Nexis Photography

We've had a great run...thanks everybody!!!

2011-10-24T13:51:00.002-05:00

After much contemplation, Leigh and I have decided to shut down Nexis Photography and we are no longer accepting bookings going forward. For those of you have already booked us for your wedding next year, don't worry...this won't affect you at all.

For those of you who wanted to book us...all we can say is we're sorry, and we'll be happy to refer you to some other great photographers.

By way of explanation...no we haven't gotten bored with photography, nor have we experienced a lack of clients seeking our services. However, we have a beautiful one year old daughter and our time with her has become more valuable than the extra income our photography business brought in. Wedding photography, while a lot of fun, is also very time consuming. Shooting a wedding may take up an entire Saturday, but editing can take nights and weekends for several weeks.

The website will remain active for a while due to the client proofing side of things. We want to make sure everyone has a chance to use their photo credit and place orders.

We want to thank all of our clients for choosing Nexis Photography for their special day! We have truly been blessed through our photography business and we have made some wonderful friendships with people we've met along the way!

- M&L

Jacob and Bekah's Wedding - Wetumpka, AL

2011-09-21T09:37:00.005-05:00

Talk about an awesome wedding! Jacob and Bekah were married in Wetumpka, AL on a beautiful (yet incredibly hot) August afternoon. These two love the Lord, and love each other...and it really showed throughout the day as the anticipation built up to the ceremony where they saw each other for the first time. There were too many things we loved about this wedding to list, but one thing that always makes weddings fun is a wedding party that jokes around and has a sense of humor...and this wedding party was no exception! Time flies when you are having fun, and you could tell everyone at this wedding was having a great time!

Jacob and Bekah, we really enjoyed getting to know you guys and are so glad you picked us to be a part of your special day. We wish you guys all the best out there in Texas, and hope that we can catch up when Auburn goes down to Baton Rouge for the LSU game. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above of some of our favorites, and all of your wedding pictures are now available in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com , clicking on "Client Proofing" and then looking for your picture.

WAR EAGLE!

- M&L

Marilane and Adam's Wedding - Birmingham, AL

2011-05-21T10:10:00.003-05:00

After a little hiatus from weddings due to our little baby Kelsey being born last year, we are back with our first wedding for the year! Marilane and Adam are a wonderful Christian couple that were married last month on a beautiful April afternoon in Birmingham, AL. These two have a wonderful story, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them, and being a part of their special day. We had a great time taking pictures with their family and friends...and the wedding party kept us laughing all day...which we like! Oh and I forgot to mention...Marilane, Adam, and their entire wedding party must be professionals...I don't think anyone blinked during a picture the entire day! After the wedding and a short reception, we followed Marilane and Adam over to Samford for some awesome bride and groom pictures! We absolutely love the way their pictures turned out! Marilane and Adam...you two are a fantastic couple and we know you will have a blessed marriage together. We hope you like the brief slideshow we put together above, and all of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/, clicking on "Client Proofing" and looking for your gallery.

All the best!
- M&L

Jacob and Bekah's Engagement Session - Auburn University

2011-05-12T09:17:00.000-05:00

Jacob and Bekah's Engagement Session was AWESOME! These two were so much fun to work with and we enjoyed getting to know them a little better. The story of their engagement is pretty cool. Long story short, Jacob lives in Texas currently, and drove through the night on a Friday in order to get to Auburn on Saturday for a surprise proposal. He did it right in front of Samford Hall (totally showing up every guy, and making every girl jealous who walked past the sign that he had made to pop the question). It was only fitting that they took their engagement pictures at Auburn. Jacob and Bekah laughed and joked around the whole time which always makes an engagement session fun. They weren't afraid to get a little goofy...as you'll be able to tell by some of the pictures :) Jacob and Bekah, you guys are awesome and we can't wait to shoot your wedding in a few months. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above of some of our favorites. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" and then looking for your gallery.

WAR EAGLE!
- M&L

Marilane and Adam's Engagement Session - Montgomery, AL

2011-04-19T16:42:00.006-05:00

Marilane and Adam's Engagement Session was a blast! We met Marilane and Adam at the Blount Cultural Park (the Shakespeare Festival as we call it) on a beautiful spring evening, with lots of sunshine. The wind was a little strong, and that presents some challenges, but I think we pulled it off anyway. Marilane and Adam were so great to work with...they were relaxed and up for experimenting with various shots...and even though it started to get a little cool in the evening, they were good sports and hung in there until the end! Marilane and Adam are a fantastic couple, and we can't wait to see them unite in marriage later this month!

Marilane and Adam, we hope you enjoy the little slideshow above of some of our favorites. To see your entire gallery go to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and click on "Client Proofing" then look for your gallery. Can't wait until the wedding!

Thanks!
- M&L

Robin is Gonna Trash Her Dress!!!

2011-03-09T15:08:00.008-06:00

We have had some awesome clients over the years...actually come to think of it, I don't know if we've ever had a client we didn't really enjoy working with. We've just been blessed to attract awesome people I guess :) Anyway...getting to the point.

Out of all of our awesome clients, one of our favorites is Mrs. Robin Ford. The camera loves Robin, and she is a master of just about any facial expression there is. Tell her to give you happy, pouty, sexy, serious...you name it, she has it. She can even do Blue Steel (if you don't know what that is...google it).

Not only is she a great model, but she is so fun to work with. During her engagement session, her bridal session, and her wedding she was laid back, and was cracking jokes with us.

Anyway, we were pumped when Robin let us know that she wanted to do a Trash the Dress session in June! For those of you who don't know what that is all about... #1 - sit down. Ok...are you sitting? #2 - make sure your mother is not reading this...she may not be able to handle it.

Basically, the Trash the Dress (TtD) session involves you doing the opposite of what you passionately try do with your dress before your wedding...keep it clean. For the TtD session you want to get it dirty, sandy, muddy, wet, you name it. At this point you are probably asking yourself why...well...because it makes for some INCREDIBLE pictures and its ALOT OF FUN! Putting a bride in her wedding dress in a setting that you would not normally see it really makes her stand out...after all, what are you going to do with the dress? Store it in the closet or attic?

Tawny, one of our previous brides did it last year and loved it! Here are a few pictures from her session:

Looking forward to it Robin!

- M&L

Matt's Top 5 Favorite Superbowl Commercials

2011-02-07T10:38:00.011-06:00

Matt's top 5 favorite Superbowl commercials ranked from top to bottom:

#1 - Volkswagen Commercial: The Force

How can you not love this commercial...pure genius by the directors and pulled off perfectly by the kid. By far my favorite commercial.

#2 - Doritos Commercial: Best Part

If this commercial doesn't make you laugh out loud, something is wrong with you.

#3 - Pepsi Max Commercial: Love Hurts

I wonder if Leigh feels like this sometimes with me...we eat pretty healthy most of the time...but every once in a while I get a little hardcore on the nutrition.

#4 - Audi Commercial: Release the Hounds

This is hilarious...got to love the Kenny G part :)

#5 - Doritos Commercial: House Sitting

This one was pretty funny...not laugh out loud funny...but clever.

Epiphany on Blogging

2011-02-06T21:12:00.003-06:00

So I’ve had an epiphany about our blog. We are much better photographers than we are bloggers. After realizing that I was not particularly efficient updating the blog, I thought my beautiful, lovely, intelligent (…you get the idea) wife would be much better at updating posts on a regular basis. Well…apparently that hasn’t quite worked out either.

As I contemplated the fact that neither Leigh nor I are exceptional bloggers…it hit me. Why does it matter, or does it even matter? Are clients really that interested in seeing a daily update about the TV show we watched, or what the dog did today, or how many dirty diapers I changed? I could be wrong…but I don’t think so. Therefore…going forward…I’m not going to stress about keeping the blog updated. If we have something to post we definitely will…but I just don’t think we’re ever going to be good daily bloggers. We'll put our time and energy into doing what we do well...taking great photos and providing the very best customer service to our clients.

Anyway, since I took the time to post something…I might as well add a photo. Here is one of my favorite pictures of Kelsey that Leigh took last month.

Kelsey LOVES our dog Foxie…she smiles and laughs just about every time she sees her…I love this picture!

- M&L

It's Leigh Time, like hammer time but not...

2011-01-18T20:01:00.002-06:00

Ah, new responsibility. Although Matt probably talks about updating the blog every day, he seems never to have time to do it; probably due to all his new fatherly responsibilities. Oh, Matt…if you only knew. So I’ve been given the job of official Nexis blogger. I’ve never blogged before so this should be interesting. So what’s in store for the Nexis blog? Hmm…Well I’m sure I’ll talk about Kelsey (our brand new baby girl), pictures, and any other thing that I want to blab about but can’t get Matt to listen to. J So for my first blog… Kelsey is almost 4 months old and sweet as can be, we have been taking pictures of Kelsey but not as much as I thought we would, and I’m loving the Bachelor right now…can’t get enough of it. J And here’s a picture of Kelsey’s crazy eyes just for fun. More to come!

God Bless
Leigh

Getting ready for the Tough Mudder!!!

2010-12-29T17:54:00.004-06:00

This is TOTALLY unrelated to photography...well I take that back...its slightly related if your wedding date is March 12, 2011. If it is, while you are getting married, Leigh and I will be competing in one of the toughest events on the planet - the Tough Mudder!

The Tough Mudder in March is being held just outside of Atlanta the weekend of March 12th. Its a 10 mile course that involves multiple obstacles designed by British Special Forces.

Check out the Tough Mudder website at www.toughmudder.com and watch some of the videos...its AWESOME!

Nexis Photography Review - Kayla and Shane!

2010-10-22T23:23:00.006-05:00

All I can say is WOW! We have had some amazing clients, and many have written us some fantastic reviews and testimonials...but I've got to say this one is up near the top! Kayla and Shane were married in Florida in May of this year and she recently wrote us the following review. This is what makes us love what we do...doing anything we can to make our bride and groom have the wedding of their dreams. To us, that means so much more than just taking pictures...check this out:

"We chose Nexis Photography as the photographers for our wedding based on previous friends that had used them with amazing results. My husband and I first met them at a bridal fair in Prattville, and immediately we felt at ease with them. We had spoken to other photographers at the event but none of them seemed to reach out to us like Matt & Leigh did. My husband, (who has never been one that liked to take pictures) was so excited after meeting them that he would not leave the event without booking them for our upcoming wedding. And I have to say that this was the best decision we could have made in regards to the wedding planning.

