Olivia Griffin Photography

Huge Blog Announcement!

2009-05-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

So I now have a new blog. I had it personally designed for me and I'm so stinkin excited about it. This blog will no longer be updated and you can see all the new stuff at www.oliviagriffin.com so bookmark it now. There are a few kinks being worked out with the "links" and "categories" part, but that should be fixed shortly. I just couldn't wait and I have so much posting to do it's incredible. Please be sure to show me some love in the comments if you like it. Oh, and I decided to start the new blog with the post of my brother's wedding in New Orleans so now you really have to take a look.

Cheers Everyone!!
Olivia

Megan's Bridal

2009-05-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

Wanna hear something funny...I have 4 brides this year named Megan. I don't know, it's funny to me. The best part is that they are all just drop dead gorgeous. Here's my latest Megan in all her splendor. Her wedding was May 1 so I'm safe to post my favorites from her bridal. Megan and her now husband live in Charleston where they are now in residency status for med school. You really don't have to twist my arm to go to Charleston so I was delighted to go there for her bridal. The lighting in Charleston is some of the best out there. You seriously walk down the street and see doorways and alleyways just filled with gorgeous light so that is what we did, walk around the city. I love my job. Please enjoy, no really, I insist. :)

My favorite shot of the day. I love how I just caught her here.

work it, work it

Ok, I LOVE this shot. It reminds me of an NYC wedding photographer that I adore, Christain Oth. He is amazing. I love his work.

Now that my Brides Know...

2009-05-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

I believe it's time I shared the news with everyone else. I've got a bun in the oven. :) Most of my friends and family out there know the news, but there may be some who haven't heard yet so I wanted to make it official. I'm currently 17 weeks along and due October 18th. I find out the first week of June what we are having and let me tell you, it is killing me to find out. I do want to say a special "thank you" to my spring brides who have been so wonderful to me at their weddings. They have been so considerate and gone above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and fed. That has meant more than you could ever know. So without any further delay, here is a shot of me on Mother's Day that Matt took.

Leanne Hiott

2009-05-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

Now that Leanne is a married woman I am free to share some "oh so fabulous" images from her bridal session. Most of my brides know already, but I love, love, LOVE bridal sessions. I live for them, well not really, but you know what I mean. Anyway, Leanne and I decided on downtown G-Vegas for her shoot and she was like up for everything I suggested. Great girl! Holla! I honestly couldn't get enough of that red hair she's got. It just loves the camera, which is why there are no black and whites. I gave her some, but I was in love with the color images because of that hair. AHHHHH gorgeous. Ok, enjoy...

Corey and Will

2009-05-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

First let me say that I'm sorry for my lack of posting lately. This spring season of weddings has kicked my butt to say the least. Don't mistake me, this is not complaining, just explaining. With 12 weddings in April and May alone things have been a little crazy. I have a lot of blogging to do so be watching for more posts this week. :) YAY!

Now to the lovely couple. This is Corey and Will and I'm actually not photographing their wedding. It's ok though, because they are going to Caribbean for that. Hey wait! That's not ok, I should be going with them, right?! Nah it's cool. I'm just happy to have met them because they are so cool. I love it when a bride calls me and says, "I want something different that you haven't done." uuuh ok, SOLD! That is exactly what we did. I told Corey about this run down parking lot near my house (no i don't live in the ghetto) and that I wanted to take a bride and groom there. I also took her to another secret location that another bride had introduced me to and I won't reveal its location until after her wedding. hee hee sneaky, I know. Anyway, both locations were a hit and we had a great time

Thanks Corey and Will and have fun in the sun!
Liv

Emily's Bridal

2009-04-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

Now that she's a married woman I believe it's time to post some of my favs from her bridal session. :) Emily is from Pauline SC, which is a little town outside of Spartanburg. I've seriously falling in love with this little area since meeting Emily and Mark. I first met them in Pauline for their engagement session on Mark's parent's property and Emily decided to do her bridal at the same place and I was more than pleased by this decision. I seriously could not get enough of this red barn or this gorgeous bride. :)

Ok enjoy!
Liv

Maryann + Marcus 3.28.09

2009-04-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

This has been a crazy spring to say the least. Just in the last three weeks I've had six weddings, but I'm seriously not complaining. I couldn't be happier for the business especially in this economy. :) Maryann and Marcus were my first couple to start off this season so I'm super excited to share their images with you. These two love birds were married at St Paul United Methodist in downtown Greenville with the reception following at The Sawmill.

Now a little about the lovely couple. Maryann is this cute little thang and Marcus just towers over her. I love it because it reminds me of Matt and that he is 6'2" to my 5'1". They were super adorable the whole day with big smiles and soft touches. These two are truly bffs on top of everything else. They've been together for 7 years and went to Clemson University together, which is near and dear to my heart because that is where I met Matt.

On a side note, Maryann wanted me to give a special shout out to all her friends and family that helped with everything and made it all come together for her and Marcus. Thanks guys!

Anyway, now for some fab shots from their day. I hope you enjoy and to Maryann and Marcus - thanks so much for everything, you were a delight to work with. :)
Liv

The flowers are by The Flower Peddler. I think they did a fab job.

The lovely cake is by Coutoure Cakes. They are one of my favorite cake makers in G-Vegas.

Megan (Greene) Fezio

2009-04-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

Well it has finally happened. My younger brother is now married! :) I couldn't be more excited and happy for him. He and Megan are a great pair and I am so honored to have played a part in their special day. I could write a lot in this post about their relationship and how special they are to me, but I'm saving that for their wedding post. This post is focused on Megan and how amazingly beautiful she is. Since the wedding is now over it's safe to share my favorite shots from her bridal session that I did at the beginning of March. My bff Allison was so kind to make the trip with me down to New Orleans for the shoot and some quality time with my brother and his bride.

