welcome, charley silas
Charley has arrived! Here are some quick photos from the last month of getting to know our boy.
lifestyle brand shoot: katie rowland of home hearted design co.
I shot this seven months pregnant and it’s one of my favorite projects to date! I LOVE Katie and her work speaks for itself — making the job of capturing it super enjoyable.
red dirt vagabond // brand film + product photos
Here’s a rustic film created for our local Forsyth, GA friends. Fun fact: We have booths at the Old Mill Market across from each other! That’s where we met.
Below are some shots I did for Red Dirt Vagabond’s social and website. We both particularly like the knife photos.
Product shots are one of my favorite things to do. Films are so much fun, photos with humans are great, but there’s something about the quiet, my camera, and my brain kicking into a creative flow that’s second nature to me.
matthew + sara
I don’t often choose to take on weddings, but when I do, it’s for some pretty incredible couples.
Enjoy this beloved, genuine day from Birmingham, Alabama, last autumn.
the smell of the rain (a poem)
The smell of the rain
Fresh-brewed tea on my tongue
Happy birds flitting about with their shaggy heads and dripping feathers
The soft pat on the leaves drowning out everything else
Strange how the small drops all together turn into a roar
My cup is so full — a child in my belly, a wet dog at my feet, a husband across the way doing what he loves and then coming home to me
Every now and then the wind-chimes
A mist gathers on the floorboards of the porch, cool dewdrops soothing over the early summer heat
I like the dampness on my bare feet
This sensory oasis —
It brings me back to the real world
Or maybe it takes me back to the false one
But this is my serenity, my grounding moment that blows oxygen on the embers of who I am
The smell of the rain
a vintage camper called 'moonbeam'
I found this 1967 Shasta Compact camper on Facebook Marketplace in September. I painted the bottom cabinets green, added the tile backsplash, joined the two cots to make a queen(ish) bed, and installed some leftover vinyl tile flooring. She’s a dream.
Here are a few images of her all spruced up for our 3rd anniversary camping trip to Dames Ferry Campground on Lake Juliette in Georgia. (Great campground recommendation from Red Dirt Vagabond.)
melody's six priorities for a wedding day timeline
Note: If you’re eloping or having a micro-wedding (my FAVORITES) these still apply to you!
Over the years I've probably helped over 20+ brides build their wedding day timelines. It's one of my most beloved ways to serve clients.
If you search Google or Pinterest for "wedding day timelines" there are hundreds of articles from wedding planners, other brides, and random bloggers. But if you keep in mind this tangible takeaway from the day (your images!!) you should consider talking with your photographer and filmmaker as foundational voices in that process. You’re trusting them to capture your memories. Have a heartfelt conversation about what is important to you. The following items may be different than what you feel, and that’s ok! They’re my opinions and experiences, they break rules, and they feel right to me. I treasure hearing what brides value, even if they break the rules as well. Do what feels right to you.
As a not-so-long-ago bride (2.5 years married at the time of writing this), I remember people pressuring me about spending a lot of time with guests before they left. Which is 100% valid! But the reality is that many guests left immediately after our ceremony. And for the bride and groom, those first hours after you’re married can be a blur of shaking hands, maybe some dancing, but mostly looking like two adorable newlywed deer in headlights. It’s a lot. For introverts or the socially awkward like me, it may not feel natural to be mingling in a crowd of people (even loving, incredible people) right after one of the biggest moments of your life. I wanted space to process and be. But I felt super guilty for needing space. In those first moments after the ceremony, it might feel more natural to cuddle your new spouse by the lake at sunset and take a minute to breathe and kiss. Yes, this time to breathe includes a photographer/filmmaker. But for me, it was worth it. They knew my heart. I trusted them and let them into that sacred moment.
Take it from a bride, photographer, and filmmaker who has seen it time and again — these moments are MAGICAL.
So, lots of time with your guests. Priority in my book? Maybe third on the list. But you already know my #1….
My #1 priority is building a wedding day timeline around maximizing time with your photographer and filmmaker. Does that mean they should take three hours to get you to your reception and your family? No. (Not unless you’re eloping with no one waiting on you. In which case — carpe diem.) Photographers/filmmakers should respect your time with guests. What does this mean practically? Prioritizing at least 45 minutes of portrait time with JUST THE BRIDE AND GROOM. This is my absolute top priority. And although I’m flexible on when, right after the ceremony is the best. Images of you fully present, freshly married, those first few moments with the "whoa" look still in your eyes. If this can be at golden hour — freeeaking MAGIC.
The #2 priority on my list is individual portraits of the bride and groom. This includes shots of the couple getting ready and newlywed portraits just after the ceremony. Think, bride putting on earrings, walking out the door with her bouquet, sitting quietly and gathering her thoughts by the window. Groom putting on cuff links, the swoop as he puts on his coat or tightens his tie. Intimate family moments are even better. Mom zipping the wedding gown, best man helping the groom with his boutonniere.
