We are Grant & Sara Dotson. As a husband and wife team, we bring a unique perspective to photography, one influenced by life experiences as well as comprehensive art and design training. Our cameras are an extension of not only our eyes, but our minds and hearts, instantly capturing moments and emotions just as they occur. We enjoy getting to know our clients on a personal level and helping them feel that they're a part of a partnership. Every client is different, and our photographs seek to reflect each individual personality for truly unforgettable memories.
Photo of Grant: Courtesy of Jamie Weiss. Thanks Jamie!
I love when we get the opportunity to do family photo shoots. The Baker family contacted us to get some shots of their sweet little Eloise who just turned 1, and what a beautiful little family they are!
Eloise was so full of smiles and happiness, it’s obvious she’s a happy little girl with loving parents. We loved the special little moments we got to capture with this family.
Hope you enjoy…the Baker Family.
It’s always wonderful to go to a family member’s wedding…but I have to say it was even more wonderful to be able to photograph it. My beautiful cousin Candace and her man Carroll tied the knot at the Memorial Baptist Church in Verona, Wisconsin. It was full of personality, beauty, and fun…with nothing but smiles all day long.
I’m so very happy for Candace, and excited that Carroll is now a part of the family. Congratulations guys…everything was so beautiful! Thank you for asking us to be a part of your day.
We hope you enjoy…Candace and Carroll….
What did you enjoy most about planning your wedding?
Actually, the best part about planning the wedding was when we started decorating the church and auditorium. It was fun to see all of our ideas come to life. To be honest, all of the planning until that point was pretty stressful, haha. But as soon as I had all my bridesmaids come in, it was all fun from there. My Maid of Honor, was from my hometown in Wisconsin while my other three bridesmaids were from New York, Minnesota, and California.
How did you decide on your dress?
My dress took me one day to find. I went to a couple of stores that morning with my family and I went to my last store where the attendant was the best. She would pull out dresses that she thought I would like and listen to my opinions about each dress I tried on. I finally put on my dress and all of my family went quiet. I wasn’t really sold on the dress, but I was happy with my family’s reaction. They dolled me up with a veil and some flowers and I realized it was just a dress and the person in the dress is really what the day is about. I wanted something that took my family and friends breath away and it did. I looked at everyone and said “Yup, this is the one I want. I’m buying it!” My family was pretty shocked how I came to my answer and didn’t really hesitate. The best part, is God reassured me this was the dress He wanted for me. When I went to pay for my dress, somehow the dress tag was switched with an another dress that they didn’t even have in the store. The price of the dress was more then what the dress tag said and the store honored the price on the tag. I knew that this was the right dress.
What was the most memorable moment about your wedding day?
Well I would have to say that the most memorable moment of our wedding was when Carroll sang to me during the ceremony. He sang “Love Never Fails” by Brandon Heath. His brother, Andrew, played the guitar for him. Every one was crying by the end of the song.
What are three words you would use to describe your day?
Candace: Way too fast! Every time I look at pictures I think about how I wish we could go back and do it again. It really was so fleeting.
Carroll: Fun, Colorful, Romantic (Candace likes that too, haha.)
What was your favorite detail of the wedding?
We hung orange and pink pom poms from the ceiling and we had to fluff all of them. I found out that my bridesmaids would make good cheerleaders. :)
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?
Carroll: Babies!
Candace: No. . .no babies, haha. I’m trying to finish up school so that we can move forward with our lives. Other than that, the future is a little bit murky. However, I know that I can follow my husband and everything will be just fine. :)
Carroll: Ok, I was just kidding with the babies. Sort of. ;) Candace is going to finish schooling in about a year. After that, we are planning on getting out of Pensacola, Florida where we currently reside. When Candace finishes with school, I am going to start mine back up. What happens after that? Who knows. But thats the best way to live. :)
We had an extra special opportunity last month to photograph my cousin’s engagement pictures and wedding. I’ve known Candace since she was born…literally…her brothers stayed with us when her mom went to the hospital to deliver her. I still remember the story that from the ultrasound they were expecting another boy, but got a surprise during delivery! We all loved Candace so much. Her curly hair and sweet spirit added so much to our family and watching her grow into an strong young lady has been amazing.
