Living in the south means you could have a 65 degree day of holiday entertaining on the porch one day, and an ice storm the next. It keeps things interesting (and planners on their toes) for sure! I enjoyed teaming up with the lovely and talented Nashville event and wedding planner, Molly Sohr of The Cedarlane and Elle Worsham of Gracious Garlands for this holiday shoot. Follow Molly’s blog and Instagram for more entertaining inspiration. Cheers!
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!
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!
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.
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.
Start with scheduling a consultation.
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.
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!
I met Dawn Ann through a mutual friend. She’s this super cool, urban cowgirl with her own flair and spin on refined western style. She’ll even trick out your Louis Vuitton by adding some fringe.
Dawn Ann recently moved to Nashville from their ranch in Montana, with her musician husband and their daughter. Dawn Ann, a model and actress, owns Moo Country in Red Lodge, Montana and just just opened her second store here in historic Leipers Fork, Tennessee. Much of what she sells are her own designs. Check out a few items from Moo Country featured in the gift guide in the current issue of Nashville Lifestyles Magazine [December 2018].
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Ahhhhh Fall! Cooler temperatures, changing leaves, pumpkins and mums on porches, firepit gatherings, s’mores, cozy sweaters, leather jackets and boots. All of these things make me extremely happy. I want our home to be a place that is warm and welcoming; however, Fall is also my busiest season, so I don’t have time for much fuss. I try to take what I already have and fill in with mums I purchase from our high school cheerleaders’ fundraising project and pumpkins from the little market down the street. I always lean towards minimal styling and non-traditional, greyed down colors. And, there always has to be shades of blue/green in my world…even for my pumpkins! Years and years ago, my hand tinting instructor told me “Always add a little blue to your image. It gives the eye a place to rest.” This is so true for me! Blues are peaceful.
Bright orange, black and purple for Halloween isn’t my jam, and red and green at Christmas is just a little too expected for me. Have you noticed the “other orange” pumpkins? They are a bit more subtle and go beautifully with the autumn colored mums that aren’t exactly yellow or orange, but have a hint of both. I plan to purchase a few rectangular lanterns like these, to add some flicker at night and a different shape to go with all of the round pumpkins.
Here are few vignette shots of my front porch and foyer table. Minimal. Nothing fussy, overdone, or even expensive. There’s nothing difficult about throwing mini white pumpkins in a unique bowl. If I had found where I put my pheasant feathers, I would have mixed those in with the pussy willow branches. Pheasant feathers are one of my favorite things to use in the fall because the colors and texture are amazing. My husband brought back real feathers from a hunt in North Dakota, but you can also purchase them online. I’ve included a link at the end of this post. Ostrich feathers and raw cotton branches are beautiful too!
I love to eat pumpkin spice and cinnamon flavors, but do not like for my house to smell like it, unless it’s the real bread or cake coming out of the oven. Sweet smelling candles give me a headache, so I go for more masculine and earthy scents in the fall like the Le Labo Santal candle shown here, cedarwood, tobacco and leather, etc. Locally, I purchase my candles at Two Old Hippies and White’s Mercantile, two of my favorite Nashville shops.
What about you? What do you do to keep your fall decor simple, yet interesting? What is your go-to color palette? Leave a comment here or on my Instagram! I want to hear from you! Happy Fall Y’all!
Organic TeakWood & Capiz Bowl | Pussy Willow Branches | Pheasant Feathers | My art was purchased from At Home in Birmingham, AL but try Art (similar) or Art (similar) | Glass Jar (similar) | Bird artwork on easel | Voyage et Cie Santal Candle | Danny Clinch photography book | Sinatra 100 photography book | Raw Cotton Branches | Porch Swing
I’m so excited to share with you the first issue in my new Ask the Pro editorial series, where experts in their field share inside tips and how to’s with HDP so I can share them with you! I’ve been very selective about my partners in this series because I want you to hear from the very best in the business! Most of these partners are based in Nashville and Birmingham, the cities where I’ve lived and worked the most. However, their reach extends much further.
