This blogpost won’t be about weddings, even though the pictures are from the wedding of Julie and Adam—a wonderful event I shot with Jenny Tenney in Asheville this year.   Since these are her clients (wonderful people I must add; I had a blast!), I will let her talk about their day and their story.  Check out her blogpost about the day!

Instead, I want to write about how shooting this wedding providing healing for me.  I have been struggling the past year with ongoing depression, anxiety, and sickness—the reasons for them are complex, and I won’t go into detail here.  I will say that the word “health” has been tossed around quite a bit—in conversations with my doctors and counselor, in books I’m reading, in my own longings to be well again.

I’m coming to redefine health as “wholeness”–a gluing back of body and soul along with all the other body-souls out there.  Antidepressants, counseling sessions, and heatpacks for my tense muscles are part of the road to overcoming depression and anxiety, but shooting a wedding and spending quality time with a good friend is just as important—if not more.

This weekend in Asheville was just that for me.  Sure, I felt crappy because of some parasites I didn’t know existed in my tummy, but going to dinner with Jenny, talking for hours about dating, love, childbirth, photography, our dreams and obstacles in life infused me with an energy—a healing—that I can only receive when connected to other people.  Shooting this wedding with her was a stress-free, joyful collaboration.  We brainstormed together, oohed and aahhed dorkily about beautiful light and sunflower fields,   It was so healing to be connected to my friend, co-creating with her, making beautiful photos of the beautiful people and the setting around us that we were a part of.  I realized how much I miss being with other women photographers—my closest girlfriends who are photographers happen to live hours away from me.  I need their presence—they don’t just make me a better or more “whole” photographer, but they make a more whole person.  A woman on the path to healing.

So thank you, Julie and Adam, for letting me into your life on your day.  Jenny and I provided you with photos, but you provided me with something far greater, and I am so grateful for your openness and trust of us.  Jenny, thank you for the conversations, the laughter, your generosity, and your humility.  You are a wonderful photographer because of who you are, and I am glad to be your friend.

I want to leave you all with a wonderful Wendell Berry quote that sums up what I have been learning during this difficult passage of my life:

“To try to heal the body alone is to collaborate in the destruction of the body.  Healing is impossible in loneliness, it is the opposite of loneliness.  Conviviality is healing.  To be healed we must come with all the other creatures to the feast of Creation.  The fatal sickness is despair, a wound that cannot be healed because it is encapsulated in loneliness, surrounded by speechlessness.  We must go to the wilderness of creation to be reborn–to receive the awareness, at on e humbling and exhilarating, grievous and joyful, that we are a part of Creation, on with all the we live from an all that, in turn lives from us.”

Here’s another set of wedding pictures—more joyful work for me that has helped me heal.  I hope it brings healing to you as well.  Enjoy!

I shot the wedding of Nada Mussad and Caleb Goodrum in Augusta, GA, on August 20, 2011.  I met Caleb five years ago in RUF at UNC–I remember some of the first pictures I took of him was when he decided to drink tea (of course) and play with my knitting needles in my dorm room sophomore year.  (Actually, I may have taken pictures of him dressed up like a pirate prior to this!)  I met Nada a few years later at an RUF beach conference in Florida.  I remember taking pictures of her the first day we met, back in my polaroid artsy-fartsy phase.
Nada and Caleb are two of the most passionate, romantic people that I know.  I don’t think anyone can top Caleb’s proposal—check out my blog post on this from last October for an explanation.    Their wedding was a true reflection of their passion and good taste (not to mention their inspiring love for God, each other, and their community).  Nada’s color palette–vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges–was absolutely stunning, and I loved all the unique Caleb and Nada-y details at their reception:  elephant teapots, paper birds kissing on top of their peach cobbler, and an old gramophone, to name a few.

