Holly
Even though it was absolutely freezing, I had so much fun photographing Holly and her family at Lafayette Village in Raleigh this weekend. There were so many laughs and snuggles to keep warm!
Can we just take a second to appreciate how perfect and festive their outfits are!? I'm absolutely in love.
There were kisses to be had by all and a couple tickle fights as well..
I am so glad we braved the cold and got the chance to capture these moments. I'm pretty sure I couldn't have possibly found a more loving and fun family!
Zach + Jessica
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for the ability to fly to Georgia for a weekend to do an engagement session with an old friend.
I'm thankful that Zach found someone to love him at his goofiest. Jessica and Zach are the perfect combination of sweet and goofy and we had a blast together.
I'm thankful we had the opportunity to go to downtown Senoia, Georgia (where The Walking Dead and various other TV shows and movies have been filmed) for their engagement photos.
I am thankful for this gorgeous alley and Michael Escobar for teaching me to think outside the box and that it's always okay (and encouraged) to have a little fun.
I'm thankful for Fall weather and Zach's taste in diamonds (isn't Jessica's ring gorgeous!?)
I'm thankful that my job lets me be surrounded by love and laughter.
I'm thankful for Zach and Jessica's natural chemistry that made my job so easy.
Most importantly, I'm thankful that these two found each other and that we get to celebrate their love and marriage in March!
Click Here to see their full album!
Should You Do a First Look? The Pros and Cons
One of the biggest parts of planning your wedding now is going on Pinterest, looking up all the gorgeous wedding ideas, and seeing what's best for you and your wedding. A current trend is doing a first look before the wedding but a lot of brides are having a hard time deciding whether or not it is right for them.
As a photographer, I see the benefits of doing a first look. Intimate photos of the couple during the first look and a portrait session before the ceremony. It also allows you to do family and bridal party photos before the ceremony so the couple has the chance to enjoy their reception rather than being whisked away to take photos.
However, personally, tradition is a huge part of a wedding. If you are more of a traditional couple, and want the groom to see the bride for the first time walking down the aisle, don't go with the trends.
You always have more of a compromise in the option to do an "around the corner" where the bride and groom can exchange letters or gifts, hold each other's hands, and talk to calm their nerves before the ceremony.
In the end, do what is best for you and makes sense for you as a couple. Your wedding day is all about you, your relationship, and what best represents your love for one another!
Andrew + Shelby
When my brother and his girlfriend asked me to do a couples shoot with them while I was back in my hometown, of course I had to! They were so much fun to work with and it was so obvious that their relationship is built on laughter and just being goofy together. We joked that after the session we would have a solid 7 good photos (without somebody making a goofy face or having their eyes closed), and I think we got way more than that!
There may or may not have been some licking involved here...
How perfect is Andrew's shirt though!? Our parents brought it back from Hungary and if I had to pick a shirt to represent him, this would be it. I love it!
I will forever be in love with shooting during the golden hour. How gorgeous is this light!
After their session, I decided to have a little fun and put them on the spot to see how well they know each other. I asked them a couple fun questions about each other so let's see how they did!
Well, at least they got a couple right.. But how funny is it to see how different their answers about their first date are! Sorry to put y'all on the spot, but I had fun with it at least.