to check out their slideshow. :)

At Home in South Georgia

2007-04-30T06:58:00.000-05:00

I am in south Georgia this week hanging out with my family and friends. It is so easy to relax when you are staying in the country at the end of a dirt road with no long "to-do" list. The best thing is that my cell phone doesn't really work here. But...I am checking email every day so you can reach me that way if you need anything. :)

Ashley & Kyle's Wedding at Dunes West

2007-04-29T09:42:00.000-05:00

Ashley & Kyle had a beautiful wedding at Dunes West last night. I am having some problems uploading slideshows, so I am going to leave you with a few images from the night and a link to see all of the photos by signing in at Pictage. I am heading out of town as soon as I get these up and will work on trying to get some slideshows uploaded when I get back in town.

Since the wedding was held at a golf course I decided to use that for the ring shot.

We started the day with a few quick shots of Ashley getting ready.

Ashley and Kyle saw each other before the ceremony and had some time to hang out and enjoy some time together.

And the ceremony begins...

Ashley and Kyle's families were great. I loved how Ashley's dad was so thoughtful throughout the day and was busy making sure small details were taken care of for her.

I loved the golden sunset color in the ceremony images.

Mr. and Mrs. Manus...

They had a really cute cake surrounded by daisy cupcakes.

And then the craziness started! Everyone was laughing at the wedding party being funny on the dance floor.

And of course the girls had to join in the antics!

I hope I will be able to add a slideshow when I return. In the meantime, you may view all of their photos here.

Tori's Senior Photos - Charleston

2007-04-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I went downtown to take senior photos of Tori. It was great to have Sha along with me assisting. Tori is so pretty - my job was super easy! :) I am having a few computer problems and have been unable to get my slideshows loaded. Until I get everything worked out, you can see Tori's photos by signing in here.

Yesterday, I went downtown to take senior photos of Tori. It was great to have Sha along with me assisting. Tori is so pretty - my job was super easy! :) You can see Tori's sideshow here.

Karol & Steven's Creek Club Wedding

2007-04-25T22:02:00.000-05:00

Karol and Steven were married at the Creek Club in I'On on Sunday. The weather could not have been more perfect. The wedding was so pretty, but very laid back. It was even a dog friendly day. Be sure to check out their slideshow after you see the images below. After the slideshow ends, you will be prompted to sign in at Pictage where you can view all of the photos and order online if you wish.

The Creek Club at I'On is a really pretty location overlooking the water.

The guys...

Karol and Steven had some quiet time together before the ceremony. I like this shot of Steven checking Karol out!

After they had a chance to talk for a while, we headed down to the dock for a few photos.

The ceremoy was really nice. And Jasmine was such a good girl once she got down the aisle! :)

The first dance...

Is this rock star cute or what?

Everyone was so dressed up for the occasion...

So very Charleston - I loved the stretch limo with the driver in a blue seersucker suit.

Best wishes Karol and Steven - I hope you two are having a blast on your trip!

You can see their slideshow here.

Jessica & Paul's Wedding at the Wickliffe House

2007-04-23T19:22:00.000-05:00

Jessica and Paul are lots of fun, so I knew that I would enjoy their wedding. Everything was glamorous, and Jessica certainly was too. We started the day at the French Quarter Inn where everyone got ready. Jessica and Paul traveled to Charleston for their destination wedding, so I wanted to incorporate Charleston into their photos somehow.

Be sure to watch their slideshow after you see the photos below.

Jessica's necklace...

Their rings...

Once they were dressed, they were transported to the Wickliffe House by the Black Cab Company. The guys were hanging out in this small room before the ceremony with my all time favorite "videographer." :)

Everything at the Wicliffe house was beautiful. Luke Wilson Special Events always does an amazing job and Saturday night was no exception.

After the ceremony we spent a little time getting some photos of Jessica and Paul...

...and then it was time to head outside and party! I love the cozy seating areas that Luke had set up. (And a shout out to Alice who was there for Luke!)

I love to be a fly on the wall and get candid shots of friends and family during the reception.

The flower girls were so very cute!

I'll leave you with a dance shot!

Don't forget to check out Jessica & Paul's slideshow before you leave.

I have a special contest for friends and family of Jessica and Paul. If you would like to win a free $15 gift certificate to Pictage to use for a wedding print - just answer this question: Paul had quite the large can of hair product - what brand was it? :) Sorry Paul - I couldn't resist. You can leave your answer in the comments section below.

