Alexa's Photography - Wedding Photographer

We're moving...

2011-04-14T17:29:00.000-04:00

... to a new blog, that is.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know I've been working on a new website and blog for weeks now. Well, it's done! This blog will still be around if you want to be nostalgic and look back at old posts (I do it too), but the new blog is where I'll be posting all my new content and updates! Don't forget to check out my new website as well. You'll find new galleries, tons of photos, and lots of information!

Don't forget to leave some comments (on the new blog) and let me know what you think of the re-design!

A little longer . . .

2011-04-08T08:27:00.003-04:00

Well, I was hoping my next blog post would be telling you all to head over to check out my new website and blog but that's not happening. Through a series of problems with my hosting site and server, I wasn't able to reveal the website right when it was ready. That's ok, no big deal. But then, when I thought everything was ready to go and went through the process of updating the website to go live . . . everything disappeared. Yes, everything. I started back at square 1 with a blank template. Yes, I cried. I've been working on this for a couple of months now picking photos, colors, working on a new logo (which you'll love, by the way), and making sure everything fit together perfectly.

:(

I'm hoping that somehow I'll be able to get all that information back but in the meantime I'm trying to reconstruct everything myself. You may remember that my computer's hard drive crashed about a month ago and, while I had all of my clients' photos backed up on my external hard drive, I hadn't backed up my website galleries yet. I'll be going back through all of my archives again, retouching again, and resizing again.

I'm trying to finish by Sunday so I can reveal before Brides on Tour . I'll keep you updated but in the meantime feel free to leave encouraging comments and/or stories of when you've worked on something forever and it was erased. That may make me feel better ;)

P.S. Brides on Tour tickets are half price today! Click over to the website to read all about this new style of bridal show and grab your tickets now!

And because posts aren't fun without photos, here's one of my dog that cracks me up.

Snow White. A Bridal Session.

2011-03-22T09:35:00.005-04:00

Most of you know by now that Carla White is my amazing hair and makeup artist. She's taken care of lots of my brides and seniors and made them look absolutely stunning for their portrait sessions. Well, now it's Carla's turn to get in front of the camera... she has been married five years and wanted to do a session, just for fun! We started brain storming and came up with the idea of styling a Snow White bridal session complete with fun accessories, apples, and a mirror. We shopped at Songbirds in Greensboro for our dress... they have everything ranging from brand new, designer wedding dresses to vintage and hard-to-find dresses so it was easy to find the perfect one!

The details :
Dress - Songbirds Consignments
Veil - Voulez Veils by Renee McCardell
Bracelet and flower hairpieces - Petal Pushers Jewelry
Hair and makeup - Carla White

The story begins with our sweet Snow White...

She is lovely, and kind...

...and incredibly beautiful...

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

... who is the fairest one of all?

Isn't she pretty?

Snow White has been offered a poison apple...

Will she take a bite?

She contemplates ...

... and takes a bite ...

Here is where the story changes a little. Snow White wakes up a little darker ...

... a little more wild ...

Will someone else take the apple now?

... maybe you will take a bite?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall... Now who is the fairest one of all?

Don't forget to leave a comment if you enjoyed this shoot! If you're interested in having your bridal session styled, send me an email at alexa.photo@gmail.com and we'll figure out what will work best with your style and personality! It doesn't have to be a fairy tale, or even something fictional. Whether you're a teacher, avid soccer player, or do ballet, we can style the session to fit you!

Snow White Bride. Bridal Session.

2011-03-18T14:44:00.003-04:00

More to come from this amazing styled bridal session. Stay tuned...

Caroline + Billy. Greensboro, NC Wedding Photography.

2011-03-15T14:36:00.004-04:00

Caroline and Billy have such a unique and beautiful relationship. I can't put my finger on it but something just feels special about it. Like they were absolutely meant for each other. It was such a privilege to take part in their wedding day. Caroline got ready at the beautiful Greenwood Bed & Breakfast in Greensboro... full of fun women, smiles, and beautiful light.

The details . . .
Ceremony venue : Living Way Christian Fellowship
Reception venue & catering : Starmount Country Club
Brides dress : Myline Bridal
Brides hair : Glen Hampton House
Florist : Sedgefield Florist
Cake : Buy Me Cake
DJ : Jason Barnes, Massengale Entertainment

I love this sweet moment between sisters...

I absolutely love this photo of the sweet flowergirl, Kealee. She was so patient and quiet while everyone was getting ready!

Caroline was so happy while getting dressed! She was definitely ready to start walking down the aisle!

We saved a few minutes before heading to the church to do some portraits of Caroline alone. . .

Caroline glanced in the mirror while walking out the door and had to stop for a last look at herself. Gorgeous!

Caroline's dad stopped in for a look at his daughter :)

I love these photos of two proud dads watching their beautiful daughters!

Caroline's sister had the best reaction while watching Caroline walking down the aisle...

Married!

I just think this is the cutest photo. A nice little candid in the middle of family formals.

Caroline and Billy had a party bus to transport the bridal party to the reception. It was so much fun! There was lots of laughter, a disco ball, and Journey song sing-alongs. Super fun!

This is definitely one of my favorite bridal party photos...

Some reception detail...

...and some dancing...

Billy and Caroline had one of the best first dances that I've ever seen. It was choreographed and everything!

Showing off that ring!

Oh, you want to see the ring?

Stunning, isn't it?

A few romantics in the Country Club before I had to leave . . .

Congratulations Caroline & Billy!

Amanda + John. A Proposal Story.

2011-03-14T16:23:00.003-04:00

I feel like I have to preface this post by letting you know that my family is so near and dear to my heart. Yes, we are a large family. We are a crazy family. And sometimes we are a loud, dancing, singing family. And we are closer than most other families I know. So a few weeks ago, when my only big brother took me to see the ring he had picked out for his girlfriend, Amanda, I started flipping out a little bit. And when he texted me to see if I would photograph his proposal, I had to try not to cry. I am so grateful to be invited to such intimate times in the lives of the couples I photograph. And my big brother's proposal? That's even better.

I think my heart has finally stopped beating out of my chest enough that I can post these images.

John started planning a couple of weeks ago but was waiting for the perfect day to pop the question. He didn't want Amanda to suspect anything so he picked Sunday evening while they were relaxing at my parent's house. Now, this was a different proposal shoot than I'm used to! I usually wait in the designated location and the couple comes to me, but this time I had to sneak into the location while they were there! I was definitely freaking out just a little bit. I parked down the street and our dad left the house to "run some errands". He picked me up and, while I ducked in the back seat, parked at the perfect angle on the driveway.

John convinced Amanda to come outside with him on the premise of taking a four-wheeler ride. This is where I had to force myself to breathe evenly and just shoot. I promise you, I don't think my heart has ever beat as hard as it did last night when John came out the door!

The family had strung lights in the trees and turned them on right on time!

It didn't take long for John to drop to his knee...

I love how he's holding the ring here...

Amanda told us later that she couldn't believe what was happening! She was so speechless that John had to ask a few times before she could get her answer out :)

John saved the "sweet nothings" for after the ring while my parents blasted the Etta James song, "At Last", out the front door.

Seriously, so romantic.

I love that they just took their time and enjoyed the moment.

I love you guys and am so excited for you! Can't wait for the wedding :)

Joe + Tiffany. A Proposal Story.

2011-03-10T11:41:00.005-05:00

Do you have a tissue nearby? This sweet proposal just may make you tear up a little ;)

Joe and my husband, Jonathan, were roommates during college. In fact, Joe and Tiffany started dating soon after Jonathan and I. I would like to say that I secretly always knew Joe and Tiffany would end up engaged and happily married... he was so obviously enamored with her! Joe called me up a few weeks ago to see if I would possibly be available to shoot "something" on March 7th. "Something" being code for "I'm going to ask her to marry me". I was so excited for both of them! Joe already had a plan laid out and though there were a few hiccups along the way, namely the selected restaurant being closed and Tiffany wanting to change plans to go see her friend on Monday, everything worked out perfectly. After dinner Joe suggested that they take a walk through Center City Park downtown where, unknown to Tiffany, Jonathan and I were hiding in the bushes waiting to capture her reaction and answer to the big question...

We weren't exactly sure where Joe would drop down to his knee so we were positioned in different places to make sure we caught the action.

Of course the answer was yes...

When Joe first called me a few weeks back, he wasn't sure if Tiffany would want to be photographed during this intimate moment but I'm glad he decided to go with it anyway. I hope she can always look back on these photos and remember that amazing feeling when the love of your life says he wants to keep you forever :) (Yes, I know I'm getting sappy here. I can't help it!)

She was a little embarrassed but mostly giddy...

I think Joe was a little giddy too...

Joe did a little reenactment for us so we could hear the whole speech...

After a few shots in the park, Joe and Tiffany left to head to Tiffany's house. This is where the second surprise happened...

We also headed to Tiffany's house where a bunch of her friends were gathered under the impression that they were throwing a surprise party in honor of her acceptance into a program in Africa.

But the real surprise was revealed after only a few minutes.

Joe did a good job, didn't he?

Joe and Tiffany, we love you guys so much!

Bridal Shower. Woodland Wedding Inspiration.

2011-02-24T10:55:00.006-05:00

Back in October I threw a bridal shower for one of my best friends, Rachel. I wasn't able to post the images right away because we had to wait for our feature on the WeddingChicks blog! I thought maybe you would all want some more detail about the planning, execution, and how we kept it all a secret from Rachel :)

The details . . .
Event stylist : Melissa Lewkowicz
Invitations/Menus : Ashleigh's Fine Paper
Tableware/Linens : Partymakers
Antique furniture : Thrill of the Hunt
Catering : Sweet Basil's Restaurant
Cake : Maxie B's

I knew it would probably be pretty chilly in October so I asked Rachel if it was ok to do the shower outside. She said yes, but that's all she knew about our plan! I worked with my sister to pull together a theme before asking for help from all the amazing vendors listed above. Rachel was an English major in college so we themed the shower around books, words, and quotes, with a nice dash of color so our setup would stand out against the trees. The huge paper chandelier you see hanging above the table was a labor of love by my mom, sisters, and I. We used yarn to string up old book pages, tissue poms, and garlands onto a frame. My dad called it a "trash tornado" but he helped string it up in the trees anyway because he loves us and Rachel is like another daughter to him. It absolutely pulls everything together and it moved so pretty in the breeze!

