.nancy ray photography.

the new blog is here!

2009-07-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that I have a NEW BLOG! so from now on, please go to

www.nancyrayblog.com

thanks so much!

happy july! coming soon....

2009-07-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

well i have recently been working a lot behind the scenes to get some tasty new treats available, one of which is my NEW BLOG! don't you just love technology???

it will be up and running soon, so please stay tuned by checking this ol' blog as often as you'd like. you also will soon see my fancy NEW LOGO. I have completed most of my june goals, as you can see :

• new logo design by the lovely shelly moore {stay tuned...} CHECK

• photograph beautiful weddings CHECK

• celebrate my 1 year anniversary! {with hubby in beaufort, nc} CHECK

• visit my very preggers sister in nashville, tn CHECK

• plan my booth for the august {forever bridal} bridal show CHECK

• get tan/layout CHECK

• finish my grocery budget with money leftover {so we can splurge on something yummy!} CHECK!!

• research/get a new blog layout/design CHECK

here are my JULY GOALS!!

• buy new music on itunes. {still open to suggestions!} ALMOST CHECK {waiting on imogen's newest!}

• buy furniture for my booth! ALMOST CHECK {not sure if i need anything new??}

• meet my 3 new nephews!!!! JULY 16!!!

• new business cards. booyah. {thanks to Salutations!}

• start a new journal

• be a bridesmaids in my BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING!!!! holy COW!!!

• finalize booth for the August Bridal Show {contact me if you're interested in attending!}

• go to LOVE AFFAIR WORKSHOP in Atlanta! {more on God's provision for that later!}

• take lots of photos, of course :)

• exercise at least twice a week

happy july everyone! hope your summer is in full swing and you are enjoying every bit of this heat. i know i am!

joy | maternity

2009-07-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

joy and shaun are such a beautiful couple. they are so genuinely happy around one another, it was so much fun to be around them and take pictures of them. i loved every second of their session around southeastern baptist theological seminary in wake forest, nc - where they both graduated college. joy and i graduated high school together, and have kept in touch ever since. she and shaun got married 3 weeks before me and my husband did, so it's so exciting to see the path where God is taking them! they are expecting baby augustine august 1, and i couldn't be more excited.

and if you can't tell from the photos, joy is literally glowing with the beauty of a mommy. but that isn't hard to see at all :).

sooo, shaun wrote a book. and joy's reading it.

nephews!

2009-06-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

so last week hubby and i had our first anniversary trip to beaufort & fearrington, which explains why i've been MIA for a bit. on our way to beaufort, we stopped to visit with Meghan (my sis-in-law), Kyler & Niko (my nephews). Johnny (my bro) was out in the field (he is a marine).

(this post has way too many parentheses.)

(oh well.)

PLEASE LOOK AT HOW CUTE MY NEPHEWS ARE!! i mean seriously, they are too hilarious! will and i were cracking up most of the time we were there.

just. keep. scrolling.

it's sooo worth it!

how cute of a mom is meghan?! she rides in powerwheels!!!

uncle will is so much fun!!!

ok. stop, and prepare yourselves for the cutest funniest little guys EVER.

first - milk mustaches!

2nd - muscles!

3rd - silly faces!!

bahahahah!!!

this is after i read some dr. seuss. they love green eggs & ham!

all in all it was a fabulous visit. i already miss those little boogers.

our 1st anniversary!

2009-06-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

i can't believe it has already been a whole year since i have been married to my sweet husband william. my wedding day was so surreal, and i love looking back at the photos because it seriously was such a blur! my clearest memories were actually of the ceremony, which included a sweet summer rain and an incredible breeze. i can still close my eyes and feel it, with my husband standing next to me.

we were married at fearrington village, one of my favorite places on earth. right now, will and i are on our first anniversary trip in beaufort, nc, and i am so excited to end our trip staying one night at fearrington! i will definitely be posting photos of our trip, so keep checking the blog in the next few weeks.

here are a few photos of my wedding, taken by the talented walters & walters. enjoy!

kellan | maternity session

2009-06-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

kellan's maternity session was so sweet. she and her husband were so relaxed, completely being themselves the whole time which is what i love. they would just talk with each other, and i'd occasionally tell them to look at me and smile... but mostly, i loved just capturing them. thankfully the rain held off just until the end!

after walking around outside quite a bit, kellan and i went inside to take some fun mommy photos. she is such an elegant mother! and the baby blocks were so fun! (although a bit difficult to keep on the belly :))

baby aubrey is due in august... i am so excited for their family!

summerrrrr

2009-06-15T14:07:00.001-07:00

i am so excited for it to finally be HOT! summer has finally arrived, and i hope it stays for good. {you never can tell with boone.}

{random fact: it has snowed at least once every single month in boone except for july at some point in history.}

here are some of my plans, especially regarding the next week:

upcoming adventures:

- mini birthday party for sam

- enjoying my new 50" plasma

- visiting my nephews, kyler & niko

- anniversary trip to...

- ... beaufort, nc

- ... fearrington village

i'll keep you posted!!!

{illustrations: chris silas neal}

trip to nashville

2009-06-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

so this past weekend i went to good ol' nashville, tennessee to visit my sister. she is precious and is such a trooper at this point in her pregnancy. it is so cute because she really is ALL BELLY... she doesn't even look pregnant from behind, which is amazzzzing. because she's carrying 3.

here is a little picture recap from the weekend. sissy's husband chris was away on a missions trip, so crystal (her bff since she was like 5) and i kept her company, pampered her with food and massages, and laughed our heads off. it was great.

sorry that a lot of these pics are of food, but much of our weekend revolved around that! gotta keep the boys fed!

i mean really, doesn't this look SO YUMMY?

in preparation for the little ones... look at how precious these stuffed animals are!

off to the doctor's office for the ultrasound!! {sissy & crystal}

seeesters {& brothers!}

ultrasound

more food. YUM.

it's a 6 hour drive from nashville to boone, and i love it when the mountains welcome me home. i just had to stop and get this picture.... it was so peaceful!

i can't believe the next time i see her will be when the boys are here. to follow her story, click here!

kristen & chris | wedding day

2009-06-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

i love it when i get the chance to photograph the wedding of a friend. kristen was one of my best friends my freshman year in college, and she has one of the sweetest hearts i know. i couldn't imagine a better match for her in chris... he is so fun and he laughs a lot, which is PERFECT for kristen. (you can always find them with smiles on their faces!)

the day began with excitement, curlers, and hairspray...

lookin' good...

