David and Megan | Wedding

Some people are just meant to be from day 1. This is one of those couples. David and Megan have been dating since their first date in 2006 (more information on that from their engagement session). After many years, a long distance relationship, and even moving states to be with each other, Megan and David are happier than ever and now officially married.

As a photographer I am lucky enough to get to meet a lot of people. I would call myself a people person so I highly enjoy interacting and getting to know everybody I photograph. I get to spend hours with people on some of the most important days of their lives. Megan and David, along with their family, have made that so much fun and made me feel like part of the fam. Dinner with Megan and her mom, chatting for hours, exploring Starkville for their engagement session, frantically searching for an animal rehabilitation facility for an injured hawk I once found, picking Megan's mind about the perfect cruise..... and finally deciding she's planning a cruise for me, to getting invited to their crawfish boil rehearsal dinner.. Everybody had welcomed Joyce and myself in like they had known us for years.

Random fact: A large majority of the people that were rehearsal dinner are from Ohio. They don't really eat crawfish in Ohio.... so there was a big learning curve for a majority of the visitors but they ended up loving it.  For those of you who traveled down to Mississippi and enjoyed the food.... This link is for you.) 

Glad to see this amazing couple start a new chapter in their life that started way back in 2006. I couldn't have asked for a more awesome group of people to work with that I am lucky enough to now call friends. 

Tyler and Elizabeth

When a couple meet, date, get engaged, go to college, and then plan to get married in a city that they love, what better place for their engagement session than the city of Starkville, Mississippi. I have known these two for years now and went to college with both of them. It was a warm afternoon spent laughing, catching up, and reminiscing on days past. Excited to be a part of this good looking couple's big day coming up soon. And Hail State! (I feel like they would approve of me saying that.) 

Thanks to Bin 612 for letting us shoot in and around their restaurant. Great food, great drinks, great night life! 

Dane and Jacquelyn

What is every girl's dream? Minus puppies, a beautiful family, and to travel the world, it would obviously be their Pinterest board coming to life. And that is EXACTLY what happened to Jacquelyn on her engagement session. I have known Dane since literally middle school and watched him grow up (that made me feel old) and he has grown into an amazing young man and has an amazing young lady to spend forever with. Okay back to the Pinterest story.... Jacquelyn knew Dane and herself would be doing engagement photos in Mississippi so she decided to search Pinterest for inspiration ideas. As we were chatting Dane told me she showed him some of the photos that she liked. And Dane casually told her, "Oh yeah, Blake took those!" (at this time she didn't know who I was or knew I had any connection with those specific photos) IT GETS BETTER!!! There was one specific post that she liked (I have already decided locations of the session the day before) as she described the photo I finally realized which specific dock she was talking about and realized we were actually going to that exact same location that afternoon to end their session. Internet works in funny ways sometimes. So glad I was able to be a part of these special people's special moment in their lives. Congrats, Dane! Jacquelyn you handled Mississippi like a pro! 

Okay enough with Pinterest stories. Here are the photos. 

Jessica and Ty | Wedding

Ever since Jessica and I sat down at her consultation last year to discuss her big day I have been genuinely excited to be a part of it. She described her big day in detail from the flowers, dresses and cakes to the venue perfectly, and man was it fun to photograph! I have known Jessica for quite some time now but unfortunately had never been lucky enough to get her in front of my camera. Until we did a gorgeous Columbus, MS engagement session where I met their four legged child, Dash. All three who were natural in front of a camera. Fun loving, carefree, gorgeous, and just a pleasure to be around since day one. Their beautiful wedding day was amazing to be a part of from the wedding itself to the people involved, everyone and everything was perfect. 

Kelly and Colby | Wedding

I remember the first time I met Colby and Kelly for their wedding consultation here at my studio. Cool and friendly from the get go. They also had their new pup join us. She was just a few weeks old at the time; you can see their family portrait below from the engagement session a few weeks later. But it wasn't long before this pup mistaked my artificial turf (I photograph athletes in the studio on it) for real turf during her bathroom break. Call me soft but I couldn't even be mad at a dog so cute. However, it makes for a good story and definitely an unforgettable moment - like Colby and Kelly's wedding day.... but way less "crappy". It was a beautiful day filled with great weather and great people. Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Ponder.