Sweet as can be, Ilene & Andrew had hired me just a few months ago to shoot their June 2012 wedding. During our initial meeting we had talked about some ideas for their Vintage Raleigh Engagement Photos that they wanted to emulate during their session. I was stoked at the idea of it and of course recommended my fabulous hair & makeup artiste, Margo Williams of Belloviso. Ilene was sold! The vision truly can’t happen without Margo and her artistry. Day of makeup and hair proved impeccable.
We opted to start in studio at Swank Photo Studio in Smithfield NC with our studio Hollywood lights to emulate the look of the period style imagery dating back to the 195o’s. Andrew was a great sport! He came dubbed in his best vintage inspired suit and fedora.
Afterwards, we headed to downtown Selma, home of the antique district to get some close to sunset pictures. Can’t beat that late afternoon light. The pair really hammed it up during their session and played the part. The backdrop of the downtown Selma area was idyllic. I look forward to their Beatles style wedding.
What a session! I mean, really! Adam is full of surprised for his Alex.
After having proposed to his fiancee at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, Adam had bought a gift certificate for an engagement session with me as a for no reason surprise to Alex. Apparently, Alex has been a fan of my work and she had put out a special request and he told her ‘no’ a bunch of times and did it anyway. Romance lives!
Alex was in touch with me about a month ago as we began ironing out plans for our session together. She said she wanted something different and had gone ahead and gotten 50 lanterns for their session as well as two cute dresses. I knew exactly where we were going. Pure and hidden beauty can be found at the Clayton Jalopy Graveyard, home to neglected cars of the 30′s, 40′s, 50′s, 60′s; yet not without soul!
I drive by the site everytime I go to the gym and always internally comment to the noodle that someday I want to do a session there with an engaged couple and a bridal session. Alex bought the bait. I knew she was a girl of adventure and Adam was along for the ride. We rounded out our session in a local wheat field.
A tremendous thank you to my partner in crime Margo from Belloviso for her amazing stylings of Miss Alex.
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Could this soon to be family get any cuter? I knew that I was in for more than an e-session when Jenny hired me for her pending August wedding at Preston Woodall House in Benson, NC. Having been proposed to by a scavenger hunt with messages in bottles, Jenny’s marrying a wonderful single father to two adorable boys and had asked for permission that they be included in the session with them. It was a no-brainer for me; of course! They’re just as much a part of who they are as a couple.
We had a fun early Spring frolic amongst the blossoming cherries, all the while, a playful demeanor coursed the whole session.
Below are a few of my favs.
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Fun new location for my latest engagement session. And no, Thaiphoon isn’t a studio rental for photographers. Just got lucky I guess you could say. My wonderful new couple Danielle and Rich (to be married in October at the Carolina Inn) are frequenters and fans of the Glenwood South Thai restaurant. I have to admit, and having not been a diner there before, that I was skeptical of shooting at a restaurant.
Well, my skepticism quickly turned into an invigorating energy upon arrival because this place is about as cool as it gets when it comes to shooting. Lots of gorgeous natural light fills in to their lower dining area. The whole restaurant has a feel of a 70′s mod with a contemporary twist. And the orange!!! Love the color. Not often you’re given a large orange wall as a backdrop. Everything just pops off of it.
The tandem aspect of our shoot also fell in the way of a surprise for I showed up as a duo. This shoot was a first for me and Matt Hall of 201 Media Productions. We surprised Danielle and Rich with a cinematic session. They were my proverbial guinea pigs for a new venture I’m pursuing where we incorporate Matt’s video and my stills, light interviewing of Danielle & Rich, resulting in a video montage to tell the story of my clients. They truly were good sports and quite surprised by the notion of what we were offering. They’re very much in love so I knew it would be a perfect match for them. The timing was right, as well, as they were my first engagement session of the new season. No slight to my other clients’ by any means.
Excited to share the final product. To be continued . . . . .
Posted in Blah, blah, blogging with SwankPhotoStudio, She said 'Yes!' | Tags: 201 Media Productions, Carolina Inn, cinematic session, engagement session, Glenwood South, Matt Hall, raleigh, Thaiphoon Bistro, video montage
Candace approached me wanting a second engagement session. Not asking ‘why’ and just rising to the occasion we planned our urban session for downtown Raleigh. She had expressed that they had already had a more rural setting for their first session and were going for something different, with a different photographer altogether. I had a little bite of sweetness up my sleeve.
So we started out at Moore’s Square and headed down to the Warehouse District in downtown for some ultra chic urban pics. The dichotomy of her 50′s style dress coupled with the rustic downtown area made for some contrasting pictures. But I couldn’t take my mind off of ending up in Glenwood South area of Raleigh with one reason in mind only . . . The Cupcake Shoppe!
And so I did, purchase them each a cupcake and just watched as the proverbial sweetness unfolded all over a bottle of Crush. How apropos.