"put the garter on higher!"

the bridesmaids thought it would be nice to give chris a little gift before the wedding. can anyone guess what these are for? {hint: look at photo # 5}

which dress photo do you like better?

LOVE this fun photo

kristen's parents are missionaries in costa rica, so it was so special to have them in the States celebrating. it was so touching when Kristen's dad prayed with the ladies before the ceremony began...

example of how awesome chris & kristen are: they choreographed their own first dance!

and these two love birds are getting married this fall! it's OBVIOUSLY meant to be :)

can you read what it says? (scroll down for answer)

"CONGRATS" to Kristen and Chris! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day. I know you will make each other happy for the rest of your lives!

emily & pat | wedding day

2009-06-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

emily and pat were so perfect for each other. never in my life have i photographed such a wonderful and crazy couple and bunch of friends! they had so many supportive bridesmaids and groomsmen, family, and friends. and they knew how to have FUN.

the day began at emily's house, where she and her bridesmaids had a glorious brunch, followed by DIY bouquets. this is a lovely picture of Mimi, whom I grew to admire as the day went on. What a precious grandmother.

all the bridesmaids gathered around emily to pray for her before the big day. it was so sweet and uplifting... i think every bride needs this on her wedding day!

then the ladies headed out to make their own bouquets! amazing.

they turned out fabulous, didn't they?!

ceremony shoes & reception shoes. brilliant.

this is one of my favorite moments about that day, which goes to show the crazy fun personalities of emily and pat. so i was out taking the guys photos, and they all had this idea of jumping into the air off this 4 ft. slope. i was excited, because jumping pictures always turn out crazy, and it's pretty typical for the guys to want to do something adventurous like that. THEN, i took the girls out there. in their beautiful dresses, they had the SAME IDEA! they kicked off their shoes, ran and JUMPED! i didn't even tell them that the guys did the same thing, because I thought it'd be a fun surprise. What an awesome wedding party!!!

the anticipation...

her dad escorted her in a golf cart!

{i was definitely scared a bird was going to fly out and hit my face while taking this shot, haha!}

what a lovely bride... seriously, breathtaking

haha i mean, how awesome is this?!

the company band was seriously AMAZING. i couldn't help myself but to dance and sing along to everything!!! they were so sick!

and let the DANCING begin

"if you like it then you should have put a ring on it!"

a fight to the death for the garter...

and they're off to aruba...

emily and pat, you are a beautiful couple, and i pray you will always keep that JOY and sense of humor you share! thank you so much for letting me part of your special day. be blessed!

nancy ray

buffalo chicken dip. our favorite.

2009-06-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

wow, talk about just in the nick of time! (nick of time? is that right? it looks weird when typed...) i just was checking in on one of the many photog's blogs i stalk, and kelly moore is having an awesome giveaway for favorite recipes. so, without further adieu (adieu? that looks weird too...) i present to you... the one and only...

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP.

now this is more than just a buffalo chicken dip. it is THE buffalo chicken dip.

ready? set?

ingredients -

1 package cream cheese
1/2 cup KEN's buffalo wing sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 large can of canned chicken (in tuna section)
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar/jack/italian)
1 bag tortilla chips

directions -

Place the package of cream cheese in a square 9x9 pan and place in oven before preheating.
Preheat oven to 350, allowing cream cheese to warm with oven. (when oven reaches 350, remove pan so as not to burn the cc, but warm it enough to spread easily.)
In a separate bowl, drain and shred chicken with a fork
Add ranch dressing and buffalo sauce; mix well.
Spread cream cheese in the pan it's in to create the bottom layer of dip
Pour chicken mixture to form middle layer of dip
Shred cheese, and sprinkle to create top layer of dip
Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes
Serve with tortilla chips, and enjoy!

ok so i admit that this isn't necessarily the healthiest meal, but i love it for so many reasons...

1. it is fast and easy.

2. it is oh so tasty.

3. it is complimented well by healthy foods. (i usually serve it with a salad or a fruit & veggie tray)

4. it is oh so tasty.

5. it can work as an appetizer or meal

6. it is oh so tasty.

and one last hint.... only and always use KEN's buffalo wing sauce. all others do not suffice like ken's does.

enjoy!!!

happy june!

2009-06-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

my windows are open, the sun is shining, and birds are singing outside my window.

june is here!

i always love the beginning of a month... it's like a little holiday. a new beginning, a fresh start. i also really love making plans & goals, so here are a few exciting things coming for me this month:

• new logo design by the lovely shelly moore {stay tuned...}

• photograph beautiful weddings

• celebrate my 1 year anniversary! {with hubby in beaufort, nc}

• visit my very preggers sister in nashville, tn

• buy new music on itunes. {i need new music. any suggestions?}

• plan my booth for the august {forever bridal} bridal show

• buy furniture for my booth!

• finish my journal

• {maybe} meet my 3 new nephews?!?!

• new business cards. booyah.

