Shelley+Richard, Hickory NC

Aren't they a gorgeous couple?
As you can tell if you scroll down a couple posts, Shelley changed her hair for the wedding! She looks gorgeous both ways (OK, I have hair envy), but I'll bet she'll tell you she's glad she had the bridal session as a trial run through. I know the flowers changed a bit, too....
Shelley made several of the details herself...like the rice holders.

but someone else did a darn good job on the flowers.

waiting for the big walk...

Shelley, I don't know how you feel about this, but who votes that she looks like Priscilla Presley?

cake...

more cake... you know, I just about don't eat cake anymore. John is very disappointed. I am all about the cheesecake these days....I digress.

"..so how big was the diamond she wanted?" haha, just kidding!

I can't say it any better...

best wishes!

Amanda+Brian at Revolution Mills

May 17th brought this fabulous couple's wedding, I'd been looking forward to shooting since their e-session. Their day brought joy...

seeing the bride with her hair done... I love the expressions!

the dress...

the dress on the bride, her first view of herself.

So cute! These flower girls were just gleeful. They know sign language, too, way to go Mom and Dad!

Amanda's flowers were inspired by wildflowers. I really adored them. Must find out who did the flowers, best ever.

seeing his bride approach..

that's a big family you have Brian... WOW.

awwww...I'm teary just looking at this. Brian loves Amanda, I can tell. :)

A country pig-pickin' was the theme for the reception. Great idea! Home-made pie was substituted for the traditional wedding cake. Very cool.

OK, there was seriously awesome dancing, best ever. It appears everyone can swing dance in Amanda's family. Her Dad told me he could teach me in just under a minute, I just had to let myself be thrown around. Um, I was too busy (and two left feet?) to try.

What's a pig-pickin' without some games? Follow the leader, according to groom or bride's team. Great idea from the DJ!

Congratulations to two wonderful families, plus one brand new one!
We're planning an "After Session" for the couple photos, and based on their engagement session from last year, I'm certain it will be beautiful. I can't wait-- so glad I get to work with you again!

wom

WOM is code for 'word of mouth'. This is the biggest compliment you can possibly pay me. You know, telling your friends that you had (or saw) this great photographer and recommend me. That's priceless. It's like tipping me, only you don't have to put your hand in your pocket and I'm STILL all happy. I've sent chocolate covered strawberries to clients for that and much less, just so you know.

Oh, and as if just telling your engaged friends about me (us) isn't easy enough, I've added our name and phone to the pics here SO YOU CAN JUST PASTE IT online wherever and share it that way. Hint: don't take it off. This does not help me and John at all. It even makes me sad when I see it. :*( Please, if you hate the name and number thing, at least mention my name somewhere on your site. It's, like, good karma and a rain shower of blessings on you will follow.

THANK YOU TO INFINITY to the best clients in the world: mine!

Shelley's somewhere in the Bahamas...

with her husband, Richard, so I guess I can show her bridal portraits! My favorites:





The session was at...some park in Greensboro, NC. The session was unfortunately short, there were issues with the place to change, a wardrobe malfunction, and...well...I can't remember anymore since it was last fall. But Shelley was so cool, and it shows. Thanks Shelley! More to come in a week or so. Have fun!

Amanda + Brian...tease

Before I go do my weekend work (and, ok, visiting with my friend in Asheville!) I wanted to give Amanda and Brian's family some small snippett of the wonderful day John and I documented for them last weekend.

This is Amanda and her father considering how much more entertaining the processional might appear if they walked ala "We're Off to See the Wizard...". Sad to say they stuck with convention on the actual walk...

More soon!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend everyone.

Music ----->

As I work on the computer, editing image files and designing albums, it's not like I can walk around outside or watch TV. Additionally, we live in the country so there's always significant drive time to engagement sessions and weddings. I listen to a lot of music. I want to hear things that get my creative energy going, you know? So, yeah.

I recently discovered Pandora! I am in LOVE. For, like, three weeks now that's all I listen to. I created my own station by naming my favorite artists, and the cool little dealio they have over there plays them plus other (frequently obscure) artists with similar harmonies and tempoes. I can give it a big fat veto if I don't like a song and they promise to never play that particular song again... I can fast forward songs... I can add artists or songs to my station (to influence the music)... I can remove artists (The Beatles are great but didn't fit the flavor of my station).

So over there...on the sidebar..I added a widget that shows my recently bookmarked songs. But feel free to listen to my station, one of thousands of other stations, or create your own. ...I need to add my station to my phone and I'll probably never have to listen to anything else again. Did I mention Pandora is free online?

PS, I am realizing that I really like some techno. Who knew?

Elizabeth+Robby: some e-session

Engagement sessions are short. Mine last about 90 minutes. Which means..driving to Charleston to do a session with Elizabeth and Robby seemed like a definite no at first. OK, well, whatever, I'm glad I 'bent' this time because it was 100% worth the 8 hour round trip. You just can't get this stuff in the countryside. ....well, hmm, no, not all of it.

This is Macy, the couple's very cute dog. He escaped their truck before we needed him, but I didn't mind at all. Although when I was being spun around by that...plastic?...rope as he chased some other dog.. let's just say, I have yet another reason to wear my cameras while I shoot. LOL

This is where the dog...gets attacked by an alligator.