Megan is just radiant in her dress and I so enjoyed photographing her. The camera loves her. The best part is that she is just as beautiful on the inside and I see exactly why John Mark snatched her up. :)

Megan, I so enjoyed every minute with you and I can't wait to see you over Thanksgiving.
Liv

MaryAnn

2009-04-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

I'm Back! My brother was married this past weekend in New Orleans. I cannot wait to show you some of those images. What joy! But first I must share some fabulous images I took of MaryAnn for her bridal session back in February. She and Marcus where married on March 28th, which is why I'm just now posting these. I promised not to post them before the wedding even though I've been dying to. :)

Enjoy!

Kristin's Bridal

2009-04-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm in New Orleans for my brother's wedding, but of course I have my trusted laptop so I can stay connected. Anyway, poor Kristin has been patiently waiting to see her teasers for a couple of weeks now. I've just been so slammed with traveling every week and pretty much a shoot every day that I just haven't had the chance to get this uploaded.

Kristin is actually getting married in Vegas and has a photographer lined up for her out there, but she wanted me to do the bridal at Wofford for her. Wofford is a special place for her and her man so it was appropriate. The day of her shoot it was pouring down rain, but we were able to use our resources and managed to have a great shoot.

Thanks Kristin and have a great time in Vegas.
Olivia

Emily and Mark

2009-03-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I met up with Emily and Mark for their E-Session out in Pauline. That's right, I said Pauline. It's just the cutest area with farmland for miles out near Spartanburg. I loved it. I instantly wanted to relax as soon as I got there. It's just a laid back area. We met at Mark's parent's house and did the shoot on their property. We had everything from the split rail fence to the red barn. Does it get any better? Now I realize I've gone on and on about Pauline, but Emily and Mark were just as laid back as the area and we had no problem getting things rolling in front of the camera. Thanks guys!

Oh, and this post just wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention Steve (Mark's black cat) and Molly (Mark's golden retriever). Both were fabulous subjects and gave us great entertainment during the shoot. :)

Shay at 6 months

2009-03-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

I really don't think babies get any cutier than this little one. I've been photographing Shay since he was a newborn and it has been so wonderful watching him grow and develop. He is definitely a mover and a shaker at this point. I had to be so quick to catch those cute smiles and laughs.

I can't wait for the next update. Now enjoy some images.
Liv

Leanne + Chad E-Session (more fun than they thought)

2009-03-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

I met up with Leanne and Chad last week in downtown G-Vegas for their shoot. They had requested a classic downtown shoot so we hit up all the spots that got my career started. That was a funny sentence to type, but it's true. :) Anyway, we hit the pavilion, the famous rooted tree, and the coca cola sign. I should also mention that these two were dressed to impress. I walked up and Leanne was in this uber fabulous yellow sundress that I so envy. It was so beautiful. And let's not forget our handsome groom in a seersucker suit! Little does he know, but he just beefed up my portfolio. hee hee

Well, I just had the best time with these two. As the shoot was ending they said, "well this was a lot more fun than we thought it would be." LOL I thought that was so great. You know I'm sure it's super weird to all of a sudden be thrown in front of a camera with someone you barely know. They said they were just a little nervous, but I put them at ease and they had a great time. :) I honestly can't think of a better compliment from my clients. I hope that is always the case...that they always have more fun than they thought they would.

Thanks you two and I can't wait for your big day. :)
Liv

Rachelle and Sean E-Session

2009-03-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

Rachelle and I hit it off right away when we met for the first time last year. I mean seriously, she's a complete "knock out"! Aside from her fabulous looks, she is just the sweetest, coolest girl and I've had a blast getting to know her. :)

So about these two. I met up with them a couple weeks ago and we realized right away that this session was going to be different. There was terrible weather outside, but it was seriously my last free Saturday until the end of June and I certainly didn't want them not to have an engagement session just because of my crazy schedule. So we opted to do the session all indoors. We hit the Poinsett Hotel and a parking garage near by. When I got home and brought the images up on the computer I was so pleasantly surprised.

Oh and before I forget, the green dress that Rachelle is wearing was her grandmothers. I think that is so incredibly special. She looks absolutely amazing in it and she didn't even have to have it altered. I think I could probably only get my thigh in that waistline. LOL So without further adieu here are some images from their session.

Amanda and Dave E-Sesssion

2009-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

I knew the moment I spoke to Dave on the phone that I was going to have a good time at their shoot. He was so full of personality and wasn't shy at all. Two things I really like. :) So I was equally excited when they said they really wanted a shoot out in the country and they had a friend that owned a bunch of land that we could wander about on. This place is now tucked away as a location secret. HA!

Anyway, these two were a lot of fun. I think we laughed the whole time and they must of thought I was cool or something because they loved all my ideas. Personally, I thought they were way cooler just because they wanted to do everything. Can you ask for more?

Amanda and Dave already have a fabulous wedding photographer lined up so I'm honored to do their engagement and Amanda's bridal to follow.

Thanks guys...now enjoy some photos.

Liv

I love his spots. :)

We found this abandoned run down house near by and I just couldn't get enough of it.

My favorite shot of the day. Not sure why, but just loved it. :)

winter wonder land

2009-03-02T08:11:00.001-08:00

We seriously never get snow like this in the south. I was so stoked to see this when we got up this morning. It's one of the best snows I've seen in years. Matt got the day off from teaching since all the schools were closed. What can I say, in the south everything shuts down for a little snow. :) Here is our house and our golden having a blast and matt walking up the street. Unfortunately our neighbor's cars down the street had a run-in with a couple of tree branches. OUCH!

