Fashion Bridal Shoot | Jacksonville Wedding Photography

Things have been very busy since returning from Vegas last week. We've been working like crazy to get things done before wedding season shifts into high gear in a few days. Between working on taxes, new website and blog and packing up to move in a few weeks I haven't had too much time to blog. So in hopes of keeping the blog love flowing... here are a few shots from Megan & Seth's fashion bridal session a few months back. This had to be one of my all time favorite sessions. Megan wore a birdcage veil as well as a cathedral veil during the shoot!!! That is a photographer's dream. There is nothing more fun than playing with a beautiful veil during a photo shoot. Well... strike that... gorgeous shoes and accessories are just as fun as beautiful veils. It all adds some spice to the shoot... and we love some spice!!!

Happy Thursday Everyone! :)

WPPI 2009 - Las Vegas!

So I've been getting some emails and requests to please please please update our blog. I have been MIA for over a week now! Egads! Seriously February has turned out to be quite a whirlwind month for us. Brad and I have had some very interesting events happen in our lives over the last few weeks and we have been busy busy beavers because of it. We are in the process of moving right now and will be all settled into our new place come April 1st! All last week I was in Las Vegas, NV for the annual WPPI Convention and Trade Show. It was such an awesome week filled with seminars, parties and photo shoots. I had no idea how much walking I was in store for and was absolutely exhausted by the time I was back home in Jacksonville. Monday while I was out there, I had my first annual 29th birthday!!!! Although I was sad that for the first time in five years I wouldn't be celebrating with Brad by my side I was so happy to be surrounded by some of my favorite people. My sweet friends Melanie McLellan and Adrian Hitt took me to dinner then surprised me with a ticket to see the Beatle's Cirque de Soleil show Love. I had never seen a Cirque de Soleil show and it was such an awesome experience. If you haven't done so already... definitely check out at least one of their shows. The performances are absolutely incredible! Adrian got us some amazing seats right up front and in then middle of all the action. It was the perfect way to celebrate turning 29!







Here are some shots from my hotel room at the MGM Grand... since I was waking up at 6:30 am every morning I got to see lots of gorgeous sunrises!





For most of my time out in Vegas, it was go go go... listening to seminars and learning from some of the best photographers in the world, meeting up with friends from all over the country and occasionally squeezing in a little bit of sleep. With all the demands of the convention, I wasn't sure I would ever actually get a chance to see the city much. Towards the end of my stay I met up with an old college friend who now lives in Vegas for lunch and a birthday pedicure at the Bellagio! It was divine! Finally that night I went out for a long, and very cold, walk down the strip just to see the town some on my own. Las Vegas really is a town like no other. I snapped a couple shots of some of the casinos but for the most part I simply took in the sights and enjoyed being a tourist.












On Tuesday I had the opportunity to go on a shoot out in the desert with the incredibly talented Victor Sizemore. I had never been to the desert before and certainly had no inkling of how COLD it was going to be out there. Wearing just a hoodie and jeans I was definitely not prepared for 36 degree weather and ferocious wind gusts. God bless our bride for braving the cold to allow us all to get our shots. As cold as it was, it turned out to be a killer shoot. I will post more from this shoot later... for now here is our group plus a beautiful shot of the desert I got while driving out to our shoot location.







There are lots of other fun posts from our frantic February still to come... Tiffany & Mitch's wedding, Lori & Justin's Vegas engagement session and of course Lizzie's Desert Bridal session! Stay tuned!

