Talley Images - Columbus Mississippi photographer

Jessica & Russ:the wedding - Reception - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-27T10:03:00.012-06:00

This reception was the perfect ending to a perfect wedding, so I thought it would be a great way to cap off the week here.... hope you enjoy!

Did I mention there was a 25 foot tree in the middle of the reception... wow, it was gorgeous!Cake!Ok, before we get to far, let me tell you that Jessica's stepfather, Mike, is one of THE most charming men Ive ever met - that old Hollywood type - and he looks like Robert Duvall to me (ahhh, Lonesome Dove!), anyway... Mike also has his own jazz band - how cool is that?!!! And they provided all the entertainment for the reception, so just when you thought it couldnt get any smoother, it did.This is Mike... And the rest of the guys...There are some gorgeous grandmothers in this family... :)Didnt I tell you that people watching is the BEST at receptions!Jessica was a Silhouette at the W, and at the reception, all her sorority sisters gathered in a circle around her and sang to her... sweetest thing ever!Before Jessica left, she said her goodbyes... see, I told you Mike was totally charming.And another wedding for 2011 is in the books. It was amazing and beautiful and totally romantic... thank you Jessica and Russ (and your friends and family)... words cant say how much I loved being a part of every single detail of this day. I wish you only love and happiness!

So glad its Friday, how about you? Looking forward to my first weekend off in forever.

Id love to hear from you, especially some of my brides from the bridal show - how was the show? what did you find the most helpful? the least helpful? Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Jessica & Russ:the wedding - Ceremony - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-26T10:03:00.010-06:00

So now it comes down to the nitty-gritty - the actual ceremony... where the bride and groom will start a new chapter in their lives together. Its all so beautiful and I love getting to watch it firsthand.They had 10 bridesmaids and groomsmen... and when each groomsman got to the front, they gave Russ a hug before they took their spot.... :)How cute is this flowergirl?!Here comes the bride!I love Russ' reaction... :)The kiss!I love Jessica's face in this one... :) So excited!And they lived happily ever after... next up is the reception, and since youve already seen the details, you know its not something that you want to miss out on - a perfect way to end the week on... :)

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - Id love to hear from you!

Jessica & Russ:the wedding - Getting Ready - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-25T10:01:00.012-06:00

Now comes the fun part... the actual wedding day and all the getting ready fun of it. If youve ever had the privilige of being part of the wedding party then you know the craziness involved... if not, then get ready to be a second hand viewer... :)Cutest bride ever... :)This is her grandmother - pinning an antique handkerchief to her dress - every woman in her family has worn it on their wedding day.Love it!Grandparents getting pinned with corsages.Love how the groom (middle) is as cool as a cucumber. (exactly why you have a first look!)Isnt this fun?!!! I am loving it. But you gotta come back the next few days - you definitely dont want to miss the ceremony and reception, right?

I cant believe January is almost at a close... 2012 is already speeding on by and so far, its been good... and Im prone to believe thats its only going to get better. :)

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com and lets get your appointment booked!

Jessica & Russ:the wedding - the details - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-24T10:01:00.012-06:00

Ok, I know the only thing that parallels pictures of the happy couple are the details - I love the details of a weddings - they are the biggest contributor to a wedding setting itself totally apart from all others.... and I have a sneaking suspicion that Im not alone in my love for all things details (hello pinterest!)... plus, its always good for future brides to get a few ideas....

And we always, always start off with the dress.... and Jessica's was completely beautiful, and it fit her like a glove (as you saw in yesterday's post)These were the flower girls petals... they were from the roses that Russ gave Jessica on the night that he proposed... swoon!And can you believe Jessica made all the corsages and boutinierres?!!! She did such an amazing job! I love crafty brides.Of course, her flowers were gorgeous as well.Time for the ring shots... my favorite part to photograph. Since it was so close to Christmas, I thought the angel and holly would be so fun for the ring shotsOk, Im going to give you a minute to catch your breath and get yourself all ready because this reception is going to blow you away... are you ready? ok, here we go....

Gotta show off the cakes first... yumm! Yes! That is a 25 foot tree in the middle of the reception.... wow! Yes! Those are light up trees lining the walls of the reception.... Yes! Those table decorations are to die for... :) And just how cute is this wishing table?!!!Did I mention that I LOVE my "job"? Yes, yes, I do!

Cant wait to put up some more pictures from this wedding... remembering it all is so much fun... I hope yall are enjoying it too!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Jessica & Russ:the wedding - the happy couple - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-23T10:10:00.006-06:00

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone! I know its not a big deal to most in these parts, but its a HUGE deal to everyone else in most parts of the world. We love it and will be eating some Chinese food to celebrate tonight....

And so, for your gift - and in celebration of the bridal show this past weekend, I offer you the gift of Jessica and Russ' wedding... and it was AMAZING, so sit back, relax and enjoy - Ill be putting pictures up from this wedding all week!

And to start us off, Im going with everyone's favorite - the couple pictures... starting with the first look (my most favorite part of the day!)Have you ever seen a more excited bride?!!! Love it!And let me just tell you, Jessica was pure GORGEOUSNESS - I could have photographed her all day - she was just glowing... and check out the dress - and the shoes! (more pics of those when I put the details up)And how cute are these two together!Ok, lets talk about the groom for a minute... Russ was total GQ that day. wow! Signature Shot! I love it!Can you believe this is my job? To take pictures of good looking people dressed to the nines? Yes, I love my life and I love my "job" - although I gotta say its not like its work or anything when you love doing something so much!

I had a blast this past Saturday at the bridal show here in Columbus.... oh my goodness, I got to meet and chat with some of the sweetest people - I loved it. There are definitely some beautiful, creative brides out there - I really do hope I get to work with them.

As I said, Ill be posting pictures from this wedding all week, and you know you dont want to miss that! So stay tuned and keep coming back, you are going to love what you will be seeing!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com and lets see what we can create together!

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-20T10:01:00.004-06:00

Ok, so speaking of personal... what do you think of the new changes to the blog... Id love to hear some comments about what you like - or even what you dont... :)

Anyway, here we have a really recent picture of Emma.... its from a carnival shoot that I did - and more pictures from that shoot will be available soon, so you'll just have to come back here and watch for them... :)

The Columbus bridal show is this weekend, and I have my whole booth in the van ready to set up this afternoon... Im so excited... ok, so tell me - who all is coming? You will definitely want to come by my booth (and its awesome! if I do say so myself, it shouldnt be hard to find!) - I have lots of stuff to giveaway, including a huge discount, and also a big giveaway - you definitely do not want to miss it! And of course, Ill be there too!

The $50 print credit is still up for grabs if you book your session before February 1st - dont wait! Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com so we can get you set up!

Have a great weekend!

A Secret.... Shhhh! - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-19T10:05:00.002-06:00

(photo taken around 2007)

Im going to share a secret with you.... one that most professional photographers wish you knew, but cant bear to be the one to share it.

Are you ready?

One of the worst things you can say to a professional photographer is...

"Your camera takes such good photos."

Seriously... we hate it. On the surface, it looks pretty benign, but if you look at it in reality, what you are really saying is that anyone with that camera could do just as good a job.... when in reality, most of us have spent years honing into our style and craft, and spend hours upon hours in front of a camera editing.

Hopefully, you dont hate me for being honest.... either way, you should read this article - seriously, please go click it (so few of you read the last one I posted, it hurt my feelings)... this is a much better explanation - and it even has pictures to prove the point.

And this, my dear friends, is again... why you hire a professional... :)

So far, Ive had 2 people take me up on my January special - so that means Ive got 3 spots left.... for those lucky 3, if you book before Feb 1st, then you get a free $50 print credit with your session (session doesnt have to be before Feb 1st, just booked by then)... Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com if you have any questions or to book your session... hurry, time is running out... :)

Miste - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-18T13:33:00.010-06:00

Rarely do I get to do a family shoot that doesnt have any small children, and even more rare is is a family that brings their dogs... so I was excited and nervous all at the same time... turns out the nervousness was for nothing - they had the sweetest dogs who didnt even make a sound the whole time... and all the adults did pretty good too... :)Immediate family.The girls. The guys.Such a great family... I love all of them... and if youve joined my facebook fan page then you might just recognize my knife thrower and lovely assistant.

Ok, first - please tell me you went down and read my last post - and clicked on the link - it doesnt do any good to read my post (ok, maybe a little) if you dont click the link first... :)

Also, if you read the last post, then you know that Im offering a good deal on pictures this first of the year... but its a limited time offer, so you better go check it out! Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com to get your session scheduled

Also, the bridal show is this weekend - anyone coming to see me?