Priority #3 is time with family and friends! (I said earlier that this was probably going to be #3.) Those dear people who have traveled to be with you, lived life with you, know all your secrets and embarrassing stories from freshman year, the ones who are here to celebrate you. This is the time for all the candid moments of glasses clinking, jokes and bad dance moves shared. You’ll treasure these forever. If you eloped with a small group or even just the two of you, maybe these kinds of images happen at dinner, a romantic picnic, or a bonfire afterward.
Next, #4 — appreciate the details of the day. Remember to look around at the fun things that made the day your own. S’mores bar, donut wall, lawn games, or simply your favorite people hanging out. With any wedding, chances are you invested a lot in elements like flowers, or your friends spent hours making the tables just right. Encourage your photographer/filmmaker to document the beautiful details that made the day uniquely reflect who you are. If you're eloping, the place where you got ready, the bouquet, her dress on the mountainside, buttons on his coat, wind in her hair, scenery, moments of you walking to the perfect spot — those translate here.
Ohh #5 and slowing down to savor the in-between moments. Be prepared for this day to go by in a blur. At various times throughout the day, try to take some deep breaths, look around, and be as present as possible. Chances are you’ll see some things and feel some things that you’ll remember forever. Your photographer/filmmakers will be doing the same (always on-the-ready with a keen eye). I’ve already mentioned some of these in-between moments — the stillness, the nervous-but-hopeful looks in your partner’s eyes that say “I’m going to marry the heck out of you,” the tears from loved ones. These special moments are easy to miss. But they're the best ones. If captured on camera, these are the images you'll look back on in 30 years and still get all the feels and they’ll end up being the heart of your day, I promise.
#6 _____. I have intentionally left this blank. Consider it a “choose your own adventure” option. Each couple is different with unique stories, pasts, and favorite special elements. What is closest to your heart? Make sure to clearly vocalize that — and why — with your photographer/filmmaker. I love knowing the deep meaning behind, for example, the bride dancing with her family (turns out dancing is a super fun thing her family loves to do together!), the groom eating ice cream (turns out his favorite food is ice cream and he has that in place of his cake!), or the couple hugging a special mentor who got them through a difficult time. Share those deep things with us that we could never find out on our own.
What I remember most was writing a letter to Luke at my grandmother’s dining room table before the sun came up on our wedding day. The way the sunrise sparkled through the juice glasses on the table next to the strawberries and my jewelry. My mom finishing hemming my dress that morning because we forgot. The wind blowing in my veil by the water during bridal portraits. Talking through the door to Luke before we ever got to see each other. Riding on the all-terrain golf cart up the mountain for our newlywed portraits, the way it felt kissing on the top of the mountain at golden hour with my love I’d married 15 minutes before, curling up in a white fluffy blanket at the reception while trying to steal bites of the good food, and the look on Luke’s face as he introduced me as his wife for the first 38 times.
What do these things make you feel? What things will become anchors in your wedding day timeline? I know yours won’t be the same as mine, but if anything I’ve said has resonated, I would love to connect and help you prioritize the life-giving moments on your wedding day.
alex + emily
I don’t always shoot wedding films…
But when I do…
It’s for some of my favorite people.
For those of you who don’t know, I started my career on the weddings/family side of things. For around ten years I dedicated my weekends to shooting love and marking special seasons.
When I launched Dulce Lumen in 2021, I decided to niche down to creatives and entrepreneurs, but occasionally it just feels right to celebrate with dear souls in this way.
ragan wesson interiors — lifestyle branding shoot
Ragan is an interior designer in Birmingham, Alabama. [ raganwessoninteriors.com ]
Her family is such a big part of her brand. And her home is a living showpiece for her talents. Over a couple of hours in early July, I was able to capture some real-life moments of her dining room table workspace, Ragan plundering their treasure-trove of a basement for items style a new hutch, and the whole family playing in the yard before a summer storm.
These days the world seems to be trending in the direction of purchasing from real humans rather than companies. (i.e. #shopsmall #shoplocal #madebyhumans) Gone are the days of power suits and alternate egos in the office. The pandemic had a way of stripping pretense from our lives, didn’t it? Consumers enjoy seeing a business owner’s face and knowing how she takes her coffee. Ragan is a mom of little girls and she embraces that. She’s a kick-butt interior designer. Her Instagram shows a beautiful portfolio and her daughters playing at the lake on the Fourth of July.
The personable shift in consumerism could easily take over the life of the entrepreneur. It requires vulnerability, courage to let down walls and let people in, but it also requires healthy boundaries. I think Ragan is doing a great job at this.