All the old books on the table were from the free section at Ed McKay's bookstore in Greensboro. I took quite a few trips there, picking out the perfect books to complete our table decor. The books now have a home in my office :)

I am in love with the blue chair below. Isn't it gorgeous? Thrill of the Hunt antique store recently changed focus and is now Preen, a vintage jewelry store in Greensboro. Make sure you check it out if you're looking for some unique jewelry for your wedding day (or anything else!).

Melissa did an amazing job of taking our vision for the shower and adding all the little details. The napkin holders are actually headbands that she makes by hand. Genius!

We set up this gorgeous little area for our guests to type a message to Rachel, like a guest book.

I love the mantle that we got from Thrill of the Hunt. It was the first thing guests saw as they entered the shower and featured one of the photos from Rachel's actual engagement!

This vintage chair I picked up off the curb one day was perfect for piling gifts for our bride-to-be! We also posted cute little quotes about love and marriage on the shutters, and tucked one of the shower invitations into the shelving.

Ok, two things... Ashleigh did an AMAZING job on the invitations and menus for the shower. I met up with her to go over the shower theme, colors, and design, and she took it from there designing a beautiful invitation that set the tone for our event. She also worked with Renee from Sweet Basil's to design the menu. I love that the menu and cupcake icing are the exact same color! Speaking of cupcakes... man, those were delicious. I cannot say enough good things about Maxie B's bakery! Each guest had a cupcake beside their plate. Don't they look cute on their little cake stands?

And again with the cake... aren't they adorable? I gave Maxie B's our shower colors and theme and they came up with these adorable, whimsical designs for us.

My sister brought Rachel down to where we were set up. I love her face in this photo! She was so completely surprised and happy :)

And then it was time to eat. I wish you guys could smell this food through your computers. It was honestly the best food I've ever eaten! And not only was it good, I love how beautiful everything looks! Sadly, Sweet Basil's Restaurant is closed now but they still do catering! And if you ever get a chance, you *have* to stop by Basil's & Co for dinner sometime. Same owner, amazing food. I promise, our girls are still talking about that soup! And check out the gorgeous tableware... I met with Emily from Partymakers during the planning stages and she was so incredibly helpful in picking out colors and dishes that weren't matchy-matchy but still looked good together.

So there you have it! If you saw the shower photos on WeddingChicks, I hope you enjoyed getting some behind-the-scenes details! And yes, I'm leaving you with the food pictures last so you'll go see Renee and try it yourself. Don't forget to leave a comment while you're visiting the blog! The vendors worked so hard on making everything look amazing and I know they would appreciate some love :)

Valentines sessions. The photos.

2011-02-15T14:19:00.005-05:00

If you've been reading my blog, Twitter, or follow me on Facebook, you know that I have been looking forward to these Valentines mini-sessions for weeks! I finally got to shoot with all of my groups and it was perfect! We had beautiful weather, lots of smiles and laughs, and plenty of hearts to go around.

I shot Emily and David's wedding in July of last year and they traveled two hours to do the mini-session with me on Friday! It was so fun seeing them again at this new stage in their relationship. Emily and David are both doing stuff in school so they're super busy. They seemed pretty happy to break from the routine and spend some time cuddling in front of the camera :)

This is the Taplin family. Both kids ended up getting sick right before the session and weren't feeling good. As Holland said, "I just want to sleep!". Poor babies. We were still able to grab some cute photos before sending the kids off to an afternoon nap!

I didn't get to meet Leah & Adam until our session Saturday afternoon. They just recently got engaged and are in the middle of wedding planning now. I'm so glad they were able to squeeze in this quick engagement session! They have great smiles and seem so perfect for each other. See for yourself!

Kristin & Spence were among the first of my clients in 2009. I shot their engagement session in Myrtle Beach, Kristin's bridal session, and their wedding at Revolution Mills Studios. Now they're expecting a baby boy in a few months and took advantage of the mini-session for some updated/maternity photos :)

Deidra is a wedding and event planner here in the triad. You can see her website here! She brought along her puppy, Kizzy, and her boyfriend, Nate, to the session. Deidra and Nate are so absolutely perfect together. They're both silly and love to tease each other and laugh together. . . as you'll see below :)

Scott booked a mini-session as a surprise for his girlfriend, Madison. He was so excited to see what her reaction would be... such a thoughtful boyfriend :) I think it's safe to say she was really happy. They were so cute and natural in front of the camera!

P.S. Each couple got one of these adorable cupcake topiaries from Maxie B's at the end of the session. I like to think they're cute enough for the girls, yummy enough for the guys :)

Update

2011-02-07T08:17:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone!

This week has been an unexpected break for me. My computer decided to stop working last Monday so I took it to see someone at the Genius Bar at Apple. My hard drive had broken down. In the words of the Genius, "your computer can see the hard drive, it just can't get in". Wonderful. On the bright side, this is the middle of my "slow season" so no one is waiting on their wedding photos to be finished, I have everything backed up on an external hard drive and discs, and my computer was still under warranty so it's being fixed at no charge. Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for in this situation. The sad thing is, my website launch has been seriously delayed because of the crash and I haven't been able to update my blog in a while! I just wanted to drop in and say "hello" and "I'm still around, I promise" and "there will be tons of cute Valentines shoots here this time next week, so I'm making up for not posting in so long!". My computer should be back sometime today with a larger hard drive, faster operating system and maybe they even cleaned off the fingerprints on my screen. Be looking out for updates on the new website!

Love, Alexa

Valentines day. Mini-sessions.

2011-02-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else feel like Christmas just happened like two days ago? And yet here we are, only a couple of short weeks from Valentines day! I feel like the older I get, the faster time goes by. I remember when it used to seem like days were long, weeks took forever to be over and I couldn't even think a couple of months ahead!

Now, I know Valentines day is a little bit of a controversial holiday... some people get super excited about it, some people (especially guys) dread it and stress out about trying to be the most romantic, and some people even revolt against it!
I am one of the people that love Valentines day. It was such a fun and sweet holiday growing up at my house. My mom would draw hearts on the bathroom mirror in lipstick so it was the first thing we saw when we woke up. My dad would usually bring home candies or a stuffed animal holding a heart (I have one of them sitting on my dresser still!) and there were rounds of hugs and kisses. My brother left roses on all his sisters pillows when we came home from a trip one Valentines day. It's just so cute! I know that it is a super commercial holiday in a sense but if you think about Valentines as being a day to celebrate love between friends, family, your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, or spouse, it's one of the best days of the year. . . or at least one of the best days in the dead of winter :)

In honor of my love of Valentines day, I'm offering special mini-sessions until February 10th. The sessions will take place on two dates in Greensboro. February 11th will be an earthy location with fields and greenery and February 12th will take place in an urban location filled with buildings and color, and of course lots of romance will be involved with both!
Guys, if you really want to treat your lady this year, this is your chance!
Whether you're dating, engaged, or married, this will be a Valentines gift she won't forget :)

Time slots available :

Friday :
9:00 - 9:30am
9:40 - 10:10am
10:20 - 10:50am
~~11:00 - 11:30am~~
11:40 - 12:10am/pm
12:20 - 12:50pm
1:30 - 2:00pm
2:10 - 2:40pm
2:50 - 3:20pm
~~3:30 - 4:00pm~~
4:10 - 4:40pm
~~4:50 - 5:20pm~~

Saturday :
9:00 - 9:30am
9:40 - 10:10am
10:20 - 10:50am
11:00 - 11:30am
~~11:40 - 12:10am/pm~~
12:20 - 12:50pm
~~1:30 - 2:00pm~~
2:10 - 2:40pm
~~2:50 - 3:20pm~~
~~3:30 - 4:00pm~~
4:10 - 4:40pm
~~4:50 - 5:20pm~~

A little more info :
- To purchase a session, choose the date from the drop-down menu and click "Buy Now". You will complete the transaction through PayPal. Please note the time slot you would like to purchase.
- Additional time slots may be added if sessions sell out.
- Online galleries containing final images will be posted February 14th, Valentines day!
- If you have additional questions, please ask them in the comments section!
- Sample of the 3x3" mini accordion album pictured below.

Personal : Anniversary Session

2011-01-24T16:15:00.000-05:00

Here it is! The images from the amazing husband + wife photography team of mi belle photography! I was so stinkin' excited to finally see Josh and Michelle again (and their new baby boy!) and be in front of the camera for a change.

We carried our wedding clothes from NC, to Colorado, to Cali and it was so nice to finally wear my wedding dress again :) We did the session at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. This is actually where the show Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman was filmed! Please, someone tell me you watched that show. It was gorgeous there and incredibly nice to go from less than 20 degrees here in NC to 75 degrees in southern California! Let me know what you think of the photos!

We can't wait to print this one for our wall :)

Isn't my hubby handsome? I just love him.

This is definitely one of the favorites for both of us. Jonathan usually hates photos of himself but he loves all of these... yay!

This is part of the western town where Dr. Quinn was filmed. Anyone recognize it?

We changed clothes for a few casual photos.

Featured : Wedding Chicks

2011-01-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to announce (late) that I, along with other local vendors, have been featured on WeddingChicks blog! The Wedding Chicks run an amazing wedding blog full of inspiration, free downloads, and planning tips so go check it out! Our feature is a bridal shower that's never been seen before featuring tons of color, books, and details. Click the photo to see the images! I'll be making a post soon about how everything came together and giving you all some info about the amazing vendors involved. Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Family love. Westlake Village, California.

2011-01-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

I meant to post about my own wedding on our first anniversary this past September but everything was crazy busy and it just never happened. I will tell you this though... it rained incredibly hard on our wedding day. Like, pouring rain. I have always dreamed of having my wedding outside on my parents property and so we did not move inside the church. We stayed outdoors under the reception tent for the entire wedding and it was amazing. But because of the rain, we only had a few "romantics" of us together on the wedding day. I have been dying to have more photos taken in my dress, with my husband, somewhere beautiful and sunny. So, when I contacted Josh & Michelle of mi belle photography (I interned with them during school) and they agreed to do a shoot with us, we packed up and headed to sunny California.

