evoke's blog

Almost There

2008-11-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

Please go to Evoke Photography's new blog-site to see all new posts. This blog is no longer active.

Countdown

2008-11-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

This Monday it is presently planned for my present site to be ripped down & replaced within 3-4 days with the new site.. This blog will stay up, but this will be my last post here. So, from now on you will access my blog directly in my new blog-site (where the website & blog marry), which will be my website address: www.evokenc.com

Thank you everyone for helping me through this!! Thank you Ken for taking new pics of me for the new site. And a GIGANTIC "I LOVE YOU" to Culture Pilot for creating my new site. When you see it, you will be in love too. They have been so incredibly amazing to work with & at my most anal moments, they have bent over backwards for me. They have done an amazing job and I can't wait for you to see it!!

By the way, the free wedding nomination post will be deleted and decisions will start being made. SO, if you have anyone you want to nominate, this is the last week to do it!!

I'm Back!

2008-10-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

I am back & ready to make this thang happen. This will probably be the last post for a week or so.. maybe.. maybe 1 more.. And then.. well.. Just check back in a day or two. You just don't even know.. I know, but wow.. it's just wonderful things. Soon both my website & blog will be replaced.. I just cannot even.. wow.. it's going to be something wonderful!!

Visions of me in NYC can float around in your head before the big Evoke bang happens.

And before you ask yourself - is that green jacket the only thing she owns?! No.. I just really love it. So get over it.. It's not the last time you'll see either. Me & my friend Jenn really mastered NYC.
Photo Op - Oh yeah. I'm there. Afterwards I pimped some ho's. Check out that delicious coat. haha..
Check back soon.. you don't want to wait too long.

NYC or Bust

2008-10-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I head out for NYC for an engagement session on Saturday, and I am running around like a CRAZY person. October has just about killed me, but when I get back, I promise you will see all I've been up to. For instance.. this past Friday I had 2 engagements, Saturday a bridal, Sunday an engagement, and 2 mini engagement sessions at the fair last night... and it seems all of October has been this way for me. I love the constant shooting - crave it. But it leaves little room for the intensity of post production. SO - THANK YOU to all of you that have been so patient & understanding. November will be my month of rehab, and more.. Lots of exciting things are headed Evoke's way.

Thank you Rebecca for getting me in action so all can see what I've been doing all month long!
My angle:
Wish this little country girl luck in nyc!!

I'll be returning all emails & phone calls as soon as I get back next week! THANKS!!

Booty-woir

2008-10-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

Do I even need to say anything?!

A couple of weekends ago I spent 2 days in Charlotte photographing an amazing boudoir marathon. 6 ladies, 2 rooms, 1 AMAZING makeup artist = a fiance's dream come true. Some really amazing images came of it, but for now, this is all you get to see.

more to come...

Alex is a Senior!!

2008-10-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ok... so daily blogging really hasn't work out too well for me. I'm still plugging along though & there might be 18 posts this weekend.. you just never know.

A couple of weeks ago I met Alex & her mom over at Pullen Park & we yanked out some amazing images. I love getting all of these redheads!! Alex is so beautiful & she was a lot of fun.. not to mention I love the fact that she gave me so much to work with - happy, serious, fun, moody.. Love it!! And uh.. check out her delicious heels.
Color, color & more color!!
Heels in a tree - so wrong, but so right
Work it
How cute is this?!
Alex is a cheerleader for a serious team called the Shockers..
And this would explain the shocker part of the name:
It doesn't look it, but somehow she landed on her feet. You're awesome chica!!

Just another hottie

2008-10-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the immense pleasure of photographing Joel Hurley's daughter for her senior portraits. Joel is the owner of the Preston Woodall House in Benson, so of course we had to get some goodies there first & then bring the funk.. She is so stunning, I would photograph her in a dirt pile.. and actually, I think I did.
This fountain is one of Kaitlyn's favorite spots at the house
WHAT IN THE WORLD!?! This is super model stuff.. beautimus.
DELICIOUS
She told me she couldn't do "serious/sexy". Right...
Thanks for being such an AMAZING model Kaitlyn!!

Caliente

2008-10-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

I really wish I could post more now, because Kristen's bridal is OUT OF CONTROL!! She is getting married 11.1, so you won't have to wait much longer. She is so incredibly fierce, intense and yet super soft in her shots. Luckily for me, I get to photograph her again this upcoming week for some engagement shots!!

I have been saturated in work - this past week or two have been pretty intense for me, but I promise I'll start including you more on all I've been doing!! It may come to some daily blogging, but I'll do whatever it takes!! A big THANK YOU to all of you that have been so patient with me in returning calls, emails, etc.. THANKS!!

Mr & Mrs Faby

2008-10-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

9.20 Nicole & Dave got hitched.. and wow.. I'm not really sure anything can prepare you for this post. They were a CRAZY WILD crowd - and mami likes playing with a crazy wild crowd. They had their ceremony at St Francis of Assisi, and the day started off somewhat mild..

Nicole & Dave are entering their marriage with 2 beautiful children & Nicole is a wonderful mom.
Amanda grabbed a cute shot of Nicole & Kaitlyn.. and I got her grabbing it :)
I amazed myself when I got this shot of the ladies & somehow I'm not in it
The guys - nice tame shot
Dave kick started the party.. "Just Do It"
Meanwhile the ladies are being ladies
Amanda got this shot from the back while I was in the front. I LOVE how you can see Dave at the front while Nicole walks down the aisle

The hot newlyweds
yum
more yum
So, Dave used to be a wrestler back in the day & as a surprise, they walked into the reception to the Sound of HHH
There were twists all throughout the evening...
I thought it would be cute to have their baby son holding their rings, but I wasn't sure it would actually happen..
Supposedly there was a basketball somewhere.. I didn't see it myself, but it was doing some pretty wild things
And Super Man made his appearance.. he fell to the floor on his stomach, so I think there was some kryptonite somewhere
Even the garter toss had a little surprise.. Dave went searching for the garter, and to Nicole's surprise, out came their son
I was even educated a little. Somehow I made it through college without knowing what a keg stand was. Now I know
Whew!! Way to throw a party!! No one can say that wedding wasn't fun times!

Mr & Mrs Campo

2008-09-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Yes - I am way behind, but I'm getting there slowly... Saturday September 13th I photographed Erin & BC getting hitched. It was a friggin' perfect day.. the weather was gorgeous and their crowd was awesome. Erin & BC are both very chill, and their whole crowd was the same way.. really, it was a photographer's dream wedding. Erin started off getting ready at the Sheraton downtown Raleigh & her wedding was at the Mordecai - fabulous!!

Just a little hair & makeup...
A little Vera Wang..
Some fellas in downtown.. and a little BC action
This is what happens when you shoot in downtown Raleigh - you see lovebirds out for an afternoon stroll
It's a girl!
Erin's addiction of choice is Hello Kitty & Tinkerbell. I adore how she incorporated the things she loves into her wedding day (apart from BC of course...). Tinkerbell got pinned on the back of her dress.
Let's just talk about Erin's dress here for a moment.. WOW!!
From downtown trolley to the Mordecai in the trolley.. Trolley = Fabulous-er
Amanda grabbed this AWESOME shot as it happened
And this one. This makes Amanda my best friend.
They were supposed to get married in this small chapel, but it didn't work out because there were more people than space. So, of course we had to get it in the pics somehow.
And then there was their first dance - Elvis has entered the building
Hellloooo kitty

Mr & Mrs Kallam

2008-09-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 6th Anna & Jay tied the knot.. and it was a beautiful thing. We've already established that I Vote for Anna, but here's why - she's a beautiful person inside & out, and she has a wide range of emotions that she openly shares. And Jay compliments her beautifully with that..