Why? - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-17T10:07:00.004-06:00

(picture taken in 2007)

I think everyone should go and read this post from another professional photographer and then come back and hear what I have to write today

I have often wanted to write a post of this nature, but never fully understood quite how - I didnt want anyone to feel like I was prospering off of someone's else's grief. But several times, I have been in a similar situation (although no letters on my doorstep) where the pictures that I took were the last ones that were taken... and the family members shared their joy to me of having them.

This is why I want to tell you two things.

1. Dont wait to get your family or children's pictures taken. We like to think that we are immortal sometimes and think that nothing bad will ever happen... and then it does. I know Ive been there - I went to bed one night having a father and when I woke up the next morning, he was gone. The scars dont go away, but I have often sat with a single picture that speaks of only happier times. And even if it doesnt concern so much heartbreak, please dont wait to have your childrens' pictures taken, especially when they are little. They change so much in the first 10 years or so, and it goes by so fast - you will never, ever get these days back... dont waste them, hold them tight and make a good memory.

2. This letter is exactly the reason why you hire a professional. They are usually a professional because they love it and that gift allows them to see into the moments and capture whats really there. The crinkly nose from barefeet on grass, the whisper into dad's ear and even a child throwing the biggest tantrum in the world... I promise - 20 years from now when you look back at your photos - these moments, not the overly posed pictures that you seriously stressed out by trying to get everyone to look and smile at the camera at the same time - the real moments, these are the ones you will cherish.

Such a heavy subject today, I know. But I have resolved to myself to grab 2012 with all of my might, hang on tight and squeeze every bit of good out of it.... no regrets. And I want that to be the same for you - no regrets. No looking back on this year and wishing that you had gotten those pictures that you had always wanted.

So... for the first 5 people to book their session this year, Im going to give you a $50 print credit... but you must book before February 1st - that doesnt mean that your session has to be before February, just that you have to have it booked by then. Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com and lets make this a year to remember.

Emily - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-16T11:44:00.014-06:00

Its not often that I get to do two things - 1. photograph a big name blogger, 2. have total creative freedom and be allowed to shoot a family session in a dirty, abandoned hotel. So you can imagine my excitement when I got to do both.... of course, it didnt hurt that Emily and I have been friends since college so that was exciting... and if you know me at all, then you know that this would be one of my dream locations to shoot. (and yes, Im probably out of my mind most days, but I still love how they turned out)Oh my my... included was this super-luscious baby... I wanted to eat her up.... but she couldnt decide if she wanted to laugh or cry for most of the shoot (which made me fall more in love with her)Actually, all 3 of Emily's kids are gorgeous... take a lookSee, you can still get the pretty, standard family pictures - even at weird locations... you should always trust your photographer... :)I love Emily... yes, yes, I do.Yes, family pictures can actually be really fun.... :)I love how Emily describes this one... "Never has a photo more completely summed up my life"Most gorgeous light ever!I know I gush about all my sessions, but you can read about how Emily felt here and here... and yes, I always put up way, way too many pictures, but I cant help it. I LOVE what I do and I want my clients to know how much I love them and how much I enjoy spending time with them... and I want prospective clients to know that family pictures do not have to be frustrating and ruin your day - they can be fun and be real memory making moments.

Bridal show is this weekend... I do hope all of my future brides are going to stop by and see me. I absolutely cannot wait for yall to see the booth - we built it and put it together this weekend to see how it would look, and oh my my! I was so excited. I cannot wait to meet yall and hear about your wedding!

Feel free to email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com anytime!

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-13T10:15:00.002-06:00

How sweet is this?!!! This was Gabe when he was a baby, and the date on it says March 2007, so he would have been about 6 months old. Daniel was holding him and decided to "rest his eyes" for a minute. He is such an amazing father - I wish you could see him in person with our kids.

I also love this picture because Gabe's baby nickname was "bug" because we kept him swaddled up as tight as a bug in a rug - or something of that nature.... in his picture, he looks like the cutest little caterpillar with those stripes and perfect lips... I want to eat him up.

Hope yall have an amazing weekend and thanks for walking this journey with me.

Email: talleyimages@yahoo.com

Colin - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-12T10:01:00.008-06:00

One of the best things about my job of child photographer is getting to see my clients grow up. Its such an amazing miracle to see how much taller theyve gotten and to get a sneak peek of what they are going to look like as a teenager. I love it. I cant get over the fact that Colin is only 3 - he looks so much older - like a total little man... he is so sweet too... Im betting it wont be long before he is a total heartbreaker.
How old are you Colin? Three?
Three... thats right, isnt it?I think he likes his daddy.... :) Love this one!This was all Colin's posing... I think he has this model thing down.We found this old mailbox - they are slowly disappearing, so I had to take full advantage.Its a good thing his family is so good looking.... :)In case you havent noticed, I love the Foxworthy family.... and I love watching their kids grow up... just a miracle.

So I mention often my favorite parts of my job, but one of the parts that I find the hardest is culling pictures down - I always want to keep too many. Argh - its so hard to emotionally separate myself from them and just pick. So thats what Ive been doing all morning - trying to narrow things down for the bridal show.... and its next weekend! Crazy!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - Id love to hear from you!

Allison - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-10T09:57:00.005-06:00

Meet Allison - isnt she gorgeous?!!! I had a hard time believing that she didnt really like her picture being taken - or at least thats what I was told, but it definitely wasnt my experience. She did amazingly well and I was so glad that we got to chat as we walked along and become such good friends... such a sweet girl... and check out those eyelashes!If there is any wonder where she gets her good looks... Im guessing her momma would be the place to look... :)Again, this is one of those pictures, "if I only had a studio" - you would so see it on a large canvasThis is definitely one of my favorites.... there is this crazy belief that all children's portraits have to be smiling and happy to be beautiful, but I think this one proves that they can be just as beautiful when they are being themselves, if not moreso.But yes, she does know how to smile... :)Love this picture of her and her uncle Carl.... :)I feel like Ive been running on fast forward lately... I have a million deadlines to meet this week and slowly but surely (and with a lot of work!), they are being met. And part of that includes the Columbus bridal show next weekend!

I am loving this warmer weather, and mild winter we are having... before too long, spring will be popping out - Im already seeing some of the gorgeous rye grass in a few spots.... and Im eager to start doing portraits again this year - I have January 28th open if anyone wants to give it a go... :)

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - and dont forget to like my fan page on facebook (link in the upper right hand corner of the blog) - Im posting more of my art pieces there, and you dont want to miss anything!

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2012-01-06T10:09:00.002-06:00

Today, for your viewing pleasure, is something that you rarely see up here on the blog... me! And with blonde hair and makeup too! Shock, awe and suprise, I know!

These were taken at my first Gwen Stefani concert on March 13, 2006. If you know me at all, then you know what a big deal that day was for me. And check out that LAMB shirt in the second pic - that was a homemade shirt back when LAMB was only a rumor... good stuff.Such a good time in my life then... Daniel and I had just celebrated our 5 year anniversary and I was just barely pregnant with Emma. And this was a trip to Atlanta for just the two of us. Love it!.

Hope you all have a great Friday and a good weekend... :)

Shelley & Keith - the reception: the ceremony - Columbus Ms Photographer

2012-01-05T09:59:00.007-06:00

And now on to everyone's favorite part of being at the wedding - reception: where all the good stuff is - the food, the cake, the gossip and the bouquet/garter toss.... nice... :)

First up is the cake... and how cute are these two?!!

How gorgeous is this flower girl? So pretty.

Receptions are also great for people watching!

A fantastic day all around!

And they lived happily ever after... see you next time!

I cant thank Shelley and Keith (and their awesome friends and family) for letting me be a part of their day - it was spectacular and I loved every minute of it.

Ok, who is coming to see me at the bridal show in 2 weeks? I cant wait!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Shelley & Keith - the wedding: the ceremony - Columbus Ms Photographer

2012-01-04T10:03:00.009-06:00

Ok, lets be honest - I share way, way too many pictures. Thats my weakness, but then I really want anyone who sees them to feel like they were there at the wedding itself - I want them to see it with new eyes and marvel over all the little details like I did the day of... so hold on and get ready, here we go.... with the ceremony.

Parents lighting the unity candle... its always such a sweet moment.Hey, look its Ashley - one of my former brides where Shelley (this bride) was a bridesmaidHere comes the bride! Even with a first look, the groom does not disappoint with his reaction... ever! A sweet little momentThe kiss!Have I said how much I LOVE weddings? Love, love, love them.... and speaking of - the Columbus bridal show is in a little over 2 weeks! Im so excited - I cant wait to meet all of my new brides for this year and hearing about all the little details. If you are going, please come find me and say hey! I would love to chat for just a minute.

