Fabulous Wedding Shoes

One key element after finding your dress, is finding your shoes. While most will opt for heels, I've noticed that many brides change into flip-flops for the reception. Your bridesmaids will change as well...because lord knows only the strong can stand in 3-4 inch stilettos all night long.

When I think back to my wedding shoes, all I can say is what the hell was I thinking? I wore satin white 4 inch heels...ALL NIGHT. I didn't bring a pair of flats and no one suggested it to me so I didn't even think about it. Because I am so short, I had my dress hemmed to the height with my shoes ON. So I couldn't go barefoot because I would have been drowning in my dress. So....like any wedding diva I numbed the pain with wine! LOL!

But now, you lucky brides out there have the chance & the heads up from me....GET SOME COMFORTABLE SHOES! In March I shot Page & Brent's wedding, and Page is a sales executive for an awesome company called Okab shoes. Here's a little info on this company & the shoes that I got from their website:

Antimicrobial material resists bacteria, keeping feet clean and healthy
Microplast® technology provides cushioned, lightweight and flexible foot support
Massage-beaded foot bed pampers feet with each step
Reflexology-inspired and ergonomic design
One-piece, fully molded construction ensures stability and durability
Non-slip, non-marking soles prevent slips and trips in spa and pool areas
Colorfast, non-fading material keeps OKA b. styles looking new
Vegan-Friendly and Recyclable
Proudly made in the USA
Two-year guarantee

And I thought this was a GREAT idea....Page got a pair for each of her bridesmaids as a gift! So they were comfortable all night long and the shoes matched their dresses! They come in sooooo many colors and styles! It's hard to choose which pair to get!

And ladies, even if you aren't getting married, check out their website. The shoes are inexpensive & so cute that you'll want some just because. You can buy them online or in specialty boutiques.

Here are some images from their recently introduced Bridal Collection:

Samantha & Dana {Album}

A few weeks a ago I received Samantha & Dana's custom design flush mount album! What makes it more special is that Samantha's sister Amanda, designed herself. She is a graphic designer & I was so excited when it came in the mail!

Below is the first page to their one of a kind custom designed album!

Amanda used the lyrics to a song for the background and lyrics throughout!

Click HERE for a slideshow version to see the album in full.

They chose the 12x12, 20 page leather album. And it is a MAGNIFICENT album!

*Note...the song on the slidehsow...lyrics in the album!

If there are any photographers out there looking to outsource their album design/editing, please let me know. Amanda's rates start at only $5 per page!

Sherricka {Family Portraits}

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing my friend Sherricka's family portraits. Sherricka is probably one of my best & first clients. She's was there when MPC Photography was first started and I am so happy & grateful that 3 years later she still selects MPC for her photography needs! :)

This session included her mother, sister, cousins, & niece! We decided to use the Phenix City side of the Riverwalk and luckily... we got there before the rain. As some of you may know I make you work for your photos! lol! Not in a bad way, but we do a lot of exploring, walking, & climbing to try & find various locations. By the end of the session everyone was hot & thirsty...but it was definitely worth it!

Click HERE for slideshow.

*slideshows expire in 60 days*

Cindy & Jerry {Reception}

Cindy & Jerry were recently married but decided to have a big reception in Lithonia, GA. They had a room full of friends & family, with great music, and amazing food! This is the first time I've shot just the reception but I was so happy to see Cindy in her beautiful wedding dress and hot red shoes & Jerry is his very dapper white suit with red shirt, tie, & hat to match! They were SHARP! :)

The hotel gave Cindy & Jerry an extra room for me to set up a backdrop to take photos. This came in so handy because their guests could just come to me for photographs and of course the bonus is they get photos of all their family & friends! I think Jerry's friends enjoyed the photos the most...they had me cracking up all night! And I have new pose out of it that I will be utilizing with the groomsmen from now on!

Cindy & Jerry, congratulations & I wish you both the best!

Click HERE for slideshow.

*slideshows expire in 60 days*

VENDORS

Hilton Garden Inn-Stonecrest

Beyond Details Catering & Floral Design

Cakes by La'meeka

Sit n' Pretty

Coming Soon: Sherricka's Family Portraits, Tricia's Bridal, Mya's Bridal, & Mya & Haven's wedding!

Wedding Guest Book

I mean really, why is it that 3 years later that it just hit me that I should post images from guest books on here? Um, if I did this sooner I am sure that every bride would have opted to get a guest book because they are just THAT fabulous!