I'll be posting the photos from our Day After shoot with mibelle later but right now I'm going to show you some of the cutest kids ever. My cousins Karlee and Kerri both have beautiful children and I couldn't resist shooting a few portraits while we were there.

This is James. Doesn't that just make you say "aww" out loud?

James recently became a big brother to Juliet. He is so good with her!

Juliet was so attentive and happy during her few minutes in front of the camera!

My gorgeous cousin, Karlee, with her babies.

This is Kerri + Seth's boy, Carson.

Doesn't he have the most beautiful eyes?

Such a handsome little guy :)

This photo cracks me up. He couldn't resist trying to eat the dirt.

Next time I post, you'll be able to see our day after session in Paramount Ranch. Yay!

Amy + Shea. NC Wedding Photographer.

2011-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

It is nothing short of a miracle that Amy + Shea's wedding took place on a sunny afternoon in January. Yes, it was still freezing cold, but as I was driving to the church it was snowing! Thankfully, everything cleared up enough that we had a little sunshine and at least a few degrees more warmth during the portraits outside. Can you believe Amy was ok in a strapless dress?! I was bundled up on the other side of the camera and still cold! Extra points to Amy and Shea for braving the cold for the romantics. And for being cute.

The details . . .
Hair: Lynn Danser from Bliss Salon
Florist – Custom Floral Creations
Caterer – Di Georgios
Cake – Sweet Dreams Desserts

Amy was all smiles, all day.

Amy sent a card over to Shea while he was getting ready. I love when couples do this! It makes for such memorable photos.

Jonathan was assisting me during this wedding. I love this shot he grabbed of the guys!

We took a few minutes to photograph Amy by herself. I love being able to work a few bridal portraits into the wedding day time line!

I love this shot of the flowergirl smiling at her mom in the audience :)

I love photographing all the hugs and kisses that go around after the ceremony.

The romantics were super important to Amy so we made sure to leave enough time between the family portraits and reception to photograph the newlyweds together :)

My image on the left, Jonathan's on the right. I love getting two points of view!

The reception at DiGeorgio's was so sweet and casual. I love the yellow walls!

Geer Family. Winston Salem Family Portraits.

2011-01-13T12:42:00.004-05:00

I shot this gorgeous family back in the fall and was waiting until Christmas cards were sent out to post these to the blog :) I think we can safely guess that all Christmas cards have been sent by now! I am just in love with the seasonal leaves changing and how everyone's outfits coordinate without matching . . . it's a family session miracle! Don't forget to leave some love in the comments section below :)

These kids were super easy to work with... and super cute, too!

Cuddles with mommy...

Of course I had to shoot just a few images of Lora and Andy alone.

Then I did some photos of each child alone. I think these are so important when you're part of a larger family. Each of these kids had so much personality!

We found a ladybug! These are some of my favorite images from the session because no one was paying attention to me :) I got to capture this series as it happened in real life.

Kati + Matthew. Studio B Wedding. Downtown Greensboro.

2011-01-03T12:28:00.004-05:00

I'm back! I hope that all of you had an awesome vacation/holiday like I did. I am so thankful that both sides of the family live close by and that we were able to see all of our parents and siblings, some cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends, during the Christmas season.

Kati and Matthew were married right before Christmas on a beautiful (and chilly!) Saturday afternoon at Studio B in downtown Greensboro. I love the character of the venue, the intimate setting, and the snowflakes that fell during Kati and Matthew's first look! Check it out . . .

The details . . .
Venue - Studio B
Hair/makeup - Cindy Clinard
Planner/coordinator – Leigh Pearce
Florist – Linda Sasser
Caterer – Maria’s
DJ – All the Right Grooves
Lighting – All the Right Grooves
Cake - Delicious

LOVE this window... and Kati's dress is pretty gorgeous too ;)

Kati's dad helped lace up the back of her wedding dress. . . such a special moment!

I was photographing Kati getting ready and looked to my side to find this precious scene. . . Kati's sister and dad taking in every moment.

Jonathan stayed with Matthew and the groomsmen during the getting ready process.

It's so funny to me that guys can get ready in about 5 minutes flat and have time to relax and have a toast before the ceremony!

Matthew and Kati chose to do a "first look" before the ceremony. This was such a good decision! Because this was a winter wedding, it was completely dark by the time the ceremony was over. I got to capture these sweet moments in the beautiful evening light, and snow!

Check out the perfume bottle that Matthew gave to Kati! Such a sweet and thoughtful gift. She was so happy with it!

A few shots of our handsome groom . . .

And signing the marriage license . . .

Ceremony time!

We ventured out into the dark, cold night for some romantics. Kati and Matthew have already scheduled a "day after" session so we can get some shots in the daylight, but we thought it was important to photograph them together on the actual wedding day :)

One of my favorites... they're so focused on each other and oblivious to everything else going on!

Jonathan grabbed this adorable bouquet shot while I was shooting our bride & groom.

I found the bridal party warming their deviled eggs over the centerpiece candle.

Kati and Matthew had cute napkins that made for a great ring shot.

Yeah, I spent a few minutes trying to balance the rings on this gumball. It was worth it.

This wedding had all the good elements... a few toasts . . .

Some dancing . . .

And a tender moment.

Kati and Matthew are big supporters of the "high five" and they ran through a whole tunnel of high fives to get to the getaway vehicle!

Kati + Matthew's Wedding. Sneak Peek.

2010-12-29T17:02:00.003-05:00

Kati and Matthew tied the knot the Saturday before Christmas at the beautiful Studio B in downtown Greensboro. Here's a quick peek at their street-side romantics!

Tressy + Colin. Castle McCulloch Wedding.

2010-12-29T08:59:00.004-05:00

I hope that everyone has been enjoying their holiday break! I know I have. Jonathan and I got to travel to Colorado and California earlier this month to hang out with friends and do a session with mibelle photography... I love the way everything turned out! We also spent time with both sides of the family, our church, Daystar, had it's very first Christmas eve service, and we got about eight inches of snow on Christmas day! It has really been a great month and we've been noticing more and more how incredibly blessed we are. I hope that it has been the same for all of you! I'm super excited about the upcoming new year and all the stuff that will be going on. I'll be launching a new website and blog sometime in January, and hopefully have a few more little surprises for everyone. Keep checking back for more details!

Tressy and Colin got married way back in October but I didn't have a chance to blog their wedding. So here it is now! It was an incredibly nice fall day and our bride and groom, the wedding party, and all the parents and guests were so relaxed... it was great! Tressy and Colin did a first look before the ceremony so we had plenty of time for romantics and family portraits before the sun went down.

The details . . .
Venue : Castle McCulloch. Jamestown, NC
Bride's hair/makeup : Carla White
Catering : Catered Affairs
Cake : Maxie B's

I love this ruffle on the back of Tressy's dress. It added a nice classic touch!

I am so glad we had so much time to do photos before the ceremony. It gave Tressy and Colin time to relax in front of the camera and we got tons of great shots!

I also had time to do a few shots of Tressy alone, which I *loved*. Isn't she gorgeous?

Colin and Tressy walked each other down the aisle during the ceremony... so cute!

There was a short cocktail hour after the ceremony while the reception was getting set up. I think it's great when the bride and groom get to hang out with guests in such a casual setting.

We also stole a few more minutes for some portraits in the dark.

When I talked with Tressy before the wedding she told me how much she loves silhouette photos, so I made sure that we got a few!

Elisa + Josh. An Engagement Session.

2010-12-08T09:12:00.004-05:00

Josh and Elisa's engagement session was my last for 2010 - unless someone else wants to brave the below freezing temperatures that have now settled on NC!

I have been blessed with the most amazing couples this year. They've been fun, sweet, kind, and totally in love which makes my job easier :) I'm so excited to see what 2011 has for me! I'll be shooting one more wedding this year, the week before Christmas, but before that I'll be in front of the camera with my hubby for a change! It rained the entire day of our wedding so we're packing up our wedding outfits and leaving tomorrow morning to visit the West coast and have an anniversary session done with the amazing MiBelle Photography. I interned with MiBelle in my very first years of photography and got tons of amazing experience (including this wedding). They are definitely the reason I felt prepared enough to start my business right out of photography school. I can't wait to see them again!

Now, I think Elisa and Josh have the coolest story... they met at my wedding! Josh is Rachel's younger brother and Elisa played violin while we all walked down the aisle. Many people try to take the credit for setting them up together but seriously, if I hadn't gotten married and invited them... ;)

Really though, I love these two. Even if you didn't know them, you can just tell that they were made for each other! They are both really sweet and sentimental so they brought along lots of props to tell their story...

Josh and Elisa explained to me that the night they exchanged phone numbers at a bonfire, they were both bitten by a snake! They brought Elisa's pet snake, Joey, for a few shots.

The roses that we hung on this door were from Josh for their 6 month and one year anniversary. I love that Elisa kept and dried them!

They love having fun together. . .

Elisa painted these cute canvases with their soon-to-be-shared last name!

We found this awesome park on the side of the road while driving to Burlington. It looked like it was still under construction but we took advantage of this crazy walkway arch. Love the colors!

Elisa was so excited about shooting at this carousel in Burlington but when we arrived at the park, they had just closed! Thankfully, the man in charge was willing to turn off the alarm, turn on the lights, and reopen the carousel so we could shoot there for just a few minutes.

One more outfit change and we stopped in downtown Burlington to shoot with the street lights. . .

I think these black & whites look like they're from an old movie . . .

Kayla + Chris. A Fall Engagement Session.

2010-12-04T12:43:00.003-05:00

Ok, completely unrelated to this post . . . it's snowing right now! I love living in North Carolina. It was still in the seventies in mid-November, our leaves changed and looked amazing, and now it's snowing! I think we get the best of everything :) This is extra fun because our puppy, Luke, has never seen snow. He's so confused! It's adorable watching him look out the window while I work.

Now, on to Kayla and Chris' engagement session... They are getting married in Ohio next year but are both living in NC right now so I had the pleasure of shooting their engagement pictures!

Aren't they cute?

I hardly ever use a wide angle lens while shooting portrait sessions, but it just seemed right for this situation.

This is the "you're getting married!" face. Chris is extremely excited to marry his lady :)

Kayla and Chris are sweet and romantic...

But they are also silly...