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Shelley & Keith - the wedding: the details - Columbus Ms Photographer

2012-01-03T10:01:00.011-06:00

Ok, now that youve seen how gorgeous the couple is, lets get on to some of the other good stuff - the details! I love photographing details b/c you can get so many different angles and use them to tell a story.... check out Shelley's dress - oh my goodness, it was beautiful - I love a good, frilly dress and this was it!

I think you all know how much I LOVE doing ring shots.

Just for fun... :)

These candleholders were used during the ceremony - the bride's brother made them for her, how sweet is that?

The reception was just gorgeous... :)

Done by the grandfather - another sweet touch!

I love this idea and how it could be used for so many things.

So what are yall thinking - do you like the new way of doing weddings? Are you ready to come back tomorrow for more? Im excited to get to post each day... :)

Hope everyone is having a great new year so far.... :)

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Shelley & Keith - the wedding: the couple - Columbus Ms Photographer

2012-01-02T10:00:00.007-06:00

So I thought I would start the new year out right - with a wedding! One that Ive been waiting to post forever because it was that gorgeous. And to start the new year off, Im going to do something different - instead of making one massively huge post... Im going to post a little each day so you get excited about whats coming next - wont that be fun?!!! So of course, I had to start with what everyone really wants to see - the couple pictures!

The first look - always my favorite part and the sweetest moment of the day.Then we moved out into the church... :)

Are these two gorgeous or what?

And check out this dress (full detail shots coming soon!)

This window made for some beautiful black and whites... love

Shelley could be a model... my goodness!

The veil shot... always a favorite.

Love, love, love these clean lines.

Alright, now yall have to come back to see some more - this was just to whet your appetite... :) Lots more good stuff coming and I know you dont want to miss it!

2012 - its finally here! And I am so, so excited... I have so many HUGE plans for this year and I dont want anything to get past, so I am making every effort this year to move myself to the next level - and I cant wait to show you some new stuff. I would love to hear from you what you would like to see... it would be a great belated birthday gift (hint, hint, I love comments).

I am just so thankful to have all of you in my life - you are the best! Thank you for letting me do what I love... thank you.

You can always email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - I would love to hear from you!

Thought for the Day: Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-28T14:46:00.003-06:00

Thought for the day....

The fastest way to ruin a good wedding is bad photography.

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Hope yall are having a great holiday week!

The Whole Burns Family Clan - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-27T10:38:00.009-06:00

You probably remember Caitlyn and Tyler, and the Long family and when I said that Jessica and I have been friends forever - forever! So she finally talked her siblings into sending me their kids for a little bit and we finally got a good picture of all of them for Mrs Marsha (Jessica's mom, whom I love!)...

So lets get started... :) Look at those eyelashes... awesome.

We got this one and I think its probably my favorite - we worked really hard for it...Because Tyler was NOT having his picture taken that day... :)

Such beautiful children.
I dont think we did too bad... :) I thoroughly enjoyed all my mini-sessions this year - I thought there was way too much fun for just 30 minutes.... man, I love my clients and feel so lucky to have them - thank you!

So its almost the end of the year and someone is having a birthday... shhhh.... :)

I am so, so excited for the bridal shows that are upcoming next year - oh my goodness, I cannot wait to show you what I have been working on - I hope it blows you away... so much work, but so worth it. I cant wait to meet all the new brides - its always one of my most favorite parts of the year, so yall make sure you come see me!

feel free to leave comments or email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - Id love to hear how your Christmas was!

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-23T09:38:00.002-06:00

I thought with it being so cloudy and cool today, it would be a good day to remember warmer times... this was back in July 2009 when we went to the beach... Gabe had just sat down and a wave crashed up on him - love the real smile - you can tell how happy he really was.Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone... :)

How To: Cut a Layered Cake - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-22T09:51:00.005-06:00

I originally posted this here on August 24, 2010.... and its been one of my most popular posts, so I thought I would make it a little easier to find and put it here... just in time for all the holiday goodies and weddings... Id love to know if you used it and how it worked for you. Are there any other tutorials you would like to see here on the blog - leave a comment or email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - I would love to hear from you!

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As a wedding photographer, Ive been to my fair share of weddings, and although most are very different, there is one thing that almost all of them have in common. By the time its all said and done, their wedding cake is butchered. Now its not really hard to see why - most people dont have the experience that is needed - there just arent that many large layered cakes that people get the opportunity to cut.

So in honor of that... I thought I would offer a tutorial on how to cut a layered cake.... this can easily apply to a wedding cake, but it also can be used for a child's birthday cake (usually of the first birthday variety).... and yall, this is going to be ghetto, but it is going to be ghetto-FAB-U-LOUS! because I am not a professional baker and this is not a professional food shoot... but hopefully it will be helpful. (oh and go ahead brace yourself for lots of pics)

First things first.... this is definitely a two person job and can get overwhelming fast... brides, please make sure you have at least 2 people at your cake tables (and make sure they read this post, so you dont have a butchered cake!).... things needed: a cake knife, a cake server, plates and forks for the guests to eat the cake, but you will also need a damp cloth of some sort (and something to put it on so it doesnt get the tablecloth wet) - this is important as cake cutting with sticky icing is messy and the more icing there is, the harder it is to cut nicely

Allright.... so here we are.... this is my lovely "wedding cake" that I made... it may not look fantastic-o, but it sure did taste good...
Here it is in all its tungsten-light glory... woo hoo! And on to the table, where this demonstration is actually going to take place. The first thing you want to do is to remove the top layer.... if its for a wedding, the bride and groom will save this to eat a year later... if you arent sure, save it anyway.... if its a birthday cake, this top layer makes a perfect little smash cake.... to remove, take the cake server and slide it under the top layer, use the knife - flat - on top, to move it to a plate....

*It is important, especially with wedding cakes, to be careful of dowel rods in the cake - be aware, and if possible, move the server over to one side and continue.

And we have lift off... :)

Go ahead and plate this top part and move on to the cake.
Looks yummy!
Ok, here is the number one mistakes most cake cutter/servers make.... they start from the bottom and try to work their way up.... NUMBER ONE RULE FOR CUTTING A LAYERED CAKE: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS START AT THE TOP AND WORK YOUR WAY DOWN.... its easy to see why people start at the bottom - this is usually where the bride and groom start cutting - this is only for photos.... its ok if there is a small piece missing on the bottom where the bride and groom cut - but you need to start at the top!.

And at the top.... go about 3-4" inches vertically from the bottom of the cake (this layer is an 8" cake so the middle is about 4")... start in the middle and make a horizontal cut all the way across the layer. (note, if the layer is quite larger, then only cut about 5" or less - however big the blade on your knife is - from the side)

Then start back at where you started and cut all the way verticall down... this will leave you with probably a good quarter of the cake...

Now you can start cutting your slices.... the better way is to probably start from the outside and work your way in, but I like starting from the inside and cutting my way out - makes the most uniform pieces of cake.... each piece should be 1/2" - 1" in diameter.... this is where its important to have 2 people... as soon as you pull that first slice out, you need to have someone else there to plate it, and to also make sure that other cut part doesnt fall off the cake - this will be a big mess, and also why if youve never done this before, its probably a better idea to start from the outside and work your way in.

Look how pretty this rainbow cake is!
Its like a little piece of art!

Alright, for the rest of this side, you can cut slice by slice....

What the cake looks like so far....

It did turn out really pretty the whole way through...

For the remainder of that first layer, continue like you did before... cutting slice by slice... and dont forget to watch out for those dowel rods... .

And now we arrive at the next layer...

This is a 10" layer, so we start like we did for the first layer.... go about 3" up from the bottom, start in the middle and cut horizontally across

Then make your cut vertically to the corner of your other cut... not 1/4 of the cake this time, but still a good chunk.

Then cut your slices about 1/2" - 1"... as I said before, I like to start in the middle, but if you are new at this, you probably want to start from the outside... again, make sure you have someone there to plate these slices and also to keep the cake from falling off

Continue slicing...

And plating...

I love how even this bottom layer turned out... just like a real rainbow...

Ok, once we have sliced our bottom row, we will move up.... this time I like to do the vertical cut first, so I can gage how far up to cut (want to stop about halfway from the top)

As before, do your horizontal cut all the way to the edge

Then slice.... again, make sure you have someone to plate and to balance the cake (its a little easier when its the bottom layer)

We plated from the outside this time.... :)

And here is what the cake actually looks like at this point.
Go ahead and finish off that row...

On to the last row.... go ahead and make your vertical cut in the middle And then slice as before.

And there you have it.... :) (click on pics to view larger).

A quick tip for brides: Order the cake for half as many people as you invited. So if you invited 100 people, only order cake for 50 people. Not everyone is going to show up and not everyone is going to eat cake.... this will save you money and from having a whole layer of cake at the end of the reception..

I cant wait to hear from you.... and if you want to chat or have a question, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - I would love to hear from you.

