JoAnna Liston Photography

A Move & A Baby

2009-06-03T13:00:00.004-04:00

Hello All,

There are some very exciting things happening here at the J.L. Photography studio. We are relocating the studio later this summer to Kentucky, and we also have a baby on the way who will be here this December! I realize these big life changes effect more people than just me, and you may be wondering how all this will effect the business, and even more so, your event. So I’ve put together a little Q & A email for you to hopefully answer many of your questions as well as let you know how we will continue to give you the best service possible!

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Question #1: Oh no, you’re moving...how will I get prints & products from my wedding or photo shoot?
For those of you who have already had me photograph your event or photo shoot, this will be no sweat at all! Your online galleries will continue to be accessible, and you will be able to have your print orders shipped directly to you. For those of you who are already clients of mine, I will offer you two separate orders with FREE shipping, no matter how big the order. Just email me for details. And if you’re still waiting on a wedding album to arrive, that will be automatically shipped to you, so you have nothing to worry about!

If you’re interested in ordering books and albums, I’m currently updating the website so you’ll be able to view all my products online before you place your orders, that way you’ll know exactly what you’re ordering.

And as always, if you want to purchase the digital negatives from your session, that can be purchased as well through the website. Email for details.

Question #2: What if I have already hired you for my wedding this fall or next year?
If you have already hired me, and signed your contract, you have nothing to worry about! I will honor our agreement and will still be at your wedding...and there will be NO additional costs to you for my travel.

If you have an Engagement or Bridal shoot in your wedding package, you will still receive your photo shoot. We will just arrange a time to complete your shoot before I leave town, or we can schedule it during one of the weeks I will be back in town for other jobs. There will be several long weekends I will be in town this fall for weddings, so we will arrange a time for us to complete your shoot during one of those weeks.

Question #3: Now that you’re pregnant, will someone else be shooting my wedding? What will happen if you’re physically incapable?
I will still be the lead photographer for your event! But I will not be taking any shoots for the month of November or December. All other months...we’re good to go! :)

I always have a second photographer with me who will be there for your entire event, so we can be sure to get all the important moments.

I am apart of a network of professional photographers, and in the event of an emergency, you will be provided with another lead photographer of equal experience, capabilities, and with a similar shooting style as myself, who will give you beautiful images! But this would only happen in an extreme emergency, where I was physically unable to photograph your event.

Question #4: What will happen to all the photos that you took at my wedding or photo shoot? Are you going out of business?
NO we are NOT going out of business!!! We are just relocating! I will continue to archive all images and you will still be able to place orders.

Your online galleries typically last for 3-4 months after your event/shoot. During that time you can place as many orders as you like! However, if your gallery has expired and you wish to reactivate it, you will need to pay the reactivation fee of $25 which will give you an extra month of gallery access.

Although I archive images for years & years, I do file them away after 5 years. So if you are wanting to place orders for images that were taken over 5 years ago, you will need to pay a processing fee of $40 to cover the cost of accessing your file, and reloading your images to an online gallery.

Question #5: I was thinking about having you photograph an event or session for me here in Raleigh, does this mean you won’t take new jobs in this area?
Of course you can still hire me for your wedding or photo session here in North Carolina! The great thing about this business is that it is easy to travel! I am willing to travel anywhere to shoot your wedding or session! However, for those of you who have not already signed me for your shoot, you will be subject to paying travel fees. However, travel fees are very reasonable & I’ll be happy to try to work something out with you!

Also, mention this post between now and January 2010 and I will give you $150 OFF any wedding package or $50 OFF any photo session to help cover some of the cost of travel! Email me for details.

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I hope this answers all of your questions! For those clients that live in Kentucky, this relocation will make things even easier! And for all clients, I am still, as always, committed to offering you great customer service, beautiful products, & wonderful images!

Please email me if you have any further questions.

Have a fabulous day,

JoAnna

Wedding: Laura & Ed

2009-05-25T21:22:00.006-04:00

Laura & Ed have a beautiful history...they were high school sweethearts & have been in love for years! So this wedding day was a special day for all of their family and friends - seeing them declare their love by joining in marriage! How beautiful! Congrats you two and God bless!

Bridal Sneak Peek: Hannah

2009-04-02T15:26:00.002-04:00

O my dearest blog...how it's been so long! April is here, along with a lot of rain, and the wedding season has begun!
I had great fun shooting Hannah's bridal session out at Duke Gardens recently...she and her fiance Tyler are on the home stretch with their wedding day coming very soon in May! Since we don't want to give away the dress too soon, I'm only posting one pic for a little peak at this beautiful bride! More to come later...

