Fort Fisher │ Engagement Session │ Andy & Sean
When couples approach me for ideas on photo session locations, I love to draw inspiration from their wedding plans. Andy & Sean are planning a beautiful outdoor ceremony in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and nature. Their wedding color palette features a pretty burgundy color and I loved that Andy wore the perfect maxi dress in this Fort Fisher sunset engagement session! The light was absolutely perfect and even though it was certainly a chilly day, the two lovebirds didn't seem bothered by the weather at all and were such good sports as we knocked out a fun photography session to celebrate their upcoming wedding!
Andy + Sean Fort Fisher Engagement Session
When couples approach me for ideas on photo session locations, I love to draw inspiration from their wedding plans. Andy & Sean are planning a beautiful outdoor ceremony in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and nature. Their wedding color palette features a pretty burgundy color and I loved that Andy wore the perfect maxi dress in this Fort Fisher sunset engagement session! The light was absolutely perfect and even though it was certainly a chilly day, the two lovebirds didn't seem bothered by the weather at all and were such good sports as we knocked out a fun photography session to celebrate their upcoming wedding!
"We hate having our picture taken."
This is a phrase I hear on just about every photo shoot that I have ever conducted. It's usually uttered about 0.2 seconds into the session and followed by questions about how each couple should pose. Here's what you need to know about a photo session with me (and past couples, feel free to chime in in the comments!): I am not as interested in setting you up in the perfect pose as I am in waiting for your natural reactions to each other once I get you into position! I will certainly help you get into "poses" that show off your best angles, the perfect light, the best backdrop but what I am best at is taking a step back and letting you both ease into enjoying this carved out time together. I love catching you in real moments as you laugh with each other, react to whispering in each other's ears, and as you inevitably start to relax and enjoy the engagement session!
My Favorite Engagement "Pose"
One of my favorite things to do during an engagement session is to ask my couple to hold each other close, and one at a time I ask both bride & groom to whisper something in the other's ear. Whether it's a sweet question about what they are looking forward to the most about being married to one another, or something like "Whisper something in your partner's ear that you would NOT want me to hear.", the reactions are always priceless and some of my favorites of any engagement shoot!
Location. Location. Location.
Fort Fisher is the photo shoot location that keeps on giving. Beautiful wind-shaped trees, gorgeous natural light, the ocean, wild and unruly stretches of land that look like something out of a painting, it's definitely easy to see why this location is in high demand. Half of the fun is finding new ways to photograph Fort Fisher because it IS so heavily used by local photographers. I have had my eye on this lone tree for awhile now and am so glad that we were able to use it!
Congratulations, Andy & Sean, I'm so looking forward to your big day!
Wilmington │128 South Stylish Bohemian Folk Wedding
Wilmington, NC wedding at the beautiful 128 South venue with a unique Bohemian Folk theme.
Amy, Tim and I met for our beautiful Fort Fisher engagement session and when they showed up with one of their awesome pups, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite weddings to date! The venue was absolutely perfect. 128 South is an amazing wedding venue in downtown Wilmington, NC and fantastic for so many different wedding types. I typically start each wedding way ahead of my second shooter, as I am with the girls and the boys generally take much less time to get ready. Amy was able to use the bridal suite of 128 South, The Cottage on Orange Street, which I highly recommend using. It is the perfect set up, and makes for one gorgeous "Getting Ready" scene backdrop. After Tim & Amy had their special moment, "Uncle Timmy" got a second First Look of the darling flower girl! And let's not forget the sweet puppy kisses from their zoo at the end!
The Boys
While Amy was getting ready, Tim and the boys were getting ready as well with my second shooter, and hubby, Thor (yes, that is his real name, and yes, it is pretty cool!). Boys take about .05 seconds to throw on their wedding day attire but the in between moments are always some of my faves.
The First Look
Amy & Tim wanted to do a First Look with each other, which I of course am so for! Not only does it lend itself to some pretty emotional and beautiful images of one of those highlight moments of your wedding day, but you also knock back those nerves before your walk down the aisle! After Tim & Amy had their special moment, "Uncle Timmy" got a second First Look of the darling flower girl! And let's not forget the sweet puppy kisses from their zoo at the end!
The Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony was beautiful! The couples favorite band, The Mid-Atlantic, played live throughout the entire wedding which was a wonderful tie in for their Bohemian Folk style wedding. The flower girl darted up the aisle and wanted to hold Uncle Timmy's hand during the ceremony, which was adorable. The lighting by High Performance Lighting was incredible. Perfect ceremony!
The Reception
And the rest, my friends was history!
The Bride & Groom
And the rest was history!
more wedding fun for you!
Wilmington │Bridal Portrait Session
Bridal Portrait sessions are something that not all brides choose to do, but they are SUCH a brilliant way to capture gorgeous images of each bride before their wedding day! Brides, if you are considering booking a bridal session, allow me to sway you with this image collection!
