just a thought.

random thought for the day.

if you follow me on facebook, you aren't a stranger to my random PSA'S.

but i felt like i needed to put this on my blog, too. with wedding season upon us and people starting to inquire/book for next year, i wanted to write again on my blog how important it is to me to work with people that i jive with personality-wise, spiritually, emotionally, and stylistically for their weddings.

this weekend, while shooting two engagement sessions and a wedding, i had a handful of people ask me how i get "such good-looking couples" or how i "take such amazing pictures". it always makes me laugh because yeah, my couples are beautiful (inside and out), and yeah, my images are beautiful, and yeah, i have an awesome camera.. but i'm truly nothing without my couples. 

being "selective" and working with people that i truly connect with gives me the opportunity to get to know them on a different level. it isn't to hurt someone's feelings or to seem picky.. it's because i have YOUR best intentions in mind. sometimes, although you love someone and think their work is beautiful, they aren't the best fit for you and your vision for your wedding.  

simply said: when i work with people who i easily mesh with, it's easy.

when they let me in and we become friends, i get to see that they're head over heels, giddy in love with each other. my couples have the sweaty-hands-can't-wait-to-see-eachother-can't-stop-smiling kind of love. the messy-imperfect-but-absolutely-beautiful kind of love. the kind of love that watching it unfold, makes my heart full and happy. the key isn't good hair, or makeup, or even good clothes (although all that totally helps) - it's being comfortable to just be yourselves in front of the camera (nose crinkles and laughing double chins included), to listen to my (or your photographer's) direction and trust me (them) whole-heartedly. 

to be honest, your pictures are only as good as YOU are. if you have insecurities, if you're nervous, if you despise having your pictures taken, it all shows. 

we are not perfect. but always remember that your love is SO worth capturing - so be honest and open and don't be afraid to let your photographer into the secret of who you are.

eloped // tripti & bruce // asheville wedding photographer

"i remember us beautiful and exhaustless. 
we loved, both hands full of life. we loved." 

i was beyond excited when tripti initially emailed me to photograph her and bruce's elopement. although their plans changed several times, i knew it'd be a gorgeous day regardless of where it happened, full of love and excitement for these two. 

they had a teeny tiny ceremony with their immediate family in greensboro and then escaped to the mountains for a honeymoon in a remote cabin for a couple of days - which is where i met them. we didn't get to meet before their session, but speaking to them on the phone, i could tell they were in this for the right reasons. meeting them just solidified that. 

bruce cherishes tripti, you can tell it in the way he holds her. and she's so giddy and giggly around him (as you can tell), it's adorable. we had so much fun exploring the area around their cabin, embracing the beautiful and bright summer sun. 

so enjoy their portraits. lots of kissing, hugging and laughing.
these two are naturals at loving each other. 
 

wed // natalie & james // carmel valley, california wedding photographer

"i love you more than i have ever found a way to say to you."

honestly, i don't know how to even begin this blog post.

i've known james since about 2008 and immediately just loved his sweet & kind spirit. but when he moved away from boone (where we met, at appstate) and joined the navy, we lost touch for a little bit. but i'm a stalker, and i would see this pretty girl named natalie commenting on his stuff and popping up in his instagram - so naturally, i asked him about her. he told me he was pretty sure (at that point) that she was the one, which for james was a huge deal. 

and she is. 

i met them down in charleston not long after james proposed and we did their engagement session at cypress gardens and magnolia plantation (right on the lawn where he asked her to be his wife!) - i knew they were hoping to have a wedding in california (where natalie is from) and we talked about it a little, but i figured they'd book with someone local to help with cost.

man, am i glad i was wrong. we talked back and forth for a couple of months before it was solidified that they wanted me to come be their photographer in the beautiful area of carmel valley at the super cool hidden valley music seminar. when natalie told me she wanted to do their first look photos at big sur, i'm pretty sure i started sweating with excitement. i mean, c'mon. really? if you've been, you know it's one of the most magical places in the us for sure... even if it took james and me an hour to find the dropped pin that natalie sent us. literally, we drove around for an hour. at least we were laughing and catching up and enjoying the beautiful morning. 

when we finally did catch up to natalie and her sweet sister, they read their teary vows to each other with big sur in the background and a sweet breeze in the air. 

their day was full of tears, excitement, beautiful weather, tequila and dancing.
literally a day to remember.

james and natalie: i can't thank you for bringing me thousands of miles to be the one to capture your day. you two are amazing, perfect for each other and have a love that can move mountains. love you & can't wait to see you again!