Daniel Taylor Photography

Daniel & Victoria’s Wedding

Friday, March 5, 2010 Posted in Weddings

Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church is one of my absolute favorites. It reminds me of the church in Australia where Daniel and I got married.

Daniel and Victoria had a gorgeous wedding on January 2 at the lovely Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church. They are such an adorable couple and we couldn’t have been more tickled to be part of the big day. Sue Ann Oaks, who works with the church, was so nice and such a big help to us!

Victoria and her bridesmaids created all the beautiful flowers. Aren’t they gorgeous? And my favorite touch was Victoria’s siren red shoes–the camera was in love with them. Both Daniel and Victoria are dedicated to the mission field, and they had all the support you could imagine from family and friends. We wish them all the best in their new life together in Chicago!

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Mama Elizabeth tended to every need of her daughter, including a pre-wedding footrub! Now that's a good mom!

Papa Michael couldn't have been more proud of his daughter.

A trend we've seen out of Paris and Rome--red or black bridal shoes. Love it!

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The bride and groom shared some special moments alone before the ceremony.

Everyone was captivated during the heartfelt ceremony.

Those magic words...

A kiss outside after the ceremony. Would you believe it was below freezing that day?

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Meade

The lighted Christmas tree was a perfect backdrop for the cake.

A sparkling toast.

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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Neil and Jasmine’s Wedding

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Posted in Indian Weddings, Weddings

We had an absolutely amazing Thanksgiving shooting three days of festivities for Neil and Jasmine’s wedding at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. We were so excited to capture their beautiful Indian wedding. This will go down as one of our favorite, favorite events, hands down.

Neil and Jasmine Gill Patel at their Sangeet, a festive celebration the night before the wedding.

You know you're at a good wedding when this is the party the night BEFORE the ceremony and reception!

You know you're at a good wedding when this is the pre-party!

Jasmine's sexy shoes.

Classic Indian wedding portraits usually showcase the bride's Mehndi on her hands.

Last-minute primping.

This is Neil's wedding day procession before the first wedding ceremony.

Jasmine and Neil during their Hindu ceremony, the second wedding ceremony of the day.

Jasmine’s family is Sikh and Neil’s family is Punjabi Hindu, so the day including two gorgeous and very different wedding ceremonies.

The day began with photos of the bride and groom getting ready at the Marriott Grandview on 280. The clothes for each of them over the three days were just exquisite. We then took shuttles across the street for Neil’s Bharat (or baraat), the groom’s arrival celebration. This included a music-filled parade of friends and family. Neil and his family drove in a classic Rolls Royce from one of the coolest wedding vendors, Ron Marko of Vintage Auto.

Next was the Sikh ceremony, which was very formal and reverent.

After Neil and Jasmine changed clothes, she was carried in Cleopatra-style for the Hindu ceremony. Afterwards, we shared lunch, which was from another of our favorite vendors, Taj India.

Everyone took another break for a few hours, so we did a chilly after-shoot with the beautiful couple at Sibyl Temple gazebo in Vestavia. Then it was on to The Summit, outside Saks Fifth Avenue, for an old Hollywood-style set of pix, which Ron has helped us with before. Jasmine was such a trooper in the cold and images were just jaw-dropping. Don’t they look like movie stars?!

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The reception was one of the most fun and energetic I’ve ever seen, with a red carpet for the family entrances, a smoke machine, Slumdog Millionaire-inspired skits and dancing like there was no tomorrow. And more great food from Taj India. I became acquainted with one of my new favorite dance songs,”Desi Girl” by Dostana, which got everyone on their feet and singing within a few bars. “Desi” is a nickname for Indian, and it’s a rollicking tribute to a man’s sexy soulmate. I can’t stop singing the three or four English lines!!! DJ Bally, an awesome music entertainer out of Atlanta, keep the perfect mix going and the party lasted well into the morning! The love of their family and friends was so extensive, even DJ Bally talked about it! We were honored to be welcomed so warmly into Neil and Jasmine’s wedding extravaganza. Thanks guys!!!

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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Finally, we’re “Engaged!”

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Posted in Publications, Vendors

We are so pleased to have joined the way cool bridal resource library “Engaged!” in Homewood. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s just incredible. It’s a totally FREE service for brides, and they are behind the oh-so-useful FREE magazine Perfect Wedding Guide. PWG Cover Winter

Inside the cute little bungalow on Oxmoor Road is a clearinghouse of Birmingham’s best wedding vendors. Katie and Amy are so much fun and they are really knowledgeable about venues, photographers, cakes, everything! I would have loved to have had this kind of one-stop, quality information when I was a clueless fiancee five years ago!! The way it works, wedding services like us have samples of our work on display at Engaged! You can browse all kinds of vendors in one comfy, beautiful spot. Daniel Taylor Photography is also included in the FREE winter Perfect Wedding Guide magazine.

