Hey y’all!  Well, I’ve been a busy bee here in the office as usual.  We’re working hard on V3 — which I have to say is the most beautiful thing on earth so far — and I’ve been deep into a few big projects.  But, without further ado… this month’s It List!  This is a very special edition — I’ve given you a few of my favorites, and have asked a few of the lovely ladies I work with to give one of their favorites, too!

Congrats to the last feature‘s top voter’s pick, Meghan McSweeney. I loved the powerful story behind that photograph.

PREVIOUSLY: Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3

How this works: VOTE for your favorite photograph by leaving a comment here and (combining our office votes with yours) we’ll award the top image of the month.  All of those images will then be in the running for Image of the Year at the end of 2010.  The best part?  If your image makes the cut, there’s a strong possibility it will make our print edition (of course, with the photographer’s permission).

My picks:

One of the brides in our upcoming print edition tried on 108 dresses.  Yes, 108.  I believe her.  I, oddly, get her.  When we went to Kleinfeld to help Katharine say yes to her dress, I was overwhelmed with schoolgirl giddiness.  My good friend Randy showed us around the massive store, including back rooms filled to the brim with fluffy white designer goodness.  Had I been granted three wishes in that moment, they would have been:

1. Have Randy pick out a dress for me.

2. Try on every dress in that store.

3. Rinse and repeat every day of the week.

Ladies, help me out here… I cannot be the only one!  You try being surrounded by Vera, Carolina and Monique…  hello temptation! So, naturally, this gorgeous photograph from David Murray reminds me of that divine feeling of slipping into “The One” for the first time.  Perfection…

I have a mental file of my favorite images of all time.  This file is easy to keep organized because there are very few photographs inside of it.  Well, it just got a little fatter with this gem from Ben Chrisman.  I audibly gasped when I saw it.  I love movement in images, as well as anticipation and surprise.  Her curled veil is like the cherry delectably placed on top of the perfect decadent wedding sundae.  In a breath, in a moment… their lives just changed.  Oh, my words just aren’t big enough for this photograph.  I suppose that’s the beauty of phenomenal moments captured – a picture contains so much more than 1,000 words.

There is an appropriate onomatopoeia in Alec Vanderboom’s name.  Like magic, this couple is surrounded by a rainbow of light and smoke… boom! Love love love.

It would be a natural tendency to label this image from Tanja Lippert “classic” … but classic denotes that it has been done before, has a timeless quality or is a perfect example of a particular style.  I would dare to say I have not seen this image before, nor done better.  The bride emerging into the light, the fullness of her dress, her graceful fingers extended as if she is saying hello to the first day of the rest of her life… need I go on?  Breathtaking.

My taste, as you can see, is varied.  I love anything that catches me and I love a photograph that shows strength.  This bride’s veil and the push of her hand cuts the air like a knife.  Direct, strong, sexy.  Thank you, Daniel Aguilar, for submitting this stunner.

I will confess that today is a tough day for me.  I’m reflecting on a personal experience one year ago that shook me to my core and still lingers.  It’s making me more reserved, quieter than my usual boisterous self, and a bit sad.  I had a great conversation with Dane Sanders last week where he asked me pointedly why I am passionate about photography.  My honest answer: photography changes me.  I am captivated, moved, uplifted by imagery.  This photograph from The Parsons is a prime example.  Hard day turns soft when I drink in the light, airy love in this image.  I can imagine her on the beach, wind in her hair, carefree and full of anticipation and love.  You can feel the sunlight, smell the ocean breeze, and without a doubt you know she feels really good in her own skin.  The power of photography.  I just went on a mini mental vacay. Thank you, Ashley and Jeremy.

I have long loved this sweet ceremony shot from Jasmine Star.  The adoration in the groom’s eyes, pride and happy tears from Dad, and the bride offering Dad a bit of comfort with a gentle touch on the back.  There are fireworks in this moment.  Just brilliant.  Gets me every time.

Awesomesauce.  That’s what these kids, captured by Michele Waite, are full of.  All dressed up with somewhere to go.  (That place, apparently, is Super Mario Kart land.  OK, I think just dated myself.  Kids probably don’t play that anymore, do they?)  Regardless, I love how sweet this image is — kids just being kids, contrasted, of course, by their wedding duds.