Edible Centerpieces | The Perfect Pear Catering Company

So lately I have been pretty obsessed with organic wedding decor. By organic I mean very natural free flowing design that seems to have evolved right from the Earth itself. I've seen some beautiful posts on Style Me Pretty lately that showcase weddings that have captured the beauty of nature so perfectly. You can see the trends in everything from venue selection to bouquets and favors all the way to edible center pieces. That's right... edible center pieces. I had the privilege of shooting some photos for the fabulous Rachel Deremer, owner of The Perfect Pear Catering Co. here in Jacksonville Beach. She has been making these edible bread basket center pieces for a while now and they are such a hit with brides and wedding guests. Not only are they beautiful to look at but they are practical and delicious. A variety of breads arranged with fresh herbs accompanied by the most scrumptious assortment of dipping sauces you can imagine. I just love how the baskets showcase the beauty of the food colors and textures all while giving your guests something delicious to munch on before dinner is served. If you are looking for something unique and possibly an alternative to expensive flower arrangements, consider fresh herbs and edible centerpieces. Your guests will love it!

Michelle and Jamaal are getting married | Jacksonville Engagement Photography

Meet Michelle and Jamaal. We met up with these high school sweethearts in downtown Jacksonville to shoot their engagement session back in January. Because Michelle and Jamaal live in Atlanta, they booked us over the phone and via email. I was so excited to finally meet them in person. I just had a gut feeling they would be a blast to work with... let me tell you they certainly did not disappoint. Michelle has the sweetest personality and with her great style, how could I not love this girl?!? Jamaal, a former Jaguar player who now plays football for the the Atlanta Falcons, has the most electrifying smile that lights up whenever he looks at his beautiful bride to be. I knew after Michelle told me Jamaal had hired a photographer to capture his proposal that he was my kind of guy.

Although it was quite chilly and windy out, these two didn't mind one bit. They put up with all our silliness and worked the camera like no ones business. We can't wait to shoot their wedding at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club this April. I know it will be absolutely stunning and so much fun for everyone involved.

Michelle and Jamaal, thank you for hanging out with us during your visit to Jacksonville. We are so excited to be a part of such a special day in your lives. You two just radiate love when you are together and made our job all too easy. We hope you enjoy the photos and can't wait to see you again in the spring.

Lots of love to you both,
Mel & Brad

Newest Obsession - Flight of the Conchords!

Saturday night while Brad and I were perusing Circuit City to scout some awesome going out of business deals, we stumbled across the first season of a show called Flight of the Conchords. Now it is quite possible we have been living under a rock and everyone, except for us, already knows about the ooey gooey goodness that is this New Zealand folk duo. However, we do not have HBO and so it took us until now to find out how much we were missing out on. Scouring the DVD aisle at Circuit City, we saw the scrumptious cover art and were immediately drawn in. We decided to buy the first season and give it a go. Needless to say it was the best $15 we have ever spent! Seriously... it is hilarious! I love everything about this show. I love all the wide angle shooting, the crazy musical deliciousness, the fantastic New Zealand accents, and best yet... their one and only crazy stalker fan is named MEL!!! Oh yes... I do think it was destiny. For those of you who have not seen this show. You probably should do yourselves a favor and drop whatever you may be doing right now, run to the closest video store near you and buy this DVD! Here is a snippet of some of their musical genius just to whet your appetites. Be sure to watch it all the way through and catch the binary solo at the end.

Ben & Sylvia's 30th Wedding Anniversary | Nashville Portrait Photography

During our time in Nashville, our sweet friend Kim hired us to take some photos of her parents as a gift on their 30th wedding anniversary. We showed up at their home unbeknownst to them under the pretense that we would be taking some general shots of their property. After walking around for awhile shooting some of their super cool old barns, Kim brought her parents outside and let them in on her secret. Ben and Sylvia had not had a real photo session with just the two of them since their wedding day. What better reason to take pictures than celebrating thirty years of marriage! Although it was cold and wet out we got some really great shots of them around their home. They live in the most fabulous old farm house built in the late 1800's. I love everything about their place. There are three barns on the property with horses and scenic mountain views all around. We had such a good time with these two. They really are a perfect example of true, lasting love. Thank you Kim for surprising your parents with such a wonderful gift, and thank you Ben & Sylvia for being such great sports when your daughter ambushed you on your anniversary.

Here are some of my favorite shots. We can't wait to come visit you all again in the summer!