Emily Dean Photography » Lifestyle & Family Photographer | Based in Birmingham, Alabama

Terri.  I.  LOVE.  Terri.

She is one of my dearest friends and is like no other.  Years ago, we began lovingly referring to her as “Terrible Terri.”  Sounds harsh, but it was all in good fun and she knows we adore her!  The title was earned by her dry, matter-of-fact, no nonsense attitude.

She adds a dynamic to our fabulous little group that we couldn’t live without.  Hilarious with a heart of gold, I love her more than words and I’m jumping-up-&-down-excited that she is GETTING MARRIED!!!

I was so excited to make the trip to Point Clear, AL to meet Parker and celebrate their engagement with an awesome party.  The setting on the wharf was perfect and even though the weather didn’t quite cooperate, it was still a blast.  I’m glad I was able to be there and take a few pictures to document the night.

vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVYay! I get to be in a picture!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVHow cute is she?!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVThis is what happens when I leave my camera with Micah (you remember Micah from this post) and her hubs, Jeff while I go to the bathroom to get the red wine I sat in out of my white dress.  Photo bombed.  BUSTED.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEV

Terri, I love you and cannot wait for October!

  • April 22, 2013 - 12:49 am

    Mary Caitlin McNeely - Terri!
    Send me a hugger! please i want one!!! and a save the date if you have any! you know i’m sentimental like that! But seriously, I want a hugger!ReplyCancel

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When I was a little girl, I wanted my name to be Monica.  Monica Nathews.

I find it almost impossible to type anything without first writing it down.  On paper.  With a pen.

While these kind acts of randomness have absolutely nothing to do with this post, I thought you’d like to know anyway!

 

Last week I got itchy.  Not wool sweater, red bumps, scratch-until-you-bleed itchy, but itchy on the inside.  Ancy.  I’ve been spending way too much time on my couch.  In solitude.  Working.  I needed a change of scenery…I needed human contact and I needed it FAST.  So, I transplanted myself from my couch in Birmingham, AL to my sister’s couch in Jacksonville, FL.  The move was just what I needed and I got to see my girl and take some pictures of her…when she would let me.

My niece, Ellie, has picked up a sweet little habit from her mama.  Whenever my camera appears, her hands immediately cover her face and she yells “DON’T TAKE MY PICTURE!!”  Thanks Libby.

Finally, after bribing her with a trip to Starbucks for cookies and vanilla milk, I was able to catch a few shots.  However, we were only able to stay outside for a few minutes due to the mutant-killer mosquitos that decided to attack.  I would compare these dudes to  real life Tracker Jackers.  No.  Joke.

vPINIMAGEVBe afraid.  Be very afraid.  She’s as mischievous as she is cute. vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVCome on.  You can’t say that isn’t the cutest face you’ve ever seen in whole wide world.  You just can’t.vPINIMAGEV

She had to wear her “high heels” like mom.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVTrouble.  Right there. Sassy, saucy, TROUBLE.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVWorkin’ those modeling chops, baby.vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEV

My sweet girl.

  • August 22, 2012 - 11:39 pm

    Kim - Ellie is adorable, sassy, and saucy as my three! Great pictures of her:)ReplyCancel

  • December 10, 2012 - 3:52 pm

    manic monday | wedding work week » Emily Dean Photography - […] {I started typing this post straight out, but quickly had to stop and grab a pen & pad…I told you I can’t type anything without first writing it down! I tried…} […]ReplyCancel

  • February 19, 2013 - 12:00 pm

    Calyn Nathews - Hey Emma its Tootie and I love those pictures of Ellie. I miss them so much but seeing those pictures of her help.ReplyCancel

    • February 20, 2013 - 9:36 am

      Emma - Hey Tootie! I miss them, too! I’m glad you like the pictures 🙂ReplyCancel

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I’m a lucky girl.  I’m pretty sure I have the best clients in the world.  For real, y’all.  The.  Best.  No bridezillas here. Only amazingly beautiful, confident and relaxed women with excellent style.

My absolute favorite thing in the universe is when a client becomes a friend…I know I’ve done my job well when we click, connect and have such a great time during our session that the time flies by and before we know it, it’s over and we are hanging around chatting like life-long friends.

For my wedding clients, this is why an engagement session is so important.  I will be spending some serious, up close and personal time with the bride on the most important day of her life, so it’s super important that we click and the engagement session is where this happens.  So far I’ve been lucky.  My brides are UH.  MAY.  ZING and I am so grateful for them.

 

And this? Well, this is the icing on the already delicious cake.

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It’s at this point that I finally exhale and do a little booty dancin’ around the house…and sometimes I make a video of said dancing…

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Reason # 732 why I love my job: When I’m not shooting, I can work from anywhere, which means I can drive to Jacksonville, FL on a whim to see my niece, Ellie, off to her first day of school.

Of course that’s not the only reason I made the 8 hour trek to the sunshine state, but it was a bonus that I got to be here to document the fun.  Plus, I get to watch cable while I work.  Score.vPINIMAGEVEvery morning I’m woken up by this little munchkin coming into my room.  She immediately unplugs my iPhone, climbs into bed with me, snuggles up and watches YouTube. vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVNew shoes…Thanks GG!vPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEVvPINIMAGEV

She’s growing up way too fast!  Two more years and it’s kindergarten……tear.

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I never answer my phone if I don’t recognize the number.  I don’t like to be caught off guard.  Put me on the spot and I freeze…shut down…run for the nearest exit.  It’s not good, people.  But for some reason, this time was different. Curiosity got the best of me and I answered.  Whew! I’m so glad I did.