• join modern photographers

• get tan/layout

• finish my grocery budget with money leftover {so we can splurge on something yummy!}

• write someone a hand written note

• research/get a new blog layout/design

i looooooovee productivity! happy june, everyone.

matt & laura | wedding day

2009-05-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

what a sweet couple. i have never seen anyone compliment each other so well as i saw in matt and laura. matt was at the church early that day, preparing and working to make the day perfect. laura came later to get ready, and she was excited and nervous and gitty... such an adorable bride.

matt (stable, steady, calm)

+ laura (gitty, excited, spontaneous)

= the perfect match.

i loved simply observing them the whole day. set in the beautiful mountains of north carolina, their church wedding & outdoor reception was beautiful.

i love the look on matt's face as soon as he saw laura...

i found this really old school chair behind the church outside... vintage and a perfect prop for rings!

now this was one of my favorite parts of the reception... the butterfly release. as soon as they flew out, they all swarmed laura! it was too funny...

congratulations, matt and laura. i am so happy for you two, and i know you will make each other happy for the rest of your lives!

my evening

2009-05-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

so i have the evening to myself, and i did all sorts of things i love, including:

-cleaning

-watching gilmore girls

-burning my clean cotton yankee candle

-drinking diet caffeine free cheerwine

-eating dinner on the couch

-updating my blog

-talking with my sister for an hour-ish

-stalking my favorite blogs {including but not limited to: sissy, simply bloom, millie, jose, & love affair}

and now i've hit the boredom wall. i'm usually pretty good about keeping myself entertained, but i'm bored. hubby is at work 'till 11:30, so i have 2 hours to kill. there is plenty of photography to do, and i have been working on that some today. but since it's sunday, i try to rest and stick to household & fun activities. now i need to think of things that i can/should/want to/need to do...

-paint my fingernails

-take a shower

-read one of the 3 books i'm currently reading {freedom of simplicity, guerilla marketing, the millionaire next door}

-read one of the 3 magazines i'm currently reading {real simple, martha stewart living, rangefinder}

-fill out this rebate form that has been staring at me for a week

-decorate my planner

-write a handwritten note

-finish some upcoming website updates

-try to beat will's high score in flight control (lame, i know)

list-making always helps... now i am inspired.

and with that i say, goodnight!

{photo credit: Antonis Achilleos}

melissa & eric | wedding: part 2

2009-05-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

{continued...}

all day, it had been raining on and off. everyone was so happy when 5:00 came around, and the beautiful sun came out. it was perfect.

i must be honest. i was so glad i had my camera to hide behind during this dance, because i cried my eyes out! it was so precious. one of the sweetest daddy-daughter dances i've ever seen.

so these two - {the "catchers"} - were quite hilarious. both had their respective girlfriend & boyfriend watching from the crowd... so when the dj asked him to "put the garter on her leg"... this is what happened!

lots of love to give on the way out. what a beautiful evening!

melissa & eric | wedding: part 1

2009-05-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

what i loved so much about this wedding is that it was truly a beautiful southern wedding. it reflected so many things that i personally love (being raised in the south myself) and, in my opinion, perfectly reflected the bride and groom. the location was rose hill plantation.... a gorgeous property set back in the hills of nashville, nc.

to start the day off right, southern style, the ladies began their beauty preparation and had an elegant bridesmaids luncheon on a beautiful porch. {it included pearls and sweet tea: perfect!}

i simply have to give a shout out to denise. she did everyones hair and make-up, and i was super impressed! she even used this spray/airbrush applicator for the foundation (pictured below.) not to mention, when barack obama was in town, they called her to do his make-up. (she declined, because she had a bride to attend to.) she's definitely going under "people i like!"

all the while, the men were out in the fields "skeet shooting." {i am quite familiar with this manly hobby as my husband loves it.} then we headed out for portraits, which were a blast! those guys were hilarious.

haha i think it's obvious what happened here!

the ladies were a bit more elegant to say the least :). look at how beautiful they are!

i promise i will post "part 2" very soon. there are just too many wonderful photos, i had to break it up in two posts! hope you enjoy :)

it's go time: my love affair video {& song}

2009-05-17T20:12:00.001-07:00

this is it! i have been trying to win the scholarship to the amazing love affair workshop this july. i got a pedicure, and i wrote all about the workshop & why i want to go here.

and now.....the long awaited video entry for the love affair workshop scholarship. thinking of what "crazy" thing i should do was tough.... especially when my husband was pressuring me to jump off a 15 ft. dam into an ice cold river in the mountains... hahaha! he is such a thrill seeker, and i am so NOT. but alas, no hypothermia, and no conquering my fear of heights. just a fun little song i wrote for the workshop. mr. workshop, actually.

call me corny, but i love this stuff! enjoy!

my love affair pedicure

2009-05-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

this is yet another attempt to win the oh-so-fabulous scholarship that the oh-so-wonderful ladies at love affair are offering!

assignment: get a pedicure and take a picture of it.

could there be a better assignment?

mary lindsey | TRIPLETS maternity

2009-05-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

for those of you who don't know, my sweet big sister is pregnant with triplets! it's quite the funny story actually, and more than any other it proves that God has a sense of humor. you can read all about her story here.

you see, my sister and her husband tried for almost 3 years to have kids, and they didn't think they were ever going to be able to. it was such a hard time for my sister especially, because all she wanted in life was to be a mom. i remember her saying when she was young that she really hoped she had multiples one day! after much prayer, heartache, and waiting, they finally got pregnant with harper grace. they weren't sure if they would be able to have more kids after harper, but insert God's sense of humor here! With no fertility treatment involved, they soon found out they were pregnant with TRIPLET BOYS! and harper grace was only 10 months old :).

these are her maternity photos at a beautiful 25 weeks. triplet pregnancies usually last between 30-35 weeks, as opposed to the normal 40 weeks of a single baby. notice that she looks just as big now as she did when she was pregnant with harper at 38 weeks - 4 days before she gave birth! {view those maternity photos here.} she is growing those baby boys beautifully, and it is obvious that the calling to be a mom is all over her. isn't she glowing? i'm so proud of you, sissy!

