Karla & Zak

I just loved these guys! So nice and so fun to work with. We were at Trinity UMC with a beautiful reception at the Jepson Center. 

They had literally the best band I've ever heard for the party. They did a bunch of covers of almost all of my favorite songs. They reminded me so much of the Violent Femmes. It was great! 

Karla works for SCAD and talked me into donating one of my fine-art pieces for a fundraising gala. I had to assign a value to it and that made me so nervous! What if it didn't go for at least that price?! I can't set myself up like that anymore!

Just Because

I'm not sure what this reminds me of but I love it.

Happy Holidays! This takes a few seconds to load.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Weekend Wrap-Up

Why does every photographer have a picture like this? A better question might be "Why do I have a picture like this when every other photographer has a picture like this?" I digress...

What an emotional weekend. Lots of tears. The first round came when I got up about 5:00 Saturday morning, and with nothing else to do popped in the latest Harry Potter movie Jarrod picked up. He's really into that now, and what started out as Amy reading the books to Jarrod and Abigail at bedtime has turned into Jarrod reading 100+ pages a day by himself. Anyway, when they complete a book we then watch the movie. I never thought I would watch a movie over reading the book, but so is life. Anywho, one of the characters died in the movie and it set me off. I think I've cried in all of the movies so far, but this was the worst yet. I just feel a connection with these characters, and knowing how Jarrod loves them just makes the connection even stronger. 

Later in the day Daniel Radcliffe was on Inside the Actors Studio talking about the last Harry Potter book and what happens to Harry and Hermione and Ron after they leave Hogwarts and it was like my own children had grown up and started families of their own. Here come the tears again.

After that before I had to go to work the Ironman triathlon was on, and every year I watch that it gets me. NBC always does back-stories on some of the contestants and they always make them as sappy as they can, and it always works, because there I was sobbing again on the couch. I mean, if a 72 year old woman can complete the Ironman, why can't I? And the guy that used to weigh 280 lbs. And the guy with one leg. Very inspirational. Well, not enough to make me actually do it, but enough to make me cry.

So then I went to work and did not cry. Enough for one day. 

And then Sunday rolled around. The Color Purple came on and it always gets me, no matter how many times I've seen it. If you've never seen the movie or read the book, do it -- both are amazing. If you don't cry at the end of the movie (or through the whole thing if you're like me) there's no hope for you. I don't really like Oprah, but even she makes me cry in it.

Jana & David

It's so nice to get away from Savannah and shoot in a different city sometimes. I travelled to the 'Boro for this one. Jana and David got married at the First UMC in Statesboro, and what a beautiful church! All old stone and stained glass -- truly gorgeous. As were the bride and groom! Super nice people, and a great party afterwards on the GSU campus.

Sunday Session

I'm not really sure I can call it a session since it was pictures of my niece and nephew and in-laws, but since I had to drag my camera out to Forsyth Park on a Sunday we'll stick with it. Jarrod and Abigail got in on the action, a bit reluctantly I might add. 

Forsyth was even prettier than usual. The fountain was decorated for Christmas, the leaves were so bright and colorful and just blanketed the ground, and the light was just beautiful. It was a great excuse to get out of the house and head downtown. We hit up Mellow Mushroom afterwards. It was too cold to sit outside so we had to leave Brucester in the car while we ate, but he's happy just not being locked in the bathroom all day. 

Cara & John

I just love weddings at the Jekyll Island Club. It's like a completely different time down there. Amy and I have stayed at the hotel a couple of times, and it's always so peaceful and relaxing. She's content to lounge by the pool and play croquet while I just wander around with my camera.

Cara and John had a beautiful wedding under the old oaks. The weather was great, which is always a concern with outdoor ceremonies. I felt like I've known these guys for years, so the portrait sessions went by quickly and smoothly. John just cracks me up, so it didn't seem like so much work as it did just playing around.

New Gallery

Last night I went to my friend Bryan Stovall's new gallery/studio opening. He just opened a great space at 10 Whitaker Street downtown, so please stop by if you have the chance. It looks wonderful!

Congratulations, Bryan!

