Raleigh Event: Winterfest 2011

Trying to tie up a bunch of loose ends this week before I head out for the holidays, so forgive my unusual lack of long introductions. ;)  Here’s a quick glimpse into Raleigh’s 2011 Winterfest that I was kindly asked to photograph by my friends at the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. :) It was a beautiful evening! It was sad to see Mayor Meeker light the tree for the last time, but we welcome in Raleigh’s new mayor, Nancy McFarlane, with open arms. :)

See that little pup in the header above us? The one in the green grass? She’s back… and though older, she’s just as adorable and wonderful… as are Renee and Daniel. :) Renee and Daniel are one of my mom’s favorite couples of mine. Is that weird? That my mom has couples whom she’s never met but that she loves just from their pictures in my blog post? She always says, “They seem like such nice people.” And they are! What can I say, my mom’s a good judge of character. :P This is my third time working with them and my second with Khia, the most adorable Australian Shepherd in the world. They were all fabulous models, as usual! We had fun catching up and hiking around, and Daniel had a little too much fun throwing leaves at Renee. I hope you’ll all enjoy this couple’s post as much as I know my mom will. :P

Ashley and Dave both went to the same high school as me, but were four years ahead in my sister’s grade. My sister, who has been graduated from high school for some time (sorry, Laura) coincidentally boarded a plane to LA on a trip to New Zealand a few years ago and happened to sit next to Ashley on the flight from Pittsburgh to LA in another weird, Twilight-Zoney type of thing that happens to me way too much. So when Ashley went on the hunt for a wedding photographer via Facebook, my sister kindly referred me. :)

Ashley and Dave are getting married at Heinz Chapel and PNC Park next year! Geoff is ridiculously excited to shoot at PNC Park… and is convinced (in some sort of fantasy land type of way) that the Pirates will end up in the playoffs and that there will be a playoff game taking place at PNC Park during the wedding and that he’ll somehow be able to take part and witness both. Even if the playoffs don’t happen for the Pirates (and let’s face it…), we’re still both super excited to shoot the wedding for this lovely couple! For their engagement, Ashley wanted “very classy” pictures in front of the Pittsburgh skyline on Mt. Washington at the very end of the day and night, and then a few at a restaurant where her and Dave had dinner reservations. I do believe that this set of pictures is extra classy and extra skyline-y. :) Enjoy!

*P.S. I still love you, Raleigh, but nobody can top this skyline.

*P.P.S. I think I can see my dorm room from here! :P My college is the orange building w/ the flag on top of it in the lower left hand corner of the picture below. I lived in a dorm room on the 17th floor. My dad HATED move-in day. :)