Bella Rose Photography Blog

March 11, 2010 - 10:32 PM

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Events, News, weddings

The Happy Affair Bridal Show at North Ridge Country Club was a great event. We were positioned in the lobby area of the club so that couples could have a spontaneous 'mini engagement session' in front of the fireplace when they arrived for the show. Then couples entered into the main ballroom to meet with other vendors and to hear the speaker, Stacie Francombe. Stacie is the Get Married Founder and President. She hosts a weekly television show on WeTV and also publishes a beautiful magazine. The focus of the show and magazine are to discuss current trends in the wedding industry. Here are a few of the trends Stacie mentioned in her presentation:

1. Non-linear aisle: Brides are personalizing the procession by altering the traditional aisle with a circle or a triangular double aisle, enabling the couple to enter from multiple spots with a central meeting point. Stephanie Davis, Get Married magazine editor-in-chief and new bride, wedded lake-side on a circular dock from which she and her groom entered. "Our family no longer has two sides, so everyone sat together and, as an added bonus, there wasn't a bad seat in the house!"

2. Comfort foods with a kick: Chef Wolfgang Puck believes that comfort foods have become more popular in the current economy. Think burgers, pizza, ribs, pot pie, and risotto--but comfort does not have to mean pedestrian. "Upgrade ingredients and prepare them with great expertise. Serve hors d'oeuvres like Kobe burgers, wild mushroom risotto, smoked salmon pizzas, slow-braised short ribs or a simple chicken pot pie with lobster," advises Puck.

3. Gifting techie gadgetry: Registries and wedding gifts have increasingly become more high tech. Brides want electronic recipe finders, books and charging plates, and matching his-and-hers PDA cases--all examples of great gadgets for the couple as well as thank-you gifts for parents and the wedding party.

4. Texture-inspired invitations: Top bridal designer Monique Lhuillier shares inspirations and details from her various collections: "A lot of fabric details from the dresses translate into the invitations. We use techniques of embossing to mimic textures and incorporate the same colors from the gowns into the invitations." Look for details you would see on the runway on your wedding invitations.

5. Old, new, borrowed and cobalt blue: From hints of blue in bridal fashion to saturated color throughout the wedding decor, "blues will be the most requested color in 2010," said Shane Murray of The Wedding Report. Bright cobalt blue is a hot hue for 2010, offering fresh, bold and atmospheric twist on the bluesy tradition.

6. Wear-again bridesmaid dresses: The urban legend of wearing a bridesmaids dress by choice after the wedding is a reality with the new silhouettes that mirror what is happening on the runway. Gorgeous and glamorous dresses with drop waists, bubble skirts and ruffles add an additional sense of style for bridesmaids to wear--and wear again.

7. Three-dimensional save-the-dates: Inform your friends and family of your wedding day with a twist. Three-dimensional elements on the save-the-dates, like a paper umbrella (signifying a destination wedding), adds character, humor and relevance.

8. Old Hollywood glam, for men!: A return to Cary Grant's sense of style is making a comeback this year for grooms, looking charming and dapper in a white tuxedo with black-rimmed lapels. This cool old-school look brings back the sharp-looking vest and nostalgic pocket watch.

9. Blogger brides abound: Now more than ever, Get Married is seeing brides enjoy sharing snippets of surprises, ideas and images throughout their wedding planning experience. Personal blogs offer a space for brides to share, gather inspirations and explore. Check out Get Married's robust and newly designed wedding blog.

10. Personalized plus: From the décor designs and inspirational invites to a great gifts and super-fab favors, Get Married is observing brides' aspiration for distinctly personalized wedding details. Designing invitations, save-the-dates and thank-you cards and adding monograms to guest books, aisle runners and gifts (like cosmetic and travel bags) offers a hint of personal bridal style. An assortment of personalized décor, invitations, gifts and favors are available a www.shop.getmarried.com.

February 9, 2010 - 01:41 AM

Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Childrens Portraits, Commercial Shoot, Engagement, Fashion, Magazine Features, News, Pet Portraits, Tips, baby portraits, portraits, weddings

Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?
This article has been very well received by the photography community, and is published in the December 2009 edition of Professional Photographer Magazine.

In this digital age where everyone has cameras, scanners, and home "photo printers," we hear this all the time: How do professional (or personal) photographers charge $X for an 8x10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drugstore? Simply put, the customer is not just paying for the actual photograph; they're paying for time and expertise.

The average one-hour portrait session

First, let's look at the actual work involved:

Travel to the session
Setup, preparation, talking to the client, etc.
Shoot the photos
Travel from the session
Load images onto a computer
Back up the files on an external drive
2 - 4 hours of Adobe® Photoshop® time, including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, and backing up edited photographs. Proof photos are also ordered.
2 - 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment, and ship.
Possibly meet clients at the studio to review photos and place order. Meeting and travel time average 2 hours.

You can see how a one-hour session easily turns into an eight-hour day or more from start to finish. So when you see a personal photographer charging a $200 session fee for a one-hour photo shoot, the client is NOT paying them $200 per hour.

The eight-hour wedding

A wedding photographer typically meets with the bride and groom several times before and after the wedding. And it's not uncommon to end up with 1,000 - 2,000 photos, much more than a portrait session. Many photographers spend 40-60 hours working on one eight-hour wedding if you look at the time that is truly involved. Again, when a wedding photographer charges $4,000 for eight hours of coverage, clients are NOT paying them $500 an hour!

(Don't forget that the photographer runs the wedding day to some extent. A comfortable, confident wedding photographer can make a wedding day go more smoothly.)

The expertise and cost of doing business

Shooting professional photography is a skill acquired through years of experience. Even though now some DSLR's cost under $1,000, taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most personal photographers take years to go from buying their first camera to making money with photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera, there is a mountain of other equipment and software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website, etc. And don't forget backdrops, props, rent, utilities, insurance, etc!

In addition to the financial investment, photographers actually have to have people skills to make subjects comfortable in front of the camera. Posing people to look their best is a skill by itself. You could argue that posing is a more important skill than actually knowing how to use the camera. A poorly exposed photo can be saved, but a badly posed photo cannot.

The chain store photo studio

Chain stores do have their place. For a very cheap price you can run in, shoot some quick photos, and be done with it. But you get what you pay for.

Consider the time and effort that a personal photographer puts into photographs, compared to a chain store. Store sessions last just a few minutes, while a personal photographer takes the time to get to know the people, makes them comfortable, makes them laugh. If a baby is crying at a chain store, they often don't have the time (or the patience) to wait because everyone is in a hurry.

The truth is that many chain store studios lose money. In fact, Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios in 2007 because of the financial drain. What the chain stores bank on is a client coming in for quick, cheap photos...and while there, spending $200 on other items. They are there to get you in the door.

The real deal

Professional, personal photographers are just that--professionals. No different than a mechanic, dentist, doctor, or electrician. But a personal photographer often becomes a friend, someone who documents a family for generations with professional, personal photographs of cherished memories.

Maybe we need to help clients look at it this way: A pair of scissors costs $1.50 at the drugstore. Still, most people will gladly pay a lot more to hire a professional hair dresser to cut their hair.

The added attention and quality that a personal photographer gives is worth every penny.

