Little Emeline

I love my baby!

A few winter images...

Today I'm doing some tiding up of my hard drives to make sure all of my images are safely backed up. I came across some photos from when it snowed in January 2010, the weather contrasting sharply with our recent warm weather. Here are a few photos that I pulled out from my snowy hikes.



These tracks are from a bushy red fox that had just scampered over the hill.

My Mama

Last week my Mama, Elsie Addie Smith Benton, passed away. I'm looking through photographs of her life, scanning them and restoring them today. It is healing to see what a full and wonderful life she lived.

Mama grew up on a farm, but spent her adult life in Charlotte, NC. This is the only picture I seem to have of her at this young age.



I believe Mama was posing for Papa here as there is a matching photograph of Papa stored next to this one. On the back it says Elsie 1945. They were married on Saturday, the 14th of July, 1945. I am wondering if this is an image from their honeymoon.



Here is Mama the last time I saw her, just before Christmas. She is holding my sleeping daughter Emeline Addie Lobdell. Emeline and Katie, my sister, share a middle name with Mama.



Ever since I have known her, Mama has protested having her photograph taken. I'm glad now that we have photographs of her. I'll be able to share with my daughter the story of her Great Mama using photographs. I love you Mama.

The Caron Family ~ Raleigh, NC Portrait Photographer

I met my wonderful friend, Elizabeth, in the first weeks of high school. We became immediately close and spent as much time together as our busy schedules allowed. Since I spent so much time with her in sleepovers, commuting to our career center classes together, going on snowboarding trips with each other, one infamous sailing trip, prom, backpacking in the Smokies ... I felt like I had been adopted as a second daughter into the Caron family. Now the family of five has grown tremendously and spread all over this continent. It had been years since I'd seen all of them in the same place, and this was the first time that I met four of the little ones. I'm so glad that Elizabeth called me up to photograph her family on Christmas Eve. It was wonderful seeing my second family together and happy.



The original five!



Mr. and Mrs. Caron have been blessed with the most wonderful grandchildren.. and one stuffed piggy.



The newest member of the family at the end of our session.



If you would like your family portrait taken, please give me a call at 919-699-1240.

The Cotton Room at Golden Belt

I just toured The Cotton Room at Golden Belt this morning and met the kind and enthusiastic staff. I can't wait to photograph Pam and Orion's wedding there this spring. It is a beautiful venue!

Baby Dashiell

I live in a wonderful neighborhood in Durham, NC where we all chat with each other through an online group to keep tabs with what is going on. A few weeks ago, my neighbor Crystal sent out an excited email to a few parents saying that she needed help setting up her nursery as she might be adopting a little boy the following day. She wasn't positive that they'd get this little guy as things can change quickly with an adoption. Happily, a few days later, they were able to pick up their son and bring him home. They then asked me to come photograph their little family. I love visiting the home of new parents and seeing the wonder and love that fills the space as mom and dad get to know their new baby - there is nothing quite like that sort of sweet joy. Crystal and Clinton adore this little boy and seem so calm and loving as they care for him. I'm so glad that Dashiell made it home just in time for Christmas!

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my sweet baby. This year I am a mother and a wife, which brings me the greatest joy I have ever known. Here are some photos of our new little family from when Emeline Addie was two months old.







I hope this year you find much to be thankful for.

Pam and Orion ~ Engagement Session at Duke Gardens

I live in a wonderful neighborhood near downtown Durham that we call the Burch Avenue Neighborhood. I met these two folks about a year ago when I walked by their house and admired their garden - Orion is an incredible gardener. It was only fitting then that we went to Duke Gardens (a favorite photo location of mine) to photograph their engagement portraits. The autumn colors were at their finest and the morning air was crisp and cold. Here are a few of my favorite images from the session.























I can't wait until your wedding guys. I'm sure it is going to be beautiful and fun!

If any of my readers out there are looking for a wedding photographer, please don't hesitate to call or email me!

The Proposal

In my last post, you saw the engagement session of my brother and his fiance. Take a step back a few months and watch this proposal video. Matthew set up cameras throughout Stefanie's parent's house and caught the moment on camera. His buddy, Will Yeager, created the video for them.

The Proposal Video

Matt & Stefanie (... and Cassidy!) ~ Engagement Session in Durham, NC

My little brother has just proposed to the sweetest girl possible. Our entire family is excited to be welcoming Stefanie to the Benton family. Matt and Stef asked me to photograph their engagement session, which I was very excited to do! We headed to the beautiful Duke Gardens to take advantage of the perfect day. They even brought their dog along.





My brother and his "daughter"...



Matt cracks me up... he planned out this picture where he wanted Cassidy in the foreground in focus, and him and Stefanie in the background out of focus. It took a few tries, but we finally got the dog to pose for us!

















I can't wait until you get married guys! I love both of you!