Today’s photo goodies from Joe and Renee’s big day are the portraits. We ended up snapping lots and lots of these. … It wasn’t hard. You’ll see.

On to the photos!

I know I’ve said it before, but those bouquets? Gorgeous.

I spy: a gorgeous couple and a prominent Notre Dame landmark.

Renee and I spotted this little garden at the ceremony site and automatically knew we were making pictures in it. Loving the colors!

Why, hello, bride!

So freaking cute! (I’m still amazed there was a RED BARN at the ceremony site. Loves it!)

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Tomorrow’s photos? The ceremony!

Joe and Renee got married outside of South Bend, In. in August, and I had the pleasure of shooting their entire day — from preparations to the reception. It was truly a lovely day, and I am so excited to finally be sharing these photos with you!

Let’s get started, shall we?

At the hair appointment. Bridesmaids looking on as Renee receives the finishing touches.

Kathleen, the groom’s sister, and her mother straighten Kathleen’s dress and get ready for the big day.

I know I already shared this image, but I just love it. Renee putting on her makeup. (Renee? I might need your help with the eyelashes and other complicated makeup-related things on my wedding day…)

Flowers! So bright and beautiful!

Last minute touches before heading out for the portraits.

Joe’s mom helped him with his corsage before formal portraits. So sweet!

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More to come tomorrow!

Last Friday night, we were all in for a winter-y surprise.

A snowy surprise.

In preparation for the chilly weather, I whipped up a mug of marshmallow lovers hot chocolate and snuggled in to the couch while I watched the state football championship game on TV. (You can see images from the matchup here and here.) The snow was coming down pretty hard in Jackson (where the game was held) by the end of the first half, and I knew it was on its way for us, too.

It was clearly sleeting outside, judging from the pitter-pattering sound on my tin roof, and I snuck a few peeks out the front door before deciding to give up and go to bed.

Later that night, I awoke to learn two things. One, that my power was out because of a blown transformer. (Have no fear, the power people were able to fix it within an hour.) And two, that it had snowed (and stuck!, if only for a few hours) and that I needed to hightail it out of my home to make some images for the paper.

I made my way across town to Southern Miss to find students playing in the snow.

And on my way home, in my little alleyway, I spotted the following photo and had to stop my car, pull out my camera, and make the image:

After the photo was made, I headed back home and crawled into bed a little after 2 a.m.

While it was a busy night, it was a good one.

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What did you do for your last snow day?

Mailee, 3, of Oak Grove, tells Santa what she wants for Christmas as she is held by her mother, Mandy,Thursday afternoon at the Oak Grove Public Library. Children and their parents came to the library to take pictures with Santa. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Wednesday: Trees were lit during Lighting the Way to the Holidays at Southern Miss. MDOT launched a new traffic management program.

Thursday: “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” surprised a local family. Children and their parents came to the Oak Grove Library for pictures with Santa. (Photos coming next week in OG Today.) Southern Miss held a memorial to remember students, staff and faculty.

Friday: We went to Collins to speak to veterans about Pearl Harbor Day. (Story coming Monday!) It snowed!

Saturday: Work continued on the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house. Hattiesburg and Petal held their Christmas parades.

Sunday: More work on the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house.

And my weekly favorites can be found here.

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How was your week?

I’ve been slacking this week, but I have a favorite for today. One favorite. An important favorite.

And you can go see it here.

(Hint: Engagement + photos with an old friend + chilly weather + me and my love = happiness.)

I’ve spent the past few days in Nashville, the town I will be calling my own in the near future, and it has been a lovely time. Since I arrived Saturday evening, W and I have cheered on our Tigers to victory (narrow, but it was still a win), taken engagement photos with a college friend, made red beans and rice before watching the Saints on Monday Night Football and have spent numerous hours playing with Lucy Belle.

It has been a wonderful time, and the weather? It has been PERFECT. A little nippy, but beautiful. Like it’s supposed to feel in the late fall.