Jennifer & Gavin's Wedding at Middleton Place Plantation

2007-04-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

It has been a whirlwind weekend with three weddings, but I loved every minute of it. On Friday night, Jennifer and Gavin had a dreamy wedding and reception at Middleton Plantation. Everything was so beautiful. The floral design by Out of Hand was amazing, and their presentation was just as impressive. The packaging of the flowers was a treat in itself with the boutonnieres all wrapped up in pretty boxes, tissue and ribbon. Now if you really know me, you know I'm not one to brag on businesses unless they do an outstanding job. Samantha Slapnik of Emma Grace Designs kept things running smoothly and added her elegant touch to the evening.

After you preview a few images below - be sure to check out Jennifer & Gavin's slideshow.

Friday afternoon was sunny and beautiful with lots of fluffy, white clouds in the sky - the perfect day for an outdoor wedding!

Jennifer and Gavin decided to see each other before the ceremony. This is Jennifer waiting for Gavin. She was so calm, but excited about seeing him.

I love this shot - neither Jennifer nor Gavin could see each other. Ohhh....the anticipation! :)

I loved Gavin's reaction when he first saw Jennifer...

After Jennifer & Gavin shared some quiet time together we took a few "posed" photos.

Although I made a suggestion of where to stand, we were able to capture even more sweet, candid moments. It is so easy to see how much Jennifer and Gavin truely care for each other.

Did they choose a gorgeous location or what?

The ceremony was held under a big oak tree dripping with spanish moss with a beautiful view of the Ashley River. Jennifer's uncle was the minister and several family members were participants in the ceremony. And let me tell you...the tears were flowing!

Jennifer and Gavin arranged for their guests to be transported by carriage from the back lawn where the cocktail reception was held to the reception pavilion.

The place settings were beautiful.

There was lot of toasting...

...and lots of laughter throughout the evening.

The first dance...

Jennifer and Gavin used these little flags at the ceremony. Jennifer is from the U.S. and Gavin is from England, so I decided to use both flags for their ring shots.

Best wishes to you Jennifer & Gavin. Your family and friends were so great too!

Tell all of your engaged friends about me so I can photograph a wedding in England and see you again! :)

Don't forget to check out their slideshow here.

Hilary's Senior Pictures

2007-04-19T22:04:00.000-05:00

Today I met Hilary downtown for a senior photo session. Hilary assists at weddings sometimes, and I think she is the greatest! After you check out her pictures below - you can see all of her photos on this slideshow.

We started off downtown, so of course we had to add a little of Charleston's fabulous ironwork to the picture.

I love how the sun lights up Hilary's gorgeous blonde hair!

And then it was time to head to the beach...

A few pics with Hilary's car...

I had fun Hilary! See you Saturday.
:)

Anna & Caty at Sullivan's Island

2007-04-18T18:49:00.000-05:00

Anna and Caty came to Charleston for a girl's week away. They are spending their time doing fun things like: getting manicures at the spa, having tea at Charleston Place, visiting the Hunley, Patriot's Point, and much more. I spent Thursday evening with them at the beach for a great mother-daughter photo session.
You can see their slideshow here.

On the way to the beach...

I love this shot with the sun lighting up their gorgeous blonde hair!

Caty told me she was a straight A student, and I wasn't surprised at all. She was very curious and picked up feathers, shells, and other interesting things.

This shot is all about showing Caty in motion...

...and this is my favorite shot from the day.

Caty showing Anna the shells that she plans to add to her collection...

Ahhh....the beach at sunset.

And what is a beach photo session without sandy feet!

It was great meeting you Anna and Caty. I hope you survived the sand gnats! :)
Don't forget to see their slideshow.

Andrea & Matt's Wedding at the Mills House

2007-04-17T12:40:00.000-05:00

Matt and Andrea traveled from New York to Charleston for their destination wedding. The ceremony and reception were held at the beautiful Mills House downtown.

After checking out the photos below - be sure to watch their slideshow.

Andrea called her grandfather in Ireland before the ceremony since he was unable to make it. They had guests from all over the world - it was a diverse and fun crowd!

I love it when the bride and groom are willing to see each other before the ceremony. It is very sweet and so much more relaxing! We always take the bride and groom somewhere away from the guests so they can enjoy some time alone together before the busy day begins.

We had Matt wait in the garden for Andrea. This photo was taken just as Matt turned around to check out his bride to be. I loved the expression on his face - he obviously thought Andrea looked amazing (and she did!)

