Memorial Day Weekend - Blowing Rock, NC

What a beautiful town. Our Memorial Day weekend in Blowing Rock was a nice retreat. We had the pleasure of staying in a lovely cottage off main street, of which, the owners have taken tremendous care in preserving and retelling the history of the home. Our early summer weekend was spent in jackets for the most part as the higher elevation brought even lower temperatures than we expected. Besides exploring the town itself, we also spent an afternoon hiking through Moses Cone Park, enjoying the views and chatting with the cows.

The Rankin Family - Raleigh, NC

Much can be accomplished with a tripod and a remote shutter release. So when mom says she wants a picture for above the fireplace, you get mom a picture for above the fireplace. This past spring we headed out to a local park and did the best we could on a short time schedule. It turned out ok nevertheless and besides the cold weather and the curious bystanders, it was pretty fun.

The Sparazza Family

I met the Sparazza's through the Hood family.  I hit it off with Julie as soon as I learned she was Polish and knew how to cook a pierogi! I was glad to meet with them last fall in order to take some shots of their sweet family up in Wake Forest.

The Reeder Family - Christmas Photos

Sitting around their dining room table, sipping on a french press, I was struck by the coziness of their home. As a visitor I felt welcomed. Jillian cut slices of a homemade dessert as Cory and I talked about some of our favorite NPR programs. They are one of the sweetest couples I know and their daughter, Evelyn, is an adorable bundle of joy. I had the privilege a few times to enjoy coffee and dessert with Cory and Jillian in their home before they moved away. We have known each other from church for a while now and getting to hear more of their heart and drive was always an encouragement to me when we could get together.

Last fall I had a chance to take a few photos for them to include in their upcoming Christmas cards and I was thrilled to spend the afternoon with them!

Where it Began

I remember Meghan calling me. "Listen, I'd like you to photograph my wedding." she said.

Stunned silence.

"What?" I replied. "Meghan, I don't know how to do that, I've never photographed anything."

"Sure you have!" she answered. "You'll be fine. I believe in you. Plus, if you don't do it then no one will. So you'll do it, right?"

So began my photography journey and though I didn't know it at the time, saying yes was the first step that would lead me to this day. It's funny to look back at the pictures now. To remember that day and the weeks leading up to it. I scoured every blog, book and article I could get my hands on up until her wedding day when I pulled out my old Rebel T1i and a rented lens and made the best of the day that I could. I've learned a lot since then but it's fun to look back at those pictures and remember where it all began.