Cunningham Photo Artists: The Blog

The NEW BLOG is here to stay!

2010-01-01T11:01:00.001-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! We are so pyched to start off the New Year with our NEW BLOG, www.thecunninghamsphotoblog.com!! I admit it, we got so busy this summer and though I will always think of this blog as my first love blog, I needed a better work flow and easier way to showcase all of the rockin' images for you!

The new blog isn't just about pretty. Prepare to meet lots of new vendors, tips on easy entertaining, the importance of Yoga breathing, family moments and cool events happening in the hip and charming area of Plaza Midwood.

"The road in front of us is long and it is wide! And with beginners luck we've got to take the ride!" - The Eels.

2010 is definitely a year of new beginnings, adventures and discoveries. We sincerely hope that your roadmap isn't just a GPS, but an internal compass of passion and faithful endurance. Believe, believe, believe.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New blog drops on DECEMBER 30th!

2009-12-26T12:14:00.001-05:00

Howdy peeps! Just wanted to say Merry Christmas! We are super excited about the new blog design and wanted to let you know that it goes live on DECEMBER 30th! Keep your eyes peeled, but for now...ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY!!

Love

The Cunninghams

TRUNK SHOW TODAY!!

2009-10-24T13:13:00.001-04:00

Don't forget shoppers that today is the continuing Trunk Show for Bella Bridesmaid, right here in Charlotte! Since promoting others on our blog is one of our favorite things to do and since Bella dresses so many of our clients, we know that it is a fantastic boutique! They are conveniently located at 2133 South End Drive, the title above will take you right to their site! Casey snapped the photos for the Charlotte store and we just adore owners Cecily and Shannon. Today Cecily is featuring Melissa Sweet galore so check it out!

We will keep you updated on the rest of their upcoming Trunk Show schedule of events!

Portrait Season has begun!

2009-10-08T16:25:00.003-04:00

The above is a slideshow of some of our most favorite portraiture from 09. It's time to take advantage of cooler weather, cozier clothing and super snuggly moments and let us capture them for you. We'll have all kinds of awesome happenings for portraiture this fall not to mention custom designed, always unique Christmas Cards so give us a call and secure your spot! They are going fast!!!

Elegant Bride Feature!

2009-09-21T19:36:00.004-04:00

We are so super excited to be featured in this fall's issue of Elegant Bride magazine. Elegant Bride has been one of those goals to be published in as it is so very stylish and lovely and a national magazine to boot! Our feature couldn't have been possible without the ever so fetching Mrs. Kristen McLanahan (then Zeiger) in her absolutely gorgeous one of a kind designer gown (page 30)! Kristen's amazing hair was done by none other than Mandi English, find her on FB y'all, and porcelain makeup by the ever so talented Ms. Alicia Graham of Bobbi Brown, find her at their Belk South Park location.

We photographed the portrait at Charlotte Country Club and many of you have seen the highlight video from the shoot on our website. If not, check it out as it was so much fun making such beautiful art! Also, pick up a copy of Elegant Bride and prepare to be inspired! So many fantastic ideas to make the head spin and the heart swoon. You can find it locally in Charlotte at Borders, Barnes and Nobles and Books a Million. HAPPY READING!!!

Living in Analog

2009-09-19T10:01:00.002-04:00

Hello all!

You may have been wondering what rock I have been living under...in fact it's not a rock but an enormous but useful paperweight like device called a computer! The last few weeks have been an amazing blur of shoots, ALBUM DESIGN, yes I promise, and prepping our new SPACE!!! We were silly photographers and didn't really take any before photos but let me assure you that the walls have become one with Casey's elbow grease. Getting our space ready has literally opened so many doors that we just can't wait to share with you...but alas, will be waiting to share until next week.

On the docket today, a fantastic super cool shoot with 12 high schoolers! I will tell you all about it...on Monday!

PEACE!!! Enjoy the weekend!

New website is UP UP UP!!

2009-09-02T18:34:00.002-04:00

We are so pleased and proud to announce our new website!! We want to thank all of the amazing couples, families and dogs that have made this new site possible. Please take a spin on the site and enjoy some fantastic art work on us! Obviously making big changes like this can be challenging but without some challenge in life there is no way to improve. The blog has been quiet so that I could concentrate my efforts on building the new site but I do believe you'll find it worth it. Expect lots of updates now that my fingers aren't split every which way but Sunday!

In addition to the gorgeous new site, we have an awesome new space! We will keep you posted with before and after and during photos of the decor and personalization process. Our new space will definitely be something you'll have to experience!

We've also been slamming into portrait season, getting ready for a bevy of dogs, babies and super cool Grads. Stay tuned everybody, you're watching a program already in progress!

Jessica and Neal's Asheville Wedding: Asheville Wedding Photographers

2009-08-18T23:35:00.011-04:00

stunning chandeliers

super sexy shoes

one beautiful bride and one handsome groom

Jessica and Neal were married at the amazingly scenic Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Asheville, NC this June 6th. The wedding was so vibrant and summery and we adored working side by side with the fabulous peeps at Shay Brown Events. All of Jessica and Neal's vendors were impeccable from florals, to catering to cake, it was a perfect day full of fun and laughter. Casey and I were so happy to have photographed Jessica and Neal's engagement shoot earlier in the year as well as Jess's bridal portrait. Creating all of those one of a kind images added to the anticipation and excitement of their wedding but also made them so relaxed once they saw us there with cameras in hand. They were able to truly enjoy their day and focus on their friends and family.

To get the full scoop, jump over to Southern Weddings blog as their story is being featured TODAY!! YAY!!!! Just click the above post title and read on! Don't forget to leave a comment...you know everyone appreciates it!

Fan Mail!

2009-07-20T19:24:00.003-04:00

Want to read what Christine and Austin thought about working with us? Find us on Facebook and become a fan. Read the fan mail section!

Christine and Austin: FUMC WEDDING: Charlotte Wedding Photographers

2009-07-20T18:13:00.007-04:00

The Scoop:

This past steamy June 27th, we had the pleasure of photographing Christine and Austin's lovely French Garden inspired wedding. The wedding was such a fantastic combination of classic and contemporary I just couldn't stop thinking about sorbet...maybe because it was so very hot outside. Thankfully, Christine and Austin had planned all of their festivities indoors so the heat was only a temporary sensation that added to the unmistakable feeling of a summer wedding!

Christine and Austin are absolutely adorable together and have such a natural warmth singularly that together they are a force of friendliness.

Christine was so calm and collected and cheerful, keeping everyone else happy. It's obvious that she is so very pretty but she also is just so genuinely sweet.

Maybe another reason I couldn't stop thinking of sorbet were the delightful punches of pink and green that ran through the theme. Intensely romantic florals were provided by the Flower Diva.

Christine's sweetheart of a Rivini gown came from Bridal and Formal of Cincinnati.
As did her new diamond and pearl earrings.
The pretty maids wore Melissa Sweet.

I just loved this teary moment between Christine and her MOH right before she would take her Dad's arm!

Christine told me that her favorite moment of the day was "when the organ began to play the Trumpet Voluntary and the doors to the sanctuary opened up for my Dad and me to begin waling down the aisle. I immeditately connected with Austin's eyes and have never been overcome with so many tremendous feelings at once.

Still my favorite part of the ceremony...I'm a sucker.

Ok, this moment was pretty awesome too!

And then it was time to hop into the limo, and after getting unstuck...the stepstool was stuck under the tail pipe for a moment. We all felt so terrible for the incredibly apologetic driver, you could easily see this had never happened before but in a few minutes we were on our way to the Omni Hotel uptown!

I loved the fanciful and creative decor dreamed up and actualized by Michelle Kidd of Vida with Michelle. Michelle is just SUCH a fun person to begin with and her ideas are always so very tactile and unique. She blended the french floral theme with a southern elegance that gave the reception both punch and pinache. I also loved the budget stretching ways Michelle repurposed Mint Julep cups in a wide variety of sizes for bud vases, favor holders and even stage dressing. Another great tip was she used the medium mint julep cups as aisle markers in the church and then brought them over to be decor for the cocktail area. Everything floral for all of your wedding week celebrations should be reused in my opinion.

Topiaries served as name card holders.

Michelle helped them make an untraditional guest signing book by putting blanks photo mats with snaps of Christine and Austin at every guests table with a pen. As the mats filled up with signatures they were placed into a photo box.

Again, gorgeous florals by The Flower Diva.

They also used one of my all time favorite cake artists, Elizabethan Delights.

A simple, elegant F for Fenn served as the cake topper.

It wasn't long before the dance floor heated up with the sounds of Continental Divide, one of Michelle Kidd's go to bands.

We even lucked out and carralled all of Christine and Austin's alumni buddies onto the dance floor for a reunion photo.

When I asked Christine what her favorite detail was she told me:
Every single detail was so amazing, but I especially loved the small mint julep cups that were put at each place setting at the reception. Each cup contained a pink rose and a small thank you note attached from Austin and me.

Michelle and Casey and I helped organize a line of guests all the way to the elevator doors for Christine and Austin's departure. Everyone was practically out of breath from so much dancing and celebration. The bubbles were a sweet send off
to end such a wonderful day!

New Logo and Branding!

2009-07-20T17:58:00.004-04:00

Drum roll...one of many to come...introducing the new logo and brand name!! Cunningham Photo Artists is Casey Cunningham Photography and Casey Cunningham Photography is Cunningham Photo Artists, still just Casey and Drea, so don't worry or get confused...GET EXCITED!
So many wonderful things are on the near and far horizon for our little company and this is just our first step of embracing the wave. A decision that has been in the works for two years is now here and we are celebrating! Thanks to Rob Burchfield, a local Charlotte graphic artist, who is so incredibly talented and sharp!! Rob helped us with our first branding and it only made sense to use his instincts again for our evolution. I am plugging away on the new site...whoah is all I have to say...and will keep you posted on that bad boy.

And for all of you lovely guys and dolls and babies and families who have already been the backbone of this company, we are so proud to say you have the limited edition Casey Cunningham Photography originals and can't wait to see you get some Cunningham Photo Artists work in your home too!

Cara and Dom's Hilton Head Island Wedding!

2009-07-18T12:24:00.003-04:00

Details to come! Check out their gorgeous Hilton Head Wedding!

Christine and Austin's full day slideshow!

2009-07-10T10:23:00.001-04:00

Stay tuned next week for details!!

Mary Owen and Nathan: The Scoop!

2009-07-09T14:24:00.002-04:00

Casey and I had such a wonderful experience getting to know and work with Mary Owen and Nathan! Their wedding was a true reflection of their personalities: respectful of tradition while having a warm, friendly energy that is simply infectious. Mary Owen's wide open laugh and Nathan's flexible form let you know that if you were trapped in an elevator with these two, it would be fun.

And party they did! Everyone did! We've got the photos to prove it! At the end of the night, Mary Owen and Nathan snuck upstairs before their exit, oh yeah...I went too... I'm not always psychic! Nathan and MO sat down for a minute to catch their breath and Nathan kept saying,"That wedding was FUN! That wedding was really FUN!" And MO said, "That was OUR wedding! OUR wedding was fun!" and of course giggles insued.

Enough, mush...onto the photo buffet!

Mary Owen is seeing her custom designed guestbook for the first time. It is a signature product of our company.

Kate Spade's...need I say more.

Florals provided by the ever artful and brilliant Jay Lugibihl of In Bloom Ltd.

Mary Owen wanted all of the details to be pretty and natural but was most inspired by the electric blue hydrangeas all around Boston, where she went to University. Jay made sure that the florals felt natural and organic, not fussy. Beautiful job!

They were married at First Presbyterian on June 13th.

I fell in love with this sweet little aisle bouquet.

Mary Owen's mother and sister, her MOH, helped her slip into her stunning Vera Wang gown. Mary Owen was attracted to the simplicity and asymmetry and the delicate net cap sleeves.

Her finishing touch was the family heirloom veil that was purchased in Brussels in the 1940's and subsequently worn by 10 family members and close friends.

One more minute with his boys before the ceremony!

MO and Nathan used younger cousins and siblings to hand out programs. The light in this doorway was impossible to resist.

Making her way to the church! MO's seven lovely bridesmaids were her something blue! They shopped at Bella Bridesmaid in Charlotte for these Coren Moore frocks.

Breaking the tension before the walk down the aisle!

Ok, three amazing moments coming right up!

And though their ceremony was beautiful, moving, had handbells as Mary Owen once played them in First Presby's choir, we are photographically skipping along to the end. There are only so many photos to put on the blog!

Look how HAPPY they are!!

Mary Owen's bridesmaids were so fantastic and kept her energy up! You might recognize the pretty maid to the left as Margaret;we photographed her wedding in January!

