JAM Photography + NC Family & Event Photography

New Blog

2010-07-12T22:48:00.004-04:00

Hello there, it's time for an updated link. We're trying out a new blog, and if it's kick-A, we may very well switch to it for good. Here's the link: http://jamphotography.myfotojournal.com/

Opinions on the new blog are welcome. :)

~Jordan And Mindy

Little Annabelle

2010-07-08T21:26:00.004-04:00

Beautiful Annabelle in a beautiful rose garden. With mom, dad, and doggy Sasha, of course. I'll keep the chit chat limited, as we think these photos speak for themselves!

I usually save my favorite for last, but we're poppin' it right up at the top on this one! Love those little bubbles. :)

"the lookback"

the silly pose :)

Sasha's turn to hang her tongue out :)

the "i see you, paparazzi!" look :)

what a gorgeous sunny evening!

Annabelle was hamming it up, and we were definitely encouraging her! :)

Love a bit of girly pink and giggles!

We'll be in touch with your full gallery very soon! Thank you all for joining us and bearing the heat!

Georgia in the Summer

2010-07-05T11:55:00.001-04:00

Georgie Faye, of course. :) A few pics from Georgia's first ocean experience, and her first fireworks experience. I love this little one! And her amazing parents. ;)

She was loving the ocean, and I was loving this look. :)

Pure joy :)

How adorable? So, so very adorable. :)

Georgia in her red, white, and blues

Just chillin' on the porch

Exploring the bell tower on UNC's campus, she got a kiss from Daddy along the way :)

high-flyin' G

classic Georgia look!

After a day full of swimming and eating with no naps, it was hard to hang on til the fireworks started.

Much-needed sleep. Aaaaaaah. :)

She woke up just before the fireworks started. This is Georgia's sleepy self, her first 4th of July experience with fireworks. She was in awe. :)

Glo & Dave {engaged}

2010-06-29T15:58:00.000-04:00

Let me just say how much I love it when our clients trust our creative (and sometimes silly/crazy) thoughts and ideas. Sometimes silly semi-posing happens, at times there may be trespassing involved, and yes, often times we get downright dirty. Ahem, messy, I mean.

Gloria & Dave, thank you for trusting us and being so laid-back with our street-wandering selves. :) You were awesome, and we LOVE your shots! Hope you do too. We'll have many more photos ready for you within the next couple of weeks.

One more thing: CONGRATULATIONS!!

You two are wonderful. :)

I love a walking shot, but we rarely get them from this angle. Love the battleship in between. Did you guys make it over there yet, Glo? ;)

Seriously, what a gorgeous couple. Right?

Sweet color. :)

My puddle idea wasn't cooperating with the light, but this is lovely anyway. :)

Probably the cheesiest shot all day, but I still think it's cute. Really, I just liked the yellow. :)

One of my personal favorite ring shots. I took one of my ring here too. ;)

A bit more traditional ring shot. Dreamy, isn't it? Wonderful job, Dave. :)

(also-impressed with the clarity here without a macro lens)

This is what Jordan was shooting while I shot the above ring photo :)

Gorgeous? Yes.

Using new lenses changes my creative eye a tad, and I like it. Love this shot. :)

Splish splashin' in the fountain!

Love it. :)

The Pollards

2010-06-24T13:34:00.000-04:00

Hooray for cuties and lots of color! We met in Raleigh and grabbed some shots around the City Market area on a Sunday afternoon. We'd planned to get some cool ice cream shots, but didn't realize how many places would be closed on a Sunday evening! Thank goodness, our roaming search took us to some pretty cool spots.

*A couple more shots from this session can be found in our previous "before and after" post.

She was a tad unsure of us, until I let her see this shot in the camera after it was taken. She then quickly warmed up to us, and she and her brother had us taking photos of squirrels and various other things. :) So much fun!

Cute :)

Love the color here, check out those gorgeous blues!

I forget what we were discussing here, but I love this look :)

Aaahahahahaaaaa! I'm in charge, now!!

My love for green and blue is undying...such a lovely combo.

As well as blue and white...and a touch of pink :)

Oh yes, we found ice cream!

Love the crosswalk family shot. :)

More coming within the next week or so. :) Thank you guys for meeting us, we had a blast!

It's a photo makeover!

2010-06-24T08:41:00.000-04:00

I confess: I love a good makeover. It's the reason I used to obsess over TLC design shows, the reason I sometimes (I admit it) check out gossip mags while in the checkout line, and even the reason I like to clean our house. I love to look at something that's pretty, but plain, before, and see what can be done to make it end up looking really really ridiculously good looking.

That's where the fun in editing is, for me. Sure, we could deliver our photos to you as they're taken. But where is the fun in that? Every single photo that we place in a client gallery has a little bit, or in some cases a lot, of artistic love applied by yours truly (the "M" in JAM, that is...I'm working on teaching Jordan ma editing skillz). Because really, we've got to add our own style and magical touch. So check out below for just a few rockin' before-and-after shots. And keep in mind that these are all done individually. We don't batch-process, y'all. :) Everything's done in Lightroom & Photoshop CS4, in case you're curious.

This is one of my favorite shots of these girls, and mom's too (we used it on their holiday card last year). It needed a good crop, and the marble & concrete needed a good cleaning!

This SOOC shot isn't bad at all, but it needed some contrast and a pop of color.

Definitely the most dramatic change from this bunch. Cute shot above, but a little bit boring as far as color goes (in my opinion), and a little tilted as I shot it while walking backwards. Love the end result!

More of these cuties coming in sneak peek form later today. :)

Gabby's a Graddy!

2010-06-22T09:05:00.000-04:00

A mini post of my gorgeous sis on the day she graduated high school. She is the youngest of us five sibs and I'm the oldest....we're 9 1/2 years apart. And she's out of school. Can't believe it (tear). :) Proud of you Gabster!

All our peeps-let's encourage Gabs to use the camera we're giving her so I can steal her away and have her come work with us one day. Trust me, she's got the eye! :)

(PS-Gabs, more photos coming to facebook, no worries)

Muahahahaaaaaa, contagious laughter!

Cute scrunchy nose shot :)

Getting a tad excited about graduating :)

Quick shot of her walking to her seat. She was this close and didn't even see me! :)

The walkaway. DONE! Love it :)

Congratulations sis, can't wait to see what you can do now!

Sarah & Jason

2010-06-21T15:04:00.000-04:00

Wow...guys, you are stunning! It was one hot evening at Duke Gardens, but that didn't stop us from getting some great shots. We're photographing Sarah & Jason's wedding in July, and cannot wait! For now, here's a little post with just a few of our favorite shots from their engagement session. More to come within the next couple of weeks. :)

makeshift mirror :)

love that Jordan caught Jason's laughter here, with his paparazzi ways

the major factor in determining whether i like a photo or love it? 100% of it has to do with lighting, and it is perfect here! not to mention that it's a sweet shot anyway! :)

Sarah, love this shot of you. This is when you were asking Jason to beg (see next photo), and I love how sweetly you were asking! :)

very nice :)

"Sarah & Jason sittin' in a tree..." Seriously, I went there. Somebody smack me. :)

Again with the yummy light, and gorgeous scenery.

so sweet!

