Samantha and Brian and I had a great time Friday evening in downtown Savannah.  We started at Forsythe Park and eventually made our way down to River street.  The overcast gave a real mood to the pictures, and made for some good black and whites with lots of texture. I’m looking forward to shooting their wedding this spring.

Amy and Blake’s wedding was awesome. The family and friends were great, and all of them were a pleasure to work with.  We were able to spend a lot of time with Amy and Blake, from the initial meeting, through the engagement portraits, at our open house, and finally at the wedding. I’m happy to say by the end we’d moved past the studio/client relationship and are able to call them friends.

We arranged for them to meet for the first time on their wedding day at the ruins on Spring Island. What a perfect place to start the rest of their lives together, beside the fact that it made for great pictures.  The church was the Methodist Church in Ridgeland, then onto the reception at Calawassie Island. Amy and Blake picked some great spots. Click on the images below for a closer look. 

After months of painting, moving walls, putting up track systems, moving equipment, and printing out our work, we celebrated our official grand opening of our new studio last night!  The night was a big success, with about 200 people in attendance. Smoky Chef Catering  provided some fantastic food, Low Country Lights provided the mood lighting, The Tent Factory provided tables, and Bills ABC Liquors provided the drinks. A big thanks to all who made the night possible. Our new address is 918 Eighth St, Port Royal, SC, or the corner of Paris and Eighth in Port Royal.  We’re looking forward to serving the community with some really great new resources to help us be more creative. Stop in if you’re in the area. Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.

Happy 1st Birthday Ava!  Little Ava just celebrated her first birthday.  She wore a pretty pink dress with birthday cake and balloons smocked on the neckline.  She was a happy angel in her dress….. However, when she found out her birthday cake was CHOCOLATE - she hit the roof.  Who said a 1 year old does not know what they like.  Miss Ava does and it is not chocolate birthday cake.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, I had the pleasure of being a part of the Perez and Powell wedding.  The setting was the pavilion at the waterfront park in downtown Beaufort, the sky was clear the this couple is a beautiful example of true love.  The respect and admiration of one for the other was evident in the looks, smiles and embraces.  Thank you both for allowing La Bella Vita Photography caputure your bella vita, your beautiful life.  I wish you both much happiness!!

The Humphreys wedding was wonderful.  The bride and groom were relaxed, and the setting at St Peter’s Catholic Church lent a mood to the pictures that I really enjoy.  There are pictures, and then there’s the art you get when the pictures draw you in and lead you to ask what’s going on behind the scenes, and gives you a hint.  A picture of a bride and groom kissing is nice, but it’s the little girl out of focus in the background watching that really makes the picture.  This is an example of what we strive to catch.

On Saturday September 13, Jac and Pat shared their wedding with friends, family and me.  The bride and groom wrote their vows and let me tell you, there was not a dry eye to be found.  The wedding was on MCAS at the Log Cabin and even a person crabbing on the dock was moved by the event.  The sincerity of the couple was rivaled by none I have seen.  It is not very often that you experience an event that is as heart warming as this one.  They opened their heart to each other and their guest in a truly special way.  Please enjoy these photos as s brief glimpse into this special occasion.  I send my sincerest wishes to Jac and Pat for a long happy life together.

Sara Wheatly and Kameron Singleton planned thier wedding around many obstacles one of which was Huricane Hana, only to be rewarded with a beautiful day for a wedding.  The groom arrived home from training in the Coast Guard ahead of schedule, an alternate location was found for the reception and the things went forward as planned.  The ceremony was held at the Frogmore Plantation by the water, a beautiful venue for this special event.  All went well and the dreams of a the happy couple came true, and I was fortunate enough to be a part.  Thanks to Sara, Kameron and thier families for the opporturnity to share this day.  Best Wishes to the happy couple.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of sharing the joy of a new family addition.  Shay and Traci have experience the joy of the birth of thier daugher Ashleigh.  They are both adoring parents of the sweet little angel.   Ashleigh was only two weeks old when she entered the studio for the first time.  I loved being the one to create memories that will last forever.  I hope one day theses will be the images she shows her family as she decides who her children look like, but there is a long line of joyous moments before we get to that stage of life, for now mom and dad are content enjoying her as she is - PERFECT!

You have one senior year of high school.  It never comes again. Who you are in that year may define who you become in the rest of your life ahead.  The photography used in your senior pictures can either definitively capture who you are in that year of your life, or it can completely miss it, losing your personality with generic lighting and poses.  Which would you like? 

Here are a few of my personal favorites from Saturday.  Click on them for a larger view.   John