My favorite aspect of this wedding was the eclectic fusion of cultures—it was Egyptian, Asheville granola, and deep South (they held their ceremony at the historic First Presbyterian Church in Augusta and the reception at the Old Medical College of Georgia—some of the most beautiful sites I’ve ever shot at for a wedding!)  I loved learning about Egyptian culture from Nada’s  extended family, which included henna painting, amaaaaaazing food, and exuberant “whooping” at just about any moment worth celebrating.  There was definitely no lack of excitement at this wedding.

Another part of shooting this wedding that I enjoyed was reconnecting with some of my dearest friends and receiving support from them during the wedding day.  I haven’t “shot solo” in awhile (I typically use an assistant), and I was a bit nervous about capturing the moments of the day by myself.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much assistance I received from the community around me—Teresa (the cake maker) packed me an icebox filled with healthy snacks, Nada’s brother bought me some batteries for my flash in the middle of wedding prep on the big day, multiple friends checked in on me to see if I needed anything, and some of my favorite kids in the world persisted at holding my external flash during the reception.  This is the essence of community for me, and I love how photographing a wedding is means of becoming more integrated within that community!

Caleb and Nada, you are both wonderful friends, and I look up to the both of you.  I am so thrilled that you are beginning this new phase of your journey together.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it!  I hope that you enjoy these photos for many years to come. 

Enjoy!

I shot the wedding of Jamie Sellers and Tom Wurm on August 5, 2011 in my hometown of St. Louis, MO.  I first met Jamie at my humongous family reunion last fall in Fulton, MO—she was dating my cousin Tom at the time.  (One of the perks of being part of the Wurm family is that I meet cousins and second cousins and third cousins whenever we have these reunions—Tom is the nephew of my Grandma Ann, who was one of fourteen kids!)

This wedding was especially fun for me because I was able to serve and love my immediate and extended family through my photography, enabling me to love and by loved by them in new ways. My parents and boyfriend Justin Cook (who shot the wedding with me–check out his amazing work at his website) trekked half-way across the country in a tightly packed car for this wedding, and Justin got to see where I grew up for the first time!  He fit right in with my family—I think he bonded with my crazy, lovable Aunt Joan, in particular.  (Check out her great dance moves in this album).    So thank you, Jamie and Tom, for giving me this wonderful opportunity to enjoy my whole family by shooting your wedding!

Jamie and Tom got married at Peace Lutheran Church and had their reception at Orlando Gardens in St. Louis.  Their wedding day included events spread across Greater St. Louis, including an artsy photo shoot at Laumeier Sculpture Park.  The gals got ready at the fancy Ritz Carlton hotel in downtown Clayton, which was one of my favorite points of the wedding, because this location is absolutely gorgeous.  We took group photos on the lobby’s chandelier-clad staircase, which felt like something straight out of the Academy Awards.

Jamie and Tom, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to return to my roots and photograph your wedding.  You are both incredible people.  Jamie, you are beautiful inside and out—your gentleness and kind spirit made me feel comfortable from the minute I started shooting.  I love you guys and hope that when you look at these photos you can relive the emotions of your wonderful wedding day!  As always, I look forward to seeing you at future Wurm family reunions. 

Enjoy!

I shot the wedding of Lauren Uberseder and Ben Hackney on July 30, 2011, in Winston-Salem, N.C.  I was excited to start of the second-half of wedding season with their wedding–I had just gotten back from Africa and was pumped to photograph their beautiful day.

I knew Lauren and Ben through a previous couple whose wedding I shot last August–Emily and Peyton.  From day one I knew that this would be a special couple—when I met with Lauren to chat wedding details at Cafe Driade last fall, we ended up talking for several hours about God, dating, Africa, love, and….oh yeah…wedding photography!  I think everyone who knows Lauren feels this same warmth and amicability from her—she is gifted in connecting with people quickly and making them feel special.  I was on the receiving end of this, so I can speak from experience.    It was truly a blessing to get to know her through each step of the wedding photography process—by the time wedding bells were ringing I felt like we had known each other for a long time.

