bryant :: family :: raleigh, nc

You know it's going to be a fun session when the first person you're greeted by is a handsome young man named Moses and his dogs. As I open the car door Moses says "Hi, this is my dog, Ruby, she's half great dane." I said I can see that she's huge, but she doesn't really look like a great dane, what's her other half?....his answer "dog." :) We met the Bryant's at their adorable house with the fun front door and had a great time capturing photos of the kids and family as they played, danced, and loved on each other. Sarah wrote us before the session saying:

"I told Scott and the children last night how sweet these pictures will be. Last of Georgia Mae before she’s a teenager in August, probably last of Moses with baby front teeth (he’ll be 8 in October and still has the top front baby teeth), and Emmylou with her wobbly new walk before she’s running (16 months old and only been walking a couple months). These will be treasures to remember this perfectly sweet time in our family’s life. Can’t wait!"

Those are the reasons we love getting to take photos and video for our clients, we love being able to capture these time in their lives that they will always remember!

alaina :: newborn :: wake forest, nc

Oh, the Lee Family there aren't enough good things I can say about this family! We have known Nate and Lane for years and have truly enjoyed getting to watch their family grow. In contrast to my all blue, all truck, all ball, all boy house. The Lee house is all things girl: pink, bows, dresses, princesses, dolls and beautiful girls! We have loved getting to document the girls throughout the years and it's no different with their newest baby girl, Alaina! She is the sweetest little baby, and has already adjusted to and loves the chaos that surrounds her! During the session Anna Kate quickly got distracted with my boys in the backyard (of course we had to make a playdate/mommy time out of the session:), but Abby Grace did not want to leave her new baby sisters side and was there helping the entire time! It was so sweet to see the love and excitement she has for her new sister!

roxie & clint :: wedding film :: ahoskie, nc

Clint and Roxie's wedding was a beautiful December wedding in quaint eastern North Carolina. It was a cold but sunny day and Roxie was so stunning I'm not sure anyone even realized how chilly it was. We met the bridal party at Roxie's home church, First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, early in the day and got to spend the afternoon with them as they prepared for a beautiful ceremony and fun-filled reception. There was not an empty seat left in the church as Roxie walked down the aisle and Clint and her exchanged vows.

The evening finished with everyone dancing the night away during the reception at Beechwood Country Club with live music from The Pizazz Band.

Thank you Roxie and Clint for allowing us to be a part of your big day!

Photographer: Dana Jo Photography Ceremony: First Baptist Church Ahoskie Reception Venue: Beechwood Country Club Reception Music: The Pizazz Band

https://vimeo.com/253355556

The Neill Family Photos : #braveryforavery

There are certain moments in photography that feel sacred. Opportunities to document that hold the highest honor. One such moment came this past Sunday as we met with the Neill family in North Raleigh to take some family photos. We gathered on land where we have shot many times before. Beautiful acreage in North Raleigh owned by a family from our church who have graciously allowed us to use it, time and again. This was one such time that they were more than happy to open up their property to us and even decorate their beautiful barn for the session we would have that afternoon. The Neills include Emily (mom), Andy (Dad), Bekah & Avery (Twin Sisters) and James (the youngest of this crew). Teran and I have known them for a while and Teran has been blessed to be part of their small group for the last few years.  They are a close knit small group that has lived life with each other, grown their families together, and figured out parenting (and its accompanying highs and lows) side by side, along with the rest of their community at Bay Leaf Baptist Church.

That is why Friday came as a heavy blow to everyone when we heard the news that sweet Avery had been diagnosed with a brainstem tumor known as "DIPG," which is sadly incurable and for which there is very little treatment. The average prognosis is 9-12 months.

Emily reached out to us that afternoon asking if we might take some family photos prior to Avery beginning treatment this week, a request we were honored and humbled by, and which we were more than willing to fulfill.

On Sunday, Avery was already showing symptoms from her diagnosis though her main struggle was with dizziness and nauseous from the double vision they believe she was experiencing.

Yet there on a cloudy Sunday, with the Neills and their extended family driving in to join, we were able to capture a few images for this sweet family before their life enters a new season of treatment for Avery. For a few short hours we were able to focus on the smiles and joy of this incredibly brave family and we were able to document Avery and her family as they enjoyed being just that: a family.

We love the Neill family and can only imagine the weight of this season they are entering. We are heart-broken but not without hope. We are amazed at the grace and courage of Emily, Andy, and their entire family as they begin to navigate this road.  We are touched by Avery's sweetness throughout this all, and we continue praying for strength and courage.

