A Downtown Mobile Autumn Engagement

I have always wanted to do an engagement session that was full of colorful leaves during the peak of autumn. There’s only one problem. In Mobile, we don’t have quite as many trees that put on a colorful show this time of year. We are largely a city of evergreens. Yes, we have trees that have colorful leaves, but it’s more like one here and one there. If you find two that are showcasing color at the same time, you’re in luck.

Jill and Cooper love fall just as much as I do, so when we met up for their engagement session I was hoping to find at least one colorful tree to incorporate into their portraits. As we meandered around Cathedral Square, I discovered not one, but several trees that were looking quite colorful. The weather was absolutely perfect the day of the session, so I knew we were likely to get some gorgeous golden light to help the trees shine even more. What I didn’t know was that I was about to embark on the most colorful fall engagement session I’ve ever done!

We started this session in Cathedral Square, but Jill and Cooper were totally open to following me around downtown to other spots I had in mind. I loved getting to visit with them as we walked between spots. I found out that Cooper had been in a wedding the weekend prior to the session and that Jill had attended a different wedding the same day. They are truly in the season where all their friends are getting married and their turn is coming up this coming spring!

Autumn Splendor

About halfway through the session I asked Jill and Cooper if they were up for a walk. There was a spot I’d wanted to shoot in for some time, but it was a few blocks away from where we were. They were both on board for the adventure! As we approached the block I was headed for, a colorful tree that was down a side street caught my eye. We stopped for a few photos before continuing on. The light was pretty in that spot, but I didn’t want to use up all the light by staying there too long. I had another spot in mind afterall.

Thank goodness I kept going! When we arrived at the location I was planning to use all along we found something even better…a whole row of trees that were putting on the most colorful fall display I’ve ever seen in this city! I don’t know if these trees get this beautiful every year, or if this year they were extra colorful due to rain and temperatures. It was a feast for the eyes and I literally was holding myself back from doing a happy dance (in all honesty, I’m pretty sure I squealed when I saw the row of trees). Jill and Cooper, thank you so much for such a fun session, for following me down random streets and for being so full of joy! I can’t wait to work with y’all again on wedding day!

An Oak Hollow Farm Wedding

KayLyn dreamed of a fall wedding. She selected a beautiful autumnal color palette and a gorgeous outdoor venue. She just needed the weather to cooperate and I’m happy to say that it did! Sunday was such a beautiful day, with perfectly crisp weather and golden sunset light…the best weather and light combination in my opinion!

Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons for weddings. I love the change from the bright and light tones of spring and summer to the deeper and warmer shades of dresses and florals. KayLyn’s bride and bridesmaid bouquets are some of my favorite that I’ve ever seen. They perfectly nailed the autumnal vibe! I was also excited to be back at Oak Hollow Farm for this wedding. I love shooting at this farm during Golden Hour. KayLyn and Sudduth timed their ceremony to give plenty of time for natural light portraits afterwards. I was so excited that we had a gorgeous sunset and lots of glowy light!

This wedding was my first where the bride sang at the reception! I was surprised, along with everyone else in attendance, when KayLyn and her siblings took the stage to sing for their mom as a thank you for all she’s done for them. KayLyn’s sweet mom (who is actually celebrating a birthday today!), was in tears the entire time. Moments like this are why I fell in love with photography in the first place!

Now that I’ve put the finishing touches on this blog post, I’m turning my attention to food preparations for tomorrow. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you find yourself spending it with family and friends and feasting on delicious food!

I love this photo taken by my second photographer and dear friend Aimee Reynolds!

This is one of my favorite photos that I’ve taken this year. KayLyn and her siblings singing to their mom was such a sweet moment!

In place of a groom’s cake, KayLyn and Sudduth served their guests cobbler and ice cream! Seriously, why have I never seen this at a wedding before?! Sudduth told me the recipe was one that had been passed down through his family and let me tell you it’s one of the BEST cobblers I’ve ever tasted. I wish I’d been able to get the recipe because I would have totally made some for Thanksgiving tomorrow!

