jennifer/brooks photography blog

a new look!

2008-08-25T20:44:00.005-04:00

Jen and I decided to try out a new look and format for our blog over at squarespace.com, and we'd like to invite our friends to check it out and let us know what you think! Jen and I are always so excited to see all the different hits our blog receives from our friends and family, and their friends and family...so here's your chance to have a say in it all! We want to know what you think! We are excited about the opportunity to customize this blog more extensively and to offer larger previews on our client "sneak peeks."

Check it out and leave us a comment...and be prepared for some leopard print!

www.jenniferbrooksphoto.squarespace.com

fishing at the anderson "lake"

2008-08-21T21:32:00.005-04:00

greyson is quite the fisherman!
gabe helping out caden
emma likes to fish alone and in COMPLETE silence! :)

caden giving it a try
caden & ms. "books" have a moment together. he loves his ms. books

brooks and her catch!

Brooks & I hung out with our favorite family, The Anderson's, a few weeks back while I was visiting back in NC. Jana has this awesome little pond right in her backyard, so we thought we'd all go fishing (before our game of Cranium. Girls vs. guys and guess who won??!! Girls rule!). The girls are old pros at this fishing thing, while this was Caden first fishing trip. Mr. Gabe had to help him out. :) He didn't quite like catching the fish and wanted "Nemo" back in the water as soon as he pulled him out! It was a great night...fun with best friends!

a delight!

2008-08-21T18:45:00.005-04:00

Jen and I are both so excited that we have been accepted by the folks at delightfulblogs.com! It is a website that contains an edited directory of 3200 blogs that are, "personal, passionate and stylish." It is an awesome resource, and we are both proud and honored to be apart of it. Delightfulblogs.com is a part of another website, that has do do with something else we love (shopping!) called delight.com...they feature a "delight of the day" that is always something amazingly cute or fun. We recommend you check them out!

reception events

2008-08-17T15:05:00.009-04:00

claire and her father
claire's sister caught the bouquet!
the cake is always tons of fun
my favorite photo! hilarious!

Our favorite thing about Claire & Corey's wedding is the fact that every single person that was there to celebrate their union, was someone that had special meaning in their lives. Because of that, everyone wanted to have a great time celebrating the beginning of Claire & Corey's life together! This reception was a BLAST!! We had a feeling it would be fun after spending some time with the special couple over these last few months. You can just tell how much they love one another, but how playful they are with each other as well. As is evident by the cake cutting!! :)

not-so-formals!

2008-08-15T23:47:00.009-04:00

we were totally IN LOVE with the bridesmaids shoes. i need a pair for myself! :)

they are so in love...

wedding rings!

After the ceremony, we took some time before the reception to get some shots of the FUN wedding party and of Claire & Corey. Haymount Methodist is such a beautiful church with some really amazing stone archways, so we felt we needed to take advantage! Claire & Corey's wedding party was so great and up for anything we asked them to do! Wait to see the reception pics... :)

details...

2008-08-15T20:46:00.006-04:00

notice the penny taped in claire's shoe? :)

these stained glass windows were dedicated in memory of claire's grandmother
Just wanted to share some details from Claire & Corey's wedding this past weekend. Claire's dress was BEAUTIFUL! And, she looked absolutely stunning in it. Corey is one lucky guy. :) Stay tuned for pics from the reception the next couple of days...it was one great party!

get...married!

2008-08-13T21:49:00.008-04:00

family & friends showed up early to witness this meaningful event.
claire looked stunning walking down the aisle with her father.
when claire finally reached corey at the end of that long aisle their excitement could be felt by everyone.
a father giving his daughter to be married.

and the pastor whispered, "you may kiss your bride!"
walking back up the aisle as husband and wife!
corey's proud father gave everyone the thumbs up!

It was an honor to witness the joining of these two beautiful people. Corey & Claire have a love for one another that can be felt by all who surround them! They are blessed with close friends and family who all agree that Corey & Claire are an example of true and everlasting love. You can tell by the smiles on each individual's face, that this was definitely one very happy day!

get ready, get set...

2008-08-12T20:14:00.006-04:00

getting all laced up!

renee came in to admire claire before the ceremony...it was touching to witness their friendship
getting all the details just right

Jen and I wanted to post a few shots of Claire & Corey getting ready for their big day. We met Claire and her wedding party at the church early to catch some of those fun moments before the wedding! Claire's sister, and maid of honor, Caroline helped to lace up Claire's gorgeous wedding gown, while the bride's maids primped down stairs with the flower girls. All the while Corey and his groomsmen sat in a circle in the "Commons Room" telling stories and cracking up! Before we knew it people were filing into the pews for the main event.

We were so glad to catch these moments that can pass us by all too quickly!

claire & corey's rehearsal

2008-08-11T13:43:00.007-04:00

claire's sisters, caroline & susanna waiting for the rehearsal to begin
the beautiful couple

like father, like daughter... :)
the flower girls taking a peek at what was going on
claire & her dad
corey & his dad

the wedding took place at Haymount United Methodist Church, a beautiful setting for a beautiful day!

there were some very touching toasts made at the rehearsal dinner...brooks & i were holding back tears ourselves!

claire's favorite cake from amblin faith bakery in stedman, nc

not only was it their rehearsal, but it was also claire's 23rd birthday! everyone singing to her...

This past weekend, Brooks and I got to hang out with the Long/Mullen families all weekend while we shot Claire & Corey's wedding. Let me tell you, these are some pretty amazing people! Claire and Corey have been dating for over 8 years, so these families already seem to be one, even before the wedding took place. You could just see how much they love one another and how excited they were for Claire & Corey to begin their lives together as husband & wife. It was such a great rehearsal, Brooks & I knew it was going to be an amazing wedding...and it was. Stay tuned for wedding pics in the next few days!

a beautiful bride

2008-08-10T13:47:00.004-04:00

claire took us outside the church to this picturesque stone breezeway...we loved it!

Jen and I waited until today to post a few of Claire's bridal portraits...we didn't want to ruin the surprise for any of her guests (or the groom)! As you can seen, Claire is one beautiful girl, and she makes an amazingly gorgeous bride! She chose to have her bridal portraits done at Haymount United Methodist Church. The church itself was a simply lovely setting for her portraits, and it has special meaning to Claire since it was the church she was to be married at. There were plenty of pretty spots to take photos at, including a outdoor stone breezeway with great architectural details. Claire's gown was classic and exquisite. She said she knew it was "the one" because when she tried it on at the store she "didn't want to take it off." After seeing her in it, we could definitely understand why!

Stay tuned for more posts of Claire's bridal and wedding photos!

Congrats to Corey and Claire on "making it official!" We wish you all the best!

happy birthday to us!

2008-08-06T21:20:00.005-04:00

One year ago today, Brooks and I had our first "official" photo session and so started Jennifer/Brooks Photography. What a year it has been! Starting your own business is such an amazing, crazy, scary thing, but sharing that business with someone makes it all the more worthwhile. Brooks and I have had such an amazing time this past year learning and growing as photographers and businesswomen. Sharing this adventure with one of your best friends makes it that much more meaningful and FUN! We want to thank all of our clients who have made this past year so enjoyable and rewarding for us. And, we also want to thank our amazing husbands and families who have supported us from the very beginning. As I was telling my dear friend Jana tonight, you can't go anywhere without the love and support of your family & friends. So thank you to everyone who has supported us and continues to! We are so excited about the future of Jennifer/Brooks Photography and can't wait to see what year 2 holds for us!

Flynn Favorites : )

2008-08-06T21:08:00.005-04:00

julia & little mark are just as sweet as they look (that's pretty sweet)!
i love this one of julia counting pebbles with her daddy...