We wanted our engagement pictures to be special...as most couples do, but we wanted our pictures to incorporate baseball, since my husband played in college at the time. Matt came up with the idea of having some pictures taken at the Biscuits Stadium downtown, and he even got in contact with the administration and made it happen.

We had the best time ever taking our pictures and we were absolutley amazed at the end product. We had never seen any pictures like these before and we were so proud to show them off.

As amazed at we were at our engagement pictures, we could never have imagined how beautiful our wedding pictures were to turn out. It was a gorgeous Saturday in May (in Florida) so of course it was a little hot. We had made it through the ceremony and were on the way to the reception. Upon arriving to the ceremony I quickly noticed that something was not right with my family...mainly my dad. As it turns out he had to be rushed to the emergency room and ended up missing the entire reception. Needless to say I was an emotional wreck and Leigh stepped right in ushering me away from the crowd, taking me aside and talking to me. She was a shoulder for me to lean on while managing to keep me calm. After I was ready to re-enter the reception I had so much on my mind that the last thing I could think of was the reception agenda (cake cutting, first dances, and etc). But thankfully I didn't have to Matt and Leigh stepped in and quickly got the reception flowing smoothly again. I was so grateful to have them there, because without them I would have been a wreck as well as the reception.

We kept hoping by the end of the reception that my dad would make it back so we could at least have our father-daughter dance. Unfortunately my dad was not able to make it back, but that didn't stop Matt and Leigh. Even though the reception was over they offered to come to the hospital, along with our dj, and take pictures, so that me and my dad could have our first dance. Now I know I can say that not many photographers would have even offered this, especially considering how late it was in the night at an out of town event. This just proves that Matt and Leigh are truly special people. They do things out of the kindness of their heart, and they genuinely care about others...it wasn't about the money to them, it really was about making our wedding day special...and it was apparent that they would go to any length to make this happen.

You can imagine how upset my dad was that he missed the reception, but what we didn't count on was how the pictures would allow him to be a part of every moment of the reception. He was amazed at the story that the pictures told and upon finishing he was in tears. The pictures allowed him to experience the reception, although he was not physically present. For pictures to speak that loudly, you know you must have some amazing and truly gifted photographers.

There are not enough words to express our gratitude towards Matt and Leigh for all that they have done. Our wedding was a very memorable time, but we are especially thankful to have such beautiful keepsakes to remind us of that special day. We are so lucky to have had them as photographers, and now we are even luckier to be able to say that they are our friends. Not only have we been able to see how wonderful they both are from a professional/business aspect, but now we have been able to experience their genuineness and appreciate their character, personalities, and spirit as friends.

Anyone that chooses Nexis Photography will not be disappointed. Not only will you have amazing pictures that will serve as great memories forever, but you will have excellent proficient photographers that will take every effort in ensuring your day is special and is everything you ever dreamed of." - Kayla & Shane Moye

Thank you guys...you two are the best!
- M &L

Nexis Photography Review - Kristina and Jacob!

2010-10-22T23:16:00.002-05:00

Here is another great review from some great clients that were married last year. Things were so crazy this year with Leigh's pregnancy so we are just now getting around to asking our clients to write us a review.

"I highly recommend Nexis Photography to anyone and everyone! I have been in many weddings and have never been apart of picture shoots that were so organized as Nexis, especially with the family shoot. Most family shoots take an hour. Ours took 30 mins. They were wonderful to work with, very layed back, creative, and their pictures are beyond what we could of asked for. After every picture shoot we walked away feeling like Matt and Leigh were old friends instead of photographers we hired." - Kristina and Jacob

Thanks guys!
- M&L

Review from Jessica and Cory!

2010-10-15T23:35:00.003-05:00

Jessica and Cory were married on May 1, 2010. They were an awesome couple, and we had so much fun shooting their wedding. They recently wrote us a review...check it out!

"If you are looking for AMAZING pictures and photographers with a sense of humor as well as a complete professionalism, then look no further! Matt and Leigh were beyond wonderful. I first met them at a bridal show in Prattville, AL and fell in love with their photographs. When it was finally time to start planning, I called Matt and Leigh and fortunately they had our date available. For me, the pictures of our wedding were the most important aspect of the planning and I couldn't be happier with our results. From the bridal session to our "big day" I have received so many compliments on our pictures. Matt and Leigh were there the moment I started getting ready until I told them to go home. They definitely calmed my nervousness with their humor and went out of their way to be amazing. Leigh even helped me get my dress and shoes on and Matt bought me and my bridesmaids and Leigh taco bell!!! My husband left for Basic Military Training ten days after we were married and took some of our wedding pictures with him. I went to his graduation in San Antonio and the whole weekend all I heard from the people in his military flight was about how amazing our pictures were and who took them. Matt and Leigh are definitely worth the time and money!! In the end, we not only have amazing pictures but we have made two wonderful friends."
- Jessica

Thanks Jessica and Cory!
- M&L

Introducing Kelsey Reese!

2010-10-04T13:38:00.006-05:00

She's here! Kelsey Reese Abele was born at 2:32pm on Friday, October 1st. She was 7lbs 6oz and 20 inches long.

Leigh and I didn't find out the gender of our baby, so it was a wonderful surprise when she came out and we found out we had a daughter. Labor and delivery could not have gone better...we had been praying about that and for a healthy baby for 9 months, and we are so thankful the Lord answered our prayers in that way. We actually had a photographer friend photograph some before and during the delivery, but we did take a few snapshots throughout the last couple of days. Here are just a few of our pics to share with everyone.

This is Leigh, aka - Superwoman, only a few minutes after labor. She looks like she just put makeup on for hot date...doesn't exactly look like a woman who labored for 11 hours.

Mommy checking out her little bundle of joy...

Sweet little Kelsey...she was very calm after birth.

Daddy and his little girl...

Nothing like holding your daughter in your arms...

Love the look on her face...she is already very expressive.

This is one of my favorites. She was just so calm and content with Leigh holding her. She just looked around the room wide-eyed and coo'ed a little here and there...it was so sweet.

haha...making faces....awesome!

One of my favorite moments of the day...Leigh and baby resting quietly.

So sweet!

She was suckleing while sleeping...it was so funny listening to the little "popping" sounds she was making with her lips. You don't get the full effect with the picture, but its still cute.

Sleeping...being a baby is hard work.

My little girl...

I can get used to this dad thing...

Don't let her fool you...this chick has a serious grip. I wonder how early is too early to start boot camp? Future boot camp champion in the making :)

Hand on the face...it looked so comfortable I figured I'd try it too...

She is a cute one! I give Leigh 100% credit for that :)

...at this point Kelsey is wondering what is that big black thing dad keeps sticking in my face. It clicks alot....hmmm....

A flash of a smile...it was probably gas...but I'll take it! I can't wait until she is smiling and laughing all the time...its gonna be fun.

More looking around...all kinds of new stuff to check out. Although newborns can't see that far, she is definitely looking at something.

Just a little kiss from mommy...

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but she was looking at me out of the corner of her eyes...it so cute...and it made me laugh.

Alright, so its official...I'm one of those parents that just gushes over every single thing his daughter does. I'm gonna try hard not to spoil her...its going to be tough :)

Continue to keep us in your prayers...we covet wisdom to raise our child properly and take care of all her needs. We also want sleep...which is a rare luxury these days :) Thank you to everyone who has given us gifts, come by to see us, prayed for us, or just wished us well. We are incredibly blessed and look forward to the upcoming days, weeks, and months as Kelsey grows.

-M&L

Video Blog Update!

2010-09-29T21:55:00.002-05:00

First video blog update...check it out!

- M&L

Haha...who is updating this blog???

2010-09-11T13:44:00.004-05:00

First of all...yes...both Leigh and I are still alive :)

Wow...I can't believe its been almost 3 months since I've updated the blog. In case you didn't know...Leigh (my beautiful wife) is pregnant and we are expecting our first child in about 4 weeks!

We decided early in the year...well actually, late last year to only book weddings through May of 2010 so that Leigh wouldn't have to shoot weddings when she was uber-pregnant. It worked out well, because an all day 8+ hour wedding can be physically tough on anyone, let along an 8 month pregnant woman.

Anyway, are now booking weddings for the 2011 year starting in April. I will try to update the blog with a video post later in the week...that should be fun :)

Abbe and Josh's Wedding - Opelika, AL

2010-06-29T14:01:00.003-05:00

Abbe and Josh's Wedding was a great way to cap off a short, but fun wedding season for us. As I'm sure everyone knows, Leigh and I are expecting our first child in October...and since we truly believe in having 2 photographers at a wedding, we decided not to book any weddings for 2010 after May. Don't worry, we'll be available for weddings again starting in March of 2011.

Abbe and Josh were married at First Baptist Church of Opelika. These two were so great to work with...they were accomodating, friendly, and relaxed, even though there was definitely some nervous anticipation right before they saw each other for the first time in the day.

Some of the things we'll remember most from this wedding: Abbe's grandmother...super nice lady, the hilarious groomsmen, Abbe's beautiful dress, the expressions on Abbe and Josh's face when they first saw each other, the awesome Jordan-Hare and Toomer's Corner cakes, Josh leading the final WAR EAGLE cheer before they left the reception, and taking some final pictures at Samford Hall.

Abbe and Josh, we wish you the best as you start your married lives together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above of some of our favorites. All of your wedding images are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" and then looking for your gallery.

Congratulations!
- M&L

Anna and Patrick's Wedding - Lake Martin, AL

2010-06-15T10:47:00.002-05:00

Anna and Patrick were married on a sunny May afternoon at a beautiful lake house on the shores of Lake Martin. The ceremony was very cool...Matt got to shoot it from a pontoon boat floating out in the water, while Leigh was left on land to do most of the hard work :)

Talk about a FUN wedding...these guys know how to throw a party! After a somewhat traditional reception filled with dancing, speeches, cake cutting, garter/boquet, etc...the wedding party stripped down to their swim suits and jumped into the lake together! From there, the reception turned into a lake party! We loved the way Anna planned out her wedding...it was beautiful and elegant, but also very comtemporary and cool all at the same time!