First up…Brownell Travel. I’m thrilled for you to get acquainted with this company (if you aren’t already), the leading upscale travel firm in the Southeast since 1887. Brownell is a member of Virtuoso, the world’s oldest and most prestigious leisure travel association. Less than 1% of America’s agencies are accepted for membership in Virtuoso. These select agencies must be able to offer clients extensive knowledge and wide-ranging experience on travel throughout the world. Virtuoso travel consultants create experiences, not just trips or vacations.
Brownell Travel is based in Birmingham, AL, but has experienced advisors all over the world. So, no matter where you call home, they have knowledgeable pros to help plan your perfect honeymoon, destination wedding, vacation or trip to just celebrate life!
Haisley Smith, CTA is the Vice President of Marketing and Development for Brownell Travel. Haisley joined Brownell in 2005 as the Director of Marketing and now serves as the Vice President of Marketing & Development. She set her sights on a career in the travel industry after studying anthropology abroad at the University of Innsbruck in 1998. Through her position at Brownell, Haisley is able to combine two passions – seeing the world and promoting the amazing travel experiences Brownell can offer.
Haisley promotes Brownell by highlighting travel advisors’ expertise, access to authentic experiences, legendary personalized itineraries, and travel perks that come from Brownell’s strong reputation and relationships with other Virtuoso travel providers. In short – “Travel Beyond Your Expectations.”
Haisley and I have known each other since 2000, where we worked together at a magazine publishing company. We’ve stayed in touch ever since, working together on various projects for Brownell over the years. I’ve even photographed her two beautiful daughters and watched them grow up through my lens. Brownell has also planned amazing trips for me, including Paris and Mexico. Next up on my list is Italy! Haisley has never met a stranger, is passionate about her job and is truly an exceptional person. Here’s what she had to say in response to our honeymoon planning questions.
What makes Brownell Travel the best option for all my honeymoon planning
needs?
Connections and Experience. We’ve been in business for more than 130 years and we’ve worked with hundreds of resorts since they opened their doors and that opens (otherwise closed) doors for our clients.
What is the best advice you could give newlyweds on finding their perfect honeymoon destination?
Your honeymoon should be as thoughtfully planned and as personal as your wedding. You wouldn’t duplicate your friend’s wedding, why would you duplicate their honeymoon? The perfect destination and honeymoon is uniquely yours. Use an expert to help you uncover what that is.
What are ten things you need to know before planning your honeymoon?
1. If you didn’t want a cookie-cutter wedding, a cookie-cutter honeymoon from the Internet is going to disappoint you.
2. Prices for the same room at the same resort can fluctuate by several hundred dollars per night depending on the time of year.
3. The day after the wedding is not always the best time to depart for your honeymoon. Delayed honeymoons can be even better because you have the luxury of anticipating the trip instead of worrying about wedding details.
4. All-inclusive resorts are not always a great value, but many fantastic resorts have all-inclusive packages they don’t promote to the public.
5. Domestic honeymoons are often overlooked but can be magical with the added bonus that they are easy to return to for anniversaries.
6. Don’t be fooled by pretty pictures on the Internet. If sugar-white beaches and turquoise water are important to you, work with an expert who knows what the destinations actually look like, season by season.
7. Talk through your expectations of what you want to experience on your honeymoon with your fiancé. You may picture yourselves on a beach under an umbrella all day, but he may be expecting rock climbing and kayaking!
8. Be wary of travel advice from well-meaning friends and family. Their ideal is probably not yours, even if they are great spokespeople for their favorite destinations and resorts.
9. Agree on a budget and be transparent with your travel advisor. A professional travel advisor will not try to “upsell” you and will be very candid about what kind of experience you can expect with your budget.
10. Even though you may be excited to use your new name, don’t book your airline ticket in your married name!
What are the top places to honeymoon in Europe?
The hot destinations for honeymoons in Europe now are Greece, Portugal and Spain. Italy and France are always popular and always a good idea.
What are the top places to honeymoon in the US?
Napa/Sonoma Valley, San Francisco, South Florida, Oregon, and New England are great honeymoon destinations.
How would you suggest making the most out of your honeymoon when you only have a few days of vacation?
Choose a destination with a short flight or short drive. No need to waste valuable relaxing time in an airport, on a plane or on the road. Don’t overschedule or over-plan and DEFINITELY don’t over pack. Maximize your time by having a plan and not scrambling for restaurant or activity reservations on site.
What are the top three places to honeymoon in the Caribbean?