Okay, I know this shoot was for the two of you, but we had to show some baby love! :)

One of my favorite walkways, and this was the perfect time of day for this shot. :)

Thank you guys, can't wait to show you the rest!

baby in the rain

2010-06-18T10:21:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I headed back to my (semi) hometown to see one of my oldest and best friends, and celebrate the baby boy who's growing in her tummy! After a baby shower full of loved ones, gifts, yummy food, and other people's little ones, we headed to her house to get a few quick belly shots in. :) Also got to check out their new home, which has spectacular views. I was so in awe of them, I didn't even think to take a photo! We will make time to go back after her little man is born, and maybe we can get some more property shots in with photos of the little one. :)

the little kitty's name (on the right) is Mess. he insisted on being photographed, too.

watching the rain over the field. it was gorgeous.

belly!

love this spot...

and so does Mess :)

finally gave him his own photo :)

Mann, somewhere around here I said, "This is usually where ticks find me," or something of the like. Definitely had one crawling across my face on the way home! Pulled over in Yadkinville to shoo it out of the car! :)

don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

2010-06-14T20:25:00.000-04:00

A little preview of a gallery to be uploaded for the Hagens. Miss you all. :)

spring had sprung :)

A little friend joined us at the park :)

and tickled Cam's fingers :)

a little bit of playing in the tall grass, with some umbrella shade :)

there's something magical about gravel...well, rocks of any kind. she played here as long as she could :)

from a bit earlier in the year. loooooove that huge smile!

i could live in the pool. camryn could live on a swing :)

flippin' cute!

and gorgeous!

hey, it's big brother!

riding in the Jeep together :)

aaaaaah, nice day for a ride around the neighborhood. :)

Lovin' Olivia

2010-06-09T15:21:00.000-04:00

Sunday afternoon was hot. I mean really, really hot. Little Olivia didn't seem to take a moment's notice of the heat, just kept on traipsing around wherever we suggested! We met at the Arboretum, and then roamed the streets at Wrightsville, getting shots here and there as we walked. I have to say, the Wrightsville shots are my favorites. Nothing beats a good session full of street shots, and I looooove what we got! :)

Olivia inside the "Princess House" :)

Love that it looks like she's awaiting the arrival of a Princess friend :)

I absolutely love this. I think it's the windblown hair, and that genuine, adorable smile. Perfect. I think she was smiling this big because she was holding Jordan's hand at the time. :)

Have I mentioned my love for this dress? Caroline, it is beyond cute, I love it!

And who wouldn't love that little shoulder-shrug laugh? :)

Classic Wrightsville spot

Love that she's grabbing mom's earring here :)

Jordan's catch-nice!

Pure curiosity :)

Love it!

Olivia has some contagious laughter! :)

Alright folks, I wanted an opinion here...the last two photos are the same, the first is a closer crop. What do you like? I love them both. And yes, we have color shots here too. Just loved this conversion!

Full frame shot

Caroline, thanks for putting up with the blazing heat! We loved hangin' out with you two! :)

Brown Eyes & Sandy Feet

2010-06-08T10:41:00.000-04:00

Our third session of the weekend, with beautiful little Kaylie and her family. A little bit of beach time, followed by some colorful shots at the Arboretum. We are loving these, guys. Hope you do too! :)

One from the day before our session. I just love her expression here!

Finding a crab on the beach with Daddy :)

Love those sandy feet!

Sweet shots :)

I promise you, we don't tell everyone to do this. Whether prompted or not, it always brings out smiles!

Playing peekaboo under the pier :)

And a round of ring around the rosie

Finding some shells before we leave

Love this dress!

The colors are perfect, and so was the light!

Thank you all for a lovely Sunday morning! :)

Sunny Saturday Smiles

2010-06-07T16:54:00.000-04:00

I say this all the time, but we have the most gorgeous clients! We spent our Saturday evening with these beautiful people, taking a few shots first at Porters Neck Country Club, then heading to Figure Eight Island for some beach photos. There was a wedding at Porters Neck, so we had to watch where we shot. The light on the golf course was incredible, so we were happy to stay there! We love the lovey-huggy shots we got there, and the fun shots we got on the beach after!

Cute little Eli...love his fingers around his mommy's :)

Sweet shots galore!

These warm my heart, all of them :)

Okay, a couple more and I'll stop :)

Had to add a b&w version :)

My goodness, what yummy golden light here! Eli was searching for golf balls the whole time we were here...I believe his find totaled at six and a half. :)

Just before heading out on the boat

Love this look :)

dune-walking

Let me tell you...I LOVE this shot! The perfect representation of a fun, windy day at the beach.

What a beautiful day...

What little one doesn't love to splash in the water? :)

Eli and his adorable cousin Kaylie. More of her and her family in our next post. ;)

T-Man

2010-06-07T11:42:00.000-04:00

The beginning of a weekend full of photo sessions in Wilmington & Wrightsville...

It was hot, folks. But it was fun, and thankfully most of our sessions involved beach photos. Oh how lovely that water felt on our toes! Taylor here was loving the waves, and spent most of our beach time collecting shells, and then being dipped into the water by dad. :)

After some beach and pier shots, we headed to a shady spot in Wrightsville where we were all nearly covered in ants! We got a few cute shots there and headed out quick, and decided to go check out Wrightsville's fire trucks across the street. Luckily, some of the fire fighters were out testing their equipment, and they let T climb around the trucks in his very own helmet! Sometimes our best shots are completely unplanned. We are so glad we decided to head their way!

The Siegel Ladies

2010-06-02T16:49:00.000-04:00

Everybody sing, ready: "All the Siegel ladies, all the Siegel ladies..."

Okay okay, that's enough of that. :)

On a lovely, hot Sunday morning, we met these gorgeous gals for a session at Duke Gardens. Rain and snow have not been our friends this year, and 30 mins prior to our session, it had been raining and cloudy. Thankfully, shortly before our session time the rain disappeared and the sun decided to show. Yay! We had a lot of fun following you three around. Enjoy this little sneak peek at your photos!

I love love love this shot. So much happiness and love here.

Look at those curls!

Ladies and gents, we have a poser on our hands. :) She's a pro!

Cutie!

Jordan's angling at work here...

This is so much fun, makes me smile every time I see it :)

I love a peekaboo shot!

One of my favorites: grassy feet!

Morgan, Levi & Bella

2010-05-28T14:50:00.000-04:00

Another sister of mine, the gorgeous fiery red-head, Leslie. :) Morgan (the older of the little ladies) and Levi are hers, and the little blondie featured here is Bella, the daughter of Leslie's friend Michael. They are all so very adorable, and love to be photographed! Good for me, right? Wish you all lived closer, I could photograph these kiddos every day. :)

Levi swinging at the park. My mom interrupted me while I was snapping Dana & Marcus (their pics are in the previous post) to make sure I'd get a shot of Levi lovin' the swing. Glad I did it. :) Look at those little chubby legs hanging down!