I met Ben for the first time at Emily and Peyton’s wedding.  From a photographer’s perspective, I was attracted to him then because of his crazy dance moves, enthusiastic faces, and mad skills with the drums.  And I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for members of the Wolfpack.  (How many times can you spot Ben in Emily and Peyton’s album blogpost?)  In fact, they had printed some of my and Nate’s pictures from Emily and Peyton’s wedding as decorations at the reception!

Lauren and Ben got married at Highland Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C.  Their reception was at the Barn at Tanglewood in nearby Clemmons, N.C.  Some of my favorite moments from their day was shooting their bridal portraits near an old train at Tanglewood Park.  Lauren had some creative ideas of her own up her sleeve—she brought some cute props with her to make our photos of them really “pop.”  I love working with couples who bring their creativity to the set and collaborate with the photographers—it’s always a lot more fun for both parties!

Lauren and Ben, it was a pleasure to shoot your wedding.  Thank you for going the extra mile with us and helping us get the access we needed during the ceremony to make awesome pictures!  You have a lot of spunk, and it made the day so much fun for me and Justin.  You two have a beautiful connection to each other and to your community—I hope that my wedding can be as fun and meaningful as yours one day. 

Big shout-out to Justin Cook Documentary Weddings for assisting me with this wedding.  As always, your unique vision, impeccable technical mastery of your craft, and encouragement to me while we shoot together makes the final package so much stronger!

Enjoy!

For the sake of time, I am copying and pasting from my newsletter.

If I could sum up the past week, I would use the word perspective.  I’ve ventured outside the R.O.C.K compound and seen glimpses of the “real” Kenya that lies beneath a facade of development (development that looks like giant billboards with smiling Western customers, or the cluster of piki drivers with their cell phones, or even the smiling faces of children at R.O.C.K.).  Some of this development is legit—especially the growth of the children at R.O.C.K, but underneath it all is a whole lot of brokenness.  The billboards’ suggestion of happiness in wealth is a farce.  Cell phones are causing families to go hungry because they buy minutes instead of food.  The children at R.O.C.K. have matured in huge ways, but they have so much baggage.  There is a suffering here that I can’t wrap my mind around, and I have only seen small bits of it.  I also have the luxury of returning to my “muzungu” mindset and lifestyle—I can compartmentalize the suffering when it gets uncomfortable.  I’m not actually living it the way many Kenyans are.

The most sobering experiences have been my interactions with street kids—the ones who aren’t at R.O.C.K.  Mom drove me around Kisumu on Tuesday night in search of a handful of the 1000-1500 street kids that inhabit this town—they normally lay low during the day and come out at night to beg and find a place to sleep (the most popular place right now is at bus station, underneath or inside buses).  We brought mandazi (fried dough) with us to give to the boys.  When we found our first kid and gave him some mandazi, his companions quickly flocked our car, all reaching their arms out for food, of which our supply was quickly spent.

I couldn’t believe that the well-behaved, respectful, loving kids I see at R.O.C.K used to live on the streets, just like the dirty, hungry boys who flocked our car.  I have been photographing the joy and beauty that I see in their love for one another and for God, but this week I realized there is so much brokenness behind their smiles—I have been able to see it in the way some of them move, how one girl can’t even look anyone in the eye because of the sexual abuse of her past.  Abbey described the kids as “vaults”—on the outside they welcome us with hugs and smiles, but it takes so much time and investment to help them open up—they have dark secrets.  How they can fully heal from their pasts is beyond me—that’s where I must trust God is working.  It’s also hard to understand why I was spared this kind of suffering—I’ve suffered in different ways, but why them?  They are just children!  Why wasn’t I living under a bus as a kid, having run away from an abusive situation and now begging off the streets?  Again, that’s where I must trust in God’s providence.  Hard hard stuff.   I really don’t get it.