this next series is my favorite! pickles and ice cream - the perfect pregnant cravings!

love affair | a workshop

2009-05-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

there is so much i want in life. it's a bit ironic, because i already have everything i could want in my Lord + my husband + my photography. i am content, and yet i find myself wanting more. i think that's a good place to be.

have you ever heard that saying, "if you're not moving forward, you are moving backwards" ? i love that. i always love to push myself in all areas of my life, to be a woman of excellence in my cooking, my creativity, my organization, my relationships, my photography, my finances, my spirituality, my business. i want to "turn heads," so that i can noticeably be the salt and light of the earth. i don't want to go unnoticed. i want to be balanced, i want to be different.

i think that's why this workshop caught my eye so quickly...

it's called the "love affair workshop." it includes ladies & ladies only {yes!), and the entire weekend all the girls attending learn about {all aspects of} business and photography, & balancing your life.

um.... yes, please!

i found out about it through millie holloman - one of my few photographers that i follow regularly for inspiration. {you should read her blog - it's ridiculous!} through millie, i have come to learn from and admire Kelly Moore Clark, Davina Fear, and Lauren Clark. all four of these talented ladies will be leading this group of 60 women, sharing their different perspectives on technique and business.

if i don't end up going this year, i hope i can next. they are offering a scholarship opportunity that i'm trying for, so i will let you know how it goes! but for all you lady photographers - you should seriously look into this. i can't read enough fabulous reviews about this workshop, no matter how advanced you are, or how much of a beginner you are. you can find their blog here: .love affair workshop.

ONE MORE THING: i will be submitting a video of me doing something crazy to win the scholarship! i WILL post it on my blog...... keep your eyes out for it :).

so stay tuned! & leave me some love {aka comments! aka why you think i should win the scholarship!}!

the mussers | family session

2009-05-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

so this ADORABLE family asked me to do a family session with them at duke gardens, and it was so fun! now this day was hot and sunny... and just a gorgeous day to be outside playing. we made a giant loop around the gardens and stopped at the pretty spots along the way. maya (the oldest sister) was hilarious... such a two year old! she loved stopping to watch the ducks, smell the flowers, play with the rocks, and run off to explore. i loved it. addie, (the littlest :)), had the biggest, bluest eyes and was so content to just smile and observe everything going on around her. it's obvious this family is so happy and thankful to be together! i love starting off the photos with this joyful photo of laughter, while maya is holding her favorite giant leaf in front of her face...

one of my favorite games.... maya loved to jump on shadows with daddy!

eating yummy grapes...

i absolutely love how she disappears into these flowers!

the true sign of childhood - dirt!!!

thank you for letting me capture your beautiful family!

Ashley & RJ | Wedding Day

2009-04-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

i really can't say enough wonderful things about ashley, rj, and their whole family. the day started with the traditional primping in the girl's room, and as ashley was reviewing her vows to rj, she listed about a million reasons why she loved him. some of them being...

- he always says "hi gorgeous" when answering the phone

- they have fun doing their taxes (they really did!)

- he is an incredible father

- she didn't believe in marriage until she met him

we almost started crying right there! as the day went on, and i was able to meet rj, their love for each other was so evident. their blended family is so beautiful, and all three kids couldn't have been more happy. it was a small, intimate wedding, that couldn't have been more perfect. even the girls being late heightened the anticipation! :)

for dinner, everyone headed over to "Pop's - a Durham Trattoria". it was fabulous! by now, i really felt part of the family as Reily asked me to sit with her to eat dinner, and Trey kept writing me notes like "you are cute" on his Nintendo. I had a blast.

{trey writing a note to me! his last one said "you are pretty like an angel cross my heart"... so precious!}

Stay tuned for more photos of this beautiful family in September, as we are going to party! They are having a big wedding reception then.

What a beautiful evening! Ashley and RJ, thank you for letting me be a part of your day.

sneak peak !

2009-04-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

tonight i had an absolute fabulous time taking photos for ashley & rj. i am so happy for them! by the end of the day i felt like i have known them {& their sweet families} forever. congratulations you guys!

here is a sneak peak of their wedding photos.... more to come!

Town Hall for HOPE

2009-04-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

tonight i went to Town Hall for HOPE. if you have been following my blog, you probably know (from this previous blogpost) that my Will and i love Dave Ramsey and all that his ministry has meant to us. so when he hosted a nation-wide live event that was free, we wouldn't miss it! we looked forward to this with much anticipation...

Town Hall for HOPE

the economy.

your money.

real answers.

he really answered some tough questions that all of us are asking in the midst of this crazy economy, like "how is the best way to start saving?" "is this our great depression?" "when will more employment come back around?" etc. etc. etc....

and most of all, he tackled this fear that has taken hold of our nation. he spoke the truth that we should not rely on government to fix our problems, but we should live in personal responsibility in order to take control of our own finances. man! i love that guy!

and one of my favorite parts of this evening was when dave answered the question, "should we invest in gold?"

he said, "i see gold as the snuggy of investments. it looks like a good buy, but it'll only make you look stupid." bahaha so awesome!

so here are some photos of tonight. we had 350+ people in attendance at our location, and everyone was so warm and welcoming! it truly was an environment of HOPE.

mr. loscheider doing announcements

the t-shirt toss got people excited!

and the crowds gather....

me and my hubby!!

I choose HOPE!

Colgans | Family Session

2009-04-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT family! We headed out to the beautiful Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, and the weather, flowers, and people couldn't be more beautiful.

I think my favorite thing about this session was how I could tell that this family is close. I could tell that they see each other often, that they feel completely comfortable around one another. They were joking and laughing most of the time, and as soon as the little kids arrived, they RAN to their grandad. It was precious! If I pulled someone aside to take their picture, everyone else would chime in and try everything they could to make them laugh. It really created some beautiful, candid photographs! It was so much fun.

