A month before high school graduation, Nathan got Sherri’s number when a mutual friend used Nathan’s phone to send a text to Sherri. This mutual friend ended up telling Nathan all about Sherri, and even showed him a photo. Nathan liked what he saw, and decided to keep the number stored in his phone. Good thing he did, because he used it later to ask Sherri out, and they have been inseparable ever since. So, technically, Sherri and Nathan are high school sweethearts, if only just barely.

Nathan and Sherri just fit. There’s simply no other way to describe it. The air is lighter around them, and they both glow when they have the other in their sights. Even though they’ve been together for 4 years, they still act as though they are newly in love.

Nathan was a happy, relaxed groom, and looking oh-so-good in his brown and blue tux. Sherri had an extra special glow on her wedding day. The girl could not stop smiling! She was grinning the entire day.

Just look at the anticipation on Sherri’s face. I love the little intimate moment a bride shares with her dad right before being walked down the aisle.

And Nathan’s reaction? Tears of joy and love.

The maid of honor looks on in admiration and emotion…

But it can’t match the look of love that Sherri has, just moments away from being Nathan’s wife.

After the ceremony, we had a few minutes to capture some photos of the new Mr. & Mrs.

The bride and groom left for their reception amid a storm of bubbles, and they couldn’t have been happier than in this moment.

The reception was held at Grover’s Corner, in Cleveland, MS. A few detail shots…

Anne Taylor did an incredible job with the cakes. The bride’s cake was lovely, and perfectly detailed.

But the groom’s cake stole the show! Nathan is an avid guitar player, and this cake was a masterpiece. No one wanted to cut it!

The new Mr. & Mrs.!

A tender moment during the First Dance…

This kid could dance. Like, dude. Watch out, So You Think You Can Dance.

The bride and groom weren’t too shabby on the dance floor, either.

I’ll end with this shot that captures the festivities of the night perfectly.

If you’d like to see more of Sherri and Nathan’s wedding day, click here to see a slideshow.

Congratulations, Sherri & Nathan! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your special day. Cheers!

Oh yeah. That’s right. I do it all. Seriously. Mom, photographer, life journaler, webmaster, computer expert, chef, chauffeur, homework specialist, friend, sister, wife, translator (really. ask my 5 year old son. or, ask me. cuz i will have to translate).

I rock. And roll. Well, almost. You may have noticed that maid is not on that list. That was intentional. As a maid, I suck. Not because I’m not good at it. I am. But because I don’t do it very often. See that list up there? Those are more important. I know how to prioritize! At the end of the day, I am more concerned that my kids are in bed on time, fed, and have their homework done. That my photo shoot is edited and on the way to the client. That there is still just a little time left to watch Medium (not my fault. My friend Val makes me).

So, yeah. I have dishes in the sink. There’s a pile of shoes by my front door. And for some reason, my children still think that my floor is the trash can! And I’m okay with that. I can step over the pile of markers.

Here’s to priorities. And to llamas with hats. And using italics to emphasize words. Oh yeah, babe.

Cheers!

A website is an ever-changing presence… especially when you have no clue what you’re doing!

I have been wanting to have a slideshow section on my site, but that has required not only learning how to make slideshows, but also learning how to add them to my already existing site. Well, luckily I was born with a fair share of brains (thanks, Dad!), and I have finally figured out how to do both.

Granted, the list is a bit lacking at the moment, but it will be growing steadily, so check back often for new additions!

Here’s to website design. And getting Dad’s brains. Cheers!

My oldest daughter, Morgan, was Japanese in a previous life. Really. Those of you who know her know that I’m not kidding. She listens to Japanese music, watches Japanese films and tv shows, and even teaches herself the language. It is her goal to one day visit Japan. I’m not sure how it started, but the girl loves the Japanese (and most other Asian) cultures. Hey, I’m just glad that she studies something with such passion!

She is also very creative. She loves photography. Can’t imagine where she got that. So imagine my surprise that she knew all about bokeh, which of course comes from a Japanese word. Bokeh is simply the blurring of out-of-focus points of light caused by a shallow depth of field. My fabulous lens on my fabulous camera does this quite well, and Morgan discovered it on our recent Chicago trip.

Here are some of the cool (at least I thought so) bokeh shots that she got during the nine hour ride home.

One other cool fact about bokeh: if you cut out a piece of paper to fit over the lens, leaving a shaped cutout in the middle, the bokeh effect takes on that shape. Morgan had to try it out when I told her.