Photographically, I’ve been trying to provide context—finding street kids, photographing life in town (which is extremely difficult—everyone wants money in exchange for their photo.  This was really frustrating from an artistic standpoint, but when I think about how many of these people are subsisting off of $2 a day, I understand).  I’m still photographing portraits of these beautiful kids at R.O.C.K., but it feels different than my initial days here—when I perceived them as happy kids (which they are, mostly) in a loving home (which is also true).  I don’t know if my photos look any different, but I feel different in my interactions with them and when I push the shutter.  Mom said the most joyful kids here are the ones who have suffered the most.  I’m beginning to see that, although it saddens me.

As always, thank you for your prayers—not just for me, but for Abbey, the staff at R.O.C.K., the kids at R.O.C.K., and the kids on the street.  I’m resting in the effectivity of prayer, lifting up street kids as I pass them on my way to R.O.C.K.  I can’t believe we only have two full days left here!  Please pray for safe travels back to the States!  I will send my next update at some point in August and continue to send a few in the fall as I edit all this footage.   (If you aren’t receiving updates and would like to, please email me!)

Enjoy the photos!

I am feeling very spoiled (or blessed!) as I write this blog entry. A refreshing breeze is cooling me as I overlook the beautiful Kiboko Bay—translation: Hippo Bay. I have yet to see any hippos, but rumor is they come out after dark, and I am planning on editing/musing/being for the next six hours. Which means chances are I might see one!

Seriously, it feels SO good to have a giant block of time to just “be.” I have been learning a lot about myself as both an artist and a person on this short trip—a main revelation being that I require large chunks of uninterrupted time to process life. This is part of my artistic and spiritual process, as well—if I can’t think about what I’m shooting, what I’m doing, I can’t really learn to listen harder, see deeper, and love more effortlessly. So when I thought I would just “hit the ground running” in Kenya, shooting every day and editing at night, I had forgotten that I don’t operate that way. The anxiety and sickness I experienced last week were a blessing in disguise, since God used it to give me the time I need to reflect and rest.

So something cool happened today:  Francis (a house parent with whom I have barely spoken) pulled me aside, and in a very grave voice told me, “Me, I have been watching you, the way you move, the way you carry heavy loads.  That is a very special thing.  You- you shoot from the heart.”  I about cried. Those were the very words of encouragement I needed—it was as if God was speaking straight to me.

For those of you who receive my newsletter, I apologize for the redundancy in these next paragraphs.  For those of you who happened to just stumble across my blog, I hope you are encouraged by the story of R.O.C.K and the pictures that I have posted at the bottom.

The last four days at R.O.C.K. have been fruitful in every manner. Abbey and I interviewed five of the kids (ranging from age 6 to 23), and I was completely floored by their stories—not just the hardship they have faced, but the amount of genuine thankfulness and joy they carry with them despite such heavy pasts. These kids have come from extremely broken homes—many were abused, overworked, and hungry. How they had the courage to leave home and go out to the streets to provide for themselves is beyond me. All of the kids shared their thankfulness for “Mom” (Elaine Yi, the founder and director of R.O.C.K), who found them on the streets and brought them to R.O.C.K. It has been a joy to be part of the R.O.C.K family—and they truly are a family.

Lornah, age 13, (a subject in many of the photos below) told me she loves living there because she has gained dozens of brothers and sisters. I asked her if she ever gets annoyed living with so many people, and she smiled and said no, that it just made her happy. The older boys look after one another with great loyalty, and they tenderly care for the little ones as well. Some of the older boys expressed to me their concern for Mom—they want to take care of her and help her out. Even though these kids are still working through the baggage of their past, there is an atmosphere of brotherly love, hope, and gratitude throughout the compound that makes me feel light and free to see/be/create when I am there.

