Florence
Lyndsey & Jordan Engagement
This late summer engagement session was awesome! When we first met up to talk, Lyndsey asked if it would be possible to do some photos at Rivertown Coffee. Since it is one of my very favorite places to hang out in Florence and the fact that we had never done an engagement session there before, I thought it was a great idea! After getting fully caffeinated, we went around downtown and ended the evening on the bank for the Tennessee River. 
Smash Bash
Ready for the weekend? Wether you are looking to porch sit with your sweetie or throw an all out party, the Indie Shopography curated Crafted Taste “Smash Bash” cocktail kit is the perfect way to get your weekend going!
A few months ago our good friends at Indie Shopography asked us to team up with them to visually showcase the cocktail curation and design they were doing with the subscription cocktail service, Crafted Taste. Susan got right on it and knocked it out with her styling by creating the perfect setting and finding goods from some of our favorite makers, Alabama Chanin and Heath Ceramics. Not only was it a ton of fun planning and photographing, but at the end of the day we asked some more friends to come over and this Smash Bash really came to life!
that’s fashion smash
A smash variation of the Old Fashion.
1/8 orange
2 cherries
1/2 shot of simple syrup 1/3 cup of bourbon
1 mint leaf
Nugget ice
Put in orange, cherries, and simple syrup. Muddle well. Fill cup with ice and pour in booze.
Using mixing tin, swish contents of the glass from mixing tin back to the glass 2 or 3 times. Pour back in glass.
Rub mint leaf around the rim of a short glass. Top with more ice until full, garnish, and enjoy.
whiskey smash
A smash classic.
8 mint leaves
1/4 lemon
1/2 shot of simple syrup 1/3 cup of bourbon Nugget ice
Place mint, lemon, and syrup in a short glass. Muddle well.
Fill cup with ice and pour in booze.
Using mixing tin, swish contents of the glass from mixing tin back to the glass 2 or 3 times. Pour back in glass.
Top with more ice until full, garnish, and enjoy.
Note: Substitute peach for the lemon for another yum- my treat.
bocce smash
Because this combo just feels a little “Downton Abbey,” and pairs great with Bocce Ball.
1/2 plum
Rosemary leaves
1/2 shot of ginger syrup 1/3 cup of gin
Nugget ice
Place plum, rosemary, and syrup in a short glass. Mud- dle well.
Fill cup with ice and pour in booze.
Using mixing tin, swish contents of the glass from mixing tin back to the glass 2 or 3 times. Pour back in glass.
Top with more ice until full, garnish, and enjoy.
Huge Thanks to Emily, David and Kris at Indie Shopography for introducing us to the Smash Bach a few summers ago and for the super fun collaboration!
throw your own smash bash
Smash Bashes are about experimenting. Fill a table with sliced fruit, bundles of herbs, and a few bottles of simple syrup, flavored ones if you want to get fancy!
Here are the other tools you’ll need:
• cutting board
• small knife
• mixing tin
• muddler
• bar spoon
• shot glass
• lots of high ball glasses (or small mason jars)
The point is that it’s not supposed to be fussy. Everyone makes their own cocktails, experiment- ing with flavors and combinations. You can even pass them around and vote on the best creation!
Want some help from your guests? Ask them to bring their favorite bottle of booze, while you provide the ice and assortment of fruits, syrups, and herbs.
symple syrup
1 cup water 1 cup sugar
Put water and sugar into a pot, and heat over medium heat just until sugar is melted. Cool.
Note 1: traditionally regular white sugar is used for simple syrup, but you can also use raw sugar or honey for the same effect.
Note 2: Making syrup on the fly and need it quick? Reduce the amount of water by about 1/4 cup, continue as instructed, and after sugar is melted, throw in a healthy handful of ice to cool it down quickly.
Idyllwilde Shibori Workshop
Michelle & Jake Wedding
SWEETWATER DEPOT – FLORENCE, ALABAMA
Marisa & Matt Wedding
Marisa and Matt’s downtown Florence wedding had all of the elegance you could hope for without any of the fuss. Both the Bride and Groom are working artists (Marisa started Scout By Two a leather goods company and Matt is the lead singer in the band Belle Adair) so we knew working with them would be a fun collaboration. Marisa has such a clean cohesive look in her work and it translated into their beautiful garden wedding seamlessly. Susan and I were also super excited when Marisa asked about the possibility of us photographing the wedding with film. We had been shooting film photographs at weddings over the past year or two, but not the entire wedding, so it was both a thrill and a bit scarry. The wedding day was a perfect fall day as the late afternoon ceremony gave way to the reception at 116 Mobile, just a two block walk through the streets of downtown Florence.
Single Lock Review
A few weeks ago the guys at Single Lock Records put together a fantastic lineup of artists on their label and played the UNA homecoming concert. We were jazzed to be able to be backstage doing portraits of folks in the bands. There was a slew of talent on the stage that night from bands such as Belle Adair, Steelism, Dylan Lablanc, The Pollies, The Bear, John Paul White, and the legendary Donnie Fritts. There were even a few other Muscle Shoals music legends playing. All in all it was great music, great folks, and a great night!
Erin & Doc Engagement
It is always a joy to photograph friends! Doc and I were college roommates and Susan has been singing with Doc in Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil for quite a few years now. We loved Erin from day one that she moved to The Shoals and we love working with her at one of our very favorite local companies, Alabama Chanin! So, we were obviously thrilled when we got to spend the afternoon together exploring and having fun with these two talented, beautiful and down to earth folks that we are proud to call friends.
Michelle & Jake Engagement
Michelle and Jake were such a joy to spend the afternoon with, and of course to photograph. They were engaged a few months earlier at the Rogers & Rogers Art Gallery in downtown Florence. That night, Jake made dinner and coaxed Michelle there with an elaborate plan. They however did not have many photos of themselves from that night, so we decided that it would be the perfect place to start the session! Afterwards we went to Wildwood Park and enjoyed a cool summer evening at Cypress Creek.
Madeline
There are some days where things don’t turn out at all like you have planned, but in that chaos so much beauty can arise. We had a spark of an idea and shared that with others around us and within a few hours it spread and this beautiful moment was captured. Huge thank you to Heather Wylie owner of Bohem who made this skirt and top just for this shoot. Such and amazing talent! Also, our dear friend Laura was so great to let us borrow her daughter Madeline for a few hours. She was so graceful and serene, she was just perfect!
