WNC Magazine Bridal Show - February 5th, 2010

I am excited to be a part of the the WNC Magazine Bridal Show coming up on February 5th. This is an exclusive event limited to only 5 participants per category. I have worked with WNC Magazine in the past and I know they know how to throw a party, and this is no exception. There will be a fashion show for gowns and tuxedos and to top it off, each guest gets a bottomless martini, sponsored by Absolut Vodka. 
So, if you are engaged, know someone who is thinking about tying the knot in the mountains, or want to check out all the wonderful possibilities for a mountain wedding, grab a $20 ticket and come on down. Be sure to stop by and say hello!
Hope to see you there.. cheers!
For more information... click on this link...

 

Happy New Year!

Greetings everyone!  I hope all of you are off to a beautiful start to your new year. I am excited about 2010! There are so many wonderful things going on in my life both personally and professionally that I know 2010 is going to be my best year yet! 
In addition to all the positive aspects of my life and business, I got the wonderful opportunity to spend New Year's eve with my extended chosen family in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I was in Florida for a family wedding on the 2nd and we went down early to spend some time with  everyone and to enjoy the sunny warm weather. The weather didn't quite cooperate, it was sunny, but not nearly as warm as I was hoping with the temperature only getting into the 60's once while we were there. Despite the chilly temperatures, the celebration was warm and the connections with family were a welcome start to the new year and decade.
The wedding I attended was one of the most beautiful, loving and largest weddings I have been to. This experience was unique in that I was there as a guest and not as the hired photographer. I hope you can imagine what a different feeling it was to not be running around, chasing shots, lugging gear and organizing people. I must admit that it was extremely challenging for me not to be doing those things! I often found myself seeing a beautiful moment and wanting to run over and grab the shot, only to remind myself that I was not there to do that, but to enjoy myself and celebrate the love of Antigone and Nikita. That being said, I did offer myself to the brides parents, telling them that it would be my pleasure to take some family shots as I saw them come up, both during the new years eve celebration and during the pre-wedding and reception. (its hard not do be what you are). So, I did that. I casually grabbed candid shots of the family and the bride and groom and didn't worry myself with all the other concerns I usually have during a wedding shoot. And I must admit, that was pretty nice!
Anitgone and Nikita's wedding followed many of the Greek wedding traditions. They were married in a beautiful orthodox church in Tarpon Springs and the ceremony was mostly sung by the Papa's (priests) and the male accompaniment. For those of you who may not have experienced this before, it is truly graceful and elegant. The way that the Greek language was mixed with English during the blessings and prayers was a sonorous gift to the ears. During the service, the bride and groom were blessed many times by family. This was done by the switching of the crowns from head to head in addition to the switching of the rings from hand to hand. This gesture truly resonated with me as these two are about to live a life that is shared while maintaining their individuality, and I felt that the swapping of the rings and crowns exemplified that. 
The reception was held at Innisbrook, which is a 900+ acre resort and golf club in Tarpon Springs. This is where I witnessed some of the most alluring dancing and community blessings I have ever had the pleasure of being part of. As the bride and groom dance, the MC called the parents, then grand parents then wedding party to join them. As each couple joined the bride and groom on the floor they showered them with paper money as a blessing for their prosperity in their new life together, then kissed each on the cheek and joined the line dance. I could not interpret a single word that the band sung, and I understood every one. Watching the children collecting the money after the 3rd song I was told that the new couple was now blessed to have children and that the collection of the money ensured their children's prosperity as well. 
As the night went on, the dancing got more lively as the tempo increased. I tried to keep up with some of the movements while holding hands with various people in a line that circled the dance floor several times but I was not doing that well. :) It was at that point I decided to grab the camera and capture some of the energy and joy that was exemplified by the men dancing together in the traditional Greek dances. 
The night went on until the wee hours of the morning, closing out with a gorgeous serenade by a family member to the new couple. I went home with my heart open and full of joy for Antigone and Nikita and for the new year ahead.
Here are some of the pictures from new years eve, the pre wedding festivities and the reception... hope you enjoy them. 
Blessings again to Antigone and Nikita... may you have a life full of love and joy together. 

The Happy couple share a new year kiss.


2 of the cutest cousins ever!


A blessing kiss from Mom for the crowns


The rings and the ring pillow


A Daughter honors her Father


The beautiful bride moments before going to the church


The best man with the ladies...


The cake!


A niece gets to grab some money for the piggy bank


Nikita the Groom showing his moves...


Antigone's turn to show her husband her moves...


The proud Father strutting his stuff... I absolutely loved watching this!


The bride's brother Lefty, kicking it up for the new couple.


The final serenade and the close to a magical evening...

       

Hawaii - The Big Island and Kauai

Aloha everyone!
I have just recently returned from an amazing journey to the Big Island of Hawaii and Kauai Island. I had the pleasure of joining Nikki and Dan on their honeymoon to document their experience and the beauty of the places they chose to spend their time together. 
We saw an amazing array of landscapes... from the desolation of the lava fields outside of Volcano, HI to the sandy beaches of Kauai, to the lush jungles of the Na Pali Coast and the Kalalau Trail.  We stayed in Hilo and Kona on the island of Hawaii, Halalei (where Puff the magic dragon is from) on the island of Kauai, and camped a night on the Kalalau trail... which Sierra Club rates a 9 out of 10 for difficulty. If that is a 9, Everest must be a 10!
Here are some preliminary pictures from our big adventure, hope you enjoy them. I may post a video as well, so stay tuned!