The City Club awaits!

The City Club looked lovely as ever and I swear you could feel the building sway with the awesome music provided by Deas Guyz!

I just love the corner of her eye with her Dad!

Deas Guyz are out of Hilton Head, South Carolina...my home town!

MO and Nathan decided on a delectable series of stations so that guests could float between the different rooms and enjoy food in each one! The main slider bars and oyster bars were placed in the Mecklenburg Room with all of the seating. Other guest cozied up in the wine room for desserts and a piece of Haines Barksdale's heavenly wedding cake.

Nathan chose sweet Mini-Moon pies for guests to take away with them as inspired by their own Mini-Moon to Asheville.

A private moment just before the exit.

Rose petals tossed into the night air. Lovely.

Quick, get away before we take more photos!!

As they headed up to their bridal suite, City Club signature basket in hand, everyone could see their bliss.

Mary Owen and Nathan's Slideshow!

2009-07-09T14:20:00.000-04:00

Honest to Blog

2009-07-05T21:47:00.002-04:00

Ok, here goes. I know that I have been promising historical proportions of mad crazy updating on the bloggerooni and I have set out nearly each night to accomplish it. I know that my heart has been beyond excited to share with you the images and experiences of the past three weeks as they have been SOOO dynamic, beautiful and meaningful but I have found that I have a weakness which I could easily label computer difficulties but instead the truth...it's called my passion for everything. Finding the time when all your good is knocking on your door, is extremely difficult.

The time has come for transformation in our company which ripples into every existing corner. We have agreed upon a new, vibrant logo and a fitting name. We are in the process of switching over the website, invigorating this old blog, and if you can imagine something that has to be re-designed you can bet I have it on my to do list. And of course, we have had weddings each weekend since early March and a bevvy of new clientele over the past few weeks. AMEN!!!

Casey and I have been blessed beyond measure this past spring and early summer. Not only with fabulous clients and bountiful work, but amazing transformations in our business life, home life, family life, and love life. Oh yeah, in being a husband and wife team it is incredibly important to shine some focus on your love life. We were recently interviewed by the television show, GET MARRIED on Lifetime about that very subject and other wedding related topics. When speaking of marriage, work and your passion it all makes sense to us as we have always put our marriage at the center of everything. If our marriage needs tending we better tend it as everything good will follow suit. There is much prayer but just as much focus and work to keep the marriage strong and the love in your hearts that same as when you met. Casey was recalling the moment that I transformed from friend to love interest in his mind and I had complete chill bumps as he spoke and tears came so quickly. It truly only takes a moment and when you know that your love is real you must protect it and treat it like gold.

All that loveliness being taken care of, it has made our hearts and minds more open to our amazing family and by sheer, natural extension our UNBELIEVABLE clients...now, new friends.

So many people have asked us how on earth we can develop personal relationships with our clients, to which we respond, how on earth can we not? We are invited voyeurs, documentarians in their most personal, vulnerable and beautiful moments of their lives and to be clinical in any way would be denying the miraculous nature of these very people and events. Our lives are enriched by the sheer interaction with people who love and appreciate the art of photography as much as they love and appreciate the milestones of their existence. It is a magical blessing, a calling that we cannot ignore and we are humbled in the prescence of such constant love and vision.

There is no other life which we wish for and no other inspiration but the amazing women and men who commission our work. And there is no other feeling that we want all people to embrace in this world but love. Between the Fourth and all of the unbelievably heartfelt weddings we have attended recently, my soul is simply plum full. I just want to leave you with a quote from one of the greatest living inspirations to have walked the planet, Mother Teresa.

"Works of Love are alway Works of Peace."

"Intense Love does not Measure-It Just Gives"

God bless you where you sleep, work, eat and breathe. May you have a wonderful week full of joy.

Jessica and Neal's Complete Slideshow!

2009-06-20T11:22:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody! We just wanted to congratulate Jessica and Neal on their beautiful wedding at the Cliffs in Asheville. It was so awesome working with Shay Brown and her fabulous team: Caroline and Blair! The Cliffs provided some gorgeous scenery and I can't wait to share all of the details with you! For now, here's a yummy slideshow of the the whole darn day!

Sweet Sweet Baby!

2009-06-15T14:44:00.002-04:00

I recently had the sweetest little newborn session with baby girl Arden and her fabulous parents. Her parents are super cool and the shoot was so natural and she slept the whole time! I love the sleepy baby sessions and of course love being able to photograph some of the babies as they grow! Photographing children in their own environments where they and their parents feel safe and comfy is so important to me. I always feel that the photographs will be so special knowing that they are also documenting their nursery, their first home, etc. The memories for these families will extend far beyond how cute the little fingers and toes were but transport them back to the exact time in their history. Thanks for being so cooperative little Arden!!

Mary Owen and Nathan are married!!

2009-06-15T14:32:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Mary Owen and Nathan!! We had a BLAST photographing your wedding and hope that you have a wonderful honeymoon!! We will ofcourse be posting all kinds of highlights, tidbits, and details in the next two weeks but in the meantime I wanted to post one of the lovely portraits we photographed of Mary Owen during her bridal session. And of course, it is at the ever fabulous City Club.

Mary Owen and Nathan's Big Day!!

2009-06-13T12:04:00.002-04:00

The party officially began on Thursday at the McDowell home to welcome the friends and family who are here to celebrate Mary Owen and Nathan's big day!! We will have so many fabulous photos to share from all of the events but today is THE DAY!!! We are so thrilled and excited for both families to be gaining so much love with this amazing couple! You have been a blast to get to know Mary O and Nathan! Cheers!

Debbie and Jim's slideshow

2009-06-10T15:11:00.001-04:00

Here is the full cache of images from Debbie and Jim's Lake Lure wedding! Enjoy!

In Debbie and Jim's words:

We loved how the photos came out, which came as no surprise! We loved your work from the moment we first saw it and were so excited to work with you. Everyone at the wedding commented on how great you were and everyone has commented now on how great the photos came out. You both captured every moment and it was amazing to look at the pictures and see them the way you saw everything. We are also so glad that you not only photographed our special day but also became a part of it – you were both so fun to hang out with; we're so glad you spent the weekend in Lake Lure!!!

Debbie and Jim are married!

2009-06-10T14:13:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Debbie and Jim on their recent and wonderful marriage celebration! We had so much fun documenting their day and meeting all of their super fun friends and family! Here comes the scoop and some scrumptious images!

Debbie and Jim held a lovely outdoor wedding at the Rumbling Bald Resort at Lake Lure. The weather was extremely dodgy all weekend, I know some of you saw the morning mobile uploads on Facebook and it didn't look like it was going to be "get married outside" weather. We all helped Debbie keep her chin up and of course started praying like mad!

Debbie's gown was from Lily Rose.

The sun broke through and the downpours ceased by mid afternoon. The occasional shower picked up right before I was going to head out on the lawn with the ladies but we made do on the beautiful terrace.

Casey and the guys didn't get caught in the rain but definitely got caught up in some zany antics. They ran all over the golf course, an area not being used, and reenacted some Three Stooges movies. Cigars and golf clubs, Casey's favorite things!
Love this one of Jim with his groomsquad.

Debbie's favorite moment of the day:
"Walking down the aisle to my future husband – and being able to do it at the lakeside gazebo! So glad the rain held for the ceremony and pictures!!!"

After the ceremony, we scheduled some time for the formal photos and some one on one time with Debbie and Jim. A stroll along the lake turned into some fantastic photographs.

Debbie had so many ideas for wedding but one of her best ideas was using her Sister-In-Law Susan Baudier(florist and planner) as her wedding planner extraordinaire. Flowers, table runners, sweet table, were all inspirations of Susan. Debbie and Jim decided on the color scheme of black and white with light green accents and the theme leaped off from there.

We asked Debbie about her DIY projects:

Susan Baudier helped to decorate EVERYTHING! She helped sew the runners (along with my mother in law and sister in law, Verena Currie). Susan designed all the floral arrangements, along with the candy table and gift table. Jim made the photoboard that went behind the place card table. But Susan was a god send and did SO much and had help from various siblings, cousins and aunts - especially Verena Currie. Susan found the fabric that we used and basically went from there. She created menus, place cards, pictures, etc. with the "Dandy Damask" pattern and it all tied in.

Loved the use of fresh apples for the place cards. Also loved that I saw little children munching on them after dinner!

The gorgeous cake, extra yummy too, was provided by City Bakery of Asheville.

Party time!

The reception was held just steps away from the Lakeside Gazebo at the Lakeside Terrace and Restaurant at Rumling Bald. The view was spectacular, like being on a cruise, and the terrace felt spacious and open despite the ample covering.

After a delicious seated buffet dinner, the dance floor kept hopping all night with music provided by All the Right Grooves from Charlotte.

Before the evening concluded, Debbie opted for a bouquet toss and these might be my favorite bouqet toss photos ever.

It really was such a fun party, we even stuck around for the after party! Debbie and Jim and all of their friends and family had an awesome celebration!

Big Things To Come!

2009-06-08T08:59:00.002-04:00

So the transformation begins, as this is our summer of change! We are so excited about new developments in our company and we will keep you posted as each little piece unfolds!! For now though, my fingers are busy prepping some GORGEOUS weddings, ridiculously precious baby portraits and some steamy boudoir images.
It's going to be another week of features on the blog so put in a few extra workouts at the gym cause this eye candy is super sweet y'all! You can't resist it!

Featured on Southern Weddings!

2009-05-27T09:40:00.002-04:00

YAY!! What a lovely surprise to wake up this morning and see that Margaret and Andres' January wedding is featured on Southern Weddings!! We photographed their gorgeous Southern Wedding on a chilly winter evening and it was so very lovely and such a PARTY! Check out the lovely ladies at SW's take and read more of their story on the Southern Weddings Blog.

You know the drill, click the post title above!

Melissa and Jake: The Details!

2009-05-26T13:40:00.002-04:00

Melissa seeing her finished portrait on her wedding day.

Since today my head and heart are feeling full of spring and butterflies, I am on the topic of fun weddings! One common thread that all weddings have, at least that we are priveledged for photograph, is that they are FUN! Whether it's black tie or paper napkins, everyone wants their wedding to be ENJOYABLE! Dare I say, most people plan weddings so that they can show all of their loved ones an amazing time while publically and legally declaring their love. I see no shame with putting enjoyment on the top of the wedding to do list, as you wouldn't choose to marry someone whom you didn't enjoy so it makes sense to plan something that speaks of your personalities.

Amazing hair courtesy of Mandi English, our favorite updo queen.

Ridiculously swanky red silk heels from Christian Louboutin.

Melissa and Jake's wedding was a classic combo of traditional, romantic and super fun!

Melissa and Jake DIY'd their stationary needs.

They layered their celebration with amazing music, tissues were a necessity, topped off by dancing and drinking and of course good food! And I am just talking about the ceremony! Ok, exaggerating a bit, but the ceremony, which took place in Matthews United Methodist church, set the stage for a serious and honorable religious event that was painted vividly through gorgeous song. Melissa is lucky to have a stepfather who was a former opera singer and he hasn't lost a thing. All of the choir singers that added to the service, were incredible and Jake and Melissa were truly moved as were all who were present. I haven't cried behind the lens in quite a while but I just couldn't hold it in.

They looked so proud at this moment!

Flowers provided by The Blossom Shop.

Their color scheme was vivid green and black.

A moment to relax in the limo on the way to the reception.

Melissa and Jake, with the help of Melissa's giant awesome family, hosted a fantastic reception at Firethorne Country Club. We took a few minutes to grab some great shots before heading indoors. The weather held beautifully!

Ok, I gotta say that Melissa's bridal party was hysterical! These ladies should have FUN PATROL tattooed on their foreheads. Check it out!

The whole bridal party was more like a family and they all were so ecstatic that Melissa and Jake tied the knot!

Melissa and Jake designed little Lottery scratch and wins for guest favors.

Melissa drew out the cake design, inspired by a lovely hearfelt poem Jake had written her and Edible Art created the awesome confectionary treat!

First dances are always so beautiful, but this particular father daughter dance, once again, here come the tear drops!

I had a little fun with Melissa and Jake's rings...she's a doctor of pharmacology, don't worry...these are just tic tacs.

Roy Rosen cranked up the jam, and though we have off the hook footage of the dance floor, I'm only going to share a few favorites.

Melissa and Jake, we are so happy that you enjoyed your wedding and thrilled that you love the photographs! We are looking forward to designing the album!

Lisa and James Wedding Celebration!

