Life's Stories Photography

A personal post

2012-02-06T21:41:00.001-05:00

Yes, this is a blog related to all things wedding photography related…but tonight I have a very special image I want to share with you. Kelsy celebrated her first birthday this weekend. Photos from her cake smash session (which is my first cake smash session ever!) can be found HERE. Enjoy my sweet little one year old cupcake!

Advanced Pro–Week 3

2012-02-06T21:09:00.001-05:00

One word: Beloved

I love Beloved – the emotions that come from it. The fun, the love, the passion, the inspiration – it all makes for the most perfect photo session. It makes for the perfect date.

Today Tina and Eric joined me on a Beloved inspired shoot on the marshes. The gnats were absolutely horrid, but they didn’t stop our fun photo session full of chatting and getting to know each other. These two played along beautifully with the invites I brought along in my arsenal, and I think their photos just shine with their fun-loving personalities. I truly need to stop photographing couples because I think this is the third consecutive couple I’ve asked to adopt me!

Thank you, Tina and Eric, for allowing me to capture your love, Beloved style!

Wedding Workshop Goodness

2012-01-30T09:03:00.001-05:00

This weekend I was so fortunate to attend Julie Paisley’s Wedding Workshop. Julie is an absolutely amazing photographer and as an added bonus, she shares my obsession with cupcakes (and she fed us plenty of them!). The workshop consisted of two days’ worth of topics and discussions as well as three model shoots. I have so much information from this workshop to process and I can’t wait to get started – some changes are coming to LSP!! But before I get ahead of myself, I wanted to share my favorite images from the weekend.

Advanced Pro Workshop–Week 2

2012-01-28T21:18:00.001-05:00

This week, Cami and Loren were my guinea pigs for my homework session with Brooke Snow’s Advanced Pro Workshop. And they were wonderful guinea pigs! They were awesome to work with and I loved watching them interact with one another as I introduced them to a Beloved inspired session. Thank you so much, you two, for being a part of my learning experience…I am thrilled that I was able to share this experience with you!

Choosing your wedding photographer

2012-01-23T07:58:00.001-05:00

There are TONS of planning resources for brides out there on the market. When I got married almost two years ago, I bought a HUGE notebook full of information…probably ten times the information that I needed for planning my day. One thing that was included in this notebook was a list of questions to ask every vendor. I had a list of things to ask the florist, the DJ, the cake baker, the officiate, and of course, the photographer.

I went to meet wedding photographers, armed with my notebook full of questions, only to discover I really didn’t need it. Meeting each photographer was about meeting her, not about learning what type of flash she used and what her background photography training entailed. If her photos were as beautiful as they were, obviously she knew what she was doing with a camera and editing software. I needed to make sure her personality type would match up with mine because I would be spending quite a bit of time with her on my wedding day.

When it came down to it, the photographers’ images on their websites and blogs spoke for themselves. Obviously I wasn’t going to go meet a photographer whose photos didn’t grab me. When you look at someone’s photos online, you either like them or you don’t. They style either fits you or it doesn’t. Just be sure there are plenty of photo samples to look at that you like, not just one or two beautiful photos.

I chose which photographers to meet based on how their photos appealed to me. Then I went to meet the contenders.

Based on my personality and needs for the day, I was able to choose a wedding photographer. My decision was not based on who could better answer why she was the best photographer in Savannah. It was not based on who had more equipment or more formal training. It was based on who gave me the better feeling. It was based on whose personality meshed better with mine. For the record, I chose the photographer with less equipment and less formal training.

Even though your wedding notebooks will have you ask about what type of equipment your photographer uses, or what their photographic style is (this should be obvious from looking at the photos online before you even meet your potential photographer!), or “why should I choose you instead of someone else?”, don’t stress over these questions. The bottom line is, you should choose someone who you can work with and who you will be excited to work with.

Here is what I would look for in a wedding photographer (or other vendor for that matter):

*Does his/her personality mesh well with mine? Can he/she relate to me? Will I enjoy working with him/her or will I be rolling my eyes at him/her all day long?

*Does this photographer have good customer service? – do I feel I can reach out to him/her at any time with questions (either photography related or not?).

*Does this photographer have a genuine interest in my wedding?