It was our joy to offer this session to the Neills and we are actively looking for other ways to walk alongside and support them during this hard season.  We were able to donate to Avery's YouCaring page, and we would encourage you to do so as well if you are able.  You can find the link here.  Avery's diagnosis will significantly alter the lives of the Neill family, including financially.  One way they can feel our love and care is through donations that help ease the financial burden, which is only one of the many difficulties they face ahead. Perhaps even more importantly, please pray for the Neills--for strength, encouragement, faith, peace, comfort, and healing.   Finally, you can follow the Neill's journey by joining their Facebook page where friends and family will be adding updates regularly about Avery's journey.  You can even post messages and help connect others in encouraging the Neills with the hashtag #braveryforavery.

Somber moments like these can take our breath away and leave us speechless.  But where words fail, pictures speak loudly.  Avery's smile and hope-filled gaze; her sister's calm sparkle; Emily's passionate embrace of her daughter; her Daddy's protective grin.  These moments are perhaps more real than the words to describe them and will endure as memories of God's goodness in creating and uniting the Neills as a family.  Even in the midst of sorrow and anticipated loss, the beauty of these moments reminds us that the sovereign author of them all endures far beyond, holding for us a joy that cannot fade or diminish.  We pray that these realities will be a comfort to the Neills in this difficult time.

kayla & jonas :: wake forest, nc :: wedding

Back in August, we were honored to capture the moments, details and memories as Kayla and Jonas began their life together as Mr. & Mrs. Jonas Bailey. It was a beautiful August day, mild for a Raleigh summer, and the sun was shining as these two became husband and wife. We started the day at the Salon with Kayla and her girls as they were getting their hair and makeup done. There was no shortage of laughter and smiles as old friends reminisced and new friends and family awaited the day ahead.

We then met Jonas and his guys at the church and got to spend some time with them as Jonas anxiously awaited the moment he would see his bride. Of course, his groomsmen were happy to fill his short wait with jokes and laughter.

It was a beautiful ceremony and you could see and feel the love Kayla and Jonas have for each other and for the Lord.

The reception was hosted at The Sutherland in Wake Forest. A staple in the Raleigh wedding community, The Sutherland did not disappoint. Not only are the grounds beautiful, but the house, pavilion and staff are amazing. Kayla and Jonas welcomed their friends and family to a true southern meal complete with Cheerwine and a night of celebration and dancing!

Thank you Kayla and Jonas for allowing us to be a part of your beautiful day. We wish you both all the best in your life ahead - together!

kayla & jonas :: raleigh, nc :: engagement

We want to introduce to you all Kayla and Jonas! We are excited to be photographing Kayla and Jonas' wedding in August of this year, and had fun a few weeks ago getting to spend an evening with them for their engagement shoot. We had their session at Jonas' family property and it was so meaningful. This property is where Jonas' was raised, where he proposed to Kayla, where they will one day build their house and where a family members Golden Retriever just had a litter of puppy's, that Kayla may or may not want to kidnap! :) We had so much fun with Kayla and Jonas. The love they have for each other was so sweet and the excitement they shared for their upcoming wedding was contagious! They showed us the barn that Jonas and his dad restored, the hill where they are going to buy their house, and we just spent time getting to know them!

We hope you all enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed getting to take them and we can't wait to share Jonas' and Kayla's wedding with you in August!

brinkley family :: maternity :: coats, nc

We love shooting in new locations, we love it even more when it's the family's property! The Brinkley's were absolutely adorable and their property was a photographers dream. Laura and Nick have a 2 and a half year old little girl, Madison, and are expecting twins this Spring. It was a bit of a chilly afternoon the day of their pictures, but Madison didn't seem to mind and neither did the cows that followed us around during the session! Getting to take pictures of expecting mothers and their families is one of our favorite sessions. The anticipation and excitement of everyone is always so fun to photograph and it was no different with Laura and Nick. Madison was cute as a button and is going to make a great big sister. The property had beautiful pastures, a quaint little pond with a blue boat as well as a barn that was catching the sunlight perfectly.

