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Meg & I had a tremendous opportunity during October 2008 to photograph the wedding of Christina & Ruben in Santorini, Greece. It goes without saying that Santorini is the most incredible place we've ever visited. The architecture is like something out of a movie. Simply stunning everywhere you look.
Santorini is a small island that is south of the mainland of Greece. It sits on the lip of a giant reservoir, and is rumored to be the site of the lost city of Atlantis. |
Christina + Ruben
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Wedding
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October 8, 2008
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Santorini, Greece
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| Arriving in Santorini, it only takes moments for you to realize that you have literally stepped back in time. The rich tapestry of architecture, color, and tradition blend together to form an indescribable experience. Visiting the island, you feel a requirement for reverence in the way you approach the local culture. |
| The blue domed churches are a signature feature of the Santorini landscape, and can be found in various parts of the island. |
| Many of the locals still use donkeys to transport a variety of good up & down the steep roads of the villages. |
| Meet Christina & Ruben. Day one in Santorini was a mixture of an engagement session, some family portraits at sunset, and the rehearsal dinner. |
| Stay tuned for more images from Santorini in our next post! |
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By the time I get around to posting this, my birthday will officially be over... but, for what it's worth, today (08.21.09) I turned 28. And as midnight draws near (and Charles sleeps, smart man!) I am reflecting on my 'Most Favorite Year'
I had looked forward to turning 27 since I was 4 years old. In fact, the first time I can ever recall really being aware of an age (over one digit) was somewhere around my 4 year and 5 month mark. My parents took me skiing during a family vacation that winter and in my little kid daycare/ski-school, I found my first love. I remember him like it was yesterday... red and white jacket, white pants (yes, white!), the coolest looking ski goggles, sandy blonde hair, and green eyes at an oh-so-dreamy 27 years old. I know this because at the end of my last day of class I marched up and asked him how long it would be before I was his age and we could get married. He told me he was 27 and that I would have to wait another 23 years to catch up to him. Thankfully, he did not bother to explain that by the time I reached 27, he would be long past his 20s... letting me down easy, I suppose. But from that winter on, 27 was the age I most looked forward to. When I hit 16 and could finally drive, I still knew I was only part-way to my perfect year... and when I was 21 and getting married, I thought that 6 years would fly by - and they did. And when I was finally 27, I thought - 'this is it - where my life begins.'
I never will search out my ski-love; I've found the guy I want to grow old with ... but I do wonder whatever became of him and if he would even remember the precocious little 4 year old that professed her love many years ago on the bunny slope... |
| So, of course, the question lingers there - how was 27 after all those years of anticipation? In a word: fantastic. I could never have imagined all of the blessings and travels life would bring me & Charles this past year... I have enjoyed every minute of my 'most favorite year' as I dubbed it almost 23 years ago. Right around my 27th birthday I found out we would be traveling to Santorini, Greece to photograph the intimate wedding of Christina + Ruben - talk about starting off my year with a bang! We also had the enjoyable task of traveling to the Bahamas for the wedding of Danielle + Jon at the One & Only Ocean Club in January, and of course, the wedding of Keke + Chris in Tortola, BVI this past June, rounded off with a trip to Rhode Island for Jackie + Tom at the Blithewold Mansion last month. We've also been introduced to new places throughout the South East and have spent many weekends now exploring the culturally rich state of Louisiana. We have been blessed in business and in our personal lives this past year (but, some things I need to keep private from the world wide web...) We have re-branded, restructured, and rebuilt our company from the inside out, and have launched a new fledgling venture that promises an exciting year ahead. We have forged new friendships and nurtured the old, made time for family - hosted our first Thanksgiving, even! - and been totally present for one another. I have watched my spouse, who has supported my growth in every endeavor, come into his own this year and I could not be prouder of the man I have the privilege of calling 'partner.' I dare say that 27 has, truthfully, been my very best year ever. |
| Someone asked me just the other day how I felt about getting closer to 30, and I can honestly answer that nothing excites me more. If history is any indication, I suspect each year will be richer than the one before - offering me new lessons and opportunity for personal growth. Am I exactly where I thought I would be all those many years ago? No way. But what I have found in my short 28 years is that life will hand you so much more than you could ever dream for yourself, if you are just open. |
| In a few months we will be hitting the slopes for a wedding in Park City, Utah and I imagine I will be reminded of that time, many years ago, when the world seemed so big and I had my whole life ahead of me. And I imagine I will feel again much like I did back then... that my future is full of infinite possibility and the very best years are still the ones to come. |
| (Thank you to our clients, our friends, and our families who inspire and challenge us everyday. I am *so* looking forward to the years ahead - whatever they may hold.) |
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Do you travel for wedding day coverage?
The most important thing to know about our studio? We travel! Meg Baisden Photography is based out of Pensacola, FL, but photographing weddings has taken us all over the world - literally. From major cities around the Southeast US, to destinations around the world, we're happy to help. We regularly photograph weddings in New Orleans & weddings in Baton Rouge, as well as destination weddings in Florida!
