“All Dressed Up” ∙ Joe, Kristi & Kara ∙ New Bern Wedding Photographer

I got a very excited email from Kristi in March with lots of CAPS and exclamation marks. She was asking about my “Trash the Dress” sessions.  This, in turn, made me super excited because I desperately wanted to shoot a trash the dress with a bride.  So we emailed back and forth all those months while she was busily getting ready for her wedding day. A little bit after Joe and Kristi got back from their honeymoon, I got a very sad email that she just couldn’t “trash” her dress and she was going to have to cancel the session.  

I was sooooooo disappointed, but I didn’t give up. I wrote her an email encouraging her to reconsider and assuring her that we didn’t have to “trash” the dress. In fact, I had been thinking about renaming my trash the dress sessions because most brides just don’t want to trash their dress.  Actually, I already had two failed attempts at getting brides to trash their dresses.

Well, I was successful with Kristi and we did the session, which I now lovingly call “All Dressed Up.” It is a watered down version of “trash the dress” (maybe “watered down” is not the right phrase – haha!). It is a just-for-fun session after the wedding day with the happy couple dressed in their wedding garments.  We can go to some places that may lead in a little dirt or sand on the dress, but nothing serious. There is always the option of really “trashing” it, but it’s definitely not mandatory. It gives the couple some images that they did not have time to get on the wedding day.

Kristi still wanted to trash a dress, so her sister, Kara, and her brought a couple bridesmaids dresses. They took a little dip and we got some awesome photos. I could have gone on all day with these guys! They just kept firing new ideas at me that I loved.  

Thank you, Joe, Kristi & Kara for coming out to New Bern and having a bit of fun with me! You all are hilarious! I wish you lived closer so we could hang out. Kristi, thanks for going through with the session. Joe, you are one of the best grooms I’ve ever photographed and you had such awesome ideas. Kara, thanks for your help and for getting drenched. Call me when you need some senior photos!

 I had such a hard time choosing which photos to post today. I think I posted nearly half!

Trash the Dress! ∙ Senior Portrait Session ∙ Eastern North Carolina Photographer

What better way to kick off the summer than going swimming in your prom dress? This “Trash the Prom Dress” session was pure fun. It was hard work, too. In the humid 90 degree weather, we adventured through a forest and murky swamps. Prepared with sneakers and galoshes, these girls were up for just about anything. They even took a dip in the Neuse River.

Lisa and Rachel have known each other since they were toddlers.  Though they attended different high schools in different cities, their bond has not weakened.  They love each other like sisters. And they are definitely too cool for school! (Especially with those shutter shades!)

Thank you, ladies, for being so flexible and cheerful for our session.  I had a blast! Good luck at Wake, Lisa 1 and Rachel!  Also, thanks, Zack, for hanging out and helping us.