Sign Up For THE NEWSLETTER

Countryside Senior Portrait Session

I get so giddy every time I get to do a high school senior portrait session! These sessions are some of my favorite because senior year is such a special time to celebrate. Endings and new beginnings all rolled up into one. I love when seniors want to incorporate something into their session that shows their personality and/or something they love. Megan has been riding horses for nine years and she wanted to have her beloved horse, Rocky, and her pup, Molly, be part of her senior portrait experience. The result is a collection of portraits that are so Megan!

This sweet young lady loves to be out in a wide open space riding Rocky. Molly is their sidekick and roams the fields alongside them when Megan is out for a ride. Rocky has been in Megan’s life for five years, but this was their first portrait session together. To say I was excited is an understatement. I adore horses! They are so smart and majestic! Some of my all-time favorite photographs in my portfolio are from sessions that have involved horses, so I knew this was going to be another one of my favorite sessions.

When we pulled up to the field Megan wanted to shoot in, I was so excited to see the high grass. Although I was slightly worried about snakes, I knew that the high grass was going to give us such a magical look in the photos! We spent half our time in this one field before heading to a second private property location for outfit two. It’s not always necessary to have two locations for a portrait session, but in this case I love the variety that it gave to the collection of portraits. I hadn’t seen either of these locations prior to the shoot and they did not disappoint!

Megan is quite an accomplished young lady. She was recently one of 10 high school students included in Mobile Bay Magazine’s 2018 Wonder Kids feature! I loved her enthusiasm for riding and I have no doubt she applies that same dedication in the classroom. Megan said she’s not sure which college she’ll be attending next year, but I know that she will do great things wherever she goes!

Megan, thank you for such a fun session! I hope it was the perfect kick-off to your senior year!

Rocky (above, left) and Molly (above, right) were superstars!

I loved Rocky’s “smile” trick! He is one smart horse!

Yearbook deadlines are often before Christmas for Mobile Alabama Senior Portraits.

Contact me today to make your reservation for late summer/early fall!

A Downtown Mobile, AL Cathedral Wedding

Rachel and Joseph. Where do I even begin with these two? Their day was one of the dreamiest wedding days I have ever photographed. Not because of the great venues, beautiful flowers and gorgeous gown (although all those things were fabulous!), but because of the people. Rachel and Joseph are two of the loveliest people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. On top of that, their families and friends are amazing as well! I got to know Rachel’s mom throughout the planning process and it was so wonderful to arrive on wedding day and see her enjoying this moment that she and Rachel planned together for the last several months. Everyone was so JOYFUL! I knew from the moment I entered the bridal suite that this was going to be an amazing day and it was!

I love a classic downtown Mobile Alabama wedding and those are exactly the words I would use to describe Rachel and Joseph’s day. We started the day at The Admiral Hotel for getting ready and First Look photos. This was my first time to shoot at this location. It was a wonderful spot for outdoor and indoor photos. Since it’s August and Mobile being Mobile, I knew we needed a rain plan and heat plan for the day. The Admiral provided us with both! Although we were lucky and had blue skies all day, we still opted to do a few portraits indoors since it was a bit warm outside. Amazingly, it wasn’t as hot or humid as it usually is this time of year. I’m still pinching myself that we didn’t encounter any afternoon thunderstorms!!!

Rachel and Joseph are the perfect example of planning accordingly as far as timing. When you try to cram everything into a tight timeline you can’t live in the moment and soak everything in. These two wanted to enjoy their wedding day and not be stressed out rushing to get everything done. So we added additional time to their timeline and built in buffers in case of delays. They also decided to share a First Look, which allowed us to get all formal portraits completed before the ceremony. The result was a wedding day that flowed smoothly!

After a beautiful Catholic Nuptial Mass at The Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a Second Line led guests to the reception at The Mobile Carnival Museum. I absolutely LOVE the Second Line tradition! If you’re not familiar with it, scroll down to see what I’m talking about! The jubilant music always makes me think of my grandfathers (both of them loved this type of music!). You can also see a behind the scenes video of the Second Line procession from this wedding on my Facebook page!

