Love Story: Jessica and Wayne

It is amazing how Facebook can keep you connected with people from all aspects of your life. It's impossible to "loose touch" with someone if you keep up with life on Facebook. This is how we ended up doing this shoot with Jessica and Wayne. Jessica went to high school with David and recently found him on Facebook and saw he was a photographer. Jessica and Wayne got married by the justice of the peace, no photographer. Now they are about to have their baby and Wayne has been deployed overseas. I hope these recent memories at the fair make you smile today, Jessica!

I had gotten up super early the day of the shoot to catch an early flight back from Omaha where I had done a weekend of boudoir shoots. Our first attempt at the fair shoot with Jessica and Wayne got rained out, and luckily we had good weather on this last day of the fair. Jessica, you had so much energy AND you were about to bust-- you could've run circles around me for sure! And Wayne... when we first met I was not sure if you thought we were crazy but as soon as we got started you were totally in to it. I love that in a man!

David's view:

My view:

I am always telling guys to take off their sunglasses...

I decided to let Wayne work 'em.

Takin' a little break from the crowd...

I imagine that it would be impossible to be pregnant at the fair and not eat anything!!

LOVE!

Thanks for hanging out with us at the fair guys! Wayne, we hope you are safe while you are away and Jessica we hope that everything goes well with you and the baby being born :)

Wedding Story: Kristen and Michael

The skies remained cloudy as David and I arrived in Jarratt on a crisp Saturday morning for Kristen and Michael's wedding. All that mattered was that it did not rain since the ceremony was going to be outside. Michael has been developing this new gorgeous neighborhood by a lake, so it offered the perfect spot to have the wedding. I could not wait to see it!

I met the ladies at the salon...

... where everyone was busy finishing up each other's hair and makeup...

... and keeping Kristen giggling with funny stories.

Meanwhile David met the guys at the fire station where Michael is the chief.

This machine was in someone's house!

Made the shoes look even sassier!

It was freezing but these two were awesome!

Father and bride sharing a moment on the way down the aisle.

An unexpected guest stopped by...

Michael's brother and best man provided the music for the ceremony...

MARRIED!

May I have a canvas of this please??

Kristen's sister, brother-in-law and nephew all looking sharp...

Kristen and her Dad...

Kristen and Michael had some awesome fireworks and sparklers for everyone to play with during the reception...

When there are sparklers and SP blog stalkers in the same place,

there will be the request for this crowd favorite...

The night wound down with dancing- lots of fabulous dancing!

Kristen and Michael: Your day was so gorgeous and full of wonderful events that I am sure no one noticed how cold it was :) Your love warmed the place up and kept the party going!! Thanks again for having us up there in VA!

Wedding Story: Holly and Michael

You have already seen what a gorgeous bride Holly makes... now you get to see the whole thing! From the beginning I knew that David and I were going to have an awesome time telling Holly and Michael's story. We loved their fun attitude and unique style-- and man did they deliver those traits in creating a fabulous wedding day!

I am about to drop a bomb of gorgeousness on this blog so here we go...

Nothin' like a bunch of yummy bride details...

Holly's Dad bringing the girl's flowers by Holly's room :)

A thumbs up from the groom is always important!

Holly and Michael decided to see each other before the ceremony so we would have more time for pictures and they could get straight to the party after the ceremony.

The before images and the ceremony were all held at the Arboretum in Raleigh.

Sometimes when I see my husband David's work I just want to make out with him.

It's my blog, I can say that!

While the musicians began to play...

... the girls (and Holly's Dad?) freshened up to head down the aisle!

(straight out of the camera... these flowers were just yummy)

Exchanging vows...

... MARRIED!

I want to take a moment and say hey to Lauren and Adam! You might remember this post where David and I talked about participating in a wedding... it was for Lauren and Adam. Lauren did a fabulous job officiating this wedding, and Adam did an awesome job introducing us to Holly and Michael in the first place!

Because Holly and Michael got their pictures done before the ceremony,

they were able to greet each guest as they left the ceremony site.

Grabbed on the way to the reception at the delicious Cafe Luna...

Michael and Holly had so many personal touches worked into their day...

I am not a huge cake fan so I usually do not have wedding cake at all these weddings we shoot... HOWEVER I had to try one of their mini cupcakes from the Cupcake Shoppe.

OMG it was good!

It is a tradition in Michael's family for meaningful people to make quilt squares for the newlyweds and then create a quilt... how beautiful.

Checking the time to see when the party will be over? Sad!

Holly and Michael: We were truly looking forward to working with you two on your wedding day and all it's fabulousness, and we were not disappointed at all! We had an awesome time and loved documenting all the well-planned details, the fun and all the love.

Bridal Story: Holly

I am going to come right out and say it--- bridal portraits are not my favorite. There. Whew. It's out there. There is all the being super careful with the dress, putting a sheet under it and stuff. You know that this is only a tradition in the south? I went to a photography seminar one time in Charlotte held by a guy from Chicago and a guy from California. Someone in the crowd asked a question about bridals- one of the guys just laughed and said that they have no concept of bridals, they are just a southern thing. I like the new movement to do bridals after the wedding day, so the bridal feels more comfortable being out in the world in her wedding dress.

