Can you imagine the turkey?
Thanksgiving is at my sister's house this year and that's a good thing. I tried to make a chocolate chip pie for Daniel. Chocolate chip pie is about a simple as you get...just six ingredients and the following instructions: "Mix. Put into pie shell. Bake at 325 for one hour." Not a word about needing a deep-dish pie crust, no sirree. Although suspiciously, the recipe did instruct me to put a cookie sheet under the pie. Here's what I ended up with.
(The stuff that spilled over the edge was really good with a scoop of ice cream, though. )
Happy Thanksgiving!
Abby at One.
I recently got the chance to photograph my -- ahem -- great-niece, Abby. Yes, I'm old enough to be a great aunt, but only because Frank's six years older than me (love you, sweetie) and he's the youngest of three. So I have nieces and nephews with kids of their own. I don't get to photograph many babies because I'm so busy with weddings, so it's always fun when I get the little ones in front of the camera. Before I show you Abby's latest photo shoot, here are a few from this summer, just so you can see how much she's changed.
Abby has the most scrumptious cheeks.
"Hey lady...take a picture, it'll last longer." Um...Ok!
If only baby fat was as precious when you get older.
So here she is at (approximately) seven months...
And now..Abby at one!
Abby started walking at nine months. Nine months, people! That's crazy-early! She hasn't slowed down since she found her feet. Getting her to sit for a while for pictures was a challenge, but you should never underestimate the entertainment value of a pine cone.
Ready to get moving again. Her smile just kills me. And don't you love those two little teeth? I mean really, how much cuteness can one kid reasonably claim? Share with the rest of us, girlfriend!
With her mom, my niece Wendy.
Maybe my favorite from the whole shoot. I love the expression of pure joy on her face. It's good to be one!
With Daddy, Wendy's husband Walt.
Slides are always grin-inducing.
Those cheeks are just too yummy!
One of the things about being married that I didn't expect was how much I would come to love the family I married into. I've always said I had the best in-laws a girl could wish for. It's been amazing and humbling to watch his five nieces and nephews that became suddenly mine with a simple "I do" grow into the loving, talented and interesting adults that they are. Now they're marrying and starting families of their own, bringing still more joy into all our lives. I'm so glad I get to photograph the results!
Click here to see more from Abby's One Year session.
Carey’s Bridal Portraits (featuring Zoe)
One of the best things about my job is that every bride, every couple, every wedding and every shoot is different. I am so rarely bored. It's so nice to get excited about going to work! Here's my first bridal session with two gorgeous females: Carey and Zoe, her adorable chihuahua. Don't you just love that she was relaxed enough about her dress to hold her dog??
Zoe works it for the camera in the shot on the right, then graces me with her smile in the shot on the left!
Zoe, ready for her close-up. Check her pretty pink rhinestone collar. Carey's bouquet is pretty sweet, too.
Ahh...puppy love!
Carey's mom was on hand to pooch-sit so that we could also get some more traditional poses. Just bee-you-tee-FULL!!!
A classic pose on the steps at Duke Gardens. Carey's dress was simply stunning. The sash detail was really pretty and different. I loved that she didn't wear a veil so that the sash wouldn't be hidden.
This shot makes me think of Cinderella.
My favorite. Carey, thanks for allowing me to photograph you in all your bridal gorgeousness! Give Zoe a belly-rub for me!
Michelle’s Bridal Portraits
How I love, love, love the images from Michelle's bridal portrait session. Here's my favorite. I have a giant canvas of it in my new office.
I have to tell you the story behind this bridal session. To say Michelle is a Duke fan is to make an enormous understatement. She not only holds her undergraduate degree from Duke University, but just this Spring she also graduated from Duke's law school. She is crazy about Duke basketball, evidence of which you'll see later in this post. The term "Cameron Crazies" was invented just for Michelle.
(Ok, I made that part up, but they could have invented it just for her.)