After the panic passed, and we realized the gator was going to stay, but he was going to keep staring at Macy and not come and try to eat us, Elizabeth and Robby were ready to get down in the sand.

This one may be my favorite...

Holy hotness, Batman! That was an amazing session. Thanks for dragging me down to Charleston, and I am absolutely pumped for your wedding now.

Kristine+C's album: Poe House

Haven't shown an album design in for so long. Here are a select few spreads from K&C's album; they upgraded their book to 60 pages and of course chose their images. I'm using the same spreads in the new metal book.

If you haven't ordered your wedding album yet, get crackin'. I can't wait to get started!

Lauren+Mike: married!

A local wedding... and such a classy family. I was a little worried that the reception would be dry...it wasn't. It was absolutely kicking. In fact, I had the pleasure of working, once again, with Sugar the Band, and they rocked so hard and so loud that there must have been 100 people on the dance floor most of the time. Questions on building codes and weight capacity on one side of the building popped briefly into my head, it was just that much bass and dancing and blessing. It was really amazing.

Lauren used her Mother's veil, so long and gorgeous. She also, as I heard tell, took this piece from her Mothers' dress to decorate the bouquet. Lovely idea.

Love from the bridesmaids...

Self reflection before the aisle.

Pretty church, huh? I was delegated to shooting from the balcony and also through a keyhole cutout in the door. Since it was just me.. that was a lot of running around (soundlessly I might add) up and down the steps in wedges and toting two cameras. I am so cool.

I have not been using my fish eye much this year...but it sure came in handy when the dance floor was too packed for me.

Sorority sisters... I think this is how they call their own husbands? lol

There were so many cute kiddos totally grooving right along with their older counterparts...

Another wonderful idea. Each table was decorated with personal childhood pictures. This one just begs to have its' story told. I love it.

And a parting shot...the female lead singer of the band may not like. I really dug her shoes and legwarmers...if you must know.

And that's my story of Lauren and Mike's wedding day in Sanford and Carthage. Congratulations to each couples family and I pray for blessings on your union. More pictures next week!

Lauren is married!

I am home from Lauren and Mike's fantabulously amazing I'm not kidding totally rockin' wedding, and feel free to share Lauren's bridal portraits. Lauren is from our local town-- Sanford, NC-- and had access to this cool home and gardens. ...which reminds me I need to send a thank you note to the home owner so I can go back! My faves:

...this is the one chosen to display at the reception...

I was so happy that Lauren's Mom, Patti, LOVED this image. I know it's not a bridal portrait-- it's a moment. Can't take that desire to shoot emotion out of me, I guess.

...and now to chimp the images from today!

Jennifer+Jeff @ Duke Gardens

Where did I read recently... something close to " I hate when I finish something... because that means it's over". I feel this way frequently about my weddings and clients because there's all this anticipation and excitement and my brain is smoking trying to see different for each client... and then my 6 or 7 or 8 hours is up and you say Bye! Thank you! *sniff, sniff* and what's left to show?

OH! Great photos. :) Thanks to Jennifer and Jeff. John and I had a most wonderful, creative time documenting your day. I am loving our work....

John rocked with the guys...

..I like my take on boys getting ready. See his sister sleeping in the tent? Awesome.

Jeff has a mega-watt smile.

I am so skinny, you can't see me.

Just too funny, floating flower girl!

The limo driver was late. Like, 20 minutes or something. This made for a little tension in the limo. Jennifer is visibly wishing for time to fly.

We almost never get this kind of view of the bride approaching her groom. Mostly because at a church, we'd have to be on the altar. Impossible.

I asked Jen earlier in the day why we hadn't done an engagement session..or bridals. She said..."uh...we didn't want to". Too bad for me!

I was wicked excited when I saw the screen and decided to do some backlit shots. Awesome.

My shot... I am ecstatic about this. I knew I had an awesome image and just stopped for a second in awe. Someone asked me if I ran out of film and missed the whole thing. LOL. I must have looked funny.

J's shot... his is sparkier and glittery. Dang!

Many many many kudos for a beautiful inspiring wedding. Plus, thanks for being so polite and giving us room to breathe. I want to do it again! LOL
Gallery will be up next week...I'm email.
Best!

busy!

It is 6:30am on Saturday, and I am up. I woke up with the thought of "Jennifer and Jeff's wedding was awesome" and "I can't wait to share those pics" and then realized it was 6:30 on Saturday. I got up anyway. I cannot believe I got so busy that I haven't blogged favorites for them! I know they were too busy themselves in GREECE to notice. Right? Right?

What am I busy doing now? Well, yeah, lots of stuff. Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Yervant/Busink seminar in Chapel Hill. I don't sit still well... I was that annoying woman who kept getting up for coffee and then just staying standing. The seminar was interesting-- Yervant's style is definitely not my own and I fell in serious like with Joe B. He had me crying talking about autism....look for his book out soon. Anyway, the best part of seminars is meeting other photographers. Wish I could have stayed for the mixer after. ...I have to add here (so I can get it out of my head) a quote from a friend photographer "...we tell each other, this sucks, did you take this shot with your butt?" HAHA! My new goal.

Anyway, my goal today is to do Jen and Jeff's blog, and then go shoot another fabulous wedding tonight! I am living the life. :)

As they say in Greece: Adio. But just for a few hours...