Levi loves his Peter Rabbit book. And his mama. :)

He is so handsome, and has grown so much since Christmas when we saw him last!

Love this sweet shot :)

I have to be careful not to let things get too orange when editing this gorgeous family. And yes, that is my sister Leslie's natural hair color. Red hair and blue eyes...you're gorgeous, sis!

Knew from the moment I pressed the shutter (as Morgan was running toward me) that this was out of focus. I still love it.

How cute can a little blondie be? First shot I took of her. I was thrilled. :)

Levi and a bib of leaky bottle. :)

So, I tried cropping her hair from the top and it just wasn't the same. I love it blowing around up there. She is just too cute!

Morgan loves Bella. :) And Bella is focused!

Morgan giving me an air kiss :)

Dana & Marcus

2010-05-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

My beautiful sister Dana and her soon-to-be hubby, Marcus. I've been saying for months that we should do photos, so when I was home visiting family yesterday we took a few shots at a park just down the street from our mama. Here's a lil sneak peek for ya sis...the rest should be ready sometime this week. Love you! :)

Give me an odd angle any day.

Looooooooove these, especially Dana's laugh on the right. I do love a good hand-holding shot. :)

Her top matched her tattoo :)

Cute :)

I may've gone a little b&w crazy...

I promise there will be plenty of color, but once I converted these to b&w I loved them even more! :)

Love this shot of Dana :)

Sawyer, Round 2!

2010-05-07T13:09:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week we had a lovely (despite the rain) photo session with the Williams family in Swansboro. And by we, I mean myself and my lil sis, Gabrielle, since Jordan was busy teaching some kiddos back in Durham. Questionable weather and a serious case of strep throat on my end (ick!) had forced us to reschedule, and the rain came back for our rescheduled date during the week! Kristan & Michael, you were awesome. Believe it or not, we had fun shooting in the rain with you all! :)

You can catch "Round 1"of Sawyer's photos from our meeting in November here. He's grown so fast! Okay, on with the sneak peek. :)

Love Sawyer's smile!

And those eyes, of course :)

Such gorgeous blues!

Note-I did not intentionally put the above two photos together, but it made me laugh to see them completing each other! :)

This look cracks me up :)

Love the smiles here :)

Rainy walk by the water...our umbrella happened to match their outfits :)

rainy day shot by the water

So much to awe a little one...though I think this was before he spotted the ducks :)

Love this shot on the bench!

Clara the Belle

2010-05-06T16:09:00.000-04:00

It was a muggy May morning, but still gorgeous in Chapel Hill. Little Clara was all for exploring the campus, especially if it meant finding rocks, sticks and leaves along the way. :) I fell in love with her curls, and of course those gorgeous blues! On with the sneak peek!

She had to figure out what we were up to. This gaze is intense, I love it!

I believe this is when we spotted a doggy :)

Her little tongue sticking out here cracks me up, she is too cute!

Taking our turn at the well. This is just before those little fingers went in the water. :)

Cute overload

Washing the rocks in the tiny stream :)

Playing a bit of peek-a-boo :)

Always running from Daddy to Mommy, then back again :)

She's a girl on the go!

Thanks for meeting us Natalie & Marc, and of course Clara!

The Durhams

2010-05-03T21:28:00.000-04:00

Alison & Chris were married in St. Lucia earlier this year, and had their back-home celebration with friends and family over the past weekend. It was the perfect day...not too hot & humid, no rain in sight. Alison was as gorgeous as she was when we went to high school together, and she and Chris were full of smiles and laughs the entire evening. It was great to see some familiar faces, you all shined for our cameras! :)

We all gathered at the Spruce Pine Lodge in Bahama. There's a tiny bit of info on Endangered Durham's site if you're curious. It's a gorgeous spot hidden way back off the road, and it's a lot greener than the photo you'll find on Endangered Durham's site. The perfect setting for an outdoor BBQ...and man was the food amazing!

Thanks to you all for making us feel so welcome! Here's a tiny sneak peek at what we brought home-just a few favorites at first glance. There will be many more to come!

You two are so cute! :)

Gorgeous ladies!

Chris and a few of his boys

Loved this curious face :)

This is a definite favorite, but the next one...

...one of my favorite shots from the entire day, love it!

Alison, you have the best sisters!

Cute shot before everyone arrived :)

love the hands on the hips

chillin'

curious boys :)

one of many group shots...there will be one huge slideshow when they're all ready!

the gorgeous couple

thanking everyone for coming out...this is just before Alison's curtsy! :)

little ones love flying high :)

let me just say...first of all, love this near-cupcake-grabbing shot. second, i'm very, very sad that i left without a single bite of that chocolate cake on the bottom left. i didn't even grab a cupcake! not at all like me...but the little ones grabbed quite a few :)

this little beauty wanted nothing to do with my camera...still love this shot i stole of her! :)

quite an arm!

we like to end things with a smile here :)

Team Franck

2010-04-27T12:59:00.000-04:00

We've been talking about a session with this adorable family for months, and we were so happy to finally meet you all! Cameron & Jackson are the sweetest, most curious boys with the biggest smiles. :) We loved hanging out with you all! Enjoy your sneak peek! :)

Love the expressions here :)

so sweet!

Karen & Sam, you two have made two beautiful boys. And I need to be around them a bit more before I can tell them apart! ;)

So curious about the fountain :)

Oh, I love this little innocent, curious look!

Walking downtown with Daddy :)

I'll say it again...I love little feet!!

These are always so much fun, but it's hard to catch a little one in the air and have them properly focused and exposed...this one was perfect in my eyes!

Okay, these two make my heart melt, and make me giggle. The first is exactly what I was going for...

...and this one I had no plans for, but am SO glad this gull flew into my frame!! :)

Karen, I love your happy beach dance pose, this is too cute! :)

Pretty sure he was coming to check out his photo on my camera's digital display, and I love that look! :)

Thank you Karen & Sam, and your boys, for being so relaxed and wonderful! We'll work with you again anytime!!

The Beautiful Beachams

2010-04-26T18:57:00.000-04:00

A tiny sneak peek for the lovely blonde ladies and their man of the fam. :) We were so happy to see you all, and can't wait to come back, cameras or not!

love this shot of Gunnie jumping!

Ty's name, written by Tyler herself :)

Another tilted camera shot by Jordan that I absolutely love

This looks like pure joy, and makes me smile :)

sweet sisters

caught Ty running by!

I know it's a sleepy-eye-rub shot, but this was too cute and gorgeous to leave out :)

Happiness! Rita's was delish!

Getting excited about hot dogs for lunch!

Love this look as Tyler's heading out with her 'zine :)

We love you Beacham family, and will see you again soon!

PS-I can't believe Tyler is almost five!!

Angela's Bridals

2010-04-23T16:49:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned that we have the most gorgeous clients? Case in point, you can't miss Angela's bridals or you'll be missing some serious beauty. She and her hubby are having a destination wedding, and are leaving tomorrow (Angela you'll have to remind me where again, my brain is trying to recall the lovely island spot where you'll be). I quickly ran through what we shot last night, and intended to pick four or five of my favorites to give her a peek before she goes. But, I ended up loving 15 of them, and that's just at first glance. :)

We first stopped at a warm brick-filled spot...