Here’s our photo (page 30) from Birmingham Glam’s wedding day beauty tip list in the Winter issue! The beautiful bride is Ashley O’Hara Spencer, now of Atlanta. We photographed at her fabulous Birmingham Botanical Gardens wedding in April. Ashley’s make-up was done by rockin’ make-up artist Jessica McGettigan at Birmingham Glam at Ross Bridge, whom we love to recommend.

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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Jasmine’s Mehndi

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Posted in Indian Weddings, Uncategorized

Daniel Taylor Photography

We recently had the fantastic opportunity to shoot three days of wedding festivities for the gorgeous Jasmine Gill, formerly of Hoover and now of Philadelphia. It was our first Indian wedding, something we’d wanted to do for years. We were thrilled that Jasmine thought we’d be the right fit for her big days. The Mehndi is a pre-wedding party, kind of like a bridal shower, where either the bride’s friends and relatives gather for well wishes, traditional singing, and special ceremonies. The Mehndi refers to both the party and the henna artwork on the bride’s hands and feet. Since the designs takes hours to create and dry, some brides like Jasmine opt to have the actual henna painting prior to the party. Jasmine's Mehndi I love the history of the Mehndi. The intricate designs, in addition to be beautiful, are on both sides of her hands, as well as her fingertips, are a sign of celebration. They also keep her from doing much work in the final days before her wedding. The idea is that she can then simply focus on the marriage and bonding with her new husband, and others can do the heavy lifting! Daniel Taylor Photography

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Jasmine's ceremonial bracelets.

Jasmine gets a kiss from her grandmother during the ceremony. Daniel Taylor PhotographyJasmine was glowing all evening. Daniel Taylor Photography

How's that for some lovely feet? Daniel Taylor Photography

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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B&A Warehouse’s Open House

Sunday, November 29, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized

B&A Warehouse downtown hosted its annual fall Open House last month.

We were so tickled when VP and event diva Susan Mason invited us to come early and shoot some pictures to update the B&A Warehouse web site. B&A is such a gorgeous space. The photo possibilities are endless, and never, ever ordinary. Susan and her team showed off some great room set-ups and a range of goodies, from chicken skewers to chocolate-dipped cookies.

The historic warehouse has a vibe that is simultaneously vintage and modern all at once. And if you’ve ever had Susan’s food, you be spoiled from now on!

Isn't this glowy table just gorgeous? Daniel Taylor Photography

We had never thought of pairing waffles with chicken nuggets. Amazing! Daniel Taylor Photography

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The Asian noodles were among our favorites of the night. Daniel Taylor Photography

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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Greg Blake and Angie Higginbottom’s Wedding, Oct. 10, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009 Posted in Weddings

On Oct. 10, we had the great pleasure of shooting the wedding for a super cool couple, Angie Higginbottom and Greg Blake. The ceremony was at the newly renovated First Presbyterian Church in Anniston, which is my hometown. And the reception was at one of our favorite places, Classic on Noble restaurant, also in Anniston. It’s synonamous with great wedding events in town.

Angie and Greg are so cute and they are all about great photos. In fact, Angie is a professional portrait photographer, so we were especially honored that she picked us! And, uh, no pressure for us, right?!

Angie chose rich, photo-friendly colors for her bridesmaids, a lush Tiffany blue and a yummy chocolate. I love that she decided to get creative and mix up the colors among the girls’ dresses. We love brides to take risks!

Every detail was just great for a photographer, from the I do crystals on her shoes to the pretty champagne glasses at CON. Thanks so much, Greg and Angie. We had a blast capturing your gorgeous wedding!

Angie Higginbottom Blake and Greg Blake, wedding, Oct. 10, 2009, First Presbyterian Church, Anniston, Ala. Daniel Taylor Photography

Angie had no problem dusting off a few poses from her modeling days. Daniel Taylor Photography

Greg was smiling all day, and not just for the camera! Daniel Taylor Photography

One of Angie's favorite details was the set of I Do crystals on her shoes. Daniel Taylor Photography

The detail on Angie's dress was stunning. Daniel Taylor Photography

One of our favorite pictures of Angie, looking radiant. Daniel Taylor Photography

Angie had a fun group of bridesmaids. And we loved the way Angie mixed and matched their dress colors to give a formal shot a fresh look. Daniel Taylor Photography

Greg and Angie, moments after first seeing each other alone before the ceremony. Daniel Taylor Photography

The rings. Daniel Taylor Photography

Daniel Taylor Photography

A kiss before the European honeymoon. Daniel Taylor Photography

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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DTP Named One of Top 5 Wedding Photographers in Bham

Friday, October 30, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized

We are so excited that Daniel Taylor Photography is No. 2 on Rachel Carpenter’s list spotlighting five of Birmingham’s best wedding photographers! Rachel was so kind, calling our photography “fabulous” and “stunning.” Check out the full article. We’re proud to to be in such good company, including a couple of our favorites in town, Amelia Strauss and Amber Ford. We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting either of the ladies yet, but we’re big fans!

