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happy football day!……….wolfpack in the house!!!!

09.03.11

Today is the day I’ve been looking forward to for weeks. It’s the first day of the year that I do a “count down” for. It’s my second favorite day of the year, next to Christmas. My “first Christmas,” if you will! It’s officially the start of college football season. And more specifically, it’s the start of my beloved WOLFPACK’s football season. And I couldn’t be more excited! So, while I’m busy right now preparing my cute new start-of-Wolfpack-football-red dress, inventorying our tailgating supplies, and preparing a tailgate menu that would make Paula Deen proud — all of which i’ll share later — here are a few photos of the team I took a couple of weeks ago.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to get the call from my dear friend Gregg Martin to come help shoot the team photos this year. I heard the part about “would you be interested in taking some team photos?”……and the rest was kind of like Charlie Brown’s teacher talk. “Would I be interested?” “OF COURSE I would be interested!” “Have you – a guy whom I’ve been friends with for several years – ever actually MET me??” My mind was racing a million miles a minute, waiting for him to stop talking so I could scream an emphatic “YES”!!! I took down all the details, marked my calendar in RED [of course!], and waited. For August 13. NC STATE team photo day.

So, without any further ado….. here is our 2011 WOLFPACK!

A couple of the defensive groups that will be key to our success this year.. After all the group shots, it was time for the individual shots of each player. Here are a few of my favorites:

Quarterback Mike Glennon. He’s got big shoes to fill but he’s waited four years for his chance to shine. Today is the day. Do your thang, Mr. Glennon! Wide receiver and kick returner, TJ Graham

Halfback James Washington

Fullback Taylor Gentry

Tight End Asa Watson

Offensive lineman RJ Mattes

Defensive end Markus Kuhn

Linebacker Audie Cole Defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy

Linebacker Terrell Manning

Safety Earl Wollfe. With a name like that, he could ONLY be a Wolfpacker! Coach O’Brien takes it all in. Not only is the 2011 edition of the WOLFPACK a tough and talented group, they’re a fun group as well. There was a lot of smack-talking and joking around as they waited to be called for photos.

Here’s my boy, George! As the top tight end in the conference, I’m hoping we’ll be hearing “over the middle to #84 for a TOUCHDOWN!” many, many times this year. He should be able to wreak a little havoc on opposing defenses this year. LOVE this kid’s play!
Markus Kuhn wins the “best hair” award for the team. Audie Cole [see above] gave him a run for his money though!

These jokesters are a handful, but I do love me some Markus and George!!

James Washington went all “superstah” on me…

I can’t have an NC State football post without leading you all in one of our fight songs….as it’s meant to be sung! So….tune up your voices….pretend you hear the marching band…….. and sing a long with me…

We’re the red and white from State

and we know we are the best!

Hands behind our backs, we can take on all the rest.

GO TO HELL CAROLINA!

Devils and Deacs stand in line

To the red and white from N.C. State!

GO STATE!!!

Happy football day, everyone! Enjoy your games and hope your favorite team wins!

Many thanks to my dear friend Gregg Martin and Mark Houde with Carolina Sports Inc. for having me help out!

ISES meeting | raleigh special events photographer

08.29.11

A couple of months ago, I had the privilege of photographing the International Special Events Society Triangle Chapter monthly meeting. This particular meeting was held at Mitchell’s Catering and Events and was truly a photographer’s dream! Gorgeous!! Major props to the catering staff there because the food really was as yummy as it looked! Together, Party Reflections out of Durham and Expressions of Love Florist in Fuquay created the beautiful floral arrangements and tablescapes. Pauline Parry of Good Gracious! Events in L.A. was the featured speaker at the event and gave a fascinating talk on “The Food, The Fun and the Love of Weddings.” Congratulations to the everyone involved in planning such an outstanding and memorable event!

I LOVE a candy bar…and a PINK one at that!?! Swoon!

