This sweet, well-traveled couple met in 2004 at their college harmonica club and got engaged in 2016. Ming-Feng proposed with purple tulips in Amsterdam, and Ying-Ju obviously said yes!

After moving from Taiwan to Durham, North Carolina, this couple wanted to honor their roots during their Durham celebration. They incorporated many beautiful traditional Taiwanese details into their day, like Ying-Ju’s Chinese reception dress, gold jewelry, and hand-made guest favors.

Are you planning an Asian-fusion wedding this spring and looking for a photographer who is excited about your ideas?

Or maybe you’re blending two different faith traditions and are not sure where to even start? I love helping you clarify + celebrate your true values on your wedding day. Check out my wedding photography packages and let’s work together!

A shout-out to all our fab vendors for making this day possible!

Second Photographer: Shaena Mallett

Coordinator: Friends Cheo-Ying & Lydia

Officiant: Friend Brian Head

Bride’s American Dress: Pronovia Ornani, from Tre Bella Bridal

Bride’s Chinese Dress: Made in Taiwan

Florist: Tre Bella Florist for bride’s bouquet and main table centerpiece; DIY guest table centerpieces and aisle markers

Dessert: Guglhupf

Catering: Southern Harvest Catering

The post Ying-Ju + Ming-Feng | Asian-fusion Wedding at a Science Museum | Durham Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Chances are, you’ve never planned an event larger than your grandma’s birthday party, and you feel lost. Whether you end up hitting it off with me or choosing another photographer, I want you to find the perfect fit… and stay sane doing so!

I’ve listened to my couples’ struggles over the years, and I’ve come up with 5 no-fail tips for hiring your wedding photographer.

Married couples: what do you think? Is there any other advice you’d add to this? Sound off in the comments!

1. Find the Right Style

Be clear on what style of photos you’d like. Do you like trendy VSCO filters? Or do you prefer the dreamy grain of film photography? Would you rather have candid moments of your wedding guests boogieing down on the dance floor and nix the cheesy portraits?

Make sure your photographer’s work is what she/he says it is—a newspaper photojournalist skilled in capturing unexpected moments probably won’t be too jazzed to photograph mason jars. And a fine art photographer who specializes in stunning portraiture might not be excited to let things happen candidly.

Get clear on your preferences and have your photographer do the same. Then look at their work to make sure they practice what they preach.

Katherine + Caley loved my natural light portraits, so we budgeted enough time to snag a few dreamy sunset shots at magic hour. Check out their full wedding gallery to see more of what they wanted in their photography!

2. Find the Right Connection

Do you feel a connection to your photographer? They’ll be with you for the entire day, so if you hate the perfume she wears or can’t stand those terrible Dad Jokes, then you may want rethink your choice. Picking a vendor is a bit like picking your partner—you want there to be a connection.

Here’s a behind the-scenes moment from a fall wedding of my intern Ali and I making sure we got the perfect shot. Photo cred to my fab associate Lis Tyroler for capturing this cute moment.

3. Review Their Work

Look through their work—lots of it! (This is the fun part… especially if you’re having a boring afternoon at work). Already know your venue? Chances are your photographer has shot there before. Ask to see a wedding album from your venue! Even if you’re getting married in a backyard bungalow, they probably have something to show you that will help you visualize the space.

Adrienne + Matt planned a backyard wedding at their family’s home in Aberdeen, NC. While planning for their wedding photography, we looked at plenty of my samples from similar backyard shindigs to help visualize their space.

“Courtney was such a competent, warm presence during our day! We talked to other photographers before we found you that had expectations about our wedding and our needs before they even met us. But you totally heard our desires, and respected our wishes (like our short list of posed shots!) while making us feel comfortable and content. We’re so grateful!” –Adrienne + Matt, married April 2016

4. Communication is Key

Hiring a photographer isn’t that different than online dating. Does your photographer really listen to your wants and needs? or does she have preconceived notions of what your wedding should be? Is she excited to hear your ideas? It’s your photographer’s job to guide you, help you feel at ease, and clearly communicate with you.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at a unique Rock Quarry wedding! Associate photographer Bri Brough and I LOVED Jenn + Kennedy’s idea of having a “first jump” into the quarry instead of a traditional first dance. We all put our heads together to figure out how to capture that unique moment in an unconventional way…and decided to rent underwater gear + flotation devices and get in the water. Here are some of the shots captured of that special moment! What do you think? (To view all the photos from this wedding and learn more about how we got these shots, visit the full blog gallery from Jennifer + Kennedy’s wedding!)