1. Emotion - Pain
2. Happiness
3. Sentimental
4. Married. This could be an emotion right..
OK, here's my FAVORITE shots of the day. Here's where Jay exercises his freedom of expression. When I say "SEXY", you say:
You're welcome Joel. hhee. I love this shot with the Preston Woodall House back there
Daddy dance does it every time
Bling on bling
And here's the part of my show that I like to call "Candid Camera". Everybody gets these shots when I photograph their wedding, but I just felt the need to begin sharing them here
Livin' La Vida Loca
Ewww.. too old for diapers, so not sure what was happening
The Great Escape..
Can't wait to show you the rest you guys!! Thanks for allowing me to capture your big day!!

The New Face of Evoke

2008-09-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I photographed Anna's bridal for her big day at the Preston Woodall House which was this past weekend. She is friggin' AMAZING!!! I've already asked her if I can plaster her face all over my new studio, but since she's on her honeymoon right now, I thought I'd take the liberty to plaster her all over the blog too while I prepare to blog her wedding.. tee hee
On top of being gorgeous, kind, and just all around wonderful.. She's funny. I have a lady crush.
Ok people.. hold on to your hats here.. Anna wanted some shots in front of the house where she grew up & even though it had gotten very dark, we started pumping out some amazing stuff
HOLY COW!!! Check out those delicious shoes!!
WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?! She is out of control isn't she?!?!
Her wedding to come next!!

Mr & Mrs Davis

2008-09-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday August 23rd Brenda & Matt got married at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.. and it was fabulous!

Due to a traumatic week, I'm going to keep it simple & just let you absorb these images. Matt & Brenda are a beautiful - crazy couple..

Amanda got this amazing shot from the side
Brenda & her daddy are so close
And Brenda's momma got her groove on too
Congrats you two! Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your wedding!

Mr & Mrs Owen

2008-08-29T15:06:00.001-07:00

Saturday August 16th I photographed Rob & Juliet. Juliet is a very mild mannered young lady & incredibly elegant. Rob is mild mannered as well, and super attentive to Juliet. Not being mild mannered myself, it was nice just stepping back & watching the two quietly experience one another. It's awesome being a photographer, especially a wedding photographer. I am welcomed to enter into someone else's world - just to watch & capture the chemistry. I myself have learned how to better relate to different personality types. Some times it's best to be silly to get a reaction, and some times it's best to barely be there... this was one of those days & it was touching.

Juliet had her hair & makeup down at a Salon in Garner, which was saturated in fabulous colors. Love that!
I snagged a cool shot of her artist. Peek a boo
Juliet was trying to decide which card to give Rob. She put a lot of thought into the words she wanted him to see right before they met one another at the altar.
Let's talk about how long that thing is that threads through her dress!! WOAH!
Amanda got his AMAZING stalker shot of Rob while he was getting ready
And Rob sent Juliet over a sweet gift & check out that sweetness on the note
Boyz
To keep them entertained, the flower girls had a job & they were loving it
Being such a sentimental day, I watched Juliet's dad give her away. There's something about the father giving his daughter's hand over to her new husband.. oh my gosh. Having children myself, it's no wonder even tough fathers turn into mooshy daddies. This is the beginning of a whole new life.. you cry at happy occasions because you know there's a future ahead that you can barely grasp at the moment & the thought of it all fills you.
Every couple has little "things" about them - some times it's easy to see & some times it takes hours & hours to see them. Even though Rob & Juliet quietly absorb one another, they weren't guarded and their little "things" were cute to witness. I love how loosely they held one another's hands.
What?! How precious is this?! Aww man.. The look in her eyes just drips off!!
And then back to reality - Bring me the silly.
Ok.. The ring shot. Rob did not know that this was in a movie when he did it, but he proposed to her by taking this exact piece of ribbon (and yes - he had it in his tux pocket just for the ring shot!!), and sliding her ring down the ribbon onto her finger. The fact that he made it a point to bring that ribbon to the reception for this ring shot is almost as sweet as the proposal itself to me!!
That ring is out of control delicious.
And we end with that sweet daddy of hers.. Look at his eyes. It's that happy cry thing!! Oh geez.. between being there, posting this & it being my own anniversary this weekend - this sentimental stuff is getting to me!!

Don't Even Think About It

2008-08-26T15:46:00.001-07:00

NO - I do NOT photograph children. BUT, I will do it if you are a really good friend & your husband is willing to assemble furniture for me in return, which just happened to be the case here. My good friend's little girl is turning one year old soon & I took some quick shots for a freaking awesome birthday invite!!
Isn't she the cutest little girl ever?!

Mr & Mrs Stall

2008-08-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

8.8.08 I photographed Karen & Chad's wedding.. and it was AWESOME!! I had such a fun time with them. Karen is such an amazingly gorgeous person, and Chad is a huge ball of energy - perfect combo for me!! Not to mention they are also dance machines.. professional dance machines. I was destined to be there.

Karen had options - jewelry, dress, etc.. Chad had options too - hair down, hair up
Turns out he figured out a way to check himself out in the camera lens. My good buddy Rebecca photographed him while I was with Karen, and she definitely didn't get bored.
Karen is so elegant, and such an easy model
Chad is uh.. a good model too...
They saw each other before the ceremony & it was a sweet moment
The bridal party was a lot of fun too, and they wore the soles out of their shoes to get this shot
8.8.08 on the cake
So, of course the rings had to reflect the 8 obsession.. They even had the tables arranged in an 8.
This is where all the guests would extend from a large circle & then run in for an attack hug. I love this & want to see it happen more...OK.. it got a little late, and a little silly. You will never see me in front of the camera, but this once I jumped in there with them... and then Chad ran off with my camera, and got some nice self portraits. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it in my camera - look at that intensity.

Morgan's a Senior!

2008-08-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

So I need the word to get out that I LOVE photographing senior portraits. And I mean - I LOVE it... well, as long as you want a little something different. This past Monday I photographed Morgan in her home town of Rocky Mount, and we had a blast. She has been dancing since she was 4, so she wanted to capture that in her shots.. She also wants to go into photography herself, and she picked out these locations since I am not at all familiar with Rocky Mount.. but I really want to go back!!
What a model, right?!
Hot mama
This was Super Morgan moment.. I'm pretty sure she would have never done it had she known it would be blogged, but I think it's awesome.
Delicious
I knew when I captured this that it would probably be my favorite from the day.. love it

Oh really..

2008-08-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my dear friend, Beth. This month I've had all my friends helping me out at weddings, and as a source of entertainment, I try my best to get in as many of their shots as possible. You'll find me in the background jumping or just doing anything stupid that comes to mind, which in result often leads to some of my shots getting sabotaged as well. Well, me & Beth took some stupid shots which I threatened to blog.. but once I saw one of my stupid shots on Beth's blog, I realized I had to take some action. Too bad she looks so friggin' good in this shot..

Don't get any bright ideas Ashley & Rebecca!!

Mr & Mrs Warner

2008-08-12T08:02:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday 8.2.08 Chad & Zebrina tied the knot. It seems like I just met with them, and talked over all the things ahead of them.. but it happened & it was a beautiful thing to be a part of. They are a very sincere, very aware couple but they also have a fabulous sense of humor.. at least I thought this combo of things on the table was funny - a baby bumbo & Jack Daniels.OK.. this post is full of details because Zebrina put a ton of thought into all her amazing details. I just absolutely adore days that are saturated with personality!! Check out her amazing red shoes
Oh.. Vendor plug!! Here's a picture of Jeff Simpson - one of my favorite DJ's. I HIGHLY recommend him - he's awesome! He was spending some time with Zebrina to make sure she was pleased with all of her ceremony music.. along with the fabulous coordinator - Cara from a Southern Soiree.
More yummy details...
Yummier...
Yummiest
And of course red lips to top it all off!!
Chad & his brother having some hang time in the last single moments of Chad's life
oh man.. This moment. The emotion, the sky - it was all so beautiful.
I thought this was awesome - the rings were passed from the end of the line of bridesmaids & groomsmen down to the center until they reached Chad & Zebrina. How cool is that?!
My best buddy Beth helped me & she was insistent with getting umbrella shots. She knows I am easily distracted, so she kept me centered on getting some awesome shots like these sweetness
This shot means a lot to me, because I know it will mean a lot to them
A little spanking is definitely the best way to end the day :)

Mr & Mrs Reeves

2008-08-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Blast to the past - July 26th. AHH!! Moving is tough! I am finally semi moved in, but have tons of work ahead of me to have you all over. But it's time to get this blogging thing back on track!!