This is one of my favorite moments from our Spring 2009 wedding season. This is Ashley O'Hara Spencer when she first saw her groom, Stephen, at their Birmingham Botanical Gardens wedding. Daniel Taylor Photography

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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B-Metro Magazine Launches

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Posted in Fashion, Happenings, Photography, Publications

Last night was the launch party for the new city magazine “b-metro.”

The new city magazine "b-metro" launched last night.

Our long-time friend Joe O’Donnell unveiled his new glossy publication at Cantina Tortilla Grille in Pepper Place. Turnout was amazing — and everyone was buzzing about the magazine. Joe is the former editor of Birmingham magazine, and he and several former Bham folks have started their own lifestyle publication about The ‘Ham. Ad sales and marketing gurus Cathy Fingerman and Jane Higdon are part of the team, as is former Birmingham art director Robin Colter. Sarah Best is the new media producer, giving the magazine a big on-line presence with plent of blogs and on-line content.

There’s a great article on Pamela Reed, who is a model, etiquette coach and style diva. She helped me pick out my BCBG dress for the party!

There are some gorgeous photos by Angela Karen of Birmingham Bombshells, Chuck St. John and Colleen Duffley. I’m doing some photography and writing for upcoming issues, so we’re looking forward to B-Metro making a splash in the city.

Check it out!

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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Ivanka Trump’s Wedding Pix Surface

Monday, October 26, 2009 Posted in Celebrity weddings

Photos from Ivanka Trump’s Sunday wedding have been scarce all day, but ETOnline finally has four images of the gorgeous event. She married publisher Jared Kushner in New Jersey.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's formal wedding photo. Photo by Brian Marcus/Getty Images

The man behind the lens was famed New York photographer Brian Marcus of Fred Marcus Photography. I also love Brian’s use of posing. Here’s what Brian had to say about his approach in a Q&A with weddings.lovetoknow.com about the most flattering looks in your wedding photos:

“If you hire a photographer who doesn’t usually do “posed” pictures, you might be unhappy with the result,” Marcus said. “Experienced photographers who really know how to pose a bride will never have her feeling that she looks too heavy in her dress. I always have my brides lean forward in the photograph to eliminate double chins. A bride who is worried about her figure should also purchase an appropriate dress that she feels comfortable in and accentuates all of her positive features.”

No worries of a double chin here. A pop of gelled flash gives Ivanka a gorgeous hair light. Brian Marcus/Getty Images

This is my favorite photo so far, a nice way to show off the back of the dress, and the groom! Brian Marcus/Getty Images.

A dip is always a great touch to a first dance. Brian Marcus/Getty Images

by Kelli Hewett Taylor

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The First Blog Post! Karen and Eugene’s Engagement Shoot

Sunday, October 25, 2009 Posted in Engagement shoots

Thanks so much for visiting my first blog post for Daniel Taylor Photography!

One of my favorite things is to create engagement, wedding and day-after photos inspired by my favorite wedding and fashion magazines. Karen Presley and Eugene Gibson were the perfect couple for a photo adventure. The pair wanted something different from anything we had ever done before, and I think we all got a little more than we bargained for!

Eugene Gibson and Karen Presley engagement shoot at The Great Pumpkin Patch in Hayden, Ala. Daniel Taylor Photography.

Everyone was up by sunrise ready for photos by 8 a.m. and in Hayden for our shoot at The Great Pumpkin Patch. Every year, this family farm transforms into an autumn extravaganza, complete with tractor-pulled hayrides, a petting zoo, funnel cakes and a ton of great photo ops — whether you shoot with a Canon 5D or a cell phone.

Sepia tones give a rich, elegant feel to almost any background. Daniel Taylor Photography.

The owners, Pauline and Julie, couldn’t have been more hospitable. Karen and Eugene got a private hay ride, a first for the pair. We were all so excited to have about 40 minutes alone in the pumpkin patch for our session.

You would never guess from these beautiful photos, but we were shooting in about 40-degree weather in a steady mist of rain. Karen was also nursing a cold! Between shots, we threw a blanket over her and plied her with Kleenex and hot cocoa. What a trooper! She didn’t complain once! Come to think of it, neither did Eugene!

For other couples wondering what to wear for their engagement photo session, Eugene and Karen offer a great example of how to compliment each other without being too matchy-matchy. They follow in the footsteps of other well-coordinated couples like Ashton and Demi, Michelle and Barack and Brad and Angie.

Thanks for an unforgettable shoot, guys! We can’t wait for the big day in March!