2009-05-26T13:32:00.003-04:00

What is a Theatrical DVD? It is a proofing system we use to convey our images and your wedding day in a fun, easy and interactive medium that you can share with your loved ones without messing up proofs or squinting around a computer screen. Here is an example of one of the awesome Theatrical Slideshows, images choreographed to music, that is part one of our proofing system.

On a personal note, I get all teary-eyed when selecting the songs and images for these shows. This particular slideshow embodies the butterflies and the relief that you feel when you are dreaming of getting married when you are little, that feeling that stays with you and magically appears again on your wedding day. As my children now play "the let's get married game", I am struck by how there is a constant and universal desire for all beings to find that someone to love. Please enjoy the slideshow and don't forget to give the ones you love a squeeze, first start with yourself.

Lisa and James Wedding Celebration!

Posted using ShareThis

Click on their name just above this to see the larger version!

Melissa and Jake wedding slideshow!

2009-05-19T12:50:00.003-04:00

Please enjoy the slideshow from Melissa and Jake's recent wedding! We had such a wonderful time creating these images for them! We'll get you the highlights and details soon!

Beauties abound!

2009-05-18T18:32:00.002-04:00

When I scroll through my client list I am always amazed at how gorgeous they all are and how much fun they are to photograph! It's fantastic when we are concentrating on the technical and the posing and the locations that our subjects are ready to have a good time. The bridal portraits that I am about to share with you are a perfect example of relaxing and feeling good in your own skin.

We met up at the Ballantyne Resort, one of our absolute favorites spots, to capture Melissa's stunning dress and designer red silk heels.

Melissa is used to being photographed as she was raised by a pack of wild photographers. I'm exaggerating but her extended family owns and operates one of the largest photo studio chains in the southeast. When Melissa and Jake and their family chose us to document their wedding we were so very honored and so very determined to knock their socks off.

Consider these portraits of the lovely Melissa a teaser before we post her wedding photos tomorrow!

Lisa and James: Wedding Highlights!

2009-05-11T17:38:00.009-04:00

Casey and I have been so excited for Lisa and James' wedding since we met them.

We have so much in common and similar styles and taste. We are two photographers who are married and work together, they are two accountants now married who work for the same company.

After getting to know them and hanging out with their close friends for their wedding day it simply confirms for me that accountants are crazy fun people who happen to be whip smart.

Bridesmaids wore dresses by J Crew.

One thing that I absolutely adored about their approach to their wedding was simplicity.

Bouquets by Party Blooms.

From Lisa's "Grace Kelly-esque" gown by Mori Lee, to James' snappy tailored black suit with soft striped tie, friendly patterns and soothing colors popped throughout the theme.

Lisa's brother Rob designed their logo and invitation to incorporate all of their favorite ideas and colors.

Lisa and James' desire for style and warmth wouldn't allow them to skimp but they weeded out all excess that could distract from their naturally elegant approach to their big day.

Getting married at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens allowed them and their guests to be surrounded by the natural palette and florals that they find peaceful without any fussiness.

Lisa's father walked her down the aisle.

It was a big day! James being from Australia meant relatives with long travel. Lisa being from a very big family meant that their were many different people to entertain and show some southern hospitality. Blending their personal environmental interests with their attraction to urban chic, resulted in a comfortable and easy day that meandered from garden, to Main Street, to South End. A little tour of Charlotte for the Aussies and a relaxing pace for the entire guest list.

Later that evening, guests gathered at Byron's Southend for a supremely chill reception that allowed for cocktails in the courtyard and "shrimp on the barbi" with other tasty bites as well as acoustic music and tune spinning by Matt Hatfield.

Scrum-didalee-umptious cake by Elizabethan Delights....YUM!!

Dinner and more dancing followed inside with a full bar and happy guests. This is where I usually put up all of those fun photos but I have another angle to share.

Having multiple locations provided Casey and I with a smorgasbord of lighting and backgrounds and textures for making photographs. Lisa and James were amazing pupils during their engagement shoot, learning to open and relax in front of the camera, and those skills were put into fabulous use on their wedding day. We used the time in between the ceremony and the reception to snag these awesome shots and the bridal party was entertained at a nearby pub.

There are way too many great photographs for me to blog them all but here are just a few more of our favorites.

There was a biker fundraiser going on in the Mainstreet area and this huggable biker Larry offered James and Lisa his classic, sweet Harley for photo purposes. Larry and all of the bikers couldn't have been nicer to us but as to not ruin their street cred, I am absolutey sure they could have kicked all of our booties.

Spud, our van.

One hot looking bridal party.

One gorgeous couple.

Lisa and James got married!!

2009-05-09T12:12:00.002-04:00

Feast your eyes on this yummy slideshow from a crazy fun, simply elegant earthy urban wedding. I promise to fill you in on details on Monday!

Clifford Lintner Slideshow

2009-05-04T23:01:00.002-04:00

Please enjoy this absolutely lovely wedding. Congratulations again, Meghann and John!

In Emmy and Aron's words

2009-04-30T11:46:00.003-04:00

I am still building the fun Testify section of our website and I received this from Emmy and Aron this past weekend. I'll let you read it for yourself but it seriously made my little grinch heart swell like a balloon! Ok, so I have the opposite of a grinch's heart but you know I really did feel like my heart was going to pop out of my chest with pride and love.

From Emmy and Aron:

"Casey and Drea were amazing! They were such a unique combination of fun, creative, enthusiastic, and professional, and we feel so lucky that we were able to work with them. Not only is there something very special about working with a husband and wife photography team for your wedding generally, but they in particular bring real dedication and high energy in making a couples' wedding memories everything that the couple wants it to be. They worked incredibly hard to get to know who our guests were, talked through the plans, and helped identify the best possible ideas for shots at our wedding. Plus, when we came up with challenging ideas, like having a group photo of all of our guests, they were positive and thoughtful about how we could do so. Their attitudes alone made them a great addition to the weekend, as by the end of the weekend, so many of our friends and family commented on how great our photographers were -- not to mention, of course, and most important, the photos are incredibly beautiful. We recommend them at the highest level and without reservation."

SMP=JOY! JOY! JOY!

2009-04-30T11:34:00.002-04:00

We are so THRILLED today because Emmy and Aron's wedding is featured on the Little Black Book Blog of Style Me Pretty!! We have the distinct and awesome pleasure of being associated with Style Me Pretty, the most fabulous wedding blog on the internet! We have been members of the Little Black Book for two years but being chosen for a feature just never gets old!

YIPPEEEE!!!!!!

Click the above post title and check it out!! PLEASE be sure to leave some comments!If you have some time, surf around the entire blog and I promise you will not be disappointed. SMP ROCKS!!!

Meghann and John

2009-04-27T16:47:00.004-04:00

OH MY! Our hearts are so full after reading the positively powerful article on the front page of this past Sunday's Charlotte Observer. Meghann and John are both tremendous people, an amazing couple and we are so very honored and pleased to work with them. Casey and I feel so blessed to have been to able to serve a small role in documenting the beauty and strength of their love and commitment to one another. We send continue prayers to Meghann and John and all of their family for a very long, healthy and happy life together. We applaud and admire them for their courage and conviction but also want them both to know that their wedding was a true joy to photograph! We can't wait to put the slideshow up!

Big hugs to you!!

To view the article, click the title above.

Don't forget your Sunday Paper!

2009-04-25T07:53:00.002-04:00

Casey and I want to congratulate Meghann and John on their gorgeous wedding and their wonderful marriage! We had the pleasure of photographing their wedding on April 18th at Christ Episcopal Church and Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte. To say that Meghann and John are easy to work with is seriously understating things. They are a totally solid couple, who like to get silly, but sincerely go with the flow. I have never seen a bride more relaxed on her wedding day and Meghann has a unique and quirky sense of humor that makes her a joy to be around. John is a man's man and still a total character as his goofy side can't help but creep out at times.

I really enjoyed working with them for their engagement shoot months back and we were all so excited when the Charlotte Observer called to let us know that they were going to run a story on Meghann and John and their relationship for the paper. We collaborated with Elizabeth Leland of the Observer to make sure to get her the images necessary for her article on the newly married Linters. We can't wait to read all about it and are so thrilled for Meghann and John and both their families!

Here are some sneaks of the images you might see in tomorrow's paper, but more importantly, images Meghann and John will see from their wedding!

All of the gorgeous florals were made exclusively by The Place for Flowers.

BIG DAY!!

2009-04-25T07:47:00.002-04:00

What a gorgeous spring morning!! This day is going to rock because Lisa and James are getting married!! I can't wait to fill you in on all of the details and post some more "visual delicacies" as one fan so wonderfully put it. So build up an appetite because its going to be another week of tasty photographs!

Here is a sneak peek at the rocktastic engagement shoot we did with Lisa and James just a couple of weeks ago at Aloft Hotel in the Epicenter.

Want to see the rest of the session? Log into Facebook and seach Casey Cunningham Photography. You'll find our fan page and lots of great images and info.

Emmy and Aron: Did you say more photos?

2009-04-22T22:23:00.002-04:00

Oh yes, and there is more!

Em and Aron opted to do a day after "walk of shame" shoot that was anything but! We had so much fun running all over the quarter in their wedding attire and I am not sure if the tourists got more photographs of them than we did! People just love brides! And babies and puppies! That would be a fantastic idea for an ad!! A bride holding a baby and puppy!! But I digress!

JUST GET TO THE PHOTOS!!!

Emmy has conquered LOVE!

Probably my favorite?!

Love the contrast here.

What is that about art mirroring real life?

My other candidate for favorite.

LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!

Emmy and Aron: Let the Good Times Roll!

2009-04-16T12:00:00.003-04:00

Holy Cow!

What a magnificent ceremony and a GORGEOUS weather day! It was sunny with just a touch of clouds and though it was humid and hot the day before, it was a mere 65 degrees on their wedding day.

Immediately following the ceremony, guests were treated to a walk through the Houmas House and into the old fashioned kitchen. The room consisted entirely of a hearth with a roaring fire and old cupboards filled with antiques. On the table were ladled cups of soup for guests to sip on right before the cocktails would be served.

Once in the beautiful fountain courtyard, champagne and cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres tempted everyone along with the swaying ribbons of place cards.

I absolutely loved the understated elegance of the reception room. Emmy and Aron chose soft white palettes for florals and scaled everything to compliment rather than compete with the antique chairs and oil paintings.

Their dinner was a seated buffet and a combination of authentic Louisiana cuisine with some Northern favorites. Their was an actual old row boat that was converted to a buffet server where the massive amount of shrimp could be found. Everyone dined at the leisure as the music started early.

They had two divine cakes! Emmy's was the traditional, beautiful white wedding cake
that was inspired by her dress and Aron's groom's cake was inspired by his hometown of San Fransisco.

Ok, the mini fondant Emmy and Aron stole my heart.

And of course, since you are in Louisiana, you have to keep the tunes rolling!

And no party in New Orleans would be complete without a Second Line!

And after the bus ride back into the Quarter, Em and Aron gave everyone sparklers to light the walk home.

I would defintely say that a good time was had by all!!

Emmy and Aron: A Southern Epic with a Northern Twist

2009-04-15T22:30:00.006-04:00

The fan program with hand-tied ribbon on the porch of the Bride's cottage.

So, what happens when you take a California boy and a Chicagoan girl, who work in DC, two photographers from Charlotte, NC and a boat load of friends and family from all over the world and put them all together for a marriage celebration? Better yet, this Lutheran minister, this Rabbi, this Lutheran and Jewish groom and this Lutheran and Jewish Bride walk into a bar on Bourbon street...

You get the wonderful, eclectic and stylish blend of gumbo that is Emmy and Aron and their AMAZING family and friends. They chose fabulous New Orleans, Louisiana and Darrow, Louisiana for the ultimate weekend, the true start of their lives together. New Orleans has a special connection for Emmy and Aron as they are both heavily involved with organizations that rebuild and offer hope. Aron, and the company he works for, have been helping rebuild neighborhoods in the flood ravaged areas of NOLA since Katrina left her indelible mark. When Emmy and Aron set about to planning their wedding, knowing that everyone would need to travel, they could think of no better place to put their time, energy and money than into a magnificent area of history and splendor.

Upon arrival, Casey and I settled into our digs at the W French Quarter and headed out for some restaurant hopping. I have officially fallen in love with the French Quarter so just walking down the street is entertainment enough for me. We enjoyed a relaxed evening and returned to the hotel for some hang out time with Emmy and Aron and to meet more of their friends and family. It's very important for us to know every one's name and for their guests to feel comfortable with us. We were enjoying ourselves at the bar when it started to rain. No big deal. The next day was only the rehearsal, things might clear up for the wedding so no one was worried.