Bridal Portrait sessions are something that not all brides choose to do, but they are SUCH a brilliant way to capture gorgeous images of each bride before their wedding day! Whitney, her mother and I chose Fort Fisher as the perfect bridal portrait location. We also happened to choose the windiest day I have ever experienced which was challenging, but really made for beautiful images with her veil being caught in the wind! Whitney, you are absolutely stunning! We had such a fun time at your engagement session, I am so happy we got additional time to do a bridal portrait session as well. Brides, if you are considering booking a bridal session, allow me to sway you with this image collection!
Bridal Session = Wedding Day Practice
One of the smartest things you can do for your bridal session, is to also plan your hair & makeup trial on the same day. This will allow you to get a feel for the complete look, and when going through your bridal portrait images, you will see exactly what you love or want to change before your big day!
Bridal Session Props a Must!
Whitney just so happened to find a chair that she thought would give us some pose options for her bridal session. I love the way the soft, muted colors of the chair gave a certain feel to her images. Great find! I always suggest that my brides bring a flower bouquet with them to their session. You certainly do not have to spend an arm and a leg to do so, you would be surprised how a basic floral bouquet from Whole Foods or Trader Joes can really add the perfect finishing touch to your images!
Golden Hour is Prime Time for Photo Sessions
You cannot go wrong with a golden hour photo session, and this is certainly true for bridal portraits. The hour before sunset is perfect for flattering images because you have nice even light, very little under eye circles from the harsh overhead sunlight, and you get the added benefit of beautiful sunset-filled skies as the session shifts from daylight to night.
Whitney, you were such a beautiful bride! Thank you so much for spending the evening with me at beautiful Fort Fisher! Stay tuned for a blog post of Whitney & Chad's Oak Island wedding!
Check out featured Wedding & Engagement blog posts!
Wilmington │Melanie is One
Just LOOK at that baby face! Such a beauty! My friend, Gabrielle, has the most beautiful family so I just had to take them out to downtown Wilmington for a little family mini session followed by a birthday cupcake to celebrate Melanie's 1st birthday! Melanie and her sister, Mya, are adorable and my little girl absolutely loves them. I had a ball spending a little time with them on this morning family shoot!
Just LOOK at that baby face! Such a beauty! My friend, Gabrielle, has the most beautiful family so I just had to take them out to downtown Wilmington for a little family mini session followed by a birthday cupcake to celebrate Melanie's 1st birthday! Melanie and her sister, Mya, are adorable and my little girl absolutely loves them. I had a ball spending a little time with them on this morning family shoot!
After our neighborhood stroll, we found a shady place to let Melanie have a little birthday cupcake to celebrate the big O-N-E!
Happy 1st Birthday, Melanie!
Love, Tiff & Isla
Airlie Gardens │Engagement Brian & Amy
I love a good botanical garden engagement shoot. I especially love a morning engagement shoot in beautiful Airlie Gardens followed with part two of their shoot at sunset on Wrightsville Beach. Yep, perfection! An engagement shoot is the perfect way to spend a little time not only celebrating and capturing your relationship as a couple, but also to really build a relationship with clients before their wedding day. Every wedding package I offer includes an engagement shoot for this very reason! Brian & Amy were so ridiculously happy and really fun to photograph, I am SO excited about their upcoming wedding in just a few weeks time.
I love a good botanical garden engagement shoot. I especially love a morning engagement shoot in beautiful Airlie Gardens followed with part two of their shoot at sunset on Wrightsville Beach. Yep, perfection! An engagement shoot is the perfect way to spend a little time not only celebrating and capturing your relationship as a couple, but also to really build a relationship with clients before their wedding day. Every wedding package I offer includes an engagement shoot for this very reason! Brian & Amy were so ridiculously happy and really fun to photograph, I am SO excited about their upcoming wedding in just a few weeks time. Let's dive into their photo shoot, shall we? First up, our morning spent at the gorgeous Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC!
One landmark we really wanted to take advantage of during their Airlie shoot was the "Airlie Oak". This oak tree is over 400 years old and is SO beautiful. I think my favorite thing about Brian & Amy is how playful they are with each other. My cheeks hurt from laughing with them, haha. Always a good sign!
Next up, Wrightsville Beach! Initially, we were worried about the weather but it could not have been more perfect! Love a sunset beach shoot, such beautiful natural light and the scenery cannot be beat.
Brian & Amy, we are so excited to photograph your wedding day. Congratulations!
Downtown Wilmington │The Spine Family
I tell you what, give me a downtown Wilmington early morning photo shoot with the Spine family any day! Adorable children, great parents, beautiful weather and no one out and about yet, the downtown area was basically ours for the taking. Perfect! Ashley & Joel, I loved spending time with your little family and it's such a bonus that we all happen to live in the same neighborhood with kids about the same age! Friends, Mason & Harper are about to make you say "awww" a time or two, you've been warned... ;)
I tell you what, give me a downtown Wilmington early morning photo shoot with the Spine family any day! Adorable children, great parents, beautiful weather and no one out and about yet, the downtown area was basically ours for the taking. Perfect! Ashley & Joel, I loved spending time with your little family and it's such a bonus that we all happen to live in the same neighborhood with kids about the same age! Friends, Mason & Harper are about to make you say "awww" a time or two, you've been warned... ;)
^ SUCH a Dad move, haha!
