Theirs was a wedding infused with personality throughout the whole evening…red jackets for the groomsmen, the bride’s pink shoes with “I Do” written in sequins on the bottom,  a performance of “Jailhouse Rock” by the groom at the reception.  I could mention how fun this was to photograph, but the pics tell a much better story than I can.  Enjoy!

Fall flew by in a whirlwind here.  As with other photographers, mine is the busiest and, usually, most eventful part of the business year.  With the beginning of school and anticipation of the holidays, clients look to document their families, children, and seniors in the middle of this excitement.  Personally, I love it.  The weather cooperates, extended families get photos as gifts, and I help create Christmas cards for clients.

This year, my portrait work included newborns, children, seniors, and families, as usual.  Locations, varying from a lumberyard to local creek, helped push me creatively.  The more I do this, the luckier I feel to have clients that are willing to tag along for the journey.

So, here are highlights from my favorite shoots.

When I first spent time with Rob, I was photographing his band Good Paper a couple of years ago.  With funky props and vintage outfits infused,  the shoot unfolded before me like a movie, and I was just a member of the audience.  Rob, in particular, has a strong stage presence that makes photographing him easy.   However, I had no idea I would get the chance for another such captivating shoot.  This time, there was a lady involved…sweet Lindsey.

For the engagement shoot of Lindsey and Rob, we covered an old schoolhouse, an old church & cemetery, and a cotton field.  Lindsey’s father has a cotton farm, and she requested this setting to reflect her family’s endeavor.  Rob, being a musician and a mortician, also serenaded her in the church grounds and danced with her in the historic cemetery.  So, below are selected photos from the day.  In two weeks, there will be wedding pics to post!  Congrats, Rob & Lindsey!

Another fantastic Delta wedding last weekend…

Just as the Delta itself represents a variety of cultural backgrounds, Kayla & Josh’s wedding exemplified how cultures come together.  The bride and groom, from two distinct yet equally spirited families, wed in Leland, MS, last Saturday night.  The stunning bride incorporated her Mexican heritage in the ceremony and reception.  Josh’s creative family helped infuse the reception with the native aspects of the Delta, such as in the deer antlers and glass jars from his family’s farm.

Telling their story in Leland, my hometown, I felt sentimental remembering the Delta’s spirit that influenced my upbringing and their wedding, as well.  Even more enjoyable was the creative collaboration with videographer Lisa Harrison with Dear Little Films (662-202-2366).  Her work from this wedding will be amazing, I’m sure.

So, here are a few pieces of Kayla and Josh’s wedding…Enjoy!

On a Tuesday morning not so long ago, three cuties stepped out of their mother’s car and lined up perfectly for their pictures to be made.  Marie, their mom, brushed their hair and tidied them up while they sat smiling at the camera…and then the real fun began!

One by one, they took turns posing in front of the camera.  Soon, they were laughing and playing together the way boys do in a truly happy family.  As a photographer, I love these shoots where the kids play while the parents let it happen.  Chasing kids in this way helps me capture their personalities in my own style.

Trekking through downtown Grenada, we ran around as they explored the buildings and alleyways.  After the last stop at the depot, Marie promised them ice cream as we wrapped up this entertaining session.  Here are highlights from the day.

Why is it that the longer an item remains on a “to-do” list, the harder it is to complete?  Updating my blog has been on my mind since May….May!   With my son beginning kindergarten, vacations, and work in between, I neglected my blog.  So, this will be an attempt to cover my favorite shoots and weddings in one big swoop.

There…the writer’s block is gone…at least for now.

Photographing engagement sessions allows me not only to spend casual time with the couple before the upcoming wedding, but also lets me witness a family in its genesis.  Soft-spoken and very sweet, Lacey and Trent ventured with me on a shoot covering her hometown of Clarksdale, MS.  We traveled first to the Shack-Up Inn then off to a friend’s pier and wheat field, as I documented their gentle interactions and obvious comfort with one another.

With these sessions, I am reminded of how weddings symbolize a first step in a journey that changes year to year.  Regardless of how well or little I know the couple, I am always honored to photograph them.  So, in celebration of their formal beginning this Saturday, I share a bit of their engagement photos and wish Lacey and Trent much luck.

Ahh…the oldest city in the country…ruled by Spain never destroyed…the home to fantastic Spanish Colonial architecture.  There for the destination wedding of my first cousin, Emily, my family extended the weekend into a mini-vacation.  Although we hit the pirate museum for my 5 year-old and took a trolley for a tour, I tried to absorb the city on my own terms.  Here’s a sample of what I saw.

Josh Beckham was on a roll catching the garter at weddings last year when I met him.   After seizing yet another one, he pulled me aside to get a clever picture with his then girlfriend, Sarah (posed below).  A couple of months later, Sarah contacted me, recently engaged to Josh and needing a wedding photographer.

So, the engagement shoot took place in Jackson, with us hitting some very cool locations….old buildings in downtown, a diner in Fondren, and a grassy spot right off the Natchez Trace.  After that day, my suspicions proved to be correct….Sarah and Josh are a very charming couple with a bright, bright future ahead!

Alright, I have to brag on my little sis, Jondelyn, who is running a successful knitting studio and boutique.  So, we shot photos of her shop and work for her website, www.deltaknitsms.com.  Another set of photos are to be published this summer in a national publication….details soon!

Below is a sample of the work.  Ironically, the knitted items are placed on our great-grandmother’s dining room set that she bought as an antique and refinished.  Within the pics is the work of my sister, me, as well as my great-grandmother.