Many, many thanks to Nikki and Dan for including me during this special time in their lives.  I have become good friends with both of them through our travels and challenges and enjoyed seeing all of these wondrous places with them. 
Mahalo Nikki and Dan. 
Aloha to all the people who love Dan and Nikki...


 

Hilo - Big Island
View of the observatory on Mauna Kea.




Birds of Paradise near Hilo


Volcanoes National Park - Big Island


Volcanoes National Park - The great Pacific Ocean meeting the Volcano shelf


A blessing from Pele the goddess of fire


Pele in all her glory - This is where the lava meets the cool waters of the Pacific... it was absolutely amazing to witness this.


This is the private viewing platform we went to with a local. It was so nice not to be with 1000 other people during this event!


Akaka Falls State Park - This falls is over 400 feet!


Right outside Akaka Falls Park


Wouldn't be Hawaii without some surfing!


One of Hawaii's beautiful beaches. The day we were there there were 100's of families grilling food, hanging out, kids surfing and running on the beach, a true local experience.


Wind Farm near Kohala, big island


The beautiful couple of the Kalalau Trail.


View from the trail


Hanakapiai Beach


View from about mile 4 on the trail


Creek at mile 6 where we camped.


Kalalau Trail Head signed adorned with Lei's and walking sticks.


Hanalei - Ke'ee beach


Ke'ee Beach


Hanalei Pier - one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. Amazing cliffs and mountains right into the bosom of the Pacific. The mountains look like a sleeping dragon..


On Ke'ee beach our last night on the island...
Love this shot!

Jessica and Benton

Greetings All,

As life continues to stay busy, I have neglected my blog :( I feel badly about that and I promise not to let it go so long again, I have missed you guys. I have been shooting a lot and have not made the time to post, such a bad blogger I am! I did not want that to be the case with Jessica and Benton's wedding, so here we are, reunited at last!

Jessica and Benton got married at a friend of the family's farm outside of Tryon, NC and could not have picked a better spot. The barn, the fields, the dance barn (yes, dance barn!), the whole pig roasting in the background, cooked by the #1 whole pig cooker in all of Tennessee, 100's of friends and family and blessed by wonderful weather and capped off by a jump in the lake, I don't think there was any way to have a wedding be more perfect. I feel so lucky to have been choosen by this beautiful couple to document their special day. The blessings bestowed by so many freinds and family on the couple were a testament to this couple and their love for one another. Did I mention they are high school sweethearts?!

Jessica and Benton, thanks for having me there to share in the beauty and magic of your union! I look forward to seeing your family grow and being there to capture all the stages of Holden's life.

Here are a couple of shots from the big day! Special thanks to Jessica for being such a wonderful sport and being so excited to shoot the "trash the dress" session by jumping into the lake.
See you all soon!


So much love for one another!


These two are so much fun to be around.


Beautiful Jessica struttin' her stuff! You look great Jessica!


The beautiful family...


This sums it up! Taking the plunge, loving each other, life is good!

Roxanne and Michael

Whew! I just realized that I have not lifted my head form the computer in a couple of days. I have had so much going on between photography, Journeymen Asheville's movie screening and my life outside of my studio that things are zipping by. It is 70 degrees outside and I am sitting here editing... kind of sad. I am going to get out of here and take the quadrapet out for a spin, she will like that.
Before I leave, I thought I would post some images from the surprise wedding I attended in Charlotte 2 weekends ago.
Roxanne and Michael decided that instead of dealing with the stresses of a "regular" marriage, that they would elope at their own engagement party. So...
They invited 150 people to their engagement party at the Levine Museum in Charlotte. All of them showed up and I think a couple brought friends :). Micheal took the mic on stage and thanked everyone for coming and addressed the rumor that Roxanne and he were already married by stating that indeed, they were not yet married... AND... they are getting married in 20 minutes, so sit tight!
Once the news washed over the crowd, they applauded jumped up and down and had wonderful looks of disbelief.
The bride and groom rushed out of the room, went into back rooms to get changed while the staff of the museum took out cocktail tables, brought in 160 chairs and set up an aisle.
Now starts the fun for yours truly. So, I knew this was going on before hand and that didn't make my job any easier. I was running around like the proverbial chicken! I had 20 minutes to capture the essence of the groom, groomsmen and Michael's Dad changing into their suits, plus capturing the bride changing into her gown with her bridesmaids. WHEW! Stairmaster... who needs one?! :)
Roxanne and Michael came back in and got married, went upstiars for the quickest wedding party shots ever done, the staff rushed out the chairs, brought in the band and partied for several hours.
Everyone had the time of the life... Roxanne looked beautiful, Michael had a smile on his face all night and bothe of their parents got down and boogied a little on the dance floor.
I certinaly feel that if I can shoot in those circumstances, I can shoot anything, anywhere, anytime!
Here are a couple of images from the wedding... I hope you enjoy them.


The Beautiful Bride


The ladies in the world's fastest wedding party shoot.


Gettin' down!


The happy couple on the dance floor


Roxanne looks like Sophia Loren here...


Michael feeling supported by his fellas.


A wonderful sparkler departure.