At heart, I am a kid. At play, I am an artist. At work, I'm giving a 100% of who I am to my art. At home, I am a Mom and a wife and an accountant and a nurse and a chauffeur and a cleaning lady and a landscaper and an interior decorator and a chef. I'm not perfect at it, but I work very hard at it everyday.
What you should know about me . . . . . I'm entirely laid back and fun. I like making people laugh. I love a challenge. My artistic eye and penchant for relating to people, I recognize and embrace as my gift. Being a photographer doesn't define who I am, but it certainly has shaped the person I've become. I'm a better person because of my photography and my clients; my muses!
Am I wise? . . . . . I've come so far and gained so much as a person by experiencing the good alongside the bad. I believe that in every obstacle or sticky situation in life, there is an opportunity for growth in some way. That a day not thinking about the future is a day neglected.
I am unique. I am close to my heart. Bottomline, this is me!
Category Archives: Blah, blah, blogging with SwankPhotoStudio
The Sutherland Estate & Gardens in Wake Forest is such a great backdrop for a wedding. Nevermind the fact I love Ashlee & Fer! The rich rustic/country vibe was the venue of choice for my August 21st clients, Meghan & Mark.
Honestly, the pair couldn’t get any cuter and Meghan is knock-down gorgeous! They wed in front of smaller group of their closest family member and friends. It was a bittersweet affair and the toasts were particularly sentimental as the gathering paid certain homage to Meghan’s Mom who had passed away when Meghan was a young girl.
But that gave way to certain sweetness as they partied on under a tentless sky in the hot Summer night. They ended with a traditional sparkler exit down Sutherland’s long brick path.
It was an honor, Meghan & Mark! Here’s to many years of great things coming your way.
Sweet Caroline, bah, bah, bah! Can’t help but get Neil Diamond’s classic in my head when I think of her! She is truly sweet.
The Triple ‘S’ High School Senior(short for Smithfield-Selma Senior High) and tennis star was an absolute dream to work with. She was quietly confident and well dressed; game for anything. We opted in shooting the local scene in downtown Smithfield and rounded out the session close to sunset on the Riverwalk & then took it back to studio for some more glam pics in a dressier number.
Caroline has her sights set on UNC as her days at Triple ‘S’ are winding down. I wish her nothing, but a wonderful Senior year.
An endearing phrase coined by my super cool couple, Troy and Jenny began their “Journey to the Rocking Chair” on August 7th at the Victorian B&B in Benson; Preston Woodall House.
The stage was set for a hot August wedding at the Preston Woodall House in Benson. The floral arts by Dutch Iris{Dunn} added full Summer chic ambiance throughout the whole wedding backdrop. Jenny was given away by her Dad and also her four-legged best friend, Buddy. The aisle was garnished with white hydrangea balls, accented with batchelor buttons, trimmed with lime green ribbon. The black and lime green theme carried over into their gorgeous might I add, delicious wedding cake by Swank Cake Design of Raleigh. The party quickly livened up post dinner by the musical dj stylings of Randy Pulley DJ.
The couple parted their guests at the end of the evening via a sparkler exit and into a vintage car.
Best wishes to you both, Troy & Jenny as you Journey to the Rocking Chair!
This pair couldn’t get any cuter with one another and I don’t use the word pair loosely. Their connection is very deep and you can truly tell they are best of friends.
Their wedding was nothing shy of a bash as friends and family got WAY down at the NC Museum of History as the history of Kyle and Emily’s wedding was made. Catering including flowers and food were by local caterers, Catering Works.
OK, so is this girl not a cross between Jessica Alba, Alicia Keys, & Alyssa Milano? I’m so blessed with really fundamentally attractive women to shoot. My Margo, owner and chief artist of Belloviso is the transformation lady extraordinaire and I hold her on a pedestal as an essential part of the Vintage Vixens Session. Nonetheless, however gorgeous Marie is, what’s most important is that these girls are comfortable and relaxed during their session. I had nothing to worry about in this case. A surprise for her fiance on their wedding night, her honeybook is complete with really pretty images.
