A few weeks ago we embarked on Watson Tour ’09 as we like to call it.  Essentially it was 16 days of a working vacation in Georgia and Tennessee.  We kicked off Watson Tour by stopping in Atlanta to shoot Ben & Michelle’s midtown engagement session.  Although I’d never met either of them in person prior to our shoot, I knew from talking on the phone with Michelle that we were all going to get along like peanut butter and jelly.  Michelle is so open and warm from the minute you meet her and to top it off has the most incredible sense of humor.  From our very first phone conversation where we discovered we both share a love for all things The Office and Flight of the Conchords I felt like I was on the phone with an old friend.  I could not wait to finally meet her… and Ben oh Ben… he is equally as wonderful as his bride to be.  Although he is a full time structural engineer, in his private life he is an incredible chef wowing all his friends and family with his culinary skills.  I have always said there is something oh so sexy about a man who can cook.  This could explain my affinity for Top Chef.

When we discussed shooting locations, Ben told me he really loves the Fox Theatre in midtown Atlanta and wanted to shoot some of their engagement session there.  We weren’t too sure if it would work out since there was a Thomas the Train stage show going on that day, but when we arrived we were able to get inside for our very own private tour of the historic venue.  The inside of the Fox Theatre is absolutely incredible.  A rich blue ceiling with twinkling stars and moving clouds hovers over the ornately decorated theatre.  Hints of Morocco and old Hollywood are oozing from every corner and it is rumored to even be the home of several ghosts.  Beauty & mystery all in one location!  Our shoot was so much fun and at the end of the day we made two beautiful new friends.  Ben & Michelle, we are so excited to be shooting your wedding in the Fall.  We can’t wait to see you two again!

Here are some of my favorite images followed by a short slideshow.  I hope you all enjoy!

As if Lori & Justin’s destination wedding at the Grand Palladium Resort White Sands in Riviera Maya, Mexico wasn’t gorgeous enough, they hired us to shoot a day after session with them.  They knew they wanted to make the most of their destination wedding so we started discussing the options of shooting the perfect day after session to capture the natural beauty of the Mexican landscape.  Riviera Maya is known for its very unique topography (karst topography… the proper terminology Bradford wanted me to add) covered in crystal blue cenotes.  A cenote essentially is a sinkhole that is filled with fresh groundwater.  Most are covered in stalagtites and stalagmites just like a normal cave, yet they are filled with water.  Didn’t realize you were getting a geography lesson here did you now?  Cenotes are absolutely fascinating to behold and with their tempting cold waters, most welcomed after hiking in the humid and often oppressive Mexican heat.  So lets get on to the pictures how about it.  I hope you enjoy.

So the “blog size” really does this image no justice but in its full and larger than life glory it is perfect for printing onto canvas and hung on a large focal wall.  Hello beautiful!

below is still one of my favorites regardless of what everyone else might think.  (ps: all who think against me think wrong)

and under the water we go…

Lori and Justin you guys were an absolute pleasure to work with.  We love how you were open to any idea we had and held your breath for much longer than necessary just for us!  To all of you photographers who have yet to do any  underwater shooting, it can be quite tricky.  For these images Brad had to hold me underwater (thanks for letting me back up for air baby) so that I didn’t add any unnecessary motion to the image and Lori and Justin also had to try to anchor themselves to the cave floor to hold poses long enough to be captured.  These guys truly deserve a trophy for being underwater super models!

Much love to you both!

Mel & Brad

Should you start spontaneously singing James Taylor’s “Oh Mexico” while reading this blog post do not be alarmed.  The following images will make you long for a Mexican vacation.

You may remember Lori & Justin from their Las Vegas engagement session, well when it came to their wedding they knew they wanted a vacation inspired dream wedding on the white sands of a tropical location.  Their quest for the perfect destination wedding lead them to the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa White Sands in the heart of Riviera Maya, Mexico.  They were so ecstatic when they booked the venue and began planning wedding of their dreams.  Along the journey of planning there were some typical bumps in the road, but nothing could prepare them for the month before when apparently all signs pointed to NO for their wedding.  The swine flu epidemic hit hard (amongst other news worthy issues) and before they could blink people were questioning the safety of traveling to Mexico.  Lori and Justin decided they would be getting married no matter what and decided not cancel or relocate their wedding.  By the time their wedding rolled around most of the swine flu scare had passed and everyone was ready to spend some time on the beach.  We are so glad they didn’t have to make alternative plans for their wedding day.  We couldn’t have imagined it any other way than on the beautiful beaches of Mexico.  Everything was absolutely perfect.  It was exactly as Lori predicted… laid back and jam packed with fun!  This had to be one of the most easy going wedding parties we have ever worked with.  Everyone was having the time of their lives and we are so happy we were there to capture it all.  There were so many amazing pictures from their wedding that I had a hard time narrowing it down for this post… so I will cut the words to a minimum and get on with wedding.  My advice to anyone considering a destination wedding… do it!!!!

Notice…  many many beautiful images are to follow… proceed with caution!

Who wouldn’t want to get married here?!

hello gorgeous Mexico detials… and yes that is a giant iquana running around.  They act just like our little Florida lizards only they are muuuuuuuch larger.

I just loved Lori’s cute hot pink ballet flats.  Perfect flip flop alternative for beach inspired wedding shoes.

Isn’t Lori just the spitting image of her mother!?!  This family is full of beautiful women I tell ya.

all the guys had their own mini mustache for the occasion

the view… oh the view!

some of the other resort guests showed up to watch from the beach… no one likes to miss out on a good wedding!

Lori’s sister Holly was the maid of honor… I told you this family was full of beautiful girls.

Lori discovering Justin’s secret mustache

if you look closely you will see me in Lori’s right eye and Brad in Lori’s left.  Pretty sneaky huh…

the girls

the boys

and their alter egos

the whole gang

this was entirely their idea… and I love the results!

The reception was held overlooking the little river that ran through the resort.  I love all the light reflecting in the water.

Lori and Justin thank you so much for having us there to celebrate with you and your families.  You were all an absolute pleasure to work with and made us feel like family.  We wish you both years and years of happiness, love and adventures together!

Lots of love!

Mel & Brad

Stay tuned tomorrow for images from their super delicious underwater day after session!

Did you miss our June boudoir marathon?  If so don’t miss our last marathon of the summer.  Show off that beach body and golden tan with the hottest photoshoot of your life.  If you’ve been thinking of doing a boudoir session for your husband, boyfriend, or even just for yourself, now is the time!  Email for more detailed information and to reserve  your spot today.  Our June session booked up in less than 48 hours!  So don’t wait.  Upgrades to our popular little black book albums and deluxe flushmount sexy books are also available.  Sign up with a friend and you will both receive $25 off your session fee.  Not able to make it to this marathon session?  Ask us about our brand new boudoir parties!  You + friends + us = Best party ever!

Hello blog world!!!  I just wanted write a quick note to let you all know that in spite of a lull in blogging lately we are busier than ever.  We are on a working vacation in Tennessee doing lots of shoots and visiting some friends and family while we are up this way.  We are at our favorite Haines house in Knoxville right now enjoying some Forth of July festivities and are so happy to have a couple days here to relax before heading over to Nashville to work some more.  We are loving it up here… highs in the 80′s (thats practically a cold front), lightning bugs (oh how I miss those), wheat fields, and my favorite rustic old barns and farmland!  Its beautiful!!!! Today we had a chance to do some white water tubing near Gatlinburg with friends and it was soooooo much fun!  I will have pictures to post later.  For now here is a little sample of what we have been up to!  We hope you all enjoy a happy and safe Independence Day!