Bethany & Jared tied the knot July 26th, and it turned out to be a crazy wild day. And by crazy wild - that means I had a great time! I love being able to do engagement sessions, because by the time I show up to the wedding I have a much MUCH better idea of how dynamics will work & it just makes everyone more comfortable knowing how I interact. Me, Bethany & Jared had a great time at their engagement session, so I was really looking forward to their big day.
Bethany teaches children by day, but is a rocker by nature. And how fabulous is the light in that left shot?!
Unlike a lot of ceremonies at churches, I love being able to get up close & personal at outdoor weddings.
I think they look like a famous couple here..
Ashley from Story Photographers shot with me, and she got this super cool shot. Converse = big deal.
I know you don't exactly see Jared's best side in this shot, but I love Bethany's expression
tee hee..
Ashley also gets amazing ring shots.. accented with one of my tub shots.Bethany & Jared had an awesome first dance. And being a dancing maniac myself, it was hard to resist getting out on that floor with them. Thankfully, I found some self restraint.
In this shot you will find both me & Ashley in the mirror taking this exact same shot within a couple of inches of one another. We were both so engrossed by the dance, neither of us had any idea that we were getting the exact same shot from the exact same angle.
Yep - it's out of focus and I like it
Look how Bethany's dad placed her hand over his heart. precious.This shot isn't as sentimental, but look how hot the Preston Woodall House reception room looks!! Those lights are deliciousTurns out Bethany wasn't the only rocker there
Her brother put on quite a show. I haven't tried this particular dance move, but with a little practice, I think I could do it too.
Note to photographers: Get Lightroom & get the upgrade. The latest upgrade does all kinds of fun stuff. Yes - the light in this shot just happened to hit perfectly but it was only edited in Lightroom. No Photoshop at all!! Oh mama.. Thank you Ken for insisting on getting it!!

On the MOVE!!

2008-07-30T07:05:00.001-07:00

Heads up - this weekend you will not be able to reach me unless there is something urgent pending for you. Evoke (and me) are moving to it's new home off Durant & Falls of the Neuse from Friday-next Friday. This weekend I will be almost totally & completely out of the loop. SO, if you email me, unless it's an immediate need which I can respond to through my phone, I won't have access to my computer until Monday or Tuesday of next week. You can still try & reach me on my cell phone, but any one who has moved realizes it is very difficult to stick by your phone. Please don't think I'm ignoring your email or phone calls, but I will return them all as soon as I am able to!!

Courtney & Nick

2008-07-25T09:27:00.001-07:00

A Sunday or so ago I photographed Courtney & Nick's engagement session, and it was also my first time meeting them. They met in middle school, fell in love in high school & have stuck it out since!! WOAH!! There is nothing I love more than witnessing the dynamics between a couple, and I had a hoot all afternoon watching them. Courtney went to college at UNCG & Nick went to college at Wake Forest University (close enough for Courtney to make WFU her home!), and Nick actually is the long snapper for Wake Forest's football team. So, Wake Forest is a big big deal to them

Lately profile shadow shots have been intriguing me.. Inspiration: kindergarten. Did your teachers ever sit you in front of a piece of paper, shine a light on you & pencil out your profile??
Courtney told me she couldn't do "serious". Right!! What the heck is this!? Yum.
Just a little shutter speed fun.. The rain came so it was time to frolic.
Please check out all the bling. Her ring was GIGANTIC until Nick put on a couple of his championship rings.

OK.. So I told them to play together, and Nick was really amused that he could outplay Courtney. Am I the only one that thinks he may have an unfair advantage?? She handled it though.
He may be the pro, but Courtney can still take him.
Her eyes are outstanding
Courtney's middle name is Grace - not appropriate.
Just a sweet squeeze to end the shoot.
Since it rained & we missed a part of our planned session, you'll be seeing the continuation of this shoot in September. One word: vineyard.

Story Photographers

2008-07-15T22:08:00.001-07:00

So, tonight I had the honor of photographing my really good friends Ashley & David who are also in the midst of renovating their company: www.nasimage.com They are a husband & wife team & wanted some cool photos. Another photographer friend of mine, Rebecca, did some moody stuff with them... So, in my true form, I brought the silliness. And while I goofed around, I also was able to practice some new lighting

There are many things to look for as you shoot around town.. signs

pockets of light
Actually, this is my favorite shot of the day. I just love it!
Getting them cleaned up...
Incorporating strangers is always fun..
And funny
Camera tricks.. a little motion
I don't think I need to explain really..
Awww.. now that's just sweet
What is up?!
Using all angles of my new video light.. I love the silhouette one the most
The end to a FABULOUS shoot!! Thanks you guys for letting me be a part of your new image. I love ya'll!!

Evokin' It Up

2008-07-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, you all know that there is change in the air. First, I move into my new abode on August 1st off of Durant Road & Falls of the Neuse, where I will have the place designed for an in-home meeting area for my clients & an office for me and my production manager.

Then, the new website will come alive hopefully by the end of August.. buckle your seat belts for that. Culture Pilot has been an awesome company to work with so far, and super patient with me!! ... and with the new website comes change in all branding, marketing materials, new ads, new new new and more new things. You just don't even know.

And of course there are new things in my camera bag... did I mention new?! Evoke as you know it now will be no longer!! Evoke will be bigger, better, and wedding photography may just be the side job to taking over the world..

Just out of curiosity, how do these colors make you feel?? :)

Mr & Mrs Armstrong

2008-07-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 28th (YES! I'm Behind on the Blog!) I photographed Monique & Donald's big day. First of all, these two have really amazing, super touching qualities that just make you embrace them. Monique can be so vulnerable & open and Donald is so incredibly protective of her - awwww man it makes you love to watch them! It was such a privilege to be able to witness their wedding, and I was really sad when it was over especially because it was over at 6:00!! I am used to being at weddings until midnight!

Monique's sister is a mother of triplets, and I had to keep dodging the twin sisters to get a dress shot
So, rather than dodge them, they became my subjects... more than once. I even used them for different lighting techniques:
And Monique was just.. Well, you can read it on her perfume. I'm not scared to be cheesy.
Monique can also be a little hard on herself, which at times made it a challenge for her makeup artistAnd for those of you who don't recognize her, Monique's sister was a Dream Girl. Well, at least for the day
Amanda with 310 Photography Studio in Smithfield helped me out for the day, and she was with Donald while I was with Monique... witnessing the man stuff. And this is definitely man stuff
Donald & Monique got married at a place in Morrisville where there was no place for Monique to wait before the ceremony once she arrived. SO, she waited in a car... ALONE!! The wedding party had to be inside to line up, etc. I can't imagine how wrecked her nerves were just waiting there!
Amanda also got this cool shot from the back of the ceremony. I'm pretty sure she was lying down.
We had about 5 minutes to do some quick couple stuff, and the location posed a gigantic photography challenge. There was ONLY full sun outside - No shade and there was no place indoors to go. So, we rocked out that parking lot outside!!