Anna and Patrick, congratulations on your wedding and we wish you guys all the best as you start your married lives. We hope you like the slideshow of some of our favorites listed above. All of your pictures are available in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" and then looking for your gallery.

Congrats!
- M&L

Kayla and Shane's Wedding - Pensacola, FL

2010-05-31T16:18:00.002-05:00

Kayla and Shane's Wedding took place on a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Pensacola, FL. This was our second Florida wedding of the year...and just like the first, it was beautiful!

Ceremony - Old Christ Church
Reception - Pensacola Yacht Club

Kayla picked a beautiful church with a large stained glass window behind the altar...we loved the way it lit the church and provided some stunning backlight in the afternoon sun. The church was packed too...obviously Kayla and Shane have developed alot of great friendships over the years, because it was standing room only. The reception was beautiful as well, and everyone had a great time eating, talking, dancing, etc. There were a few hiccups throughout the day, but at the end of the day, two beautiful people who love each other were married surrounded by their family and friends. Kayla and Shane, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day! You two were so much fun to work with, and you really made us feel like good friends who were there to enjoy the day with you. We wish you the best as you start your married lives together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites above...it may move a bit quick, but we had so many favorites that we had to put them to a fast moving song to get them all in :) All of your pictures are now online in your gallery, which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your picture!

Congratulations, and all the best!
- M&L

Jessica and Cory's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2010-05-09T22:42:00.005-05:00

Oh man...where to start with this wedding? First off...it was AWESOME! Jessica and Cory are two of the most fun people I think we've met. They cracked us up the entire day...which if you know us...we love to joke around/goof off...while always remaining professional :)

Ceremony - Maxwell AFB Chapel 1

Reception - The Alley Station

Leigh has unofficially awarded Jessica with our "Most Organized Bride" award. Jessica had everything planned out to the tee...and even knew her formal poses like the back of her hand. She made command decisions and didn't waffle back and forth when someone asked her anything. In other words...she was the freaking Bomb!

Cory was hilarious...and was a trooper taking pictures all day long. He also is one strong dude...you have to see this pose these two did for us...are you kidding me??? WOW...he didn't even break a sweat...coulda probably held her there for 10 minutes. Jessica probably deserves some credit as well...I don't know many (or any) girls who could do that!

Jessica and Cory...thanks for allowing us to be a part of your special day...we thoroughly enjoyed working with you. We also want to thank both of you guys for the sacrifice in your service to our country. Cory is going to be a para-rescue trooper (hope that is the right term)...and is going off for training in a day or two. We wanted to get these pictures online before Cory had to leave so he could see them. We hope you guys enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites above. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/, clicking on "Client Proofing" and looking for your gallery.

All the best!

- M&L

Sarah and Kevin's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2010-04-14T12:10:00.003-05:00

Sarah and Kevin's Wedding was simply amazing! We had so much fun shooting this wedding that we would do it all over again!

Ceremony: Landmark Church of Christ
Reception: The Waters

You can tell a lot about the personality of the bride and groom by their wedding party...and Sarah and Kevin's wedding party was HILARIOUS! We probably spent as much time laughing and joking around as we did taking pictures. Sarah and Kevin obviously love each other and love the Lord…that was evident in their wedding ceremony…something we always appreciate and enjoy seeing out of another young couple. They are also HUGE fans of the TV series “Lost” and had their own little tribute to Lost by using the same intro music for a “Lost” episode to lead into their ceremony. Sarah and Kevin, we really enjoyed being a part of your special day, and we rejoice with you as you begin your new life together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites above. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to: www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on “Client Proofing” then looking for your gallery.

Congratulations!
- M&L

Alane and Andrew's Wedding - Enterprise, AL

2010-03-23T11:27:00.003-05:00

Alane and Andrew were married on March 6, 2010. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day...especially as crazy as the weather has been lately. This was a beautiful wedding...both venues that Alane picked for the ceremony and reception were perfect. Alane and Andrew were great to work with...they were relaxed and let us follow them around all day like paparazzi without complaining even once :) Alane and Andrew, we wish you guys the very best as you start your new lives together. We hope you like the slideshow above of some of our favorites. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to: www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" and then looking for your gallery.

Congratulations!
- M&L

Sarah's Bridal Session - Downtown Montgomery, AL

2010-03-17T10:21:00.003-05:00

Alright...since Sarah and Kevin were married last Saturday, we are finally allowed to post her bridals for all to see! We had a great time shooting Sarah's bridals, and loved the way they turned out! Sarah has a beautiful smile, and was so easy to work with...and she also brought along her soon to be mother-in-law and sister-in-law to help...they were amazing too! We can't wait to get Sarah and Kevin's wedding pictures uploaded...they are gonna be awesome! In the mean time, enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites from Sarah's bridal session!

Thanks!
- M&L

Mikaela and Zac's Wedding - Ft. Meyers, FL

2010-02-26T10:18:00.002-06:00

Wow...where do I begin with this blog post...there's so much to say. Zac is a great friend of ours, he was good friends in high school with Leigh, and then after Leigh and I met, he became one of my best friends...he was even a groomsman in my wedding. About 3 or 4 years ago, Zac felt God call him to Ft. Meyers, FL to study in music ministry. Since then I've only seen Zac a handful of times, but always enjoyed catching up whenever possible.

Not long ago Zac let us know he was engaged to the "most amazing woman in the world" he said...and asked us if we would be willing to fly down to Ft. Meyers, FL to photograph the wedding. Let me think about this, fly down to sunny South Florida in January where the temperature in Alabama is in the 30's and in Ft. Meyers its in the 70's....hmmm...tough call. Long story short, Zac flew us down and put us up for a brief, but awesome weekend! We met Mikaela, and immediately congratulated Zac on this amazing feat he had pulled off. Mikaela is a beautiful woman whose personallity is just as attractive, and loves the Lord...Zac...bullseye brother!

Anyway, I'm making this post far too long so let me wrap it up. The wedding was awesome, there were far too many incredible moments to list them all, but here are a few that stuck out in our minds: Moes at the rehearsal dinner...AWESOME, Julie's handmade alter, the groomsmen's prank...tiny pants for Zac, Matt Lynch...nuff said...haha, Zac's song to Mikaela, the beautiful reception location (someone's back yard...wow), the awesome cake, Zacman dancing...Zacman's dad dancing, and the last minute decision to go with a reception tent that totally paid off due to some showers (good call Mikaela). Zac and Mikaela, we really enjoyed being part of your special day. Mississippi isn't too far from Alabama, so we hope to see you guys every once in a while. God bless you, and we love you!

We hope you like the slideshow above of some of our favorites, and all of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery.

Congratulations!
- Matt and Leigh

Maconica and Michael's Wedding - Auburn, AL

2010-01-19T11:12:00.003-06:00

Maconica and Michael's Wedding was beautiful! Maconica and Michael had an awesome wedding party...all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were hilarious and alot of fun to be around throughout the day. Some of the groomsmen even took to Leigh a bit and everytime they saw her at the reception called out her name and asked her to take a picture...it cracked her up! Maconica and Michael you guys were great to work with and your wedding was amazing. It is a testament to how much you have touched other people's lives to see how many friends and family came out to celebrate your wedding with you (...despite the bitter cold that evening)! Congratulations and we wish you the best as you start your new life together. Check out the slideshow of some of our favorites above...and all of your images are now online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to: www.nexisphotography.com, clicking on "Client Proofing" and then clicking on your picture to enter the gallery.

Enjoy
- M&L

Kristina and Jacob's Wedding - Selma, AL

2009-12-25T00:22:00.003-06:00

Kristina and Jacob's Wedding was BEAUTIFUL! We loved the venue that they chose for their ceremony and reception. The ceremony was at First Baptist Church which is very ornate and was just gorgeous inside and out. The reception was at Sturdivant Hall, which was equally impressive. We were almost overwhelmed with the number of great backdrops for photos...and wish we would have had more time to take pictures all day...but of course, getting Kristina and Jacob married was the #1 priority. Kristina and Jacob, we really enjoyed being a part of your wedding day, and you two were just awesome to work with. We had alot of fun! Check out the slideshow of some of our favorites above...and all of your photos are online in your gallery. You can access your gallery by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery. Hope you LOVE them!

Merry Christmas!
- M&L

Maconica's Bridal Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-12-25T00:13:00.004-06:00

It's the holiday season and wouldn't you know it...we are busy as always trying to catch up on editing and posting some of our recent shoots. We took Maconica's bridals in November at the Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, but had to keep them under wraps until after the wedding. Maconica and Michael were married last weekend, so its time to unveil her bridals! Maconica was so easy going and fun to work with...check out her awesome bridal session, and we'll plan on posting her wedding pictures next month!

Merry Christmas everyone!
- M&L

Anna and Patrick's Engagement Session - Auburn, AL

2009-11-30T15:24:00.004-06:00

Anna was a bridesmaid at a wedding we shot last year, so we were super excited when she told us that she and her fiance, Patrick, wanted us to shoot their wedding! We met up with Anna and Patrick last month at Chewacula State Park in Auburn, AL for their engagement session. We had actually never been inside the park before...we've just got to say WOW...it was beautiful! There were so many locations to choose from, we were relieved when Anna and Patrick said..."just follow us, we've got all of the spots picked out." The water was higher than usual, so crossing the rocks near the waterfalls gave us a bit of an adventure...especially carrying our camera gear, but we had a blast, and got in a good hike too! These two make a great couple and are a ton of fun...their wedding is going to be CRAZY, and we can't wait! Anna and Patrick, we hope you guys enjoy the slideshow above, and all of your engagements are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery.

Enjoy!

- M&L

Kayla and Shane's Engagement Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-11-24T20:34:00.003-06:00

Wow we had a great time shooting Kayla and Shane's engagement session! Shane played baseball in college and is now coaching, so we had to work that theme into the engagement session. We were able to pull some strings and get carte blanche access to the Montgomery Biscuits Baseball Stadium for the session, and things turned out great! Kayla and Shane are so much fun, and look great together...we can't wait for their wedding!!! Kayla and Shane, we hope you guys enjoy the slideshow above, and all of your engagements are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery.