Conclusion

We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs, created by a Personal Photographer are so expensive.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Shawn, Pamela and Gavin Richter - cofphoto@aol.com

Our website - Caught on Film Photography

Our photography forum - Learning Digital Photography Together

February 5, 2010 - 03:11 PM

Wedding ~ Jennifer and Jason

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

The beautiful wedding of Jennifer and Jason took place at the Blockade Runner in Wilmington, North Carolina. The ceremony was dampened by a passing thunderstorm, as you will see from the photos, but that did not stop the party and Jennifer and Jason finished the ceremony in the rain thanks to some big umbrellas! Jennifer incorporated some special elements into her wedding like using her mother and father's wedding cake topper on her cake and using real goldfish in the table centerpieces to carry on the beach theme. The evening ended with a sparkler send off and the couple leaving on a boat in true coastal North Carolina style! Congratulations Jennifer and Jason!

January 7, 2010 - 10:08 PM

Dudley Mansion Open House

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, weddings

Come mingle with Wilmington's premier wedding vendors at the Dudley Mansion decorated with beautiful wedding decor.
Plan your dream wedding, sample hors d'oeuvres, and taste delicious wedding cake!

Dudley Mansion Open House:
Sunday, January 10th from 1-5pm
400 South Front Street Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
www.dudleymansion.com

Featured Wedding Vendors:

The Dessert Divas
www.thedessertdivas.blogspot.com

Culinary Creations
www.culinarycreationsonline.com

Bella Rose Photography
www.bellarosephoto.com

Fountaine Bridals
www.FountaineBridals.com

December 5, 2009 - 06:16 PM

Recent Editorial Images in Cape Fear Wedding Magazine

posted by Lisa | filed under: News, magazine features, weddings

Woke up this morning to find my photo on the front page of the Cape Fear Wedding website! I also decided to display some of the images featured on the section pages of the magazine in recent issues.

Picture 1.png

December 5, 2009 - 06:58 AM

Wedding ~ Sarah and Sam

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Sarah and Sam were married August 1st at the historic First Presbyterian Church in downtown Wilmington. Sarah looked stunning in her beautiful gown and we loved the bridesmaid's pretty apple green summery dresses! The scene was picture perfect! After a wonderful ceremony, the bridal party jumped into a trolley for photos downtown by the River Walk and then we took photos on the beach of Sarah and Sam before they went to their reception. I love the photos we took on the beach. They were just glowing with happiness! Makes my job easy!

When I think of Sarah and Sam's wedding, I can't help thinking that it was the party of the year! Seriously, they danced the entire time at the reception with about 300 of their closest friends. Sugar the Band rocked the house. I'm not kidding, the floor of the Surf Club was literally shaking! We danced too, in between taking photos! What a fun night! Oh, and I have to give some love to Bryan and David at Flower and Flour for creating such a fantastic cake. Congratulations Sarah and Sam!

November 19, 2009 - 06:50 PM

Fall Model ~ Alison

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Fashion, Magazine Features, Modeling Portfolio, weddings

The story behind this shoot is kind of entertaining. I bought this vintage 1950's prom dress from Ebay for the awesome price of $30 as an Alice in Wonderland halloween costume for my daughter. When it arrived in a beat up old Budwiser beer box, my daughter said it was not her style. I knew it was a bit over the top for a 7th grader and decided it would be cool for something else- I just didn't know what. The dress was super small. I guess it is true that people were smaller in previous generations, because that dress was little- probably a size 2.

I was looking around for models with red hair for my fall bridal shoot, and I met with Alison to consider her as a model. She just happened to be a perfect size 2. I brought the vintage dress with me to her fitting to just see if it would work for something and suggested that Alison try it. She fit the dress perfectly and lit up with excitement at the thought of modeling in it. The light blue color looked great with her hair color and we decided to skip the traditional bridal gown and go for a vintage/bohemian bridal look. To update the look of the dress, I cut off the bottom of the dress and made it shorter and added some new ribbon. I decided to feature Alison's beautiful hair and have it down in loose spiral curls. I bought jewelry, hair accessories and shoes and ended up making the bouquet myself in the car on the way to the shoot! I guess the moral of the story is that you can have a unique, creative look on a very small amount of money. We had Alison's makeup professionally done by the fabulous Amy Kennison of Mac. Amy completely translated my vision into reality and she looked amazing. The shoot took place at Orton Plantation Gardens. The perfect place to find fall color!

November 10, 2009 - 10:30 PM

Wedding ~ Morgan and Joel

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Okay, I think we all need to just take a moment and stare in wonder and amazement at the gorgeous dress that Morgan choose for her wedding. She wins the prize for the most awesome and breath taking dress I have ever seen! Total fairy tale princess! Her dress was from the private collection of St. Pucchi by Rani. If you want some eye candy- just visit the site- completely off the charts! So the dress was totally to die for and don't even get me started on the diamonds! Wow! Incredible!

Okay, now for the gorgeous location. If you haven't been to Brookgreen Gardens in Pawley's Island, South Carolina- it is time to schedule a trip! We barely even saw a small part of it and it is the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. Morgan and Joel's romantic ceremony took place in Live Oak Allee with majestic oak trees lining each side of the walkway. It was so breathtaking, I remember thinking that if I could image heaven- it would look like this!

Morgan and Joel's guests enjoyed a beautiful cocktail party in the Palmetto Garden with signature drinks in mason jars complete with little umbrellas and a cherry and then they literally danced the night away under a starlit tent. It was so fantastic it is hard to do it justice with words. I guess that's why I carry that heavy camera around! Enjoy the photos! Congratulations Morgan and Joel!

November 1, 2009 - 06:04 PM

Cover Image for The Bride's Book!

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Commercial Shoot, Fashion, Magazine Features, Modeling Portfolio, weddings

I am so excited to announce that one of my photos will be featured on the cover of The Bride's Book magazine. It is always a huge thrill to be featured on a cover and I am so pleased that the image is one of the photos that I took of Rachel at the Dudley Mansion this past July. Congratulations to all of my ladies involved in this shoot! Tonya with A Carolina Wedding, Jennifer with Salt Harbor Designs, Amy Kennison with Mac makeup, and Jan Wutkowski with Amuse Artisanal Finery.

October 23, 2009 - 07:17 PM

Wedding ~ Leah and Brad

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

I love it when couples personalize their wedding to reflect their interests, hobbies or something that is unique to them. Leah and Brad did a fantastic job representing who they are as a couple through the cool details of their wedding. They were married and had their reception at the State Club in Raleigh. Leah and Brad both went to 'State' and they are big Wolfpack fans! They loved the wolf statues surrounding the club and wanted to take photos with them to show their team spirit! I adore the colors they choose- hot pink and black! My favorites! And you can never go wrong with polka dots! So much fun!

They are also the proud owners of two adorable pugs and they were represented in photos at the head table and on their 'too cute for words' cake topper! It was such a fun party and Leah and Brad put in a special request to create a photo with a heart 'painted' in a photo with a sparkler. A trick I had never done before- so I bought some sparklers the night before and we practiced to get it right! Here's the end result- very cool! Congratulations Leah and Brad!

October 14, 2009 - 07:09 PM

Wedding ~ Kelly and Rob

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

We have truly been blessed with SOOO many beautiful weddings this year and Kelly and Rob's was no exception! They were married on June 13th at the St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Wilmington and had their reception at the beautiful Bellamy Mansion. Kelly and Rob chose the most historic places Wilmington for their wedding. St. James Episcopal Church was the first church built in Wilmington in 1729! While the ceremony was taking place, we were sitting up in the balcony taking photos. I started looking at the flags on the sides of the walls of the church, and I was blown away by the dates on them. There were flags from the 1700's- it's so incredible that they have been preserved for so many years.