*What is included in the wedding photography package? (if you want the photos on a disc, for example, be sure it’s included). How soon can I see and have my photos? And how many photos will I get? If the package doesn’t fit my needs perfectly, will the vendor work with me (within reason) to make it fit my needs?

And that is it. I wouldn’t get bogged down with every single tiny detail out there. Be sure you understand the packages and the contract – and then if you love the photos and you love the person behind the lens, go for it! And if you are not getting a good vibe from the photographer, look elsewhere. Planning a wedding should lead you to fun vendors who you look forward to working with, not to a stressed out process of interviewing vendors about every little detail.

Mary and John {couples}

2012-01-21T21:07:00.001-05:00

I shared a few of my favorite photos from this session below, but I wanted you to see the rest of them too. Here are my new favorite people, Mary and John! (PS they get 4,236,083,174 bonus points for being Sox fans and inspiring the session in that direction).

The Advanced Pro Workshop–Week 1

2012-01-21T20:40:00.001-05:00

Be forewarned…this is a long and wordy post…but I hope you will take the time to read it because I think you will learn a lot about me as your wedding photographer.

I am so fortunate to be taking a workshop right now with one of my all time favorite photographers, Brooke Snow. She is an amazing lifestyle photographer out of Utah and I absolutely love and admire her work.

It was quite a process for me deciding whether to post this on my blog or not. This is a very personal journey for me, and it is a bit strange to put it all out there for the world to see. Then again, if I can’t be totally honest about who I am and what I am doing to improve my photography, I’m not giving you the whole picture of who I (as well as Life’s Stories) am.

To show you what led me to this decision, I have a short story to tell you that helped me reach my decision.

Every photographer has to start somewhere. When I was really getting into photography, I was so excited to delve into the world of weddings. I had never shot one before and knew I wasn’t ready to just jump out there and do it. So I took a mentoring session with an amazing wedding photographer who I admire in every aspect of the word. I never gave this a second thought – I wanted to learn the ins and outs of weddings, and this was a great way to learn alongside one of wedding photography’s greatest. [Quick side note – I believe in giving credit where credit is due – Teresa is a fabulous mentor – check her out at http://www.reallyfunworkshops.com].

Fast forward a bit…I had photographed a wedding with another photographer and my photos were featured as a ‘Real Wedding’ on a wedding website. Like anyone would be, I was very excited and proud. I posted this on my Facebook page with a link. A response I received to this link really put a damper on my celebration though. Sadly, it was from another photographer who I had always had a lot of respect for. I was asked, “Is this the wedding you shot with Teresa’s other mentoring client?”

This comment just rubbed me the wrong way. Partly because I know this photographer and know that it was intended to downgrade me as *just* a mentoring client. I felt like my work, and myself, were being devaluated…because instead of a photographer, I was *just* a mentoring client.

But I am a mentoring client. So why should this comment have bothered me? Why did it make me feel so much shame? I was never ashamed before, I had never even given it a second though. So after a lot of stewing on this comment and reflecting on my feelings, I made a decision. I will not be ashamed to be *just* a mentoring client. I am proud to be a mentoring client. And if you have any investment in my work and me, as a friend, family member, client, vendor, or other, you should be proud of me too. Through mentoring with Teresa my confidence soared. I saw a HUGE improvement in my work in more ways than one. I saw a new depth brought to my work and learned many new skills to editing and streamlining my work flow. Most of all, I learned that I could shoot weddings, and that I could rock them.

So I will continue to be a mentoring client. I will continue to attend workshops. And I will be proud that I am doing so.

When I was a teacher, I went through the process of becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (that’s right! I’m Nationally Certified in teaching English/Language Arts in K-8!!). This process taught me to always reflect on my work. To always keep learning and striving to improve …because not matter what, I would never be the perfect teacher. There would always be opportunities to step it up – and I had to seek them out.

This does not mean I have to be unhappy with where I am along my journey, either in teaching or in photography. The fact that I’m taking workshops doesn’t mean that I’m not good enough. It doesn’t mean that I need help. It means that I’m passionate about my work. It means that I recognize that there is always more that I can learn – both from others and from myself. It means that I value my clients and want to give them the best experience and photos that I can.

So when I continue to attend mentoring sessions and workshops…and post those journeys here…it is because I am a determined, proud, and active lifelong learner. It is because I know that I will never be ‘there’ – I will never be above the need to learn more.

