You're Invited!

I have been meaning to post this for ages, but of couse it got put on the back burner! I think I just might be in denial that Thatcher is turning two!! Anyways, we are having a birthday party for the coolest kid in town (sorry, I am a biased mom!) and we would love for you to come! The party is at our home, 6023 Ranch Rd. this Sunday, May 4th from 11-2.

Its going to be a blast-- we are having a big inflatable slide & an inflatable obstacle course, we are grilling out hamburgers, with juice for the kids and fun drinks for parents. So, please come over Sunday afternoon, even if its just for a few minutes-- we would love to see y'all!

Baby Peyton

Baby Peyton was back in the studio yesterday for his three month portrait session. Almost all babies have a meltdown at either their newborn or their three month session, but not Peyton! He was a champ both times and has earned a spot as one of my favorite babies!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Lisa & Chip

I spent Saturday at Goodwood Museum here in Tallahassee for Lisa and Chip's wedding. Mother Nature threw us a bit of a curve ball with afternoon rainshowers, but it didn't damper any of the fun!

A little fun with the wedding rings and some of the climbing roses at Goodwood.
Lisa's bouquet was absolutely stunning and was EXACTLY what she wanted!
I loved Lisa's dress-- it was so unique and the details were absolutely stunning up close.I see a lot of bride's in flats, flip-flops and slippers for comfort. While I absolutely don't blame them, I adore a pair of sexy heels!
Lisa's laugh is absolutely contagious-- just hearing her laugh makes you smile. While a lot of brides would be stressed over the rain and a few hiccups in the planning, Lisa's smile never faded.
Lisa's daughter, Heather, was entrusted with Chip's ring, so it went on her thumb!A few pre-ceremony portraits of Lisa-- and more laughs.Because of the rain, the ceremony was moved from the lawn to the porch of the house, and it was incredibly sweet and funny! Lisa even promised not to get mad during hunting season.
After the ceremony, we had amazing light for the couple's portraits. There is a small window of time at Goodwood where the lighting is absolutely surreal.A little fun with the guys.I even managed to capture a few of Chip's smiles!I don't think these two heard the lyrics of their first dance over their laughter and the comments of their nearby bridal party!I adore all of Katie's Cakes, but this is hands down my favorite. It was so stunning and it was yummy to boot!A little fun with the rings and the drinks.

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Vendors:
Ceremony and Reception Location: Goodwood Museum
Florist: Espositios
Cake: Katie's Cakes and Catering

Julie & Jonathan

Olyn was out at Golden Eagle Country Club this weekend, photographing Julie and Jon's wedding. The weather looked gloomy, but at the last minute, the sky cleared and Julie and Jon were able to have their beautiful ceremony as planned!With all the bridesmaids and flowergirls getting ready at once, the room got a little warm. Fortunately, Julie is a gal that knows how to stay cool under pressure!

Julie and Jon had a beautiful ceremony with a path of roses leading to the edge of the lake. About half way through the ceremony, the sun even started to peak through the clouds!

The setting sun provided wonderful light for the formal portraits.
Julie and Jon had a really interesting cake. It was really modern, with three free-standing tiers.
The garter and bouquet tosses can be the toughest events of the whole day for a photographer, but Olyn caught some great images!

Near the end of the reception, Olyn spent a few minutes with Julie for some additional portraits. I think these two are awesome!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Vendors:
Ceremony and Reception Location: Golden Eagle Country Club
Florist: Flowers By Vince
Cake: Myra Jean's Cakes
DJ: Greg Tish

Vanessa's Maternity Portraits

Vanessa's maternity session on Friday was threatened at the last minute... by the early arrival of baby! :) After going into early labor and spending the early afternoon in the hospital, Vanessa was released and came straight to the studio for the session. We debated postponing until Monday, but she feared she might be a mommy by then! I am glad we kept the appointment-- I had a great time and I think we got some great images!www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

The Tucker Family

I'll admit it-- I fell in love with the Tucker family. They are the kind of people that make you feel like old friends-- even when you just meet them. We had a phenomenal shoot this morning at Tom Brown park. It took Elijah a few minutes to warm up, but we got a great variety of expression from him and he was probably the easiest two year old I have ever worked with!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

A little bit of bragging

Ok, I have to pat myself on the back for a little second. Last night at the Tallahassee Professional Photographer's meeting, I won print of the month in the family category with this shot from Shannon's maternity session:
Ever since I first showed this shot on the blog, we have gotten tons of calls for similar maternity sessions, which couldn't make me happier. This is my favorite kind of maternity session-- its sexy, its intimate, its romantic and it really tells a story. I personally think that maternity portraits should be more romantic and powerful rather than just cheesing for the camera portraits. :)

I also won for album of the month with an album I created of Vanessa and Matt's Pebble Hill wedding, but I won't bore you with all the images from that one!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Coy

