I shot the beautiful wedding of Melissa and Jonathan two weeks ago while assisting the wonderful Melissa Williamson in Iron Station, N.C.   They got married on 10-10-2010, which happened to mark their ten-year anniversary as a couple.

I spent the early afternoon hanging with the guys, which was quite fun, as I usually stick with the gals during prep.  We found a lovely derelict wall to use as a backdrop for the portrait sessions—they were up for a hike out in the heat!

Not only was this couple down-to-earth and fun to work with, but the light was SICK—which, with romance and great people, makes for a wonderful day shooting.  Mel and I had a blast frolicking among fields and vineyards with the bridal party, and then photographing (and dancing!) with everybody during the reception.  The live band was one of the best I had ever heard—my favorite moment was when the lead singers came out into the crowd to jam and dance with everybody.  By the time the wedding was over, I was sad to go, even though I was tired from a great day of shooting!

Check out Mel’s amazing rendition of that day at her blog.  And revel in the light! 

Enjoy!

I shot the EPIC wedding of Barbara Herrman and Jordan McInerney a month ago in Asheville, N.C.  I’ve been behind on editing due to a spontaneous road trip to the midwest this month, but I’ve been dying to post these pictures.   I assisted the fabulous Justin Cook for the weekend, and with the collaboration of Barbara and Jordan Mcinerney, we took over Asheville.  It was great.

Even though I met Barbara and Jordan for the first time the day before their wedding, I felt like I had known them for a long time.  They know how to have fun, and they instantly drew me in with their zany humor and wonderfulness.  Justin was good friends with Barbara’s crowd at UNC, and it felt like a big reunion even though I didn’t know them there (though I wish I had!)

I had a blast shooting with Barbara and her bridesmaids; Justin spent most of the prep time with the guys while I learned about false eyelashes and intricate eye-shadow application techniques.    My favorite part of the wedding was definitely the photoshoot—Barbara was pretty adventurous, so we got friendly with the locals and hung out at the firestation for awhile.  I wish I had been a bystander to this—it must have looked hilarious to see a bunch of beautiful divas and a bride pose Vogue-style with firemen on a such a nice fall day.

Barbara and Jordan, thank you so much for being so creative and adventurous.  I had a great time meeting you and photographing your day, and I wish you the best!  Feel free to give me and Justin a call whenever you want some crazy anniversary portraits….

Enjoy!

On a spontaneous road trip to st. louis to visit friends and family last week, I happened to call my great Aunt Joan at just the right time–she informed me that the annual Wurm family reunion was happening that Saturday, and I was the guest of honor.

so I drove with Aunt Joan two hours west, to Fulton, MO, where we frolicked on the family farm.  Aunt Joan is my Grandma Ann’s baby sister—one of fourteen siblings—so as you can imagine, there were LOTS of relatives.  I enjoyed meeting third, fourth, and fifth cousins (once removed?) and finding out strange characteristics that I shared with them.  (According to Aunt Joan, Wurms are “happy,” “outgoing” and “ambitious.”  She reassured me that I’m definitely a Wurm).

My great Uncle Charlie is obsessed with his tractor, so he gave everyone hayrides every hour on the hour—pointing out highlights of his 500 acre farm.  Other festivities included devouring Kentucky Fried Chicken (Grandma Ann’s favorite!), watching children demolish a pinata, laughing at pyromaniac Michael as he played with the bonfire, flying kites, organizing a group photo (it was an effort rounding everybody up!), and serenading my little cousins with my (ahem!) slightly-out-of-tune guitar playing.

I had a blast; it was quite providential that I called my Aunt Joan when I did, because I never would have remembered that the Wurms do this every year.  It was fun reconnecting with old family members and meeting new ones—like my fifth cousins (?) who are two adorable twin seven-year-olds, aka my little sisters for the day.    I liked representing Grandma Ann’s progeny—it was fun and a little surprising to hear everyone gasp, “You look JUST like your mother!”  And I learned a ton from my car-mate, Aunt Joan, who is a great story-teller (she gave me lots of a material for a book one day, as she recounted fascinating stories of what it was like to grow up in a family of 16!)  All in all, it was pretty unforgettable.  I can’t wait to go back next year—maybe the Potter family will join me.

Love you, fam!

My roomies and I hit up the one and only caffe driade on saturday night for a surprise engagement party.  Two of our friends from RUF at UNC/christ community, Caleb and Nada, got engaged on saturday, and Caleb invited all of nada’s friends and family for a surprise party after he asked the big question.  She was definitely surprised.

it was pretty magical.  caleb and nada are very romantic people, in general, and the engagement didn’t lack any romance whatsoever.  caleb had implemented a huge plan of attack that he conspired with his cohorts-in-crime over a long period of time—the engagement included a luminary pathway on bolincreek in the woods, hundreds of candles, torches, fairy lights, an engagement cake baked by the amazing teresa, amazing and lovely people, etc.

It was an emotionally-charged evening, as onlookers squealed and hugged nada and caleb.  I was bummed that I didn’t have a flash for my camera, but I think I was still able to capture some of the excitement.  Congrats, Caleb and Nada!  I’m so happy for the two of you. 

Enjoy!

saturday was the first day of fall (in my opinion), where everything looked crisp in the afternoon light, causing everyone to go bananas about being outside.  it was an energizing day, and even though I was running on 3 hours of sleep and could feel myself getting what is now a full-fledged cold, I just wanted to frolic in the grass and play in the sunshine.

so i did.

i joined my christ community church bible study for a shindig at jordan lake for an afternoon of kayaking and s’mores.  i brought danny and eric with me, and we enjoyed singing rounds of “across the great divide” and searching for treasure in jordan lake.  all in all, it was a wonderful afternoon (and was prefaced by our adorable neighbor girls running into our apartment to attack kathy in hugs.  typical). can’t wait for more autumn saturdays!

enjoy!