It was “June Gloom” in La Jolla, CA, but we brought our own sunshine (hello flowy yellow dress) for Hannah & Dean’s session on the cliffs of Torrey Pines. What a stunning couple! [And, Hannah’s doppelganger is Kate Beckinsale, am I right?!] My bags are always packed for a shoot on the California coast.
The absolute best part of my job is the couples I meet. I’ve been blessed with the kindest brides, grooms, families and wedding parties who make the day so much fun.
Francie and Smylie met when they were 15 and 16 and have the sweetest story. They are both from Vestavia Hills (Birmingham AL), where my family lived for 10 years before moving to Nashville, so we have lots of mutual friends. Smylie grew up on Vestavia Hills Country Club golf course, learned how to play the game there and now plays on the PGA Tour. I’m always excited when I can photograph a couple where they have a connection to a place that holds so many memories, so I was thrilled we were able to do their First Look and portraits at VCC.
Francie worked with  Mariée Ami to plan her wedding with an amazing vendor team (see complete list at the end of this post). She was such a pleasure to work with from day one; and when the wedding day weather forecast included a tornado warning and her portraits were interrupted by thunderstorms, she was calm and full of grace, without even one word of complaint. She radiated joy all day, from getting ready at her family’s home to their sendoff at The Club in a golf cart, of course.
Francie has a lifestyle blog and Instagram account  @Fairwayfinds. Follow along as she shares travel adventures and healthy living finds while on the PGA Tour with Smylie. Francie signs off with each blog post “Always finding joy,”. Yes, she is, and her wedding day had so much of it!
Francie and Smylie, thank you for choosing me to be a small part of your beautiful wedding day! Best wishes for a lifetime of health, happiness and birdies!
You can also see their wedding published on Brides.com.
Image above as seen in  June 4, 2018 issue of Sports Illustrated
and online in USA Today, Golf Week and Golf Channel.
Photographer: Heather Durham | Assistant Photographers: Emily Kicklighter & Bethany Rogers | Planner: Mariée Ami| Floral Design: The Kings Garden | Wedding Gown: Custom Liancarlo top and Augusta Jones skirt with Toni Federici veil from Carriage House Weddings | Groom’s Tux: Custom Ralph Lauren | Groomsmen Tuxes: Mr. Burch Formalwear | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaids Birmingham|Bridesmaids Earrings: Nicola Bathie Jewelry |Custom Wedding Invitations & Lettering: Weezie B Designs | Bride Hair Stylist: Candi with Roots Helena|Bride Make Up Artist: Kerri Bunn of BOMA Beautiful | Bridesmaids Make Up Artists: Carly Morgan & Sydney Carter | Venues: Vestavia Country Club + The Club Birmingham | Cake Artist: Magic Muffins | Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon: Cocoon Silk Ribbon | Videography: Four10 Films| Entertainment: Az Izz
SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave
I love to travel and explore cities in the name of work. I haven’t been to Memphis since college, and I would be shooting on three different occasions in Memphis for Mary Lauren and Michael’s portraits and wedding, I decided to head over the day before their Engagement Session to get reacquainted with this cool southern city and Home of the Blues.
Mary Lauren and Michael are both from Memphis, so it was important to them that I capture some of the iconic locations in their Engagement Session like the pyramid, M Bridge, Peabody Hotel and Beale Street Landing. We also strolled the beautiful gardens at Memphis Botanic.
The thing I love most about an Engagement Session is the opportunity for me to get to know the couple better before their wedding day. I can’t wait to go back for Mary Lauren’s bridals at her family’s home in June and their wedding day in July. For now, let’s go walking in Memphis with this fun couple…
I get so excited for opportunities to shoot personal projects, and this one that has been spinning around in my head ever since moving to Nashville. As soon as I mentioned it to my talented friends Kerri Bunn and Mary Beth Wetzel, they were on board. As creatives, we are usually busy with client work and don’t have time to shoot what inspires us personally, but when we do find a morsel of time, we jump on it.
After moving to Nashville from Birmingham, I realized very quickly that people who aren’t from here do not have an accurate idea of what locals wear to music events. Their perception is that everyone in Nashville wears stonewashed denim, western bedazzled shirts, cowboy boots and cowboy hats to everything. So, to address that misconception our team pulled together a shoot from high-end Nashville boutiques to tell the story of fashion for music events from a local’s perspective.
I’m thrilled to finally share this shoot inspired by music and photographed at a Nashville indie recording studio. Side note: I have an old RUN DMC t-shirt just like the new one used in our shoot…I bought mine years ago…it’s faded and old and I love it…and sometimes I get to wear it if my daughter isn’t already wearing it herself. It’s tricky.
Many thanks to these amazing Nashville and Franklin boutiques who partnered with us on this shoot.
Emerson and Grace
Gus Mayer
Haven
Hero
Two Old Hippies
Photographer: Heather Durham
Wardrobe Stylist: Mary Beth Wetzel
Hair & Make Up Artist: Kerri Bunn
Model: Ashley Fisher with AMAX Talent Agency
Photography: Heather Durham | Event & Floral Design: Thorne & Thistle + Silver Celebrations | Venue: Belle Meade Plantation | Wedding Gown: Claire Pettibone from The Dress Theory Nashville | Tuxedo: Street Tuxedo | Vintage China & Stemware: Tea and Old Roses |Custom Invitation: Empress Stationary | Rentals: Please Be Seated | Cake: Dulce Desserts | Hand Dyed Ribbon: Cocoon Silk Ribbon | Models: Chelsea Backman of AMAX Talent & Ryan Kirk | Hair & Make-Up Artist: The Hair & Make-Up Collective, Lynsey Richardson | Styling Assistant: Sara Cederhage
You never have to twist my arm to shoot on 30A. You’re going to love this ALYS Beach beauty designed by Birmingham designer, Lisa Flake of Caldwell Flake Interiors.