Dulce Lumen’s services thrive in the niche of that blurry line. Our ideal client is a super chill small business owner. Lifestyle branding shoots are quickly becoming my favorite thing to shoot. I’d love to capture more entrepreneurs and makers of all sorts doing their things…then come end the night on their back porches hanging with their dogs over some sweet tea, string lights, and Bon Iver.
giveaway winner — bethany's downtown shoot
Bethany Waters, summer photoshoot giveaway winner
Rotary Trail in Downtown Birmingham, AL
Bethany also won a $50 credit with our friends at Pleasant and South vintage goods
ragan wesson interiors (preview)
— MELODY FOSTER
Here are just few of my favorites from a branding and lifestyle shoot for Ragan Wesson on Friday! Ragan is a skilled interior designer in Birmingham. We first met in 2017 when she provided florals for my wedding as Ammi Floral Designs. We skill-swapped in exchange for a branding film that is still on Ammi's website! (In another life when I was Sweet Light Imaging.)
I was pumped for the opportunity to work together again. Ragan has a passion for entrepreneurship and motherhood. You can feel it when you’re with her. There is a line in Ammi's film that I've thought of often while planning for my own business: "It's really important for our kids to see us doing something that we're passionate about and working hard for something."
As Luke and I plan for our future, we are intentional in job choices to set us up for sustainable careers through parenthood. We're not there yet (no news coming, mom) but women like Ragan inspire me so much when I see the strategic life choices for family that INCLUDE a passionate and successful career.
I just turned 30 and sometimes I get really sad about the fact that we haven’t yet tried for a baby. We met later in life. Only married 2.5 years. But we’re playing the long game. Setting a foundation. I think I will be the best mom when I'm the best Melody, and for me that means doing something meaningful that I kick butt at. I’m launching Dulce Lumen for me, but I’m also doing it for future kids. I’m doing this for flexible hours for my family (my world), to be a mother who loves her work, and to live out what it looks like to be scrappy for your dreams.
More images to come soon from this shoot.
weird art challenge
— MELODY FOSTER
Dancer: Abby Lewis of @briarwoodimmanuel
A few weeks ago the Dulce Lumen team did a “weird art challenge.” We pushed creative boundaries and tried to reflect something distantly personal as well.
I began this piece with two themes very dear to Dulce Lumen:
whisper > shout.
Create art and beauty for the sake of art and beauty.
The dancer represents femininity, delicacy, and beauty continuing to put art and beauty into the world despite the chaos and pain happening around her.
It took me weeks longer than I had planned to edit this film. I hit a creative wall.
What I realized as I worked through my own internal struggles was this: in addition to what I intended, there are a million different themes this piece evokes when you watch it.
Severe burnout.
Bringing your grief into your art.
Showing up as you are.
Not being afraid to take up space.
Metamorphosis; becoming who you were meant to be.
Sensory overload and prioritizing mental health.
This piece is far from technically perfect but it came from a place of creative freedom and trying to shake things up; shoving hard at the creative cages we put ourselves in. It was a really fun exercise and it became a far more meaningful emotional process for me than I expected.
two film previews
— MELODY FOSTER
Here’s a clip from our in-house Dulce Lumen weird art challenge! The dancer represents art, femininity, and delicacy continuing to put beauty into the world despite the chaos happening around her.
Abby is a ballerina in Birmingham, Alabama.
Below: The beginnings of a studio process film feat. Anna Robbins (@a.robbins.art) an artist who creates the most elegant charcoal drawings. It was a joy to watch her in her element.
bhldn at the conservatory
— MELODY FOSTER
Weekend magic at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
candice + josh's micro-wedding
— MELODY FOSTER
Last August I got a text from one of my very best friends that went something like this: “If we get married this weekend can you film it?”
………. ummmmm ……….
About 72 hours later we found ourselves on an island in Columbus, Georgia. It was sweltering hot but Lord have mercy — it was gorgeous.
This wedding confirmed something that I had been mulling over for a while: micro-weddings and elopements are the best kinds of weddings to capture. Sure, the big weddings are exciting (I had one). But deep down I wanted to elope somewhere beautiful with just a handful of our dearest people.
Why?
(1) Intimacy and intentionality are allowed by a micro-wedding or elopement.
(2) You can prioritize the scenery.
As a photographer and filmmaker, it’s honestly a toss-up which of those are the biggest draw for me. I can’t tell you how important it is to have time and space to breathe and do whatever the heck you want to on your wedding day. If that happens to be in a freaking majestic place — just promise you’ll get me to capture it, ok? (Preferably with more than a 72-hour warning but hey I’m flexible.)
mom baking — a film
— MELODY FOSTER
I must have watched my mother’s hands bake and ice a cake a thousand times during the course of my life. A tube of her made-from-scratch, secret recipe frosting is to my mom what my camera is to me. But through the years, this is the first time I’ve ever captured her doing it.
The simplicity of this film reminds me that there is beauty in the ordinary messes that we overlook every day. Also, editing her movements to the classical score was so enjoyable - elevating a skill and showing that it is an art form. It asks you to slow down and savor the process.
I look forward to Dulce Lumen highlighting the hands of many makers over the years, and it was really special to have this one be the first.