Durham Archives - Courtney Potter Studio

Dana + Ben | DIY Duke Gardens Wedding | Durham Wedding Photographer

Becky — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 18:50:42 +0000

Dana + Ben tied the knot in a beautiful DIY outdoor ceremony at Duke Gardens on September 24, 2016.

I photographed Dana’s sister’s wedding in 2014, and it was a special treat to document another family celebration just two years later. I loved the laid-back but romantic feel of Dana + Ben’s Duke Gardens wedding and am excited to share these photos!

Read the Q&A with this laid-back couple, featured below, to learn more about their Duke Gardens wedding inspiration and photography experience!

1. What are some of your favorite things about your partner? How were these attributes expressed during or leading up to your wedding?

Dana: Ben is kind, calm, and very organized. He’s good at remembering the things that might slip through the cracks- like getting a marriage license. I always feel like he’s on my team. He was holding my hand, dancing, and just with me all night.

Ben: Dana makes everyone feel very comfortable, and as a result our wedding was relaxed and friendly.

2. What was most important to you in planning your wedding?

It was important to us that everyone was going to have fun! And also that the wedding reflected us. Our ceremony felt very “ours”- like hugging our parents instead of being given away, and having our friend Virginia as the officiant.

Even though we kept our family in mind, we felt like it fit us. We tried to do some DIY things to keep costs down. We bought these rubber stamps and ink to decorate our invitations, and we used them again for the programs.

3. Are there any details or moments from your wedding that are particularly special to you? (E.g., you wore your momma’s dress, your partner unexpectedly serenaded you, there was a double rainbow all across the sky…).

Dana: Seeing Ben’s face as I walked down the aisle is something I won’t forget. Seeing so many loved ones. Getting ready with my sister and girlfriends.

Both: The toasts were truly special- heartfelt and touching.

4. Now that you’ve tied the knot (and survived!), what advice would you give to other folks planning their wedding?

Wedding planning takes a lot of time, especially the small things. Start early, and leave yourself enough time, and try to divide and conquer a bit. It’s so helpful when something is handled by one member of the couple and you know your own task.

Remember to soak up the day. It goes by so fast. Savor being with your partner on the special day.

5. What drew you to my photography style? Why did you ultimately decide to hire me? Was it worth it?

We loved your photography from my sister’s wedding, which was probably the best way to vet you too! You are so comfortable to work with. You are friendly and calm but are not afraid to tell people what you need. The composition in photographs is very nice, and it’s clear that you’re thinking about the whole frame.

6. What is the first thing you want to do with the images? Wallpaper the hallway? Internet fame?

I’m just looking at these over and over again, re-living the wedding. Social media posts to come, and we’ll certainly pick out a few to frame, and potentially an album. We also gave a few of the group shots to our friends and family as gifts.

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

We have a trip planned just the two of us- without the dog- to New Orleans. Just a short trip but it feels like honeymoon round two. We’re loving living together after being long distance. Life is so much better.

Are you planning a laid-back outdoor wedding and looking for an experienced North Carolina wedding photographer who supports your unique vision?

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 all our fab vendors for making this day possible:

Venue: Duke Gardens

Photography Assistant: Katy Hall

Coordinator: Liz Gordon

Officiant: Virginia Rutter, friend

Bride’s Dress: Melissa Sweet

Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / BHLDN

suitBridesmaid Dresses: The Reformation, No. 6 / BHLDN

Groom’s Clothing: J. Crew

Ties: J. Rich / Suit Supply

Florist: Tre Bella

Dessert: Rose’s Sweet Shop

Catering: Durham Catering Company

Invites; DIY, rubber stamp from Beeswax Rubber Stamps

Programs: DIY

DJ: Friends- Ellie & Michael

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Heidi + Patrick | Durham Engagement Session | Durham Wedding Photographer

Becky — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:33:08 +0000

Since Heidi and Patrick are devoted Durhamites, we picked a smorgasbord of popular Durham spots for their engagement session. Starting at West Point on the Eno and ending at The Parlour downtown for an ice cream indulgence, we covered a lot of ground and had a blast!

Heidi + Patrick, thanks for being such enthusiastic collaborators with this shoot. You were up for any suggestions and contributed a lot of fun ideas- some of which I had never heard of before! I am excited to photograph your wedding next month and have more fun rollicking in downtown Durham with you. And a big thanks to my fab intern Katy Jones for assisting me with this shoot. You rocked the reflector like a boss.

I hope you enjoy these pictures!

Heidi + Patrick engagement shoot in Durham, NC on March 22, 2016. All photos © Courtney Potter Photography, Inc. 2016.

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Kim + David | Wedding at The Cookery | Durham Wedding Photographer

Courtney — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 20:38:09 +0000

Kim + David tied the knot on June 20, 2014 at The Cookery in downtown Durham, North Carolina. Kim and David graciously participated in a Q&A about their wedding day, which is featured below!

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1. Why was it important for you to hire a professional photographer with a documentary approach? What other factors went into your decision to hire me?