I love the color of this truck we found downtown!

After we played downtown, we stopped at a park to find some fall leaves. Kayla originally wanted to get married in the fall but the dates didn't line up, so we made sure to get lots of nice fall color in the photos!

We had to break up the serious, romantic shots with a leaf fight. Kayla got a free shot at Chris . . .

Kayla and Chris got a free shot at me . . .

And Chris got an even better free shot at Kayla. . .

But they kissed and made up . . .

Liz + Swayze. A girl and her horse.

2010-12-01T11:43:00.004-05:00

You may remember the post of Liz's lakeside wedding from earlier this year. Well, she has a new man in her life now and I couldn't wait to photograph them together. But don't worry, she's still married to Travis :)

Meet Swayze. He is strong, tall, and handsome ... and wears nice white socks ;) I've never photographed a horse before so I was a little nervous at first, but Swayze is very calm and well behaved. Plus, we had lots of treats on hand for bribery.

Liz really loves Swayze. They just entered a horse show and Swayze did awesome! I know she's really proud :)

One of my favorites :

I love this series of Swayze. I think he's laughing at us.

Check out the beautiful light in this field!

Gorgeous! This seriously needs to be a large print somewhere.

Isn't Liz gorgeous? I love her eyes in this photo.

This one cracks me up every time!

We finished the session right as the sun set and Swayze was getting tired of being in front of the camera. Thanks for a great shoot, Liz!

Erilyn C. A Senior Session in High Point, NC.

2010-11-30T16:49:00.004-05:00

Erilyn is another senior from Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point. I love shooting Wesleyan seniors. . . they've all been sweet and nice and good looking! Erilyn is definitely no exception. She was so fun to work with and is great in front of the camera!

We shot at High Point University - one of the most beautiful college campuses I've ever seen! Erilyn plays softball so we started on the softball field at HPU... I was immediately smitten with Erilyn's eyes.

Erilyn wanted to incorporate the softball theme but still be girly. I think she did a good job :)

I love this umbrella that she brought for the shoot. Jonathan and I used one like this at our wedding because of the rain. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss!

Beautiful.

Check out these sweet shoes! I love that all the colors in this image go together so well!

I love laughing pictures.

Right near the end of the session, Erilyn asked to show me some dance moves. Um, yes please! I think this little series is so fun!

Erilyn, you are fantastic. I hope your senior year is great!

Sarah B. A Senior Session.

2010-11-28T21:59:00.006-05:00

Fall is my favorite season. I love the leaves, the cold air, the sweaters and scarves, chai tea, and Thanksgiving is my favorite! I had an awesome holiday weekend with family but I've been shooting a ton these past couple of weeks while the leaves have been at their peak color and I've got lots of blog posts coming up. I'm also working on a new website and blog, which I'm super excited about! You can expect larger images, more information, and vendor recommendations... I'll keep you updated :)

Sarah won the Senior Session Giveaway that I had this summer but she wanted to wait until the leaves had changed to do the shoot. We started the shoot at UNCG ...

Seriously, you don't get fall color like this everywhere! I love North Carolina.

Sarah, you are super pretty :)

This is not an easy tree to climb but Sarah did it - and in sandals, too! She's awesome.

Sarah is good at jumping and looking cute at the same time.

Sarah brought some chalk to play with and it took us forever to find somewhere to use it! But totally worth it. . . so cute!

Sarah D. High Point Senior Session.

2010-11-24T21:37:00.004-05:00

Ok, I am really in love with these images from Sarah's senior session. She's so beautiful and such a natural in front of the camera. See for yourself!

We shot Sarah's session in downtown High Point. I love the buildings in the city!

I think this is a gorgeous portrait of Sarah. I love the colors . . . and check out her awesome ring!

Sarah has a great smile :

And she is super stylish :

Sarah wants to be a fashion designer later in life ... I had her sit in this window and took a few shots before I realized the stickers on the windows!

Definitely my favorite shot. I asked Sarah to flip her hair in front of her face and this is what she gave me. A-mazing.

Sneak peeks. Round two!

2010-11-23T12:38:00.003-05:00

It's time for another round of sneak peeks! These are all shoots that I've done in the past couple weeks that are making their way to the blog. Enjoy!

Sarah's senior session. LOVE her dark hair and eyes :)

Erilyn's senior session. Such a cutie! And I love her name.

Liz + Swayze. This girl loves her horse :) Such a fun session to shoot!

The Geer family session. They're all beautiful. Seriously.

Kayla + Chris' engagement session. They are too much fun.

Elisa + Josh's engagement session. They look good together.

Matti + Chris. Three Years Later

2010-11-23T08:51:00.003-05:00

Chris and Matti just recently celebrated their third anniversary and wanted to do a session to commemorate the occasion. Of course, I was more than happy to help them with this! We've known Matti and Chris for quite a while and they've been our next door neighbors for almost a year now... oh, and our dogs are pretty much best friends :)

Matti works with the city as the Assistant Trails Director so we started their session on the trails of Greensboro. I love this first shot of Jack running through the frame.

They love Jack a lot.

One of my favorites . . . Chris and Matti are expecting their first baby (yay!) and I feel like this shot really captures how they lean on each other for strength and how much Matti is comforted by her husband :)

So cute!

I love this fallen tree that we found across the trail. It adds some sweet lines and graphic elements to the photos.

Wow, Matti. Seriously? Gorgeous!

Jack had a little portrait time, too.

They love to have fun and laugh together :

But they can also be serious, and stunning.

Chris and Matti love hanging out downtown so we headed there after the sun went down.

I just love this gate.

Rachel + Steve. Burlington, NC Wedding.

2010-11-22T07:27:00.005-05:00

Rachel and Steve tied the knot at Rachel's home church in Burlington, NC on a super beautiful, but pretty chilly, Saturday afternoon. I love the venue! Liberty Church has the feel of an old farmhouse and is surrounded by beautiful property, perfect for shooting :)

This wedding was definitely a first for me... I was playing Matron of Honor and photographer and was definitely nervous about how everything was going to work out, but I had Leah Adams shooting with me to capture all the moments that I was busy being a part of and everything went smoothly :)

The details : :
Venue : Liberty Church Burlington, NC
Bride's Hair/Makeup : Jenny Coats
Donuts : Paul's Donuts

I love this shot of the church Leah got when she arrived.

Rachel gave these little fortune cookie boxes to all her bridesmaids that contained our earrings for the day. So cute!

While I was shooting the girls getting ready, Leah shot the rings.

Rachel went barefoot for the wedding so she couldn't put a sixpence in her shoe... I love that she put it on an anklet and wore it that way!

While the girls were doing makeup, Leah and I went to hang out with the boys for a little bit.

I love when the bride writes a card for her groom before they meet at the altar. Steve couldn't stop smiling!

I just couldn't resist doing a group shot at this desk before we headed back downstairs ;)

This shot of Rachel and her dad almost makes me cry! Rachel's family is super close so I know this was an emotional day for everyone.

The bride... seriously glowing.

And all her girls! We're definitely huddling for warmth in this photo.

One more time check before Steve gets his boutonniere pinned.

Isn't this field amazing?

This is definitely my favorite shot of the guys. Steve looks like he just walked out of a magazine!

Ceremony time! Leah shot the whole ceremony and did a great job with very little room to move around.

I love when brides choose to wear a blusher. I think it's so romantic for the groom to have to lift the veil before they kiss!

After the quick ceremony, Rachel and Steve asked some close friends and family to pray over their new relationship. I know this moment meant a lot to them.

Rachel's family is from Hawaii so they incorporated a lot of Hawaiian decor and traditions into the wedding. After the recessional, Steve presented Rachel with leis to symbolize their new relationship as husband and wife.

After all the formal photos, we took Rachel and Steve back to this gorgeous field to catch the last of the sunset.

I had to shoot a few photos of Steve alone. He just looked so handsome!

I love that Rachel and Steve didn't go with the tradition of having a huge wedding cake.... that's just not how they are! And I'm pretty sure none of the guests were disappointed. These donuts were so delicious!

This crowd loves to dance. There was so much energy on the dance floor!

I love this cake-smashing series. Rachel definitely got a better shot.

The grand exit was so much fun. There was so much confetti flying around!

Steve got his own large dose of confetti when he ran to the drivers side.

Steve and Rachel, you know I love you! It was a total honor to help shoot your wedding and stand with you during the ceremony. I know you'll have a long life of happiness!

The Williams. A Family Session.

2010-11-18T18:16:00.003-05:00

Three things. . .

1) This is the Williams family. David, Nneka, Logan and Gavin
2) The Williams' are fun
3) The Williams' are cute

We shot this session in Old Salem, NC ... it's so gorgeous there in the fall! Tons of colorful leaves and cute backdrops. Little Gavin was sleeping in the car on the way to the session and it took him some cuddles from mom and a few minutes to wake up.

Logan brought his toy Luigi to the session. Luigi is actually in most of the photos, hiding behind someone's back. The rest of the time he rode in my camera bag :)

Little boys are so much fun.

I love these few shots of the boys playing with their daddy.

And some kisses for mom :)

I love the motion in this photo... boys don't hold still!

I love taking the kids for their own little session.

And this is one of my favorites. Just look at those beautiful eyes!

Gavin's turn!

Thanks for a great shoot, Williams family!

Rachel + Steve. The Engagement Session

2010-11-18T08:26:00.003-05:00

If you check this blog regularly at all, you'll remember that I photographed while Steve proposed to Rachel in July this year. We did a mini engagement session then but it didn't have all the personal touches that I love to shoot, so we did another!

We started in Rachel's (now Rachel & Steve's) apartment in downtown Greensboro. They have a great place with lots of natural light :)

Rachel and Steve love going to Tate Street Coffee to hang out and talk so we had to do a few shots there...

Don't they look comfy together?

I can't remember what was said here, but they made cute faces at the same time.

These next few photos are from UNCG's campus where Rachel & Steve both attended and graduated.

There are so many fun places within a few blocks from each other! We didn't have to go far to find this amazing colorful wall.

And this is definitely one of my faves.

After a quick outfit change, we stopped on top of the parking deck to catch the last of the sunlight...

Keep checking back for Rachel and Steve's wedding!

Maya. A Toddler's Session.