David Castello with Mitchell’s welcomes everyone to his venue. Pauline Parry

At the conclusion of the educational program, there was time for more networking — and the cutting of the cake!

Pauline and 2011-2012 Triangle ISES President, Tracy Adams of Adams & Events.

View more images from this event on my Facebook page!

Raleigh Artspace wedding | amy + gray

08.28.11

The old song lyrics read: “Sure as the river must flow to the sea, No matter how far it rise aimlessly, Fate has decided you come to me, Our love was meant to be.” Though these lyrics were written back in 1937, they just as easily could have been written about Amy and Gray today.

Their love was meant to be. It was a common theme throughout their wedding as their family and friends recounted story after story about Amy and Gray. About the two of them as individuals growing up. About what drew them together. And about the relationship that began years later in college and grew stronger through the years. Their love was meant to be.

Their lives first intersected when they were teenagers at summer camp [read all about it in this post]. And after six years of dating, they pledged their lives and love to one another. Forever. Because their love was meant to be.

Amy and Gray…I have enjoyed getting to know you over the course of these last seven months. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day and for sharing yourselves, your families and your friends with me. I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness and continued friendship and can hardly wait to see what the future will bring! Much Love to you both. OXOX Renee

I love Amy’s simple and elegant gown from Victorian Rose Bridal in Raleigh. So pretty! Brightly colored wedding shoes? Yes, please! I love a bride who dares to be different! I love this moment with Amy, her mom and some of her bridesmaids… especially this reaction by her mother and sister. Tears were a’plenty on this day! One of my favorite images of Amy and her bridesmaids…. LoveloveLOVE these sassy girls! They were workin’ it!
Such a sweet moment between mother and son…
A gorgeous bride before she sees her handsome groom for the first time…
A very pensive Gray waits for Amy to come so they can spend some time together… I love when couples opt for a “First Look”… it’s always such a special time for them on their day. Amy and Gray wanted a few minutes completely alone, so these were taken through the glass panes in the church doors. Love these next couple of shots captured by my fabulous second shooter Wade! Wade’s view: My view: So happy and in love! The last few minutes before the ceremony began… Edenton Street United Methodist Church is truly one of the most beautiful churches in all of downtown Raleigh, especially for a wedding!

Church rules dictate that photographers may only take ceremony photos in the sanctuary from the balcony. Before I headed upstairs, the wedding director opened one of the small windows in the back of the sanctuary and allowed me to take a couple of images from there. This may be one of my favorite wedding photos. Ever. LOVE it!
The entire church from the balcony. Love the light on those stained glass windows.
Love this! Taken from the balcony just as the happy couple passed underneath me on their way out of the sanctuary. Some fun portraits with the bridal party.
A few of the beautiful details from their reception at Artspace.
I love that Amy and Gray look at each other as if they were the only people in the room….
Love this emotional dance with Amy and her sweet grandfather! The grandparents were the last two couples dancing during the anniversary dance. Both sets have been married for over 60 years!
These were some excited folks during the bouquet and garter tosses…
The lucky catchers….
LoveloveLOVE this last dance photo before Amy and Gray said goodnight…

Ceremony | Edenton Street United Methodist Church

Reception | Artspace

Florist | Four Seasons Florist, Benson, NC

Caterer | CateringWorks

DJ | Anything Music [John Hensley]

Brides Hair | Salon Blu

Bride’s Makeup | Kristi Martinson with Bobbi Brown

behind the scenes at haywood hall | raleigh engagement, wedding and event photography

08.15.11

I recently made this blog post featuring images from Jenny & Tim’s downtown Raleigh engagement photos and mentioned that dear friend and floral designer extraordinaire Julie from Julie Liles Floral & Event Design helped set the scene for the second part of their session. Because that post was all about sharing Jenny & Tim’s story and images, I wanted to do a second post that really highlighted the gorgeousness that Julie created at Haywood Hall. I don’t know what else can be said except THANK YOU for creating such an amazingly beautiful backdrop for such an awesome couple! Julie, YOU ROCK!!

