Here’s my sweet little Blake…he was born way too early, but you wouldn’t know it now! He recently celebrated his first birthday where his destiny appears to be an airplane pilot! His grandfather built this really cool airplane that Blake’s mom brought to the studio…isn’t it incredible? We had a great time celebrating Blake’s birthday! Here’s one of my most favorite photos from the session…watch the video to see Blake’s numerous outfit changes including his baptism cap and gown!

Up, Up, and Away!

Emily and Caleb had one of the most personal and sentimental weddings I’ve witnessed…they were married in the chapel where her maternal grandparents had started Wilson Chapel United Methodist Church. The chapel is called The Little Sistine Chapel and is simply beautiful as you can see by this photo…

Emily and Caleb Corwin

Their officiant was flown in by Caleb’s parents–he is the same pastor who married Caleb’s parents nearly thirty years ago. They integrated a German tradition called “warming of the rings” where the family of the groom passed along Emily’s wedding band, and the family of the bride passed along Caleb’s band…family member to family member until the rings were finally passed to the officiant who blessed them before they exchanged rings.

It was a sweet and beautiful wedding; at the same time, Emily and Caleb’s friends and family are so much fun! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the video of their wedding highlights…everyone seemed to have a great time. Brandy Spears of Brandy Spears Catering did an outstanding job with the flowers and food; Glenn of Magic Muffins “wowed” everyone with his cakes; James Meredith of Coats Classic Cars made sure Emily and Caleb were delivered to Matt Jones Gallery and then to their hotel in high style with “Helen” the elegant Rolls; and Joe with Feel the Beat made sure everyone had a good time on the dance floor.

At Gretchen B Photography, our team is privileged to capture the images that ultimately are the bride and groom’s first family heirloom…we appreciate the fact that there are many talented photographers in the Birmingham area and are happy to have been chosen by Emily and Caleb to be their photographers!

Last Saturday, we had the great pleasure and honor of photographing Santa and one of his elves at LaReunion Coffee Cafe in Helena. This is our second year, and we were excited about the number of children who came to see Santa. Santa was terrific with all the kids and did everything to make sure each of them had a good experience with him. Check out the slideshow we put together with a few of the images. (If the video stops/starts, just pause it so it can load before you play it.) Enjoy and please plan to join us next year!

On October 7, 2011, Chad and Angela were married in a small intimate ceremony at Holt Baptist Church. The reception was also held at the church. The bride’s aunt helped with many of the decorations including the amazing candy bar!

Another very fun addition to to this non-traditional, traditional wedding was the addition of Angela and Chad’s dog for a photo or two…very handsome tux, I might add!

Check out their wedding highlights video…Angela’s take on “something blue” was a pair of Converse; she and her bridesmaids all wore very fun, colorful socks. Chad’s socks matched Angela’s shoes. Very fun and unique wedding!

I moved from Charlotte to Birmingham in 1988 and left behind some wonderful friends and a beautiful city. The daughter of one of my very best friends is graduating from high school in 2012 so I just had to go photograph her. A couple of her friends thought they’d like to get in on it so we made a day of it. Check out the slideshow…we covered a lot of territory in one day! We were downtown, in Dilworth, and in Myers Park. Quite a day!

A most gorgeous day for a most wonderful wedding; October 1, 2011! Jenna Kate Smith and Drake Posny were married in an intimate ceremony surrounded by family and friends at the historic South Highland Presbyterian Church. Their reception at The Club was great fun with music provided by Feel the Beat. I loved Jenna Kate’s blue shoes! She had a dollar borrowed from her dad that she tucked into her garter, and there was a piece of fabric from her mother’s wedding gown pinned to her own. Everyone celebrated Jenna Kate and Drake’s marriage including lots of nieces and nephews! Check out their wedding highlights video, and you’ll see for yourself two people perfectly in tune with one another. Congratulations, Jenna Kate and Drake! You are fabulous! (For best viewing, please allow video to load for a few seconds before playing.)