This shot kind of happened by accident. I asked them to do one thing, they did another & I liked it even better!! Look at Monique!! SMOKIN'!! Cheek bones like that should be in front of the camera more.
There was a live jazz band there too - H-O-T!! Just delicious. The sax guy would walk around & play at the tables, and yes - this little old lady acted out what everyone else was thinking.
Da' Rings.
Although short, their wedding was super sweet. I sincerely had a great time with them and all their family and friends. And I, the girl that doesn't cry, got a little choked up during their ceremony... Congrats you two :)

Wedding Photography Rocks!

2008-07-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July, I stayed behind my computer all day from morning until 1am. You could say I began having a mini breakdown... I miss my husband and my 2 boys. Any one may wonder "Why In the World is Wedding Photography so expensive?!". First of all, you can find photographers out there for $500-$2,000 but things are(n't) happening as they may be happening in my process. Wedding Photography is WAY more than showing up for your wedding & taking a bunch of pictures. So to give you just a mild glimpse into what goes into ONE wedding for a photographer, I am going to quote my friend Anne Ruthman and my process is almost identical to hers here (other than the Pictage part):

" 1. Wedding Day - capture images in RAW format, with professional Canon cameras, lenses, and flashes and with a really good knowledge of light and composition
2. Backup - Download all images to backup hard drive and to main hard drive
3. Favorites - Select and give extra special developing to my absolute favorite images, turning them into the works of art that I originally felt and perceived when I first captured them, start to feel like maybe I don't suck too badly
4. Slideshow & Blog - Export images in different sizes, select music for slideshow, stitch music together if needed, add watermark and extra sharpiness to blog images, upload blog images to flickr, upload slideshow images to personal sever, write blog post
5. Edit - realize that even with great cameras, lenses, and lighting, pictures only look "OK" and that some are just downright awful and should never be seen in public. Delete the downright awful pictures and keep everything that could be mildly career destroying, but might be interesting for a grandkid to find in 80 years.
6. Develop - Take the mildly career destroying images and clean them up with color and exposure corrections, maybe a slight crop or straightening in the event that I happened to be walking at a tilt on the wedding day (note: images cannot be printed from undeveloped RAW files, these are "digital negatives")
7. Upload & Archive - When the stars have aligned, I can upload all of the images from the wedding in 1-2 days. Usually the stars are scattered all over the place and it either takes forever to upload, with constant babysitting, or I just mail off the final images. All of the final images are archived on servers in California, and then finally placed on the online proofing website- Pictage. Pictage then has to verify all of the files to make sure none of them are corrupted before releasing them to you. If there are any corrupt files, I have to go back and fix them.
8. Print & Burn CD/DVD - Double check to make sure DVD image numbers match Pictage image numbers in order to prevent future headaches and ordering confusion, burn a copy to send and a copy to keep, print with personalized image
9. Album Design - Assemble favorite images into an initial draft design for an album using geometric equations of golden mean mathematics (j/k!!)
10. Album Customization - Get feedback from client about album design preferences and create changes
11. Album Printing & Binding - Album is hand-printed and hand-bound in the united states, sent to me for final approval, and then sent to client for happy enjoyment!
12. NEXT!"

I have been doing all of this all by myself... until now. Steps 1-12 are hours and hours and hours of time... I have been working at times up to 80 hours a week. My friends - wait.. what friends?? Are they still waiting around for me?? My family, my children, all of my relationships that are not business related have been waiting on the sidelines.

So, changes are in motion and I almost glad my 4th of July was miserable because I will NEVER have another 4th of July like it. I love photographing weddings more than you can possibly imagine, and now things are changing so I can continue loving it rather than dreading the post production. HURRAYYY!!! Good.. NO - GREAT things are on the horizon!!

Boudoir Info

2008-07-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been getting a lot of inquiries for boudoir sessions. SO, here is my info & please contact me if you have any other questions. I charge $300 for an 1.5 hour session which includes the high resolution images on a cd for you with the reprint permission and a 5x5 or 5x7 20 page album (does not include cost of hotel room). Each session has enough time for 2-3 wardrobe changes. I will be more than happy to show you more of my boudoir portfolio if you'd like! Here's an 8x8 album that you can most definitely upgrade to:

Email me with any questions you may have! april@evokenc.com

Back on track

2008-06-27T11:07:00.001-07:00

So, this is me today!! Thank you everyone for your concern, but I am happy 'ol me again!! I was feeling better just reading all the sweet comments, but I've gotten even more encouragement since my angry post!! hahaha!! I felt everyone needed to see me happy again... You even get to see up my nostrils which has to make you feel good too.

And while I'm sharing personal stuff.. I am really CRAZY excited because I have some amazing Evoke things in the works right now. Just buckle up because it is definitely going to be an experience!! I'm so excited for you to be sharing this with me!!

Mr & Mrs Brame

2008-06-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I went back home to the Henderson area to photograph Jessica & Scott. I love them because they are both so comfortable & so beautiful in front of the camera, and pretty much give me permission to do anything. Love that!! Well, I love them for other reasons too of course! Me & Jessica grew up in the same church and our parents are very close. In fact, my mom helped decorate the reception - it was a family affair. I'm only a couple years older than Jessica, but she was always one of the sweet little girls in the church when I was growing up. I definitely felt some nostalgia... and some oldness being at her wedding.
Another daddy's girl!! As soon as she stood by him for a photo, she broke down. Crazy sweet.
I barely know what to say about these pictures. All I can do is look at them & smile.. they're self explanatory.
They totally smashed each other with cake. Jessica's mom, Ann, worked so incredibly hard to get the big day together. It was a beautiful thing to see her enjoying it & allowing it all to sink in.Ken shot with me again, and he let me borrow his macro lens - Yummy! I am now the proud owner of my very own macro lens. It does yummy things!!Scott is a part of a fraternity at NCSU, and oh yeah.. for some reason brothers have to sing to the new Mrs at weddings.. I was waiting all night for it to happen to Jessica.This is Jerry. He is a party animal. And I have many more images of him similar to this one.
I love my sparkler trick. It's not really "mine", but I still own it baby.

Bad day today

2008-06-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

So this is me today. This is not normally me. The picture at the top of me would best describe me on most any given day. But today this is me. Ladies.. do you ever have a day like this?? I drove for a total of 4.5 hours today to a shoot that canceled last minute/hour. I am frustrated. And also broke because I had to fill my tank up. I have a load of work sitting on my desk. And I can't take a self portrait to save my life.

But you know what.. I read your comments, I've been reading emails that you ladies have been sending me, and I just have some amazing people in my life.. maybe I just needed 4.5 hours in the car. Because now my spirits are lifted & I do not take any of your kind words for granted at all. My friends, clients that are becoming friends, and really friendly complete strangers have put a bad afternoon into perspective. So maybe today isn't so bad... insert sheepish *thanks* here :)

LaDonna & Randall

2008-06-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night I had the pleasure of photographing LaDonna & Randall's wedding. It was a CRAZY hot day, but she had everything so bright & happy it almost felt tropical. She went all out with her decor, and I think by now most everyone knows that I LOVE bright happy colors. She got married at Highgrove in Fuquay Varina, and take a look at how she pimped that reception tent out!!
Yummy, yummy colorific details!
I just like this dress shot. Not much dress, but I like it being such a tease
Here's LaDonna in the friggin' fabulous Bride's Room at the Highgrove. They have re-done the room, and it is just delicious. I posted this image for the sheer love of the room!! Stripes, polka dots, and a chandelier - genius!
LaDonna was a bit behind schedule, and could she have flown down the stairs or ridden the rails, she would have.
Joanna got that sweet show on the left, and look at his sweet sincerity in that right shot!
Would you please look at those ravenous women in the background!! haha!! I think one of them actually fell over trying to grab that bouquet.
The day may have been a bit of a roller coaster for LaDonna - taking it easy, then rushing, and running down that aisle.. but at the end of the day, they were a very happily married couple with the rest of their lives ahead of them.

