GRITZ Photography and Southern Fabulosity

The kiddo in character

2012-02-22T17:54:00.000-06:00

From here on out, this blog turns into my personal photography pursuits. I've wanted to work with the kiddo alittle more (much to her dismay) for creative shoots, and this little character study was Sadie as "the villain"...I had to google "villain" three times just because I didn't trust that it was spelled correctly LOL! It's a good thing I did too, because the first photo is the one I actually ordered as a five foot tall canvas for the living room. No joke...I really did! I want it to be our Christmas card pic till she's 18. I want to wallpaper a wall with it. I want to be buried with this pic! Ha! Obviously I'm proud;)

Soyong and Tony

2012-01-26T19:46:00.000-06:00

Soyong and Tony have a BIG Family, and ALOT of friends! This was such a fun wedding because it was also a reunion with so many members of the family in from out of town, and some from as far away as Korea! The wedding was held at Eglin Air Force Base (Did Tony's uniform give it away that it was a military wedding LOL?) And Soyong DID get the sword "smack". Embarrasingly enough, I was aware that the honor guard was part of the wedding, but I was not expecting them until we got outside, so towards the end of the ceremony, I'm snapping away in the center of the aisle and I hear "Excuse Me" very quietly, and I turn around to find that six guys with swords had actually marched right up behind me with me hearing it. All I can say was I was in "The Zone". Well that's enough insider information...check out this AMAZING couple, and congrats to Soyong and Tony!

Soyong and Tony~ Coming Soon!

2012-01-20T16:29:00.000-06:00

CANVAS SALE!

2012-01-09T13:07:00.002-06:00

Ok, so since I am wrapping things up in the photography dept. (fear not brides, everything is still honored the way we agreed under contract). Its time for a SALE! I just reduced my canvas prices to 50% off! The price you currently see on Pictage reflects the sale. Let me know if you need your event extended or re-published. Have fun shopping:)

OUT OF TOWN~ Be back soon!

2011-12-02T17:22:00.004-06:00

I will be out of town Dec.5-Dec.10, I will return all messages and emails upon my return. Canada, here I come!
p.s. Meet Sadie (kiddo) and her hampster Al Capone. Our Christmas photo this year:)

Brandy and John

2011-11-30T22:48:00.002-06:00

Details, details, details! This wedding had so many beautiful and thoughtful details, its amazing the time and effort that Brandy and John and their friends and family put into this amazing wedding at their familys country estate in Biloxi. For starters, the bouquet...complete with the rings of happily married family members. Re-enactment shots from Brandys parents wedding (shotgun photo is our rendition of one of them). Brandys father had a special dock built onto the pond so his fabulous daughter could say "I do" there. Even the tractor got a complete cleaning so it would be safe for Brandy in her stunning dress for photos! The first dance was complete with sound clips in the song of Brandy and John talking about each other during a previous interview by Jim Horn Entertainment (killer job on that so a big shout out here). And the classic car for the big departure...you guys really know how to throw a wedding! Congrats!

Katie and Thom!

2011-11-15T21:22:00.001-06:00

Here it is, and where do I start? I have had the pleasure of knowing Katie and her family for a LONG time...as in FOREVER:) So, you can imagine how excited and honored I was when she asked me to cover her wedding (I really really hoped she would haha)! We started with the bridals, and then while I had already briefly met Thom, he got to see how a bunch of crazy southern gals roll when he joined us for the engagements...and now its time for the wedding! I spent the entire wedding weekend with both families, and we cruised the Mississippi for the rehearsal dinner (that's another set of photos LOL), witnessed an impromptu outbreak of "going to the chapel" in the hotel courtyard (and I will never forgive myself for NOT having the camera on me at that moment), got a history lesson from the coolest hairdressers in the French Quarter (Mickey Nolan...can I move into your shop?) and literally ran with Katie and her mom and sister thru the French Quarter carrying camera gear, various undergarments streaming, and well...just acted like everyone else does in NOLA;) You will also notice that the dress is on at two different times in the preparations, and that is because the windows in the hotel were so AMAZING we couldn't help ourselves for two dressing sets. Preservation Hall is like nothing else...I had heard of it, but if you ever get a chance, check out this incredible OLD jazz club. The art on the walls is by Noel Rockmore and was featured this year in the magazine "Garden and Gun" and I had to make sure that I got Katie and Thom with the paintings, because they are soooo old South/New Orleans, and that is exactly what this wedding was all about! You will also see the "second line" parade that followed the wedding. This was planned ahead, and traffic was literally stopped for the an entire square of the French Quarter so Katie and Thom could walk the streets with their family and a marching jazz band in their honor...and a fabulous mob of people filed in behind them throwing beads and confetti...(glad I wore my running shoes!) Ok, let's start...Chapter one, Katie chills in her room with Jay-Z...
p.s., the cats everywhere? They're the club cats...and they made their selves right at home during all the action...too fun!