So, without further ado (did you make it this far?), here is my first homework assignment with Brooke Snow.

The assignment pushed me to really think outside the box and shoot my session from a different perspective. There were a LOT of new firsts that I did during this session. It definitely presented some challenges for me, but I am happy with the images and also with what I learned from the experience. The other ladies taking this workshop with me will get to hear a bit more of my insight about this experience (it’s not that I want to hide it from y’all, but these ladies have paid for the workshop as have I, and I feel that I should be loyal to that in this respect). We are to post our three favorite images from the session…so, I present to you, Mary and John.

I LOVE this couple. Truly love. I asked them to adopt me. But they already have 5 kids…so it was a no go. This couple has such a strong relationship. I love the way they relate to one another. You can tell that they are so much more than husband and wife – they are best friends and soulmates. In fact, I was so inspired by them that I will be doing another session with them next week because I want to try out more new tricks that I am learning with them! Mary and John, thank you so much for being a part of this experience for me – you two were fabulous to work with!!

Embrace

2012-01-05T10:29:00.001-05:00

I was inspired by fellow photographer, Ajira Darch, to choose one word for 2012 that embodies my photography goals for the year. The word I chose is embrace.

em·brace

¹ [em-breys] verb, -braced, -brac·ing, noun, verb (used with object)

**1 to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.

**2 to avail oneself: to embrace an opportunity.

**3 to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.

**4 to take in with the eye or the mind.

So what does embrace mean to me in terms of my work?

For meaning **1 it means to accept feedback open-mindedly. I realize not every person will love my style of photography, and I accept that. But I need to recognize the difference between people who are putting down my work just to be mean and those who truly want to help me. I want to receive their suggestions open mindedly and reflect upon them constructively in a manner that will help me to continuously learn about and improve my photography.

For meaning **2 it means to accept the opportunities that come my way and make the most of them. And more than that, to do what I need to do to encourage these opportunities to arise. I believe that luck can certainly be involved, but I am an even a bigger believer in hard work. I appreciate successes that I work hard for much more than those that just fall into my lap by chance. Of course, none of these opportunities will mean a thing if I don’t make an effort to get something out of them. Along the same lines, that means embracing my mistakes…because owning them allows me to learn from them.

For meaning **3 -adopt my profession. I have already done this…I am a photographer. Toward the end of 2011 I began specializing in weddings and engagements. Before, I was photographing weddings, engagements, children, families, events, seniors…you name it, I would shoot it. I decided that I would rather not be a jack of all trades, but a master of one. This change began to come about toward the end of the year, but in 2012 I will continue to develop this specialty and be further known as an awesome wedding photographer.

For meaning **4 it means reflecting on my work consistently. Looking at it objectively to decide what worked, what didn’t, and why. Why are certain photos speaking to me? What is it about them that I love? When I take photos that are not my favorites, what are they lacking? How can I fix this? Before becoming a photographer, I was a teacher for many years. One of my biggest accomplishments in teaching was becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. This required constructing a portfolio in which I looked at my teaching and my students’ learning in a manner that allowed me to constantly improve my practices. I plan to use these same principles to improve my photography throughout my career. The NBPTS process required me to look at my work…what was I doing? How? And most importantly Why? This is the same outline I will use to critique my work on a regular basis.

Embrace is my word for 2012. I will embrace 2012 as Life’s Stories Photography continues to thrive. I hope you will all embrace it with me! And I’m leaving you with a photo from Mary and David’s wedding back in April…with a more literal sense of the word embrace.

Lightroom Love

2012-01-02T21:16:00.002-05:00

I resolved to do more blogging this year that was not specific to the weddings and engagement sessions that I shoot. Otherwise there would be months that you would be hit hard with my posts, and other months where you wouldn’t see a single one…so I’m trying to even things out, and also add a bit more dimension to my blog. This sounded like a great idea in my head, until I realized that it meant coming up with interesting and fun ideas to write about.

As I was sitting on my iphone playing with Instagram, the idea came to me. I was looking through the presents and kept saying to myself, “I love this one, but…” Every preset had something I would change about it, but it had a good start. This led me to the thought of presets, which led me to think of Lightroom…and boom. There was my idea.

