Abby+Rachel+Ansel

One of the perils of photographing a small child that you see often and are friends with is that they tend to want to sit next to you during the shoot and you keep having to move away from them in order to take pictures of them, which hurts their feelings. They also know your husband Geoff and demand to know where he is, and are upset that you didn’t bring him. We’ve been friends with Abby and Rachel for a very long time, and were so excited when they moved back to NC with their kiddo Ansel. Ansel is our buddy. We’ve shared dinners and bedtime story routines and long discussions about Geoff’s shoes. He is extremely intelligent and also hilarious, and I don’t think I’ve ever really seen him truly upset except for maybe 5 seconds when he couldn’t get the “Prog” button his keyboard to work. He is funny and very adored and he seems to like us.

When I showed up without his buddy Geoff for this shoot, he was initially confused. Why would I be there… without Geoff? Where are Geoff’s shoes? He then made a swift recovery by deciding to sit directly next to me during most of the session where I couldn’t photograph him and giggling profusely. Slowly he was bribed away from me with various things: sticks, a blanket that looks like a tortilla which I use whenever over their house as much as possible, howling with his dog Ozlo, more sticks, a scooter, some pinecones, and finally cookies. We had a wonderful time. I love this family with all of my heart and am lucky to know them and extremely lucky and thankful that they have a blanket that looks like a tortilla that they allow me to use when I’m at their house.

When I first spoke to Anna on the phone, we clicked like old friends. And every time I’ve spoken to her since, it’s been the same way. She’s easy to talk to and hilarious, and her friends all echoed the same sentiments (her friends, likewise, are the same way!). We didn’t actually meet Anna or Winston until the day of their rehearsal dinner, but we very quickly realized that Winston is exactly the same. Easy to talk to, extremely funny, very friendly. They like cheese, dogs, and Paul Simon, so I’m not sure exactly how you could go wrong with them as clients. They’re both super intelligent but neither takes themselves too seriously and they’re a perfect match. Plus they’re good looking.

Rain was scheduled at 100% this day. Then it went down to 10%. Then up to 50%? Then I think it went back to 100%, and then down to 0%, but it rained anyway (thanks, North Carolina forecast!). But thankfully it was a brief rain that then cleared up and then left us with beautiful weather for their incredible wedding at the Haw River Ballroom (which is our very favorite wedding venue). Some bright yellow wild flowers were out in full-swing and we took advantage of them fully for their portraits (one of the reasons Anna had chosen the Haw River Ballroom was that she loved the mix of linear architecture combined with the wild plants surrounding it). Then we went inside to celebrate with the band Punch (also our favorite wedding band!) and Anna and Winston’s friends and family. We’re so grateful that we got to spend the weekend with these guys and so glad we got to be their wedding photographers!

Date: October 19, 2019
Ceremony+Reception Venue: The Haw River Ballroom // Saxapahaw, NC
First Dance Song: “Graceland” – Paul Simon
Interesting Fact: Both left-handed! Bride lived on a street with the same last name as the groom when they first met, which would later become her married name.
Officiant: Reverend Bob Bauman
Band: Punch
Florist: Brides & Bouquets
Cake: Sugar Euphoria
Caterer: Saxapahaw Catering
Hair/Makeup: Perfection by Patricia
Coordinator: Kathy Swope of Sally Oakley Weddings & Events

AWWww, you guys! I love seeing old clients. And by “old” clients, I mean that when I walked up to greet Michelle and Richard underneath the water tower in American Tobacco, they were both rocking back and forth in side-by-side rocking chairs on their phones and our conversation at one point turned to crocheting and sewing. **drumroll, cymbal crash** But seriously folks! Michelle and Richard are 2015 wedding clients and I was so grateful to see them again! They were in town for Richard’s sister’s wedding and decided to take some updated couple photos with me around American Tobacco. They’ve since moved to Illinois, a couple hours south of Chicago, where Richard teaches sociology and Michelle does lab stuff that sounded kind of complicated. They have cats that they did not bring with them despite me asking (Michelle said they had book club but I suspect a cover up) but we did discuss the cats a lot, as well as our love for Murray Hewitt and podcasts (including one that’s literally all about U2 which can sidle up right besides my all-Pearl-Jam podcast – I’m such a dork). Michelle and Richard are great people and I like them a lot.