After meeting together to clarify her vision and branding goals, we came up with a game-plan and started building our creative team for her session. Erin found 2 models and brought along a stylist, and I brought my fab creative assistant Veronica to help the session run smoothly.

We settled on the Haw River Ballroom for our location– between the ample natural light upstairs and the dreamy river nearby we would have a variety of backdrops for the photos. The session lasted several hours and included several outfit + styling + backdrop changes. By the end of the night, we were all happily exhausted and energized from a productive session of creating! Erin answered a few questions about her experience in the Q&A below:

1. Tell me about you and your beautiful art! What is the inspiration behind your jewelry? What do you hope your customers feel when they wear your pieces?

My jewelry is made of hand painted glass. Each glass pendant is painted by me using a variety of techniques: freehand painting, stamping or blowing air. Due to the unique nature of each piece, the painting is one of a kind work of art and cannot be duplicated. I then set the glass inside my handmade wooden necklaces that are designed, cut, and finished in my North Raleigh studio. The inspiration behind my jewelry is my love of color, which is a big focus in my fine art painting. I hope customers feel emboldened by wearing my jewelry; that it raises their confidence level and makes them feel as though the jewelry helps to express who they are on the inside to the outside world.

2. What was your motivation or vision behind this photo shoot? What did you want to communicate with your pictures?

My jewelry is composed of primarily statement pieces that are one of a kind. My vision was to show my potential customers what the jewelry looks like on a woman-what she might wear with it, how it might enhance her outfit, and how a woman might feel in my jewelry. I also wanted to show women who embody my target audience and Amber and Michelle, who graciously agreed to model for the shoot, absolutely do that.

3. What did you feel when you first saw the photos?

I was really excited to see the photos. Courtney has a great eye for composition and lighting, and those talents along with the talents of the models just really came together to create several wonderful shots. 

4. What was it like to work with me? Feel free to write anything about the preparation process and the shoot itself!

Courtney was very professional at the shoot. She knows the photo site well and what times are best for lighting and mood to help capture the shots that she knew I wanted. She told me what to expect as far as when I would receive the photos and organized all the photos into folders for use in different places-website, social media and print. She is very organized, anticipating questions I might have and I felt confident that I had hired the right person throughout the process.

5. How have you used the photos I created for you? In what ways have they helped your business?

Yes, I have used the photos a lot. I use them on social media to promote my brand and my individual listings. I also printed a few pictures to have on the table in my booth set up at craft fairs and even had three favorites printed as banners to hang in my booth. They are a great attention getter and really help show who my “girl” is from far away, enticing customers who might have otherwise walked right past my booth.

6) What’s next for you as an artist and small-business owner?

My goals are to keep making products that I love and committing to shows that I enjoy and have done well at in the area. I really want to focus on doing fewer shows of higher quality this year. I enjoy selling online through my Etsy shop as well and plan to continue growing my online presence.

Wanna learn more about Erin and snag your own statement necklace? Connect with her here:

• Erin’s Website
• Erin’s Instagram
• Erin’s Etsy Shop

Are you a creative professional who needs help refining and visually communicating your brand? Learn more about ways we can partner together here.

Creative Assistant: Veronica Arenander

Models: Amber Carroll Santibanez +  Michelle Roman

Location: Haw River Ballroom

The post Erin Stesch | Raleigh Jewelry Maker | Visual Branding Session 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:

The post Allison + Will | Inclusive Wedding at the Haw River Ballroom | North Carolina Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Now that Whitney + Brian have tied the knot, I am excited to share these photographs from Whitney’s bridal session from this May.

This session couldn’t have been any more enjoyable. Whitney hails from Western NC and has a natural love of the outdoors and adventure. When I suggested using the Haw River as our portrait setting, Whitney hiked up her dress and dauntlessly bounded from one rock to another over the river.