Earlier, I was doubting the effectiveness of my presence at R.O.C.K., since the combination of anxiety, culture shock, and sickness felt pretty debilitating–I couldn’t shoot or be present in the way that I had wanted to. But God has been teaching me patience during trials, and these kids are living examples of that. Their joy despite their hard past is a constant reminder of God’s kindness to all of His little children—myself included. Though our struggles manifest themselves differently, I am just as broken as they are, in need of someone to wipe my tears when I am anxious or doubting. But I am learning I am just as redeemed as they are, as well—these kids are more than their struggles—their capacity for faith, joy, and hope speaks for itself. I long to have that same child-like faith.

There are so many more stories I want to share about these kids, but I hope the photos will speak for themselves.

Enjoy!

So for those of you who receive my newsletter, the writing in this post is redundant and you can skip down to the photo part.  But for those of you who don’t receive my newsletter, I thought you might like to hear about the highlights of my Kenyan experience thus far. as always, you can skip right down to the bottom to see pictures. 

One thing that God has really been hitting home with me is that this isn’t just a fun exotic trip to Kenya (even though it is fun!).  That is, I didn’t leave my struggles behind in the US, and there is a whole set of new cultural, physical, and spiritual challenges here.  However, I feel so taken care of by Abbey and our roommates, by the folks at R.O.C.K., by the children—who have been filling up my love tank.  We have been struggling and rejoicing TOGETHER—and that is where the joy comes.  I am learning that joy is not the absence of struggle—the kids at R.O.C.K are living proof of this, as I am too!

A few highlights for you:  First, I am OVERWHELMED (to the point of goosebumps) by how clear it is that God sent me here.  Elaine, the director of R.O.C.K and an incredible woman of faith, shared with me yesterday that she had been praying for a year-and-a-half that God would bring a photographer to R.O.C.K. to tell their story.  I about fell over when she told me this—-because this is the time that I started praying for an opportunity to go to Africa.  I shared with her my difficult experience last summer, when what looked like an open door to do storytelling in Africa was shut in my face.  That was a crushing blow for me last year—I cried a lot about it, but God taught me to patiently wait for Him—-I knew deep in my heart even then that I was meant to do storytelling.  I recall a conversation with a dear friend, who told me that if God wanted me in Africa He would send me there—and He would provide a ministry that fits me perfectly….a ministry where I can both grow and be utilized.   Praise God, because He has done this!  My God has met my deep desire—and taught me much about patience during the process of getting me here.

Second-  I absolutely LOVE these kids.  I need them.  It’s strange, but I feel so fully “Courtney” when I am around them—-Not only have I photographed them, but I have sketched portraits with the guys, been a part of a drum circle with the youngsters (harkening back to my hippie days of college), and here’s the best part….I have been teaching all the kids how to dance.  My favorite moment of this whole trip so far was when a few of the girls asked me to dance for them.  (I am by no means a ballerina by profession, but I have taken a few dance classes since graduating and LOVE doing contemporary/lyrical ballet).  So picture me, doing leaps and pirouettes and leg extensions, and then picture a row of kids behind me mimicking me.  and THEN picture about 25 bystanders, watching and cheering and clapping for us.  This was a moment of complete joy and freedom for me—-Abbey and I came here with the intention of teaching the kids art, but it is happening organically—-I think I will dance with the kids every day and continue teaching them basic moves.  (Also, I was flattered when one of the volunteers told me I should be on So You Think You Can Dance). 

Third-  Abbey and I are excited about what an impact our presence will actually make.  The center needs to raise $20,000 to move to their new facility (they are already overcrowded)—and when we return to the States, we are going to spend a lot of time traveling, throwing benefit concerts (Abbey is in a folk band), and fundraising using the materials I will gather on this trip.  I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity to benefit an organization this directly through my story-telling gifts—Abbey feels the same way about her skills with fundraising and relationship-building.  God has definitely brought us all together and caught us up with what He is doing at R.O.C.K. We are part of that story now, co-creating with Him.  Exciting stuff.

So there are the highlights.  It has been so wonderful to just go with the flow and let the kids/photography dictate the direction of my work (and play).  R.O.C.K. feels like a playground for me—I haven’t felt this alive since my drum circling days in Florida. 