Guests danced their way into the night and, before we knew it, the day was coming to an end. It was an August dream considering the lower humidity levels and lack of summer rainstorms. Rachel got her open-air reception and the sweet summer air made it feel like an early June evening instead of Hurricane Summer. As Rachel and Joseph rode away in a vintage car owned by her uncle, I looked over and saw her sweet mom waving them goodbye. Seeing her joy brought tears to my eyes. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Rachel was radiant! This is definitely one of my favorite portraits of the day!

Isn’t her dress gorgeous?!

I love a First Look! Documenting moments like this never gets old!

My second shooter Jacob took this next shot. I LOVE his perspective and how different it is from mine!

Rachel also shared a First Look with her dad. So sweet!

Probably one of my favorite portraits of the year!

I am so glad that Rachel liked the idea of doing some portraits inside as much as me!

This is another new favorite for me! I was obsessed with this Cathedral-length veil!

Another shot of Jacob’s that I love is on the left, while the shot I took at the same time is on the right!

Let the celebration begin! This is a Second Line and, yes, they closed the street for us!

Are you recently engaged and looking for Mobile Alabama Wedding Photographers? I’d love to chat with you about wedding photography! Contact me for packages and availability!

 

VENDORS

Second Shooter | Jacob Bennett

Photographer’s Assistant | Allyson DeMouy

Getting Ready Venue | The Admiral Hotel

Ceremony Venue | The Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Reception Venue | The Mobile Carnival Museum

Catering | Chef Rob & Co.

Entertainment | The Excelsior Band & The Tommy Morse Band

Florals | Elizabeth’s Garden

Cake |Pollman’s

Bride’s Gown |Bliss Bridal

Groom’s Tuxedos | Francia’s

Bridesmaid Dresses | Vera Wang

Makeup & Hair |Jessica Price

Invitations |Paper Jubilee

Rentals | Port City Rentals

Lighting | Fairhope Lighting

Rings | Lou’s Jewelry

 

A Guide for Wedding Photographers

I love all the different traditions I get to experience as a Mobile Alabama wedding photographer. As a Catholic, I especially love when I get to photograph a Catholic wedding. For photographers who aren’t Catholic, the Catholic wedding can be a brand new experience. If the bride and groom choose to celebrate with a Nuptial Mass, it can seem a bit intimidating when you find out the ceremony will be at least an hour long. Many photographers who aren’t familiar with Catholic traditions aren’t sure about what is going on during different parts of the Mass. It seems mysterious and you might find yourself wondering what will happen next. Knowing what will happen during a Catholic wedding means that you’ll be better able to document those moments, ensuring you don’t miss something that the couple would consider special.

I’ve been asked many times about the different aspects of the Mass when working with various photographers. What’s happening during this part? When will they do the vows? How much time is left? I don’t mind these questions at all, but it is often hard to fully explain while the Mass is going on. Have you ever photographed a Catholic wedding and felt a bit lost? If so, this post is for you! This is my guide for photographing Catholic weddings.

All the photos in this post are from Liz and Paul’s wedding. I think it’s helpful to see the traditions through one wedding instead of photos from various different Catholic wedding ceremonies. Liz and Paul had a very special Nuptial Mass last month in Mobile, Alabama. Their ceremony was unique because Liz’s brother, Joe, is currently in the seminary. He was ordained a Deacon ahead of their wedding, which meant he was able to assist the Priest with the Nuptial Mass. Deacon Joe was able to deliver the homily (a.k.a. the sermon) and be part of administering the Rite of Marriage. The Rite of Marriage refers to the portion of the Nuptial Mass where the bride and groom exchange vows and rings. In the Catholic church, only a Priest or a Deacon may administer marriage vows. It’s not every day that a bride is able to have a relative serve this role at her wedding. This was a very special moment for Liz and Paul, as well as for their families. Deacon Joe’s homily was one of the most beautiful homilies I’ve ever heard at a wedding. I really hope someone recorded it for them!

