Favorite Wedding Photos of 2015

These wedding photos are among my favorites of 2015, and I'll give a little explanation under each one. 

Most of my top ten are not what you would expect a wedding photographer to pick. They aren't the gorgeous portraits of brides looking like Vogue models with dramatic lighting. Most of them don't showcase any kind of technical prowess. They aren't even photos that you would typically see in a "wedding blog" pinned on every bride's I Do board. These are photos of moments that moved me. Moments that made these weddings stand out in my mind and made me proud of myself as a photographer for capturing them. I experience moments like this in each wedding, and when I manage to capture them well, that is when I feel like I've done my job. 

(Disclaimer, these are in no particular order)

Jessie & Jacob, The Crown Winery

The Crown's ceremony setup is a nightmare for me when shooting processionals. The aisle is about as long as a toothpick, and there is not much room for me at the front to shoot up the aisle. I shot most of this processional off to the side, but as Jessie and her dad got closer, I moved to the middle hoping to catch them straight on. I'm glad I followed this instinct because they stopped to pray before walking down the aisle. It was such a quiet, beautiful moment to witness.

That white blur in the foreground on the right is her mom's sleeve, so I had a super narrow space to get the shot, but I was happy with the timing of this one since the flower girl serves to frame Jessie and her dad off to the right.

Paige & Stephen, ECC and Providence House

I teared up during this interaction. They chose not to see each other before the ceremony, but they met up to just say hello (and "I love you" about 100 times) with a door separating them. These two are about as sappy and adorable as they come, and their happiness just oozed out of them all day. Nothing special about the composition of this shot, it's just a simple and moving moment.

Meghan & Adam, Christ Community and The Opera House

Ok I have three shots from this wedding. I was ON IT that day, plus they just had a really great wedding day with perfect lighting at The Opera House. I need to write an Ode to The Opera House because I love working there so much. Anyway, this is straightforward and exactly what it seems. Meghan's mother is getting her into her dress. Her bridesmaids were all watching, and they were chatting and joking around. I just look at Meghan's face in this, and it takes me right back to when I was getting ready for my wedding. That excitement, the slight nervousness. Her expression perfectly sums up that feeling for me.

Oh Adam. He had every person there sobbing like a child. His reaction to seeing his stunning bride walking down the aisle was so tender. I have a great shot of his initial reaction too, but I chose this one because I like that Meghan is also in the shot. The lighting is not ideal in this church, but here I feel the emotion outweighs that.

Also, I think it's pertinent to point out that they did a first look earlier in the day, and he still had this reaction. I don't pressure people either way, but don't let "I want my walk down the aisle to be special" be the only reason you don't do a first look.

I had to include a few dancing photos in the mix! This might be my Ode to The Opera House right here. This is with no external lighting, just a big, beautiful window! I love the happiness on their faces, and father/daughter dances are so much better when they're upbeat and fun.

Cari & Rob, Downtown Jackson

I have a lot of feelings about this wedding. I have known Cari for years since we were in school together, but I've only recently gotten to know her a little better. She is one of the most amazing people I've ever met, and shooting her wedding was a joy from beginning to end. There was so much love from all fronts, and despite the oppressive heat, it was a perfect day. Cari showed this kind of excitement pretty much all day, which made my job a lot of fun! I love that when she got everything on and was ready to head out the door, she just took a moment to freak out. This will forever be one of my favorites, and that might be a little bit because I love Cari so much, but it's also just a fun bridal moment.

This is also from Rob and Cari's wedding. Their reception was WILD, and possibly my favorite ever. I can't remember another time I've danced so much at a reception, but since many of the people there were also friends of mine, I just got right in there with them and danced. Hilary's face (in the blue dress) makes this shot for me.

Forest & Elizabeth, Fyrne Lake

I love a good photo bomb, but this one is my all-time favorite. I love when things like this happen in the middle of posed photos because they just make them infinitely more fun.

Kailey & Bowen, Brownsville First Baptist

It's common for brides to have a prayer with their bridesmaids before the wedding, but this one was especially sweet to me. The bride's mother and mother-in-law are both there, and everyone is very close and intimate. I generally will just take one or two photos during prayers so that I'm not disturbing anyone, and I happened to be ready right when Kailey raised the tissue to her eye. This was one of those moments that made me proud of myself as a photographer (I know that sounds conceited, but I'm not pretending to be modest here). Is this a perfect shot? No way. There's a steamer in the background, for goodness sakes. Do I still love it? Absolutely.

