Perry + Shawn + Huckleberry + Finnigan + Lexie

Objectives: to photograph the amazingly talented and gorgeous Perry Vaile of Perry Vaile Photography alongside her handsome husband Shawn. Also, to photograph the slightly elusive and slightly adorably-crosseyed cat Lexie. Also, to photograph the previous racing dogs learning how to be precious house dogs Huckleberry and Finnigan. This was the mission I accepted at their house. The second mission was to go to Perry’s neighbor’s farm down the road and photograph them there… where there happened to be the most adorable miniature donkeys ever.  Now, I’m not sure that “ever” really describes it as I’m fairly certain that miniature donkeys ANYWHERE would be the cutest ever, but, you know what I mean. So the house mission combined with the farm mission was total cuteness overload and WAY too much cute to photograph in 2 hours… so just know that I tried, Perry, but your family is way, way too cute… and thus this was only a glimpse into its cuteness.

I was super honored to be chosen by Perry to photograph her family this year as she is a WONDERFUL photographer and I was crazy nervous a bit like this. She and Shawn were so amazingly sweet to me and made me feel perfectly comfortable though… and I’m so happy to have worked on this for them!

Baxter Gets His Picture Taken

Every once in a while I get something completely different than weddings and last week it was Baxter. :) Baxter’s mom and dad (Rachel and Andy) found me through a fundraiser event that I participated in for a local shelter called 2 Paws Up where I donated a session for them to help them raise money for their organization. They rescue animals from high-kill shelters in North Carolina and put them up for adoption. :) His parents were in attendance at the fundraiser, won the prize, and contacted me shortly after to set up Baxter’s session.

Baxter is a Shar Pei most likely mixed with some sort of Pit or hound… no one’s really sure. All we know is that Baxter is adorable, and Baxter likes squirrels. He likes squirrels so much that he’s a certified flight-risk, thus landing us in his neighbor’s fenced in back yard for the session so that Baxter didn’t escape into the wild beyond, injuring all fluffy-tailed squirrels in his path. He was quite content to chase around his ball and his stuffed animals and hang out with his beloved humans. I’m pretty much in love with this little dude.

Jennifer+Patrick Have a Wedding in Charlotte

This wedding had the 5 key components to any great wedding: a beautiful bride in a fluffy dress, a groom who is 6’7 who told you that you sounded taller on the phone, the cutest ring bearer in the entire land, a totally kick butt reception venue in the city, and dogs in bow ties named Calvin and Hobbes. The wedding wasn’t pitched to us quite like that… it was more like, “Hey, come shoot our wedding in Charlotte!” and we were all, “Okay!” and then when we met them and got there we knew it would totally rule. And rule it did.

Really, though, this reception venue is my type of venue. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place so awesomely colorful or awesome. Please bring us back, Charlotte. We like it there.  You are always nice to us and contain the state’s only Ikea. And to Jen and Patrick – we love you both very much and had the BEST time. Thanks for putting up with us following you around and making cheesy jokes. We’ll come visit you, ok?

 Date: November 3, 2012

First Song: “You Are The Best Thing” – Ray LaMontagne

Jennifer’s Occupation: Advertising for Lowe’s Home Improvement

Patrick’s Occupation: Project Engineer for Crowder Construction

How You Met: We actually knew each other wayyyy back in high school.  I was dating one of his friends, and we all hung out together.  Fast froward about 10 years later and we were both living in a tiny town in NC (Kernersville) but didn’t know we both lived there.  UNTIL I saw on Facebook (of all places!), that he lived in Kernersville.  And since I didn’t know a single other person who lived there, I reached out to him and asked him what the hell he was doing living in Kernersville!  We had dinner a few days later and then were pretty much inseperable after that!  With a lack of exciting things to do in that small town that we loved SO much, we spent several nights in the Kville bowling alley drinking $1 drafts and having fierce bowling competitions.

Interesting Bride Fact: Jennifer loves to make things and crafted about 95% of the decorations for the wedding (with some help, of course!).  She’s also fluent in German, a language she learned in 3rd grade while attending a German Immersion School in Charlotte.

Interesting Groom Fact: Patrick is 6’7

Honeymoon Location: Mexico

Ceremony Location: Covenant Presbyterian Church // Charlotte, NC

Reception Location: The Extravaganza Depot // Charlotte, NC

DJ: Spintastic Sounds

Florist: Party Blooms

Cake: Simply Delicious Cakes by Whit

Caterer: Family Catering

Hair: La Bella Hair

Makeup: Jessica Bagwell