5. Pick a package with prints

I can’t emphasize this one enough: print your photos. Invest in wedding albums and large canvas prints for your home. There’s something magical about holding a tangible photograph in your hand. You notice details that, when left on a cell phone LCD screen, are obscured by smudges and dust. You step inside the scene and feel the ambience in a way digital images can’t offer. Photos are meant to be printed because YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER is too valuable not to be seen. Beheld. Remembered. You worked hard to build a relationship that will last. Commemorate that.

Planning a wedding and feel like we’re a good fit? Let’s grab a drink and get to know each other! Give me a shout, and let’s connect!

The post 5 No-Fail Tips for Hiring Your Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

From a self-officiated ceremony to an anarcho-feminist puppet show, their unconventional wedding reflected this couple’s authenticity.

Sara and Daniel wanted their day to be a celebration of a world that is more free, just, joyful, loving, and beautiful. And their wedding certainly did not miss the mark.

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Sara + Daniel’s inspiration for their unconventional wedding celebration.

Are you planning your own unconventional wedding? Come check out the Raleigh LGBTQ Wedding Expo on February 25.

This event is an amazing resource—not only if you’re LGBTQ—but also if you’re a hetero couple looking for LGBTQ-friendly vendors who share your values.

Everyone is welcome at this event—gay, hetero, single, curious—and there’ll be all types of vendors, from photographers like myself, to catering, music, and everything in between. Admission is free, click here for more info and to RSVP. I hope to see you there!

1. How did you meet and fall in love? I’d love to hear a little bit more of your story.

We met at Connecticut College when I was a freshman and Daniel was a sophomore.

We first interacted at a film showing against the war in Iraq that Daniel presented with the campus leftist group he started. I had seen Daniel around campus (who could miss his ridiculous mohawk?), but Daniel apparently got smitten with me after I made “a biting criticism of US foreign policy” (His words, not mine. I think he just thought I was cute).

After a couple of goofy missteps we connected, exchanged mix tapes, and started a fun, passionate relationship. We got a chance to spend a summer together in Mexico during different internships, and we bonded over delicious food and revolutionary politics.

Over the last eleven years we have lived together in Mexico, DC, and North Carolina, and we spent years apart while I worked/studied in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Philadelphia. Neither of us can pinpoint the moment when we realized that we are going to be life partners. In some ways I think we both always knew

2. You incorporated some really unique elements into your unconventional wedding day (Before you, I had never photographed a puppet show at a wedding!) Tell me about some of these personal touches and the inspiration behind it.

It was very important for us that each element of our unconventional wedding day felt authentic to our relationship, heritage, and values. We are two folks that like to question authority and the status quo, so it makes sense that we tried to spin wedding traditions into something that felt representative of us.

We chose to officiate our own wedding because both of us are atheists, but we wanted to make sure that some of our closest friends and family members could contribute to the ceremony.

Our close friends are in a puppet troupe, the Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army, and they offered to write and perform a puppet show for us our wedding. The puppeteers knew that I am obsessed with my cats, so they made them the narrators of this sweet anarcho-feminist puppet show. It was amazing!

3. What was your favorite part of your unconventional wedding day?

Both of us agreed that our favorite part of the wedding day was dancing the final dance while a huge group of our friends encircled us. Our DJ, Alex DB, played “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which was on the first mixed CD I gave to Daniel. Daniel and I both cried our eyes out while our friends hugged us. It was really moving.

4. What factors other than photos went into your decision on a unconventional wedding photographer? Why did you pick me?

We wanted someone who would seem comfortable with some of our nontraditional choices. You were more than game and were very validating of our choices. You also seemed relaxed and confident.

5. Your photography package included an engagement session. What was it like to work with me during this? Did it make the wedding day easier in terms of nerves about photography or what to expect from our collaboration?

I was really not looking forward to the engagement shoot. I was very nervous because I don’t really enjoy getting my picture taken, but you made me feel at ease. Your directions helped me focus on Daniel and our relationship, rather than whether I looked good enough.

6. What is the first thing you want to do with the images from your unconventional wedding? 

We want to re-experience our unconventional wedding through your amazing photos!

7. What is next for you as a couple? Any big plans?

It’s been almost difficult going back to our normal routine considering we had such a wonderful unconventional wedding day! This fall we’re traveling to Vietnam and Laos. We’re excited to go on an adventure together.

