Jason and Chelsea's Biltmore engagement proposal! #shesaidyes
Cheers to my fabulous couples who took the time to jot down a little review of my services! It means so much!!! Click on the QR Code to read reviews!
Thank you WEDDINGWIRE !!!!
Putting these images together sort of feels like making a mixed tape for a friend! I'm not sure which order to put them in, or how many to include, I just want you to love them as much as I enjoyed taking them all. 2016 was lovely! We laughed, wore leis, threw snow balls, had babies, enjoyed fire-works, exchanged vows, chose to dance when it rained and toasted to the good times ahead!
I've said it before (and know I'll say it again) but it is an absolute privilege to be invited into these precious moments of my clients lives. Thank you for making me one of the girls, welcoming me in like family, hiking up mountains and making sure I'm well-fed/watered during those long summer weddings! I danced with you guys, cried during speeches and will be forever grateful for the experiences we've shared!
{Big THANK YOU to Bren, Abby, Olivia, Courtney, Lindsey and Steph for all of your mad shooting and film-rolling skills - I love you girls and couldn't have made it through without you. xoxox}
Ashley + Casey along with the help of Asheville Event Co. planned the most amazing and gorgeous wedding of their dreams at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC.
So fun to re-live it here! Also featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs and Aisle Society. {Vendors listed below}
Planner: Melissa Porter, Asheville Event Co | Venue, Catering and Cake: Biltmore Estate | Ceremony Music: Cafe string Quartet | Floral Design: Blossoms at Biltmore Park | Photography: Rachael McIntosh (Second Photographer Abby Leighanne) | Videography: Magic Hour Creative | Makeup: Blush - Asheville Makeup Artists | Hair: A Show of Hands | Film Scanned by: Photovision |
2016 was the BEST!
I'm working on my family album for last year and thought I'd share some of my favorite images here too! I feel so fortunate and lucky to live my life with the most wonderful man by my side. We laughed a lot, took some fun trips and the kids are all happy and healthy.
A couple of highlights ....
In February, we spent a few days at Disney and a week in the eastern part of the Caribbean. Gabe got to spend a month in the UK this summer with my parents and we enjoyed a visit with them over here as well. While Gabe was away, I took the twins camping by myself to Huntington Island State Park. I hadn't even put a tent up before and we really had a big time on a very small budget! I also travelled to New Jersey and California for work and spent a couple of really awesome days at the Joshua Tree National Park. We spent our downtime hiking mountain trails, on the river, enjoying local breweries and playing with Milo our (English Cream) Golden Retriever.
We raised chickens for the first time! I know right?!! Bryan still thinks I'm crazy but he built me the most amazing coop and the twins loved watching them grow from little baby chicks. We get 2-3 fresh eggs every day which has been great and they really don't require a lot of up keep. In other news, I became a US citizen!!!! After living here for 16 years, I thought it was about time and I really wanted to vote this year! (no comments about the results). Getting sworn in was quite the emotional experience and I had to study pretty hard to take the test- I beat every American-born friend of mine when quizzed :)
Addison is coming out of her shell and Caleb loves to create- I think he's going to be the real artist in the family. The twins are in first grade, writing and reading and their personalities are really starting to shine through. I can't believe they're 6! Every time a memory pops up on my Facebook feed, I'm shocked how these sweet years are passing by too quickly! Gabe starts high school next year and well I'm just not quite ready to even think about that :/
Photo by Bren Dendy
I became an aunt this year and I took a trip to meet my gorgeous nephew Storm and visit with my brother and sister-in-law. Denmark is incredible and I can't wait to go back! My brother is fixing up an old farm about an hour outside of Copenhagen. I'm so proud of their accomplishments, they take sustainable living to a whole new level!
I shot 33 weddings last year and countless sessions and I REALLY need to post my 'year in review' as I obviously failed to blog much in 2016! Hopefully I will get to that shortly but if you don't follow me already on Instagram that's where you'll find my most recent work.
2017 will no doubt bring more adventures as we are starting to build a house amongst other things! I'm going to enjoy these next few quieter weeks of winter and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!!!!