They are a beautiful family to be sure...
and lots of fun too!

happy parents make for happy children...and that is just what the flynn family is...happy :)

Last Friday I had the privilege of spending an hour with the Flynn family at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. It was an extremely warm (dare I say HOT?!) August afternoon, but this family stuck it out and the results were wonderful! Little Julia and Mark (better known as "Brother") were as cute and sweet as they could be. Julia entertained us with her expert flute playing, and Mark had tons of fun playing over at the children's garden! It truly was a joy to observe this loving, fun, and beautiful family spending time together.

Thank you to the Flynns for putting up with the high temperatures! We hope you love your photos as much as we do.

little maddie...

2008-08-05T21:24:00.010-04:00

look at her holding onto her mama!
the beautiful harris family

soothing from mom

4 generations of women...amazing!
how precious is this face?!

i love how jessica & george were holding hands in this shot

Sunday morning, Brooks and I got to hang out with the Harris Family for little Maddie's first photo session. Maddie is almost 5 weeks old and I have to say, one of the CUTEST babies I have ever seen! She is absolutely beautiful with her perfect little lips and red hair. And, not only was she too cute, she was an absolute angel during the entire session. She let us know when she was hungry or needed her diaper changed, but other than that, we didn't hear a peep out of her! Jessica brought her mom (Roberta, who I just LOVE! We used to work together a couple of years ago and she is great!) and grandma along for the session because she really wanted to get a shot of the 4 generations of women in her family. How often does that happen...4 generations?! We are looking forward to seeing Maddie for her 6 month session and can't imagine what new things she will be doing in just a few short months. Enjoy your sneak peek, Jessica & George!

dc weekend

2008-07-30T21:02:00.006-04:00

riding the escalator up from the metro
we ate lunch outside of bread & chocolate
brookie took a great one of jen and i!
brookie & jen at the captiol
it was a gorgeous day

we walked forEVER
only to find that the washington monument wasn't really that big...
until we got close to it : )
the world war II memorial was amazing...

jen and brooks in front of honest abe
jen and brookie on the metro ride home!

We had an amazing day on the National Mall! I think we must have walked over 6 miles (in flip flops no less), but it was worth it. In one day we managed to shop the artists' booths at Eastern Market, walk to the Capitol, and see most of the major monuments in the DC area. For me, the most interesting of the day was the World War II Memorial. Being the newest monument on the block, I had yet to see it. I was amazed at all the thought and detail that went into it. It truly was a place for people to gather and remember. I carted the camera around, as Jen practiced her best "DC tour guide" act...of which I'm sure there will be many repeat performances.

Thank you again to Jen for being such a great hostess! Can't wait to come back : )

alexandria here we come : )

2008-07-28T20:07:00.004-04:00

brooke, jen and i decided to get a little dressed up for our night out in old town alexandria!
get ready, cuz here we come!
we are just so silly...
jen's house warming gift!

This past weekend was a blast! It started with a drive up to Alexandria, VA to visit Jen and her family in their new home. On the ride up, during one of our many phone calls, Jen and I realized that we hadn't seen each other in almost 6 weeks! I think that is a record since we've known each other (a record that was ready to end). The Wilson's new home was beautiful (of course...Jen couldn't make it any other way), and perfect for their new lifestyle. I brought a small addition of my own, a painting that I had made for their living room. The birds in the painting have special meaning to Jen and I, and brown and orange just happen to be our favorite colors, so it was meant to be for this to end up on their wall.

I was so excited to see Jen, Caden, Scot and Brooke that it would have been a fabulous weekend no matter what, but we ended up doing all kinds of fun things to make it even better. The photos above are a few shots Scot took of us before the three of us girls headed out for dinner in Old Town Alexandria. We hit up a yummy Thai restaurant called Mai Thai, and then grabbed ourselves a Starbucks before walking along the Potomac. We found a bench and gabbed until the parking garage was about to close (I think I did a little too much talking....ha ha), and then headed home to chat and giggle some more. It was a perfect evening!

Stay tuned for pics of day two...sight seeing in DC!

my favorite 2009 senior...take 2!

2008-07-23T14:52:00.004-04:00

one of brookie's favorite things is her purses!
surrounded by her favorite things...a "prada" purse i passed on to her a couple years ago
love it!
born and raised on dublin dr.

So, the benefit of your cousin being a photographer, is you can have as many senior sessions as you want! I love taking photos and I really love taking photos of my family, so it is GREAT that Brookie has a good excuse to take pictures! :) We've been having so much fun the past couple of weeks taking pictures together, not too mention just hanging out. I grabbed these shots while I was at home in Atlanta a couple weeks ago.

my favorite 2009 senior!

2008-07-23T01:24:00.007-04:00

love this shot with the sun in the background
we found this cool door in front of city hall
isn't she so pretty?!! :)

one of my favorites!

gotta love the shoes...
i'm in LOVE with this shot!!

getting dirty...

I CANNOT believe that Brooke (or "Brookie" as she will always be to me) is going to be a senior! It doesn't seem that long ago, Brooke was the little flower girl in my wedding and now she is "all growed up"! Being the fabulous cousins that we are, we never have a dull moment when we are hanging out. Brookie comes to stay with me at least twice a year and I always hate to see her leave. We headed out to Old Town Alexandria tonight to get some senior shots and we had a BLAST! We started the session by raiding my closet and putting together a pretty rockin' outfit, if I do say so myself. :) We walked around and found some cool spots to get some shots and enjoyed everyone commenting on Brookie's sparkly dress. Of course, this is only round 1 of her senior session. Brooks is coming into town to hang out with us this weekend & we will definitely be getting some more shots. We already have the outfit picked out! Love you, Brookie and I hope you like your pictures! Can't wait to see how the next ones turn out!!!

a day in seattle

2008-07-22T21:39:00.004-04:00

garrett and i are in our favorite bakery...la panier : ) i LOVE their macaroons.
post alley...the home of theater sports and the amazing GUM WALL...garrett looks pretty cool
we decided to leave our mark (and germs) behind!
i just think this colorful little piece of signage looks neat
i always thought these looked like dinosaurs when i was growing up
the ORIGINAL starbucks in pike place market...this is where the addiction began!
pike place blend in pike place market (how cute)!
garrett in the fountain at westlake : )
i like how the water made a "window" for the windows : )

So, this is my final post about my fantastic trip to Seattle. I have stretched it out as far as I possibly could...as is very evident if you scroll down the blog!

This post is about an afternoon I spent with my dear friend Garrett. Garrett and I have known each other for more than 7 years now! We met in art school. Actually he sat by me at orientation, which I remember because I was mortified (I wanted to be invisible and he was being so loud and outgoing everyone kept looking our way), and he does not remember because...well...I guess he was too busy being outgoing and loud! Long story short, throughout our 2 years at the Art Institute and the time that followed Garrett and I forged a friendship that will last a lifetime. He is truly an inspirational person in my life. Garrett is an amazing and talented graphic designer (check out his website here), he cares deeply about his family, he is dedicated to personal growth, and he has a sense of humor, style, and taste that is to be admired! He brings little lovely gifts into my world like hilarious laughter, interesting websites & books, unique new music, and shops & boutiques that carry anything but the mainstream. Garrett's friendship is a valued treasure in my life.

On our afternoon (we couldn't break tradition), we had to hit downtown Seattle to revisit our "youth." We walked through Pike Place Market, ate lunch at a French Cafe, then travelled over to one our favorite haunts from school La Panier for some delicious treats! Along the way we saw the sights, shared laughs and stories, and caught up on the last year or so. Later that evening we all got together with friends, including Garrett's beautiful girlfriend Shauna (who I was so happy to meet!), to go out for dinner and dancing to some awesome 80's tunes! It was a great "last day" home.

