Marilynn: Leaving Ash-vegas

Over the past couple of years, Marilynn has become one of my closest friends. She has an infectious laugh, a quick (and sarcastic) wit, a huge heart, and the craziest eyes you've ever seen. We have a tendency to get on the phone and three hours will pass in the blink of an eye.

A few months ago, Marilynn's job moved her from Asheville, NC, which had been her home for the past 10 years, to another part of the state. To commemorate the Asheville phase of her life and to get some killer canvases for her new downtown condo, we had a marathon photo shoot all over the city. Asheville is such a laid back and colorful place--murals, brightly painted doorways, sculptures, and beautiful mountain views every way you turn.

Marilynn was a freakin' rock star during this session; see for yourself...

Um, hello eyes!

If you are a fan of live music and you've never been to The Orange Peel, you'd better head on up the mountain and correct that mistake! Awesome venue for an eclectic mix of artists. Go, now!

Looooove this series outside of the Peel...

And for your final dose of sultry sassiness...

Whatcha think, color or black & white?

Either way, WOW.

Mar--Of course, you are fabulous! :-) I miss having you just an hour away, but yay for good cell plans!

Some "me time"

Warning: major stream-of-consciousness to follow. ;-)

I am analytical. I like to think things through and figure out all the possible scenarios. I want to know "why" things happen and "why" people do what they do. I like to be prepared. I am a sucker for those annoying (to everyone else...) email surveys that ask "hugs or kisses?" "the last time you cried?" and "your favorite toy as a child?" With all of the thinking and analyzing I do, you'd think I could figure MYSELF out. Not so much! Like everyone else, I guess I'm a work in progress, although I have had some major epiphanies over the past year or so in a couple of very diverse places: Vegas and the Keys. (Who the heck besides me has an epiphany in Las Vegas?!?) Something about letting my brain and body rest while I'm on vacation has been really cathartic and eye-opening. I feel like I'm at a place in my life where I really want to get back on track, but it's hard not to be overwhelmed sometimes. Anyway, I started seeing this survey popping up on various photographers' blogs, and thought I'd answer for some self-discovery of my own. Let me know if you see any surprises in my answers or if you include a version on your own blog!

I AM … a Gemini--and all the contradictions that go with it! :-)

I WANT… to be organized.

I HAVE … the most loving family in the world.

I KEEP … things to remind me of special people, special places, and special times.

I WISH I COULD … get my life under control!

I HATE … deception. And confusion.

I FEAR … change.

I HEAR … a positive shift in my thinking.

I DON’T THINK … our hearts use a lot of common sense!

I REGRET … very few things. Except maybe being too analytical sometimes. Sorry!

I LOVE … to hear the crowd singing with the band.

I AM NOT … quick to open up about myself.

I DANCE … to 80s music. I'm not sure it's a pretty sight, but I really don't care! :-)

I SING … along with the radio, all the time, even if people at the stop light beside me can see.

I NEVER … like to get up in the morning.

I RARELY … initiate conflict.

I CRY WHEN I WATCH … the Olympics. A bride and groom during their wedding. Countless sappy commercials.

I AM NOT ALWAYS … on time.

I HATE THAT … most people lack empathy. We would all be better off if we could put ourselves in others' shoes and act accordingly.

I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … my careers. Why my clothes won't fit into my closets (yes, plural), even though I just cleaned them out. Love. Balancing life.

I NEED … some direction, some control, some balance, some fun, & quite possibly some more shoes.

I SHOULD … stop procrastinating! (And also stop buying shoes, hehe.)

How about you??

Will Parks and Claire at the park!

I have known Will Parks' and Claire's mom since we were in the 6th grade, and I've taken their cousins' photos many times. When they were back in town recently, of course we had to get together for some family photos at the park!

This whole family has the prettiest blue eyes, Claire was Miss Independent, and Will Parks couldn't wait to get in the water, so he was VERY cooperative knowing that would up his chances of wading later...

Gotta love those chubby little toddler legs!

Unfortunately, there was a wading incident. (No children were harmed in the making of these photographs, heehee!) Will Parks' parents both wanted me to keep taking pictures of this "real life moment"....maybe to show his prom date one day??

Now recovered from the wading problem, it was time to look for fish. I really love this casual portrait, and especially the great reflection in the pool below!

He looks so serious!

Who doesn't love Eskimo kisses?? Sweetness!

Fun, fun!

I'd love to know if you've stopped by to check out my work! To leave a comment, click the "Show me some love" button, type your comment, and click the circle beside "Name/URL" if you don't have a blog sign-in. Thanks!

Your Prayers are Needed...

I recently spoke with Ciera, whose wedding I photographed in May, and she shared some heartbreaking news. Her Maid of Honor, best friend, step-sister passed away on July 30.

Ashlee was only 22.