It was so great to see Baby Coy again! I think he is absolutely adorable and his seriousness makes me giggle! His mom and I did everything short of standing on our heads to make him smile, but he just stared at us like we were crazy!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Jeffrey

I had another trip down memory lane yesterday as Becky and Ryan brought in Baby Jeffrey. I photographed their wedding three years ago and it was such a compliment to be able to photograph their little boy!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Cassidy

I had been looking forward to Baby Cassidy's appointment for so long! I think it is so cool when wedding clients bring their babies to see me. Cassidy is just as sweet and wonderful as her parents and I had such a good time meeting her and catching up with her mom!www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Dani and Dan

Olyn had a blast at Dan and Dani's wedding this weekend. Everything from the setting of the ceremony, the reception music, food, and and the hospitality of all the guests made this an evening to remember. Dan and Danielle, as well as their friends and family, just have a way of making you feel like you have known them for years. I love moments like this. Even though they are in front of dozens of people, they might as well be the only two people in the world....
It was great watching the wide range of emotions shared by these two during their ceremony. At one moment, they would be on the verge of tears, and in the next, barely containing their laughter!The bridal party was a real blast as well. They were up for almost anything...
Including tossing Dan up over their heads!

After Olyn finished the formal portraits, he took Dan and Dani for a short walk. After the all the hurried preparations and the rush of the ceremony its great for them to have a few minutes alone! "Simple Elegance" best describes the reception. Everyone complimented the centerpieces. When word got out that guests could take the centerpieces home, it looked like a riot might break out as so many folks tried to get one!

We always try to experiment with something new each time we work. I think this shot of Dani and her bridesmaids dancing is cool!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Vendors:
Ceremony and Reception Location: The Retreat at Bradley's Pond
Catering: Klassic Katering
Florist: Missy Gunnels Flowers
Cake: Katie's Cakes and Catering
DJ: Space Age Sound
Rentals: In Tents Events

Whitney & Michael

I was so thrilled to be in Cairo on Saturday for Whitney and Michael's wedding-- they are such an adorable couple and they had planned for this day for so long. It was such an emotional day... I even found myself tearing up a few times!It always cracks me up to see the girls trying to get the dress on the bride without messing up either the hair of the makeup.Whitney and Michael decided to see one another before the ceremony, so we found a quiet spot across the street underneath the oak trees. I love moments like this-- I just stand back and let the couple have some time alone.
It was such a beautiful day, I was so glad to have a few moments in the sunshine with the bride and groom!
We ran back over to the church for all the family groupings, and the more "formal" portraits. I don't really care for "formal" or "traditional", so I went for beautiful light instead.Right before the ceremony the girls grouped together for a quick prayer.
The flowergirl was such a cutie and she cracked me up as she yawned almost the entire way down the aisle.The reception was held at the Grady Cultural Center-- a phenomenal historic building in Cairo that is my new favorite reception site!The cake was absolutely adorable-- and I love the colored wall!

There was an antique couch off to the side at the reception and it was just begging to be a portrait spot!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Vendors:
Ceremony Location: Pine Level Baptist Church
Reception Location: Grady Cultural Center
Flowers: Annell's Florist
Cake: Wanda Harrison

JoAnna and Chris

I really love small weddings-- they are so intimate and emotional and it really allows me to get closer to the guests and the couple. JoAnna and Chris' wedding was at Willow Pond yesterday and it was the perfect small wedding-- everyone there was really close to the bride and groom and many had traveled across the country to be there. It was a wedding that was so much fun-- they even tried to drag me out on the dance floor!I loved the Air Force garter that JoAnna wore for Chris.JoAnna went a little untraditional and wore red shoes to match the sash on her dress.I think yesterday was probably the prettiest day of the year... and I have the sunburn to prove it! :)I am a bit surprised JoAnna's face wasn't sore, she grinned from ear to ear the entire ceremony.Right after the ceremony, I ran away for a few minutes of alone time with the couple. Chris and JoAnna were so at ease with each other and spent most of the session making each other laugh.The reception had such a cozy feel with all the twinkle li

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Vendors:
Ceremony and Reception Location: Willow Pond Plantation
Florist: Hilly Fields
DJ: Blue Moon

Emilie's Maternity Portraits

Emilie came by yesterday for her maternity portraits and we had such a good time-- even the baby was having a party in there! She isn't due for another month, but baby girl was so active, I wouldn't be surprised if she arrived any day now! :) www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Carson

Baby Carson was back in yesterday for his three month portraits. Most babies look completely different at three months, but Baby Carson still looks just like his daddy! He spent the entire session making a million different faces at me until he finally wore himself out and took a nap!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Lindi's Maternity Portraits

I must have pleased the photography Gods, because I have had amazing shoots all week! Lindi's maternity shoot was so much fun and I think the images are so beautiful! These guys are such an adorable family-- its almost sickening how cute they are!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Toby

