A low-key Friday wedding with absolutely perfect weather at a stunning location with a gorgeous couple… yep, you really can’t get much better than that! We had the best time photographing Chelsea & Jeff’s wedding at Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, GA. Everything was just so easy the entire day! I think the hardest part has been narrowing down my favorite images for the blog post!
Last week, Olyn and I traveled over to Jacksonville to teach a program on photographing children to the Jacksonville Professional Photographers Group. Teaching to a group of professional photographers is always a bit nerve-wracking, but when you add in the unknown element of photographing toddlers at 8pm in front of the group… well… it makes you sweat a bit!
We had a great turn out for the program and we photographed three siblings ages 2, 4 and 6 and another pair of older siblings. All without a single tear! (From the kids or us!) We really enjoyed meeting everyone in Jacksonville and sharing our love for the crazy, silly world of children’s photography!
Little Miss Kate was back in the studio for her latest baby plan photo session! Six months is always my favorite of the baby plan photo sessions and I just love all the sweet expressions Kate gave me! She wasn’t in the best mood and I am betting she will have a tooth in the next two weeks, I can’t wait to see if I am right when her mom comes back in to view the images!
Mommy & Me Portrait Event– Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
Just in time for Mother’s Day, our Mommy & Me portrait event is back! The black and white studio sessions are available all day and evening on Wednesday, April 23rd. There is no session fee, just a $99 minimum order.
Each mini-session can accommodate up to six people of all ages. Whether its just mom and the kids, grandparents, or even dad, this special is a great chance for a timeless family portrait!
Nonrefundable $99 minimum order is due at the time of booking and order credit may be redeemed only at your in studio order session. To reserve your time, call 850.339.5799 or email Linda@LongsPhotography.com 
I think Tallahassee probably heard me screaming in excitement all the way from Atlanta! I entered images into the regional competition of the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association (SEPPA) and I earned some of my highest print competition scores ever! On top of that, the SEPPA competition is known to have some of the toughest judges around, so it makes the scores even sweeter!
Photographic print competition is one of the toughest, most humbling, most infuriating and best things I have ever done as a photographer. These competitions hold photographers to the absolute highest standards imaginable and they push you to be the best you can be behind the camera, in Photoshop and in your overall creativity. I have learned more from print competition than any other source in my photographic career.
At the SEPPA competition, I had two of my four images merit which is a huge success in itself! Most people that entered SEPPA did not fare so well. My entry “Entangled” scored an 83, which is a pretty high score for the tough SEPPA judges. Then, my image “Unwrapped” was judged and received a 94. I was in shock. This is the highest print score I have ever received and it came from such a hard panel of judges. It took two solid days before I could believe it was real!
I received the second highest score in Florida, and the eighth highest of all the entries from all thirteen states that are a part of SEPPA. I was only four points from the top score awarded at SEPPA this year of a 98. “Overjoyed” does not even begin to describe my happiness!
These achievements were not mine alone, though. These images are a result of the amazing people who have been my photographic mentors and peers. I am so lucky to have the guidance of some of the finest people in this industry. If you are a photographer or you want to be a photographer, then I strongly encourage you to join groups who can give you this guidance. For me, this was the Professional Photographers of America, the Florida Professional Photographers and the Tallahassee Professional Photographers Guild. Through these groups, I was able to learn and grow as a photographer and I was also able to connect with photographers who inspire me, challenge me and bring out the best in me. To them, I will be forever grateful and because of them, I will always be committed to giving back to the photographic community and paying forward what has been so graciously given to me.
“Unwrapped” 
“Entangled”
