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Jacksonville, FL – Workshop-ish-ness
Dec, 18 2007 by Mel
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Last month, on our way from Savannah, GA to Orange Beach, AL, we made a stop in Jacksonville, FL for a couple of days to see one of our favorite couples! Brad and Mel had us photograph their wedding a couple of years ago and we became fast friends. They are now getting into wedding photography themselves and they volunteered to be our guinea pigs for workshop material. Thanks guys! The people of the photography industry are so open and giving. Sean and I were fortunate to find several people early in our careers whose thoughts, advice, and experience pushed us to heights we would have never imagined. Because we’ve been given so much, we love being able to pass along our experience and know-how to others! It has been so much fun to talk with Brad and Mel and see them progress as artists and business people! We really enjoyed being able to spend a couple of days with them just talking about branding, and shooting, and getting started. Photographers are such dorks! Mel just sent over a few of their images from the shoot we did together and I had to share our experience… We spent the afternoon on the beach covering just about everything we consider while we shoot: directing the client, how to get variety quickly, lighting set-ups, yada, yada. We had a blast and Heather and Eddie were wonderful models!
I love the wind on the beach! Here’s Sean shooting…
…and the resulting images
We’ve never been to a beach with fallen trees everywhere so we were almost drooling when Brad and Mel told us about this place!
Oi! There is a reason I am behind the camera!
Brad and Sean in action
Brad did really great here…
Sean didn’t do so bad either.
Sean giving Mel the low-down
Everyone knows I’m just along to hold the flowers!
Another fantastic Bradford creation
The dynamic duo – are they cool or what?
Again, I heart fallen trees!
Crawling through the branches a bit
…and Mel’s super swank results…
After the beach, we did a little night shooting on our way to dinner. Eddie just got these hot new shades so we had to show them off!
I love this one of Mel’s
Afterward we ate yummy pizza and then went back to review the day’s work – and get a few goofy group shots of course!
Can you even believe these guys are just getting started?? Mel and Brad, thank you so much for your friendship and for inviting us into your home to talk your ears off for two days! We hope you came away with something worthwhile! We had a great time and are so looking forward to seeing what great things are in store for the two of you! Much Love! Mel and Sean | |
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21 people have commented. You know you want to.  mel: Thanks Ferry!
 (2.5.08, 1:48 pm) Ferry: Great work… (2.2.08, 10:07 pm)
sean: Hey Ashleigh!!
 ) Hahaha – thanks. Happy New Year!! (1.3.08, 5:18 pm) ashleigh: i’m sitting here doing some catch up reading/drooling on your blog and i have to say the back and forth between you two and “Nashville Photographer” is an unexpected source of entertainment! your blog by the way always brings me joy…can’t wait for me and ryan to be your subjects again:) (1.2.08, 11:21 pm)
sean: Thanks, Nashville Photographer. We… live here… too… and stuff. (12.31.07, 12:39 am)
Nashville Photographer: Great Photo’s, if you are ever in Nashville,Tennessee look me up for some Photo’s.i’m a Nashville Wedding Photographer (12.28.07, 10:09 pm)
mel: Jessica my dear – the deal is struck! If I steal your tatoo, I’ll send you pictures and our wedding schedule!
(12.28.07, 3:57 pm) jessica: mel, you can steal my tattoo if i can second shoot for you guys someday! hehe. that’s a fair trade, right?
 (12.27.07, 3:22 pm) mel: Davo – you’d better watch out – you might just get your wish!
Thanks Eddie! We can always come play at your house too! To make you a model or a photographer – now that is the question… (12.24.07, 10:27 am) Eddie Bojorquez (Studio 512): Excellent work on these. Thanks for getting such good-looking shots of me. Oh wait. That was another Eddie. Wish I coulda been there though – behind the camera!
