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Author Archives: Melissa Pepin

Tessa & Sam: Engaged

These two have our heart too. Even though it was TOTALLY weird watching Anthonys 17 year old little sister make out with her boyfriend in front of my camera…it wasnt until I saw a big ole smile stretch across Tessa’s face that I realized, “Hey wait! She’s 23…not 17! And thats her fiance..not just her boyfriend!” ugh…where has time gone!?? Shooting an engagement session is always a lot of fun and super insightful as to how the couple works. But more importantly its a chance to ME to get to fall in love with them…to get REALLY excited about their big day…to understand why the love like they do. This was no exception. I watched Tessa and Sam together and I got pretty giddy just thinking about their wedding this fall. She protects him. He takes care of her. Its going to be perfect…and we cant wait! Tessa & Sam…we love you both SOOOO much! And Sam…I promise I wont call you a leprechaun on your wedding day…at least more than once. :) Here are just a few pictures from their quick engagement session in downtown Charleston.

The Mays: Family (Charleston, SC)

This past weekend we went up to Charleston, SC to shoot family pictures and engagement session! I love that city and so does Anthony…so needless to say we had a great time! The best part of the whole deal was that we got to spend some much needed quality time with my sis-in-law and her crew. Margie feels like a sister. Like the REAL kind. Most of you know that Im an only child…and I have always wanted siblings that I could hang out with and laugh with and cry with…Margie is that kind of sister to me. All of Anthony’s siblings have taken me in as their own and I love when we get to spend one on one time with each of them. (*Tessa…if youre reading this I love YOU TOO…you’ll get your bum fluffed tomorrow when I post your engagement session. :) heheheh)

Margie and her hubs, Derek have the best kids. Seriously…the best. They are kind and sweet and just all around great children. Their lil miss, Sydney was Riley’s personal assistant all weekend so I didnt have to do ANYTHING! **I think I might adopt a 7 year old…it was a HUGE help. :)  Kyle and Nick were wonderful older cousins to my little chubs too and we had a wonderful time catching up and spending time together. Without further ado…here are some pictures from their session! ***And a few of Riley at the park with everyone too!

Suzanne & Chuck

Oops! I just realized I never posted this super fun session a few months back! This is Suzanne and Chuck and they are SOOOOO much fun! And SOOOOO much in love! We just shot their wedding last weekend and I cant tell you how perfect it was….wait for that post a little later. :) They met at the Grit and fell in love there….so thats where we went! We made our way down to The Daily Co-op for a little grocery shopping…and finished our session in a cute little nook on Prince Avenue…gosh…I just LOVE Athens. :) I’ve got much more to post today so…I’ll leave you guys with pictures for now!

Mary & Sam: Engaged

Happy Friday!!!!

This is Sam & Mary! We are going to have a BLAST with this couple at their wedding! I met with Mary and here mom several months ago to discuss Mary’s December wedding and when they left I just got so excited about the fun stuff that was going into the details of their day. Mary is really REALLY sweet and Sam is…literally…her perfect compliment. They laugh….a lot. And to me, thats HUGE in a relationship. They were quick to sneak in kisses, even when I wasnt looking, and its easy to see that they are best friends…couples like this make my job super easy. :) Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Stevie & Matt: Engaged

Everyone, this is Stevie and Matt! I met Stevie at the Athens Wedding Professionals Ultimate Bridal Show in January and from the second I saw her I KNEW she had to book us! She came off so personable and sweet but funky and fun at the same time and it wasn’t hard to visual her amazing wedding after she and I talked details for a little bit. She and Matt are having a black tie wedding on Halloween evening this year and we are soooo excited we can barely contain it! This is going to be a party not to miss, thats for sure!!!

