I absolutely LOVED getting even more time with this sweet couple! Morgan chose a bridal session in her Collection, but preferred to wait until after the wedding…and brought her new hubby Cooper along for the fun so they could have a few more portraits together in different locations around Birmingham. So, about one month after their wedding day we met at the historic Elyton Hotel downtown for bridal portraits on the 100 year old marble staircase and couple portraits in the beautiful ocean blue living room. Later, we made our way to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for golden hour. It was perfect.
You know that feeling when you immediately like a people the minute you meet them? They make you feel so comfortable and as if you’ve been friends all along? That was exactly my experience with the aesthetician team at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery and Dr. Don Griffin’s office. A mutual friend connected us when I expressed to her that I needed an aesthetician. She could not say enough good things about NCS, and after meeting them I now know why. They are truly the sweetest people and so knowledgeable about skincare. I’ve been using them since my move from Birmingham to Nashville and I trust them completely. They are also clients and I’ve enjoyed having their beautiful faces in front of my camera!
The Team of Aestheticians and staff at the office of Dr. Don Griffin and NCS in Nashville, TN. Photo by Heather Durham.
Dr. Don Griffin, Board Certified FACS. Photo by Heather Durham.
Nashville Cosmetic Surgery Center Aesthetician Team. Photos by Heather Durham.
One of my very favorite products they introduced me to is Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum 45 SPF. It’s a light coverage with great protection, which is perfect for me since I spend a great deal of my time outdoors working and running with my chocolate lab. And, it blends with whatever skin tone you have. Brilliant! No wasting a tube going from summer to winter skin tones! In addition, I love NCS’s own line of Koji Pads for high potency skin brightening. They’ve also recommended BBL laser treatment to help reverse the signs of sun damage from all the hours in my youth I spent in the sun (regrettably). Can’t wait to try it.
Here is the advice Dr. Griffin’s team shared with me…everything from non-surgical facials, peels, lasers and injectibles to surgical enhancements, if that’s what you desire. Plus, NCS is including some amazing discounts just for mentioning Heather Durham Photography, PLUS an Instagram GIVEAWAY! How’s that for some holiday cheer!
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNT!
NEW NCS CLIENTS MENTION HEATHER DURHAM PHOTOGRAPHY TO RECEIVE 20% OFF
ANY LASER, FACIAL OR PEEL PACKAGES, PLUS… $65 OFF FIRST BOTOX OR FILLER,
PERFECT FOR MOTHER OF THE BRIDE! PLUS…
GIVEAWAY!
ENTER INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK CONTEST AND FOLLOW RULES FOR A CHANCE TO WIN GIVEAWAY WHICH INCLUDES A FREE GLOSS PEEL AND NCS SKINCARE FOUNDATIONS PACKAGE, WHICH INCLUDES A FACE WASH, RETINOL, CE FERULIC, MOISTURIZER ANDÂ SUNSCREEN. A $550 VALUE!
FOLLOW OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES IN POSTS ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AND ENTER BY DECEMBER 20TH AT 11:59 PM. WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 21ST.Â
For Brides and Mother of the Brides, we understand that your wedding day is a day you will remember for the rest of your life. It is important to look and feel your best so that you can cherish the wedding photos for generations to come.
9 – 12 MONTHS OUT
It’s important to identify any issues that you want to address to have you feeling and looking your best. Whether your issues need to be addressed surgically or with non-surgical treatments, giving yourself plenty of time to plan for and recover is most important. Our team at NCS is here to help you explore your options.Â
Start with scheduling a consultation.
A patient consultation with Dr. Griffin. Photo by Heather Durham.
We recommend a complimentary consultation for both the bride and the mother of the bride so that we can identify your goals and come up with a game-plan that has you looking your best for all of the events leading up to the big day.  Many of the brides that we see are interested in filling out their wedding dress confidently with a breast augmentation. This procedure has a fairly quick and easy recovery, but you want to make sure that you have this completed before your final dress fitting. So allowing plenty of time to plan and recover is paramount. The same holds true for mothers, we typically tell our (mother-of -the-bride) patients who want to be completely recovered from a facelift or eye lift, they are going to need at least 3 months to look their best.  Many brides and mothers of the bride will start with a surgical option and follow-up with treatments like lip fillers, Botox, lasers and facials to complete their plan for a confident and glowing appearance.