It changes every year. My personal favorites are St Lucia, Turks & Caicos and the BVI.
Do all-inclusive resorts actually save you money in the end?
I’m personally not a fan of all-inclusive resorts for honeymoons because the experience can be very cookie-cutter and you become one honeymoon couple among hundreds. The “brand-name” all-inclusives give many of the special, independent all-inclusives a bad name with poor service, poor food, and watered-down drinks. There are some gems out there, but in the end, you can’t put a price on disappointment.
“Wedding season” is May-August which is hurricane month for most of the Caribbean…what are other easily accessible tropical destinations?
There are lots of destinations in the south Pacific, South America and even in the Caribbean that very rarely (if ever) are affected by hurricanes. They are each very different with very different price points.
“We are wanting an adventurous honeymoon in the US”…what are the top places we should consider?
The American West – we love Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona
“I want to surprise my bride with our honeymoon”…How can Brownell help me make sure I include everything she would want?
Brownell has a really powerful tool – think of it as Netflix for travel that helps couples rank and rate their travel styles and wish-lists.
Is there a secret trick to getting upgrades?
Yes, a well-connected travel advisor has access to exclusive preferred partner programs with hotels and resorts that give their clients special amenities, perks and put them top of the list for upgrades – some at the time of booking!
Website: Brownell Travel | Phone: 205.802.6222
Whether you are a bride and groom planning a Destination Wedding or honeymoon, or Parents of the Bride and Groom needing a vacation after all the busy wedding planning, if this first issue of Ask the Pro doesn’t get you grabbing your passport and online shopping for new luggage, I’m not sure what will! Thank you to Brownell Travel and Haisley Smith for sharing your expertise with us!
I’ve known Melissa for years. We first met because of our mutual love of photography at a professional conference in Las Vegas. She is a sweet soul with the kindest heart and I’m thrilled she has found her soulmate in Taylor! She waited on the Lord and he gave her the desire of her heart.
Melissa and Taylor traveled from Birmingham to Franklin a few weeks ago for their Engagement Session and we had the best time catching up! I’m looking forward to their intimate wedding in Birmingham on December 1st.
[All images © Heather Durham Photography, 2018]
Charleston. It’s one of my very favorite southern cities for so many reasons. I had visited two other times, but I was in my twenties for both; so I was excited to go back with a new appreciation for the history and architecture. This was a Mother-Daughter trip with my 15-year-old and one I won’t forget. We made some fun memories, just as I did with my own Mom the last time I was there.
Considering Charleston has been through several major wars, hurricanes, and fires, the city’s history is extremely well-preserved thanks to its strong historical society and architectural review board. You can’t touch anything that’s 50 years or older without a thorough review by the board prior to beginning a project. Just YES!
Side note: I sure wish my hometown of Birmingham, AL had preserved its beautiful old terminal station instead of tearing it down! The new redevelopment plans were never built. Such a waste!
(Rendering of the Birmingham, AL Terminal Station 1909-1969 via Wikipedia )
In addition to Charleston’s historic preservation, I love that it’s simple to navigate. The downtown peninsula area is easily traveled by foot because it’s only 5 square miles in total. My favorite way to see a city is to walk it, slipping in and out of cafés and shops to take it all in and not miss anything. Most of the outlying beach islands such as Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, Folly Island, Johns Island, James Island, etc. are just a short 20-ish minute drive off the peninsula. It’s easy to hit them all and have a very different experience at each one. Sullivan’s Island is my favorite…but I’ll get to that a little later in this post. Oh! And if you fly to Charleston, I highly recommend renting a convertible to enjoy the city and beach towns with unobstructed views.
If you’ve never been to Charleston, I hope this blog post will convince you to put it at the top of your list of southern cities to explore, especially if you are a history buff or a foodie. If you’ve been to Charleston, but it’s been a while, I hope this post will provide some new and useful information for your next visit. If you aren’t traveling in the near future because you are building or remodeling a home, you will definitely be inspired by the architecture, landscape design, window boxes and paint colors! I used my Nikon DSLR for most of the images, but an occasional shot was taken with my iPhone based on what was easiest and what I had with me at the time. I hope you enjoy seeing and hearing about this lovely South Carolina coastal town.
