Abby+Aaron // Newborn Twin Session

This family is quite near and dear to our hearts. As in, when Geoff and I had to spend our first Christmas in 32 years away from our own families, we spent it with Abby and Aaron’s. They are very, very precious to us and some of the most wonderful friends. If you want a backstory, here’s their engagement session, their wedding, and their session with their first newborn Logan. We also photographed Abby’s brother’s wedding here. And then all of a sudden one day Abby and Aaron were like, “WE’RE HAVING TWINS!” and we were like “WHAAAAT!” and they were like “WHAAAAT!” and now the family that I previously knew that consisted of 2 has been replaced with a family of 5 in a matter of years… and Abby is now seriously outnumbered by boys. :)

We’ve worked over the years with a number of sets of identical twins for some reason (I think this may be our 5th or 6th set), but this is our first newborn set… ones that aren’t old enough to have a wedding yet, let alone walk or talk. It was a bit intimidating, but thankfully they slept like the little baby angels that they are. Max, for the most part, is on the right hand side of the frame. Abby and Aaron claim he looks like Benjamin Button, and I can currently see the resemblance. Lucas, for the most part, is on the left hand side of the frame. And the excited looking sandy-haired toddler you see is Logan, now almost three, who has been happily upgraded to Big Brother status. And that’s me, over here in the corner, trying not to cry at the big beautiful family that I’m now kinda a small part of because I’ve invited myself over a lot and used to babysit their dog Casey. We love and adore each and every member of this family.

Katie+Cameron // Chapel Hill Family Session

Katie and Cameron were married in 2012 at Magnolia Manor in a wedding full of rope swing glory, and Katie and I have kept in touch since through our mutual love of cats. There has been good times with cats (YAY CATS!!) and bad times with cats (illnesses, and the unfortunate passing away of their adored cat Bug before our session), but through the thick and thin, I know I have someone to message and commiserate with when it comes to cats… and for that I am grateful. :) And now that they’re in a light-filled modernist house of awesome in Chapel Hill, we can also keep in touch with our mutual love of attempting to keep desert plants alive in a zone 8 climate with high humidity.

Now Katie and Cameron have an ADORABLE toddler named Grayson who enjoys playing with his furry brothers and sisters (brown doggo Birdie, black doggo Chevy, gray kitteh Tuna), as well as feeding them cat treats (dogs included), and picking up sticks and running around with them. His parents have excellent taste, so they bought him a Charley Harper tent which is the most beautiful and fantastic tent, but he doesn’t care to sit in it, so Tuna the cat has taken it over. When he’s not playing with sticks or throwing balls, he likes to pull flowering stems off Katie’s succulents despite our protests, and also throw his head back and make noises like a zombie (it’s a true skill). His parents are particularly proud of the zombie moaning that Grayson’s mastered, but Katie still maintains that her greatest accomplishment is having a kid who loves cats more than she does. We have a deep love for this family, and we’re so glad the incredible Grayson has joined their ranks (we’re pretty sure that Birdie and Chevy are grateful too since now they get to eat cat treats and bananas).

Caity+Kevin // Rigmor House Wedding

Caity and Kevin had the best weather ever for their December engagement session so I guess it only figures that it would come back and bite us later. Their wedding day was collllld and produced a constant rain that went kinda sideways under umbrellas so we didn’t go out in it much. Also, we were all freezing. But, because it was so cold, Caity decided to wear her badass colored leggings under her wedding dress on a whim which was highly encouraged by myself and all her bridesmaids because YES. She also occasionally busted out a pink leather jacket which was also praised and adored. And, because Caity and Kevin are very clever and thought ahead about things, the Rigmor House was decorated beautifully inside and allowed for plenty of colorful photo ops. Despite the dreariness outside, we were happy and colorful and warm INSIDE OUR HEARTS (and inside the Rigmor House). So much color, all the color, flag bunting forever and ever amen.

So a grand time was had by all – there was dancing and donuts and floral bridesmaid dresses and Rifle Paper Co. Keds that I’m currently ordering for myself and a dream team of vendors, some of which are friends and former clients of ours – and everyone had a wonderful time. Caity and Kevin didn’t let the rain get them down. They knew the most important thing about the day was each other, and that’s what makes a wedding run smoothly despite any sort of technical hitches you may run into. Also, it’s pretty brilliant to plan your wedding outside but to make sure that it’ll still look badass if you have to move it inside. Their use of color and whimsy in their decor was fantastic and made the interior quite happy. Everyone danced the night away, and the lucky ones among them stayed overnight at the Rigmor House, so they didn’t even need to leave (also brilliant to have your venue double as a hotel). We are so happy to have worked with these guys and wish them all the best in life and love and with their cat Haley who is really fluffy and cute.

Date: April 7, 2018
Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Rigmor House // Chapel Hill, NC
First Dance Song: “There Are Many Ways to Say I Love You” – Sylvan Esso
Kevin’s Occupation: Science and math teacher at Duke Hospital School
Caity’s Occupation: Occupational therapist for Durham VA Homeless Programs
How You Met: Caity messaged Kevin on OkCupid, our first date was at Geer St Garden and Cocoa Cinnamon!
Interesting Fact: We have a hilarious tortie cat named Haley who is friendly and feisty. Caity used to play flute in a salsa band. Kevin uses his chemistry knowledge to turn fire green. Kevin can lick his left elbow and either of anybody else’s elbows.
Honeymoon: Considering Banff! Or Idaho! Or Utah!
Officiant: NC Secular Weddings
DJ: DJ Ryan the DJ
Florist: Bluebird Meadows
Cake: Donuts from Rise
Caterer: Happy Cardinal Catering
Hair/Makeup: The Makeup Culture
Coordinator: The Details Events
Wreath: Haw River Wreath Co
Ties, Pocket Squares, Lapel Pins: Natty Neckware