Brandy and John ~Coming Soon

2011-11-09T09:46:00.000-06:00

Brandy and Ben!

2011-11-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

Hooray! Brandy and Ben were married at the Houston Lake Country Club in Warner Robbins GA, and it was the perfect day! Mossy trees, golf course, perfect weather, how can you go wrong? I also have a feeling that Brandys favorite color may be pink (LOL, you'll see what I mean). Bravo also goes out to their fabulous families who put this whole wedding on from flowers, to arranging so many of the details. You guys went all out in grand fashion!

Tra and Lauren

2011-10-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

Congrats to the new "Mr. and Mrs." Alidor! Tra and Lauren were hitched in September at Pauls on the Bay right at sunset. Lots of family came in from out of town and it was the perfect combination of elegance and a great party! Apparently Tra and Lauren have known each other since middle school and even used to ride the bus together (awww!) They are also the outdoorsy type (hence the fishing/kayaking engagements) and in June we ran an adventure race together (thats called team building with your photographer haha). This was a totally fun wedding for me because we (the hubs and I) are friends with this awesome couple and John was one of the groomsmen and I got to see my friends get marrried and see my husband in a tux for the first time! Winning! John and Tra are old Jiu Jitsu buddies and the "groomsmen gone wild" photo is just alittle BJJ fun leaking out into the wedding...what better way to show your friends you care than with
alittle choking action?! The couple flew out the next day for a tour of the Keys, and are now in the process of living happily ever after...it was beautiful you guys! Congrats again!

Katie and Thom~coming soon!

2011-10-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

Katie and Thom coming soon...this was a biggie in New Orleans, tons of goodies but this is one of the moments that made the photographer cry...for real (kinda like my baby sister). That's her father, her mom and new father in law behind her, and we have no idea who threw this confetti from the balcony. A mob of people formed behind the bride and groom and the marching band and I am literally running with the motorcycle police escorts in the French Quarter ahead of the wedding parade...she was so happy... p.s. this is the last of the "coming soon" teasers. Real previews to follow, first up Tra and Lauren! It's good to be back home for a couple of weeks:)

Molly is Graduating!

2011-10-12T15:38:00.000-05:00

It happened. Molly grew up! She is graduating this year, and the word on FaceBook is she was just accepted to Auburn University. Awesome job! I have known Molly for A LONG time...not too many years back I was one of her martial arts instructors (I can safely say that her whole family has kicked me in the head at one time or other), and now the tables have turned, and she is one of my horseback riding teachers, and this girl knows her stuff! Rocky is her horse, and I learned that not only do horses wear makeup (and Rocky has his "face" on for these photos LOL), they also get their hair dyed. I learn something new everyday! Congrats again Molly, you have to let me see how these turn out in the yearbook:)

Logan and Ryan~Coming Soon!

2011-10-10T17:05:00.002-05:00

Molly (and Rocky) ~ coming soon!

2011-10-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

Brandy and Ben~Coming Soon!

2011-09-30T10:02:00.000-05:00

TRAVELING! BE BACK SOON!

2011-09-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

Working out of town for the next week! I will be back in the office returning emails and messages Oct. 3rd. AMAZING people getting married and I can't wait to show off all the fun:)

Groomsmen Gone Wild...Tra and Lauren~ coming soon!

2011-09-21T12:14:00.000-05:00

Lauren...A.K.A. Mrs. Alidor!

2011-09-21T10:26:00.001-05:00

The brand new "Mr. and Mrs." are on their honeymoon now in Key West, so I can finally show off a few of Laurens bridal photos! WooHoo! Lauren is a fellow BJJ widow from the Academy of MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu of Pensacola (shout out to my husbands biz), this means our menfolk both train alot at the school, and thats how she and I met, we also get to watch lots of fights and eat buffalo wings together, but thats another story for another day;
This is a great example of somebody "knowing" somebody who can get us into a location we otherwise never would have known about. This building used to be a warehouse back in the day downtown (and I'm LOVING the old bricks) and now serves as a law office. I would also like to point out the return of "the chair" as per Laurens request LOL! I think this is perhaps the most fabulous thing I have ever bought at a yard sale, "the chair" comes out for everything, photos, Halloween, occasional chihuahua lounger;) I'm just glad that someone else appreciates the fun of a good old fancy chair. The back of Laurens dress is her fav part, so we made sure to showcase the details here and the last photo was her pick to show off at the wedding. Thanks again for being so fun to work with! Bring back lots of pics!