So, what can you expect at a Catholic wedding? The good news is there is a standard format and once you photograph a handful of Catholic wedding ceremonies, you’ll be able to anticipate what’s going to happen next. The most important thing to remember is that all parts of the ceremony are important to the couple who are getting married. Read on for the breakdown of what to expect for Catholic wedding ceremonies.

 

THE PROCESSIONAL

The processional is the same for Catholic weddings (both those with a Mass and those without) as it is for most any other type of wedding ceremony. The grandmothers and mothers of the bride and groom are seated prior to the bridal party processing down the aisle. There are generally no surprises here, although where the celebrant (the priest or deacon) processes from may differ from church to church. In some churches, the celebrant will enter the sanctuary from the area behind the altar, while in other churches the priest will process down the aisle ahead of the bridal party. I most often see celebrants enter from behind the altar in the older churches. If you’re at a church with modern architecture, the celebrant will most likely process down the aisle behind the groom.

 

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

All Catholic weddings include readings from scripture. After the processional, the celebrant will begin the ceremony by greeting the attendants and saying an opening prayer. Then the congregation will be seated for the readings. There will be a First Reading (from the Old Testament), the singing of a psalm and a Second Reading (from the NewTestament). The congregation will stay seated for these two readings and the psalm. After the Second Reading, the congregation will stand for the Gospel Acclamation. During this time, everyone sings the Alleluia and then remains standing for the Gospel reading.

The congregation will sit during the homily. It is important to most Catholic brides and grooms to have photos of those doing the readings, as well as the priest/deacon when he is giving the homily. The bride and groom are usually seated where they can see the congregation and the pulpit during this portion of the ceremony, so it is also a good opportunity to photograph them taking in the moment.

I loved that Deacon Joe stood before Liz and Paul instead of behind the pulpit to deliver his homily.

Liz’s parents will certainly treasure this moment! If there is an empty pew to the far side of a church, I love to grab a seat during the homily so that I can take a photo of the parents taking in the moments of the ceremony.

 

THE RITE OF MARRIAGE – VOWS & RINGS

After the homily, the celebrant will invite the bridal party to return to the sanctuary to stand alongside the bride and groom for the vows and the exchange of rings. This portion of the ceremony holds no surprises. However, be on guard for the kiss right after the exchange of rings. Some celebrants prompt the bride and groom to kiss right after the rings have been exchanged, while others save the kiss for the end of the ceremony.

If the couple elected to not have a Nuptial Mass, then the ceremony will move forward with Prayers of the Faithful (special intentions) and The Lord’s Prayer. After the Lord’s Prayer, the celebrant will give the Nuptial Blessing before concluding the ceremony. After a final blessing for the congregation and the dismissal, the recessional will begin. If, however, the couple is having a Nuptial Mass, the ceremony will continue with The Liturgy of the Eucharist after the Prayers of the Faithful.

 

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Presentation of the Gifts. Bread and wine are brought forth to the altar, usually by two or three people who have been selected specifically for this role by the bride and groom. I always try to get a photograph of the three “gift bearers” while they are lined up at the back of the aisle and when they present the gifts to the bride, groom and celebrant at the altar. Those chosen for this role are usually family members or very close friends of the bride and groom.

Many people refer to The Liturgy of the Eucharist as Communion, but Communion is only one part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Key moments to photograph during this time are the bride and groom kneeling before the altar, as well as photographs during The Lord’s Prayer and The Nuptial Blessing. After The Lord’s Prayer, the congregation will exchange the Sign of Peace (with everyone shaking hands with those seated around them). Be on the lookout for the bride and groom to depart the sanctuary during this moment to greet their parents, or for them exchanging the Sign of Peace with the celebrant. This moment will vary from wedding to wedding.

