Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's Off to School I Go!

I'm leaving everything in the capable hands of Peggy and Lynn for a few days while I venture west to attend the Carolina Art and Photographic School for a four-day, INTENSIVE seminar on the Corel program "Painter." I've wanted to study Painter for some time because it can produce some gorgeous results, so I hope to come back refreshed and inspired. I've got to be up and out early Sunday morning (around 4:30 AM in fact) to make it to the first day of class so I thought I'd write now. I will be crazy busy until then with the Northeast Academy prom Friday night and a wedding on Saturday. I hope to have the prom photos completed and ordered before I leave for the wedding on Saturday and hopefully I can post a quick message about the prom photos, but I'll be out of touch until next Thursday. Everyone have a good weekend and call the studio next week to keep Peggy and Lynn out of trouble.

Could they be any cuter!?!

I got busy a couple of weeks ago and didn't blog about some portrait sittings because time got away from me. I was working on this order this morning and just looked again at how cute Sydney and Owen Jones are and felt compelled to write. Aren't they adorable? Owen was so-o-o good and Sydney is a great big sister! Just wanted to share their cuteness and bring a smile to "hump day."

Triple Treat!!

Lots of people have stopped by the desk in the studio over the past four years and have asked about the photos I have posted over my desk of triplets. I have their newborn photo and birth announcement along with a photo from each of their Christmases. I've probably explained that they are the children of a bride and groom from Chesapeake whose wedding I photographed several years ago. I want to be sure and identify the triplets now as Kate, Jack (with glasses) and McRae Stuckey because I was finally able to meet them IN PERSON!! It was a great morning. I got to catch up with their mother, Beth, and their grandmother Cathie. It's been their grandmother who has been exchanging Christmas cards with me and sending the updates, and I was so happy to see these old friends. The children were wonderful. I was a little apprehensive about working with three five-year old but Beth is a wonderfully organized mother (I'm sure she has to be) and the children were a delight. Thought you would all enjoy seeing them.

Sunday on the River

It's always good to touch base with old clients and this past Sunday afternoon I was down on the river near Hertford at Abby Stalling's home to photograph Abby's entire family. The family had actually been trying to get this photo taken for over a year so it was great that the weather cooperated and everyone was there. The main goal of the day was the entire family which I did first and then we started breaking down into individual families, grandchildren, etc. Needless to say, everyone loosened up as the time went on and there are several photos that are a little more "fun loving" than others. A pleasant way to end the weekend.

Happy Birthday, Tom!!

I had a rare Saturday off this past weekend and it luckily coincided with a chance to go with Joe to our friend Tom Moorefield's birthday party near Chapel Hill. Joe and Tom go way back to their childhood in Elon and their later musical endeavor -- the famous "Lost Souls" band they played in during their high school years. Tom works at the Department of Transportation by day, but at night and on weekends it appears that he follows his passion for music. He is involved in several bands in the Chapel Hill area and his "Steelin' in the Years" 60th birthday party was a wonderful outdoor concert. The weather was beautiful, the food was great, and the music was rockin'. We got to hear Shakermaker, Sleepless Nights, and Puritan Rodeo among others. You can check out the music by following the bands' links and see a few photos from the party from my website. A great weekend to celebrate!!

A Couple of Cute Little Peanuts

It's been "Kids Week" around here with all the children out for Easter break but these cuties are a little too young to be missing school. Mary Scott & Ella brought their mommy over from Windsor, NC for some photos on Thursday in their Easter outfits and in the "peanut" shirts. I think I've got the relationship correct. Their grandfather is involved in Bertie County Peanuts, and the girls brought over some of his products for a little photo. Believe me, they're a great advertisement! We had a hard time getting the peanuts away from them to put on their Easter dresses. These girls believe in supporting a North Carolina product!!

Emporia Swords -- Anna Ruth & Stan

It's been a long time since I've photographed a wedding with the bride and groom departing underneath an arch of swords. It's always interesting to view the precision and tradition involved in such a ceremony. Most of the weddings I've seen with the arch were for a groom in a branch of the military but Saturday's wedding was for a groom who was a member of the police force in Emporia, VA. Anna Ruth and Stan thankfully didn't have rain but the wind was gusting pretty strongly as they departed the church. Stan's fellow officers did him proud and even surprised the couple after the arch by releasing two doves in honor of the day. It did cross my mind that Saturday would have been a good day for the criminals of Emporia because it looked like most of the police were at the wedding. And, I have to agree with a comment I heard one of the wedding guests make to the groom -- "There's something about a man in uniform."

My Camouflouge Weekend or "Does it seem like a lot of people are shooting at me lately?"

It's not often I can find a way to connect a wedding with a four year-old's birthday but this past weekend I had camouflage and guns in every direction. The weekend started off the a bang (so to speak) at Rikki Lee and Joseph's wedding at Cool Springs in Gates County. I've had brides bring lots of props for their bridal portraits (red shoes, boots, dogs, cats, etc.) but this was the first bride I had who brought her gun! I don't remember all the details of her story right now but I think she said that her future father-in-law had given it to her and she wanted to pose with it for a few portraits. Needless to say, her mother bought a more traditional bridal portrait with just her bouquet, but we had some fun with her gun and I'm sure Rikki Lee got a lot of comments from her wedding guests about her "gun-totin'" photos.

On Sunday afternoon I was off to Ahoskie for Colby Hauser's 4th birthday party. I have been honored to be involved in all of Colby's parties thus far and it was fun to see all the kids playing and having a great time. I got a chance to catch up with several cuties I've photographed through the years and it's always great to see how everyone is growing up. Colby's party theme was camouflage -- right down to the cake -- and lots of his gifts from his family and little friends followed the theme. A good time for everyone involved but, after this weekend, I do have to ask the question -- WHY IS EVERYONE SUDDENLY POINTING A GUN AT ME!!

Beautiful Faces from Colby's Party

Go Heels!!

I wanted to add my own celebration for Carolina winning the national championship and could think of no better image than the one I used for my first blog post -- Melissa Flythe Decker twirling at Old Well on the UNC campus. If you don't know Melissa (and I actually think everyone does), you know that she is the ultimate Tar Heel fan and that her blood probably runs Carolina blue. I'm looking at this photo this morning and know that this isn't just her bridal portrait -- she's spinning for joy in honor of a great season for an unforgettable team. Go Heels!!

Allison & Daniel

Allison & Daniel -- New Demo Wedding!!!

I've loved Jamie and Donny Lassiter's wedding as my demo for so long that it was kind of hard to give it up, but I felt like I needed to update. So I've finally uploaded a new wedding that is under password "demo" from the Clients section of the http://www.conwayphotoshop.com/ website. Hope you'll have a chance to enjoy some of the scenes from Allison & Daniel's wedding which was also absolutely beautiful. You can also reach it directly via http://conwayphotoshop.com/demo/. There's also a little video of some weddings scenes in the posting after this one.