Although it looks like I am up close, I use my long lens and stand far back out of their way. I love these real, unscripted moments...

Once Matt and Andrea had spent some time together, we walked around the park and took a few more photos.

And then it was time for the action to begin. The well dressed guests began arriving at the Mills House...

The ceremony was on the roof top and you can see lots of sweet moments when you watch the slideshow. The roof top is in between two hotels, and it was fun to see hotel guests watching the ceremony from their windows.

The reception was in the recently renovated ballroom. Everything looked magnificent.

Matt's best man (and brother) gave a great speech. I think Matt was sweating bullets wondering what he would say!

You gotta love this shot...

Matt and Andrea were having so much fun and stayed on the dance floor!

I couldn't resist a quick phone booth shot.

And a big thank you to my friend Sha. She is just getting started in photography and was sweet enough to spend the day with us assisting and second shooting. She did an amazing job and captured some special moments that I know Andrea and Matt will treasure!

You can see Andrea & Matt's slideshow here. So what do you think of the shots of them seeing each other before the wedding? Leave me a comment. Bonus: You can win a $15 gift certificate to use for a print purchase from the wedding. When you leave your comment, just tell me where Andrea & Matt were working when they met. :) Good luck!

Whitney & Jedd's Reception at Patriot's Point Pavilion

2007-04-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Whitney and Jedd had a destination wedding in wine country in California. Friday night they had a reception at Patriot's Point Pavilion. Whitney and Jedd are just the sweetest things ever!

You can see their slideshow here. When the slideshow ends you will be directed to sign in so that you can see all of the photos.

They did a great job of carrying the wine theme through to their reception, so I decided to use a grape vine for a ring shot.

Whitney took a few moments to give Jed a putting lesson. (ha) Jedd played golf professionally for several years so they were very comfortable here!

They really are this sweet...

Whitney and Jedd chilled out on the golf cart as they waited for their guests to arrive.

I love this picture of the grandmothers' hands.

Getting ready for the sparkler exit...

Don't forget to check out their slideshow. Be sure to leave a note for Whitney and Jedd in the comments section. Also, if you would like to be entered into a contest for a $15 Pictage gift certificate (use it to order a print from the reception) - just tell me the name of the song that Whitney & Jedd danced to (hint: watch the slideshow). You can place your answer in the comments section. I'll choose a winner with the correct answer at random.

Shut Down at Family Circle Cup

2007-04-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

Today I had a great time hanging out with my friend Josie. We started out this morning watching some singles qualifying rounds for the Family Circle Cup at Daniel Island. I was sooo excited to take my big, fabulous new lens (70-200 IS) with me to use for the first time...but I was quickly shut down and wanted to cry when the guy at the gate said we couldn't carry in cameras bigger than three inches. So after a long walk to the car and back - we finally made it through the gates with our three inch point and shoot cameras. So needless to say - no cool pics. :( So sad. But we did have a great time and got to watch two matches before leaving to go see the Passion Play that my friend Laura invited us to see at her family's church in North Charleston. Old Fort Baptist Church did a great job with the production!

Photos taken with my slightly less than three inches point and shoot...

Princess Zoe & Prince Charming

2007-04-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

Today I had a quick photo session with my friend Tami's daughter (a.k.a. Princess Zoe). I needed a photo for a contest, and Tami was so sweet to run over to the park to meet me with Zoe and a bag full of fun costumes.

Meet the adorable Zoe...

Princess Zoe feeds Prince Charming...

Girl Power!

And a couple more of the gorgeous Zoe...

Thank you Zoe and Tami for helping me out. You can see your slideshow here!

House Hunting in Virginia

2007-04-01T20:06:00.000-05:00

Most of you know that I am moving to Virginia this summer. Brian will be stationed at Langley Air Force Base, so we will be moving to the Newport News area at the end of July. My mama and I have been wanting to go on a trip forever, so we decided to take a trip to Virginia to scout out neighborhoods and houses. We took a break from house hunting today and went to Williamsburg.

My mama (a.k.a. Dara) and me

Mama strikes a pose...

I have a wedding at the College of William and Mary this fall so I was excited to check out Wren Chapel.

So...if any of you have friends or family in Virginia, D.C., or the Outer Banks - please tell them about me. I will be available for family portraits and weddings beginning in August. :)

Kassi in the Palmer House Pool

2007-03-27T21:05:00.000-05:00

We started photographing Kassi at Waterfront Park, so of course we had to get her in the fountains! But it wasn't time to get her soaking wet yet. Next we headed over to the Palmer House and did some shooting around the grounds. You will have to watch the slideshow to see Kassi dive in the pool!

