Stacey Bode Photography

Evita + Michael’s gorgeous May wedding is currently featured on the Offbeat Brides blog! Woo hoo! I love checking out this blog (it’s on my stalking list). They feature some really cool ideas and weddings planned by unique people who think outside the box. Yays! A lot of their posts feature DIY projects for wedding planning. I am a crafty girl at heart, so I get very inspired by all the make-it-yourself goodness I see on there.

How much do I love a day-after session? SO much! Each shoot is as unique and wonderful as the people in the pics, and the possibilities are nearly endless!. Of course, I hit the jackpot photo-wise with Sarah and John because they are so relaxed and at ease in front of the camera. When I said “pretend I’m not here”, they took me very seriously. Or maybe they just wished I hadn’t been there…for real! Seriously, these two are fantastic. They also had one of the best location suggestions EVER (scroll on down to have a look-see).

I love weddings where I do lots of gawking. From the time we showed up to start shooting this event, we kept staring at the flowers, the incredible property, the decorations, the lighting, the cake. Of course, all those special touches paled in comparison to when we finally saw Sarah and Dan together.

Dan has one of the warmest smiles you’ll ever see, and Sarah was the epitome of a classic, yet modern bride. When they’re next to each other, they seem to share lots of those “time stands still” moments.

Man, do I love a photo booth. I’ve been doing these for over a year now at weddings, and they are a total hoot. With Sarah + John’s wonderfully animated and willing guests, it’s no surprise that these are some of my all-time favorite pbooth shots. These were taken by my completely rad second shooter, Caroline.

Last week, I joined Mary when she took Henry to experience his first “swim”. He seemed to really dig it, which is good since I think we’ll be planning more pool visits this summer. I had never been to the Grant Park Pool before, and it was really nice. Most importantly, they had a large cement hole filled with cool water for me to be in. That’s really all I require.

Mary, I hope you don’t mind me posting a pic of you. You look adorable, and I took the liberty of photoshopping out the big wad of bright green gum that was in your mouth. Maybe I should have kept it in. It totally matched Henry’s outfit.

Whether I’m a photographer or a guest, the weddings that blow me away are the ones filled with emotion. Sarah + John’s wedding wasn’t just filled, it was completely overflowing. These two share such a special love with one another, and it was clear to see that those feelings go far beyond the two of them and spread generously to their family and friends.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Sarah for many years. We even went to Ireland together about 50 years ago, it seems. I was so glad to see Sarah again and finally meet John. I just couldn’t be happier for these two wonderful people. Thank you so much for allowing me to capture such an unforgettable day.

Sarah + Dan are a super-cool couple from New York, and I’m lucky that they picked me to shoot their Georgia wedding. They are the first couple who found me via Flickr. Yay Flickr!

Fortunately, they were in town a few days before the BIG day, and we were able to squeeze in a fun pre-wedding portrait session in Piedmont Park. They’re one of those couples that makes photo-taking seem almost too easy. There was also some really beautiful light to play with that evening, so it was win WIN!

From now on when folks ask what kind of dog he is, my reply will be, “he’s a luck dragon!”. In the past month, his body and extremities have gotten ridiculously long. When he runs around the yard, he looks like a newborn deer after 5 cans of Red Bull.

He had a wonky month health-wise (translation: his health care now costs more than ours). Apparently, he has a food allergy, which gave him a rash, an ear infection, and caused him to gnaw off some of his fur. Sigh. His wonderful vet helped us out with some solutions, and he’s now like a new dog. A new, Godzilla-like, maniac of a dog. We love you, Fletch. Keep on growin’!

Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and photographing the Callens family. Apparently, they didn’t have any current portraits, and decided it was time to remedy that. Yay! They were such a joy to work with, and seriously….what a beautiful family they are!

It’s no surprise that two such wonderful people planned an equally wonderful wedding day. Gracious to their guests, appreciative to their families, and completely in love with each other. I just can’t say enough about the kindness and coolness of this couple. Each moment had meaning, and every spark of joy was savored. Photographing such a thought-out and thoughtful event is an experience that will stay with me for a long time.