Anse and Allie's One Year Anniversary | Roan Mt. State Park

“I’m not good as making specific plans. Just meet me under the sky somewhere and be alive with me”

— Victoria Erickson

You guys.

Never has a photoshoot been more suited to me. One of my favorite couples, celebrating a milestone while CAMPING and letting me tag along to capture the whole thing! When they asked if we could turn their anniversary session into a camping adventure I didn't even blink before jumping with joy. Our first attempt got rained out, but it worked out to add this to the end of my Appalachian Train Section Hike this weekend. I told them I'd probably be super smelly but of course, they didn't mind. They promised to bring the s'mores and bourbon and have a tent for me to sleep in so it worked out perfectly. 

After setting up the tent we went on a little hiking adventure then came back and built the most difficult fire ever. Our wood was wet so the three of us put in a serious labor of love to get that thing going, finally a super friendly neighbor gave us a little fire starter to help us out before we lost too much light. (People who love the outdoors are just the nicest people).

After making s'mores and hotdogs we just sat and talked about life til midnight then passed out in the tent and woke to a torrential downpour complete with massive thunder and lightening. I've never had so much fun! Thank you for such an awesome weekend you guys!

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy Anse and Allie's Wedding Day or this Anniversary Session. 

Snipes Farm Retreat Family Portraits | Tiffany, Carlie and Remi

“To love is to soar in the wild unexpectedly”

— Robert M. Drake

When Carlie and Tiff said they wanted to celebrate their five year wedding anniversary going back to their wedding venue, getting back in their wedding clothes and having a photo session I was more than excited... like, overjoyed! I love these two anyway and their little Remi, and thinking of them reliving such a special moment with her brought all the feels. 

They found the tree where they said their vows and just spent a few minutes there sharing the memory then we showed Remi around the farm and danced in the tall grass. It was so beautiful. Remi couldn't stop talking about how excited she was to put on her mommy's wedding gown but when it came time to actually do so, she was less than thrilled, lol. Gotta love kiddos. 

We had to reschedule the photos three times due to bad weather, and almost had to again, but the clouds let up just long enough for us to dance around the farm a bit finally capture the moment. We had so much fun. 

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy their shoot at the Rose Garden last year or Jen and Erin's family session in Goldsboro. 

Anniversary Sessions

“If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things that are missing.”

— Ann Landers

I cannot tell you how much fun it is to spend some time with our couples around their one year anniversary. I love hearing about what their first year has been like and all the adventures they've had and challenges they've faced. The images always show their love to be deeper and their friendships stronger. 

I spent the last three weeks in North Carolina shooting weddings and spending time with so many clients who I only get to see on my short visits up there. The last post highlighted the moms and families I got to spend time with, this one will highlight the anniversaries I got to celebrate. 

Torrie and David met me super early at Fred Fletcher Park which can be challenging enough, but David had only gotten back from a trip 4 hours prior...like 3:00 in the morning, and still showed up with his bride to our 7am session. I'm pretty sure he gets bonus points for that one. They were of course, just as sweet as the day they wed. 

Jacqueline and Jon met up with me at The Raleigh Rose Garden downtown and I felt like a drug dealer as I passed them cookies from my car to their's after the shoot. :) We've been friends a long time and I used to bake cookies for BREW Coffee Bar as well as any house party or gathering we attended together so they requested some. So fun! I fell in love with their venue, Highgrove Estate, on their wedding day and can't wait to head back there again this fall for another special day. 

Its awesome to be able to be a part of each couple's life as they make their transitions and experience new adventures. It only makes me that much more excited to celebrate number 13 with A.J. at the end of summer. 

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy this anniversary session or or this Fletcher Park Family Session. 

Joshuah + Daniel in Downtown Raleigh

“ Love in such a way that the person you love feels free”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Joshuah and Daniel are the first winners of our 2018 monthly photo session giveaways! And I must say I was the winner here, these two are such incredible guys! I absolutely loved getting to know them and hear their stories; they had so much to share about their time together so far and all they ways that they are grateful for and proud of each other. 

Daniel serves in the USAF so naturally I had a ton of questions for him, I'll never get over my love of flying. Annnnnd since he also happens to love adventure epics and dragons we were able to excitedly talk about our favorites while Joshuah rolled his eyes. When they first started dating Daniel asked him what his favorite type of movies were and he said anything that doesn't involve magic or dragons lol. Opposites attract I guess! :) 

Joshuah had Daniel blushing though before the day was over and I was so excited to have met them both, I hope you love these images as much as I do!

