Raleigh Portrait Photographer: Kristen

This shoot was so much fun for me (and Geoff!) to do! I became Twitter pals with another local photographer named Kristen (of Kristen Abigail Photography) a while back. A few weeks later I received an e-mail asking if I’d do the honors of photographing updated headshots of her for her website. I said of course! :) We decided to approach it as having a sort of senior portrait feel. Kristen is often behind the camera but not in front of it, and we could all use a personal photoshoot once in a while instead of just a few headshots. So we had a grand old time running around a part of Raleigh that I hadn’t explored before and got to spend time with a lovely lady! Kristen is such a sweet person and up for anything. I don’t think I’ve had anyone laugh so much on a session! She just cracked up the whole time and was as pleasant as could be. :) So without further ado, here’s Kristen!

Kristen’s nifty camera strap is from Etsy! Looove Etsy for stuff like that (and purses… and headbands… and..)

She brought the little daisy from home where she keeps a bunch of them in her room because they’re a happy source of inspiration!

Kristen – you were fabulous to work with! Thank you so much for asking us to do this. I hope you can use some for your website and use the others as reminders of how lovely and beautiful you are!

Raleigh Portrait Photographer: Baby Damiano

A tiny post about a tiny session with a tiny one month boy. :) He is beautiful and definitely inherited the modeling skills of his Aunt Valerie and cousins. ;) Welcome to the world, Little Damiano! It was an honor to photograph you in your first month of life. Thank you to the Duran family for inviting me back into their home and being so supportive and wonderful to me, as always. :) You guys are the best.

Congratulations and well wishes to the beautiful new family. :D He is gorrrgeous!! And someday his girlfriend will love these… but I know you don’t want to think about that now. ;) Hahaha. Thank you again, Ghia and Damiano Sr.! I had a wonderful time hanging out with you at the house and meeting your precious new boy. :) You all make such a sweet family.

Raleigh Engagement Photographer: Annalisa+Michael

Annalisa (aka Annie) and Michael are my very own Jersey couple! :D Both hailing from New Jersey, they are currently living in North Carolina where they both attended NC State. They are high school sweethearts of 8 years! :)  Annie is a paralegal and Michael works for Wells Fargo, but they were both aspiring to become teachers when they first met (Michael – history, Annie – French). Michael opted out of the teaching career and Annie is still an aspiring French teacher, but they are comfortably doing their own thing in the south at the moment. :)

I met these two when they weren’t sure whether or not they were going to have their wedding in NC or NJ. They ultimately decided on New Jersey for May 2012, but decided to take Geoff and I with them (wooooo!!!), so we’re super stoked to be heading up to The Jersey next year with these guys! Annie is ridiculously prepared for their wedding and has everything bought, planned, and under control with the exception of the limo, which can’t be booked until next year, hahaha. Seriously – it’s pretty amusing. She showed up to our consultation with a binder bigger than mine and several 4×6 photographs of their wedding venue saying, “Keep them, I have a bunch.” Hahaha. I knew this girl meant business.

I’ve since had the privilege of photographing Sabrina, Annie’s dog, and Pookie, Michael’s cat. And now finally their engagement! :D We had an awesome time with them photographing on the NC State campus talking movies and TV and, of course, Annie’s love of the Doors and Michael’s love of the Beatles, but more on that later! Let’s start!

We started off in the free expression tunnel at NC State. There were several spray painters there while we were there, and I’m pretty sure all of us left the tunnel with a mild headache, but it made for good pictures. However, I will say that if you photograph there, you’ll just have to choose the place with the least amount of obscenities… since there’s no escaping them. Luckily this couple is rad, and a few vulgar doodles don’t scare them. ;)

Where’s Annie and Michael? :) Can you see them? :)

Annie – you have the best eyes!!! Ow owwww.

How cute are these two? Annie’s obsessed with the Doors, and Michael’s obsessed with the Beatles. Together they’re an adorable couple who belong in the 1960s wearing flower headbands and hanging out. They each brought their favorite record and matching reading material for the shoot. :) CUTE.

We closed the session in the stacks at NC State with a quick band wardrobe change!

Annie and Michael – you are too wonderful! We are honored to be photographing what is sure to be an AWESOME wedding up in Jersey with you two! We had a great time, lots of laughs, and think these are adorable. :) Hope you love them!