On the Road...And a Senior Promo Special! :)

2009-02-13T10:41:00.004-05:00

Hey Er'body! I will be out of the studio for the next few days, to return on Feb. 19th. So all emails will be returned when I return... :) However, if you have an important question regarding bookings or accessing your gallery, feel free to call me (I'll have my phone with me) and I'll try to return your call asap. (919) 760-9282

In the meantime...I'm launching a Senior Promo that will be running through May of this year! You'll get $50 OFF your senior portrait session PLUS a chance to win a brand new iPod Nano!!! Wooo Hooo! It's exciting, so be sure to check out all the info at the link below.

http://www.joannalistonphotography.com/promos/seniors.html

Also...to see what you can expect from a JLP senior session check out some of Brendan's Senior Session on my main website under the "Family" tab!

If you want to get in on all the exciting Senior Promo action contact me about scheduling your session and winning that iPod!!!! Yee Haw!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Peace Out. :)

Kentucky Wedding: Lindsey & Troy

2009-01-08T19:45:00.008-05:00

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and that you're all having a great start to the new year! My holiday season was wonderful...My husband Jonny and I drove all night to Kentucky on Christmas Eve, hid in a huge refrigerator box by the x-Mas tree, and jumped out yelling and screaming surprise to my totally shocked and unexpected family on x-Mas morning!!! Ohhh it was freakin' awesome! Everyone still had sleepy eyes and they were all laughing hysterically at the whole thing! That is definitely an x-mas memory that will go down in history!!!

So after an action packed Christmas, I was very excited to be apart of Lindsey and Troy's wedding day! Lindsey is a friend of mine...way back from the ol' high school youth group days...so it was a real honor and pleasure to be asked to capture her wedding images. The bride and groom looked so happy together and just completely cute, and the weather was crazy perfect for the Saturday after x-mas...an amazing 70 degrees! Also very exciting, my sister Grace assisted me at this wedding and we had so much fun working together...plus she got lots of sweet shots throughout the day!

Here are a few of my fav's...although there are many more, I decided to just post a few and let you check out their wedding slide show to see more! (see link posted at bottom)

Lindsey & Troy chose to see each other before their ceremony (a great idea all you brides out there)...to give themselves more time for photos, less wait for their guests after the ceremony, and of course to have that special moment together without a couple hundred eyes on them! These first moments are so sweet...Troy says "ooooh" she's so pretty! :)

Grace caught this cool shot...I love it! It looks so eerie...so I played that feeling up with a little Photoshop magic!

And my gosh was that veil going crazy - the wind was violent out there - but Lindsey looked so graceful and gorgeous the whole time that we were able to snap some great stuff quick! There's another shot of her in this spot that I LOVE...She looks so happy and radiant in it - but you'll have to check out the slide show for that one! :)

I think this is my very favorite of the day!

Congratulations!!!

Lindsey & Troy: May God bless you two in your new life together!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT LINDSEY & TROY'S WEDDING SLIDESHOW FOR MORE!

Wedding: Melissa & Scott

2008-12-04T17:37:00.010-05:00

Melissa & Scott got married Nov. 8th at the gorgeous Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Raleigh, followed by a laid back reception at Crenshaw Hall- a beautiful, recently remodeled, venue in Wake Forest.

Their day really expressed their personalities. The ceremony was classy and sophisticated, and the reception was all about the fun (and LOTS of country music - which I love...but to my husband's despise! ha ha.)

The ladies got ready at Melissa's mom's house, and prepared for the bid day ahead...

Although the day started out a little rainy and wet, it cleared up beautifully for the ceremony and reception. My friend Rebecca Mill helped me out for this wedding, and caught this great shot of Scott and one of his ushers hanging out pre-ceremony.

The bride arrives...

I love how this one turned out...with the guests leaning in to snag that shot too! :)

One thing I love is when couples plan a good chunk of time for Bride & Groom photos! Ooo la la! Makes my day! Plus the couple ends up with lots to choose from! And hopefully lots of favorites! :)

I really like this shot...I think it has a timeless feel about it.

Rebecca suggested this fabuloso shot with the gorgeous fall leaves flying in the air (courtesy of Rebecca's tosses while I snapped away!)

This may be my favorite of the day...it's peculiar, different, and kinda mysterious...I guess that's why I like it!

Their first dance as husband and wife...and the song choice?... Conway Twitty's "Lay You Down"! I love it!

Congratulations you two!!! God bless you in your new life together!

For those of you awaiting their online gallery to see all the images from their wedding, you'll be getting an email next week!

Happy Holidays!!!

2008-12-01T16:03:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!

The Christmas holiday is approaching and the rush is on! Order before
December 12th to receive 15% OFF your total order & insure your order
is back by Christmas! Enter coupon code: christmas at checkout.

This is a great opportunity to order fabulous canvas wall displays & enlargements
at a great price! Show off your photos as unique art around your home!

This offer is not valid with any other discount or print credit. Orders that
need to be shipped directly to you must be placed by December 10th.

If you have any questions about enlargements or other products, or about accessing
your online gallery to place orders, please contact me at info@joannalistonphotography.com

Also, remember that this print deadline only applies to prints and enlargements.
You can use this discount toward ANY product including coffee table books and albums,
but these products may not be back by the Christmas holiday.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

More To Come...