Picking a favorite image from this wedding by A Bryan Photo was an impossibility.  Southern perfection captured perfectly on classic beautiful film.

The moment I saw these images from Dixie Pixel, I imagined one of our office walls covered in this shot.  From top to bottom, the light, the movement, the look of joyful abandon in the groom’s face and… her dress.  Oh my, that dress!  As my friend Lydia says, Ack, I die!

There you have it friends!  I am known for epic posts and I have hundreds of favorite images, but those are just a little peek into what’s inspiring me right now.

Now, as promised, here are a few picks from Katharine, Emily, and one of our awesome interns, Nicole!

Nicole: Here is one of my favorites. I’ve had this photo from Bobbi and Mike saved for awhile because it just makes me laugh. Practice makes perfect, and what better time to learn to how to tie a tie than on your wedding day? For me, this photo perfectly describes all the little steps everyone takes to get ready on the big day and I’m sure the men in this photo are taking the responsibility of bow ties very seriously.

Emily: Ever since I saw this image from the ladies at Vue Photography, I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind.  The soft movement and creamy colors are so beautiful.  Plus, this mid-leap snap brings back my 12 years as a ballet dancer… just replace the wedding dress with a tutu, and I’d be good to go.

OK, Katharine is actually out of the office today doing wedding stuff, so we took it upon ourselves to pick an image we knew she would just loooovvvve.  Her two loves: babies and candy.  There are no signs of sugar in this shot and, technically, it’s not from a wedding, but it’s hilarious and the rest of this post will make you weep.   Shannon Sewell is brilliant.

Congrats to this month’s IT LIST picks and thank you for inspiring me!

I search high and low for a lot of these, but you can submit, too!  Here are the rules:

1. You can only submit one image per week, and…

2. …only via Twitpic (or the Twitter image service of your choice).  Follow and tweet your images to @LaraCasey with the hashtag #itlist to be considered. If your image is chosen, you’ll get a direct message requesting the shot.  This is a Twitter-only submissions system.  No email submissions or links to blog posts accepted.  Don’t have a Twitter account?  Sign up or have someone submit the image for you! If you need help learning Twitter or how to post an image, just leave a comment here and we’ll be glad to help : )

Images can come from anywhere in the world.  What I’m looking for: details, portraits, engagements, proposals, anything that makes you stop to take the image in.  I’m looking for that Mona Lisa factor… something that captures you!

Which one is your favorite?

Vote!

xo

Lara

P.S. If you are a photographer or wedding pro and want to learn the secrets to getting published and my take on phenomenal branding, you don’t want to miss this.

OK, I may have skipped a month on this feature.  I promise the imagery you are about to drink in will make up for it.  Congrats to the last feature‘s top voter’s pick, Fer Juaristi.

VOTE for your favorite photograph by leaving a comment here and (combining our office votes with yours) we’ll award the top image of the month.  All of those images will then be in the running for Image of the Year at the end of 2010.  The best part?  If your image makes the cut, there’s a strong possibility it will make our print edition (of course, with the photographer’s permission).

Fred Egan has, as of late, been rocking the fashion world.  So, it comes as no surprise that this gem of a photograph would haunt me… taunting me to forgo my Target shopping ways and become a Vuitton convert.  OK, maybe not now.  If I win the shoe lottery.

My dream dress used to be this Vera that I just couldn’t help myself from trying on pre-shoot in Vegas.  Well, that all changed when I laid eyes on this Romona Keveza frock photographed by InContrast.  Oh. My. Hold me back or Ari and I will be renewing our vows.  Again.  Gorgeous bridals.

Oh, Fer.  Yes, I put you in here again.  Confession: I have a whole folder of your images on my desktop.  I just can’t help myself with these.  Hello, doesn’t this just take your breath away?  What a moment!  … and captured so artfully.