I proceeded back to my room, leaving Casey to bond with Aron and his buds, to find that there were crazy scary storms moving in and flash floods with rain producing clouds that rivaled and some besting Katrina. There was nothing but a brightly colored but worrisome graphic flashing on the screen for ten minutes. The weather girls voice underscored that she was unable to put her face on camera because she knew that the bars in Bourbon Street wouldn't be able to hear her words. Again, another local oddity that I found charming. And so it rained...poured...thundered and lightening that I haven't seen since I was a little girl.

When the lightening passed Casey thought it a great idea to make some photographs of Aron, our groom, who happily obliged.

There was also some frolicking in the rain after the photo session but I am pretty sure that it was just Casey with Aron and his best man George watching and laughing and probably pointing. It was a great start to an even better weekend. There was a resulting 24 hour blackout for our block and five blocks on either side of us, but everyone made it through with great aplomb.

The Rehearsal Dinner was at a fabulous restaurant in the Warehouse District, Cochon, and we did get fantastic images but I really want to move on to the main course!

Casey took this shot during the dinner portion of the wedding.

Here comes the Bride!!
They carefully chose the Houmas House in Darrow, with the help of their wedding planner Josie, for its beauty and rich heritage. The Houmas House boasts to be the home of the Mint Julep and is an authentic historical home with sprawling grounds beyond compare. Houmas House was featured on this season's TOP CHEF and it is so easy to see why. Every nook and cranny tells a story and the breeze brings comfort to all its visitors. Approximately an hour and fifteen minute bus ride away, guests were treated to a heart warming slide show of photos and music to relax and enjoy the trip.

Fresh lemonade with hand-tied stirrers were served on monogramed bev naps as guests exited the buses.

Beautiful handmade name tags were clipped to ribbons and hung from a branch in the fountain courtyard.

Emmy and her official bridesmaids, mother and mother-in-law to be, and her closest confidants got ready in the quaint Bride's cottage on the property. The morning was fairly relaxed and serene. As there are no shortage of wonderful friends in Emmy and Aron's life, they found unique ways to incorporate more than the usual size bridal party. Having seven readers, chuppa bearers, along with the traditional attendants filled out their already unique blending of marriage ceremony and celebration.

This is one of my favorite moments of the day. Minutes before this room was practically empty until the second bus arrived with the rest of the bridal party. It was like a swarm of friendly bees buzzing the same flower.

Emmy made sure to get ready a little earlier than scheduled so that we wouldn't miss out on some key photography moments before the ceremony. We are always so appreciative when brides can do this.

I love that she got her fabulous designer dress at Running of the Brides!

One of her dear friends brought down 20 parasols for the occasion.

Emmy and Aron are big fans of our black and white so I made sure to capture a fun set.
Real laughter is SO beautiful!

Emmy cutting up with a tourist visiting the Houmas House.

Casey and I arranged for Emmy and Aron to have a secret meeting prior to the ceremony. Casey and I and Suzy Marks, their videographer(holla at ya girl!), followed at a quiet distance to allow the two a private moment.

I'm totally going to cry.

Emmy cried, Casey did too. You got to love him.

These "secret" meetings are so special for the couple and certainly nothing takes away the butterflies of seeing your love an aisle or lawn's length away. The wonderful thing about these private meetings is that you get to speak the words you want to speak and hold each other for a moment.

Time for some formals! Here is another fantastic moment in a series of great emotion. Emmy cried when she saw all of her friends lined up, then she laughed, then she cried, belly laughed, and then sighed when she looked at Aron.

Everyone was so curious to see if Emmy would change her last name!

Some last minute encouragement for the lovely little flower girl.

Once again, stunning florals!

Love this Paloma Nest for the rings.

Almost time!

The famous bell at the Houmas House is rung by hand for the bride to signal the start of the ceremony.

Emmy hears the bell!

Emmy and Aron had a beautiful and loving ceremony that blended their Christian and Jewish heritage.

It is official!

Stay tuned for the reception highlights!!

Are you a FAN yet?

2009-04-15T22:26:00.002-04:00

Hey gorgeous! Yeah, you!! Remember to show your love by "Fan"ing us on our Facebook Page, Casey Cunningham Photography. Click the title above to go straight there. You are definitely going to want to get dibs on the ins and outs, of which there will be many, so don't forget to sign up!!

PEACE, LOVE AND YUMMY STUFF!!

Emmy and Aron: Day After Session!

2009-04-14T22:24:00.002-04:00

This was so much fun! We were all tired from a wonderful weekend but couldn't resist being in a city as lovely as New Orleans with a bride and groom so natural to the camera. I love these images.

Emmy and Aron: The Slideshow Begins!

2009-04-14T22:07:00.003-04:00

Ok, when you get a moment or 100, sit back and check out the fabulous images of an amazing couple truly enjoying their wedding day. We have been so excited to share these images from their recent New Orleans wedding so here they are for you! The slideshow is a mix of their rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and wedding day so I promise to put up some faves, highlights and details tomorrow!

Enjoy!!

TESTIFY!

2009-04-10T14:19:00.002-04:00

Get ready to see some groovy new changes to our website in the next few weeks. It's that time of year to freshen up the site and make it a bit more fun and intersting.

One way we are doing that is to make a testimonial gallery. Every other photographer I know has one, we should too...I know but its something that I have never wanted to take the time to ask. We are blessed to get thank you cards, emails and phone calls from our brides and grooms but it dawned on me that maybe other people want to know just how happy our clients are for having worked with us.

Our lovely Miss Jennifer Laracy, newlywed, was on the top of my list, and I simply had to share her email with you. It brought tears of joy to my eyes! Oh my goodness! Casey and I have the phrase, "Our Focus is Love" because it rings true in every sense. We make photographs because we love it so much its like breathing. We treat our clients like family because we truly love them for who they are and who they want us to capture. And lastly, because we know that the only real everlasting gold in the world is geniune, unconditional love. Take a minute to read Jen's testimonial. It will be in our new gallery in a week!

When I first met Casey, he told me that it was important for me to like my photographers since I will spend more time with them than anyone else on my wedding day. He wasn't lying!!!
Fortunately, Casey and Drea could have easily been mistaken for members of the wedding party, and we all had a blast hanging our with them all day long! My friends and family still ask how "those fun photographer friends" are doing. Just as important, Casey and Drea spent time with my fiancee and I before the wedding to understand our style and what we don't typically like about ourselves in photos. Somehow, they made us look like those few extra pounds we gained before the wedding were never there!

Not only did we all have a blast at the wedding, after returning from the honeymoon, the wedding photos were already on the website. They were absolutely amazing! Casey and Drea specialize in capturing the "moments"--you know, those parts of the day that you don't EVER want to forget: My dad and new husband sharing jokes to relax before the ceremony, the groomsmen hanging out at Hooters in their tuxedos before the wedding, the flower girl falling asleep under the table, my girlfriends laughing while struggling to lace up my dress, my bridesmaids cutting off the bottom half of my dress so I could dance at the reception...Not only are all of these things captured on film, I swear that when I look at the photos I can hear the laughter and feel the excitement!

Of all the many items involved in planning a wedding, I am SO GLAD that I didn't underestimate the value of having photographers who could capture our individual style and fit right in with our friends and family!

Jennifer Eaton Laracy

Jennifer and John: Highlights!

2009-04-04T15:33:00.002-04:00

Here are just a few of my favorites from the evening.

Flowers by In Bloom, Ltd. Jay is just impeccable.

The ever stylish City Club.

The perfect cake by Haines Barksdale, of "For Goodness Cakes."

Casey hanging with the boys prior to the ceremony.

I just loved that Jen's shoes matched this random lamp.

One little story, Jen and John are both incredibly generous and funny people. They used the best vendors to insure that their special day would be snag free and gorgeous. They held an incredibly decadent rehearsal dinner at Capital Grille the evening prior to the wedding to welcome all of their out of town guests and bridal party (oh, and us too). So when Jen starting warning me about her wedding dress I was a bit off guard. She has great style and always has fantastic shoes, but she spent more time thinking of others than herself when it came to the dress.

Oh, Miss Scarlette!

Into the dress she goes.

Her dress was super sexy, like her personality, classy but a bit naughty, like her personality. So she couldn't find a dress that was exactly what she was looking for so she bought one off of the internet that was "close enough". Then the late night, at home, alterations began and soon Jen found herself sewing in circles. Even though the dress was pure diva, she wasn't in love with it and decided to cut the train off as part of the "first dance show".

I couldn't fathom what was funnier. Seeing her "Matrons of Dishonor", as she affectionately called them, hacking away at her beading with big shears or the fact that nobody in Jen's family or friends seemed that shocked by the idea. Jen wanted a little bit of scandal to make her wedding something to talk about and I guess it worked...as I am telling you about it today!

Enjoy the photos and if you want to see the start to finish, check out the slideshow in the post below.

Congratulations again Jen and John! It has been awesome working with you and we can't wait for our bbq invite!

Jennifer and John slideshow!

2009-04-04T15:08:00.002-04:00

Here is a look at the wedding of Jen and John! Married in Charlotte, at the fabulous City Club. It was an incredibly fun and truly memorable wedding to photograph! Enjoy!

Blowing Rock: Melissa and Nathan's spot

2009-03-30T16:06:00.003-04:00

So sweet!

When we interviewed Melissa and Nathan, prior to their engagement session, we were struck by their similarities. We had decided to meet on a gorgeous, early spring day to capture some flowering dogwoods that Casey and I love. Two nights before the shoot, as we studied our notes about the couple, we just couldn't shake the fact that they truly should be photographed in a place that is incredibly meaningful to them. Not wanting to completely break our plans, and since we knew the weather would be amazing, we kept the orchard shoot but all decided to make it brief.

Wet pavement and cloudy skies are phenomenal.

One week later, we spent a chilly, slightly rainy gray day in Blowing Rock and it was awesome! We met there to photograph Melissa and Nathan for their destination engagement session. Blowing Rock is incredibly special to them both, especially because that is where Nathan proposed. The pair are quite well matched and they have the sweetest love for one another.

I adore these photos.

This next one is our favorite, though truly we love all of the images from their shoot.

That kind of connection is what we strive to capture and for sure did that Saturday.

Face Book Page!

2009-03-22T22:58:00.002-04:00

I finally had time to start our Facebook Fan page! We would love for you to sign up on our Fan page so you can receive regular updates of what's going on with us and our growing company, and of course enjoy the first scoop of the sneak peek photos! Click on the title link, sign in to Facebook and search Casey Cunningham Photography, become a fan! Have an awesome week, it's going to be a busy one!

Brock Moran says "Welcome Home"

2009-03-22T20:02:00.003-04:00

Brock the store.

Brock the man.

Brock Moran is a man, a store, and in my opinion...a lifestyle. Brock Moran Home is in inviting yet uber elegant decor store located in the convenient Ballantyne Village. I attended Brock's kick off party to celebrate his Wedding Gift Registry program and was simply blown away. I always admire when a business takes on its own shape and personality which Brock Moran Home so clearly defines upon entering.

I absolutely loved how the event put the spotlight on all of the amazing shops at Ballantyne Village! The savvy little soiree was expertly pulled together by Ms. Dina Berg Blazek, of Dina Berg Blazek events.

Dina caught on camera!

I love this invitation!

The invitation and color scheme, inspired by Brock, was just one more example of why we adore Salutations as the perfect stationary store . Dina obviously thumbed carefully through her rolodex for flowers and tasty treats befitting of the store's charm and dramatic punch. Her choice for "sips and snacks" was the talented Chef Paul Verica from The Club at Longview.

Edible nibbles of art from Chef Paul.

And the florals had to carefully balance the existing drama of Brock's furniture pieces and all of the sparkling treasures that line the walls and adorn the tables. Jay from In Bloom Ltd, displayed his signature style of lush southern charm with a romantic palette and form while Elements provided a modern hook of clean lined arrangements with monochromatic color.

An In Bloom creation: everyone oohed and aahed over the use of dogwood buds.

Another In Bloom Ltd. design.

Dramatic tulips by Elements.

A pop of color provided by Elements.

SCRUMPTIOUS mini cakes from Cake Expressions by Lisa!

The evening was a huge success and I truly believe that a registry at Brock Moran Home would be a brilliant choice!

Jennifer and John ARE married!

2009-03-22T19:55:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Jennifer and John were married at the super swanky, always classy, City Club and I can't wait to share some sneak peeks with you! Jennifer and John are not ones to do anything in a small way and even though their nuptials were so intimate, everything had a touch of showmanship to remind you of their super bubbly personalities. The photos truly tell the story so I promise to put some of the crazy highlight photos up soon!!

Congratulations you zany kids!! And thanks for being so cool!

Jennifer and John are getting married!