2008-11-15T13:46:00.007-05:00

Sooo...although there were promises made for more blogging, I guess God had other plans for me this week! I got a pretty serious eye infection earlier this week and when it didn't seem to be getting better it was time for some professional help! :) The Doc has ordered me to stay in bed...and more importantly stay OFF of the computer. Eeek...for me this is torture since I basically live on the computer all day! ha ha...

Soo...I'm being a bad girl right now posting this little snipet, but I wanted to give you something to look forward to. Here's a little taste of what's to come - a senior session of an aweseom guy named Brendan...and a wedding post of a freakin' amazing couple - Melissa and Scott (this wedding was so much fun)!!!!

For those of you waiting for prints, proofing, and email responses...sorry for the delay, I'll be back in the saddle again on Monday (hopefully) and will catch up with you all then! Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Brendan: Quite the "Renaissance-Man"

Melissa & Scott: sooo much fun - can't wait to share more!

Wedding: Randy + Mary

2008-11-10T14:02:00.005-05:00

Randy & Mary got married on Nov. 1st at the Wake Forest Birthplace Museum...a gorgeous location just right around the corner from me! They had planned a very intimate and low-key outdoor ceremony, with only their family and closest friends attending! (This was a really nice break from the usual busyness I experience on a wedding day...ahhh!)

I love this shot of Mary getting out of the limo...she looks like a movie star - fluffing her hair and looking so fabulous in the midst of the crowd.

Beautiful floral arrangements were provided by Wake Forest Florist!

Mary's granddaughter was trying to steal the show with her cuteness up there by the newlyweds! So sweet!

This is one of my fav's!

All the guests...

Post-ceremony we headed over to Randy's house for cake and toasts...a comfortable and sweet end to a beautiful wedding!

Thank you both for allowing me to photograph your big day! I wish you both the best of luck...and hope you enjoy your new life together!

NEW WEBSITE!!!!!

2008-10-12T15:14:00.003-04:00

WOOOO HOOO!!!! Exciting news!!! The new site is finally active! There are still a few finishing touches being completed...but for the most part it's done! (Sigh of relief for me) Bet some of you have been wondering why in the world my blog hasn't been updated an like a month! So go on over and check it out, and let me know what you think!

For those of you who are awaiting client proofing galleries, they are up and I will be emailing out passwords tomorrow morning! And I think you'll find it worth the wait...the new galleries show your images much bigger, which makes it easier for you to decide which pics are your favorites! PLUS...the new shopping cart makes both of our lives easier! You can purchase prints and products online through my site directly, and can even use your print credits/coupons online too! Oh, and did I mention...you can also make payments for wedding photography packages/photo sessions online by credit card as well!??!!? Yee Haw!

If you have any questions about using the new shopping cart...please drop me an email! Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful start to fall!

-peace out

Meet Amisha!

2008-09-15T15:36:00.004-04:00

This family is very dear to me...Sweetie (yes that is mommy's name) has been a friend of my family's for many years! Sweetie is from India, and moved to America after marrying another friend of ours...Dennis! Their love story is soo beautiful and such a testament to the creative and unsuspecting plan God has for people!
And now another wonderful addition to their love story: little Amisha! Isn't she just sooo cute! ahhhh...sweet babies...
I'm looking forward to see her personality develop - if she's anything like her mommy she'll be quite a firecracker! So here is sweet little Amisha's debut to the world of blogging :)

Mommies always know just what babies need...I think that is such a wonderful mystery!

Daddies on the other hand...well they sure do try! hahah...I love this shot!

But I think she's a daddy's girl after all...

Congratulations...I love you all! Can't wait to see you again soon!

Sweet Lil' Madelyn

2008-09-11T20:20:00.004-04:00

This gorgeous little girl is my cousin...and I had a hot minute to photograph her while I was in KY! This was a record for me...a 10 minute shoot! :) haha...
Madelyn was so sweet with her fuzzy kitty cat and bangles, and was ready for this picture stuff to be over so she could get back to the swing set!
Maybe next time we'll try for a little longer...cause I MUST have some more of this precious face and blue eyes!

Gabe & Carrie: Engagement

2008-09-04T18:45:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago I was home in KY to visit the fam for a while...and while I was there I got to do lots of shooting of my friends and family! More to come soon...but for now I'm really excited to share these pics with you of my brother Gabe and his fiance Carrie! My sister Grace helped me out with this shoot so it was a real family affair!!! haha...
(if you haven't caught, on I am trying to sucker her in to getting into the business with me in a couple years!)

Gabe and Carrie got engaged last Christmas, but were so sweet to wait until I was in town so I could shoot their engagement photos...and later (next summer) I'll get to shoot their wedding too! It's so much fun to photograph people I love, and especially when it's my family! My family and I are very close, and sometimes it's a real stinker to be living so far away from them...but it was great news to hear about Gabe proposing to Carrie! They have been friends for a few years now, and it was really beautiful to see how their story unfolded and their love developed, and how they have allowed our families to be a big part of their relationship!

