a swell birthday

Yesterday was my birthday, and as birthdays go, it was pretty cool. I slept late, took the dog for a walk, got some work done, did a fun photo shoot with an adorable baby girl, went out with Matt for a swanky dinner, then came home, put on jammies, and started watching Battlestar Galactica. Not bad, right?

I got lots of well-wishing from family and friends. That's always the best part. I'm pretty lucky that-a-way.

Of course, I snapped a couple pics of some neat-o stuff I got...

My awesome mom-in-law, Susie got me this cute piece of glass made by Patricia Krupo. Blueberry pancakes are always an art form!!!

Mary brought me over these gorgeous flowers. How sweet is that? I LOVE the colors!

I got an original Owen Walker painting...signed by the artist himself!

Matt took me to Craft, a restaurant owned by Tom Colicchio (one of the judges on Top Chef). If you love food, you have GOT to go there. It's definitely a special-occasion only place for our budget, but also worth every penny. I was in heaven over the flavors and presentation. I wish I had a better pic, but I can't do the food visual justice with the leftovers. Just go, you'll see what I mean.

Now I have to get back to work...and plucking gray hairs! Sigh.

sabrina + rocky's wedding

Sabrina + Rocky's big day was full of so many of my favorite things about weddings. A fun, laid-back couple...a special first glance meeting...eye-catching details....and cupcakes! It was truly an unforgettable event.

Sabrina was exquisite in every way, and Rocky was 100% dashing groom. All their hard work and planning came to life and created an atmosphere of intimacy and elegance.

Here are just a few shots from this incredible day, and if you want to see more, there's a slideshow at the end of the post!

I know I sound like a broken record, but I LOVE when couples have a "first glance" meeting before the ceremony. I can't get enough of moments like these...

I always cry at weddings. At Sabrina + Rocky's, you might have thought my teary moment would have been when I saw the red velvet cupcakes, but here's the part that got me. At their meet-up, they exchanged some very meaningful gifts. They got choked up = I got choked up.

I was blessed with the second-shooting abilities of my hubby, Matt. Sabrina said she was glad he was there as Photog #2. I can't blame her. He took this next shot, which might be my favorite from the day.

What the wedding party is doing here is referred to as "workin it".

The ceremony and reception was held at Wahoo Grill in Decatur. I had never shot there before, and I'm so glad I got the chance. Matt and I kept noticing how nice all the staff were, and everything was flawlessly organized. The food was also delish, and check out these details!

Right after the ceremony, both Sabrina + Rocky tweeted their new marital status. How cool is that?

They headed off to Paris for their honeymoon. SWEET! Have fun you two, and thanks so much for letting us play a part in your wonderful day!

To view a slideshow of more images from this gorgeous day, please click HERE

dell + ferlando's photo booth

I love photo booths, and I'm so glad Dell + Ferlando opted to have one at their recent wedding. With family and friends as fun as this...you can't go wrong. Here are just a few examples of them working it for the camera.

Dell contacted me after I shot Christi and Andisheh's wedding last year, so I had to give them a little photo shout out!

Way to work the photo booth y'all!

alison

I'm lucky to say that Alison has been a friend for years now. She's beautiful to look at and has a lovely soul to match. As if that's not enough, there's also a very calming effect when you're around her. Are you stressed out? Just hang around Alison for a little while. You'll feel better.

I can't believe it's taken this long to have her in front of my camera, so I'm thrilled that she needed some new headshots. I was so excited, knowing how effortless and fun it would be to photograph her. I'm sure she's SO sick of hearing this, but she truly has the MOST piercing, not-of-this-world eyes.

I'll definitely have to come up with some excuses or cool artsy ideas to get Alison in front of my camera again soon.

Thanks so much Alison....you're the best!

1:23

Synchronicity Performance Group is currently running a powerful and beautiful show called "1:23", written by Carson Kreitzer. Here's the description from their website:

"Susan Smith, Andrea Yates, Juana Leija; once normal women, normal mothers. Now branded forever by their ability to commit the unthinkable crime. In Carson Kreitzer’s stunning drama, we peer into the defining moments of three broken lives through the eyes of the detectives charged with sifting through the shards while struggling to stay sane. Can the water that drowned their children ever wash these women clean?"

It's running now through May 17th. Please go check it out! For info on tickets and such, please click HERE.

dell + ferlando - ceremony #2

I think you can tell a lot about people by who they surround themselves with. This is why it was no surprise that everyone attending Dell + Ferlando's wedding had a joyful expression and kind words. They have such a strong family and community of friends, and each person seemed to be enjoying the day to the full extent.

When I first met Dell to talk about photography, she mentioned wanting a fun wedding where everybody is relaxed and has a great time. I loved hearing that, and it was even better watching it actually happen.

Here are a few photos of this stunning couple on their lovely day, taken by me and my awesome second shooter Matt (also awesome husband). There are more images in a slideshow at the end of this post too!

To view a slideshow of more images from this wonderful day, please click HERE