Thank you Brinkley family for allowing us to capture these photos for you!

caitlin & jarrod :: raleigh, nc :: engagement

You couldn't have asked for a better afternoon then the one we had with Caitlin and Jarrod...well other than the 20 mile gusts of winds that kept coming! The wind made for some pretty funny outtakes, but also for some pretty awesome pictures. Winter pictures can be challenging because the sun falls so fast and the cold sets in just as fast, but the light you do get is usually so crisp and beautiful it's all worth it. Caitlin and Jarrod were so cute together. Their love for each other, books and Penguins (ok, maybe that's just Caitlin) was evident through out! We loved walking around the park getting to know them as a couple, hearing about how he proposed, and just watching the two of them interact. It's always the best to me when a couple can have fun together, they can just be themselves and let the photos come naturally.

Capturing couples, families, kids when they are in their element being who they are is why we love doing photography and making those memories. Caitlin and Jarrod were no different and we are so excited for them and their future together!

mike and allison :: maternity photography :: bahama, nc

To say we had fun at this session would be an understatement. I actually met Allison my freshman year at NC State. We lived across from each other in the dorm and became fast friends! We lost touch after college, but ended up going the same gym and started working out together. In the mean time, JJ and I had gotten married and he was always talking about this guy Mike that he worked with. One Saturday I was going to meet Allison at the gym for a class and funny enough JJ said he was going to Mike to work out. We get there and Mike and Allison are there and they are "Mike and Allison" we had no idea!! We've stayed close friends with them and JJ was even in their wedding 2 years ago. So when we found out they were pregnant this summer and then Allison asked us to do their maternity photos we were ecstatic! We met them at Allison's family's property in Bahama on a beautiful evening. We had the best time exploring the property and getting these beautiful images of them!

raleigh wedding videographer :: kenny & jen

richie :: family :: raleigh, nc

hot, muggy, steamy, fun, adorable, beautiful...those are all words we could use to describe the Richie's session. Yall I know it's hot in North Carolina especially in July, but this particular evening was one of the worst! Even though it was so hot and my clothes turned into a wet suit, it was such a cute session! The entire family is incredible and even with it so hot they were all so photogenic. Foster (their son) was on the move the entire time, which made it interesting trying to get him to to stay still long enough to get some pictures with him in them, but little sister Kennedy made up for it! That girl, LOVES, I mean...LOVES...the camera! And the camera loves her smile!

We had a great time with the Richie's!

carlyn :: newborn :: durham, nc

What better way to spend a Saturday morning then with a beautiful newborn, her adoring brother, and loving parents in their beautiful house! That's exactly what Paige and I got to do a few weeks ago. We have known Nick and Amanda for years and have loved watching their family grow. When big brother Camden came along it was so neat to watch them as parents and now that little sister, Carlyn, is here you can see the love between them all! Carlyn's story is pretty amazing. Shortly after Nick and Amanda found out they were pregnant the doctors told her she had lost the baby. I remember being so heart broken for them and praying for comfort for them during this difficult time. They had to go to the doctor again and say their final goodbyes, but as the doctor did one last heart check they found the faintest heart beat...it was truly a miracle.

Amanda's pregnancy wasn't the easiest and because of health complications Amanda was induced a few week's early. Through it all I was so encouraged by Amanda's strength and the faith and trust her and Nick lived out!

I'm so thankful for them and their amazing story and we are thrilled to be celebrating another beautiful baby in our group of friends!

brooks :: newborn photos :: raleigh, nc

What can we say about the Marion family? We've had the pleasure of capturing this beautiful couple multiple times over the past year and now we've had the honor of documenting their sweet baby Brooks' newborn photos! Brooks slept through his entire session as we snapped away at the sweet little bundle and his glowingly proud parents! We couldn't be more thrilled for Jade & Travis, not only have they been loyal clients but far and beyond they have become good friends! There's nothing we love more about photography than being able to bless those in our lives! Congratulations to the Marion Family on their newest arrival!

marion :: maternity :: raleigh, nc

Jade and Travis are not only awesome friends, but awesome clients! We first photographed them in the fall when they wanted some photos at their home where we shot a few top-secret pregnancy announcement photos! Fast forward 6 months later and we got to go back to their cozy place situated on some beautiful family property for a maternity shoot! It's so much fun watching new parents await the arrival of their firstborn.  Travis, always a good sport, was an adoring soon-to-be father and Jade was absolutely glowing! We can't wait to meet baby boy and we look forward to his very first photo shoot! Keep an eye out!

cobb :: newborn :: knightdale, nc

There is nothing quite like a newborn session. As everyone knows, you never know what you're going to get with a brand new baby. At this age they could care less about getting that perfect picture for their parents and care only about how hungry or tired they are. I have to say, that was not the case with sweet Juliana. Yall, seriously....she did not cry the entire session..not.one.sound. I was amazed. And if that doesn't leave you saying, what??!?!?! She let us change her surroundings, change her outfits, swaddle her, not swaddle her, without a peep. The best part, it's like she knew what was going on. Even at a little over a week old she was following the camera. It was hard to get sleeping pictures of her because she would literally hear the sound of the camera and open her eyes to see what was going on.