If you haven’t seen Rosedown Weddings in Smithfield, GO! It’s an adorable rolling hills estate with an Old Plantation Style home. Played backdrop to my June couple, Michelle and Lee.
My military couple opted for their wedding to be held under Rosedown’s gazebo in the front and I concur, it was a good idea. Temperatures were more than 100 degrees that day. We opted to do our couple pics after the guests had settled in for dinner and the light had gotten lower. Love that soft, dewy, Summer light that envelopes my clients. The heat I could’ve done without!
The home was decked in a clean and crisp feel with Tiffany blue and black. Guests dined to the catering Meadow Restaurant in Benson. The cake (poor cake) was a different story. What was to be their 5 tiered wedding cake by Sugarland in Chapel Hill didn’t happen. Sadly, they had an accident on the way to the wedding. No one was hurt, thank goodness. The topper survived and was placed upon a model cake(which we took some fun pictures of with Lee) and it fit in quite nicely. Still impressive in all it’s glory, there’s no doubt this bakery has it going on. Guests enjoyed complimentary sheetcakes with a peach and blueberry filling; major YUM!
Not everything is perfect on wedding days and that shouldn’t impede upon the happiness of having a memorable wedding. I can vouch it didn’t affect this couple at all!
Congratulations Lee & Michelle! Hope you’re settling in nicely in Texas.
It was a milestone occasion as all birthdays are. But special for me as I’ve been following Katie Grace for the past year as she’s been one of my A Year in the Life clients; a specially designed collection with new families in mind. Essentially, a documentation of maternity all the way through her first birthday.
We played around at the NC Museum of Art Park, which is such a cool locale for shooting. So much by way of unique backdrops. The tutu pics are particularly funny because she marveled at an airplane flying overhead. It was sweet to watch her react in wonderment, one of the many joys of parenthood as your child discovers things along their growth.
And don’t be fooled by the cupcake picture. She was not the least bit interested in it. She actually blew raspberries at it! Little does she know! Happy 1st Birthday, Katie Grace!
I knew going into the wedding of Kristen and Aaron that I was in for a detailed treat. Only shocker was that purple and gold weren’t their wedding colors.
The devout ECU Pirate fans began their romance through the introduction of a mutual friend, at Aaron’s house over an ECU/Navy game. Their love for each other truly bloomed over what was termed to me as a ‘Hole in the Wall’ sushi joint. I can attest that while it doesn’t sound appetizing, I knew of similar place in Cary and it was second to none.
So it was, on a VERY HOT and balmy day that we partook in Kristen’s getting ready festivities at the all chic Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC. We later trekked over to Raleigh Little Theatre Rose Garden near Cameron Village. Friends and family refreshed themselves on gourmet popsicles from LocoPops in Raleigh flavored in Mojito, Cherry-Lime, & Pomegranate-Tangerine under umbrellas while waiting for the ceremony to start under the guidance of Merrymaking Events. They were a much welcomed treat, but you had to eat fast!
Later afternoon thunderstorms gave way to their evening reception at The Cotton Room. The hip, refurbished, industrial style warehouse located at Golden Belt(an artistic hub) in Durham owned and operated under Triangle Catering, was decked out in peonies and wheatgrass centerpieces, accented by candlelight and family snapshots by none other than Cydney English, owner and florist of The English Garden. Bright pink and black carried over in every aspect of their wedding including their 4 tier wedding cake by Cinda\’s Creative Cakes in which their confection was banded with a hot pink ribbon. Festivites got cranking by tunes spun by Ron Smith DJ.
Their exit was like no other. They were pelted with handmade paper airplanes by their friends and family. Of course, they were hot pink, black, and white! Kristen and Aaron’s wedding in my eyes will be a memorable one. Wrought with fun, personal, and unique details helped to make their wedding extraordinary. Well executed, guys. Best wishes in your creative married life!