I always try to be discreet when photographing ceremonies, but especially during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Everyone will be kneeling down for most of this portion of the Mass, so it makes your movements more noticeable. I like to stay at the back of the church, or to the far side during this potion of the Mass. I always make sure my shutter is on the silent mode and I am cautious to take photographs only of key moments so as to not disturb those participating in the Liturgy.

During Communion, those Catholics in attendance for the Mass will go up to the front of the church to receive Holy Communion. At this point, it’s time to think about the end of the ceremony and the kiss if it has not yet happened.

 

THE CONCLUDING RITE

After The Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest will give a final blessing. And here’s when it gets tricky and can vary from region to region. In the Archdiocese of Mobile, we are not allowed to take posed photographs inside the church before or after the ceremony. The only photographs that may be taken are candid photographs during the actual ceremony. Therefore, the celebrant gives an opportunity for a photograph to be taken of the bridal party prior to the recessional.

Sometimes the celebrant will announce a photo is being taken and will ask the congregation to be seated for a moment (this is the most ideal scenario!). Other times, the celebrant will have the couple kiss and then they will pose for the photo without there being an announcement. And then you have the occasional situation of the celebrant forgetting about the group photo and the kiss altogether and it’s a total guessing game as to what is going to happen next. I always prepare for the kiss to happen before the group photo. If they switch to the group photo, I quickly change a lens, or zoom out, and grab that shot.

Most celebrants will wait for you to give some sort of cue that you’ve gotten the group photo before preceding. However, some will only give you a split second, so be prepared. I always let my couples know that the group photo at the end of the ceremony is the trickiest shot to get. It’s helpful if you remind the bridal party during portrait time to remember to squeeze in so that you can get everyone in the shot (this is especially helpful if there is not much distance between the sanctuary and the first row of pews and the celebrant does not ask the congregation to sit down).

At Catholic weddings, the kiss is not always announced, so keep an eye on the bride and groom. Many times they will kiss without warning. Other times, the celebrant will say, “I now introduce for the first time Mr. & Mrs….” and that is the cue for the kiss.

 

THE RECESSIONAL

The recessional holds no surprises, but if the celebrant recesses down the aisle behind the bridal party, this is a good time to grab a photo of them with the bride and groom. The priest does not always recess down the aisle, so this shot is not one you can always get, but it is definitely nice for the couple to have whenever possible. If I know the celebrant will attend the reception, I usually make a note to try to get a photo of him with the bride and groom during that time.

 

SPECIAL TRADITIONS

While the Nuptial Mass is a standard format for all Catholic weddings, there are a few optional traditions that may be incorporated into the ceremony by the bride and groom.

A favorite of many couples is to take a moment after The Liturgy of the Eucharist and before the Concluding Rite to offer prayers to Mary. This is usually done while a special hymn is sung, often Ave Maria, or other reflective hymn. The couple will typically lay flowers before a statue of Mary and silently pray during the hymn before returning to the center of the sanctuary. By laying flowers before Mary during this type of devotion, the bride and groom are asking Mary to pray for them as they begin their new life together as husband and wife.

The Unity Candle is also a favorite among Catholic brides and grooms. If having a Unity Candle at the church, most brides and grooms will light it after The Rite of Marriage, but before the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins.

 

ETIQUETTE & LINGO

1. Greet the Celebrant

I always like to greet the celebrant before any wedding, but especially at Catholic weddings. Even though I am Catholic and know many priests in my hometown, I don’t know them all and I certainly want to make sure the celebrant knows BEFORE the ceremony begins that I will be both discreet and respectful. I often tell them exactly where I will be for the processional and then I make sure that is ok with them. Some celebrants will have certain preferences, so just because something was ok with one celebrant doesn’t mean it will be ok with another.

I once had a priest ask me to not use my flash in a very dark church (so dark that my camera could barely focus without my flash turned on). I asked if I could use it for only the processional, vows, group photo and recessional and I was given permission to use my flash during those times. Bottom line, that priest didn’t want a flash being a distraction during the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I of course respected his wishes. I’ve photographed many Catholic weddings and I was only asked to not use my flash this one time, but I sure am glad I talked to the priest beforehand so that I knew of his preference.

