August 21, 2011

Raleigh Portrait Photographer: Amanda+Chris Anniversary Session

Hey there! I’ve been on vacation in the Outer Banks for a week and now I’m back and ready to head into the second part of wedding season in the south.

Happy one year anniversary to our beloved Amanda and Chris! They were married a little over a year ago on June 23rd and we’ve missed them. :) Way back a few months ago when Amanda contacted me to do their anniversary pictures, I was super excited to see them again. Then we all became even more excited a few months later when we found out that Amanda is pregnant! It’s a great feeling seeing previous clients again, and a greater feeling when you get to see their happy little family expand… whether by cat, dog, or baby. ;) They chose to do their photographs at Oak View County Park where they frequently visit. They really love old-timey era things and have told me before that they’re probably living in the wrong decade, and they find that they love this park due to its old buildings and land. We met up on one incredibly hot evening last week and, while we all almost melted, we survived to bring you beautiful summer evening pictures. Enjoy!

Happy anniversary, Amanda and Chris! Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy and stay out of this heat!!…unless it’s to do photos with us. ;)

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June 1, 2011

Raleigh Engagement Photographer: Brittany+Garrett

Brittany and Garrett are a great couple! We had a lot of fun on their shoot this past Sunday. :) I first met them at Mary Ann and Daniell’s wedding where Brittany was a bridesmaid! So I knew we’d have a lot of fun. When Brittany and I spoke about where they’d like to do their shoot, they wanted to have some in a bookstore or a library as her and Garrett both write and are very into books (i love that people still read… and actual bound books!). Brittany went to school for creative writing and wants to be an author, while Garrett writes for recreation. But we were doing this shoot on Sunday evening, so I had to think about a place that would be open on both Sunday evening and on Memorial Day weekend and… of course… it was Reader’s Corner on Hillsborough! :)

They were only open for a half hour, so we took few pictures inside, and did the bulk of our shoot outside. For those who don’t know, Reader’s Corner is that store that has books outside all night. They are only a few cents, and you pay for them via a little slot in the door with all proceeds going to NPR. It’s really pretty rad. We took some pictures. Brittany and Garrett bought some more books. It was all good. :D

We then moved on to a pretty park behind their house that they walk to quite often. It was a gorgeous summer evening, but hot! But they were great sports and put up with the heat, mosquitoes, and our ideas. ;) And Brittany has the most gorgeous blue eyes!

The light was greaaat. Thanks, end of spring!

Yay!! We love this session and it already makes me go, “Ahhhh, summer” even though it’s still spring and I’m sure I wouldn’t say that if I weren’t inside the air conditioned comfort of my house. ;) Thank you, Brittany and Garrett! We had a wonderful time working with you and wish you the very very best on your wedding and married life!

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May 17, 2011

Raleigh Engagement Photographer: Elise+Jeff

I don’t think I’ve laughed this much at a session in a long time! Elise and Jeff were GREAT and we had an awesome time photographing this engagement session at Duke Homestead and Brightleaf Square in Durham. They came equipped with their own props (Elise was off for several days and had nothing to do but look through wedding blogs which provided some inspiration) and champagne (Jeff said that he would probably need it to make it through the session… which, although it probably helped, might not have been needed because we had FUN, didn’t we, Jeff?!) :D ;)

Elise is from Tennessee and Jeff is from Pittsburgh (another CSP Pittsburgher! I need to start a club). They met in their undergrad at Duke. Jeff is now a trial lawyer in New Jersey near Atlantic City, and Elise is in UNC’s graduate program to become a dentist. This is all evidenced by their choice of reading material for the session: Civil Procedure, Corporations Law and Policy, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and, my personal favorite, The Art and Science of Operative Dentistry (it’s cover shows a series of teeth with drills). They also brought cupcakes from Sugarland, and proceeded to have a good time. What better way to have your engagement pictures taken than with some alcohol, cupcakes, and light reading material on lawsuits and oral abnormalities?

Elise and Jeff are so incredibly cute together. They just laughed their way through this entire thing. Elise told me during our consult that they’d need a lot of instruction, but they hardly needed any at all. Jeff just made jokes the whole time, Elise laughed at them, and I just photographed the whole thing. It was very easy. :)

And how attractive are these two? Best looking dentist and lawyer combo ever! They did inform me that they will have the worst dinner parties ever, though, because no one will want to come to a dinner part of a dentist and a lawyer, but I guess that’s the price you pay for having really good teeth and being… well… a lawyer. ;) :D

I think this was the point in the evening when Jeff informed me that he is “not an ambi-turner.”At this point, of course, I made it my mission to get Jeff to be an ambi-turner and, consequently, become bi-winning. You’re welcome, Jeff.

I think I would’ve shot this session for free in exchange for Elise’s wardrobe. Seriously. I’ll work for cute clothes, girls.

And our last stop of the evening at Torero’s in Durham! This was the spot of their first date. And seriously, who can resist a picture with this dude and his awesome eagle? Not me.

Thanks, Elise and Jeff, for your good humor, laughs, and keeping Geoff and I thoroughly entertained! I hope you love them!

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