The Bellamy Mansion is beautiful antebellum style house that fell into the control of the Federal troops during the Civil War and became their headquarters when they took control of Wilmington. Now, the house is a museum and in the evenings, you can have weddings and parties in the house and gardens. Kelly and Rob will now have a permanent place in the history of the Bellamy Mansion with an engraved brick lining the walkway in the garden behind the house.

Kelly and Rob had such a wonderful wedding. It was the perfect night to dance under the stars and celebrate! Congratulations Kelly and Rob!

October 5, 2009 - 07:04 PM

Wedding ~ Jennifer and Cullen

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Jennifer and Cullen were married in Oxford, NC surrounded by family and friends in the same chapel that Jennifer's mother and father were married in. Jennifer grew up in Oxford and her wedding was a major event! I think close to 400 guests attended the reception at the Henderson Country Club! What a party! Jennifer is a girl after my own heart and had really fun details. Her color scheme of hot pink, lime green and polka dots was featured in the adorable polka dot shoes the bridesmaids wore and the alternating colored sashes. She also had polka dot table linens at the reception- I love it when the colors really stand out and make a statement! The party was rockin' with the Johnny Dollar Band playing all night! What a great wedding! Congratulations Jennifer and Cullen!

September 27, 2009 - 06:52 PM

Wedding ~ Annie and Brian

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

I am so excited to share Annie and Brian's wedding. They were married at the beautiful Porter's Neck Country Club in Wilmington. Annie and Brian are one of those couples that are 'just meant to be' and when you see them together- you can't help but smile. Their wedding was just gorgeous and one of the highlights was Annie's little nephew being pulled down the aisle in a pirate ship wagon by the flower girl. Annie and Brian danced all night long and had a fabulous time. It was so great to be a part of their beautiful day! Also, take a look at their wedding video highlights by our favorite videographers, Life Stage Videography. Congratulations Annie and Brian!

September 24, 2009 - 08:40 PM

Wedding ~ Michelle and Alex

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

The grandeur of the Duke University Chapel is always an impressive site. Michelle and Alex are an equally impressive couple and chose the perfect place for their wedding. Michelle and Alex met while stationed in Japan. Michelle was a flight nurse in the Navy and Alex was one of her patients on a flight. I guess the rest is history and now they are a happily married couple! Congratulations Michelle and Alex!

September 13, 2009 - 12:55 AM

Wedding ~ Julie and Jeff

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Julie and Jeff got married this May at the historic High Grove Estate in Fuquay Varina. I really enjoyed photographing this location. The bride gets ready in the main house and then the ceremony takes place outside at a pergola overlooking Laurel Lake. It is a beautiful setting! We had a few rain drops during Julie and Jeff's ceremony, but it held off until the ceremony ended. It was nice to have overcast skies to make the day a little cooler! Then the reception is just steps away in an elegant lined tent with chandeliers. It is so nice to have all of the events so close together in one beautiful place! Julie looked great and we just loved her shoes with rhinestones down the heel! Julie and Jeff had a great party with lots of dancing and fun! It was great to be a part of their fabulous day! Congratulations Julie and Jeff!

September 9, 2009 - 05:41 AM

Wedding ~ Melissa and Chuck

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

We photographed this beautiful destination wedding for Melissa and Chuck at Bald Head Island. Melissa grew up in North Carolina, but her family has since moved to Washington. They enjoy coming back to Bald Head Island each summer to stay at their beach house and Melissa always dreamed of someday getting married on the island. Melissa met Chuck through work and the rest is history- as they say! We were lucky enough to document that history for them! We adored Melissa's Monique Lhuiller wedding gown and the easy, yet elegant style she incorporated throughout the day. It was a very laid back relaxing evening where guests could just mingle and enjoy each others' company. A perfect reflection of the atmosphere of Bald Head Island. Congratulations Melissa and Chuck!

September 5, 2009 - 01:29 AM

Wedding ~ Jodie and Lee

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Here's another cool romance! Jodi and Lee met in High School and fell in love. They are the sweetest couple! They got married on Topsail Beach, and I have to say that I don't think I have ever cried so many tears of joy at a wedding as I did at Jodi and Lee's ceremony. It was really touching and I think all of the cute country songs about love and marriage that they played as the bridal party entered the ceremony really pushed me over the edge! I'm a romantic and sometimes I just can't help it! They had a beautiful wedding that ended with a 'send off' in a boat. We were able to photograph them from another boat to create some really fun images! Congratulations Jodi and Lee!

Here's an action shot entitled 'Topsail Beach Paparazzi!'
We never know what fun thing we are going to get to do next in the pursuit of our art!

September 3, 2009 - 10:53 PM

Wedding ~ Katie and Albie

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Katie and Albie's wedding was a complete tour of the 'best of Wilmington'! They incorporated the classic traditions of an elegant wedding with the laid back 'beachy style' that is Wrightsville Beach. Not too easy to pull off but they did it right! Katie has great style and it was evident from the flowers, to the bridesmaid dresses, their fabulous cake, and in all of the little details. We had such a great time with Katie and Albie! What a perfect couple! Congratulations you two!

September 1, 2009 - 10:02 PM

Wedding ~ Julia and Andrew

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

One of my favorite movies from a few years back is, 'Practical Magic', with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. There is a line in the movie that I have never forgotten. The scene shows Sandra Bullock dancing around the family room with her husband and two daughters while she says, "Today is our third anniversary and all I have to show for it are two beautiful daughters and a husband that I can't stop kissing." To me that sounded perfect and the way things should be. Julia and Andrew are that couple. Perfect together and they can't stop kissing. What a great wedding! We were privileged to be a part of it! Congratulations Julia and Andrew!

August 26, 2009 - 12:54 AM

Modeling ~ Summer Bridal Portrait

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Modeling Portfolio

This post depicts our second in a series of 'model bridal shoots'. We are pleased to feature our gorgeous model, Rachel, as our 'Summer Bride'. My goal is to photograph a bride for each season. I love styling each shoot; looking for the perfect model, choosing the colors, the jewelry, hair and make up. It has been such a great collaborative experience working with my favorite vendors to create such fantastic images. Rachel braved the extreme July heat and was the perfect bride. We enjoyed having such a beautiful location and send many thanks to, Cindy and Ron Picket, the owners of the Dudley Mansion. I am also very excited to announce that one of these images has been chosen for an upcoming cover for a local magazine. Keep posted for more details when the magazine comes out this October!!!

The dress is an Enzoani, borrowed from A Carolina Wedding Bridal Salon
The flowers are designed by Salt Harbor Designs
The accessories are by aMuse
Make up by Amy Kennison with Mac: akennison@ec.rr.com, (910) 622-4473
The photos were shot at the historic Dudley Mansion in Wilmington. The mansion was built by the first governor of North Carolina in the late 1700's. It is now a privately owned residence and the owners have decided to offer their home as a wedding and reception event space.

August 20, 2009 - 05:50 PM

What I've Been up to Lately....

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Wedding editing has consumed my every waking moment lately. Here are a few images of the large stacks of wedding proofs getting ready to be packaged for my brides! Boxes seem to be delivered almost daily! I currently have 7 weddings ready for pick up! We shot 17 weddings back to back this spring and summer- so, needless to say, it has been a huge amount of work!