-E (12.20.07, 6:53 pm)
david & kimi b: you know you guys are welcome to crash out at the ohana casa, then we can hopefully get some mclellan magic by osmosis!! (12.20.07, 11:26 am)
Jacksonville Florida Weddings: Jacksonville Florida Weddings on the beach are romantic and make great Photography, Gulf Shores has white sand and is also beautiful for a Beach Wedding (12.19.07, 11:41 pm)
Matt B: ok, I grew up in CA and have NEVER seen clouds so perfect at the beach. You guys had the perfect day for shooting!
Of course, the talent behind the camera wasn’t half-bad either!
(12.19.07, 4:42 pm) mel: Ah you slipped in while I was writing Holly! Thanks so much! I wish we did too – it would be much warmer now! (12.19.07, 2:56 pm)
mel: Thanks David! We had a great time doing it! Brianne – you are so funny.
Personally, I think I’m looking a little cross-eyed there….Davorino and Kimilicious! Are you suggesting we come camp out in the Baxter livingroom for some CA fun? I have never been to California you know… Thanks Kate! We enjoyed getting to hang out with you guys too! Let’s do it again sooner rather than later – we do have tacky gift exchanging to do afterall! Hey Mel! It is always completely our pleasure to help you guys out in any way that we can! Thanks for letting me share your work! (12.19.07, 2:55 pm) holly: I LOVE IT!!!!
I wish we lived near the beach!!!! (12.19.07, 2:49 pm)
Mel Watson: We had such an amazing time with you guys! You are such incredible friends and mentors and we appreicate all the invaluable advice you have given us. You both did a fantastic job of explaining all that was going on during the shoot and helping us learn new techniques. We are blessed to have you as friends! As for your photos… they are stunning as always!
You set the bar high guys!  (12.19.07, 2:17 pm) K. Crafton: I’m loving the fallen tree/brush images!! Gorgeous as always!
(ps: great seeing you two last night. Have a wonderful Christmas! xoxoxo) (12.19.07, 10:04 am)
david & kimi b: i can’t even express in words how rocking EVERYONE of the images are. even the ones of the mclellans behind the scenes! you guys are rockalicious! phrase of the day:
mclellans workshop san diego!!! yah, SD! SD! SD! *chanting* no not south dakota. (12.19.07, 9:34 am)
brianne: i know i should probably comment on all photos, but seriously, mel – your eyes are BEAUTIFUL. (12.19.07, 8:22 am)
David: Totally, totally awesome!! What a rockin’ shoot! (12.19.07, 12:00 am)
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Happy Birthday To Me!
Dec, 13 2007 by Mel
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So today is my birthday. I plan to start off the day with my very first yoga lession – I’m very excited! Then I’ll be going out with my handsome husband and doing whatever I feel like that does not involve sitting in front of the computer. YAY! (This is me doing cartwheels if I could!) When you’ve had as many birthdays as I’ve had, I think it gets a bit harder to figure out anything you could possibly want for your birthday. Today, I think I just want rest and relaxation. There is one thing though that is always on my long term wish list but I’m having the hardest time figuring out how to go about it. I need your help! To help illustrate, I’ve dug out some of my old photo class work from college. That’s right! I sifted through my NEGATIVES and old hand-printed work made with REAL film and chemicals in a darkroom! Wow – I would love to say those were the days but digital is so much nicer to me! Even in my teens, I loved old rusty stuff
This was perhaps my favorite shot from Black and White class – Technically it’s not great but it’s very rustic Tennessee to me…
Ok, here’s the one to illustrate my request. I don’t know what the assignment was but I have all of these pictures of my feet in different places (back when I painted my toenails blue – yikes!) Zero in on those feet because I seriously heart foot tatoos and I’ve wanted one for the longest! The problem is that I can’t think of what to get.