To see featured weddings, review our wedding portfolio, and contact our studio be sure to visit our main website: Meg Baisden Photography |
Do you travel to the Caribbean for destination wedding photography?
Having traveled to five different Caribbean islands for wedding weekend coverage, we've become well versed in Caribbean destination wedding photography. We've photographed destination weddings in St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. |
Will you travel within the US for my wedding?
In addition to our Caribbean weddings, we've photographed destination weddings all across the United States. As expected, we've worked in most major cities around the Southeast including:
- New Orleans, LA
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Meridian, MS
- Jackson, MS
- Atlanta, GA
- Columbus, GA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Miami, FL
- Hilton Head, SC
In addition to our coverage in the Southeast, we've also had the opportunity to work in other parts of the country. Most recently, we traveled to Park City, UT for a snow-filled wedding weekend. We've also had the opportunity to work in Providence, RI and Washington, DC. |
Which wedding took you the furthest from home?
The wedding which took us halfway around the world was our Santorini, Greece wedding! We worked with a wonderful family from Houston, TX that asked us to join them for their wedding week in Greece. You can take a peek at our Santorini, Greece wedding blog post that catalogs this once-in-a-lifetime experience. |
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What do you get when you add the two of you with the two of us? FUN! As cheesy as it sounds, and we know it sounds totally corny, the number one comment we receive after a session is "I had so much FUN today!" Well done then. Our engagement sessions combine all of your favorites - your favorite location, your favorite outfits, and your favorite person - what's not to love? We can pretty much guarantee an e-session with us will be among your favorite days of the engagement period. Factor that in along with buckets full of great couple pics and this shoot becomes a must-have for any to-be-wed.
Why do I need an engagement session?
Well, if the above isn't reason enough - consider the following... engagement sessions are scheduled prior to the big day - offering us all the opportunity to work together and do the get-to-know-you stuff out in a real, live shoot. For the nervous nellies out there, stepping in front of the camera can be a daunting task, so this is a nice way to baby step into the wedding day photography. And for the rest of you who just can't get enough of having your picture taken (you know who you are) sessions offer a legitimate way to get the fiance in front of a lens again. The great photos taken at your engagement session will undoubtedly wind up all over the place - on your save the date cards, your wedding website, your ceremony programs, a reception slideshow, your sign-in table, the local newspapers, and even at the rehearsal dinner in the form of a gift to your new mom & dad.
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Location
All of our engagement sessions happen "on location". This means we travel to you...or to somewhere in the middle! We've photographed engagement sessions in Pensacola, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, New Orleans, Atlanta, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, and even far away places like Washington D.C. and Greece! Whenever we travel for work or otherwise, we try to fit your out-of-town session request into the schedule for an engagement shoot in YOUR hometown. So be sure to let us know where you need us to meet you...you never know when we might just drop by!
As far as places to shoot -- we've done everything from historic southern plantations to college football stadiums to the French Quarter in New Orleans . Popular choices everywhere include parks, gardens, beaches, and more urban downtown areas. Whatever the location is, we always encourage our clients to make it personal whenever possible ... if the location is special to you in someway, so much the better. Every so often we are able to include the site of the proposal in our shoot - making for a sentimental favorite everytime. |
Just Relax
That's really what the engagement session is all about -- finding a way to ease the initial awkwardness of being photographed. While so many of our clients photograph like models, we can only pinpoint one example where our bride had actually had professional modeling experience... so we expect things to start off just a little rocky. But not to worry, we'll get you there. Meg's background in theater and, more importantly, directing has given her a real advantage when it comes to molding you, our eager subjects, into a comfortable state of quiet intimacy. We'll work through the nerves and get to 'the good stuff' right off the bat and by the end, we promise to leave you looking forward to the next time.
It's also worth mentioning that there's more to it than just looking suave for the camera. There is a global sense of relaxation and confidence that stems from the engagement session as well; Families really feel at ease when they see a set of stunning images of the two of you BEFORE the wedding day. When moms & dads have confidence that things are in good hands, EVERYBODY tends to relax & trust the process.
And of course there is a direct benefit when it comes to couple shots on the wedding day -- once you've been through an engagement session with us, you'll have a really good sense of how we operate and we are better equipped to serve you. This simple understanding can be critical when the light is fading from the evening sky, and you guys are chomping at the bit to get to your reception. |
What to wear?
Well, of course we can't really answer that. You should realize by now that we want to encourage you guys to express yourselves in this process. We want you to wear what YOU think you should wear! For some clients, this might mean a dress & heels for the bride or a suit & tie for the groom... for others this means those favorite ripped up jeans and tshirt. Whatever you decide on, it'll work...because it's you.
Some general guidelines -- wear something comfortable. We do a good bit of moving -- sitting, standing, hugging, kissing, to name a few. You'll want to stay flexible - wear something you are comfortable showing from all angles. Sometimes, our couples need two different outfits to get the job done. That's OK too! Pick something you love - or even a few somethings - that you are comfortable and confident wearing, and the rest will fall into place! |
| Oh, and if the pictures in this post don't spell it out for you, we always welcome the dogs :) |
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