So here is Tricia & Gary's guestbook! They can be customized with colors from your wedding if you'd like, any text on the signature page (such as family & friends, our guests, autograph here, etc), the trim around the images can be any color or no trim, the font can be changed, etc. It also comes in its own box & with 2 signature pens. It is totally customizable! Prices for this gorgeous guest book start at $100!

*Note....the page that your guests actually sign on, has an image with the opacity being lowered enough to where your image can still be seen!

I just LOVE that last photo so much!!

P.S. Another busy week! I went to Auburn this afternoon to shoot Mya's bridal session at the ultra-gorgeous Fouintainview Mansion! Tomorrow I am shooting her bridal shower & rehearsal dinner. And the wedding is this Friday!

Saturday I should have Cindy & Jerry's blog & slideshow posted!

Sunday I am shooting Bekkah & Steve's engagement session!

Readers' Choice Award...2009

Hey everyone...

The Ledger-Enquirer has just posted their annual Readers' Choice Poll. You can vote for favorite businesses in the area and possibly win $250 in the process!

Here's the info from the website:

You can vote now through June 9, 2009, for your favorites in a variety of categories, and you could win $250 to spend at your favorite business.
One winner will be selected from all entries received for a $250 grand prize. Winners will be announced in our special Readers' Choice Section in July.
Winners are determined by your vote. So vote now and vote often. Contest is open to area residents 18 years and older. You may cast your vote, one per day, per household. You must vote for a minimum of 10 categories on each entry placed. Entries with less than 10 categories will not be counted.
Want your favorites to win? Then vote today!

Click HERE for the RULES. the main points are you have to at least vote for 10 business for your vote to count, you have to complete the registration info (including a valid email address) , and you have until June 9th.

So go vote! You may win $250!! Click HERE to vote!

Our 80's Party

The 80's party we threw Saturday night was a success despite the weather. Everyone came out dressed in their best 80's attire and it was HILARIOUS to say the least. There were several neon colors, tights, lace, fingerless gloves, heavy makeup, big hair, gold chains, Converse, fanny packs, sweat bands, etc. We had the karaoke machine going and we even had break dancing in the middle of my living room!

The cake, by Funky Monkey Cakes, was a huge hit! It tasted JUST like a chocolate hostess cake and no one could believe how realistic it looked. Iris surprised me with the design and I was THRILLED! It was amazing!! I highly highly recommend Funky Monkey Cakes if you need a wedding cake, party cake, etc. So a BIG thank you goes out to FMC for the amazing job they did!

Iris custom designed an old school tv (yall remember those old wooden television sets your parents had), a nintendo system, & the classic rubik's cube!

I also have to give a HUGE thank you to Ebony the fabulous make-up artist for MAC (Dillard's). She came over early to make sure we had the authentic 80's look. She did the eyeshadow for myself & 2 of my friends. It was certainly authentic! I have to say, the 80's were a lot of work with the clothes, make-up, & hair. *whew* There was so much aqua net sprayed in my house that I had to make sure any smokers went outside to prevent a house fire! lol! But ladies, if you need a make-up artist go check out Ebony at MAC in Dillard's. She can definitely do natural make-up for your wedding day...in addition to the artistic 80's make-up! I love going to her for any big events I have!

Don't yall just love the colors! LOL!

I had a great time & it was just so funny to see all the fashion from the 80's! Don't laugh too much at the pic below! I don't know how we fit everyone in my house but we did! Don't I just have the most diverse group of friends you've ever seen? lol!

Well I have a super busy week ahead. I will hopefully have Cindy & Jerry's reception pics within the next 2 weeks, then I will start on Tricia's bridal session that I shot today at the Garrett Bullock house, I am going to Auburn Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday for a bridal session, a bridal shower/rehearsal dinner, & then a Friday wedding. Then Sunday I am shooting Bekkah & Steve's engagement session, and next week I have a graduation to attend in Atlanta, & then Callie & Spencer's wedding on Saturday.

Pray for me Internet! :)

Have a great week!

Everlean & Brandon {Engagement}

Everlean & Brandon chose Flatrock Park as their location for their engagement session. I was determined to make sure their pictures didn't look like everyone else, since so many people go here for engagement pictures and family portraits. I think everyone should have unique images and not the same posed shots over & over.