Enjoy!
- M&L

Josh and Kelsey's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2009-11-20T22:21:00.003-06:00

What a beautiful wedding! Josh and Kelsey were so easy going and were just a pleasure to work with. Their family was amazing too, so we felt right at home. We loved the fact that they wrote their own vows for the ceremony...there were not many dry eyes in the church after that! Josh and Kelsey, you guys were fantastic, we enjoyed every minute of the wedding day. We know that the two of you have built your marriage with Christ at the center, and its always a blessing to see two people who love each other and love the Lord enter into this covenant. We wish you all the best in Korea! We hope you enjoy the slideshow above with some of our favorites. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com, clicking on "Client Proofing' and then clicking on your gallery.

Enjoy!
- M&L

Kimberly and Drew's Wedding - Prattville, AL

2009-11-04T22:09:00.003-06:00

I may have said this before about Kimberly and Drew's engagements, but its such a blessing to be a part of a wedding uniting two believers who love the Lord and love each other. Kimberly and Drew are wonderful people, and we thouroughly enjoyed being a part of their special day. The wedding party was a ton of fun, the ceremony was beautiful, and the reception had a deer for a cake...how can you top that? Kimberly and Drew, congratulations and we wish you the best as you begin your new life together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above of some of our favorites, and all of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your picture.

Congratulations again!
- M&L

Mandy and Chad's Wedding - Coosada, AL

2009-10-30T11:46:00.002-05:00

Mandy and Chad were married on September 26th at "The Elms" in Coosada, AL. It was a beautiful venue, and even though it ended up raining quite a bit, there was a tent outside, and plenty of room inside for the celebration to go on. We had a blast at Mandy and Chad's Wedding...they were so accomodating, and even allowed us to change into shorts and tennis shoes because of how humid it was outside. They had a beautiful ceremony, and a wild and crazy reception with tons of food and dancing! Mandy and Chad, congratulations on your wedding, and we wish you guys the best as you start your new life together. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above of some of our favorites!

- M&L

Robin and David's Wedding - Hope Hull, AL

2009-10-30T08:28:00.002-05:00

What can I say about Robin and David other than they are AMAZING! We've really enjoyed getting to know them and are privileged to call them friends. Both Robin and David are awesome people, and were so much fun to work with. Their wedding was beautiful and the wedding party was small, composed of their closest friends and family. The ceremony took place in Hope Hull, and then the reception moved over to Wetumpka. We were very impressed with the way Robin had her reception decorated, and we loved the colors and designs she picked out! Robin and David, you guys are the best, we love you and look forward to getting together with you guys again soon. Your pictures have already been uploaded to your gallery, but here is the slideshow with some of our favorites…enjoy!

Thanks!
- M&L

Kelsey's Bridal Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-10-10T20:31:00.005-05:00

Kelsey and Josh got married today...so it is now safe to unlock Kelsey's bridal session! We had a great time shooting her bridal session...and we just love the way the pictures came out. We can't wait to post their wedding pictures...it will be a few weeks, but stay tuned!

- M&L

Kimberly's Bridal Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-10-10T20:19:00.003-05:00

Kimberly and Drew were married last weekend, and we've been waiting to share Kimberly's bridals until after the wedding. Kimberly is incredibly photogenic, and we think her bridals were awesome!...check them out! It will still be a few weeks until we have Kimberly and Drew's wedding pictures up, so be sure to check back!

-M&L

Nexis Photography and the Nexis Brides at the River Region Bridal Fair

2009-10-07T21:23:00.003-05:00

The River Region Bridal fair was this past Sunday at the Capital City Club in Montgomery, AL. The turnout for the show was alot lower than expected, but we still talked to alot of prospective brides, and had a great time! We hope to hear from some of those brides to be soon! We brought along 5 of our former brides who we've affectionately named the "Nexis Fab Five!" They did a great job telling brides to be about us and how happy they were with choosing us for their wedding photography...they were soo good half of the brides to be thought that they worked for us! When things started to slow down, the Fab Five ran over to Feel The Beat's (DJ) booth where they had some props and a photo booth...now that was fun! We took a few pictures of them as well...which we've posted below for your viewing pleasure. Did I ever mention we have the best clients in the world! A special thanks to the Fab Five - Tawny, Anna, Denise, Amanda, and Robin!

- M&L

Sarah and Grant's Wedding - Gardendale, AL

2009-09-23T10:28:00.003-05:00

Sarah and Grant's wedding was a blast! We had a great time shooting with Sarah and Grant for their engagements, so we knew the wedding would be fun. Grant and his groomsment had fun cutting up before the ceremony, and the bridesmaids all looked stunning in their dresses...but none of them held a candle to Sarah in her wedding dress...sorry ladies :) Some of the things we liked the most from this wedding: the yellow rose and note Grant had delivered to Sarah before they saw each other, the brick backdrop on the stage in the sanctuary, the purple stained glass windows in the fellowship hall, the Texas Longhorns garter, a really nice videographer who was fun to work with... we could go on and on. Sarah and Grant, congratulations, and we wish you the best as you start your marriage together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites above. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/, clicking on "Client Proofing" and then looking for your gallery.

- M&L

Che' and Brandon's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2009-09-21T14:26:00.002-05:00

Che' and Brandon's wedding was beautiful, classy, fun...and just flat out awesome! We had a great time being a part of this wedding, and were thoroughly entertained by the bridesmaids and groomsmen who are some of the funniest and nicest people we've met! We even booked one of Che's bridesmaids for a wedding next year...so we hope to see many of them again soon! The wedding and reception took place at the Capital City Club in the RSA Tower in Downtown Montgomery. As always, the CCC is a beautiful venue, and this wedding was no exception. Che' and Brandon were married at the foot of the winding staircase and then danced the night away with their friends and family before being sent off in style with a horse drawn carriage. We want to wish Che' and Brandon the very best as they start their new life as one. We also want to say to Brandon, a proud Naval Officer, that we appreciate his service and dedication to the country we all love. We hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites above. All of Che' and Brandon's wedding pictures are online in their gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for their gallery.

All the best guys...and thanks again for having us!
- M&L

Digital SLR Tip #2 - Understanding Aperture and Depth of Field

2009-09-09T11:22:00.008-05:00

Understanding aperture values is one of the most important aspects of photography. The aperture will determine how much light your lens will let in during the exposure (taking a picture) and also plays a major role in depth of field. Depth of field essentially means how much of the picture is in sharp focus from the closest item to your camera, to the furthest away item from your camera. Depth of field is very important because sometimes you may want deeper depth of field; for example, taking a picture of someone in front of a building where you want both the person and the building to be in focus. Other times you may want a shallow depth of field; for example, when you want to take a picture of a flower and have everything in the background out of focus. In order to understand how you can manipulate your depth of field, you must first understand aperture values.

What is aperture? Aperture is defined as 1. an adjustable opening in an optical instrument, such as a camera, that limits the amount of light passing through a lens. The diameter of such an opening is often expressed as an f-number. You’ve probably seen values like f/3.5 – f/5.6 on your lens, or heard people talking about f-stops. Well hang in there and I’ll explain what all those numbers mean…once you wrap your head around the concept, its really not that complicated. First you need to see what the f-stop values are for you to better understand the numbers.

Each one of these numbers represents a full-stop. So moving from an f/1.4 to an f/1.6 is a full-stop, and moving from an f/8 to an f/9 is also a full stop. Each time you move a full stop the light let in changes significantly. The smaller the f-number the more light is let in, the larger the f-number the less light is let in. In addition to the amount of light being let in, don’t forget about depth of field. The smaller the f-number, the shallower the depth of field, the larger the f-number the deeper the depth of field. You can always stop down the aperture to let in less light, so any lens can be stopped down to f/22. However, going the other direction in order to let more light in is a different story. Most consumer level lenses will have a maximum (widest open) aperture of f/3.5. Professional level lenses typically have a maximum aperture value of f/2.8 or lower and will be much more expensive than consumer lenses. This is why professional photographers can shoot indoors with no flash and still have enough light for a proper exposure. With most consumer level SLR cameras and lenses you'll need a flash to give you enough light in a moderate to dimly lit room.

While you continue to learn, try shooting in aperture priority and experimenting with depth of field. While in aperture priority your camera will select the shutter speed in order to (or try to) properly expose the picture…so all you have to worry about is adjusting your aperture values. In the next tip we’ll talk about shutter speed!

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Post comments to let us know if these tips are helpful to you...and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

-M&L

Digital SLR Tip #1 - Never EVER, use auto mode!

2009-09-02T22:57:00.003-05:00

For those of you who don't follow us on Facebook, we are going to be posting basic SLR tips to help the average consumer educate themselves and take better pictures. If you have additional questions regarding these tips, simply post a comment on facebook and we'll do our best to answer your questions. So without further delay...here is your first tip!

Tip #1 - Never EVER, use auto mode!

Auto mode will get you the very least out of your SLR camera because the camera is making all of the decisions for you. Sure it is easier, but if you allow your camera to do all of the decision making, then all of your pictures will look the same, and more often than not, will just look like snapshots without anything dynamic. When your camera is in full auto mode, the camera is determining 3 main components that translate into what it thinks is the right exposure: aperature, shutter speed, and ISO (I'll provide info on these items individually in future tips). At the very least as you are learning, switch your camera over to Aperature Priority (depending on your camera model, it may be the setting that has an "A"...refer to your camera's user manual.

When your camera is in Aperature Priority, YOU not the camera, will determine the camera's aperature setting...and your camera will determine the shutter speed and ISO in order to try to come up with the correct exposure. Experiment with different aperature values as you take pictures and see if you can notice the differences in the photos. I'll post more on what aperature values are and how they affect your pictures in the next tip!

Stay tuned and in the mean time, practice shooting!

- M&L

Robbie and Jennifer's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2009-08-21T08:29:00.003-05:00

Robbie and Jennifer are a great couple with a great story. They've been together for 7 years, and they finally tied the knot earlier this month. Robbie and Jennifer have a great group of family and friends, and we really enjoyed being a part of their wedding day. Robbie's brothers and groomsmen kept us laughing the entire day...and while the ladies weren't quite as crazy as the guys, they were definitely entertaining. Robbie and Jennifer, congratulations on your wedding and we wish you the very best in your new life together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of our favorites above. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery. Enjoy!