2010-11-16T20:43:00.004-05:00

Maya's family lives all the way across the country in Washington but came to visit NC and I got to photograph this sweet girl! Just look at her adorable blond pigtails and chubby cheeks :) Doesn't she just look like a cherub?

Photographing toddlers is totally different from any other kind of session that I shoot ... Maya has just started walking and she didn't want to hold still at all! It was a fun challenge, though, and I think we ended up with some great photos of this beautiful girl.

We started with a balloon but it popped within 30 seconds. Maya still had fun towing the string behind her.

Check out that cute smile!

She was totally loving these bubbles that her mom brought along.

Of course the bubble wand goes in the mouth at some point. What did you expect? ;)

I know Maya's daddy liked these kisses from his sweet girl.

Recent Sessions. Sneak peek!

2010-11-10T11:33:00.003-05:00

I have been so incredibly busy lately! And I'm definitely not complaining... I have loved working with each and every one of these seniors, families, babies, and couples. I can't believe I get to call this my job.

Enjoy these sneak peeks! I can't wait to give each session a full post!

First, Rachel & Steve's engagement session. They are so cute!

Maya's toddler session. Aren't her pigtails adorable?

The Williams family session. I had so much fun with these boys!

Rachel & Steve's wedding. I was playing matron of honor at this wedding but I got to shoot some, too :)

Chris & Matti's Day After. Well, it actually should be called a "few years after". We did this session for Chris & Matti's third anniversary. I love that they included their dog, Jack!

Sarah's senior session. Such a gorgeous girl! And I love all the color in downtown High Point.

Full posts are coming soon! I'd love to hear from anyone viewing this post. Leave a comment and let me know who you came to see!

Louisa + Zach. NC Engagement Session.

2010-10-27T00:11:00.002-04:00

Where to even start? Zach and Louisa's engagement session was one for the books... Gorgeous weather, beautiful people, great locations, and tons of laughter! I don't think I've ever laughed this much during an engagement session. Between the jokes, precarious positions, and multiple slipping accidents, we had a good time and got some amazing shots...

{Quick note : In previous posts, I make my comments below the photo being mentioned... I've found that this is a little confusing and, from now on, will make my comments at the top of the image}

We started the session at Louisa's grandparents house. They have a beautiful backyard full of ivy!

Seriously gorgeous. Louisa looked down for a split second, her hair fell perfectly around her face, I snapped the image and immediately fell in love with it.

Jonathan shot this session with me and grabbed the shot below. Isn't it beautiful? They look so relaxed and comfortable with each other.

I don't even remember what happened to get the reaction in the photo on the right, but I love it.

Ok, does this look like it belongs in a magazine or what? They're just so cute!

After a quick outfit change, we headed to Zach's super secret fishing spot for a vintage feel.

I love these photos we grabbed while Zach was setting up his fly rod.

This is where it started to get funny. Some of us were having a hard time crossing the rocks without falling in the water ;) But I love this dramatic photo with the waterfall.

Jonathan climbed a huge wall to get this angle. I love the flare!

This image just deserves to be bigger. They look so gorgeous and in love!

I grabbed a few shots of Louisa alone. Check out those gorgeous eyes!

Louisa and Zach were so awesome during the session, that water was cold!

This is one of my favorite images of Zach. So handsome!

I have no words for this one. GORGEOUS! Ok, I did have one word.

Louisa's left-hand bling...

We let Zach fish for a few minutes and grabbed some cute photos. I love Louisa's bare feet in this image.

Zach was all about fishing but he couldn't help getting distracted by the beautiful woman beside him ;)

We walked back up to the car and the sunlight was perfect in this field! I asked if we could shoot here for a few minutes and they were happy to go along with it. This shot was a joke at first but I ended up loving it! It cracks me up every time.

This one needs to be printed and hung on a wall somewhere. Seriously.

One more outfit change and we drove for a few minutes to catch the last of the sunlight.

Don't you love their red hair?

We crawled through a hole in the wall and found another gorgeous waterfall! This location was much more dangerous than our first water location, though. All the rocks were covered in moss and there were more than a few slips and falls but Louisa and Zach never stopped smiling!

Zach and Louisa, we had so much fun with you at the session and dinner afterward :) I can't wait to shoot your wedding next summer!

Brooke + Ruben. Burke Manor Wedding. Gibsonville, NC.

2010-10-25T10:26:00.008-04:00

I have been looking forward to photographing Brooke and Ruben's wedding since I met them for their first consultation last year. They are both so sweet and, as you've seen from their bridal and groom sessions, really good looking :)

Brooke really took on the planning of her wedding and most everything was DIY! She used tons of Etsy vendors for some really unique details that fit in with the purple/blue peacock theme.

The details . . .
Venue : Burke Manor Inn. Gibsonville, NC
Bride's Hair/Makeup : Deja Groove
DJ : Island Sound
Cake : Buy Me Cake
Catering : Burke Manor Inn

The Burke Manor Inn is beautiful!

I love this sweet moment of Brooke's maid of honor, Dominique, wiping away a tear while Brooke was finishing getting ready.

I still can't get over Brooke's bouquet! It was created by Etsy vendor Croska and was made out of fabric, lace, and embellished with pearls and vintage broaches. So gorgeous and unique!

Gorgeous boutonnieres by Etsy vendor Emily K Botanic Studio.

I love when the guys get to wear something other than dress shoes :)

The girls waited inside the Manor for the ceremony to start.

Dominique was keeping Ruben's ring before the ceremony and we thought it would be funny to do the traditional hand on hand ring shot with two best friends :)

I always love seeing the groom's face while he watches his bride come down the aisle. Sometimes there are tears but Ruben was all smiles! They were just so excited to get married.

Married!

There were so many different emotions going on after the ceremony, I loved capturing the tears, hugs, smiles, and kisses :)

The light was so gorgeous during the romantics.

Check out these details! (Mr. and Mrs. sign by Funki Folk Art)

I love that Brooke and Ruben displayed images from their bridal, groom, and engagement sessions!

The Manor specializes in mashed potato martini bars that look (and taste) amazing!

Bridesmaid bouquets by Etsy vendor Bedouin

The cake toppers were one of my favorite details! Created by Etsy vendor Dandelionland and painted to look like Brooke and Ruben. Adorable!

Allie + Danielle. A Sisters session.

2010-10-20T12:43:00.003-04:00

The original plan was to do a senior session for Allie but when her mom suggested including Allie's little sister, Danielle, and doing more of a family session, I was all for it! I love the special bond that sisters have with each other and wish I had photos like this with my sisters :)

Allie + Danielle's hair and makeup by Carla White

Seriously, adorable.

This is one of my favorite images from this session. It reminds me of staying up late talking with my sisters at night :)

One of the doggies wanted to join in on the fun.

We got everyone to hold still for at least a few seconds.

But really, it didn't last too long before the dogs were bored of sitting still.

I love Danielle's laughing face.

After a quick change of clothes, we headed to Tanglewood Park in Clemmons.

Check out these beautiful blue eyes!

What I like about Allie is that she doesn't look like she's even trying! And yet, so gorgeous.

These nuts (or whatever they are) were all over the ground at the park. We just had to grab a silly shot before Danielle headed to soccer practice.

I just love the way the sunlight was coming through this grass.

I love when my clients bring props for their session :) It makes everything so much more personal! In this case, it was such a cute way of ending the senior session... moving on from high school to college, and everything else after that!

Ruben's Groom Session. Burlington, NC.

2010-10-14T18:08:00.004-04:00

Ruben is Brooke's other half. He's awesome. And pretty handsome, too! We did his groom's session in Burlington right before I photographed his beautiful bride.

This is one of my favorite shots from the session.

The sun was pretty harsh in the afternoon but we made it work for us :)

This photo makes me happy. The clouds looked unreal!

Check out Ruben's sweet shoes.

Brooke's Bridal Session. Burlington, NC.

2010-10-12T12:30:00.002-04:00

Since Brooke and Ruben were married on Sunday, 10-10-10, I can now share her fabulous bridal session with you. We shot at a beautiful property in Burlington, NC owned by Brooke + Ruben's wedding officiant! I love shooting in locations that are sentimental to the couple and this location was gorgeous! Brooke's dress is by Allure Bridal and hair/makeup was done by Deja Groove Salon in Burlington.

I just love her laugh.

She definitely worked this dress!

I just love a red barn. And her headpiece is so cute!

Seriously stylin' shoes. Every detail at the wedding tied in to these peacock colors. But you'll have to come back to see that post!

The sunlight was totally killing me... stunning!

We took a trip out into the field to catch the last of the sunset and this is one of the prints Brooke chose to display at her reception!

Amy + Brandon. Winston Salem, NC Wedding.

2010-10-06T15:33:00.003-04:00

Amy and Brandon are awesome. I arrived at First Baptist to find beautiful light, amazing weather, a super fun wedding party (you'll see in the photos below), and a happy bride and groom. It was great!

The details ::
Ceremony Venue - First Baptist on Fifth Street, Winston Salem
Reception Venue - Tanglewood Red Barn, Clemmons
Planner/coordinator - Tonya Hart
Florist - Tonya Hart
Caterer - Bib’s Downtown
DJ - Billy Ezzell, Complete Music & Video
Cake - Cakes by Chloe

Ok, Amy's shoes were stinkin' awesome! I wanted to take so many more pictures of them but I refrained after I got the sweet shot above :) The ring shot is Brandon's wedding band and his baby ring from when he was born. His mom was telling us how she cried the first time she held both rings so I had her hold them for a photo. No tears this time!

All the girls were in love with Amy's vintage earrings. They were so perfect with her dress.

I love the look on Amy's grandma's face when she first saw Amy.

Isn't she stunning?

I love this photo of all the girls clapping for Amy once she finished getting ready.

I love Amy's face when she opened the gifts from Brandon. It was definitely a surprise and she totally loved them.

After shooting with the girls, I went up to see Brandon and the guys who were getting ready in the church library.

Since they were already playing this game anyway, I had the groomsmen each pull a book from the shelf with a title for Brandon.

I love the sanctuary at First Baptist!

I caught this sweet photo of Amy's dad giving her a quick kiss on the cheek right before the doors opened for the walk down the aisle.

Married!

My goodness, Amy. Too gorgeous!

Sister love.

