Fun with the Niesens, Rammels and the Nudds

What a fun couple of days. We work in the best industry and have amazing friends to support and relate to. Brandy and Sticky came to Atlanta yesterday for a few days. We'll be going to see them over New Years! First we made a yummy dinner and had Andrew and Rachel over. We made pomegranate salads, my own version of heirloom tomato bruchetta and roasted tomato mussels. We failed to get a picture of all of us together, but here are some details of dinner.




Someone became close friends with Sticky right off!



This morning we went to Chattanooga to see Joy, Garrett and Graycen. Garrett is teaching a digital class at Southern, read more about that on his blog. We loved helping critique his class. We were very impressed and inspired! Let's just say Brandy and I did not have this set up when we were in school. We were a little jealous! : )




Joy and the adorable Graycen.



The girls!



The guys!



The whole gang!



Thanks to Joy and Garrett for a fun lunch and ice cream! : )

What makes you smile?

We've been so busy that I have not been able to do one main thing that really makes me smile. That is going to my health food stores and buying things that are good for Chris and I. We love (which is truly an understatement) pomegranate. It's been a long spring and summer with out them. After a shoot this morning, I went the store in preparation for our friends coming into town this weekend. The first display I saw was pomegranate. I proceeded to quickly put three in a bag. This is a wonderful fruit full of antioxidants and flavor. Be careful when you try to get the seeds out...if you don't do it right, it might look like you killed someone in your kitchen. Red juice everywhere! Be sure to enjoy this fruit during our fall and winter.


So, what made you smile today?

Jennifer and John

Jennifer and John have been so much fun to have as clients. They are extremely calm and just like to be together. Their wedding day came with much drama in the weather department. The wedding was to be outside, but instead they performed the ceremony inside. They handled it great and didn't seem to mind at all. The wedding and reception were at the Rhodes Hall in Atlanta. It's a castle in the middle of the city. With such a beautiful venue, it was a nice thing to come inside. Their nieces and nephews are very important to them, and it is evident in their pictures. They were all adorable and right by the bride and groom's side the whole day. Enjoy their slideshow.

Details of the day beginning.




I found some magical moments by this mirror. I love the following three captures.





The storm. (perspective from the Georgian Terrace)




In this image Jennifer has a beautiful Elizabethan feel to her.



Sweet moments together.





Oh, sweet moment cuddling with Grandma.



The storm cleared and left the world bright and fresh.



There were a lot of photograhers at this wedding! ; )



I love this moment of Jennifer being walked down the isle by her mom and dad.



A fun stormy feel evening shot.







This is such a sweet moment of their nieces not wanting them to leave. It was just precious.




~ Katie

Natalie & Ben - Charlotte, NC

I had the honor and the pleasure to second shoot with one of my friends, Ben Vigil. You might remember Ben from Lia & Victor's portrait session that he had helped Katie and I with. Well this time I was lending him a hand in Charlotte, North Carolina, capturing Natalie & Ben's special day. We captured some great pictures. Here are a few of mine:











They were a fun couple. Here, Natalie alway had a smile during the Mass.









This is one of Katie's favorite that I captured.



Here is the father/daugher dance which was really sweet.






After Natalie and Ben were formally sent off. It seemed that the party was turned up a notch! These two were source of all the energy. The one on the bottom is one of Natalie's brothers, these two were doing a frog jumping bit on the floor.




Here are her grandparents in a sweet slow dance.



I had a fun time in Charlotte. Thank you, Ben!

-Chris

Take me back

There are few things that can bring you back to a moment the way that your senses do. To me, pictures, music and aromas do this best. As you know, pictures are most important to us and irreplaceable. Another important one is sound. As I was editing today, iTunes was randomly going through a playlist. It came to this song:

from the album Live Songs and Stories

SHOW THE WAY


You say you see no hope, you say you see no reason

We should dream that the world would ever change

You're saying love is foolish to believe

'Cause there'll always be some crazy with an Army or a Knife

To wake you from your day dream, put the fear back in your life...


Look, if someone wrote a play just to glorify

What's stronger than hate, would they not arrange the stage

To look as if the hero came too late he's almost in defeat

It's looking like the Evil side will win, so on the Edge

Of every seat, from the moment that the whole thing begins

It is...


Chorus:

Love who makes the mortar

And it's love who stacked these stones

And it's love who made the stage here

Although it looks like we're alone

In this scene set in shadows

Like the night is here to stay

There is evil cast around us

But it's love that wrote the play...

For in this darkness love can show the way


So now the stage is set. Feel you own heart beating

In your chest. This life's not over yet.

so we get up on our feet and do our best. We play against the

Fear. We play against the reasons not to try

We're playing for the tears burning in the happy angel's eyes

This is the song that was our first dance. It's by David Wilcox. Chris and I spent most of our time dating listening to David's music. It brings back such memories. We love this song, because it shows how crazy this world is. That we can focus on that or focus on what the foundation is made from. All this while feeling totally wrapped and protected by love. That love is what binds us and shows the way through this world. Be sure to check out his site. Enjoy this song and relive one of our favorite moments with us.

Katie

Giving Blood and Reflecting on 9/11

Katie and I went out today and gave blood at our local Red Cross blood donation center in Atlanta. We feel that this is an important cause that impacts and helps thousands every year. When I realized it is going to be September 11 tommorrow, I was taken back 6 years ago. Just after that tragic day I decided I wanted to help in any way I could. So I went to an emergency donation center in Marietta. I was in line at a reformed medical tech school and met a lot of people there with vibrant personalities. They were all there for a common cause, to do thier part in the wake of an atrocious tragedy. Today the need of the Red Cross has not changed. They are still in need of plenty of blood and platelets. So in honor of 9/11, we encourage you to go out there and give.

-Chris & Katie

Birthday Girl

Caroline, my niece, turned five years old on Wednesday! Yesterday was her party with family and a few friends. There was a BIG surprise to the little girl that is enthralled with horses. A horse actually came to the party and they were able to take rides around the yard. You are such a sweet little girl and Uncle Chris and I love you very much.

love, Auntie and Uncle Chris



I love this adorable picture of Doster's look at his big sister's birthday dream come true!





A little picture of them playing hide and seek. Too cute!

Precious Sidney

Before we moved to the city, we lived in a townhome. Bobby and Stacey were next door. They were married just after us and wanted to start a family. A few months ago, Sidney came into their world. What an adorable little girl she is. We spent Labor Day morning with them and did some pictures of Sidney and them as a family. What an honor it was to hear from them. We loved capturing this new little family.

Enjoy their slideshow.