My family Portrait | Family photographer | Raleigh NC

The Gunton family got together for Easter and I thought what a great time to do a family portrait. Normally I'm the photographer for other people so it was nice to do my husbands side of the family. This portrait session really should have been video taped. Lets just say the family is really into goofing off as you will see in some of the photos. I really love how the images turned out, goofiness and all.

Family portraits can be done at the place of your choice within a certain distance. As a family photographer I try to allow children to be children. The more you allow them to be free, run and play, the better the pictures.

Please enjoy a little ensight into my great family.

St. Michaels wedding | Matthew's House Reception venue | Cary NC

Daniel and Lindsay's wedding was held at the the St. Michaels in Cary, NC. The reception followed at one of my favorite wedding venues, The Matthew's House. The bride and groom had me arrive 15 mins before the church ceremony so they could utilize their time better later in the day. The ceremony was beautiful as was the sanctuary.

Both bride and groom  are meteorologist and its wild that on wedding day tornadoes formed all over the state of NC. Guest arriving at the reception were reporting major damage all around us. So I was able to get a quick second to call home and check on my family only to find out they were under the house for safety. In the end our house was undamaged. I wish no one had suffered loss, but I am glad that my couple's day was not effected. Something I have never seen before at a wedding is sing for your food. Instead of calling tables to eat all tables had to go to the bride and groom's table and sing a little from a song that had the word love in it. It made for some good laughing photos.

Last but not least, guess who did the flowers for this wedding? Yep the very creative Gregg Kennedy with Brides and Bouquets, one of my preferred wedding vendors. Love him!!!!

Family Portraits | Wake Forest NC | Raleigh NC

Danielle was the winner of one of my facebook contest last year, so she decided to do a family portrait session. Especially love my job as a photographer when everyone in the family could be professional models,  makes being a family photographer easy. These portraits were really important to Danielle because I'm sad to say she had lost a baby to SIDS. I couldn't even imagine. She said its important for her to have a lot of photographs of her kids b/c she didn't have a lot of her baby. Danielle has a Children's Resale store in Garner Lil Joey's. Danielle I have much respect for you being a single mom and raising 3 kids, Rock it girl!!!!!!

The portrait session was photographed in Wake Forest,NC.

Newborn Pictures | Raleigh NC | Photographer

Avery is one of the cutest 3 day old newborn baby's I have ever seen, ok I am a little bias because Cassie and Mike are good friends of mine. Its nice as a photographer to take a break from weddings and clients and actually photograph friends who totally trust me to do my thing. Baby Avery was on her best behavior for our picture session. The only time she cried was when we were changing her clothes. I look forward to watching little Avery grow up.

As a newborn baby photographer I was very excited that the house was filled with a lot of natural lighting. I had flashes with me just in case it was dark, but didn't really need them. All the pictures were done with natural lighting. If you are taking pictures of your newborn baby at home, I suggest putting them near a window or door to get the best light, it will make a world of difference in the quality of your photos too.

View Cassie and Mike's Maternity pictures



 

Raleigh wedding | River Ridge Golf Club Venue

River Ridge Golf clubis a beautiful wedding venue in Raleigh,NC.  When I arrived at the venue I immediately went to the reception tent to check out the best place for my lighting. I fell in love with her blue and yellow decor right away. When done with that I went to the brides room where I was greeted with a big smile. Honestly that's what really makes my day at weddings, to walk into a bridal room and the excitement on a brides face that I'm there, definitely warm fuzzies. Faith got into her dress and we headed outside to do all the formals, bridesmaids,groomsmen, etc etc. One thing really special about this wedding is Faith made ALL her details, from the bouquet of flowers, girls necklaces, bows, flowers in jars hanging on the aisle of chairs of the wedding, etc it was all done with love by her and her friends.

Faith wanted really fun type photos. Her yellow sun glasses for the girls and the guys yellow socks, really added to that . Yes we did the traditional type posing but we also threw in some fun jumping shots and a request by the bridal party was to have the girls wear the jackets and the guys hold the flowers. I loved every minute of it. As I went through and worked on the photos I laughed out loud several times. Jumping in the air type photos is not for everyone but for this bridal party it was, they will love and laugh from the wedding photos a long time to come.

The weather turned bad on us after dinner that was catered by Cannon Catering. Thunder, lightning, and a whole lot of rain. Standing in a puddle of water while trying to capture the shot was definitely scary, but I took one for the team. We finally moved the party inside the building where everyone danced the night away. The funniest part of the whole day was when the bride and groom left, one of the guys hot wired their car so that every time Phil pressed on the break the horn would sound. Oh my goodness you talk about funny, now that's when you need video b/c pictures can't make sounds,lol.

Engagement pictures | Raleigh NC photography

It was a beautiful but windy day in Raleigh, NC when we did Melissa and Daniel's engagement pictures.  I knew off the bat it was going to be a fun photography session because Daniel was quick to making jokes. I normally don't do a bunch of kissy kissy images but poor Daniel was a squinter. We got a few straight on pictures but my approach was be as creative as I could with kiss type posing to avoid a hand full of squinting pictures. That's what I loved about this couple to b/c they allowed me creative freedom during the engagement session. Ohh and if you wondering the engagement photography session took place at Yates Mill Pond in Raleigh,NC.

raleigh wedding photographer | Solas Wedding Reception

As a Raleigh wedding photographer I was very excited to start the wedding photography season. I awaited patiently for Caitlyn's arrival at Historic Mordecai park in Raleigh. The bride showed up about 15 mins late because there was a little problem getting the wedding dress over her head. Having never met the bride and groom I was pleasantly surprised with her beauty and calm elegance about her. The church is for very small intimate weddings, and the reception followed at Solas. Can I say I love the decor of Solas. The red on the 2nd floor really pops in photos.

Photographing this wedding meant alot to me because in one of our discussions I asked Caitylyn was there anything in particular she wanted photographed and she replied that she didnt want to tell me what to do because she loved my work and just wanted me to do my thing.  Of course we discussed the family photos, but she gave me total creative photography freedom to do what I wanted with the bride and groom special pictures. When I first arrive at a wedding vennue I immediately start looking around. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful yellow house and how creatively it was lit with light trickling in through the trees, I immediately thought old vintage. Ahhhhh but when I actually started processing the pictures it was too beautiful to turn vintage, I loved the color of the picture.

The wonderful Kayelily Middleton performed the wedding. Raleigh wedding minister .Kayelily is a non-denominational, interfaith minister who works with you to create a warm personal ceremony.