I want something that has some sort of meaning to me so that when I’m 60, I’ll still want it around. It will also be pretty small – probably no bigger than a half-dollar coin although I could be convinced otherwise. I just don’t see myself as a big tatoo kind of gal. I’ve thought about doing something with my heritage maybe? I’m primarily Irish-German-Norwegian and totally Southern. My spiritual life is something I feel pretty private about so I don’t think I’d be big on religious symbols unless it was something really artistic and obscure – that could be cool. Art has always been a big part of my life so it could incorporate that in some way. I also like tatoos that commemorate milestones. So what do you think? Any ideas? Do you have a tatoo? What were your thoughts/motivation when you got yours? I need inspiration because I want to go through with this oh so badly! I want to still like the tatoo when I’m 60 – not going to finally get it! Any thoughts, good vibes, and overall idea-sharing would be lovely! Maybe I will spend my birthday watching old episodes of Miami and LA Ink! Just watching gives me the ink addiction…this could be dangerous…. Thanks for your help! - Mel | |
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22 people have commented. You know you want to. Nashville Photography: Nashville Photography is great, i love to shoot weddings, great pic’s (12.28.07, 10:12 pm)
mel: Ah well thanks Eddie
Brad, you and Sean and your crazy dragons and Roy D Muffler – I seriously don’t know what to do with you guys! Jessica – I love love love that!! Can I just copy yours – only on my foot? (12.18.07, 11:23 pm) jessica: happy birthday!
i got my first tattoo a year and a half ago for my 29th birthday… the year before i turned 30… i was determined to have the best year (and i did!)… i thought about what i wanted for a long time because i wanted something that i wouldn’t regret, that i would look back on and remember my 20′s and also something that really meant something to me… i ended up getting the phrase “alis volat propriis” on my wrist, and it means “she flies with her own wings.” i am still in love with it. so i say go for it (12.18.07, 7:26 pm) Bradford: Go for the dragon…
… or better yet… me dropping the RoyBomb on the dragon… (12.18.07, 7:00 pm)
Eddie Bojorquez (Studio 512): If you do get a tatoo, get something really small. You have nice toes. Oh, and happy birthday!
-E (12.17.07, 9:01 pm)
mel: Thanks everybody! I love all of the suggestions! Yes, even the remarks that this is a bad idea. I appreciate that you care.
I feel much closer to coming up with something great! (12.17.07, 11:07 am) sean: Dragons are forever. Ok, not really. But I felt compelled to say it. +1 for the skin thing from me… …Unless you want to get the dragon with me. (12.16.07, 3:04 am)
Diana: Happy Birthday! (a little belated!) I got a tattoo about five summers ago and still love it! I was one of those girls who got a small butterfly on her hip (great place if you want it hidden most of the time). Actually got it done at Queen of Hearts on Nolensville lol — can’t complain, the guy was great. ANYWAYS, a suggestion for you is an M shaped like a heart. Looks really cool when done right. Would be nice since your first and last initials are both M! (12.15.07, 1:33 pm)
Melanie Watson: who doesn’t like rusty stuff?!?! I like the old photos. Beats my old photos of lizards and eels. As for tattoos… look at some Celtic designs. The tree of life is cool… don’t know if it will fit on your foot though. Celtic knotting is always lovely. I used to want some sort of Celtic knot or a crop circle design. Those definitely beat my old drawing of two dolphins in the shape of a heart!!! Thank God they don’t let 16 year olds walk in and get tattooed or I would be taking sandpaper to my skin right now!!
(12.14.07, 3:17 pm) david&kimi baxter: happy happy birthday from all of us to you we wish it was our birthday so we could party too, hey!!!!!! how bout’ something gaelic? ooooh, or a viking with seans face! i do like his dragon idea tho:) whatever you choose i’m sure it’ll be awesome like you! (12.14.07, 2:21 pm)
mel: Thanks for all of the birthday wishes everyone! I’ve been on facebook, myspace, and email morning getting back to everyone. I feel very loved.
