Sneak Peek: TODAY'S Wedding!

I have been looking forward to this wedding since I booked it, and it hasn't let me down! Right now I am waiting on the reception, which doesn't start for another 3 hours, and I am already posting an image. I was so excited to see the pictures that I came right home and downloaded them! So, just to tease you, here is just one image from the first part of this day. I hope to have the whole wedding blogged soon! It's gonna rule! haha.
Emily and Matt, right after their first kiss. They hugged for what seemed like a long time and it was SO cute.

EDIT: It's been like 30 minutes and I decided to post another one! But no more after this! haha. Isn't Emily beautiful???

9/11 after 7

I went to bed last night thinking of how seven years ago I went to bed that same night carefree and unaware of the events that were to unfold the next morning that would change our country forever. Like most Americans at the time, I could not even imagine an attack of that magnitude on our own soil. Like my parent's generation with the Kennedy assasination, I can tell you exactly where I was when I found out about the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and Flight 93. I was a sophmore in college, and I was heading in to my 9:30 economics class. A friend of mine said "Did you hear about that plane that hit the Twin Tower?". At the time I didn't realize the magnitude of the situation. I imagined it was one of those cesna planes, and kinda shrugged it off. My economics professor went the whole class without mentioning it. The next class I went to was history of photography. We were supposed to have a quiz, and I hadn't really studied for it. When I sat down, my teacher said we would not be having the quiz because of the situation. I was a little confused, but glad I didn't have the quiz. She started saying that if anyone needed to leave they could, or if anyone wanted to talk about it we could. Finally, through bits and pieces, I was beginning to get the picture. After that class, I was walking to the bus, and I went through the student union, and I remember it was so silent. There were tvs playing the news (which was unusual) and students were gathered all around. It wasn't until I got home that I really had a chance to see for myself what was happening. It was terrifying. I don't say that lightly. The imagery is still just as vivid and unbelievable in my mind today as it was on the screen that day. I remember feeling so helpless and in shock. The not knowing who was responsible was particularly unsettling. I was glued to the tv for days. I remember celebrating when they found survivors each day, but grew so disheartened as the days passed and soon no more celebrations would be had.

I remember how close I felt to every American, just because we all felt the same hurt. I remember how everyone displayed a flag, and "God Bless America" was plastered everywhere. In the days following September 11th, I photographed those things wherever I saw them. It was such a swell of patriotism that I won't ever forget.

I had started keeping a journal the night of September 10th, 2001. My first entry was a stupid poem about my boyfriend, and about how we were going to get married and have kids and be together forever. Such a silly and trivial entry, before the next night's entry. I regret that I didn't write more about how I was feeling. Mostly I would just recap the news. But I am glad I have it. I have read it on almost every anniversary of 9/11.

After all of the devastation and fear that was 9/11, I never would have imagined then that thoughts of those days would ever leave my mind. Yet, I find that I think about it very infrequently now. When I do stop and think (usually on the anniversary) I feel a little ashamed. Ashamed of how quickly I have re-learned how to take everything that I have for granted: my family and friends, my safety, my freedom, my extreme privilege to be an American. Last night I was struck by how now, I fall asleep with pretty much the same assumption that tomorrow will be just like today.

To those who lost more than the rest of us on that Tuesday in September 2001, you are in my prayers. The one's who lost their lives are honored, and serve as a poignant reminder to not take one moment for granted with the ones you love. Don't miss this chance to remember that day and be thankful for this one.

Sorry if this is out of place. I know it is not about photography.

Labor Day weekend!

So I just wanted to post about my amazing/fun/awesome weekend! No, I didn't go to the beach or the mountains.. I went to Durham! haha. Let me explain! Here's the preface.. I love fashion photography. And now the story... About a month ago I answered a listing looking for a photography assistant to help a New York fashion photographer do a shoot at the Duke campus in Durham. It sounded right up my alley, and I was stoked when the photographer said he would love to have me on the crew! I knew I wouldn't be doing anything as glamorous as taking pictures, and would probably just be doing some grunt work, but hey... it's a learning experience... anything to get my feet wet in that industry. The photographer was Stephen Hurst, and he was amazing to work for. He let me ask questions, view the images he was taking, and taught me some about lighting techniques, and posing! It was almost like going to a seminar with a great photographer, except getting paid for it! We did three days of shooting for a new collegiate apparel collection. But these weren't the boring old things you usually see! They had some basics but also some really fun street wear and even some couture-ish dresses made from recycled tshirts! They were pretty sweet! The whole crew was really great to work with, and I enjoyed the whole process. But, it was HARD work! I think I got my workouts for the month in! We did everything from catalog shots to editorials and advertising. We shot in Duke Gardens, a dorm room, a frat party, a bridge, and the library. It was crazy! I think the final product will be amazing and I can't wait to see it. Although it was really demanding work, I am sad it's over! I hope to do something like that again soon! Anyway, I'm pumped and I can't wait to try out some of what I learned!

The Crew...including 3 of the nicest New Yorkers I've met (who loved my "southern" accent. haha)

(Baby) Faces: Avery

I was rummaging through the rest of my pictures from family vacation, and I ran across a whole lot I took of my new second cousin, Avery! (She is the baby in the Lange Family pictures.) I just thought they were super cute, and I loved the faces she makes! Enjoy!






I can almost hear "Ooooooo!"

Avery faces! Doesn't she look like one of those Kewpie (sp?) dolls?



Ok, well that was just for fun... everyone likes a cute baby, right?

(New) Faces: Topher

Meet Topher! This one week old little guy is the newest arrival in my circle of friends. His dad, Adam, and I go way back. I was originally supposed to shoot some maternity pics of mom, Ashley, but we just never got it worked out, and this little guy got tired of waiting! So on to plan B...baby pics! Ashley and Adam were kind enough to let me practice my newborn photography skills on their little guy on his one week birthday. It is only the second time I have shot a newborn. He is such a cute, sweet baby! He put up with a lot from Ashley and I! Poor little guy just wanted to be cuddled, and we kept moving him around and posing him! Anyway, here are a couple from the shoot. Enjoy!

Faces: Hilary and Rachel

So I FINALLY have had time to sort through all of the images from last week's senior shoot and pick some to blog! Hooray! Hilary's family and my family go way back, so I was super excited when she asked me to take her senior portraits! I mean, I remember Hilary being just a little girl, and now she is a freakin' senior in high school! Crazy! Anyway, I told her to bring along a friend if she wanted, and I would do their shoots together...enter Rachel! I had a really great time with these girls and their moms. They are both so beautiful and really sweet. We traipsed all around the Museum of Art and over to one of my favorite spots and ended the day at a really neat park in Wake Forest. These girls were troopers! I think we ended up spending about 4 hours together! It was a photo-marathon! Here are a bunch of my favorites...enjoy!

The girls together


Miss Hilary...




Check out those blue eyes!


ummm.. i LOVE the boots!




Miss Rachel...


I always wanted pretty, straight hair like this..



I really like the color/feel of this one..

Rachel's got rockin' blue eyes too!




Thanks for letting me shoot you, girls! I hope you like them!

Tease: Rachel and Hilary

Here is just one little teaser from my senior shoot last Thursday! I was hoping to have them all up by now, but there are so many to choose from! I will be working hard to get a proper blog up this week! Enjoy!