South Carolina’s flag and car tag are my favorites in the U.S., and yes! These things matter.
Food is so much a part of what I love about traveling and I usually do my research, plan meals and make Open Table reservations at restaurants in advance of every trip. Based on followers’ requests I try to post some of my travel images and tips to my blog to help you plan your own trips. However, I didn’t get to eat enough yummy Low Country food on this trip. My teenage daughter and I have very different palates and she doesn’t eat seafood. Since I wanted to be spontaneous with her and let her choose what sounded good (with a few exceptions), so that she could have fun, I let go of my restaurant picks this time. I didn’t want her to remember this trip as me dragging her to white tablecloth seafood restaurants every night, where she left hungry. If she wanted to roll off the beach, throw a t-shirt and denim shorts over her swimsuit and eat Mexican, that’s exactly what we did. However, I will share a few food spots and activities that stood out to us in our spontaneity.
Recommendations for food and activities by area:
Historic Downtown Charleston
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Carolina Polo & Carriage Co.
Charleston City Market
FIG
Hominy Grill
King Street Shopping
King Street Cookies
Pink House Gallery
Rainbow Row
My best tip for the downtown area? Wake up with the sun, grab coffee at Bitty & Beau’s, and just walk…or run if you want the exercise. Named after the owners’ two children with Down Syndrome, every Bitty & Beau’s is staffed by people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and celebrates their value, acceptance, and inclusion. LOVE IT! Early in the morning, the light hits all of the buildings with a beautiful warmth, the streets are quiet and the only people you pass are dog walkers and runners. Walking allows you to take in all of the eye candy… the architecture of homes and churches with historic markers, window boxes dripping with flowers and greenery, old cobblestone streets, lovely art galleries, unique shops. bed and breakfast establishments and the harbor. Head towards The Battery by way of East Bay Street to see the collection of colorful pastel homes called Rainbow Row.
Be sure to eat brunch at Hominy Grill, and trust me when I say it is worth every calorie (and every extra workout…or nap you’ll need) to indulge in the Bread Pudding French Toast with Bourbon Caramel Sauce. It will change your life! Seriously it’s that amazing! I want it now.
Hominy Grill- iPhone
Book a carriage tour through the historic areas. I usually don’t enjoy guided tours of any kind unless they are outdoors by bike or carriage. Don’t even try to put me on a bus tour…EVER! Several companies do these carriage tours and they vary. You don’t know which tour you will get in advance because the city uses a bingo-type system. Once you are loaded in your carriage, the tour guide will stop by a little booth where he is given his tour area number, then off you go. We used Carolina Polo & Carriage Co because it partnered with our hotel and we could catch the tour right outside. My recommendation is book the first tour of the morning while everyone, including the tour guide and horse, is still fresh. Our tour guide was exceptional because he was a history teacher and had been doing carriage tours for 17 years. Even my teenage daughter said it was interesting and one of her favorite things we did!
Take time to peruse the city market great hall and open-air sheds. You’ll find local artisans selling their crafts including jewelry, food, sweetgrass baskets, Charleston souvenir t-shirts, etc.
Spend a day shopping on King Street. You’ll find everything from antiques to jewelry and clothing. When I travel I usually only like to eat at local-only spots and shop at local-only stores. But again, since I was with my daughter this time, we hit places she loves like Urban Outfitters. When she needed a break from all the shopping, we hit King Street cookies. If you are on a grown-up trip, be sure to do all of the antique shops. Gah! That’s all I have to say.
Left: King Street Shopping and Right: City Market
My daughter shopping at some of her favorite stores on King Street-iPhone
Snack break at King Street Cookies. There’s even a milk bar! -iPhone
The Pink House Gallery, once a tavern, is the oldest building in Charleston, circa 1690
Shem Creek/Mount Pleasant
Arthur Ravenel Bridge
Shem Creek Boardwalk
Tavern & Table
The drive over the Cooper River on the Arthur Ravenel Bridge is a treat in itself, both day and night. Here are two videos I took with my iPhone as we drove over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, once at night and once during the day, with the convertible top down so I could film overhead as we went under this amazing cable-stayed bridge. (My daughter was being our DJ, so enjoy the cool tunes. 😉 )
On your way to or from Sullivan’s Island, stop at Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant for views of Charleston Harbor and the marshes. Rent a boat or water sports gear, then grab a bite to eat at one of the boardwalk restaurants. We liked Tavern & Table, for excellent food, service and waterfront dining. We were there at sunset, which was absolutely perfect!