Stay tuned for some pics of Jen and I in VA this coming weekend! I am so excited to see her, her family, her new place, and all off it! You can be sure the cameras will be on the whole time. : )

happy independence day : )

2008-07-21T18:25:00.006-04:00

the day started with breakfast at grandma patty's house
then to a lunch bbq at kary & shelley's...tiffany & gina are enjoying our afternoon on the deck!
tiff and me!
our hosts for the day kary & shelley!
kary doing the aristocrat pose: )
my gina!
next we were off to eddie's parents house for an amazing evening! here is amy feeling the 4th of july spirit!
eddie's father prepared a feast to say the least...here he is performing the legendary "EGG ROLL"
eddie's super cute nephew
the view from their deck was breathtaking
i think that they were plotting on how they will someday take over the world...they might have been just posing. either way it was good!
the bffs
me and my girls
eddie had a very patriotic moment
i love this shot of the two of them...are they not the cutest?

sparklers on the deck!

So, I know the 4th of July has gone and passed, but I had to post a few pics of this super fun, marathon-of-a-day I had! I can't believe I am still posting photos from my trip 2 weeks later... I think I am secretly reliving & relishing every moment of my vacation home...I am really getting a great value out of it! Ha ha

Anyhow, no long essays for this post, just a bunch of pics of the fun I had! Thank you to all the people I spent the day with...it truly was a 4th of July to remember. I hope everyone out there also had a wonderful holiday! Hooray for independence! : )

5 min with Tiff & Aimes

2008-07-18T17:56:00.004-04:00

amy with her little boy odie b.
my two best girls...we go way back!
as if being gorgeous weren't enough...these two are also amazingly talented, smart, hilarious, stylish, rockstar type of girls!
odie had to be a part of it : )

One of the days I was home, I had to convince my two best friends to spend 5 minutes with me and my camera! In between shopping trips to U-Village, and "Rock Band" parties at Amy's, we ran out on the lawn in front of Amy's house and took a few shots.

My friendships with Amy and Tiffany mean the world to me. I have been close with both of them since my Sophomore year of high school, when we were on dance team together (that's about 13 years ago)! We literally grew up together...we have been through it ALL side by side, and our friendships have endured the test of time. Leaving home, and my two best friends, 3 years ago was just about the hardest thing I have ever done (thank God I moved in down the street from Jen or I think I would have lost it completely)!

I'm sure everyone is tiring of my long blogs about how much I love everyone...but I couldn't close this one off without spending a moment to cherish these two amazing women!

Tiffany has been a best friend through it all. She has an amazingly kind heart and she is the kind of thoughtful that you don't find much anymore (we're talking remembers all the birthdays and anniversaries, sends handmade thank you gifts, always calls to check up with you kinda thoughtful). Tiffany is dedicated to her family and she loves the people in her life deeply. Now that you all know she is the nicest person in the world, I also have to let you know that she definitely knows how to have a good time too! Most of my best memories include Tiff. Tiffany is also successful in her career as a fashion designer and her marriage (of almost 2 years now!) to her husband, Brian.

Amy is one of the hardest working (and hardest playing) people I know...that's why we get along so well (we never stop)! She is talented and creative in so many ways, and she is not afraid to take a risk. She is also one of the most witty people I know and she makes me laugh harder than anyone! When your with Amy you just know something will happen (and it always does!)... whether it be skipping the line at a club, watching an amazing dance show, happening to run in to Michael Jackson in Las Vegas, just hearing a new song, getting backstage passes to Justin Timberlake, or just having a super fun hang out day with friends. Amy is super fun, but she is also a deep thinker and she cares a lot for the people in her life. I am so lucky to be one of them!

Ok BFF's...do you feel the love? Miss you girls!

mariners won : )

2008-07-18T16:54:00.004-04:00

i apologize in advance to my sister for posting this pic ...i just think it's hilarious! we found these amazingly enormous nachos to share at the game. they were like nothing i've ever seen before (and tasty too)!
amy and eddie...#1 fans : )
while we were at the game it started to sprinkle a bit (surprise, it is seattle after all) so we got to witness the roof slooooooowly closing over safeco field...kinda cool!
tiffy and gina (post nachos)!
amy and eddie LOVE ichiro...so it was only fitting that they had a youngster waving an ichiro flag behind there heads the WHOLE game...so funny!

While I was home, my best friend Amy came up with a great idea (she has lots of them)! She suggested we all go to a Mariners game at Safeco Field. I have been to Safeco a couple times, but none as fun as this! Between mountainous, crazy-sized nachos, laughing and cheering with my best friends, watching the roof close mid-game and the Mariners winning...it was an unbeatable combination!

Thanks for a super fun night!

you're an animal...no really!

2008-07-15T20:15:00.006-04:00

this is what roxy does when her mom goes outside...

she is just the cutest little corgi...and FULL of energy!

this handsome man is odie b...my best friend's little guy

odie is such a good boy...and he can run pretty fast too!

this is bower, my aunt's famous "fat cat!" i think he sat by these sunflowers on purpose...must have known there was a photographer around!

bower's brother eddie lounging on the rug.
and finally, to complete the trifecta, we have felix the cat!

One of the joys of my life is my dog, and best pal, Lola. She is amazing company, and she means the world to me. She is happy to see me when I get home, she helps me get up in the morning, and even takes me for walks every now and then! Knowing how important Lola is to me, I decided that while I was at home, it would be a good idea to get a few snap shots of my friends and family's pets (though some of us view them as our children...hee hee) so they could enjoy them.

First up was Roxy, my sisters little fireball of a corgi. Roxy has amazing energy an has eyes only for Gina (as you can see her gazing out the window for her mom). I truly enjoyed meeting Roxy...even when we awoke to her ripping a throw pillow to shreds we had to laugh because she was so darn cute with all those feathers floating around her!

Next was my best friends Amy and Eddie's dog, Odie B. (yes it is a great name). Odie is also full of happiness and energy, and he is an especially good snuggler in the early mornings! A few days, when Eddie and Amy had to leave early for work, Odie would come "knock" at my door to see if her could climb in with me. Of course, I did not mind at all!

Last you will see my Aunt Pandy's three handsome cats Eddie, Bower, and Felix. Bower is famous for his size and sassy attitude, while his brother Eddie is never far away. The two brothers almost posed for me when I got my camera out. It was too funny! Felix is more of a solo act, he likes to have the attention all for himself, or none at all. : )

I had a great time capturing a few shots of these very special, very loved animals!

gettysburg

2008-07-14T11:49:00.005-04:00

end of the second day of the battle

scot & caden on top of "Little Round Top"
i found this while we were exlporing "Little Round Top"...a woman who was the great, great, great grandaughter of a solider who fought during the battle.

caden & papa
the wilson family!

Being the Civil War history buff that I am, I've always wanted to visit Gettysburg. Now that we live to close to it, we headed out there on Sunday with my parents in tow. The entire battlefield as been made into a military national park and it is absolutely amazing. The area on which the 3 day battle took place is massive, so we decided to do the auto tour, which was really great (especially since it was so hot!). It was hard to imagine the beautiful rolling hills filled with thousands of men fighting against one another for three long days all those years ago. Gettysburg was the turning point for the Union in the Civil War, so this little spot in Pennsylvania has a huge significance for our nation. Even if you aren't into history, it is still worth a visit just to check it out. The town itself is super-cute and had some great little restaurants and shops.

my dear little sister

2008-07-13T20:04:00.007-04:00

gina on the ferry...
me on the ferry!
gina and me taking a photo of ourselves on the ferry : )
my super cute little sister

we had to take the opportunity to reenact that famous scene...i think she feels like she's flying!
self photography at it's finest... kiss kiss!
gina and roxy!

While I was home, I had to opportunity to visit with my sister Gina. As you saw in the previous post, we did a shoot together, but it wasn't all business! One of the best parts of my trip was riding the ferry across the water with Gina to see her new home and meet her new puppy Roxy. Gina and I had a great day together! Once we got to her home and I got the full tour, we were very decadent with our time!

We ordered a pizza, and bought my favorite cake (Raspberry Bombe Torte from Central Market...which they do not have where I live now), went on a walk, and watched the movie 27 Dresses while lounging on the couch in our sweats! After that, we had a slumber party and slept until we couldn't sleep anymore! The next day we were off to watch a Mariner game with a few friends of mine.