Jimmy - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-21T10:10:00.007-06:00

I love, love, love when I become good friends with one of my clients, especially one of my brides b/c I get to be with them one of their biggest days of their lives - and I get to be the one who captures all the little in between moments.... Robin is one of those clients - I just love her to death, she is really one of the nicest people Ive ever met and been one of my biggest cheerleaders... and her wedding was one of my alltime favorites - I still look at the pictures and am so grateful that I got to be a part of it all. So I was super excited when she booked one of my mini-sessions for her step-son, Jimmy.... and Robin and Carl were going to be there to hang out as well... yay! I think they are going to have a real heartbreaker on their hands when he gets a little older... :)LOVE this red door we found.How cool is that reflection of the Princess theater... thanks Carl for the great idea!I so love, love, love this whole family... they are the best-est!Im trying to post every day -Id love to hear your thoughts on it - are you enjoying it? Or just wish I would stop already? Is there anything you would like to see on the blog?

Id love to do some vendor reviews - especially local wedding ones b/c brides are always asking me for recommendations - Id love to give them some good ones... so if you are a vendor, or know one that would be great, please send them my way... :)

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

I also wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time out to read and help Kaliah's family yesterday - thanks in part to you, they are now fully funded. They will meet their daughter for the first time on Christmas and she will be coming home with them. One less orphan.... thank you.

A Christmas Miracle

2011-12-20T10:06:00.005-06:00

This is Kalia... if you remember, awhile back, I posted this post and asked if you would mind helping out this family get their daughter.

Well, they got TA, which in adoption world means they can travel! In fact, they are traveling THIS FRIDAY and will be meeting Kalia on Christmas day! Can you even imagine how amazing that is - what a gift!

The problem though is still the money.... as you can imagine, traveling around Christmas has sky-rocketed their airfaire, along with a few other incidental costs that have all gone up. But! They are only about $2,300 short from being completely funded... so what do you say we help be part of a real Christmas miracle and bring a daughter to her family - a daughter who has been waiting 10 years for a family.... can you imagine waiting 10 years not knowing if anyone was coming for you, and then you find out they are.... could you stand that wait?

Most of us cant afford to give a super amount of money, but from experience... $1, $2, $5, $10 can make a huge difference.... HUGE! It really does all add up.

And if that wasnt enough, they are having a fundraiser/giveaway and giving away an IPAD2 - which would make a pretty sweet gift for yourself or to give away... theyve also got some other sweet prizes as well.

So please go visit this family's blog and take a minute to read their story and add a little bit to their "Christmas with Kalia" chip in on the right... you will be so glad that you did, and you will know that you really made a difference this Christmas.

Lets all be part of this Christmas miracle!

The Shedd Family - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-19T10:13:00.005-06:00

I have the best families... I seriously love them. And I love watching their kids grow from session to session... check it out here and here - can you believe how much they grow and change... except for mom and dad - I dont think they age at all.

These two are just the sweetest together.
Dont you want to eat her up?!!!These are from one of my mini-session shoots - and those are always fun... cant wait to show you some more from those.

Wow, Christmas is this week! Cant get over it.... cant believe that 2011 is coming to a close - its been a good year, a hard year, and a year full of lessons, and a year full of thankfulness. I have gained so much. I know 2012 is going to be amazing. I can already feel it.

I did my last wedding for the year this past Saturday, so consider this my official notice - I am done for the rest of the year.... from here on out, it will be Christmas and birthdays, new years, good food, my family, wedding editing, and bridal show prepping.... hopefully I can find a little bit of rest in there somewhere.

Oh, and lots of blogging... dont skip out on me just b/c its Christmas... I have tons of stuff still to post... :)

Id love to hear from you... just email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-16T10:00:00.003-06:00

Ok, going way, way, way back for this one - all the way to the days of film... :) I dont even have an exact date for when this was taken, but Im going to guess around 1999. I know that I was in college and this was taken at Daniel's apartment that he shared with his brother - we had probably been dating about a year or so. And yep, if you know me, you probably know 2 things about me - 1. I am always writing on my hands, there is usually something always on there, 2. I love tattoos, piercings, colored hair - anything that the rest of the world probably considers punk and such..... so its no surprise that I often give myself temporary tattoos (other people too!) but only 3 times have I done a full half sleeve like this, and this one is probably my favorite... with some maintenance, I think I kept it about a week... and yes, all done freehand and with pens. Its kind of hard to see, but its a cobra wrapping around my arm... I think it took about 2 hours to complete... and I loved it.

Yes, Im crazy.... and Im ok with that.

If you want to see the other 2 sleeves, then you are going to have to leave some comments... or is there anything else you would like to see on these personal Friday posts? or on the blog in general?

You can always email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com as well.

Dont forget to scroll down and check out the last few posts if you missed them... there is some good stuff there!

Columbus MS Wedding Photographer

2011-12-15T10:28:00.005-06:00

Ok, we all know that the holiday season is really engagment time, and I cant wait to see all the new brides - and all the new wedding dresses! So for all of you, get ready, Im about to blow your minds!

The wedding dress is one of the most important things about the wedding and usually what the rest of the wedding revolves around, but they are so expensive... like a couple thousand dollars expensive!!! Which, if you are like the rest of us, we dont really have that kind of money to spend on one dress for one day... but who wants a dress straight off the rack (that other brides probably have), but you cant afford anything custom?

Until now!

Introducing Simply Bridal.... I was just introduced to them this week and their wedding dresses are stunning. And get this... they are all custom, hand-made to order. Thats right - you get a one of a kind wedding dress that is all yours - made to fit your body - no alterations needed... and if that wasnt enough...
- free shipping on all dresses
- a 30 day money-back guarantee
- ready in about 35 days
- and get this, if you do happen to need alterations when it gets to you, then they will pay for up to $75 of the alterations.

Are you getting this?

You want even better news? They are having a HUGE sale on most of their wedding dresses right now - like up to 75% off kind of sale (none of that 20% off stuff here - lets go big!)

Think this is too good and they probably dont have anything good... I just went online and picked out a few of my favorites...

*quick note about these pictures - I have written permission by the owner to post them here, please do not steal them... also, these were all taken (not by me!) in the Simply Bridal studio, so these are the real deal - none of that imitation stuff that you see on ebay.

This is Camilla – less than $150 (this would be so flattering on so many body types!)
http://shop.simplybridal.com/silhouette/camilla-gown.html

This is Lucy – less than $90 - perfect for a modern bride!
http://shop.simplybridal.com/silhouette/lucy-gown.html

This is Jocelyn – less than $150 - the back of this one just gets me every time
http://shop.simplybridal.com/silhouette/jocelyn-gown.html

This is Penelope – less than $165 - Im all about some color on a dress!
http://shop.simplybridal.com/silhouette/penelope-gown.html

This is Evelyn – less than $325 - yall, I cant even tell you how much a dress like this would cost retail - look at all those ruffles!
http://shop.simplybridal.com/silhouette/a-line/evelyn-gown.html

This is Dany – less than $180
http://shop.simplybridal.com/silhouette/empire/dany.html
Did I mention that if you use the code "bridal" (no quotes), then you can get 10% off your order? Yeah, good stuff!

These are just a few of the wedding dresses... you owe it to yourself to go look and see what they have and fall in love... I promise you will. Oh, and for all of you California people - they have a showroom in L.A. where you can go try on wedding dresses and make sure you get the exact one you are looking for - how sweet is that?!!!

Ok, let me speak to you that are already married for just a minute.... do you like your wedding pictures? Are they really you? Are you happy to show them off to everyone? If not, let me suggest that you redo your wedding pictures and make them into something that you love. Rent a tux for your guy and get yourself a dress - one that you like this time and that fits right, and have your wedding pictures done the way that you wanted them done the first time - without worrying if the dress is getting dirty... this is the perfect anniversary present (guys are you listening?) and how cool that you could involve your kids as well, if you wanted.

And nope, Simply Bridal did not pay or compensate me in anyway... I actually contacted them and asked if I could feature them because I wanted to pass on the awesomeness to all of you.... thats what Im here for. :)

lthough... I would love to do some more vendor reviews or giveaways here on the blog... they need to be wedding/photography related, but thats a pretty broad category if you think about it... :) Id love to talk to you and see what we can do. Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com!