This session was a Mother's Day gift to Marla (the beautiful woman holding the baby).

Marla - I hope you enjoy these photos for many years to come! Happy {early} Mother's Day!

this next series are some portraits of laura. she wanted some of her senior portraits redone, so I included them the same day of the family session. this girl is gorgeous!

LOVE this daddy-daughter photo :)

this is dave and nikki's family - PLEASE look at how cute these kids are. i couldn't get enough of them!

100% BOY :)

precious little girl

the daddy-daughter trick!

what a beautiful family!

the meaning of photographs

2009-04-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

love this video.

my sweet easter sunday

2009-04-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

hallelujah! Jesus is risen!

i woke up with such excitement today, knowing i am free. free in the ultimate meaning of the word.

yes, i live in this wonderful country and have freedom of speech, freedom to choose what i believe in, freedom to be who i want to be, freedom to be doing this - what i love. yes, i am over 21 so i am free to make my own choices, whether responsible or not. yes, i have a wonderful husband who encourages me to freely be myself. but really, one can have all of these things, and still be dying on the inside. one can live in this country, have millions of dollars, the biggest home, the "perfect" life, and still be miserable.

i know, because i have been there. and not only myself, but i have seen that sad kind of misery all around me, even in my own family. it's a horrible feeling when everything looks the best it can on the outside, but on the inside, you feel trapped and strangled - the complete opposite of free.

you can be sure that i only experienced freedom when i trusted in Jesus to save me. when i let go of my greed, selfishness, anger, and discontent with life, and i let the Lord actually be Lord and I obeyed what He said...

i found freedom.

more freedom in life, more joy, more peace than i have ever known. and it is all because He conquered those ugly things inside of me (green, selfishness, anger, discontent, etc.) ! Jesus was perfect because He was God. and He took my imperfections so that I wouldn't be condemned, but that I might have freedom. He was condemned for me, but He didn't stop there! He died on the cross to save me, but He rose again that I might have freedom and life abundant! That seriously makes me want to jump up and down!!!

It's because I have been in that state of misery and now, I'm not. I'm forever free, on the inside and out.

and it all has to do with Jesus! He wants you to have the same freedom. ask Him to show it to you, and He will. follow Him, and you will know exactly how it feels to be loved, and to be free.

***

so today i celebrated all of the above, and it was so lovely. as many of you know, my husband currently works night shift, so we spend time together in the mornings (when he gets home) and in the evenings (when he prepares to leave). it's actually not so bad, because we are always focused on spending quality time together and making the most of it.

this morning, we went to the early service at church, and then went to panera for breakfast. he headed to bed, and i had the rest of the day to prepare a yummy easter dinner, relax, and enjoy the beautiful day! it was such a sweet easter.

after watching 4 episodes of gilmore girls in a row (yesssss), i did some laundry, cleaned the apt a bit, and then went to the park to ROLLERBLADE. yes, i said it ya'll - i went rollerblading all by myself today.

and it was GLORIOUS.

i was quite afraid that i was going to bust in front of all the happy go lucky park people, but thankfully i didn't. although there were plenty of those awkward my-arms-spaz-into-the-air-because-i'm-losing-my-balance moments, no busts. so i'm okay!

i brought my Bible and journal, so after rollerblading i sat and read John 19&20, and i cried. in the park, i cried at how wonderful my Jesus is.

so that is my easter*2009 story! i am so thankful, and i hope you are too.

pamela & madison | e*session

2009-04-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

this past saturday was so much fun! i headed out to chapel hill's crazy campus to meet pamela and madison for their e*session. it was such a perfect spring day - everything was in full bloom, the sun was shining, and these two were just fun to be around. it's obvious that they are meant for each other and so in love. my favorite thing about them is that they know how to make each other laugh... a lot :). we started off our session at the old well...

this was the spot where madison proposed not too long ago. it was beautiful!

this place was just enchanting...

& the old library was so beautiful!

one of my favorites :)

now the legend behind this bench is that any couple who kisses here will be sure to get married...

so they sealed the deal!

what a wonderful e*session. congratulations, pamela and madison. i'm really looking forward to your wedding day!

PWG Bridal Show

2009-04-09T08:57:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, I was able to be a part of the Perfect Wedding Guide's Bridal Show. Just wanted to give a shout out to Gail, PWG, and to all the Brides who attended! It was great meeting you - what a great show!

Here is a tiny picture of my booth that I took from my iPhone...

haha, gotta love the iPhone!

"lifted" | a benefit concert

2009-04-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

this past weekend was a crazy one for me. i loved every bit of it though! i went to 2 concerts, had an engagement shoot (pics to come), 4 appointments, the bridal show, and i randomly decided to cut my hair short and donate it to locks of love (pics to come). it was a whirlwind of fun!

the first concert i went to was a benefit concert for the organization remember nhu. i had the privilege taking photographs for the concert and the organization. it was truly an incredible night.

a big thanks to holly aiken for donating the materials to make these amazing bracelets!

preparations

the cute mini-cupcakes i made to sell

daniel moore

catherine walker | event organizer

samantha whitfield

nathan walker | public disgrace

dan seaman

john ray | sharing the testimony of his heartbreak over sex trafficking

jessica lyndon ray

closing in a time of worship

if you have an interested in helping the victims of the global child sex trafficking, stay informed through remembernhu.org

happy birthday kyler!

2009-03-31T19:54:00.001-07:00

i seriously can't even believe my nephew is 4! holy cow. he is getting so big! we had such a fun birthday party for him this weekend, with lots of thomas the train, magna-doodles, lightning mcqueen, playdough, coloring books, crayons, and a spongebob squarepants birthday cake.

awesome.

my favorite was when he was making up exuses during dinner so he could eat his cake. he looked sadly over at me and said,

"my tummy hurts."

i asked him,

"are you okay?"

and he just said,

"my tummy hurts. can i have some cake now?"

then his little brother (who is also getting way too big in my opinion!) who wants to be just like his big brother said,

"my tummy hurts too. can we have cake now?"

it was hilarious. they are hilarious. cake won't help a hurting tummy! ha!