-M&L

Our last video wedding - Cinematic Intro

2009-08-14T16:59:00.004-05:00

As some of you may already know, we started our "wedding career" in videography. We stopped booking video weddings last year, but Denice and Luis were the last clients who booked us before we made the exclusive transition to photography. For their "cinematic intro" we made a fun and fast paced video introducing the wedding party. Its only about 3 minutes long, so check it out...keep in mind we sampled down the quality quite a bit so that you didn't have to wait forever for it to load...enjoy!

- M&L

Tawny's Trash the Dress Session - Panama City Beach, FL

2009-08-04T20:00:00.003-05:00

Tawny and Jonathan were married earlier this year in March and we had a great time shooting their wedding. Tawny is "beach girl" and it didn't take much convincing to get her to do a trash the dress session. We took a little "mini-vacation" to Panama City Beach, FL a few weeks ago and had an awesome trash the dress session with her...and we even got Jonathan in for a few pictures. We love trash the dress because it really allows you to get creative and do alot of different things that you wouldn't do for a typical bridal shoot. Editing these sessions are always a task, but alot of fun. Tawny we had a great time at the shoot, and hanging out with you and Jonathan over the weekend. You guys are awesome and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Hope you enjoy the slideshow of your pictures above, and all of your pictures are in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing."

- M&L

Rachel and Jeremy's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2009-07-31T09:53:00.007-05:00

Rachel and Jeremy's wedding was simply beautiful! We love being a part of capturing such a special moment in the lives of a couple, and this one ranks right up there at the top. Rachel and Jeremy's love for each other is so obvious and it is a beautiful thing to see. Both of them couldn't wait to see each other, and when they did the emotions were so deep and real you can't help but feel some of it too. We had a great time and the wedding party definitely kept us laughing...you guys have an amazing group of family and friends. Rachel and Jeremy we are so happy for you and it has been a pleasure meeting you and working with you. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above of some of our favorites...we've also posted just a few pictures below with some comments. All of your pictures are online in your gallery which you can access by going to www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "Client Proofing" then clicking on your gallery. Thanks again for choosing us to be a part of your special day!

- M&L

...Rachel's dress was beautiful, and the doorway to this ornate sanctuary just made it better...

...love the shoes...

...the ladies! Look closely at the reflection in the table...(click the picture to enlarge)

...the guys....they have got to be one of the most fun group of groomsmen we've ever had ...

...Rachel peaking through the door as she is about to see Jeremy for the first time...

...Rachel walking down the aisle behind Jeremy right before they saw each other. They were so excited to see each other...their expressions are priceless!

...the "special moment"

...loved the church's ceilings and stained glass...had to take some artistic shots with a little backlight...

...can you tell that these two love each other?

...ok, just in case anyone was wondering, this pose was not our idea. We don't even know what is going on right here, but these guys were hilarious...haha...can't stop laughing...

...here comes the bride...

...a beautiful shot from the balcony of the church...love the high ceilings, archways, colors...etc.

...the kiss...

...the exit...from above :)

...our friend Karen was just a bit excited for the new couple...just a bit... :)

...awesome cake...loved the way the large window behind accented it...

...Jeremy is from Canada (in case you didn't know) and proud of it! We loved the way they incorporated some of their engagement photos into the decorations at the reception!

...Jeremy showing off his new "bling-bling"

....Jeremy really liked the cake...or Rachel's finger...maybe both?

...Rachel's reaction after the girls in her sorority serenaded her...

...the garter with the symbol from the Canadian flag...love it!

...the groomsmen just hanging out getting their lean on...what you don't see was the ladies flocking to them right after we took this picture...I mean...who could resist these guys? :)

...sending them off in style!

...mission accomplished...congrats Rachel and Jeremy!

Che' and Brandon's Engagement Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-07-29T10:37:00.002-05:00

It was a pleasure to meet Che' and Brandon earlier this week for their engagement session. Both Che' and Brandon are very photogenic, and they were just so easy to work with. They even brought their dog Skyler along for some pictures...and even she was great with the camera! Brandon is in the Navy and brought his "whites" out for the shoot...which we thought was awesome! We appreciate the men and women of our military, and everything they do to protect our freedoms...and Brandon is absolutely no exception! Che' and Brandon, it was great to meet you guys, both of you seem like wonderful people and we are very much looking forward to your wedding! Check out the brief slideshow above with some of our favorites...and all of your engagement pictures are now online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com and then clicking on "Client Proofing."

Enjoy!
- M&L

Simply the Most Amazing Wedding Processional of All Time!

2009-07-24T09:57:00.005-05:00

Ok, if you haven't seen this yet, take 5 minutes and watch it...its hilarious. Simply the coolest wedding intro we've seen...and we've actually filmed someone coming down the aisle to the Superman Theme song...so we've seen some cool stuff. So which one of our brides wants to try this? We'll video it for free if you do it :)

- M&L

Robin's Bridal Session - Prattville, AL

2009-07-16T15:41:00.002-05:00

We’ve been so excited about Robin’s bridals since we took them a few weeks back that we just couldn’t wait to get them edited and displayed. As a photographer, there is no better feeling than an amazing photo shoot where the pictures came out exactly how you want them…especially when you are faced with some challenges. We had previously scheduled Robin’s bridal session a month earlier, but it got rained out. Then the only time that we were able to reschedule them was during the 100 degree plus stretch that we’ve had recently. To add to that, the day of the shoot there were scattered thunderstorms all over the place. Instead of rescheduling again, we took a chance. Although we did have to put Robin back in the car once due to rain, the weather was a blessing in disguise. The temperature cooled down into the 70’s after the front came through, and the rain and thunder were long gone. Robin was simply AMAZING! She is beautiful and takes direction like she was born to be a model. Since we’ve had the chance to become friends with Robin over the past few months we were really able to open up and experiment with a lot of different angles, lighting effects, etc…and the results? Well, see for yourself! Check out the brief slideshow above of some of our favorites. All of Robin’s bridals are in her gallery which can be accessed by going to www.nexisphotography.com then clicking on “Client proofing.” Robin, you are incredible…thanks for an amazing shoot…can’t wait until the wedding! BTW…tell your sisters thanks again for the entertainment during the shoot… :)

- M&L

John and Amanda's Wedding - Tupelo, MS

2009-07-15T10:29:00.006-05:00

The Abele family got a little bigger and alot prettier a few weeks ago when Matt's little brother John married Amanda. Amanda is one of the sweetest people we've ever met, and we welcome her into the family with open arms. John is ok too...I guess :) No in all seriousness John is a great brother and we feel he deserves a wonderful wife by his side...that is why we think these two make a great couple. We traveled up to Amanda's home town of Tupelo, MS for the wedding...what a fun weekend. The guys played some golf, the ladies did alot of decorating, but also got to hang out by the pool and catch a movie or two. The wedding was definitely a challenge because Matt was in it...leaving Leigh to do most of the work during the formals, the ceremony, and the reception. Everything went off great and John and Amanda had a beautiful wedding. John and Amanda, we love you guys and are so happy for you. We look forward to spending more time with you now that you are close by (and not driving back and forth to MS every weekend) and we are here to support and encourage you in any way possible. We hope you enjoy the slideshow of your pictures...I've also posted some of our favorites below with comments.

Congratulations!
- M&L

...Steve arrives at the church...this is his typical pose for the camera :)

A detail shot of Amanda's mom fastening her up in her dress...

...love this picture of Amanda getting her veil put on.

John ought to like this one...the camera angle makes his arm look HUGE!

Steve and dad...goobers.

One of Matt's favorite pictures...John looking out the window gathering his thoughts just before he sees Amanda.

...another one of Matt's favorites...just a cool picture.

...Amanda coming down the aisle right before they see each other for the first time.

"The moment" ...this is their reaction to seeing each other for the first time.

...thought the orange wall and director's chair was an awesome backdrop for some quick portraits before the formals started...love the color contrast.

...don't these two look cool together?

...we had already done an awesome bridal session with Amanda, but just had to get a few more "bridal" shots with her and the orange wall.

...having fun...

...John taking a peak at his beautiful bride...

...if Amanda ever runs up the phone bill, this is what it will look like...

John and Amanda found some giant ears laying around and so we took some fun pictures with them...we were laughing so hard I'm surprised these pictures turned out :)

...Amanda + orange wall = AWESOME!

Look at those studs...the Abele boys clean up nice don't we?

...the ladies striking a pose...

...a picture of Amanda and her dad right before she comes down the aisle...

...Amanda getting emotional as she walks down the aisle toward her future husband...

...looking into each other's eyes as they exchange vows/rings...

...this kiss...

...the "we did it" moment as they come down the aisle!

...I don't know what was up with these two goofballs...they were having too much fun...

John's cake...personally I would prefer orange and blue on top...but it was John's day...and he enjoyed showing off then eating his "roll tide" cake.

...love this picture...I want to make a joke about Amanda being hungry, but I think its more likely that she just didn't want to get chocolate on her dress...

...love this candid picture of John and Amanda dipping fruit in the fondue fountain.

...a shot of John and Amanda while dad was delivering a toast. It was probably the best toast I've heard at any wedding anywhere...and we've been to a few of them :)

...you couldn't help getting emotional during some of the toasts...

...the blur you see is Amanda's boquet as she is about to let it fly...

John knows that guys never try to catch the garter so he solved that problem...he put it on a football. There is a man-law that states when someone throws a football towards you...you must try to catch it. It was a success...all of the guys went for it!

...a fun little shot of John and our cute little neice Madalyn...

...John and Amanda leaving the reception...

...one last shot as they are about to pull away...off to Mexico they go! Congrats John and Amanda!

Bryan and Tiffany's Wedding - Montgomery, AL

2009-07-06T15:55:00.004-05:00

What an amazing wedding! Bryan and Tiffany were married outside on the terrace of the Capital City Club...atop the tallest building in Montgomery, the RSA Tower. It was a beautiful day, with blue skies and sunshine...but man was it HOT! Temperatures were in the upper 90's with heat index pushing temps over 100 degrees! The entire wedding party and the family get an A+ in my book for toughing out the heat to get all of the formal pictures in! Tiffany picked out beautiful colors and decor for this wedding, we were very impressed with everything! Bryan and Tiffany, we really enjoyed being part of your wedding day, and want to thank you for being so accomodating and easy to work with! We hope you enjoy the brief slideshow above of some of our favorites. All of your wedding pictures are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing." Congratulations!

