Tag: Courtney Potter Photography

I’ve been dying to do a dance shoot ever since I started dancing at Ninth Street Dance in Durham after I graduated college. When my lyrical/contemporary dance instructor said she needed pictures for her new website, I jumped at the chance (no pun intended) to take some artsy photos of her.

So Sakina and I spent a dance-filled afternoon at the old river mill in Saxapahaw, N.C.  I’ve taken 14 weeks of contemporary dance under her instruction, but it was great to get to know her better outside of the studio.  She shared a bit of her story with me, and learning about what drives her passion for dance made me appreciate even more the beauty and talent of this amazing dancer.

Sakina has always danced, but she took a long break from it when her then-boyfriend persuaded her to pursue a more lucrative career. After several of years of living without dance, she realized how much it was a part of her and decided to pursue her dreams of being a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor.

Her boyfriend didn’t approve, but she chose to not let go of her passion again. So Sakina broke off their engagement and moved to Durham.  When I asked her if she regretted any of this, she told me, no- she is so happy now and wouldn’t change any of her decisions. Dance is who she is.

Stories like Sakina’s really inspire me to keep dancing, expressing myself, making, creating. It is never too late to pursue your dreams and do what you love. It doesn’t matter that I never trained as a dancer when I was younger; I can find joy in it now and really push myself to grow as a dancer and artist.

Loved these photos? Are you a dancer, musician, artist, or a maker in need of  artful portraits that convey your passion? Choose between my two packages tailored just for creative professionals!

When Lindsay told me about how one of her favorite
things to do with friends is dress up in vintage bridal gowns and go out
on the town,  I knew I had to photograph her in the beautiful New
Mexican landscape.  Lindsay found an old gown at a thrift store in
Albuquerque that was hand-sewn for an old woman’s daughter.  Despite a
few tears here and there, it is really quite stunning.

So Lindsay and I climbed atop a few New Mexican volcanoes and did a
bridal session.  The scenery was engrossing, and all I wanted to do was
incorporate the dusty browns and vivid blues in the photos.  I wanted to
show Lindsay in this desolate, beautiful space.  It was such a fun two
hours of shooting—almost Zen-like.   I wish I could take all of my
brides to New Mexico to do our shoots.

Kelley and Mike didn’t meet in high school or on OKCupid; they fell in love while working on a case that ultimately exonerated a man who spent 14 years in jail for a murder he never committed. This story made headlines in major news outlets like CNN, and Mike and Kelley received several prestigious awards for their work that freed Floyd Brown. Kelley’s eyes lit up when she first told me about how Floyd brought them together. I could tell that the accolades and awards paled in comparison to the love and respect that Mike and Kelley have for Floyd, and for each other. Their life stories will be forever intertwined, which is why I wanted to start this blog entry with a portrait of the three of them.

Kelley and Mike tied the knot last month in a classy fall Chapel Hill wedding. They exchanged vows at the United Church of Chapel Hill and partied the night away at the Carolina Club on UNC’s campus. Some of my favorite moments were of Kelley’s nephew Kian, who was a complete ham. He held his own on the dance floor among lawyers and family members. 🙂 A big thanks to my talented interns Julysa Sosa and Layson Peters for assisting me, as well.

Kelley + Mike, thank you so much for giving me the privilege of photographing your wedding. Your love for justice as well as your compassion for others is so apparent and inspiring. It was a joy documenting your love story, and I hope that these photos preserve that for years to come.

Prints from this wedding AVAILABLE HERE!

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

Bride’s Hair: Megan Sandy

Dress: Tre Bella Bridal

Shoes: Nina

Bridesmaid dresses: Bridal Mart

Groom’s clothing: Tom James

Ties: Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont

Florist: Tre Bella Flowers

Cake: The Carolina Club

Catering: The Carolina Club

DJ: Stephen Scott Professional Entertainment

Transportation: A Formal Affair LLC

Today was the second anniversary of Marry Durham.  In 2011 the people of Durham said their vows to the city of Durham with a solemn oath to keep the city’s streets clean, cherish diversity, shop locally, and pursue sustainability.

haven’t shot personal work in awhile, and this seemed like a fun chance to explore my city, considering this took place just 2 miles from my house.  In the name of community, I brought my talented high school intern Layson to shoot this with me.  (Check out her version of the day’s event at her blog!)

haven’t had this much fun shooting for fun in awhile.  It was great to be back in the field, running free on the streets of downtown Durham with my camera.  Can’t wait until next year!