Today I am going to share with you my favorite Lightroom presets which I have created. Each one was created with a different inspiration and I love the feeling that they give my photos (also, each preset name has a special meaning to me – maybe I’ll explain these in a later post). They all give a feeling of softness without losing the clarity that I love. I love the natural haze that backlit photos can render, but I am not a fan of the hazy effect added post-process. This is not to say that you shouldn’t do it, or that it is ‘wrong,’ but it is not my style. I have softened the photos without making them too hazy or vintage (don’t get me wrong, I love all things vintage, but it is not the style I want in my photos).

Also…the first photo I am showcasing is the new featured photo on my website (http://www.yourphotostory.net). Check out the main website to see what’s new with Life’s Stories Photography!

I also should mention that not all of these are the straight preset. Lightroom presets are a great place to start, but I rarely if ever use them as are…I usually still tweak with them just a bit. The differences are subtle, but this is intentional. I want Lightroom to enhance the photos, not completely change them. I want them to have that special touch without being totally made over. And I love them. Without further ado, here they are!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this preset preview. I will be doing a follow up post to this at some point, but in the mean time, be looking for these presets (and maybe some new members to the LSP family too!) to be making appearances left and right as I continue my journey into 2012.

Mary and Jere are getting married {Tybee Island Engagement Photographer}

2011-12-22T21:41:00.002-05:00

Mary and Jere will be getting married next year in Savannah where the pair met. What a fun couple they are – Jere kept Mary (and me) in stitches throughout their Tybee Island session. Mary is a high school art teacher and Jere is an avid surfer. Their fun-loving personalities made for such an awesome session – you should see the outtakes! The session was also quite educational – I learned all about rabid otters and porpoises – not to be confused with dolphins – as we explored the docks and marshes of Tybee. Congratulations on your engagement, Mary and Jere, I can’t wait for your wedding!

Moving forward in 2012…plus the best of 2011!

2011-12-20T09:15:00.001-05:00

As a photographer, I never want to stop learning and improving my craft. I believe there are always ways to improve and take my work up a notch, whatever that may mean. I also believe this will never happen unless specific goals are set. There are two kinds of goals – concrete and abstract. I normal only like concrete goals because they are black and white – it is easy to see if they have been met. Abstract goals have that grey area, but I think they are perfect for learning situations…because especially in art, you can always learn more without having to say you are ‘done.’ For example, if I were to set a goal that I wanted to improve my use of Custom White Balance, it would be a goal that I could continuously work on but not necessarily check it off my list. For this reason, my goals are broken up into categories: DO, LEARN, BUSINESS, and LSP. I am not posting every single one of my goals, because there are a LOT and many of them will mean nothing to anyone but me, but I did want to share some of my favorites that I am looking forward to in 2012.

It is very strange for me to share this with you. I think a lot of people as a whole don’t like to admit that they still want to improve. I am one of those people. I want to feel like “I’ve got it” but I know I will never “have it” and to be honest, maybe I don’t want to feel that wau…because that would mean I have no more to learn. So I share these goals not as a “I’m not good enough,” but as a motivator, of sorts, to become even better.

DO:
*Attend 3 photography workshops throughout the year that will bring a NEW perspective to my work
*Second shoot 2 weddings. Why would I set a goal to second shoot? Because I believe I can learn a LOT by working alongside other photographers. I use these opportunities as a experiences to always continue learning and growing.
*Write one personal blog post a month. I tend to only blog my weddings and sessions, but have come to realize that I have a lot to share about myself and my views on photography also.
*Continue improving my photography relative only to itself – stop comparing to other photographers. I can always find inspiration in others’ work, but it needs to be just that – not a comparison in which the worth of my work is determined.

LEARN:
*Effectively take not so ideal situations (in business, sessions, etc) and use them as learning experiences
*Understand that photography is an art and is subjective. It is ok if there are people don’t love every photo that I take.
*Use photo critiques to improve my photography: Choose 4 (wedding themed if possible)photos a week to reflect upon:
          *1 by me that I love
          *1 by another photographer that I love
          *1 by me that I don’t care for
          *1 by another photographer that I don’t care for
     For the photos I love, evaluate why I love them, what are the ‘great elements',’ and how were these elements created. What makes these photos so great?
     For the photos that I don’t love, evaluate what are the ‘lacking elements.’ How could they be improved? Even though I don’t love the photos, what positive qualities do they still have?

