Troy and Adam's Wedding

Troy and I met over a year ago when I needed some help from her business. She mentioned she was getting married and I asked if she had a photographer. It went from there...

When both she and Adam came over one evening to chat, I knew that I wanted to photograph their wedding. They are both so colorful and animated. I could tell right away that they belonged together and seemed to fit just perfectly with one another.

The wedding was an idyllic Fall wedding at historic Idlewild on Union (an incredible church if there ever was one). The weather was dialed-in perfect and the setting could not have been any better. I had a blast working with Troy and Adam that day and once the ceremony was over, we all headed to Stax Museum to party.

I will post some of the Stax shots asap but wanted to get these shots of the two of them up now.

Thanks Troy and Adam for a beautiful wedding and a GREAT time!

Nathan

Andrea and Clift's Wedding

This was an October wedding to remember. Andrea and Clift make such a perfect couple. They are so good together and were so much fun to be around. The weather was perfect and the Zoo is a GREAT place for a wedding. This was my second wedding at the Zoo this year.

The day started out with some great late afternoon sun rays beaming down on us. I elected to take the couple to some of my favorite spots in Overton park prior to the wedding and it just turned out great. Andrea made such a beautiful bride and Clift is the cool, calm collected guy always wearing that smile.

I have to say that Andrea's mom absolutely saved my bacon too! After leaving the Zoo, I noticed that one of my lens bags was missing! She very thoughtfully secured it for me and contacted me the next day to return it. Thank you Mrs. Shumate!

And THANK YOU Andrea and Clift for letting me share your special day with you.

Best wishes!

Lesley and Anir's Wedding

WoW! What a weddings. Nope. I didn't misspell. Ha ha.

Lesley and Anir approached me this past Spring with a need to photograph their TWO weddings. Anir's family is from India and he wanted a traditional Indian Gujarati wedding. Lesley is from the States and wanted a traditional Christian wedding. What could be simpler t solve? Have two seperate weddings!

And so they did.

I have never worked so hard in my life as I did this one day in September! It was beautiful, gorgeous, so full of color and spice and passion! It was a once in a lifetime event.

The day began at the Memphis Botanic Gardens where the Gujarati wedding was performed. The ceremony began with the groom riding in a horse drawn carriage in the parking lot of the Gardens and all of this attendees dancing in a swirling, mesmirizing dervish in front and around him. The Saris worm by the women and traditional Dhotis worn by the men were so colorful and flowing. I have never experienced such before - it was incredible!

After the conclusion of the first ceremony, we took a break, packed up and drove East for a traditional Christian wedding at beautiful Trinity Presbyterian where I've shot before.

The reception was just as grand as the two weddings. It was held at the Esplanade and was powered by the mighty sounds of the 20 piece Memphis Jazz Orchestra fronted by local legend Jo Jo Jefferies and Tom Prestigiacomo of local radio fame.

What a day and night! I have a gazillion (at least) photos from the events. I've posted only two here for now but will return to post more favorites later.

Thank you Lesley and Anir for a most wonderous time!

Ginnie and Jacob's Wedding

Ginnie and Jacob commissioned me to photograph their wedding in Batesville, MS which is an easy hour and half from Memphis down I-55. The church they chose for their wedding had been Ginnie's childhood church and it was the perfect setting for them. The church was filled to capacity and they even had a bagpiper play during the ceremony. I had a great time with them and their families. The reception was very cool too - the old Batesville Bank which has been turned into a reception hall - complete with vault! Very neat.

Thanks Ginnie and Jacob for a great time!

Patience and JR's Wedding

Months ago, Patience and JR asked me if I'd travel to Jamaica with them to photograph their wedding. I was completely overwhelmed to receive such as request. As a photographer, I always feel as if I'm granted a huge gift when a client places their trust in me for their wedding day. But when a couple is willing to fly you to the Carribean and let you be a part of their inner circle of family and friends who accompanied them, it's just more than I can describe. My most humble thanks to Patience and JR for giving me the opportunity to share one of the most special weeks of my life with them. I truly mean it - you guys rock!

The Northwest from Memphis into Montego Bay was a easy flight. I climbed into a taxi and experienced an incredible 1.5 hour coastal ride into Negril. By the time I settled in for the night at the beach resort that Patience and JR had selected for me, I fell alseep listening to the waves lap onto the sandy beach just outside my window.