Brandy & Amir

2008-06-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

When I started out in photography, I was working at New Image Studio & I spent 4 years photographing weddings for them. This year I took on one wedding for them, and Brandy & Amir are the ones! It felt like one of the hottest weddings ever (well, soon to be blogged was LaDonna & Randall's wedding the day before which felt even hotter than Saturday). It was a beautiful day, and all day I loved seeing all the different details. It was a multi-cultural American/Persian ceremony, and it was a beautiful thing to see two cultures combine.Amir & Brandy both were super calm, and we had tons of time to chill out and not have to stress about getting things done in a hurry.
Well, time was still of the essence!
I loved being able to witness Brandy seeing her husband for the first time on their wedding day.Oh yeah - they definitely needed a little shade Saturday!! Which.. that really wasn't the purpose of the covering!
I quickly figured out that Brandy is a big time daddy's girl. Look at that sweetness!! He may look like a manly man, but those eyes are all moosh!
It was so hot, I almost felt bad just asking them to touch!Did I mention she was a daddy's girl?
OK, so I figured out some awesome things about Indian weddings. First of all, I figured out that the music is out of control AWESOME!! I am a coo coo for salsa music, and it was a lot like it but a little more techno. And when you dance, it's more in your arms than your hips.. and you swing napkins around & whistle a lot. I was really disappointed when the dj switched the music over to hip-hop, and mami likes some hip-hop!

Mr & Mrs Fougererousse (OH MY GOSH!!)

2008-06-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

Including her new last name, Rebecca's wedding day this past Saturday turned out AMAZING. My buddy Ken helped me and it was a photographer's dream. Rebecca & Tommy were so laid back and they allowed a ton of time for pictures. They both got ready at their homes & when I showed up to Rebecca's house there were shoes everywhere.. I really don't think they would have missed one pair... I LOVE shoes!! I don't have as many as I want.. but there's love in the air.
DELICIOUS!! Right ladies?! Holla if you're a heel freak!!
Accessories everywhere.. oh.. it just gets better & better
I think Rebecca's prettier. Rock it girl!
I have a place in my heart for daddies. Actually.. I'm sure everyone does...
Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Raleigh is so gorgeous
This is what happens when you tell a big group "I want to see wild & crazy!"
And this is what happens when that same group witnesses a smooch
It's awesome shooting with Ken because at times he takes over & I finally get to get those side shots
Tommy needed some attention too!
The best man & Rebecca's sister made the toasts - one hilarious & one very touching. This was their touching moment
Rebecca & Tommy have some amazing friends that have followed them all over the US and if they didn't move, they came from all over to be a part of their big day.
Would you PLEEEEZZZZEE check out that baby in the background!! How friggin' funny is that?!
I hope Key West is treating you two well!!

Good idea

2008-05-30T05:37:00.001-07:00

My hubbie forwarded this funny to me.. Honestly, it's not a bad idea!! I'm becoming a hermit because I can't afford to leave the house!

Mr & Mrs Robinson

2008-05-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday was such an amazing day for Heather & Andrew. There had been some worry about the weather, but it turned out to be PERFECT - not too hot & no rain in sight. They got married near Belle Isle in Richmond, VA & would you please check out their ceremony spot!! Groovy baby!Heather may have been nervous before I got there, but she was super calm & under control as the time was getting closer.
And Andrew was super groom - he definitely gets the award. He was there bright & early getting the location all dressed up & managed to get himself all GQ!
yum.. she gets an award too for working it like this just minutes before her descent!
Heather & Andrew wrote their own vows, and it was very touching to hear their own language with one another... it is such a crazy special thing to be able to witness such personal moments between two people so publicly.
Magazine material right here -
Full sun is becoming my buddy.
And check out where they held the reception.. AWESOME!!!
Both Andrew's brother & Heather's sister made some really sweet toasts
Here's to you Mrs Robinson!

Bethany & Jared

2008-05-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

This past Friday afternoon I met Bethany & Jared over at Pullen Park. Bethany dabbles in photography when she's not teaching school in Charlotte, so I knew I really had to bring it. Jared is from Texas & even though I didn't see the boots, he's a cowboy baby!! I just had to supply the horses- As the day progressed, I found out Bethany is as fascinated with trains as a 2 year old.. tee hee. When I first met with them, it was all business but to my delight it turns out that they are coo coo birds - and anyone who knows me, knows I treasure that in a person!!
I used to be terrified of photographing anyone in the full sun... but now it's just a beautiful thing to me!! You can't get color like this in the shade.
More train action
KEEEYYYY- UTE
So, I didn't have anything to do with this. Jared told me to photograph them on the bridge, and they broke out into dance!! I love that in a model - a vision!!
sexy. and would you look at their eyes?!
i love stalker moments
I actually got this shot on the first try, but I made Jared do it 3 times!! haha! It was just fun watching him jump ok?!
Bethany & Jared have beautiful ways in which they compliment one another & compromise together. This was Jared's portion of the day - to rock out on his drums. He's been in several bands, and just rocked the park out. From what I heard, he's super talented. I envy any & every musical ability...
And here's Bethany's portion of the day! She loves bowling, and I have been dying to photograph a couple in a bowling alley forever!! It worked out perfect... and even though it's not Jared's thing, he got funky with it!
I'm not sure why this room is there, but I'm happy it is!! How awesome is this?! yeah.. just a little something called vanishing point. yum to the tum.
Tomorrow I photograph Bethany's bridal, but you'll just have to wait until after their wedding on July 26th to see those!!

Mr & Mrs Hughes

2008-05-22T08:05:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday I photographed Kasey & Matt's wedding, and it was the ideal day. I actually met Kasey through her sister Abby when I photographed Abby's wedding about 4 years ago. Now it's almost time to photograph Abby, Danny & baby! Kasey & Matt got married in Winston-Salem, and Kasey really hooked the day up with her own special touches everywhere. I love it when such a huge affair has such a personal feel. It has been such a personal thing for me to photograph everything for Kasey - from engagement & bridal to wedding. Matt, Kasey & her whole family have been such a pleasure!!OK - HUGE recommendation - SEE EACH OTHER BEFOREHAND. I know there's a lot of tradition with seeing each other for the first time as the bride walks down the aisle.. but let me tell you - when you walk down the aisle, there are A LOT of nerves & things just become a huge blur and once you get to the front, all you can do is look at each - no talking, no embrace - it actually limits your emotions. However, if you see each other beforehand, the two of you meet beforehand in an intimate situation - only you & your groom (and me of course). You get to share your nerves, have a special moment, embrace & re-cooperate. THEN, you get all of the formal pictures done beforehand so you can head straight to the party after the ceremony - which is all you want to do once it's over. It can be tough to spend 1-1.5 hours taking pictures when you just want to party! Your ceremony can be traditional, but please consider this because it's way more practical for you. This is exactly what Kasey & Matt did.
Check out that trolley! I was so excited when Kasey told me a trolley would be involved!
My friend, Ken, shot with me on Saturday & once he has this blogged, I know he's going to have some very tasty moody shots too...
This was very special & I didn't realize what was happening until later. Abby revealed the name of her daughter in her speech to Kasey & even not knowing what was happening, it was still enough to get my eyes a little teary!
They had a huge party, and some awesome dancers... I could have blogged 30 awesome dance shots only!! I didn't think that would really reflect the whole day, but the crowd was definitely energetic!
They almost weren't able to leave, because people went COO COO with the streamers & they could barely get out of all of them!! It was the funniest exit I've seen in a very long time! This picture doesn't even represent the massive web that it was..
Congrats you two & I can't wait to hear about Jamaica!

