Engagement Session

Nicole and Bobby have been dating 4 years, after having met when she went to work for him at Liquid Surf and Sail in Fort Walton Beach...She is a mathematics whiz and has since moved on to an accounting firm.  I had the opportunity to spend time with them last week for their engagement session and they were so much fun to spend time with!  Their nuptials are planned for May, and I so look forward to that day, capturing their memories.
Thanks guys!

:-) Melanie

Panama City beach photography, Santa Rosa Beach photography

Jessica emailed me a couple of weeks ago and wanted to have her family's pictures made on the beach. They are from near Birmingham, AL, and were going to be in town for about a week.  She told me that her dad has terminal cancer and that this was to be a special time for them.
I have had several families over the years, whose family members have cancer. It's a horrible subject, I know, but at least by them telling me, I can try to make the session extra special.
Some of these images have the subjects' eyes closed...but that is just what I asked for...I told them to hug each other as though they loved each other sooooo much... and this is the result.
God bless you Jessica, and your family.

:-) Melanie

Child Photography in Destin, FL and Santa Rosa Beach, FL

I just LOVE little kids!  They are just so darn funny being themselves!
In the midst of all the office work/editing/creating a new wedding website/answering emails and phone calls/watching the weather-because-it-looks-like-rain-tomorrow-and-I-have-a-family-session-and-engagement-session, I was reviewing some sessions with families from years past as I was editing some pictures to use in marketing.
Of course, I also love the families these little people are members of, and appreciate the new friendships I make every year, and the repeat clients I have from year to year! But the little kids....well, there's nothing like 'em!!
When someone calls me to ask some questions about a session, or to book one, they always tell me that they love my website...I tell them thanks bunches! And I explain that I always shoot the family poses they want...but then, I let the children just do what they do best....Be Kids!
You can never guess what they are going to do when you let them do their own thing...and that is why my photography style is so sought after, and why I limit the number of sessions I book each year--so that I can give my utmost attention to your family and what I can capture for you to have memories for a lifetime of your time at these beautiful beaches!  And it is especially important to me--when there are children with special needs and family members with terminal illnesses--to engrave in photographs the feelings and love that a family expresses.
Enjoy these funny faces!
:-)
Melanie

Wedding cinema---Destin, Santa Rosa Beach photography

Well, I'm leaving on a jet plane....tomorrow. Heading to California for a several day film school to learn some of the latest techniques and gadgets for producing high end wedding cinema, formerly referred to as "video." I knew probably 10 years ago that I wanted to one day return to my roots of video/cinema and offer brides a high quality product. My first job out of college was at a tv station in Panama City, as a reporter/videographer/editor. We kind of had to wear several hats back then. From there I was hired as the same in Dothan, Ala.
All I really need to learn is the state-of-the-art editing program that my husband bought for me. It's just been one of those "find the time to learn it" while deep in the middle of photography season this past year.
I am really looking forward to the learning experience, and expect to be posting many pictures over the next several days. After class ends Saturday night, my cousin from Orlando joins me and we head to LA for some star gazing!

Baby Ashton---Santa Rosa Beach Photographer--photography

Ashton was born almost two months early, and had a special condition in the womb. The little guy has undergone some procedures and surgery, has been poked and pricked and has thrived and is home now after 65 days in the NICU in Pensacola.
He will be three months old in a couple of days, and Momma and Daddy are proud to say that he is a bit over 9 pounds now, and is developing his own little personality. He is their little "peanut" and they know that God has awesome plans for his life.
God bless you Ashton!

Destin/Santa Rosa Beach--photography

Julie and Tim own a local pet store in Santa Rosa Beach--Furry Fanatics--where they sell top of the line pet foods and cookies and pet accessories. They are a couple who relocated here from Atlanta, and opened the store over a year ago.  When you meet them, you feel like you have found a long lost friend.
Last year they lost their beloved Gracie. While Gracie lives on in their hearts, I created a slideshow of her life for them to cherish.

Rest in peace, Gracie!

Help for aching muscles, etc....personal post

I am all about learning of new things/ideas...new recipes, new editing programs, new photog tips, new closet design ideas (thanks Pinterest)...
So when I had a leg injury, I was ELATED to find something that worked...something that didn't involve prescription drug or surgery.

About a year ago I pulled something in my right thigh. All I did was lift my leg to tie my tennis shoe (to go jogging) and SNAP! Felt like a rubber band pop. It didn't really hurt right then...the only way I can describe it the first day or two was that it felt like I needed to stretch my thigh. Then, about the third day--WHAMO! I couldn't get out of the bed! I could not put weight on it, nor could I use crutches to keep my weight off it because it was excruciating to even bend it to keep it off the ground.
After a bit of bed rest and hobbling, I mentioned it to friends and someone recommended acupuncture. Well, I was all about holistic medicine, because, as I said before, there ain't no way (hehe) this gal was going to go under the knife, if that may have been the case. So off to acupuncture I went last February to Dr. Wu at Healing Arts in Miramar Beach. 
After reading through his notebook of testimonials, boy was I impressed. Acupuncture really didn't hurt at all, and I believe it helped somewhat. But I only went for about a month, and then got so busy with photography that I didn't take the time to go anymore. Until this past October.
I have been going every week through present (with the exception of a couple of weeks over the holidays) and it continues to help...not as much pain. And by the way, my massage therapist and my husband's chiropractor both came up with what my problem must be....a strained IT band...google it, cause I had never heard of it!
But then.....TRUMPETS SOUNDING!!!! I mentioned my condition to my sweet neighbor Angie (a physical therapist assistant) just last weekend, and she said, "I can wrap it...I have some tape."
Well, I'm thinking, tape like an ace bandage. Wrong.

This tape is called Kinesio tape...according to the website kinesiotaping.com, ..."The Kinesio Taping® Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation..Kinesio® Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin.  This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas."
Not sure what all that just meant, but I am a walking example that it works!  There is less pain in a week than in a year of acupuncture!
So I googled the tape, and see pictures of how all sorts of athletes are being taped, runners are taped for marathons, and on and on. If anyone out there has arthritis, I would google to see if it would help that. And my friend Angie, well she said she tried it on back pain and it alleviated it within a day.

Kinesio Tex Tape

You can order it online and there are videos of the application on youtube.  And there are colors choices...black, pink, blue and tan. I don't know...next time I think I'll be brave and go for the pink. Fashion statement!!