Catching up with my blogging tonight…

Take a looksee at this sweet couple, recently married in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Rumor has it, they are expecting an addition to their new family in about… nine months!

Congratulations newlyweds!!!

I just loved this wedding - it’s everything you could want from an intimate beach ceremony with close friends and family in attendance.

What I saw when I first arrived:

Getting ready:

Lovely Jana:

Quick background - we were working with the bridal party and family members out on the beach about an hour before the ceremony - shooting the formals prior to ceremony, as we often do - when three beach cruisers start heading our way, moving pretty fast. I started walking towards the vehicles when one of the officers yells out “do you have a permit to be out here?” I fumbled for words and he repeats “do you have a permit to allow y’all to conduct a wedding on this beach?” I replied “Sir, I’m not certain, but I can locate someone who might have an answer for you….” (It was all I could come up with). He says “I’d like to speak to whoever is in charge.” I spin around, scanning the crowd and see Judy, the mother of the bride. She walks over, visibly upset - having overheard our conversation - and they begin a back and forth over whether it is or is not legal to have the ceremony on private property without a permit. I wasn’t sure what to do - but something told me to shoot. (I’m a little ballsy like that!) About two minutes into the debate, the officers begin laughing - and Judy looks stunned for a moment until it hit us all - they were totally yanking our chain! It was scary for a minute and I’m so glad it was a joke - but I can’t believe they did that! In retrospect, it was pretty funny and having the photo series makes it even better. So, there’s the story.

Ceremony set-up:

Here comes the groom:

I like the sweet look between Jana and her dad:

Newlywed Bliss:

I love the name Laurel. I always have. (I also like the name Heidi - but that’s totally off topic.) This was my first opportunity to meet Laurel - whose wedding is only a few very short days away. Stay tuned - you’ll be seeing more of her again soon!

We love these guys - and it would seem they like us too - because they came back again to shoot a SECOND engagement session in a different setting.
Here are Rebecca and Matt, back again, for a sunset overlooking Pensacola Beach:

When I phoned Katie the first time at her NYC office at Glamour magazine - I remember thinking “just don’t let me sound as un-hip as I really am!” LOL I had just seen the trailer for The Devil Wears Prada the night before receiving Katie’s email inquiry and had clips from the movie playing in my head… She answered, I introduced myself, and right away we ‘clicked.’ Then, a few months later - we met in person - all four of us: Katie, her fiance Tim, me, and Charles - in Seaside, Florida. We spent most of our time together just getting to know each other (and her charming family, too!) - but we also managed to shoot some relaxed portraits while we were there.

We’re so excited to be shooting their wedding in Seaside next year!