Sunrise Engagement Photos at Wrightsville Beach
I’ve always wanted to do a sunrise engagement session. Especially at Wrightsville Beach. Being on the East Coast, the sun usually rises on the ocean side, so if you want the sun behind you you need to wake up pretty early! Luckily this was the tail end of Winter so the sun rose sort of later in the day. It still didn’t make it easy to wake up TWICE for this shoot. Let me...
Bridal Portraits in Wilmington NC
Diana came in for her studio bridal portraits in my downtown Wilmington NC studio and brought the cavalry! Other than her mother and her friend and wedding planner Keisha from Create the Date Events, she brought an INCREDIBLE wedding gown from Kleinfeld’s, a stunning pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, and a G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S engagement ring. We spent nearly three hours in the studio creating...
Why You Should Have Your Hair and Makeup Professionally Done
What’s the secret to looking great in photographs? Sure, it helps if your photographer knows what he’s doing, but there’s something else that turns a good photo into a stunning photo. Confidence. Simple, right? Not always! For some of us, stepping in front of a camera is almost as nerve-wracking as those dreams where you have to give a speech but you forgot your pants. Maybe...
Marcus and Katie Take Colorado!
You only turn 30 once, and Katie and I decided we should each get to pick a place to go on vacation for our 30th. In 2016, it was my turn, and since our birthdays are only a day and a year apart it would be her turn in 2017! I decided on a cabin in the woods. Specifically a little town called Nederland, just outside Boulder, Colorado. To this day it is one of my favorite vacations EVER! I was...
Maternity Portraits: One of the Most Important Moments of Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy comes along with a number of trials and other difficulties, but it’s still an amazing time in your life! It’s a time of celebration and anticipation as you prepare to meet your new little bundle of joy. Many moms, especially first-time moms, don’t feel particularly beautiful throughout their pregnancies. Capturing these important moments on film, however, will...
Operation Pretty Things
Last week the Coastline Convention Center hosted the 3rd Annual Operation Pretty Things ONE Gala. For the third year in a row I was there to photograph the event, and it was a doozy! Wilmington high society turned up by the hundreds to support this wonderful organization that empowers victims of domestic violence. 1 in 4 women will be a victim in their lifetime! I remember the first event I...
50 Fabulous Women
This summer I met with Joy Wade, the program manager of Going Beyond the Pink (GBTP) – a local Wilmington breast cancer charity, to discuss a potential fundraiser project. In less than 30 minutes, 50 FABULOUS WOMEN was born. The project’s mission is to raise much needed funds for the charity, and to empower women through beautiful modern portraiture. Each participant donates $100,...
How Family Portraits Boost Your Child’s Self Esteem
Recently I stumbled across an article by Chris Cummins that articulated perfectly why family portraits are SO IMPORTANT for your child’s self esteem. One of the hidden but powerful aspects of family photography that moms and most photographers rarely consider is how it can help us raise children with stronger confidence in their own worth and abilities. Psychologists and experts have...