For those interested, here's a little bit of the process. After each wedding the memory cards are all downloaded into individual folders on a huge hard drive and backed up to DVD. This usually takes a full day because all of the images are shot in the RAW file format. Most of you probably haven't heard of that term before. It is the largest, purest file format that a professional SLR camera can take. Each file is about 12MB and has 12 million mega pixels. A lot of photographers shoot in the JPG format and the size and quality of the image can vary greatly. Many shoot in a medium JPG file format to save disc space and time, but they sacrifice quality. If you wanted to enlarge one of the images to any substantial size, you would see a lot of grain. I shoot in a large file format for all of my images because I think it is worth it to spend the extra time to do things the best way possible. When I edit the RAW images in the computer, it is almost like I'm adjusting the controls of the camera when I make adjustments to the images. It is the purest way to get the best image possible. The color is better and the files are not corrupted with extra filler that gets added with the JPG format. It is your wedding day after all, and I think every bride should have the best!

Then all of the photos are combined into one large folder, sorted into the proper order and renamed. Then the editing process begins! This is a lengthy process because we usually shoot between 2000-2500 images at each wedding. I have to start narrowing down the numbers to choose just the very best images. Each image must be color corrected because they are not the proper color straight out of the camera. The photos are cropped, horizon lines are straightened, dust and lint are removed, and then images are individually worked on in photoshop to remove a variety of things including people in the backgrounds and other distracting items. Skin is smoothed, softened and shine is removed. Shine is a major issue, especially in humid North Carolina. Foreheads are shiny- even in December! My goal is for each image to be 'print worthy' before the couple even sees their photos. I make sure to give each wedding the attention it deserves to make sure all of the images are perfected to meet the level of quality that my clients expect.

This is an artistic process, so some weddings take longer than others depending on the size of the package and the amount of photoshop time required.

Next the images are saved into the JPG format, categorized and uploaded to Pictage for online viewing and ordering. I try my best to get the images online for each couple approximately 90 days from the date of the wedding. The bride and groom are the owners of the site, so they see all of the images first and then they release the site for their friends and family to view. We collect the guests' email addresses at the wedding reception and I enter them in the website for the couple. Next the 4x6 proofs are uploaded to my photo lab, printed, shipped to me, packaged and available to be picked up by the bride and groom to enjoy! My goal is to complete one wedding per week, but this is sometimes not possible because I have to complete engagement sessions, bridal portraits, make orders, complete album orders, meet magazine deadlines, just to name a few of the demands placed on me each week.

I hold my work to a very high standard, so I appreciate everyone's patience with this process. I promise the wait is worth it!

P.S. Please pass this information along to parents too! A lot of them don't meet with me in the beginning stages of the process, and I get a lot of phone calls the week after the wedding asking why the photos aren't online.

2009 Weddings

Meredith and Patrick ~ Completed
Laura and Jason ~ Completed
Beth Ann and Ray ~ Completed
Julia and Andrew ~ Completed
Jenny and James ~ Completed
Katie and Albie ~ Completed
Jodi and Lee ~ Completed
Melissa and Chuck ~ Completed
Misty and Matt ~ Completed
Julie and Jeff ~ Currently working on this wedding
Michelle and Alex
Annie and Brian
Jennifer and Cullen
Kelly and Rob
Leah and Brad
Morgan and Joel
Sarah and Sam
Hollis and Wyatt
Ian and Alyssa
Kathy and Mike
Jennifer and William

August 4, 2009 - 06:33 PM

Wedding ~ Jenny and James

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Another great wedding we photographed this spring was for Jenny and James in Atlantic Beach. They chose a beautiful historic church for their ceremony and then they were transported via double-decker bus to the Coral Bay Club for their reception. I have to say the bus was a fun experience. We rode on top and were definitely wind blown- but we got some cool shots- so it was worth it! It was a fun and relaxed day with a great group of friends. It is so much fun to be a part of such exciting and meaningful celebrations! Congratulations Jenny and James!

Here we are on the top of the bus! Wind blown is an understatement!!!

July 28, 2009 - 11:29 PM

Wedding ~ Beth Ann and Ray

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

With so many weddings this spring and summer, we have had a hard time keeping up with our editing let alone our blog features. Stay tuned, because we will be going back in time to show all of the 'fabulousness' we have experienced so far this year and there will be a lot of new weddings showing up on the blog shortly!
We are blessed to have the best brides and grooms! Beth Ann and Ray are no exception. They were married at St. Mary's Church in Wilmington and had their reception at the Holiday Inn on Wrightsville Beach. What a beautiful wedding with tons of family and friends! And can I just say- I have never seen a wedding dress with such a tiny, small waist! Wow, Beth Ann- you go girl! Some weddings are just full of anticipation and excitement and this completely describes the wedding of Beth Ann and Ray. They are a perfect match and we were pleased to have the opportunity to capture all of these great moments and memories for them! Congratulations Beth Ann and Ray!

July 17, 2009 - 06:15 PM

Wedding ~ Laura and Jason

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Laura has a contagious laugh and everyone is instantly drawn to her. I'm sure that was one of the first things Jason noticed when they met and fell in love. Laura and Jason were married in 'epic' style at the stunning and magnificent, Duke Chapel, on the Duke University Campus in Durham, North Carolina. Getting married at the chapel is quite an experience. The bride walks down the longest aisle I've ever seen to the loudest organ music- it really is an entrance fit for a queen! Just what every girl deserves on her wedding day! The beautiful flowers were designed by the talented ladies at Floral Dimensions. We especially loved the halo of flowers for the flower girl's hair and the little pomanders for the children to carry down the aisle. So cute!

Laura and Jason had a fantastic party at the Hope Valley Country Club where everyone danced the whole night to music provided by the fabulous, Mr. Joe Bunn, of the Joe Bunn DJ Company. Seriously, he rocked it! It was incredible! We loved being able to document this beautiful day for Laura and Jason! Congratulations!

July 8, 2009 - 12:11 AM

Engagement ~ Kathy and Mike

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement

Take a look at the cool images we took of Kathy and Mike for their engagement session! Mike recently bought a vintage Chevy truck that we used as a prop for the photos. I really love that idea! It brought a really interesting vibe to the photos! So if you have access to a cool car- don't hesitate to use it for photos. It is a great way to add some personality to your images.

We also took some photos at the rose garden downtown. My favorites are the ones where they are sitting on the edge of the pond. The reflection in the water serves as the backdrop. So awesome! We are looking forward to Kathy and Mike's wedding this September!

July 6, 2009 - 06:55 PM

Engagement ~ Kimberly and Victor

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement

Meet Kimberly and Victor! Sometimes we meet a couple and I think- they are just meant to be! That is the case with these two! They just have an easy way of being together and I could feel their excitement for their upcoming wedding this past June.

The way they found me is an interesting story. Kimberly and Victor found out about my photography on Facebook. Kimberly's friend took photos with me at Carolina Beach last year. She posted some of the photos on her Facebook page and Kimberly was sold! Interesting how things work now a days! I was booked for their actual wedding date but was happy to take their engagement photos for them. We timed the light at the beach 'just right' and got some great images!

July 2, 2009 - 12:24 AM

Bridal Portrait ~ Kelly

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits

Kelly, aka 'Miss Supermodel,' worked the camera like a pro with the charm of a true Southern bride. Kelly married Rob this past June and so I couldn't resist sharing a few of her glamorous images from her bridal session. Kelly, it has been a dream working with you and your family- your mom is a doll! Love the dress, love the hair, love you!

June 27, 2009 - 07:29 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Jennifer

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, weddings

Our cute bride Jennifer got married this June so we wanted to share her fun bridal photos with you. Jennifer arranged to take her bridal portraits at a historic home in her home town of Oxford, North Carolina. What an adorable place!!! Generations of her family have lived in Oxford. They have so many friends in town that a collection of admirers gathered to watch and, lucky for us, help out. We always love extra assistants. Samantha, her dog, was a special addition to her portraits. We especially loved Jennifer's hot pink Kate Spade shoes!