So what do you think? Would you dive in a pool in your wedding dress?

Sheena's Bridal Session - Champagne & Strawberries

2007-03-27T00:33:00.000-05:00

It has been two years since Sheena and Sam were married, but she was all for pulling out her wedding dress and having fun in it! We chose a setting that would contrast Sheena's beauty. We also incorporated champagne and strawberries - a favorite of Sheena's. You can see her slideshow here.

Annie's Bridal Session - Page's Thieves Market

2007-03-27T00:17:00.000-05:00

Annie's bridal session was at Page's Thieves Market in Mt. Pleasant. If you haven't been there before, you should definitely check it out - it is a fun place! Annie is actually a model, and she did a fabulous job! We thought it would be fun to incorporate her guitar into the shot. You can see her slideshow here.

Suzanne's Bridal Session - IN Shem Creek!

2007-03-27T00:08:00.000-05:00

Suzanne and her husband love going out on their boat so we decided to trash her dress in Shem Creek. She was a great sport! We took a boat ride out to their house boat for a few photos and then Suzanne jumped off of a shrimp boat twice! Be sure to check out her slideshow here.

Jaime & Jay's Wedding at Boone Hall Plantation

2007-03-25T20:52:00.000-05:00

Saturday was such a sunny, warm, beautiful day! I was so happy to have the opportunity to photograph Jaime & Jay's wedding at Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant.

You can see their slideshow here.

This is Molly (a.k.a. the flower girl). She is a great singer and was so sweet to sing the ABC song to me!

This is Jay's grandmother (A.K.A. Gran), and she was so pretty we just couldn't stop taking pictures of her.

Jay surprised Jaime with this beautiful necklace that he had someone make with diamonds that belonged to one of their grandmothers. She was so happy to get it and quickly replaced the necklace that she had been wearing.

Their waterfront ceremony on the back lawn was beautiful, and it didn't hurt that it was the perfect day for an outdoor wedding. Meet...Jaime & Jay Terry!

You can tell from their photos that Jaime & Jay make each other so happy.

I like this shot with the sun peeking through between them.

The reception was a the cotton dock, and everything was beautiful. David, from event sublime did a great job with the flowers. They were simple, yet elegant. We really liked the way he used a different arrangement at each table.

Is this a gorgeous view or what?

The cake was pretty and it smelled heavenly.

The first dance...

The crowd was fun and there was lots of dancing going on. This lady was a great dancer and wasted no time getting on the dance floor. You gotta love that!

Aretha - uhhhhh - I mean Jaime is such a great sport! She and her bridesmaids put on a great show!

Be sure to check out their wedding slideshow here. When the slideshow ends, you will be prompted to log in at Pictage where you may view all of the wedding photos and make purchases if you wish.

Bishop England High School Cheerleaders

2007-03-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon I stopped by Bishop England High School for a few minutes to snap some pictures of the cheerleaders. You can see their slideshow here and view all images and make purchases here.

We did quick photos of each girl...

...followed by a traditional group shot.

And then a group shot just for fun...

The senior cheerleaders...

The junior cheerleaders...

A few of the senior girls stayed around for a few more minutes so I got some extra shots of them. You may recognize Hilary. She is my assistant sometimes at weddings, and I think she is fabulous!

You may check out their slideshow here or view all images and make purchases here.

March Contest - Retro Cherry Apron

2007-03-19T15:48:00.000-05:00

Alright - it's time for my March contest. In the spirit of cooking (since I just got home from Charleston Cooks) I thought I would give away a really cute apron this month.

Inspired by vintage cherry kitchen designs, these cotton aprons are machine washable and fantastic. The fun ruffle detail at the bottom is darling too. This apron and other fun things can be found at Catching Fireflies.

If you would like to be entered into the contest to win this adorable apron - simply leave a comment below and tell me your favorite food! :) Good luck!

Check back Tuesday, April 9th to find out who the lucky winner is! Anyone can enter: friends, clients, other photographers, and random strangers stumbling onto my page!

Desserts at Charleston Cooks

2007-03-19T14:12:00.000-05:00

This morning the OSA spouses went to Charleston Cooks for an awesome, interactive dessert class. Charleston Cooks is one of my favorite place - it is always fun and delicious.

