Filed under: engagement
OUR CLAIRE IS GETTING MARRIED! We knew it was going to be soon because she was hoping that they would be able to get married next summer. Justin proposed a couple of months ago, and I screamed when I found out! So we immediately started planning for their engagement shoot. The best part about them, is that they pretty much trust me with whatever I suggest. So when I said “Let’s go to Dollywood!”, they hesitated, and then said “ok”. Of course, they made me promise that I would avoid any possible sign that we were at Dollywood. I’m so in love with these pictures, I can’t hardly stand it!
Filed under: bridals
Here are my favorites from Laura’s bridal session. I really wanted to post these sooner, but Laura asked me not to. I really wish I could do more bridals because I have SO much fun!
Filed under: Weddings
I shot Daniel and Laura’s wedding this weekend. I was really excited about this day because I had such a great time with them during their engagement session. I haven’t posted any from Laura’s bridal session because she requested that I keep them hidden from her guests and Daniel. I will get some of my favorites together and get those up soon.
Daniel and Laura are such a fun couple. They enjoy each other so much, it’s really hard to take a bad picture of them. I was so happy to be able to share this day with them.
This is one of the best jumping pictures I’ve ever gotten. Look at the commitment!
I love this moment between Laura and her Dad
What’s with that face?!
We were really crunched for time, so instead of doing all of the pictures of Daniel and Laura at the church, we went back to Boopaws house and took our time with the incredible fall light. I loved having that freedom after we got away from the stress of the wedding day schedule. To my future brides, I do my best work when I’m given a little bit of freedom. Even though I was still trying to get done so they could start their honeymoon, it was still much more relaxed knowing that there weren’t people waiting on us anymore.
Boopaw asked that I get a picture of Laura and Daniel being blessed by the daytime moon.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I want to send a shout out of congratulations to Kelly Moore Clark who just welcomed her little girl Posey. Check out the pictures she just posted on her blog.
Filed under: Misc
Hey everyone! As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Please go to The Breast Cancer site to make a FREE donation. That’s right, FREE! All you do is click on the link that says “Click Here to Give – It’s Free!” They count the number of times people click on that and the sponsors donate money accordingly. 100% of the sponsor money goes to the charity! Every day they are giving an underprivileged woman a mammogram. Help a woman who can’t afford it have her mammies grammed. Early detection is key. So click HERE and then click on the big pink rectangle. You don’t have to get out your check book or your credit card because the sponsors are making the donation for you. 68% of their goal has been reached and there are 13 days left.
Click away and SAVE THE TA-TAS!
Filed under: Misc
The question that I get asked the most is “Are you shooting your sister’s wedding?” The answer is NO NO NO!!!! I want to be a bridesmaid, a guest, I want to eat, drink, dance, visit, and BE photographed. I don’t want to worry about getting the shot and working my tail off and not enjoying our friends and family. So then the next question is “Well then who is?” We went through some options of people I know and then they did some research on their own. They gave me a list of people to check out and then I gave them a shorter list of the people who’s work impressed me. A guy named Frank Gibson in Atlanta is the one who got the job! Of course I won’t be able to go the entire day without taking a picture, so I will have my camera with me to catch things as they happen and details and such. I won’t be shooting over Frank’s shoulder and stealing his ideas, but I will get the chance to not be the primary camera person in charge.
Anyway, they just did their engagement pictures up at Big Canoe. Here’s a link to the finished products, www.pictage.com/347091 with the event key “low”.
I’m going to be coming up to Nashville for a great workshop that The Mclellans are hosting at the end of the month. There are 3 of us coming up from Knoxville and we were hoping to have a “trash the dress” session with one of the photographers former brides. IT FELL THROUGH! So, if you have been a bride or have a wedding dress and you wouldn’t mind being tossed in some water somewhere, let me know! We’ll be coming up on Sunday October 28. There will be at least 3 photographers, so you’ll get lots of great pictures.
If you’re a photographer and your interested in this great workshop we’re going to, there are still spots available. Like I said, The Mclellans are hosting it, but we’re all getting together to meet and shoot with David Beckstead. He’s an amazing photographer and extremely celebrated. We’ll have 2 shoots on Monday and then we’ll critique with David on Tuesday. It will be a great time to ask him questions and pick his brain. He’s made a great career and he’s someone that everyone can learn something from. If you’re interested in joining us, contact Melanie Mclellan at mel@mclellanstudio.com.
Here are Adrienne’s best shots from our Cayman Brac shoot. Adrienne is also Braden’s mom who I posted a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE that Adrienne is pregnant, and you can’t really tell, unless I wanted her to stick her belly out.
For you photographers out there, I have a great lesson for you. You may already know about this, but if you don’t, you’re going to LOVE it! In photoshop, go to “Filter” then to “Liquify”. This is “digital liposuction”. Use your “[” “]” keys to make your brush size bigger or smaller. Then grab the area you want to move, and move it. Once you see how it works, you’ll want to give everyone, including yourself, “lipo”! Just be careful when you use it to not go overboard. You want your clients to look at the picture and say “I look AWESOME!” not, “What’s wrong with my butt?”. The best facial plastic surgeons will tell you that people should look at you and think you did something different with your hair, not that you got permanently caught in a wind tunnel. So be subtle with it!
Here’s an example of how I used the liquify tool to enhance Adrienne’s belly and then also returning her to her pre-pregnancy size. Her stomach falls somewhere between the 2 sizes. I wanted her to have a great pregnancy picture. Since I put her in a wedding dress, I didn’t want her to look pregnant since she’s not a pregnant bride and just modeling for me.
Here are the rest of Adrienne’s best
Again, I used the liquify tool to make her belly more obvious.
I was trying to channel Chris Isaac’s “wicked games” video!
What’s up HAUTE MAMA!
This one is a little different, but strangely cool…
About a month ago, I went down to Cayman Brac for my annual women’s retreat over labor day weekend. While it was a nightmare getting down there, I was able to convince 2 of my friend’s to model for me. I had to take advantage this amazing island! I wish we had more time to play around and also that it wasn’t FREAKIN’ HOT! I’m happy with everything I got though. Here are some of Polly.
I think this one is my favorite…
Well, maybe this one’s my favorite.
Filed under: Events
I shot this great event almost 2 weeks ago called Les Trois Chefs. It was a dinner benefiting Childhelp. This amazing organization exists to give help to abused and neglected children and those who may be at risk. I wish I had a number to tell you how much money was raised, but I don’t have one. If anyone who is reading this knows how much was raised, please leave a comment so everyone can know. Regardless of how much was raised, it’s never enough. If you would like to donate something to Childhelp, please click HERE or contact your local Childhelp branch.
This event came together with the help of my friend Allison Sprouse with The Modern Hostess, with flowers by Brian Davis with Cachepot (865-660-1595), and entertainment by The Three Waiters and Burning Las Vegas. It was such a wonderful event. You don’t want to miss it next year!
If you would like to see all of the images from the event, click HERE and enter the event code “childhelp” (case sensitive). I will be donating 20% of the proceeds from online sales back to Childhelp. So please help me write a BIG check!
Meggie Velasco Photography 