Logan - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-14T11:01:00.013-06:00

So lots of people ask me what are my most favorite shoots... and the answer is when my clients tailor the shoot to themselves. It gives them a chance to just be themselves and not have pictures like everyone else... it also gives me a huge chance to play - and thats when my brain gets spinning. My friend, Ben, asked if I wouldnt mind doing some pictures of Logan for him, and of course, I didnt. He then asked if we could do some MMA pictures because that is what Logan is into (and so is Ben!), and I started getting excited and the wheels starting turning... and I asked Ben what he thought about turning Logan into a ninja.... and yep, we went there.... :)

Now, of course, we had to get the good shots first.... because Logan is that blonde-haired, blue-eyed kid that every photographer wishes they could have.Ummm, can we say heartbreaker....
Arent Ben and Logan the best together?
After the standard shots, we drove to another location and broke out the MMA gear.See, not all shoots are serious... we usually have some fun too.Getting some help from dad.At this point, Im kind of wondering if Everlast is looking for a new spokesmodel or needing some new publicity shots.... I think these would sell.Ok, if you know me at all, you know that I pretty much love just about anything Asian (want to make me happy? buy me something uber-cute-kawaii like Hello Kitty) which includes anime and kung fu movies.... so I was super excited to have this opportunity - especially with Ben there who is a weapons expert (safety first!)... I definitely wanted these to have an old-movie feel to them... what do you think?(yes, Im aware that its bad for a ninja to unmask, but Logan looks too good not to know its him)I had such a great time with Ben, Logan and Jamie and Im already thinking up ideas for our next shoot. Like I said, I LOVE to do themed shoots, so if you have an idea, please dont hesitate to bring it to me - I have lots of props already on hand, mostly Im just missing the people to bring them to life.... so that could be you! If you have an idea, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com and lets work it out. (brides and seniors, Im talking to you!)

And just because I dont think Ive said it enough... I love each of you that comes here so much... your support means so much more than you really know. I wish I could give each of you a big slice of cake and a hug. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there.

Emily

2011-12-13T10:59:00.003-06:00

Awww... yall have got to go see what my friend, Emily, wrote about her photography experience with me this past weekend. And then you should just read her entire blog b/c its good. Ok, ok, its not for everyone... but its still good, and honest and real.

And Im sad that Emily (and her cooler than cool) family live so far away so I cant see her more often (b/c she does have a gorgeous face - even if she cant admit it to herself).

So yep, pictures of their family - in a very offbeat location - are coming soon... so you will have to stay tuned and check back often... :)

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com to let me know what you want to see here or feel free to like my fan page (top right) so you can keep up on all the news!

The Venable Family - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-12T11:02:00.011-06:00

Another repeat client and I could not be more thankful - I love, love, love this family - seriously, they all look like models and they are the.sweetest.people.... their only downfall is that they are air force and could move at any time, and that makes me sad. You can see some of their previous sessions here, here and here. But this time was extra special because they have a new member of the family and she is a doll!And of course, you still remember Brody!She so reminds me of her brother!Best set of family pictures ever.... :)This one kills me... every.single.timeCuteness abounds!I think she wants her hat back... :)Yep, I think this one is loved... :)Venable family - yall are amazing and I enjoy every single minute with you... I hope you get to stay for a long time so I can watch your kids grow up... :)

Saturday was cold.... thankfully, its starting to warm up just a bit.... hope it stays that way for just a bit longer - my last wedding for the year is this weekend, and then its pretty much just booth building from there - and yes, we usually look like crazy people with odds and ends all over our driveway every weekend this time of year... but it will be worth it - I cannot wait for yall to see it either...

and then 2012 is so close.... and supposedly its the year that the world ends, so my advice.... get some pictures done... :) ha ha, but seriously, even if it isnt the end of the world, when was the last time you had family pictures done - do you even recognize your kids in them? are all your kids there? was a it a harrowing studio session that you promised yourself you would never do again? Now is the time to start thinking about family pictures - thankfully its only about 2-3 months before spring hits and the weather is tolerable - and the flowers break out and its just gorgeous... dont let another year go by without documenting it, you'll wish you hadnt.

If you have questions, Im all ears/fingers... talleyimages@yahoo.com

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-09T10:19:00.003-06:00

Personal Friday again, where I show you what it looks like in our house (are yall enjoying these? Id love to hear in the comments)... This was taken earlier this year when the weather was perfect and we could open up all the doors and windows. Wallace decided he needed to do some reading and found a good spot... :) You know, I really thought December was going to be a bit slower, but it - like the rest of the year - has decided to hit the fast forward button. I cant get over how fast this year went by and how soon the next one is approaching. Ive got lots of new things coming up and I cant wait to show you...

If you missed the pics on facebook yesterday, then you will probably want to go have a look... check out the clicky box on the upper right hand side of this page and go like my page already.... at 500 likes, Im giving away a free portrait session with cd... and at 1,000 likes Im giving away a free wedding package - so get to liking - and tell all those engaged friends of yours to get liking as well.

I love email... so feel free to send me a note any time at talleyimages@yahoo.com - I would love to hear from you!

The Long Family - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-07T10:03:00.007-06:00

Caitlyn and Tyler had their pics made, but I hoped it wouldnt be long before we could do a whole family session... and it wasnt! Jessica and I have been good friends for a long time so I was really excited to work with her and her familyTyler wasnt super excited about having his picture taken, but I think we did alright... :) Even got a few smiles. Thanks Jessica - I had a great time with yall!

Wedding season is winding down but wedding fair season is just winding up... this is always my crazy part of the year trying to decide what all I need and get it all together in time... And then its all over after a few hours... but its worth it when I get to meet some amazing brides (and grooms) to be and show off my photography which Ive put so much time and love into... I really do love it!

I hope yall are making plans to attend the one in Columbus in January or the one in Tupelo in March... I sure would love to meet you! But if you have questions now, feel free to email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

The Montgomery Family - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-05T10:15:00.016-06:00

Go back and check out this post and this post, and then come back here and look at how much these kiddos have grown. I absolutely love this family and I cannot wait to see them!Here is Madison... :)
And Houston... :)
And Emerson... :)
And their super sweet older brother, Coleton.The weather and leaves were just gorgeous that day!Of course you have gorgeous children, when the parents look like this!Thank you Montgomery family for everything... your babies arent babies anymore. I cant wait to see how far they go!

This past weekend was great - thanks to everyone who participated in the mini-sessions, I am considering them a huge success. Each one was different and so much fun - I cannot wait to show you what came out of them!

I cant believe its December already... wow... I am already making big plans for next year - I have so much in the works - its going to be some really good stuff and Im eager to get started. I know you dont want to miss any of it, so stay tuned!

You can always email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Personal Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-12-02T11:40:00.003-06:00

This is a oldie but a goodie... all the way back from December 2006. Gabe was 2 and Emma was about a month old... oh my goodness - look at all that blonde hair on me... and Daniel! We look so young... we had no idea what Christmas 5 years from then would look like. Its pretty full of blessings if I do say so - wonder what the next 5 years hold. :) Have a great weekend... :)

If you havent already, make sure you check the previous post... its a definite way to make a big difference for someone - no matter how small, I promise. And more new pics are coming up next week so keep watching the blog

*and if you havent liked my facebook page yet, well, you just arent getting all the details and updates... watcha waiting for?

Think About It...

2011-12-01T14:45:00.002-06:00

Take a look at our little boy - who isnt so little anymore.... he just turned 7 when this picture was taken. This was the first time we got to celebrate Wallace's birthday WITH him. I had to go through his previous 2 birthdays knowing that we were his family, but we couldnt be with him. Broke my mama's heart every time I thought about it.... especially since we missed his 6th birthday by one week.

Now take a look at this family http://mattmandi.blogspot.com/2011/11/birthday-wish.html - they are going through the same thing right now. And even more heartbreaking is that their daughter knows she has a family -so she is probably missing celebrating with her family just as much as they are.

But... you can help! You can make them both feel a little less alone.... and you could win some really cool prizes too. They are doing a giveaway for an Ipad2and some really cool jewelry that would make perfect presents for those hard to shop for grandmothers that say "dont get me anything".... :)

Or even if you cant make that big of a donation, I know personally, that even $1 makes a huge difference. From experience, adoption is hard... and its really hard to humble yourself and fundraise... it can beat your heart up really fast. So even if someone could only afford to give us $1, it lifted our spirits up more than we could truly express and it often left me crying from thankfulness.

So I dont know where you are or what you are doing... but now is the Christmas season - which if you ask my kids, they will tell you is Jesus' birthday. Let's honor that and give Him a gift that He would truly love... one less child without a family. Lets make this Kalia's last birthday apart from hers.

The Norwood Family - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-11-30T11:35:00.008-06:00

You might just recognize this family from this session, or you may not, since this little man has just grown up on me... I cant get over how big he has gotten. But he still has the sweetest family.I love little boy serious looks... :)Im not totally sure what it is, but I love black and white playground pics... :)Thank you Norwood family for letting me spend time with yall again - yall are just delightful and so is that little man of yours - you need to tell him to stop growing up so much though... :)

Not really caring for this sudden snap of cold weather, thankfully it seems to be warming back up a bit.... and I cant believe tomorrow is December - where did the year go? I cant believe it... but its been a good year - and for that, I am so, so thankful.

