Stacey Bode Photography

Once again, I’m forcing Fletch to wish you all a Happy Halloween!

Oh boy!  Also, oh girl!  The adorable Hodgson twins have arrived, and they are two incredible bundles of joy.  These little ones are already adding so much obvious happiness into this family.  I’m really glad I got to meet them while they were still so teeny-tiny.  They were very patient and accommodating models.  I just couldn’t be happier for this kind and lovely family.

Happy Fall, y’all!

And by the super-powers vested in me…..I now pronounce the Carstens family, awesome!  Ok, so I already knew they were totally great, but this time they went above and beyond (or maybe I should say up, up, and away!).  Whenever I get together with them for family portraits, I know that they will be fun, adorable, silly, quirky, sweet….and then some.  However, this time they had capes.  Yes!  Whether we’re shooting photos of them doing natural, wonderful, family things, or flying through the air, the Carstens bunch is always a joy.  A suuuper joy!!

Ok, I know I get excited about everything I post, but, you guys……this one is a big deal.  My brain and heart still melt a little when I think about it.  This fantastic couple is Dave and Melissa.  The thing is, from the time Dave was about 3 years old, I was his babysitter.  Isn’t that awesome and crazy?!  Well, it is to me.  I adore his whole family, and have so many wonderful memories of them.  It was really cool to see Dave again, and see that he now has a lovely, smart, and beautiful wife.  Oh, and did I forget to mention that they’re expecting their first baby??!!  Actually, I just got a message from Melissa, and their new little girl has arrived.  Woo hoo!  I’m so thrilled and happy for them.  Next week……baby photos!  Super-yay!  Congratulations to the sweet Linville family!

I love passing along exciting news, and this post surely qualifies.  My pal Jaimie Cohen has launched a new website for her cool event planning business, Estoria Social.  Woo hoo!  This adventure seems to be the perfect fit for her since she has a background in consulting and management, and she also has a flair for all things DIY.  She is all about working her creative magic to bring a unique quality to her events.  If that’s not enough for you to realize her awesomeness, then I should point out that her biz strives to adhere to the concepts of reduce, re-use, and recycle.  Everybody wins!

We got together recently for a photo shoot that would showcase her special style.  If doing this shoot is half as fun as working with her, you should hire her immediately!  I have to give a big ol’ thanks to our lovely models, Jackie, Emily, and Payson.  Y’all rock!

You can also keep up with Jaimie’s Estoria Social blog, by clicking HERE.  Even if you’re not planning an event, it’s full of swell posts about food, fashion, pretty things, and the like.  : )

I’m glad that event photo booths have become so popular.  It’s a great way to get more pics of your guests, and I think we’re all more comfortable having our picture taken when we’re encouraged to be silly.  Woo hoo!  Here are some shots and a slideshow of Chrissie and Alan’s sweet TV-themed booth.

To view more images from Chrissie and Alan’s super-fun TV photo booth, please click HERE.

I thought I’d share a few “behind the scenes” moments with you from Chris and Angela’s recent wedding.  Typically, our outtakes are strictly for purposes of testing light, etc.  However, when several of your friends are guests at the wedding, the bloopers become way more fun.  I hope you enjoy this backstage pass of weirdness.  *Any photos that I’m in were taken by Matt Stanton.  Gotta give the cred!

I am 5′4″ tall.  My lens is 8′10″ tall.  It also outweighs me by about 50 pounds.

I should stop making attempts to be cute when I know I’m being shot at.  Cutenessfail.

Bizarre light check.  Strange because I’ve known Matt for 13 years, and I don’t think he’s ever made this face before.  Light check face!

Matt is fond of the extreme close-up.  If anyone gets closer than this with a camera, I will totally steal your soul.

I dig this pic of Matt rockin’ out with our awesome pal, Suehyla.

Even better……..best photo bomb by Rachel May!

A few necessary moments of goofiness with my friends Hope and Stacy.  Yay to silly ladies with hats!

Then, we all went back to behaving in a completely normal manner.  I swear.  : )

As soon as I met the lovely Kelly for her headshot photo shoot, I knew it would be a breeze……because she tried to tell me that she’d be difficult to photograph.  Whenever I hear that from someone, they end up being the easiest folks to take pictures of.  Seriously!  So, when she mentioned that, I was like, “awesome!”.  Not that I’m keeping score, but I was totally right.  Kelly is very at east in front of a camera, and she was really a pleasure to spend some photo time with.  Also, she works in casting, so she definitely knows what’s up, headshot-wise.  Yay!  Kelly, thanks for being so fun and easy to work with!

You know it’s going to be an unusually wonderful wedding day when upon arriving, you see the bride-to-be and her bridesmaids doing yoga in a field, led by their officiant.  Beautiful, charming, relaxed, jovial, thoughtful……these are just a few words I’d use to describe not only the wedding, but also the bride and groom.  I’ve enjoyed every minute of my planning time and photo time with these two.  They put so much of themselves into this celebration.  Around every corner were more and more magical details, all designed and created by the couple.  Angela, you could teach a course on how to be a cool bride.  Chris, you are a blast, and totally win for best cuff links ever.  Seeing the love you two have for each other is a downright delight to witness.

To view more photos from Chris and Angela’s beautiful, rustic wedding, please click HERE.

Stay tuned.  We’ll soon be shooting “day after” portraits.  Can’t wait!

What time is it?  Why, it’s shout-out time!  Here’s a blog nod to the folks who added to the awesomeness of this event.

Second Photographer:  Matt Stanton, you are one helluva second shooter!  Thanks so much for all your hard work.

Venue:  John Oliver Michael House – These grounds are full of lovely areas, and everything is so quaint.

Officiant and Yoga Instructor:  Hope Mirlis – I love you Hope!

Ceremony Music – Glenn Aquino, talented brother of the groom.

Reception Music – Francine Reed – By the end of the night, I think we were all in love with Francine.

Flowers – Candler Park Flowers – I love this place, and their work is stunning.

Catering – 5&10 – I’m fairly certain that everyone went back for seconds, y’all.

Cake – Erin Hall of The Bitter Baking Company – yum!