{BIG Thanks to my dear friend Bren from Bren Photography for taking our family portraits this fall- we just adore them!}
Cycling around the beautiful city of Copenhagen making portraits with Ellen + Josh!
Film Scans by Photovision
It rained on Katie and Will's wedding day last year. When I say rained, what I mean to say is that a monsoon crashed through the mountains and did not let up, not for one second. It poured, cats, dogs you name it. We spent the entire time indoors and of course did not let it ruin one second of their big day. Katie and Will asked me to take some anniversary portraits for them back at The Inn at Tranquility Farm and guess what!?! It was a really beautiful day! Happy First Anniversary Katie & Will xoxoxo
This day was with no doubt one of my favorites of 2015. Ashlee and Wich invited their closest friends and family to spend the entire weekend with them in Asheville, North Carolina. Wich's family have spent their summers at Montreat for years thus an obvious location for their destination wedding. I'm going to let the images tell the story, but as you will see this day was perfectly filled with everything a good day should be filled with. Family, friendship and love.
This wedding was recently featured on Borrowed and Blue.
{Vendors listed at the bottom}
Venue: Claxton Farm | Event Planner, Floral & Design : Shay Brown Events | Linen : BB&J | Farm Tables & Rentals : Classic Event Company | Invitation Suite : 7 Ton Co. | Photographer: Rachael McIntosh Photography | Videographer : Four Seasons Films | Catering and Cake : M7 Events | Hair & Make-up : Cody's Wedding Creation | Music : Adrian Duke | Officiant : Fred Werhan | Transportation : Youngs Buses | Get-a-way-car : Cody's Wedding Creations |
I shot Kate and Rakan's amazing wedding yesterday and I'm so excited to finally share some of Kate's bridal portraits! As soon as I walked into the Brandon Mill I immediately fell in love with the space. It brought me back to my days in Art Collage, canvas, paint, and brushes in every direction. Light filled the room from large windows, and the energy was high! I met Kate for the first time that morning and as she dressed her Mom toured me around the building. The history was magical, she pointed out pink tinted windows and foot prints on the floor from where the mill workers stood hundreds of years before us. Kate and her Mom are both resident artists at The Brandon Mill which is being renovated into a multicultural space and home to the The Greenville Center for Creative Arts. We embraced the natural space and walls, incorporating easels and of course Kate made all of the jewelry.
So much more to come from their wedding (you're going to be amazed - Joel Kirby from Curly Willow Designs completely transformed this room) but for now, here's Kate.
Hair & Makeup: Katherine Yacobi Salon | Film Scans: Photovision |
I'm finally getting around to blogging some images from 'The Lively Workshop' I attended last October with the extremely talented Perry Veil and Rebecca Rose Events. I made a commitment when I started my business to attend a workshop every year, as personal growth and education is a real priority for me. I love to learn and always walk away feeling refreshed, and inspired in ways I couldn't imagine. I've found it's a fantastic way to connect with other creatives meanwhile keeping a finger on the pulse of our industry. This workshop was really incredible, and as you can see below the inspiration shoots were gorgeous! These images taken on a rainy afternoon at The Graylyn Estate in Winston Salem, NC.
Vendor credits below.
Photography direction: Perry Veil Photography | Styling, Direction, Floral and paper goods: Rebecca Rose Events | Linen: Nuage Designs | Hair and Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne | Venue: The Graylyn Estate | Models: Directions USA | Gown, Earrings and Shoes: BHLDN | Suit: H&M | Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Cake: Cakes by Chloe | Rentals: Party Reflections | The Lively Workshop | Film: Porta 800 | Film Lab: Photovision |
We just whisked the kids south for some warmer weather last week! A couple of days at Disney followed by a weeks cruise with my family in the Caribbean! It. Was. Awesome. Especially as I got to spend time with my brother who lives in Copehagen. Here's a little sneak into our week and if you're really bored, feel free to watch the (REALLY professional, iphone pics and all) little video at the bottom of the post.
Charlie and Buck eloped to Asheville from Ohio where their love story began. They enlisted the help of Weddings by Wendy to plan the entire day and I was so honored to capture these special moments for them.