Just thinking about how much work it must have been to finish law school, study for the bar exam and plan a wedding all at the same time makes my head explode. Michelle did have a secret weapon...her mom, Karen. Since Michelle was obviously busy this Spring I had more contact with Karen than I usually have with your typical mother-of-the-bride when it came to planning the engagement and bridal sessions. I soon learned that there is nothing "typical" about Karen. I'm pretty much convinced that she could arrange just about anything necessary to give her daughter the wedding of her dreams. This included having Michelle's bridal portrait made not just at Duke Gardens, but also on the Duke Chapel grounds and INSIDE Cameron Indoor Stadium. When Karen first told me that Michelle wanted to have her picture made in front of the chapel, I whipped out my handy-dandy copy of the Duke Chapel Rules and Regulations for Photographers to let her know that on page 670, paragraph three, subsection A, only brides getting married in the chapel may use the grounds for their bridal portraits. Appointments must be made, sometimes months in advance. I was pretty sure that if we showed up unannounced to shoot the session at the Chapel, we would quickly be surrounded by a Duke Swat Team and escorted off the premises. I would have my Duke Gardens permit revoked and Sweet Life Photography would go to the top of the list of photographers NOT allowed to work inside the chapel EVER again.
Of course, that's not what I said. It came out more like, "Umm, I don't think we can do that." (And I'm just kidding about the guidebook. It's only a few pages long and is actually very helpful.) Karen was quiet for a minute, then said, "Let me get back to you."
Karen, if you're reading this (and I know you are), I thought to myself, "Good luck, lady."
Naturally, she called me back a few hours later and said, "We're all set!"
I'm telling you, don't mess with Karen. I'm convinced she can do anything and frankly, I'm just a little bit scared of her.
Anyway...that's how I ended up being able to get this shot (Michelle's pick):
I love the detail on these doors. Michelle's radiant smile is pretty killer too.
Of course, we had to shoot at least a few in the gardens.
Once the light was gone, it was time for the craziest, coolest part of the session...shooting inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Turns out not only does someone at Duke owe Karen some favors (just kidding, Mom -- can I call you Mom?), but she knows Coach K. He gave the OK himself. Having never done many bridal portraits inside a gymnasium (and frankly, who has?), I was a little nervous about how it would go. My worries were pointless since it turns out that my camera has declared its undying love for Michelle and refused to take a less-than-gorgeous picture of her.
First stop, Krzyzewskiville...or however you say it. According to Michelle, she spent many a night camped out waiting to get her season basketball tickets.
Michelle wanted to try to get an image up in the stands. I loved the idea, so up we went. One thing you should know about the upper deck in Cameron Indoor: it's really not a good place to be with a wedding dress on. I'm convinced there was at least two inches of gunk on the floor. Ewww. But I love this shot!
A blue Cameron Crazies wig in her wedding gown? Seriously, I just love her.
One of the very best things about my job is that it is never, ever boring. Thanks Michelle (and Karen and Coach K) for one of the most original and fun bridal sessions ever.
Stay tuned for images from Michelle and Ryan's beautiful August wedding. At the rate I'm blogging it should be up in 2009.
(Just kidding, Karen!)
Yippee!
We have a new logo! This is something I've wanted for a while now and I'm thrilled to unveil it here on the blog. Drum-roll, please...
TA-DAA!
I never thought a logo could make me so giddy with happiness. I've been looking for a graphic designer for a while, but was totally overwhelmed by the process. Combine that with an almost total lack of time to interview designers and you have inertia...complete and total non-progress on one of my business goals for 2008 and 2009: all new print materials. Then Frank found 99designs, a website with the mission of connecting talented graphic designers with business owners like me who need something designed. It was so amazingly simple: we submitted a design brief ("clean, simple, tagline included...NO CAMERA GRAPHICS!") and included one of my all-time favorite images as an example of our style -- the famous Heath Fearless Bridal Sunflower Shot!!!!
We paid a small set-up fee and determined a dollar amount as the "prize" that would be awarded to the winning design. Then we sat back and waited...but not for long. Within a few hours, the first logo design was submitted. Even though I wasn't crazy about the first design (Hello, people: "No camera graphics" means NO CAMERA GRAPHICS!!!) it was so much fun to open up my inbox and see that more designs had been posted. I'm telling you, it was like Christmas there for a whole week.