June 23, 2009 - 05:45 AM

Bridal Portrait ~ Julie

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits

We had a chance to see the amazing Duke Gardens when we did Julie's bridal photos. They charge a small fee and you can take pictures all over the 55 acres of gorgeous landscape. There is by far more than you can see in one day but what we saw was awesome. Tons of flowers, great bridges and impressive architecture are just the beginning. Julie looks stunning among them all with her awesome veil grabbing the light and making her glow like the radiant bride she is.

June 15, 2009 - 05:20 AM

Engagement ~ Hollis and Wyatt

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, weddings

If you are looking for a cute guest book to have at your wedding, take a look to this engagement shoot. Hollis and Wyatt wanted something more personal than the traditional blank pages of a guest book. So they decided to use their engagement shoot to get some awesome photos that look like they could have been collected over time from different events. They brought a bunch of outfits and we hit a few different locations. They were such good sports and they will have an awesome guest book at their wedding next month.

June 3, 2009 - 10:57 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Annie

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits

If you saw Annie's engagement photos you already know that the camera loves her. She is one of those people who is effortlessly graceful and everything she does looks pretty. These are some of the many beautiful bridal photos we took of her at Orton Plantation Gardens and Bellamy Mansion.

June 1, 2009 - 07:01 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Misty

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits

I discovered that the angel in the Landfall Gardens is really meant to hold a bouquet of flowers! I decided he should always have a bouquet and someone should be in charge of replenishing them on a regular basis! Ha Ha! Anyway, I also learned that gerbera daisies look fantastic with a little mum pined in the center of the flower. The talented, Miss Wendy of A Beautiful Event designed this fantastic bouquet for our lovely bride Misty. Misty really wanted to capture the beauty of the azaleas in her bridal portraits. The gardens at Landfall are the perfect backdrop!

May 26, 2009 - 10:36 PM

Engagement ~ Annie and Brian

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement

Annie and Brian are a refreshingly cute couple. They are so fun and sweet together that it made our job easy. We took their engagement photos at Wrightsville Beach this spring. Annie wore a great color for the beach and some awesome jewelry as well. We love a girl who can accessorize.

May 22, 2009 - 05:20 AM

Wedding ~ Meredith and Patrick

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

We started off the wedding season this year with the beautiful wedding of Meredith and Patrick. The wedding took place in Meredith's home town of Warsaw, NC and the reception was held at the Boar's Head Restaurant Banquet Hall in Wallace. The wedding guests were long time family friends, so the party was a major focus of the day. Meredith and Patrick wanted to spend as much time as they could enjoying their guests' company. The reception was decorated in a very elegant way with flowers designed by Wendy of A Beautiful Event.

May 19, 2009 - 08:44 PM

Engagement ~ Michelle and Alex

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement

We took Michelle and Alex's engagement photos in downtown Raleigh on a perfect spring day. Love the blooming tulips and bright spring colors! Engagement photos are such an excellent way for the couple and the photographer to get to know each other and have a chance to work together before the wedding. Look for Michelle and Alex's wedding photos to be posted as I edit away! They had a beautiful wedding at Duke Chapel a few weeks ago! Congratulations you two!

May 14, 2009 - 08:26 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Katie

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, weddings

We LOVED taking beautiful bridal portraits of Katie at the Bellamy Mansion in downtown Wilmington! She was 'all things gorgeous' right down to her super cool shoes! Her beautiful dress is from the A Carolina Wedding Bridal Salon. Our favorites were taken on the porch overlooking the blooming trees.

May 8, 2009 - 12:38 AM

Engagement ~ Kelly and Rob

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement

Our adorable couple Kelly and Rob did their engagement photo shoot at Wrightsville Beach. We loved how they brought a few different options for wardrobe. You never know what will look just right until you're there so it's nice to be able to do a quick change mid-shoot if something just isn't working or to just to add variety.

April 30, 2009 - 07:04 PM

Modeling ~ Spring Bridal Portrait

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Modeling Portfolio

After many years of dreaming about styling a fashion bridal shoot with a model, we were finally able to make it happen this spring. Despite our busy wedding schedule we were determined to take photos in the height of azalea color. Our lovely model Noelle braved a very cold day with such grace. She totally rocked the shoot even with goose bumps. We couldn't have done it without all of the contributions of our amazing vendors. The vision came together flawlessly and better than we could have hoped for. We want to give credit where credit is due. Here are all the fabulous ladies whose talents are showcased in these images.

Tonya and Heather of A Carolina Wedding
Jen Rose Sandy owner of Salt Harbor Designs
Jan Wutkowski owner of aMuse Artisanal Finery
Amy Kennison with MAC Cosmetics 910-622-4473
Rachel Hickerson owner of Roots Organic Salon 910-262-7829

April 28, 2009 - 10:15 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Julia

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, weddings

Now that our lovely bride, Julia, is married, I would like to share a few of her beautiful bridal portraits. We took her photos at Historic Oak View Park in Raleigh. It is a restored antebellum farmhouse. It was a great day, and we love the way we were able to catch the gorgeous light coming through her veil! A photographer's dream!

April 20, 2009 - 07:14 PM

Boudoir ~ Stephanie

posted by Lisa | filed under: Boudoir

This is Stephanie, one of our former brides from a year and a half ago. She was looking for a fun birthday gift for her husband. What a great idea. The sexiest gift you can give your new husband is a set of boudoir photos. If you are getting married soon this would also be a great gift for your husband-to-be. What do you think ladies? Don't you think your guy would love this idea too! We have a studio in Apex, NC or we can always come to your home. Thanks Stephanie for letting us share these gorgeous photos.

April 15, 2009 - 08:51 PM

Wedding ~ Cassie and Keegan

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Cassie and Keegan were married November 23rd, 2008 at the 5th Avenue Methodist Church and had their reception at Thalian Hall in Wilmington. Our last wedding of '08! Cassie chose beautiful fall colors for her wedding. We loved the deep purple bridesmaid dresses and her pretty combination of flowers for the bouquets. Cassie and Keegan had a great party with tons of friends and family! What a great wedding! Congratulations Cassie and Keegan! We loved being a part of your wedding.

April 1, 2009 - 08:12 PM

An Elegant Evening at the Preston Woodall House

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, Fun, News, weddings

Last night we were invited to a beautiful party given by Joel Hurley and Dale Herring, owners of the Preston Woodall House, in Benson. It was a celebration of their 10 year anniversary in the wedding business at the historic home. What a fantastic party! We really enjoyed the gorgeous flowers provided by Lyn of Fresh Affairs. He created very dramatic, tall arrangements with cascading white orchids, crystals, peonies and roses. My favorite! There was also a beautiful cake, excellent food, wine and great music! They attached a tent to the reception room that was lit with blue lights. It looked very 'icy' with white leather couches, candles and a clear glass bar. We were excited to be able to attend the event as a guest for a change instead of working! Although, I couldn't resist bringing my camera. I kept it simple- only one lens! Here are a few of the photos:

March 25, 2009 - 02:59 AM

Blog Love ~ Salt Harbor Designs

posted by Lisa | filed under: News, weddings

Salt Harbor Designs featured our Bald Head Island wedding of Mary Catherine and Phil on their blog. We love working with Jennifer, the owner and creative genius of Salt Harbor. She makes everything look fabulous!

