To say Alex, my May 2011 bride is gorgeous, is an understatment. As a Raleigh Wedding Photographer, one dreams of having such trusting and beautiful clients such as Alex, an NC State pending graduate. Everything with her when it came to our photo session was easy. She needed very little guidance outside of my vision on posing. And nevermind the fact she probably would’ve stood on her head for the images I was requesting of her.
Our session started out at Historic Oakview Park in Raleigh, NC. Being that she’s getting married on her parents’ homestead in Lumberton, she opted for a more country and pastoral setting. I shoot frequently at the registered historic Raleigh park so I’ve come somewhat familiar with the ‘where to’ shoot scenario’s. However, my clients know me better then that as I don’t like settling for what I’ve already shot, but rather taking it to the next level so every client’s session is something different, that I’m giving them my art and artistic vision.
It was in me that day to take it a step further. At the beginning of the session I had broached the idea of taking the session to the field behind my home in Clayton. I’ve been watching it for a few weeks. The taller grasses and how the light captured them at different times of the day. Upon suggestion of shooting there, Alex was game. The rest is history. Her session was completed with some early sunset magic.
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Well to say the Lauren is an exquisite bride is an understatement. The accomplished equestrian and horse trainer had approached me last winter about shooting her May wedding and sadly I was already booked and the bridal session would have to do.
I met her up at The Sutherland in Wake Forest. The gorgeous historical country estate was the perfect backdrop for our pics and our time of day, albeit split because of a client meeting ended up being perfection too! A procrastinating makeup artist held us up for the first 45 minutes and I already had a client meeting planned for after the session, so I had to leave and then come back. It was just the time she needed to loosen up a little further. If I tell you that I started out with a very nervous girl and came back to a supermodel, would you believe me?
It was true, compliments of a glass of wine and about an hour of relaxing. It was then that I was able to tap into her and channel her Zen model side. I knew she had it in her.
Thanks for the gorgeous pics, Lauren! Looking forward to working with you in the future!
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What a rat race this session was and it had nothing to do with my bride. The nightclub we were supposed to have shot at had a full fledged fashion show going on where we were to shoot. Can you say major boo-boo on their part.
But nothing like a little challenge to throw my gears spinning. The resolution was easy. To hit one of the local parks at dusk. Light was falling off fast since we were originally scheduled to begin at 5:30. Thank goodness for daylight savings. It saved us.
Here are a few pics from the session.
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So psyched that my studio is working for itself and one such client came my way as a passerby. Kathryn and her Mom were strolling the streets when they stumbled upon my studio. We were actually in the middle of a Vintage Vixen session so I had to ask them to call me so we could arrange for a consultation to talk more about their bridal needs. They came in the next few days proclaiming that they were looking for different style bridal portraits(she had soft green bridal shoes!) and they thought that my studio would be great for the session.
We set our date for about a month and a half out and I had told them that I would have a new settee or sofa of some sort to shoot on for her session. It was a personal goal of mine to find something. And low and behold, the trusty Craigslist pulled through. Found a gorgeous Duncan Phyfe, beaten up, tattered with lumpy history and I knew it was going to be ideal. It was! I’m so psyched about this $150 find!
Here are some of my favorite pics from our session.
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It was a gorgeous 70 something day as we, Lacey & I visited for the first time The Sutherland(a fine wedding venue) in Wake Forest, NC.
Delia is my September 26th (also my anniversary & a great day to get married!) bride for this year and what a doll she is. Her smile will warm your heart and in her gorgeous gown of fluffy toule, that girl sure does glow! Wait til her groom gets a look of her wedding day.
Here’s a sneak peek into her wedding day look. No peeking BEN!!!
Nothing like a little rain for a bridal session. Well . . . alot! What started out as a glam bridal session quickly transformed into a Trash the Dress session, but without worry. Jessica’s already married and just wanted to try out a bridal session with me. She came by way of referral from my bride Emily, whom graced the cover of Carolina bride back in 2007. Thanks Emily!