I am not a shoe person, I swear. I am a Walmart/Target shopper through and through, but these Badgley Mischka’s shot by Vero Suh via Style Me Pretty are making me blush, they are so beautiful! Oh goodness.  Hide my AMEX.  Stacking these lovelies on prose just makes them all-the-more romantic.  They are whispering sweet nothings to me…

These guys still reign as my favorite Southern gentlemen.  Just like everything else the A Bryan guys do, this Miami wedding shot by Caleb at A Bryan Photo is top notch.  This frame is just the beginning.  You have to see the bride and her to-die-for bouquet.

Y’all know I love to travel.  This engagement shoot from Luna Photo is right up my alley… or aisle, I should say.  Pass the peanuts, stewardess, these shots are first class all the way!

It’s a little warm here in the South as spring turns to Cat-on-a-HOT-Tin-Roof-summer.  This simple, sparkling, snowy ring shot from Stephanie at Ardent Photography is like a tall glass of cool ice tea.  (PS congrats to Stephanie on announcing her pregnancy this week!  So much to celebrate!)

1. This wedding kills me.  Like… if you were in the office when I first saw it… and you were a guy…  you’d roll your eyes at my girly, squealing, ohmyWOW!!! reaction.  2. The bride is Hollywood-starlet stunning.  Just drop dead gorgeous. This portrait could be a painting in the Louvre for all I know… look at her eyes!  3. Did, I mention this wedding kills me!?  Brava, Simply Bloom.  Way to nail every image.  See the entire wedding on Style Me Pretty.  Gorgeous feature.

OK, y’all know I am a relatively busy (ahem. understatement.) woman.  I rarely have time to stop and really read blog posts.  I scan for images.  I am very very fast at it now.  Well, this one I read.  I have chills thinking about the incredible story behind this photograph from Meghan McSweeney.  It really does take on an entirely different weight.  View the rest of the wedding images here.

No lie, I saw this image, leapt up from my desk and all I could do was jump up and down and say YES! YES! YES! and laugh hysterically.  Ahahahahahaha! This is pure wedding WIN.  High fives, F8.

I spent the better part of this month in Hawaii.  Mmmmm just saying that sentence makes me very happy… and wish I could go back.  I did several consults with some amazing photographers while I was there, including Marina Miller.  I don’t usually like trash the dress, water on my dress, couple in the water, bride on fire or anything of the sort, but this image works.  Her dress looks like it’s floating and this moment looks perfectly calm and blissful.  Who wouldn’t want to paddle out into the azure waters with their love and steal away a kiss? (hand raised)  How escapist-romantic of me.

Side note: you have to see this other wedding of hers! You will thank me.

Thank you Jeremy Gilliam for nominating this epic image from Jason Huang.  Wait for it…. wait for it….

I must be thirsty.  Or just in love with mint.  Or Susan Stripling makes even the simplest details look epic.  Yes, the latter.  I love these frames together. Crisp, clean, perfectly modern Charleston.  Admittedly, I am rather drawn to the greens and blues in these shots.  We may have just done a spectacular shoot with Jose Villa and Joy Thigpen here in North Carolina using said greens and blues.  It was lovely.  Sneak peek here.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during this moment!  Just a brilliant photograph.  What do you think they are laughing about?  Go vote for this image from Next Exit Photography while you think on that.

I am a Smilebooth fan through and through.  Max and Margaux got married last weekend.  Max is good friends with my good friends, Whit and Jesse.  Margaux grew up with my cousin Ali in Laguna Beach.  Too small of a world.  I was so happy to finally meet them both at WPPI in 2009.  Gorgeous, talented, lovely couple.  Congrats M + M!  And the SW ladies are very excited to have Ashley bringing us a custom Smilebooth to play in this weekend!  Woooo!

Jeff Newsom is the Southerntron of Awesomeness.  Yeah, I made that one up.  I tried, Jeff, I tried.  This entire post is jaw-dropping. UNREAL.

Mamiya C330. Perfection. This photograph from Kitty Clark Fitz leaves me speechless.  OK ok, I have to say that I want this on my wall.  There are few images I know I would love forever.  This one wins.  Timeless.

Yes, it’s a mint-adorned drink again.  (Note to self: quench this craving stat for risk of future minty-drink-laden blog posts.)  This image needs no introduction.  I’d like a cold one right now.  Cold one as in… crisp, cold, brilliantly photographed mint julep from Tracey Turpen.