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If you enjoyed this you might also enjoy Jen & Erin or Safy & Randy

Alaria + Drew | 1st Anniversary

“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen!”

— Winnie the Pooh

After my very first meeting with Alaria and Drew before their wedding she said I was like her spirit animal...and I'd have to say that definitely works both ways! She is so fun to be around and Drew definitely completes her! I absolutely love working with adventurous couples, willing to try new things and who are free to be themselves while we wander around. 

These high school sweethearts had no problem sharing with each other their favorite memories and talking about the struggle of living as a military family constantly separated. Drew will be heading to Korea early next year and they both felt the weight of that. We were so glad to get in these photos before hand so they can still have the memories while they're apart. 

I was so excited to get some extra time with you guys before we're all worlds apart! Thanks for spending the afternoon with me!

Pullen Park Anniversary Session | Caity and Al

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies”

— Aristotle

I was SO excited to catch up with Caity and Al this morning at Pullen Park! They've had such a busy year building a new home and getting ready to welcome a new little into the world! It seems like just last week we were walking around Eno River for their engagements and yesterday downtown for their beautiful wedding. Cannot believe it's been a whole year!

There's just something about anniversary sessions though. At an engagement shoot you're nervous and excited. You're not real sure about making out in a public park, but you're head over heels for each other so you do it anyway. Then the wedding day comes and you're just as excited but there's a timeline to be mindful of and guests you haven't seen in years to greet and it all goes by so fast you barely noticed you even had a few moments to spend together. Then there's an anniversary session. 

At this point you've just spent the last year doing life together. Some things were amazing, some things went wrong and you worked though it and on the other side you have a better understanding of each other, and your love is deeper. So it's at this point behind the lens that you can just breathe each other in, savor the last incredible year and enjoy each others continued presence in your life. Thanks for a great session today guys! So excited for this next season and can't wait to come back up in January to meet little Dylan!

When you have the opportunity to really consider all you've been through, it can be overwhelming. Caity had me all teary eyed behind the lens! I just love these guys. 

Anniversaries Bring Meaning to the Ordinary

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other”

— Audrey Hepburn

I love anniversaries. (Birthdays and New Years as well) They remind us how far we have come. 

It's incredibly easy to get lost in the hubbub of life: to buy a house, get a promotion, make some babies, finish school. All of it is wonderful and fills our days with direction and our future with dreams. But I believe it's the moments we stop to take a look around that give our life meaning. 

It's great to fall in love and get married, but if you never stop to look each other in the eye, breathe each other in and savor the passing moments, you'll find yourself looking back over the past 25 or 50 years wondering how you got there. 100 nights of Netflix and Chill is fun, but it'll never replace 100 seconds of looking each other in the eye and saying "I love you, thank you for giving me the past year of your life. Let's do it again."

The same can be said of anything I suppose. If you don't stop to savor moments with your children at every age they'll be 30 before you know it and you'll wonder where the time went. Sunday afternoons at your parents house become a chore to check of your 'to do' list if you're running 100mph. But if you stop to listen to one of their stories, or capture of photo of them holding hands while they walk out onto the porch, the moment lasts forever and you don't have to wonder when they got so old, and why you weren't there to see it.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to capture a few of these "pauses" between engagement sessions, weddings, anniversaries, births and other celebrations. Witnessing others savor the moments of their lives is a constant reminder for me to do the same. 

Moses Cone Anniversary Session with Chelsea and Toryn

“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved”

— George Sand

Nothing makes me happier than to see our couples thriving and living their lives to the fullest. I got to spend some time with Chelsea and Toryn this week as they celebrated their one year anniversary and being able to catch up with them on their first blissful year of marriage and talk about their dreams for the future is what makes this job so fulfilling.

I adore these two so much and even though they had a setback or two and a couple tough decisions to make in their first year, they never strayed from their love and affection for each other. The way he makes her laugh and the way she pulls his smirk into a huge grin is incredible. I can't wait to see where this next year takes them.

Thanks for making some time to adventure with me guys! Hope you enjoy a few of these favorites!