VENDORS

Second Photographer | Aimee Reynolds

Photographer’s Assistant | Katy Rasp

Venue | Oak Hollow Farm -Fairhope, AL

Videography | Justin Clayton, Nostalgia Corp

Florist | The Olive Branch

Cake | Couture Cakes

Bride’s Gown | I Do Bridal, Montgomery

Bridesmaid Dresses | David’s Bridal

Groom + Groomsmen Attire | Men’s Wearhouse

Harpist | Rebekah Atkinson

A Mobile Bay Magazine Editorial Shoot

On Saturdays I’m usually photographing a wedding, but on weekdays I often work on editorial shoots! I LOVE both types of shooting, so when it’s a wedding editorial shoot, I’m really living the dream!

Mobile Bay Magazine planned this shoot for their October issue, so I had to wait until after publication to share images here. Y’all, I have so many favorites! This shoot was such a dream to be part of. I love getting to see fellow wedding vendors showcase their talents and they certainly did so on this inspiration wedding! Lydia Noble did an amazing job of putting together a color palette and direction for the shoot that we all adored. I am STILL obsessing over every little detail!

As is always the case with editorial shoots, only a few images make the spreads. I have WAY more favorites from this day than would fit in the pages of the magazine. I’m so glad it’s not my job to select what gets published! Today I’m excited to share some of my favorites from this shoot. Thank you to everyone who made this day so much fun! And thank you to the Athelstan Club for hosting us for the day!

This ring is stunning! The yellow stone matched the color palette of the shoot!

This is definitely going on my list of all time favorite bouquet shots I’ve taken. Katherine with Jubilee Flowers outdid herself with these florals!

I am OBSESSED with this invitation suite! That deckled edge is to die for!

We had birds on this shoot and it was trickier to photograph them than I thought it would be! In the end they didn’t make the spreads, but I still love these shots we got with them!

Does this photo have royal wedding vibes, or is it just me? I could have photographed these two all day!

Thank you to the dream team of vendors who worked on this shoot!

VENDORS

Produced by Mobile Bay Magazine

Location | Bienville Square & the Athelstan Club

Styling | Lydia Noble, Noble Events

Models | Connor Landrum, Emily McGhee, Catherine Racciatti, Ann Tacon, Emma Tacon

Bride + Bridesmaid Gowns | Bliss Bridal

Florals | Jubilee Flowers

Invitations + Calligraphy | Lindsey Stiegler, Soiree Signatures

Cake + Cookies | Underground Custom Cakes

Jewelry | Ware Jewelers

Rentals | Gulf Coast Events & Rentals

Makeup + Hair | Studio 36

Refreshments | The Cheese Cottage

Handmade Signs | AR Workshop

 

A Gulf Shores Alabama Wedding

I don’t often photograph weddings at the beach, but when I first received an inquiry from Julie I was intrigued. She wrote that she wanted a stress free, relaxed and fun wedding day. When we talked on the phone I could tell that she and TJ were a very easy-going couple. Their day felt like a vacation that happened to have a wedding be part of it. I love that their dog, Campbell, was part of every single moment. He was the sweetest dog ever and posed on cue!

Since everyone who was part of this day traveled from out of town to celebrate with Julie and TJ, it truly was a vacation atmosphere at the beach house where they said their “I Dos”. This was my first beach wedding where the reception was at a house that was at the same site as the ceremony. This meant we could use the house and beach are for both pre and post ceremony portraits!

When the ceremony ended the sun was getting close to setting. This whole day was planned around a golden hour ceremony, which would leave us just enough light afterwards for sunset “Just Married” portraits. After a gloomy and blustery Friday, the skies cleared up and the sun was out all day Saturday. This meant that when the sun set we had the most beautiful tones in the sky. It looked like a watercolor painting! Talk about a photographer’s DREAM!

Congratulations Julie and TJ! I hope you enjoyed your time at the beach. Thank you for having me be part of your special day!

I love this photo captured by my assistant Alexis!

My first garter toss where the couple’s dog was a participant in removing the garter!