Missy – you are so right – I do need to keep in basic and no Sean face on my foot – check! Courtney – I love that you have your grandmother’s initials! I’ve thought about doing something having to do with my grandfather but I can’t think of what. I’m thinking something more abstractly related to art or an overall mindset is more me. Thanks! Hey Whitney! I’m lovin the idea of the old designs! Where can I find stuff like that? I love all things vintage and I think that might point me in the right direction. We should schedule a big tatoo and piercing party! Everyone is welcome! haha! (12.14.07, 1:56 pm) Whitney Carlson: Happy Birthday!!! I’ve been planning a tattoo for a while now for a big one on my back and can’t wait! Most of my friends have tattoos and they all say its rather addicting, so be prepared to have more than one! I guess my suggestion would be to have a symbol/image that is classic and has already stood the test of time. I love tattoos with old imagery, old symbols, and I think it can help keep from them becoming dated. Can’t wait to hear what you decide on! (12.14.07, 12:54 pm)
Courtney Davis: Happy Birthday Mel!!! You should definitely think about this tatoo thing, don’t just go do it without thought, I have my Nanaws initals (EML) on the inside of my right ankle below the bone (on my foot) I love it and I loved her sooo, it is my daily reminder of how special she was to me. In your case however, make it about the lovely art that you create on a daily basis, I instantly had a vision of a camera lense with an “all seeing eye” looking through, maybe that is way tooo much of a reminder of your job, but you are sooo good at it and I know you love it… so why not pay tribute to something that has proivded such joy in your life. Merry Christmas!!!! (12.13.07, 10:38 pm)
Missy: Happy Birthday, Mel!! Well, I just talked to you and Sean on the phone. I think the dragon tattoo idea is..um…interesting. I do think you should get a tattoo, just go somewhere clean and nice OR go to Miami or LA Ink. Yay! That would get some more business for ya. I would get a tattoo if I did not have a terrible needle FEAR! I might get my nose pierced though. We’ll see. Get something simple. You have never been a frills kind of gal, but ya know…some symbol of what you do, or what you love. Think of something you have always admired or loved that you will still love when you are an old granny and your grandkids ask you “What is that wrinkly thing on Grammy’s foot?” Hehe. Does that help? Don’t get a portrait of Sean though. If your feet ever got wrinkly, it may make Sean look bad. I am done rambling now. The End. (12.13.07, 7:40 pm)
mel: Thanks Tim!
Mary – I like your tatoo! You should too! Sean says I should get a skin colored tatoo. This is just something I have to do! And Honey – the dragon thing ain’t gonna happen. Sorry. Kate and Kate – Thanks for your input ladies! I definitely want something that means something to me personally which is why I’m looking for inspiration. Maybe someone can say something that will hit me just right? Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! Now I’m off to REALLY stay away from the computer all day! (12.13.07, 12:24 pm) Kate Mefford from Juxtapose Photography: Ditto to what the first poster said. Plus, even though I designed it and sort of still like the design, it reminds me that if I ever feel ashamed of it that I am not being authentic as a person. It’s just a very personal thing and I think you have to be the one to figure out the meaning of it all! Good Luck! (12.13.07, 12:16 pm)
sean: Happy Birthday, wife! I honestly can’t understand why you’re still searching for a tattoo idea, after I told you about my vision of tattooing half of a dragon on me, half on you, and we can stand next to each other and jump around, making its wings flap, breathe fire, and spiked tail thrash about! Think EPIC. By the way–anyone reading this… that idea is SO (c)2007 Sean. Although, if you do it, just send me some photos and I’ll be happy. (12.13.07, 11:41 am)
K. Crafton: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!!!
I got a tatoo one of my first weekends at college. I spent so much time trying to figure out what symbol I wanted. What I ended up with was something simple that reminded me of a certain time in my life….and that means so much more to me than the actual design. I hope you find something that you love! (12.13.07, 11:23 am)
mary crow: Happy Birthday my sweet friend!!
I have one around my ankle. I got it when I was about 38 and I have to say that I would not do it again. I don’t hate it enough to consider having it removed….. but …… I regret it. I know how it feels to really want one though!!!