We chose the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC for our bridal session spot. This has always been one of my favorite venues to work at, given the proximity of the river and the beautiful natural light inside the ballroom. We made the most of our shoot, trekking from the woods to the river to capture a variety of backdrops.

Whitney, not only are you a stunning bride, but your adventurous spirit made this shoot an absolute pleasure! It’s always a treat when photography feels like play, and I certainly had a blast with you (and your mom!) during this shoot. I can’t wait to finish your wedding photos and share them in just a few weeks! Thanks for being such a breeze to work with!

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

The post Whitney | Saxapahaw Bridal Session | North Carolina Portrait Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Rhea and Craig tied the knot on May 23, 2015 at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC. I have always loved this venue, which is a bit of a hidden gem just outside of Chapel Hill. Between the quaint amphitheater and massive windows illuminated by golden hour light (not to mention the river!), the environment lends itself to a fun wedding celebration and lovely photos.

Craig & Rhea answered some questions for me about their wedding and photography experience. I love the honesty and thoughtfulness they put into these answers. Read the Q&A below to learn more about their day! And to view all of the photos from Rhea + Craig’s wedding and order prints, please visit their wedding gallery on my online print shop!

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

Rhea: Craig was really involved in wedding planning and he wanted to make sure we considered our options and thought things through on every detail. Sometimes I just wanted to make the decision quickly and get it done with, but Craig would make me pause and think about it for a bit. At times I would get a bit frustrated wanted to say: “Please can we just decide!” but looking back, I’m so glad he made me slow down. There were several decisions that I know ended up being better ones because we took a step back and thought it through. And that’s what he does for me in life – helps me slow down, think things through, realize it’s all going to be okay, and then end up with a better situation in the end!

Craig: Rhea is a “bit” of a planner and this attribute was certainly helpful during the wedding planning process.  Also, she is a very compassionate person and made a dedicated effort to include the special people in our lives.  And, believe it or not, it was actually a fun process to plan the wedding.  Rhea is fairly easy-going and her personality helps us get through the stressful times in life!

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

We wanted an authentic experience that represented us as a couple. We wanted it to be meaningful but not too formal, expressive but also fun.

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…).  

Reciting our vows was a highlight for both of us. We each completed the statement: “I love you because . . .“ Usually we are the couple that expresses our feelings for each other through our actions, so to hear the words was a powerful and meaningful experience.  Also, the weather was warm but not humid – always a gamble in the North Carolina summer – so, it was fairly comfortable for our Northern guests.  Finally, we were tremendously humbled by the generosity of our family and friends, many of whom travelled great distances to be with us on our special day.

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

When we were considering the Haw River Ballroom as a potential venue we googled “Haw River Ballroom weddings” and the second link was to one of your shoots.  And it was exactly the vision we had for our wedding we instantly loved your style. We knew that working with you we would get more than a bunch of pictures of us in fancy clothes – we knew you’d give us “special” photos that we would treasure forever. And when we met with you, it felt really comfortable and like we were talking with a friend. So it was an easy decision!

5. Your photography package included an engagement session with me. During our initial meeting you both expressed a bit of nervousness in front of the camera. Did the engagement session help break the ice before the big day? Do you have a favorite picture from our session?

The engagement session was a great decision. Neither of us had spent a lot of time in front of a camera before our wedding, so it was great to have that experience. The locale was unique and fun – thank you Courtney for hooking us up with a farm in Hillsborough! It’s impossible to be nervous when you have a cat sitting on your feet and donkeys looking on! There were a lot of great photos from that day, but one of our favorites has the two of us leaning our foreheads together – the light is really beautiful and it’s a sweet moment.

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

We’re excited to look through each & every photo and re-live our day.  It was a crazy, busy day and honestly it was a bit of a blur.  We will select several to be printed for ourselves and our families … then we’ll spam Facebook like nobody’s business.

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

We’re going to Iceland in July for our honeymoon! We’re going to drive the ring road which circumnavigates Iceland, stopping along the way for hiking, waterfalls, whale watching, and whatever else we find. We love to travel and so are excited for this next adventure!