Spine Family, thank you so much for spending the morning with me exploring downtown Wilmington with your tribe! Let's repeat this in the fall, shall we? :)
128 South Wilmington │MJ & Barnes Wedding
If ever two people existed who were perfectly suited to each other, Marijayne & Barnes are those people. Their 128 South wedding in downtown Wilmington was absolutely amazing! It is such a gorgeous venue perfectly suited to their romantic, vintage literary decor. MJ was bridal perfection, Barnes has the world's best smile and their guests were F-U-N. Definitely one of my favorite weddings to date! Congratulations to the happy couple!
If ever two people existed who were perfectly suited to each other, Marijayne & Barnes are those people. Their 128 South wedding in downtown Wilmington was absolutely amazing! It is such a gorgeous venue perfectly suited to their romantic, vintage literary decor. MJ was bridal perfection, Barnes has the world's best smile and their guests were F-U-N. Definitely one of my favorite weddings to date! Congratulations to the happy couple!
- Wedding gown by The Wedding Dress Shoppe
- Hotel accommodations The Hilton Riverside in Wilmington, NC
Groom attire by and Men's Wearhouse & Express
Boutonniere by Olive Branch Gardens of Wallace, NC
Literary wedding decor by Old Books on Front
Florals by Olive Branch Gardens of Wallace, NC
Jewelry by Kay Jewelers
Cake by Hot Pink Cake Stand
Cake topper by Etsy
I loved the herb toss! The guests really got into it, and the herb colors were beautiful to photograph in the midday sun.
If only the guests had had a little fun. I mean the stoic faces, the yawns, the faraway looks in their eyes (INSERT SARCASM HERE). This wedding was so full of joy, it is really hard not to share every image we captured, but here are just a handful of some of our favorite moments!
^ Music SO GOOD you grab your plate and dance in the middle of your meal! Ha, love this!
MJ & Barnes, thank you so much for inviting us to photograph what we hope was one of the happiest days of your life. Here's to a lifetime of marital bliss!
Wrightsville Beach, NC │ Family Session Revisit with Stacey
It's so awesome to look back through an older photo session and find a new favorite or two that somehow stands out to you more now than it may have originally. These photos were so sweet when I first posted them a few years back, but looking back through them now and seeing how TEENY her kiddos were, and those "mom looks" that I see on Stacey's face as she looks at her beautiful babies, full of pride and love... these photos are so worth a little revisit. Stacey and her little tribe are some of my favorites and frequent the blog, and I may have a few adorable photos of her sister & niece when Baby Jay was soooooooo new for a little added bonus :)
It's so awesome to look back through an older photo session and find a new favorite or two that somehow stands out to you more now than it may have originally. These photos were so sweet when I first posted them a few years back, but looking back through them now and seeing how TEENY her kiddos were, and those "mom looks" that I see on Stacey's face as she looks at her beautiful babies, full of pride and love... these photos are so worth a little revisit. Stacey and her little tribe are some of my favorites and frequent the blog, and I may have a few adorable photos of her sister & niece when Baby Jay was soooooooo new for a little added bonus :)
Thank you, Windham Family!
Wilmington: Jayden's Newborn Session
Josh & Jackie, it was such a treat to get to snuggle your little one. He's just perfect, guys! Thank you so much for letting me photograph Jayden's tenth day in this Wilmington newborn session! Welcome to the world, Jayden!
Some of you might not know that I work a day job, and one of the many perks of being a coworker of mine, is that if and when you have a brand new little baby to welcome to the world, I'm going to become your own personal baby paparazzi! Josh & Jackie, it was such a treat to get to snuggle your little one and as an added bonus: I resisted bundling him up and tucking him safely away in my camera bag, where I planned to surprise my husband with our latest addition ;) He's just perfect, guys! Thank you so much for letting me photograph Jayden's tenth day in this Wilmington newborn session!
Welcome to the world, Jayden!
Laryn & Jayden Wrightsville Beach Session
For this photo session, we headed out to Wrightsville Beach to enjoy a quiet, early morning with our babies & my camera...
So, my hairdresser , Stacey, is pretty darned awesome and we have been able to work together over the years, I photograph her babies, she tames the mane! Lucky for me, her sister Laryn is ALSO awesome and she and her hubby Matthew have the cutest little girl, Jayden, who I get to photograph! For this photo session, we headed out to Wrightsville Beach to enjoy a quiet, early morning with our babies & my camera...
Love her!!!
Laryn, I think you need to go ahead and let us all in on the secret to not looking like we just had a kid a few months ago, k?
The next few photographs crack me up! My little girl, Isla was a few months old here and we decided to put the kids in a big fabric bin and see how they would interact. Isla had never been around another baby before. Her reaction is priceless!
Laryn & Jay, love our Wrightsville Beach photo session! Stay tuned peeps, as I play catch up on the blog this week, maybe I will fast forward and you will get to see Jayden's FIRST birthday shoot!
Time FLIES!