Williams family....photography

It's been about a week since I last posted...shame on me! However, I have been busy getting ready to move in two weeks into our new house. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :)
Really though, it is the time of year when clients come out of the woodwork for weddings and beach photography sessions. I think people are really ready to get to the beach this year, since the news media last year jumped on the oil spill and made it seem awful in this area, when really it wasn't.
Last Friday I had the opportunity to spend time with the Williams family from Montgomery, AL. They have a second home here, and come down about every other weekend. I don't blame them. If I didn't live here, I certainly would want to come every chance I got.
They are a fun family, who obviously love each other. And I'm blessed that I had the opportunity to meet them and share in their love...

<3 Melanie

Cutie patootie! Photography post

I have the amazing opportunity to photograph some wonderful families who either live here, or vacation here! And within those familes are some adorable little ones. Last night I got to capture one of those...:) And she was SO happy to have her picture taken!!

Tech Tuesday...and Marley. personal post

Well, today was my first official "Tech Tuesday." I have decided to set aside one day a week to do all things technical that have to do with my business. And if I do not schedule it on my calendar, it will not get done.
There are so many things I need to do behind the scenes of my business, and most of the time they are easily pushed aside. Like weekly refreshing my website, keeping new content there and adding more pictures, etc., not only for potential clients, but also for Google to find. That way I am able to rank higher in searches. And that is how my out-of-state clients find me.
There are other things I want to do, that I seldom take time for: checking on Twitter throughout the day and clicking on the links of other photographers and wedding industry leaders to see what information they have. And since I have begun using Twitter daily, I have learned things from a lot of people. I would encourage anyone to set up a Twitter account, and begin following people in your industry, or your interest topics. Some photographers across the country may post on Twitter a link that might take me to their website or blog where they have information on a unique way of lighting a wedding reception, or something like that. Now on Tuesdays I will make myself spend time reading just things of this nature.

But today, after I had spent several hours on the computer, I had to break away. I took Marley on a long walk. And she got to go swimming for the first time this year!

Horses in Heaven!! Personal post.

I was SO excited to find that there are horses, less than a mile from our new house.  Gulfside Trail Rides is located on 393 in Santa Rosa Beach. They offer guided tours through the woods, and also board horses.  Their stables are awesome...And they are nice people!!  Cross the street to go to the beach. Go behind the house to ride horses...Hmmmmm...which to do first?

House progress...personal blog

Today we went by to check on the progress of our cabinets..which are being built by a carpenter in Fort Walton Beach..and being constructed of cypress...that is 100 years old...where it has been sitting in the Choctawhatchee River.  Craig showed me the pile of wood that is going to be our countertops.  Can't wait to see the finished product!!

Work continues at the new house...personal blog

Every weekend we go out to our new house--which we plan on moving to in a month--and do some sort of work there.  Today it was stripping the antique doors we are using in the house.  I know.  Fun, fun!! Everyone else was soaking up rays at the beach.. :(

Personal blog

This may not be much...but when you are building a house...any inspection that is passed...is a huge goal attained!!

Some shopping...and time with a friend. Personal post

I began the day with picking up a friend in Ft. Walton who needed a ride out to Santa Rosa Beach to pick up her car. That was fine with me, because I had an appointment in Destin at 10 anyway.
She wanted to see the progress of the house, since she hadn't seen it in a couple of weeks. We make the tour...see the pine flooring, the brick walls in the kitchen, and the lighting fixtures and fans that have been installed. As I said in an earlier post, The pecky cypress walls in the den, and the floors both came from a sawmill in Bruce, FL, just north of here about 45 minutes or so. The were made from trees that were over 100 years old and came from the local Choctawhatchee River. Craig found them doing research and I am so proud of him/them!!
After the tour, I dropped her off, and headed back to Ft. Walton. I didn't get far down the road when she called and said her clutch had gone out. So I turned around and picked her up. The tow truck was coming from Panama City and would be an hour to arrive. We decided to go to lunch at P.F. Chang's, about 1/2 mile down the road to give the driver time.
While there, my friend received a phone call from the tow company saying the tow truck had broken down, and now another one was coming...about another hour and a half. By now I was laughing!!!
I mean, who has that luck??? Or lack thereof??

We go back to her car after lunch, hid the key with the car, and head back to Fort Walton.
The tow truck got there about 4:30 and picked up her car, to drop it off at a mechanic in Destin.
My friend was very appreciative that I had put aside my work day to help her, and I was glad that I could!
My point is, if you have a friend in need and can help them, it will always make you feel good to do so.
Then Craig and I ended our day with a trip to Lowe's--our home away from home, now that we are finishing up our house--to buy our hot water heaters!!

PAWS flyer

Tricia, the executive director of Humane Services over at PAWS, the local animal shelter in Fort Walton Beach, emailed me their latest flyer.  I had a great time capturing the furbabies pretty faces during last week's photo shoot. The flyer is being sent out to 55,000 households in hopes of boosting doggie and kitty adoptions.  Kudos to Debbie Gent of Dragonfly Graphics for the AMAZING design work.

Melanie Barrett Photography--photography

Hayden is a beautiful, classy young lady who is a senior and cheerleader at Crestview High School, who has her sites set on Tallahassee Community College. We had a fun time this beautiful spring-like afternoon for her senior session. Good luck to you pretty girl! I know her parents are proud of her!!