As the contest owners, it was our job to rate the designs and give feedback to the designers. While there were lots of cool designs submitted, it was Jon Whelan's design that won us over. Jon says he included the birds to represent nature (since I love to shoot outdoors). There are two of them (there are two of us -- brilliant!) and most couples are just that: couples. (Mother-in-laws don't count.) More "two" significance. The boy bird is giving the girl bird a sunflower which relates back to the picture and just so happens to be my favorite flower. (Happy. Colorful. Simple. Need I say more?). The type was clean and modern, plus he worked in the tagline "Life is sweet...remember it well." He even gave us a more modern take on the lime green color I love so much. All in all, the clear winner!
Then came the tricky part: paying him.
You see, Jon is in South Africa. How cool is that?? Unfortunately, though, PayPal won't send funds to South Africa. OK...so I tried MoneyBookers. More hassle: MoneyBookers won't take US dollars. So now I'm thinking I'm going to have to fly to Cape Town to pay Jon $300. I was willing to do it and was even thinking I could write it off as a business expense until Frank snipped off that particular wild hair. I think his exact words were: "Great idea, honey, right up until the point we get audited."
( It was worth a shot.)
Luckily, I found Alert Pay and was able to transfer the funds to Jon. It was definitely worth the hassle and I highly recommend him. He even sent me the design before he got paid so that we could make a deadline for our upcoming ad in Weddings magazine. How awesome is that?!? If you want his contact info, shoot me an email and I'll give it to you: Elizabeth@sweetlifephoto.com. Jon is working on the design for our new business cards and letterhead. I can't wait to see what he comes up with!
We'll be working the new logo into the blog and website in the days to come (oh, who am I kidding -- it'll be weeks). Until then, I need the help of my loyal blog readers: I want my birds to have names. Yep, that's right. I don't want them to be "Boy Bird" and "Girl Bird" forever. So I'm announcing a contest. Send me your ideas for names by December 1st either by leaving a comment or emailing me. I'll pick the three most original pairs of names and then we'll vote here on the blog for the best names. The winner will receive a free engagement or Fearless Bridal session. So c'mon people, put your thinking caps on and name my birds! (Does that sound weird?)
Erin and Matt: Married!
Someday soon, I won't begin a wedding post with the words: "I'm soooo behind on blogging."
Until that far-off day...
Erin and Matt were married on a beautiful Saturday in May (yes, I said May) at Duke Chapel. We're so lucky to have such a beautiful location for weddings and worship in the Triangle area. I've been in few places that I can describe as awe-inspiring, but this place truly fits that description. I was drooling all over myself to be able to shoot here!
Erin started out the day with her bridesmaids getting ready in her suite at the Millennium Hotel in Durham. I always enjoy photographing the getting-ready process. It's just so girly and full of anticipation.
Erin warned me that her dad might be emotional, but I think he kept it together very well! I love this shot of him watching his little girl prepare for her wedding.
The end result. Erin, you looked absolutely stunning!
The process is much simpler for Matt. Tux, shoes, cuff-links, tie...but more on the tie later.
Erin's gorgeous bouquet came from Ninth Street Flowers.
Erin's cutie-patootie niece was the junior bridesmaid. Doesn't she have the most gorgeous hair? We were good buddies before the night was over.
Matt's dad Bruce was obsessed with his tie. He was worried that it was crooked and was determined his son was going to be spit-shined on his wedding day. Erin's dad Ralph got in on the action too.
Still not quite right. I think I saw that same expression on Daniel's face the last time I tried to fix his hair.
Hhmm. Looks fine to me! (But I will be the first to admit I could not tie Frank's tie if my life depended on it.)
Ladies...
And gentlemen...
Erin and Matt are...
MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After some quick formals, it was back over to the Millennium for a very elegant reception, complete with an amazing string quartet. The cake was from the always fabulous Lorie at Simply Cakes. I always get a major case of the happies when I find out the cake is one of Lorie's creations. They're always gorgeous and more importantly, they taste great! Don't you just love that bow? One of these days I'm going to call her and see if I can come hang out in her pastry kitchen. And maybe taste a little frosting, you know, just to be sure that it's up to the usual standards.
Ah, cake...every wedding photographer's reward for a long day on your feet! I'm always so sad if I'm working too hard to sneak just a little piece.
A heart-felt toast:
A bubbly finale to a beautiful day.
Congratulations, Erin and Matt...it was so awesome getting to know you and being a part of your wedding day. Stay warm up there in Michigan!
To see more from Erin and Matt's wedding, click here.