Cheers, Candace & Waji!
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Or at least we tried during our recent engagement session with Kim & Brian. A great prop nonetheless { love when my couple’s bring props or aspects of themselves to their sessions}. Couldn’t quite get enough lift to take her up, but it made for some cute pictures.
And the pretty ominous sky gave way to moodier shots. Very apropos for my ‘goth’ couple and I use this term loosely and completely in reference to their Halloween wedding to take place later this year at Barclay Villa, in Angier, NC. Very excited about this wedding. Barclay is an ideal setting for such and event.
They’re a sweet couple whom one can tell, very much adore each other. Looking forward to their late October wedding!
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Cherish and Christopher, or Greg as I prefer to call him (smile), have a story that dates back to preschool, WHOA! Cherish admits that even during the awkward adolescent years when she was as ‘skinny as a rail and he was as chubby as ever’ that they always caught each other’s glances and were attracted to each other.
It wasn’t until the later years, (known as high school) that the romance blossomed. Blame this one on the yearbook and afterwork dinners and a movie. A short break-up separated the two in college, but the mutual admiration of each other took hold as they realized that they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together.
The rest of their lives begins later this year in December. Our engagement session happened last week at the Falcon’s Hamlet, the newest estate and venue here in Clayton, NC. The country, farm setting was not out of character for the two as Christopher and admitted to me that he indeed is a farmer of many trades.
The session wouldn’t have been complete if it weren’t for my favorite moment captured as the two local German Shepherd’s sidled up along Cherish and Christopher for a good back scratch. Check out the pictures below.
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What was intended to be just a six year anniversary trip to Nashville, TN, ended in a surprise and teary-eyed proposal. Such is how the story goes for my sweet September couple who ironically enough are getting married on my anniversary this year.
Ben and Delia or BenDee as they affectionately call themselves spent the day with good friends seeing the city, checking out the local attractions, and listening to their favorite musician, Ben Folds formerly of the Ben Folds Five music group, perform.
The day winded down with a romantic date at Union Station, a refurbished old train station which played host to their dinner spot while in town; Prime 108. Dee was serenaded during their dinner by the strolling resident guitarist as per Ben’s request, with the song, Just the Way You Look Tonight. No, he didn’t propose there. Way too predictable. Instead this very suave, clever, and might I add romantic boyfriend of Dee’s arranged for a room for them on the 6th floor to keep in line with their sixth anniversary. Their suite door gave way to intense candlelight, rose petals on the floor, and a card with a flat jewelry box resting on it.
Upon reading the card, a note inside read, ‘Close your eyes and count to 10.’ Teary-eyed Dee did as the note said pausing to ask if she was counting too fast or too slow. At first glance and on 10, Dee opened her eyes to Ben down on one knee proposing with her now engagement ring.
They’ve set their wedding date for September 26th of this year at The Sutherland in Wake Forest, NC.
Below are scenes of their recent engagement session with me.
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Posted in Blah, blah, blogging with SwankPhotoStudio, She said 'Yes!' | Tags: Ben, Delia, engagement session, Nashville, proposal, Tennessee, The Sutherland, Union Station, Wake Forest NC
And it’s not as crazy as it sounds. But yes, Tara and Patrick dated for three weeks when Patrick proposed. They’re engagement was back in January. So things have moved along quite swiftly for the pair as they brace for their June wedding at Falcon’s Hamlet, the ultra exclusive new venue in Clayton, NC. They just received their invitation this past week.
Their story is much richer and deeper than that though. They have been great friends since high school; a very strong element and dynamic going into a marriage. No doubt that they will continue with the admiration for each other. I was witness to how much they truly care about each other during their recent engagement session held on the estate of Falcon’s Hamlet. We drove through the 150 acres stopping here and there along the winding roadway to take in different areas for photo opportunities. It’s just a lovely backdrop for any photographic endeavor.
Needless to say, I look forward to June 13th when all of the glitz and glamour is brought forward at this idyllic estate. Tara is quoted saying, ” . . .we got our dream venue and I got the best husband-to-be, ever!”.
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Well, this is truly uncanny and I must say a first! It seems that I have two couples with identical proposals. And the thing that’s borderline freaky-weird is the fact that both of the guys sprinted up the two mile hike to the waterfall, left their gals winded, and proposed. Nervous boys?? So it is, the story for my sweet and giggly endearing couple number 2, Maggie and Kevin.
The long courtship across halls began for these two at their Longwood University, VA dorm and for two years Maggie exclaims, “We chased each other!”. It wasn’t until Maggie’s Senior year that they took the leap off of the ‘friendship rock’ and decided to be exclusive.
Simple and sweet the foundation of their relationship is bound by best friends, Maggie tells me. “We cannot wait to start our lives together!”
An October 24th, 2009 wedding is planned.
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