Shem Creek Boardwalk sunset view while dining at Tavern & Table-iPhone
Sullivan’s Island/Isle of Palms
Arthur Ravenel Bridge
Middle Street Restaurants
The Obstinate Daughter
Beardcats Sweet Shop
High Thyme
Mex 1 Coastal Cantina
Charleston Lighthouse
Beach
Note: Shem Creek, Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms can be done on the same day. They are very close to each other.
My favorite island is Sullivan’s Island. It’s the same feel as 30A, only much smaller…beautiful beach homes and good restaurants in a quaint little town. We were on Sullivan’s Island 4th of July week and easily got right seated in the restaurants on Middle Street without long waits. I would love to rent a beach house on Sullivan’s Island for spring break, for a slower pace and away from the crowds on 30A. Oh, I will always have a love affair with 30A! I’ve been going there since I was 12 years old and there were maybe 10 houses in Seaside. I’ve seen it grown and flourish over the years into a beach haven, but I also want my kids to experience different coastal towns. My daughter loved Sullivan’s island and kept wanting to go back.
Be sure to eat at The Obstinate Daughter and have gelato or an ice cream sandwich at Beardcats Sweet Shop. Their waffle cones are the best I’ve ever had! Melt in your mouth goodness.
The Obstinate Daughter & Beardcats Sweet Shop on Middle Street
High Thyme and Mex 1 Restaurants on Middle Street
The road behind The Obstinate Daughter and Beardcats will take you to a boardwalk for easy beach access. This boardwalk is where I took photos (below) of the Charleston Lighthouse and nearby beach homes. Take a nap on the beach after all that food! It’s so peaceful there.
Views of the beach and Charleston Lighthouse from the boardwalk
Folly Island (with view of Morris Island)
Lost Dog Café
Morris Island Lighthouse
Be sure to eat brunch or lunch at Lost Dog Café on Folly Island, especially if your kids are with you. Get there early because they close at 3:00 PM Monday thru Saturday and at 2:00 PM on Sunday. Folly Island is quirky and a bit more of the touristy/party scene to me. Not mine or my daughter’s favorite of the islands, but one to check out anyway, depending on the kind of beach experience you want to have.
Lost Dog Café specialty pancakes-iPhone
Don’t miss the view of the iconic red and white striped Morris Island Lighthouse from the very far East end of Folly Beach. Park your car near East Ashley Avenue and Sumter Street and walk about a quarter mile down the road spray painted and chalked with words and quotes. At the end of the road, you will see the lighthouse and a path on the beach to walk towards the shore. Morris Island is uninhabited and you cannot get to it other than by boat. This is the best spot to view it.
The quarter mile road which leads to the beach and best views of Morris Island Lighthouse
Morris Island Lighthouse
Johns Island
Angel Oak Tree
View of downtown Charleston with Arthur Ravenel Bridge
We went to Johns Island just to see the Angel Oak Tree. It’s thought to be almost 500 years old and covers 17,200 square feet. It really is fascinating that it is still living after several major hurricanes. Its location is behind an old church and down a long road covered with a tree canopy.
A portion of the Angel Oak Tree. I shot through the fence because we didn’t want to wait until it officially opened to go inside. We were ready to get to the beach! And to be totally honest, 15 year olds don’t care that much about really old trees. Seen – check!
James Island
Every time I visit a city, I try to get a skyline shot for stock imagery and to have in my personal travel collection. One day when I have time, I can print a gallery wall of travel photography to enjoy. I had been thinking about what encompasses iconic Charleston? To me it’s the historic downtown area with old church steeples, plus marshes, live oak trees and that amazing bridge. So…I wanted to somehow get all of that into one image. The last day of our trip, and just before we had to be at the airport, I found my epic vantage point at an empty lot on James Island. My daughter caught me in action. I love this image, because 1) She took it and 2) I’m in my happy place doing what I love…exploring and shooting. Charleston, you charmed me again. I’ll be back soon.
My daughter and me
[All images © Heather Durham Photography, 2018]
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.