2. Don’t Enter the Sanctuary (the elevated area where the altar sits)

This may seem like an obvious rule to some, but it may not seem so to others. As a general rule, you don’t want to go past the first row of pews where the congregation is seated. I always try to stay to the back, or hide myself behind a column if I move to the far side of the church. If you greet the celebrant prior to the ceremony, they will likely inform you of this rule. If they do, reassure them that you will not go up the steps into the area where the altar sits and for heaven’s sake don’t ever try to break this rule. This is not one of those “ask for forgiveness not permission moments” because going up the steps towards the altar is something that most in attendance at a Catholic wedding would find distasteful and offensive.

3. Dress Appropriately

There is a formality to a Catholic wedding ceremony and you want to make sure that you’re dressed appropriately. I am a firm believer in working a wedding in something that you’re comfortable in, but keep in mind the setting for the wedding. I’ve heard so many stories about photographers being inappropriately attired at Catholic weddings and it makes me sad. Keep in mind that for Catholics the church is a sacred place and you should dress accordingly as a sign of respect. Not sure what will be appropriate for a Catholic wedding? Ask a fellow photographer who has photographed several Catholic weddings, or your bride and groom.

4. Review the Program

The program is your best friend at a Catholic wedding. If you’re not familiar with the Order of the Mass, then the program will guide you through what will happen. I like to have 30 minutes of ceremony prep time ahead of the wedding. Even though I am Catholic, I still like to review the program to see if there are any special traditions being incorporated so that I can be prepared to capture them.

5. Helpful Lingo – What do all these words mean?

Nuptial Mass – The wedding ceremony is part of a Mass and will last approximately one hour.

Rite of Marriage – The Exchange of Vows & Blessing of the Rings

Celebrant – The priest or deacon who will marry the bride and groom.

Gift Bearers – Those who will bring up the gifts of bread and wine to the altar. Typically two or three people will fulfill this role.

Eucharistic Ministers – Those who assist the celebrant with giving Holy Communion to the congregation. Not all weddings have Eucharistic Ministers, but if people from the congregation go up to help the celebrant give out Communion, then they have likely been specially selected for this role.

Altar Servers – Usually, young boys or girls who assist the celebrant during the ceremony. Sometimes the altar servers are provided by the church and sometimes they are specially selected for the role by the bride and groom. I am not always able to get a photo of the bride and groom with the altar servers due to logistics. If they are relatives or close friends of the bride and groom, I try to make sure I get photos of them during the Mass.

Homily – The sermon given by the celebrant after the Gospel reading.

Sanctuary – The elevated area inside the church where the altar, pulpit and priest’s chair are positioned. Usually, steps separate the sanctuary from the rest of the church.

 

Tips for Printing Your Favorite Photographs

Did you know that printing is an art? Consumer print labs are in such abundance today that it’s easy to forget that printing is an art form. My very first job was at a photography studio. I worked in the office (I had no idea I’d one day be a photographer). I remember hearing the lab technician at the studio talk about printing and the difference between consumer and professional print labs. This was back in the day when film was still the main medium used by professional photographers.

I didn’t understand what she meant by the difference. She would mention things about ink and printer quality, but it all went over my head. One day I decided to have a roll of film developed from a trip I’d taken to France. I wanted to frame some of my favorite shots in a collage. So I took my film into work and had some 4x6s printed. When I got those prints home and compared them to the ones in my photo album that were printed at Walmart, I was AMAZED at the difference. The colors were SO MUCH BETTER in the prints from the pro-lab at the studio where I worked. I went back to work the next day and asked why the pro-lab prints were so much better. That was what opened my eyes to the differences between professional print labs and labs that offer free prints by the hundreds.