Here are my favorite pics of R.O.C.K so far!  Enjoy!

Time of day? no idea.

My watch says it’s 4:30 pm, but it feels like morning.

Location? Somewhere in between Europe and Africa.

Is this inspiration induced by my anti-malarial medication? Maybe a bit.

But really, this feels like an outpouring of all that I’ve been straining to hear in the turmoil of the last nine months of my life—-a period of great change and hardship for me. Me, fending off the beasts of anxiety, doubt, and fear, standing alone in a rotting, dried-up well of creativity.

But I wasn’t alone, and the well wasn’t rotting. It wasn’t completely dry, either.

It’s easy to survey the past months and conclude I was a failure as an artist. Inspiration was scarce and nearly inaudible. I was rarely stirred by beautiful light, and work that was once life-giving metamorphosed into a heavy burden. I didn’t want to take pictures. I was fed up with video production. It is easy to think that those months spent crying and struggling and trying to just survive another day were wasted months where I could have been producing art.

This is a devilish conclusion–a complete fallacy.

It’s equally devilish to think more highly of myself as an artist during these next weeks in Africa since I’ll be producing again, or experiencing peak creativity, or listening to this inspiration which grows louder and louder as the plane nears the continent.

The past months of hardship and “dryness” were, in fact, a low point for me; it is right to name this period Hardship and Dry Spell. But they were part of the artistic cycle—an integral part of the creative process (and spiritual process, I believe). Just as the Lord fed the Israelites manna in their desert, so He fed me manna in my desert—disguised as a red fox, a black snake gliding through the brush, poems growing in the woods, the consoling and unassuming hug of a dear child as she beholds my tears, Justin’s deep care for me and companionship, the love of close friends, and a restorative homecoming to my family. The Lord may have taken away my motivation and strength to produce art, but He offered me a multitude of mercies—-mercies that I hold with me as I travel to Africa. Mercies that are growing in and out of me, to be continue sustaining me and to be used to sustain others.

In hindsight, then, that epoch of my life was not waste—and with the dawn of this journey in Africa to be the artist, the songbird that I am, I officially declare it FINISHED. I believe that in these low points God gives me the very sustenance and training to reach the high points of fruitfulness, peak creativity, and thriving. Deep in my heart I know that these next weeks will be life-giving…for me, for Abbey, for the friends that we make, for the children that we get the privilege of knowing (and being known by), and for everyone back home following us, supporting us, praying for us, rejoicing with us.

I applaud you if you’ve read this far. You were probably wanting to read about the food we ate in Amsterdam, the dutch lady with a puppy sitting behind us on the plane from Boston, but all I have to give you at this point are my reflections on my personal artistic cycle. I don’t have anything descriptive to say about Africa yet because we’re still in the sky, but I feel my heart growing for the work that God has laid out for us to do there—-work He has yet to reveal to us. I have a vague vision of what I’ll be doing there (playing with kids, taking pictures, making a video, flexing my storytelling muscles)—but in truth, the vision will lay itself out before me as I faithfully look for it each day, quietly listening. I’ll conclude this rambly entry with a wonderful Madeleine L’engle quote from “Reflections on Faith and Art” (which is how I feel at this very moment about the light sketch that is my mind’s vision of “Courtney and Abbey’s Time in Africa”):

Artists have always been drawn to the wild, wide elements they cannot control or understand—the sea, the mountains, fire. To be an artist means to approach the light, and to be placed with absolute faith in that which is greater than we are. The novel we sit down to write and the one we end up writing may be very different, just as the Jesus we grasp and the Jesus who grasps us may also differ.

I am excited about being both the story-teller and the story-servant.  And approaching the light as Abbey and I make our final ascent above the clouds to Nairobi.