Then Jordan wanted a grassy spot shot with all of this yummy evening light!

Many shots by the well, though the place was as crowded as usual at this time of year. We felt like we had more authority than the other folks though, we had a bride in a wedding gown! Not to worry, no force was used, they kindly stepped off for a few moments. :)

Angela owns this well!

Shooting from the road while Jordan (hopefully) was looking out for cars!

Perfect time of year to shoot with the azaleas out

Angela, I love this hand-on-the-hip shot :)

Oops, we made you a shorty :) I do love this though!

Gorgeous, honestly.

Nice shot by Jordan...we're usually all about the candid in-between moments, but Jordan turned into a poser for this session! I let him run with it, and I don't think Angela minded too much. We still had a lot of fun. :)

Ah, Jordan in the bushes...this paparazzi shot is a huge win!

Love the twisting photos :)

I've been wanting to shoot at this doorway for ages, since we first did a shot there last fall. I am loving this outcome so much that I decided to post two. :)

Yep, Jordan's tilt of the camera is a tad contagious, I do it a bit too :)

Goooorgeous!

Congratulations and have a wonderful week with your hubby and loved ones, Angela!! Please do send us photos of your wedding, we can't wait to see!

Us

2010-04-21T09:46:00.000-04:00

Yes, you have to scroll down to see the "us" photos. :) Our new wedding photographers and friends Jamie & Richie Staggs grabbed some engagement photos of us in Raleigh, and we LOVE them (the photos, and Jamie and Richie)!!

I joined them for a bridal session a few days later, and got distracted by their little man, Z. He's too cute not to share, right? Had to post some of him too...and hopefully we'll have more of their whole family to post this summer!

Little Z-man has some stunning eyes!

It was a gorgeous evening to spend in the green grass :)

Lil Z loves this trick!

One more...love his big grin :)

These first two were taken by Richie on my camera (though he's a Nikon-lover). I did a couple of vintage-inspired edits for myself. :)

Love this...thanks Richie!

And now the photos taken on those Nikon folks' cameras. :) We loved so many, we decided to put em together to make this post a tad smaller...love the ones of Jordan and his uke :)

The flare and cupcake shots are my favorite :) Though I love them all!

Jamie & Richie, thank you so much (for the 1000th time)! :) We'll be seeing you soon I'm sure, and Jamie we will get YOU in front of the camera! ;)

The Zinn Family

2010-04-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

We had the pleasure of photographing the Zinn family (along with their Nana) on a gorgeous Saturday morning at UNC's Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill. We came home with a TON of great shots of these gorgeous girls and their beautiful family! We're sharing quite a few here, and have many more to prepare for your full gallery. Enjoy this "sneak peek!"

A bit of climbing on the storytelling chair :)

Love this peekaboo shot! I'm always a sucker for these!

Taking a break to enjoy a lolli

Lollis up!

So sweet!

The perfect dress for twirling!

More twirling with the lolli

Love this look! And the little guys behind her :)

bubble time!

Bubbles always bring out a smile!

Looking for frogs, but I think they found "paparazzi Jordan" in the trees :)

sweet family shot

Look at that big smile! :)

the perfect place for a stroll

we had to grab a couple mom & dad shots :)

these flowers were so fragrant, and gorgeous!

the girls join for one more shot!

Josh, Gaby, & Becca, thank you for meeting us. We had a wonderful time, and hope to see you again!!

365 Part 2

2010-04-10T10:32:00.000-04:00

Jordan and I are still going with our 365 project, where we take a photo a day for one year. We're up to day sixty-something now, and I chose a few more faves to post here from my collection. :)

Possible wedding shoes...we'll see ;)

Jordan's birthday was March 1st...I made a tower of gifts for him (and no, I didn't realize before that the paper was double-sided, though he did like the pink too) :)

Cam and her upside down double shades

The beautiful Georgia Faye makes another appearance :)

Taken while hunting for photo locations in Raleigh, Jordan was my model for the day. :)

Local Yogurt. If you live in our area and haven't been, you need to try it. This is bilberry (super tart, tangy & delicious) with ginger snaps and strawberries. My favorite combo so far.

From our weekend in Wilmington with my littlest sis. We love feet on the beach!

Camryn, swinging "high in the sky"

My handsome man in Carrboro :)

Moths and pollen, both flying ridiculously fast through the night sky.

Me after a couple days of pampering. :)

NYC

2010-04-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

We had planned this trip to NY since Christmas, as it was intended to be a gift to my dad. He is the biggest Tim Burton fan I know, and the Museum of Modern Art in NY has an amazing exhibit featuring tons of Burton's work. Unfortunately, my dad was hospitalized literally the day before we were to leave (more on that later), and he insisted that we go ahead with the trip so that I could tell him everything about the exhibit at the MOMA.

It was cold, windy, and rainy every day of our three-day trip. But, we weren't about to sulk around in our hotel room, so out we went with a leaky umbrella and me in my canvas shoes (which are still wet five days later), and we had a fantastic time. Here are a few of my personal favorites that we brought home.

Plenty more here.

An angled view from our hotel room. I've always wanted an apt in the city, with a rooftop lounge spot, as seen here.

Loved the color in this fruit stand...the fruit shot's mine, the flowers, Jordan's.

My Jordie boy in NY :)

me, Central Park. you can see the rain on my jacket!

Loved the yellow here!

A couple of couple shots snapped as we roamed the rainy streets

I did several "shot from the hip" shots, this was one of my faves

These girls were so cute! Saw them later in the day with Dad riding on the scooter with the youngest daughter. Too bad we had put the camera away and couldn't snap them again in time!

Cute window display in Cursive, a store in Grand Central Station

Nigel, our roaming gnome, getting rained on in Times Square

A sea of lights, taxis, and umbrellas. I loved it.

So we asked some locals where to go for great NY cheesecake. Two peeps unanimously chimed in, "JUNIOR'S!" So we grabbed a slice of strawberry cheesecake there, and the actual cheesecake was wonderful. Not a fan of the pastry crust though, I much prefer graham cracker all around instead of just these crumblies on top.

Pretty light and water shot while roaming

Shot straight up while waiting at a crosswalk :)

This one's for my sis, Leslie. Not a single carrier pigeon girl, great news! lol :)

Lily O'Brien's sign for their cappuccino drew me in, and then we had to try their gorgeous macaroons. The dark chocolate gold-dusted one, delish (along with the cappuccino and mint hot chocolate), but the pink was rosewater. I prefer to smell my flowers over eating them, but that's just me. :)

Taxis in front of Grand Central Station...we couldn't stop quoting the cop's horse in Madagascar here, when he's giving the zebra directions. :)

One of my favorite blurred motion shots...never again shall we go to NY without a tripod, I can't believe we mistakenly left the gorillapod at home!