Julie & Bernie

2008-05-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, I spent the morning with Julie & Bernie, and for the first time in a long time, I really had to wrap up the shoot within 2 hours!! And amazingly, I almost did everything I wanted to do. There was one more spot I wanted to go to, but I know I still got all their angles!! Julie & Bernie are getting married in November, and it's going to be an awesome affair... You just got to stick around! I really try & warm people up in front of the camera before I get them to really work it, but this is how they started - Yum to the tum!Who knew NC State had so many awesome areas!I'm not sure what these are exactly, but they look hot here!! Or maybe Julie & Bernie make them hot...
Oh yeah.. the action came at the end!! Save the best, right?!

Mamasitas

2008-05-19T13:06:00.001-07:00

Two Saturdays ago I had a marathon boudior shoot at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, NC and it turned out H-O-T!! Obviously I'm not going to reveal but so much, but it was an amazing day. I photographed three girls that are gifting their husbands with some super sexy presents. It may seem like an awkward thing to picture yourself doing, but any three of these girls will tell you that it was not near as terrifying as they thought it would be. In fact, they all walked out feeling incredibly confident. I'm doing another marathon session at the Umstead on June 22nd, so if you want more info or just want in, email me & I'll slide you in!

Stephanie & Dan

2008-05-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

Yes... I normally try & blog a day or two after a session, but Woah - it's crazy time in wedding world! So, two weeks later you finally get to see Stephanie & Dan... So, before I photograph a couple I like to do a little research & figure out how to reflect their personalities and make the images their own. Stephanie, Dan & myself talked on the phone before this but between them & me, I don't think they were expecting the immense silliness!! Every crazy idea I had, they were totally on board with & it just got me more & more excited!! Well, the session was an early morning one, so we first met for some bean juice:And then straight into some yumminess
Turn right, and go straight into crazy town
What.. crabs can bite!!
Tasty... the yin & yang of it all-
OK.. I also told them to bring props - anything that would be meaningful to them. Well.. there exists a Valentine's Day gift that Dan gave Stephanie years ago & it's not going anywhere!! Normally one may think of a sweet stuffed animal, rockstar sunglasses like Erin & BC... in this case it was a very old balloon with very old candy still unwrapped. AHHHH!! They were just begging for more silly shots.

And then when there's an opportunity to incorporate signs, I'm on it.. I'm hoping you can see the "Help stop animal cruelty" sticker
We almost kicked some others off this tire in order to get these shots, but the people that were there left & the brute force was reserved for another day..
Ok, so another prop - an old restored gold fan. Dan actually restored it himself, and it's important to them ok!!
Dan brews his own beer, but we didn't exactly have time to photograph that
Another funny story, and oh yes - there are many more than the ones told here!! Dan graduated from UNC & Stephanie graduated from Duke. There is a significant amount of ... uh.. rivalry. It could be called that.. or just complete disgust. Being a NCSU graduate myself, a fight definitely could have broken out.

Help Wanted

2008-05-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

I am presently on the hunt for a second shooter at weddings. I need someone that can first & foremost dedicate around 20 or more Saturdays to me per year, and be comfortable in complete chaos 8-9 hours each Saturday. I need you to be extroverted, be teachable & critique-able, come shoot & hand me over your images. Email me if you're interested! april@evokenc.com

Erin & BC

2008-05-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

YES - I know I should have blogged this a week ago!! Last Sunday I photographed Erin & BC... who initially had no intention of doing an engagement session. I'm really hoping that they are happy they did it now!! These two are so wonderful together... I mean, just a very subtle "POW". Their dynamics are so tight with each other, and being a less than subtle person, I really admired their interaction with one another. You'll see - it's a beautiful thing!! We started off with their kiddos - the two sweet puppies.
And like everyone, they have their special spots... their priorities..
My sweet friend Ashley let me borrow her dad's Rose Garden for the afternoon-
TASTY RIGHT?!?!
That's just comfy right there-
Rock star sun glasses can really bring that thang-
Being in the field like this, Erin reminded me a lot of Gywneth Paltrowe
This shot really intrigues me, and I'm not even going to explain it
Beautiful sunset to end an amazing shoot. THANKS YOU TWO!!

Mr & Mrs Corrigan

2008-05-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

I know, I know.. I've been a bad blogger. On Saturday I photographed Traci & Stephen's big day, and Traci went all out on the details. She had bag pipers, live butterflies, horse & carriage - you name it! She had it all!! It was so gorgeous. She got ready & had her reception at the Preston Woodall House, but her ceremony was at the church across the street. It was really just a beautiful thing to hear the bag piper as her guests were coming in.

Look at her sweet mama checking in!! Mrs. McCloskey was so sweet & laid back all morning.She may kill me for posting this one, but I think it's funnyStephen was fairly RELUCTANT to be in pictures, but he was a good sport. I think a camera traumatized him as a child.
Congrats you two!! You pulled off an amazing party!!

Anna & Jay Re-Make

2008-05-03T08:02:00.001-07:00

Last night I photographed Anna & Jay... and I had a mind's eye picture of their engagement once they told me their "first encounter". They first met in front of Stool Pigeon's & when Anna saw Jay walking down the street she went and told her friends that she just saw her husband (which was not something her friends ever heard her say before). Well, they tracked him down at Bogart's & now they're spending the rest of their life together. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!!? I am just in awe about how life had them pass each other on the street one day, and now they're getting married!! I mean.. wow. That just amazes me!!
And could there really be a more beautiful couple?!
Jay is a huge fan of UNC & has an affection for basketball. It was kind of hard making him play romantic b-ball, and not some serious one-on-one.
Anna has some mad skills too though..
This shot is courtesy of my dad's Suburban. Anna & Jay gave me this idea actually.. they both love to just chill at home, but being out in nature makes them all mooshy & what not. So, combine the two & you get something delicious.
I really didn't need a couch to make them look delicious... and in the middle of weeds!!
This was probably the quietest I've ever been on a shoot. They both just kept doing these awesome things, and I was just there watching. Okey.. so I tried out some cool lighting while they were being awesome.
A great end to a gorgeous afternoon

I'm a Tease

2008-05-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

I love photographing bridals, but it frustrates me so bad that I don't get to post anything about them until the wedding. Well, I can't wait until their weddings. I have photographed 3 awesome bridals within the past couple of weeks, and you get to taste them now!! Just a little something to make me & you feel better until their big days arrive...

Woah.. this makes you a little tingly doesn't it?!

Chad & Zebrina = Amore

2008-04-19T16:22:00.001-07:00

This morning I had the pleasure of photographing Chad & Zebrina, who are getting married at the Preston Woodall House in August. I knew the first time I met them that this was going to be AWESOME!! I mean.. normally it takes a little while to warm up in front of the camera, but THESE were some of their very first shots!! WOAH!!

Don't you just want to pinch them here?!?!Their doggie, Belling, is such a complete sweetheart & they wanted him to be in some of their pictures. WOULD YOU PLEEEEZZZEEE look how that doggie hams it up!!Even though Chad is an aspiring lawyer, he is a fou' sou' comedian-Everyone has their pet names, but they refer to one another as turtles. Somehow is must be endearing... at least their little love turtles on the table help romanticize the nicknames!Since I am not "down with it", they introduced me to Rock Band, which seems to be a fabulous couple video game... So guys, if your lady is sick of you playing video games, get this & make her join along!! Not only are they gorgeous, but they are also geniuses. Zebrina graduated from UNC & Chad had to go home to study for the LSAT. Ridiculous... Some people!!oh, on top of that, Chad has super powers.

