caroline :::bridals

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Continuing on with my "catch-up" from a busy spring and summer, I've got quite a few images from Caroline and Joe's wedding in July I'd like to share with all of you. I'm going to break them down into a few posts though, as it would probably be too many images to share all at once.

First, here are a few images from Caroline's bridal session. I went to Nashville in June (that's where she and Joe live) to work with her in creating these. We spent most of the afternoon at Cheekwood-Botanical Garden creating bridal portraits, then met Joe a bit later downtown for a quick session with the two of them.

The engagement session will be next, followed by images from the wedding in New Orleans. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

~wj

kelly ::: bridals

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I've been anxious to show these, but had to wait until after the wedding to do so! I spent about four or five hours with kelly and her mom a few weeks ago creating these. We had a great time, and it was so much fun working with them both. I love it when my clients want to push and try new things, and kelly was certainly up for all kinds of fun ideas.

Here's a few from teh day.

~wj

Ashihai & James ::: esession

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I'm catching up! Lots of editing going on here -- busy time of year! (Thank you all!)

Here are a few images from Aishihai and James' engagement session a couple of weeks ago. We spent a wonderful afternoon just exploring the backroads around the Delta, stopping wherever things looked interesting.

The wedding will be here in Cleveland in a couple of weeks, and I'm excited to visit with them again. It'll be the first wedding I've photographed in my home town in about 3 or 4 years! I'm looking forward to that as well.

~wj

elizabeth & mark ::: esession

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I'm in Slidell, Louisiana right now, just an hour or so away from leaving for Biloxi, Mississippi to photograph a rehearsal dinner tonight and then a wedding tomorrow. But before leaving I wanted to go through yesterday's esession first.

I came down yesterday to visit with Elizabeth and Mark, who will be marrying in April. We headed out to their property near Poplarville, MS and had a great afternoon creating images. They brought along their two "kiddos" -- Tucker and KC, who you'll see in lots of these photos! We rode four wheelers all over the property -- down to the Wolf River, along cut out paths, took a couple of boats out on a small lake -- and spent a lot of time watching tucker and KC have a blast!

I've posted a few images above -- hope y'all like them! Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Mark and Elizabeth -- thank you both for a wonderful afternoon. I had a blast!

~wj

brittany and darryl ::: esession

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I met Brittany and Darryl Friday afternoon for their engagement session. They'll be marrying in April in Pope, Mississippi. Everyone not from the Mississippi Delta who knows where Pope is raise your hands!

We headed a few miles outside of Cleveland to Dockery Plantation for a couple of hours. I love the feel of the old farm headquarters there. And the structures provide just enough openings for gorgeous light to filter through.

Brittany and Darryl, I'm really looking forward to seeing you guys again in April. Here's a few of the images. Hope y'all like them!

I'd love to hear what everyone thinks, so feel free to leave a comment if you want.

Take care.

~wj

melissa & todd . . . esession

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What a 24 hour period!

On Saturday at 3 PM I was photographing a wedding in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

By 3 PM Sunday I was in Pascagoula, Mississippi -- about 300 miles away -- meeting Melissa and Todd for their engagement session. And I'm so glad I did. We spent a perfect afternoon together -- sunny, 60-ish degrees -- and were able to go over lots of details for their upcoming wedding. But the best part was the light at the end of the day -- stunning!

Here's a few images form the session. I'd love to hear your thoughts.


~wj

janee' & jemar . . . . esession

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Right before Christmas I met an incredible family. Janee' and her parents came y to take a look around my studio and gallery, and talk to me about photographing Janee's wedding in January.

Well, the wedding was this past Saturday, so we really didn't have a lot of time for an engagment session with all of the holiday rush to get through. So, we did it a week before the wedding. Janee' and Jemar came to my studio after work, and we just took a little walk around the downtown area here in Cleveland.

I LOVE shooting at night, because the lighting can be so dramatic. I really enjoying playing and experimenting with these sessions, and I'm really excited about some of the images we were able to create. I hope yo like them as well!

Let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.


~wj

ivey & dean ~esession

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Ivey and Dean will be marrying next spring, but we recently met for their engagement session. We had a great time wandering around the fields of the Mississippi Delta and the streets of downtown Memphis.

I had a blast you guys. Thanks for being such great sports.

~wj

sally & brian ~esession

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I met Sally and Brian a few weeks back for their engagement session. We had such a blast! The day started outside of Como, Mississippi along some of our awesome Delta backroads. We then headed up to Memphis for some night shots. And then we wrapped things up at one of the best oyster bars around. Pearl's Oyster house. I know. Hard to believe that there would be such a great place for oysters that far from the gulf, but it's true! The place is awesome. I'm so glad Sally and Brian introduced me to it.

So here are a few images form the session. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Sally and Brian, thanks so much for a wonderful afternoon and evening. See you guys soon!


~wj

carla & chad ~esession

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I recently spent a few hours with Carla and Chad for their engagement session. They'll be marrying in New Orleans in November but we created these images back here in the Delta. It should be a blast; can't wait to spend the weekend with the two of them and their families in the Big Easy !



~wj

nancy margaret & Andy ~ esession . . . round 2-dc

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I flew up to DC a little over a week ago to create a few more images of Nancy Margaret and Andy for their guest sign-in book. I can't wait to wrap up the design on it. It's going to be a challenge, though, because I've now got twice as many images from which to pick! And I've got to edit them down to only 20 or 30! Between Oxford and DC, it'll really be a fun book to display and share.