While heading to the WTC site, we saw Franklin Street and had to get off there...a little different than our Franklin Street at home, but it made us smile. :)

Wyatt John

2010-03-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

This little strong man was so cooperative, so fuzzy, and so cute! We've been aching to see him, and finally got to photograph him at 13 days new. :)

Also-huge thanks to our assistant of the day, Gabrielle! I'm serious girl, I'll pay you to come and work with us. You're good and you don't even know it! :)

Wyatt's Gammy soothing his bubbly belly and getting a gassy smile :)

Wyatt bought some flowers for his Gammy, so we grabbed a quick shot with one of them.

streeeeeeeeetch!

Wyatt and his beautiful mama...love this shot :)

ninja baby!

sleepy lil man

so small, but so strong! he was kicking his legs here like he wanted to crawl, and he's already raising his head and rolling over!

he looked so cozy here :)

The Backyardi-Hagens

2010-03-17T23:55:00.000-04:00

Since spring has finally decided to show, I wanted to grab some updated "Backyardigans" shots with these two. I've been with them for about two years, and it's so fun to look back at all the shots we've gotten in this one lovely spot. :) Oh, but the first bunch of Cam peek-a-booing are from the park this morning. All shots following those sillies are us hangin' out at the Hagen home. :)

I just love all of these :)

I have so many shots of Cam, from the time she had no hair, to these cute ponies. I love this angle!

Jax & Cam investigating some red ants...

And Camryn turning to investigate the dog...she's always holding her big brother so lovingly. They have big hearts, these little ones :)

Classic J..."What? I wasn't doing anything wrong..." ;)

Also classic :)

Cam no longer calls the swing the "weee"

She still loves it just the same :)

Jackson, demonstrating how strong he is. This was right before he dropped the chair and broke the back left leg. He tried forever to convince me that we could tape it back together instead of recycling it!

Relaxing while Cam took a turn on his big swing :)

Oh, those gorgeous blues on those gorgeous kiddos! :)

The Gorgeous K.C.!

2010-03-09T23:26:00.000-05:00

This gorgeous girl and her mom met us in Chapel Hill for some cute shots around town. Thank you ladies, for heading our way, it was fun roaming Chapel Hill & Carrboro with you!

This shot took me by surprise...this is quickly becoming my favorite walkway. :)

This is Jordan's view of the previous shot...I like the vertical too!

Got a lot of cute gate shots, just throwing a black and white in here to mix it up. :)

I was loving the pink in this tree, of course it matches :)

Forgive me in advance if there are feet shots galore...I love little feet, especially with cute little shoes!

Loved this look!

This was an immediate favorite...again with that walkway but from the other direction. Love the sun, and her shadow!

Jordan caught this cute peek-a-boo shot, love it!

Jordan was on a roll, look at those smiley eyes peeking over! :)

Jordan's view of the tracks....

...my view of the above shot. I warned you about the feet shots! :)

We're coming to Wilmington!

2010-03-08T10:38:00.000-05:00

We can't stay away...I joke with Jordan about opening a studio in Wilmington someday, we're there so often. And here we come again! We've chosen three weekends when sessions will be travel fee-free, if we can get four sessions booked for each weekend. We'll be so happy to see you "regulars," and we're hoping to meet some new folks as well (hint-great time to send us some referrals and earn a free session)!

*The deal is, you must email us through our official website to book the session, so we're sure to have all of your contact information. There's a link at the top of the blog, so click away! We'll be happy to book you over the phone as well (our number is listed on the contact page of our website), but we're no longer booking through facebook as it's often hard to reach people there. We'll pencil in the first four people who contact us for each weekend, and will then email you four a contract to sign and return with a deposit to secure your date officially.

Here are the dates & times we've chosen so far (one more in late June may be added if any of you are interested):

*Times chosen are flexible, we can always work around naps/games/meals, etc!

Saturday, April 24th: morning session (9:30) *taken*

early evening session (5:30) *taken*

Sunday, April 25th: morning session (9:30) *taken*

late afternoon session (4:00) *taken*

Saturday, June 5th: morning session (9:30) *taken*

early evening session (5:30) *taken*

Sunday, June 6th: morning session (9:30) *taken*

late afternoon session (4:00) *taken*

Sunday, June 27th: morning session (9:30)

late afternoon session (3:00) *taken*

The evening sessions are a great time for beach photos (roaming around Wrightsville and actually on the beach)...I do miss getting those shots just an hour or so before the sun sets! We can also come to your home, downtown Wilmington, local parks, gardens, etc. We're always open to new locations, so if you have an idea please let us know!

I'll keep this post updated as we have requests for sessions to let you all know which spots are still available. Dates in red and marked *taken* have been booked. We hope to see you soon!

Lily Dog & Chloe Cat

2010-03-02T08:32:00.000-05:00

We spent Sunday late afternoon/evening with the Grays this past weekend, first watching the Olympic Gold hockey game, then enjoying some yummy Kanki dinner. Christina was asking about how often we do pet photography, and we've still yet to do a session specifically for pets...it's usually a pet in with the family if said pet is up for it. :) Since I had my camera with me, why not practice on their cuties, Lily & Chloe? They are such sweet animals!

Playful Lily :)

I think she was a little confused by my camera, and why I wasn't playing with her!

I love this Chloe shot :)

nom nom nom

Just relaxing at the bar...

...and beneath the tv

I love this look she was giving me :)

Such a pretty doggie!

No pictures, please!

They play very well together :)

Even though Chloe sprang away just in time to be out of focus, this makes me giggle every time! :)

Thanks Lily & Chloe, for putting up with my camera in your face! :)

The Levens Family

2010-03-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

We met this gorgeous trio at the park for a sunny but chilly session over the weekend, and had so much fun! Jordan was so excited to learn that they are such huge hockey fans, and all the guys wanted to get as many shots as we could as quickly as we could, so we could all go home and watch the gold medal hockey game! Thank goodness for DVR. ;) Here's a tiny sneak peek of what we came home with!

This was the most interesting slide...no sides to it at all, it looks like a giant blue twisty tongue! Or an airhead candy. :)

Caught Cooper on his way to find Jordan as they played hide-and-seek!

Bubbles are always a hit, especially on windy days, and especially when they smell like grape jelly bellies!

This is one of my favorites :)

This bridge was great for running shots...the perfect length!

I believe this was another hide-and-seek moment :)

Caught this one between Daddy tackles!

Another fun bridge shot!

The bridge was quite tall, so I grabbed a shot of Cooper through the side :)

USA jerseys and hands in :)

365 Project

2010-02-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

Jordan recently upgraded his camera, so now we both have the same amazing camera bodies. A great way to learn what your camera is capable of is to shoot with it frequently. So, I suggested Jordan do the 365 project, and take one photo each day for a year. When I was learning to shoot manually, this is what I did. So, I started it again with him, and we're now 21 days in! Here are a few of my faves from my first three weeks. :)

Day 1/365: The Sweetness

Day 2/365: Georgia Faye with Looks that Sway

My best friend's girl, she is so gorgeous!

Day 6/365: Dressed Up in My Office

Trying on dresses for Lerner School's auction night. Might I add that I love my office? :)

Day 7/365: Sissy Kisses

Day 8/365: Tim & Monica!