So thank you.

Got questions? You can always email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Gabe: 7 years old

2011-11-28T10:02:00.010-06:00

You dont hear alot about my oldest - Gabe.... He isnt really the social butterfly that Emma is and he isnt really so "new" as Wallace.... but he holds my heart. And he just turned 7 in August. 7!!! I cant believe I have a 7 year old b/c mostly that just means that Im old... or actually if you looked at the pictures, you might just say that Im 7 b/c well, Gabe is pretty much his mama made over... and I love him for that.He already looks like he is bordering on the verge of teenage-hood. At 7... I can only imagine how old he is going to look next year... I dont know if I can stand it!

This is what we did on his actual birthday.... we had some celebratory pancakes.
And took the training wheels off...
It was a good day.... glad that this one is all mine... :)

have questions? email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - and like my on facebook so you can get all the new updates!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:21:00.002-06:00

From our family to yours... :)

Kimberly & Tim - the wedding: Columbus Ms Photographer

2011-11-22T14:09:00.036-06:00

Ive been squirreling this wedding away from you because it was too good, but now the time has come and hold on to your socks because there are alot of pictures. One of the main reasons that this wedding was so good is the bride and groom. I LOVE them - they are amazing and I am so glad that they came into my life and I feel blessed that I was the one who got to capture these memories for them.

Ok, and can I please just take a minute here and encourage all of the brides out there to please have your wedding at The Magnolias in Aberdeen - its so amazing and if you have your wedding on the front porch like Kimberly and Tim did, its a photographer's dream b/c you can go behind and up top without anyone noticing! Also, it has a wooden swing in the front yard! And even though its an antebellum home, its not crammed full of furniture and antiques so pictures are easy and beautiful.... wait a minute, let me show you... :)Kimberly was just a stunning bride... stunning!So are you starting to get an idea of how amazing the location is yet?The first look... always my favorite part!look at the light on these... gorgeous!Tim made for a pretty good looking groom as wellCheck out some of the ring shots... love these!Hands down... formals are always better when done outside.The decorations were just amazing... can you believe Kimberly hand painted all the pumpkins herself?Now this is the way to start a reception... :)I think it was good.. :)The groom's cake wasnt too shabby either.Notice anything? (pretty cool, right?!)Check out the sweet moment on the left...Photobomb... :)
Kimberly and Tim (and your friends and family!), thank you so, so much. I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate the huge blessing you have been in my life. I cant believe I was the lucky one who got to photograph this wedding. It was just amazing and Im so grateful. Thank you for making me feel completely at home. I wish you all the best!

One more wedding and Im done with this season. This year has just been spectactular and I couldnt ask for more. Wow!

Right now, Im concentrating on my bridal booth for next year and I promise you arent going to want to miss it! These are always some of my most favorite events of the year because I get to show off my creativity and passion and hard work - and I get to meet some wonderful brides (and grooms!). Cannot wait.

Also, a quick note... I will only be booking 20 weddings total next year. I want to give each wedding personal attention and my very best and I cannot do that if I have too much on my plate. So this year, I am limiting to only 20 and I already have 2 on the books.... if you are thinking about using me, I would love to talk to you - but dont wait. Like I said, bridal show season is fast approaching and after it, the iniquiries come fast and furious. Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com so we can set up a time to meet and just chat about what you are looking for.

Also... when I get to 500 likes on my facebook fan page (link on top right), I will give away a free session with a cd (would be great for engagments or even as a gift!), and at 1,000 likes Im going to give away a free wedding package. This can only happen with your support, so get going and sharing... :)

Personal Friday

2011-11-18T18:09:00.004-06:00

I thought it might be fun to end the week with a personal shot...

This is Emma - a little over 2 years ago... just shy of 3 years old... it was a warm day and we were outside playing with chalk in the driveway... her hair still wasnt growing yet.

The days go by so slow, but the years fly by...

Have a great weekend.

The Fair Family - Columbus Ms Photographer

2011-11-16T12:02:00.010-06:00

Courtney and I were friends way, way back in the day in college (am I that old?!) so I was really excited to get back in touch this summer. So when she told me wanted to do a shoot, I was excited... umm, did i mention that Courtney is a tall, blonde with an equally gorgeous family? Yeah... lucky me... :)

Seriously, how cute are these kids?!!!
Didnt I tell you...Ummm... not to mention they picked a gorgeous day - and the leaves had just started turning... does it get any better?Love the sun flare... :)things I love about this picture: 1. the geese and te children mimic each other, 2. the trees almost look like they are on fire with all the different colored foliage across the lakeLove those in-between moments.

(ok, what is up with blogger's weird formatting - ugh, so frustrating)

thank you Courtney for having a beautiful family - and even more so for letting me be the one to capture all the memories... I had a great time and Im sad that you live so far away... I want to hang out with yall... :)

I have had a cancelation for this Saturday - Nov 19th - which means I have 2 mini-sessions open for this Saturday: 2:45 - 3:15 and 3:30 - 4:00 and then I will be completely booked for the year... After the mini-sessions i will be booking for next year - cant wait! If you are interested, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Or if you have any questions or comments... I would LOVE to hear from you... watcha waiting for?

Out of the Office... :)

2011-11-10T18:26:00.003-06:00

I took this pic of the moon rising while sitting at a stop light tonight... no editing, it didnt need it.

starting tomorrow I will be out of the office/on vacation/unplugged through Monday in order to spend some time with my family.

If you need me, then call mine or Daniel's cell phone... but otherwise, i probably wont be checking or emailing anyone back until Tuesday.

I love you all.... thanks for hanging with me.... :) And have a good weekend!

Riley - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-11-09T10:51:00.012-06:00

Well, you probably recognize Riley from this post and this post - I love this family! And I think you all know how much I love Halloween by now... so when Bonnie asked me about doing Riley's halloween costume party - I think I about fell out of my seat... so excited.

And seriously... My "job" is to take pictures of this little man - not work at all.
Of course, the whole family is gorgeous... :)

Getting the costume on for the party!One of my all time favorite pictures... if I had a studio, this would be a HUGE canvasI love these... :) And how cute is this cake?!!!Old school Capt America... yes! Actually loving all the little superheros running around.This is Batman's little brother... so cute!I cant thank the Hill family enough for everything that they are and have given of themselves. Im so grateful to have the most amazing clients in the world. :)

I still have a few spots left open for mini-sessions on Dec 3rd.... better get them now b/c this will probably be all I book before next year (I love being busy, thank you!). Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com so we can get it all figured out.

I seriously have a ton of new stuff to post, so keep coming back....

Also are there any reader questions that you would like to know - anything about me or photography... leave a question in the comments (or email me)... Id love to know what you are thinking!

Aiden - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-11-02T15:38:00.010-05:00

And now back to our regularly scheduled program... :)

Not often do I get a request to shoot in the cemetery - but if you know me at all, then you can imagine how excited I was by that.... and then when I found out it was the most adorable, blonde-haired one year old boy - be still my heart!Look at this face!Can you stand it?!!!After the cemetery, we hit up some kudzu and the playground.... Aiden had such a good time. Love these little moments.He has a really sweet mama too... :)Well, I hope yall are ready to get back to some real business... goodness knows, you are probably tired of seeing my mug on this blog... :) I have lots and lots to post - its been keeping me super busy, and for that Im super thankful. Speaking of... I cannot believe its November already! Wow!

That means Christmas is coming up soon, soon, soon.... if you were thinking about getting some pictures done, Im still deciding about the mini-sessions (see bottom of last post), but I need to know something ASAP... like right now! If you are interested, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - I would love to hear from you!

halloween 2011 - part 2

2011-10-31T13:08:00.005-05:00

So yay, you finally made it to Halloween with us.... Hope its an amazing night for all of you!!!!

So yep, this year, we are the ninja turtles and April O'Neal... except nobody seems to even remember April... oh well. These costumes were actually alot more time and work then I really thought they would be, but I think they turned out cute.... and I think we are going to switch over Gabe and Emma from the masks to beanies and eye masks like Wallace and Daniel - Ive heard those masks are very uncomfortable.
Back before I got my hair re-done... its actually red now... and check out my cool boots! And you cant see them, but they all have the cutest turtle shells on too... note to self: take a picture!

And for the second year in a row, weve been featured on Offbeat Mama's Halloween Montage which I personally think is the coolest! (thank offbeat mama)

Today has not been a good day, but then its a Monday, so I guess it was to be expected... but tonight... tonight is going to be grand... I cannot wait!!!!

As always... if you need anything, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - you have no idea how much I love to hear from you!

ps: I bet Daniel would be tickled (or really, really embarrassed) about a few comments on his awesome green pants!

