A Midtown Mobile Maternity Session

Wedding days are day one of a new life together. They’re day one of a new family. When a bride and groom walk down the aisle at the end of their ceremony, they are walking into their future life together. I always love witnessing this moment and capturing it forever with my camera.

I remember Alex and Taylor’s wedding like it was yesterday. It was a hot, but beautiful, June day. I was so excited to get to photograph my cousin and his wife-to-be as a bride and groom! Since I was the second photographer at their wedding, I’ve never shared any of the images here on the blog, but I definitely need to dig into my archives and pull out my favorites sometime in the near future!

You know how they say that a woman glows when she’s expecting? Well, Taylor definitely has the mommy-to-be glow! In fact, I suspected she was pregnant shortly before she announced the news to our extended family. There was just something that seemed different about her, an extra bit of joy in her already cheerful nature. And she still had that glow the day of this maternity session!

Taylor has such a great eye for decorating and I absolutely adore the nursery that she and Alex have put together for their little one. We decided to do their maternity portraits at their home. I loved shooting in the nursery and was equally excited that their neighborhood has plenty of beautiful trees and shrubs. I found one spot where the light was so dreamy that we stayed there for most of the outside photos. I always say that background is secondary to good light and it’s SO true! Be sure to scroll down to see the dreamy, golden light!

Taylor asked if we could include these books by Jimmy Fallon in their portraits. I thought it was such a cute idea! They’re definitely in preparation mode!

Can we talk about how sweet the name Henry is?! Paired with the middle name, Wallace, it sounds positively regal!

See Alex & Taylor’s Gender Reveal!

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A Lifestyle Family Session

There were few things my Pop loved more than a good conversation about Alabama football. He was born in Boston, but claimed the South as his home in 1955. That was the year he and my grandmother moved to Mobile. After Mass on Sundays, you could frequently find Pop talking with someone about Alabama football and you could often find Johnny Williams in that conversation too.

Mobile is not that small of a city, but it often feels like a small town. I knew Mr. Johnny my whole life and knew his children grew up knowing my parents, aunts and uncles. But I didn’t really get to know the family beyond Mr. Johnny and his sweet wife, Sandra, until I photographed their granddaughter’s wedding a couple years ago. It is such a JOY to get to serve a family that you’ve known for years on such a special day. It’s even more special to get to document another milestone for the same family!

This family session was in celebration of the newest member of the Williams family. Baby John bears his late great-grandfather’s name, carrying it on for another generation. I’m sure he’ll also inherit his great-grandfather’s sense of fun, which his father and grandfather also share.

I loved visiting this family’s beautiful home for this session just a few weeks after John’s arrival! He was only one month old the day of this shoot. This tiny stage is so fleeting! Even though he was only a few weeks old, John was awake for most of the session. He is already so very expressive and I think he’s going to have so much fun keeping up with his big sister as he grows up! Congratulations Williams family and thank you for having me document this special season!

View more family sessions here!

 

From the Archives | Fairhope, AL Wedding

I photographed over 30 weddings during my years as an associate wedding photographer. I worked with so many wonderful couples during that time! Since the photos at those weddings were taken while I was working for another company, I wasn’t able to share them for a while. I loved the years I spent in this associate role and wouldn’t trade them for anything! The one thing I did miss out on though was being able to share my most favorite images from each wedding day and to share stories about the couples who made my job such a joy!

In 2017 I began photographing weddings under my own business. I always intended to go back and edit some favorites from all my associate weddings, but there never seemed to be enough time. So the files lingered on my many external hard drives. Sure, I edited a few favorites here and there, but I didn’t have time to edit more than a handful. I figured there wasn’t much point in spending time to edit them since I’d agreed to not share the images for two years from the date they were taken. Two years seems like such a short time, but when you’re excited to share something you created, it seems like a million years.

Although I am a photographer, I consider myself to be a storyteller first. That’s probably why I love sharing the stories of wedding days I photograph here on my blog. I am so thankful to finally be able to open up my archives and share some of my favorite images and stories from my associate weddings with y’all!

A St. Francis at the Point Wedding

I remember the day I met with Samantha for her bridal consultation like it was yesterday. I was headed to Birmingham for my cousin’s high school graduation and stopped to meet her at Starbucks on my way out of town. Samantha was planning a June wedding and I was so excited that one of her venues was St. Francis at the Point.

I love church weddings and this Episcopal church in Point Clear is one of the prettiest in our area. I’d been to St. Francis at the Point only once before this wedding – the first time I worked a wedding as a second photographer. Samantha booked me over a year ahead of her wedding date, so by the time the big day arrived I felt like we’d known each other forever.

Samantha and Robby had the most beautiful wedding day! Their Golden Hour “Just Married” portraits remain some of my all-time favorites. Just wait until you see Samantha’s veil! When these two called me earlier this year for a special announcement photoshoot, I was of course delighted to work with them once again! Enjoy these highlights from their wedding day!

Samantha’s wedding gown was A-MAZ-ING! I loved the chiffon skirt!

Their First Look was so emotional!