Do I print all my personal photos at a professional lab? No. But when it’s something special that I’m going to hang on my wall, or place in a tabletop frame, I definitely think it’s worth it to go the pro-lab route. Digital images are included with all of my packages, so I want my clients to feel free to print photos on their own, but there are definitely some tips for getting good results. Today I’m sharing some of those tips with y’all! I’m calling this post Printing 101!

 

It starts with where you print

Where you print your photos matters. Big box stores offer low prices and if you’ve just gotten back from your honeymoon, or that Disney World vacation and have hundreds of photos to print, that might be the best route to go. Don’t let those photos just live on your phone. However, if you’re gifting some photos from your latest portrait session to grandma and grandpa for Christmas, you probably want to be a bit more selective about where you print.

Mpix.com has long been my favorite online source for consumer prints. This is the best online consumer lab that I’ve been able to find and I personally use them to print all my personal prints that I want to put in photo albums just as documentation. They’re the option in between big box stores and professional labs. Their quality has always been consistent for me and the best results I’ve gotten outside of printing from my pro-lab. Locally, we have Calagaz Photo, which is my favorite place to get my personal photos printed when I need them ASAP. Prints size 8×10 or smaller are usually ready within one hour. Larger sizes may take a few days. If you’re local to Mobile, Alabama and need prints quickly, this is the place to go. You can even order them online so you only have to go to the store for pickup.

 

Why is there a price difference?

It comes down to printer, ink and paper quality. Professional labs are going to have the best. Inks and paper from a pro-lab will retain their quality over a longer period of time. The pro-lab I use for all of my client print orders estimates their prints will still look as good in 100 years as they do today, provided that they are not exposed to excessive sunlight, water damage, etc. I have prints from Shutterfly that are barely 10 years old that have already started to fade quite a bit (and that’s even the ones that have been in acid free photo albums). Big box stores can offer lower prices and lots of free prints because they are printing on lower quality paper with lower quality ink. This is why you’ll often see less vibrance in big box store prints when compared to pro-lab prints.

 

Color Correction & Your Prints

Many consumer labs apply color correction to photographs when printing. This is because the average person’s photos need a little correction to brightness, contrast and color. When printing professionally edited photographs, applying further color correction when printing will often cause the final print to appear too red, too blue or too green. They can also over saturate, or desaturate, the colors, completely altering the final look of the photo. If you’ve invested in a portrait session with a photographer whose style you love, then you want your prints to come out the way they edited them, not the way the mass-production consumer lab altered them to appear. When ordering from consumer labs, look for an option to “Print Files Without Color Correction” for a more accurate result. Mpix.com has an option in the shopping cart to turn off color correction. When I order from Calagaz, I simply write in the notes section on the order form to “Print Files As Is Without Color Correction.”

 

Prints vs. Photo Books vs. Specialty Products

Many online consumer labs have various tiers of print quality. I’ve noticed that standard 4×6 prints from many online labs are often darker, duller and more green tinted than photos I print from my professional lab. However, I have many clients that use online consumer labs to make photo books and these seem to use higher quality papers and inks. Consider what you’re printing when making a decision about where to print. For photo books, I personally love Blurb and Apple photo books. Both have easy to use design software and the print quality is consistent and very close to my pro-lab product prints.

 

How Ratios Affect Printing

Have you ever ordered that 8×10 photo only to discover that it trimmed off some of the people in the shot? This happens because the 8×10 ratio is a different ratio than the camera’s native ratio. This is why I often shoot group shots with lots of breathing room around the edges. If it’s something I think a client will want at size 8×10, 11×14 or 16×20, I know those ratios are going to cut into my shot quite a bit. Keep ratios in mind when ordering prints and be sure to adjust your “crop” in the shopping cart. By default, online shopping carts will center the trim lines, but this isn’t always the best option depending on the photo. Be sure to double check all the trimming before hitting that “Place Order” button. When my clients order from their online galleries, I always double check the trimming for this very reason.

Below is an example of adjusting the crop in the shopping cart. With this portrait, Katie and Patrick aren’t terribly off center in the frame, so the center crop is still decent. However, if they were further off center in the original composition, the center crop would not work.

