:: Off to Chicago land!!! ::

This past weekend Jamie and I were off to the very cold land of the North. After two days up there, I am GLAD to live in the slightly warmer South!!! Brrrrrr!!!

Friday night my brother and sister in-law hosted a dinner/"Tree trimming party". It was a load of fun!! Megan made a scrumptious meal, and I am always impressed by her great ideas and presentation for the food.


And of course, we took time for a few family shots of Chris, Megan and the adorable baby Sterling. I am biased, but I do think that Sterling is the most well behaved baby I have ever seen in my entire life.


Back home for a few days, editing like crazy, then off to Connecticut for the last wedding of the year! After Connecticut, Jamie and I head to Cali for Christmas!! Hooray for 10 day vacations!

:: Baby Sydney ::

This past weekend, Jamie and I went to meet Baby Sydney! She is quite adorable, and an active three month old. I had fun photographing her and her parents, and Jamie was sweet to keep all my gear in order.
Thanks for the fun Laura, Hans and Baby Sydney!

:: Aaron and Carlee ::

Jamie's good friends from college, Aaron and Carlee stopped in on Sunday. The agenda for the day was an engagement session downtown Raleigh, and fondue for dinner back at our place!

It was fun getting to know both of them better, and of course photographing them! I look forward to spending more time with them in the future...more fun dinners together and probably a few more photo shoots along the way!
Their wedding is next July, and Aaron asked Jamie to be a groomsman. I hear that one of my perks for photographing their wedding, is that I get to take as many pictures of Jamie as I want :) Don't worry Carlee, I will get some of you too!!! Seriously though, I am looking forward to the BIG DAY!!

:: Carrie and Jordan ::

The Fall days kept getting better and better in Chicago last weekend! Sunday we met up with Carrie and Jordan for their engagement shoot. The Arboretum was in full Fall color, and the sky was a perfect blue, with the most amazing clouds. All things combined, it was a great recipes for a fun photo shoot!
I am excited about photographing Carrie and Jordan's wedding next Spring!! Congrats you two!

:: Joani and Kevin's Wedding ::

I love brisk Fall days...golden colors...blue skies...and weddings!!! This past weekend was full of those things. Joani and Kevin celebrated their wedding day with gorgeous Fall weather.

It was a busy day, but full of little details that Joani has been working on for months. Everything turned out beautiful, and I am so happy for these two! As both of them are airline pilots, I wish them the best as they fly the friendly skies :)

:: Waite's ::

Jennifer, Sara, Matt and Luke are long time family friends, and I love to photograph them whenever I get the chance. Every time we head out for a shoot, I am always impressed with their attention to detail, and style in their outfits. In my opinion, they could be models!!

A benefit for me in photographing them is that they are always game for whatever crazy ideas that I come up with...This years shoot started off with a vague plan to go somewhere downtown Chicago. As soon as we made it downtown, we discovered that the Susan G. Komen Race for Breast Cancer was taking place all over the city (instead of the lake front like we had thought). So, we wandered around on the South side for a little while, coming up with fun locations that I had never seen before. It was great!!!

Jern, Sara, Matt and Luke - it was fun to catch up, fun to photograph you once again and most of all great to go on another adventure together!!! They seem to be few and far between these days...

:: Baby Myles ::

I photographed the Islas family last Summer, and then photographed a surprise birthday for a member of their family! It has been fun getting to know them, and seeing their family grow.

They added a new member to their family in September! Baby Myles! He is adorable, and was quite laid back. I guess third born babies have to be, everyone else is so busy around them!

Welcome Baby Myles! You have a very loving family, and I look forward to capturing moments of you growing up!

:: Lofquist Family ::

Last weekend, Jamie and I headed to the Washington DC/Virginia area for a few family/baby sessions. Last year, I photographed 25+ families in this area, so it has been fun going back and photographing a few of them again, and then meeting new families that were referred to me.

It was great to meet the Lofquist family, they were fun and laid back and loved being barefoot for most of their pictures. Bare feet and flip flops are definitely my style!!

:: Dan and Nicole ::

It was off to Milwaukee for Jamie and I last Friday! It was a big weekend for the Neu and Davis family, not to mention all of the friends that came in to town to celebrate. This wedding has been much anticipated by many, and all were only too glad that the day had finally arrived!!

One of the bridesmaids, Kristi, kept me smiling throughout the day as she would gleefully exclaim her excitement about Dan and Nicole *finally* getting married. We were all definitely excited to witness the ceremony and take part in the beautiful day of theirs.
I was happy that Rowan Gillson was available to fly in and be my second shooter. He always grabs fun and unique shots, while assisting me with reflectors and dragging along his tripod. It's always good to catch up his latest adventures too…that guy never slows down!

Congrats Dan and Nicole!!! It was fun to be a part of your big day!

:: Baby Sterling ::

They say that time starts to fly by faster as you get older, and it is so true!! It seems like yesterday my siblings and I were scheming up things like tree forts and digging massive holes in the ground. Next thing you know, my big brother falls in love with a cute girl, they get married and along comes baby Sterling!
It will take a little bit of getting used the fact that my big brother is now a daddy, and my parents are grandparents and I am an aunt!!!! We are all beside ourselves with excitement, and I am just a bit sad that so many miles are between me and my adorable nephew.

Congratulations Chris and Megan!! Jamie and I are so happy for you! Megan, you will never cease to amaze me. You did a wonderful job in bringing Sterling into this world, and I know that you and Chris will be amazing parents!!!

Welcome Sterling Douglas, your Aunt Joy and Uncle Jamie are going to spoil you!

Because my brother has been digging in the dirt (long before he rode a bike) and he is now an excavator, the pictures of Sterling on the bobcat, and in the bucket are for his daddy.

:: Baby Cameron ::

I love photographing babies, and Cameron was fun to photograph!! She was bright eyed and quite awake when we arrived, and then after a full tummy, fell asleep and let us move her around. The session was a family affair, with Grandma there helping me with details like the basket and fluffy brown blanket. She had some great ideas!!
I met Cameron's parents, Amanda and Jonathan, a few months ago. Amanda's Mom happens to be Jamie's boss! They are a fun couple, and so happy to welcome little Cameron into their lives.

Welcome to this world Cameron!

:: Joani and Kevin ::

The perfect day downtown Chicago includes the following...blue skies...striking blue water...and cool breezes!!! This is exactly what it was last Sunday!
Joani and Kevin met Jamie and I at the museum campus, and wandered around taking fun shots. Their wedding is coming up in October!!!

:: Heather and Casey ::

Heather is one of my closest friends, and was recently a bridesmaid in my wedding!!! I am so excited about she and Casey getting married next August!! They are such a cute, fun couple and I love how perfect they are for each other :)

Heather - a year may seem like a long time until the "big day" that you have been waiting for, but it will be here before you know it! And then you will have a lifetime of days together! Hooray for marriage!!!

:: Josh & Brittany ::

August 30th was a sunny, not a cloud in the sky day...a beautiful day for Josh and Brittany's wedding!

My handsome husband, Jamie, lugged all of my gear around, while my good friend/assistant Britton snapped some shots and assisted throughout the day. We had fun with everyone out on the golf course, and even more fun through memorable moments of the reception. I have never heard a funnier Best Man speech, way to go AJ!!!