Wilma // A Pitbull+Couch Portrait Study.

Wilma is one of the most charismatic and amusing furry creatures we have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She is incredibly happy at all times, and quirky and ridiculous 90% of the time. Words can’t really explain the adorably ridiculous vibe that she gives off, but I can try. Mostly, she’s just really obsessed with the couch. Like, super obsessed. When Jessica wrote me to ask for pictures of Wilma for her 5 year adoptiversary, she told me about the couch (she also told me about her fantastically awesome airbrushed and glitter WILMA shirt from the State Fair that I forced her to wear for a few pictures because there’s no way you can tell me that you got an airbrushed shirt with your dog’s name on it at the fair and expect me not to make you wear it… and she also told me about the custom Wilma beer koozies in her and Dustin’s possession. Wilma, clearly, is very much loved and for good reason). But I had no idea how much the couch was truly, truly loved until we visited and saw her expression of pure delight being anywhere near it, but mostly sitting on it, sprawling on it, and relaxing over a variety of throw pillows.

In addition to loving her couch and not wanting to ever get off the couch, she also enjoys walking outside to simply stand in the lawn (heavy coaxing was needed to play because Wilma is exceedingly lazy in the most wonderful way), laying on her back for belly rubs, and licking Jessica and Dustin (who have the most amazing old Volkswagen but also the most amazing kitchen appliances I’ve ever seen [not pictured here] in their amazing house). But one of the best things that happened was Jessica telling me she bought Wilma a pink dinosaur to destroy, and then Jessica proceeded to drag out this HUGE ass dinosaur from a spare room… the size of which is the large and giant type which your boyfriend would win for you at a carnival and you wouldn’t know what to do with it because you really can’t be expected to carry that around all night. I was expecting, you know, a dog toy. But apparently, in another highly amusing trait she has, Wilma enjoys opening a hole in each of these stuffed creatures and ripping out the stuffing like she’s disemboweling prey in the Serengeti. I can’t explain Wilma, but I do love her. And I love the love her people exhibit for her. So happy to take these pictures for Jessica+Dustin of their lovely little girl!

Emily+Dan // Wedding at Leslie-Alford-Mims House

The first time we met Emily and Dan, we had a Skype meeting where they held up their tuxedo cat and we held up our tuxedo cat and we were both pretty thrilled at the greatness of our cats having a meeting over the internet (the cats, pictured below, for reasons unknown don’t look as thrilled about it as we do).


But what we didn’t really realize at the time was exactly how much Pax and Buckles look alike, and how we’d come to confuse them on Instagram. Actual conversations with Geoff go like this:

– I show a picture of Pax to Geoff. Geoff looks at picture.
– Geoff, alarmed: When did you take Buckles to someone else’s house?!
– Me: That is Pax, Emily and Dan’s cat, the one that looks just like Buckles.
– Geoff: No, that is Buckles.
– Me:… No, it’s really not.

Annnnnd repeat. Emily and Dan are currently living in Pittsburgh, and someday when we’re up there visiting our families, I am determined to stop by unannounced and swap our cats for a few days and see if they notice (they’ll forget this by the time I actually do it).

But before I do that, I need to back up here and talk about their wedding. It was fabulous! And involved a flower crown that currently holds the title of Supreme Queen of Flower Crowns everywhere and I imagine it will continue to hold that title for quite some time. I was concerned about her ability to move, but that flower crown held fast and strong and did not shed one single petal all day, nor move from its exact spot on her head. It was like a being from another world. I’m not sure what happened after they left the wedding, but I can only imagine that some sort of spell had to be cast to a.) release it from her head and b.) set it free into this world. She asked me how to preserve it, but I imagine now, after observing its powers firsthand, that it’ll just do that itself.

Their wedding was so summery and gardeny and funnnn. There were little tiny cake toppers (one shaped like our cat – thanks, guys!) and wonderful floral elements and a flag representing Pittsburgh (that I think they also did for us – thanks, guys! wow, you thought of us a lot). AND they went to Iceland for their honeymoon and we spent way too much of their final consultation giving them advice on Iceland rather than their wedding (they didn’t need the wedding help anyway). But come to think of it, they didn’t really need the Iceland help either, especially when we saw that they gave each other hiking boots for their wedding gifts. We had an awesome time at their wedding and love how rad our clients have been this year! No pressure, the rest of you. Congratulations, Emily+Dan!

• Date: May 28, 2017
• Ceremony + Reception Venue: Leslie-Alford-Mims House // Holly Springs, NC
• First Dance Song: “Lovin’ You Baby” – Charles Bradley
• Emily’s Occupation: Neuroscience PhD Student at University of Pittsburgh
• Dan’s Occupation: Media & Marketing Manager
• How You Met: High school AP English class
• Interesting Fact about Emily: Name twin will be at the wedding and they were also roommates in college at UGA
• Interesting Fact about Dan: Played the role of “Sk8er Boy” in a independent film in 2004
• Interesting Fact about Emily+Dan: Emily made a Pro’s and Con’s list before she decided to date Dan and Dan’s Mom wanted Dan to date Emily after she saw Emily reading “Catch-22” at the pool.
• Honeymoon: ICELAND!
• Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Patrick Ballard. DJ – Eric Hodgden of All Around Raleigh DJ Company. Florist – The English Garden. Cake – Sugar Euphoria. Caterer – Belle’s Catering. Makeup – Michelle Clark. Hair – Jennifer McDonald. Coordinator – Annie Truesdell of Orangerie Events. Classical Guitarist – Ed Stephenson.