You will notice...they bring out the best in one another! As we trooped around Danville, KY taking photos, they were laughing, joking, holding hands, and just loving each others company!

You gotta love a fun jumping shot! Gabe looks like he's about to take flight like Superman...and I LOVE Carrie's hair in the one on the right...hahah!

If you can't tell that sign reads "Kentucky's City of Firsts"...so of course I thought it'd be fun to be cheesy and point to the sign...which Carrie was great at (being cheesy)! Gabe on the other hand...well I think he had fun laughing at her.

Here's a little story line for you: Boy Meets Girl

Coffee is always a great end to a fun shoot!

Congrats you two!!! I love you and can't wait till the wedding!

Fashion Portraits: Baby on the way!

2008-08-29T15:56:00.005-04:00

A couple weeks ago (yes that's how behind I am with my blogging) I shot a maternity session for Karen, a beautiful mother-to-be. In fact, Karen was due the end of August, so by now she may already be holding her new little baby in her arms!
My sister Grace was in town for this shoot and she was an awesome assistant! We came up with some fun places to use, and I love how these turned out. I'm sure the beautiful new mommy will have so many wonderful moments with her little baby...and hopefully I'll get a chance to meet the little guy soon for some newborn pics!

Check out this great dress! I mean, she is one hot mamma!

Baby's first wagon ride...

Fashion Portraits: Grace - Part 2

2008-08-18T13:26:00.007-04:00

I've had several people tell me they're ready for part 2 of this session...sorry it has been longer than originally planned...but here it is as promised! :)
During the second part to this shoot we tried to get a more grunge feel and wanted some action stuff! Grace amazes me...even while jumping in the air and twisting all around she's still able to strike that perfect pose!

I'm just crazy about these reflection shots...we got lucky with just the right amount of rain!

And here's one of those happy accidents...my light box didn't fire, but I actually like this shot a lot...it's sorta creepy!

Although I haven't had the opportunity to do very many senior/graduate sessions, it is my favorite type of shoot to do. I really try to make it fun, and add that fashion edge to them! And prices are very reasonable! If you know of anyone interested let me know...and I'd be happy to help you out with styling as well! Just shoot me an email!

Fashion Portraits: Grace - Part 1

2008-08-10T13:57:00.005-04:00

I'm blogging waaayy out of order on this one...I've got weddings to post, maternity fashion portraits, and even some kiddo pics to put up for you. But I'm so pumped about this shoot I had to put it up immediately!!!

So some of you may have read that my sister Grace is here to stay with me for the week...and of course we ALWAYS have to plan a fun photo session when she comes to town.

We both love fashion, so we really go crazy when we get to go out to thrift shops and pull together funky looks that we might not wear everyday...but wish we could. :) We had so much fun...and got so many good shots we have actually broken this session up into two parts. Here is part 1, check back for part 2 tomorrow night!

Just a little sneak peak of Part 2 of our session...be sure to check back in tomorrow!

Beautiful Baby Blues

2008-08-03T20:25:00.004-04:00

A few days ago my husband and I babysat our friend's cute little kids for the afternoon! We took them to the park and had soo much fun playing! I love this shot of little Mariam. I'll post some more of this fun day out soon...but for now I'm off to Asheville to pick up my sis!!! Yea! I'm so excited she'll be staying with me for the week. She's also an aspiring, very talented, photographer so I'm sure we'll come up with some crazy funky shots to show off later in the week!

Christen + Shaphen = Happily Married

2008-07-23T14:06:00.007-04:00

Christen & Shaphen were a couple of the sweetest people I've met! They got married at Beacon Baptist Church, the church where they met and went to high school together! Although they were a little on the shy side...when it came to being together, they were so full of love and affection for one another! After their ceremony and reception, I met them out at Fletcher Park, in Raleigh, for some bride & groom shots...and THIS is where they were most comfortable! I love to observe how people become so at ease when in the comfort of their soulmate's arms! It causes me to think more about how we become different people when around the one we're in love with...what a beautiful thing when someone else's love for us can cause us to change, and grow, and become the person we're made to be! What a beautiful image of what Christ's love does for us!

I was greatly blessed to be apart of Christen & Shapen's wedding day...I hope ya'll had a wonderful honeymoon at Niagra Falls!!! God bless you!

Getting ready at the funky little salon in downtown Wake Forest, Creative Shears.

It takes some serious effort to get into those wedding gowns! :) ...

...and those garters!

I love the facial expressions in this one...

It's kind of hard to see...but that's Christen's dad holding his rifle! YIKES! Look out Shaphen! Haha...this makes me laugh though cause it's totally something my dad would do!

gorgeous daisies!

the bouquet toss was intense...look at all those little girls ready to catch!

but what was funny was that this little girl was standing waaayyy in the back...and that bouquet practically hit her in the head! It was hilarious cause she was so surprised to be the one who caught it!