I also have Business Goals and LSP (Life’s Stories Photography goals). These include things that I want to make happen for my business to continue to move it forward and keep it exciting. Also, I created a list of “5 things I want LSP to be known for in 2012.” I am keeping this to myself…because these are things that should be evident by the viewers of the photos. Hopefully LSP will embody these 5 elements and if I have to tell you what they are, they are not evident through my work and I have not achieved them. Maybe we will check in with them by the end of the year as I reflect on whether or not I feel that I have accomplished these 5 things.

So there you have it. My photography goals (for the most part) for 2012. I am excited to work on these throughout the year and through my monthly personal blog posts, keep you posted on how it is going for me. Here’s to a fabulous 2012!

AND…as promised, my favorite ten professional photos from 2011. I wanted to add some personal ones too but there were WAAAAY too many to choose from…maybe in another post. I can’t wait to see what I have to share with you in a year from now!

I love the composition and colors of this photo. Todd and Alex were dancing down the beach together at their sunset engagement session on Jekyll Island. I love the soft pinks and blues as well as their perfectly captured moves. I think that even though you can’t see their faces, it shows the fun they have together.

When Maggie and Keith walked back up the aisle after being pronounced husband and wife, Maggie looked over at her friends and family with the most adorable expression of celebration. The look on her face says it all!

Another beauty from Maggie and Keith’s wedding at Orleans Square in Savannah. There is so much I love about this photo. I love the sun flare. I love the quiet moment they are sharing. I love Maggie’s vintage style birdcage veil. I love how all of those elements come together in this photo. I even love how the red in the sun flare compliments the red of the plants along the walkway.

When I first met Debra and Nathaniel, I knew that they had something truly special. The way Nathaniel looks at Debra, and the way he dotes on her, completely melts my heart. I love the happiness that these two have.

Jamie and Jack had their engagement session in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. What a precious couple of doctors they are! I love how this shot focuses on her ring, yet you can still see the happiness on her face. I think the shallow depth of field adds a beautiful element to this photo.

Kim and Doug were married at Whitfield Square in Savannah. This is one of my favorite types of shots, and I think this particular one is beautiful. I love the photos of the bridal party that are not stiff and posed. I am happy to do what I call the ‘obligatory posed shots’ of families and bridal parties, but they are not the photos I get excited about. The ones I get excited about are the more candid, or casual, photos. Here we have Kim and Dough with their bridal party, and it is such a sweet, fun moment.

Here is another photo of Todd and Alex at their Jekyll Island Engagement session. I love the smile on her face as he leans in to kiss her. I love the angle of the shot – both the tilt and the way it was shot from down low so you have the nice depth of field in the dock as it leads up to them. I love the way they are sitting and the way they are gently holding hands. I love that although it was a ‘posed’ shot, it captures who they are and is anything but boring.

In my goals for 2012, I mentioned that I would like more second shooting opportunities. This is a photo from Emily and Jame’s Savannah wedding, that I was blessed to second shoot alongside Teresa of Memories ‘n’ More Photography. She set up this shot and then went around outside to photograph it while I stayed inside and photographed it. I couldn’t be happier with how this photo turned out. I love how you see a silhouette, but still have the details of Emily’s dress and veil. Beautiful.

This photo was from a super fun engagement session I did with Jordan and Tayler at Forsyth Park in Savannah. These two came with an arsenal of props and ideas and I had a great time turning those into a reality for them. This was an idea they had seen on Pinterest. I took man variations of this photo, some where you can see their faces and obviously, some where you can’t I love the colors, the old stairs, and the way her boots contrast his sneakers. I love that this photo shows that a great portrait doesn’t have to show faces.

This is hands down my favorite photo of 2011. Kathryn and Mat eloped at Whitfield Square in Savannah in November. After they said their vows, Reverend Schulte gave them some time to themselves. They stood in the gazebo while the guitar player provided them with some music and shared the most beautiful moment. The danced together, hugged each other, and just immersed themselves entirely in the moment. It was beautiful. I love the moment they are sharing, the soft colors, and bokeh.

Christie and Ryan are married!