Holly had just a great attitude at her bridals. We were careful with her dress, yet she still had so much fun with it-- and I think that variety shows! I can't wait to show you her and Michael's wedding in the next blog post :) Enjoy this peek into just how gorgeous Holly is!

Wedding Story: Shelly and Christian

The past week has been wild and crazy kids-- David and I moved, I flew to Omaha to shoot four boudoirs, we had several shoots around town and at the fair. All the while the blog post list grew longer... sad story! I am so glad to be bringing some new stories to you this week!!

David and I had an awesome time hanging out with Shelly and Christian (and their fabulous people) for their rehearsal and their wedding day. They keep company with people you feel like you too went to college with, or grew up around. David and I felt like we had known them all for years as well by the time we left on Saturday night.

I can't help but start out with these ADORABLE shoes.

Also, you will find various shades of light blue throughout their wedding day-

let's just say these two are Tarheels :)

Now seems to be a good time to send love to AshK (bridesmaid fixing Shelly's veil).

I have had this Ashley in my life since middle school and let me tell you, I hope she is always somehow in my life. Everyone needs an Ashley just like her!!

She referred Shelly and Christian to us and we were so glad she did!

Christian hooked all his guys up with some stylin' aviators...

Christian admiring a beautiful rosary that was gifted to him...

David was on point with those reflection shots.

There were a TON of teachers involved in this wedding day...

so it was appropriate that the girls were kept in a classroom.

Shelly and her sisters doing what they call the "High School Musical" jump.

Time to get married!

Love a man's reaction to seeing his bride for the first time at the other end of the aisle.

Stealing a sweet look at each other during the ceremony...

If I remember correctly, a member of Christian's family made this beautiful prayer shawl for Christian and Shelly's wedding ceremony.

Married!!

PS- those were the hugest mums anyone had ever seen.

Thanks to the wedding party, everyone was reminded of the bride and groom's school spirit :)

The rain let up so we could stop by a park on our way to the reception with the newlyweds and their bridal party...

Party Time!

Even their cake brought back memories of UNC-CH for the couple= the Old Well.

We seemed to have picked up a groupie, with his Dad's camera, for the evening...

Closing out the night right- singing a few Tar Heel tunes :)

And they're off!

Check the Story Photographer's Facebook page for a few extra images that didn't quite make the final cut for the blog!

Shelly and Christian: Shelly, to answer your question, David and I will totally be your friends!! It was a joy to be around such a great people for two days. We hope the wedding day was everything you hoped for and more... and that the honeymoon was an awesome, relaxing vacation!!

Love Story: Al and Mary

This will not be the first time you have seen Al and Mary on the blog this year. I love repeat offenders :) Mary and Al had been telling me for awhile that they never got engagement pictures and always wanted some ring shots. Well HELLO, they came to the right place!

Remember that survey I had on the blog this summer? I want to continue to address some of the questions that you all asked there. The issue I want to bring up in this post from the survey has also been raised before in comments on this blog-- the idea of labeling oneself a photojournalist photographer. Once upon a time an anonymous commenter believed that they could get me down by criticizing my engagement shoot work as un-photojournalistic and a little bit posed. No where on this blog or our website do I describe my work as photojournalistic. I believe that term has been thrown around loosely in the photography world.

When David and I shoot weddings or other events, we do like to be "behind the scenes" and shoot things as they happen. However when it is time to do the couple shots at a wedding, or shoot any type of "relaxed portrait" session, very few people would feel comfortable or know what to do with me just following them around for an hour without any direction or suggestion. A well-known/fabulous photographer has described it more as photo-coaching. The vast majority of our clients have never modeled professionally and are not aware of light, expressions, ideal body placement, etc.

It is our job to get you started, get the moments set in motion and then shoot what happens after that. Al and Mary's shoot is a great example of that. There are shots that do look posed because I did suggest to them where to stand/sit, but then their personalities and relationship dynamics took the suggestions and ran with them :)

I will make you wait no longer...

We stumbled upon this urban veggie garden...

Al would not stop talking about this car...

... so we let him hug it.

See, I did not ask Mary to display her fabulous pink pants...

... when you are wearing pants like this how can you NOT show them off!?

I hope you have learned by now that I cannot resist this type of image.

Something about getting two people that love each other to move in close-

works every time.

All I remember is something inappropriate was said and Mary kept saying

"I KNOW that is going to make the blog!"

For a change of pace we headed to Lake Wheeler.

Al kept talking about how he was getting

night vision goggles from Mary as an anniversary gift.

Naturally I wanted to know what night vision goggles would look like on Al...

Do I look like a stalker in this next set? YES

Do I care? NO

I would like one of these on a canvas please!

I feel confident that, had I not been there,

Mary and Al still would have looked over the water standing exactly like this...

Mary and Al: Let's do this on all of your anniversaries, ok? Thanks. I had a FABULOUS time as always!! Here's to many more anniversaries!

Life Story: Chelsey's Headshots

Chelsey and I go back to high school--- we both sang in the NCB All State Youth Choir together. Yes, I am one of those multiple arts people. Here are a few of the headshots I recently did for Chelsey to aid in her musical theater endeavors.