I put a little funky-funky on this one...what do you think? You like the cartoon sketching?

Sooo cute!

(This wedding was photographed for The Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe)

Sarah's Bridal

2008-07-19T16:16:00.005-04:00

So here is the bridal session I promised you all...I've been waiting to blog this for over a month now! That's the downside to these bridal sessions...gotta keep em' secret from everyone until after the wedding! :0 haha!
Well, first off, I must say it is pretty hard to screw up a session when you've got a knock-out model like Sarah! We went out to the beautiful Duke Gardens, in the 100 degree weather, and she was such a tough cookie to put up with the heat in that gown! But I think it was worth it! Here are my favs...

Blog Makeover!

2008-07-18T16:18:00.002-04:00

So I've been working hard on this blog make over for quite a while now...and I have finally finished! My plan is to use this same style/look for my website update in the future (when i come up with enough money to get a better site :) tee hee! Let me know what you think!!! Suggestions greatly appreciated!

Oh...and be on the look out...tomorrow I'm posting Sarah's BEAUTIFUL bridal portrait session! OMG...there are just sooo many good ones - she was such a natural model!!!

Peace Out.

Sarah & Andy...MARRIED!!!!

2008-07-16T11:13:00.006-04:00

It's been a while since a blog has been posted...but this post is extra special! My husband and I met Andy while working for a summer camp during our college years...so we have lots of dirt on him! :) haha... But for real though, we absolutely LOVE the friendship that we have with him! And I was honored to be asked to shoot his wedding! He introduced us to his GORGEOUS fiance, Sarah, one morning and we knew instantly that this was true and honest love...the kind only God can create! I had the pleasure of getting to know Sarah more during her bridal shoot (which will be posted later this week...it turned out awesome!) Sarah is so friendly, sincere, down to earth, and just plain ol' fun! Plus it is so evident that she is super in love with Andy...and he's just head over heels stupid about her! :) So, this wedding had special meaning for me, it is always so special to witness two dear friends committing their lives to one another! Ahhh...it only reminds me more of how much I love my husband! Ok - enough mushy stuff...let's get to the pics! Also, my dear friend Becca - who is an incredible photographer - helped me out for the ceremony and got some sweet shots! Check out her blog here to see what she shot.

Sarah & Andy got married at Binkley Chapel on Southeastern Seminary's beautiful campus! Sarah's dress had such a classy vintage look to it...so of course I was excited to see this old window in the dressing room - so perfect for an elegant shot!

Andy and his guys shared lots of laughs pre-ceremony!

The fabulous ladies...and then Jesse & Andy - they share such a special bond :) haha!

Ok, so I was a bit choked up at this point...Andy seeing his bride walk down the aisle...amazing.

A kiss...and a cheer! Married at last!

My favorite: romantic shots of bride and groom!

And we had some good times with the wedding party too!

Their reception was held at Open Door Baptist Church, where Andy & Sarah attend church. Sarah had decorated the room beautifully with pink and orange roses and daisies.

A tearful goodbye, yet a happy farewell as the couple headed off for their honeymoon!

Sarah and Andy, we wish you all the best in your marriage! You'll be in our prayers! We love you!!!

Tess & Claus = Funky Funky

2008-06-12T16:32:00.008-04:00

Oh man do I love this couple! Tess and Claus are such a fun eclectic couple and waaayyy cool! Claus is from Denmark, so they had a lot of friends come a long way for this wedding! The day was full of great laughs and great people, plus they set aside lots of time for photos, which always makes my job more fun!

The day began at Creative Shears Hair Styling in Wake Forest where Tess got all gussied up for the big day!

Then to The Stone Chapel for the ceremony.

Afterwards we retreated to Southeastern Seminary's beautiful campus grounds for some romantic and super smoldering pics of the bride and groom! I'm loving this one at the right...it looks like we're in some sort of rain forest! And look at those freakin' awesome green heels she's got on! I call it "Kissy-Kissy in da' Rain Forest" :-)

The reception was held at the Cotton Company, which is one of my favorite venues here in Wake Forest! There's such an urban feel to the room with all the brick and industrial lighting.

Okay...so now I get to explain some of the next few shots! There were many Danish traditions happening at the reception...which I might add were hilarious and I sooo loved witnessing it all!
When the guests begin tapping their glasses (as you would for a toast) the bride and groom must stop wherever they are and stand up on chairs and kiss...

They then must immediately go under the table and kiss again! This happened MANY times over the course of the evening, and Tess must of had a tough time getting up and down in that gown all night! But it sure was entertaining!

Another fun tradition: When the bride leaves the room (to use the lavatories, etc.) all the women in the room must run to kiss the groom before she returns! This tradition also applies to the bride when the groom leaves...but for some reason the women seemed way more eager to take advantage of this oppertunity!!! And Claus was havin' a good ol' time!