8. Anything else you’d like to add?

Just a final THANK YOU to you for being such a talented artist and also a cool, relatable person. We are so grateful to have found you!

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Craig & Rhea, thank you for being such an authentic and fun couple. Your answers above can be said right back at you: thank you for being such cool, relatable people! It was a pleasure working with you throughout every step of the photography process, and I am looking forward to seeing you around Durham! Enjoy!

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

Photography Assistant: Kasha Mammone

Coordinator: Patti Gallivan

Officiant: Brandon Chase

Bride’s Dress: Wtoo

Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale

Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Clothing: Bernard’s Formalwear

Florist: Victoria Park Florist

Dessert: Whole Foods Durham

Catering: Saxapahaw General Store

Invites & Programs: MagnetStreet

DJ: CWDJ Entertainment

Transportation: First Charter Bus

The post Rhea + Craig | Haw River Ballroom Wedding | North Carolina Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Katherine and Caley tied the knot at the Haw River Ballroom on March 9, 2014. This venue has been one of my favorites since I first discovered the hidden gem that is Saxapahaw back in 2009. The ballroom boasts tons of natural light, a rustic wall in the outdoor amphitheater that is the perfect backdrop for portraits, and the classic “thrills” sign that lights up near the stage. In other words, it’s a photographer’s playground. And we had perfect spring weather (unlike the sub-zero chill during our engagement session there back in January!)

But beyond the great light and perfect setting, Katherine and Caley (and their friends and family) are really what made this wedding so epic. Katherine comes from a large family and has a close bond with her siblings, and their myriad of silly faces made for some wonderful photos. This couples also had hands down the LARGEST dance floor I have ever witnessed in my five years as a wedding photographer. There were two tiers of mosh-pit style dancing on both the ground floor and the adjacent stage. Toddlers and grandparents alike were grooving to DJ Mike Steffan’s jams. And all throughout Katherine and her siblings continued to make silly faces with one another.

Katherine and Caley, thank you so much for inviting me to share in such a wonderful wedding. I was blown away by the kindness of your families (some members emailed me at 1 am the night of the wedding to thank me for my services—something I have never experienced that quickly on your actual wedding day! It was so thoughtful.) I’m only three weddings into the season, but I have a feeling yours will be at the top of my list of most memorable 2014 weddings. I hope these photos capture the silliness, love, and wonderfulness that made up your wedding day. Enjoy!

To purchase prints of the photos you see from Katherine + Caley’s blog post, please visit our print service here! 

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

Second Photographer: Grace Farson

Venue: Haw River Ballroom

Officiant: William Sofield

Florist: Brides & Bouquets

Cupcakes: Lauren Clarke

Catering: Saxapahaw General Store

Invitations: Katuschka Rakovec

DJ: Mike Steffan- High Impact Entertainment

The post Katherine + Caley | Haw River Ballroom Wedding | Saxapahaw Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Katherine had always wanted engagement photos inside of a library, so we started off our shoot at the historic Wilson Library on UNC Chapel Hill’s campus. I had studied in the Second Floor Reading Room once or twice during undergrad and always felt out of place in the cavernous, elegant space that felt like something straight out of a Harry Potter movie. The window light is absolutely gorgeous there, so we had no trouble finding scenic backdrops for our shoot.

We ended our session at the Haw River Ballroom and the surrounding area in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, which is where Katherine and Caley will be getting married this March. I never get tired of shooting in Saxapahaw; the ballroom itself has so much character (and window light!), and the riverbed is beautiful any time of year.

Katherine and Caley, thank you so much for braving the cold with me for your engagement session! I loved collaborating with you on this shoot and had fun exploring both Wilson Library and Saxapahaw with you. I can’t wait to shoot your wedding this spring!

Prints from this session AVAILABLE HERE!

The post Katherine + Caley | Winter Engagement Session at UNC-Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill Engagement Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.