We took advantage of the last of the sunlight for a few romantics around Tanglewood Park.

Love the cupcake tower!

Amy and Brandon had a choreographed first dance. It was so cute!

Hannah. NC Bridal Session.

2010-09-23T09:29:00.003-04:00

I have been dying to post Hannah's bridal session since we shot it, only a week and a half before her wedding. She is now happily married and my blog is now graced with her stunning beauty :)

Hannah found an amazing location tucked away in the farmlands of Kernersville, NC for our session. I love the barn and the little stream that wound through the field. Gorgeous! Hannah's hair was done by Carla White.

Hannah had this printed for her wedding. I am in love with this shot!

Seriously, stunning.

I love that Hannah was willing to take her dress anywhere during the session!

Hannah has such a classic and unique beauty. I love her eyes in this shot!

We got a little mischievous near the end of our session...

Isn't she fabulous?

Thomas. Downtown Greensboro Senior Session.

2010-09-21T17:03:00.003-04:00

Thomas is cool.
He can do a handstand for more than three seconds.
He's a high school senior this year.
He has a great smile.
We did his senior session together last week.

I love the relaxed feel of this shot.

Thomas is good at the serious faces.

But he's also good at the goofy faces.

I love this shot. Pretty much my fave from the whole session.

We ventured into a slightly sketchy alley for part of the session. The texture of the background was awesome! The thought of someone popping out of the doors behind Thomas was not awesome. We didn't stay there long!

I love this simple white wall.

The city lights looked amazing near the end of the session!

Megan. Greensboro, NC Senior Session.

2010-09-13T08:07:00.004-04:00

I had been looking forward to shooting Megan's senior portraits ever since we met for their initial consultation at Panera but our first scheduled date was interrupted by rainy weather. We finally met up last week to shoot in downtown Greensboro. Lots of clients choose downtown as a favorite place to have at least part of their session done but I still love shooting there! It's always changing and no two sessions are the same :)

The sunlight was so perfect when we started shooting and even though Megan said she was pretty nervous, she didn't look it at all!

I love this classic black and white.

I couldn't get enough of Megan's beautiful smile :) She's so gorgeous!

I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorites.

This store always has the cutest, most colorful window displays!

This photo was taken right before Megan and I discussed our love of Beyonce. She showed me her Beyonce "Single Ladies" dance and was spotted by a slightly sketchy guy at a bar nearby. We quickly made our way to another location after that ;)

I love everything about this photo... the laugh, the colors, the un-posed movement of her hands...

When we realized we were quickly losing our light downtown, we made our way to the campus of UNCG where Megan had found a tire swing under a magnolia tree. The branches hung all the way to the ground and made a sort of secret place right in the middle of campus. Gorgeous!

(For the other photographers reading this; there was actually very little light underneath the tree and I had to push my camera to the limits to get this shot. ISO 1600 on a 5D with a 50mm 1.2 lens at 1/30th of a second, handheld)

The sun was totally gone by the time we finished the session, I've got to get used to the changing seasons! Megan, thanks for being wonderful :) Have a fantastic senior year!

Catherine + Joel. Atlantic Beach, NC Wedding.

2010-09-07T12:46:00.004-04:00

Beautiful location, happy families, amazing sunlight and an incredibly sweet bride and her handsome fiance all made for an amazing beach wedding at The Dunes Club in Atlantic Beach, NC. This wedding was great for so many reasons! My hubby grew up with Joel and Catherine in Goldsboro but I didn't meet them until the wedding day. It was so awesome to instantly "click" with everyone and spend the rest of the day with them :)

The Details :

Venue : The Dunes Club
Dress : Lula Kate
Band : Daddy Oh!
Cake : Homemade

I love this shot of Catherine and her grandma trying not to cry. So precious!

Joel and some of his guys sang a couple of songs before the ceremony began. It definitely brought tears to a lot of eyes.

Joel was one happy guy when he first saw Catherine walking down the aisle.

The ceremony was set up in a circle so everyone was close to the bride and groom.

Joel and Catherine requested a time of worship and prayer before saying their vows. It was such a beautiful part of the ceremony!

The light inside the dunes club is stunning!

These homemade pound cakes with berries and whipped cream topping looked soooo delicious!

After starting the reception, we went outside for a few minutes of romantics. It had been pouring rain since the end of the ceremony but cleared up for a while just for us :) Because of the humidity and heat, my lens fogged up immediately after going outside but I took a few shots while waiting for the fog to clear and I love the dreamy quality of these!

Seriously, you guys are too adorable.

This is definitely one of my favorites. They look so relaxed and in love!

After everyone finished eating, Daddy Oh! kept the dance floor hopping all night!

I love finding sweet moments on the sidelines like this.

Catherine + Joel, you are fantastic. Thank you for allowing me to share your wedding day with you :)

Kathryn. Greensboro, NC Senior Session.

2010-08-29T20:42:00.004-04:00

I love Kathryn's spunk and love for life. She showed up for her senior session looking adorable and totally ready for anything with plenty of outfits and crayons in tow. "I'm not a model!" she warned me. I don't care, I think she did great!

P.S. The amazing Carla White did Kathryn's hair for this session :)

We started in a woodsy/field area for some more natural backgrounds. I love Kathryn's "no smile" face.

I also love her laughing-because-a-bug-flew-in-her-face face.

Cowboy boots. So classic and cute!

We went through quite a bit of brush, poison ivy, and unstable rocks to get to this little stream. Totally worth it.

After a quick change we headed to downtown Greensboro.

I think this photo is so stunningly beautiful.

This is one of my favorites from the session. I love all the lines and shapes!

Before the session, Kathryn told me she *loves* coloring. So we took a few minutes to do just that :)

Her brother even joined in for a few minutes!

Kathryn's hippo and elephant Silly Bandz came in handy for some fun shots :) We were cracking up during this series.

I love the coloring book Kathryn brought. It reminded me of Lamb Chop for some reason. Anyone remember that show?

This is the rock star portion of the shoot. Don't you love the vest?

We were talking about how a bunch of the men in Kathryn's family worked on railroads for most of their lives when this train started passing by! We couldn't resist a few shots with the train in the background.

Ashley + Craig. Greensboro NC Wedding Photography

2010-08-26T09:20:00.007-04:00

Ashley + Craig's engagement session was one of my favorites to date. It was so personal and fun and, happily, their wedding was the same :) From the "Snail Wedding" title and theme, to the cotton bouquets, Ashley's unicorn silly band and the toy pig decorating her headpiece, this wedding fit Craig and Ashley perfectly.

Two other fun things about this wedding - it took place in my home church! This is where we attend Sunday mornings and is basically awesome :) And my husband was the second shooter for this wedding! He's been working with me more and more and I love it. Plus, he's pretty good!

The details...
Venue : Daystar Christian Fellowship
Flowers : Clemmons Florist
Catering : Salem Kitchen
Cake : Delicious

Check out these saucy shoes. Love the colors!

It was *so hot* outside but Ashley was a trooper and followed me to the edges of the parking lot for a few minutes of portraits before I headed to shoot with the guys.

As usual, the guys were totally chillin' while getting ready (does anybody say "chillin'" anymore?) and Craig was looking good!

I love this shot of the guys. I also love large bridal parties... more people, more fun!

Craig gave me his model face for this shot. Looking good!

That is one happy groom :)

The whole bridal party danced back down the aisle to a song by the Killers. It was so much fun.

Check out this decor! I was a little worried about having the reception in the youth room but Matti Carey totally transformed it! The reception was filled with origami snails, succulents, mason jars, cotton, and little notebooks for guests to draw pictures and write notes to Ashley and Craig.

Jonathan caught this cute moment between the newlyweds while all the guests were getting food.

We got to sneak out of the reception for a little while to do some photos of Craig and Ashley together. You know, husband-and-wife style :)

I love this shot that Jonathan grabbed. So cute!

While everyone was hanging out in the reception, Jonathan followed these guys to document the decorating of the getaway vehicle. This photo cracks me up!

The grand exit has quickly become one of my favorite things to photograph. I love all the joyful faces and reactions :)

The groomsmen didn't exactly use all empty cans for the back of the vehicle. So funny!

Nikki + Chris. Aberdeen, NC Wedding.

2010-08-23T11:44:00.004-04:00

After Nikki's fabulous bridal session and hearing about the country-style, sunflower oriented wedding that she and Chris had planned, I couldn't wait to shoot with them on the big day!

The details...

Venue : Bethesda Presbyterian Church and Legacy Lakes Plantation
Hair : Aquarius Hair Salon - Southern Pines, NC
Flowers : Aberdeen Florist and Neal Mickey
Cake : Kanes Kakes

I just loved the ceiling in the bride's room at the church. Beautiful!

Nikki was so happy and relaxed while getting ready. I love photographing a happy bride :)

This sweet baby was hanging out in the girls room with us. He kept making the cutest faces!

Chris was pretty relaxed too, but also anxious to see his bride :)

The ringbearer was cracking me up, holding the pillow like this. So funny! He was so intent on getting to the end of the aisle.

I love all the faces crowding to look at Nikki walking down the aisle with her Uncles.

I have been accused of being obsessed with feet but I can't help it! I love seeing what shoes were chosen for the wedding day. Nikki + Chris wore boots that they bought together a while back.

Nikki grew these sunflower seedlings herself! I think it's such a cute favor idea :)

Emily + David. High Point, NC Wedding.

2010-08-17T14:27:00.005-04:00

Emily and David's wedding was so chill and everyone was so happy and relaxed :) Even a little rain didn't ruin the day! Emily was smart and booked a good amount of time so that we weren't rushed and had plenty of time for romantics. I love the series in the youth's game room at the church!

The details...

Venue : First Baptist Church, High Point
Catering : Elegant Party Rentals and Catering
DJ and Lighting: Music Unlimited

The sanctuary had such beautiful window light!

I always love shooting with the guys. They're so much fun!

Emily and David decided to do a first look before the ceremony at High Point Museum and Historical Park. I love how nervous David looks in this image.

I love the simplicity of this shot.

Once we finished the family photos, we still had time for more romantics! Woo!

This was the only serious image I got out of these shots. After I told Emily she looked "saucy" she cracked up and couldn't stop laughing! Adorable.

