This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar with videography by Principal Videographer Elijah Halford

As a photographer in Florida who can also officiate marriages, I married Erin and Ed and photographed it all at the same time with Elijah doing videography!

Whenever clients ask, “what if it rains?” I say, “In 16 years, I haven’t yet had a session ruined by the rain.” Well, this day had the storm that almost broke my streak.

Erin and Ed got married during storm season (July) at peak storm time (late afternoon) on the beach. In fact, the day before their wedding, the resort was hit by lightening that fried the AC system. Luckily, the folks who manage the little resort (called Joy by the Sea) were quick to get that fixed. But still…knowing that made the lightening during their wedding session just a little bit more scary!

It all started with the sweetest ceremony which happened in the full-on bright, hot Florida summer sunshine. I officiated their marriage ceremony while doing the photography and Elijah filmed for video.

Erin and Ed had a small collective of friends and family and their adult kids along for the ride. Right after the ceremony, a storm rolled in that threatened any possibility of outdoor photos or video in the 2 hour span of time that they had us. I got one photo on the balcony before it all kicked off.

While stuck inside, we made the best of it and did some sweet family photos and champagne toast. As soon as the storm ended, we ran outside for single shots, shots with family, the kids with their grandparents, etc.

Erin had a dream to all pile onto their golf carts and ride down the beach but it was just too risky with the possibility of being stuck on the beach if another storm kicked off so we did the photos on the beach access road behind the resort. Although there are other parked cars in the video, I was able to remove them for the photos and I think they were a success!