I got some great news on Friday night! I took home a first place win in the “Getting Ready” category of the latest AGWPJA contest! The winning image happens to be one of my favorites from Emily & Mark’s amazing Outer Banks wedding. I just loved everything about their soulful seaside ceremony…

This is my second win since joining the AGWPJA, and has somehow placed me number 7 in the top 30 artistic photojournalists in the world! Its a huge honor to be listed alongside some of my favorite photographers in the biz! :) Go check out the winning images if you get a sec..you’ll see my friend Shane Snider racked up a few wins as well. Its pretty cool to have NC representin’ on the map of creative photojournalism… :)

Stay tuned for more big announcements from the studios! Happy Monday everyone!

I have been hearing about Ms. Hannah for quite a few years now, through my surrogate little sister and former KKP second shooter, Lauren. In fact, Hannah even came along for the ride on a wedding that Lauren & I shot last March. So I was thrilled to pieces when she called to book her wedding! She is quite the multi-talent, with her beautiful singing voice and strong eye for for a good shot. To see her and Paul together is to see two souls who are truly meant to be. I loved that Hannah walked down the aisle to a song they wrote together…

Congrats guys! Thanks for having us as part of your special day.I loved this round mirror in their dressing room. It made for a fun dress shot..I think Lauren was a bit freaked out to be on the other side of the lens :) Isn’t she a cutie?I think this is my favorite shot of the day. I love Paul’s huge laugh as they’re driving away, and isn’t the light just yummy?Hannah is such a stunner…just gorgeous.. The RCC crew won this ‘photo-duel’…I was slightly outnumbered! ;) Check out Hannah rocking my 15mm! Yes, all photographers are this much fun… :)Congrats guys! We wish you a lifetime of happiness…

This little trio blew me away yesterday with their sunshiney-goodness. Its official that I have THE cutest little clients a gal could ask for! And I’m not just talking cute faces…I mean REALLY well behaved, sweet, considerate little ones. Its gotta be some good karma, cause I just can’t be that lucky! ;) Here’s a heartfelt thank-you to all of our amazing KKP kids! We love you! :)

SO…when Joseph, Nicholas & Grace showed up for their session, I had to do a double take at their off-the-map crazy gorgeous eyes. Seriously…wow-zers! Their eyelashes are so long, you’d swear they are falsies! ;) Check them out for yourself & leave us a little love! We’ve almost reached 400 comments here on the blog & I want to do a fun contest when we reach that benchmark! Enjoy the pics!

Doesn’t Nicholas look wise-beyond-his years in this one? His expression just blew me away..Grace has mastered the perfect pout…she was such a little ham :)Grace and that bottom lip! Such a cute little pout.. :) Thanks for making my week guys! Come back and see me soon!

I realized the other day that I don’t give my husband nearly enough attention here on the blog! So after our impromptu session last night ( in an effort to grab some promo shots for his new website), I thought you guys might like to see a few pics… :) I’m a little rusty at the “rock” shots, since I’ve been in wedding mode for a few years now, but I think we did alright for a half hour session with two little guys in tow! ( yes, we brought Noah & Emery along for the ride..) Crazy, I know… :)

We’re thinking this first one might look good in the cd bed of his new album. What do you guys think? We would love your input! If you’re a music fan, go check out his band this Saturday night at Amos in Charlotte. You won’t be disappointed. He has an AMAZING voice. Of course, I AM his biggest fan, so maybe you should go see for yourself! :) He’s notorious for stealing my sunglasses! Yep.. these are mine!I love this one. Mark added it as the screen-saver on our home mac…Did I mention he’s the best daddy on the planet? Stay tuned for Hannah & Paul’s Wedding and the cutest trio ever!

to get you through the day! :)

My little guy has some pretty cool moves, dontcha’ think? I could have used him in the studio to kung-fu my internet connection and imacs! Do you ever have those days when every electronic you own decides to go haywire?! That was today for me. Even my BRAND NEW iphone decided to crap out on me! So….all emails and phone calls will have to be returned as soon as I get my phone AND email back on track. Hope everyone’s Friday has gone better than mine! :) I’m off to shoot Ashley & Jeremy’s rehearsal dinner..yay!

This may be my favorite part of my job. I get the warm fuzzies when my couples come back to me to document their growing families. Long after the wedding day has come and gone, they drive in from all over the country to have me photograph their new little ones. I can’t tell you what that does for my heart….yeah, its DEFINITELY my favorite part of the gig :) Stay tuned for loads of baby sessions coming up..I have an email box full of great news from my amazing couples…they’re expecting!

