Back to school time!


These are my fantastic children. Aren't they so cute and well behaved?!


Yeah, that's what they look like most of the time. Both are nice pictures, but I know that this second one is going on my wall. I wouldn't want them any other way...I love when they are happy and crazy.

My kids are so fun. It was nice taking some down time to be with them at the end of their summer. But I'm glad to be back to work-- stay tuned for new e-pics, bridals and weddings.


OK, a bit of lemonsnikettylookingstuff, but Thanks for Looking! Or come back and Look at us again! Or Here's looking at you! lol. Someone crack that whip....

What's in a name?

Well, I've hired a logo designer, and through just a couple emails, we've arrived at this point:



I really, really love it. But it's still not exactly EXACTLY right. I have had the feeling it should include some discerning identifier-- a THING.My ideas were tiara, carriage, shoes (love me some shoes!). Ideas I did not tell him but still in my mind: Christian symbols such as the fish, infinity, a peacock-- yes, an obscure symbol but one none the less. Unfortunately there's another photographer, in Canada, who's symbol features her initial, a bird, and a crown...and I just LOVE it. I am in love.

So I can't do that! Drat.

Anyway. Anyone care to comment? Feedback ppl, please!

Brad and Heather
Montreat College, Gaithers Chapel and Private Residence, Burnsville, NC
5 August 06

What an amazingly gorgeous day! I can't show you everything-- might as well show all the pictures-- so just trust me when I describe the chapel as having sunlight spilling in while the walls refracted the light with a million crystals in it's stones.




Heather had done her hair a bit differently than for our bridal portraits-- and radiated calm and elegance.




The flowers-- done by a family friend, a self-professed professional golfer-- were adorned with hundreds of pearl-tipped hatpins.


Two very hesitant--and cute as a button-- flower girls made things just perfect. And Heather's father, a retired minister, officially pronounced the couple.




The one hour commute to the reception site at Grandma's house didn't stop the guests-- although most had apparently driven from Canada, so at that point I imagine an hour a drop in the bucket-- slowed me down a bit in terms of picture taking (see my lament in the last post for more). Still, I did steal the couple away for a few pictures with a mountain backdrop after they were introduced to their guests.



And they had a beautiful tent, lit by lights in rotating colors. This shot shows a side view starring the moon.


*sigh* It was a picturesque day, and I wish all the best for you both.

It's over a month more till my next wedding-- of course the kids go back to school between now and then, my husband returns home, I have engagements, and well...life marches on. Still, I bought a copy of the latest Ormond wedding magazine and ooh'd and aah'd over cakes and lighting and flowers so much my 6 year old began teasing me. I don't know if all photographers stay in love with the romance and drama and beauty of the day the way I have. I am so, so blessed....

my own vacation pictures from 8/5!

Probably tomorrow or the next day I will post pictures from Heather and Brad's August 5th wedding... but for today I'm sharing my own. Any wedding I take in the Asheville area is not only gorgeous (I swear the mountains are calling me more and more) but allows me to visit with my very best friend in the world, Mary.

This is her and her littlest...


We were at an arts and crafts fair in Burnsville just a few hours before the wedding.


I am a little sorry for not buying any crafts... I looked hard but the only thing that called me strongly was the kettle korn... I did find a use for this gazing ball. That's my silly son, glowering giant like at his own reflection.



This lady.. I have no idea if she was seriously Amish, or very religious, or just in costume. But anyway, she showed my kids the original washing machine....


and got them to do her chores. Without pay? I'm impressed.


Then I let my two bungee jump. My son was content to just do that... (isn't he so handsome?!!)

Mary's older son and my daughter bost flipped for this 'ride'.


Notice one child is not here. Mary took her other on the slide, his choice, and was back in a jiffy, before I turned from these three characters. Only one slide down? What a rip!

On the 6th I drug myself out of bed, dreading the long ride back home (5 hours plus with kids, trust me it's awful and long) but craving the fun to be had hanging with my friend. She took us to this cool state park with a butterfly hatchery, those things are everywhere! I have shots of them on our bodies, shots of them in the water, shots of them getting chased by our crazy children... wish I could have thrown an engaged couple in here with some of them!


And last but no least... Queen Anne's lace. This is significant to me because on the 5th, between the ceremony and reception, I saw the most perfect spot to do some portraits of the couple...fields full of these wild flowers, with the perfect backdrop of blue ridge mountains, a fast darkening sky with just a few clouds... but dangnabbit...just not enough time to stop and take more pictures.


So...soon, I'll let ya'all peek at what we did get. Good stuff! :) Thanks for looking.

Jessica and Charles' album is finished!


Click the above image to see the entire 60 page album. Jessica upgraded her album from 40 images to over 100, then ordered three copies for her family. Wow! It has really been a pleasure putting this together, I hope she loves it. And in case you didn't know, she gets to say when it's perfect, and then it's printed and bound into an Asukabook.

I think I'll be getting at least one more copy...for me! :)

Heather's Bridals can finally be posted...now that she's married!


Above is one of my favorites from our session together... the weather did not cooperate much, so most of the images were with studio lights. Below is her favorite:



Congratulations to Heather and Brad; wedding pictures coming up in the next week or so!