When we set up their session, Stevie and Matt were both awesome about being flexible with me as far as the location went. We knew that they loved their sweet pups and that we would end their session at a dog park, but months before their session I had stumbled upon an old abandoned airplane…out in the middle of this beautiful field…behind a junkyard…behind a body shop. I waited….and I waited…and I waited. I wanted to find the right couple that would fit this setting and when we met S&M…I knew it was them! Well…we get to the body shop and almost didnt make it to the back field. Once we got there, that plane was COVERED and I mean COVERED in briars and ivy like it had NOT been several months ago. Internally, I was a little bummed, but this couple was so willing to climb and step their way through all the crud so that I could get some really fun pictures of them doing what they do best in a really cool place. Ive said it before and I will sat it again…my clients are rock stars. :)

Stevie and Matt, we had the best time with you guys! I LOVE your relationship. You guys make each other laugh (oh..and me! hahaha) and its so sweet to see how you look out for one another. We cant wait for October to get here and feel so blessed to be a part of your day!

Lindsey & Andrew: Married

Lindsey and Andrew’s day was absolutely AWESOME! Not only did Lindsey have one of my favorite dresses OF…ALL…TIME…but the friends and family this crew was surrounded by made for a day full of fun, LOTS of laughter, and really great reception pictures! (man…these kids can dance!) The day started off nice and steamy hot (gotta love Ga. weather right???) with a 60% chance of rain. We were all praying that the rain would hold off and right as we went outside to take some group shots, the sky, every so gracefully, decided to fall out. :) After about 15 minutes of rain, the clouds parted, the seats were dried, and we were able to have a beautiful ceremony under an elaborately decorated arbor at Kimball Hall in Roswell. So…I STILL hold true to my “we’ve NEVER been rained out of a wedding” statement! Woohoo!

I wont fluff this post with any more words because I know that the images speak for themselves, but I will close this post by saying that Andrew loves Lindsey. Not only does he love her…he LURVES her. The entire evening he was beside her. He was there making sure that she was taken care of in every way. He wiped her tears during the toasts. He rubbed her back when she said she was tired at the end of the night. He told her she looked beautiful over and over again. And we couldnt help but blush ourselves when she would look at him either. She knew she would marry him long before their engagement and we saw from the moment we arrived at the Hall that this day was something she had dreamed about for a very long time. Ahhhhh love…we love it. :) Congrats Lindsey & Andrew! We are so excited for you and cant wait to see what is in store for you as a married couple!!!


quick note!

Hey friends!

I stink as a blogger lately…but I have two posts coming next week so…hold on, they are-a-coming! :)

I wanted to post a quick note about our charities from May & June. Here are the links, and we want to challenge everyone to check out these sites and DONATE! Today we got word that one of our chosen charities for the fall has been closed. These charities NEED us friends…they NEED these donations. Every little bit helps…we praise the Lord for the opportunity and I pray that your hearts get moved too. :) Here ya go!

Mennonite Central Committee :https://donate.mcc.org

*and an Athens, Ga. based charity that several of our friends have benefited from..

Loran Smith Cancer Center :https://web1.armc.org/landing.cfm?id=774 or check out www.armc.org for more info!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Nicole & Andrew: Married

Oooooh! Who’s on top of it…thats ME! 2 blog posts in one week, Im on a roll! :)

Nicole and Andrew were married last month at Reunion Golf Club in Brasleton and their day could not have been better! These two are such a special couple and we were so blessed to spend the day with them as they celebrated with all of their friends and family. Ive known Nicole for 3 years or so and when I met Andrew I KNEW this boy was made for her. They way they look at each other….the way they speak of each other…it was meant to be. :) Here are some of our favorites from their day!


Whitley: 6 months

Hi everyone! Long time no post…I know. I get it. Things are rockin’ and rollin’ around here for the summer and we are in full edit mode! I have a lot to post so I wont fill you up with fluff and get right to the good stuff. :)

I cant believe Whitley is already 6 months old! She is growing so fast and has such a sweet personality already. Her mom and dad love her to pieces and its not hard to see why…here are some of our favorites from her session!

(I sure do love the back of a bald baby head… :) )

Lauren: Pharm. D

Congrats to Lauren for her FREAKIN HUGE accomplishment! Lauren has become a good friend of ours since we shot our friends Meredith and Michael’s wedding back in December and I was SO excited when she called and asked us to shoot some “I cant believe Im finished with school!” pictures for her. :) We had the best time hanging around campus and taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather. Lauren, congrats friend…we are SO proud of you! Here are some of our fav’s!