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I’m going off of my normal WHW today and pointing you toward my Pinterest obsession. Yes, as much as I’d like to be Hipster about it all and not get caught up in the crazy trend of spending hours and hours pouring through wedding boards, work outs, recipes to off-set those work outs, and decor ideas, I can’t help it. I’ve been sucked in! It’s ok, though, because I can justify it if it’s all for my photography blog…right? Obviously, I love weddings. I wouldn’t be a wedding photographer if I wasn’t completely taken with every part of the celebration. So, even though I’ve been married for over 2 years, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored while looking at wedding dresses, accessories, new ideas…you get it, I’m addicted–in a good way! Yesterday, I was thinking a lot about how many of my clients seem to be the type of bride who puts her own spin on the typical wedding traditions. And I LOVE that. I ADORE that.

I may decide to do a series of WHW posts solely on “Alternatives”—Alternative dresses, alternative venues, alternative vows, etc. When I use this word, I just mean uniquely YOU. No matter what your wedding is all about, no matter where it’s held, no matter what the season, don’t worry about keeping traditions as much as keeping the styles true to who you are as a couple.

With that said, today I’m focusing on alternative veils. I love me a good, long veil. Traditional and over the top all the way. However, I’m really enjoying this obsession with all things vintage that our culture is currently experiencing, and I’ve noticed that the typical veil we’re seeing at weddings is now significantly different than just a few years ago. Well, yesterday I went a little nuts with the pinning, and I’d love to share some of my favorite veils/veil alternatives with you! See them here. If you’re engaged and making your wedding boards now, I’m a little jealous!! I loved everything about my wedding, and wouldn’t change a thing, but I just wish I had an excuse to wear some of these accessories now! When it comes to the headpieces and hair accessories, I say GO FOR IT! Be bold, be lovely, be YOU. You’re the bride, you can pull anything off on your wedding day! In fact, why don’t we all start wearing these all the time?! …Too far? : )

With joy, Lizard.

Here’s a gorgeous alternative, shot at a workshop a good while back. Have your florist make you a custom wreath. Isn’t it simply breathtaking?

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I can’t really put into words my love for the beach. I feel MOST at home on the beach, which is funny because I’ve never actually lived on a coast. My two years spent in Houston were the closest I’ve ever been, and I definitely took advantage of any and every opportunity to visit Galveston.

Needless to say, I was “quite excited” (understatement!) when Laura and Caleb asked me to keepsake their Mississippi beach wedding! I’ve known Caleb forever (really), and after a little digging, I realized that Laura and I are (distantly) related! Crazy small world!

Their perfectly intimate ceremony took place at 7.30am so we decided to start shooting and getting ready at…deep breath…3am. I was worried about the lighting at first, but ended up adoring the grainy, film-like images we were able to create together in the wee hours. (Not that I’d want to start EVERY wedding in the middle of my REM cycle, but I must admit, we had a lot of fun and I felt pretty legit for doing it.)

Caleb and Laura are SO sweet, and so in love, and their intimate ceremony and reception was nothing but pure joy. It seemed as if everyone there could just feel how right these two are for each other. After all, they have been dating since around age 15!! I love me a good teenage-sweetheart story : )

If you don’t believe me about the ridiculous level of joy that happened at this beach, just take a peek at aaaall the hugging. So. Many. Hugs. Was it joy, or the satisfaction of the grits bar (yes, you read right) at the reception? Either way, hearts AND tummies were filled, and everyone left with a smile!

With joy, Lizard.

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  • Caleb Baze - Awesomeness! Thanks for the thoughtful comments and of course the pictures! They’re the bomb-diggity.ReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks!! And I’m especially glad to see that I’m not the only one who says “bomb-diggity.” -Lizard.ReplyCancel

  • Sandy Holliday Palmer - What a beautiful wedding.
    Amazing photography!
    Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed them! -Lizard.ReplyCancel

  • Laura Baze - I’ve read this at least 4 times now. Thank you for your sweet words, and for EVERYTHING!! I am so glad you were our photographer!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Aw, that makes me feel so good, Laura!! I’m so glad I was your photographer, too!! It was such an honor, and I loved every single second of it! -Lizard.ReplyCancel

Today it’s getting personal. I love taking pictures…duh. I love the whole process, from the planning of the wedding day/photo shoot, to the balancing precariously for “the shot,” to the editing, all the way to the printing! Every part of the photography process I love. However, since this has become my job, one thing typically gets put on the back-burner: my OWN pictures.

I’m pretty good about sticking to my deadlines when it comes to my clients, but when it comes to myself, I’ll have photos in the queue for months! Back in the day, I could just upload my pictures and print them! Now I feel the need to edit every. single. one. A blessing and a curse : )

With that said, here are a few from my own personal collection. I now have a permanent model, miss Hadelyn “Haddie Mae” Nichols. These are from her desert-inspired shoot when she turned 6 months old! How do like them blue eyes?! Those are courtesy of Haddie-Daddy, Derek.

I have a new appreciation for infant photos, now that I have one of my own. I know everybody says this, but time just FLIES with a baby in the home! Photo sessions are so incredibly important, because babies change so much every day. You just can’t put these pictures off–one blink, and she’s on to the next stage! I remember the day before this photo session, Haddie Mae discovered her tongue. Thus, about 75% of the photos from the session had her tongue sticking out! Adorable. And those pictures with the red boots? Ya, they came off within about 45 seconds. I guess red leather has some kinda good taste to it, because we could not keep those things out of her mouth.