...and despite the rain, we had such a fun time!

face of sheer excitement...

his reaction opening his present from aunt nancy and uncle will:

a coloring book and lots of play dough!

mom & dad chillin in the swing

little brother niko couldn't get enough icing!!!

and grandma deedee loved taking the birthday boy down to the pond

he's getting so big! i can't even believe it!

bridal show | this sunday!

2009-03-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

this week is going to be a fabulous week! i am very excited to be a part of the Perfect Wedding Guide's spring bridal show.

if you are a bride and are looking for help with

caterers

photographers

videographers

florists

bridal attire

cakes

honeymoon

invitations

venues

limousines

music entertainment

then look no further than the Bridal Show this Sunday at the Crabtree Marriot in Raleigh! contact me about getting a free ticket. it's not too late!

Dave Ramsey.... Attempt

2009-03-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

For those of you who know me personally, and are around me quite a bit, you know that my husband Will and I have a lot of interest in Dave Ramsey.

Okay, so it's kindof an obsession.

Like, we do not miss a single podcast, we have completed "Financial Peace University," we own his bestseller Total Money Makeover, and we even have his bumper stickers. Yeah.

So when we went to Nashville, TN this past weekend, we were super excited to go to Financial Peace Plaza to see him do his radio show... LIVE!!! We listened to his radio show while driving to Brentwood, and when we got there we jumped out of the car to take a photo by the sign:

(please note how i propped the camera up in the grass. classic "i don't have my tripod with me" shot!)

we went inside and....low and behold, we found this sad, sad sign:

We were totally bummed! They are doing lots and lots of construction and his viewing booth isn't a viewing booth anymore, but is behind closed doors. But we did see this cool light that says "On Air" behind a glass door, which was right outside of where Dave Ramsey was!

I will say that it was still a really fun trip! We went to their makeshift bookstore (bc of the construction) and I bought... another bumper sticker :). And I am super excited about coming back in April because they will have a brand new coffee shop where you can sit and view Dave Ramsey while drinking coffee (I think they designed that especially for me - my two favorite things!) and a lovely new bookstore as well.

But on a more serious note, we are so thankful for him. Whether it's for your personal life or for your business, Dave Ramsey has advice to give that has really changed my life. He truly saved our marriage from a lot of strife by teaching us how to get on the same page with our finances, and we like working as a team to be wise with our money and stay out of debt! We work with a strict budget and do not, and will not ever own a credit card! It is very rewarding.

so find him on your radio today and listen!

The Nance Family | Pinehurst, NC

2009-03-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

first and foremost i must let you know how much i love my family. i have quite the large family on my mom's side, and we see each other every Christmas and 4th of July. (i know it's kindof random on the 4th, but it's become our tradition!) but seriously, i look so forward to every time i get to see them :). so when my uncle called to ask if i could do some family portraits for them, i couldn't wait! we laughed a lot and had a great time.

uncle jack is hilarious, and did plenty of "model walks" and told plenty of jokes to keep us laughing. aunt deann is so sweet and creative - she took us to the white gate and railroad tracks. caroline and liza are so much fun to hang out with, and i absolutely love their style! they helped me stage a couple of the shots with their creativity too. they remind me so much of me and my sister a while back, and they look amazing in these photos! i'm amazed at how beautiful they are. and how can i forget about their dog daisy! she's awesome, and she snorts a lot. pretty much all in all,this family is great. i love you guys :)

i particularly love the sister shots :)

i love this next one!!

daddy with his girls ;)

this next one was a little dangerous, but definitely worth it :)

Jessica Lyndon Ray Music | Project Concert

2009-03-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

i had the honor of attending Jessica Lyndon Ray's Project Concert this past Saturday evening. the Shelly Moore Band opened the evening, as they are producing JLR's new cd. it was an incredible night of music, and i didn't realize how much i needed to hear the messages behind each song. it was like the Lord just took hold of my heart and reminded me of His overwhelming and unending love and grace. i was so blessed to be there! the Chad Lister Band closed the evening with JLR in worship, and everyone i talked with afterward was so thankful they had the opportunity to attend such an incredible concert. photography is a form of worship for me, and i loved being able to take photos of the evening. all in all, it was a great night!

oh, and i'm sorry for the ridiculous amount of photos i've posted. i just couldn't narrow them down... i loved so many of them!

shelly moore and mike pasarro starting off the evening...

jessica lyndon ray music

the chad lister band joining jlr

closing with three of my favorite photographs of the night:

kristen & chris | e*session

2009-03-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

i met with kristen and chris last weekend at meadowmont village in chapel hill, nc. it had absolutely poured nonstop that weekend, but i decided instead of rescheduling the photo shoot, we would try to get some fun rain photos and see if good ol' north carolina would surprise us with some nice weather. well, nc pulled through! it literally stopped raining for an hour and a half, just so we could have our photo shoot. when we finished up at the cafe, it started pouring once again! it was so much fun. i kept telling them they were so easy to photograph, because they were! they were so naturally in love, and they had fun with every new spot we went to. it was so fun! stay tuned in June for their wedding photos :) ...

in the words of charlotte... salutations!