Baby Toby was in the studio this morning for his three month session. I cannot believe how much this little guy has changed! His chubby cheeks and adorable smile absolutely stole my heart!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Amanda

I had an absolutely amazing shoot last night with Amanda. There are certain subjects that just take your breath away when you see them through the lens. Amanda was one of these rare subjects, and it intensified when I saw the actual images. I was so impressed with her in so many ways-- not only was she an awesome model, but she is an incredibly sweet kid and an honor roll student! www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

JoAnna and Chris

JoAnna and Chris raced into town on Friday and had their engagement session yesterday-- just in time for their wedding THIS Friday! :) I had a great time with them at Goodwood Museum and I am really looking forward to Friday! JoAnna was so calm for being a long distance bride-- I remember how frantic of a bride I was trying to get everything and everyone in place for the wedding!
www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Mary Katherine & Chris

I had such a wonderful time Saturday at Mary Katherine and Chris' wedding here in Tallahassee! It was such a fun day, that I didn't even realize how exhausted I was until two hours after I left! They are such an amazing couple-- MK makes me laugh so hard and Chris is her perfect compliment!Sometimes, even in what may look like a plain location, you can find a spot that is so dramatic and tells a beautiful story.Missy Gunnels always does an amazing job, but I was absolutely blown away by MK's bouquet-- it was absolutely stunning!It isn't that often that our couples choose to see one another before the ceremony, but when they do we can get some really moving shots of that initial interaction.MK and Chris chose to have a really laid back schedule and gave me lots of time for portraits-- both at the church before the ceremony and afterwards at the Alumni Center.I just love the image of the bride before the doors open for her big walk. I love having bonus portrait time! We had a quick 10 minute session once we got to the Alumni Center and the light was so pretty!
It isn't often that I have a reception at the Alumni Center when there is light streaming in all the windows, but the entire reception seemed to be bathed in light.Tiki's Tasties makes some of the best cakes in town and I really loved how colorful this cake was!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Vendors:
Ceremony Location: Covenant Presbyterian Church
Reception Location: FSU Alumni Center
Flowers: Missy Gunnels Flowers www.MissyGunnelsFlowers.com
Catering: Klassic Katering www.KlassicKatering.com
Cake: Tiki's Tasties www.TikisTasties.com
DJ: Pro Disc Jockey

Betty and Paul

Olyn met with Betty and Paul at yesterday at Dorothy B. Oven Park for their engagement portraits. The gloomy skies threatened to cancel everything, but the rain held off long enough to get in a great session! Betty and Paul are a real blast to photograph. They are so comfortable with themselves and know all the little things that make each other smile. Olyn even learned an interesting tidbit at the session… when Paul and Betty first met, they did not exactly get along. You sure couldn’t tell that now!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Connor

Baby Connor's newborn session was probably the easiest one I have done in months! He was so exhausted, he literally slept through it all! He was really sacked out and could care less as we moved him all around and the flash went off. He has such a sweet face-- you can definitely tell he is going to be a heart breaker when he gets older!!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

WAW-- We have a winner!

Ok, so we stumped y'all for a day-- I'd call that a success! :) Amy Baas just entered a winning guess and so she will be featured in our "Where Are We?" contest next month!

Thanks again to everyone who guessed, or just emailed me wanting to know the answer. :) Olyn and I had a great time with the shoot and we are really having fun pushing ourselves creatively!

Again, if you know of a cool location, LET US KNOW! If we choose your location, there will be a happy thank you for you! ;)

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Shannon's Maternity Portraits

I had an absolutely amazing maternity portrait session today with Shannon and Jason. As a photographer the best subjects are those who are comfortable in front of a camera and who have a natural sense of self. Not only did both Shannon and Jason have this, but they were also a riot! Jason is one of a small handful of people who have seen the "Friends" episode with Chandler's fake smile in front of the camera, so saying "Chandler smile" instantly changed fake smiles into real ones. :)www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Natalia

Baby Natalia was in the studio this afternoon for her three month portraits. Its so hard to believe she is only three months old! She looks like such a little girl-- I hardly see a "baby" when I look at her! Even her mom commented on how she just seems to have an old soul.www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Baby Daisy

Daisy's expressions have always made me laugh and her 6 month portraits are definitely not an exception! Between her silly faces and her mom commenting on her "Chia pet" hair, I laughed through the entire session!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

WAW-- The Update

Thanks so much for all the guesses today! We did have a correct guess, BUT they did not follow all of the contest rules, so we were not able to accept their guess. So, keep guessing! You can check out the other comments to see what people have guessed.

If we do not receive a winning entry tomorrow, we will post a clue on Wednesday morning!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Where Are We??-- Eunice and Blake

I was shocked how quickly everyone guessed the last "Where Are We?" contest! This time, I think it may be a bit harder! Actually, Olyn thought it was so difficult no one would guess, so I have included even more images! You have to be super specific in your answer, so no "railroad track" guesses! We are looking for the name of the exact place we were!