Lisa & Jay, Brownsville farm

Lisa's mother came to the wedding from a nursing facility, and Lisa told me prior to the wedding day that she wasn't sure how much she would be able to handle that day. I was mindful of her interactions and tried to get several special photos with her in them. I got some other shots from this incredible wedding that really stood out to me, but I love this one the most. Lisa wasn't sure how aware her mother was, but I imagine she was at least aware in this moment that her daughter was overflowing with joy.

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I hope you all enjoyed seeing these photos and reading about why I love them! I approach each wedding looking for shots like this. I'm almost positive that all of these photos made it into these couple's albums. Of course there are portraits there too, but I know these moments mean a lot to the people who lived them, and I'm committed to preserving them.

Nicole & Tim's Sunny Park Engagement Session

Toward the end of last year, I had the privilege of meeting up with Nicole and Tim to shoot their engagement session. I was so glad they decided to go ahead and book me for their wedding, because they are as sweet as can be! Nicole has a beautiful smile, and I love that Tim is so clearly smitten with her. We had a nice walk around Liberty Park taking their photos one afternoon. The light that day could not have been more perfect.

They brought this quilt with them and looked adorable all wrapped up in it.  

I am so excited to shoot their wedding this fall!

Things to do in 2016

It's that time again. Time to sit down and think of things I want to accomplish in the coming year. I had a pretty successful and productive 2015, so when I sat down to think of things for 2016, I was going a little blank. I honestly pulled a lot of this year's goals out of thin air, but I'm sure I'll think of more things along the way. First, let's see how I did last year:

1. Actually really seriously paint the kitchen - for real this time. - Done with just a few days to spare. I ended up hiring someone to do this, but I went a little above and beyond my original plans. I stained my cabinets (by myself, right in the middle of wedding season) and got new countertops in addition to painting. All we have left is the backsplash and the whole room already looks so much better. I'll do a before/after post when it's done!  
2. Set up guestroom - did this. It's a little half-hearted, but I don't want to spend money on painting and flooring. The important thing is that there's a bed in there and it looks like a real room, not a storage closet. 
3. Shoot 20 weddings - Unbelievably, I ended up with over 25 weddings. This year was insane for my business, and I am still pinching myself. I am beyond thankful for my clients and all the people who have been supporting me.  
4. Get the front flower beds under control - I had more in mind, but all I ended up doing was killing weeds and using pine needles to cover the bed. It looks decent, and the pine needles are free from my back yard! Maybe flowers can be planted this year.  
5. Organize vintage inventory - I did this out of necessity when I moved to a desktop computer. I now have a nice workspace upstairs, and all the vintage stuff is organized in boxes. I'm still not doing anything with it, but at least it's not still strewn all over the place. 
6. Deep clean the house and minimize possessions - the only thing I did was bleach and scrub the tile in my bathroom. Everything else I cleaned was stuff just to get by without living in utter filth. I just hate cleaning y'all. I hate it. 
7. Break 24 minutes in the 5K - Unfortunately I haven't recovered from the plantar fasciitis that I got while training for my marathon in 2014. I've completely stopped running for now to try and get past that. It was hard to let this goal get away since I had gotten somewhat close. 
8. Reach $10,000 in savings - I am so proud of myself for reaching this goal! I still treat non-essential purchases as treats, which helps me not spend too much extra money. Now if only I could get my grocery spending in check... 
9. Do at least 5 personal projects - eh, I kind of decided I didn't care about personal projects anymore. I shoot full time at work plus weddings, so in my personal time, I just like to do other things. 
10. Read a book a month - I don't have trouble with this anymore, but I keep it as a goal because it keeps me from slacking off. I read some GREAT books this year. I discovered a new favorite author, Christopher Buckley, and I'm currently reading his newest, The Relic Master. I also read through the Harry Potter books again. 
11. Walk Chipper 5 days a week - I did well with this on and off, but I've certainly been off since the time changed. I know it's not a good excuse, but it's hard to make myself walk him in the dark. 