I shot the wedding of Anne Wofford and Alec Grossman on May 29 in Durham, N.C. The girls got ready at MoshiMoshi in Chapel Hill—one of the cutest, brightest hair salons I’ve been to (aka a photography haven!).  Everyone then gathered at Alec’s home to get dressed and do a “reveal”—where the groom sees the bride for the first time before the ceremony.  This was really fun for me, because I had never shot a reveal before.  It was more dynamic than trying to get a close-up of the groom’s face at the altar when he first beholds his bride—check out the pics below to see for yourself. 

Anne and Alec got married at Beth El Synagogue in Durham.  I have never been inside a synagogue before or seen a Jewish marriage ceremony, so this was also extremely exciting for me.  The ceremonial customs were extremely beautiful and imbued with history and meaning–the signing of the Ketubah was one of my favorite parts.  Alec–an accomplished graphic designer and superb artist– spent months constructing it himself.  The ceremony itself was beautiful—I keep semi-joking with my boyfriend that if we ever get married I want a Jewish ceremony!

The reception was held at the Parizade, also in Durham.  I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed and welcomed at a wedding venue before—the manager greeted me and Stephen and showed us a private table (in a lovely air-conditioned room!) where we were free to download photos and eat cake.  And the party itself was AWESOME from the moment we arrived.  Stephen and I were both caught off guard after the first dance when the hora began, because everyone circled up and started yelling and clapping and surrounding us while kicking and screaming with joy.  The hora was really joyful—I was tempted to just put my camera down and join in the fun!  (Towards the end of the wedding I actually did this for a dance or two, thanks to Anne’s beckoning).

Anne and Alec, you two are awesome, as are your crazy family and friends.  I loved that you were just yourselves in front of the camera, making sarcastic comments and contorting your faces into all sorts of silly expressions.  I had so much fun getting to know you and work with you.  Your love story (especially as retold by Seth Grossman) is unique, funny, and heart-warming all at the same time.  Thank you for letting me share in your wedding day, and for giving me the opportunity to create photos of some new customs and traditions.  It was a joy!

Big shout-out to Stephen Garret and Cana Collective for helping me out.  He is an amazing videographer and still shooter, and I had a great time shooting with him for the first time.  Many of his photos are included below.

Enjoy!

I shot the Tar Heel wedding of Hunter Faulkner and Pablo Vega on May 21, 2011, in Chapel Hill, N.C.  Hunter and Pablo got married at University Baptist Church on Franklin Street, and they had their reception at the legendary Top of the Hill, just a crosswalk away from the church.  It was really fun shooting a wedding right in UNC’s backyard, and the presence of the Clef Hangers made it extra fun (and musical!)

I shot Hunter’s bridal portraits back in April, and she was beautiful then, but she looked even more beautiful on her wedding day.  She was radiating joy, making my job easy because I couldn’t take a bad picture of such a happy bride!  It was also exciting to meet the love of her life and see them together.  I don’t think I even met Pablo until Hunter walked down the aisle, so I was definitely feeling the impact of a bride walking to her beloved for the first time.  The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and reverent, and the sermon given by Reverend Dr. H. Mitchell Simpson was moving.

My favorite part of Hunter and Pablo’s wedding was how music threaded itself through every part of the day.  The Clef’s performed an original Pablo Vega composition for Hunter during the ceremony, and they serenaded her constantly throughout the reception.  Anoop Desai shared his amazing gift with everyone, joining the band up front.  I had never heard him sing in person, so it was definitely a privilege to be present at such a lively reception!   And the dancing was crazy—Hunter and Pablo definitely know how to throw a good party and celebrate.

Props to Justin Cook for photographing the guys before the wedding, shooting the overhead shots during the ceremony, and making incredible pictures at the reception.  I always enjoy shooting with him as a team (and catching a dance or two with him when the party gets going). 

Hunter and Pablo, thank you so much for hiring me and Justin to shoot your wedding.  I’ve enjoyed sharing in your unique story, and it was a joy to photograph your wedding.  I hope that these images capture the emotion of the day for you and the story of your love.

Enjoy!