We really wanted photographs that could capture the mood, energy, and feelings of the day. Those are things you just can’t get through posed pictures. We had seen some of Courtney’s work and knew that her documentary approach resulted in photos that not only captured the events of the day, but also the special little moments created by fleeting emotions.

2. Did you foresee any part of your wedding day being difficult logistically or emotionally? Did I make it easier? If so, how?

We thought our pre-ceremony timeline would be difficult to navigate. We got ready in separate buildings, drove to one location for pictures, went to another location for “pre-wedding drinks,” and then went to the final location for the ceremony/reception. A few days in advance, we asked Courtney for her opinion and she was so helpful in estimating time for pictures at each location. On the day of the wedding, she was great at guiding us along our timeline so we didn’t have to stress about it.

3. I loved how you utilized a lot of great local Durham vendors for your wedding. Was this a conscious decision on your part? What were some of the vendors you were most excited about?

Once we chose The Cookery as our location, the rest just kind of fell into place. Durham has so much to offer, we didn’t have to look elsewhere. I’d say we were most excited about The Parlour ice cream truck!

4. You booked an engagement session with your wedding package. What was it like to work with me in this more relaxed setting?

I’m really glad we got to work with Courtney before the wedding! The engagement photos were gorgeous and the photo shoot was just so fun. Having a laid-back photo shoot before the wedding gave us a chance to get to know Courtney which definitely helped us feel more comfortable the day of the wedding.

5. What is the first thing you want to do with the images?

We want to print some photos to send to grandparents that couldn’t make it to the wedding. There is also a spot in our house that is waiting for a picture!

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

Kim just graduated nursing school and got her first job! So our big plans are to enjoy married life and embrace all these new steps in life!

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Kim and David, thank you so much for being such an easy-going couple to work with! I really enjoyed every step of the wedding process with you- from our first dinner at The Tobacco Campus, to all of our various photo sessions up until the wedding day! I hope you cherish these photos for years to come.

To view all of Kim + David’s wedding photos and order prints, please visit their gallery on my print service.

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

Venue: The Cookery

Dress: Maggie Sottero

Shoes: ChristyNg

Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew

Groom’s clothing: Suitsupply

Ties: The Tie Bar

Florist: University Florist

Second Photographer: Elizabeth Mendoza

Ice Cream: The Parlour

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Marry Durham 2013 | North Carolina | Personal Work

Courtney — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:21:58 +0000

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!

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Ami + Dave | Indian Wedding | Durham Convention Center

Courtney — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:22:00 +0000

When I booked Ami+Dave’s wedding back in May, I knew it was going to be the wedding of the year. I devoted a whole week in September to shooting their fun wedding festivities, which included an intimate shoot in Duke Gardens, multiple henna parties, a small traditional family ceremony on Thursday, their Sangeet party, and then the wedding day itself—which was packed with emotion, beautiful rituals, amazing Indian music and food, and bright colors. In other words, their wedding was a photographer’s dream wedding!

The breadth and intimacy of Ami+Dave’s wedding week coverage provided a unique wedding coverage experience for me. I had really great conversations with their family and friends over a series of days, learned a ton about Ami’s family’s culture, and got to witness and photograph some really beautiful moments that I can’t imagine seeing without spending so much time with them. It was a privilege to feel like I wasn’t just a witness to their family’s celebration—I was a part of it! I came home from each shoot feeling refreshed, as if I had spent quality time with my own family. It was life-giving, to say the least, and reminded me of my college days when I would dive into a documentary project.

Ami+Dave, thank you so much for inviting me to document your wedding celebration. You both have such bright spirits and bring joy to everyone you meet—I experienced that first-hand each day I shot with you. I was truly touched by the toasts at your wedding, which made me cry (and I usually don’t cry at weddings!). I hope that these photos reflect the light that you bring to all and the love around you. And a big thanks to Justin Cook and Ted Richardson for shooting with me this week.

Enjoy!

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Jessie | Cotton Room Bridal Portraits | Durham Portrait Photographer

Courtney — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:13:19 +0000

Now that Jessie + Eric have tied the knot, I am excited to share the images from Jessie’s bridal session last month.

Jessie and Eric win the award for being our most adventurous couple- they agreed to an engagement session submerged in the Eno River last summer. Justin and I scratched our heads wondering how to top this with Jessie’s bridal portraits at The Cotton Room, so we decided to do something a bit unconventional. Some photographers brand themselves as “natural light wedding photographers” (which implies they just don’t know how to use artificial light), so we wanted to do the opposite for this shoot. Justin brought some bright pink background paper and an assortment of lights, and we turned a typical Southern portrait session into a fashion shoot. And for the majority of our “natural light” photographs we manipulated the light with our trusty reflector.

We all had an awful lot of fun during this shoot, and I am quite pleased with the final images. Jessie- thank you so much for continuing your adventurous streak and humoring us with our crazy background paper. We have been dying to post these images online and are glad the time has finally come!

To view all of the photos from Jessie’s bridal session and order prints, please visit her full gallery on my online print shop!

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

Venue: The Cotton Room

Photography Team: Courtney Potter & Justin Cook

Bride’s Dress: Maggi Bridal

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

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