Snow, Snow, Snow... and more Snow!

So I keep waking up saying, "Today I'm going to blog.  Today, I'm going to blog"... and I have an engagement session that I haven't blogged yet, but I wanted to get these out before the snow melted.

Ryan and I don't have kids... yet.  But we love taking our 70lb Golden Retriever, Ginger, out in the snow and letting her romp and play until she passes out on the living room floor...  Here are some of our exploits from this morning...

Some of the wonderful scenery...

 

And here are the two furry playmates that we found along the way...

Coco

And Molly...

Have fun and stay safe everyone!

Stacy & Nathan's Wedding! Part 2

Without further ado... And this is going to be a hard wedding to top in 2010.  Mainly because I had an entire television studio to play with...

And the Studio shots...

My favorite studio shot

And the farewell...

Stacy & Nathan's Wedding! Part 1

So, I thought I was done for the season... and while I wasn't necessarily looking forward to having a few months off, I did need some down time to send my equipment in for some routine maintenance.

Stacy's sister-in-law, Elizabeth, contact me about two weeks before Christmas and told me about Stacy and Nathan's hope to find a photographer for their wedding in January.  "In January!?" I said.  In January.

I was able to meet Stacy and Nathan before they headed back to Wilmington, and talk through their life as well as the details of their ultimately fabulous day.

Stacy has a deep appreciation of old world vintage, and Nathan is an internet strategist extraordinaire.  To hear how they met, how they've changed for the better since they met each other, the deep affirmation of love and heartfelt care that they have for each other, and the strength of relationship and reputation that they have among their family and friends was beyond words.  I teared up more than once during this wedding... and the creativity I was allowed to roam and use the space was so liberating!

Stacy & Nathan,
    You both have blessed my life beyond words.  The purity of your love and the strength of your resolve to do the things in your life with excellence and virtue is a high and worthy calling.  I know you two are fit for the course, and ready for the journey... and I'm so elated that you'll be traveling together.
    Love to you both,
               Rachel

 The adorable ring bearer...

 

Too many great images to post at one time... more to come!

Shanti & Patrick's Wedding! (the best New Years Eve ever!)

So it was many moons ago when Shanti & Patrick met back at App State.  A six week relationship didn't really turn into much back then, but it was something that neither one of them could forget... her unforgettable smile, his smart comments and the good conversations they shared.  Seven years later Shanti finally called Patrick and they met up for coffee... coffee turned into dates, the dates turned into a relationship, and the relationship blossomed into romance.  Finally, they were together.

A New Years Eve wedding, how fitting... to walk into a New Year, a new season and a new life... together.  Shanti and Patrick were married at Grace Covenant Church, with a reception following at Birkdale Golf Club.  Did I mention that she was serenaded by the very classy, the very chivalrous, the most respected Phi Mu Alpha?  And I only give them the highest level of respect, because well... My husband just happens to be a Sinfonian... and once a Sinfonian, always a Sinfonian.

My dears... I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and love with each other.  I hope that through the times in your lives you always find yourselves together and in love... All the best to you.
Love,
Rach

Patrick's dance with his Stepmother.  His Mother passed away, and she was so honored to have the privilege of dancing with Patrick on his wedding day... Their bond was truly captured here...

The Serenade....

And my favorite... This is just Shanti & Patrick all the way...

Susan & Richard Engaged!

Or as I like to call it... A bicycle built for 2!  So, since the business is my baby... I bought my business a bike for Christmas (and that rhymes!!).  Let me back up...

I met Susan and Richard over Starbucks one evening, and fell in love with their love for each other.  They're the kind of couple that have enough life experience to know what they want... and they chose each other... (so happy!).

Susan has to be one of the happiest and more creative bride's that I've met.  She seriously had the vision for her engagement session all laid out, and just needed to find someone to help her vision become reality... Enter Rachel!  As soon as I left our meeting I found a the props they needed to pull it off and prayed they would book me... 2 weeks later they did!!  Enjoy the pics from our mini e-sesh!

Did I mention that Susan is G O R G E O U S?

And here ladies and gentleman... the moment you've all been waiting for...

And my favorite... (btw, the bike is also available for future sessions if requested!)

I just LOVE Susan's expression...