Hope you enjoy this short and sweet glimpse of my baby girl! I know I’m biased but…how cute is she??!

With joy, Lizard.

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  • Brenda Weeks - She is the most precious baby girl! Love, Great Aunt B!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Aw, thanks! We certainly like her :)ReplyCancel

  • Tonya Nichols - Great pictures Mommy! Love your little model :) NannaReplyCancel

  • Pa - Absolutely beautiful!ReplyCancel

Today’s Wedding Hint Wednesday will be short and sweet, because I’m going to give just a couple very simple– and I mean very simple–hints that will make a HUGE difference in your detail pictures. Everybody hates “fine print.” Fine print is the “gotcha” statements in a contract, the itty-bitty expiration date on your gift card that you didn’t see until it was too late. Fine print just stinks. There’s a pesky little bit of fine print in photography, too, and many photographers overlook it until it’s too late. It can come in many forms and ruin many shots if you aren’t careful. Maybe the maid of honor’s tag is sticking out the back of her dress, or the bride has lipstick on her teeth. Watch out for missed buttons or unzipped trousers when it comes to the guys! There are two things I run into the most at weddings. It sounds silly to even discuss, but they make a major difference in the photos–Not to mention, they are so, so easily fixed if you are prepared and waiting for them: 1. Messes, and 2. Ugly Hangers.

You’ve read my tips on lighting and the importance of getting ready early on other WHW posts, but today I’m going to be showing you just a few of my favorite details shots, and explain why they worked so well.

I’ve been to very few weddings with pretty hangers. It’s something that no one thinks about, and yet in my opinion, it can make or break the vital wedding dress photo. Most brides bring the dress on the hanger it came with, which is usually the cheap plastic, clear dinky thing. Nothing wrong with this, but as a photographer it’s my job to capture the beauty of that irreplaceable gown, and a cheapo-depot hanger just isn’t going to cut it. I bring my own hangers. Easy fix. (Bonus hint: I bring enough hangers for bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen jackets, and a few extras just in case!) Photographers–bring pretty hangers! Brides–bring pretty hangers(unless you book me, in which case I’ll do it for you)! My favorite, if you want to go all out: This gorgeous little piece, from BHLDN. Notice the photos below. You don’t even notice the hanger, because the dress itself is so beautiful! And that’s the point! Picture those images with a cheap, clear, plastic hanger–not so gorgeous, am I right? Be prepared

:)
Also, notice how clean the room is in the image on the right? That brings me to my next point.

Now let’s discuss the mess that inevitably accumulates as the girls and guys get ready for the wedding day. There will be a mess. And the mess can actually make for some cute photos, but here’s one of the tips I give my brides: Make a mess, get ready, have fun with it, but have all the bridesmaids be completely ready for pictures, and have the whole mess cleaned up BEFORE you get into your dress (If you are getting dressed in the same room). Look around, and pick up anything you don’t want in the pictures. Here’s a list of just a few very typical things we pick up before the getting dressed moment–things that you definitely don’t want in the backdrop keepsaked for all of time: dirty clothes (and undergarments), trash, make-up, boxes of “feminine hygiene products,” etc. You get the point. And, as I’ve stated before, if you allow time in your schedule for the bridesmaids to get ready before you, you can get the shots you need, with the perfect backdrops, capturing your perfect moments. See the shots below? There are flowers on the clean counter, pillows on the sofa (reflected in the mirror), and everything about these photos reads “Still. Peaceful. Perfect.” You’d never know that to get one of these pictures just right, I had to move about 150 stacked chairs out of my way. You’d never look at either of these and know about the big mess just minutes before–as it should be, our little secret!

Photographers–don’t make the bride worry about the clean-up. Do it yourself. Be present throughout the getting ready process and help maintain the environment the pictures need. Brides–think about discussing this with your bridesmaids beforehand. Grooms–you are about to live with a woman for the rest of your life, so try to remember to clean as you go (on your wedding day and beyond!)

See? Simple problems, simple fixes!

With joy, Lizard.

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In honor of Baby Paisley’s upcoming arrival, I’m featuring her Momma and Daddy on the blog today! Lauren and Chase got married soon after graduating high school in Midland, TX, and they will always be very special to me because their wedding was the first wedding that I ever shot! I was just starting Lizard Nickel Photography, and they put a LOT of trust in me to capture their memories on their very special (and GORGEOUS) wedding day. Paisley is one blessed little baby girl to be coming into a home full of so much love! I can not wait to meet (and photograph!) this sweet little princess–And yes, you will be seeing this little bundle all over the blog during her first year of life since Lauren was also the first mommy to book a new package that I’m offering: The “Tiny-Bundle Bundle,” which includes a maternity session, newborn session, 3, 6, and 9 month sessions, plus a first birthday session! So many shoots coming up with so many baby milestones, and I can’t wait to share them all!! Paisley, you have so so so many people already excited to meet you and love on you, not to mention tons of us praying for your itty-bitty, super-strong heart!!

With joy, Lizard.

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