Overall, I think 2015 was good! I had such a baller year with my business, and I feel like I got some things in my house under control right at the end of the year. My mood is a ton better when I come home to a kitchen with a pleasant atmosphere, as dumb as that sounds. It really makes a difference! 

Now for 2016... let's see what I came up with. 

1. Watch 20 books in my "1001 Movies to See Before You Die" book - I slacked on this in 2015, but I want to get back on the wagon this year. I enjoy watching the older films in the book (it was published in 2008 I think) even though not all of them are to my taste. I suppose it makes me more well-rounded. 
2. Nail down "family formal" lighting - I've needed to work on this for a while. I need to figure out flash power, position and camera settings to get what I want every single time. 
3. Write stuff down - I tried this last year with no success. Writing things down helps me work through them, and I have neglected doing that in the last several years. I need to get over my fear that people will read it, because honestly no one else would even want to. 
4. Let feet heal, and run again - I've given myself until May before I try and run again. So far, I still have the plantar fasciitis (haven't run since early Dec), but it's not as severe. Crossing fingers! 
5. Go to church consistently - I started this in December, but I want to go every Sunday unless I'm out of town. No excuses. I used my "I'm tired from shooting all day Saturday" excuse far too much this year. Guess what? Everyone else is tired too...get over it. 
6. Replace main camera - would have done this in 2015 if Canon would get their crap together. I'm just waiting for the successor to my currently camera to be released (or even announced! Get it together, Canon!)
7. Put $5000 toward Rhett's school loans - He has a long way to go on those loans, and I've been trying to help. Since I was so successful with saving last year, I'm hoping I can be disciplined enough to make this happen.
8. Clean out garage - It's a wreck. It's got to be done. 
9. Read a book a month
10. Get bushes removed in the backyard - We have some inexplicably placed bushes in the backyard that I can't get out without machinery. Hoping to hire someone to do this in 2016. I'd like to eventually replace my deck with a smaller covered deck and a patio, so I need the space where the bushes are. 

Well that's it! I know these are boring, but I like to set attainable and measurable goals for myself. I find that goals, instead of resolutions, keep me motivated throughout the year.

Here's to a maybe slightly productive 2016! 

If you're curious: 

Things to do in 2015

Things to do in 2014

Things to do in 2013

Things to do in 2012

Daniel & Heather's Winter Wedding in Henderson Tennessee

My last wedding of the year was perhaps the one with the least amount of stress. To say Heather is on top of things would be a huge understatement. This girl had every single detail down, and she had everything running ahead of schedule. Now most weddings are usually pretty smooth (contrary to popular belief), but at least one or two things will cause a little stress or delay. Not at the McNatt wedding! I tip my hat to Heather's planning skills.

When I arrived the ladies were getting ready and listening to music from Wicked, which I know my college friends would have loved. I had to keep myself from singing along to Defying Gravity, because no one really needs to hear that. I took some photos of the girls and guys getting ready and lots of details around Estes Church of Christ.

I loved all the navy blue and the string lights in the fellowship hall. So festive!

Jared was goofing around with his tie. The "do your best" sign in the background just made me laugh.

When Heather was ready, we did as many of the portraits before the ceremony as we could. We got quite a bit done, so we just had a couple of family photos and couple portraits left for after the ceremony. All the family and bridal party were incredibly cooperative, so we had fun!

It was unseasonably warm, so these girls didn't freeze at all. 

After portraits we had a bit of down time before the ceremony. I got to chat with one of my high school soccer coaches a bit because he was doing the lights and sound for them! It's always fun to run into people I know at weddings. 

I don't tear up at weddings often anymore, but this one was just exceedingly sweet.

Portraits were a challenge because of lighting and location. Estes doesn't have a lot of scenery around it that isn't looking very "wintery" right now. You can do a lot with some gorgeous subjects though! Heather and Daniel are very photogenic and they were gracious enough to walk through a little field to get to a spot I felt would look nice. I am pleased with the results, and I was super thankful for some evergreens around the church.

The reception was short and sweet so that they could get on the road. They did the cake cutting and bouquet/garter toss before an exit with traditional rice. I just loved Heather's dress when she left! She has such great style. 

Congrats Daniel and Heather! I wish you all the best.