Claudia+Ron+Layla+Reagan

There’s no bigger compliment than having a client return to you for more pictures, and it’s certainly no exception with this amazing group. Claudia and Ron are some of my favorite people. I took their portraits last April in their backyard with their two Goldens, Layla and Canela. At the time, Canela was undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of cancer and was doing quite well, but he unfortunately lost his battle last November and passed away. This was incredibly devastating for all of us and he is very much missed to this day.

Claudia and Ron adopted another retriever pal for Layla and Canela shortly before Canela passed away (so Canela got to teach him the ropes!) and named him Reagan. He was so tiny then, and is so giant now (Reagan is white, Layla is golden). Due to Reagan lovingly destroying his parents’ garden, we decided to move off the homefront for the portraits this year. Reagan and Layla are adorable together (and so are their parents!) and were quite good on location (thanks goes to Geoff for puppy wrangling on this shoot and occasionally snapping a shot when not tangled in leashes and toys). We missed Canela terribly but we’re sure he was with us during the shoot and approves of the pictures! Thanks to Claudia and Ron for being amazing clients and amazing dog parents… the love with which they treat these dogs is awesome.

When we first met Elana she told us that she was very much hoping that it would rain on her wedding day so that she could use an umbrella and get umbrella pictures in the rain. Then it did rain and Elana, while not devastated, was still maybe slightly less than thrilled despite her prior wishing. ;) She was still willing to go outside though and kept a super upbeat attitude (rain is good luck, right?)… and we did get pictures with an umbrella, so in a way her wishes did come true and all was not lost despite this crazy rainy October that we’ve had. :)

These two were our first wedding that we had on the books for 2013 and we were so excited to finally get to work with them at the Cotton Room! They had an amazing team of friends and family helping them out (Kevin’s uncle presided over the ceremony and his aunt did all the gorgeous flowers) and we had the opportunity to photograph yet another amazing Hora (our most favorite of Jewish wedding traditions)! There were also glow sticks and corn hole and favors of honey jars that were made by the bees that Elana’s parents keep in their yard (I took one home…a jar of honey… not a bee… and it is amazingly delicious).

Enjoy the wedding of these two adorable and amazing people! Elana and Kevin – you have been the best and we love you both so much!

Date: October 12, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Cotton Room // Durham, NC

First Dance Song: “Beneath Your Beautiful” – Labrinth

Elana’s Occupation: Child/Adolescent Therapist at Diverse Family Services

Kevin’s Occupation: Entrepreneur

How You Met: We were both music majors at UNC. One beautiful Saturday morning we ran into each other in the Craige parking lot and the rest is history.

Interesting Bride Fact: Elana decided when she was six that the last name Zipkin just wouldn’t do, she was going to have move to the beginning of the alphabet one day. 20 years later, it finally happened.

Interesting Groom Fact: The first time Kevin’s mom met Elana she told Kevin “She is way out of your league, you are never going to get her.” He must’ve done something right!

Honeymoon Destination: Honeymoon is on hold…we’re work-a-holics…

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Thomas Campbell (Kevin’s Uncle) | DJ – Damien Maas | Florist – Susan Yuditsky (Kevin’s aunt) | Cake – Simply Cakes | Caterer – The Cotton Room | Hair – Curl Up and Dye with Kim | Makeup – Made Up by Lindsay Morse