Samantha’s First Look with her dad remains one of my favorite moments I’ve ever photographed at a wedding.

I gasped when I took this photo because I knew it would be one of my favorites from the day. Two years later and it’s still one of my all-time favorite bride and groom portraits!

These photographs have been shared with the permission of my dear friend Jennie Tewell with whom I worked as an associate photographer for four years.

View more weddings here!

CREATIVE TEAM

Planning | Wed With Style

Second Photographer | Jacob Bennett

Photographer’s Assistant | Allyson DeMouy

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Wedding

It’s always an honor when a bride refers you to her friends. This is the third wedding that I’ve gotten to photograph within the same circle of friends and each one has been nothing short of fabulous! When I first met with Ann, I knew that she was going to be wonderful to work with. She is just the sweetest person! When wedding day arrived, I also learned how organized she is. Whether it was a steamer, bobby pins, or bandaids that were in need, she had it all. I was like, this girl and I are totally kindred spirits!

With two brothers, Ann is the only daughter, so this day was an extra sweet one for her parents. When Ann shared a First Look with her dad, his reaction was, “WOW!” She took his breath away and then tears immediately started to flow. They both agreed that was definitely going to be one of the most emotional moments of the day. I also love that Ann cried when she shared her First Look with her bridesmaids. You can tell how much love there is among this group of girls and it was so special to watch them soak in the moment of seeing Ann in her dress for the first time!

In Mobile, Alabama you never really know just how hot it will be in June. Some years the heat is mild. But not this year! This wedding day was a hot one! I was SO impressed with how Joseph and all his groomsmen were such troopers about wearing their jackets during the heat. Seriously, I know they had to be dying. All I could think was how thankful I was to be a girl wearing a sundress when I saw them arrive at Washington Square Park for portrait time. Despite the heat, everyone was in joyful spirits and I know that is because they love this sweet couple so much.

Once the ceremony was over, Ann and Joseph were ready to head straight to their reception, but I persuaded them to pause for a few “Just Married” portraits while the guests made the short walk from the Cathedral to the Ezell House for the reception. I’m so glad Ann and Joseph were game for doing these bonus portraits, as they’d shared a First Look pre-ceremony. I can’t recommend “Just Married” portraits enough if there is daylight remaining after the ceremony. Some of my favorite portraits from a wedding often come from this part of the day! Plus, it gives guests just enough time to get to the reception AND be excited for your grand entrance!

I think it’s safe to say that this wedding was another dreamy one! Enjoy my favorites from this beautiful downtown Mobile wedding and congratulations to the newly Mr. & Mrs. Cortopassi!

How sweet is this reaction?!

When a flower girl spots her mama at the end of the aisle…y’all this was the most precious moment! Her mom was kneeling right next to me and this sweet girl full on RAN right into her mother’s arms.

I love seeing my past couples at weddings!

I also felt like I was at a high school reunion. Ann’s brother and cousin were in my class at McGill-Toolen. It was fun seeing them and a few other classmates!

Sparklers and confetti for your exit?! It just doesn’t get much more fun than that!

VENDORS

Second Photographer | Jacob Bennett

Photographer’s Assistant | Allyson DeMouy

Getting Ready Venue | Hampton Inn & Suites, Downtown Mobile

Ceremony | Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Reception | Ezell House

Coordinator | Joseph Booth

Caterer | Charlie Wilton, Wilton Catering

Florist | Belle Bouquet

Cake | Pollman’s

Hair Stylist | Nicole Moore & Cameron, Torrent Salon

Makeup Artist | Chelsea, Allure Studio

Band | 4 Barrel Funk

Rentals | Port City Rentals

Bride’s Gown | Wedding Belles, New Orleans

Bridesmaid Dresses | Bella Bridesmaids

Groom & Groomsmen Attire | Randalls

My Business Journey

Today I am celebrating seven years in business! Let’s pop a bottle of Prosecco, shall we?! While the last seven years seem to have flown by in some ways, in other ways it seems like it’s been a diligent climb up a mountain. I LOVE owning my own business! It was something I never dreamed for myself. Instead, it dawned on me gradually that I was headed in that direction. I’d watched my dad be a business owner for most of my life, so I guess that spirit of being your own boss sort of seeped into me as well.

Over the past seven years, I think the most frequent question I’ve been asked is where I learned it all. The answer to that question is neither brief, nor simple. In honor of this little business’s birthday, I decided to share a round up of seven of my key influencers. These are the people and experiences who have helped make this business what it is, whether they know it or not!

My Family

My family has been a HUGE support to me from day one. They’ve listened to me ponder blog post ideas, package offerings, and website designs. My parents and sister have been my sounding boards on so many things. They always weigh in with good advice and make me see things from a different perspective. One of my grandparents didn’t live to see me start this business, but the other three did. They were some of my biggest cheerleaders. Memaw was in a nursing home battling what would prove to be a fatal brain tumor the summer I made the decision to give this whole business thing a try. I remember telling her my plans while visiting her one day. Her response was an enthusiastic, “That’s a fine idea!” I think of that conversation every time I celebrate another year in business. Pop used to ask for my bookings report from his nursing home bed. The man was a numbers person to the very end and always pushing me to reach for the stars.