For this particular portrait, I prefer the crop adjusted so that Katie and Patrick are centered in the frame.

Don’t forget to hit “Save” after adjusting your crop!

 

Enlargements

Size maters. If printing a professionally taken portrait at a size larger than size 8×10, it’s probably best to order that print directly from your photographer so that they can prepare the file for printing at that specific size. Sometimes little details stand out so much more on an enlargement than they do on sizes 8×10 or smaller. I include a fine tune retouch for all prints that my clients order above size 8×10. You also want those enlargements to have the best possible color quality and sharpness since they’re likely to be on display for many years to come. I love the gallery wall that I have in my office. I am always rotating out some of my favorite prints. These are all size 11×14. This also helps me keep a check on my monitor calibration to make sure I’m seeing accurate color when I edit!

 

Don’t Forget to Print

Yes, our phones make it super easy for us to have quick access to all our photos, but there is something wonderfully nostalgic about printing your photos and framing them, or creating printed photo books. Don’t forget to print those photos that you paid to have taken, or those favorite cell phone shots that you’ve made your profile picture on Facebook. I love to make photo books from vacations, or special milestones. Every year I make calendars for my immediate family that double as an “album of the year” and contain several of my favorite photos. I mix in iPhone shots right along with my professional photos.

If you take a lot of photos on your phone (as most of us do), then check out Chatbooks. It’s a great way to document everyday life. My dear friend Laura has an amazing collection and says that her daughters love nothing more than flipping through them. Check out her display in the photo below! I loved capturing her Chatbooks collection when I did a “Day in the Life” portrait session for her family!

 

That’s it for Printing 101! I hope this post inspires you to print some of your favorite photos.

If you have questions, please drop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them! Happy Printing!

 

Looking for an Alabama Portrait and Wedding Photographer? Contact me for packages and availability!

An Epic Gender Reveal Celebration

I love surprises! They are so much fun to photograph. When my friend Julia Greer Fobes asked me to photograph a surprise gender reveal party, I immediately said yes. Then she told me about all the details they were planning! I was pinching myself when she said that an airplane would reveal the BIG NEWS to the expecting parents, Ben and Brittany. The airplane was a total surprise to Ben, Brittany and all the guests at the party. Brittany’s sweet aunt who hosted the party was the only family member in on the surprise. How fun is that?!

Since Julia was doing both the planning and the florals for this summer soiree, I knew that it would be beautiful. I told Julia that she is the “flower whisperer” and I really think that’s the perfect nickname for her. I love that her floral designs always have a touch of whimsy and are cheerful! I simply could not get enough of the dahlias and roses that she used in the arrangements. They were breathtaking!

Ben and Brittany didn’t even know there would be a photographer at the party, so I was sort of part of the surprise too! I think they were a bit blown away when they arrived. “There’s a photographer?!” were some of the first words out of Brittany’s mouth when they walked into the house. I could tell she was surprised! We squeezed in a few family portraits ahead of the guests arriving and then wrapped up the party with a few maternity portraits once the big news had been revealed.

Of course the actual reveal was really my favorite part of the day! We were all outside playing a “game” just before the airplane arrived. Everyone caught on to the real reason for the game as soon as they heard the hum of the airplane’s engine. I watched Brittany and Ben shield their eyes from the sun and then, BOOM, there were cheers, tears and excitement all around!

Ben and Brittany had the BEST reaction to the big news and I couldn’t be happier for them! Moments like these are ones to treasure for years to come. I’m so happy and honored that I got to document this amazing surprise for this sweet family.

I am still obsessed with this cake by The Little Cake Shop! Julia’s flowers added the perfect touch!

This little family of three is about to be a family of four! Sadie Grace is going to be a wonderful big sister!

The delicious food was prepared by Georgia Roussos Catering!

BEST. REACTION. EVER!!!

I’m so glad the plane flew by a few times so we could take some portraits with it in the background!

Are you in need of a photographer for your next party? Contact me for packages and availability!