Thank You Notes & Holly's Bridals

A few years ago Holly wrote me a thank you note for a gift I had given her and it was so touching and so sweet that I really wanted to write a thank you note for her thank you note!  But that's just the kind of person she is... sweet, thoughtful annnd maybe a little crazy.  She is her mother's daughter after all!  And believe me when I say that when hanging out with the two of them, you will not be void of entertainment.

Holly's mom, Myrna, and I have been friends since we went on a mission trip to South Africa back in 2005.  So when Myrna asked me to take a trip to Mississippi over Memorial Day weekend, I of course said yes.  The drive was long but with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire being read to me by Jim Dale (on a CD) and getting to shoot Holly's bridal portraits and Myrna's son's engagement pictures while I was there, it was all totally worth it.  Not to mention a few other fun events: having fried catfish and turnip greens for the first time, taking at least 400 trips to Holly's house, stopping for the best snow cones in MS, taking a trip to the mall simply to get a chocolate chip cookie "sandwich" (with the white cream in the middle - YUM) and getting to eat steak straight from Myrna's dad's farm.

Saturday afternoon, Myrna, Holly and I ventured to Holly's grandmother's house in Carthage.  Her grandmother's yard, as you will see below, is GOR-geous.  So adding Holly, the beautiful bride-to-be, into the setting only made it a dream.  Holly has given me permission to post these, which is a good thing because I don't know that I would be able to wait until September to share them!

I can't wait to shoot your sunset beach wedding this fall... congrats Holly and Hamilton!

See... isn't the yard (and bride) gorgeous?

This chair belonged to Holly's grandmother's grandmother.  How amazing (and cool) is that?

So gorgeous!

I know this one was the "sneak peak" but I love it.

Beautiful.

Sneak Peak | Mississippi Style

I just got back from a long weekend in Mississippi where I spent much needed down time with friends.  Ok, so it wasn't all down time since we took gads of pictures, but when you're doing something you love and it's for friends, it doesn't really seem like work... at all!

So, here's a sneak peak of my "working weekend".

Second Shooting (and a confession) | Part Deux

Like I said in the previous post, I really enjoy second shooting!  And I was thrilled when Allison of Allison Elizabeth Photography & Design called to see if I could help her with a wedding the week after I helped Jana.  She apologized for the short notice but I was free and said I would love to!

Allison is so adorable and sweet and super talented.  It was a lot of fun shooting with her and her fiance at the gorgeous vinyard before Eryn & Lancen's wedding and reception as well as at Clear Spring Baptist Church for their ceremony.

Again, I really enjoyed getting to see another photographer at work, especially getting to watch her interact with people. I can't believe I'm admitting this for all the internet to see... but... I'm a bit of an introvert.  There, I said it.  I adore people and getting to know them, but sometimes I just flat out don't know what to say.  Maybe I'm the only person in the world with this "problem" but the truth is that I want to talk!!  I want to ask questions and get to know you and become your best friend!  I want to tell you all the crazy and funny things that happened to me over the past week.  Sadly the latter won't happen because my life is boring, so forgive me in advance if I make up a story or two just to get a laugh :)  Kidding!  Sort of...

Anyway, enjoy some pictures from the wedding.  I've got a fabulous bridal session to post as well as an engagement session, both from my weekend in Mississippi, so check back soon!

This next one just makes me think we were in Italy or somewhere for a few hours...

Isn't the setting just perfect? And the clouds...! 

 

I love this one of the girls.
Just hanging out.  Looking fabulous.

The father/daughter dance gets me, every time. Especially after they played the recording of her dad telling Eryn he loved her and charging Lancen with the task of loving and taking care of his bride!

This was a southern wedding, so of course shrimp & grits were at the reception!

Delicious.

They ran out to sparklers...

And ended the night with fireworks.

Thanks again, Allison, for letting me tag along and help!

Second Shooting | Part Uno

Some days I think photography is one of those things that I just happened to fall into.  One day I'm shooting some pictures with my Nikon N50 and getting the film developed and the next day I'm capturing the beginning of someone's life with their new best friend on their wedding day.  However it was that God brought me here, to this point, I'm thankful.  Because I love it.  My life has been so full of bumps and mountain tops and valleys and everything in between, but I'm thankful for all of it.

What I love most though, other than getting to bring smiles to people's faces when they see their pictures, are the chances I've had to meet people along the way.  I may have met some of them regardless of whether a camera was between us or not, but more than likely not!  So, if a camera and a few lenses are what brings us together, I'm all for it.

Jana Candler (http://www.janacandler.net/blog/) is one of these people.  I'd heard of her through friends and co-workers and by getting into the photography world in Greenville but I was looking forward to meeting her in person when I found out we'd be at a workshop together a few weeks ago.  While at the workshop, she asked if I was free that Saturday to help her shoot a wedding.  Sure!  I'd love to!  Second shooting is such a fun part of this industry because it's a chance to see how other photographers work, get some more creative ideas, maybe share some of my own, help someone out by getting more pictures and most of all, getting to meet more people!

So, thanks Jana for asking for my help.  I'm thankful that you gave me a chance and let me tag along!

Here are some images from my camera the day of the wedding a couple of weeks ago.  Enjoy!