With my gear in tow courtesy of my assistant Kristen, along with a large golf umbrella ( which really didn’t do much ), Jessica and her Mom, we set off on our trek through the sprawling campus of Duke Gardens. Nothing was to dampen our spirits. I love a challenge and rain always serves that up. And with Jessica’s whatever attitude and with a smile saying, ‘I’ll never wear this dress again’, the game was on.
By the end we had her crossing the turtle pond in water to perch upon one of the large rocks there and the session wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t have her lay down in the wet grass on her back for some shots.
In the end, it’s always an adventure. Thanks for taking me along for the ride, Jessica!
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It’s her again. This is now the third appearance of Jenna on my blog and she’s anything but ordinary. She first came to me by way of her engagement session. Then she came highly glammed up as one of my vixens. And here she is again, 3 months shy of her wedding date and looking as sophisticated and gorgeous as ever.
Her bridal session took place at the romantic and pastoral estate otherwise known as Falcons Hamlet. Touted as a ‘Versailles’, it would be hard to argue that it isn’t reminiscent of the French countryside.
We played along with Jenna throughout the estate, taking advantage of the rolling hills, the river, the Queen’s stables. What made the shoot so unique was the fact it was the first time we got inside the palace for a bridal session. The all marble interior in all it’s grandeur was perfect for pictures. And who would’ve thought the bathroom would illuminate Jenna with such gorgeous light!
I greatly look forward to her July wedding at The Highgrove on Laurel Lake in Fuquay-Varina. Let’s make it 4 posts on my blog, Jenna!
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Well, my gorgeous May bride took me up on the option to host her bridal session at the newest venue in Clayton, NC Falcon’s Hamlet which this past weekend also played host to the wedding of DJ Mike Morse and Lindsay Frahm.
The gorgeous day, albeit blustery, proved to be a hair challenge, but in my eyes worked for her certain tousled, loose hair style light and billowy dress which often took to the wind. We took advantage of the pastoral scenery which made for some stunning backdrops.
The one thing I totally dug about Nicole is the fact that she really heeded my advice, did her homework, and watched America’s Next Top Model. I tell all of my brides to do this. Sounds silly, right? It really helps my brides to understand how to exude sexiness. She was soft putty by the time she got to me. She was easy to direct with body angles and for giving soft and also edgy facial expressions.
What’s left are some timeless images; a true depiction of how she felt the day of her bridal session, confident, sexy, and happy!
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My December 6th bride has the ability to ‘bring it’.
Before Ashley’s bridal session she had casually mentioned to me that she wasn’t interested in any traditional style pictures and boy does that perk my ears up. That to me says, ‘FREEDOM’. Have fun with me! I warmed up to that fact right away, that there were no boundaries and she was willing to step out of the box for her pics.
As we traversed the grounds of Barclay Villa, Angier NC(incidentally, also Ashley’s wedding location), I could not help, but be swept away with all of the opportune backdrops and possibilities there. Barclay is one of my favorite and most challenging places to shoot. It’s very warm and dramatic in lighting and to achieve an overall balance with the light, well, let’s just say it keeps me thinking and on my toes. Love it!
And with that being said, with Barclay as a backdrop and what Ashley can bring forth through her eyes, we are left with portraits that impart a sort of Old World beauty.
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It was a gorgeous Summer evening. I planned it that way. Not really, but I can tell you this that the Summer sunlight is gorgeous around 6:30. It’s warm. It’s glowy. It wraps around and envelopes the subjects you shoot. I love it. And you throw in the backdrop at Rose Hill Plantation and Conference Center and my very vintage looking bride, Mary, and you’re set for some great imagery.
I got lost in the time. Mary, Martha(my assistant) and I had so much fun playing in almost 2 hours of photography. I’m not shy about asking for pictures from my brides. I like pushing the edges. And Mary was not contrary as the fable does tell. She didn’t object a bit when I asked her get down on the ground for some pictures. With her Aunt’s veil from the yester year’s(her something borrowed) laid out behind her and her very sexy heel kicked to the sky, we said good-bye to traditional photography and went for the fun, Stacy style!