Paradise Lost

So we're back from the Bahamas. Yeah. It sucks to have to work and go to school and do all that other stuff that keeps you from being on permanent vacation. It sucks having to go back to the daily grind after spending 3 days relaxing by the pool with a book and having people bring you cocktails and food. And then they clean your room and make your bed and leave chocolates on your pillow. As I sit here writing this I'm obviously not in Kansas anymore. 

We had an awesome time though! I think the next time we go we'll just fly there and stay at the Atlantis resort. I don't really feel safe in the Bahamas, so normally we don't even get off the ship, but this time we decided to do things differently. We spent a day at the water park at Atlantis and it was just awesome. We love going down all the slides, and even their lazy river was better than any I've ever been on. There is a suite at the hotel that goes for $25,000 a night, with a 4 night minimum. Amy says Abigail is going to get married there and have the reception in that suite. Whatever.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!...

I can't wait for tomorrow! Not only is Thanksgiving my favorite holiday, but we'll also be boarding a ship and setting sail for the Bahamas! Cruising is my favorite kind of vacation: unending food buffets and people bringing cocktails whenever I need. How could it possibly get any better?

Christian & Adler

So cold but so sweet! These cousins were little troopers out at Wormsloe!

Jim & Titi

Our good friend Jim tied the knot a couple of weekends ago in the cold rain. He lives near Fort McAllister, so you know we had grand ideas about pictures on/near the water. The weather did not cooperate with us. I know it's supposed to be good luck when it rains on the wedding day, but I say it just sucks. The reception was under a tent in the backyard, and everyone had to stomp through mud to get there. Tent-house-tent-house all night long. Muck everywhere. Everyone had mud in their shoes, on their clothes. Nonetheless, we had a great time. I was more of a guest with a camera, so I didn't feel the pressure I normally feel at a wedding.

The DJ played all of Abigail's favorite songs -- Baby Got Back, Apple Bottom Jeans -- but she wouldn't dance with me. She danced with a younger and cuter stranger, but not with her old man. Well, I take that back -- she danced about 30 seconds with me to a song I don't even remember. But she danced the whole song with the other dude. For the most part she and Jarrod stayed inside the warm house with their friends drinking Hawaiian Punch and eating cake.

Alison & Tony

These guys had a gorgeous wedding at the always beautiful Isle of Hope Methodist with a Plantation Club reception. I'm fortunate to work with lots of nice brides and grooms, and Alison and Tony were no exception. Just incredibly nice people with incredibly nice families, so thank you! And happy anniversary!

Potty Mouth

Abigail had her mouth washed out with soap Friday night. In her defense the little boy called her "stupid," and in our house that's just as bad as "b*tch" that she called him.

Angela & Tommy

What an amazing party! It was straight out of Martha Stewart Weddings! I had to travel for a couple of hours on back-roads through S.C. to get to Barnwell, one of those great towns one drives through to get somewhere else. Angela and Tommy were married at Barnwell UMC, so of course the whole town came out to celebrate. It's the kind of small town I'm from, so I get it.

The reception was at their farmhouse which was beautiful. Both families are in farming so it really was an actual farmhouse. Their regular dining room table probably sat 15 people. Mimosas were waiting on the front porch as guests arrived and made their way to the backyard, where chandeliers and candles were hanging from trees to light the way. It was just gorgeous. Party favors were jars of peach preserves made from peaches grown on the farm.

Tommy loves to dance and is very old-school. I'm talking like Fred Astaire old-school. The coolest part of the evening (or at least one of the many cool parts) was that Angela surprised Tommy by showing the movie Top Hat on the side of one of the barns in the backyard. How cool is that?

Molly & Pat

How much more Savannah can one's wedding day be than pictures in Forsyth Park and the ceremony at the Cathedral? What a gorgeous day! Molly and Pat and their families were truly so easy to work with. Competing with other wedding parties in the park was the most difficult part of the whole day! 

The reception was at the Marshall House on Broughton, truly one of my favorite places for a good party. I can't get enough of the sesame chicken!

Oyster Roast

I don't eat oysters, but at least there was beer and chips and salsa. Who needs oysters? Luckily we were able to find some oysters as most everywhere was sold out. I don't know if it was because of the GA-FL game or what. Anyway, we had a great time Saturday night with our friends. Jim lives near Fort McAllister and I'm shooting his wedding in a couple of weeks so at least we'll have access to water for some great shots.