Thursday, May 27, 2010

MAY FLOWERS & MISSING PHOTOS

I just realized that many of the pictures in earlier blog posts are oddly absent. I think it has something to do with erasing the original images from the computer...but I'm not entirely sure! I'm going to work on getting them back up, but my apologies if you are flipping back through the archives in the next few days!

It has been raining quite a bit here recently and a couple of days ago all of those showers brought forth some pretty May flowers :) I got this beautiful hydrangea plant for my birthday last year and I am looking forward to enjoying its blooms this summer. Also, it is one of only two plants that survived the crazy winter we had in Mississippi this year!

Monday, May 24, 2010

THE AWKWARD SILENCE

Sometimes I find that there are all sorts of things to blog about. Then there are the days (or weeks) that I'm just not sure I have anything interesting to say.

In real life, face to face interactions I guess those would be the awkward silences that I often try so hard to fill. I'll talk about the weather, what I'm making for dinner, what I found in my daughter's diaper...a number of horrible, completely uninteresting things. Since marrying my husband (who can be painfully quiet at times) I have been working hard at learning to appreciate those down moments, rather than nervously fill them. Relax. Listen. Learn.

So, rather than fill this day with cyber chatter, I will post the following pictures. A little something I use when I need reminding that talk is cheap and silence can be golden ;)



Friday, May 21, 2010

AN AMAZING COUPLE & AN AMAZING CAUSE

When I met Amy and Blake for their shoot it was immediately obviously that they were a cute couple. Ok. They are ridiculously good looking :) However, what I didn't learn during that first meeting was that they are both a part of an incredible non-profit organization called beremedy. beremedy uses social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) to connect people who need help with those who are able to give it.

Blake is actually the founder and president and gave up the opportunity to play professional baseball to pursue his dream of helping others. In a nutshell, these folks are doing really great things and I hope you check out beremedy! Also, check out the rest of their gorgeous photos from the shoot in Atlanta...






























Wednesday, May 19, 2010

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

The following photos were taken with my dad's old SLR that I inherited when I started taking photography in college. You know...back in the day when we used film and developed the images ourselves in a darkroom. These pictures were taken shortly after (or right before?) my very first photography class. It's pretty evident that I had no clue what I was doing. I was not paying attention to any of the technical things that are so important, but I still have a huge affinity for the resulting images. And here is why...

They were taken my junior year of college during the month I spent in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I had read The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver the year before, and started boldly proclaiming I was going to visit the DRC (where the book was set.) At this point in my life, I was also boldly proclaiming that I would become a missionary in a French speaking part of Africa (like the DRC.) I spoke French, I wanted to do mission work, Africa seemed appealing...it all made sense :)

One day, while I was walking around campus with a friend, I mentioned, again, (for probably the hundredth time) that I was going to go to the DRC...one day. It just so happened that another student in earshot was actually from the DRC and he assured me he could arrange for me to go visit a mission station there. I immediately thought, What in the world have you done?!?

Not even a year later I was in the Congo and I was taking these pictures. In fact, just before taking them I approached my future husband (who was living on the mission station) and -thinking that I would wow him with my self-awareness and consideration for being politically correct- I asked him if he thought it would be alright if I photographed the kids going home from school. You know, so as not to be the naive, young, white, American girl exploiting the African kids for her own personal motivations. Well, my husband looked at me, with a little pity in his expression, and suggested I simply ask the kids if it was alright with them...since everyone probably had a different opinion. (ie. I don't know, woman. I can't speak for everyone on this mission station.) Ahhh...it was the first time he called me out, but it certainly wasn't the last :)

So, I did ask. And most everyone was pretty excited to get in a few shots. The following images are scanned files from the original film. They are super low-res (can't find the large files), grainy as heck because I forgot to change the ISO on the camera and had to push process...AND I sent the film through the x-ray machine on my way back into the country. Long story short, these pictures have been through a lot!


If you made it this far...here are the pictures (finally) as your reward. The beginning of my life as a photographer, and the beginning of a friendship with the man who would eventually become my husband!












Monday, May 17, 2010

MISSY & PHILLIP WEDDING - JACKSON, MS

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of second shooting for Erin Fults once again. Photographing weddings with Erin is so much fun, and this time was no different! The beautiful bride, Missy, was very hands-on with her planning, and all of her hard work was absolutely worth it. The ceremony at First Baptist went off without a hitch, and the reception at the Fairview Inn was simply stunning!

My favorite part of the day was the first dance with her new hubby, Phillip. Before the wedding, Missy picked a handful of tunes for Phillip to choose from, and he selected one of the most touching songs I have ever heard for a first dance! Usually I'm a complete cry baby, but I find when I'm in "the zone" (photographing) I am usually so focused that I don't tear up at weddings. This night was an exception! When that song came on and Phillip took Missy onto the dance floor, I was overwhelmed. It was so sweet :)















Saturday, May 8, 2010

JODIE & DANIEL - WEDDING

Jodie and Daniel's story goes way, way back. When they were young their families lived right across the street from one another. Then, after Daniel's family had lived away for a few years, they returned in time for him to catch Jodie's eye in junior high. They were each other's first boyfriend/girlfriend, but Jodie said Daniel thought he was "too cool" once high school rolled around. (Seriously, Daniel? Too cool for Jodie? I think not!)

Several years passed and fortunately Jodie's cousin had the good sense to put the two in contact again. Their courtship included college experiences, a tour of duty in Afghanistan for Daniel, a proposal in Paris, building a house and planning a wedding. Their big day was so full of love and joy I can't quite describe it. Daniel's father performed the ceremony, which made it that much more special. At one point, as everyone was getting ready to send them off, Jodie looked over at Daniel (who had a gigantic grin plastered on his face all day long) and teasingly asked him what he was so happy about. He, of course, said that he was so happy to be with her. Awww! It was such an honor to witness their love and photograph their wedding!



Jodie and Daniel chose to share a very intimate moment together before the ceremony (the "first look") and it was so precious! For those of you who aren't familiar with the first look, it allows a bride and groom to catch their breath, relax together and have a private moment before the chaos of the day begins. It also allows for ample time to get wonderful photographs while everyone is still fresh and looking their best. I had to do a little convincing with Jodie and Daniel, but in the end I think they were very relieved to have had that time together :)











Have I mentioned how wonderful all of my clients are? Well...they are pretty wonderful. A perfect example was when I asked Jodie and Daniel to go traipsing into the woods for a few shots. They were totally game and all was going well until we realized I had placed Jodie directly on top of a fire ant hill! It was the beautiful lace detailing at the hem of Jodie's dress that saved her - the ants got stuck and couldn't go any further. The following photos are of her sweet husband saving her tootsies from those vicious little buggers! I felt so bad, but Jodie was all smiles :)