Kristi & Brad

These guys were married Saturday at The Mighty Eighth Museum. The chapel is very intimate and for whatever reason makes me very serene. It must be the light coming through all the stained glass. Their son, Colton, also had his baptism as part of the ceremony. How handsome in his little tux! 

It was nice and overcast most of the time but the sun seemed to come out at just the right time! The reflecting pool offered some great shots. The picture of Kristi above is actually her reflection in the water, before anyone starts thinking it looks funny! I debated whether to leave it upside down like I shot it, 'cause it does look pretty cool like that.

And there were more all-you-can-eat M&MS at the reception, too! This is going to be my year!

I'm sure you guys are soaking up the sun on the beach in Aruba right now! Have one for me, too!

Lori, Brad & Evan

Lori teaches at the same school as my wife. It was so much fun photographing her family at Forsyth on Sunday. I even got to carry around her green and white polka dot diaper bag; it was really stylish and I really think it would make a great camera bag! I mean who's going to steal a diaper bag? Maybe I'll start a camera bag designing business...

I was amazed at how many photographers were working in the park. Savannah is just so photogenic, and nothing says Savannah like Forsyth Park. As a photographer it gets repetitive shooting in the same places all the time, but the pictures are always going to be gorgeous anytime I shoot at Forsyth.

Water Slide

There was this one guy at the water park who would come down the slide and skid about 50 feet across the top of the water on his butt. Jarrod tries to do the same.

Me Pisces, Them Fish

How can my kids not be water babies?

Don't miss the hickey Abigail gave herself on her shoulder!

Man Overboard!

Jarrod falling in with the manatees. Of course I missed the first part fumbling with the camera, good thing it wasn't a wedding!

A Slice of Americana

That's what we stepped into when we went to Weeki Wachi, about 20 miles from where we were staying. The place has been there for decades. The park is very small, and the mermaid show is a little hokey. They don't even try to hide the air hoses. It really made me feel like I was in a time warp straight back to the 50s. 

We played at the water park all day. Jarrod and Abigail went up and down the water slides, Amy relaxed on the beach and I just got sunburned. In addition to sand and salt, I also have an aversion to sunscreen.

It's gotten a little too warm for manatee season, but there were about 6 of the big guys still hanging out in the spring near the house. Jarrod was a little hesitant about getting in the water with them, so when he accidentally fell in he kinda freaked out. I was laughing too hard to help him get back in the boat, but luckily mantees are vegetarians (I think). And of course Abigail wouldn't get in until Jarrod did, and then she was more interested in riding on Amy's back instead of petting the manatees. I stayed in the boat to photograph everything. Besides, it turned cold and I'm no fool.

Move Me Here!

What a great long weekend! How would you like to just walk out your back door, put your kayak in the canal and head out to swim with manatees? That's exactly what we did! We stayed with Lori and her family in her sister's house near the Gulf Coast and were able to swim and kayak and boat in the springs all day. You literally just walk out the back door and get right into the water. It's amazing! 

Amy is determined to live on the water, but Jarrod and I have this thing about sand and salt, so a natural spring would suit us best. I can't imagine a better place to retire than where we stayed. It's so layed back and quite, and just ideal for getting away.

Ashley & Brandon

OMG! Can you believe how good looking these 2 are together?! 

Ashley and Brandon got married Saturday and we had Telfair Square all to ourselves so we could take some gorgeous outside pictures. But since it rained we couldn't use it. On to Plan B: thankfully Trinity UMC has a nice big covered porch so we weren't stuck inside the whole time. Everytime I work at Trinity it rains. What does that mean? I had just gotten there one time and the bride was hysterical because someone had found a bridesmaid dress in a mud puddle outside. Surprisingly it dried and no one noticed! Don't sweat the small stuff, right?

The reception was at the Marshall House and the food was delicious as usual. Encore kept everyone on the dance floor all night. And there was a candy bar (as in wine bar or martini bar, not Hershey bar) with all kinds of candy for everyone to put in little bags to take as favors, and since M&Ms are my all-time favorite food I was in heaven! Jumbo-sized M&Ms! All I could eat!

Beautiful Bride + Wormsloe = GORGEOUS!

Ashley got married Saturday but we took her bridal portrait the previous week, and I've had to hold onto these until after the wedding so I wouldn't spoil the excitement of seeing the dress when she walked down the aisle. And just seeing how beautiful the pictures turned out made it really hard to not be able to post them until now!

Pictures from the wedding coming soon!

I Need Your Help!

If anyone's out there, PLEASE HELP! If you're a past client think about the pictures from your wedding or engagement, and if you just happened to find yourself here and really don't know anything about me, head over to my website and take a look. Anyway, take a moment to look over the words above and choose the 7 words you think best describe my style of photography. Leave the 7 words in the "comment" section below. 

I'm working with a marketing pro to help me come up with a brand that screams RYAN SMITH WEDDINGS! Choosing the top words that best describe my style will be a tremendous help!

Thanks to Kevin Kubota for the idea and work chart!

It's Almost Summertime!

Summer's almost here! No more 6:25 alarm jerking me awake every morning! My wife, who's a 3rd grade teacher, and the kids can sleep in for the whole summer. At least until swim team practice starts. She says they're taking off on a road trip for a few weeks, which is fine with me -- I can play bachelor! Movie Gallery will be my daily stop!

We love to travel, although being a wedding photographer usually prevents weekend trips. But anytime I happen to be off for the weekend we take off somewhere. We usually go to the same places over and over, but we're trying to branch out. Last summer we took off 2 weeks and headed to Washington, DC and all points between. It was an amazing trip! Next weekend should be really fun (and totally campy!) -- we're headed to Weeki Wachee, FL to see the mermaids! I'll have lots o' pics to post when I get back, so stay tuned!

Tara & Nate

I have been really slack about updating my blog (thanks for pointing that out Chrissy!), so what better way to get off my butt by posting Tara & Nate's wedding!

I love Friday weddings! It was exactly the same as a Saturday wedding, but what made it special was that I actually had 2 days off in a row afterward! The weather was perfect at Forsyth Park, and the grass was green and all the azaleas were in bloom. Now is the perfect time of year to get married outside; wait much longer and the heat is too oppressive!   

Tara and Nate are the nicest people! We did engagement pictures a few months ago right after their dog, Daily, was diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, Daily didn't live to see her parents get married, but Tara & Nate have some wonderful pictures of the 3 of them to remember her by. Anyone who has ever lost an animal to a disease like cancer knows how difficult it is. My family lost Dylan almost 4 years ago, and we still tear up thinking about it (just like I am right now!).

Thanks to Tara & Nate and their families and friends! (And thanks to Chrissy -- at least I know 1 person is reading my blog!)