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On a photography note: I was not planning on doing mini-sessions this year as its been so crazy and busy, but Ive had a few people ask about them....

So Im willing to do them if I can get at least 5 committed families for a Saturday, or at least 10 committed families to do a whole weekend...
possible dates: Nov 19-20, Nov 26-27, Dec 3-4

A mini-session is: 30 minutes on location, full editing, and 5-10 images on a cd (usually available in less than a week). Cost is $50.

If you are interested, let me know ASAP so I can get a count, and also what weekend you prefer... please email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - thanks!

Halloween 2011- part 1

2011-10-28T13:37:00.003-05:00

Ok... yall better enjoy this b/c its probably not ever going to happen again. A totally unedited straight out of the camera shot - on my professional photo blog! EEEEKKKK... Ive gone crazy apparently. Oh well, I hope you can enjoy it - even with the mess of having 3 kids all over the background. :)

Last night, Daniel and I went to a Halloween/costume party... our family costumes dont really work without the kids, so we threw together these last minute. Im a flapper and Daniel is a mob boss - the suit is actually pinstriped (and my husband is super hot!) - he really needed a fedora, but oh well. It was fun and got us out of the hose for a few hours, so Im just super grateful for that. (and yes, just for the record, I am that tiny... Daniel is only 5'10")On a semi-related note: fishnets really hurt your feet in heels...

On another not-really-related note: I really just wanted to dress up in my punk clothes as my costume, but Daniel doesnt own any... can someone please convince him these would be a worthwhile investment so I can be comfortable next time. (what? you didnt know Im a total punk on the weekends? fun fact)

Ok, come back on Monday so you can see some pictures of our actual family costume.... and have a great weekend!

If you need me, email is the best way.... talleyimages@yahoo.com

Halloween 2010

2011-10-27T13:47:00.003-05:00

Last year was a fun one... we did the Scooby Doo gang! And its proof that can still look really cool but you dont have to spend alot of money. We had all of this in our closet or got it cheap at a thrift store or estate sale... I think we paid about $20 total for all 4 costumes - and the bulk of it was the $5 for my knee-hi socks that I got online (new, thank you very much) b/c its really, really hard to find colored knee-hi socks. (oh, and emma was not digging that wig, which is why its kind of crooked-y looking - we had to make her wear it for the pics and then off it came)My sister even showed up as Scooby... :)Cutest mystery solvers ever!I tried to let Daniel decorate our mini-van to be more like the mystery machine, but he decided that was a no-go... guess he has to draw the line somewhere. :)

Halloween 2009

2011-10-26T13:41:00.003-05:00

I cannot find the pictures from 2008 - boo on me... so we just have to skip forward to 2009. For some reason, it doesnt feel like this was that long ago.... I think we made a pretty cute Flintstone family... Daniel and I look really goofy here, but oh well... You guys... feel free to leave comments... :)

Hope your week is fantastic!

Halloween 2007

2011-10-25T14:27:00.002-05:00

This was the first Halloween that we dressed up as family - and we did Peter Pan... so much fun. Gabe was 2 and Emma was almost a year.... love!

I love this picture of Daniel pumping gas in his costume... The whole family... Daniel did actually have a hook... and how good of a job did I do with his jacket? Yeah! Emma's face kills me.There's the hook. Hope you are enjoying these... :)

Just for Fun

2011-10-24T13:31:00.003-05:00

Today has been pretty crazy/aweful/whatever so far... so thought I would cheer myself up and show you a few pictures too so you can get in on the fun. If you havent heard yet (or dont know me!) I LOVE halloween... really any excuse to dress up in a costume, but add candy on top and Im all over it... so thought I would put up old Halloween pics all week, so keep tuning in.

This is from 2004... Gabe was just a few months old and I found the cutest gorilla costume, so I decided he could be King Kong and I would be Faye Raye.... I think we were pretty cute... and check out that blonde hair!It was extremely hot that year, so he could only wear the gorilla suit in air conditioned buildings, so we had this little Tigger outfit for him when we were outside... my husband makes a pretty cute biker too... :) (oh my goodnes, how little is Gabe!)These are from 2005, and Gabe was Pooh... oh my goodness, he was the most adorable child... look at that face!Daniel and I got in on the action too... :) This isnt really from Halloween, but thought it was funny... this is Emma as a baby in 2006... any guesses as to who Im making her? (think 80's music)2006... Gabe went as a dr.... looks like a pretty good time for a cookie break to me... :)I also sent him to school/daycare like this on the actual day of halloween... see Ive been trying to turn him into a punk all his life... :)

More to come all week... stay tuned!

And like I said.. today has been pretty rough, so any thoughts/prayers/well wishes you want to send our way today, we will gladly, gladly take them...

as always, if you need to get in touch, email is always the best way... talleyimages@yahoo.com

Sally - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-10-18T13:41:00.011-05:00

I remember watching a backstory on the movie "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and the studio wanted it to be in black and white, but the director insisted it be in color b/c Newman's blues and Elizabeth Taylor's violet eyes could only be appreciated in color, or something like that... and I think the director made a good call. And that is exactly how I felt when I looked at Sally - she has the most true, gorgeous blue eyes. You can see for yourself, and nope - not a single extra thing done to her eyes at all. And isnt she getting big?!!! You will probably recognize her family from this shoot... such an amazing family - I totally love them!her brother is the sweetest tooYep, check out the eyes...Thinking hard about something... :)The balloons got away from us, so Sally and her daddy watched them drift away together (so sweet)Again with the eyes... :)Even gorgeous without colorLove this one...Best feeling in the world when a baby does this... :)Yep, totally gorgeous family!Thank you Foxworthy family... seriously, you have no idea how much I love working with yall!!!

Looks life fall is about to hit in full swing this week... I dont know if Im excited or not. Ive been really loving this t-shirt weather. But I am looking forward to boots and blankets and hot chocolate.... and those lovely, color-changing leaves that are falling. And of course, it means some gorgeous fall sessions are coming up - excitement!

I may, just may, have a few spots left open for the year... dont wait, I have been booking up quick, quick, quick... email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Oh, and as a quick aside... I will only be booking 20 weddings next year, and already have 2 on the books... so if you are thinking about it, let me know. I would love to meet with you and see if I would be a good match for your wedding!

Alyssa - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-10-12T11:39:00.007-05:00

I love my repeat clients... especially when its one of the cutest little girls ever. You may remember Alyssa from this post... can you believe how big she's gotten... still just as gorgeous though! And I love her parents- they are just the sweetest. I want to convince them to move here, but I just havent yet. :)So, so sweet...Doesnt she look like the most perfect little porcelain doll here?Love these faces!This one is probably my favorite... such a classic picture.Sweet, sweet family.Thank you Grabowski family for coming down to see me... you know I love you and I look forward to seeing how big Alyssa is every year. Yall are the best.

October is killing me... but in a good way - ha ha. I am loving being so busy. I have the most amazing, beautiful clients and I am just awed by how wonderful each session is and how it fits that client perfectly. LOVE it! Thank you!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com and lets see what I can do for you.... oh, and if you havent liked my fan page yet, then you are missing out on some cool art pieces that Ive been doing... :)

Shelley & Keith - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-10-06T10:00:00.005-05:00

See... what did I tell you. I get to work with some of the most beautiful people ever. Can you believe these two are not models? I cannot wait for their wedding - I know its going to be impeccable and Shelley is going to make a beautiful bride, but then, I am kind of partial to redheads... :)This weather is just perfection, right? Jeans and a tshirt are my favorite outfit, so I am thoroughly enjoying it... of course, I am looking forward to breaking out some cute jackets and boots - I have a closet full of them! October has me running around crazy, but I am loving it. I cannot wait to get to all the sessions that I have planned - my families are always the best... I dont know what I did to get so lucky, but yeah, my life is good!

If you have a question, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com I would love to hear from you!

Jennifer & Matthew - Columbus Ms Wedding Photographer

2011-09-29T10:50:00.020-05:00

Matthew and Jennifer's wedding was just beautiful... very traditional, but also very personal. Jennifer did such a great job making sure all the little details were taken care of... I loved photographing this wedding. (credit: Jordan Moore)

(credit: Jordan Moore)

The traditional ring shot...And a really fun one...
The first look (always my favorite part!)(credit: Jordan Moore)

Jennifer was a stunning bride... stunning!(credit: Jordan Moore)

(credit: Jordan Moore)

(credit: Jordan Moore)

(credit: Jordan Moore)

(credit: Jordan Moore)

A huge thanks also goes to my second shooter, Jordan Moore. I tried to credit him under each picture he took... He couldnt have done a better job. I was so thankful to have him there as he added so much to the story... thank you, Jordan!