Spending time with Gina is always the best, but I was extra thankful to have her all to myself for a day or two because we hadn't been together in over a year!

Love you so much Gina and I can't wait until next time!

trash the dress!

2008-07-11T22:06:00.006-04:00

classic railroad track shot

love the contrast of the clean white dress next to all that trash!

love this photo...everything in it is gorgeous

sometimes you have to do a little something special!
gina and her husband josh love to go fishing...we thought this was an appropriate prop at one of their favorite fishing spots

the water was definitely a little cold, but gina was a good sport about it!
i have a beautiful sister : )

me with my wonderful sister gina!

Jen and I have been dying to start doing "Trash the Dress" sessions with our brides...and a lot of them have been asking us what they are. In short "Trash the Dress" is a modern take on the bridal portrait. These sessions take place after the wedding (so you won't have to worry about keeping that gorgeous white dress spotless for your special day), and they take place in the craziest, most unexpected places imaginable. The idea is to create the contrast between the pristine ora of your dress, and your environment. Basically, "lets put something really pretty (you), next to something really unexpected (like in a warehouse, a fountain, or on a tractor). The brides hair and make up is usually more natural and played down. The groom can be in the photos too...and the best part is that he doesn't have to wear a tux! Khakis and a white shirt, or even jeans will do!

All this being said...we figure there is no better way to tell you than to show you!

My sister Gina got married to her husband Josh in 2006, and she never had the opportunity to have her bridal portraits taken. When I told her about Trash the Dress she was the first to volunteer with an excited, "I'll do it!" What bride wouldn't jump at the chance to parade around time in the dress of her life? So, during my trip home to Seattle we got her all fancied up in her wedding gown, grabbed some cowboy boots and sunglasses, and hit the road...and the tracks....and the beach...and even got IN THE OCEAN! We had such a great time trying to get new and interesting shots. It really was awesome spending time with my sister, and getting to do what I love to do. She was a great model, and I seriously love some of the shots we got!

Thank you to Gina for sharing her beauty, fearless attitude and amazing wedding dress ...the results were well worth it!

family day at the beach : )

2008-07-10T21:24:00.007-04:00

Aunt Penny and Grandma Darling
Grandma and Pandy x 2!

Phil found this awesome little dinosaur in the sand...he appeared in a few pics!

Me and my beautiful Grandma Darling.
surfs up dudes : )
this is my favorite...i have no idea how she held herself so straight...hilarious!
mother and son : )
my mom and cousin phil...in totem pole fashion!

phil and me!
here's that dino again

my mom and her mum
I may be biased but I think my family is pretty fabulolus!

While I was visiting in Seattle I took the opportunity to spend some time with my family. We were lucky enough to have some amazingly sunny weather so we decided to spend the day out side. We went out to lunch and ice cream, walked around town and ended up at Edmonds Beach. I couldn't believe that my mom, as well as her two sisters Penny and Pandy, and my grandmother were all together in one place so we had to take a few photos!

I am very fortunate to have a close family. I grew up living two houses away from my Aunt Pandy and two cousins Phil and Aaron. Being at their house, to me, is like being at home. Phil and Aaron are like brothers to me! I will never forget walking around the corner to hang out at their place, baking cookies or creating masterpieces on the "twirl-a-paint."

My Grandma got the name "Darling" from me when I was a child. She is British, and always called me "Brooksie Darling" when I was young, and one day I guess I thought I'd return the favor! She has been Grandma Darling ever since, and the rest of my family agrees that their could not be a name more appropriate for such a sweet and precious woman. Most of my weekends growing up were spent playing on the beach at her house or watching the Wizard of Oz on her bed. I love her dearly!

My Aunt Penny has been a source of professional and personal inspiration for me throughout my life as well. I admire her accomplishments, her sense of humor & fun, and her amazing sense of style! Time spent with Penny is always a blast, she is an awesome story teller, and I love to hear about how much trouble she and my mom got into when they were kids.

My mom, of course, is the best friend a girl could have...I am SO lucky in so many ways.

When we all get together things will get pretty silly...as I'm sure you can see! We definitely don't take ourselves too seriously in this family.

Each of the people in these photos means the world to me...they will be up on the walls of my home in no time!

jess!

2008-07-08T23:42:00.007-04:00

have you ever seen three sisters more beautiful than these?

the one thing i will definitely say about jess is that she is full of energy and always fun...love the supergirl moves!

true love : )

this picture is so us...totally cracking up! thanks to julie for taking over the camera : )

I recently was lucky enough to take a trip home to Seattle for my 10 year high school reunion...and it was a blast! One of the best parts of the trip was getting to hang out with friends and family that I hadn't seen in quite some time...and of course taking photos!

One of those friends that I had been missing for a long while (maybe 3 years?) was my partner in crime (and fun!) at The Art Institute of Seattle, Jessica Caskey. Jess and I met as car pool buddies when we started college, and that was the beginning of a long lasting and amazingly fun friendship! It's hard to believe that we have known each other for about 9 years now. When we were together it was just like old times...like we'd never been apart! You just have to be thankful for friends like that.

Jess, along with her gorgeous family including husband Ryan, and sisters Katie and Julie, met up with me on a warm Seattle morning for a photo shoot at Discovery Park. I had never been to the park, and was pleased to see the gorgeous views and serene field-like areas. I never had any doubt we would be going someplace great...Jess has amazing taste and of course an eye for design and aesthetic beauty.

Thank you to Jess, Ryan, Julie and Katie for getting up early, hanging out in the heat, and sitting in the grass (which you were all allergic to) for me!

You really did sacrifice for the shot : )

AND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!!!

As of July 10th you'll be old like me again : ) Tee hee!

Hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. Sending big hugs to all of you!

rachel...senior 09!

2008-07-04T11:23:00.006-04:00

we got rachel to laugh when brookie busted a move :)

brookie and rachel...friends since 6th grade!

right as the downpour began...
rachel wanted to get some shots with her too-cute puppy dog, midnight

this is one of my favorites!

Last Sunday, I met up with Rachel for her senior session. The first time I met Rachel, was five years ago, when I took her and my cousin to a Britney concert. And, now she is going to be a senior!! We decided to have her session in downtown Senoia, a cute, historic town not far from Peachtree City, GA. As soon as we came to the first stop sign in Senoia, it starts to rain! So, we waited it our for a few minutes and thought we were good to go. We got about 10 minutes into the session and the downpour began with NO sign of letting up. So, we had to reschedule for later on in the week, when the weather was more cooperative. It was definitely an eventful session...we were trying to hide from the police to get some shots of Rachel on the train tracks and an old abandoned train car. :) I swear, I NEVER do anything wrong, and the one time I "bend the rules", I get caught. But, we were successful and got some fun shots of Rachel AND Brookie on the tracks. I had a blast with Rachel and her stepmom, who were both a ton of fun and great to talk to! Thanks for allowing me to capture this special time in your life...enjoy your sneak peek, Rachel!

fun at the pool

2008-06-30T21:48:00.003-04:00

little swimmer!

trying to get bruce, the shark, to swim

brookie and sara rockin' out to a little britney...

Just wanted to share some photos of the fun time Caden and I are having in ATL. My parents had a pool put in their backyard last summer and we are taking full advantage! We have been hanging out everyday and I swear Caden is going to be the next Michael Phelps (who is going to make history this summer, I just know it!). Mommy is making sure he knows his way around the pool, since she spent most of her childhood at swim meets and swim practice. :) We always love coming to visit and being around family is the best...

johnson family...take 2!