So, when I saw Jason’s email with the subject line: “Please shoot my baby!” I laughed out loud. He & Melissa were one of my awesome Spring 2007 couples and now have a beautiful baby girl named Katelyn. She is a little ball of sunshine with her ivory skin, huge blue eyes and little baby mowhawk. She’s a lucky little gal too..Melissa & Jason are completely smitten with her and obviously wonderful parents. Thanks to them for having me photograph this special time in their lives.. Enjoy the pics!

Doesn’t she have the coolest baby-Elvis hair? I love it.. :)Oh, how I love baby feet! Congrats guys! She is so precious! Hope to see you again when she’s toddling around. It won’t be long… :)

You’re going to fall in love with these kids..I know I did. They were so happy, incredibly well-behaved and insanely cute! Sisters Aislyn & Audrey even rocked the cowgirl hats for me! ( we have tons of fun dress-up stuff here at the studio…I love it when the kids dive right in :)

Little brother Isaac is going to start us off… Isn’t he the most adorable little guy?Audrey has the cutest giggle.. you can also see this series on the kids site.. Check out how great ALL of the kids smiled for the family shots… yay! :)the cutest trio on the planet..I love this one of sweet Audrey. She has the most incredible eyes.. Miss Aislyn got her chance to model for me too( in the mud..yikes! ;) I have to say she might be one of the most photogenic kids I’ve ever worked with. So much personality! Thanks for a super fun session guys!

I’m baaaaack! I’m sure you guys think I’ve been on vacation, but my reason for the blog-pause is actually the complete opposite! Leah and I are on a mission here at the studio. We’ve been working crazy hours for the past 2 weeks in an effort to be COMPLETELY caught up on wedding galleries, previews and orders before our Fall season starts TOMORROW! I’m happy to report we’re almost there! One 60 hour week, an insane amount of coffee, and a few bizarre victory dances later..we’ve made history here at the studio! In my 3 years at the Mill there has never been a time when there wasn’t a PILE of work on our work board and a list a mile long of things to do. So it feels pretty good to regain my human status and actually make it home to have dinner with my family in my beautiful new kitchen!! ( stay tuned for pics in my next post!)

I can’t think of a better wedding than Celeste & Joe’s to get me back to blogging. They tied the knot in a gorgeous cliffside ceremony in South Carolina. Their chapel was on the side of a mountain with a view that was just breathtaking. I have to tell you, Joe is not a huge fan of photos ( sorry Joe..had to call you out! ;), but he knows how much they mean to Celeste, so when I mentioned doing a little rock climbing for a few snaps of the two of them…he put on his game face & went for it! Thanks Joe… I hope you agree that they were worth it :) I can’t wait for you guys to see the new promo packs we’re working on..you’re all over them! It was an honor to spend the day with you guys and your amazing families. Thanks for having us… Isn’t this a beautiful view? The Cliffs were truly majestic..Apparently purple is the new black in the wedding world. Its the new hot color & I love it.. :) The guys of Mr. Potatohead worked their musical magic for the guests. If you’re looking for a killer band, definitely check them out!Jeff even did a little mic-check during their break ;) Isn’t the 15mm fun? Congrats guys! Thanks for an amazing day!!

In my 6 years of business I have been asked to shoot a Valentines Day wedding every year. I have never accepted the requests because of how very much I love my hubby and want to spend Valentines day with him :) ( yes, I’m big on holidays..all the way down to St.Patty’s day) Well, next year I have convinced Mark to let me take him out for a yummy sushi dinner on the 13th instead. And for good reason. This Team 2009 couple is really special to one of my favorite people here at the studio….my hard-working, never complaining ( well, almost) hilariously funny, sweet assistant Leah. After meeting her best friend Danielle & her fiance Jesse, I completely get why she loves them. They are two of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet ( and pretty model-riffic too!)

I saved the message Danielle left for me when she requested the date… that’s how genuinely sweet it was. I can’t wait to spend Valentines Day with my new favorite business woman and her sweet fireman… How insanely cute are they?

arrived at the studio last week in the form of the coolest, most original wedding invitation I’ve ever seen. Of course, I wasn’t TOO surprised, since everything that my amazingly talented couple, Jodi & Jeremy design is beautifully crafted. Remember their save the dates?

I’m so excited for them and their new adventure as business owners! They have decided to take their design talents and start a company. As soon as their website is live, I will be sure to share. In the meantime, I’m going to try to snatch them up for our new promotional materials here at the studio! :) Stay tuned for more big studio announcements…we have a lot of exciting projects in the works! I’m ordering a gigantic canvas of the middle image. Can’t wait to hang it in the studio!