Speaking of second shooters... I am now taking applications for the position. This is for serious shooters who just havent had the experience yet and want to learn and get their feet wet without having the responsibility of a whole wedding on their shoulders. If you are interested, email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com and I will send you a questionnaire to fill out. I would love to hear from you.

Have you liked my fan page yet? (top right hand corner under the banner)... if not, then you are missing out on the updates.... one of them being that I am almost booked up for the year! Can you believe it?!!! 2011 has been such a huge year for me and also my family... wow... I am nothing but grateful. And most of that goes to each of you - my clients, my blogreaders, my facebook fans, my supporters, my friends. I could not do what I LOVE without you - you are my biggest asset. Thank you.

Taylor - Columbus MS Senior Photographer

2011-09-22T11:50:00.012-05:00

Yay... its senior time again. Have I mentioned how much I love doing senior pictures? Like, really love them... like they are always some of my favorite sessions... Usually its just the girls who want senior pics done, but every once in awhile I will snag a guy. Taylor was my first guy senior session this year, and Im not sure it could have gone any better.
All Taylor's idea... and I love it!Sorry girls, he is taken...Ummm... yes, we totally found an empty fish pond in the middle of the sidewalk... and Taylor totally rocked it out.I am loving this amazing weather.... wish it could stay like this year round... :) It also means I am booking up very fast... dont wait to book your session. The leaves are just about to change - Im so excited - I cant wait for fall pictures!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com - Id love to chat!

Casting call... Im looking for some punk/goth girls for a shoot... or even a punk/goth family or couple would be cool too. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please email me...

Amanda & Gary - Columbus MS Wedding Photographer

2011-09-13T14:11:00.013-05:00

Fall is starting out as such a tease... but thats ok, as long as it doesnt go back up to 100, Im all good - no complaints here b/c I dont care for the cold much... but! on that note - this small taste of cooler weather has gotten me running around crazy with a million things to do... thought I better hurry up and get this wedding in before all my sessions start... woo hoo!
As Ive said... the cooler weather is almost here, and I am definitely growing more busy by the day... which I love! I get so excited when I walk down the road and notice the different colored leaves littering the street... I know the colors are coming and so are the fall flowers, the pumpkins and the yummy food... oh, and I cannot forget about gorgeous sweater, jackets and boots - my favorite part of my wardrobe... :)

If you have questions, Id love to help you out - email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com or maybe you could visit the website at www.talleyimages.com and check out things there...

Dont forget to book your senior sessions now... :)

Friday, Friday, Friday - Columbus MS Photographer

2011-09-02T14:17:00.006-05:00

Since everyone has enjoyed Emma's 4 year old pics, I thought I would put her 3 year old pics up... these were taken back in 2009 when her hair was refusing to grow... but she still has the most adorable face... a great way to start the holiday weekend, right?!!!This one is probably my favorite.Do you think she loves her big brother?
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Dont forget about Coopers Closet - today is 25% off and tomorrow is 50%... you can find some great deals... and Ill be there all this afternoon - come see me and say hey!

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And a few fun things Ive found for you this week... I hope you enjoy... and have a great holiday weekend!!!!

This is the kind of photographer I want to be... dream of being... that probably makes me weird, I dont even care... amazing! (if you arent a fan of all the make up, go back a few pages - still just as good!)

Super easy way to make a big difference...

Excellent wedding advice... especially #4 which can be applied to your photographer as well... "#4. Love your dress. I had major dress drama because I picked it because it was inexpensive rather than because I loved it."
- seriously... your pictures are the one thing you will have after the day, and they can be easily ruined on that day... dont let anyone force you into getting something that isnt your style or buy into something just because its cheaper - get what you love... you will be able to tell the difference, and there are no re-do's when it comes to your wedding

Pretty, pretty feather headpieces and boutonnieres (that is like the hardest word to spell ever!)

This space absolutely inspires me in every way

German goth model blog... I love....

Gorgeous paper flowers... beautiful and perfect for an offbeat bride on a tight budget - plus they last forever!

A Tangled bridal shoot... so pretty

This amazing design is killing me... I have no words I love it so much

Underwater maternity photos - completely magical

Cupcake tower... can you believe its at Bed, Bath and Beyond?

Axioo always has the BEST pics... I am so, so digging the sailor/schoolgirl dress and the Hello Kitty coffee

Its like a Barbie steakhouse... but life size!

Check out the hotel its attached to as well

Each of the rooms are different!

Love these wedding invitations

And a wedding invitation giveaway!

This diy craft makes me think of my friend, Emily.

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Again... hope everyone has an amazing holiday weekend... part of ours is celebrating my granddad's 80th birthday - excited!

I will be in and out, so if you cant get in touch, thats probably why... but Ill get back as soon as I can.... the best way to reach me is usually email at talleyimages@yahoo.com

Love!

Reminder

2011-08-31T11:46:00.004-05:00

Just a reminder... cooler weather is coming up soon.. which means I am booking up quickly for fall sessions...

I only have a few Saturdays left: September 10th, October 15th, November 5th, December 3rd... these will be gone before you know it, so I wanted to make sure you knew.

I still have some Sunday afternoons open... and I also do weekday afternoons as well. I still have a good bit of those left... but if you were wanting a Saturday, better get on the ball!

So excited that cooler weather is almost here... cant wait to break out the boots and sweaters!

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com with any questions... :)

2011-08-30T08:52:00.014-05:00

I met Jessica and David over a year ago when they helped me with a project, so I knew their wedding was going to be simple yet spectacular and fun... and they didnt disappoint.

Check out their music selections... :)The ring shots are always some of my favorites... and have definitely become one of my signatures.Jessica made for a gorgeous bride.A little fun before the wedding... :)And who knew the Hotel Chester was this pretty? Who knew the groomsmen were this pretty? Go figure.Of course... its always the reception thats the real party.... food, drinks, fun and pretty girls... :) Jessica and David, yall were amazing... your family and friends were some of the sweetest people that Ive ever met - they just treated me like part of them - for that, I am forever grateful... your wedding was just beatiful and I could see your fingerprints all over it. Thank you for letting me be a part of everything.

To say Ive been busy would be a bit of an understatement... its all kind of been a blur, and the rest of the year is looking like its not going to slow down too much... especially since I am starting to feel a slight change in the temperatures when I go out in the mornings... looks like we are in for some nice weather soon. And that means, I will book up quick. If you are wanting to do a shoot, please dont wait to book it - even a month or two in advance.... one of my least favorite things to do is tell people that I cant.

Email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com so we can figure out a good timeslot for you!

Be on the lookout... hopefully a few new posts are upcoming... and still more weddings!

Something New Monday...

2011-08-22T11:03:00.010-05:00

So I decided that its Monday, and we needed something good to look at... plus, it takes forever for me to get wedding pics up here, so I thought that in the meantime, maybe you'd like to see some personal pictures? These are our beach pictures from last year (which is why Wallace isnt in them)... I forgot that I never shared them, and they make me smile... after all the pics, Im also listing some of my favorite links for this week as well... Happy Monday!Love sandy little facesMy gorgeous better half.... always.This may be one of the first pictures of myself I have up here... it may be one of my last... enjoy it while you can.... ha ha ha.One of my all time favorites...
I am sad we didnt get to go to the beach this year, but sometimes, thats just life... and you enjoy it while its good and learn from it when its not.... and Im so thankful for all that I do have...

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And now for your reading enjoyment... a few of my favorite things this week!

These wedding cakes are killing me… especially the ruffled one

The new Vivienne Westwood “Melissa” shoe line!

Can you even imagine walking into a reception like this

Most people wont get this engagement shoot, but that’s exactly why I love the people who do

As a photographer, this green river totally intrigues me and gives me a million ideas

Ex-model Penelope Tree has lived such an interesting life… seriously

Read this…. Learn it… memorize it… BEFORE you get married… its true

I think these snake earrings are really cool… but are they comfortable?

Why cant I be the photographer at this wedding… love!

The last room is killing me (I want!)… and I NEED to make that map-chandelier… too perfect

Love the message and the mission behind these shirts… definitely check them out!

Cutest save the date bags!

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Allright, thats all Ive got this week... Ill (hopefully, but I know Im a total slacker!) be back next week with some of my favorite things... hope this is only the start to a great week!

Email -> talleyimages@yahoo.com

Published!

2011-08-16T10:01:00.004-05:00

Check out http://offbeatmama.com/2011/08/montage-9 - so I guess this officially makes me a published photographer and Emma a famous model, right?

Either way, I think its pretty cool b/c I love www.offbeatmama.com and to have them feature one of my photos is amazing... but for it to be one of Emma just puts me over the moon!

Thanks to everyone for their support... :)

Feel free to email me at talleyimages@yahoo.com anytime!