The Big Day

There is a slideshow coming soon, so stay tuned!

the fashionista

She’s beautiful on the inside and out… 
When I first met Chaurita, she told me she had already booked a photographer, yet when she saw my work she had to have me!  What a compliment!  What confirmation!  Because she is the type of bride EVERY photographer dreams of.  Fashion-conscious, meticulous, gorgeous, trendy, modern, a visionary and non-traditional.  All of my brides have been these things, AND more.  Life just keeps getting better and more consistent.  Can I tell you that everything flowed at her wedding?  Somebody’s prayers reached HIS ears and He answered.  I’m writing to you like this because God has released my voice, my thoughts, so that I can write.  This wedding was a turning point for me, thus my excitement.  It was a turning point because I am finally clear about my purpose, my vision, my life’s work.  I am now clear about the direction of my business and how I will present myself to the world.  Before I am a photographer, before I am a lover of images, before I am a sister, an aunt, a daughter, a friend, a woman, I AM a Christian.  It is an honor to be called by His name and I make no apologies for it.  Some may think it isn’t wise to make such a strong declaration, that such a statement may prevent some clients from booking you.  Do you really think that bothers me?  With Him I can make an indelible mark on this world, with Him I can create images like these, and make connections like this one.  A holy encounter.  All to His glory!!

The song in my heart today:  “Blessings & honor, Oh God!  Glory & Power, Oh God!  Dominion forever, forever.  Thy throne, Oh God, will last forever, forever…”

My first bride to choose the birdcage veil, another popular wedding trend.

The shoes are by Paris Hilton. Rhinestones embedded in the stiletto heel, talk about fashion. It is the trend for brides to coordinate their shoe color with their wedding colors. Since you rarely see the brides shoes, we photograph the details of her attire in her bridal portraits and try to on the wedding day as well.

c & j engagement session

Chaurita & Jeremy will wed this month and the event is highly anticipated. More about them in a later post but I must add that her bridal portraits are mesmerizingly gorgeous. Can’t wait to post those!

the future looks…

…BRIGHT! Miguel, I have a few words of advice: Stay humble and choose CAROLINA!!!

Have a dream?

Meet Pastor Johnny Sampson, entrepreneurer, visionary, dreamer. The images here are from a mini photoshoot on Sunday afternoon in front of my favorite wall.

Edits complete

but had to share a few of the black and white images i’ve converted. when i initially envisioned this shoot in my mind, i kept thinking of opie taylor. see my mom is a BIG andy griffith fan and when we are together we watch, still today, episode after episode of “the andy griffith show”. not that we can’t turn the channel, it’s just we let old grandma control the remote (i’m going to see how long it takes for her to read this and get on me about calling her OLD!) so, back to opie. i saw little boys in a small town, trekking down the road in dark blue jeans, rolled up of course, bare feet and simple tees. then i thought, this is 2009, and kid’s attire is anything but simplistic. but the conversion to black and white gave me a little of what i had seen in my mind. some images hold me in a trance and this first one does just that. i’m going to have to do something special with it, don’t know yet. but i have to put it on display SOMEWHERE, anywhere! definitely in my studio, when i get one…which is such a debate for me because you can’t recreate this look in a studio, kids should be outside in the open air, in the HEAT and i should be outside too, sweating, chasing after them! (of course any adult would opt for ac on a hot summer day) but i prefer nature as my backdrop…green grass, trees, sand, the ocean, a farm, some farm animals, a train track, an old rusty car, tall weeds and beautiful flowers. so i got what i had hoped for, an ode to opie with a modern twist!

and one in color but still a vintage look!!

8 days old

Michael Cooper the 2nd entered this world on September 4th.  His mother, a former coworker, told me early in her pregnancy that she wanted me to photograph her baby.  It’s always an honor to hear those words.  Knowing that she entrusted me to document this new life, this gift.  I set up my props and equipment right in the comfort of her home. 
Little Michael is named after his dad, Coop, who graduated high school with my little sister.   Funny how everything connects.

The image above is my absolute f-a-v-o-r-i-t-e.  Maybe it’s the enhancements…certainly it’s the enhancements.  The added texture, the black & white conversion…  Two elements that I’m finding I love passionately and defines my evolving style.  This is the latest image that gives me goose pimples.  I find myself gazing at it. 

I am reminiscing of the days of my youth, pre-teen years, when I sat staring at the images in fashion & beauty magazines.  I developed an obsession with the imagery in magazines and it was my only reason for purchasing them.  My mother used to encourage me saying “READ the articles in the magazines, don’t just stare at the pictures”.  Funny thing is I was wired to appreciate awesome photography for a purpose, my purpose.  So if you’re a mom [or dad] who finds that your child has an obsession of some sort, don’t be surprised at where that passion leads.  Just help your child discover & develop their gift.  They are wired for it.

Here are a few more images from that shoot.

Monica & Willie

This couple married last Saturday and are currently honeymooning in the caribbean. Hope you two enjoy your sneak preview!

Phil Ford Golf Classic

Click here to view pictures from the golf classic and black tie event. When you enter the site, click on “clients” and enter the password “philford”.

Jason’s married!

These are images from Jason & Blair’s wedding. You will see that as individuals, they are FULL of life, so you can only imagine how they are as a couple.

A three feet tall bridal portrait graced the entrance to the reception!