And of course her parents Shannon and Jake were amazing too. None of those first time parents jitters, they were completely laid back and handling the new parent thing like champs! It made for an awesome session capturing this little beauty and the sweet family of three they now are!

powell :: family :: raleigh, nc

There is nothing quite as beautiful as a cool, crisp, Carolina morning. Then you add in a gorgeous location and an amazing family and you get a fantastic photo session! We love the Powell family and when Paige was raising money for the 12x12 Initiative they were so nice to come along beside Paige to support her by pledging toward the trip and receiving a photo shoot in return! It's always an honor to have repeat sessions with a family and we are grateful for clients like the Powell Family!

blasingim :: 1 year old :: wake forest, nc

We got to spend this past Saturday with one of the sweetest little girls. When you talk about a laid back, easy going, sweet baby...Aerobella is that! When her mom, Julie, contacted us about doing a 1 year old shoot we were super excited! The day was a little overcast, but the temperature was great and Julie brought some of the best props and cute little girl outfits! She wanted something rural, which only makes sense because they live on a farm and have miniature horses and a fainting goat!! With the rural back drop, the old rocking chair and metal framed baby bed, it was everything we could have asked for. Not to mention the adorable baby, cute outfits and the smash cake it was all picture perfect!

We hope you all enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed getting to take them!

Wilmington, NC :: GoingLocal NC and Wrightsville Beach

I hate to admit it but even though I've lived in Raleigh for almost 13 years I've only been to Wilmington a handful of times and 2 of those times happened in one week this past month! I must say, we LOVED it and will definitely be going more often! This past winter, Paige and I were selling our prints in Going Local NC's Raleigh location through Christmas. Shortly after Christmas they re-located to Wilmington. When they asked if we would continue to sell in their store we weren't sure how we would make it work with inventory and restocking, but I'm so glad we decided to be a part of this new adventure! Wilmington is awesome, Going Local NC is awesome, their location is awesome...it's all just a bunch of awesome'ness!

Our first trip was on a Tuesday to see the location of the store and get some shots of Wilmington and Wrightsville to create some local content. It was great, the weather was beautiful and we were able to explore downtown, the river walk, and Wrightsville Beach. The boys went with us and they loved it!

When we went back a week later to set up our display and stock inventory the boys and JJ were able to come along. We enjoyed an amazing lunch downtown and once again, some time on the beach!

Check out some photos from our Wilmington trip, some of our Wilmington Prints, and be sure to check out Going Local NC at 208 Front Street next time you're in Wilmington! You can also shop all of our prints on our etsy store found here and in the menu link.

nnn.       ,l/ t   vt k           .3≤ .m.3,3

lee :: family :: wake forest, nc

Lane is a dear, dear friend. We have known her through the years, but when my back was up against a wall and I was trying to find someone to keep the boys so I could take a part-time job that had been offered to me. She willingly came to my house, stayed with my boys, and did all of this for little pay! I will never be able to let her know how thankful I am. Lane had to stop staying with my boys in September, because she was pregnant with their 2nd and needless to say trying to keep up with 3 kids under 3 can be exhausting...especially when you're pregnant!

Ms. Abby wasn't due until January, but back in December I got a text from Lane saying she thought she was in labor. Sure enough at 36 weeks sweet Abby Grace came into this world in her own time. Paige and I were gone for the holidays, but the week we got back we went over to their new (and super adorable) house and had the best time with Abby, big sis Anna Kate and the entire family.

Thank You Lee family for allowing us into your beautiful new home and for allowing us to be a part of this special time of your life.

diering :: family :: wake forest, nc

Around the holidays families love to get together and that was no different for the Dierings. The parents Steve and Nancy live here in Raleigh along with one of their sons and his family. His wife Maria, has been a good friend of  Paige's and I's for years now so we were excited to get to take family photos of everyone while Nate's brother and his wife and son were in town. It was a cold afternoon, and with 3 small children that can always get interesting, but they were all fabulous, and gorgeous so it was a fantastic photo shoot. Plus Sadie, Maria and Nate's 4 year old daughter, was a great photo assistant telling everyone where to stand, how to pose, and what looked good!

We love this family and this session!