Category: Couples

Kelly+Steven // Joshua Tree National Park

You guyyyys! It has always been a dream of mine to visit Joshua Tree National Park because I’m the world’s biggest U2 dork. And yes, I’m aware that the actual Joshua Tree where Anton Corbijn (one of my favorite photographers) took the famous photos of Bono and Co. near is no longer living, and yes, I’m also aware that this was in the Mojave Desert as opposed to the national park, but I don’t care… it’s still been at the top of my travel list for a long time. So the day after our Santa Paula wedding, we drove all the way over to Joshua Tree. Unfortunately, we picked the one day that it rains nonstop in the desert. On the way the park, we texted back and forth with our beloved clients Kelly and Steven (whom you may remember from their Sutherland wedding back in NC!) and tried to decide what to do. It wasn’t just kinda sprinkling, it was pouring. We could take pictures there, but chances are that we probably wouldn’t be able to. But, we decided to meet anyway. At the very least, we could drive around and discuss The Walking Dead together.

Kelly and Steven live near Los Angeles now, but we hope to get them back in NC someday because they’re awesome. And we are so, so thankful that they came out to Joshua Tree to take photos with us, and we were glad to see them and catch up! And while we were all hoping for that beloved desert sunshine, we were left with a thick blanket of clouds… but! At least the rain did miraculously clear up (hooray!!) and we were able to photograph them chilling around the desert! And when I say chilling, I mean chilling, because it was also quite cold (this was not the desert weather I was anticipating). But despite the clouds and the cold, we had a brilliant time, and the park is every bit as beautiful as I expected it to be. We also saw a few desert bunnies (awww) and I listened to U2’s The Joshua Tree the whole time like a giant nerd and it felt wonderful. Couldn’t be more thankful or happy to have photography be my job and to have wonderful clients who live all over the world who treat us like old friends. Thank you, Kelly and Steven! So glad I got to see this place.

Sarah+Chris // A Maternity Session.

This maternity session had all the things we want out of any session: a Laura Palmer meanwhile hands tattoo, a David Lynch shrine, two English bulldogs, and a listening of “Bodhisattva” by Steely Dan. Also, Sarah’s haircut and X-Files discussions. We like them both a whole bunch, even if they didn’t have the world’s two most adorable English bulldogs who have the quintessential protruding jaws that any self-respecting bulldog would have. They also stick their legs out completely straight and have a bunch of face-rolls (the dogs… not Sarah and Chris) and their names are Seamus and Sasquatch. The point of this session was to document Sarah’s pregnancy and her and Chris’s life together with the pups before the arrival of baby boy in February, and we happily did just that in their wonderful home. Seamus is also getting up there in bulldog years so it was important to photograph his squishy face (he is the lighter, tanner bulldog). Sasquatch is his newer brother who was a gift to Chris on their wedding day (cutest squishiest gift ever).

Sarah and Chris met in St. Louis. Chris wore this exactly plaid shirt on their first date, as well as during their engagement pictures, and now during their maternity pictures. I officially declare that the most thoughtful and charming clothing choice from any guy we’ve photographed. He also has a pretty killer vintage Star Wars mug that has continuity clothing issues (which makes it even more awesome) and he’s seen Phish over 50 times. Sarah is very much into all things David Lynch and I firmly believe that she should be crowned Miss Twin Peaks and be presented with some sort of “Save the Pine Weasel” pin. Both Chris and Sarah are concerned their kid will like pop music in the future, but we agree that yacht rock type pop of the late 70s is 100% acceptable and even encouraged. We are excited to bring you more of these people (and pups) next month when we meet their baby who we’re sure will be totally badass straight out of the womb.

Amy+Ben // A Maternity Shoot

We are so excited to welcome Amy+Ben to the CSP 5 Timer’s Club!! Technically they’re being introduced next month during their newborn session but I figured I’d give it a head start. :) We’ve photographed them for their engagement session, their wedding, this time they lived in NYC and we slept on an air mattress in their apartment and hung out with their cats Lucy+Elaine, now for their maternity, and next month when they meet their newborn son! It’s so awesome to be such a big part of helping tell someone’s family history like this, especially for people who are near and dear to our hearts. We are so glad that these guys are back in the state and living in Raleigh, and so excited for them to begin what will surely be an awesome family. Amy and Ben are some of the kindest and smartest people we know, and we’re sure these qualities will get passed on to their kiddo. Congratulations, friends!