Jimmy and Arien - Pensacola Beach Wedding Photography
Much of my work every year comes from vacationers and out of town families who visit the sugar-white sands of Pensacola Beach every year. Having grown up swimming and diving around Pensacola Beach, I don't usually think of my old stomping grounds as a destination for weddings, but it is. And a beautiful one.
Jimmy and Arien found this website and contacted me to cover their intimate family wedding at a vacation home on the beach. It was a great day, with a ceremony involving both Jimmy and Arien's respective children, with a beautiful sunset to cap of the day.
Pensacola Wedding Photography - Jehan and Nancy
Ceremony: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Reception: Heritage Hall
Music: Sarah Mac Band
Pensacola Wedding Photography: Steven Gray Photography
Last year, when I worked for Hill-Kelly, I met Jehan Clark, the brains behind the relaunch of Pensacola's long-running summer concert series, Evenings in Old Seville Square. Hill-Kelly was (and still is) a major sponsor of the event, and I talked with Jehan quite a bit throughout the summer as I brought vehicles every week and drew raffle tickets on the stage to promote the company.
We kept in touch after my departure from Hill-Kelly and Jehan after he became engaged to the lovely Nancy, Jehan asked me to photograph his engagement photos and wedding.
The photos speak for themselves. It was a great day, with plenty of smiles, plenty of dancing and music by the superlative Sarah Mac Band.
And I think you will agree that this is the best groom's cake ever. I think I put down about a dozen of those things...
Blog Post: Brittney and Brandon - Pensacola Beach Wedding Photography
What am I thankful for this year? I am thankful for the opportunity to capture the most special days of people's lives. Today, I want to highlight Brittney and Brandon's beautiful Pensacola Beach wedding, held on the 13th of October at a beautiful house on the water.
Brittney is the daughter of my good friend, Karena. Karena has been my three-time missions companion in India and a mother figure to me since our first trip together in the winter of 2010. Her family showed up on my blog last October when I captured their family portraits. A few months later I shot Brittney and Brandon's engagement photos, and six weeks ago I continued our streak by shooting the wedding. Capturing their photos has been significant to me personally because my fiance, Annie, has become increasingly involved in helping me at every step, which has been amazing.
Apart from the couple's own personalities, which are as fun and spontaneous as they come, Brittney and Brandon's wedding was made unique by the loving relationship they share with Brandon's little girl, Kendall. The photos from both mine and Annie's cameras show a little girl completely enraptured with a real-life fairy tale that involved her as much as it did the bride and groom. To see the wedding through her eyes was a treat that continues as I look through the photos again.
The wedding itself was beautifully held at a house on the sugar-white sands of Pensacola Beach. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's no better time to be at Pensacola Beach or to have a Pensacola Beach wedding than October. Cool weather, clear air, it's just wonderful. The decorations reflected Brittney's own good taste and creativity with crafty, homemade adornments and personal touches through the tables and place settings. Brandon even directed food prep himself by overseeing a delicious low-country boil (for the Northern uninitiated, that is an deliciously unparalleled conglomeration of boiled shrimp, corn, potatoes and sausage).
In short, the wedding was a beautiful, touching and joyful day. The happiness and love of life in both the bride and the groom overflowed to happily overtake everyone who was present for their special day. I was privileged to share the day with them, and to work with my beautiful fiance to capture it.
The Details:
Ceremony/Reception: 1304 Ariola Drive, Pensacola Beach, FL (Managed property available for nightly and weekly rental.)
Officiant: Jeff Spooneybarger, Pastor, First Baptist Church Gulf Breeze
The Pics:
Pensacola Band Photography - Victor Cross - Steven Gray Photography
About a week ago, I took some time out with my buddy, Victor Cross, to get some headshots for his upcoming music project. He asked for some old-school monochrome shots, and, as anyone who know me might guess, I was more than happy to oblige. Victor is a bang-up guitarist whose original music I have been following since he cut his first CD about ten years ago. And as a cover musician, he can belt out the best non-Journey rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'" that I have ever heard. Make sure to check out his latest project.
https://new.myspace.com/victortcross
Pensacola Graduation Photography - Raegan
Pensacola Graduation Photography
It's that time of the year again. Commencement gowns rustled, mortarboards went airborne and job markets at home and abroad flooded with fresh applicants as the latest crop of graduates strode proudly out of their university corridors. I took that walk myself not too long ago, and I still remember that incredible feeling of relief that comes with the end of your final school term.
On December 15th, the University of West Florida held their winter commencement, and less than an hour later I met up with Raegan and her parents and friends to take some photos in Seville Park to commemorate the day.
As a photographer, I'm very pleased with the way that Pensacola has revamped its downtown scene over the past few years. What was once a park, a church and a few bars has been revived with restored homes, public buildings and photo-friendly business, like the Pensacola Bay Brewery where we swung in for some photos and a pint at the end of our session.
Congratulations, Raegan, and the rest of UWF's graduating class of 2012.
