A Beautiful Evening ~ Leigh-Ann and Harrison's Rehearsal Dinner

The elegant and historic Myrtle Grove Plantation in Macclesfield, NC was the perfect setting for the beautiful rehearsal dinner that Laura Dudley planned for her son Harrison and soon to be daughter-in-law, Leigh-Ann. You may remember Leigh-Ann and Harrison from an engagement session that we did together in the middle of winter. The sticky hot southern weather during the dinnner was held at bay by the cool beverages that were served in one of a kind glasses that Laura collected during that past year just for this event. The evening was pleasant, the dinner was delicious, and the intimate atmosphere lent itself well to friendly laughter and kind toasts. Here are a few of my favorite images from the evening.

Heather & Troy ~ Love in Small Town America

When Heather and I were discussing where to photograph her engagement session, she suggested downtown Apex, NC. This town was not only super cute, it was the place that Troy took her for their first date, and where they plan on raising a family. I was delighted when I showed up to photograph Heather, as she wore the cutest polka dot green dress that complimented her red curls, and her fiance was a sweet as could be. We wandered the town, even sticking our heads into a little used book store called All Booked Up. The photo session ended with a kiss in front of the setting sun, when Troy took his soon to be bride off to dinner, where it all started. Thanks for being so much fun Heather and Troy!

Farewell to the Outerbanks

This will be my last posting of pictures from the Outerbanks of NC for awhile since these are a few pictures from my last day there. I started the morning with a little stroll on the beach next to my campground. The little seashell creatures were having breakfast and the dad and daughter were catching fish in the sun. Goodbye beach, and onward to home. Before I could leave the islands completely, I stopped off at the wildlife preserve on Pea Island. This part of the Outerbanks is so narrow that it seems to be mostly shallow water where migrating birds and sea turtles can stop over on their journey. I conversed with a gaggle of turtles, hiked a bit, and on my way out ran into Devon and Mitch again! They were also checking out the natural wonders of this beautiful land before heading back to the Piedmont. I thought that chance encounter was a wonderful way to end the weekend.

Film from 2007

I'm trying once again to organize my hard drives filled with photos from weddings, portraits, commercial session, and other things. I came upon some film I scanned back in 2007 while I had access to a dark room and scanner at photography school. I'm posting them here in hopes that they'll give you a little break in the day just like they did for me.

Wandering through Buxton Woods

The day after a wedding I am always exhausted, so instead of driving the six hours home from Devon and Mitch's beach wedding, I decided to take the day to explore the beautiful island I was visiting. Hatteras Island has been able to support human habitation since before Europeans settled the area. This part of the Outerbanks is wide enough to support the growth of one of the oldest and largest maritime forests in North Carolina. These trees and plants offered some protections from the harsh island weather, materials for building, and even leaves for tea. You'll see below what is called a "sedge," which is a low lying area that holds fresh water. Apparently this sedge is rapidly giving over to the growth of cattails as the water level rapidly drops due to human consumption. The delicate ecosystem does not escape the human footprint. I emerged from the trail, leaving the toads and dragonflies behind, to view the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. After few moments viewing this old building, I traveled over to a more remote section of the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve set aside by the Nature Conservancy and the NC Devision of Coastal Management in 1993 and 1994. The trails meandered over old sand dunes in the middle of the ancient forest. The air felt tropical as I checked at ankle height for any poisonous snakes and listened to birds above. As the sun was getting low, I decided to head back to the Frisco campground and was greeted by a most wonderful storm. The rain just missed my campsite leaving me with a spectacular view of the retreating thunderhead cloud. I slept peacefully, grateful that although the island isn't wild as it once was, there were still places preserved that allow a true island experience.

Devon & Mitch ~ Wedding on the Beach

Devon and Mitch were married at Hatteras Beach under clear blue skies. They and their family had been there all week preparing for this big day. Everything came together right on time and the two wed with their toes in the sand and the wind in their hair. With blue dresses and pink umbrellas, sparkly new rings, hand folded origami cranes, and drawings in the sand, the two started their life as a married couple surrounded and filled with joy and love. Thank you for having me there Devon and Mitch!