 

VENDORS

Photographer’s Assistant | Alexis Williams

Planning | Kendra Lee Events

Venue | The Veranda

Catering | Creative Catering

Florals | Coastal Flowers and Design

Cake | A Specialty Bakery

Hair Stylist | Brittany, Bride Guide Pros

Makeup Artist | Lo, Bride Guide Pros

DJ | Drew, Touch of Class Entertainment

Rentals | Gulf Coast Events & Rentals

Bride’s Gown | Impression Bridal – Houston, TX by Azazie

Groom + Groomsmen Attire | Jos. A. Bank

A Spring Hill College Wedding

Brooke and Geoffrey have been together for nine years! They met in high school at McGill-Toolen Catholic and have been together ever since. When I met up with these two for their engagement session earlier this year, they immediately felt like old friends – the kind you haven’t seen in years, but can easily pick up where you left off. They’re just such warm and joyful people. And, as it turns out, we have many mutual friends!

Geoffrey told me the hardest part of the wedding day was not getting to see Brooke that morning. “I didn’t realize it would be so hard not being able to see her,” he said to me as we headed outside for the First Look. How sweet is that?! When he was finally able to see his bride the tears were definitely flowing. Brooke literally took his breath away. Geoffrey gasped as soon as he saw her, which didn’t surprise me one bit because Brooke was radiant in her amazing gown!

Both Brooke and Geoffrey are graduates of Spring Hill College (also my alma mater!), so when it came time to choose a church for their ceremony, they looked no further than St. Joseph’s Chapel. I just love photographing weddings at this church and I especially love taking portraits on campus during Golden Hour! We planned the timeline carefully so that we could fit in portraits in downtown Mobile and on campus. With the help of the team at Lydia Noble Events and thanks to amazing weather, everything stayed on schedule perfectly.

A History Museum of Mobile Reception

After the ceremony at Spring Hill College, we headed back downtown for the reception at the History Museum of Mobile. I love shooting at this downtown Mobile venue, but it’s been over a year since my last wedding there. One of my favorite aspects about this venue is the fact that we can use it for portraits during the day. The courtyard is one of my favorite portrait spots. I was so glad that we were able to stop by there for bride and groom portraits before heading to Spring Hill for the ceremony. I am also OBSESSED with the grand staircase that is in the main lobby. Brooke asked if we could do some portraits there and of course I happily said yes!

Since we’re into the fall season and the sun sets so much earlier we didn’t have daylight left for “Just Married” portraits after the ceremony. But we were able to take a few portraits of the newlyweds at the museum just after Brooke and Geoffrey made their grand exit. I knew Brooke wanted a photo showcasing the History Museum and I’m so thankful that we were able to make it happen. Thanks to videographer, Robbie Reynolds, for suggesting the night-time portraits idea. They were such a fun way to end the day!

I love the shot below that my second photographer, Ellen, took of Brooke wiping away a tear from Geoffrey’s face.

This is one of the most gorgeous bouquets I’ve ever photographed. The color palette was so timeless and classic!

Y’all is this baby stealing the show, or what?! Just look at that big smile.

Eloise certainly loves her godparents and they certainly love their flower girl!

Brooke had the most perfect veil for portraits like this! The light weight and long veils float perfectly in the air!

Brooke walked down the aisle to Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary” played on the organ. I don’t think there is a better way for a bride to make her grand entrance at a wedding. I had goosebumps when those doors opened. Then I looked up to see Geoffrey in tears and nearly got misty-eyed myself. Yes, I’ve always been a cryer. You should see me after watching Hallmark commercials!

These two certainly know how to open up the dance floor in style!

These ladies are ROCK STARS when it comes to keeping things running smoothly! It’s always a pleasure to work with planners and Lydia Noble Events did an amazing job on this wedding!

VENDORS

Second Photographer | Ellen Talbot

Photographer’s Assistant | Katy Rasp

Planning | Noble Events

Videography | RHR Media, Robbie Reynolds

Getting Ready | The Admiral

Ceremony | Spring Hill College, St. Joseph’s Chapel

Reception | History Museum of Mobile

Catering | Georgia Roussos

Florals | Rosebuds

Invitations | Rose and Cotton Lettering

Cake | Pollman’s

Hair Stylist | Cameron Thomas, Cara & Co.

Makeup Artist | Alexandra West

Entertainment | Party People Entertainment

Rentals | Mobile Popcorn

Bride’s Gown | Bliss Bridal

Bridesmaids | Bella Bridesmaids

Groom + Groomsmen | Men’s Wearhouse