Snow kept most away from our annual Valentine sugar cookie party, but Tim & Monica showed and we had a fantastic sugar cookie double date :)

Day 9/365: Cookies Everywhere!

My favorite is the purple tree cookie, I still haven't eaten it!

Day 12/365: "Peent Fort"

Because Camryn always asks for the pink fork when we eat at our place...this is how she says it :)

Day 14/365: Target & Lo-Yo

Two of the places we frequent :) Local Yogurt has the best frozen yogurt with the best toppings!

Day 15/365: Evening Photo Walk

Both taking our photos of the day at night in our neighborhood :)

Day 16/365: The Trees at Southpoint

After a yummy dinner at California Pizza Kitchen...their tortilla soup is the best!

Day 19/365: Cheese on the Rocks

Camryn has the biggest "cheese" grin ever :)

"Happy birthday dear Erik, happy birthday to you!"

2010-02-12T14:59:00.000-05:00

One of my bosses (haha) has a birthday today: little Jackson & Camryn's daddy, Erik. Now I know that whenever I gift either you or Amy anything, it usually involves photography (hey, it's what I do:), and your little ones. But really, how can I resist, they're such beautiful gifts! I mean the kiddos, not the photographs, just so you know. :)

So I was sitting here wondering how to display a few recent photos, when I thought of looking back about a year ago, to see how much Camryn and Jackson have changed. It's one of the things I love most about working with these kiddos. You can count on me having photos of them from nearly every month of the year. So Erik, you're a year older, and so are these cuties.

Jackson's transformation over the past year isn't as visible as his little sister's, besides the fact that some of his babyface puffy cheeks are gone. :) The photo of him from Jan '09, middle left, is where you can really see it. In the top middle photo he almost looks like a middleschooler to me! He's looking a bit older these days, but he's also noticeably wiser. He's gone from questioning everything and listening to answers, to still questioning everything, and at times correcting me, and telling me how and why. He's one of Camryn's best teachers (which can be good and bad :)...you should see him read books to her, it's the darn sweetest thing the way he points out this and that to Cam. It was nearly a year ago when we were wondering if he was ready for kindergarten. By last summer, he was raring to go, and I knew he was 100% ready. Such an intelligent, thoughtful, caring little lad. I'm excited to see photos of him a year from now, he's growing so quickly.

Camryn's transformation over the past year is quite obvious physically. A year ago, she had very little hair, and now she has silky goldilock curls that look so cute when pulled into ponies. And that toothy grin...well that's been there for quite some time, the girl's all smiles and teeth you know. :) Still the same sweet, angelic little voice, only now we hear it much more often. She's still learning so many words, but speaking full sentences, and often times grammatically correct sentences! All giggles and a little attitude, it's been so much fun watching her grow.

Another thing that has grown over the past year is the love between these two. It's always been there and been obvious, such a great and caring love. Whether sitting on the couch watching a movie, or just taking a break from playtime, these two almost always want hugs, kisses, and snuggles. So very sweet and loving.

Erik, hope you enjoyed a quick look into the past, and I know you'll enjoy every minute of the next year with these cuties. With Amy and I both photographing as much as we do, it's easy to catch a quick glimpse back in time. So, enjoy it while it's happening, and we'll keep on documenting. Jordan and I wish you a happy birthday weekend. Give the little ones hugs for us! :)

Blowing Rock, NC

2010-02-01T11:15:00.000-05:00

On Friday night we left for our mini mountain vacation in Blowing Rock, NC. The combination of snow coming down during what was normally rush-hour traffic time, and the fact that NC is ill-prepared for dealing with snowy roads, meant that our regular 2 1/2-ish hour drive was extended to a 4 1/2 hour drive. But, we made it to our condo at Chetola resort, and met up with our peeps who were already there. After a few drinks and several rounds of Catch Phrase (with a few adapted rules in the end), we headed to bed to rest up for an exciting Saturday.

On Saturday we woke up to a winter wonderland, and it was still coming down. After a yummy breakfast and a bit of lounging, we headed to the outlet stores down the street for some winter wear...especially because Jeffrey had no boots and was scraping his windshield that morning wearing boat shoes! :) The majority of the stores were closed, but Jeffrey found some boots in a shoe store, and Calvin Klein was open, so in we went to find Rob a warm hat, and Christina and I made it out with a $200 winter coat that was on sale for $30. Score! We decided to head to Walmart in Boone before going home, as we'd seen a sled-perfect hill on our way out of Chetola. However, no sleds were found..so Amanda and her clever self grabbed a $9 Disney Princess sleeping bag. Slick and very preschool chic, I must say.

Back to the condo we went, and prepared to head out for some snow fun. There was sledding, in, on, and sometimes without the Princess sleeping bag. The hill was so steep and difficult to climb, at times we saw each other sledding down just by plopping backwards. :) After much fun in the snow, we went back in for hot chocolate and hot baths. We emerged later in the evening for dinner at Makoto's, a delish Japanese hibachi restaurant which insisted on filling our stomachs to the point of near explosion. Delicious. And the night wouldn't have been complete without Jeffrey's attempt to drive the Jeep up what we figured were some stairs, from one parking lot to another, in an effort to avoid turning out of said parking lot and finding the correct one. We were on a mission to get to the grocery for snow cream supplies, but when we finally got there, they were closed! So, back to Walmart again. Only this time, as I slid off of Jordan's lap to head in (we were crunched in the back seat:), I whammed my knee cap right smack on the Jeep door. It's still smarting quite a bit! Oh well, in we went for snow cream materials, and then we were back on the road to Chetola. Said snow cream was made and devoured (even though it was a bit soupy), and we eventually retired for the evening.

Sunday was skii day for the others, but Jordan and I had planned to ice skate instead. We ended up spending more time watching other skiiers and snowboarders while sipping cappuccino, and decided not to skate since it was decidedly warmer on the observation deck where there was no wind. After lunch at the ski resort, we hopped over to Kilwin's for some chocolate for the ride home. Sadly, we were then back on the road.

It was a fantastic weekend, and I cannot wait for another! Here are just a handful of pics from our sledding adventures. I've been wanting to shoot some snow pics for ages!

Great flying snow pic with Christina & Jeffrey!

Christina's sledding face :)

That hill was seriously hard to climb!

Priceless look on Rob's face :)

Jordan and Jeffrey, right before diving over the hill head-first!

Jeffrey's in there somewhere, I do believe

Amanda and the Princesses!

Lookout below!!

The whole bunch of us :)

Love snowy kisses :)

Send 'Em Over!

2010-01-11T17:19:00.000-05:00

Our business is growing quickly, thanks mostly to word-of-mouth from our very first clients. We want to keep this going, so here's some info on our 2010 referral program. None of this $10 off, free 5x7 nonsense. This is your chance to get a free session. And if you're an out-of-towner, all you have to pay is a small travel fee, and if we book other sessions in your area on the same date/weekend, that cuts your travel fee in half at the very least!