When I awoke the next morning, the skies were gray and the weather drizzled rain. It was a dreadful sight and I wondered how our wedding on the beach would turn out. I had real concerns. I took a taxi to Sandals where Patience and JR had a honeymoon suite and crossed my fingers.

Like a chapter out of a perfect wedding novel, just 30 minutes prior to the wedding, the clouds broke and the sun shone down in a fiery burst drying everything in minutes. The wedding was so incredibly special. To be there with just their immediate family and their lifelong friends was just a privlege that I could not repay. It was really very special.

The shoot went fantastically (come, on, it's Jamaica!). We sessioned on two different beaches and had a private driver take us West to the cliffs for even more photos. Posted here are just a few of my favorites.

THANK YOU Patience and JR for being the coolest, badest, hippest, trendiest and, well, just the best! I'll never forget my experience with you guys!

Holly and Nathan's Wedding

When I was approached to perform the wedding of Holly and Nathan's, I had no idea just how special this couple was. They are two of the nicest and most down to earth people I've met. Their families were just the same and made us feel at home during the entire event. It was a fantastically hot (and I mean HOT) day in June and the wedding turned out just beautiful. Years ago, when Nathan was a Boy Scout, he worked at the Church to build their outdoor sanctuary so the wedding held special significance for them. It did for me as well as I had not only photographed the church before but had taken my son to Cub Scout meetings there only a few years ago.

Thank you Holly and Nathan for being the wonderful people you are and for giving me the opportunity to spend your wedding day with you.

Claire

Shortly after photographing the wedding of Crystal and Rocky, Crystal's Aunt phoned and commissioned me to photograph her grandchildren at her beautiful home. Wow was I surprised to find no less than 11 grandchildren. They were all fantastic kids and ranged in age from just one and half all the way up to 15. Above is one of my favorites from the session of little Claire. She was about the shyest subject I've ever photographed and the sweetest too!

Crystal and Rocky's Wedding

When Crystal and Rocky approached me sometime ago to perform their wedding photography, they explained that their ceremony was to be held at Crystal's parent's home in Northern Arkansas. Each free weekend had been spent in preparation of the event. Rocky and Crystal's dad had even built a beautiful arbor at the lake's edge to use as an altar for their outdoor wedding. Then, disaster struck in the form of a deadly tornado which ravaged the area near them and brought the water level up extremely high - half covering some trees at the edge of the land.

They put their best smiles on anyway and pushed forward with a wedding that was a complete success. I had never been to the sleepy little town of Greer's Ferry but found it charming and peaceful. Crystal had selected a hotel for all of the traveling vendors and even went so far as to leave a care pack in each room prior to everyone's arrival. Classic touch from such a young couple!

Although swelteringly hot, the outdoor wedding was beautiful and perfectly timed. The photo above represents only one of my favorites and I promise to add a few more but for now this will do. I caught Crystal looking down the rose petal path that had been laid for her, toward the altar. A soft breeze caught her veil and I couldn't resist the impulse to capture that moment.

Thank you again Crystal and Rocky for sharing your most important day with me!

Holly's Bridal Session

Bridal sessions are such an important part of wedding photography - not only for the couple but for me as well. It gives me an opportunity to see my client in her dress for the first time and to gain a sense of how comfortable she appears moving about in it. I could tell right away that Holly felt completely at ease and that means everything when trying to get the right shot.

Holly has very classic looks and these green eyes that sparkle like gems! Although one of the session photos of her dress was well worth posting here on the blog, I opted for this shot which became my favorite because it really showcases her facial features (of course) and her eyes just come alive.

Thanks Holly! I'll see you in a few weeks!

Lori and Jeremy's Wedding

Today was an absolute treat for me. I'd never before photographed a wedding at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It is unbelievably beautiful! I'm telling you that if you walked blindfolded into that church, just pointed your camera randomly and took several photos you'd come out with something great. It's hard to go wrong there.

Lori and Jeremy told me that they had a few ideas for fun at the wedding and although I was interested, I wasn't really sure what to expect. The formal and ceremony photos went off without a hitch. The coordinators there are awesome! Thank you Bambi!

