It was a pleasure to meet and work with these guys on an elopement-style session! Jessi and Alec got married at the courthouse and celebrated with family later in the week, but they wanted photos in all their garb downtown prior to the festivities, and we were happy to oblige. They are such a sweet couple, and into all things science. They met at an observatory (I believe Alec proclaimed himself the King of the Observatory at one point, which is a truly amazing and wonderful title) and have been having outdoorsy and sciencey adventures together ever since. They also like good music and movies and can ride a rented bike downtown like nobody’s business. It’s not easy to get on one of those things wearing a significant amount of tulle or a suit, but they managed quite well. We hit up all their favorite local spots in Durham (shout out to Viceroy for being nice enough to let us take a few inside!) and got to know this awesome pair. Congratulations to Jessi+Alec!
Leila and Colin have quickly become two of our favorite people, and they’re so stupidly easy to work with that our job looks/seems/feels like the easiest job ever when we’re with them. They’re giggly and laugh a lot and look really good and also have a dog named Bobby (Mr. B/Chicken Boy). Bobby is from Bulgaria (we had a cat from Russia last month, and now are looking forward to our stint of foreign pets), and also appeared at their wedding in Asheville last year. Bobby wasn’t sure how he felt about Leila at that point. He is very close with Colin, and was, perhaps, somewhat jealous when Leila entered the picture, holding a truly cat-like grudge in a totally benign situation. However, we are proud to announce that since the wedding, Leila and Bobby’s relationship has turned a corner when Colin had to travel for work, leaving Bobby alone with Leila for a week. Bobby then realized that Leila was ALSO nice, and would ALSO feed him and walk him and cuddle with him, and now Bobby has truly accepted both of his parents and is 100% supportive of their marriage (thank goodness). This photo session was a celebration of Leila and Colin’s love for each other and also their enduring and endearing relationship with Bulgarian Bobby. All three of them are moving to Boston shortly, which I think should inspire a new sitcom called Bulgarian Bobby in Boston, which I would surely watch. We’re so glad to have photographed this crew yet again, and glad that Leila hasn’t texted us to tell us that Bobby got sick after eating a chicken bone found on the roof of a garage during the session, so we’re going to assume he’s okay.
We always adore photographing lifestyle family sessions at home, and for some unknown reason (cosmic forces?) our clients always have these super cool houses so it’s always an added bonus. This week’s family had a greenhouse! With turtles! And a super awesome 1960s living room with a white brick wall and built in fireplace that I would definitely steal if it didn’t involve an ill-thought-out plan and the use large scale machinery. Roger and Melanie are awesome parents who are raising two independent and strong kids, Martin and Anabel. They are fearless and wonderful. They ride their bikes fast and put on their own gardening gloves and wear superhero capes and do their own thing. They spent the morning playing Legos, reading, and gardening, which is exactly what my idea Saturday would also constitute… especially considering that they were planting mosquito repellant plants (need these shots to be recreated at our house, please). Also featured in this shoot is 10 year old Cocker Spaniel Extraordinaire Seymour, who is adorable and fluffy and loves Melanie to the ends of the Earth. He also has totally laid claim to that leather chair in their living room. Excited to have worked with this great family!