Gretchen & Chad

I ran out to Carabelle beach last night for Gretchen and Chad's engagement session and we had the best time. The weather and the light were perfect, the beach was empty-- it was so peaceful and fun. Its so nice when you can get a couple to really relax in front of the camera!www.LongsPhotography.com
Tallahassee and Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Alexis and Ryen

Olyn and I were out in Carabelle on Monday for Alexis and Ryen's engagement session (of course we go to the beach when it gets cold!). Alexis and Ryen are the kind of couple that instantly put you at ease. They have such a great sense of humor and their laughter is absolutely infectious! We are really looking forward to their May wedding!

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

The Dalbey Family

Yesterday's bride, Jennifer, contacted me a few weeks ago to do portraits of her Uncle Dale and new cousin Noah. Normally, I never take another booking on a wedding day, but they were really excited about beach portraits and a morning session would give plenty of time before Jennifer's coverage began.

I got to St. George just after sunrise and the weather was absolutely beautiful! We played on the beach with Dale, Noah, Henry the doggie and Noah's grandparents. I am so glad I made an exception for this portrait shoot-- it was so wonderful to spend time with such an amazing family!

www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee & Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Jennifer and Sam

I ran over to Alligator Point yesterday for Jenn and Sam's engagement portrait session. I was so surprised when I got there-- there were swarms of mosquitos! Jenn and Sam were such troopers-- cuddling and smiling while we were eaten alive! So, here is their blog entry, as I sit here covered in calomine lotion! :)

http://www.longsphotography.com/

Tallahassee & Thomasville's premier wedding and portrait photographers

Will's 9 month portraits

I had a sunrise portrait session this morning in Carrabelle for Will's 9 month session. Normally babies love playing in the sand, but Will just wasn't feeling it. We changed the plan a little bit and managed to still include the scenery. :)

www.LongsPhotography.com

Melisa & Jerry

I was out at St. George Island yesterday for Melisa and Jerry's engagement portraits. Although our timing was not as planned, I think the session went great and we got some beautiful images!

www.LongsPhotography.com

Tallahassee & Thomasville's premier wedding & portrait photographers

Randa & Bill

I spent my Friday at St. George Island photographing Randa and Bill's wedding. There are so many words I can use to describe this couple-- fun, laid-back, sweet, southern, but I think the minister summed it up best in their ceremony, "They're keepers!"
Randa's beautiful shoes and necklace:Randa isn't a prissy kind of girl-- she didn't need anyone to hold up her train, she just grabbed it and went!In true preschool teacher style-- Randa plopped down on the floor while she waited for everyone else to get ready.Their ceremony was lovely and extremely personal, but there is only so much room on the blog! So, I am selfishly using the space to show a lot of their beach portraits, as I just think they are awesome!

After the ceremony, Randa, Bill and I slipped away to his family beach house on the island. It was so wonderful to take portraits in a place that meant so much to them!
Could you ask for a better location or better subjects!?Bill had NO problem doing any of the kissing poses that I asked for-- I think it might have been his favorite part of the day!I am always pushing myself to come up with new ways to show off wedding bands. Sometimes the location helps me with ideas!The sunset on the island was absolutely beautiful, it was if their day had been blessed from start to finish.

Over at the Coombs House Inn, Randa and her dad shared the sweetest dance under the gazebo.

Randa's wedding drink of choice:To end the night, we grabbed a few romantic portraits before the couple headed up to their room.

Vendors:

Ceremony Location: St. George Island Methodist Church

Reception Location: Coombs House Inn http://www.coombshouseinn.com/

Florist: Amy Price, Bayside Gallery & Gifts

Cake: Carrie Ann & Company

Videography: Bradley White, Nu Art Video Productions

Kim and Ty

Normally, by the time a wedding day rolls around I know my couples pretty well. They have met with us for a consultation, a booking, perhaps an engagement session or even bridal portraits. I was a bit nervous for yesterday's wedding, as I hadn't met either Kim or Ty before!

The California couple planned their long-distance wedding in Ty's hometown of Niceville. Within minutes of meeting them, I felt at ease. They are so much in love and in addition to being extremely friendly, sweet people, they really clicked with Olyn and I!

Kim used the most beautiful combination of purple roses and hydrangea in her bouquet!
A girl after my own heart, Kim's sash dress was stunning.The chapel at Hurlburt field really suited the mood of the wedding and Kim's simple decor kept the focus on the couple and their vows.Kim looks like such a baby! I was shocked when she told me that she is only months younger than I am!
It rained for a total of 15 minutes on their wedding day. Of course, it was the 15 minutes we planned for outdoor portraits at the base! We did manage to find a few interesting locations... including this stained glass in the tower portion of the chapel.
The rain started to fade as they left the chapel to go to the beach for portraits.

What do you do on the 20 minute trolley ride to the beach? You toast!! The trolley party: We beat the storm to the beach, but only by a few minutes! I really have to hand it to this bridal party-- they hoofed it all over the beach in the humid heat and they didn't kill me!Because we had to rush through the beach portraits to avoid the storm, Kim and Ty were able to relax and enjoy their cocktail hour, followed by a beautiful first dance.

What says party more than a light up drink coaster?They had some of the sweetest speeches I have ever heard. I really don't think these two took their eyes off each other all day!

Vendors:

Ceremony Location: Hurlburt Field Chapel

Reception Location: Ramada Plaza Beach Resort

Florist: Flowers and Gifts by Vivian

Cake: Publix

DJ: Dj Vladi

Dresses: David's Bridal

Tuxes: House of Brides

Transportation: Beach Boy Trolley

www.LongsPhotography.com

Suzanne and Josh

Suzanne, Josh and I went out to Carabelle yesterday for their engagement session. Its so nice to do portaits on a secluded beach rather than trying to shoot around hairy men in speedos or sunburnt people in bikinis at a lot of our other beaches!!

www.LongsPhotography.com

Vanessa and James; Latisha and Adam

Even though the weather is still a bit warm, we are getting into the swing of fall portraits.

I went out to St. George Island to photograph Vanessa and James' engagement portraits. What a way for them to end their vacation!

Latisha and Adam came over from Apalachicola to have their engagement portraits done at Maclay Gardens. Even though it looked like it was about to storm at any moment, we had a great session with some wonderful shots.

www.LongsPhotography.com

Post-Easter Catch Up

We actually took a weekend off! Well, at least off from photography! We spent Easter weekend putting the finishing touches on the new house. As a result, the blog is a bit behind! Forgive me as I try to play catch up again!

Amanda and Chad were originally supposed to get married this September, but Chad received orders from the Navy that he will deployed again this fall. With short notice, the couple managed to plan an intimate wedding to remember!


Candice and Chris were married last July, but it rained on their wedding day! Determined to have the beach wedding photos they had dreamed of, they hired us to come back and do a casual re-shoot by the Sea Turtle Inn in Jacksonville Beach.


Olyn traveled to Panama City on Tuesday to photograph the destination wedding of Kenerly and Derek. An extremely kind, laid back couple, they were a photographer's dream!

www.LongsPhotography.com