I am so happy with how they turned out & how I caught a lot of natural moments between them! Everlean & Brandon are in LOVE and it shows! :) The best shots to me are of them laughing and not posing for me. You just can't beat natural laughter!

Everlean was actually a bridesmaid in my sister-n-law's wedding last August, and my sister-n-law is going to be the MOH in Everlean's wedding this 4th of July!

Here are some of my favs....

Click HERE for the slideshow.

*slideshows expire in 60 days*

*up next: Cindy & Jerry's reception.

I hope you all have a good weekend! It's going to be busy for me. I have a family portrait session & a bridal session and we're throwing an 80's themed party Saturday night. Under the circumstances (yesterdays blog) I am not really in the mood to "party" but I am sure it will be fun and I look forward to spending time with my friends.

Special Prayer Request

Today was not a good day. One of my very best friends was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer today. I am so sad and shocked.

She felt a lump the size of a quarter about 2 weeks ago, went to the doctor immediately, they did a biopsy this Monday, and today she received the news.

They told her she will most likely need to have a mastectomy as well as chemo & radiation. I am praying that she will be OK and I ask that you pray for her too.

This is us on my 30th birthday in 2007.

Latrece & I met while attending CSU back in 1997. We both majored in Criminal Justice. We were both a part of Lambda Alpha Epsilon and we became friends on a trip to New Orleans for a regional competition. Since then she's moved home to Chicago and I stayed here to finish grad school. I've been to visit her a few times and she even came back here to live for about 2 years before returning to Chicago again in late 2007. Her oldest daughter Candis is a genius and has her eyes set on Harvard...even though she is just 13. Her second born child, Knyiema, is my goddaughter. Her son Caleb is getting ready to celebrate his second birthday soon.

It sounds cliche to say this but it's true... Life is short and we've got to really appreciate the people we have in our lives while they are here.

You never know what tomorrow holds.

Who Wants to go to the Bahamas...courtesy of the Wedding Paper Divas?

The fabulous Erika of the Wedding Paper Divas is always keeping me posted on their latest and greatest offers. Today I got the greatest news which of course I had to share with my readers! This is one of the best contests ever...(why didn't they have any of this when I was getting married!)


But today is your lucky day readers! Check this out...


Wedding Paper Divas has partnered with The Islands of The Bahamas to offer four unique wedding suites that will bring a touch of island chic to your wedding. Together, they are also giving you a chance to win a dream honeymoon escape to Kamalame Cay, an exclusive private island hideaway located just off the coast of Andros in the Out Islands of The Bahamas. The contest starts today and runs through June 12, 2009. Prize winnings include:

• Roundtrip airfare for two
• Six nights accommodations in a Beach Suite including breakfast each morning and use of resort amenities, including golf carts, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, tennis courts, pools and more
• An indulgent Bath Butler service and a rejuvenating couple's massage at The Spa at Kamalame Cay
• A private picnic excursion on a nearby deserted cay
• A romantic beach-side dinner for two
• And more!

A winner will be chosen within 15 days of the contest close date! So hurry, enter now by clicking HERE!

Remember if you do win, that this photographer loves to travel! :) And in case you do win, take a look at the Wedding Paper Divas' destination wedding invitations!

Tasha & John are stars!

Well not really but sort of! :) A few weeks ago Taylor Barnhill of WTVM emailed me to ask about couples who've met online. So I sent her the contact info for one of my couples & if you watched the 11 news tonight... you may have seen the fabulous, Tasha & John!

They met online and they will be married this July! YAY!

It was love at first "click"!!! ;)

If you missed the show, you can read it by clicking HERE.

Jamie & Marc {Maternity}

It's a small world right? We've all heard that saying before. Well Jamie & Marc were searching for photographers to do a maternity session before they were recently stationed to Ft.Benning. The studio she was looking at was Timeless Photo Concepts in Clarksville, TN. Well it just so happens that the owner, Esther, is one of my best friends! We've been friends for about 16years!

Jamie & Marc will soon be welcoming the 3rd son in the world ! And I do mean soon!

Congratulations Jamie & Marc!

Here a few favs from their maternity session...

Click HERE for slideshow.

(Slideshow is password protected so this for friends & family that have been given the password)

*slideshows expire in 60 days*

*Stay Tuned for Everlean & Brandon's engagement session and Cindy & Jerry's reception!

Happy Anniversary Lindsey & Jason!

Happy 1st Anniversary to Lindsey & Jason!
I wish you many more wonderful years together!