This wedding was also featured on Mountainside Bride
Wedding Planner & Officiant : Weddings by Wendy | Hair and Makeup : Adorn Salon | Venue : The Crest Center, Asheville NC |
A Southern Breakfast Wedding! A Family affair with personal touches, and tons of attention to detail. This "You are my Sunshine" themed wedding was extremely unique, fun and vibrant. Knowing that the Mother of the bride has been responsible for decorating the Biltmore house for over 25 years, we knew this Biltmore wedding was going to exceed all expectations!
The morning began with a gorgeous sunrise over the mountains and it was the perfect start to this special day! Emily and Cam's guests arrived at 9am, warmly greeted with coffee and donuts. A bell signaled everyone to sit and the ceremony began. Cam made a point during the ceremony to also make a promise to Ayla, Emily's daughter which was very touching and Emily surprised Cam by having the entire wedding put on sun glasses during the first kiss! Following the vows the entire party enjoyed a fabulous brunch together, followed by a group prayer and family dances.
Emily & Cam's wedding was also featured on Borrowed and Blue here.
Venue, Catering and Cake: Deerpark, Biltmore Estate | Floral: Biltmore Floral Team | Hair & Makeup: Karen Nickel of Structure Hair Design | Favors: Sunflower Seeds from Seeds Needs and Sunglasses from Oriental Trading |
I first met Lindsay 4 years ago when she hired me for a family session. Since then I have photographed her family many times and we quickly became friends. This wintery maternity session at Homewood castle with her daughter was so fun to shoot and such a special time for them together. I of course am obsessed with flower crowns from Flora, and I love the contrast of the dark warm tones in the interior frames.
Location : Homewood, Asheville NC | Floral Crowns : Flora Asheville | Film Scans : Photovision |
Here's a little look back on 2015.
This low-res scan doesn't do this card justice, however friends always ask where I get my cards from and so I thought I would kiss and tell here. Typically when ordering in bulk like this, I order from Minted. They have so many neat layouts and designs to choose from and if you've ordered from them before they offer tons of promotions and discount codes. I collaged together photographs from a recent family shoot with my dear friend and talented photographer Bren Dendy.
I hope everyone had or is enjoying a fabulous holiday season and relaxing with family and friends!
We took a last minute trip to Charleston last month, one last oo-rah before the kids went back-to-school. We booked through Airbnb for the first time and stayed on a yacht! Yep. A yacht … and it was absolutely every bit as awesome as that sounds!!!! When the five of us spend time together lately, there's lots of disagreements and melt-downs but in between those moments of chaos we truly had a fabulous time in one of our most favorite cities!!! We took a historical tour on a carriage ride, visited the Aquarium, hit the beach in Sullivan's island, ate some really fantastic food on King Street and well, relaxed on our 52 foot yacht of course ;)
This gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer inspired garden party soiree was planned by the fabulous team at Firefly Event company. I loved the cheery color scheme, pink florals and the amazing backdrop of the NC Arboretum! Their guests enjoyed local BBQ, Bluegrass music and square dancing that had everyone up on the dance floor! Other highlights included corn hole, a selfie station with props, and river rocks in place of escort cards. Eleanor and Chris are such a fun couple and I loved getting to know them and being apart of their magical day!
Wedding Planner: Firefly Event Company | Venue: NC Arboretum | Catering: Village Wayside Bar and Grille | Wedding Cake: Callie's Confections | Floral: Flowers by Larry| Hair & Makeup: Turner and Scott | Music: Bobby & the Blueridge Tradition | Transportation: Emma's Bus Line | Additonal Photography: Abby Leighanne Photography |
Please welcome my new office manager Milo! He's a very handsome 4 month old Golden Retriever with a huge personality. He joins the team with little to no experience but makes up for that with enthusiasm and an amazing ability to learn!
The Biltmore Estate was perfect. It was one of those rare moments when you walk onto the front lawn, take a deep breath in and realize that you have the entire place to yourself. It was magical. So myself, Paul from Four Seasons Films, Summer and Troy took a stroll, capturing their love in this magical place.
Summer and Troy asked Paul to help them create a one of a kind wedding invitation! A video to be mailed out as their save-the-date message to all of their wedding guests! Click here to see their message.
