We’re so glad that we got in one last Indian wedding before our retirement! This one had a Sangeet event, which we hadn’t photographed before and was just delightful. For those who don’t know, a Sangeet event is essentially a dance party that takes place during an Indian wedding. It’s kind of like a reception, but a little bit more organized in terms of the dancing. There are specific dances that are traditional, and others that are choreographed Bollywood dances. Krishna and Dan’s family and friends learned dances for the event and preformed them one after another, and it was so fun to get to be a part of! I also adore Indian sarees and clothing because they’re so colorful and gorgeous, so I was extra excited to see everyone’s outfits (which did not disappoint). Krishna and Dan’s Sangeet was held the evening before their wedding at Duke Gardens, where we got to photograph even more fabulous outfits and henna. It was amazing! The only not-amazing part was when I almost passed out during a very hot ceremony in the sun (many thank yous to the vendors passing out coconut water that saved me! – and a reminder for photographers to hydrate frequently!) but taking Krishna and Dan’s photos in the bamboo in Duke Gardens later made up for it. So happy to have been a part of your lovely wedding, guys. Congratulations!

Date: August 31, 2019 and September 1, 2019
Sangeet Event Venue: Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport
Ceremony+Reception Venue: Duke Gardens // Durham, NC
First Dance Song: “Dance with Me” – Mandi Mapes
Krishna’s Occupation: Nurse practitioner
Dan’s Occupation: Physical Therapist
How You Met: Through friends
Interesting Face: A 10lb terrier mutt rules our lives and hearts
Honeymoon: Thailand
Officiant: Madhu Sharma
DJ: DJ Rang
Florist: Blooming Buds
Cannoli Food Truck: Holy Moly Cannoli Food Truck
Caterer: Nazara
Hair+Makeup: Belloviso, Inc
Videographer: JRB Weddings
Coordinator: Emily Katherine Events
Lighting Company: Get Lit
Bartending+Food Service: Nancy Reyes of Andy’s Tents

I am so excited and honored to have worked with author Amy Peterson on a headshot for her second book, Where Goodness Still Grows, coming out in 2020! It’s a look at evangelical church culture today, and specifically the divide between the views of an older generation of evangelicals and millennials. I absolutely love doing author headshots. As an avid reader, the author headshots on book jackets have always been one of my favorite parts, as they’re a small visual glimpse into this person who has been speaking to you for weeks (or months or years, depending on how long it’s taking you to read – hah!). I can’t believe I’m helping readers feel the same way about their authors now. It’s a true honor, and I’m excited to do it. Amy is a passionate author, teacher, and speaker (as well as a delightful human being who has a lot of really cool eyeglasses). You can learn more about her on her website here, and you can preorder Where Goodness Still Grows from Amazon now! Here are some of my favorite shots of Amy.

Linda comes to me by way of Kristen Lee and is just awesome (with the added awesomeness of having a South African accent). Linda and Kristen knew each other from their days in New York City, but are still friends here in the south while running dog-based businesses. Kristen recommended me to Linda because, in addition to Linda’s dog business, she’s also a Chief Risk Officer and Audit Executive (!) who was looking for more than the standard headshot. She wanted a bit of personality incorporated into her portraits, as well as the ability to put her hobbies and background on display, all while maintaining a professional aura that could still be used to represent her at board meetings and for public speaking events. And Linda has a ton of interesting hobbies! She’s been riding motorcycles since she was a teenager, and also knits, does cross-fit, and has a husband, kids, dogs, cats, and a parrot. She spends a lot of days at board meetings and is a pro at negotiation and conflict management. She’s an incredible woman and I absolutely loved getting to know her and learn more about South Africa, parrots, and motorcycles! Hair Creds: Synquis at @kawaiistyles_u. Makeup Creds: Shatara at @justfaceitmua