Picture 10.jpg

March 25, 2009 - 02:40 AM

Album ~ Jennifer and JT

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

I decided it would be fun to feature each couple's beautiful album as I receive them. Untold hours go into the creation of these beautiful books, so I have to show some of the highlights. This album is for Jennifer and JT. They chose a new acrylic cover that is really fantastic. I think it is my new favorite! Take a look!

Of course, my cat, Cinnamon took full advantage of the beautiful material laying on the floor after I was done taking the photos. I took her photo, and then I told her she would have to find a new place to rest!

March 13, 2009 - 10:02 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Meredith

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, weddings

We had so much fun taking pictures of Meredith. She had a gorgeous gown with amazing flowers by Wendy with A Beautiful Event. The beading detail on her veil was a perfect match for her dress. Bridal sessions are always our favorite. We just like to have lots of fun with our brides. We always get some traditional shots but it's the most fun to get something unique to show each bride's personality.

March 11, 2009 - 12:18 AM

Entries in the WPJA photo contest

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, Fun, Photojournalism, weddings

Here's a look at the images I submitted to the latest Wedding Photo Journalist Association contest for creative images. These images were taken of my bride, Meredith, during her fabulous bridal session. What a great dress- so much fun!!!

March 3, 2009 - 01:39 AM

Wedding ~ Meredith and Anthony

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Meredith and Anthony were married on November 15th, 2008 at the Cary Wedding Chapel and Gardens and then had a spectacular reception at the Prestonwood Country Club. We had such a great time photographing their wedding- Meredith and Anthony have the prettiest and funnest friends! I know that's not a real word- but it just describes the great time everyone had at this wedding. You will see the evidence in the cool dancing photos. We used the balcony at Prestonwood to our full advantage by taking paparazzi style shots of the party- very cool! The amazing arrangements and decor were designed by the fabulous, Lyn of Fresh Affairs. Very unique and perfect for the grandeur of Prestonwood! Overall, a perfect wedding! Congratulations Meredith and Anthony!

February 24, 2009 - 11:18 PM

Wedding Canvas Website

posted by Lisa | filed under: Fun, Tips, weddings

This website is so cool- I had to share it! If you are planning a wedding- this would be a great way to start thinking of a cohesive color palate and theme. Bridal Canvas has all of these photos that you can pick and choose from to create the look and feel of your wedding. It is so much fun! I had to make one for myself- this is my pretend wedding. What do you think?

February 24, 2009 - 11:04 PM

We are Wedding Chicks!!!

posted by Lisa | filed under: Fun, magazine features, weddings

I am happy to announce that we are officially Wedding Chicks! Well, we knew that already, but now we have the title to prove it! Take a look at the super cool Wedding Chicks website with everything wedding! It is a web blog that features really great new ideas for spectacular weddings -a great help when you are starting to plan your wedding. We will be regularly featuring our photography on the 'Real Weddings' section- so check it out!

February 17, 2009 - 06:39 PM

Wedding ~ Elizabeth and Tim

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Take a look at the fabulous wedding of Elizabeth and Tim! They were married on October 25th, 2008 at the United Methodist Church and had their reception at the Balcony on Dock- one of our favorite places! We loved their cool style and fun friends. They had such a fantastic party! Love the shots in the streets of downtown- we just happened to come upon a vintage car that worked great for the photos! The beautiful and yummy cakes and cupcakes were created by Miss Taylor of Sweet T's Cakes. We loved being a part of this beautiful wedding! Congratulations Elizabeth and Tim!

February 13, 2009 - 09:42 PM

Wedding ~ Mary Catherine and Phil

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

What can I say- it is such a privilege to be a part of such beautiful weddings! No exception was the fabulous wedding of Mary Catherine and Phil that took place on Bald Head Island on October 12th, 2008. It was a gorgeous day with a ceremony and reception that perfectly celebrated the relationship of Mary Catherine and Phil. They wanted their wedding to reflect their love of nature. Jennifer Rose Sandy of Salt Harbor Designs did an amazing job bringing in unique elements to the decor. For example, take a look a the ring bearer pillow- it was made out of leaves, twine and a few acorns! So cool! The tables were decorated with small natural scenes that look like the environment of Bald Head Island. Jennifer said she even collected grasses, leaves and twigs that grew naturally on the island the day for the wedding to incorporate into the design. Mary Catherine and Phil said their vows in the chapel on Bald Head Island and then had their reception in the tented pavilion. We had lots of fun taking photos on Mary Catherine and Phil with the dramatic background of the lighthouse and beautiful sky. Congratulations Mary Catherine and Phil!

January 23, 2009 - 09:59 PM

Wedding ~ Megan and Walter

posted by Lisa | filed under: Family Portraits, weddings

Our lovely couple, Megan and Walter, were married October 11th, 2008 at the Dye Country Club in Landfall. Megan wins our prize for best wedding dress of the year! THIS is a dress! We love the glamour of a great tiara and long veil with a simple classic up-do. Megan got it all right! The polka dot theme was so much fun- we especially loved the flower girl's polka dot dress with her glittery ruby red slippers! I think it was a record for the number of shoe photos taken at a wedding! Megan wore fantastic Betsey Johnson shoes- they were her something blue! They were the cutest shoes I have ever seen. They have faces on the bottom of the hot pink soles! The amazing flowers were designed by Fiore Fine Flowers. It was so much fun to be a part of Megan and Walter's wedding. They had a beautiful wedding ceremony and we wish them a lifetime of happiness! Congratulations Megan and Walter!

January 16, 2009 - 09:06 PM

Sneak Peak- Our Photo on the Cover of Southern Bride and Groom!

posted by Lisa | filed under: Magazine Features, News, weddings

I am very excited to announce that our image of our fabulous couple, Jonay and David Zies, is featured on the cover of Southern Bride and Groom Magazine. The issue will officially be out the end of May, but I have the first copies and I thought I would share our exciting news! Thanks to Donna, editor of Southern Bride and Groom Magazine, for choosing our image and passing on a few preview copies. We are thrilled with the results!

January 10, 2009 - 10:19 PM

Wedding ~ Nina and Will

posted by Lisa | filed under: Fun, weddings

Nina and Will picked the perfect day for a beach wedding. The first Saturday in October is usually a safe bet for great weather. The ceremony was a true reflection of their love and personalities. The groom and all his friends are musicians so each of the groomsmen played a different instrument as they walked down the isle. Once at the altar, they played as Nina walked in. It was a great way to have music at an outdoor wedding. Their super cute dog was the ring bearer. It was a really sweet wedding that showed just how in love the couple is. We are so happy for them. Congratulations Nina and Will.

December 22, 2008 - 04:42 PM

Wedding ~ Lisa and Boyd

posted by Lisa | filed under: Family Portraits, weddings

We had the pleasure of photographing Lisa and Boyd's wedding this September at The City Club. The wedding was a celebration that combined their two families. They placed special emphasis on making sure that the children enjoyed the wedding as much as the adults. The children enjoyed a special show by No Sleeves Magic. They did a great job entertaining the kids with their pirate act. There was also a caricature artist on the porch. Each child took home a funny caricature of themselves. The event was an intimate gathering that included something for everyone. They had such great details that really made the wedding special. The cake, done by Sweet T's Cakes, was modern yet elegant. The cupcakes that surrounded it were amazing with their hand piped frosting and edible glitter. The flowers were done by A Beautiful Event. They were absolutely beautiful and the subtle color palette accented the interior of The City Club. Congratulations Lisa and Boyd.