2008-06-29T11:16:00.005-04:00

all the cousins

i LOVE this one of will... :)

i love this!

tammy and her mom
jayce and grandma
tammy and her dad

It was so fitting that my first Virginia photo session was with the Johnson family...Tammy was one of our first clients when Brooks and I started in North Carolina! Last Sunday, Tammy wanted me to come out to her Aunt's house in Culpeper, VA to get some photos of her hanging out with her family before they left on their big move to Australia. Scot and I had such a good time, I didn't feel like I was "working"! Tammy's family was so great! The going away picnic was held at Aunt Marie's house which dates back to the late 1850's. It was actually taken over by Union soldiers during the Civil War! Check it out online if you get a chance, Hill Mansion. The history of the house is really amazing. Aunt Marie was such a fabulous hostess and even gave Scot and I a personal tour of the house. Thanks again for a great time, Tammy! Enjoy your sneak peek...

the oakes family

2008-06-25T17:47:00.006-04:00

the oakes are a beautiful family

john and melinda are so attentive to jacob...i loved how they always had a loving eye on him

jacob is off to find the "big red dog" (clifford was his main motivation for this shoot)!

the family took some time to blow bubbles in the garden

true love!

jacob explored the garden with such a sense of wonder...his face displays his curiosity perfectly in this photo
this one just makes me giggle... : )
john and melinda showed jacob the fish in the water

Last weekend I had the opportunity to hang out with the Oakes family at Cape Fear Botanical Gardens in Fayetteville. Melinda and John brought their son Jacob with them for a special family shoot in the garden. They came prepared with bubbles and stories about Clifford The Big Red Dog to help Jacob stay interested throughout the shoot...and they really know their son, because it worked like a charm! Jacob's parents explored the garden with him as he displayed an awesome sense of wonder and curiosity. He was interested in everything his parents showed him! It was a great to watch them interact with each other and to be able to photograph their amazing and loving family.

sightseeing in dc

2008-06-23T14:20:00.004-04:00

a "wilson" looking for directions on wilson ave. :)
arlington national cemetery
the eternal flame at JFK's gravesite

a stone flag draped over a tomb...i thought it was so interesting looking
changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soliders
this memorial has special meaning to scot and i

Since we just moved to DC, Scot and I thought we should play tourist, so we headed out on Saturday to visit some of DC's sites. Our first stop was the Air Force Memorial, which has special meaning to both Scot and I. We both grew as Air Force "brats", both of my grandfathers were in the AF and of course, Scot and I met while he was in the AF. The memorial was dedicated in 2006, so it is relatively new and I have to say, whoever designed the site, did an amazing job. If you ever get a chance to see it, you should...it was well worth it. After the AF Memorial, we headed over to Arlington National Cemetery and spent a couple of hours walking around. You could spend days walking around, the area is so massive. It was a somber experience and a reflective one as well. All of the individuals buried at the cemetery have served their country in some capacity. Scot and I were able to catch the changing of the Old Guard at the tomb of the unknown soldiers. The men of the 3rd United States Infantry constantly guard the tomb, 24 hours a day, no matter the weather conditions. We both felt that it was an honor to watch these men guard one of our nation's most sacred sites. Definitely something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

jennifer/brooks photography in virginia!

2008-06-23T13:24:00.003-04:00

Last week, Jennifer/Brooks Photography expanded beyond the borders of North Carolina to the beautiful state of Virginia. Scot, Caden & I moved up to Alexandria, VA and so far we love it! Brooks and I love what we do so much and we love doing it together, we just couldn't possibly break up the fabulous team of jennifer/brooks. :) So, for those of you in the Northern VA area interested in portrait sessions, Jennifer will be your photographer and Brooks is our NC photographer. For all of our weddings and big events, we will continue to work together...we just have too much fun at weddings to do it solo. :) Anyone interested in portrait sessions or weddings, all of our contact information has stayed the same, so give us a ring or shoot us an e-mail. Brooks and I are looking forward to this exciting time of growth in our business and we can't wait to meet our new clients!

going to atl...get ready class of 2009!

2008-06-20T11:34:00.003-04:00

I (Jen) will be in Atlanta starting next week, June 24th, and already have a couple of senior sessions scheduled during my stay down there. I have a few more session times available, so if any seniors are interested shoot us an e-mail and we will get you on the schedule. We are always so excited to work with seniors! Congratulations to the class of 2008 and getting ready for the time of your life, '09 Seniors!!!

johnson family...we'll miss you!

2008-06-18T20:44:00.005-04:00

tammy and her two girls
jayce having some fun on the swings

so in love!
i love this shot that brooks got...

bill and will :)
one of my favorites!
the johnson family!

snuck a shot of emma when she didn't think i was watching :)

Brooks and I have had the pleasure of knowing the Johnson Family for the last 2 years. They moved in on our street and we soon both became friends with Tammy and her kiddos. Her husband Bill, is a true hero and was serving in Iraq most of the time Tammy lived down the street from us. Tammy was (and is) an amazing mom and super woman during that time! I know I couldn't have done all that she did and I truly admire her for that. Bill, Tammy, and the 4 kiddos are off to Australia for the next 2 years, so Tammy wanted to get a photo session in at our lake to remember their time in North Carolina. We had a good time chasing them around the lake getting some great family shots. Emma and Will were not in the mood for a photo session, but we still managed to get some good shots of them when they weren't looking (or when Mom & Dad bribed them!!). We wish them all the best on their travels and hope they enjoy their Australian adventure! We know we'll stay in touch and we are looking forward to seeing them when they return!

after the ceremony

2008-06-14T15:43:00.005-04:00

you may kiss the bride!

i love this shot of samantha & paul in front of the church so much i had to post it twice!

the newlyweds with their super cute flower girl!

a few romantic shots of the happy couple.

After the ceremony Jen and I took the opportunity to take a few quick shots of the wedding party, family and of course Samantha and Paul. It was really important to this couple to be able to spend as much time as possible with their guests. Samantha and Paul made it super easy to get the shoot done quickly as they needed absolutely no prompting when it came to smiling for the camera or being romantic with each other...they were just so elated that they were finally married and so in love!

There is just nothing better to photograph than two people in love!

ready to say, "I do!"

2008-06-13T23:28:00.007-04:00

Samantha eagerly awaited her turn to walk down the aisle!
Her energy and excitement was infectious...everyone else was excited too!

The girls all walked aisle barefoot...a personal touch for this special event (they each painted their toes a pale pink to match their super cute dresses).
A father gives his daughter to be married.

Holding hands with wedding rings for the first time!

A quick walk back up the aisle and...
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Samantha Raye!

As photographers we get to spend a lot of time with the bride before her walk down the aisle toward her future husband...and we have yet to see a bride as excited as Samantha. Watching her peek through the window at the cars arriving, and trying o sneak a peek of Paul in the church was as endearing as it gets. Samantha put a lot of personal energy, planning and preparation into this event, and along with the help of her mom and some close family friends, they were able to pull it all off without a hitch! It was so great to see all of their plans fall into place at one time.

Samantha and Paul had a very sweet ceremony that included the people most important in their lives. As with the rest of the event, it fit perfectly with the couple. We were so happy to see Samantha's face light up after that walk back up the aisle, when it began to sink in that she was finally married and ready to enjoy the party she had been planning for so long as "Mrs. Raye."

Stay tuned for pics from the reception soon!

ladies in the garden

2008-06-12T23:03:00.008-04:00

Shelley and her mother look amazing in front of the gorgeous, vivid green.

Spend a little time with these ladies and it is clear they have a few things in common...a witty sense of humor, with a smile and a laugh to match! Not to mention their undeniable beauty (I can see Shelley and Megan rolling their eyes at me now)!

Megan and her grandma.
Cracking up again!

Megan supposedly doesn't like being hugged...but I think she looks pretty happy here!

Last weekend Jen and I met up with Shelley, her mother Mimi, and daughter Megan at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens for a mini-session that included the 3 generations of women in their family. Mimi was in town for Megan's high school graduation, and Shelley took the opportunity to get a few shots with her mother. She said they had never had their photograph taken together! Jen and I were honored to be the people they chose to take this special picture.