2009-03-21T09:40:00.002-04:00

We are so excited to kick off wedding season officially this first weekend of spring! We are fortunate to be photographing the nuptials of an extraordinary couple who are truly the loveliest of people! We were able to share in their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner last night and there was so much love in the room you could feel it. Their rehearsal dinner was at the impeccable Capital Grille and everyone thought the food and atmosphere was awesome.

Jennifer and John will be surrounded by their closest friends and family in an elegant setting that befits their generous personalities. I can't wait to share some wedding photos with you in a few days! I know it's going to be fantastic!

Jessica and Neal's Asheville Session

2009-03-18T19:03:00.005-04:00

Somethings are worth waiting for, I firmly believe. We love to give sneak peeks on the blog of what we've been up to, but many times it's not the same day of the shoot. Even though Casey and I compose in camera, we have inspirations beyond the frame especially because we are 100% digital. In a time when film seems to be making a comeback and yet most people want results yesterday, we remain steady in our approach to clients and each photo session.

For us, the result is about the client first, our product second. We take time to get to know who we are photographing, their likes, personal interests and of course their love story. We strive to capture the electricity between each couple and we also have fun framing them in the world as if their relationship itself is a creation of art.

We were so thrilled to be able to photograph Jessica and Neal in Asheville, where he had proposed. We collaborated with their amazing wedding designer and coordinator, Shay Brown, of Shay Brown Events, to come up with the perfect settings for their shoot. Shay graciously let us have our way with her UNBELIEVEABLE space, in itself a work of art. http://www.shaybrownevents.com/

Jessica and Neal were giddy and nervous and ultimately became totally relaxed and had so much fun! We never tire of hearing our clients say," That was so much fun! We were so scared and it was so fun!" Whether you are a natural in front of the camera or a total nervous amateur, we are here to guide you and make you look and feel fabulous. I can't wait for Jessica and Neal to see the whole cache!

The Big Easy!

2009-03-05T13:01:00.002-05:00

I had the recent pleasure of travelling to New Orleans for the first time in my life. I wanted to get more familiar with the city as fate has Casey and I photographing two weddings in New Orleans this year. Casey has been many times and even helped as a volunteer with the Red Cross during the immediate recovery after Katrina. I was expecting something cool and maybe a little beautiful but mostly I thought it would just seem crazy and probably a little dirty.

I was so happy to find it as a place rebuilding and still celebrating its rich heritage. The beauty and romance of the old, worn but proudly standing fixtures was completely intoxicating. Everywhere I looked I found inspiration and joy. I wanted to share some photos of the magnificent, albeit troubled city. In just a few weeks, we'll be sharing photos of a gorgeous couple and their personal connection with NOLA. In the meantime, eat up some photo gumbo!

Salutations

2009-02-13T11:04:00.002-05:00

When you first get engaged, you have so many ideas and questions and concerns when it comes to the reality of planning your wedding. I truly believe that the first thing you should do is find your invitation and whatever creation speaks to you should be the springboard for your lovely plans. Last week I had the nicest sit down with Holly of Salutations in Ballantyne. If you are not familiar with Salutations, it is a premier stationary and gift boutique that is truly inspiring. Holly and her staff are so friendly and so talented and have a great sense for design. Walking into the store is like walking into an elegantly wrapped present; there are sweet little surprises around every corner. I am always fascinated and overjoyed when I walk into a business and the storefront takes on a personality and life of its own. Salutations has a warmth and charm that cannot be missed.

This past summer, we had the priveledge of photographing some of their handy work at the Brooks 30th Anniversary Celebration. Not to brag too much, but the Brooks' vendor list reads like a Who's Who of Charlotte Weddings. They hosted their soiree at the Ballantyne Resort(one of our absolute favorites), Dina Berg Blazek was brought on as their Event Consultant and Designer, Todd Crawford and Company provided the breathtaking florals, Salutations provided the fabulous menus and place cards, Austin's Bakery created the gorgeous cake, and of course they had us as their photographers! Hee Hee!

All of the vendors had so much fun working on this event with Willie and Cynthia and were so proud to play a part of such a big milestone in their lives. For us, it has been especially rewarding getting to know the Brooks family even after the event as they have been a total pleasure.

If you want to get inspired by their event, please check back on our main website and watch their gallery slideshow. If you want to pick the perfect place to get inspired for the start of your wedding planning, drive on over to Ballantyne and be energized by the lovely and talented ladies of Salutations.

Click the above post title to be brought directly to the Salutations website.

New Premier Bride Issue!

2009-02-13T10:32:00.003-05:00

So the newest issue of Barbara McKays' Premier Bride came out last week and it looks beautiful! I truly think it is the best issue yet and I like the new uniform approach with less filler. The staff did an amazing job and you know we just love an opportunity to sing Barbara McKay's praises. We are also very proud to be the Directors of Photography for Barbara's other publication, Simply the Best, and can always count on her projects to be impeccably done.

In the latest issue, you'll find oodles of great photography and so many fabulous vendor resources. The handy size easily fits in your bag so don't hesitate to pick one up!

We couldn't help but use Kristen and George McLanahan for our ad shown above.

as featured in the Abby Jean Press Invitations Book, by Abby Larson

And we were thrilled to feature Willie and Cynthia Brooks 30th Anniversary celebration as well as Tony and Angie Sparacino's elegant Biltmore Wedding.

as featured by Southern Weddings

Style Me Pretty: Greta and Chaz

2009-02-03T16:05:00.003-05:00

We are always over the moon when our weddings are featured on Style Me Pretty and today Greta and Chaz's September wedding is featured on the Little Black Book blog! Please check it out and show your support with your much appreciated comments.

This is definitely one of my favorite weddings ever because Greta is an amazing assistant and friend and I knew it was going to be tons of fun, no matter what. The bonus was it was also an incredibly beautiful and emotional event. Exactly what a wedding should be.

Click on the post link and hop to it!

Orange Olive Grand Opening

2009-01-29T10:24:00.003-05:00

We are always so happy to promote our clients. We are fortunate to have a love-love relationship with the people that hire us and we jump at the chance to sing their praises!

One of fabulous and favorite clients, Melissa Needham, who we have photographed for the past two years (maternity through toddler photos) is the proud co-owner and creative manager of the totally chic new hair salon in NODA! The salon is called Orange Olive Hair Gallery and Melissa, along with her business and creative partner Sabrina, are bringing style and class to an already super funky and beloved area of Charlotte.

Casey recently photographed the salon for their ultra cool website, you can click the post title and jump to the gallery of images. Orange Olive is swanky, plush and yet familiar and comfortable. Only positive vibes and sexy hair go walking out those doors. They are hosting a grand opening evening with music and yummy treats this Saturday night, see the invite below and go!

Yay Melissa!!

Haines Barksdale: For Goodness Cakes

2009-01-22T12:20:00.002-05:00

I just had the nicest chat with extraordinary pastry artist Haines Barksdale. Haines recently made the ultra glamourous wedding cake for the Norelli Sanchez wedding and in the not so distant past created the one of a kind Red Phone Booth cake for the McLanahan rehearsal dinner.

Check out her delectable creations below.

Red Velvet kept the shock of dramatic red running through the theme of decor.

It even looks yummy in black and white!

Now for the McLanahan rehearsal Grooms cake!

George was living in London at the time and it was the couple's first "home" city together.

The cake was a big hit, as was the whole evening. I just love this photo of George.

Please give Haines and her lovely creations a serious look. You can click the above post title and be zipped right over to her blog!

Blog Update

2009-01-21T20:41:00.004-05:00

What's on the blog this week:

AMAZING wedding photos from the Norelli Sanchez wedding, scroll on down to older posts.

Lovely blurbs about our country and our new President.

Tips on how to make your wedding a worthy investment of money, time and community betterment.

What's on the sister blog:

Ali's Batmitzvah celebration...read all about it on Oh for Beauty's Sake by clicking the post title above.

Make Your Wedding: Socially Responsible

2009-01-21T14:03:00.004-05:00

It's hip to be socially responsible! Here are just a few random ideas for substitutions.

Personally, Casey and I both found our traditional bachelor and bachelorette festivities to be quite embarrassing and frankly a waste of money. We love getting together with friends and celebrating but going through outdated rituals seemed ridiculous even all the way back in the '90s.

You don't have to do what everyone else does. Instead of a bachelor party/bachelorette party call up your local Habitat for Humanity and help build a house as a wedding party. Or if you are in Charlotte, sign your crew up with Candy and Potter's Volunteer Army and help them with one of their monthly projects to benefit your community(click the post title to register). Snap photos of your project and buds at work and show it as a slideshow or scrapbook at your rehearsal gathering. And don't forget, you can go out for drinks and dinner to celebrate the end of the project!

And of course, don't forget that "all of the money" you are spending on your wedding IS NOT A WASTE! A wedding is a once in a lifetime celebration to unite and uplift families and friends and the memories are priceless. By having a wedding you are putting people to work all over your chosen destination and bettering their lives as well as your own.

There are little things you can do that cost nothing to make your funds spent go even farther. Put a friend in charge of gathering up all of the centerpieces and delivering them to a local nursing home. Arrange ahead of time for leftovers to be plated up and picked up by a local church's Meals on Wheels program.

The point is to get creative, look at all of your options and go into your wedding planning with a joyful and positive heart!

Make Your Favors Count!

2009-01-21T13:08:00.008-05:00

There are so many little decisions to be made when planning a wedding. Many times when brides and grooms get to the favors, if they choose to give them, they are frustrated with finding the right thing without blowing the budget.

The great thing about favors is that your guests take a little part of your wedding home with them and if they are going to take something home, maybe it should be something that has a purpose. A few wedding favors stick out in my mind from recent weddings that really had some re-usablity.

One of our weddings in California made a "Soundtrack" for their wedding and had a lovely note printed on the label of the cd. They tucked the cd in a Take Out box with other delicious treats for their guests that were travel size as it was a destination wedding.

Another way to give purpose is to make donations on behalf of your guests in lieu of a favor. One of our couples gave their "favor" budget to breast cancer research and to treat their guests at the wedding they personally handed each guest a Pink Ribbon Iced Cookie with a lovely little note on it.

Make sure you choose a charity that really feels personal to you, Laura happens to be a nurse for cancer patients.

You can even choose to have a tree planted for each guest or perhaps for each guest that could not share the day with you in the case of grandparents or dear relatives that have already passed.

Another lovely gesture is to buy favors from a fair trade organization or perhaps your local church's mission. One of our couples was getting married near the Christmas holidays and decided to make their favors a handmade Christmas ornament from a woman in South Africa through a fair trade organization.

And lastly, consider giving something that your guests can take home and plant themselves. We have had a couple grow rosemary in pots. Another couple used a local nursery for hydrangeas for decor and then bought baby hydrangea plants from the same nursery for favors.

Make Your Wedding of Service: Environmental

2009-01-21T12:15:00.003-05:00

As many couples either just got engaged or are in the midst of planning their weddings, you have an exciting opportunity to make your nuptials serve the community. Obviously, a wedding is a fabulous and worthy celebration that marks the ending of one part of life and the beginning of a new part of a life shared. The symbols of the circular wedding ring being never ending are also symbols of the circle of life and how your one love is tied to a greater "one love." Why not make your event and celebration something that spreads love and kindness to your entire community.

For example, if the environment is important to you, and hopefully it is, you might want to incorporate "green" or environmentally friendly products and vendors into your wedding planning. Something as simple as planning a wedding that takes place outdoors in daylight hours to not need the additional electricity of mood lighting and reduce the carbon footprint, buy back carbon offsetting for what you can't reduce at Carbonfund.org, using eco-friendly invites like those from Smock Paper(available at Salutations), choose a caterer who will agree to use locally grown produce and ingredients and whenever possible from an organic farm, insist that all bottles and cans associated with your bar be recycled, choose wedding bands or engagement rings from retailers who know that their jewelry is conflict free and environmentally sound, and use florists that have local grower connections and can help you design reusable centerpieces.
The green wedding doesn't have to be top to bottom but if you sew in elements of environmentally helpful activities to your big day that would be something fashionable, fabulous and oh so impactful!

Below are a few photos from a recent wedding that had lots of sweet pro-green touches.

Much of the lounge furniture was locally, handmade twig furniture.

Table decor was made of up local rocks, moss and homemade soy candles placed in reusable mismatched coffee cups from a thrift store. Lastly, flowers for the tables and bridesmaids were seasonal locally grown flowers that would not compete with the autumn. Only the brides' bouquet was of special order.

Homemade apple butter, a seasonal yummy treat made from the bride's godmother's apple orchard in reusable jars with organic cotton batik fabric ties.

