Katie and James felt like friend – not clients.  We had great conversation while we strolled around downtown, talking kids and photography and horticulture and ghosts!  I am so pleased with their engagement photos, and cannot wait to shoot their wedding this fall.

Also – how cool is Historic Pensacola Village?  For a little town, we sure do have a lot of neat places to check out…

Clearly, this is neither Katie nor James.  But this little guy hangs out with me every time I shoot on Palafox Pier.  I’m thinking of naming him…

I am kind of obsessed with Anna and Josh.  They are adorable, so obviously obsessed with each other, crafty, and have fabulous taste.  I’ve been looking forward to this wedding for months!  The nautical theme was so well-done, from the striped ties to the goldfish bar, and it was my pleasure to be a part of it.

Venue  |  Palafox Wharf Waterfront

Gown  |  The Bridal Loft

Coordination  |  Nancy’s Haute Affairs

Florals  |  Blooms-a-Million

Decor  |  Marry Me Rentals

Catering  |  Apple Market

Cake  |  Publix Bakery

Tunes  |  Music by Matt

I mean, how else are you going to react when a yacht blows its horn to celebrate your first kiss as husband and wife??

Thank you again, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for winning that night!  The fireworks rocked…

…and an even bigger thank you for setting off heart-shaped fireworks

Cutest family ever?  I think so…

I’ve met with Stephanie and Christopher several times over the past year, and I was super-excited to finally get them in front of my camera.  They are one of my favorite couples ever – smart, kind, thoughtful, funny, and clearly head over heels for each other.  They suggested Bellingrath Gardens for their engagement portrait and I loved they were clearly as impressed with the place as I always am.  I couldn’t choose my favorite shot, so here are a lot!

When we arrived at Bellingrath, the guide told us that the roses were “just starting.”  If this is “just starting,” I cannot imagine what they look “in full bloom!”

In our explorations of the rose garden, we accidentally stumbled into a frog nursery.  Literally hundreds of these little guys plopping all over, including this one, who plopped into Chris’s hands…

This might be my favorite shot.  I love the angle of their bodies and the incredible hydrangeas floating above them.

I met Brianna at the Bridal Expo in Pensacola last January, and had such a great time shooting her engagement portrait with Shawn.  They weren’t afraid to turn it ON for the camera, which made my job pretty easy

I love shooting Anna!  She is laidback, funny, adventurous, and photogenic.  Our excursion to Bellingrath Gardens last month was so fun and I love the way the shots turned out.  Here are a few of my favorites, which I am delighted to finally post now that Anna has become a MRS!

This is officially the longest engagement session post we’ve ever done, and it’s 100% due to the fact that I am obsessed with every single shot of Sarah and Eddie.  Seriously.  I think I went through about 15 “favorite” shots as I worked through the film, and I’m still stuck.  So I posted tons.  Enjoy!

We shot in two locations: downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach.  This shoot reminds me why I love to live here, and why people from all over the world come here for vacation…

Newborns are one of my guilty pleasures.  When I have the opportunity to shoot a brand new baby, the mother in me kicks into overtime: I make every excuse possible to hold the baby (“Do you want me to hold him while you find your keys?”  ”How about I hold her so you can take a break?”  ”I’ll hold him while you look out the window…”).  This shoot was no different.  Baby Jeffrey was small and snuggly, and I loved getting to know him a bit.

This shoot provided an extra treat in the way of a big brother.  Jonah tagged along, hung out, played with trains, and agreed (under duress) to hold his baby brother.  The last photo on this post is my favorite, because it makes me laugh.  (Also, I want Jonah’s curls!  They are incredible).

Every time I look at this photo, I giggle.  I have a son and although he loves his little sister, I recognize this expression:  ”Really?  It’s crying AGAIN?”

Last week, we were asked to shoot a commercial piece for The Angus Steakhouse.  I’m kind of obsessed with the open rafters at the top (and anyone who knows me is aware that I have a love affair with exposed brick).  Keep you eyes peeled and you might spot these photos in a magazine soon!

Venue  |  The Angus Steakhouse

Lighting  |  Santa Rosa Sounds and Lighting

Bridal Gown  |  The Bridal Loft

Decor and Linens  |  Marry Me Wedding Rentals

Florals  |  Southern Floral Traditions

Tuxedo  |  Randall’s

Some of you may remember that it rained all day last Friday.  ALL.  DAY.  And not just drizzles either – full on, balls to the wall, thunder and lighting and sheeting rain.  I watched the storms from the comfort of my kitchen window, constantly checking my watch and the weather app on my phone, hoping beyond hope that a miracle would happen in time for Rebecca and Clay’s beachfront wedding in Grayton Beach.  My windshield wipers worked overtime as I drive through Pensacola…then Navarre…then Destin…then on 30A…and when the downpour finally stopped, it was replaced by a biting, whipping wind that was just as bad (almost) as the storm had been.  Fifteen minutes before the ceremony, we decided to go for it outside, admitting that the wind might be an issue, but at least it wasn’t raining.  And then – as Rebecca opened the door to walk to her groom – the wind died.  Totally.  And the sun started to burn through the clouds.  And we ended up with the best sunset of the year so far as the backdrop to this lovely, elegant, and meaningful wedding.  (Teach me to be a pessimist!).  Here are a few of my faves.

There were so many incredible details at Cassie and Adam’s wedding that I felt like I was getting the chance to do five different photo shoots in one afternoon.  Here’s a top-ten list of my favorite things:

10. The amazing orange trees outside Old Christ Church, dropping ripe fruit and providing gorgeous backgrounds.

9. Cassie’s tea-length dress (okay, she actually had TWO gowns and I loved them both, but the short one was b-a-n-a-n-a-s).

8. Paper flowers.  That’s right.  Paper.  Cassie made them.  ALL of them.  They were creative, unique, and didn’t wilt.

7.  The rain.  Usually, rain stinks on your wedding day.  In this case, Cassie and Adam were willing to risk getting a little damp so we were able to do some incredibly fun shots.

6.  Candy.  EVERYWHERE.  From the peace-sign lollipops to the candy rings, there was color and sweetness everywhere I looked.

5.  The Museum of Commerce.  This is one my favorite locations in Pensacola.  There’s a vintage cable car in the middle of the room.  And a working stoplight.  And a CABLE CAR (did I mention that?)

4.  Adam’s shoes, and those of his groomsmen.  You start at the top (handsome), work your way down (dapper and well-dressed), and you end at the feet (cheeky, fun, and unexpected).

3.  The bridal party.  I laughed.  A LOT.

2.  Cassie and Adam’s fearlessness.  Really, they were willing to do ANYTHING I asked.  And then, they suggested what I wanted to ask but didn’t dare…

1.  The Volkswagon bus.  Especially the photos at the bottom.  Nothing like closing out wedding season on top of an old VW bus.  In the rain.  With a sparkler.

Ceremony Venue |  Old Christ Church

Reception Venue |  Museum of Commerce

Cake |  Betty Weber

Cupcakes |  Simply Cupcakes

What to do when your ringbearer can’t walk?  Tie the rings to his Air Jordans!

Did you know Coca Cola’s original bottles looked like this?  Me neither!  But of course, Cassie did

He’s, um, pouring some sugar on them.  Guess what song was playing?  Yes.  This happened.