Nancy Margaret and Andy, thank you both for being such gracious hosts to me while I was in Washington. I truly had a blast and I can't wait for the wedding in October.



~wj

Nancy Margaret & Andy ~ esession . . . round 1-oxford

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I met Nancy Margaret and Andy a few weeks ago for an engagement session. Things went so well we've got another planned for this Thursday in DC. I can't wait. It should be a ton of fun. This session was in Oxford, MS near Nancy Margaret's home, and I'm sure Andy will be thrilled to create some fun photos exploring the DC area near his home.

They'll be marrying this October in Water Valley, Mississippi and the wedding is going to be absolutely gorgeous. Kate Barron of A Bash Events is coordinating and I'll be assisted in my photo duties by Deb Tracy, who's flying in from California to second for me (thanks Deb!)

So I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning for a quick trip to DC, and be back in Cleveland Friday night. It'll be a bit tiring, but tons of fun. Nancy Margaret and Andy -- see y'all tomorrow!

~wj

Maggie & Anthony ~esession

Maggie and Anthony are marrying June 14, so we met recently for their engagement session.

As I was driving up to Tunica, Mississippi to meet them, I began brainstorming on things we could do. I always go into a shoot with a pretty good idea of how I want to shape things, but I also like to leave myself a bit of flexibility in case inspiration strikes.

About five miles outside of Tunica I noticed a set of three crosses that frequent our Delta landscape. The crosses are about 25 feet tall, though many here in the Delta are now leaning over, as if worn out from the ongoing struggle to get their message noticed. There actually are nearly 2000 of these clusters across the country, and they dot the landscapes in 29 states -- at least that's according to a quick search I did online.

They are symbols that I think are ingrained in all Deltans, as you cannot travel through here without seeing quite a few of these. I think, perhaps, to people not familiar with our area the crosses would immediately stand out. But when you ride the backroads and highways of this land for your entire life, they tend to blend in and become as common as the flat land that runs parallel to the sky. But I always seem to notice them. Always wanted to create images of them. And until now, have done nothing more than observe them. I think it's quite fitting that the first images I created around these symbols are ones of love and happiness.

So I met Maggie and Anthony, and asked them if they'd like to try something different around these crosses. They were all for it, and were real troopers when we realized we would have to walk through about 80 yards of swampy earth to find a good spot to begin. Such great spirit in the two of them. I think a lot of that comes out in their photos. And it is quite humbling when the people I work with have such a great drive to explore and try new things.

We spent a few more hours just riding the backroads, stopping at places that struck a chord and getting to know each other a little better. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. I am really excited to work with them in June.

Thank you, Maggie and Anthony. You both helped me complete an idea I've been kicking around for many, many years. I am really proud of the images we created, and I hope you are as well. I look forward to seeing you both very soon.

take care

~wj

Aimee and Will ~ esession

Aimee and Will are getting married this Saturday in Tunica, Mississippi. We met a few weeks ago to go over a few details and create some fun images for their engagement session. We spent a couple of hours riding around some of the backroads of the north Mississippi Delta--always one of my most favorite things to do. They are a great couple and I cannot wait to help them celebrate their wedding on Saturday. It's coming at a time when I really need to have a happy day, and it's going to be absolutely beautiful.

They are marrying at a small church in Tunica. It's an old, wonderfully solid small town church. The reception will be held right on the Mississippi River at the Tunica River Park, which is just a stone's throw from the casinos. Everything should happen right around sunset, which will only make things even more magical.

Keep an eye out here. I'll post images from their wedding soon.


Take care,

~wj

Nancy & Roger : Engagement Session

I met Nancy and Roger this past Saturday for their Esession. They both live in Birmingham, but will be marrying in Nancy's hometown of Inverness, Mississippi. It's one of our wonderfully beautiful small Delta towns. The wedding is in April and I can't wait to see how gorgeous Deer Creek will be that time of year. If this first run (in January, no less) is any indication, the images from the wedding should turn out great!

Amber & Christpher

OK. I'm getting older. As if the hair in the shower drain weren't enough of a reminder every morning, last week I photographed Jennifer and Bob for their engagement session.(I coached at her high school when she was a junior,see below) Well, this week I had an appointment with Little Christopher Card and his fiance' Amber.

Actually Christopher has grown into quite a young man. A tall, strong, Air Force young man. (And Christopher, I use the term "Little" lovingly.) Christopher's parents, Bob and Beverly, are great friends of my mom and dad. Bob was perhaps the finest coach I've ever had (high school football and basketball) and definitely the best history teacher I've ever known. So I've known Christopher since he was just a wee-little thing. It makes me proud to see what he's become, so I can only imagine how his parents must be bursting. And to top it off, he is marrying such a sweet girl in Amber.

The wedding will be near Riceville, Tennessee in September. I can't wait--the weather should be gorgeous and the foliage at that time will make for stunning backdrops.




Christopher and Amber had a very tight schedule as they were in town for only a few days and had lots of parties and showers to attend. So we met early Sunday morning in the cool little Delta town of Merigold and played around a bit. The old buildings there make for great images, but we didn't stop there. Seeing as Christopher would be marrying outside his hometown, and he currently lives in Texas, I though it would be nice to create some images with a reminder of home. So we made sure to visit some crops (usually cotton, but this year it's corn) and Po' Monkeys Lounge--our local "juke joint" made famous by Annie Leibovitz in Vanity Fair magazine.