These are to bring good luck... a snip snip of the groom's socks...

And a snip snip of the bride's veil! I love that lady's expression in the background...she's like "What??? I aint cuttin' that pretty veil!"

I shoot a lot of weddings for the Wake Forest Portrait Shop along with Jeffrey Pauk, another local photographer who had this great suggestion for this reception! Because there were so many out-of-towners, we set up a little "photo booth" for the guests! I've seen this done by photographers out on the west coast...and I think it's a great idea! If this is something you're interested in for your reception, just let me know! I think it was a hit! We even caught the bride and groom in there!

I'm sure Tess and Claus will have a wonderful life together! It was such a pleasure meeting them and their friends/family! God bless you two!

(This wedding was photographed for the Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe)

Montreat, NC & a beautiful family!

2008-06-04T09:45:00.004-04:00

Last week I headed out to Lake Lure, NC for a relaxing vacation with my family! And, while there I had the pleasure of photographing a super fun family with lots of lil' ones! My very talented sister Grace helped me out on this shoot!

Look how cute these kiddos are...I mean wow! Their eyes are so sincere!

Grace took this one...and I find this image very intriguing! I love how she captured the sweetness of this little girl as she is staring down at her gold fish crackers! :)

And here are two mischievous little cousins! I'm sure they get in to all kinds of fun together!

Lastly...we had some fun play time in the park!

The whole gang! We hope you guys enjoyed your family reunion! And have a wonderful summer!

On the way out of town Grace and I realized that we had sooo much fun photographing this family we needed to go frolicking in the wildflowers on the side of Interstate 40! Ahhh....good times!

Karen & Ron Get Married!

2008-06-03T10:49:00.007-04:00

It has been a couple of weeks since I've blogged...and weddings are happening all over the place! :) A couple weeks ago I shot Karen & Ron's wedding here in Wake Forest! I headed out to Karen's house for the pre-wedding getting ready shots!

I love a fun detail shot!!!! Especially the rings! And I was soo lucky to have found this interesting candle holder in their house to use as a prop...This may be my favorite ring shot so far!

Karen was a happy and very calm bride when I arrived at her house! I couldn't believe how relaxed she was before her wedding! She looked gorgeous! And so sophisticated!

We then drove into downtown Wake Forest for the ceremony at The Stone Chapel.

Karen chose to give rings to her new step-daughters during the ceremony, as a sign of her commitment to them as their new mother! I thought this was a beautiful way to symbolize the joining of two families!

And what an INCREDIBLE exit!!!!

The guests then headed out to the Wakefield Plantation Country Club & Golf Course for the reception! The weather was perfect...and romance was in the air! :)

The father of the bride gave a magnificent speech...

And then came the feeding of the cake...

Followed by a very sweet serenade given by the groom to his new bride!

And it's not a party until the dancing begins...

What a beautiful wedding day! Congratulations you two!!!! May God bless you!

(This wedding was photographed for the Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe)

Selena + Andy = Super Adorable Husband & Wife

2008-05-22T18:06:00.006-04:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting Selena and Andy's wedding in Apex! First of all I was very touched by the sweet personality both Selena and Andy have, and on top of that I had a super inspirational location to photograph them at! The church was so cute, and downtown Apex was so charming...there was photography eye candy everywhere! :)
Lucky for me, Selena and Andy really wanted to take the time to get a lot of romantic shots with just the two of them! Because their ceremony and reception were so low key, we had the time to take advantage of all the delicious scenery!

Selena looked sooo gorgeous...she was a beautiful bride!

Both Selena and Andy lost loved ones, so they both carried these little charms with a photo inside throughout the day! I thought this was a very creative way to remember their loved ones on their wedding day!

I was very impressed to learn that Selena and Andy love to bike together! In fact, they at a bike marathon! The idea was to ride off into the sunset on their bikes in their wedding attire...however this proved to be a little more difficult than expected while wearing a big ol' wedding gown! Haha...but I love that she tried!

We stopped at some fun spots on the way to the reception...I love being able to capture the bride and groom alone...watching people who are in love gives me goose bumps!

The reception was held at The Peak City Grill - a funky little restaurant in Apex. Perfect for a romantic evening out!

Good laughs were shared by Selena and her MOH Susan!

After some delicious eats, I grabbed the bride and groom for a little walk around downtown...

They sure didn't mind being all mushy for me...and in the shot on the right Andy switched things up a little and did some fancy (or should we say cheesy) posing for us! :)

And my favorite of the afternoon...

I had the best time with these two...and I left so inspired! And so honored to have been a part of their wedding day! I really wish these two the best...enjoy your new life together, and may there be many more bike rides to come...maybe skip the wedding gown! ;)

Allison & John are married!