The cocktail table before the session began.
The same table as it starts to get dark. GORGEOUS! Jenny is all about vintage Hollywood, so Julie incorporated lots of crystals and feathers into the decor.
In front of the pergola – is this gorgeous or what??? More beautiful flowers…

Champagne and dessert to end the session…

Thank you again Julie and CE Rental for the gorgeous linens! You made it a perfect evening for an awesome couple! And thank you to Haywood Hall for maintaining and allowing us to use such a beautiful venue.

downtown raleigh – haywood hall engagement | jenny + tim

08.14.11

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”

So many people were offended a few weeks ago when the crazy sister asked Ashley the Bachelorette “Does he make you laugh?” and proceeded to be less than enthused about the potential suitor sitting in front of her. I wasn’t offended. I totally “got it.” If he doesn’t make her laugh, how can he truly make her happy?

I love laughter. I love the way it looks. I love the way it sounds. I love the way it feels. And I believe when a couple genuinely shares laughter – the kind that comes from deep within the soul – they will have a happy life together.

In fact, I believe that the amount of laughter in a couple’s relationship just may determine the length of their life together. Call me a hopeless romantic. Even call me crazy, if you must. But if there is even an ounce of truth in this, then Jenny and Tim will be together forever!

So many engaged couples are so serious about the planning process and the decisions that have to be made that they forget to enjoy that time. And each other. They forget to have fun. And to just laugh. But not Jenny and Tim. Don’t get me wrong, Jenny is totally a planner, down to even the smallest details. But she laughs. And Tim laughs. A lot. They laugh at themselves. At each other. And at life.

I had so much fun photographing this session because their laughter is so wholly and completely infectious. My hope for both of them is that they never lose the ability to laugh together. And that when they’re looking back at these photos years from now, they continue to laugh as they’re reminded of the memories they made that day.

Jenny lives in Raleigh and Tim is a proud graduate of NC State University [yet another reason I <3 him!] so they wanted to do part of their session just walking around downtown. I love this! Every few minutes we’d have to stop for Jenny & Tim to recompose themselves after a fit of laughter. A fave! I’m not sure what it is about this image, especially since we can’t really see your faces, but you two just seem content. Like in your own little world content. And that makes me smile. Who doesn’t want to know what he whispered to her to get that kind of reaction? We found a great alley with some cool steps. I love that they’re so into each other that they don’t even realize I’m there. LoveloveLOVE this!

After a quick change, we stopped at this great little apartment courtyard – one of Raleigh’s hidden gems. Love this!
You’re hot tamales! Another favorite!
Love this one too!
You’re so darn cute together, I can hardly stand it!
Jenny & Tim wanted something a little special to celebrate their engagement. And to document not only their love for each other, but their love of food. Not only do they love to laugh, they also love to eat. In fact, they say that most of their dates revolve around food, whether it’s cooking dinner at home or trying new fare at local restaurants, tailgating in the fall [at Wolfpack games, of course!], or grilling out with friends. So, I enlisted the help of a dear friend who put together a beautiful setting for them in the gardens at Haywood Hall.
What would a celebration be without a little bubbly? How about a little Tiramisu to end the session on a sweet note?

A big thank you to Jenny and Tim – just for being you! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding next spring. Always keep laughing!

And an even bigger thank you to to Julie Liles Floral & Event Design for the amazing tablescapes and flowers at Haywood Hall. It was a real treat to work with you again – your talent is unreal! And another thank you to CE Rental for the gorgeous table linens that pulled it all together!

View more photos from their session in this slideshow:

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happy football day!……….wolfpack in the house!!!!

ISES meeting | raleigh special events photographer

Raleigh Artspace wedding | amy + gray

behind the scenes at haywood hall | raleigh engagement, wedding and event photography

downtown raleigh – haywood hall engagement | jenny + tim