Congrats to this month’s IT LIST picks and thank you for inspiring me!

Have an image you’d like to submit?  Here are the rules:

1. You can only submit one image per week, and…

2. …only via Twitpic (or the Twitter image service of your choice).  Follow and tweet your images to @LaraCasey with the hashtag #itlist to be considered. If your image is chosen, you’ll get a direct message requesting the shot.  This is a Twitter-only submissions system.  No email submissions or links to blog posts accepted.  Don’t have a Twitter account?  Sign up or have someone submit the image for you! If you need help learning Twitter or how to post an image, just leave a comment here and we’ll be glad to help : )

Images can come from anywhere in the world.  What I’m looking for: details, portraits, engagements, proposals, anything that makes you stop to take the image in.  I’m looking for that Mona Lisa factor… something that captures you!

Which one is your favorite?

Vote!

xo

Lara

P.S. In case you missed it Monday, I announced the top 20 finalists for the SW V3 Cover. And while you’re there, leave a comment to win a FujiFilm Instax Mini!

Happy March, y’all!  No, we didn’t forget about this feature.  I’ve just been a little bit busy with a few small things.  So, we’re revamping this feature to be monthly, rather than weekly.

The last IT LIST feature was killer!  Such great feedback and I had a slew of fantastic submissions.  Thanks to everyone who submitted via our special Twitter-only system.  If you didn’t get a message back from me, don’t fret.  I have all of the images on file for possible future use.

VOTE for your favorite by leaving a comment here and (combining our office votes with yours) we’ll award the top image of the month.  All twelve of those images will then be in the running for Image of the Year at the end of 2010.  The best part?  If your image makes the cut, there’s a strong possibility it will make our print edition (of course, with the photographer’s permission).  On that note, the overwhelming choice from the last feature’s votes was Otto Schultz‘s beautiful image.  Congrats, Otto, on winning the IT LIST Image Pick!  This week, I have some gems for you, too, so get your vote on and tell us what you love!

This image from Jenna Walker just sweeps me off my feet.  White doves signify peace, movement, and hearts taking flight.  SO lovely.  It has an epic movie scene feel to it.  I’d blow this up to about 6′x6′ for a whole wall in my house.

This shoot in Nashville from Jose Villa, styled by Joy Thigpen for Once Wed, is divine.  Black wedding dress?  Yes please!  Her dress reminds me of Charlotte’s black gown in Sex and the City: The Movie… dramatic, sultry and stunning!

This classic image from Riccis Valladares captures one of those rare relaxed moment before the bride gets gussied up.  And how gorgeous is this mother of the bride?!  They look like screen sirens from the sixties.  I love the scene here: half-open computer, the remnants of breakfast and pure joy on their faces.

This wedding shot by Punam Bean just caught me.  And then I saw these little tykes — oh my CUTENESS! (Sandi makes fun of me for saying that a lot, but I’m pretty sure I’m allowed to here.)  You can just barely see the little gentleman in front holding a top in his left hand.  I love the contrast that creates with their ultra-formal clothing.

And I just couldn’t resist these lovely details from the same wedding.  The dress shot in the center needs a stage all by itself.  Those layers of tulle are so romantic, especially when coupled with the bride’s pale blush shoes.

Sarah Rhoads’ deranged housewife shoot is such a fun take on domestic glamour.  You just want to stop and savor each image, all the while wondering what is running through this woman’s mind.  She’ll either kill her husband with cookies or smother him with chocolate — definitely one of the two.

The most amazing Indian wedding ever. Period.  OK, I’m biased.  I may have designed it.  Maybe.  I was revisiting this link to send to a client last week and somehow forgot how unreal these images from Whitney and Jesse at Our Labor of Love are.  How could I forget?  Incredible couple, so much joy in that family and the details were nothing short of awesomesauce.     … Picking jaw up off floor …

Lovely lovely details from Lisa Lefkowitz.  I couldn’t pick a favorite out of these three frames….  the color combination is as fresh as fresh can be, soft, and purposeful.  Lisa captured these details so perfectly, as she so often does.

A new discovery… Fer Juaristi.  Wow.  This wedding knocks my socks off and made me want to jump out of my seat!  This was definitely not my only favorite shot from this wedding.  I could not pick a favorite.  Seriously… you try to pick just one favorite from his site.