As organic is very important to Amanda and Thomas they made sure that their caterer used local foods from organic farms whenever possible and local wine from Asheville.

And lastly, their multi-flavored cake, though it met with an accident right before the ceremony and had to be patched back together (why there are so many extra twigs and berries on it to hide cracks), the adorable and HIGHLY delicious confection was made of all organic ingredients.

YUM! Being environmentally friendly sure is sexy!

The Wealthy Spirit

2009-01-21T11:44:00.004-05:00

With the economy being like a wobbly toddler right now, I have heard from some clients and friends about their worries over money. We're all in this together people, remember the analogy of a rock in a pond that makes many ripples.

When Casey and I were recovering from the apartment fire in Los Angeles, a dear friend who ran her own film company gave me a book that has been a daily inspiration since 2004. It is a book called The Wealthy Spirit by Chellie Campbell. Many of my friends and our HOA have even been buzzing about Suze Ormon but I am a much bigger fan of Chellie Campbell and her techniques for positive affirmations and financial stress relief. It is a fun read, a page a day, and every day your goal is to absorb the story and the affirmation into your daily life and spread a more positive outcome and "income" into your life. It is not a hard number crunching strategy like Suze but then Chellie's techniques don't fluctuate with the stock market, they are universal truths.

The Wealthy Spirit isn't just about believing you can live debt free and even become wealthier in the bank, it speaks strongly of being wealthy in spirit. Chellie believes in service, charity, and in general living by the golden rule. She also believes in fun and poker so if you have a thing for cards you don't have to feel bad about it.

People that know me well know that I am an affirmation say-er and a nightly pray-er and that keeps me feeling balanced when we live largely in an uncontrollable world.
In fact, today, the affirmation was so right on with what is going on in our country I just had to share it.

"I have the heart, soul, and ability to be of service to all mankind."-Chellie Campbell.

Think on it and see where it fits into your life. Someone may feel awakened to join the Peace Corps, another to volunteer at the women's shelter, and another might just decide to put out their elderly neighbor's trash can on collection day. It goes back to the ripple theory, just one drop of kindness from everyone everyday and things become so different so quickly.

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

Inspired by Obama

2009-01-21T11:25:00.002-05:00

Alright, I promise not to make everyday a blubber fest over our new President but as the mood is still fresh I just have to make another comment.

I thought his inaugural speech was amazing and just what it should have been. I especially loved the part in his speech where he said "We will not apologize for our way of life." Let me tell you how that resonates with us and our clients.

First off, Casey and I are incredibly lucky and super grateful that we make photographs for a career. In the past, we have both spent our time in jobs and the entertainment industry but the fact that we have a "career" in making photography is just another example of how great it is to live in America and get to choose and go after your hearts' pursuits.

We see photography as not just a way to make pretty images but a way to help write history, preserve family ties, raise people's esteem and capture real love that can inspire future generations. It's a big deal to us to say the least.

The clients we serve come from all walks of life. There is not one bank account status, profession, religion or race that we serve. We serve all people who love photography and believe that it is a worthy investment. Our clients are single, married, divorced, non-parents, parents and grandparents. Our clients are of all shapes and sizes and yet whether we are photographing in a park or a mansion we feel a common bond that runs through all of our subjects.

Some weddings we photograph are super luxurious and others have been simple and planned on a shoe string. The point is that a family who chooses to spend more money on a wedding than another doesn't mean that they are being frivolous or wasteful. And to that same end, a client who gives up her flowers so she can have our photography for her wedding doesn't mean her wedding wasn't special or beautiful.

Don't apologize for your way of life, but do make your way of life something that does good and inspires beauty.

Sister Blog!

2009-01-20T15:04:00.003-05:00

Hey! I just wanted to remind everyone about our new, sister website, more like daughter, Beauty of Family. It showcases our portraits and family photography and hosts a lovely little blog called Oh For Beauty's Sake. I have some super cool new postings on there as well and would love for you to read on!

This week we are focusing on Sleep and new mothers!

www.beautyoffamily.com or just click the title above to go directly to the site!

My Heart Leaps Up!

2009-01-20T13:12:00.003-05:00

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began,
So is it now I am a man,
So be it when I shall grow old
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man:
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

-William Wordsworth

I had to post this poem today in honor of our 44th President, the ever so inspiring Barack Obama. My heart is full, my eyes watery, my spirit lifted and I am so proud to be alive during this moment in time. I have no doubt that the road ahead will be long and difficult but I know firsthand that adversity and challenge builds strength, creativity and character. God bless us all, bless the Obama's and the entire cabinet and all the elected officials. Please bless all of the generations with the insight to embrace one another in understanding and hope, unity and forgiveness for our short comings but resolve for the courage that we will walk this road together.

AMEN!! YAY AMERICA!!!!!

Norelli Sanchez Wedding: More Color

2009-01-16T12:36:00.005-05:00

The reception was at the Charlotte Country Club, one of our absolute favorite places to photograph(our video bride the lovely Mrs. Kristen McLanahan's bridal portrait and rehearsal dinner was there)!! The Country Club has the most vintage appeal of any of the country clubs in Charlotte, seconded only by Charlotte City Club. The decor was a delicate balance of southern charm and heavy romance with roaring fires in all of the fireplaces to warm the night air. Candlelight was the primary source for dining and relaxing.

A shared cup for their champagne toast.

Flowers were designed and arranged by In Bloom Limited.

The mesmirizing cake was created by Hanes Barksdale of For Goodness Cakes.

The entirety of the eveing post dinner was spent with a crazy off the hook funk band called The Right On Band who had just finished playing New Years Rockin' Eve in Times Square. They played nonstop and the guests obliged with continuous dancing and the occasional "Right On!" I could do a whole page dedicated to this larger than life band but here are a few favorites.

Make sure you read on to the next post, Older posts, to see the black and white images and more color.

Norelli Sanchez Wedding: Black and White

2009-01-16T11:40:00.002-05:00

Because this wedding was at night, with very romantic mood lighting it cried out for black and white images. Even though Casey and I are digital shooters now, we still purposefully light our images in camera specifically for black and white when we think its right. I also give custom color to each black and white set for each wedding, no magic button here. We love color but black and white is really like our first love when it comes to photography. I could share them all from this wedding but instead, here are our most favorite from the night.

Norelli Sanchez Wedding: Part 1

2009-01-14T22:54:00.005-05:00

We photographed a wedding the first weekend of January in Charlotte that was simply stunning. It was freezing cold outside, bleak winters eve but the mood of the entire event was candlelight and coziness. It was an intersting hybrid of stiff elegance and lush vintage romance that positively crooned drama. We were super giddy because we knew that we were going to get some 1930's style shots with all of the dim lighting and flickering fireplaces around the reception. Caution, this type of wedding design is not for the faint of heart. You have to love drama and for sure love black and white if you design this type of affair. As it is late, I can only leave you with a tease of color but tomorrow I will put up some of our favorite black and white shots. Can I get an amen?

The brides favorite boots, she wore on her way to the church.

The fabulous gold Kate Spades she would wear with her gown.

I truly felt that these shoes needed their own portrait.

A shock of red was used here and there for stunning contrast. Flowers designed by Jay at In Bloom Limited.

The gorgeous vintage inspired lace dress.

Using contrast again: a soft southern unprentious bouquet with a deep black flirty dress.

One of my favorite shots of the night...at least the first fifteen minutes.

Stay tuned for more wedding and some amazing black and white!

Sentimental Journey

2009-01-11T14:33:00.003-05:00

Casey and I had the coolest surprise last weekend. While he was cleaning out the garage, a totally appreciated husband job, he came across a box that hadn't been opened since we moved from Los Angeles.

Some of you know and some don't that we experienced a crazy tragic fire while living in LA and lost all of our film negatives and film equipment but also all of our personal belongings too. The firemen were able to salvage two photo albums, the kind that are photographs slipped behind plastic covers. One was Casey's baby book and the other was my photo book from college. We thought it a miracle that they survived even if the outer covers were burnt to a crisp and the plastic had melted onto many of the photographs. A super sweet friend, Rick, took the albums apart very carefully and restored the images to new photo albums and we are so grateful to have them.

Casey visited the ruins of the apartment one day, several weeks after the blaze, to attempt some closure. I was seven months pregnant at the time of his return to the apartment and didn't feel safe or comfortable with the idea of crawling around a destroyed building. He came home that afternoon dirty and with a bag of charred stuff and promised that he would clean up the mess.

Truthfully, I didn't even want to peak in and see one more mangled thing or partially saved trinket that could remind me of all of the other photographs, mix tapes, personal art, family heirlooms, wedding vows and invitation, and of course years of home movies that could never be replaced. So we boxed it up for another day. After all, it was just stuff and we still had one another.

Five years later, on a random Saturday, Casey set to cleaning out the clutter and opened the forgotten about box. It was mostly ashes and soot and stray pages from random photo albums but there was also a totally charred, except for the metal binding, album we didn't recognize.

As we opened it up and it crackled apart in our hands we saw that it was the scrapbook dedicated to our first cross country adventure taken ten years ago. My heart was so full! He was saving it for a surprise five years ago and then the business of life made him forget he had it.

We were only dating six months when we decided that we should spend five weeks in a car together with no one else. We saved up and I worked two extra jobs so we could see the country on our own terms. It was such an amazing trip and though many of the pictures are totally unrecoverable there are many that are just fine and the itinerary from our trip was still pristine white. I seemed to only write down how much money we spent, where we were and what we ate because I remember that every moment was so full that I couldn't actually sit down and disect it into a diary.
We had never seen 90% of what we would see and the awe was palpable.
I had a video camera and Casey had his Canon A-E1 and we fancied ourselves a documentary crew on the open road. We camped the majority of the way out, though I am not much of a camper or hiker, Casey dangled from every ledge he could find and I had my first of many freak outs about being in love with someone who isn't afraid of the things that scare me.

We grew up on that trip together and our relationship, which was already built on a solid friendship and lots of attraction, evolved into a safe place that we could come too when we had to struggle against the universe or each other. On one of our last stops on the trip, we arrived at my sister's house for a pig roast where our whole family and all of her friends would gather each June. When we got out of the car, my all too wise and super southern sister in law said, "Six weeks in a car together. Since you're both still standing here alive I'm assuming you're going to marry this guy?"

Obviously she was right. And though it took a few more months to formulate how we should get engaged(we're both very theatrical) we felt so happy that we had found our "one."

That first trip was the first of many times that Casey and I would cross the country together and apart. We love travel and seeing new places and visiting old friends. And we both still attempt to live life so that each day feels full, even when we do nothing. And that trip taught us how important it is to slow down and just be a human being.

Being parents is a very loud and joyful reminder to slow down and appreciate all the little things as your children leap off your lap before your eyes. When our son was born, we were able to get a new camera and photographed every second from birth to one year and by then we knew we just had to continue our work as photographers. Piece by piece we have built back our business and then some, and this time as digital shooters. When all that survived was photographic, when an image can bring back a flood of moments and give you back a little part of yourself and history... it makes the hairs of my arms standup. It just fortifies the reason why we have this calling and why there is never enough time in the day to accomplish all that we want to accomplish so once again we are reminded to slow down.

We are so grateful. I know I'm babbling and this is really personal but I just had to share. I hope that you will take some joy in your "personal" stock and wealth today. Go get out an old photo album and be grateful for all your are and all you have experienced.

Eco-Luscious

2009-01-11T13:58:00.007-05:00

You might know that we are members of the Style Me Pretty Little Black Book and I am always popping in and out of that blog to visit virtually with other members. There is a fabulous stationary company that I found out about by doing so and I just had to post about them!

Casey and I don't toot our horns loudly about the environment but secretly we've been an Eco-forward company since day one. I could make a laundry list but instead, just to reassure our clients, when you sign up with us you are actually helping save the planet! We use retailers and printers that have environmentally friendly or activist ratings, we use recycled paper packaging for the majority of our products, give Theatrical DVD proofs to cut down on trees used for decision making(plus they are SUPER emotional and fun,etc).

I adore stationary and especially the work of Abby Jean Press which you have read about on this blog before. Today, I read about a company called Smock Paper and just about jumped out of my chair. Their stationary is BEAUTIFUL!!! And beyond environmentally friendly...environmentally forward. They were also recently featured in the current issue of Modern Bride and I think one look and you will agree that their designs are simply stunning. And lucky for the Charlotte area peeps, Salutations in Ballantyne, another Little Black Book member, carries this unique and totally fabulous line.
www.salutations.com
Let them know we sent you!

Southern Weddings Feature!