Megan and Scott E-Session

2009-02-26T07:01:00.001-08:00

Last Friday Matt and I packed our bags for the night and headed to Charleston so I could photograph Megan and Scott's engagement session. Charleston is seriously like a second hometown for us. We love it there. Matt's best friend, Tyler and his wife Natalie live there so we always stay with them and it's so great to hang out and eat great food together. :)

So now about this wonderful couple. Let me just say that I heart Megan. She is one of those girls I would call and say "hey let's grab lunch and go shopping". She's just chill and fun. Scott of course is the perfect match for this type of lady. He's laid back and you can tell he just really adores her. I love it! These two lovebirds are finishing up med school at MUSC and are right now awaiting their assignments for residency. My fingers are crossed guys. :)

Now enjoy some photos...
Liv

Catch Up Time

2009-02-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

That's right, lot's of catching up to do since getting back from Vegas. What a whirl wind. I actually got back into town on Thursday last week, but on Friday I had a bridal session with the beautiful MaryAnn and then on off to Charleston Friday night for an e-session I had Saturday with the lovely Megan and Scott. :) So yes, whirl wind may be an understatement. Anyhoo, I'm back now and working away, but before I get too lost in editing world I wanted to share some photos from my trip out west and my thoughts on WPPI.

I'll start with WPPI. This was my first time attending and it was crazy. I've never seen so many photographers in one place. The MGM is insane to say the least. Doesn't it take like 20 minutes to walk a mile at a fairly brisk pace? Well, it took 20 minutes to get from our hotel room to the conference and it was all in the same hotel!! I know, small town girl here. Anyway, I had three favorite speakers; Jim Garner, Parker Pfister, and Elizabeth Messina.

My thoughts. Jim Garner, I thought was refreshing and young and very consistent in his work. He was inspiring to say the least. I loved what he had to say and would like to apply it in a lot of ways to my own biz. Parker Pfister is just amazing. His tastefulness in the digital darkroom is unmatched by anyone in my humble opinion. I loved his personality and candidness. Very cool. Elizabeth Messina...aaahhhh what can say here except she was my true favorite. I've followed her work for a while so it was so cool to finally hear her speak about being a mom, wife, and photographer. She is a breath of fresh air to this industry and I soaked up every word. :) So there are my thoughts. Don't take my word for it though. Check out their sites. You won't regret it and you'll be inspired. :)

So about these images. The day after I flew into Vegas we rented a car and drove out to Zion National Park in Utah. It was fabulous. We had great weather and there was snow. Here are a few of my favorites. Honestly, I can't even begin to post landscape images without telling you to visit the "Masters" website. Click here to see Richard Bernabe's work. I took my first photography class from him and have never put a camera down. He is amazing. If you live in the Greenville or SC/NC area it is worth every penny to take one of his workshops. :) Oh and I should mention I went to Zion with Sposabellaphotography. They have a group shot from our trip so check it out.

cheers for now!
Liv

Vegas Bound

2009-02-13T04:09:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks,
Today I'm headed to Vegas for WPPI, which is the most amazing convention ever for professional photographers. I plan to be a sponge while there and come back with new ideas for my business. I will not have my laptop so responding to your emails will be very slow. Luckily I am returning on February 19th. Matt has already given me like 5 hugs and kisses this morning. I can't tell if he's really sad to see me go or more sad that he'll have to come up with his own meals. HA! Either way is really cute. He's the best. :)

Ok, see you all when I get back!
Liv

Kim + David 1.31.09

2009-02-11T20:17:00.000-08:00

So it's come to my attention that everyone is on pins and needles to see images from Kim and David's wedding. Well my friends, they are here. :) I hope it was worth the wait. This was a beautiful wedding with great style and class. Does it get any better? I think not!

I honestly can't say enough great things about this pair. They were easy to work with and very happy and in love. When I took them aside during the reception to get some relaxed shots of them together (something I highly recommend to very bride) they were more than willing and gave me all the time I wanted. They were so into each other. What can I say, I love my job.

Kim and David, Thanks guys for letting me share this special day with you.

much love,

Liv

I heart fountains. :)

let's hear it for the boys.

I firmly believe Kim should be a model. :)

I was so smitten with this cake and the lighting. It was so much fun to shoot.

Hands down favorite shot of the day. I love when the parents just have a moment and take it all in.

My lovebirds being oh so fabulous for the camera. Holla!!!

Second favorite shot of the day. I had to give mad props to this one also.

Kim's dad rented a rolls royce (spelling error earlier) for their going away. You just can't make this stuff up.

The Poinsett Hotel

2009-02-05T04:49:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to say that I will soon be a part of the photographer's wall at the Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville. This is very cool for me because the photographers on this wall are all some of the top talent in the area so I'm super excited to join. Below is the image that was chosen to be framed. Kim's wedding was actually last weekend and I'll soon have an entire post on her wedding so stay tuned. :) Thanks Kim for being like the most amazing and beautiful bride in the world. You rock!

Liv

A Cause for Celebration

2009-01-29T13:23:00.001-08:00

During these tough economic times...(don't you like hear that phrase everyday). I know I have. It is tough out there and everyone knows someone that has been laid off if it's not themselves. It is in that spirit that I write this post. There is nothing more precious and wonderful like the prospect of a new life. Seeing Derek and Emily together as they await the arrival of their new baby just really made me take a step back and realize what is really important. So if we loose our houses and our cars we realize that at the end of all that lose, if there is no love then we have wasted our time. So let their little miracle inspire you to love. :)

On a side note that I find particularly interesting, all of the outside shots were taken on the walking trail in our neighborhood. Derek and Emily live in the same neighborhood as me and I actually used to work with Derek at BOA before I got my head on straight and went the photography route. Good move I'd say.

much love,
Liv

I realize this is a trendy shot, but I just love it. You've got have the heart on the belly shot. :)

I love the peacefulness of this shot.

