What a wonderful time we had with Scott and Tatinia at Birmingham Botanical Gardens last weekend. Tatiana is delightful! She is Russian and is learning to speak English. (She and Scott met while Scott was serving our country in the Navy.) She is a natural model! She and Scott are absolutely adorable together. We are looking forward to their wedding on April 10 at The Tutweiler. Enjoy!

Wendy and her mom, Suzanne, came by the studio this afternoon to view the slideshow of Wendy and Frank’s wedding highlights. We had a great time talking about their fabulous wedding and reception! Frank is out of town so he’ll have his first view of the slideshow here. Wendy and Frank are the absolute perfect couple. You’ll see the joy in their faces throughout this slideshow. While we were shooting this wedding, I felt so happy to see two people totally in love with one another.  Here’s to you, Wendy and Frank!

I know, I know. A bridal session is a lot of trouble. You think it’s going to be painful, boring, and maybe you really don’t want a big formal portrait at your reception. Okay, with that said, please stay with me on this one. Your wedding is not just one day. Your wedding is made up of many different experiences–parties, showers, engagement photos, dress fittings, registering for gifts, choosing everything to make sure your wedding day is perfect.

Having a bridal session is your only real opportunity for a dress rehearsal. You will see how your hair looks complete with veil. You will see how your flowers will look with your dress and veil. You will feel how your dress swirls and swishes when you walk. You’ll know for certain that your dress length and shoe height work. You can make final decisions on your jewelry and make-up. Looking in the mirror and looking at photographs of yourself are two completely different things…you’ll see things in a photo that aren’t evident to you when you’re looking in the mirror. I don’t know why–I just know it is!

My brides come to the studio usually after a morning hair appointment–I have lunch ready for them, and the make-up artist comes to the studio. We have a great time talking about the wedding plans while we eat and while she is being transformed into the beautiful bride her groom will see on their wedding day. We have fun making images that range from very formal to downright silly! It’s a time to play dress-up! The mothers are always thrilled to be able to share this very special and private time with their daughters. Don’t short change yourself–treat yourself to that bridal session!

Beautiful

Coy

Yes, sir

Classic

Stunning

Frank and Wendy were married in a beautiful ceremony at Vestavia Baptist Church followed by a rocking reception at The Harbert Center.  The groom’s father is the lead singer for the band Chevy 6, and they did a fabulous job keeping the party going.  Wendy and Frank are both so darn cute! They are both very animated, and they expressed their joy all night with their friends and families. I will post photos from the wedding when they get back from their honeymoon and have viewed the wedding highlights DVD that I’ll put together over the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, here are some of the photos from Wendy’s bridal portrait session. Everyone loved her portrait at the reception which is the last image here. We printed it as a 15×30 canvas–the portrait received rave reviews at the reception (her father had some very heartwarming things to share with me about how much the portrait really captured Wendy–it’s why we work so hard!). Please feel free to comment…

A beautiful profile

An American classic beauty!

Wendy the Bride

This morning one of my clients came to the studio to pick her the photos of her high school senior. She was telling me about a friend of hers who is so disappointed in some photos that were made in a high volume studio. It makes me sad to think of all the kids who don’t have fun when they have their photos made! Many of them who come to me after such an experience are filled with dread. They leave here feeling like rock stars and models…they leave happy because they know their photo session was all about them.

As a high school senior or rising senior, you are coming into you own. You want to make decisions that relate to your life. You want to be in charge. You want to show the world who you are. Why settle for high school photographs that are geared to a 5×7 desktop frame?

We will work with you to create images that get who you are. We create exciting and fun images that are guaranteed to give your children (when you have them about 10 years from now!) an idea of how cool you were “back in the day”! Bring the things that are important to you to the studio where we’ll begin our photo essay of you. Then we’ll go outside, if you’d like, where we catch you just being yourself. Love your car or truck? Drive it to the studio, and we’ll get some photos of you with your first set of wheels. Have a collection of shoes or purses? Bring them! Play sports? Bring your gear!

Be who you are–show who you are–with us. We guarantee you’ll like what we do or your session is completely free. There are no packages and no pressure to buy. We do, however, have coffee table books, custom senior graduation cards, metallic photo finish, and much, much more. We can be reached at 205.999.3531. It’s time to be yourself.

Love the truck

Wrestling team

My shoes are my passion

I'm serious (sometimes)

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph Brandy Jones for her book jacket. She is a published author of children’s books. She has a new book coming out titled Petunia. Here is one of the images we created for Brandy as well as a spread from her new book. Brandy is so talented! She started writing when she was very young (try second grade!). Petunia was inspired by her own daughter and her daughter’s favorite stuffed animal, a tutu wearing piglet. Watch for her book! I’ll let you know when it is published and available for purchase. Maybe we should have a book signing at LaReunion or 122 Tree Lane!

Brandy Jones

Wendy is an absolutely stunning bride! We had a great time in the studio today.  Here’s the only photo from today’s session I dare to post until after the wedding! The earrings were a gift from Frank for her high school graduation–they’ve been friends and have dated all through high school and college. The wedding is March 13–I can’t wait!

Wendy