Hanging around with these three women is nothing if not fun...watching the three of them together it became apparent where Shelley and Megan get their hilarious sense of humor. Mimi teased her grandson Tray (who was camera shy for the day) throughout the shoot, and she kept us all smiling even in the 100 plus degree weather.

We were grateful that they stuck it out through the heat...the results were great and we had a fabulous time despite sweating our brains out!

we also took the opportunity to get a few last shots of megan before her big day...
making megan laugh is one of our favorite things to do!
CONGRATS MEGAN CLASS OF 2008!

Just had to make a side note to congratulate Megan on becoming a high school graduate this week!!! Megan has been with us from the start, and we LOVE her...not to mention that she is super fun to hang out with, very photogenic and and all around great girl! We are proud of you Megan and can't wait to see what you will be up to next...NC State is a lucky to have you : )

before the wedding...

2008-06-12T20:32:00.006-04:00

we love the way natural light looks!
peeking out the door before the ceremony

we loved samantha's dress!

the bridal party

funny moment between samantha and her too-cute flower girl
i love this shot!
samantha's brothers...how cute are they???
now, the bride can't have all the fun. brooks and i got some shots of the groom and his guys before the ceremony. they were a lot of fun to photograph.

paul and his mom, sheri
paul and his dad, tony :)

Samantha and Paul stuck to tradition (which I think is so romantic!) and decided not to see one another before the ceremony. Because of that, Samantha decided to do her bridal portraits before the wedding, since we would save the "couple" shots for afterwards. Samantha was the picture of perfection and absolutely lit up when she put on her dress. You could see the emotion on her face when she looked in the mirror and saw herself standing there in a beautiful wedding dress. Brooks and I feel honored that we can be there to capture those amazing moments that only happen once in your life. The yard adjacent to the church was the perfect backdrop for a bridal session and some shots of the guys. We didn't want Paul to feel left out, so we got some shots of him hanging out with his groomsmen. :) Even though it was almost 100 degrees (yikes!!!) that afternoon, everyone was in good spirits and nobody melted!! :)

details...

2008-06-12T19:57:00.007-04:00

samantha's dress was stunning...

love the detail on the back

samantha's mom made these wreaths to go on the doors to the church...she is so talented!
i love this picture...samantha wore a cameo on her bouquet that was her grandmother's.
ring shot in color...
and then b&w... :)

samantha tired to sneak a peek of Paul before the ceremony started :)

Stay tuned for bridal portraits and ceremony shots!

samantha & paul's rehearsal

2008-06-08T12:35:00.006-04:00

samantha and paul were married in a beautiful old church that dates back to the 1850's
father and daughter practicing for the big walk down the aisle
paul and the pastor, Kevin, had a laughing moment during the rehearsal

brooks got this shot of the guys...i love it!
dana, one of samantha's bridesmaids, looking on as samantha comes down the aisle
colton and paul :)
samantha walked down the aisle barefoot...we LOVED that!
hannah, the TOO-CUTE flower girl!
the rehearsal dinner site
paul's parents, tony & sheri put together a great dinner!
this had to be one of the BEST cakes I have ever had...and i'v had a lot of cake! carrot cake from whole foods.
best of friends! jenny and arlene (samantha's mom)
samantha and her bridesmaids, dana & lauren
mother & grandmother of the bride :)
samantha and her grandma
brooks snuck a shot of all the guys hanging out after dinner...

Thursday night, Brooks and I headed up to Raleigh for Samantha & Paul's rehearsal. Samantha was the first bride to book with us, so her & Paul's wedding meant a lot to us! :) They decided to get married in a beautiful, quaint little church that was built in the 1850's (Olde Mt. Vernon Church)! The rehearsal went off without a hitch and you could tell everyone was excited about the upcoming wedding. After the rehearsal, we all headed over to Amedeo's North, for some amazing italian food! Paul's parents, Tony & Sheri were great hosts and put on a fantastic rehearsal dinner. As I already mentioned before, the cake from Whole Foods was absolutely amazing!! I think I found my new favorite cake. :) We had spent some time with Paul and Samantha before during the engagement shoot and we had a great time with them. But, it was so nice to get a chance to hang out with their families who made us feel so welcome. We heard some great stories and met some great people! More of Samantha & Paul's big day to come during the week...

at the beach

2008-06-06T11:50:00.003-04:00

I just had to post a few pictures from our day at the beach this week. Since I was turning the big 30, I got to pick what I wanted to do. One of my favorite places to be is the beach, so we all packed up the car and headed down to Wrightsville Beach. It was the best way to spend my birthday and Caden had a blast! Scot helped him get used to the water and after that, all he wanted to do the entire time was play in the waves! Now, everyday he asks me "beach, beach"? That is Caden speak for, "Can we please go to the beach today??".

claire & corey

2008-06-02T23:30:00.008-04:00

Claire & Corey have a great sense of humor...they love to laugh and they love each other!

This photo of the two of them is just so sweet.
Drinking from the "Old Well" (they are sure to get straight A's)!

Hanging out in the Quad.

The UNC Arboretum provided a fabulous backdrop for these shots.

I think this is my favorite "ring shot" we have ever done...

Love this one.

Jen caught some "rays" while Claire and Corey looked beautiful.

This past Saturday Jen and I had the great fortune of spending some time with a gorgeous and fun-loving couple, Corey and Claire. The two took us on a photo tour of the UNC Chapel Hill Campus. Both attended college at UNC, so the campus has special meaning to them and in their relationship. Corey is continuing his studies there in the dental field currently.

While hanging out with Corey and Claire it became apparent that they love each other very much, but that they also love to have fun and laugh! They are warm and positive people, and that feeling affects those who surround them. We had a great time following them around and frankly they made our job super easy with lots of ideas for locations and poses.

We are knee deep in the editing process currently and amazingly enough the hardest part has been narrowing it down to our "usual" number of shots...these two are just TOO photogenic!

Jen and I are both looking forward to spending more time with Claire and Corey this summer, and we are honored that they have chosen us to photograph this very special time in their life together!

congrats aaron!!!

2008-06-02T20:55:00.005-04:00

I just had to write up a quick post to say a HUGE congratulations to my cousin Aaron on his victory in the KZOK Young Stud Competition! Aaron has been playing the guitar as long as I can remember...all of our family gatherings whether it be the 4th of July or Christmas, ended up in my Aunt's garage with Aaron and his brother Phillip rocking some tunes for us all to enjoy. Being away from home for almost three years now I have missed out on a lot of Aaron's growth as a musical artist, but it doesn't make me any less proud of him for his success! I cannot wait to see him play live at the White River Amphitheater this summer when I am home!

Check out Aaron's story on the KZOK website and watch him shred some serious guitar on his audition video!

29 + 1 = Jen!

2008-06-01T21:59:00.007-04:00

brooke, sara and jen together in black and white : )
they truly are a beautiful family
this is the face for all to avoid...if jen flare's her nostrils at you beware (it means she's mad)!
a loving family
will she get her wish?!

tammy came to the party in a "charlotte inspired" dress
jen was cracking up at the awesome "one way ticket to thirty" collage made for her by jana
for those of you without eagle eyes, that little red napkin attached to the board says, "It's just a birthday honey, so dry those wrinkly little eyes!"
a fabulous thirty wine glass!

all the girls dressed up for this special event
sometimes sex and the city isn't that sexy... ha ha!
great friends
tammy and jen
i "wigged" out for the event...trying my best to get that sarah jessica parker thing down! ha ha
it's tradition for jen and i to have our photo taken by scot at their front door...
best business partner ever!

I had to write up a little post to honor my favorite 30 year old in the entire world!