As promised, these are my two favorite shots of the day. I'm captivated.

Andrea + Mark 1.17.09

2009-01-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

brrrrr it's cold outside, but for these two love birds you'd never know it. I loved the comfort between Andrea and Mark. You can just see that they are totally relaxed with each other and have a mutual respect. The is very special and I honestly don't see this in every couple I shoot so I took advantage of it and it really shows in their images. I do realize I've posted WAY too many images, but I couldn't help myself. :)

Another great aspect of their wedding was that it was at my church in downtown Greenville. This was very special to me and it made shooting that much more fun. :) Thanks guys!

Andrea and Mark, you two are the bee knees and I so enjoyed getting to know both of you and being a part of your special day.

much love,
Liv

My Church and a Wedding

2009-01-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I finally had the opportunity to photograph a wedding at my church. I've secretly been dying to do this. I'm sure you're probably wondering why in the world am I just now getting to do this. Well at the moment there aren't many members of marrying age. So as it turns out, I got this wedding because the bride was referred to me and she really loved the look of my church's sanctuary. It is amazingly beautiful. After going through my church's pre-marriage process, they were approved to be married there. I was so excited and this meant so much to them and me. Here is a shot I took of the bride as she walked into the sanctuary for the first time before the wedding.

Please stayed tuned because I'll have a more detailed post later of this beautiful wedding.

Cheers Everyone!
Liv

Your Dress and a Date with my Camera

2009-01-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello to my Spring Brides! This post is for you. If any of you lovely ladies would like a bridal session or booked me for one and have not scheduled it, then now is the time. The calendar is filling up fast and I want you to have that ever so fun and fabulous date with my camera while wearing the most beautiful gown you will ever wear in your entire life!! So was that a "run-on" sentence? I'm not really sure, but I'm sure my english buff of a husband will tell me after reading it.

Ok, so yeah, call me or email me and let's set the date.

Corey and Phillip

2009-01-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

This very classy couple was married on December 27th at the Cliffs of Glassy Chapel. I say classy because it really doesn't get any better than the Cliffs Chapel and everything was planned to the nines. The schedule was perfect and everyone was relaxed and enjoyed every moment. I love weddings like this. It so allows me to think about getting the best shots instead of looking for the time. :)

As for Corey and Phillip, you couldn't ask for a sweeter couple. These two were very relaxed with each other and they have a great sense of humor to their relationship. You should have seen Corey's gift to Phillip. Loved it! LOL

I wish you two the best and I'm so honored to have shared this day with you. :)
Olivia

I love that Phillip held Corey's flowers throughout this series of shots. I thought to myself "should I tell him to hand them back", but then I thought nahhh. They were being themselves and that is what I wanted. :)

Hands down, favorite shot of the day. From now on I'll be choosing a favorite shot from each session. Just a little something for myself.

I loved this candid shot of both families together.

Probably one of the best mother/daughter shots I've ever gotten. Just loved it.

This is probably the most interesting shot I've ever gotten of the garter toss. LOL too funny!

Sneak Peak

2009-01-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

Right now I'm working on Corey and Phillip's wedding and I came across this image and just had to share. A more detailed post is coming soon, but this image just couldn't wait. enjoy! :)

It's Here!

2009-01-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

Yep that's right. I now offer an engagement album guestbook. This album is super cool and is created by forbeyon. They are an amazing album company in my humble opinion. The "album world" (as I affectionately call it) is slowly being opened to my eyes, so finding this beauty is very important to me. :)Photographers can be mad scientists when it comes to albums and I'm just excited to find one that exceeds expectations.

Brides, if you are interested in adding one of these lovely albums to your day then give me a shout and I'll hook you up with all the details. **SPRING BRIDES** if any of you are interested then you need to get with me very soon because these albums take about 4 to 6 six weeks to get here, but they are totally worth it! :)

Wedding Festivals

2008-12-30T14:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Readers! :)
It's that time of year and I'm so excited about this Saturday. I'll be at the wedding festivals at the Hyatt in downtown Greenville from 10am to 3pm. I'm booth number 23. So if you'd like to meet or just stop by and say "hi" this is the oppportunity. Plus it's a great time to see new studio albums, recent work, and my new engagement guestbook. I'm super stoked about it! Ok, hope to see you there.

Corey's Bridal

2008-12-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am so excited that I can finally post these teasers. I have been just dying to, but have been patiently waiting until Corey's big day which was yesterday. :) Congrats Corey! You and Phillip were just too cute and I loved every minute of your wedding. Everyone was wonderful. Please stayed tuned because I'll have teasers from her wedding in the next couple of weeks. For now, please enjoy these knockout shots of Corey from her bridal session.

Merry and Walt

2008-12-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

Merry and Walt were married on November 28th. It was a fabulous day with fabulous people and fabulous colors and fabulous weather. Did I mention it was fabulous? Well it was. I just adored the bride. She booked me almost a year ago and I gotta say that she has been one of the easiest brides to work with all year. Not only is she easy going, but she runs a tight ship and everything was well planned and on time. I love this. Seriously, it makes the day so smooth. Next to the bride, I must give honorable mention to the mother of the bride because she is one of the calmest I've ever seen. She just soaked it all in and was so helpful to me personally when I arrived. :) Loved it.

Thank you so much everyone. It was wonderful. OK, here are my favs from this fabulous day. Enjoy!

I love this shot. Nothin but candid baby.

One of my favorite group shots all year. I think it's because no one looks uncomfortable for the camera. It's like we're all old friends. Love it.

The bride making her through the dance floor. Holla!

enough said.