Anyone can do it. Simply send us five new clients, and we'll set up a complimentary session for you. Maybe you know someone who's seen our work and has been meaning to contact us? All they have to do is mention your name when booking. If you send us five of those folks before the year's end, free session for you!

We met a lot of wonderful people last fall, and got some wonderful photos for families to use as gifts and holiday cards, and of course for everyday enjoyment. By this fall, you could be booking a complimentary session with us to do the same thing.

If our card didn't make its way to you through snail mail, check it out here for details. Click on the photos for a bigger view. And as always, feel free to email us with any questions! (mindysea@mac.com)

M Family

2009-12-22T17:46:00.000-05:00

Barely over a year ago, we photographed our first newborn. Here she is again, much more mobile, but with the same sparkling full-of-curiosity eyes. I am loving what we have so far, and can't wait to show you all the rest! Hope you enjoy. :)

Can't get over those gorgeous blues!

Love this look she gave me after plopping in the leaves :)

By far one of my favorites...so warm and sweet! Good eye for those red berries AM!

Also very sweet :)

Squishy-face kisses!

I love bright natural light, and there is something magical and so warm about catching some sunflare in the corner of a photo. Love it here, it feels like such a happy moment.

A visit from one of Fearrington's belted cows. Too bad I missed the belt!

Love this family shot!

The Chengs

2009-12-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

On a cold, drizzly early Saturday morning we met up with the Chengs a second time. We did their maternity session earlier this year, and were glad to meet their new little man (surprise, last time we talked he was expected to be a she)! Despite the darkness and rain, we got some cute shots! Enough chatter, here are the sneak peeks. :)

Typical workday

2009-12-07T17:34:00.000-05:00

A day in the life of Mindy working at home, with random thoughts and observations throughout.

8:30- daily alarm on my phone wakes me from a dream. can't recall what it was now, but even the quiet "marimba" sound on my phone is shocking enough to put me in an "am i awake?" heart-pounding stupor.

8:45- "dressed" in pj pants & Capt'n Bill's tee, head to the living room, grab fresh Kona coffee Jordan's ground and brewed, and a kiss along the way. Sit down in my living room corner "office," which consists of the "cuddler" corner piece of our sectional (named by Haverty's, I'm not that gushy) and a rockin table that Jordan and I built early this year. Holds my beastly iMac, on which I start working at this point.

9:00ish?-Jordan leaves for work, leaving ESPN on tv. There's a keyboard and a cat in my lap...Rosie cat, could ya grab the remote, or hit 277 for HGTV please? Nope. I get up and realize I'm hungry, and that I have chocolate pound cake (with choc icing, score) from trip to dad's this weekend. Breakfast is served, channel is changed, back to the cuddler.

9:00-11:30- went through past weekend's session photos, chose some "sneak peeks" to edit. Check email, send replies. Check facebook & flickr pages (I might be obsessed with checking views and comments, and other feedback). Phone call with a lovely client, another phone call from a gent wanting to put us on his photographer list so we're searchable with their company (call back next week please, I'm a busy bee and current clients come first until holiday orders are shipped out).

11:30-hungry again, but almost swim time so nothing too heavy...cereal for lunch it is. back to editing.

11:40-1:45- more emailing, more editing. make a point to remember idea for a big Christmas gift I'm working on.

1:45- put on swimsuit and leave for the Y.

2:15-2:45- lap swim like mad. now feeling a tad tired.

3:15- leave the Y so fresh and so clean. Mean to head to post office but with no parking spots and six cars waiting to turn in, head to Southern Season instead. Buy candy for the business (if we've shipped to you lately, you know what I mean) and yet another Christmas gift for Jordan. Head to the bank to grab some cash.

4:00- Arrive at post office, a bit more quiet now. Carry in toppling tower of packages full of client photos. Approx 36 people in line inside, one person at the automated package thing in the lobby. Choose the automated thing, and at my turn buy and print a label for each of the six toppling packages. Label and send off packages.

4:30- Head to Staples to get more printable DVDs, paper, & envelopes. Stand in line behind a student who's clearly had a toke or two before arriving at said store. See a lady rush into the store, go straight to the first counter and ask, "Do y'all have Scotch tape?" Yep, the office supply store has scotch tape, sure enough. Really. Realize that Staples offers UPS shipping. Consider bringing in the one package I need to rush with UPS. Reconsider after seeing how long the line is.

4:45- Arrive at UPS store, woman in front of me is shipping a seemingly 200-ton bronze sculpture. Man at next cashier is shipping three things, and has gone out to his truck for further information for all three. Three times. Finally my turn, I ship my package.

5:00- Realize it's 5:00 and I've eaten a slice of pound cake and Frosted Flakes all day. Hungry stomach + Panera next door=best mac & cheese ever for dinner. Also, silly me chose to wear a thin sweater and no jacket out, slightly chilled. Grab a caramel latte as well to warm up. Drink it on the way home.

5:25- Pull in our apt, check the mail. Package in the office, can't remember if office closes at 5:00 or 6:00. Drive around, 6:00 it is. Grab two packages (UPS brought prints and the other a gift for Jordan:) ). Grab a parking spot. Carry in swim bag, bags from Southern season, Staples, and Panera, two large boxes, purse, and caramel latte. I'm one of those people who'll carry something on each limb to avoid coming back out to the car. Somehow still manage to unlock door to apt. Hang wet suit to dry, hide Jordan's gift, feed the cats, put down the latte and realized it made me full. Save the mac & cheese to eat when Jordan gets home. Sit down. Check email. Call from Jordan as he's on his way home.

6:00- Jordan's home. Eating mac & cheese and baguette now. Watching Pearl Harbor because it's December 7th. Back to editing and working on the big Christmas gift. Probably til around midnight. Sneak peeks of the Chengs being converted now, uploaded soon.

Good evening, loves. :)

Paper Choices

2009-12-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen our paper samples in person and are working with us on your holiday cards, we're happy to put a little sample of these papers here for you. We offer a basic "cover stock" finish, a linen texture, and a pearl finish. Photos can be found below!

Linen-subtle linen texture

Pearl-not glossy, but a bit of sparkle & shine

Basic Cover Stock-simple and classic

The Burchfields

2009-12-03T14:46:00.000-05:00

Yes, we do have gorgeous clients, and gorgeous locations bring out the beauty even more. Loving all of these from our session with the B's this Sunday. Handsome E and radiant Hannah, trotting around with gorgeous mom. Dariele, I still think Ethan will be a photographer some day...always posing himself and finding the "perfect spot" for a photo. He led the way most of the session! :)

So sweet!

And so stunning!

Still not believing she could jump in those boots! :)

E's personality coming through here, for sure. :)

Classic contemporary mother-daughter shot. Love it!

A little bit funky

I literally gasped after I did this black & white conversion. So gorgeous!

Hand stands & upside-down tree-hanging.