Donald & Monique

2008-04-14T05:34:00.001-07:00

So, yesterday I photographed Donald & Monique's engagement session... and I entered into a little scared. REPEATEDLY they told me that they are very un-photogenic, and I would be lucky to get a couple of decent shots. Sure, I took it as a challenge, but I was expecting something completely different from the reality of the matter! They are both beautiful people, and I mean REALLY - do these two look anything other than photogenic?!?! They had me rolling around laughing all afternoon, and I came home super pumped about how awesome their images turned out!!

Getting them warmed up...
Check out that rock!
Check out some cool new lighting!!
Officially warmed up
Hard core models at this point

One thing they both mentioned were the numerous trips to the mall that they make together... well, trips that Donald is dragged into!!
Sizzling hot super models by the end!!

Shelby Heart Eric Forever

2008-04-13T09:06:00.001-07:00

So, the day didn't start out too beautiful weather wise, but inside things were gorgeous. Shelby & Eric got ready at the Preston Woodall House, got married at the Methodist church in front of the house, and then partied HARD back at the house. They are so wonderful together, and they just have a strong spark that makes you want to watch. Despite the rain at the start of the day, everything was so smooth & sweet. Thanks to my buddy Beth Jarvah for helping me out yesterday!!

She SAID she was very un-sure about being in front of the camera.. OH PLEASE!! Check out this hottie!!
Some of the best moments happen when you least expect it... I was setting up to leave when they started practicing their big dance.
OH MY GOSH!! Just look at their faces! They are so sincere!
And the big dance...
And one incredibly hilarious speech
And one incredibly amazing ring. It was so heavy, I put it on the left "talon" thing first & the talon broke off. Well, maybe not that heavy, but I don't even think this picture justifies the millions of diamonds that are in those rings.
Sexy. nuff said.

Go With the Flow!!

2008-04-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies!! I am building up my boudior portfolio so I wanted to see if any other ladies are interested in some boudior photography. I am offering a 1 -1.5 hour shoot at $150 which includes the session, the editing of all images, & the high resolotion cd with reprint permission. I am doing one shoot at the 5 Star Hotel Umstead on Sunday afternoon June 22nd or the Duke Mansion in Charlotte on Saturday May 10th. There are several slots still open, the cost of the hotel (and travel to Charlotte) would be split between all ladies involved. Email me if you are interested!

Also, my lab is offering some beautiful, very cost effective albums that you could give to your fiance or husband as a sexy gift!! Yummy!

Hot Spots

2008-04-06T20:58:00.001-07:00

I am the luckiest photographer ALIVE!! I have had such an amazing weekend. Between Billie & Billy's wedding yesterday, and such an incredible engagement session today - WOW! Thank you!! Today I spent most of the afternoon with Karen & Chad. They remind me so much of me & my husband... well, with MAD dancing talent!! They entertained me all afternoon. As you may can tell, they are professional dancers - they actually own All About Ballroom off exit 312 in Garner. If you want to learn some ballroom, salsa, etc... I am a firm believer that these two can teach it to you!!
I LOVE the vulnerable intensity she has in her eyes here - the pull, the push!! ohh!! Mami loves the Dancing!!
And they're crazy - you know I love that!!
Would you PLEASE look at the air Chad got here!! WHAT?!?!
yum. tasty.

Monkeys can't do this baby-
They are also wine professionals. tee hee.
There are so many more incredible shots of them... but you'll have to wait until 8.8.08 to see their big day at the Preston Woodall House!

B&B Bringin' It Back

2008-04-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

Turns out Billie & Billy lined up the weather perfectly for their wedding this past Saturday! It wasn't until they were off to their cruise that is started pouring down raining. It was such an incredibly beautiful day... and I mean, just precious. Billie is such a sincere person, and Billy is so - right. Just right for each other. Billy really takes care of Billie, and it's just a beautiful thing they have.

Look at those eyes!! Holy Smokes!!
Ok, so some weren't as impressed as others
If you haven't eaten at the Tavola Rossa yet (behind Crabtree), it was really tasty!
I had absolutely no NO warning... This is how the first dance started. To some mooshy country song
AND THEN!! Then they friggin' BROKE IT OUT!! All they needed were some back up dancers!! hahaa!! It was awesome!
Marsha always knows what shots are important:
This is just tooo sweet!! Since I have two boys, I can only imagine the sentimentality of your son taking on a new life. Awww...
Of course the umbrellas made their appearance!! It was a rainy day... What kind of photographer do you think I am?!?

Another Year... Wiser?

2008-03-29T07:03:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to me!! So, yeah... I'm another year. I'm not going to say older or wiser. One I am avoiding, the other I'm not sure would be accurate!!! I am an avid coffee drinker... Well, I MUST have my one incredibly strong cup of coffee every morning. I'm not very picky, but I really appreciate good coffee. So, for the past couple of years I have been content with my little bity coffee mate. WELL, things have changed!! I woke up this morning, & my husband gifted me with this fabulous Cappucino machine!! WOAH!! Hello mornings!! You just have no idea how fast I'm typing... Bean juice! Bean juice!

2008-03-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

So, while I am packing out my schedule with upcoming bridal & engagement sessions, I thought I would post some of these bridal images that I took of Lori before her wedding. I really loved some of her shots, and although it was raining outside that day, it was sweet stuff happening inside! I just LOVE this first shot with her reflection on the floor. The shot is way more attractive than how I had to position myself to get that shot. Yummy! Stay tuned for lots more upcoming sessions I have...

2008-03-09T17:47:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I had the pleasure of photographing my friend Billy & his fiance Billie - that's right. "I Billy take you Billie as my Billie." They are getting married April 5th, and I can't wait to be a part of their big day. I'm so flattered because they are catering their wedding to Evoke - she's having peacock feathers as the main element in her wedding decor. And it may also have something to do with her last name meaning "peacock" in German. I had an amazing afternoon with them, and my only regret is that I could have spent 2 more hours with them!!

I had to highlight the name issue...It just so happened that while we were on the tracks, SUDDENLY we saw a train coming... which I had of course arranged for some awesome shots.With all the excitement, there had to be some peace & quiet! And some fabulous sun flare...And even though I was running late on the session AS ALWAYS (I get really excited and can't stop!! It's a problem...), I HAD to incorporate their love for cooking. I wish I had their talent... my husband does too. But doesn't this look like a piece for a cooking ad?!!

Lori & Jason

2008-03-08T14:30:00.001-08:00

Before I left for my seminar, I had the pleasure of photographing Lori & Jason's wedding on 2.23.08. Although it rained all morning long (and I can only imagine how frantic they must have felt!!), the afternoon turned out gorgeous!! There were some crazy complications before the ceremony, but Lori handled it like a champ. Her dress was gorgeous, and it was so great to see how incredibly excited Jason was to be getting married to her. They rushed off faster than lightning to their honeymoon... which was super romantic to me... I like to refer to it as "wisking away!"... which I'm not sure I spelled correctly.

Lori & her dad are very close, and it was so touching to be able to witness a moment between them.
See! There had been rain, which makes for some great reflection shots!!

Mommy says "OH YEAH"

2008-02-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Alrighty... here's the tattoo girl that I'd love to take home with me. She doesn't do anything wrong, her colors are astonishing, and she was in 20 degree weather & loving it. Not to mention I might could steal her heels if she happened to slip them off...

1 of 2

2008-02-28T18:49:00.001-08:00

This afternoon we had a shoot at the lighthouse here at Bald Head & these are my "wedding" shots for the day. And yes - the images I have here were set up by yours truly... So don't even think all I had to do was show up & shoot! There is some major brain work here ok. I'm gonna post my favorite tattoo girl next.. stay tuned-

Not that I know anything about this, but I've heard something about a ball & chain...