2011-12-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

This weekend I was fortunate enough to second shoot the fabulous Teresa of Memories N More Photography. Christie and Ryan had a traditional Greed Orthodox wedding ceremony and it was beautiful! I am blogging a few photos from getting ready at the church school rooms and the ceremony where I was happily perched in the balcony. I did not attend the reception his time, but be sure to check Teresa’s blog (http://www.reallyfunworkshops.com) because her photos from the reception will be amazing! Thank you, Teresa, for this wonderful opportunity, and Best Wishes to Christie and Ryan!!

Debra and Nathaniel are married! {The Lovely Lane, SSI Wedding Photographer}

2011-11-26T21:46:00.002-05:00

When I first met Debra and Nathaniel, I knew they had something special. Nathaniel is the sweetest man and absolutely adores his bride. A true gentleman, he has found his other half – and it shows! These two truly complete each other. They celebrated their love today in front of friends and family at The Lovely Lane Chapel at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island. Best wishes, Debra and Nathaniel, I know you will have a beautiful life together!

Wedding Coordinator: Cocktails+Details (http://cocktailsdetails.com)
Vintage Car: Martin’s Vintage Rides (http://mvintagerides.com)
Flowers: Cottage Flowers
Ceremony: The Lovely Lane Chapel at Epworth by the Sea
Reception: Sea Palms

Jamie and Jack are getting married! {Hilton Head engagement photographer}

2011-11-25T21:55:00.002-05:00

I was so excited to finally meet Jamie and Jack, as well as their families, today on Hilton Head Island. These two are a super smart pair of medical doctors and couldn’t be more sweet. They had smiles on their faces all day long and just adore each other to pieces. I love it when a woman can get her fiance to giggle, and she does it a lot – he is smitten!

Jamie and Jack, I loved spending time with you today- I hope you had great success at your cake tasting and I can’t wait for your big day!!

Jordan and Tayler are getting married! {Forsyth Park Engagement Photographer}

2011-11-20T21:15:00.002-05:00

Jordan emailed me a while ago to ask about engagement photos, and I’m so glad she did! This Charleston, SC couple spent a romantic weekend in Savannah and I was fortunate enough to meet up with them at Forsyth Park to have an engagement session like no other. These two brought so many fun props to play with and we had a blast! They are avid picnickers, and I loved incorporating this into their session. Congratulations on your engagement, Jordan and Tayler!!

Kathryn and Mat – Part II {Savannah Wedding Photographer - Forsyth Park and Wormsloe Historic Site}

2011-11-11T23:56:00.003-05:00

After Kathryn and Mat's intimate Whitfield Square wedding, we headed around Savannah to some of the most beautiful locations in the city. We started out at Forsyth Park and then headed over to Wormsloe Historic Site for some awesome wedding photos among the mile of oaks.

Kathryn and Mat are married! Part I–the Ceremony {Savannah Wedding Photographer - Whitfield Square}

2011-11-11T23:04:00.005-05:00

Kathryn and Mat had an intimate elopement this morning at Whitfield Square in Savannah, Georgia. Reverend Shulte officiated the 11:11 am ceremony on 11/11/11 while best friend husband and wife team Maureen and Amar looked on. Kathryn and Mat are high school sweethearts and you can see that they are very much in love – as I think they will be 50 years from now.

And check out how much character this elopement had!! Mat made his own cuff links and boutonniere and Kathryn wore blue running shoes. They laughed together all day long and you can tell this couple has a TON of fun together. Congratulations and best wishes to the two of you!

The Forde Family

2011-10-17T07:30:00.001-04:00

I first met Sandra and her family last year when I had the honor of photographing them on Jekyll Island. I was thrilled to receive a message from her recently asking for another session, this time with her in-laws. Sandra has three children who have grown tremendously since I saw them last…and what great kiddos they are. I thoroughly enjoyed this session and feel blessed to have had a repeat session with such a sweet family.

Liz and Tyler are getting married! {Savannah engagement photographer}

2011-10-15T20:23:00.002-04:00

Liz and Tyler are Minnesota natives who are currently living it up in the South. Liz is a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design studying photography and Tyler is a self-professed car guy who loves all things automotive. He is currently studying in Charlotte, NC, but the two make the four hour trek every weekend to be together. I enjoyed chatting with the two as we discovered the beauty of Wormsloe Historic Site together.