Love this one :)

The Whites

2009-11-28T09:22:00.000-05:00

We met the quadruple A's (Amy, Adam, Addison, & Archer) out at Jordan Lake Farm this past weekend for some fun natural shots. One of our favorite locations, as we always get great shots. Helps that we have gorgeous clients, right? :)

My favorite pumpkin bread recipe

2009-11-27T16:06:00.000-05:00

This post is specifically for my youngest sis, Gabrielle (aka Gabs, Gabaralicious, curly cutie, etc). She's quite the picky eater (sorry Gabs, you know it's true), so I'm surprised she's at all interested in something with pumpkin in the recipe. But whatd'ya know, she loves the stuff and has eaten it for years! :) Give it a whirl sis, I made some for us today. :)

Ingredients (preheat oven to 350˚):

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour (if you don't have self-rising, just add 2 1/2 tsp baking powder & 3/4 tsp salt to the flour)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon (I usually shake a bit extra in)
1 cup pumpkin (I use Libby's canned pumpkin)
you can throw in 1/4 cup chopped nuts of your choice, but I usually skip 'em

Throw it all together:

mix eggs, sugar, and oil in one bowl
in another bowl, mix flour and cinnamon
alternate adding pumpkin and the sugar/egg/oil mix to the flour (add a bit of pumpkin, then a bit of the egg mix, back and forth til it's all mixed together)
add vanilla (and nuts if you wish)
pour into a large greased & floured (or sprayed with Pam) loaf pan

Bake for 45-60 mins, until fork inserted in center comes out clean

Also-it's perfect with a steaming mug of apple cider. :)

Williams Family

2009-11-24T17:21:00.000-05:00

This adorable baby boy and his parents met us in Chapel Hill for photos this past weekend, and it was a perfectly gorgeous day for photos! We got a few shots inside before heading to UNC's campus, and were happy to see leaves all around, on the trees and on the ground! Ha, is it obvious that I work with kiddos? :) Kristan & Mike, we love what we got, and can't wait to show you the rest!

Dave and His Guitar

2009-11-24T13:10:00.000-05:00

We met up with David and his lovely lady Leslie (how's that for alliteration) in Durham this past Saturday morning. He wants some photos to use for his new album, and we were happy to oblige! It was chilly, but once we got moving we zoned in and I think we got some great shots! And what could be better than following up a session with lunch at Mellow Mushroom? Yummmm.

Looking Up

2009-11-20T23:04:00.000-05:00

Another visit with Deuce yielded my new favorite photo of him. I love the slight haze effect, and this angle is always a winner for me. :)

Lee Family

2009-11-17T22:36:00.000-05:00

Oh my, what a fun bunch! The first time we actually spent time in one section of downtown Wilmington, without too much traipsing about. It was a chilly morning, and the kiddos took a few minutes to warm up to the session and to us. By the end we were playing hide-and-seek, chasing each other, and climbing everywhere! We had a great time with Alex, Wells, and mom & dad. I'm thrilled with what we got, and can't wait to show you the full gallery!

Roche Family

2009-11-17T08:08:00.000-05:00

A lovely afternoon downtown with the lovely Shelby & Parker and the 'rents. :) So cute, these two, and so much fun! Thanks for roaming the town with us!

Deuce!

2009-11-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

We spent another weekend with Deuce and his lovely family. You all are so kind, thanks for having us over! Got a few more cute shots of Deuce now that he's feeling better. Though I still say those cuddly shots are cute! :)

Mary Ryan

2009-11-16T09:52:00.000-05:00

First downtown session of the weekend with a gorgeous little gal and her mom, dad, and baby doll. :) Love her hat, pearls, shoes, blazer...everything! :)

MuteMath

2009-11-16T08:39:00.000-05:00

We scored a couple of photo passes for one of my favorite bands' shows in Charlotte a couple of weekends ago. Basically that means we had access to pass the barrier for the first three songs they played, then had to mosey back into the crowd. We did some quick shooting, and got a few shots that I really love. Here are a handful of those. :)

One of the first shots I grabbed of Paul Meany, lead singer.

One of my favorites, and one of the most popular shots of the evening. Love how he's framed by the lights!

This could be the favorite shot overall. Look at that intense emotion. The main reason I love this band, definitely.

Caught a little flare from the backlighting. This feels magical to me. I could seriously shoot shows every weekend. Such excitement!

This is absolutely the drummer, literally crowd-surfing on his drum. Right before he did a backwards free-fall into welcoming arms.

Bugaroo

2009-11-10T12:25:00.000-05:00

A third visit with The Bug ("Dancing Baby") and fam this weekend. We've missed this little guy, and were thrilled to see his family and their big boy! He's grown so much since we saw him this spring, and we still can't get over that fluff of hair! Enjoy this peek into your session, can't wait to reveal them all! :)

Yes, we love candid/slightly posed shots! This is usually when we capture true personality. :)

That giggle is the best!

Loved our snuggling shots :)

We're loving the fall colors here. This was right after we plopped him in the leaves. Love that curious look!

Neely Family

2009-11-08T19:45:00.000-05:00

Another meet-up with this gorgeous family and their new little one at UNC's Botanical Gardens. Loving all of their new sculptures amongst the gorgeous greenery! Sneak peeks are below, can't wait to show you the rest!

Ellison Family

2009-11-04T19:40:00.000-05:00

The day after Halloween, Daylight Savings enacted. Three brothers on the beach with their folks. Amazing intermittent cloud cover. All of this made for a fun photo session with the Ellisons, and we really had to contemplate which to share with you all for sneak peeks. With three boys we got photos galore!

Lisk Family

2009-11-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

What an adorable, gorgeous family! We met up at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, and dodged geese (and their lawn bombs) as we followed the leader (Taylor) all over the grounds! He really is a determined, very curious little guy, and oh-so-cute! And did I mention sweet? :)

Leonard Family...Plus Some!

2009-11-02T14:50:00.000-05:00

Our second set of sessions of the day, we were on a roll this weekend! We met the Leonards downtown, and took on our traditional role of roaming the streets to find a great backdrop. You don't have to roam far in Wilmington, especially with the ever-popular red wall (which happens to be the side of the building that houses Coastal Cupcake. yum), and the Tom's Drugstore door painting. Lots of other spots were found, and afterwards we headed to meet the rest of the fam at Wrightsville Beach. We had fun corralling all of you, and can't wait to show you the rest of what we captured!

David Family

2009-11-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

We were excited about an overcast day of shooting, especially since this sweet family invited us over for freshly baked monkey bread and coffee before we began shooting. We were not excited about little Deuce's newly-acquired fever. :( He seemed to perk up a bit after breakfast, so we headed downtown and into some drizzly rain! Despite these unexpected troubles, I think we got some wonderful shots of you all, and we got some great shots of Deuce being sweet and cuddly with mom & dad. And, we got to hop a few fences and climb some trains...well, the Davids and Jordan did. I covered the outside angles! :) Can't wait to see you all again!

The AKs

2009-10-26T16:40:00.000-04:00

Throwing in a photo from Cristina's last visit (to help me choose a wedding dress:) to Chapel Hill with little Georgia. The rest are from a farm in Sanford, NC, complete with a corn maze and pumpkin patch, and even a bouncy-castle-type-thing (which we should've gotten on, I think). :) Sneak peek, here it is!