Carrington and my new chair

2008-12-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE this picture. Carrington is my stylist little girl so we have a bit of bartering going on, which is sooo cool. :) I took some shots of her little girl the other day and I just thought this one was so sweet. We couldn't get her to sit on the chair, but she would sit in front of it. Works for me. I bought the chair from a local antique store. I just think it gives a nice "kick" if you will, to some images. I certainly don't want to "over do it" like I'm tempted to, so you may see it appear from time to time. ;)

Megan and John Mark

2008-12-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

So far this year I know I've made over 30,000 photographs as do most photographers, but these few images are probably the nearest and dearest to my heart. These images are of my little brother and his beautiful fiance. I'm so excited he has found someone to spend the rest of his life with and I was super stoked when they asked me if I would do the photography for their wedding. What more could a big sister want?! These two lovebirds live in the great city of New Orleans and I live in SC so over Thanksgiving when they were in SC we headed out to Clemson University's campus where JM and I went for our undergrad. It was great walking around campus together and reminiscing about our time there as college students. :)

JM and I are only 18 months a part so growing up we've always been tight. Megan brings a nice chemistry to their relationship and our whole family. She is of course stunning, but more than that she is grounded, smart, and always calm (something I could learn from fo sho!)

I love you both and can't wait to be with you on your big day. :) much love, Olivia

Beach Trip with the Gambles

2008-12-11T15:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, this post is WAY overdue. I went to the beach with my girlfriend Carrie back in October and I'm just now posting these. Yes, I'm a horrible friend. I'll explain a little... Carrie invited me down to the beach to be her guest for the family vacation and since I now work from home full time it seemed perfect to me. Can you really beat having a laptop, beach, good food, and friends?! Heck no!! So here are a few from our walk on the beach and some from our boat ride out to the Charleston Harbor. Matt wants to blow that palmetto tree one up real huge for the house. I like it. :)

Welcome Bigger Images

2008-12-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

It's been bothering me for some time that I could not post larger images on my blog. I would see other photographer's blogs and get REAL annoyed that I couldn't do the same. Let's face it, I'm not formally trained in web design and graphics so it's been my reaching out to other VERY gracious photographers that have helped me get this to finally look the way I want. Of course, knowing me I'll change it again real soon. HA! You'll notice I also figured out how to watermark my images and this has been a huge issue as well. You'd think I'd never worked with a computer before. I've been so focused on learning the camera and figuring out how I want the image to look before I click the shutter that I've neglected other areas of my biz. So yeah, this is super good news for me and I hope you enjoy better quality and larger images.

Thanks to all my fellow photographers who have helped me with this. You have saved me much dinero and time. I won't list your names for fear your phone would ring to death. LOL

See below for a post with larger images and watermark.

Cheers!

Molly and Bryan

2008-12-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here are a few favorites from Molly and Bryan's wedding on November 15th. Yes, I realize I'm a little behind. I think Thanksgiving and all the turkey went to my head. Anyway, I'm back on target and I really wanted to get these posted today. :)

Let me start by saying just how much I adore these two. Molly is absolutely beautiful. Love the eyes!! Bryan has a great smile and the two of them together is too sweet. I really enjoyed this one and it was super fun to shoot. Thanks guys and best wishes!!

Olivia

The Yarborough Family

2008-12-04T11:54:00.001-08:00

Here are my favorites from my shoot with the Yarborough's. I did a shoot for them last fall so it was super nice to see them again and see how big Hunter has gotten. Let me say that he is all boy and it's wonderful. I had to be really quick to catch all his sudden adorable movements (like this first image). This will probably be the only time in his young life that he'll be allowed to climb on the furniture. HA!

Thanks guys, it was great! :)
Olivia

Shay at 18 weeks!

2008-12-03T12:31:00.001-08:00

Here are a few favorites from my session with Shay. Gosh he's adorable. I really wanted to grab him and squeeze him, but sadly I was behind the camera as usual. :) I just dig the "I (heart) mom" tank. Too funny! And all that hair...oh I love it! Ok, I'll stop. Anyway, this is Shay's first Christmas photo so hopefully it will be something the family will always remember. :)

Rachel and Jeff

2008-12-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorites from my eSession with Rachel and Jeff. I gotta say I really enjoyed this one. Of course I enjoy them all, but this one was cool because it challenged me so much. Here, let me explain. One of the first things I do when I chat with couples is try to get a sense of their passions, hobbies, and really whatever makes them tick. So anyway, when Rachel told me that Jeff was the basketball coach at Anderson College, a light bulb went off. I told her I really wanted to do some shots in a gym. Ok so if you've ever been in a gym then you know it is not exciting to look at so I had to turn up the creative juices with lighting and posing to make this work. Overall I'm very pleased with it. :)

I'd also like to give an honorable mention to the graffiti shot of the robot. I was not super excited when I got this off the camera, but as I began to play with it I really liked it. It's just fun to me.

Thanks Rachel and Jeff. You guys rock.

Best wishes to you both,
Olivia

Chari and Mark

2008-11-25T08:24:00.000-08:00

Chari and Mark were married at La Bastide on November 8th. The was the second of two small intimate weddings I've photographed this month. I gotta say that I really enjoy weddings done in this setting. Everyone is so relaxed and they seem to really soak in each moment. This means a lot to me. Mark and Chari had a very sweet ceremony with only family in attendance. It was absolutely one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. :)

Thanks so much for letting share your day with you.
Olivia

Kim's Bridal

2008-11-19T12:56:00.001-08:00

Let me just start by saying that Kim is simply breathtaking. She gives a whole new meaning to dark hair and green eyes. I love it.

Here are a few favorites from our session. As you can see she got me an "all access" pass the rooftop of the Poinsett Hotel. I felt very special to say the least. The wedding is this coming January and I am super excited about it. :)

Thanks Kim. It was absolutely wonderful.
Olivia

Alana and Jeff

2008-11-15T07:46:00.001-08:00

Here are a few favorites from my time with Alana and Jeff last week. I particularly loved that they brought their golden retriever, Maggie. Matt and I have a golden also, so I was super excited to play with this honeybun. Too cute!