Ashleigh and Patrick are getting married! {Tybee Island Engagement Photographer}

2011-10-13T08:18:00.002-04:00

Ashleigh and Patrick are northern California natives who will be getting married next summer. This couple is currently separated by the whole country – Ashleigh lives in Sacramento while Patrick is living in Savannah, where he is stationed. The beautiful second grade teacher will be joining him in the south after their wedding, and I know they can’t wait!

I met Ashleigh and Patrick on Tybee Island for a drizzly, overcast photo session – but the weather didn’t ruin their fun at all! This couple laughed the whole session through! Congratulations on your engagement, Ashleigh and Patrick!

Holly and Ben are getting married! {St. Simons Island Engagement Photographer}

2011-10-01T22:21:00.003-04:00

Holly and Ben are getting married on beautiful St. Simons Island, Georgia next June. I met up with the pair tonight first at Gascoigne Bluff and then at the St. Simons Pier for their engagement session. These two could not be more perfect for each other! They truly enjoy each other’s company and are seem to flow together as one already. I enjoyed getting to know them tonight and am very excited to capture their special day next summer! (And how gorgeous is Holly’s hair? I am very jealous of it).

Todd and Alex are getting married! {Jekyll Island Engagement Photographer}

2011-09-28T22:03:00.003-04:00

Todd and Alex are getting married next summer! These two were so much fun to spend the evening with as we strolled all around Jekyll Island. They kept each other laughing the whole time and truly enjoy each other. Todd is new to the area, and Alex will be joining him soon – and I know they are both excited to have this much fun together all the time!! Congratulations on your engagement, you two!

Ellena’s River Street Head Shots! {Savannah Portrait Photographer}

2011-09-28T08:50:00.003-04:00

Ellena is new to the Savannah area and has started an exciting new job with a magazine. This beautiful and talented writer needed some headshots to use in her editing position as well as for her blog (and of course some just for fun because she knows how to work the camera!!). We had fun exploring River Street together and snapping some gorgeous photos.

Maggie and Keith are Mr. and Mrs.! {Savannah wedding photographer}

2011-09-25T08:05:00.003-04:00

I cannot tell you how much I loved this wedding! From Maggie and Keith’s daughter as the flower girl to the bird cage veil and pedicabs, this wedding screamed fun! It was so lighthearted and classic but with a vintage flair. This couple celebrated at the Harper – Fowlkes House in historic downtown Savannah with their closest family and friends. Best wishes, Maggie and Keith, and thank you for allowing me to capture your special day along with Teresa of Memories ‘n’ More Photography.

Kim and Doug are married! {Savannah wedding photographer}

2011-09-24T21:30:00.004-04:00

Kim and Doug were married on Saturday in a beautiful ceremony at Whitfield Square in historic downtown Savannah. Their intimate wedding was followed by a candlelit reception at Vic’s on The River. I was fortunate enough to photograph this wedding alongside Teresa of Memories N More Photography. Be sure to check out her blog for many more images from Kim and Doug’s Whitfield Square wedding.

Brittany and Nick are engaged!

2011-09-04T18:20:00.001-04:00

Nick and Brittany have a corgi/terrier mix named Oscar. A few weeks ago, Nick attached a note to Oscar’s collar that said “Mommy, will you marry daddy?” Such a unique (and adorable) proposal! These two are set to be married next fall in the beautiful mountains of Colorado and I can’t wait, I know their special day will be perfect!!

Rina and Miguel are about to be parents!

2011-09-04T18:06:00.001-04:00

Rina and Miguel are the sweetest couple. In 5 weeks, they will become first time parents. Rina is glowing and couldn’t be more beautiful as she awaits her daughter’s arrival. I can’t wait to meet this new little bundle of joy – and don’t you know she will be gorgeous!

Meghan and Andy are married!

2011-09-04T13:15:00.001-04:00

Meghan and Andy began their married life together yesterday in a beautiful ceremony at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, New Mexico. I was honored to be the Matron of Honor which means my photo taking time was quite limited, but I did want to share some images from their special day. Best wishes, you two, I love you both and couldn’t be happier for you!

Sea Island Beach Session {St. Simons Portrait Photographer}

2011-08-29T22:23:00.003-04:00

I met up with sisters Erin and Liz and their families tonight at the beach on Sea Island. This was such a great family, they have a ton of fun together! There are 4 children total between the two families, and one on the way. What a lucky new baby to be born into such a great group! I think my favorite thing about these photos is the way they showcase the relationships that these kiddos have with their parents. So sweet!

