New action...

Thanks soooo much to Brent Holloman for creating a new action for me to use for displaying our pictures on our blog! if you need a new action, he's your man! he did a great job and was awesome to work with...here is a sample of what it will look like from now on when I post a picture. :)

Day 11

Sorry this is a little late but I am just able to get on here and its 11:18 pm...just enough time to post day 11's story before day 11 is over! Todays story comes from Lydia Wells in Athens, Ga. This is more of a really cool conversation that she and I had today than her full on fav Christmas memory. (that will come later!) Her story offers a lot of perspective and how this season is not about hte ribbons and bows and stuffing yourself until your about to pop, but its about being grateful for your family, for those you are closest to, and for learning to love and give more...here's her story...:

day 11
by Lydia wells

Christmas is my favorite holiday by far. I have memories of sleeping under the Christmas tree trying to catch a glimpse of Santa, big family breakfasts, waking up to my parents singing carols, and yes, even 24-hour drives across the country in order to surprise family (at my parents' whim). It has always been a time of excitement, childhood fantasy, miracles...and a little magic.

The last two years, Christmas has lost it's magic.....please, don't misunderstand me here. I still believe in Santa and I still see the miracle of Christ and marvel in wonder at its beauty.

My husband and I have spent 3 Christmas seasons married. Each becoming more and more
drained of it's Christmas magic. Traveling here and there - sprinting across the state....spending so much time away from our home that Christmas has become a chore. Combine this with law school and the demands and strain that it puts on life and you get our current state.

This year, as I write, I look around my house. No garland, no wreath, no lights, no tree, no nativity...a magic-less Christmas. A big part of me wants to cry and scream and fight and be angry about my loss of Christmas - how it is continually being stolen from our family. But, I recollect and realize that I still have my family - I still have my husband - our marriage has not splintered (as it easily could have) under the law school strain.

So, I'll sacrifice the tree this year for my husband.

:)

12 more to go...

So as of today there are TWELVE days until Christmas! YIPPIE! I just love this time of year...the gifts are fun..and I LOVE the music (and thanks to XM103 Holly, I have been enjoying it since Halloween night!)..but the real reason for this season is Jesus and thats the sweetest gift of them all. Some of my fondest holiday memories involve my family and times where there were no gifts involved at all...and Im sure you will hear some of these stories in the next few weeks. We here at Melissa Pepin Photography are wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS from Athens Ga this year and we are super excited about sharing our favorite holiday memories with you, as well as the memories of our friends and readers. So here is Day #12 submitted from Jillian Helleloid in Athens...you saw pictured of her and her hubby a few weeks ago from the tree farm, these two are a hoot! Heres Jill's story! And feel free to leave comments!


DAY 12

My favorite Christmas memory is more of a favorite tradition. Every year my mom, dad, and I would get our Christmas tree and then the process of decorating it would begin. First, my dad puts the lights on the tree. Then, my mom and I would put fake snow on the tree (you know, the kind that comes in a spray can). We would use about 30 cans (I know it is a lot, but it always looks great!). Then, after the snow dried, my mom, dad, and I would put on the ornaments while listening to Niel Diamond's Christmas CD and drinking Irish Coffees. When I got married my husband, Eric, also helped in decorating the tree. We would always decorate the tree as a family and I cant wait to share that tradition when I have children.

Here is the tree:

Christmas Memories Search

Hey guys! Sorry its been so long since the last post, its been kind of crazy! I just wanted to say hello and tell everyone that we have some really cool stuff coming up in the next few weeks so keep dropping in (Jill... :) ) to see whats going on...I cant talk about it right now..but its going to be really fun I promise!!!!!!!!!!! So...stay tuned!

Also, its almost Christmas! I cant believe it..and the fact that it feels like stink summer time outside doesn't help put me in the Christmas mood! But what DOES put me in the Christmas mood is to hear really cool Christmas stories, and since TOMORROW starts the 12 days of Christmas, what I would like to do is to publish 1 Christmas memory story per day until Christmas along with a picture to go with that story, so if you have something good...PLEASE send it on! Post will start tomorrow night and run through Christmas! Please submit to the address below and I cant wait to hear what everyones favorite memories are!

Submit stories to: melissa@melissapepin.com

JIll and Eric

Another super fun couple I love so much! I love me some Eric and Jill...its pretty ridiculous that ANYWHERE we go please ask Jill and I if we are sisters...EVERYWHERE. One an airplane in Minnesota....at a party at my house with folks who KNOW Im an only child....at an old job...people ask and w always say no...but its so weird because if my husband puts on his reading glasses...he and Eric look alike too and thats just scary! Anywho..we had such a good time with them out at the farm...here are a few of our favorites from that day...

Flanders Family Christmas

This weekend we did a big day out at Jacks Creek Christmas Tree Farm in Bostwick, Ga and the families who were there to get their portraits done were so much fun! We all had a blast and I have to tell you that my friend Missy got a tree..that pretty much was the most giant tree I have EVER seen. It was literally 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide..and fluffy as they get. It was CRAZY!

This is one of the families we did pictures for on Saturday at the farm, The Flanders. They are Missy's parents and siblings and we had the best time with them! After we were done hunting trees and taking pictures, we all went on a...hmmm...you wouldn't call it a hay ride because there was no hay...but...something along those lines... around the property to look at all the trees and to just sit and have fun with a bunch of people on a trailer bed. Now that I think about it..it probably wasn't too safe...hmm...I'll have to think about that some more. :) Anywho, here were a few of my favorites from their day at the farm....cant wait for next year! Stay tuned to see more pictures from Saturday!

Best first dance EVER!

Okay...this is for EVERYONE to see and tell people about . My friend Missy sent me this video and it is possibly one of the funniest things I have ever seen...if this EVER happened at one of our weddings we were shooting..I would probably wet my pants. If you are a professional photographer...you're wishing the same thing! Enjoy!