Gangsta' in a tree-

Missing the boys

2008-02-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

Good day! So, it's Day 2 of the Bald Head experience & it is friggin' FREEZING!! I was outside for about 10 minutes just to give an idea of how incredible it is here. This is my only means of communication... 1 entire week of complete silence from my wonderful hubbie & boys. If I weren't learning a ton I would be completely miserable. If they were here & it weren't icey out, it would be heaven! If you check Millie Hollomon's blog you can see me in action (Image #6 just in case you really need to see me...)!!

I think I would ruin the mood if I explained this picture...

Check out my view!!

The beach when it's freezing...

My house - only for this week :(

Island Junkie

2008-02-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

So, it's day 2 of the Love Affair Workshop and yes... I'm in love. Today was the first day of photographing & critiquing and here are a couple of my shots. So far I'm learning so much and I am so incredibly appreciative of the teachers & the ladies here. My head is spinning with all sorts of new information, but I am slowly processing it all. Off to bed, but stay tuned for more updates...

Hasta La Vista

2008-02-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

So, if you call or email me between 2.23 - 3.2, you won't be hearing from me! I am on my way to Bald Head Isle for a week long seminar with Lauren Clark & several other incredibly gifted photographers. The Isle doesn't have great reception, so I probably won't be able to return calls until the week of 3.3. I HOPE I can return some emails, but I have no idea what to expect... And hopefully I can post some pics here.. Or, you can check out Lauren Clark's blog to see what me & the other ladies are up to!! I heard I needed a hat...

Spread the Love!

2008-02-14T14:20:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! What a wonderful day... all about tha' lovah's. My husband is so great to me & my kids are dream children. Time to spread some more love though.. Could you stand a Shout Out? Ok.. good.

Shout out to my most wonderful friend in the wedding industry. His name is Joel Hurley & he owns the Preston Woodall House . If you have an upcoming wedding, I HIGHLY recommend this location. I got married there & he was so great to work with. But not only that, he has helped me in so many ways & I owe him for a big majority of my success. He has recommended clients to me & has helped me tremendously with my constant questions. WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON!! Thank you Joel & I'm sending some love your way-

WE'RE FAMOUS!!

2008-02-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, so, I made it onto one of the top celebrity photography blog's!!! OH MY GOSH!! If you go to Mike Colon's blog, you'll see our shots on his blog too!!! www.mikecolon.net/blog/ WOWZA!!! I've Made It BIG!!!! HUGE!!! He's only had 300,000 people see his blog this past month!! GYNORMOUS!!! hahaha!!

Kind of a Big Shot Now

2008-02-07T11:44:00.001-08:00

So, after hours of intimate conversation, me & Mike Colon found a lot in common. Ok... maybe me & 25 other photographers. Yesterday I went to Mike Colon's workshop in Charlotte, NC with two of my friend photographers - Joanna to the left of me & Ashley on the other side of Mike. Considering he makes $20,000-$50,000 per wedding, he was incredibly down to earth & eager to help.... and friggin' HOT!!! You may have already picked up on it in the picture, but I think he really digs me. hehehe...

I kind of prefer this crop to the picture:

And this is a result of 6 hours in the car:

Mastering my Craft

2008-02-04T07:53:00.001-08:00

This month I may be a little hard to reach at times because baby - I am mastering my craft!! Somehow that sounds dirty to me. This week I'll be attendig a seminar from 2 TOP celebrity photographers Mike Colon & Bob Davis. They are hosting a fabulous seminar in Charlotte- Master Your Craft . Oh yeah - by the end of the week I'll be ready for Eva Longoria. I'm counting on it.

NOT ONLY THAT, at the end of the month I'll be at Lauren Clark's week long seminar in Bald Head Isle, NC: The Love Affair Workshop. She is my absolute favorite photographer. I love her use of color, composition, and her priorities in life in general. Love her! So, stayed tuned for what I'm learning - I'm super excited to share & grow!

Rain Rain Go Away

2008-01-19T07:37:00.001-08:00

It's always frustrating when I shoot a bridal, because I want to start posting the images right away! Especially this one... I photographed a bridal at the Bar Clay Villa Thursday, and it is turning out AWESOME! I really wish I could show you more, but at least I found 2 pics that don't give anything away. Lori is getting married 2.23, so you won't have to wait long to see more! She was an incredible model - on a super rainy, super freezing Thursday afternoon, she was still up for going outside for some shots!! I was a much bigger weiny about it than she was! I'm not scared to admit I hate the cold.

Mr & Mrs Morgan

2008-01-10T19:34:00.001-08:00

On 1.5.08 I photographed Emily & Matt's wedding from the First Presbyterian to the Preston Woodall House for their reception. It was a GORGEOUS day! It started the new year off on an amazing foot. Speaking of feet... Check out her boots!! Soon this girl will be my new poster girl :). She took some amazing bridals back in 07, and now her & her husband have given me some new jewels to paste up. Both Emily & Matt were so laid back and down for anything - I love that in my models!! They were so sentimental and now they're living it up in Barbados. I am green.

Check out that awesome car!!

And those awesome eyes!

And that diamond...

And would it be a wedding without the Soldier Boy?!

A Friend in Need

2008-01-01T11:07:00.001-08:00

So, it's the first time I've worked for diapers, but I'm up for new! I helped my friend Beth at her wedding Saturday morning before I went to my own later that afternoon. She was photographing the girl that she had babysat as a teenager, and it was sweet to see her get all emotional! I was only there up through the ceremony, but the bride had an AMAZING dress & she went wild with all her goods. The bridesmaid's dresses were phenomenal, and I was just totally overwhelmed by her fabulous taste in things! And her sweet brother played the bag pipes while she walked down the aisle...friggin' awesome!

A little skin never hurt

2007-12-28T12:26:00.001-08:00

So, if you are getting married, you know that one of the hottest things to do now is a boudoir session. Which after having 2 kids, it's a really good idea to capture your body pre-baby carriage!! I've done them before brides get ready, like the first couple of images, or done some more intimate shots during a private session like the last images. Just because they are boudoir doesn't mean you have to expose it all & it doesn't mean you can't have a fun time with it! Not to mention your husband will really appreciate it!

A website update is on the horizon after my 1.5.08 wedding, so stay tuned for some fresh shots!

Terri & Joe

2007-12-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

I photographed such a precious couple this past Saturday. It is my second to last wedding with New Image Studio, and it went so incredibly smooth. The bride had a million formals :(, but it went quickly & we got most of them finished before the ceremony. This has been my complaint on here before - please girls... PLEASE rethink a long formal list!! After getting through her wedding, 100 of her 350 images are formal family shots. I doubt she'll ever use them in her album or do anything with them... and due to having a long list, the creative stuff is cut short. Plus, she spent most of her day in a stiff pose in front of the camera. Enough soap box.. I was able to spend some time with them after the reception which was their photo redemption!! oh.. check out their get away car!! WOWZA!

Fortune Cookie

2007-12-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spent the morning with this wonderful couple, Jai & Jessica who are getting married in a couple of weeks at the Preston Woodall House ( www.woodallhouse.com ). Jessica & Jai are both in the military & Jessica has just made it in from Japan this past Saturday. They have been dating amidst their difficult situations (and Jai did lots of the wedding work since Jessica was in Japan - WOAH!!). So, I met them for the first time yesterday, and had just an amazing time with them... even though we all suffered through some really friggin' freezing temperatures!! It was so much fun, and they took some really awesome shots. Marsha took the last image here - awesome!! Coming soon - pics in their wedding attire!

Maniac on the Run

2007-12-09T21:11:00.000-08:00

So, the Lord just really dropped Marsha in my life at the perfect time. I happened to meet her while I was on a shoot, and since then she's been shooting with me and helping me in so many other ways. She modeled for my ad in this year's "Weddings" magazine, and she knows I've been in quite a slump lately.. so, her & her husband modeled for me over the weekend to try & help me out of my funk. It worked. They are such a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL couple.