This shot from Catherine and Ben’s wedding has stayed with me since we started the magazine.  It still ranks as my favorite wedding image of all time (so far).  The glow of the table illuminating the newlyweds, the lighting, the towering tulips… oh my!

This image from our Watercolor shoot this past August won’t leave me.  Jory Cordy captured Lauren so perfectly.  I love the grainy texture of the film and the sunset catching her back as she quietly paddles through the still waters.

This shot from Brooke Courtney Photography is straight out of the 1950′s.  We like to joke that Emily was born in the wrong decade (to which Katharine says “send her back!”  Kidding!), but we agree this scenario would fit her nicely.  Gorgeous fashion, dashing gents, a wide open wood parquet floor — yep, that’s totally Emily.

It can be hard to imagine feeling so comfortable in front of your photographer that you’d let them document such an intimate moment, but let’s consider that the goal in the W-Day photographer search, shall we?  It’s sure worth it, as evinced by Tanja Lippert’s shot from Jessica + Ryan’s engagement session.  I’m in love with this couple’s expressions, the positions of their hands and the line across the frame created by their bodies.  This is an image they’ll treasure for the rest of their lives.

The light in this image from Michael Norwood is almost propelling the bride forward.  It’s a different sort of composition, but I like the juxtaposition of the soft layers of skirt with the hard flooring.  Gives new meaning to “the art of the shoe shot,” doesn’t it?

Oh, this wedding…  *sigh*.  This is my kind of wedding. Shot by my friend, Paul C. Johnson, the bride’s veil almost looks like a stream of flowing water.  I also like that this image almost seems to respect the sacredness of the moment being shared.  We get the couple’s hands, and part of their torsos, but we don’t see their faces.  Somehow that just seems right.  I would step into this wedding and make it my own in a heartbeat.  I’m kind of in love with the location, as some of you may know.

And on a completely different note, Jeff Newsom never ceases to make my eyes happy.  Love this shot from this fun wedding.  It’s almost hard to tell whether the couple is underwater or encased in a giant piece of saran wrap — and that’s what a killer photographer can do for you!

Well, I am pretty much in love with this wedding from head to toe.  The ladies at Erin Hearts Court shootthe most interesting couples, don’t they?  After you give your ‘maids free reign to wear the frock of their choosing, you’d want that fabulosity documented, and this shot is the perfect way to do that.

Almost everything the Chesters’ images has an otherwordly quality to it, whether it’s a bride’s reflection captured in silver bowl or a mason jar filled with sweet liquid held up like an extremely-Southern trophy.  This wedding is equally divine.

What is it about the South and beverages in Mason jars that just makes me smile?  Rounding out this set of top images… nothing gets more Southern than this image from – yet again – Jenna Walker, y’all!

Congrats to this month’s IT LIST picks and thank you for inspiring me!

Have an image you’d like to submit?  Here are the rules:

1. You can only submit one image per week, and…

2. …only via Twitpic (or the Twitter image service of your choice).  Follow and tweet your images to @LaraCasey with the hashtag #itlist to be considered. If your image is chosen, you’ll get a direct message requesting the shot.  This is a Twitter-only submissions system.  No email submissions or links to blog posts accepted.  Don’t have a Twitter account?  Sign up or have someone submit the image for you! If you need help learning Twitter or how to post an image, just leave a comment here and we’ll be glad to help : )

Images can come from anywhere in the world.  What I’m looking for: details, portraits, engagements, proposals, anything that makes you stop to take the image in.  I’m looking for that Mona Lisa factor… something that captures you!

Which one is your favorite?

Vote!

Our Labor of Love is a Southern Weddings advertiser.

VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!

We’re thrilled to announce a new feature today: Editor-in-Chief Lara Casey‘s IT LIST of top images. Yes, we have another “It List” of top photographers, but that section is being renamed with our new site that debuts in a couple months. So, welcome to the new IT LIST of top images! Every week, she scours the blogosphere for the top images from weddings all over the world.  She’s been working on this feature for a couple months now and has a jam-packed folder full of inspiring goodness!

