Tag: Courtney Potter

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!

When Lisette told me back in October that she and Steven would say “I do” in a big red barn, I got really excited. She explained to me that it wasn’t a wedding venue that comes with amenities and a special wedding staff, either—it was literally a big red barn on the side of the road in Greer, South Carolina.

Lisette and Steven’s barn wedding turned out to be really beautiful.  Family and friends helped out with all aspects of the set-up, stringing Christmas lights around the perimeter of the inside and baking pies for their potluck-style dessert bar.  In an age when the wedding industry tries to convince couples to drop ridiculous amounts of money on mere table settings, it was really refreshing to experience an intimate, beautiful DIY wedding.

Lisette and Steven are both down-to-earth people with a wonderful sense of humor, and their wedding reflected that nicely. I kept cracking up during the reception when Lisette would announce the next activity. For the bouquet toss, she simply declared, “Okay it’s time to throw things!”  For their exit, she told everyone “Now it’s time for our fake exit!”  I loved how relaxed the atmosphere was, as the lack of contrived entertainment allowed for authentic conversation, laughter, and dancing.  Several of my former wedding clients and friends were at this wedding, and I enjoyed getting a chance to briefly catch up.

Lisette and Steven, thank you so much for allowing me and Maria to be a part of your day.  Your wedding was truly beautiful, and it was so fun to realize how many mutual friends we had!  The day was a genuine reflection of not just your love for each other, but your family and friend’s love for and support of you. It was an honor to be a part of it, and I hope that these photos make you smile in the months and years to come.

Enjoy!

In December I made a mini road-trip to Asheville to shoot Lisette’s bridal portraits. Asheville is always one of my favorite places for a shoot because of the natural beauty of the land and the quirkiness and charm of the downtown.  The rainy, slightly foggy day added to the atmosphere at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, and I had fun pushing myself to create photos that were moodier and more unexpected.

Lisette was a really fun bride to work with because of her beautiful, unique feature (I am envious of her gorgeous blue eyes!)  When I met Lisette during our time at UNC Chapel Hill she had awesome dreads, which she cut a few months before her wedding.  Her new haircut made for awesome photos because it wasn’t the typical “bridal updo” that I see over and over.  Her flowy JCrew wedding dress was also perfect for the environment and made for some really pretty profile pictures.

Lisette, thank you so much for your hospitality to me during your bridal shoot.  I had fun getting to know your best friend and your parents, and I enjoyed our time watching Netflix and hanging out afterwards. Thanks for being a trooper with the cold weather during our shoot!  Your mom was extremely helpful during the shoot carrying both of our things, and one of my favorite pictures from the day is you laughing with her as she walks across the field while talking on the phone and carrying tons of stuff!  I hope you had fun and I can’t wait to share the wedding photos in my next post.

Enjoy!

 

It was chilly when Sarah and Erik read their vows to each other underneath the wooden trellis, but everyone was warmed by this couple’s deep love for one another.  It made me wonder why more couples don’t get married in the winter, since the environment was so intimate and cozy!  Perfect for a wedding.

Sarah and Erik got married at the Rigmor House in Chapel Hill, one of my favorite places to shoot because of all the natural light indoors.  They adorned the tables with festive candles, cranberries, and red roses, which gave the reception a romantic feel. Their friends were extremely fun; I enjoyed watching everyone’s sick dance moves.  I was also pretty amused by the amount of shots consumed in the kitchen in between dances.  🙂

I shot this wedding with my brand new high school intern, Layson Peters.  She did a phenomenal job, and it was so fun to live vicariously through her enthusiasm, since this was her first wedding to shoot ever.  It was nice to realize that my love for wedding photography hasn’t waned over time; every time I create a new picture of a new moment with a new couple, that quiet thrill hits me. It’s the same feeling I had during my first wedding, and I hope that as long as I am in this profession it will continue to shape my work.  And I hope the same for Layson.

Sarah + Erik, thank you so much for sharing your day with us!  Enjoy!