P.S. Happy Mother's Day to all you fabulous mom's out there!

Callie & Spencer {Engagment}

Callie & Spencer initially wanted their engagement session to be done at Flatrock Park...but then Spencer suggested using his parent's home in Ellaville, GA. I've never been to Ellaville, and it's actually only about an hour from Columbus. This was a GREAT call!!!

As I drove up the long dirt driveway I pulled up to a beautiful home...almost like a log cabin but this was certainly no cabin. It was more like a log mansion! lol! Gorgeous and sooo relaxing! Spencer told me how his parents had everything custom designed and you can certainly tell that a lot of sweat & love went into building this amazing place they call home.

We started at their man made lake which was sooo beautiful! I got Callie & Spencer into the boat, that Callie had never been in! I prayed *please don't let it tip over*! I LOVEEEEEE the pictures in the boat!!! Their home was a photographers dream with so many places to shoot. We used the hammock, the 4 wheeler, the woods, the picket fence, the patio...everything!

They are just the sweetest couple and I will actually be shooting their wedding at the end of the month and I can't wait!!

Here are some of my favs from their session!

Wooo! Work it Callie! I love that top left image!

Click HERE for the slideshow!

**update** Song on slideshow has been updated! I love it! lol! Callie picked it out! It is so fitting! :)

*slideshows expire in 60 days*

*coming soon....Jamie & Marc's maternity session, Everlean & Brandon's engagement session, and Cindy & Jerry's reception!

Funky Monkey Cakes

I have to introduce you all to Funky Monkey Cakes! Iris is the owner and I met with her today about making a cake for an 80's themed party I'm having in a few weeks. I don't want to give any any details so you'll have to wait for that blog to see images!

Anyways, if you are in need of a cake for your wedding...or actually ANY occasion, take a look at her website! She is sooo friendly and her prices are amazing! I am a huge fan of fondant, and I know a lot of people tend to shy away from fondant cakes since they tend to be pricier or they may have had a bad experience in the past...but I tasted some of her fondant today and it was so sweet!! :) And because of this issue with fondant that many people seem to have, she is having a special for the month of May which is that a price for a fondant cake will be the same as a butter cream cake! Awesome! And...she also gives a 10% discount to military, teachers, coaches, police officers, & fire fighters! How awesome is that?

Iris is an amazing artist and she definitely encourages you to be creative! So if you need a cake, give Iris a call or send her an email.

FMC is new to the area, but they are licensed and fully insured! I hope to work with FMC on some future weddings!!!

Funky Monkey Cakes-(706) 478-5992

www.funkymonkeycakes.com

iris@funkymonkeycakes.com

*Tell her I sent you!

Thank You USPS!

Well I just learned that the post office mysteriously delivered an opened package to Jena & Ryan. I mailed off their engagement cd Wednesday and they received the open package with only the release on the inside yesterday! So somewhere between Columbus & LaGrange is their engagement CD.

Do you ever wonder what they do with items they find? I wonder if they will at least contact me since my info is on the CD?

Who knows, but from now on I will double seal my packages to prevent things like this!

Anyways...I just finished shooting Everlean & Brandon's engagement session at Flatrock Park & now I am off to ATL to shoot Cindy & Jerry's reception!

Have a great weekend all!

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Tricia & Gary {Engagement}

Last Saturday I met up with Tricia & Gary at their Karate School in Phenix City. We headed to Tricia's alma mater...Auburn University. They wanted "natural" photos of themselves...and well, you'll see from the slideshow that I definitely succeeded!

You can truly see Tricia & Gary's fun side from their engagement session. Gary kept Tricia laughing, and laughter...as we all know...is the best medicine for anything! After their session I literally googled the word LAUGHTER. (Yes, he makes her THAT happy! ) I came across THIS article which talks about all the benefits of laughter! Unbelievable!

Their slideshow even makes me laugh!

Tricia & Gary will be married this August and I am so excited!

Here are some of my favs...

The one in the lower right corner...O.M.G! I promise it is SOOC! (straight out of the camera)! I didn't add any special effects for the sun, that is the actual image I took!

I absolutely LOVE it!!

Click HERE for slideshow.

*And I have to add... this was the FIRST song that came to mind when I was editing their images! It is perfect for them!!

*slideshows expire in 60 days*

This weekend I have an engagement session & then a reception in Atlanta!

Have a great weekend all!