Big Announcement Time: High Cotton Photography

Y'all. I have some major news to share and I am unbelievably excited about it.

Jessi D Photography and Alisa Lynn Photography have combined our talents to form a new brand of Southern wedding photography with High Cotton Photography.

What does this mean? Well, it depends on who you are.

If you are one of my amazing 2012 brides... you've got great timing! This new partnership means that you will not only have me shooting your wedding, but Alisa too! *unless your wedding is on a date that she had previously booked. It also means that you will see our transition as I start blogging and updating Facebook under our new brand.

If you are engaged and looking for a wedding photographer... don't wait any longer. Contact us now as our 2012 calendar is booking quickly.

If you're a fan and want to stay up-to-date with what I've been shooting... you should go like us on Facebook, tweet us on Twitter and check out our new website.

What it means for me is that my job just got way more fun. It also means that I will be blogging over on the High Cotton Photography blog.

Special thanks to Courtnie from Poppy Pedals who worked with us to create the High Cotton Photography brand!

2011 Year in Review: Friday Faves + Raves

Happy Friday!! The last one of 2011. Dear 2012... you've got big shoes to fill, but I know you'll rise to the challenge. Can't wait!!

Here are some of my Faves from this year. My ultimate favorite thing is still waiting to be announced. Are you ready? It's BIG!

Pinterest
You know how something comes along and you wonder how you lived without it? Like... lemon chicken soup from Taziki's or the iPhone, or Pinterest. Man oh man, I'm addicted.
Follow me on Pinterest @jessidphoto

Cotton Details
You would think, being in the South, that cotton is a detail I'd see a lot, but I don't. I've only seen it in photographs. Cotton can be used in place of/in addition to flowers, as a cake topper, in a backdrop, etc. What do you think? How can you imagine using the prettiness of cotton for your wedding? It would give your guests (and your photographer) something to rave about. F'reals.

Instagram
My favorite iPhone app this year (top 3 of all time). It's a social media app solely based on photography. You take photos and upload them to a twitter-type feed. You follow people, they follow you. Cool photos are shared.
Follow me on IG @jessidphoto


Biz Books
"Highly successful business people read, on average, three business related books a year. That means I'm going to read three a month."
So... I may have only read three this year, but that's three more than I read last year. I'm sure I can beat my record in 2012. Do you have any biz books to recommend?


The E-Myth - Michael E. Gerber
Purple Cow - Seth Godin
48 Days to the Work You Love - Dan Miller

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2011 Year in Review: Detail Faves

For me, one of the most exciting moments on a wedding day is that second just before I arrive at a venue. With my hand on the door I have no idea what I'm about to walk into. The possibilities are endless and every wedding is so different. My excitement is akin to that of a child on Christmas morning. What can I say? I really love weddings, and I have a crush on details.

Some of these sessions and weddings have yet to be blogged. Stay tuned for them and a BIG announcement for 2012 coming very soon!!

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2011 Year in Review: Newlywed Faves

Going through a years worth of photographs is professionally satisfying and humbling. This year brought the heat with some pretty amazing couples. I hope you all enjoyed your first Christmas as Husband and Wife!!

Some of these weddings have yet to be blogged. Stay tuned for them as well as a BIG announcement for 2012!

Mr & Mrs McCarley. Blog post coming soon.

Mr & Mrs Ling. See full blog post here.

Mr & Mrs Tate. See full blog post here.

Mr & Mrs Gurganus. Blog post coming soon.

Mr & Mrs Headley. See full blog post here.

Mr & Mrs Hinton. See full blog post here.

Mr & Mrs Heinemann. See full blog post here.

Mr & Mrs Kittrell. Blog post coming soon.

Mr & Mrs Hudson. Blog post coming soon.

Mr & Mrs McClellan. See full blog post here.

Mr & Mrs Morton. Blog post coming soon.

Mr & Mrs Richards. See full blog post here.

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2011 Year in Review: Bridal Faves

Christmas is upon us which means it's time for some year end recapping. Here are my favorite bridal portraits of 2011.

Some of these sessions and weddings have yet to be blogged. Stay tuned for them and a BIG announcement for 2012 coming soon!!

Mrs. Odle. See full blog post here.

Mrs. Kittrell. Blog coming soon.

Mrs. Meany. See full blog post here.

Mrs. Ling. See full blog post here.

Mrs. Harris. See full blog post here.

Mrs. Headley. See full blog post here.

Mrs. Pace. See full blog post here.

Mrs. Hudson. Blog coming soon.

Mrs. Morton. Blog coming soon.

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Biz Break | 48 Days to the Work You Love

Wow. What a book! Dan Miller killed it with this one. For real. 

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau. 

See that word confidently? I think that is the key in this quote. You can't just go 'willy-nilly' in the direction of your dreams and expect success. You've got to be confident in setting goals and making a road map to achieve them. In 48 Days to the Work You Love, Dan gives you a step-by-step plan to gain the confidence you need to advance in the direction of your dreams. He turns concepts into action items.

My review: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is for anyone that is going to do some sort of work in their life. I am doing 'the work I love' and it helped me create a plan of action to reach my life goals.  

Nuggets form this book...
What is success?
"Success is not a future event--it is the 'progressive realization of worthwhile goals.' Thus, either you are successful today or you are not."

ALL of Chapter 3: Creating A Life Plan.
"Everyone has a vocation or calling. It's not something reserved for a chosen few who end up as pastors, priests or monks."

In life, there are 7 Areas of Achievement: Family, Physical, Personal Development, Spiritual, Career, Financial and Social.
An unbalanced life does not lead to success. "Make the decision now to have success in all 7 areas. Learn to recognize when you are making a withdrawal or a deposit physically, spiritually, etc. Without clearly defined goals in each of these areas, the activities of your life will reflect the desires of those around you."

Friday Faves + Raves

Happy Friday!!

Favorite: Lists (duh)
The twitterverse sent me a list of '50 Reasons not to date a photographer'. I literally laughed out loud (llol'd?) at most of these. Here's my top ten...

1. You’ll never be able to enjoy tv, movies, or magazines because they’ll point out all the visual flaws.

2. They like to sit in coffee shops and voyeuristically watch people for great lengths of time.

3. If come across some “interesting light” they will make you pose in public so they can take a photo.

4. When you think they’re giving you their undivided attention, they’re really wondering how they could fix you with a little Clone Tool and Patch Tool.

5. They can’t take a photo of you without taking at least five more.

6. Bright, sunny days make them sad, but cloudy, overcast days are apparently great!

7. They spend a lot of time with people cooler than you i.e. models, actors, musicians, successful rich people.

8. They’ll be fussy over the position of a common household object, like a coffee cup.

9. They won’t return your calls or text messages, but you can bet they’re still posting pics on Instagram.

10. You can’t get them a birthday/Christmas present without spending at least $500.

It's no wonder that us 'artsy' people stick together. 

Favorite: Brides that love Pinterest
Here's a sneak peek at Laura and Brett's wedding. Laura is a self-professed Pinterest addict. She had been pinning and crafting with her Mom and Sister for months before her wedding. I. Love. Them. Needless to say, the details at her wedding were GORGE!!

*More from this ultra fab wedding coming to the blog soon!*


Rave: Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-Ups
Super easy and super Yumm! I suspect this would be delish with left over turkey too!

Photo from Pinterest