Special thanks to Eunice and Blake for being our models. They did a phenomenal job and I had the most fun with them!
Contest Details:

• One guess per person per day
• Submit guesses by posting comments on this blog post
• You must include your email address so you can be contacted if you are the winner
• All blog comments will be revealed once each day, so if you do not see your post immediately, no need to worry
• The winner MUST be willing to accept a free couple's portrait session BEFORE May 10th. This cannot be transferred to anyone else and must be done at a location to be determined by Long's Photography. Please do not guess if you are not willing to model in the next "Where Are We?" session.
• If you are the winner, we will contact you before your post is revealed to schedule your session. If you are not willing to accept the session at that time, the prize will go to the next correct guess.
  

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

WAW... Contest Starts Tomorrow!!

The "Where Are We?" contest will start TOMORROW! Be sure to check the blog tomorrow morning when the image clues are revealed. Not only is this going to be a hard location to guess, but the images are HOT! :) Not that I am biased, of course!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Julie & Steve

Julie and Steve's wedding day started out with a really dramatic looking sky, but quickly turned into an all out downpour. I really admired them as they laughed and joked through the less than ideal weather. I think most couples would have fallen apart, but these two were so focused on one another, I barely think they noticed!When you have a full Catholic mass, it really gives the photographer an opportunity to get different angles and focus on details. With a lot of ceremonies lasting 15 minutes, an hour long ceremony can sometimes be a great relief!Thank goodness the church had all these covered walkways so we could sneak out for some casual stuff! The outdoor reception had to be shuffled inside at Dorothy B. Oven, but it made for a really cozy atmosphere.Vendors:
Ceremony Location: Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Reception Location: Dorothy B. Oven Park
Videography: Waterford Productions
Florist: A Country Rose
Hair/Makeup: Meena's Classic Touch

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

WAW... Coming Soon!

That's right! The next installment of our "Where Are We?" series will be posted on MONDAY! We are so excited and I think we might actually stump y'all for a while with this one! So be sure to check the blog on Monday morning as we post a handful of images for you to use as clues!

A reminder of how the contest works-- we will post images of a session that is taken in a non-traditional location and you get to guess where they were taken. Guesses are done by posting a comment on the blog post. The first person who correctly guesses the location will win their own portrait session- as the model for the next "Where Are We?". So, if you guess, be ready to be the winner and pose for us in an oddball place! :)

Stay tuned for the post on Monday!

www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Volunteering with the American Cancer Society

A lot of you know that my mom is a breast cancer survivor and I am a huge cheerleader for the American Cancer Society. I was in awe of the way the ACS helped my mom and the lengths they went to for support, caring, aid and assistance. I have never seen an organization so committed and dedicated to helping people in such a very real, practical way. I will be forever grateful to the American Cancer Society and their employees and volunteers who did so much for my mom and my family.

Last fall, it was again the anniversary of my mom's diagnosis and it is a time every year that I stop and thank God I still have her in my life. I thought back to the incredible way the American Cancer Society stood by her and how I can never repay that debt. But this year, I thought I might start trying. I am blessed in so many ways, mostly by my wonderful healthy family, but also in having a business that is so rewarding and fulfilling. So, I came up with a plan and presented it to the American Cancer Society who have partnered with me to make my plan a reality.

I am using my art and my skill to pay my debt to the ACS forward. Each month, I will spend 4 hours with a family currently fighting the cancer battle. I will document their daily life-- from eating breakfast and watching cartoons, to walking the dog and curling up with a good book. The "Day in the Life" portrait session will capture a time in their life-- both the good and the bad. It is a living history for that family and their battle. The session will include a DVD of the images so they can make prints and share with their loved ones. The sessions are completely free to the families and a small token of my gratitude to ACS.

Now, we need YOUR help. If you know of a family currently battling cancer who would like to have a "Day in the Life" session, please contact Caroline Miller with the American Cancer Society so we can include them. Caroline can be reached at 850-297-0588 ext. 3702 or by e-mail, Caroline.Miller@cancer.org. Please help us share our support and love.

If you would like to donate or volunteer with the American Cancer Society, you can also visit their website, www.cancer.org

www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Composite Prints

We get a lot of questions about what a composite print is, so I thought I would share a handful of my recent faves. Composite prints are digitally designed using multiple images to create one printed piece. We can create composites of any size 11x14 and larger. They are really great for when you cannot choose just one image, for when a series of images tells a really great story, or if you are looking for something really original for your home or your child's room. We include an 11x14 composite print in our base "Watch Me Grow" plan where you can use a variety of images from a single session, or we can composite images from each of their sessions to tell the story of their first year!

www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers