Nothing warms my heart more than getting to photograph a client from the engagement, to the bridal session, to the wedding, and then to the addition of a brand new baby and watch the family grow! When Leigh Ann reached out to me, I was thrilled to get to see them again and meet baby Mary Frances. And only one week old at that! Clients often become friends and it makes me love what I get to do even that much more! Can’t wait to watch this sweet little girl grow as I get to capture her first year of life!
Hayden + Daniel's Fairhope Wedding
When a pandemic hits right before the day you’ve been planning for and dreaming of most of your life, what do you do?! Hayden and Daniel decided to go ahead and get married on their original wedding date as planned, in a small intimate ceremony with just their families there to witness saying their vows. It was romantic, simple and sweet. Daniel showed up in his uncle’s baby blue classic car to pick up Hayden and drive her to the church. Sacred Heart looks right out at the Mobile Bay and feels straight out of a small town Alabama movie scene. If anything, the virus has been a reminder that when you take away the big crowds, cocktail hours, city gatherings, restaurants, and activities — love still remains. Love cannot be cancelled and SHOULD always be celebrated! We’re excited for their (bigger) celebration later this year. I have a special place in my heart for all 2020 couples! Hang in there and love on eachother harder. We are here to celebrate you (safely), no matter what life throws at you!
Jami + Michael's Engagement Session at Fort Morgan
I love going to places I’ve never photographed before. There’s something about it that sparks my little creative light and gets a new kind of energy flowing. So when Jami told me she wanted to set up her and Michael’s engagement session at Fort Morgan, I was thrilled! The day was overcast, but that didn’t stop us from getting some amazing + moody images at the fort — the clouds stood in our favor, acting like one big light diffuser!
“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”
Gotta llAMA LOVE For your valentine, your galentine, or for yourself!
I don’t always celebrate Valentine’s day every year, simply because I think love is something that should be shown, given and celebrated EVERY day! However, below are a few of my personal favorite things that I think are perfect for giving to your lover, bridesmaid/girlfriend, or for yourself if you need a little extra sweetness in your life! Don’t forget to take care of yourself first and give a little love wherever you can, whenever you can. Happy Saint Valentine’s, lovebirds!
Something as simple as a decorated cookie (with a pun!) like this adorable and affordable cookie pair from Baking Me Happy is the perfect gift for your significant other to share together!
Pamper yourself or your galentine! You just can’t go wrong with a warm bath sprinkled with these rose himalayan bath salts from Mullein and Sparrow, some Essie nail polish, this rose quartz facial roller that feels divine, and of course a glass of your favorite wine in this personalized stemless glass from Bridesmaids Gifts Boutique that stays cold up to 9 hours and hot up to 3 hours! This is also the PERFECT gift for asking your bridesmaids to be in your wedding or for a gift set to give to them on the day of, ladies!
There is no greater love you can give than the love you give yourself! Buy yourself flowers, drink more water, eat more fruit, take more baths, and don’t forget to take care of your pretty skin.
“Be the type of love you deserve, if for no other reason but to show us all how it’s done.”
Roman Street
It’s been a hot minute since we did this photoshoot for the band Roman Street, but I’ve been dying to finally share it! If you haven’t seen them live or listened to these incredibly talented artists yet, you NEED to. like yesterday. They are amazing people and their music speaks for itself. Brothers Noah and Josh started out together and now have grown into a few more trios, a quartet (coincidentally made up of another set of brothers!), and even a full on wedding band. Definitely recommend hiring them to all my brides out there. Specializing in a mix of jazz, their music is just as energetic as they are and will make you want to dance. I feel truly honored they asked me to photograph some updated portraits for them in studio!
FEATURE: Margaret Ellen Bridal
This past September, we had the honor of working with Margaret Ellen Bridal on 30A to photograph their entire bridal gown lookbook. It was a photoshoot out of our dreams! Be sure to check out their blogpost to view more photos and read all about it here: Bridal Photo Shoot featuring Lacey McLaughlin Photography
Niki's 30th Birthday with The Southern Atelier
I was honored when Fashion Blogger and Stylist, Sarah of The Southern Atelier, approached me for a feature celebrating her gorgeous friend, Niki, for her big 30th birthday. Sarah is so talented and does everything with a sense of style and grace. She has been known in the Birmingham, and now Fairhope, community for styling the most stunning photoshoots and helping to define an artistic individuality that focuses on a modern Southern style. We started with her husband and pup outside my studio so we could get some fun shots of them together. The rest of the shoot was filled with all things cake, champagne, confetti, glitter, and a modern fashionable play on the most popular + fun children's birthday party -cake smash- theme! Be sure to schedule your next birthday, shower, or fashionable styled shoot with us at Lacey's new studio in downtown Fairhope, AL! We photograph everything from engagements, to baby showers, birthdays, newborns, anniversaries, fashion editorials, seniors, and more! The possibilities are endless!!