2009-01-08T16:39:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Amanda and Thomas for being featured on today's daily blog for Southern Weddings magazine. We had so much fun working with their families and boy do we love an excuse to play in the mountains! Their wedding was stunning and so original and the food was seriously unbelievable! Thomas and Amanda are more for listening to music than dancing to it so they splurged on a never ending spread of yummies and a pass the plate family style seated dinner with fine china and stemware. It really was simply beautiful!

On New Year's Day!

2009-01-06T22:57:00.004-05:00

What a treat! Instead of recovering from massive hangovers on New Years Day, we photographed an engagement session for a super cool couple, Mary Owen and Nathan.
They are to be wed this June so they wanted their engagement photos to reflect a chillier and cozier season. Mary Owen and Nathan are both very laid back but have a definite romantic streak. We opted for a mix of old school romance and a more contemporary casual feel to showcase their relationship.

We had a great time with these two and so did they! Our engagement sessions are like going on a double date with voyeurs and cameras...it's awesome!

Even though we love to pose people, I do have a degree in directing, we only ever pose them to suit their true personality. A fabo super model pose only looks good on someone who fancies being like a supermodel. And if you are nauseated by Fabio romance novel covers than we certainly won't ask that of you. However, if you do want to push the envelope and love to be a "poser", BRING IT BABY!! YOU BETTER WORK!

Casey and I both feel it is so important to have the engagement session not only to get to know your photographers(SO IMPORTANT) but also so that you'll have some classy, fun and romantic pictures of your courtship that don't involve budweisers, jello shots or red eye from your BFF's camera phone. Every time you look at the photos you'll remember the fun of the day but ultimately those little butterflies and sparks that made you want to plan an enormous event like a wedding in the first place.

Mary Owen and Nathan, we can't wait for June!!!

Cheers to all of the married peeps and soon to be married peeps in the New Year!

Congratulations Jen and Jerry!

2008-12-30T13:25:00.003-05:00

We were also fortunate to attend our dear friends Jen and Jerry's engagement party over the holidays. They had a fabulous soiree in Belmont at a family members house. Jen and Jerry are getting super excited for their wedding this May!
Rock on you two!

Holiday Madness!

2008-12-30T12:59:00.003-05:00

We really enjoyed ourselves this holiday season! We even had the opportunity to attend my brother's band Puzzle playing at the Greenville Tree Lighting Festival. Of course, we brought our camera. For more on Puzzle go their website, www.puzzlepartyband.com.

Southern Weddings Magazine!

2008-12-30T10:37:00.002-05:00

You already know that we are featured regularly on other blogs and that Southern Weddings blog is one of our FAVORITES!

One thing you can expect a lot of in 2009 in seeing our work in PRINT. The first is a delectable cake shot featured in the premier issue of Southern Weddings Magazine. This is a hot new publication brought to you by the genius of Bliss Events run by Lara Casey and her team. The Carolinas are so lucky to have Lara and the women of Bliss Events in Chapel Hill now after being located in California and Florida.
Lara and I share a similar background in that we both have degrees in Theatre, did the rounds as actors in LA for years and ulitmately found our passion in weddings.I am super impressed with the dedication and energy of these women and we wish all of their endeavors much success.
I am confident that our little cake shot, from Angie and Tony's Biltmore Wedding, will be one of many featured in their print mag, someday soon a COVER!

Check your local retail stores for the new issue, premiering January 6th! Southern Weddings is being so highly reviewed that their publisher has already decided to distribute it nationally! GO GIRLS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!

2008-12-29T22:52:00.005-05:00

Hello and welcome back! That is at least how I feel. The blog has been quiet over the last month but not for lack of goings on...but my wee fingers have been crafting something new and wonderful. We have a new website, a sister website if you will, all dedicated to our portraiture and families!

The site is called Beauty of Family, www.beautyoffamily.com, and houses photos of babes, bellies, boys and girls, moms and dads, grads, and our stiking individuals of fashion. I also have a sister blog, Oh For Beauty's Sake, that will guide our Portrait Peeps in the right direction.

You might also have noticed that our delicious wedding website has had a face lift! Now there are even more weddings, fabulous details and soon to come a dedicated video page. You've asked for and we give it to you. Rock on!

We are gearing up for a big year in 2009 and can't wait for all of the new weddings! We'll have some new pics and updates in the next few days so keep in touch!

Let your heart be light!

2008-12-25T09:58:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas to all! It is a beautiful morning in Charlotte, North Carolina and also our favorite day of the year! For Casey and I, Christmas is an energy that stays with us and we are just so excited that for one small portion of the year we seem like "normal" people.
Our favorite thing is to give and share and of course to show those we love how much we LOVE them. At Christmas time we get to spoil clients, friends and family and it seems like the right thing to do. Casey is big on surprises and this year there were definitely unexpected treasures under the tree. But for us, we see every day as an opportunity to share with others and make them feel important.
I personally love Christmas Midnight Mass and all of the joyous singing and anticipation. Our priest, Father John Giuliani of St. Philip Neri, is the epitomy of love and understanding. His homilies should truly be put on tape. The main thread of his homily last night was about answering the call in your life and not getting in the way of God's plan for you. If you believe in Jesus, his point was that God wanted to be born a helpless child, someone humble and of non noble birth so that he could experience the gifts of love and humility. He feels that God works through those in need, in desperation and those that are hungry. It is not that having wealth is bad or evil, but someone who doesn't know the gold of real love and humility is still a poor person no matter there bank balance.
I know that the economy is down, that maybe there was less under the "Christmas Tree" for many or perhaps many had no tree at all. Just remember that each one of us, whether we believe in Jesus or have a different faith, is called to be a light for one another in darkness. We are called to have the light of a Christmas tree in our hearts and minds for other people and to always picture what our experience would be like if we walked in their shoes.
As far as the economy, laws of gravity say what comes up, comes down and therefore will come up again. We are sharing Christmas with my parents, and both of them children of the Depression. My father still has a knife that came with standing in the bread lines. He has always told us stories of rationing and "meat day". I truly do not believe we are headed for bread lines. I believe we are headed for smarter decisions with more meaning. I think we'll all probably pass on the easy bargains that we actually didn't know we wanted but gifts that have lasting meaning, memorable events and family gatherings, these are all things that are still a necessity and show that life goes on with celebration. Life is worth the living. As Father John said last night, "Life is 80% petty stuff, but the 20% of gold is the richest most meaningful wealth anyone could ever experience.
Casey and I truly hope that all of you have "gold" for Christmas, especially if it means sharing love with someone else.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T20:30:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We are blessed to spend this holiday with family and hope and pray that everyone finds a welcoming table tonight. Casey and I feel so blessed for all of the positives in our lives. We truly understand what it means to have and to have not.

Everyday, we make it a practice to say positive affirmations and to give thanks. I have taught our children the simplest prayer of thanksgiving that they say each night before bed. The simple truth is that if you open your eyes and breath, you must give thanks. For every other little comfort or big gift that you are bestowed, you must give thanks. To dwell on what you don't have is to poison what you do.

We are huge history buffs and though Thanksgiving told by a five year old and Thanksgiving told by a 25 year old are two very different tales, to embrace the love and shared feast is the best lesson from that chapter. We pray that everyone we meet and serve will have a life blessed with opportunity and family and countless reasons to give thanks.

We are grateful for our clients who are and our clients who will be soon. God bless and enjoy the weekend!

Suzanne and David's Wedding!

2008-11-16T11:09:00.002-05:00

October 25th, 2008 we photographed the wedding of Suzanne and David. Talk about unique and fun! They were married by their two fathers, both ministers for local churches, out at the Scottish Heritage field. We were all in the prescence of nature complete with wooly cows.

Suzanne and David are very energetic and happy and their joy was non-stop. David made a grand entrance to "Final Countdown" by Europe, and his groomsmen followed. It was like the spirited start of a homecoming game. Suzanne and the girls processed in to classical celtic music and was very pretty.

The ceremony, always our favorite part, was so loving and tender delivered with kindness and a firm tenor from both Dads. Suzanne's and David's mothers looked on lovingly as it must have been so special to see all of their family participate in such a special way.

Suzanne and David exited to Just Like Heaven by the Cure, an official All Time Fav on our blog list, and everyone threw rose petals. They opted for the simplest of receptions as the center of their wedding was about the extended faith community. But everyone had fun and we even snuck Suzanne and David away to the nearby Corn Maze to jump on the Moonbounce and slide down the big slide.

What a fun and memorable day.

Christine and Austin

2008-11-15T14:58:00.002-05:00

Next spring is chock full of wonderful couples' weddings. Christine and Austin had a super laid back shoot with Casey and Greta uptown. Austin and Christine were cuddly and fun and very relaxed. Check out some of our favorites!

Meanwhile, back in Charlotte!

2008-11-15T14:23:00.003-05:00

Meghan and John met and had their first date at Selwyn Pub with some friends four years ago and it just seemed like the perfect place to start off our photo shoot. Meghan and John were both a bit nervous about having their session as are many of our couples. We don't expect the clients we work with to all be super models, just themselves. It was a fun and interesting afternoon and we got to take a little tour of Southend. I am so glad that I got to spend that time with Meghan and John and I know they had a good time. Just look at their smiles!

Down to Charleston!

2008-11-15T14:14:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth and Charles are a super cool, groovy couple. Aside from their day jobs, they are both involved in perfomances and Elizabeth is even a belly dancing teacher. Casey and I are both so happy to share some highlights from their Charleston engagement romp.

Mountain Love!

2008-11-15T13:31:00.003-05:00

Emmy and Aron met us up in Banner Elk for a fall studded romantic photo shoot. Emmy and Aron are totally fascinating people and so easy to photograph! They loved playing in the leaves and taking in the country air. We had so much fun and the scenery was breathtaking as you can see!

Congratulations again you two! We can't wait for your wedding in Louisiana!

Busy busy Fall!

2008-11-15T11:29:00.009-05:00

We've been so fortunate to be bustling with work and family time this fall. Autumn has always been my favorite season.

This fall we have been in the mountains, at the beach, and of course all over the Piedmont! We celebrated birthdays and HALLOWEEN! And of course met some incredible couples who's weddings we can't wait to photograph!

If your on my Facebook you have already seen some of these photos, but if not...enjoy!

Yes We Can!

2008-11-05T10:16:00.002-05:00

As I plunge headfirst into design work today and I promise to do more blogging this week and next, I am so proud of our country. I have always felt privileged to be raised in America, a born citizen, with a family who has always been passionate about politics and the betterment of daily life. Last night was an extremely emotional night for all of us.

We wanted to say how much respect that we have for John McCain and his long career. How incredibly gracious and warm and positive his concession speech was and how when hearing it we felt a great sense of deja vu and destiny. John McCain will no doubt become Obama's greatest ally "across the aisle" and we will all witness a unification like no other.

Last night was a night of peace across our country despite the fact that one team won and one team lost. This morning we are still all Americans and we have so much to look forward to and work toward together. Both Obama and John brought tears to my eyes and I can truly understand people's attractions to both candidates. I am so proud of my generation for kicking some serious butt at the poles and for those who have embraced their voice and made it count.

In weeks to come, we pray that we will truly feel our country pull together and forget for now about party lines. We are so excited for our future.

And back on our business, we are so excited for OUR future! We are expanding our services to offer more portraiture and high style photography for families. On the wedding front, we are opening ourselves up for more travel and destination weddings as well as expanding our product line. We are all about high quality and personal and professional customer service. In the coming weeks I will share all of the products and services with you one by one.

Have a fabulous day and look for more updates on our awesome couples and families!

Bliss Event Group

2008-10-22T14:58:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a busy day but I got to spend a wonderful part of the afternoon with the lovely ladies of Bliss Event Group in Chapel Hill. Bliss is everywhere! They are fellow Little Black Book Vendors with us on Style Me Pretty, have an office in Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and even New York! The brainchild of Lara Casey, the publisher and founder of Southern Weddings Magazine and the fabo blog www.swsmag.net, Bliss is an expert collection of planners, florists and designers who create signature weddings for style driven brides. Their ideas are fresh, inventive and OH SO VERY PRETTY!!

It was awesome meeting Lara, Kirsten, Rachel and Laura! They were even nicer in person than I had imagined and lots of fun. They would be a bride's dream to work with and as photographers we can't wait to work with them too!

Ingrid Michaelson: Be OK

2008-10-22T14:44:00.002-04:00

OK, I can't wait one more minute to blog about Ingrid Michaelson's new album Be OK.
I am madly in love with this album!!!!! Casey and I have always had a weakness for indie/folk rock and you can hear it by the cool artists featured on our web galleries. Ms. Michaelson has been a fave since we heard her Boys and Girls album but this latest record is simply start to finish glorious!