2008-05-20T18:33:00.012-04:00

Wedding season is in full swing...and with a wedding every weekend this month, I have been very busy indeed! :)

Allison and John got married a couple weeks ago at Sister's Garden & Catering in Raleigh. The weather was perfect! I have been excited to be apart of this couple's big day
since I met them! They are such fun, easy-going people, and so genuine in the way they
care for one another and their friends and family!

Allison wore this GORGEOUS veil that her mother wore on her wedding day!

This may seem random...but I couldn't pass up a shot of this gigantic magnolia in full bloom!

I stole the bride and groom away for a few romantic, mushy shots! They were happy to oblige!

A fabulous yummy cake & a cute little baby...I can't think of a better combination! SOO SWEET!

I think this series is hilarious! It is a testament to John's crazy personality! Here he is trying to squeeze out of the sun roof in the limo...to announce to friends and family "Onward to The Goat!" I know what you're thinking...The Goat??? Oh, read on and you will be enlightened!

The Goat Bar is this rinky-dink little dive bar in Cary where Allison and John have spent many-a-memorable evenings enjoying good laughs and a brewsky! Many of their friends and family joined them here for some good times after the reception! I love that the bride, in her wedding gown, is mingling with the locals...

All in all a super fun day and I enjoyed every bit of it! God bless you both...and keep up the laughs! :)

(This wedding was photographed for the Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe)

Meet In the Street!

2008-05-03T17:32:00.004-04:00

Today was a gorgeous day to be outside! A little hot...but so nice to feel like it's finally summer! I went to "Meet In the Street" in downtown Wake Forest with my friend Stephanie and her two little boys Aslan & Hadden. The town of Wake Forest has so many cute and fun little events throughout the year...if you live in the area & haven't experienced any of these fun little days out be sure to check out the town calendar. I know they are starting their outdoor spring concerts tomorrow...which are free to the public and soo much fun! I'm all about community events...good times to meet your neighbors and enjoy the great outdoors!

I snapped a few pics while out and about today...these girls were soooo cute doing their little Irish dances! And talented too! Look at the air this girl got!

Aslan got to climb up in a fire truck, and sported his little fire man's hat all afternoon!

And cute little Hadden chilled out as we watched the Irish dancin' girls! :)

Erin + Dwan = Engaged!

2008-05-02T17:45:00.005-04:00

Erin & Dwan were so fun to work with! Both were laid back and easy to talk with...we hit it off right away! Usually it takes a while for people to warm up to the camera, but these two jumped right in and were up for anything! We had to cancel their session last week due to the rain & wetness, but I am really glad we waited for perfect weather! I'm sure they are too...since I had them sitting on trash, bird poo, and then in tall critter infested grass! (alright...so I did give them a sheet to sit on, but you get the point! :) It was such a pleasure meeting them & I wish them the best as they begin all the wedding planning!!! Woo Hoo!

1/2 OFF Photo Session for Asheville peeps!

2008-04-30T13:33:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! I will be taking a little trip out to the Asheville, NC area later this month (the 26th-29th) and would LOVE to schedule a photo session in a new area! This offer is open to any Engagement, Bridal, Senior or Family Session! I hear Asheville's downtown scene is SUPER cool! If anyone out there is interested, or knows of someone who may be interested please let me know! I'm only booking one session during my stay there, so respond quickly! You will get what I usually offer in my photo session package at a fraction of the cost! :) Yea for you! Email me for more details!!!

Brandy + Tim

2008-04-28T16:02:00.012-04:00

LaLaLaLa - Lovin' Yooou - Ooooohh! The bride was beautiful and the ceremony was fantastic!

Plus the rain held off just long enough for Brandy & Tim to have a gorgeous reception at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary and get some fun shots out on the golf course!

And let me tell you...these people know how to have a good time! All the excitement on the dance floor made the time fly by...and I got in lotsa good laughs!

But even better...witnessing such love, and the satisfaction found only when you're in your true love's embrace! These moments are the ones that cause me to love my job even more! Ahg...I'm such a hopeless romantic!

We wish you the best as you begin your life together! God bless!

(This wedding was photographed for the Wake Forest Portrait Shoppe)

What a Character!

2008-04-11T23:16:00.008-04:00

Today was a beautiful day to get outside...a little warm when you're chasing around a 2 year old...but I still had a fabulous afternoon. I hung out with lil' Elijah and his parents for a family session. What a wonderful family, and that Elijah was sooo animated! Lots of goofy faces & wild motion shots :) I loved capturing the playfulness of this family, and the love they share for one another!

Sweet Kitties!

2008-03-31T17:40:00.005-04:00

Saturday I had so much fun photographing Felicia's cats Cashmere & Corduroy! As I'm sure you can imagine, it is quite a challenge to photograph cats...they pretty much do their own thing and are not going to let you talk them into doing anything they don't want to do. So to Cashmere & Corduroy's discontent, Felicia and I just followed the cats around for the whole shoot invading their personal space...haha! She did a great job keeping them entertained (as much as possible) and we even got some sweet little shots of her with her kitties!