Good luck and have a wonderful day! (12.13.07, 8:44 am)
Tim: Happy Birthday! (12.13.07, 8:16 am)
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Web Galleries Down
Dec, 13 2007 by Sean
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This is just a quick note to say that our gallery system is currently down. Right in the midst of the holiday season. Computers have a great sense of timing when it comes to messing up, don’t they? Unfortunately we’re at the mercy of our “web guys.” Hopefully they will be back up in a few days–thank you for your patience while we work on getting everything fixed as soon as possible! | |
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1 comment so far ... Keep em coming, people! Bradford: … must have not been USDA Certified. You should get a stamp… (12.18.07, 7:01 pm)
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Nashville Wedding Photography – Dickson, TN Bridal Session
Dec, 10 2007 by Mel
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I just realized that we never got to share any of Marlena’s bridal session images and it’s one of my favorite bridal shoots thus far! Marlena and Tim both grew up in Dickson so we wanted to commemorate the town in some way. Marlena is fantastic because she gives us complete free reign when we photograph for her. She told us just to take her wherever we wanted to shoot. We love you Marlena! This is her mom’s veil. Don’t you just love that??
We had a very proud moment here. Marlena - not us - spotted this way cool old truck! Our appreciation for junk is rubbing off on her! haha! Marlena’s dad has a similar truck that he refuses to get rid of so this was a fun find for multiple reasons.
Next stop: the railroad tracks for some sexy leg shots!
When we decided upon Dickson, I asked about the train schedule because I’ve had this image of someone standing in front of a moving train for a while now. We lucked out and jumped the tracks just in time! I hope we didn’t scare her mom too bad running across the tracks like crazy people as the train approached. It wasn’t THAT close….
I think she looks like something straight out of the 1930′s here…
This is the one her dad decided on for the gallery wrap canvas to hang in their home.
So many fun places to work with! (yes I am a dork)
And last one…
Hope everybody is having a wonderful start to the week! :) - Mel | |
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12 people have commented. You know you want to. Kasey Stringer: These are great. I did a senior in front of an old beat up car the other day….but the sun wasn’t out…so no sun flare. But they turned out fun anyways… Great Job like always! (12.16.07, 5:22 pm)
sean: Wow, Margie! Thank you so much for the fantastic comment–it really does mean a lot to us
(12.12.07, 8:53 pm) Margie Sensing: I can’t come up with a single original phrase that adequately expresses the beauty of these shots of Lana. Guys, word of mouth is always the most effective advertisement! I’ve shared these with everyone I know and as with everyone else they are blown away. If half the people I’ve shown call you, you’ll be booked through 2010. Lana and Tim we love you and thanks for letting us share this moment with you! (12.12.07, 1:15 pm)
mel: You are all too good to us!
We love hearing from you and thank you so much for all of your sweet comments! (12.12.07, 12:58 pm) Marlena Wright: well, we have both our families blog stalking because they are obsessed now, too! and then i get a call that i’m on the blog again! my favorite will always be the first one, even though they are all so beautiful. thanks you two. and we love you! (12.12.07, 12:21 pm)
Bradford: My favorite shot is definitely the “1930′s” picture! Excellent!! The angle and expression is perfect! (12.11.07, 12:30 pm)
David: Awesome – I agree with her dad – that’s my favorite picture:)
I also love that you are a bunch of pics these days rather than just one – the more the merrier! (12.10.07, 9:22 pm)
david&kimi baxter: lovin the stairs and the train. that looked super close, but totally awesome!!! i LOVE the mas pictures! oh i’m bilinqual don’t cha know. (12.10.07, 7:05 pm)
Eddie Bojorquez (Studio 512): I’d love to be the first to comment. These are amazing – as usual. I think I like the ’30s shot the best though it’s so hard to choose. Very good job, guys!
-E (12.10.07, 5:13 pm)
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