Two of my all time favorite songs, Can't Help Falling in Love and Somewhere Over the Rainbow are covered so expertly by Ingrid that I swear she has redefined the standard for these classics. I walked down the aisle to Elvis' Can't Help Falling in Love(no not in Vegas, yes in a church) and I teared up then but her new version is worthy of a box of kleenex.

Overall there is not one song to skip but so many to put on repeat. If you are looking for a thirty minute dose of happy, gushy heart achy love songs that make you want to do an interpretive dance of joy then you simply must give it a listen!

Ingrid Rocks!

Amanda and Thomas: Wedding! Yay!

2008-10-17T20:58:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Amanda and Thomas! Their rustic mountain wedding was absolutely beautiful! Despite all of the last minute mishaps, nerves, and general Murphy's laws that are known to hang around weddings...everything was spectacular.

Amanda was a little vision of peace and beauty. The weather was a gorgeous blue sky surrounded by exploding fall foliage and punches of color. All of the guests were merry and quite pleased with their ceremonial hot cider and complimentary shawls for the ladies. The air was crisp and it was truly just a wonderful day.

Amanda and Thomas wanted to break with convention and see each other before the ceremony. It was so sweet. We arranged a private meeting for them at the enormous mansion where the entire bridal party was getting ready. It was easy to stay away from each other in the gargantuan four story home tucked on the side of a mountain. We had Thomas wait outside in the woods and Amanda snuck up behind him.

They were married in a field on the edge of a river, surrounded by fall colored hillside. There was such a peacefulness about the spot, something ancient and new at the same time.

Amanda designed her own gown and being a huge fan of the wedding blog, Style Me Pretty, she employed friends and relatives along with vendors to create her unique rustic mountain chic affair. She used all the colors naturally occuring during the fall in her little home town. Purples, oranges, greens, reds and golds tied everything together. Moss, rocks, homemade candles and even homeade apple butter from her godmother's orchard were just some of the delicate finishing touches.

Martha Stewart Weddings!

2008-10-09T17:52:00.002-04:00

We are so excited to be included in Abby Jean's ad in the latest fall edition of Martha Stewart Weddings! This fall issue is GORGEOUS!!! My favorite color blue is splashed all over this magazine and of course we just couldn't be happier to be on Abby's page. Her sensibilities for design and decor are simply elegant with an edge of modern chic. If you want to check out Abby's invites locally, go visit Three Little Birds stationary store in Southend.

And yes, Angie that is your bouquet and Kristen those are your buttons! Congrats girls!

Lori and Mike's Hilton Head Wedding!

2008-10-09T16:55:00.003-04:00

We just wanted to extend our congratulations to Lori and Mike! The day was absolutely beautiful on Hilton Head for their September 27th wedding. And between the blushing bride, crazy cute flower girl and ring bearer and Mike's tear jerking toast, I really needed my tissues that day! I also had an obvious obsession with Lori's shoes but they were totally diva! She is one of the managers of Faces Day Spa and Salon on HHI so she had a team of girl power supporting that day.

Amanda and Thomas: Engagement Photos

2008-09-18T10:54:00.014-04:00

This past weekend we had a wonderful time in beautiful Banner Elk, North Carolina. We love going up there and breathing the air! It is such an uninterrupted little town full of green! The mountains are so inviting and the textures just get me so excited. Casey loves the mountains and we always feel so refreshed after being near the Blue Ridges. I am so sure this fall is going to be gorgeous!

Luckily, we are going to photograph Amanda and Thomas's mountain chic wedding in the full bloom of fall in just a few weeks. In the meantime, we snuck up for some engagement photos and terrific scenery. Amanda reminds us of a little Joan Osborne and Thomas was super laid back with such clear blue eyes. Enjoy the sneak peek! I can't wait to share their wedding photos in the near future.

Rock on!

Puzzle Band

2008-09-18T10:54:00.011-04:00

So part of my big family includes my older brother John. Those of you who know me from my hippie rocker days can remember me catching every Spoonful Show I possibly could. My brother learned to play guitar as a seventh grader,when he was in a body cast for a broken femur. His first real song, Johnny Be Good, has become his trademark and I know that Chuck Berry jams out in heaven when he plays.

After his days as lead guitarist of Spoonful, John has gone on to master Jazz guitar, classical, but mostly just loves to jam ala Jerry Garcia style. He plays in several smaller jazz ensembles in Greenville, SC as well as heads up the music department for Center Stage Theater.

In the grand tradition of my family's obsession with everything wedding, he started a wedding band two years ago and they are fabulous. The name Puzzle reflects the customizable nature of their band. If you need three pieces, four pieces or a ten piece with horns they can and do provide it. Our family loves to celebrate life and music is the only thing we love more than food.

If you are looking for an awesome party band that can jump, jive and funk it out, give their website a listen. www.puzzlepartyband.com

Check out frontman Pie wailing on "Georgia".

http://www.puzzlepartyband.com/media/audio/Demo/04_Georgia.mp3

Get by with a little help from my friends

2008-09-18T10:54:00.007-04:00

I truly can't remember a time when friendship wasn't on my mind. My whole life, growing up in a huge family, the idea of caring for people was just innate. When I first met Casey we discovered that years before we met we had some random friends in common and near missed each other at a couple parties.
Family is the most important thing to me, along with my faith, but friends are the family you choose and the people that weave threads of your life's story.

This summer I was able to attend East Coast School in Raleigh and stayed with my amazing friends Laura and Chris. Laura and I rode horses together as children and our lives have criss-crossed through every single stage of my life since 11. For example, Laura and I bumped into each other in a the Fairfax Farmer's Market in Los Angeles (actually BUMPED into) having no idea the other moved to Los Angeles. But as always, we picked up our friendship as if no time had passed.

Now Laura and her husband Chris have relocated to Raleigh, NC and Casey and I are SOO
excited to have our friends close again. We have already visited a bunch but they let me photograph them this summer and I just had to share their adorable-ness(real word?).

As you can see, they are quite the pair and also new business owners! They are getting ready for their Grand Opening of SUITE PAWS, a pet resort and spa in Raleigh in late September. http://www.suitepaws.com/fetch.html so if you have a four legged anything, you need to check it out. They are both so creative and have impressively gotten some major support to open a stunning 20,000 square foot facility. They are building everything as green as possible and I truly have never met a couple who is such an advocate for animals.

We just wanted to send them some Blog love and hope you will too!

New York City

2008-09-18T10:54:00.002-04:00

Casey and I were fortunate enough to spend a few days in NYC this summer, a place we adore. We were visiting Casey's beloved Uncle Rob in the hospital and staying at a friend's apartment. We went to Central Park to eat a hot dog, which incidentally was the WORST hot dog we've ever had, and bask in the sunshine. We visited a funky photography exhibit in Chelsea, "When Color was New," and walked around and subwayed ourselves silly. One thing we always loved about living in an urban sprawl is that you can be standing on a dirty street corner and catch the smell of gardenias from a flower vendor.

As you can tell, we love food and wine and just walking by a corner market that is so alive with color and texture is heart warming. Another highlight was the BEST Italian meal we've ever eaten in New York at the famed but quaint Petrarca in Tribeca. It was so ironic because we went there for a quiet romantic dinner but last minute decided to sit outside. Within minutes paparazzi swarmed the building directly across the street and passersby lingered to see celebrities arriving for a private movie screening. We laughed to ourselves because for a brief moment it really made us miss the rat race of LA and at the same time made us feel so incredibly settled and happy with our life. We drank wine and stuffed ourselves on mussels and bolognese and giggled at the craziness next door.

We love spending all the time in the world with our kids and clients, but it is nice to pause for a minute and just be a couple.

Live your life and love it. Be grateful for every second.

Daufuskie Bridal Portraits

2008-09-08T06:34:00.003-04:00

I have been itching to share these bridal portraits of Elizabeth with you for two months! Now that she and her hubby Marc(see postings below) are married it is cool to put them up!

We chose Daufuskie Island as the perfect location for her bridal portraits. Elizabeth's family is from the Low Country and she has long standing roots on the tiny native island. Her Pappy was the first Mayor and protector of Daufuskie as well as the keeper of its first "winery"(moon shinery) and Lighthouse.

Daufuskie is super laid back and has an unspoiled attitude. Though there are mansions and golf courses tucked here and there, it is largely a remote, bohemian paradise.

Fabulous Couples-II

2008-09-07T22:39:00.002-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS GRETA AND CHAZ!!

Greta and Chaz were married yesterday in NODA, the arts district of Charlotte. Their original wedding plans involved, sand, sun and waves but since the coastal areas of North Carolina were put on high alert for Hurricane Hanna, they had to change their plans. Both being actors, and incidentally Greta being our fabulous photo assistant, they understand how to go with the flow!

Their ceremony brought tears to my eyes and HOLY COW...CHAZ CAN SING! Everything went off without a hitch and their bohemian rhapsody won over all of their guests.
So much love and so much silliness! It was a beautiful day!

We love you two!! Have a fabulous honeymoon in Mexico!

Fabulous Couples-I

2008-09-07T21:57:00.003-04:00

In the past two weekends, we have photographed some very cool and TOTALLY in love couples! Elizabeth and Marc, I will be sharing her bridal portraits tomorrow...FINALLY, married in Charleston. A travel loving pair who's big question came at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, embarked on their magnificent journey last weekend.

It was a beautiful ceremony and fun reception and they hold the record for the longest first kiss, as far as I'm concerned. Enjoy the sneak peeks!

God Bless Bryan Quan

2008-09-05T16:07:00.007-04:00

This summer has been so full. We were blessed to photograph many weddings, anniversaries, wee babies and family portraits. We were able to spend much needed time with our family and even help celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary.

But we also lost some very important people along the way. Firstly, my sixteen year old cousin Colleen who I only wish I could have known better. And most recently, our dearest friend Bryan Karr Quan, who was more like a brother.

Casey and Bryan met in a public speaking class in 1998. They were extras in the Patriot together, went skiing, sailing and any other trip that could turn into an adventure. Bryan read at our wedding and could cut a rug better than any man I have ever witnessed.

Casey was in California with Bryan when he died tragically while piloting his ultralight in the desert town of Perris. Casey stood on the ground, photographing his buddy just like Bryan had asked. An exciting trip, a grand adventure of flight and wonder turned horribly sad in an instant.

Bryan was an incredible human being. He was a beautiful soul whose laughter bordered on the hysterical, and his favorite gift was a ridiculous grin. He had his troubles and woes like anyone else but he never stopped giving or trying to make everyone's life better. He had strong hands and a strong back with which he carried many burdens. He scultped walls of tile and stone and brick and brought passion to all of his projects.

Mostly, Bryan was a true poet. He floated and glided like a wiggly reed in the wind. He danced and ambled and showed everyone a child like spirit to encourage a lighter mood. And he tried hard, every time with every thing and everyone.

Since he was a child, Bryan's dream was to fly. I like to imagine him with gigantic angel wings, basically the Led Zepplin angel. That kicks ass. That makes it a bit more bearable that he's no longer of this earth.

Friends will gather to celebrate his life, tomorrow evening at the Hart Witzen Gallery. If you knew this man, chances are you did, please click on the post title for all of the important information.

Our hearts will always have room for your memory. God bless!

Love from ABBY JEAN PRESS

2008-09-05T12:38:00.003-04:00

We have been in the Little Black Book of Vendors for Style Me Pretty for one year now! Casey and I have always been honored and excited to be associated with so many amazing photographers and fabulicious wedding vendors.

Abby Jean Larson, the empress of Style Me Pretty, is a big believer in high quality and attention to detail. Sometimes all of that comes with a huge price tag and sometimes it doesn't. For her and for us, quality and attention comes from building personal relationships. We were so totally honored recently to have our photographs chosen to grace her full page ad in the fall
Martha Stewart's Wedding magazine! And again, she chose two of our weddings to help illustrate her magnificent invitation line for retail stores. Below you can see the examples.
Abby, Michelle and Ivey from Fontaine Maury have been superb to work with and SOOOOO NICE! It is refreshing to know that people can be talented and giving at the same time.

Congrats to Kristen and George and Elizabeth and John(expecting a baby soon!!!) for being included in Abby's Invitation books. If you want to sneak a peek at these invitations and lovely couples in person, you can check them out in Charlotte at Three Little Birds stationary store,http://www.threelittlebirdsinc.com/weddings.htm, and for more retailers click on the post title for Abby Jean's main site.

Get ready for a Blogkrieg!

2008-09-05T12:31:00.002-04:00

We have been nonstop travelling for the past four weeks and since I haven't mastered blogging on the road, get ready for me to catch up. I will be blogging a little bit everyday for the next few days! Chills, spills and thrills...Summer 08 will go down in history for Casey Cunningham Photography.