Jasmine was in the market for a wedding photographer.  Her best friend is a former co-worker of mine and she suggested that Jasmine take a look at my work.  We chatted for a few minutes while I shopped the frozen foods in Publix and quickly decided to set up a meeting.  We settled on 5:30 in the cafe at Books-a-Million a few days later.

Oh.  My.  Gahhhh!!  My first potential client meeting! I was a big bundle of nerves.  If you remember from this post, I’m not the most outgoing when it comes to first meetings, but I needed to put my big girl pants on and GET OVER IT.

I arrived super early so that I could scope out the best table, set up my computer and grab a coffee before she arrived.

We hit if off immediately.  Conversation was easy and I loved hearing about all of the details she had planned for the big day.  A traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Patrick Catholic Church with a glamorous reception downtown at Matt Jones Gallery.  Old Hollywood Glam.   Yes! It sounded gorgeous and I couldn’t wait!

When I asked how she and David met she smiled the sweetest smile and began telling me how they had grown up in the same neighborhood and had even both attended college at the University of Alabama without ever realizing how perfect they were for each other.  They bumped into each other at a career fair after graduating and never looked back.

August 4th arrived and again, I was a big bundle of nerves.  I don’t think I’ll ever stop being nervous on a wedding day! It’s just so exciting and such a huge honor to be a part of something so special.  However, as soon as I arrived to Jasmine’s parents’ house my nerves disappeared and the fun began.  Jasmine has THE sweetest and most wonderful family ever.

The olympics were playing on the flat screen while everyone hung out eating everything from hotdogs (you know how much I LOVE a hotdog) and salad to cookies and mini cupcakes.

Everyone was so happy and so relaxed and I just knew it was going to be a perfect day.

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David and Jasmine, I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful day.  I don’t think I could ever express to you what an incredible honor it is.  I hope your lives together are filled with all of the love and joy in the world!

  • August 10, 2012 - 9:45 am

    Ashley Cox - These are beautiful! You did a great job! I can’t wait until it gets cooler to have you do our family pics. And I’m right there with you on the freezing up and running in new surroundings and people. People think I’m outgoing but really I panic! Lol.ReplyCancel

    • August 10, 2012 - 9:21 pm

      Emma - Ashley, I can’t wait for that either!! And I’m glad I’m not the only one with that problem!! Thank goodness 🙂ReplyCancel

  • August 10, 2012 - 10:20 am

    Charity - Hi Emily! This is Charity, the sister and maid of honor from Jasmine’s wedding. I just wanna say that these pics are beyond gorgeous, and you did a fantastic job! Also, this post is soooo sweet! Thanks for documenting Jas and David’s special day! We’re all looking at these pics now, reliving the day again, smiling, laughing, and emailing each other about them! Again, you did a wonderful job!!!ReplyCancel

    • August 10, 2012 - 10:31 am

      Emma - Charity, you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that! I’m so excited that you all love the photos and can’t wait to show you the rest. Much love to you and all of your family!ReplyCancel

  • August 10, 2012 - 11:19 am

    Justin - Hello Emma this is Justin, the brother of the bride. Just want to say these are the most amazing, beautiful, and professional pics i’ve ever seen taken. I’m more than happy my sister chose you to share this experience and wonderful day with us. Once again thank you for all you did, and the amazing job with the photography!ReplyCancel

    • August 10, 2012 - 12:58 pm

      Emma - Justin, thank you so much for the kind words. I’m so happy y’all love the pictures! I had such a wonderful time spending the day with your family and am honored to have had the opportunity. Thank you so so much!ReplyCancel

  • August 10, 2012 - 2:37 pm

    Chelsea T. - What a beautiful job! And a beautiful wedding! Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • August 10, 2012 - 7:59 pm

    Debra A. Pippen Johnson - Hello Emma,

    I am Debbie, Jasmine’s aunt. Wow, the pictures are incredibly beautiful!!! Looking at the pictures left me speechless and helped me to relive Jasmine and David’s special day. You did a suberb job!!!

    Thanks for making Jasmine and David’s day memorable.ReplyCancel

    • August 10, 2012 - 9:16 pm

      Emma - Debbie, I am so happy you love the pictures and completely humbled by all of your family’s sweet comments. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend time with y’all and to document this day for Jasmine, David and all of you to remember forever! Thank you so much!ReplyCancel

  • August 11, 2012 - 7:46 am

    Victoria Fisher-Pippen - Emma-I am Victoria, Jasmines’s Aunt and the wedding director…
    You did an amazing job and you captured the most precious moments. I can’t wait to see all of the pictures. The time I was around you, you were most courteous and super friendly as well as professional. It’s always wonderful to work with someone and have FUN all in one. You made Jasmine’s day one of the most memorable days of her life. Your work will be recommended highly to others and good luck with your future jobs……ReplyCancel

    • August 11, 2012 - 10:12 am

      Emma - Vicotria, Thank you so much! You were such a pleasure to work with and did a beautiful job with everything. Your entire family has blown me away with there kindness and sweet words. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to know you all!ReplyCancel

  • August 11, 2012 - 1:26 pm

    Sara Bell - Hello Emma – this is Jasmine’s Mom – you will never know how much I enjoyed your presence and professionalism on Jasmine & David’s wedding day. The photography was just as beautiful as you are. You are an honorary family member from now on…. come over anytime for your favorite hotdog…luv alwaysReplyCancel

    • August 11, 2012 - 3:28 pm

      Emma - Sara, Thank you so so much! Your family’s hospitality towards me was incredible and I just might take you up on that hotdog 😉 Love to you all!ReplyCancel

  • August 11, 2012 - 8:47 pm

    Julie - What a gorgeous wedding. The wedding party photos were heartwarming and the childrens’ photos were precious. Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

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