And there’s your Japanese/photography/what-to-do-when-you’re-bored-in-the-car lesson for today! Cheers!

Candace lives in Chicago. Enri lives here in Memphis. Their relationship, for now, is a long distance one.

This couple is super cool. Way fashionable. So in love. I had talked with Candace over the phone and through email on several occasions, and I had met Enri briefly by the time their engagement shoot rolled around, but I could tell already. They decided they wanted to start their shoot at the airport, which has become an icon for their relationship. I loved the idea! I simply adore when couples choose a location that means something personal to them (yes, I make my clients choose the locations so that they will have more meaningful photos later).

We met at the airport, and I would have been able to pick Candace out of a crowd, even without ever having met her. I just knew she would be fabulous! And let me tell you, this girl did not disappoint. She knew how to work the camera, and made my job so much easier. Oh, and Enri? He’s not half bad either! Rarely are the men this comfortable in front of the camera.

Bling and baggage. Yum.

We left to head downtown, but I had to snap this one in the parking lot, with the control tower in the background. My favorite from the whole day.

Downtown after a change of clothes, we started at the Madison. Yes, I asked the front desk for permission, and they gave me the go-ahead, only to come back 5 minutes later and decide that we couldn’t take photos after all, unless we were a guest. Memphis photographers take note. I did get this one before they kicked us out!

We then took to Main Street and captured some Memphis moments.

Rawr. Oh yeah, babe.

This pink bike was just sitting on the street and happened to be the perfect pink that matched Candace’s dress. No way am I passing that up!

Enri. Dude. You are one dapper fellow.

Candace and Enri really wanted those Madison rooftop photos. I really wanted them to have them. We brainstormed for a few minutes. The front door doesn’t open up right on the front desk. If we walked in and made our way straight to the elevators, they would likely never even see us. I hear you, I hear you… “oh no, you didn’t!” Oh yeah. We sure did. Snuck right in, went straight to the roof. Snapped some gorgeous pictures before anyone even knew we were there. Now that’s what I call vigilante photography!

Candace and Enri, thank you for being so willing to take risks and for trusting me! I cannot wait for the wedding! I’ll end with this moment that captures their passion perfectly. Here’s to getting kicked out of the Madison! Cheers!

Some of you long-time fans (anyone? anyone?) might remember Andrea & Todd’s engagement shoot. Because they were getting married in Gatlinburg, I was unable to shoot their wedding. However, Andrea wanted a bridal shoot so that she could have an enlarged photo for her reception. She came all the way to Memphis from Oxford so that we could explore the Shelby Farms grounds in her wedding gown.

Now that she is happily married, I can post these lovely photos!

Andrea’s mom came with her, and she was determined to get some shots with these lily pads in the background. I’m glad she was!

Andrea is a very natural girl, so this setting was perfect for her bridal photos.

Congratulations on your marriage, Adrea! I wish you and Todd all the best. Cheers!

I’m a photographer. I have uber fancy equipment that is an extension of my arm, more often than not. Sometimes, on occasion, I have been known to forget to carry it to the family gathering. Sometime, on occasion, I forget to charge the battery, or format the CF cards. Sometimes, on occasion, I just don’t feel like lugging that heavy thing around! But sometimes, sometimes, every once in awhile, I go somewhere that doesn’t allow cameras.

Concerts can be such places. Those of you who know me (and probably most of you who don’t), know that I am a rocker chic. I make no secret of it. I gotta have my music! I would rather see a live show than go to a movie any night. I would rather listen to my iTunes than watch TV. Give me music, and give it to me loud!

I had the chance recently to see two of my favorite bands, Shinedown & Chevelle (along with 10 Years & Sevendust who were almost equally awesome). The show was amazing! One of the best (musically) I’ve seen, and I wanted to remember it. But

• a.) they don’t allow cameras inside, and
• 2.) did I mention that my camera is heavy? iPhone to the rescue!

*disclaimer #1: this is NOT a post endorsing rule-breaking. doing so can result in the confiscation of your iPhone, which would be bad. there. i told you so.*

*disclaimer #2: these are iPhone photos (duh) taken from far away. these photos do NOT fairly represent my photographer abilities (or lack thereof)!*

Check out the lighting! Sigh. Bring on the neon (this is Chevelle. Yes, I know it’s not actually neon).