For their session we basically just drove down hwy290 and pulled off at a couple stops we really liked. We did get kind of run off from one spot, but who cares. Then we ended the session in dowtown Greer. It seemed to really fit them and we had a great time together. Can't wait for the wedding in July.

cheers!
Olivia

Site Music

2008-11-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

Today I needed a little break. Yes, I realize I have tons of editing to do, albums to design, vendors to send shots to and the list goes on...but I took just an hour to update some songs on my site. Music is SO powerful. I'm pretty much always listening. I play www.pandora.com continuously as I work from home each day. :) Does it get any better? Anyway, I updated the song you hear when you first go to the site and also wedding II, wedding III, and the couples gallery. I love it. Each song is so me and since it's my art I guess I should play the music my photographs make me feel. Let me know what you think.

Cheers!
Olivia

Laura and Chris

2008-11-13T15:33:00.001-08:00

Can I first just say that I loved, loved, LOVED this wedding. Well, I love them all, but this on really got me. :) It was in Charleston at the William Aiken House (see the previous post for Laura's bridal session at the same location) and it was high fashion, tasteful, sweet, beautiful and most of all...intimate. I just love small intimate weddings. If Matt and I had it to do over again we would get married on top of Wayah Bald next to the old stone fire tower off the AT and call it a day. :) Not to mention that in this economy a small intimate wedding is definitely a great option if you want to pull out all the stops for great vendors.

So yeah, I just loved it. Everyone was so amazing. I have to give a shout out to Luke Wilson in Charleston who was the wedding planner. He did an amazing job. Also, the bride's sister, Claire, who did the makeup and hair and even gave me a beautiful necklace she made as a gift. See her work at http://www.emilyclairedesigns.com/

Thanks everyone. :)
Olivia

Laura's Bridal

2008-11-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorites from Laura's session. These were taken at the William Aiken House in Charleston. The wedding was also at the same location and boy was it fabulous. Laura, I truly enjoyed getting to know you over your engagement. I'll be posting some from the wedding very soon so stayed tuned. :)

Thanks,
Olivia

Andrea and Mark

2008-11-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Here is the second engagement session I had on election day. Yep, that's right...election day! In fours year I don't believe I'll do that again. It made for a crazy day. At least I got to hang out with cool couples and do something I love.

So here a few of my favs with Andrea and Mark. I threw out the idea of doing our engagement session at the Junkyard off of 385. (I've secretly been dying to do this.) They were totally into it and even surprised me with a trip to a train caboose for a few final shots. They were a lot of fun and I'm stoked about their wedding in January, which will actually be at my church Second Pres in downtown Greenville.

Thanks guys. I had a blast.
Olivia

MaryAnn and Marcus

2008-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday on electiond day I met up with MaryAnn and Marcus for their engagement session. This was the first of two engagement shoots for the day. Craziness! Anyway, we met up in downtown G-Vegas for their shoot. There was great weather and leaves did not disappoint us. We had a lot of fun together and I'm really looking forward to the wedding in March.

Thanks guys. You were too cute together. :)
Olivia

Liz and Eric

2008-11-07T04:50:00.001-08:00

Liz and Eric were married on October 25th at the Furman Chapel with the reception at the Brick Street Cafe. Liz and I hit it off from the start when we first met. She and I see eye to eye on wedding style so this was a really fun one for me. She had somewhat of an old hollywood look to her day. Check out that veil. Too cute! The wedding party was also fabulous to work with. Everyone was excited to be there for Liz and Eric. I had no problem getting them to ham it up for the camera. They were all about it. :)

Thanks guys!
Olivia

Becky and Dan

2008-11-04T16:13:00.001-08:00

Becky and Dan were married on October 18th at St Mary Magdaline Catholic Church and the reception was at the Hyatt. This was a fun bunch. I so love it when the bridesmaids and groomsmen really get into the group shots and these guys did not disappoint. :) Everyone was super sweet to work with and once again I had another incredibly beautiful and laid back bride. Becky, you were amazing and wonderful.

Thanks everyone. Enjoy!

Lauren's Bridal

2008-10-29T05:58:00.001-07:00

I just absolutely loved this bridal session with Lauren. First, it was just so sentimental to me because these mountains are where I fell in love with my husband and I truly believe it's one of my most favorite places on earth. Second, it's so amazing to take a bride up there for a shoot. I've been dying to do it , but had no takers. Since Lauren is originally from the near by town, these mountains mean something to her also. She was such a trooper and of course she looks absolutely stunning and beautiful.

Ok, I know I haven't said where this place so here it is...it's in pisgah national forest up above Brevard NC on Tenant Mountain. I've hiked here many times in college and Matt and I make regular visits here a few times a year. The weather is very finicky so you never know what you're going to get. It can be beautiful in Brevard, but when you go up 2,000 feet things can change in an instance. Thankfully the weather held for us and we got some amazing shots. The temperature was in the low 50's so for Lauren to be out there in a strapless dress proved her to be a better woman than me. :)

Ok, enjoy...

Amanda and Lenny

2008-10-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent an afternoon with Amanda and Lenny for their engagement session. Let me just say how honored I feel that they picked me as their photographer. Both of them have careers in marketing so they know what they're looking for in a photographer. :)

Ok, about their shoot. They met at the old Greenville Braves stadium where they both worked as interns. Naturally we did some shots there. This was really cool because we had the whole place to ourselves. :) Then we headed to Lake Luke where Lenny proposed. The lighting was amazing as the sun set over the moutains.

I had a great time with these two and I'm so looking forward to their wedding this coming may.