December 18, 2008 - 07:55 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Amanda

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, portraits, weddings

We had the pleasure of taking Amanda's bridal portrait. We were already booked on her wedding day so we set up a separate session just for her portrait. She was so easy going that it was easy to get these great photos of her. She made such a beautiful bride. Congratulations Amanda.

December 8, 2008 - 06:26 PM

Wedding ~ Jennifer and Scott

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

We loved taking pictures at Jennifer and Scott's hot pink wedding at Beau Rivage Golf & Resort. They had a beautiful ceremony performed by Scott's father. We were amazed by the beautiful flowers designed by Valerie Brown with Always in Bloom. They were so decadent and lush. It really made the room come alive. It was a beautiful day and we are so happy for them. Congratulations Jennifer and Scott.

November 5, 2008 - 04:19 PM

Wedding ~ Susan and Mike

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

On September 13th, Susan and Mike got married at the First Christian Church in Wilmington followed by a reception at the Cameron Art Museum. Our favorite part of the day was their first dance where they entertained their guests with a rhumba to Michael Buble's song, 'Save The Last Dance For Me.' Susan's sister also gave an amazing toast by telling Mike all the ways to keep Susan happy, including giving her Oreos and keeping a M*A*S*H dvd on hand at all times. They are such a fun group and we had a blast working with them. Congratulations Susan and Mike.

October 16, 2008 - 09:04 PM

Wedding ~ Jonay and David

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

The beautiful wedding of Jonay and David took place on the Fourth of July! The ceremony took place at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church and then the reception was at the historic Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill . We loved photographing all of the gorgeous details of this wedding! The bride and bridesmaids all wore dresses by designer Jim Hjelm and the color palate was so pretty- loved the bridesmaid dresses with the bows! The theme of the blue bow and rhinestone accents was carried over to the cake. Seriously- the prettiest cake I have ever seen. I have to give props to Cinda's Creative Cakes for a fantastic job! And don't even get me started on the Kate Spade shoes that Jonay wore- perfection! The best part of the day was seeing how excited to be married and how much in love Jonay and David are! It was truly a magical day. Congratulations Jonay and David!

October 16, 2008 - 09:00 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Jonay

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, weddings

Now that our model bride has gotten married we can share her gorgeousness with you. While she isn't a full time model, we think she should be. We met Jonay through another client of ours, Amy Stephenson. Jonay worked for Amy in Los Angeles in the fashion business. Check out Amy's wedding feature and her clothing line Stephenson Studio on her website. Jonay is the model for Amy's designer jean line. Jonay wanted to take a little different approach to her bridal photos. We started in our studio with photos with a more fashion style edge and then moved outdoors for the beautiful glow of the sunset. We had a fantastic- yet extremely exhausting day. We love the end result! Jonay was married on the 4th of July at the beautiful Carolina Inn. Her wedding photos are to come soon.

October 15, 2008 - 03:01 PM

Engagement ~ Sarah and Sam

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, weddings

Here are some of the engagement photos we took of Sarah and Sam on Wrightsville Beach. They are such a fun and easy going couple. We are really looking forward to their wedding next August.

October 10, 2008 - 08:01 PM

Guest Book for Mary Catherine and Philip

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, weddings

I want to share a few images of Mary Catherine and Philip's guest book. They are getting married this Sunday on Bald Head Island. The guest book is a beautiful custom book. You choose 8 images from your engagement session. One side of the page is the full color image and the other is a transparent image where your guest's sign the book. It is a really fun way to showcase your engagement photos and it is a keepsake that you will want to look at much more often over a traditional guest book!

October 9, 2008 - 07:13 PM

Wedding ~ Michelle and Chris

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Michelle and Chris were married on Bald Head Island on June 28th. Their day started with a first meeting between the couple before the wedding ceremony. In these images, you will see Michelle making her way to meet Chris in front of the Bald Head Island Light House- 'Old Baldy'. It is always fun to arrange a 'first meeting'. The groom waits for his bride with his back turned and then she comes up behind him and taps him on the shoulder. He turns and we get to capture their first reactions to each other without the nerves of an audience watching them. It is nice for the couple to have a few minutes to enjoy being together before the craziness of the wedding begins. Michelle's family has vacationed on Bald Head Island for years. This was a destination wedding for them and they had a great time sharing the day with their closest family and friends.
Congratulations Michelle and Chris!

October 8, 2008 - 06:35 PM

Wedding ~ Sarah and Mike

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

We were privileged to photograph Sarah and Mike's wedding ceremony on the Cape Fear River Deck of historic downtown Wilmington on June 26th. They had a gorgeous ceremony, and then we quickly took photos on the River Walk -and I mean quickly- due to a looming storm overhead. The storm ended up to be a light summer rain shower and then the sun came out for a beautiful sunset over the river. Our favorite shots of the day are of Sarah and Mike kissing on the balcony at their reception site, 'The Balcony on Dock'. They had a fun filled reception eating, dancing and hanging out with friends and family. It was a great day! Congratulations Sarah and Mike!

October 2, 2008 - 09:11 PM

Engagement ~ Jodi and Lee

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, weddings

We took Jodi and Lee's engagement photos at Topsail Beach where they will marry next May. They are such a cool couple. Their great outfits, colorful and fun, match their personalities perfectly. We love when people aren't scared to wear color. As an added bonus they brought their cute puppy along, dressed for the occasion of course.

September 29, 2008 - 08:22 PM

Engagement ~ Leah and Brad

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, weddings

We took Leah and Brad's pictures at the rose gardens at Raleigh Little Theatre. What a beautiful location. It looks just magical when all the roses are in bloom. The couple has two pugs that we are secretly hoping make an appearance on the wedding day.... well I guess it's not such a secret. They would look so cute with some little flower garlands around their necks. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

August 23, 2008 - 01:47 AM

Wedding ~ Jennifer and Chris

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Jennifer and Chris got married on the dock near Jennifer's parents home in Holden Beach. I love the way they decorated the long pathway to the ceremony site with lots of flowers! The reception was held close by under a tent while guests enjoyed the music of a steel drum band.

August 23, 2008 - 01:14 AM

Wedding ~ Jennifer and JT

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Take a look at the beautiful wedding of Jennifer and JT. They got married in Clayton and then had their reception at the Wakefield Plantation Country Club. One of my favorite images of the day was the aerial photo that Laura took from the balcony of Jennifer and JT walking back down the aisle as a newly married couple. The church did not allow flash and I love the slight blur of the people clapping in the aisles. It was a perfect day and we were so happy to be a part of the celebration!

July 23, 2008 - 06:18 PM

Wedding ~ Tina and Julian

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Tina and Julian were married in a beautiful ceremony at Sunset Beach and then held a reception at the Ocean Ridge Golf Course. Tina and Julian planned lots of cute beach details for their wedding including save the date magnets with their names written in the sand, personalized water bottles, starfish boutonnieres, and even bride and groom starfish on their cake. The bride starfish wore a little veil! How cute!! It was such a beautiful wedding!

July 23, 2008 - 03:32 AM

Engagement ~ Mary Catherine and Phil

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, weddings

We took engagement photos of Mary Catherine and Phil at the very spot that they got engaged this past December! Right next to the Oceanic on Wrightsville Beach. Very romantic! We had to deal with major wind on the day we took these photos. Mary Catherine and Phil braved the wind and managed to look perfectly wind blown for their photos! This may be only the beginning of the wind for them- they are getting married on Bald Head Island this fall. We'll keep our fingers crossed for a calm day!