Katie and Thom...cajun style engagement session

2011-09-20T16:51:00.001-05:00

During our emails and conversations online, Katie made a statement to me, and I knew that I was in for something amazing..."I dont want to just do simple, I want to go big!" Bless this bride to be! I myself live by the policy of "go big or go home", so I am in fact dealing with a kindred spirit:) Speaking of kindred spirits, Katie's other is half is Thom and these guys are getting hitched in less than a month at Preservation Hall in New Orleans! Since good old NOLA is our upcoming venue, we went for a cajun/on the bayou look for the engagements with a dash of vintage fabulosity. We also invented a new term..."faux boating". Do with that what you will, but if you will picture us on the river discovering a hole in the boat right before boarding then well...you get the picture:) Love to you both, it was fun (understatement of the year)...now, QUE THE MULLET!

Katie and Thom...Coming Soon!

2011-09-16T10:34:00.000-05:00

Meredith and Brian FEATURED in LoveWedBliss wedding blog!

2011-09-09T10:00:00.003-05:00

I sooo loved working with these guys! We roasted marshmallows at their engagements, rode scooters, and then they put together the most glam/fun wedding that you can imagine. Say hello again to the beautiful people!

http://www.lovewedbliss.com/real-weddings/traditional-weddings/chic-pensacola-florida-wedding-by-gritz-photography/

Katie~ Gothic Splendor Bridal

2011-09-06T22:33:00.001-05:00

Fun times in an old building with wild and crazy gals! Katie is getting hitched in New Orleans in October, and while we wanted to preserve her dress for the big day, we thought we would go ahead and cover a few of the details and plan alittle fun shoot in the process. It got really interesting when we decided to work out alittle story and made an old portrait the "love interest" of the voodoo mistress LOL! Also, check out the bouquet. Katie and her family made this out of old pins and brooch's! The detail is fantastic!
This set is of course alittle "darker" than we will go on the big day, but hey...when ya get a bunch of like minded individuals together, great things happen! I would like to thank all my peeps who coordinated to make this session happen, couldn't have done it without you all:) To Katie, Sara and Holly I have one thing to say..."Prunes!" To Dad and Dixie...thanks for loaning us "grandpa"!

~Haley and Josh~...And it's a BEAUTY!

2011-08-30T11:22:00.010-05:00

Ok, I am so excited to have these guys as the first wedding to debut on the new blog. Not only did they go all out in good ol' Southern Style, but they are an amazing couple and soooo fun to work with. Not just saying that either, you'll be able to tell for yourself below. This is also the BIGGEST preview that I've ever put out and honestly I had to FORCE myself to stop somewhere LOL! Good people, good times, GREAT wedding! Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter!

And then I was shown how to "Bernie!"

And then there was the most adorable first look moment. Check out the audience in the window...looooove these guys!

The boots from the engagement session return! Surprise!

And this is where I get alittle mushy. Any part of a wedding with "dads" is kryptonite for me and I always have a couple of tears of joy, however this wedding was extra special. Haley's dad not only gave her away, but then he turned around and performed the ceremony for them as well! If that doesn't say he gives his blessing I don't know what does;) So AMAZING!

Then...the groomsmen remembered something...

DJ: Marty Stanovich
Catering: Happy Pig Cafe
Florist: Maria Dimick
Hair and/or make-up: Hair- Molly Humphreys
Makeup- Emily Filichia

Another sneak peek before preview time..Katie

2011-08-29T18:27:00.002-05:00

Haley and Josh~Coming Soon...

2011-08-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

Savage Menagerie

2011-08-16T13:43:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the new and improved GRITZ Photography and Southern Fabulosity Blog! I've been talking about if forever, and finally got the show on the road, courtesy of Julie at Blogger Boutique.
Kicking off the new blog had to be done in style and I would like to thank Miss Juliette and a few of her friends for going all out for me on this set. This was obviously a very exciting shoot and Juliette was both glamour gal and lion tamer...literally. Optimus the caracal and Tron the cougar (mountain lion) are still babies and so fun to watch. We had another friend we had intended to work with but he was "hungry" so we'll just have to get to that guy later LOL! I have to hand it to Juliette, I don't know of anyone else that can "vogue", take care of the kiddos, and soothe the savage beasts all in exactly the same moment. Girl you rock! Thanks for everything!

Tra and Lauren

2011-07-30T01:05:00.001-05:00

I'll keep this short and sweet because it's 1am and Tra and Lauren are used to hearing me run my mouth all the time anyways. Tra and Lauren LOVE each other...and you can tell:) The End. Luvs you guys, see ya next week!

Wedding Wire rated Second year in a row!

2011-06-27T11:58:00.001-05:00

Hooray! Thanks to all my past clients that sent in a review!