Chad and Angela love nature so Aldridge Gardens was a logical place for their engagement session in late September. We had a wonderful time with them–the weather was perfect–the light was awesome–and they are so much fun! Enjoy the highlights of their session in this video…oh, and the pumpkin story is that Chad proposed to Angela by writing “Will you marry me?” on a pumpkin that was hidden among the others at a local pumpkin patch (last year). What a great story and how fun to use a pumpkin in a few of the images at the gardens…

Mrs. Amy Bolt (amylbolt@gmail.com) is the founder of Helena’s newest service organization…The Helena Belles! Their were numerous applicants, and 30 young women were chosen to become involved in the Helena community during their high school years. The Helena Belles is derived from the traditional “belles” of the south; when you see young women helping at community functions wearing the beautiful dresses of the 1800’s, you’ll know you are looking at a young woman who has chosen to be a participant in the “doings” (yes, that is definitely southern!) of her community.

Yesterday, the 30 young women attended their orientation at Magnolia Manor. I have just become one of the Helena Belles’ sponsors and was delighted to meet all of them. I invited them to the studio to have facebook profile photos made, and they all came! What a delightful group of young women! I have created an album of their photos on my facebook page; please stop by to acknowledge their commitment to our city and surrounding area.

Amy Bolt is the founder of Helena Belles; please visit their facebook page for more information.

Saturday night was Hoover High School’s homecoming, and my daughter attended with several of her friends. I was delighted they wanted to come to the studio for photos…we also took the opportunity to create some fun images at Buck Creek’s spillway next to the studio. This is a very down and dirty slideshow–I did the quick editing and made the slideshow for Rachel to share with her friends. Watch for more images soon! Enjoy!

Having a healthy life is everyone’s goal…not often recognized until there is a health issue! I subscribe to a wonderful newsletter called Everyday Health. In an effort to encourage all of us (particularly us women ’cause we tend to take care of everyone except ourselves!), I would like to share this excerpt from a recent newsletter. This article entitled: 6 Ways to Reduce Stress and Protect Your Heart
Reduce the harmful effects of stress on your heart and mind.
By Jen Laskey and Medically reviewed by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

1. Build a Support System
Start by talking to your spouse, family, and close friends about your health and your aspirations to manage the stress in your life. They may be able to help you take on, reduce, or alleviate certain stressors. You may also consider joining a support group for people with similar heart-related health conditions or starting individual counseling to help you learn more effective ways for tackling stressful situations.
2. Recognize Your Stress Triggers
Learn to identify the things in your life that trigger stress — the workload at your job, frustrating relationships with family members or friends, driving in traffic, fear revolving around your health condition — and try to figure out ways to either avoid those triggers, or cope better with them through improved communication, deep breathing exercises, anger management, or even talk therapy.
3. Schedule in ‘Time-Outs’
Ostfeld suggests making a concerted effort to take time out of your day to relax. It can be as easy as taking 20 minutes to simply sit and think, to take a bath, or engage in an activity that sooths you, like reading, doing a crossword puzzle, or practicing some yoga.
4. Find Fun Stress-Relieving Activities
Jogging, cycling, swimming, and walking a dog are examples of physical activities that are not only good for your overall health, but are also smart ways to reduce stress, according to Ostfeld. Choose an activity (or several) that you enjoy and do them regularly to keep your stress levels under control, but be sure to check with your physician before starting any exercise regimen.
5. Soothe Your Soul With Music
Music can go a long way in improving your mood on your commute to work, at the office, while working out, or even while grocery shopping. When you’re starting to feel the effects of stress, turn to your favorite songs, playlists, or station on the radio. “Listening to calming music,” Ostfeld adds, “may also lower blood pressure.”
6. Learn How to Say “No”
One of the best ways to manage the stress in your life is to avoid taking on more responsibilities or social obligations. Set boundaries with family members or friends, be assertive when it comes to your workload and hours, and plan your schedule so you have the time you need to get things done. “Structure your life in a way that helps you manage stress,” suggests Ostfeld. “And don’t sweat the small stuff.”