Amanda and Allen tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in their home state of Kentucky. The couple was surrounded by the greatest bunch of family and friends, and I’m glad that Brandon and I got to be a part of their special day! (We also had the honor of photographing their engagement in Asheville. Click here to check out their engagement portraits!)

Below is a slideshow of the hundreds of photographs (seriously!) documenting their amazing and super FUN wedding!

Wedding Photography | Amanda and Allen – Images by Lia Ballentine

Below are some of my favorite moments from their special day (with a full slideshow at the bottom of the post)…

Wedding Photography | Krissy and Sam – Images by Lia Ballentine

We recently held our annual Looks for Literacy event, which is a wonderful fashion show and luncheon held at the Knoxville Museum of Art to benefit the organization. The best part about Looks for Literacy is our models… because our models are our very own students and volunteers.

Check out the slideshow below to see photos from this year’s Looks for Literacy! You can also view these at our Friends of Literacy page on Facebook.

Event Photography | Friends of Literacy | Looks for Literacy 2010 – Images by Lia Ballentine

Here’s just one of my favorite photos of Amanda and Allen, taken inside the cutest boutique called The Jazzy Giraffe (located inside the Grove Arcade). Amanda and Allen are just GORGEOUS together — and I’m looking forward to sharing more of their beautiful engagement photos and capturing their wonderful Kentucky wedding this summer!

Sam’s a very creative guy, so his method of proposing was a little out of the ordinary. That evening, he sent Krissy on a scavenger hunt around Knoxville (the pair are also known for hosting awesome scavenger hunt parties in the summer). At each checkpoint, she received a little gift and a card. The first card had “WILL” written on it. The second card at checkpoint number two had “YOU” on it. The third card has “MARRY” on the front. And the fourth card, which Sam held as he stood in front of a giant Christmas tree on the Market Square stage, said “ME.” And inside were two checkboxes with “Yes” and “No” — with “Yes” checked off.

And of course she said “Yes!”

Steph and I are really honored to have been part of the proposal excitement. It was truly a joyous occasion and a wonderful holiday experience! Congratulations to Sam and Krissy! We’re looking forward to the wedding!

Wedding Photography | The Proposal | Krissy and Sam – Images by Lia Ballentine

Thanks to Graph Paper Press for including me as an example of their latest theme, On Assignment, in action!

I was inspired by Jack Gruber’s site — and having been a Graph Paper Press user for a few years now, it was easy to switch from my Modfolio theme to the new On Assignment theme. Plus, the single column option with the On Assignment theme was the perfect layout for my new PhotoShelter custom galleries and client area.

I’m very excited to be featured in the same list with three internationally renowned photojournalists. What an honor. Thank you, GPP!

Learn more about the On Assignment theme and check out the blog post here: http://graphpaperpress.com/2009/11/19/on-assignment/

I had the honor of working with photographer Rick Smee to create a beautiful coffee table book of photographs from his humanitarian work with The Great Football Giveaway, a UK-based charity whose mission is to donate footballs to children who live in areas of extreme poverty around the world.

No kid should be denied the chance to kick a ball about. It’s one of life’s most simple pleasures.

So that’s what we’re here for. To get sports equipment direct into the hands (or feet) of some of the world’s most disadvantaged kids.

More balls, more smiles. Simple…

Why give a ball?

Footballs not only provide some much needed fun, but they can also be used to help increase school attendance and performance overnight. Alternatively, kids from villages that once fought each other in war, can now use football to play together in peace. All around the world orphan centres, local run organisations and community projects can use footballs to draw kids off the street and into care. Put simply, footballs are a hugely resourceful tool.

Rick joined The Great Football Giveaway in Angola and captured the excitement on the children’s faces as they received their footballs. The book contains amazing portraits of the people of Angola, and Rick also provides great narratives describing his experiences as he traveled through the provinces of Huambo and Lubango.

The book is an amazing testament to the power of a single kind act. Through Rick’s photographs, you can see the joy in the children’s faces as they receive the footballs and the gifts of play and friendship. Like Paul Clarke (founder of The Great Football Giveaway) said, “Simple…”

Below are a few spreads from the book so you can get a glimpse of Rick’s beautiful photography and share in his experience as an ambassador for The Great Football Giveaway.

Click on the link below to view book details or purchase a copy.

The Great Foot…

By Rick Smee

Book Preview