8. Now that you are seasoned wedding planners, what advice do you have for other couples planning an unconventional wedding?

Be playful! Many traditional wedding elements conflict with our radical feminist sensibilities. We kept the traditions we liked, and we re-imagined or tossed the traditions we did not like.

Sara and Daniel, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your day. There are times when photographing events feels like heavy labor, but this felt like child’s play- and I owe that to the environment of playfulness and imagination that you created. It was truly one of the most enjoyable celebrations I have ever witnessed. Thank you!

A shout-out to all our fab vendors for making this day possible:

Wedding Planner: RedBird Events

Photography Assistant: Katy Folk

Puppet Show: Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army

Bride’s Dress: BHLDN

Shoes: Swedish Hasbeens

Groom’s Clothing: Ted Baker

Florist: Teacup Floral

Ice Cream: The Parlour

Cake: Wants and Kneads

Catering: Kokyu

Invites: Daniel Meltzer, printed by CatPrint

DJ: Alex DB

The post Unconventional Wedding | Sara + Daniel’s Snipes Farm Retreat Celebration | LGBTQ Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Shelley + Michael are a super chill couple, and they wanted their Chapel hill engagement photographer to honor their love of drinking beer on the couch, listening to vinyl records, and chillin’ at their fave local Carrboro and Chapel Hill spots.

This shoot felt like a “day in the life” starring Shelley + Michael in their own skin (or fuzzy leopard-print robes) instead of an arbitrary, tropey photo sesh in a field/on a mountain/clad in fancy matchy Pinterest-looking clothes. The stripped-down feel of this session gave this rad couple a chance to relax in their own space, pop open a cold one, and truly be themselves in front of the camera.

Looking for unstuffy engagement & wedding photos? Head on over to my wedding photography page to learn about my packages and drool over the eye candy I have for you!

A lot of my clients tell me they cringe when looking for engagement photo inspo on Pinterest or IG. “Do I have to do that?” is a question I field all the time.

At-home engagement sessions give you the chance to relax, be yourself, and not have to pretend to be someone you’re not just because the wedding industry tells you you should kiss passionately in a field if you’re engaged.

(Incidentally, Michael + Shelley did take me to a field at Coker Arboretum on their alma mater’s campus, but it was only for impromptu piggy-back rides and a chance to show off their Tarheel pride!)

Looking for cozy snuggle sesh of your own, with engagement pictures to boot? I’m a Chapel Hill engagement photographer passionate about eliminating the stuffiness in your pictures and showcasing your authentic selves. Drop me a line!

The post Shelley + Michael Engaged | Unstuffy Engagement Photos | Chapel Hill Engagement Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Stacy + Jay tied the knot at the Rigmor House in Chapel Hill on April 22, 2017. This laid-back duo wanted a celebration that felt less like an extravagant production and more like a backyard barbecue.

And they wanted their dog, Pepper, to be the star of the day. They incorporated lawn games, s’mores around the bonfire, and ample room  for Pepper to roam and guests to stretch their legs (and slip her food!).

Do you think they pulled it off? Check out these pics, and sound-off in the comments below!

Are you planning a laid-back outdoor wedding and looking for a photographer who loves cornhole, North Carolina BBQ, and your fur-baby?

Or maybe you’re renovating your home for your backyard wedding and have no idea where to put all the guests? I love helping you clarify + celebrate your true values on your wedding day. Check out my 3 wedding packages and schedule a 30-minute phone discovery session with me by August 15 and receive 10% off your photography package.

A shout-out to our fab vendors who made this day possible:

Photography Assistant: Kasha Ely

Coordinator: Lauren Wilson

Officiant: Kathie McCutcheon

Bride’s Dress: Amy Kuschel, purchased at Lana Addison Bridal

Bride’s Shoes: Imagine by Vince Camuto

Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way

Florist: Tre Bella

Dessert: Nantucket Bakery

Catering: Hillsborough BBQ

Invites: Wedding Paper Diva

DJ: Montgomery Morris

Transportation: Greenway Transit

The post Stacy + Jay | Rigmor House Wedding | Chapel Hill Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Lizz + Dave wanted to showcase their fondness for downtown Raleigh (and their adorable, squirrel-obsessed fur-baby Drogo), so we planned a fun urban Raleigh engagement session. I had so much fun with this playful couple and love how their authentic goofiness shines in many of these pictures.

Lizz + Dave answered a few questions about their engagement photo inspiration and favorite moments from the session. I absolutely love their creativity. Read below to feel inspired!