I may not have the timeline exactly right, but after about a week of having really bad headaches, Ashlee went to the hospital where the doctors found a brain tumor, which doubled in size in just a few days. Within about a week, she had successful brain surgery but soon passed away from complications.

Ashlee has two precious little boys, Javyn and Rylan, who need your prayers as they grow up without their mommy. Ciera and Richard need your prayers as they face such sadness only months after they became husband and wife. I'm certain that Ashlee's entire family would appreciate your prayers. Whoever you are, and from wherever you are reading this, please take a moment to pray for comfort for Ashlee's family and friends--especially Javyn and Rylan--and for guidance for those who will raise these two little boys.

Tammy & Cecil--Sneak Peek!

A-maz-ing. Tammy and Cecil's small morning wedding was held in a tiny little church in Highlands, NC, up a winding, woodsy path; theirs will be the last wedding the "Church in the Wildwood" ever hosts. They are unbelievably in love, and their ceremony was so spontaneous and emotional and real. Their singer had an angelic voice, and during her second song the bridesmaids were crying, Cecil's mom was crying, Tammy was crying, and the almost-newlyweds were basically slow-dancing during the song. It was beautiful, and I couldn't help but cry with them!

Fortunately, I can sniffle and shoot at the same time. I promised Cecil a sneak peek before I get the "real" blog post up; what you're about to see is just the tip of the iceburg in terms of smoking-hotness! Tammy and Cecil are SO not scared to do whatever I ask, including lay in a bee-filled patch of wildflowers and pull off the side of the road on a whim, not to mention the massive quantities of chemistry these two have!



During the ceremony...so sweet...no wonder we all teared up, right?




I'm at a loss for words, I just love this shot!



Smo-kin'...



Their after-work reception was back in Greenville at The Lazy Goat--super cool lounge-y feel with awesome views of the Reedy River...



How's that for a preview, folks? :-)

Rockin Slideshow

I went to a photography workshop on Friday with Sposa Bella Photography, and they told us about these edgy slideshows from Animoto. I wanted to play around with their free 30-second short, so I created a video from our Pearl Jam pictures. I know you've already seen them, but hey, they were edited. :-) What do you think about the slideshow?

Grandmother and Grandaddy--Celebrations

On my mom's side, our immediate family is very small...she's an only child and so am I; that means I'm the only grandchild too (yay, me!). Except when extended family is involved, our get-togethers are always a "party of 5." Since we're such a small, close bunch, it's always important to celebrate special occasions.

Sunday, was my grandmother's birthday--I don't dare reveal how many!!--and today is my grandparents' 64th wedding anniversary. YES--64 years! Grandmother is the original cougar--she's 7 years older than him. :-) My grandparents grew up in a small mill village, just about 8 or 9 miles from where they live now; my grandaddy sang in a traveling quartet, and grandmother was their pianist. They devoted their entire lives to serving God by singing and playing music together, with him directing numerous church choirs and her playing the organ until they retired just about 4 years ago. Even now, though, Grandaddy will still play his accordian at their little church every couple of months.

Here are a few pictures from today's birthday celebration....

Grandmother let out a big whistle when mom reminded her how old she turned today!

The lighting on this one is all kooky because my mom took a flash picture at the exact instant I shot this, but I love the expressiveness anyway...

Every year, Grandaddy makes the New Year's Resolution to "stop being so silly." As with most resolutions, that one doesn't seem to last very long. :-)

Whenever we go out to eat, they always share a plate, Well, Friday night, I went to dinner with them, and Grandaddy was joking with the server that they didn't need an extra plate because he wasn't going to share. Grandmother chuckled and said "He knows better than that!" The waitress heard her say it, and she totally cracked up, saying "I like the way she thinks!!"

Happy Birthday, Grandmother! And Happy 64th Anniversary to you both! I love you and I'm glad we belong to each other!

Borrowing from my Ohana friends' post for their grandparents, If you'd like to leave a birthday or anniversary greeting, please click the "Show me some love" link, type your message, and click the "Name/URL" button. Don't forget to leave your name! Thanks!

Wedding Proofs Online!

Ashley and Garron, friends and family--
Thanks SO MUCH for your patience as you've waited to see Ashley and Garron's wedding proofs! I'm trying out a new online ordering system, and I had a few technical difficulties along the way. :-) But finally, your wait is over...

To see the proofs, click here. The password is the couple's new last name....if you need to know it, please email me. You can enter your email address if you'd like to save your shopping cart and come back to it later. Once you sign in, there is a drop-down box on the left side of the screen, and you can select which gallery you'd like to view: Ashley's bridal portraits, Ashley & Garron's wedding, or all the photos together. All the pricing and ordering info is on the proof site, but feel free to contact me with any questions.

I hope you enjoy the photos!!