2009-03-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

this weekend was wonderful and busy. i met with some beautiful brides and their moms, talked about wedding days, had an amazing e*session, and drove all over raleigh, chapel hill, and even made a trip to pinehurst. it was great!

the e*session i photographed was for chris and kristen... more on that later :). we went to meadowmont village in chapel hill, nc. i had some time to kill before the shoot, and it was pouring down rain so i couldn't really walk around. but i did come across this ADORABLE store called Salutations. i looked around for a good 20 minutes before even asking if i could take some photos, because i loved every little detail! they were so gracious, welcoming, and friendly. they allowed me to take as many photos as i wanted, so i want to share them with you.

if you are a bride looking for some lovely invitations... don't look any further than Salutations!

enjoy.

definitely one of my favorite little invitations...

decorative paper! brilliant!

some of their MANY invitation albums

25 things about me

2009-02-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

random fun for your enjoyment!

1. i couldn't get through a day without the grace and love of Jesus
2. i take really really hot showers
3. smells are big for me. i always have a candle burning and an air freshener in my car
4. i could eat buffalo chicken dip every day of my life
5. i enjoy photographs and strive to create beautiful ones
6. i'm happiest when there's a place for everything and everything's in its place
7. i read 3 magazines regularly: real simple, martha stewart living, pottery barn
8. i listen to rush limbaugh and dave ramsey... all. the. time.
9. my husband is my best friend
10. i eat green beans with ranch dressing. i eat a whole lot of things with ranch dressing, actually.
11. my brother is my hero
12. i enjoy organizing and cleaning so much that it's borderline OCD. (i can't sleep with dirty dishes!)
13. the closet doors have to be shut before i can go to bed
14. i really like birds. hence, the theme of our wedding
15. my sister understand me like no one else. i don't laugh as much or as hard with anyone else!
16. 2 years ago, my favorite thing to do was go shopping. now, i hate spending money! (thanks, dave!)
17. i love short nails with nail polish
18. coffee gets me out of the bed. i get excited every morning drinking 2-3 mugs
19. i play poker
20. there is not one athletic bone in my body
21. i'm a minki through and through
22. i love to cook
23. i've been to mexico, italy, england, greece, france, switzerland, the bvi, germany, and hawaii
24. my hair is stick straight and i wish it was curly
25. snow is my favorite

ashley meilus | maternity

2009-02-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

my dear friend ashley meilus now has a beautiful baby boy named cash. i was so honored to do her maternity portraits when she was still pregnant! we went to a beautiful park in historic valley crucis, nc for her session. she is such a beautiful model - so natural and easygoing. it wasn't difficult at all to capture beautiful photos of her pregnancy, as she was simply glowing. we had a perfect day outside in the sun! it was amazing.

the black apple doll

2009-02-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

as i was trying to decide what to give my little one year old niece for her birthday, i came across this adorable "black apple doll" in a martha stewart living magazine. the woman who created this kind of doll is the #1 seller on etsy. anyway, i thought it was absolutely perfect for harper! it took me a while to make, since i made it by hand instead of with a sewing machine, but it was absolutely worth it. harper's face was priceless when i gave it to her... she slept with it and even took it with her to the doctor's office the next day. she dragged it around by the feet, snuggled with it, chewed on it, and everything else a little girl should do with her doll. it was so sweet!

Harper's Priceless expression when first seeing her doll

and i LOVE that i found her in the kitchen with her doll. she was dragging it around with her everywhere! she is such a little girl, and i love it!

now, what should i get for my nephews on their birthdays??? i have a feeling they won't want a doll!

the seaman family

2009-02-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

this family is amazing. dan and his beautiful wife amy have been mentors to me and my husband will. will knows them a bit more, as dan was his youth pastor growing up... but i have grown to know them and have been amazed at what beautiful people they are. dan made our wedding day quite special as he was one of the two officiants we had "marry" us. he did a magnificent job.

their three children are amazing! lucas is definitely the "oldest child" ... he reminds me a lot of what i think my husband would have been like as a kid haha! very smart and practical. nate is very conversational and fun to talk with! he is interested in everything around him. and ellie is... ellie! a very independent little sister who has already developed quite a personality of her own. into everything and in her own world... she will be well protected by her big brothers for the rest of her life i'm sure. they were all so well behaved and quite entertaining :). i had a wonderful time taking photos at their warm home! enjoy these beautiful people!

my 4th photo and trip to nashville

2009-02-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

so my sister tagged me in this game where you have to post the 4th photo from your 4th folder on your blog. so here it is! this is my mom picking out Christmas trees a couple of years ago, hahaha! we get really really really excited when picking out Christmas trees.

my mom is the BEST!

•••

so last weekend i went to nashville to babysit my niece harper and help my sister who is pregnant with triplets. my relationship with harper changed from tiny baby & adult into a friendship. yes, a friendship with an almost-1-year-old. how? i have no clue. but we seriously laughed so hard together at so many things! we played games, we joked with each other, we hung out together. we are friends, and it's the cutest thing ever.

this is harper's impression of dwight schrute

she loves climbing the stairs. this gate is a lifesaver!

our favorite play toy - "pinkie pie the pony!"

i like this one

i am luckily going to nashville again this weekend for harper's first birthday party! i can't wait. stay tuned for more pictures of this adorable little girl.

now for the 4th photo 4th folder game, i tag sam crowder, steph drummond, and juliet elizabeth!

a few thoughts from a recent bride

2009-02-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe I've already been married for 7 months! It feels like forever, but it feels like a day. It's really difficult to describe my bond with Will, because it runs so deep. It ran deep before we ever got married.

We were best friends for four years.
We are best friends today.
It definitely is awesome to share every part of your life with someone, no matter how boring or exciting it is. I am so thankful for him. He keeps me humble, stable, loving, responsible, informed, inspired, dare i say... athletic?!? He is SO good for me. He loves me so well.

Thinking back to our wedding day, and all the plans that went before it, I do believe that I have a great advantage as a young wedding photographer today.
I was just there.
I still feel the need to plan all the time because all I did was PLAN like crazy for 14 months. And let me tell you, choosing a photographer was the hardest decision of all!