1. Tell me about you! (The floor is yours: How did you meet? What activities do you enjoy doing as a couple? Who is your celebrity couple doppelganger?)

We were introduced by our close friends (who are now also getting married in 2017) at Charlie’s Kitchen in Cambridge, Mass. This was the same place where Dave proposed a few years later. Our favorite thing in the whole world is our dog, Drogo. He’s a squirrel-obsessed giant lap dog and by far the best puppy ever.

2.  Why did you decide to book a Raleigh engagement session? Was there anything in particular you wanted me to photograph (or avoid…)? 

We decided to do an engagement session because we wanted photos of us with our pup Drogo for the save-the-dates, and we wanted some casual fun pictures. We felt that since we have enjoyed our engagement so much we wanted photos that represented the fun we have together.

3.   What was your favorite moment from the engagement session? Favorite photo?

Favorite photo is definitely with our championship wrestling belts. Favorite moment during the shoot was trying to get Drogo to look at anything other than the squirrels he was hunting.

4.  What do you plan to do with your Raleigh engagement photos? (i.e. Wallpaper the hallway? Internet fame? Make a collage of your pup?)

Dave made one of the engagement photos into a puzzle through shutterfly as a surprise Christmas gift! It was really a unique way to display one of the amazing photos. He even had “The McRooneys” added to the bottom. It’s so great!

5. Anything else you’d like to add?

We had such a fun time with the engagement session. The photos really show our personalities and we love them! The candid shots make us really excited to see how great our wedding photos will come out!

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Lizz + Dave, thanks for being such a rad, goofy couple. Your authenticity is refreshing, and I loved every minute with you (and Drogo!). I’m pumped about photographing your shindig later this year.

Do you like these unstuffy Raleigh engagement photos? Head on over to my wedding photography page for even more eye candy and delightfully silly moments!

The post Lizz + Dave | Urban Engagement Session | Raleigh Engagement Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

And sometimes you get 70 degree days…in January. Nida + Clay share my distaste for bugs + heat, so we picked a beautiful 70-degree “winter” day and played in the woods for their engagement session last month.

More meaningfully, Nida + Clay decided to take pictures in Umstead Park, since that was the location of their first date (a nine-mile run!) after meeting at the Fullsteam Run Club. I didn’t make them run nine miles for this session, but we did get a workout walking the trails in the park.

Nida + Clay, thanks for being so laid-back and fun during your session! I loved the ideas you brought to the table and really enjoyed collaborating with you. Thanks for so eagerly embracing the concept of #brinsonbanksing, too, haha! I hope you love your photos!!

The post Nida + Clay | Rustic Engagement Session | Raleigh Engagement Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

When Bejal explained her LGBTQ wedding vision as “peacock-themed with Hindu influences,” I was hooked! I always love when couples create a wedding experience that is unique to their story, and this Indian-fusion wedding in a relaxed garden setting was definitely true to Bejal and Brittany.

One of my favorite elements of Brittany and Bejal’s NC Botanical Garden ceremony was the layout of the space. Instead of walking down a center aisle, Brittany and Bejal processed together but on separate sides of the circular perimeter, around the guests instead of cutting through them.  I also loved that they did their first dance right after they said their vows and kissed instead of during the reception.

When I first blogged this wedding back in 2014, it was the 2-year anniversary of the gay marriage ban passing in North Carolina. This gross, discriminatory law was finally overturned, and couples like Bejal + Brittany can now legally wed.

A family member’s speech during this wedding lingers with me in light of this: courage is doing what is right and true, even in the face of opposition. I’m so glad Bejal + Brittany chose to keep on lovin’ each other and sharing it with all of us.

Are you an LGBTQ couple looking for a chill, open-minded LGBTQ wedding photographer?

I’d love to photograph your day! Check out my three wedding packages or come meet me in person at the 5th Annual Raleigh LGBTQ Wedding Expo on Sunday, February 25th (admission is FREE – click here for more info and to RSVP.)

The post Bejal + Brittany | NC Botanical Garden Wedding | LGBTQ Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

From their selection of local food vendors to a feminist DJ, their inclusive wedding reflected their authentic joy for one another and their community.

Are you planning a inclusive wedding and looking for an experienced North Carolina wedding photographer who supports your values?

I love helping you clarify + celebrate your true values on your wedding day. Check out my 3 wedding packages and drop me a line to set up your free wedding consultation.

A shout-out to all our fab vendors for making this day possible:

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