Joni & Nick ∙ October 16, 2010 ∙ Wedding

Junior year of college, I was Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper and Joni was Assistant Editor. I ended up with double pneumonia because of our late hours of editing and layout (good times!). Joni and the other Assistant Editor brought me chicken noodle soup and told me to go home. They did all my work and got the whole issue finished for that week. That’s Joni. She is so selfless and dedicated.

And Nick, well, he’s totally head-over-heels. You should’ve seen him kiss her when they were pronounced man and wife. He knows he’s a lucky man! Plus, he’s a photographer, so he’s just awesome. They both are such genuine people, the best kind of people on earth. This match was meant to be.

 On the wedding day, we were able to do most of the wedding photography at Glamorgan Castle in Alliance, Ohio. It is a beautiful location! We also had to include their wedding day issue of The Review, the Alliance newspaper Nick & Joni worked at when they met. We had a lot of fun with that!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Don’t forget to give a little shout out to Nick and Joni!

Nicole of Simply Told Photography was my second shooter for Nick & Joni’s wedding. She did an amazing job capturing the details of their day.

I love this shot Nicole got of their rings on the carmel apple!

This last photo was inspired by a photograph of Joni’s grandparents on their wedding day. I’m a sucker for sentimental stuff like this!

Nick & Joni, thank you so much for inviting me to share your day with you. I know there are a lot of talented local photographers, and I am truly honored you chose me. I wish you all the best and hope you love your photos.



Hand-crafted Jewelry ∙ MK Jewelry by Design ∙ Bridesmaids’ Gifts Ideas

Deciding on bridesmaids gifts can be a bit of a struggle. A lot of the brides I work with have had the fabulous idea of giving wedding day jewelry to accentuate the bridesmaids' dresses.  I absolutely love when the jewelry is specially designed by the bride.  It makes the gift so much more special than something from the mall.

I must introduce you to my friend Mackenzie. She is a brilliant jewelry designer and owner of MK Jewelry by Design. Mackenzie’s designs are unique and one of a kind. She began designing and selling jewelry when she was (get this) twelve years old! And now, at fourteen, she has crafted over a thousand pieces.

Jewelry making is a creative outlet for Mackenzie and she believes it is a gift God has given her. She is inspired by colors, textures and sizes. She enjoys working with natural stones like amethyst, turquoise, and jasper.

“These are some of my favorite stones because they’re naturally so beautiful. It’s fun to find beads to combine with them,” says Mackenzie.

One of the newest materials Mackenzie is working with is Amazonite. “I absolutely love it! The pale blue color and veining make it absolutely unique and beautiful,” she says.

Where does she get these great stones and beads, you might ask. She looks for small local bead shops all over the country during her travels with her family. “The great thing about small bead stores is you can’t really find the same beads twice!”

Mackenzie designs pieces for her clients and she also has a large inventory offered online. Mackenzie offers casual and elegant jewelry that can be used for bridesmaid’s jewelry, bridal jewelry, prom, and other formal events or everyday fashion. Mackenzie also puts together jewelry parties hosted by her clients, which are so much fun.

Visit Mackenzie's website at www.mkjewels.com.

Mackenzie, I love your work! You are such a sweet young lady and are so talented. I enjoyed spending the afternoon with you and look forward to doing it again soon!

Jane Austen ∙ Wedding Inspiration

So I LOVE…well my husband would say, I’m obsessed with Jane Austen novels. I read then re-read the books, watch then re-watch the movies and listen to the books on cd when I travel. When I saw this Pride & Prejudice inspired wedding shoot in Nonpareil Magazine, I gasped out loud (I don’t know if you can gasp any other way) and got really giddy. I just had to share it with you all.

Please, please, brides, if you or someone you know is going to use this shoot as a jumping off point for your wedding, CALL ME for your photography. It would be my dream-come true.



Taylor & Jo ∙ Trash the Dress ∙ North Carolina Wedding Photographer

For those of you who are local, you’ve noticed that it’s been roastin’ in the Eastern Carolinas this week. (My heart goes out to the Bridal Parties of June and July weddings this year. It is HOT!) I am so thankful Taylor and Jo were willing to get out in the heat for a Post Wedding Photo Shoot. Before we even started the photography, all three of us had beads of sweat forming on our brows.

We started out in downtown Washington and then ventured into the woods to cool off in the Pamlico River. Yes, we all got wet! This is the real deal! Jo was brave enough to get her gown a little sandy and wet for some unique photos. Taylor and Jo were the perfect couple for this session. They are used to getting a little silly and crazy because they work with kids and teens as Youth Ministers. Plus, they brought their fishing gear.

Come on brides! Take the plunge! Nothing a little dry cleaning can’t fix. Right, Jo?

Taylor and Jo, I had a great time spending a couple hours with you. You are such a great couple! I can tell you have a lot of fun together. I will be praying for your ministries and that God blesses your union.

Will and Amanda ∙ Post Wedding Portraits ∙ Wedding Photographer, New Bern, North Carolina

This session is a great example of “Trash the Dress” portraits done while staying completely clean and dry. Will and Amanda wanted to have a special session after their wedding to capture the memories of their wedding clothes. No stress. No schedule. Pure romance.

I knew Amanda was excited about our shoot, but I wasn’t sure what Will thought about getting back into his tux and walking around in 90 degree weather. He did an amazing job. It shows that he is a devoted and loving husband and I can see why he loves Amanda so deeply.

While we meandered down the streets of New Bern and found little spots to stop and shoot, we learned about each other’s lives. I was overwhelmed by how sweet Will and Amanda were towards each other and me. They were so flexible and had great ideas for photos. My favorite photo has to be the heart-shaped gate window. I’m not really into country décor, but it is perfect for a romantic photo. (Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of this post to see it.)

Amanda wanted to keep her dress clean because she is going to preserve it and keep it for… hopefully one day… a daughter. Meanwhile, I hope these photos preserve the memories of their wedding day.

Thank you, Will and Amanda. You two are going to have a wonderful life together. I wish you the best! Compliments to your hair stylist, by the way ;) Lindsay