Thanks guys!
Olivia :)

Morgan and Eric

2008-10-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, let me first just say that I'm really sorry these images are not larger like my other posts. Blogger is giving me a fit and I can't figure it out. As soon a I figure it out, I'll change the images to the larger ones.

About the wedding. I just loved it! Morgan and Eric are perfectly adorable together. :) May their love last a lifetime. Morgan is probably one of the most laid back brides I've ever had and of course she is just stunningly beautiful! Everyone was great to work with and the Ryan Nicholas Inn is top notch. Kim runs a tight ship and everything really flows. :)

Thanks guys,
Olivia

Christina and Art

2008-10-21T06:44:00.001-07:00

Here are a few favorties from my day with Christina and Art. Can you believe that blue sky?! I love it. This was such a fun group to work with. Everyone just seemed to really enjoy the day and the moment. I also probably heard one of the best "sister of the bride" toasts. I won't foget that sweet story.

Best wishes Christina and Art.
Olivia

Merry's Bridal

2008-10-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

As you can see I've found a new cocacola sign to shoot. This one I found in downtown Greer, which is where I did all of Merry's session. It was amazing. Greer has a lot more to offer than I ever thought. I'm definitely keeping it in my back pocket for places to shoot.

Anyhoo, Merry is just breathtaking. We really clicked together for this shoot so I can only imagine how great the wedding will be. :)

Thanks Merry!
Olivia

Molly's Bridal

2008-10-13T05:05:00.001-07:00

Here are a few favorites from Molly's Bridal Session. These were shot on the campus of Converse College. What a beautiful campus! Molly is also having her reception here. I'm super excited about it. :) I had a great time with Molly and her mom. It was so relaxing and we had great weather and of course a beautiful bide. Can't ask for more than that.

Christina and John

2008-10-09T04:56:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I spent a saturday with Christina and John. This wedding became very special to me. Not only was it beautiful, but over Christina and John's engagement I've really gotten to become friends with them and I truly adore them. :) They have been so inclusive to me and I feel like we could just sit and talk for hours.

I also need to say a couple more cool things about this wedding. It was at Bob Jones University and I'm one of the first outside photographers to photograph there and that is so special to me. The other cool thing I wanted to say was to give a "shout out" to the groomsmen. They were awesome. I did not have an assistant for this wedding (long story) and they were so quick to help and carry equipment for me. It was so sweet and made my job so much easier. Thanks guys!

Ok, enough blabbing. Here are my favorites from this very special wedding. :)

Christina's Bridal

2008-10-06T05:13:00.001-07:00

Now that John has seen her in the dress I figured it was ok to share some of my favorites from the bridal session. YES! Stay tuned for teasers of the wedding later this week.

Thanks Christina,
Liv

Katrina and Jay

2008-09-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE golf course weddings with beautiful weather! Here are a few favorites from Katrina and Jay's wedding last weekend. Katrina has a great laugh and a big heart and that was so evident by how much she really just seemed to soak in the day and enjoy every moment. This couple was a lot of fun. You couldn't ask for a more lively bunch. Thanks guys. I had a blast.

Liv

Lauren and Josh

2008-09-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorites from my session with Lauren and Josh. We met up at Caesar's Head and then headed to Pretty Place. It was very hazy on the drive up, but it turned out to be clear enough to give us some great shots. On the drive from Caesar's Head to Pretty Place I saw a row of flowers that someone had planted next to the road. We jumped out and I took several shots here and they ended up being some of my favorites. We also stopped next to this nice looking pasture and apparently we were supposed to be accompanied by the "barn staff". Since they were no where to be found we just took a little stroll. I just love the Carolina Mountains.

Morgan's Bridal

2008-09-22T14:27:00.001-07:00

Last week I met up with Morgan for her bridal session at the Ryan Nicholas Inn. Unfortunately it was pouring down rain and it didn't show any signs of letting up, but luckily the Inn is quite beautiful on the inside as well so we had plenty to work with. Of course Morgan is absolutely stunning so I didn't have trouble getting a pretty picture of her.

Thanks Morgan, I can't wait for your big day next month.
Liv

Laura and Jeramy

2008-09-18T13:47:00.001-07:00

Can I just say how much I love it when a couple is really into the photography? It just really makes my day. :) Well these two were and it definitely shows. I spent the day with them at Furman and we had beautiful weather. I also have to give props to te florist. I love the flowers. Anyway, here are just a few favorites. Enjoy!

Liv

Emily and Brent

2008-09-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

It just doesn't get any better than this. I loved this wedding. I know I've been saying that a lot lately, but I've really had some great ones the last few months. And seriously, don't you just love a man in a uniform. :) I do. This was a great group and I'm just so glad to have been there. I actually photographed Emily's sister's wedding back in May so it's really cool to get to know this family so well. I loved them! Anyway, enjoy the teasers. The finished product is on its way.

Liv

Carrington

2008-09-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix bubbles, a tutu, and pearls? Well, look below and find out!

I had so much fun photographing Carrington. She was hysterical and all the things you would dream up in your mind for her to do in the pictures, she did! It was great. When Beth, told me she had a tutu I was super excited. I know it's a new trend for little girls and it is just plain adorable. Then I thought, well I'll bring bubbles too. Finally, at the studio there were pearls just laying on the floor so I thought, well of course we'll use these too. It was great. Enjoy!

Jack

2008-09-05T04:02:00.001-07:00

Last week I spent some time with Carrie and Jack for a follow-up shoot as Jack continues to grow and just become OH so cute! I could just squeeze him and he's such a happy baby. Anyway, here are a few favorites. :)

Liv

Lou and Perry

2008-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

I spent August 23 with Lou and Perry. I LOVED this wedding. Everyone so wonderful to work with and the day had a great flow to it. Lou and Perry both had no problem letting me do whatever I wanted and that always produces the best shots. :) Here are just a few of my favorites from their day.