Rachel and Leeland {Savannah Portrait Photographer}

2011-08-14T08:31:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel and Leeland in downtown Savannah for a session before they move to Texas next week. Rachel and met because we have babies the same age. It was so much fun to see the similarities and differences between the two. And let me tell you, Rachel is awesome and I’m so bummed that she is moving. Oh – and I have to mention Leeland’s chub – he is such a squishy baby and I just love him!

Whitney and Dan are getting married!!

2011-08-14T08:03:00.002-04:00

…again…

Whitney and Dan were married last year in a private gazebo ceremony in Savannah. Now they are ready to celebrate their marriage with family and friends.

On their first anniversary in February, Whitney and Dan will be holding a wedding ceremony and reception near City Market at the AVIA hotel in downtown Savannah. The hotel has a gorgeous terrace and will be the perfect setting for their special day.

Iris {Quinceañera}

2011-08-07T15:29:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I met up with the gorgeous Iris and her family in Historic downtown Brunswick. Iris is turning 15 and is celebrating with a traditional Quinceañera. Her dress was absolutely stunning, and her mom made her bouquet. You can tell she felt as beautiful as she looked as her smile is just glowing. Happy birthday, Iris!

Introducing a new website!

2011-08-05T09:26:00.001-04:00

Life’s Stories Photography has a new website!!! Please check it out when you have a chance and be sure to update your bookmarks!!

http://yourphotostory.net

The Stuves {NM Mini Sessions}

2011-07-10T14:37:00.002-04:00

DISCLAIMER: The twins you are about to see may make you die of cuteness. Seriously.

Tessa is an old friend of my little sister. As it turns out, our families go way back together. Tessa and her husband, Todd, have twin boys and they are so cute I can hardly stand it! Luke and Elliott will be 3 in September and have such lively personalities. I loved watching this family interact together.

The Hebners {NM Mini Sessions}

2011-07-10T13:06:00.002-04:00

What a fun family the Hebners are! Tammy and Greg are parents to three boys who are a hoot together. Mitchell will be turning 21 this week and is a student at the University of New Mexico as well as CNM. Ethan will be graduating from high school this year, and little brother Evan is a seventh grade student. These brothers seem to get along beautifully and they have a lot of fun together.

Ethan {Class of 2012}

2011-07-10T10:32:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I introduced you to Ethan and his friend Jordan, who are graduating together next spring. In addition to this pair, I had the privilege of a senior session with Ethan. Ethan is a Boy Scout who is very close to becoming an Eagle Scout. He enjoys welding and hopes to continue his education in a manner that allows him to work with his hands. He has a great sense of humor and it was great to meet him. Congratulations, Ethan!

Ethan and Jordan {Class of 2012}

2011-07-10T00:23:00.002-04:00

You may remember Jordan from this fun senior session last week. Today I met up with her again as well as her friend Ethan. Ethan and Jordan are next door neighbors and have been the best of friends throughout their lives. They were absolutely hilarious together – you can tell how close they are…in fact, they reminded me of a brother and sister pair. I had a blast with them, watching them interact and be goofy together. I am so glad that they decided to do photos together – it was a great session!

Kevin {Class of 2012}

2011-07-08T17:47:00.002-04:00

Kevin will be graduating from La Cueva High School next spring before he heads off to the Army. He is in the process of enlisting as an infantryman, which I think is incredibly brave. With his mom, Joy, we scoured the Albuquerque BioPark’s Botanical Gardens for the most “manly” spots. Kevin only had one rule: no flowers. Joy had a great time posing Kevin for his photos and the family was a lot of fun to work with. I can tell Joy will miss Kevin a ton, but I think she will be a very proud Army mom.

The Bonnema Family {NM Mini Sessions}

2011-07-05T19:40:00.002-04:00

Nadette and I grew up together in Los Alamos, NM. Our friendship began in elementary school and continued to grow through middle school and high school where we were in the marching band together. She has a great sense of humor and I think we have a lot in common. She and Eric married a few years ago, and last year the two of them became parents to the most beautiful little girl, Kadyn. I had seen Kadyn’s photos, but I have to tell you, they don’t do her justice! She is truly gorgeous. We had a great time playing on a blanket out in the back yard together. What an adorable family this is!!