I was surprised when I walked out the door this morning to find frost covering the ground and covering my ENTIRE car. (Thank goodness for W’s ice scraper! That thing comes in handy… and I don’t have one anymore since I have lived in Mississippi and Louisiana for the past seven-ish years.)

As Lucy and I poked around in the cold, I found myself marveling at the plants that were frosted over and decided to snap a quick image before leaving for breakfast.

It’s hard to believe that the winter is upon us again and that today is December 1. Where did the year go?

How is your December so far?

Multiple Meridian defenders tackle Steve McNair, Jr. (1) on Friday night during the first half of the Oak Grove-Meridian playoff game in Hattiesburg. Oak Grove ended up winning the game and will advance to the South State finals against Ocean Springs next week. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Monday: Twin sisters signed swimming scholarships to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Participants graduated from Drug Court.

Tuesday: The Southern Miss basketball team faced off against Loyola New Orleans in the Reed Green Coliseum.

Wednesday: Pepsi South celebrated its grand opening.

Thursday: Pittman Park, a new parking lot in downtown Hattiesburg, was unveiled. Southern Miss male students and male community members walked a mile in heels to raise awareness for domestic violence victims.

Friday: Oak Grove played Meridian in the playoffs and won.

Saturday: Southern Miss beat Tulsa at M.M. Roberts stadium, despite a lightning delay.

And my weekly favorites are here.

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How was YOUR week? What was the most exciting thing you did?

PDN Pulse revealed the favorite shutter speeds of college sports photogs, thanks to metadata from the students work.

Paul Nicklen’s leopard seal images are amazing.

The Sport of Photography feature on the NYT Lens blog was an interesting piece about sports photogs. Photogs can have good games and bad games. And we grow through friendly competition with our peers.

I found the ‘A Room of Everyone’s Own‘ piece on the Lens blog fascinating. It’s amazing the things a person can accumulate over a certain length of time.

Nicole Bengiveno photographed the Fort Hood memorial service for the NYT and spoke about her experience, as well as making the CP image for the next day.

I know this is really, really late, but Stobist has a post up about the gender gap and photography. I’m a technical photographer, but I don’t like to spend my time lighting a scene if I can use natural light. I blame learning photography in a fine art photo school for this one, though, not gender.

For all you photographers out there: Peta Pixel has 21 awesome T-shirts for photographers on display at their site. I’m especially loving #9, #12 and #14.

We finally got to make a trip to Memphis last weekend to start wedding planning, and I couldn’t help but notice as we traveled from place to place that fall has finally arrived.

I should not have been surprised. I mean, it IS November, but since fall took such a long time to show its face in Mississippi, I was delighted by all the golds, reds and browns that greeted us at potential reception and rehearsal dinner sites.

It was truly gorgeous, and I had a good time snapping images of the fall foliage.

I have always been an autumn fan. It probably goes back to me being a fall baby and the fact that I loved playing outside in the fall because it wasn’t too hot or too cold. Dodger, Leigh and I could play outside for hours at a time. And my love of this season has carried into adulthood, even though there is less rolling around in leaves and playing in the backyard these days.

These days, it’s about the weather and the scenery. It doesn’t get any better than this.

What is your favorite season?

FCAHS's Aubrey Kidd (54) displays 'RIP Devon' in remembrance of his fallen teammate, Devon Byrd, Friday night during the first half of the Forrest County Agricultral High School-North Pike playoff game in Brooklyn, Miss. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Monday: Miss Mississippi spoke to parents and kids at Petal High School. (Photo gallery to come next week for Petal Today.)

Wednesday: Veterans were honored during the annual Veterans Day Service at Veterans Park in downtown Hattiesburg.

Thursday: The Southern Miss basketball team practiced before their first game. The Mississippi Secretary of Treasury spoke to students about going to college. Members of the local Junior Auxiliary set up for their annual ball.

Friday: Five Petal businesses held their grand opening. Forrest County Agricultural High School played North Pike and won during the playoffs.

Aaaand my weekly favorites are over here.

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How was YOUR week?