I had David and Emily write secret messages to each other on the chalkboard :)

Isn't this ringbearer adorable? I love his little bow tie!

Emily's mom made all the cakes and cupcakes. I love the variety!

The reception was a great dance party. David was burning up the dance floor all night long!

Laura. A Senior Session. Greensboro, NC

2010-08-11T11:35:00.004-04:00

Meet Laura. She came all the way from Nebraska to have me take her senior pictures! Ok, not really. She came to visit her brother, Steve, but I got to steal her one morning for a senior session in NC!

If you don't know Laura, you are missing out. She is so fun and full of life! We laughed and talked through the entire session, and she was fantastic in front of the camera. Which is perfect for someone on their way to being a great actor :)

Laura wanted to start shooting at a playground but the first one we visited was full of kids. We found this hidden playground only a couple of miles away and were the only people there. Score!

Laura can be silly...

...and she can be serious. Look at her amazing eyes!

I just love her fiery red hair :)

Laura does photography "for fun", she told me. So I brought some antique cameras to play with :)

This is one of my favorites... Her laugh is so great.

LOVE this. I think Laura looks like a model waiting for someone on the sidewalk.... gorgeous!

We had Steve jump in a for a few minutes for some sibling photos. I love how Laura is literally looking up to him in this first shot.

They really love each other :)

After we shot downtown for a while, we wanted to do something in a more nature-y (?) environment. You wouldn't believe this spot is right beside a huge intersection and in a business park!

Laura said she is almost constantly barefoot so we had to do some barefoot shots :)

Laura, I had such a great time with you and I can't wait to see you again in November!

Abby + Josh. A Tanglewood Wedding

2010-08-09T13:07:00.004-04:00

Abby and Josh's engagement session was one of my very favorites last year. At that point, they weren't planning on getting married until some time in 2011. I was so surprised and happy when Abby texted me a few months ago to ask if I had a date in July open :)

Josh and Abby said their vows in front of a small group of family and close friends at the chapel in Tanglewood Park on a perfect Friday afternoon. The ceremony was so beautiful and heartfelt, the reception was lighthearted and fun, and I know that Josh and Abby are so completely happy to be married. Enjoy the images!

The details...
Cake : Cake & All Things Yummy
Catering : Little Richard's BBQ
Dress : David's Bridal
Flowers : DIY

Abby and her girls got ready in the loft at the Tanglewood Barn.

Isn't she beautiful?

I love this shot of Josh helping his brother, Sam, get ready for the ceremony.

We snapped a few shots of Josh with his best man and a couple of his sisters right before the ceremony. I think they were more nervous than he was!

Josh was sneaking glances at Abby during the whole ceremony. So cute!

At one point during the ceremony, Josh and Abby's parents were invited up to pray for the couple. This was such a powerful moment.

I love the bare feet after the foot washing part of the ceremony.

A quiet moment between the newlyweds before rounds of hugs for the family.

Abby and Josh had scoped out some good spots in Tanglewood for romantics the week before the wedding. We had great locations and beautiful afternoon light... this was one of the best parts of the day in my opinion :)

This photo cracks me up. Love it!

See what I mean about the afternoon light? I love the golden glow coming off Abby's dress.

This tiny bridal party made the "formal" pictures so easy!

A sweet moment between Josh, Abby, and Josh's grandpa.

Josh surprised Abby by performing a song he wrote for her. I love her face in this image. She is so completely happy.

There was a lot of swing dancing going on during this reception. So much fun!

Abby and Josh... you guys are great. I am so glad I got to celebrate with you!

The Phipps Family.

2010-07-30T09:46:00.003-04:00

This is one of my favorite family sessions so far. I had the pleasure of photographing another local photographer, Greg Phipps, and his family last week! Greg shot my wedding last September and we finally got back together for this family session on a super-hot Saturday morning. Greg, Angie (pregnant with their second boy!), and little Kai were great even though it was almost 100 degrees outside! We had to stop for ice cream afterward to take the edge off the heat :)

Kai loves giving kisses to his mommy. I love his beautiful smile!

I remember doing this when I was little... so fun!

Kai was on the lookout for the train the whole time we were shooting.
He was so excited when it finally went by!

While Kai and Greg were watching the train, I snuck a few shots of Angie :)

This is my favorite shot of Greg and Kai. They're both so happy :)

This one just makes me laugh.

It looks like Kai loves snuggling with Angie. A-dorable.

We stopped at Yum Yum's for ice cream but they weren't open yet, so we did a few more portraits while waiting.

I'm pretty sure this one is my favorite from the session. The ice cream on Kai's lips just make it perfect :)

Self-portrait of all of us! Kai doesn't look too happy to have me next to him. Also, I like how Greg and I have the same nose-scrunching smile. It must be a photographer thing.

Senior Session Giveaway. Facebook Style.

2010-07-27T11:46:00.005-04:00

Are you a rising senior (Class of 2011)? If so, this post is for you. I'm giving away the ultimate Senior Session package to one lucky winner on August 18th, 2010.

Package includes :
up to 2 hours of shooting
on-location session anywhere within 120 miles of Greensboro, NC
hair/makeup session with Carla White - for the ladies :)
unlimited poses and outfits
online viewing + ordering
6x9 leather-bound album of images from session
DVD of all hi-resolution images with copyright release for printing, posting on Facebook, etc...
50 rep cards with your images on the front

Total value of $800!

Here's how to enter...

1. Log in to your Facebook and find the "Alexa's Photography" business page through the Facebook search.
2. Click "like" at the top of the page to become a fan! (If you are already a part of this page, you can skip these two steps)
3. Return to your profile page
4. Post this as your status : "Alexa's Photography is giving away the ultimate Senior Session for the class of 2011. Repost this to enter! www.alexasphoto.blogspot.com"
5. Don't forget to tag Alexa's Photography using the @ symbol. This way your post will show up on my wall and I can count your entry! **Edit : Some posts have not been showing up... post the text on your facebook, then return to Alexa's Photography and let me know you posted so I can count your entry!
6. Winner will be chosen by random number generator on August 18th at noon.

Additional info :
You must be a rising senior, going into your senior year of high school this fall - Class of 2011. (Parents may not enter for students)
Winner must provide proof of school status.
Entries must be received by August 18th, 11:59 am.
If you don't live within 120 miles of Greensboro, NC you may still enter and either travel for your session, or pay travel fees for me to get to where you are!
Each person may enter up to two (2) times, as long as entries are not on the same day.

Email me at alexa.photo {at} gmail {dot} com if you have more questions!

Makenna. A Senior Session.

2010-07-21T22:14:00.004-04:00

This is my sweet cousin, Makenna. And yes, I am totally loving doing all these shoots of people close to me. She is from Southern California and visits us in NC every summer. She is going to be a senior this fall and I thought this would be a perfect time to do her senior portraits! We met up with Carla to get all dolled up and started shooting right as the sun was going down. Perfect!

Doesn't she look fantastic?! The makeup perfectly complemented her outfits and her hair looked gorgeous!

I love all the little shops downtown! They make great backdrops :)

This is my favorite image. It was taken in the window of the Elsewhere Museum on Elm Street. The museum used to be an overcrowded thrift shop and is now open as a "working museum". You can look, touch, and play with everything! Believe me, it's a one-of-a-kind place and you need to check it out :)

I mean, seriously. How cool is this place?

Check out the back of Makenna's hair! Carla did an amazing job, as always.

I love that Makenna can totally work this outfit. Gorgeous!

In LOVE with this wall. It has so much character!

After a quick change, we stopped at a field for a more country look.

Makenna, you are so beautiful!

This always makes me want to go take a nap in the grass. Until I actually go outside and it's a hundred degrees and humid. Thankfully, it wasn't too hot during our session and Makenna was such a trooper!

LOVE seeing this smile :)

Makenna, you are so stinkin' beautiful. I totally loved hanging out with you in NC and I'm hoping to come visit you all on the West coast soon! xoxo

Rachel + Steve. A proposal.

2010-07-20T13:14:00.004-04:00

Oh, you guys. This post makes me melt. It will make you melt too but there is a rule for viewing this post... take your time. Scroll through slowly :)

This is the most emotional session I've ever shot, and for good reason. Rachel has been my best friend since middle school. We have been through the ups and downs of life together and she has always been there for me, and I for her. I am so happy for them.

Now for the story... I was so incredibly excited when Steve and I started talking about the possibility of me secretly shooting the actual proposal. At first, he told me that it would be a few weeks as he had to have some repairs done to his great-grandma's ring for Rachel. Then I received a text Thursday night. The proposal would take place early Saturday morning, on Rachel's birthday...

Steve, Alaina, and I arrived a couple of hours early to set up the balloons.

Then Steve made the phone call. He told Rachel to wake up and get ready for a birthday breakfast, then meet him in the park down the street from her apartment...

Steve couldn't stop messing with the ring while we were waiting :)

Then Alaina and I hid in the bushes... I'm pretty sure we were just as nervous as Steve! Ok, maybe not quite as nervous.

At this point, Rachel still thought this was just a birthday surprise...

At this point, she figured out it was not :)

Perfection.

After the question was asked, and the answer was "yes", they hugged for a long time. I whispered to Alaina "awww, she loves him". And then I cried some more.

I love how Steve looked over at us, and the walkers in the background are clapping.

Then Steve told Rachel we were in the bushes and we got to come out to congratulate :)

Mini engagement session!

I love all the emotion in these shots.

Adorable.

Good idea on the balloons, Steve. LOVE it.

She loves him.

Anna. A Senior Session.

2010-07-20T09:06:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe that my little sister is going to be a senior in high school this fall! Anna is one of my best friends. She's completely gorgeous. Obviously. But she's also sweet, kind, thoughtful, responsible, fun, and completely hilarious. I can't even count the times that we've hurt ourselves from laughing so much together. I am so glad that I was able to shoot her senior session in such a beautiful location. We scouted this property less than an hour before her session and it was perfect! Though, as soon as we pulled up and got ready to shoot, the clouds came in and the thunder started rolling. We decided to go ahead and shoot as much as we could before the rain started...

P.S. Anna's hair and makeup was done by Carla White, my very favorite makeup artist.

This is one of my favorites.