We want to know what you think too!  VOTE for your favorite by leaving a comment here and (combining our office votes with yours) we’ll award the top image of the week a very special honor.  The top four images of each month will be in the running for Image of the Year at the end of 2010.  The best part- if your image makes the cut, there’s a strong possibility it will make our print edition (of course with the photographer’s permission).  So, get your vote on and tell us what you love!  Want to submit an image?  See below for our very unique submission system.

Without further ado, this week’s IT LIST:

This engagement session from Sarah Yates captured my heart.  We’ve seen balloons galore in wedding images lately, but somehow this mass of heart-shaped goodness stood above the rest.  I had a really hard time picking just one image from this shoot.

Millie Holloman rocked this ring shot.  I love movement in images. The light, the texture, and just knowing how hard this must have been to get just right made me instantly fall head over heels.

Oh, Brion Hopkins… this image caught me.  The rest of the session is equally as simple and stunning. Also, Brion is a very cool cat.  His tagline … “The number one photographer recommended by pirates!”

W. Scott Chester consistently wows me with their art.  This moment they captured says it all- celebration, friends, spontaneity… I only wish I knew what was being said at this moment.

I discovered James Christianson recently and immediately was drawn to this wedding.  I rarely say this, but if I could step into a wedding and experience everything in that moment, it would be this series of images.  Her dress is divine, the colors are dreamy and the relaxed feel of these portraits lets you know right away that the photographer has a great relationship with this lucky couple.

Erik Clausen aka Poser is a solid, inspiring soul.  His work reflects his deep connection to people and art.  I love this shot technically for several reasons, but mostly I love the gold rings.  You so rarely see yellow gold wedding bands anymore.  Coupled with the golden simplicity of the apples, this shot is a winner.

I’ll admit, my file of favorites has more than one epic shot from Punam Bean.  These silhouettes are so classic and reminiscent of a romantic Parisian cafe scene.  And what really gets me… the glow of two tiny candles in the foreground.  Divine.  You have to see the rest of this session.

Anyone who knows Chris and Sarah Rhoads falls in love with them.  They are those rare people who are basically walking sunshine.  You can see that everyone they photograph feels that same connection.  First of all, could this couple be more gorgeous!?  I love their sandy blonde hair swirling in the golden fall leaves and his piercing blue eyes in the first frame.  So much love between these two stunners.

I am honestly not a heels kind of girl.  I pretty much live in tennis shoes and Havaianas.  But, the second I saw this shot from Natalie Moser, I thought to myself… “ok, mayyybe”  What bride wouldn’t feel like a million bucks in these?  I love the feel of this image… relaxed, fun, and I can just see the girlish smile on her face.

Well, it’s no secret in this office that if I had to pick three photographers to shoot my wedding, Jeff Newsom would be one of them.  Two words = epic hay.

Admittedly, I was quite the tomboy when I was little.  Yes, believe it.  I’d take Transformers over Barbies any day!  How fun is this engagement shot from the super-fun Brooke Schwab!?

The first time I spoke to Otto Schultze on the phone, I knew he was a rare gem.  His perspective on weddings, love, marriage and life is the real deal.  This image of his gave me chills the first time I saw it.  The texture of her dress, the movement, her carrying him away… all of it is just perfection.

Congrats to this week’s IT LIST picks and thank you for inspiring me!

Have an image you’d like to submit?  Here are the rules:

1. you can only submit one image per week and

2. only via twitpic (or the Twitter image service of your choice).  Follow and tweet your images to @LaraCasey with the hashtag #itlist to be considered. If your image is chosen, you’ll get a direct message requesting the shot.  This is a Twitter-only submissions system.  No email submissions or links to blog posts accepted.  Don’t have a Twitter account?  Sign up or have someone submit the image for you! If you need help learning Twitter or how to post an image, just leave a comment here and we’ll be glad to help : )

From Lara: Images can come from anywhere in the world.  What I’m looking for: details, portraits, engagements, proposals, anything that makes you stop to take the image in.  I’m looking for that Mona Lisa factor… something that captures you!

Which one is your favorite?

Vote!

Millie Holloman, W. Scott Chester, Poser, and Brooke Schwab are Southern Weddings advertisers.