July 22, 2008 - 09:45 PM

Engagement ~ Katie and Albie

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, portraits, weddings

Two words to describe Katie- perky and fun! Albie- easy going, genuinely nice and totally head over heals for Katie! You can tell by the way he looks at her in these photos! We had lots of fun taking their photos on the NC State campus. They both went to school there and Katie works as a recruiter for the football team- so NC State holds a lot of meaning for them as a couple. They also brought along their cute dog Finley for a 'whole family' portrait. Isn't he cute- I couldn't resist taking a few individual portraits just of him!

July 3, 2008 - 01:32 AM

Readers Choice Award!!!

posted by Lisa | filed under: News

Bella Rose Photography was just voted best photography in the 2008 Readers Choice Awards for the Bride's Book Magazine. Wow! What an honor! Thank you! A big thanks to everyone that voted for me!

June 26, 2008 - 09:39 PM

Engagement ~ Jennifer and Scott

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, Fun

We took photos of our super fun couple, Jennifer and Scott, in downtown Wilmington. Jennifer's request was for lots of cool backgrounds and downtown has lots of great places for interesting photos. We had lots of fun- and I think Jen found her inner supermodel! Way to rock the photos girl!

June 25, 2008 - 01:57 AM

Wedding ~ Lisa and Frank

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

We had he honor of photographing the wedding day of Lisa, Frank and their beautiful little baby girl, Taylor, on April 26th. Family and friends joined them in a ceremony at Kenan Chapel in Landfall, and then they spent the evening at Blue Water enjoying a view of the waterway at sunset. Little Taylor made the perfect 'flower baby'. She was even pulled down the aisle by her two cousins in a lovely fabric and ribbon covered wagon. She had the cutest bewildered look on her face- she didn't know if she was supposed to laugh or cry. We had a lot of fun taking photos- what a great wedding!

June 10, 2008 - 01:16 AM

Wedding Decor

posted by Lisa | filed under: Fun, weddings

I saw this pretty and easy to make wedding decoration online and thought I would pass it along. I think these flower decorations would make a great impact hung from the ceiling in a reception or would look fabulous for a ceremony arch or tent.

howto.2.jpg

June 9, 2008 - 07:38 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Sarah

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits, weddings

Take a look at the beautiful photos we took of Sarah at Fort Fisher. Sarah is getting married in Aruba this month! I love her dress- it's from Casablanca Bridal. Very pretty! I also have to say that a good veil makes all the difference in creating these beautifully lit images.

This is the glow that I live for! Perfect light!

June 8, 2008 - 04:31 AM

Wedding Slideshow~ Natale & Caleb

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

To view this slide show in full screen mode with music, click on the Maximize button at the bottom right hand side of the slide show. The slide show will open in a new window with music!

May 22, 2008 - 01:54 PM

Wedding ~ Natale and Caleb

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Natale and Caleb had a beautiful wedding at the Graystone Inn in downtown Wilmington. The ever stylish Natale really looked stunning in her gorgeous dress with vintage touches. I love the birdcage veil! I always love the color red for a wedding. It is so romantic and the color is so vivid in photos. Notice the cool cake too! Every detail was perfect!

Isn't this fantastic! I planned this shot all day- my fabulous assistant Laura stood in the middle of the street in the divider on a stool to get this image!

This was my vantage point- I photoshoped a ton of power lines out of this shot to make it perfect!

May 22, 2008 - 03:15 AM

The New Studio of Salt Harbor Designs

posted by Lisa | filed under: Fun, Photojournalism, weddings

Jennifer Rose-Sandy of Salt Harbor Designs invited me to photograph her fabulous new studio! It is so beautiful and totally well designed to showcase all of Jennifer's creations. She has a great style, and I love photographing her work. If you have the opportunity to work with Jennifer for your wedding decor or planning- trust me, you will be so happy! Check out her website at www.saltharbor.com

May 22, 2008 - 02:11 AM

Bridal Portrait ~ Jennifer

posted by Lisa | filed under: Bridal Portraits

We took bridal portraits of Jennifer this spring at Meredith College. All of the trees were blooming so pretty. Jennifer and JT got married this past Saturday! Happy honeymooning in Cancun Jenny and JT!!!

May 21, 2008 - 08:52 PM

Engagement ~ Cassie and Keegan

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement

We had a great time downtown and at the beach taking engagement photos of Cassie and Keegan! Cute couple!

May 14, 2008 - 06:10 PM

Engagement ~ Sarah and Mike

posted by Lisa | filed under: Engagement, portraits

Loved taking photos with Sarah and Mike at the Yates Mill Pond in Raleigh last week! Aren't they cute together! Sarah and Mike are creating a Jone's Book Engagement Guest Book for their wedding. The square images are their choices for the interior pages of the book. The book will have one page in full color and the page next to it will be the same image, but just transparent- so guests can sign the page. The books are gorgeous! They are hand made- so they take a little while to order- I need about 2 months in order to get them back in time.

The cover image

Here's a few more of my favorites!

May 14, 2008 - 02:53 AM

Wedding Showers!!

posted by Lisa | filed under: Fun, weddings

They say that rain on your wedding day brings you good luck. If that's the case- Randi and Justin will have luck to spare! It rained 4 inches the night of their wedding reception in Wallace. It literally felt like 25 inches!! It poured and poured! You will see the bride, Randi, running from the limo in the slide show that follows- not an easy feat in a wedding dress, Here is a shot of our good friends with Life Stage Videography, Melissa and her assistant Chris trying to get all of their equipment in the building. What crazy weather!

May 13, 2008 - 09:40 PM

Wedding ~ Randi and Justin, April 5th, 2008

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

May 2, 2008 - 12:51 AM

Wedding ~ Kara and Mark

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

May 1, 2008 - 11:37 PM

Bridal Portrait ~ Kara

posted by Lisa | filed under: weddings

Here are a few of the beautiful photos we took recently of Kara at Temple Gardens in Landfall.
We had lots of fun- despite the cold weather!

March 25, 2008 - 04:12 PM

Brides and Bouquets Floral Design

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, weddings

Here is another great florist from the Elegant Weddings Gala. Brides and Bouquets by Gregg Kennedy. Give him a call at (919) 465-1820 for fabulous flowers!

March 12, 2008 - 07:30 PM

Once In A Blue Moon Bakery

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, weddings

If you are looking for beautiful, intricately decorated cakes that taste great- I recommend Once In A Blue Moon Bakery and Cafe. Take a look at a few of their cakes!

March 9, 2008 - 07:31 PM

A Joyful Occasion Weddings and Events

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, weddings

Another great vendor from the Elegant Weeding Gala is Joy Edwards of A Joyful Occasion Weddings and Events. They offer great planning for any event.

March 9, 2008 - 07:14 PM

Flowers on Broad Street

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, weddings

Great flowers are a must for making any event perfect. Donna Pierce with Flowers on Broad Street is amazing. Her designs are unique and stunning. The centerpieces are often neglected at the reception. She uses vivid colors and unexpected items, like the green apples, that create a playful work of art on each table. It's the little details that really make a difference.

March 9, 2008 - 04:36 PM

Chic Details Weddings and Events

posted by Lisa | filed under: Events, weddings

A coordinator is a must have for your wedding day. They make the whole event run smooth from planning to "I do." They know the coolest vendors and think of all the awesome details that can often get overlooked. Angie Wright with Chic Details Weddings and Events is a pro and really knows how to make a bride feel at ease. Check out her website to see more her gorgeous work.

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