Anna loves to read so we brought a bunch of old books from my mom's house. I didn't realize it, but I had given her a book on chicken diseases. It was a terrible surprise when she looked at the page! We laughed so hard.

Everyone is in love with Anna's hair. Isn't it beautiful?

This was the part of the session where it started raining and the sun popped out at the same time! BEAUTIFUL light. I love the little sparkles that the raindrops are making in the background.

I love the coloring in this image. The red barn was such a perfect backdrop!

Pretty much everyone that knows Anna knows she loves her hot tea! So we brought along an antique teacup for a few shots :)

I think I may print this as a large wall print. Isn't it gorgeous?

I found this chair on the curb a couple of months ago. SCORE!

I think this image is so perfect. Taking a nap in the yard is definitely something Anna would do :)

This is the face Anna makes when she laughs. I love it.

I love you, Anna!

Anna's Sneak Peek. A Senior Session.

2010-07-14T14:34:00.002-04:00

This is a sneak peek from Anna's senior session that we shot last week. We were so close to being rained out but ended up being able to shoot our entire session before the skies opened up. Yay!

This shot was taken during the couple of minutes that it was raining and the sun came through at the same time. I love the little sparkles that the raindrops made in the background. It made for some of the most beautiful light I've ever seen. Plus, Anna is just straight gorgeous.

More coming soon!

The Moodys. A family session.

2010-07-12T15:49:00.003-04:00

I go to church with the Moody family and am so glad I got to spend some time with them during their family session. Rachel is heading off to college in a few short weeks and I think having a family session before she leaves was such a good idea. Plus, they were so fun and relaxed during the shoot, it made my job easy!

This is one of my favorite shots. They have such genuine, happy smiles.

Their property in Greensboro is so beautiful and secluded! The only bad part was the heat. I'm pretty sure we picked the hottest day of the summer to shoot.

After we shot at the Moody's home, we headed to downtown Greensboro for some color :) I love these next few shots of Rachel. She's so beautiful!

So adorable :)

I love this image as a large portrait. So colorful and cute!

Lisa + Lynn. Just Because.

2010-07-07T14:18:00.004-04:00

If you've been following this blog for a long time, you may remember Ashelyn's Senior Session from last year. These are her parents! Yes, Lynn is the one with the amazing car :) We had so much fun at Ashelyn's session that Lisa + Lynn scheduled a session for themselves! I love this idea. We had fun hanging out and shooting and now Lynn and Lisa have new, updated photos of themselves to hang in the house! I'm hoping to do something like this with my parents sometime :)

Just because...

just because... he still makes her smile

just because... you've been through life together

just because... you both look fantastic :)

just because... she still likes to sit in his lap

just because... you have so much fun together

just because... you're still in love.

Lisa + Lynn. Just Because

2010-07-03T11:16:00.002-04:00

A couple of sneak peeks from my session with Lisa and Lynn last week. They are so fun and cute! I can't wait to post more after the weekend!

Ashley + Craig. Engaged. UNC Greensboro

2010-06-25T18:50:00.002-04:00

I go to church with Ashley and Craig and knew they were a fun couple, but I've never seen them like I did at their engagement shoot last week! Craig and Ashley are so full of life, and love, and laughter. They are not afraid of being goofy, and are regularly awkward to break the ice. They are sweet and silly all at the same time. I have never met a couple like them and I cannot wait to shoot their wedding in August!

I think Ashley is so incredibly beautiful. Look at those eyes!

I think this shot through Craig's glasses is so... them.

I think this should be a huge canvas print. The evening sunlight was perfect!

One of my favorite ring shots so far. This is a wall where anyone can tack up posters on campus.

And my other favorite ring shot :)

The colored pieces on the ground are from Craig and Ashley's favorite game. I love that they included it in the shoot!

This Pikachu is Ashley and Craig's other other half... you don't mess with it. Believe me.

I love this series. Craig's glasses fell off while we were shooting and landed right on Ashley's eyes! I think the third one is the cutest.

Ashley + Craig. Engaged Sneak Peek

2010-06-23T19:37:00.002-04:00

I am running out the door but couldn't go another night without posting a couple of sneak peeks from Ashley + Craig's incredibly fun engagement session on the campus of UNC Greensboro. Seriously, I can't wait to show you the rest...

Beth + Ryan. Outdoor Wedding.

2010-06-17T14:45:00.003-04:00

I'm loving these intimate outdoor weddings I've been shooting recently! Beth + Ryan tied the knot at the Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point. The venue set the stage for a relaxed, fun feel to the day. My favorite things : Beth's short dress and saucy heels, hanging out with the girls while getting ready, watching Ryan peek during prayer so he could see Beth getting ready to walk down (oops! was I not supposed to mention that? ;) ), and the multiple dance-offs at the reception.

The details...
Venue : Piedmont Environmental Center
Cake : Edible Artistry
Caterer : Party of Three Catering
DJ : Nathan Fancher
Flowers : The Farmer's Wife

Each bridesmaid had a different broach on their dress. What a cute idea! That way, they all match but have something different too.

Seriously. This is the cutest face ever. I love the way Beth was looking at her mom while the veil was being adjusted.

Seriously, Beth? You are so gorgeous and worked that dress like no one else could!

I literally could not stop taking pictures of her.

My husband saw this picture as I was editing and said "that looks like a fun bunch!". They definitely were.

The guys, in waiting.

Last time I saw Ryan, he had a beard. I didn't recognize him at first without it!

Isn't he handsome, though?

Right before the ceremony... I think Ryan may have been a little nervous.

These flowers were handed out to the guests as they were seated and were to be thrown at Beth and Ryan as they walked back down the aisle together. So cute!!

I love the face Ryan is making as he holds back his smile :)

Beth's sister, Katie, is an incredibly talented singer. The sound of her voice echoing through the woods was so beautiful!

Some family love...

The groomsmen taped these notes inside their jackets and flashed them at Ryan when they passed by, going down the aisle. They say stuff like "I'm not wearing any underwear!" and "Run, dude! Run!" It was so funny to watch Ryan's reactions to the notes.

I got to steal the newlyweds for a few minutes while everyone headed up to the reception.

This is definitely one of my favorites.

And this? So romantic.

The father/daughter dance was so fun! The song was "Get up offa that thing" by James Brown and they totally rocked it out!

The "you better not smear cake on my face" stance.

Beth + Ryan : You two are so incredibly sweet and obviously in love. I hope that your honeymoon is fantastic and the upcoming years are even better :)

Kim + Brian. NC Backyard Wedding

2010-06-14T17:57:00.000-04:00

Oh, I loved shooting Kim + Brian's backyard wedding. The colors, the smiles, the friends and family... everything was just beautiful and fun! I remember at our first consultation Brian was telling me all about his parents house and how excited he was to get married there. He described the house and yard and I was not disappointed when I showed up! The inside of the house was so colorful and the backyard was perfect. I am so excited with the shots that I got from this intimate affair. Enjoy!

The details...
Florist : Bob Adams Florist
Catering : Visions Catering
Cake : Delicious
Video : Hesman Productions

This sweet, romantic letter from Brian was sitting on the dresser when I arrived. I'm pretty sure that's why Kim couldn't stop smiling while getting ready :)

I love when bridesmaids tear up as the bride is getting ready. It's so sweet.

LOVE the room where the guys were getting ready.

Brian explained the meaning of the cross he was carrying in his pocket all day. I love when something sentimental is incorporated for the wedding day.

Right as we were finishing this shot, a kid drove by on a really loud dirt bike. We all cracked up and couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes. Hilarious!

I smile every time I look at this photo of Brian and his twin brother as Kim comes down the aisle. So cute!

Newlyweds!

This cigar was bought the day Brian was born and then given to him on his wedding day, over 20 years later. I love that idea!

I love the color palette at this wedding!

We did some romantics of Kim and Brian right at sunset. Perfect timing! I love the light that we were able to take advantage of :)

Isn't Kim's veil stunning?

Such cuties! They are so totally happy and in love.

Kim and Brian had such great reactions to the toasts being given.

Toasting to their new life together... You guys are fantastic. I totally loved every minute of your wedding day and hope that somehow we can work together again :)

Rebecca + Jody. Burlington, NC Wedding

2010-06-09T12:29:00.000-04:00

Rebecca and Jody's wedding took place on Memorial day weekend. I was so nervous about getting stuck in holiday traffic but the roads were clear and everything turned out great :) We met Rebecca and Jody at Bellmont United Methodist Church in Burlington for the ceremony and then traveled to the beautiful Rigmor House in Chapel Hill for the reception. The whole day was filled with smiles and eye-popping pink details. Congratulations Jody and Rebecca!

The details...
Venue : Rigmor House
Florist : Robert Wade, Burlington
DJ : K2 Productions
Catering : Johnny Bakatsias
Cake : Carolina's Cake Shop

Jody's son AJ was so helpful in getting his dad ready!

Rebecca was so smiley the whole day. Love it!

This little guest was so adorable.

We weren't allowed to shoot inside during the ceremony so I sat outside the door and shot through the peephole and crack in the door :)

I love the film-like grain in this image.

The Rigmor House in Chapel Hill. We definitely appreciated those clouds in the sky, it was so hot outside!

This silhouette is my favorite.

I caught these little cutie pies headed downstairs holding hands. So adorable!

Trash the Dress. Downtown Greensboro, NC

2010-06-03T14:59:00.000-04:00

The following session is one I've been wanting to do for a long time. I kept putting it off because I thought "it's more of a personal project, I have too much work to do!" but I finally just did it and you know what? I feel so much better. I feel inspired. I feel like I needed this shoot just to push myself a little further in my art. I know that there are a lot of people that don't like trash the dress sessions. To be honest, I will probably never do it with my dress. But I think this session is incredibly beautiful...

Hair and makeup was done by the incredibly talented Carla White. She is seriously amazing at what she does and I love working with her. My beautiful model is none other than my sister, Alaina. I love working with her, too.

The dress started out with long, lacy, beaded sleeves so we trimmed it up a little before we started shooting.

Then I gave Alaina some scissors.

I'm pretty sure this is my favorite from the shoot. The golden sunset light was just perfect and I think the dress looks even better after we cut it!

We were hopping in the elevator to go down and I just had to shoot a little bit here.

Check out the amazing storm clouds that rolled in as we were headed to the car. Drama!