Yea for spring!

2008-03-25T18:25:00.006-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! Ours was very relaxing and pretty much uneventful! We did get out and spend some time in the gorgeous weather - a little walk, some tennis, and some self - portraits!

I've been spending lots of time designing my website and cranking it out this week...and my hubby helped me to get some good shots for my bio page. As he was helping me test the lighting I caught a few of him...

sniffing the sunflower???

playing the sunflower horn???

And some pretty nature pictures :)

Some amazing young ladies!

2008-03-13T10:30:00.007-04:00

Monday I had the honor of being asked to volunteer to photograph an amazing support group that meets at our church. Some of you may have heard of a program called "MOPS" (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers.) Well this program is called TeenMOPS - designed to offer help and support to teenage mothers and expecting mothers.

These young women meet on a regular basis to encourage and support one another, and are given advise and help on how be great mothers to their babies! Many of them were accompanied by their own mothers, who were there to offer support as well.

As I was standing back and observing their meeting (and taking pictures) I could not help but be extremely inspired by these ladies! I think so often our society looks down upon young women such as them, thinking that they somehow don't deserve our respect. However, we need to look further and realize that we have all made mistakes. Many of us are sneaky enough to be able to keep our mistakes secret...yet these women have their mistake displayed to the world! Despite the embarrasment they may have felt, or still feel, they have chosen to face the situation and make the best of it! They are determined to love their children and be great moms, to give their children a wonderful life!

They could have easily chosen to hide their mistakes and rid themselves of the responsibility...but they didn't...THEY CHOSE LIFE! So next time you come in contact with a teenage mother - remember your own mistakes, and realize the maturity of these women to accept their situation and make the best of it, and most of all love them...and offer to buy them diapers! ha ha :)

Alright, I'll get off my soap box now... Here are a few images from the meeting! Oh, and if you know of someone, or are someone, who would like more information about this group, you can contact North Wake Church or visit www.northwake.com

Puppy Love!

2008-03-07T15:06:00.008-05:00

Usually I love to get out and go for a long walk with my doggie Samson during my afternoon, but today was a rainy day & we resorted to fun indoors. I always thought it was ridiculous when people talked about their animals being their babies...however, I think I'm starting to get it. I mean, hello...here I am posting about my dog! HA...But really look how cute he is! :)

And he LOVES to play with his stuffed reindeer!

This was taken during one of our many walks!

Kristen & Christopher - Wake Forest, NC

2008-03-06T14:06:00.007-05:00

The first wedding of the season is always so exciting for me! I shot alongside Melissa & Paul (www.wakeforestportraitshoppe.com) who are excellent people to work with.

It was a pleasure to be apart of Kristen & Christopher's big day! Kristen is so fun and photogenic...WOW, and Chris is probably the nicest groom I've met! It was evident they were deep in love, and it's so inspiring for me to be able to photograph such passion! Thank you to both of you, and may God bless your life together!

Fun with the sista's!

2008-03-01T19:09:00.008-05:00

I always love love love it when my family comes to visit! My sisters are so much fun and sooooo gorgeous! Although we're Kentucky farm gals, we really like to be girly and play dress up when we get together! Grace had this awesome idea to do crazy eye makeup and rhinestones...SOOO FIERCE!!!! :) Americas Next Top Model look out...Here are my favorites!

Mike Colon & The Girls!

2008-02-07T17:20:00.003-05:00

Ok, so yesterday me and a couple of my favorite photographer friends, April (Mike's left - www.evokenc.com) and Ashley (Mike's right - www.nasimage.com), traveled out to Charlotte for the "Master Your Craft" seminar with Mike Colon & Bob Davis. Wowza did I learn A LOT! Me and the girls had sooo much fun...I think that's the most I've ever laughed in one day!

Soo, yeah, we were a little excited to meet Mike! I mean, he's an awesome photographer! Plus he had on this super cool tree sweater! We shyly walked up to him and asked for a picture..tee hee!

Anways, I really respect what Mike and Bob do - they have built amazing photography businesses, but are also very dedicated to giving back! Both encouraged me to not only strive to be the best at what I do, but also remember that our success and fulfillment will come only when we in turn give of our talents to others!

Well, I didn't win the free iPod - $200, or the t-shirt - $15, or the Apeture software - $300, but this incredible photo...priceless! Let me explain... later, in the car ride back we had this insane and super great idea - inspired by Mike's sweater...and April's crazy monkey talk! Anybody got a banana??? Here is the masterpiece! Ahhh...fun times - gotta love em!

Thanks again Mike & Bob for the valuable knowledge you shared...and for the memories! ;)

(click on image to enlarge for the full effect!)

YaaaHooooo!!!!!

2008-02-07T13:43:00.001-05:00

Well, here is the first blog entry!!!! A real website is coming soon...but for now, this'll have to do!