June 2nd, Jen will be turning the big three oh, and she is just as fabulous as she was when she was 29! : )

Last Friday we got together with a few of our girlfriends, and had a Sex and the City party in honor of this momentous occasion. Everyone came over to my house for some sushi, cosmos and birthday cake and then we were off to the movies to see Sex and the City on on opening night! We all enjoyed the movie, which was all about the life and love of 4 best friends in the city. It stayed true to the form of the television series and provided plenty of laughs for all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!

You are an amazing woman, mother, friend, and photographer! Just think, if your this fantastic after only 30 years...there is no limit to what you can do!

party time!

2008-06-01T20:54:00.006-04:00

the liriano's arrived at their reception to a warm welcome
their first dance brought tears to our eyes...they just love each other so much

some dancing later that evening...this group really knows how to boogie

a kiss on the balcony of the prince charles
the toasts given this evening ranged from tear jerking to hilarious!

everyone took a turn on the dance floor

a quiet moment between mother and daughter

the evening ended with a tequila shot...and we were included!

We were so happy for our new friends on their very special and joyous day!

As we've mentioned in previous posts, the Liriano's really know how to have a good time and their reception was NO exception. The party began at about 6:30 and when Jen and I departed at about 11:30 it was still going! The reception started with a wonderful Spanish style buffet dinner, followed by some dancing. Later in the evening there was a fabulous wedding cake and some very heartfelt, touching, and even hilarious toasts given by the family and friends of the bride and groom....followed my MORE DANCING! There was no lack of skill or energy on the dance floor...Jen and I had a hard time keeping still with all the great music and dancing that was surrounding us! Once thing was made perfectly clear...this family really knows how to get down! Everyone at the party had a turn on the dance floor. Mom's danced with kids, sisters with brothers, and friends with family. The evening was driven by a salsa beat and a joyous spirit, and we loved every minute of it!

after the vows...

2008-05-30T15:18:00.007-04:00

had to put my favorite image first...sara and cesar as seen through the fountain : )
sara had this cool tattoo of her husband's name on her right shoulder...love it through the veil!
the entire wedding party together

all the kids!
the beautiful couple

handsome gentlemen

sara's ring was gorgeous

the liriano's and their children
together forever : )

After Cesar and Sara exchanged vows we headed out to take some more formal shots of the wedding party. We hoped to take some photos at the botanical gardens, but after finding out that they closed at 5pm, we did some quick thinking to get to Linear Park in downtown Fayetteville. Jen and I had shot at this park previously, so we knew that the beautiful fountain, scenic trees and park benches would be a great setting. All in all it turned out to be the perfect place to go and the results were great! Of course, we are convinced that the Liriano's cannot take a bad photo, so we can't take any credit for how beautiful they all look.

Have we mentioned how much we loved hanging out with this family?! : )

Say tuned for some rockin' photos of the reception later this weekend! Just a hint...this family knows how to boogie!

a memorable ceremony

2008-05-29T21:21:00.006-04:00

sara climbing the church steps
this photo just explains it all...the joy and anticipation
chino and marissa make their way down the aisle
cesar catching a glimpse of his beautiful bride
sara's brothers walked her down the aisle
victoria and naomi both read for the ceremony

father irrizarry lead an excellent ceremony
chino, the ring bearer, got sprinkled with a little holy water
the lighting of the unity candle

you may kiss the bride!

that joyous walk back down the aisle!

"just married"

a happy and amazing couple!

Cesar and Sara's renewal ceremony was one of the most touching and beautiful I have ever witnessed. It was amazing to watch two people, who have already spent 11 years of their lives committed to one another, stand in front of a church full of people to celebrate and honor their union. There was a deep sense of meaning and emotion, that can only come with time and expereince, within the words they spoke. As a military family, I am sure that they have found themselves working harder than most people can imagine to keep their loving family intact. I imagine that together they have survived deployments, being far away from their family, and all of life's other challenges. They have done so with beauty, and grace and above all love. Together Cesar and Sara have 5 beautiful and wonderful children, and if that is not proof enough of how amazing the two of them are, I don't know what is. I found myself welling up with tears while watching them exchange vows. Their love for each other was palpable and that feeling brought joy to all who surrounded them on their day.

getting ready for the big day...

2008-05-28T13:14:00.005-04:00

gorgeous dress

gotta love the detail shots!

a kiss goodbye before the getting ready began
marissa wanted a kiss goodbye, too :)
cesar and his dad
the girls showing off their lovely lipgloss

i love this shot...you can tell they are mother and daughter!

off to the church!

Sara's dress was so stunning...I loved it! Getting ready was a big family affair, so it made for lots of people and lots of fun. But, somehow everyone was ready on time! You know that never happens when a house full of girls are getting ready. :) Brooks will be blogging about the ceremony and the reception (which was a BLAST!) later this week, so keep checking back. Hope you are enjoying your sneak peek, Sara & Cesar!

Sara & Cesar...The Rehearsal!

2008-05-26T18:24:00.010-04:00

sara's brothers gave her away
how cute are they??!
the bridal party were Sara & Cesar's daughters...they all looked so great!
Victoria practicing reading her scripture while Naomi and Marissa looked on

cesar's mom getting a little emotional during the rehearsal
both parents looking on

LOVE these shoes
telling secrets :)

the beautiful couple
the bride and her mom, Jennifer...they are absolutely beautiful!

the bridesmaid's gifts

sitting at the bar drinking "shirley temples"
Cesar's brother is turning 40 on Tuesday (Happy Birthday!), so a surprise celebration was in order

stay tuned for pics of the wedding!!!

Sara and Cesar have to be one of the most loving couples I have ever met. Sunday was their 11th wedding anniversary & also the day they chose to renew their vows. Brooks and I were so excited to be there to capture this amazing couple and their family on their very special day. But, of course, before the wedding, there is the always fun, never dull rehearsal! Everyone showed up at the church to find that we were locked out with no way of getting the keys anytime soon. So, a quick decision was made and the rehearsal was held outside, which was just fine because the weather was SO NICE. After rehearsing the ceremony, everyone was off to The Big Apple on Yadkin Rd. in Fayetteville, where the fun began! This family is a blast and they know how to have a good time! But, even more important, they were all so warm and friendly. By the end of the weekend, Brooks and I felt like were the newest members of the Liriano family! :) We feel so blessed to have met them and their entire family and want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing us to be with you during this special time in your lives. Enjoy the sneak peek and keep an eye out for more wedding shots throughout the week!

girl's weekend in wilmington!

2008-05-19T20:13:00.006-04:00

jen and i on the dock
girl's weekend is something to cheer about!
june made jana a fantastic birthday cake!
this what happens when we get silly...we are TOTAL dorks (the real reason there are "no men allowed" at girl's weekend ha!)!

beautiful sunset
prettier times on the dock with jen, jana, kimberly and stephanie
jen and jana hugging it out
we were so excited to meet another photographer this weekend! stephanie took our photo for us and we were honored : )

This past weekend, after our super fun senior shoot with Erica, Jen and I took a drive to Wilmington for a "Girl's Weekend" hosted by our good friend Jana's in-laws, June and Andy. The weekend was a delayed celebration for Jana's birthday and an early one for Jen. June and Andy were hosts of the highest caliber and we all agreed their home was amazing...a "dream home" to be sure. We were spoiled with mimosas, chocolate covered strawberries, a gorgeous view, great food and beautiful weather!

Saturday, after a very necessary stop at Starbucks, Jana took the five of us on a little tour of the area. We saw where Jana lived during her college days, walked the beach in Wrightsville, ate lunch at Dockside Restaurant & Marina (yummy crab cake sandwich for me and grilled tuna for Jen), and then went out shopping at Mayfaire Town Center. We found this amazing little boutique called Francesca's Collections and really shopped it up (well they had a fabulous sale rack...what's a girl to do?). After our busy day of having way too much fun, we all went outside and relaxed on June & Andy's dock with a "Royal Flush" cocktail made by Kimberly and the night continued to get more and more entertaining!

Erica...Class of 2008!