And even if your goals are just for a luminous skin, remember flawless, glowing skin doesn’t happen overnight. The 12 month mark is still the best time to begin.Â
If you need to address pigment a photo facial (BBL) 3 treatment series spaced several weeks apart or Melanage Peel will reverse the sun damage and help even out skin tone. If you have never tried Botox or filler before, now is the time to discuss your plan for that. One of our providers will also assess your skin and recommend any products that will help you protect and maintain your results after treatment.
6 MONTHS OUT
If you haven’t already started a series of BBL photofacials, now is the time to get that correction going for glowing skin. Laser services are a great option for any bride. Broadband light treatment (BBL), also known as a photofacial, is going to be your greatest ally to help even out your complexion, getting rid of brown or red spots, and stimulating collagen production to give a flawless, airbrushed look!
Start Laser Hair Removal. Many brides are starting to think of how they want to look on their honeymoon and oftentimes that answer is laser hair removal. 6 treatments of laser hair removal will get rid of any unwanted hair without the painful, unsightly bumps from shaving or waxing.
Start Injectables. Botox and filler treatments will smooth wrinkles help to address any volume loss and bring a youthful radiance to your look. By starting these treatments at 6 months, you can give yourself time to adjust to the treatments and tweak as needed.
Start Latisse. This is also the perfect time to start your Latisse treatment to bring out those long, beautiful lashes! And the month before your wedding, be sure to come in to tint your lashes to finish out the look!
3 MONTHS OUT
You are almost there and it’s crunch time. This is the time to finish up your series of laser treatments or peels. If you’ve not already done so, address any filler needs such as lips or if you have never tried Botox before now would be the time.Â
1 MONTH PRIOR
Schedule that last facial or a mild peel to put the finishing touch on your glowing skin. We have many brides that want an additional BBL or peel for their chest and back to ensure glowing skin all over.
Dermaplane or Microdermabrasion 2 weeks prior.
Last Laser Hair Removal: Finalize your laser hair removal treatment to smooth every area.
Injectable Tweaks: Schedule a final look over to tweak any botox or filler to give the exact look for your most confident self.
YOUR WEDDING DAY!
Look in the mirror, appreciate your natural radiance, confidently walk down the aisle in a dress perfectly tailored to your most confident form, and say “I Do” to your most beautiful you!
Thank you to Nashville Cosmetic for their skincare advice and for being a part of HDP’s Ask the Pro Series! Make an appointment for a complimentary consultation…You will be so glad you did!
Caroline and Daniel’s wedding was planned to perfection by Anita Kanellis of AK Brides. She curated elements of southern charm, sophistication and gorgeous floral design by Carol Riley of Lillie’s, to create a beautiful day for this fun couple who met at The University of Alabama. You can see their Tuscaloosa Engagement Session here.
From her blush Badgley Mischka shoes and her “something old” emerald estate ring to her exquisite “something new” Augusta Jones gown from Carriage House Weddings, Caroline was a lovely southern bride with so much grace and beauty.
A few sweet takeaways from the day…Caroline’s relationship with her mother was a precious one to watch, her bridesmaids were best friends that rejoiced and celebrated every single detail that excited Caroline about her wedding day, and finally, Daniel and Caroline are the truest of romantics. That will serve them so well in their married life.
Best wishes for a lifetime of health and happiness for the Harbaughs. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your day!
(Forgive the lengthiness of this post. I loved this wedding and all of its blissful moments.)
Melissa got married this past weekend, so I’m so excited to finally share her Bridal Session we shot a few weeks before. It stormed all afternoon before our session and we were worried it might not happen, but thankfully it cleared just in time.
I love the clean lines and movement of her Gown by Kelly Faetanini from Carriage House Weddings. Just beautiful! Here are some of my favorite shots of this sweet bride…
The new Birmingham Weddings & Celebrations magazine, summer/fall 2013 issue just hit newsstands and mailboxes. I consider it a privilege each time I am able to shoot for this beautiful wedding publication, and work with such a talented group of people.
Kerri Bunn, a local stylist, wrote and styled the article I shot, titled “Beauty and the Bride”. We were on location at the beautiful new Westin Birmingham hotel. The tricky part was that I was shooting in a bathroom with a large mirror, bathtub, shower, five women and a light stand! Needless to say it was a tight working space and the real test of skill was not getting my light stand or me in a reflection in the shot! We made it happen though, and I had a great time working with everyone. Be sure to read the article that gives wonderful insight into how bridal traditions began and how they have evolved over the years.
And there I am peeking around the corner. I knew at least one shot would expose me…
