Melanie+Ryan // Holly Springs Family Photographer

Just a normal, lovely day photographing this family in Holly Springs. Surrounded by sensational skulls, beautiful bats, sublime serpents, spirited skeletons, gorgeous gourds, and breathtakingly “restored” babydolls, I set about photographing this family with all the whimsical trimmings of the Halloween season. The kids went on a hunt for the elusive seasonal pumpkin eggs, containing treats and occasionally cash. The family decorated their beautiful black tree, adorning it with vomiting jack-o-lanterns and zombie unicorns, all while being watched over by a charming 8′ skeleton who eternally places a giant eyeball on the tree top. Melanie and Ryan celebrated the season by opening a box of “aged” cereal that they were letting ripen until the exact right moment, and grimaced with what I can only assume was sheer delight as they ate hardened bites of expired food from ~2018. Their cat Chloe participated by dressing up as a bat and modeling in the most adorable way in front of a black tea set. Finally, a killer clown emerged with an enormous, glimmering pair of scissors and chased everyone around – presumably to give them free haircuts, how nice. I love this family and their love for Halloween, which continues to live in all of our hearts 365 days a year. And always remember, if you can’t summon the flames directly from Hell, store-bought is fine.

8' skeleton hanging an eyeball on a Halloween tree
Cat walking past couch with a Creepshow blanket on it
Family running and hugging in a backyard in Holly Springs
Gray cat sitting with a Halloween tea set and bats coupled with a picture of a mother and daughter hugging outside
A variety of Halloween costumes laying on the floor
Dad giving his daughter a piggyback ride coupled with a picture of a Halloween themed entryway
Shelves around a TV covered in Halloween town houses
Family hugging and laughing in the backyard in Holly Springs
Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger Nike shoes
An orange ceramic Halloween tree sits on a green end table and pictures of a Horror memorabilia collection on a shelf
Picture of parents with their kids wrestling in the backyard in Holly Springs
Pictures of Lemax Spookytown Halloween houses on a shelf
Picture of parents with their kids wrestling in the backyard in Holly Springs
Chucky doll in a box coupled with a picture of a mother hugging her daughter
Pictures of Lemax Spookytown Halloween houses on a shelf
Picture of parents with their kids wrestling in the backyard in Holly Springs
Big sister holding her little sister coupled with a picture of skeletons lying in lounge chairs next to a pool
Mother and daughter laughing during family photos in Holly Springs
Family laughing during Holly Springs family photos
Pictures of Lemax Spookytown Halloween houses on a shelf, a Viewfinder, and the Gremlins 2 soundtrack on vinyl
Father giving his daughter a piggyback ride
Gray cat sitting with a spooky black tea set and bats on the wall for Halloween
Father picking up daughter outside in North Carolina
Horror movie rug and Lemax Spookyhouse
Mother and daughter hugging while the mom laughs outside in Holly Springs
Collection of fake Halloween weapon props
Parents laughing outside in a yard in Holly Springs while hugging
Gray cat with green eyes sitting on kitchen counter
Two sisters hang out by the side of a swimming pool in fall
Sisters going on a Halloween egg hunt around house
Sisters going on a Halloween egg hunt around house
Sisters going on a Halloween egg hunt around house
A collection of colored Halloween artwork hangs on a wall
Girl opens up an orange Halloween egg with money inside
Sisters sit on a couch next to a fireplace and a giant skeleton and open Halloween eggs
Girl opens up an orange Halloween egg with money inside
Parents stand by a couch and laugh
Sisters sit on a couch and open up orange Halloween eggs to see what they got after their hunt
Mom shows daughter Halloween ornaments for tree
Eight foot skeleton stands in living room and holds an eyeball tree topper for a Halloween tree
Girl hangs pumpkin ornament on a black Halloween tree
Mother and daughter decorate black Halloween tree with horror ornaments next to eight foot tall skeleton in living room
Eyeball horror ornament hangs on tree
Skull heart ornament hangs on black Christmas tree
Sisters decorate black Halloween tree with horror ornaments next to eight foot tall skeleton in living room
Horrorments hang on black Halloween tree
Family decorating black Halloween tree with horror ornaments
Girl crouched down on the kitchen floor giving gray cat a kiss on the head
Gray cat with green eyes walking toward you on kitchen floor
Woman putting a Halloween bat costume on her gray cat
Gray cat with green eyes walking around with a Halloween bat wing costume
Gray cat with green eyes walking around with a Halloween bat wing costume
Teenage girl sitting with her arm around cat in stairway
Dad helping his daughter with cup o noodle Halloween costume in living room
Gray cat walking around the house
Girl prepares Ramen in kitchen while gray cat watches
Dad puts away something in a kitchen cabinet while daughter prepares Cup o Noodles soup
Gray cat lies in a sunbeam on the kitchen counter
Girl prepares cup of noodle soup on kitchen counter
Cup of Noodles sits next to a bowl with cat chopsticks leaning on it
Girl in Noodles Halloween costume laughing in kitchen as she prepares noodle soup
Girl in Noodles Halloween costume laughing in kitchen as she prepares noodle soup coupled with a girl in a dark fairy costume plays piano
Girl in a dark fairy costume with black wings plays piano in a parlour
Girl in a dark fairy costume with black wings sits next to the piano and smiles while wearing black flower crown
The back of a girl wearing dark fairy wings playing piano in a living room that's decorated for Halloween
Girl with fishnet gloves for Halloween playing piano
Girl in a dark fairy costume with black wings plays piano in a parlour
Girl wearing a dark fairy costume with black wings walks through a sunlit living room
Family standing around kitchen making Noodle Soup
Mom helping daughter prepare noodle soup in the kitchen

Sara+Sam // Couple Session.

We were so honored to be asked by Sara and Sam, two amazing photographers behind McCormick and Moore Photography in Holly Springs, to shoot some promo shots for them as well as an updated couple session in and around their house. They have four cats so we said absolutely (we would’ve said yes anyway, but sometimes I need the blog to sound dramatic). We got to meet some of the cats (including, briefly, Lady Esmeralda von Poofington, the best cat name of all time), and we also got to teach Sara and Sam how to appropriately name the plagues and diseases that you’re spreading through the world in the board game Pandemic (it’s no fun unless you name them). They like a lot of games and a lot of good tv. Sara likes reading and making jewelry, and Sam likes cooking and the numbers 6 and 28. But when they’re not being awesome at home, they’re being awesome out taking pictures of families, pets, and kids at their photo business, and we couldn’t be happier to be asked to take pictures of these two photographers!

Cat feet Woman and her cat Couple playing board games Cat walking Pandemic board game Couple sitting in kitchen Couple playing board games Couple sitting on couch with cat Cat sitting on back of couch Cat stretching on floor Portrait photographer Sara McCormick portrait photographer Sara McCormick Cats Couple cooking in kitchen Couple cooking in the kitchen Man cooking in the kitchen Cat pawing at back door Man cooking Cat looking out back door Couple snuggling Couple sitting in grass Holly Springs portrait photographers Couple portrait in Holly Springs Couple walking up a hill Couple sitting on bench Cat looking out back door McCormick and Moore Photography Couple standing in garden Couple standing in field Photographer with camera Couple in field Couple standing in field Couple walking Couple hugging Anniversary couple photos Engagement photographer nc McCormick and Moore Photography Man standing in field with camera Couple hugging Photographers Couple walking by creek Couple walking by creek Carolyn Scott Photography Couple walking in woods Couple standing in woods Couple walking out of woods Couple walking out of woods