2008-05-18T20:30:00.006-04:00

beautiful girl with a beautiful personality!

love this one!
we were laughing most of the session!
one of my favorites!

erica was up for anything and we LOVE that

If everyone had as much fun as Brooks and I do at "work", you'd never hear anyone complaining about their job! We had the best time on Friday afternoon with Erica and her awesome mom, Paige. Erica is getting ready to graduate from high school in a few weeks (congratulations, Erica!!) and she was ready to get her senior photos taken. Erica came full of great ideas and great outfits (especially those Jessica Simpson shoes, we loved them). We started out in the studio and by the end of the session we had climbed fences, spotted a snake, and dodged traffic to get some great shots of Erica walking down the road. Erica was up for anything and was so fantastic to work with. So vibrant and full of joy, you couldn't help but be happy around her. She is off to Old Dominion University in the fall and we wish her all the best! Congratulations Erica...we know you are going to do amazing things in your life!

party time...

2008-05-13T13:38:00.007-04:00

Grand entrance as husband and wife!

I love this shot...her dress was beautiful.

Little George taking it all in!

What a party! This was one of the best receptions I had ever been to and it was amazing to capture it all on film. Every time we turned around there was something exciting to see. Nidal's family is from Syria and most of them entertained us with some fabulous Middle Eastern dancing. Brooks and I really wanted to join in! :) It was such a great party, made even greater by the love that was evident in the bride and groom. You could tell how much they loved each other and their families. This was a day not only for them, but all of those close to them. Thank you for letting us being a part of it, Gale & Nidal! This week Brooks and I have a senior photo session and then we are off to Wilmington for a girl's weekend! We'll be sharing photos from both and from our next wedding which is Memorial Day weekend, so keep an eye out for new posts!

here comes the bride...

2008-05-12T20:57:00.005-04:00

Gale and Nidal are just so sweet with each other!

ready to get married!

the kleven family!

this little boy was checking out the pews...
love this view from the balcony...you can really see it all!
These are just a few of the (200 plus!) shots that we got at Gale and Nidal's wedding ceremony! It was so hard to choose which ones to blog about because we liked so many of them. It was a beautiful ceremony for a beautiful couple...stay tuned for shots of the reception later this week!

wedding preparations

2008-05-10T15:16:00.006-04:00

Gale's daughter, Donna, was her personal hair stylist for the day.
Gale's dress was made of an intricate lace and pearl design.
This is my favorite photo of Gale...putting on the final touches before walking down the aisle!
Gotta love the detail shots...Gale carried a gorgeous bouquet of peach roses.
The dress was beautiful. Gale's matron of honor (and daughter) Donna, and her bride's maid (and best friend) Norma assisted her by buttoning her sleeves.
Putting on her make up : )
Can't forget the shoes!
Gale's mother helped her put on her jewelry. Every girl in the wedding wore pearls!

These are just a few shots of the many that Jen and I took while Gale was getting ready for her big day. There is just nothing like a little "girl time" before the wedding. Gale's best friend Norma ordered up some room service for breakfast, and we all enjoyed a cup of coffee while Gale took care of last minute details, and made herself look fabulous for her walk down the aisle. In the room were Donna (Gale's daughter and matron of honor), Norma (her bride's maid and best friend from school), and Patricia (the mother of the bride). Short appearances were made by Gale's twin son's Steve and Ben. The one thing that was evident in the room was that this would be a special day for the family, and that everyone was chipping it to make it that way. From curling hair, to handing out flowers, ordering breakfast, offering stories and conversation, and helping each other to get ready, it was wonderful to see the care that each person took to make this day for Gale and Nidal a great as it could be.

gale & nidal's rehearsal

2008-05-08T23:01:00.016-04:00

practicing for the next day

the ceremony took place in a greek orthodox church and the church was absolutely stunning

thinking happy thoughts for the next day!

nidal "hearts" scott...he even has a keychain to prove it! :)
how cute are these shoes?!
nidal and baby julia...she was such a precious little baby!
the lighting of the unity candle

the joining of two families
stay tuned for images from the wedding!

Brooks and I had a blast shooting Gale & Nidal's rehearsal last Friday. The wedding took place at a beautiful greek orthodox church in Little Falls, NJ. It was great to be able to get a sneak peek of it before the actual ceremony. We took advantage of the extra time and got some great detail shots of the church. After the rehearsal, everyone headed over to Nidal's parents house for an authentic Syrian meal. His mother is an AMAZING cook and had been preparing for the meal all week! Brooks, Jana, and I had never tasted Syrian food before and we have to say we were quite impressed. It was all so yummy! It was a nice chance for everyone to gather and hang out before the big day. Nidal's family was so hospitable...so warm and inviting. We had such a great time, we didn't feel like we were working! Thanks to all who made our stay so wonderful! We enjoyed every minute of the weekend! Check back soon because Brooks will be blogging about the wedding!

new york, new york!

2008-05-05T21:30:00.008-04:00

The best cheesecake in New York at Juniors...do you think we were happy?!
Nidal and Gale took us all over the city...we even got to stroll Central Park in the evening while drinking coffee...we think NYC might be a little bit of heaven on earth : )

We DEFINITELY heart New York!

This 9/11 monument was at Eagle Rock in New Jersey...the park has an amazing view of the city where the Twin Towers once stood, and pays tribute to all those who lost their lives in service during September 11, 2001. It is most definitely a place of reflection and remembrance.

This is what it feels like to drive through the Lincoln Tunnel...good thing we had Nidal to handle the warp speeds!
Jen sitting on the NJ Transit, on our way to NYC.
This man is a NYC staple...the Naked Cowboy! Evidently he is in Times Square almost every day. Never a dull moment in the Big Apple!
Jen and I were excited to see Bryant Park! We are HUGE Project Runway fans.
Of course we had to get in some shopping at H&M : )
Jen and Jana are practicing to be professional statues!

Jen and I wanted to post a few photos of our very fun and exciting weekend in New York City! We flew out Friday, along with our friend (and assistant) Jana, to photograph the wedding of my mother-in-law, Gale, in Fairfield New Jersey. We decided to stay an extra day to explore the city and get some shopping in, but little did we know what was in store for us! We could not dream of two better hosts than Gale and Nidal! From the moment we got off the plane in Newark we were taken from place to place and offered fabulous food, company and experiences. They literally made sure that we saw all the main attractions that New York City has to offer. In our short stay we were able to make it to the Empire State Building, visit Ground Zero, shop in Times Square, eat amazing food China Town, have cannolis in Little Italy, drive the Brooklyn Bridge, have a slice of Junior's famous New York Cheesecake, not to mention photograph an entire rehearsal dinner and wedding! Where we found the time we will never know, but what we do know is that we owe it all to the hospitality of this amazing couple...stay tuned for more posts about their wedding!

samantha & paul at the park

2008-04-28T23:14:00.008-04:00

Blowing the dandelions was Samantha's idea...and we absolutely LOVE the spontaneity of it!

There were lots of snuggley moments between Samantha & Paul : )
Moments like these are the ones we love to catch!

The train tracks seemed symbolic of the journey they will face together...

Sunday afternoon, Jen and I had the pleasure of spending some time with Samantha and Paul. They are a lovely, young couple, engaged to be married this coming June (06-07-08!)! They are also the first couple to book with us for their wedding photography!

The couple chose Pullen Park, near NC State in Raleigh, as the location for their engagement shoot. It was very important to them to be somewhere outdoors, and this particular park had a personal significance for Samantha. We enjoyed exploring the park with Samantha & Paul, from the ponds to the meadow-like grassy areas, and even the train tracks that ran along side. One of the perks about owning your own photography business is getting out to explore all the great places our clients bring us to.

We were so excited when we met Samantha and Paul a few months ago, and now after getting to spend more time with them we are really looking forward to their big day. The details are all falling into place with their planning, and from the sound of it Samantha and Paul have planned a wedding that is uniquely "them." Just as it should be!