“Her courage was her crown and she wore it like a Queen.”
Stylist: Sarah Levey, The Southern Atelier
Hair + MUA: Kristen Johnston, Vanity Hair Studio
Jewelry: Zundel's Jewelry
Cake: Ellen Jay Sweets
Models: Niki & Keith Coker
Clothing contributors: La Robe Boutique
Set Design: Leslie Bradley
Stephens Family Lifestyle Session
When Lauren contacted me about wanting to set up a lifestyle family session as soon as her second baby was born, I was over the moon as I love intimate at-home settings. It is an honor when a family lets you in to their personal lives and home to create beautiful images. The icing on the cake is when there's a 7 day old newborn involved! Baby James slept like a champ the entire time as his big sister was still getting used to figuring out how to hold him. With Dad being a Pilot in the U.S. Navy, we got creative with his helmet, which the baby fit right inside like a puzzle! To finish up the session, we went on a little walk to watch the St. Charles trolley pass by while trying to re-create one of Lauren & Adam's wedding photos with their now family of 4. Does it get much sweeter than this??! Thanks again to the Stephens' family for allowing me into a snippet of your lives to capture these timeless moments!
Macy + Ryan
With all of these hurricanes as of lately, the rain has had it's way of rearranging our busy October schedule of engagement sessions, weddings, and everything in between. Of course, when we finally found a day that would work for Macy + Ryan, it was grey and gloomy. I'm a glass half full kind of girl, so the positive spin to this was having the park all to ourselves and the low, white clouds acting as a natural diffuser for beautiful soft light! We had so much fun with these two capturing their love and fluid sweet moments together among the draping Spanish moss at City Park and in then in the French Quarter. Don't they just make the cutest couple?! So excited for their wedding next year!
Kat + Chris | New Orleans Wedding
These two were such a delight to work with! Kat and Chris contacted me all the way from Brooklyn, New York asking me to be their wedding photographer for their New Orleans destination wedding and I was thrilled. We love working with both in town and out of town brides, and we are always excited to meet a couple who loves the heart and soul of New Orleans as much as we do! Kat and Chris started out their wedding day at the beautiful Melrose Mansion to get ready, complete with a clean room for their first look and a serene pool which made a perfect spot for bridal party and family photos! They hopped on over to Maison Montegut for a quintessential French Quarter ceremony. There in the greenery filled courtyard, they read aloud their own personal vows to each other. It was a perfect, romance-filled moment in this classic hidden gem on Royal Street. Finally, these two danced the night away starting with a second line leading them along with their closest family and friends on the walk to their reception at the stunning Old Ursuline Convent. They even had their own choreographed first dance to 'I Found You' by the Alabama Shakes. Congratulations again to these happy newlyweds! What a day!
Baby Luke
It's amazing how life can change all in one day. We had the joy of getting to meet sweet Baby Luke and all his adorableness at the hospital less than 24 hours of his arrival here on earth. This session, in particular, totally melted my heart with his Mama, Sarah, being one of my dear friends and artist colleague at Auburn University. Hearing her speak to her brand new baby for the first few times in his life was incredible to watch. It's like she had known him all along, so confident and sure of his nature. This fresh 48 session had my heart fluttering and was surely one I won't forget. Thank you Sarah and Matt for letting me be a part of this exciting time for your family! We can't wait to see those little chubby cheeks this summer for an at home session ON FILM!! These are the moments that define dreams.
Crystal + Erik | Engaged
"I want to love you wildly. I don't want words, but inarticulate cries, meaningless, from the bottom of my most primitive being, that flow from my belly like honey. A piercing joy, that leaves me empty, conquered, silenced." -Anïs Nin
