so many cuties...

... so little time to blog! I'm working 12-hours+ a day, 7 days a week right now, but wanted to take just a few minutes to post some of my recent subjects:-)

it was a little bit like a fairy tale...

Oh, Charleston. I do so love you.

Last weekend I had the total pleasure of photographing what was one of the most fun weddings I've ever attended. I've known the bride since our freshman year at Carolina, and I promise you, that is a long time. (And I dare say, neither of us looks a day older! Fancy that!;-)

It was a two-day event: the actual wedding took place in Eileen's aunt and uncle's 1750's house on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. Words cannot express how beautiful this home is, so I'm not even going to try. Suffice it to say - it was gorgeous and could not have been more perfect. The second day was a party out at their farm on the sound. Martha Stewart would have envied the gorgeous setting and decorations. Every moment was happy and relaxed... exactly how a wedding should be (but so rarely is.) Just an amazing weekend all the way around.

Thanks, Eileen and Rod, for letting me capture such your awesome, perfect, pretty-much-a-fairy tale wedding. I know you have many happy years ahead of you!!

xoxo,
gretchen



The shoes had hearts on the soles. Did you just say "awww!" out loud? I did.


Rod getting an iPhone shot of the reception:

a table from the party on the farm the next day... love it!!!

beware of flying objects

She flew so high, she lost a boot.

His stayed on.

Oh, to have your dad throw you in the air so high that if even just for a few seconds, you actually feel like you're flying. I've been doing this job for six years now, and I have to say - I've never seen a dad get his kids quite THIS high before. (I mean, he's NOT EVEN IN THE SHOT! These images are the original crops directly from the camera.) He must have eaten his Wheaties that morning.

I was totally impressed. And perhaps just for a minute, wishing I could be two again.

morning mini with baby harlan

This little Mr. Cute is the kind of baby who makes you want about 10 more kids. He came in for a mini session and I don't think there was a single moment this baby was not smiling. I loved it!

Here he is at Brightleaf Square in Durham. Mini sessions are always fun because I get to hit up all of my favorite neighborhood spots in about 20 minutes (and share the goodness that is Durham with my clients who may not live here.)

Happy Monday, everyone!

giggles

Oh how I love these two girls! Every year I check in on Haley and Ellie, and we have an hour of fun. (Their mom and dad are pretty darn great, too.)

See you again in 2010, girls!!

make-you-smile monday!

So in an effort to be a better blogger, I'm going to try to at least update on Mondays with a picture (or pictures) that brings a smile to my face, and hopefully will to yours, too.

All the way from Brooklyn, NY is cutie pie August. The first time I photographed him, he was only 7 months, and here he is at 4 years old. It's been so fun to capture him each year on his family's trips to NC. Here he is, peeking at me in the mirror of his aunt's Mini. (It was raining and we had to get creative with August and his baby sister!)

big kids!

Okay, so the more appropriate title to this post should be "holy cow, these girls are gorgeous!"

High school senior photography is not super big in this area of the country, but oh how I wish it were. What fun it is!

First up is Katie. Katie happens to be the daughter of my super extra fabulous assistant, Sharon. Katie will be going off to college next fall, and I'm already planning on stocking Sharon's desk with plenty of Kleenex. I loved how Katie's session turned out... in the picture of her and the truck, I think she looks like she could be on a country music CD cover:-)







And beautiful Morgan. These pictures were taken on my grandmother's Iowa farm on the day Grandma passed away. Morgan is the daughter of my cousin, and what a treat to photograph her! The weather was so gross (rainy and COLD!) on the day of her session, and as we got closer and closer to Grandma's farm, the skies cleared to a beautiful, midwestern blue. I'd like to think Grandma had a hand in that.




Here's adorable Sarah, who's off to her first year at UNCW. Not only was she as cute as a button, she was so sweet and mature. And, she let me drag her to crazy alleys in downtown Durham. That's my kind of girl.




And last but not least, these gorgeous sisters from Roxboro, NC. Carlie, Carson and Caroline were definitely among the most polite, sweet, and beautiful siblings I've ever photographed. I was so glad to be able to get their session done (immediately following a huge thunderstorm) just days before Caroline headed off to school at NC State.

So thanks to all of my patient clients and blog readers for hanging with me while I was on a blog hiatus. (And to Leigh Ann - thanks for kicking my rear into gear this morning when you saw me getting coffee and kindly prodded me for a new blog update!)