I definitely had my criteria:
• artistic yet classic. i wanted up to date trendy photos that weren't too edited and weren't too over the top.
• professional. i had to know that whoever was taking my photos had great training and experience.
• easy-to-understand-packages. clean cut and simple. i didn't want to pay someone by the hour, and i wanted full coverage with an album included.
• easygoing. i mean seriously, this is HUGE. no matter how calm you are, your wedding day will be hectic. i needed a photographer who was laid back, but who also knew how to take charge.
• flush-mount coffee table wedding album. period! i just had to have one!
• affordable. weddings are expensive.

At first I didn't know this was my criteria. I just started searching and searching. But as I found more and more out about different styles of photography and different ways photographers offer their services, I eventually knew exactly what I wanted. When I found it, you better believe I was on the phone booking my date!

My criteria as a bride has translated into my criteria as a photographer. My goal is to meet every single one of my own requirements, and exceed them! I am excited that I can confidently say I have met each one listed above, and I am in the process of taking all of them to the next level.
• artistic yet classic.
that's definitely my style.
• professional.
i have a degree in technical photography from appalachian state university, with training in fashion, studio, product, black & white, and large format. i have been photographing weddings for 2 years now.
• easy-to-understand-packages. clean cut and simple.
i offer 3 simple packages. full coverage and albums included.
• easygoing.
i love to laugh and enjoy the day. i have a wonderful time photographing weddings, but i can be a "taskmaster" (as my friends call me) when i need to be.
• flush-mount coffee table wedding album.
i am a little bit obsessed with the albums i offer. i want one of my own. it's a brand new album company, and the leather is so beautiful and soft. the printing is the highest of quality. minimum of 20 pages, and i design them myself. they are WONDERFUL.
• affordable.

check!

continuing on...
• I am also creating beautiful DVD slideshows for my clients, which truly invokes emotions from the day. it's a beautiful way to view your wedding photos.
• i am on my way to becoming a "boutique photographer." i hope to combine my photographs with different services that fit the style of my clients (such as graphic design, frames, wall layouts, etc.) if they so desire.
• challenges and projects - this is mainly for my personal growth as a photographer, but i am constantly busy with something. i always want to better myself. i have so many goals as i continue to grow.

so these are just a few things i was thinking about. i am excited to "be" the photographer i looked for for SO long. hopefully i can make a few more searches a little less stressful.

Since I was just there 7 months ago, planning and choosing different vendors, I can relate to all of you who are in the process of doing-something-every-day-for-the-wedding. Hang in there... it will definitely be worth it!

and just for fun, here is our engagement website that i had already forgotten about! enjoy :)

photo: compliments of my dear friend, samantha crowder

On a lighter note, I found this hilarious Q&A with a bunch of kids. ENJOY!

Kids contemplate marriage.

How would you make your marriage work?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
Ricky, age 10

How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
Derrick, age 8

What do you think your mom and dad have in common?
Both don’t want any more kids.
Lori, age 8

What do most people do on a date?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
Lynnette, age 8 (isn’t she a treasure?)
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
Martin, age 10

What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?
I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
Craig, age 9

When is it okay to kiss someone?
When they’re rich.
Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
Howard, age 8

What is the right age to get married?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)

Is it better to be single or married?
I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out.
Theodore, age 8
It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

How do you decide whom to marry?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
Kristen, age 10

Content reprinted from Divine Caroline

PWG

2009-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was a crazy one! First, I went to a Perfect Wedding Guide luncheon to meet and connect with different wedding vendors. It was a lot of fun, and I met some wonderful people.

A room full of wedding savvy vendors!

Here are some friends at my table at the PWG luncheon

Early the next morning I flew to Nashville to help my wonderful sister and brother-in-law. They have a baby girl Harper who is almost 1, and they just found out they are pregnant with triplets! I had a blast babysitting and hanging out with them. I'll post pictures from the trip soon :).

Protect

2009-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

my friend Paul Watson is in the final stages of publishing his first full novel. i had the privilege of taking the author photo for his book, Protect. It is a Christian fiction/fantasy novel that incorporates an array of interesting characters with life lessons. like narnia, the story even has its own map! i am excited to read it.

neither of these is the final photo... you'll have to get the book to find out what his "real" author photo is. ;) i'll let you know when it's available for purchase!

amber & eric | december 27th | pinehurst, nc

2009-01-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

this wedding was absolutely breathtaking. it was at the carolina hotel in pinehurst, nc. that place is magical at christmastime! they had a huge gingerbread house display (photo below) that mirrored the entire property. garland, lights, trees... i think i'll have to take a trip there again at christmas. i loved it.

this wedding was special to me since i've known amber since we were 8. i remember going home at 11pm from sleeping over at her house because i was afraid of a freddy kreuger commercial we saw. i remember us dressing up in our big sisters' dresses and taking pictures of each other in front of the fireplace. i remember going to see titanic in the theaters 10 times (we loved leo!). we had so much fun growing up together! it's amazing to continue to see one another "grow up" and get married. her husband, eric, is a wonderful match for her. it was wonderful getting to know him a little more on the wedding day.

the ceremony and reception were breathtakingly beautiful. despite the fact that the ceremony-music-iPod was stolen the night before (he just used his computer) and despite the fact that amber's wedding ring was accidentally dropped down the elevator shaft (it was recovered minutes before the ceremony!), everything turned out amazing. the decorations were gorgeous, the food delicious, and the dancing... fun!

hope you enjoy the photos...

my sister's having triplets

2009-01-14T19:43:00.001-08:00

congratulations to my beautiful sister and her husband who just found out they are pregnant with TRIPLETS!
i am quite excited about their journey ahead. i'm putting my bet out there right now that she's having 2 boys and a girl. not sure why, but i just have this feeling. or maybe they will be...
3 boys

or maybe 3 girls...

either way, there will be THREE! congratulations!!!