My First Job

Shortly after I graduated from high school, my dad told me he’d secured a job for me. What?! So much for a summer of leisure before starting my college years. That first job happened to be at a local photography studio and we knew one of the owners from church. The company had taken many of my school pictures, including my senior portraits. If you can believe it, I had ZERO interest in photography at that time!!! I worked in the studio doing miscellaneous tasks, including customer service, product packaging, and assisting on photoshoots. That experience in my first job continues to benefit me as a business owner. One of my favorite parts of working at the studio was showing brides-to-be wedding albums when they’d come in to see package options. I was doing bridal consultations never imagining I’d one day be a wedding photographer!

A College Internship

During my junior year at Spring Hill College, I took on an internship in the Marketing & Communications office on campus. The following summer, after I’d taken a photography course, my internship moderator started sending me on photo assignments. There were always a lot of events happening on campus and no full-time photographer on staff. I remember Greg giving me feedback on my photos and advising me to carefully observe a scene, waiting for the right moment before clicking the shutter. I really started to enjoy documenting these events on campus and that early practice in honing my observation skills is something I’m continually thankful for. One of my favorite projects I worked on as an intern was documenting the installation of the new organ in St. Joseph’s Chapel, which had undergone a restoration during my first years at Spring Hill. I actually got to climb inside the organ before it was fully installed to document a lot of the tiny details!

Click Pro

I joined an online photography community around the time I decided to start my photography business. I’d been reading the community’s blog for months and had learned so much from it’s posts. It was a community unlike any I’d ever known. People shared their knowledge freely and were willing to give constructive criticism on your work if you asked for feedback. Soon after joining this community I realized I needed to really push myself if I wanted to get my skill set to the next level. I joined a critique group in preparation of applying for the Click Pro program. The day I received my letter that my portfolio scored high enough for acceptance was a very special day. I credit a lot of my growth between 2013 and 2014 to this critique group and Click Pro.

Amazing Workshops

I have always loved learning and I guess that’s a good thing because there is ALWAYS something more to learn when it comes to photography. I invested in education from day one. During the early years, the investment was in the form of time. I read books, watched free classes online, and followed many photography blogs. I practiced what I learned and analyzed the results. Then I practiced some more. When I was finally profitable enough to invest in paid workshops, the dilemma was how to decide which courses to invest in. There are so many options! While this post isn’t long enough to document all the workshops I love (we’ll save that for another post!), I can’t share about my business journey without mentioning Katelyn James Photography, Abby Grace Photography, Amy and Jordan Demos, Jeff and Erin Youngren, and Justin and Mary Marantz. These educators are some of the leading photographers in the industry and every single time I’ve invested in learning from them it has been beyond worth the investment!

From Abby I learned how to manage the wedding day and how to stay organized. I purchased her course shortly after I began second shooting weddings and it really influenced how I approached wedding days when I started lead shooting. Katelyn took something I found intimidating (learning Lightroom!) and made it a piece of cake. She also taught me how to streamline my workflow and how to refine my shooting style. I signed up for a business course with Amy and Jordan Demos around the time I rebranded and changed my business name to Elizabeth Gelineau Photography. To say I took this course at the perfect time is a massive understatement! Jeff and Erin Youngren taught me to dig deep. My coaching calls with them were game-changing! Finally, Justin and Mary Marantz taught me how to use and LOVE my flash! I never dreamed I’d love that little box of artificial light, but this husband and wife duo taught me to use it in a way that matches my style.

My Clients

My clients have taught me so much in these last seven years. The trust they put in me pushes me to do my absolute best. With each shoot I learn something new. My work has grown as a result of those who have stepped in front of my camera. Owning a business has its fair share of challenges, but it is also very rewarding. To every single person who has trusted me with their memories over the past seven years, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Photographer Friendships

Back in 2014 I didn’t know a single other local photographer. I knew of other photographers in Mobile, Alabama, but I didn’t know them personally. We weren’t hanging out and having coffee. To think about that BLOWS MY MIND because I have so many dear friends in my life today that are fellow photographers and videographers in our Gulf Coast area! I met each of them through different circumstances over a span of about 18 months. I went from knowing zero local photographers to knowing many in a very short period of time! Looking back, it seems funny that I didn’t know any other photographers for my first two years in business. I can’t imagine not having these friendships be part of my life! My conversations with all of these friends have helped me grow as a photographer and business owner. We’ve been sounding boards for each other, we’ve photographed things together, and we’ve celebrated each other’s successes. Community over competition might be a popular hashtag, but it’s also the reality of each of these friendships. Friends, you know who you are (pictured or not) and I hope you know how much I appreciate each of you!

Let’s Celebrate with a Giveaway!

Who doesn’t love birthday presents?! In celebration of my business’s 7th birthday, I’m giving away some of my favorite things! Yay! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for seven days of giveaways beginning Sunday, June 23rd through Saturday, June 29th! Don’t have Instagram? Comment below for a chance to win one of the drawings!