10 Years. Just in case you couldn’t read the big sign.

Shinedown, Shinedown, and Shinedown. Ah, Shinedown. How I love thee. True entertainment. Other artists take note. “You couldn’t pry this smile off my face with a crowbar.” They always seem genuinely happy to perform. And perform they do.

Here’s to the Sound of Madness. Cheers!

• It’s amazing the transformation an almost-six year old makes when he gets an extra hour of sleep. Putting Alex to bed at 7:30 rather than 8:30 has turned him from a whiney-baby (yes, that’s my technical term) into an excited, happy child ready for school.
• It’s amazing the amount of things I can get done in a day if I don’t go back to bed after the kids go off to school (I admit I do this once in awhile!).
• It’s amazing how hungry watching the Food Network can make you (even if you’ve just had dinner)!
• It’s amazing that I am actually ready for the summer to end and cooler weather to come.
• It’s amazing that my mother doesn’t like cilantro. Seriously. It’s like, the best herb ever. Mom, you’re just weird.

And the photo of the day: my Jessie girl on her 11th birthday. Yes, that’s silly string, and yes, she’s covered in it.

Here’s to being covered in silly string. And being okay with it. Cheers!

Most of clients come to me via my website or email, which means I have no clue what they look like until we meet. 9 times out of 10, this first meeting is for their engagement shoot. This means I have to show up at the location and hope that the clients have looked at my online photo and will recognize me! Lily and Bryan are a prime example, with one exception. When I saw them from across the street, I knew it was them. Not because they had included photos of themselves in their emails so that I would recognize them (some do). Not because they were waving frantically at me (they weren’t). But because they were so engrossed in each other and so obviously in love.

I got more giddy the closer I got to approaching them. These photos were going to be fantastic! Not because they are the cutest couple ever (they are). Not because I am an awesomely talented photographer (I’m not). But because I could already tell it would be super simple to capture their love. It radiated from them.

We started out downtown, where they have recently rented an apartment. The arts district in Memphis has a wall that is covered in painted icons. So. Cool.

Bryan loves to look at Lily, and really, who wouldn’t?

The light in these shots just makes me so darn happy!

How perfect is this sentiment? Perfect. Especially since Bryan is from Nashville.

I adore the arts district. So many cool murals and colorful walls!

Sigh. Yum. Late afternoon sun, I love you.

It wouldn’t be downtown without a trolley shot:

Bryan and Lily then ran home to their apartment to change and pick up their puppies. We met at Shelby Farms to finish up the shoot. How cute is this face? Drool. And I don’t mean the dog.

Oh, did I mention that they brought balloons! I love them!

Bryan’s students (he’s a teacher) would snicker if they caught him doing this!

At the end of the day, Bryan and Lily wanted to release the balloons. What a fabulous tribute to their engagement!

Yowza. Gorgeous couple.

And my mostest favoritest shot from the whole day. Double sigh.

Bryan and Lily, you two are beautiful, inside and out. Thank you so much for letting me capture your engagement! Cheers!

Life is back to normal. Whatever that is. Back to getting up twice in the morning to get 4 kids off to 3 schools. Back to hurridly making school lunches and rushing to make the bus. Back to after school snacks (does anyone else’s children prefer their cereal after school rather than before, or is it just my weirdos?). Back to the “aw, mom”s that follow the announcement of homework time. Back to early bedtimes and earlier dinner times.

Most children carry books, pencils, and notes to school every day, along with long faces and laments over a summer now gone. My girls are mostly living up to this famously. When asked about her first day of school, Morgan simply said “no.” Helen offered little more, adding that it was good to see her friends. Jessie was a bit perkier. She is starting middle school this year, and is excited about a new school and changing classes.

Alex? Alex got up two and a half hours before he needed to be at school. He talked of nothing else. He dressed himself, ate breakfast, and had his teeth brushed before I could even drag myself out of bed to take him to his first day of Kindergarden. Some of you may remember our failed attempt at Kindergarden last year. Needless to say, he only lasted 2 weeks before we decided to pull him out. I now know it was the right decision, because he is a different person this year. He assured me more than once that he will be fine, and this year, I believe him.

I can’t believe I have a senior this year:

My middle schoolers:

Backpack and all. He was ready to go!

Looking a little more trepidatious in the classroom, but not needing mommy to stay (sniff sniff).

Here’s to getting your learn on! Cheers!