Thanks guys!
Liv

Holly and Matt's Engagement Session

2008-08-22T14:30:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of my favorites from my session with Holly and Matt last Saturday. We took these in downtown G-Vegas of course! Ok, I just gotta say how much I loved Holly's shoes. They were fantastic for pictures. She looked totally hot and when their dog, Sammie, showed up I knew I had to get a shot with my two favorite subjects for the morning. hee hee

Thanks guys. I had a blast and look forward to your wedding. :)
Liv

Brandy and Matt

2008-08-19T21:27:00.001-07:00

Brandy and Matt got married a couple of weeks ago. We had a great time at their wedding. Everyone was super nice and so excited for these two kids. I was especially excited when they agreed to go away with me after the reception for a few shots of them together. :)

thanks guys!
Liv

Baby Shay

2008-08-14T16:46:00.001-07:00

I recently spent some time with Danielle and her sweet new baby boy. Danielle and I worked together at BOA so it was great to see her again and to meet Shay for the first time. He is just 3 weeks in these pictures. Can you believe all that hair! I just wanted to squeeze him, but sadly I was holding the camera. :)

Liv

chucktown here we come!

2008-08-07T10:13:00.001-07:00

leaving for charleston in an hour or so and won't be back until monday night! YES!!

oh, and note to self...always check the pockets of your husband's clothes before washing them. They may contain a cell phone!!

Liv

Katrina's Bridal

2008-08-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here are few of my favorites from my time with Katrina last Thursday. We did her portrait session at Cherokee Valley Golf Course, which is right next to North Greenville University where I went to college my freshman year! Not that this really matters, but I think it's cool. :)

We shot these after a brief storm that gave way to cooler weather and beautiful skies. I just love big skies, green grass, and gorgeous brides! enjoy!!

Holly's Bridal

2008-08-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are few favorites from Holly's bridal that I did back before the wedding of course. I've been dying to post them because she' so beautiful in them. We had a blast and I absolutely adore her mom, who trecked with me all over the place and was so helpful. thanks guys! :)

Holly and Murray

2008-08-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorites from Holly and Murray's wedding. I just loved this couple. Thanks so much guys for letting me spend the day with you.
Liv

Lou's Bridal Session

2008-07-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

Lou had a special request for her bridal session...she wanted it in a studio. Seeing how I don't own a studio, this presented a problem. So I want to give a special thanks to Sposabella Photography for letting me use their studio for their session. We had a fabulous time and the shots turned out beautiful! Here are just a few of my favorites. I just loved the shot of her with the special ladies in her life.

Thanks Lou. I can't wait to photograph your big day.

Liv

Girls Weekend

2008-07-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have seen on my website calendar that I had "girls weekend" coming up. Well here it is! It was so relaxing and great. Two of my college girls live in another state so they came to town and the rest of us who live in Greenville hosted the weekend. We had so much to celebrate. Brooke is expecting her first "bundle of joy". Laura, is leaving for the mission field in mexico with her husband and two girls. Jackie is engagged to a wonderful man. And Allison and I have just really gotten into careers that we love. Photography rocks!

On Saturday we took a trip up to pisgah national forest, which is also where I fell in love with my husband. I truly believe these bald mountains possess some of the most beautiful views in the world. Here are a few shots from our time together just soaking it all in.

Upham Family Session

2008-07-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I speant a morning with the Upham Family. They were so much fun! Here are a few of my favorites from their session. Enjoy!

Emily's Bridal Session

2008-07-05T14:10:00.001-07:00

Here are few favorites from Emily's session. It took me forever to decide what to post. I just loved them all! Isn't she amazing!! I can't wait for the wedding in August. Enjoy!

Liv

Carrie and Paul

2008-07-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

Carrie and Paul were married on June 21st. Here are a few of my favorites from their day. This couple was so laid back, which made my job so easy. My favorite words spoken from their day was when Paul, the groom, saw me for the first time and said, "So how does she look?" This was of course said with a huge grin on his face. I love my job!

Liv

Leslie's Bridal Session

2008-06-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

As promised here are some of my favorites from Leslie's bridal session back in April. I had a blast at her session. I'm so in love with her bouquet. It was just as beautiful for the wedding.

Liv

Leslie and Ross

2008-06-24T05:44:00.000-07:00

Leslie and Ross were married on June 14th. We had great weather and beautiful colors. Who could ask for more. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy! I'll post some of Leslie's bridal session a little later this week so keep checking back.

Liv

Morgan and Eric

2008-06-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday I met up with Morgan and Eric for their engagement session. These guys were really fun and very natural in front of the camera. :) They are tying the knot in October and I can't wait to be a part of their day.

Liv

Boggs Family Session

2008-06-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I met up with Cathy, Scott, and Ben (the little guy) for their family session. Ben is 11 weeks old and as cute as they come. The nursery was so sweet and charming. The house had so much natural light that I barely had to use my flash, which is always fun. :)

I had so much fun with this sweet family. I can't wait to do it again once Ben is a little bigger.

Thanks guys,
Olivia

Morgan and Robert's Engagement Session

2008-06-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I met up with Morgan and Robert for their engagement session. Aside from the terrible heat, we had a great time. These two were really cute together. I used to work with Morgan's mom, Susan, at Bank of America. She was a favorite co-worker of mine. :) Morgan and Robert are tying the knot in September (a family friend is shooting the wedding). I wish them the best and for a beautiful wedding day!

Liv

Holly and Ben

2008-05-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I spent the day with Holly and Ben at Second Pres in Spartanburg and then to Thornblade for the reception. We had great weather and beautiful colors. :) Here are just a few of my favorites from their day. It took me forever to decide what to post because I loved so many of them!

best wishes Holly and Ben. Thanks for sharing your day with me.
Liv