As I’m writing this, I’m listening to the sweetest music. It’s a soundtrack I hear often & usually take for granted. First it was a banjo, now it’s Neil Young-esque acoustic guitar with a harmonica. Soon my boyfriend will probably plug in his amp & I’ll go shut the door because I can’t concentrate when he plays his electric guitar so loud. He has no clue I’m listening to him play & writing this. :)

There’s a force behind Alex Bee Photo that most of you will never meet. I’d like to virtually introduce you. Hi world, this is Jeff, my boyfriend. He made this website. He also created my super duper cool new program that lets clients customize their wedding package & sign their contract online. Jeff’s pursuing his masters in computer science at MTSU & to me, he’s a genius. When I ask him what he learned in school today, I didn’t understand one bit of it.

He doesn’t like to get his picture taken, but he sucks it up when I need a model to test out lighting. Jeff’ll usually make a crazy face the whole time (see next picture). He’s fun like that.

I pay Jeff in burritos & hugs. Thanks for all your hard work, baby! I love you :)

(He’s a daredevil)

When I’m not shooting weddings & engagements, I love to get out there & just shoot for myself. I spent some time today practicing freelensing, an experimental technique where you take pictures with your lens detached from your body. I’ve been having a hoot with it!

I’ve been thinking about my first wedding gig lately. When I got the opportunity, it was completely from left field. I never thought about wedding photography, even after 6 years of studying and obsessing over photography. I had a mental image of wedding photographers as these really cheesy people with traditional poses.

I had no clue what I was in for. The last wedding I attended I was a flower girl. But I did it, and I was proud. I was surprised by how much I loved it. The experience stuck with me. I discovered a whole realm of non-corny photographers who create art & heirlooms for their clients.

Looking at these images is kinda painful. I’ve grown a lot, learned more about my equipment, etc. But I am happy they exist. They are a testament to the beginning of my career & life. When I think about myself before Chris & Andrea’s wedding, it makes me smile. I simply had no clue my life would take this direction. After this wedding, I hoped over to China for year, but as soon as I returned I began Alex Bee Photo.

Chris & Andrea got married at Sampson’s Hollow in Walland, Tennessee in the summer of 2009. I love that gorgeous mountain venue. Thank you, Chris & Andrea for helping me light this fire. Thank you letting me follow you around all day. And thank you for giving me a huge slab of cake to take home & eat for a week.

I was so thrilled to meet Paris & little Ella last Sunday for a kids session in Murfreesboro. The 70 degree weather rocked my world. Aren’t they just the cutest? I’m so glad their parents drove them in from Nashville for some fun photo time. Here are some favorites..

This happens to me every winter. I get to the point where it feels like the only thing in the entire world that I want is some warm sunshine! Winter is brutal. Here’s some happy, warm shots from this year to warm your soul. :)