Holly + Tim 03.29.08

We met Holly & Tim Noles through a friend referral from TNT Fireworks in Florence, AL.  The couple met and fell in love like many people do; in the office!  Holly has been one of our more bubbly brides.  She was always smiling and excited about everything from our very first meeting.  Tim took the typical "strong silent approach" that most grooms tend to follow, letting his leading lady run the show.

And what a show it was!  The wedding was held in the courtyard and ballrooms of historic Montgomery Place in Sheffield, AL.  Holly's vibrant personality was reflected in the bright pink and orange color scheme.  The radiant colors sure helped bring the feeling of sunny spring into an otherwise rainy afternoon.  We made it through the outdoor ceremony (barely) before the rain rushed in. 

Fortunately, guests were able to dance the night away at the indoor reception.  More personal flair added to the day was Holly & Tim's choice of a catered taco bar from the favorite local restaurant.  The couple and their guests continued the dancing, dining, and toasting festivities into the evening, ending with a special fireworks exit on a vintage get-away truck. 

Congrats to Holly & Tim on their 3 year anniversary!

Melissa + Jim 03.14.09

Welcome to another wedding flashback!  Today I'll introduce you to Melissa & Jim Oppman.  Melissa came to us as a referral from a past client, and she also worked with our sister, Melinda.  So needless to say, Melissa was filled in long before that first consultation.  Do you ever get that deja vu feeling when you meet someone, like you know them from somewhere?  That's what it was like meeting Melissa and Jim at our first consultation.  Turns out, after months of trying to figure out why Jim seemed familiar, we put together that we had taken about 2 years of Spanish together at UNA.  One of a few small world moments we experienced with this unforgettable couple....if you're one of the few who get that reference, I'm sure you're laughing, I know I did... ;-)

Right from the get go, we liked Melissa and Jim.  They were very easy going and just all around nice people.  One of our favorites for sure.  That first meeting felt more like chatting with old friends that an interview.  They opted to commission us for their wedding, as well as a bridal session with Melissa.

We shot the bridals on the first week of February.  We were invited to photograph at Blue Willow of the Valley in New Market.  The venue is owned by a friend of mine, Elizabeth.  For it to have been mid-winter, we had an unusually beautiful day.  The weather was perfect.  Blue Willow has some great views and textured terrain that photographed beautifully, even in a low blooming time of year.  It always amazes me how diverse the landscape is in Alabama.  Drive 20 miles in any direction from our office, and you can see mountains, plains, rolling hills, lakes, rivers....we really are blessed with variety.

On the wedding day, we were planning on outdoor formals, but mother nature had different plans.  Rain, and lots of it.  Instead we had a busy  formal session inside with Jim's family and Melissa's parents and mass of siblings.  So many sisters, and all super nice like Melissa!  The ceremony was held at New Life Assembly in Athens. 

The evening reception took place inside historic Founders Hall at Athens State University.  Despite the rain, we were able to go out on the large covered porch during the reception and take some great night shots.  We still laugh about the "Twilight in Blue" portrait shown.  I had forgotten my tripod head, meaning it's actually a miracle this shot is in focus (your heartbeat alone can cause shutter shake on night shots with long exposures).  We pulled it off by me squatting with my mom, a.k.a. the super assistant, pressing down on my shoulders and balancing me so I could be absolutely still for the photo.  Everyone that saw this fiasco got a kick.  Out of 7 shots, we managed one images that I still love...a perfect silhouette lit by an ordinary street light and completely unique to Melissa & Jim, never to be duplicated.

Melissa and Jim will be celebrating their 2 year anniversary in a few weeks.  Congrats!

Check out Melissa & Jim's finished Bridal ArtBook and Wedding Album!

To see this video in HD, visit us on Facebook and YouTube!

Ashley + Joe 06.09.07

Ashley and Joe have been Simpkins Photography clients since the beginning.  It takes a lot of faith to trust two fresh-out-of-college artists with such an important event, but Ashley never blinked.  We had worked together in the retail circuit for years, and she knew exactly how hard we'd work for her. 

We started with an engagement session in Spring Park of Tuscumbia.  Ashley's bright personality definitely came through in her color selections in their wardrobe for the day.  Of course Joe would have been happy with simple jeans and a tee, but oh the things we do for love...We had a beautiful spring day, and even got to walk with some of the visiting geese as we moved around the park.

For her bridals, Ashley stepped back and let us put our creativity to work.  She was fearless, letting us put her in some not-so-comfy spots so we could take advantage of the vibrant flowers that were in bloom all over the park.  This headshot is still one of my favorite bridal portraits.  The absolute calmness...

On the big day in June, hot would have been an understatement!  I'm pretty sure temperatures were grazing the 100 degree mark.  I can look back and pin point this as the day that my mother became my assistant.  Although she was attending the wedding as a guest, she decided to show up early to be a proud mamma and watch the photo shoot.  I remember glancing over to the 15 foot water fountain behind the alter and thinking how did I forget to bring a drink to an outdoor event.  Then out of the blue, my mom comes walking over with a cooler of water.  She started proceeded fluffing dresses, pinning boutonnieres, and rounding up people to have their picture taken.  An assistant that can read my mind and be two steps ahead of me at all times...priceless.  She's been with us ever since.  I like to say she traded in her "band/softball/volleyball mom" time for days as a photo groupie.

Once the ceremony began, however, the heat was forgotten completely.  Ashley and Joe's wedding was the closest thing to Cinderella that I've seen, right down to the horse-drawn carriage bringing the bride and her father to the end of the aisle.  Everything was absolutely perfect.  One of those sweet moments I love capturing during the ceremony was Ashley wiping a little tear from the tip of Joe's nose during the prayer.  It was a private moment that was missed by the crowd, but now they can remember that rush of emotion forever when they look back at their wedding album.  Congrats to Ashley & Joe, three years and going strong!

I've also included a slideshow of Ashley & Joe's wedding album.  The soft color them combined with washed grunge and artistic stamping has been showcased in our studio and at various bridal fairs for the past few years.  I call this our "happily ever after" look...

To see in HD, visit us on Facebook and YouTube!

In the fall of 2010, Ashley and Joe welcomed their first child, Kadence Leigh.  See more of Miss Kadence in our next entry!

Renee + Adam 02.14.08

With years of work behind us, I want to mix in some of the old with the new for our blog readers.  We'll be showcasing some of our past sessions, as well as introducing you to our new clients and their images.

Renee + Adam

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought we'd kick off our first wedding post with an anniversary shout out to our 2008 V-day couple, Renee & Adam May!  Renee and I were fellow art students in college, and it was so great working with her again.  The wedding was in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.  In addition to the wedding, we also shot a bridal session for Renee at Falls Mill in Fayetteville, Tennessee.

To see HQ video, visit us on YouTube or Facebook!