When we first met Carroll we were immediately impressed and knew that they were a good match. We always love any opportunity we have to see them and hang out with them and when they asked us to photograph them we were honored and excited!
We traveling up to Wisconsin for this event and had fun shooting their engagement pictures just a few days before the wedding. It was obvious these two people were ready to be man and wife and I loved seeing my cousin so happy.
Congratulations Candace & Carroll…we love you!
How did you meet?
Carroll: Well, we met at college in our freshman year. A very close friend of ours, Suzi, met me at freshman registration. She had also met Candace a few months earlier at a tour of the college. She introduced us to each other by accident! God did the rest. It is important to say that Candace did not remember what I looked like after our first meeting. She did, however, remember my name because, in her words, “Who names a boy Carroll?!”
Anything special you’d like to share about dating?
We went to a Christian college where touching and walking together in certain places weren’t allowed. There was a plethora of other rules that made it interesting, to say the least, for a dating couple. However, one thing we learned was to be able to enjoy each other’s company. To converse and spend quiet time together was something that helped us to love each other more amidst trying times. For us, dating was a time to become close and learn about each other. We started as best friends and we will always be best friends.
Describe your proposal.
Candace: Carroll has always done special romantic things for me. Back on Valentines day of 2009, Carroll had wanted to do something really romantic and out of the ordinary. He did 12 days of Valentine and I got a new gift with a poem just like the song on every day. Well, when he came to visit me for Christmas of 2010, he did the same thing. My Christmas came 12 days early. :) However, the difference this time was that he gave me a letter on every day. At the end of the eleventh day, Carroll took me to a special place where there was snow and christmas lights and a white little bench. We sat at the bench singing christmas carols and then he proceeded to give me my last letters. When put together it spelled “Will U Marry Me?” He then officially got on one knee and asked me to marry him and I said “Sure” :)
What is your ring like?
Candace: My ring is white gold with three-tiers of 3 princess cut diamonds and 4 circle diamonds in the band. I never picked out my ring, Carroll did it all by himself. I never really gave him much information to work with. Every time I look at my ring I am just amazed how beautiful it is! If anyone ever comments on my ring, I tell them that Carroll picked it out all by himself and that he is a keeper! :)
How would you describe the way you feel about each other?
Carroll: I feel like Candace is my other half. When I am near her, I am complete. She truly is the one and only thing I have wanted the most in my life. When you are bringing two imperfect people together, you expect for there to be moments of “irritability”, but we have learned that they are synonymous with learning experiences. We are taught by each other everyday in the words we say and the things we do. I can honestly say that Candace Marie makes me a better person.
Candace: There are no words that do enough justice to describe how I feel about Carroll. He is my best friend, my companion, my ray of sunshine and I don’t want to spend my life without him. The best part about marriage is knowing that I get to spend my life, days, seconds with the man that loves me and that I don’t need to face my everyday struggles alone. We are not two individuals, we are one person.
Do you have any special plans for your wedding that you’d like to share?
We are getting married June 11, 2011 in honor of Candace’s late grandparents, who were also married sixty-four years ago on June 11, 1947. We have a McDonald’s Sundae booth built for the wedding to serve ice cream. Candace’s brothers also are bringing the family’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird (in honor of her father) and a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. Those are some classics muscle cars right there. ;) As you can tell, we want our wedding to be romantic with lots of fun.
Beautiful little Penelope!
We love being able to photograph this sweet little girl and her sister, Annabelle. Grant had a wonderful time taking pictures of these girls, whose smiles and happiness is evident in every look.
I think Penelope is very expressive for her age, and I love how these pictures are full of the girls love and joy. I also love all of the light that comes into this house, it all just makes me smile.
Congrats again to the Goss family, thank you so much for asking us to take pictures of your beautiful family!
by Sara Dotson
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