Nicole+Blake // Married!

We had the pleasure of meeting Nicole for the first time several years ago when she was a bridesmaid at a wedding, and now we are so happy to reunite with her gorgeous self and her amazing  husband Blake! They were married a couple weeks ago at the courthouse and are having a reception in January. Like a ton of our couples, they met online (we should start submitting commercials to Match.com, etc. to receive royalties) and had their first date with some friends at the Carolina Ale House where they instantly clicked. They were married a few months later and now both reside in Raleigh with their adorable dog Lily (despite living in North Carolina, Blake still adamantly cheers for the South Carolina Gamecocks, but begrudgingly agrees with that Lily the dog is an NC State fan along with her mother).

These were to be mostly their engagement photos with a few pre-wedding photos thrown in for good measure before the reception. We did a first look with them in their wedding attire after they changed (Blake hadn’t seen her wedding reception dress yet!) and couldn’t have asked for better weather for a girl in a sleeveless wedding dress. :) It was chilly but the sun was out, and there’s not much more you can ask for this time of year! Lake Johnson has special meaning for them so we happily joined them by the edge of the water for these pictures… and were photobombed by a heron. :) Congratulations to the new husband and wife team, and we’re excited to share their reception with you in a few months!

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canela+layla hang out in the backyard with their humans, claudia+ron

What’s that? You can’t tell them apart? :)

Canela is 7 years old and has a slightly larger build and muzzle. He looks very much like an adorable fuzzy bear. He is suspected to be Layla’s uncle (Layla is 3 and looks much closer to the standard, traditional golden retriever without bear-relations). They like treats and belly rubs and chin rubs most of all. I was immediately greeted with kisses and licks when I met them at their door, and they proceeded to show me around their house while they went over their notes on how to look best for their pet portraits.

Now – I really and truly love them both (I had to slowly unhinge my jaw on the car ride home to get it functioning again after grinding my teeth the whole session because I was overcome by cuteness and spoke in a baby voice the entire time) …but Canela pretty much stole my heart not just because he looks like a little bear, but also because he is currently undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of his cancer. :( He is taking the chemo very well with little side effects other than he gets tired easily, and there is no prognosis yet on how he’ll fair, but he seems to be doing extraordinarily well and I’m sending all my thoughts and love for Canela to live many more happy doggy years.

Their parents are just as adorable and welcomed me into their home with open arms and a bag full of Guatemala coffee to take home to my parents (the coffee addicts). They met online with Ron living in Raleigh and Claudia living in Guatemala (born and raised). They were married 4 months later in 2005. Ron is now learning Spanish and Claudia checks his homework (although sometimes she grades it wrong). They are fantastic people and fantastic parents to these sweet little furry kids!

Portraits in Raleigh: Stephanie

This lovely client found her way to me by inquiring about real estate photography for one of her clients. I referred her to someone else, and shortly after received another e-mail from her… this time asking me to take her portraits. :) When she told me about her company and products, I was so excited. Stephanie Wetzel is the brains and beauty behind Trading Pounds, a business centered around her recent weight loss (she’s lost over an amazing 170 pounds so far since January 2010!). She’s already written and published one cookbook and is in the process of writing her second. Trading Pounds includes a blog, free e-books, and other personal coaching tools. Stephanie wanted some new photos to show her kick-butt new look and I was more than happy to help. She’s a ridiculously fun girl who has two cats, is a self-described nerd, and whose favorite recipe is pot pie with rosemary. :)

Along with her entourage (manager Elise and best friend Travis), we went into the naturey parts of a local park per her request to photograph Stephanie looking gorgeous. This was my first shoot of 2012… held on one of the coldest days in Raleigh I’ve encountered in a long time… and we all had very limited motion in our extremities by the end of the shoot. :D Thank you for your bravery, Stephanie… and for your awesomeness and help, entourage!