But the real fun came just after the ceremony when a rented bus pulled up out front and Lori and Jeremy said, "Let's go have some fun!". Huh? Ha ha - It was too cool! They had rented a bus to take all of the bridal party and family members (and yours truly) on a 2 hour fun spree through Downtown Memphis! It began to rain and then just stormed while we were on that bus but it did not matter! Everyone had such a great time doing some just a bit out of the norm. We made stops at the Flying Saucer pub and just pretty much crashed it entirely. After spending some time there, we loaded back up and headed for Beale Street to capture some of the photos you see below. What fun!

After our adventure, we returned to the church, grabbed our cars and headed to the reception at the Marriot Hotel. There I was saved, absolutely saved, by their manager Mary Margaret (thank you!) who provided me with a missing data cable that I needed. The reception was a hit and I made quite a few new friends.

Lori and Jeremy, Memphis will be a bit smaller without the two of you! Best wishes on your journey back home to St. Louis and THANK YOU for a fantastic time!

Patience and JR's Engagement

My phone rang a few weeks back and I found myself talking to a terrific woman I had met only once years ago. I had performed some charity photography work for the West Tennessee Arthritis Foundation back in 2006, and one of the project coordinators remembered me. She not only coordinates events but weddings as well. She asked me if I would be interested in a destination wedding to Jamaica and of course I was.

So that's how I was introduced to Patience and JR who are two of the most stylish and trend setting people I've met. I also have to say that they challenged me a bit more than I'm accustomed when we sat down to discuss their engagement session.

They explained that they wanted something artistic and abstract. Lifestyle, yes, but more. Hmmm... One of the worst things that can happen to an artist of any kind is that they fall into a routine. Thankfully, Patience and JR forced me to come out of my comfort zone a bit and take a chance at something different. I love you guys for that!

Anyway, what you see is from that session. It's artsy, but with a definite urban root. Hard to describe but there it is.

Jamaica, here we come!!!!!

Thanks Patience and JR!

Jessica and Ryan's Wedding

Jessica and Ryan made plans to have their wedding at the Memphis Zoo. If you haven't been, it is a great facility and it provides an incredible backdrop for a wedding. This day, however, was really challenging. Not only did the Zoo host Jessica and Ryan's wedding but another as well AND a High School prom! Did I mention that it was membership drive day too!?! There were a million people swarming around the entrance to the Zoo when I arrived and the weatherman's prognostication for rain looked to be dead on.

I met with Jessica and we made some hasty changes to the location of her formal session and I'm so glad that we did. (There were dozens of moms with strollers running about the courtyard). Now I know that you might hear me say how pretty each of the brides I photograph are (and they all are beautiful on their wedding day without doubt) but Jessica was just gorgeous this day. Her eyes are this incredible, brilliant blue and they just "pop" when lit.

Just prior to the ceremony a few drops began to fall and the decision was made to move the planned outdoor wedding inside the Cat House. By the time the ceremony was complete, storm clouds had begun to build and I knew that we had only a few moments before we would face the worst. So, time was against us and, to compound the issue, the skies had already darkened; no one looks their best when photographed in the dark!

In a mad dash, I grabbed Jessica and Ryan and bolted for the courtyard. There we made a series of photos with me employing a liberal (quite liberal for being hand-held) use of shutter drag to capture the ambient light behind them. Shortly after we'd begun this series, sheets of rain began to assail us and we were trapped with no where to go to photograph the family formals! The family looked to me for an answer and I wasn't sure where to go.

Standing under one of the overhangs in the courtyard I spotted the zoo tram stop some 30 yards away and I said, "Let's just try it". What an insanely wild time we had! Lightning crackled through the sky and sheets of rain blew from every direction. The tram stop was only large enough to support my assistant, myself and two or three family members. With some quick thinking and portable lighting, I managed to capture the photos you see here. The Zoo staff was OUTSTANDING! They ushered each family member under shelter of an umbrella to and from the Cat House to the tram stop until we finished with all the family photos. Hats off to them!!!

Well, I was soaked by the end of it all but my equipment remained dry and, most importantly I managed to captured the event for Jessica and Ryan without letting them down.

Thank you Jessica and Ryan for one of the most memorable (and dangerous) weddings I've ever shot!