- M&L

Mandy and Chad's Engagement Session - Prattville, AL

2009-06-29T12:55:00.003-05:00

We had a really good time shooting with Mandy and Chad...despite the heat wave we seem to be right in the middle of! I don't buy into the global warming religion, but for goodness sakes, its hot out there! Chad told us right when we showed up that he hates taking pictures, and was not looking forward to their engagement session at all. I told him thats because he'd never taken pictures with us before...to which he kinda smirked...but was willing to give it a try. By the end of the session, Chad was at ease and admitted that "it wasn't that bad after all"...success! Mandy was very comfortable in front of a camera...has a beautiful smile and is a very sweet person. We think these two are a great match and we are looking forward to their wedding in just a few short months! Mandy and Chad, your engagement photos are online in your gallery which you can access by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing."

Enjoy!
- M&L

Luis and Denice's Wedding - Millbrook, AL

2009-06-19T20:36:00.003-05:00

When two people are in love with each other it is obvious...and we can't think of any couple who appear more in love than Luis and Denice. Even when things got behind they stayed focused and excited about the wedding ceremony and becoming husband and wife. And at the reception, we were very impressed by Luis' removal of the garter. He didn't just walk out to the dance floor, take off the garter then throw it...he was smooth as silk! He took Denice by the hand, guided her into the seat, took his time taking off the garter, then took her hand and helped her out of her seat, hugged her and kissed her. It was impressive to say the least! We couldn't have asked for two nicer people, or two nicer families. Everyone at this wedding had a smile on their face and had a great time. Luis and Denice, you guys are a wonderful couple, and what a great testimony of how a husband and wife ought to love one another. We hope you enjoy the brief slideshow above...and all of your wedding pictures are online in your gallery. You can get to your gallery by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your picture. Your wedding video will take a few more weeks, but you are going to LOVE it!

Talk to you guys soon!
- M&L

Kristina and Jacob's Engagement Session - Prattville, AL

2009-06-10T09:43:00.003-05:00

Kristina and Jacob are in love...you can tell it in the way they look at each other, laugh at and with each other, and just the way they interact together. Both of them were up for just about any suggestions we had, and we hit alot of spots on this shoot. Even though it was hot, they braved the heat and humidity, and were fun and upbeat the entire time. We can't wait to see these two tie the knot in a few short months! Kristina and Jacob, we hope you enjoy the slideshow above. All of your photos are online in your gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing" then looking for your gallery. Talk to you guys soon!

- M&L

Lakisha and Shawn's Wedding - Huntsville, AL

2009-05-29T11:12:00.005-05:00

We really had a good time at Lakisha and Shawn's wedding. These two make a beautiful couple and have been a pleasure to work with all the way from their engagements through the wedding day. There we so many memorable moments from their wedding: Shawn and his groomsmen joking on each other, the "special moment" when they saw each other for the first time, Lakisha busting out the "stanky leg" dance, and the last few quiet portraits at the end of the night. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"...we had a blast, and we wish you guys the best as you start your new lives together. We hope you enjoy the slideshow above, and we've posted just a few of our favorites below. All of your photos are online in your gallery which can be viewed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "Client Proofing."

- M&L

Lakisha had a beautiful dress, we love this little detail of the back...

...now that is how you eat a donut...

...I don't know about you guys, but where I come from, that is a HUGE arm!

...one of our favorite's...

...the moment right before Lakisha came down the aisle...

...coming down the aisle with a smile :)

...the kiss...

...just love the colors in this fun group shot...

...the first dance #1...

...#2

...filling up the glasses for a toast. The bartender was on his game...

...the reaction to one of the groomsmen's toast...

...one of the guests filming Lakisha and her Father-in-Law doing the "Stanky Leg"

...one of two last portraits at the end of the night...

...and the last one. Congratulations Lakisha and Shawn!

Amanda's Bridal Session - Downtown Montgomery, AL

2009-05-22T13:29:00.004-05:00

Amanda is our soon to be sister-in-law, and her wedding is coming up fast...just over a month to go! With as much rain as we've been having lately, we had a very limited window to do her bridals...but last weekend we took a chance in between rain showers and it worked out! We took Amanda to Downtown Montgomery where a number of buildings are currently being renovated. We loved the "unfinished" backdrops where there was ongoing construction...and some of the spot lighting gave us some great contrast. Amanda even brought her little dog "Tink" along to be a part of the fun! Amanda, you are a beautiful girl and you look amazing in your dress...John is a lucky guy! We can't wait until the big day! Check out the slideshow above, and some of our favorites below. Also, your gallery which contains all of your bridals is up in the client proofing section at http://www.nexisphotography.com/. Enjoy!

- M&L

...one of Leigh's favorites

...love the big window in this old brick building...

...striking a pose...

...we got alot of mileage out of this window...

...couldn't pass up this picture, the symmetry of the building is perfect for a portrait shot...

...really like the colors...

...one of Matt's favorites...

...TINK!!!!...

...LOVE this one...

...very cool shot with the huge window in this unfinished room...

...and another...

...took these with the light pole outside at twilight...love the contrasting light...

...and a nice black and white with the light pole...

...the end of an amazing bridal session...great job Amanda!

Robin and David's Engagement Session - Prattville, AL

2009-05-18T11:47:00.006-05:00

We met up with Robin and David in downtown Prattville for their engagement session. Talk about a fun photo shoot, they had Leigh and I cracking up the entire time! Its always fun to have a completely laid back photo session...and since these two are great looking people, that made our job even easier. Robin and David are amazing people, and we've really enjoyed getting to know them over the past few months. We are looking forward to Robin's upcoming bridal shoot, and their wedding in September! All of their engagement photos are online in their gallery which can be accessed at www.nexisphotography.com and clicking on "client proofing." Don't forget to check out the slideshow above, and some of our favorites below!

- M&L

...love the expression on Robin's face...I'm sure David's expression was nice too :)

...another fun moment...

...one of Leigh's favorites

...don't let this picture fool you, I don't think they fell off the tracks once...

...love the walking into the sunset picture...

...amazing lighting...

...one of Matt's favorites...

Nexis Photography is on Facebook!

2009-05-13T09:02:00.003-05:00

Thats right, we're on Facebook! We'd love you to join our Facebook group and tell all of your friends to join us too! We'll be posting weekly updates on our facebook wall, as well as various issues in our discussion board. To link to our Facebook page, just click the image above. Once there, click the link to join the group!

- M&L

Sarah and Grant's Engagement Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-05-11T11:32:00.007-05:00

We met Sarah and Grant at the Shakespeare Festival on a Friday evening for their engagement session. We really enjoyed shooting with these two...they had a great sense of humor and were up for just about any idea we had. Matt had a great time talking about cameras, lenses, lighting, and other technical photography stuff because Grant is also a photographer! Sarah and Grant, we are very much looking forward to your wedding in September. We hope you enjoy the brief slideshow and some of our favorite pictures below. All of your images are in your online gallery which can be accessed by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "client proofing."

- M&L

2009-05-07T12:26:00.003-05:00

Meagan and Clay's wedding was beautiful! They were married on a mild April afternoon at Rocky Mount Bed and Breakfast in Prattville, Al. There were so many things we liked about Meagan and Clay's wedding that its hard to list them all, but here are a few things: the centerpeices - live goldfish!, the groom's cake - decked out with Little Debbie treats, the florals - beautiful!, vocalists for the ceremony were amazing, great DJ at the reception....you get the idea. Meagan and Clay, we had a great time at your wedding and wish you guys the very best as you start your new life together! The slideshow above will give you a quick overview of your wedding, but all of your images are online in your proofing gallery. To access them go to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and click on client proofing. We've posted some of our favorites with some captions below. Enjoy!

- M&L

...getting started on the hair...

...drying...

...and bam! The finished product!

...love the florals

...this has got to be the coolest cake I've ever seen. Little Debbie nutterbutters, swiss cake rolls, fudge rounds, brownies...wow!

...a shot from above...love the symmetry

...cute shoes

...the bridesmaids getting ready...but always ready for a picture :)

Clay helps his son get dressed first...what a dad!

...the best man cracks jokes as Leigh pins on his Boutonniere

...almost ready to go

...the best man making sure everything is just right...

...love this picture. The bride walking in from a few quick photos while grandpa sits taking it all in.

...what a cute couple!

...right before the flower girls and junior bridesmaid walk out they caught me taking their picture and decided to wave.

...here comes the bride #1

...Clay's reaction...

...here comes the bride #2

...love the emotion during the sand ceremony...

...the kiss

The Ladies!

The Guys!

...dad telling Meagan he's out of cash...nothing left.

...Clay is thinking..."what am I doing with these?"

...a pose for the camera

...Meagan looks like she is going to bite that fork in half...must be good cake!

...first dance

...breaking it down...

...Meagan breaking it down...

...this is Meagan's "Poker Face"...

...once last picture, dancing the night away...

Denice's Bridal Session - Montgomery, AL

2009-04-30T13:06:00.006-05:00

Denice is one of our brides that booked us early in 2008 when we were still offering photography and videography services, so she will be the last client to receive a wedding video created by Nexis. We are doing a special intro video for her since it is our last wedding video, with her permission we hope to post that intro video on our website in a few months. However, this post is about her bridal portraits. We took Denice out to Shakespeare to take her bridals, and had to get somewhat creative with locations there. It seemed like all of the more commonly used locations were either closed or had too many people around, so we improvised and we think things turned out great! Denice, you are a beautiful bride with a beautiful dress, you are going to knock Luis off his feet! Check out the slideshow above, and you can link to your gallery by going to http://www.nexisphotography.com/ and clicking on "client proofing." We've posted some of our favorite photos below with some captions. We are looking forward to your wedding...its coming up soon!

- M&L

...amazing dress!

...beautiful bride.

...love the wide angle shot with Denice in front of the theatre door.

...again, we love the dress!

...one of our favorites! People all around us were just staring, and we heard a bunch of people asking each other "how in the world did she get up there!"