And you know - I have to note - these photos were taken with my cheap little point and shoot camera so don't expect too much!

This is our fabulous Chef (Dylan) preparing us for the sugar high we will be experiencing in a couple of hours. He is super sweet and his classes are always great. I would show you a picture of Tracy too, but it's just a blur because she was trying to get away from the camera! :)

It's so easy to cook when the ingredients/bowls/utensils are all laid out for you!

Deb is working hard on our chocolate-peanut butter pie. Oh gracious it was good! I think it was my favorite.

Marjorie prepares our chocolate souffles for baking. I think they were my favorite too!

Dylan and Liz stuffed the pate a choux with pastry cream and drizzled them with chocolate. Yum.

Daren adds the meringue to our lemon pie while Dylan supervises and Liz thinks, "C'mon Daren - hurry up - I'm hungry!" :)

It is amazing how much you can accomplish with lots of hands working...

Ahhhh...finally...the pie is ready!

Of course we had to have a quick group shot before eating.

A plate full of yumminess: pate a choux, chocolate souffle, walnut cake with orange sauce, chocolate/peanut butter pie, and the lemon pie had it's own plate!

So...what are you waiting for? Call Charleston Cooks and get registered for a class!

Chris & Kim's Wedding in Mt. Pleasant

2007-03-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

Kim and Chris were married at Patriot's Point Pavilion in Mt. Pleasant Saturday night. I was so happy that my friend Amy Martin came to town to shoot with me. You can see the Chris and Kim's wedding slideshow here.

This is Kim - the beautiful bride!

Kim's bridesmaids were funny, and it was fun hanging out with them. The bridesmaids got a quick, last minute tan. When I say quick - I mean quick! It was about 50 degrees and very windy outside! Brrr....I'm cold thinking about it! :)

Don't they look great?

Chris and the guys don't look so bad either.

The guys were very cooperative. I think they knew that if they were good - they could get back inside a lot faster! After all, they had important things to take care of...

I like this picture of Kim's dad walking her down the aisle. The ceremony was at a beautiful location overlooking the Charleston Harbor.

I think this was what Chris had been waiting all day for...

The band started playing right away at the reception, and people wasted no time kicking off their shoes and dancing. I love these socks - the perfect touch for St. Patrick's Day! Can you guess the bridesmaid?

Ohmygoodness - is the the cutest boy EVER or what?? He was tearing up the dance floor in his adorable seersucker pants. What a lady killer! :)

These two were so cute - they sure knew their way around the dance floor!

One last dance shot!

Chris & Kim - I hope you are having fun in St. Marteen. I really do think you made a big mistake by not taking your photographer along. ha

And thanks again Amy for coming to help! I can't resist posting at least one of Amy's great pics. She got this really cute detail shot of Kim's ring. I love how the lady on the box is "holding" the ring. You can see more of Amy's pics on her blog.

Be sure to see their wedding slideshow before you leave!

Deanna & Matthew in the Market

2007-03-13T10:09:00.000-05:00

Sunday afternoon I met Deanna and Matthew for a get to know you session downtown. They live in Virginia and are having a destination wedding in Savannah this summer that I will be photographing. Deanna and Matthew were in Savannah this weekend taking care of wedding plans and drove up to Charleston before heading home to Virginia. You can see their slideshow here.

Meet Deanna and Matthew...

So what do you think about Matthew's bright orange Ugg boots? He swears they are the hottest thing going in Virginia.

haha...just kidding about the Uggs. Matthew broke his leg playing football, and he is sporting a cool orange cast that he let me sign with his purple sharpie!

I believe this is the shot where Matthew asked me if I did drugs before I met them. :) lol
I think I mentioned that I was trying to get the flare from the sun to float down to them. And I'm pretty sure that Matthew thinks I'm crazy, but at least now he knows what I was talking about! :)

Deanna is so cute...

Deanna and Matthew have a signature "grandmother pose" - or at least that is what I called it. I thought it was sweet when Matthew kissed her forehead. Then they told me a story about Deanna's grandmother knowing Matthew was the right guy when she saw him kiss her forehead like that. :)

When time allows, I like to plan a little something fun to do during the shoot -but I didn't really know how well Matthew would be able to get around and what they would be up for doing. Although I did have fun with them, I thought I would get a little surprise for them since I didn't surprise them with anything during the shoot. So...I ordered a mounted 5x15 photobooth print for you, and you should have it in a few days. It looks like this... (without the white border and logo).

See you in May!