Jessica and Duane's Wedding

The weatherman had called for rain but there was none of it to be had for this wedding. Jessica and Duane had a beautiful outdoor wedding at Collierville's Main Square. The park was picturesque and the setting surrounding the area was ideal for a photos. Jessica made such a beautiful bride! I also had a great deal of fun with Jessica's mom who is just a ham! She kept dodging me but in the end my trusty Nikon found her anyway!

Thank you Jessica and Duane for a beautiful wedding!

Crystal and Rocky's Engagement

Crystal and Rocky approached me a few months ago to perform their destination wedding photography. Both were (are) planning on moving to New York after their wedding and I was only too pleased to work with them. They are both very photogenic people and they just look like they belong together from the moment you see them.

The shoot today occured directly after Crystal's bridal session (which was kept secret from Rocky). We had a fun time and got some great images.

Thanks Crystal and Rocky!

Crystal's Bridal Session

All I can say is wow. Crystal was just awesome to photograph today. She looked stunning and was just so graceful throughout each pose. Crystal is one of those people who is just so darned photogenic that it is difficult to make a mistake (so thanks Crystal for making my job simple :-)

The benefit for me today came from having to worry less about the positioning of the bride (since she took direction perfectly) and that allowed me to be even more creative with my compositions than I usually have the time to do. I really enjoyed today's shoot.

Kudos to Crystal's mom Sabrina for being right there for every need during our session! You are a real trooper!

Thanks again Crystal!

Jessica and Duane's Engagement

Jessica and Duane came to me through a reference who happened to be getting married on the same exact day! I explained this to them and as it turned out, their wedding was being held very early while the second wedding was being held later in the evening.

After a few misses due to scheduling conflicts and weather, I finally hooked up with Jessica and Duane and got to spend some time getting to know the two of them a bit better. We got some great shots at the park and I can't emphasize enough how blessed I feel to be doing what I do for a living. I get to meet great folks like Jessica and Duane and for a brief time I am invited into their lives. They are two very special people.

Thanks for inviting me into your world Jessica and Duane! See you in 9 days!

Jessica and Ryan's Engagement

Jessica and Ryan approached me about photographing their wedding at the Memphis Zoo. Most people think "Huh? You're getting married at a zoo?" But, the Memphis Zoo is a great place for a wedding. The city spent millions into renovating it into a premiere attraction. I was interested from the moment we sat down to discuss.

The engagement session yielded some memorable photos and it was great working with these two love birds.

Thank you Jessica and Ryan! See you at the Zoo!

Lesley and Anir's Engagement

Lesley and Anir approached me a few months ago about performing their wedding. He is Indian-American and she American and they wanted to have a specific type of Indian wedding called a Gujarati wedding and they also wanted to have a Christian ceremony as well. Initially, the plan was to spread the weddings over a two day period but, they made a few changes and somehow managed to coordinate both weddings into one day!

Today's assignment was simple. Lesley and Anir had first met Downtown and they wanted to capture their engagement in a "lifestyle" session. We spent two great hours Downtown and we visited the places which meant most to them.

Their wedding will likely be a spectacular and fantastic event as it begins at the Botanic Gardens and ends at the Memphis Opera house with a 22 piece orchestra for the reception - but I wouldn't expect less of these two. They are a class act.

Thanks Lesley and Anir! I can't wait for the wedding!

Holly and Nathan's Engagement

Holly and Nathan approached me a few months ago to perform their wedding photos. She was out of town at the time and we had a bit of a challenge getting to meet one another face to face for awhile. But when we did, I knew that this couple had something special and they fit together so well.

Another fun day at the park getting to know each other better. Piggy back rides can bring out the smiles in anyone! I've got pictures for proof :-)

Thanks Holly and Nathan!

Carly Jo and Chance's Wedding

Holy cow! What a perfect day for a wedding! Today was the first time I had the opportunity to visit and photograph at St. Mary's cathedral in in Downtown Memphis. What an absolutely gorgeous place.

The weather was just about as perfect as you can and everything ran like clockwork. Carly Jo made one beautiful bride and with St. Mary's as the backdrop, it was difficult to go wrong.

The reception was held at the River Terrace where I've shot a gazillion times and everyone had a blast as the Memphis Ice Breakers played some of the best soul and Motown hits.

Thanks Carly Jo and Chance!