...a little girl walked up and gave Denice a flower that she had picked off the ground...it was very sweet.

...love these angles...thanks to one of Denice's bridesmaids for the inspiration.

...love the expression!

Rachel and Jeremy's Engagements

2009-04-20T21:59:00.006-05:00

We met Rachel and Jeremy in Downtown Montgomery for their engagement session just a few weeks ago. We had actually first met Rachel a couple of years ago at a friend's wedding where she was a bridesmaid...so it was pretty cool that we're now shooting her wedding! Rachel and Jeremy were tons of fun...they were completely laid back and we had a great time taking pictures with them. Hope you guys enjoy the slideshow and the gallery. We've also posted some of our favorites below with some captions. Enjoy!

...I just love the symmetry of this photo...its about as balanced as you could want.

...Jeremy was trying to put the flower on her ear...he accidentally stuck it IN her ear :)

...Leigh's favorite.

...Matt's favorite.

...very cool architecture in the courtyard of this church.

...talk about hops...we told them to jump...and they said how high? I'm still amazed!

...another one of Matt's favorites.

...another one of Leigh's favorites.

...love this photo...can you see the heart they form when they kiss? You can't teach that :)

...we caught these native stick dwellers in their natural habitat...they are a friendly people... Hehe, this display just happened to be setup in front of the Museum of Fine Arts, so we had to take advantage and get some photos.

...love this one.

...you guys look great together.

...one last picture at sunset.

-M&L

Anna and Matt's Wedding - Lake Martin, AL

2009-04-14T15:38:00.010-05:00

Anna and Matt's wedding was awesome! It ended up raining the day before, and the day after, but the wedding day was beautiful! Anna and Matt were married at Church in the Pines, and the reception took place at Willow Point Country Club...both beautiful venues. We've got to say, Anna has to be one of the most organized brides we've ever had the pleasure of working with. She had a notebook with all of her invitations, her wedding program, ...she even had a menu and a weekend agenda for the wedding party! For those of you who don't know us...we like organization :) Everything went great, even when some unexpected rain showers popped up to soak the reception (the sprinkler system at the Country Club turned on unexpectedly), it didn't stop the party. We put up some photos of some of our favorite moments below with some captions. Anna and Matt, you guys were great and we've really enjoyed working with you. Congratulations...and we wish you the very best as you start your life together as husband and wife!

...mom and grandma taking a peek at Anna while she does some last minute ironing.

...love this picture! Dad giving his daughter a hug, and you can see mom and the sisters in the miror watching.

...Anna's sisters react to seeing her in her dress.

...Matt said his tie was a little tight, but he was gonna roll with it anyway.

...the first time Matt and Anna saw each other on the wedding day.

...the best man stepping on the groom's toes...normally a no-no, but this was an inside joke.

...this was neat...these two bridesmaids wore this same veil for their wedding.

...Matt getting some last minute advice from one of his groomsmen.

...mom making sure that everything was still on schedule.

...these bridesmaids realized I was pointing the camera in their direction...not sure if you can tell, but they didn't mind.

...Matt gives the thumbs up...he is ready to go!

...the bride's father stands in the back and takes it all in right before the ceremony starts.

...we did it!

...Anna and Matt take a quick peek right before they are announced into the reception.

...Matt showing off the dance moves. He grew up friends with Taylor Hicks (American Idol winner), now I know where Taylor got his moves.

...right in the middle of the reception, the sprinklers at the country club popped out of the ground and started soaking people.

...it did disrupt things for a few minutes as people ran for cover, but everyone quickly laughed it off and had fun with it.

...one of the "heros" standing on the sprinkler head to protect innocent bystanders from the unwanted precipitation.

...hero #2.

...we stole Anna and Matt away for a few minutes for some quick photos.

...Matt and his dad breaking it down.

...Matt and his mom.

...the windmill?

...Anna's sister comes up with a great catch to snag the boquet.

...this was amazing. Anna rapped the entire Rapper's Delight song flawlessly!

...dancing skills...

...the exit was awesome. Anna is a Bama fan, Matt an Auburn fan...they each had their respective shakers going as their guests sent them off in style!

- M&L

How to Choose a Photographer for Your Wedding!

2009-04-07T08:51:00.008-05:00

There are a lot of articles out there that will tell you how to choose a photographer for your wedding…so why write another one? In reading a number of these I noticed that the advice you are given is more geared toward asking the photographer questions that will determine if they are a good fit for your personality, or if their wedding package will meet your needs. I haven’t found many that will tell you how to determine if the photographer is actually any good at taking pictures. The purpose of this article is geared toward making sure the photographer you are considering produces consistent, quality work. You will regret nothing more than choosing a bad photographer for your wedding. So how do you know if the photographer you are considering will produce quality work? Review their online galleries and look for the following things:

1) Are the photos properly exposed? Essentially, is the photo too dark, too bright, or just right? A good photographer will never have an underexposed or overexposed photo on their website (unless they are going for something artistic, but you should be able to tell if it is intentional or not). Here is an example of an overrexposed, properly exposed, and underexposed picture.

2) Is the photographer’s website overloaded with black and whites? Some photographers really like black and white photos, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, if half or more of their photos are black and white, then you better like them too because that’s probably what you are going to get. These photographers may have problems achieving the correct color balance in photos, so keep your eye out for that.

3) The difference between good black and white photos is black and white! Make sure that the black and white photos have the proper amount of contrast between the blacks and whites. Too little and the picture looks grayish or “muddy,” too much and the picture loses detail. There should be a nice balance of blacks, whites, and grays in the photo. Keep a close eye out for this and make sure the photographer you are considering can create great looking black and white shots.

4) Focus on focus! You want your subject to be sharp, and that’s fairly easy when your subject is just one person or thing. However, a problem some photographers may have during formal portraits with large groups is not being able to keep everyone in focus. Make sure you review the photographer’s formal group shots to make sure they can keep everyone in focus. Particuarly pay attention to photos of large groups where there may be 2 or 3 rows of people. You may find that just one of the rows is in focus, and the rest are blurry.

5) Most importantly, don’t book a photographer until you can see an entire collection of wedding images from one of their recent weddings. Don’t settle for an online gallery containing a combination of their best photos from a number of shoots. If you want to know what you are really going to get from your photographer, look at what they just gave to their last client. Keep in mind the format you will be reviewing these photos in is an online gallery...it is unrealistic to expect the photographer to carry around a portfolio of 500+ prints from a single wedding. If the photographer won’t give you access to look at an entire gallery from a recent wedding, move on! You should expect to see anywhere from 300 photos from a very basic wedding to 700+ for an all day full-coverage wedding.

In closing, remember that there is some truth to the axiom, you get what you pay for. Now, that doesn’t mean that the most expensive photographer is the best…that is where the term “value” comes into play…but use your judgment. If a photographer is giving you all day coverage, a disc of all wedding images, etc, etc, and is charging you less than $1,000 ask yourself why? A good photographer will need to be fairly compensated for their time and equipment investments.

We hope this information is helpful to you as you are selecting your photographer. We would be happy to answer any other questions that you might have. Feel free to e-mail us at nexisphotography@hotmail.com.

- M&L

Nexis Photography
2009 Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award Winner

Kimberly and Drew's Engagements - Prattville, AL

2009-04-02T15:31:00.002-05:00

Kimberly and Drew...you guys rock! We had a great time shooting your engagement photos and we hope you had as much fun as we did. Its obvious the two of you are meant for each other. We just loved the expressions you guys were giving each other during the shoot...good stuff. Check out the slideshow above of some of our favorites. The rest are in your online gallery, just go to www.nexisphotography.com and click on client proofing to find your gallery! Talk to you guys soon!

- M&L

Tawny and Jonathan's Wedding - Andalusia, AL

2009-03-30T12:06:00.009-05:00

Tawny and Jonathan, you guys are the best! We've really enjoyed meeting and getting to know you, and we are so happy to have been a part of your special day. Your wedding was beautiful and we had a hard time picking our favorites because there were so many of them! Here is a brief slideshow of just a few of them, the rest will be uploaded to your gallery shortly. Congratulations and we look forward to talking to you guys soon!

- M&L

Bridal Bargains from "The Bargain Bride"

2009-03-18T12:08:00.005-05:00

Cori, one of our brides from last year, recently put up a blog geared towards getting the most out of your wedding budget. Knowing what your priorities are, and what resources you have to work with are key to putting together a fantastic wedding on a limited budget. Trust me, it can be done...Cori, The Bargain Bride" had a beautiful wedding, and frankly we are shocked at how little she spent! Click on the picture above to link to her blog, or go to http://www.bridalbargains.blogspot.com/ to check out her advice!

- M&L

Meagan's Bridal Session - Prattville, AL

2009-03-15T23:04:00.011-05:00

Sunday, March 15th...it would have been a beautiful day, if it weren't for the rain! We met Meagan at Rocky Mount Bed and Breakfast in Prattville, AL to take her bridal portraits. Originally we had planned to do much of the shoot outside in the wedding garden, but due to the rain we moved it inside...and things turned out great! Leigh and I fell in love with the natural light coming in the windows, the beautiful hardwood floors, the staircase, the mirrors and doors...oh yeah, and it sure doesn't hurt to have a knock out bride such as Meagan! Meagan looked amazing, loved her hair, her dress, actually...can't think of anything we didn't like! We even walked out side and snapped a few photos at the end of the shoot just for fun. Meagan, hope you enjoy the brief slideshow of some of our favorites. We've got a TON more coming...we'll upload them to your gallery as soon as they are done! Can't wait until your wedding...just a few more weeks to go!

- M&L

Anna Bridal's - Lake Martin (Alex City, AL)

2009-03-13T07:42:00.021-05:00

We met Anna at Lake Martin for her bridal portraits, and what a beautiful day it was! Anna not only looked great...she had it all together! A beautiful dress, a full length veil (which we love for outdoor shots), an amazing boquet of roses...she even brought along her two dogs to share in the fun! If you haven't noticed, we even used one of Anna's pictures as our blog header! Anna, we had a great time and are looking forward to your upcoming wedding! Here are some of our favorites, we'll have the rest of them online in your gallery soon!

...talk about cute dogs, they even dressed up to take their photo!

...loved the way the sun was hitting her veil.

...love the flowers, with some purple mixed in...beautiful.

- M&L

The "Little Guy" Ends Up on Top!

2009-03-10T13:33:00.010-05:00

You've heard it before..."size doesn't matter"...but probably not in the context of photography. Have you ever looked at a photographer's camera lens and made judgements about how good or bad their picture is going to turn out? I'll admit it...until I became educated about the technical aspects of an SLR lens I thought that larger was better.

Well, over the last year or so one of our favorite lenses (that we've used religiously) has been the Nikkor 50mm 1.4G. I've been telling anyone who will listen to me that this tiny little guy is one of the best lenses I've ever seen. The sharpness, color replication, and depth of field out of this lens is simply amazing, and believe it or not it is one of the more reasonably priced lenses out there! So when I found out that our little work horse won the Top Lens in the autofocus category in the Professional Photographer 2009 Hot One Awards I felt like it was a win for all the little guys out there! This lens, which is about the size of a tennis ball may get some strange looks sitting on a large camera like our D700, but trust me it belongs there.

Here is the write up about this beautiful lens:

Our judges have consistently awarded Nikon for innovation and craftsmanship in the Lenses category, and this year’s no different. When used with an FX-format DSLR, the newly engineered AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G prime lens virtually replicates the visual perspective of the human eye. This compact lens comes with Nikon Silent Wave Motor technology and the ability to focus as close as 1.5 feet. The lens’s innovative optical formula works with Nikon Super Integrated Coatings to help correct sagittal coma flare and coma aberration. The rounded diaphragm opening and nine-blade aperture make out-of-focus background elements appear significantly more natural.

- M&L

The River Region Bridal Fair

2009-03-04T15:14:00.004-06:00

We had a great time at the recent River Region Bridal Fair and met some wonderful brides to be. We booked a number of weddings at the event and we look forward to working with our newest clients!

So...we have an interesting story to share:

So we showed up at the Bridal fair around 10:30am on Sunday morning to setup for the show which is supposed to last from 1pm to 5pm. Guess where we were at 12:01am on Sunday morning? New Orleans!!! Yep, we drove 5 hours through the night swerving around deer on I-65, and navigating through snow for a few hours to arrive home around 5am. We got about 3 hours of sleep, and then packed up for the Bridal Fair. Hopefully no one noticed that we were deliriously tired!

We were in New Orleans for the wedding of some friends of ours, Shaun and Dione. Matt was a groomsman and Leigh was a reader. This was one of the biggest and most elaborate weddings we've ever been to...and we've been to a lot! The bride put us up at the W Hotel in downtown New Orleans, checked us into suites on the day of the wedding to get ready, then we took a fleet of limos via police escort (this was the coolest part) to the church and then to the reception. We had 4 motorcycle cops stopping traffic everywhere we went...we felt like rock stars! Then the reception was an amazing venue at a ritzy country club, and the band..."The Topcats" simply amazing.

I just think I talked more about our friend's wedding than the Bridal Fair...but I'm telling you it was amazing. Anyway, we are about to start getting busy with bridal sessions, engagement sessions, and weddings...so you will see less of me rambling and more pictures very soon :)

- M&L

A Great Endorsement!

2009-02-16T22:13:00.005-06:00

We received an amazing endorsement from one of the best photographers I know, Heath Stone. He wrote the following endorsement for us and we are honored that someone as talented as Heath would write us such a glowing review. Check it out!

"I think Matt and Leigh are wonderful photographers with beautiful personalities. If I was able to do it over again I would definitely have them shoot our wedding. I love their polished style, attention to details and how they capture the emotion of the moment. It was such a pleasure working with them at events where they were filming. They used to do video (in case you didn't know). The caliber of work they produce places them in the high end photography bracket... I keep telling them to raise their prices. If you can book them at the rate they are charging now you had better jump on it! I can tell you, they will have to go up as they get more and more in demand. If you want to be well taken care of and at peace on your wedding day knowing wonderful images will be captured then go with Nexis!"

- Heath Stone, Stone Images

- M&L

John and Amanda's Engagements - Montgomery, AL

2009-02-12T18:59:00.011-06:00

My brother John got engaged in December to a wonderful girl from Mississippi named Amanda. Leigh and I have really enjoyed getting to know Amanda and we are fully convinced that she is the perfect girl for John...they make a really great couple! For their engagement pictures we took them to the Riverwalk in downtown Montgomery; and wow, what a perfect day for photos! After the Riverwalk we went to the exact spot where John proposed to Amanda for some re-enactments...and a little bit of "rock climbing." Finally, to cap off a beautiful day John and Amanda treated us to the Melting Pot in Birmingham! For those of you who have never tried the Melting Pot, you are missing out!

John and Amanda, we are so proud of both of you and look forward to welcoming Amanda into the family. Here are some of our favorite photos from the shoot...enjoy!

- M&L

Nexis Photography wins the 2009 Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Award!

2009-02-03T08:05:00.005-06:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Nexis Photography has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™! In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Nexis Photography is one of the very best photographers in the network. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews. “We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Leigh and I would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

- M&L

Catching up!

2009-02-01T19:44:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I haven't updated the blog in a while so a post is long overdue. We had a great 2008 and 2009 is coming in a hurry. We've got multiple engagement and bridal sessions setup in February and once March gets here things really get busy!

We will once again have a booth at the River Region Bridal Fair in Prattville on March 1st. If you get a chance, come by and check out the fair...and make sure to visit our booth! For more information about the River Region Bridal Fair go to: www.riverregionbridal.com.

Looking forward to an exciting 2009!
- M&L

Nexis Featured in Another Cullinard Advertisement!

2009-01-06T20:36:00.004-06:00

Cullinard Special Events once again has used our work in one of their advertisements. This time our photos will be featured in their ad that will run in the February issue of Portico Magazine! With 6 venues, Cullinard Special Events hosts hundreds of weddings each year, so for them to use our work not only once, but twice in their print ads is a great honor...and we certainly don't mind the free exposure :)

Here is a picture of the ad that will be running.

- M&L

Nexis' photos featured in Southern Dream Weddings!

2008-12-21T22:19:00.010-06:00

Cullinard Special Events has chosen some of our photos from a wedding we shot at the Donnelly House in August to be featured in their ad in Southern Dream Weddings Magazine! Not only that, but the Director of Sales and Marketing for Cullinard Special Events, Brooke Gillis, said that our photos from this wedding were "the best pictures I have ever seen taken at the Donnelly House." Considering that the Donnelly House is a very popular wedding venue, we take this as a HUGE compliment! You can see a sample of the ad below that will run in the next issue of Southern Dream Weddings.

- M&L

Anna and Matt's Engagements

2008-12-11T22:02:00.005-06:00

We met Anna at a bridal fair in Prattville back in October. She saw our "entire wedding in 4 minutes" video and decided that she wanted us to photograph her wedding. This past weekend we met Anna's finace Matt and we took their engagements at Aldridge Gardens in Birmingham. It was a pretty cold day but Anna and Matt were relaxed and up for trying just about anything. Anna and Matt are a great couple and we are really looking forward to their wedding in April!

- M&L

Lakisha and Shawn's Engagements

2008-12-09T19:50:00.005-06:00

We met Lakisha and Shawn at Samford University in Birmingham, AL for their engagement shoot. These guys were awesome! Even though it was in the 40's outside they were fun and upbeat and you couldn't even tell they were cold. Lakisha and Shawn, we had a great time taking your engagements and look forward to your wedding next year! Merry Christmas!

- M&L

Bryan and Karen

2008-12-08T14:42:00.004-06:00

Bryan and Karen are good friends of ours who wanted to have some "contemporary" style photos made of them. So...when they came in town we went out to downtown Prattville and picked out a great location to match the style they were looking for. We had a great time at this photo shoot and really enjoyed spending the afternoon with these amazing people. Bryan and Karen, we love you guys and miss you since you moved to Georgia. Anytime you want to move back you're welcome to come home :)

- M&L

Cori and Tim - Greystone Farmhouse

2008-11-06T07:45:00.011-06:00

Cori and Tim...what can I say...you guys are awesome! We really enjoyed your wedding and you two seem like a great couple. We loved your sense of humor and your style. Some of the things we remember most from your wedding: Cori's shoes...very cool!, the "first meeting" on the bridge, Cori's dad helping get the wedding party organized for photos, the hamburger cake, and who can forget Starbucks...Cori's favorite place on earth! As promised I wanted to get some pictures up for you to see before Tim heads off to basic training. Cori and Tim, we wish you guys the very best in your new life together. We'll be in touch once we finish everything else.

- M&L

Austin and Alex

2008-11-04T13:12:00.004-06:00

Our friend April wanted to have some pictures made of her children so we went out to the Shakespeare Festival for a quick photo session. Talk about cute kids! Austin loved the camera, Alex seemed to ignore it completely, but in the end we got some great shots of both of them. We'll have all of the photos done soon, but in the mean time here is a preview.

- M&L

Emily and Michael's Wedding - Blue Spring Manor

2008-11-03T17:12:00.013-06:00

Emily and Michael, we really enjoyed meeting you guys and spending time with you on your wedding day. Both of you were so relaxed and easy going that we felt like we were shooting a friend’s wedding. The venue was beautiful, and the details such as your grandmother’s wedding dress, and Michael’s handmade centerpieces just capped off a perfect October day. We’re working on your photos, but in the mean time here are some of our favorites for you to view until we get everything finished!

-M&L

Trash the Dress - Destin, FL

2008-10-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have not heard of "Trash the Dress" it is a trend that has recently gained popularity with many of today's brides. Essentially, it contrasts the elegance of a wedding dress, by putting it in a setting that is completely out of place. Since you will never wear your wedding dress again, why not memorialize it for a wild and crazy photo shoot and have some fun while you are at it? We've decided to offer "Trash the Dress" to our list of services, but before we tried to sell our clients on it, we figured we should experience it ourselves. So, while we were on vacation in Destin last week we decided to do just that. Leigh and I went out to the beach at sunrise one morning and she trashed her dress in the ocean. Some of our friends thought we were crazy, others thought it was amazing and have decided they want to trash their dress too! We thought we'd share some of our favorites...let us know what you think.

- M&L