Happy 2012!!!
The beginning of a new year is such a great time to look forward and make big plans for the coming year.  I love setting new goals.  In setting goals, I think its really important to look back over the past year and reflect on what worked and what didn't.  Today I want to highlight my favorite images from every bride of 2011 ... and I wanna talk about some things that definitely worked!

Gorgeous Jenny ... married in March ...
Beautiful light will make a beautiful photo every time.  This is an equation that ALWAYS works!  A lovely headshot with sparkly catch light in those beautiful blue eyes ... paired with a dramatic, black and white, back-lit image showcasing that amazing dress.


A styled session for the Personal Professional workshop with adorable married couple Laura and Tim.  Styled by Ruffles and Rouge, flowers by Flourish Floral Design, Dress from Gilded Gown, Hair and make-up by Bangs and Blush.    Styled sessions with amazing vendors is the best way to work your portfolio.


And I had to include myself in the list of 2011 brides ... since I got married in April!  These images were done by Shannon Kelley.  Make-up by Claire Balest.  My dress was from Gilded Gown ... altered and embellished by Colleen at White Orchid Bridal.  You can't see the flowers well in this shot but they were beautiful and they were done by Lisa Foster.  Oh, and the bunny is my friend Max.  Animals aren't the easiest accessory for a bridal portrait ... but in this case it worked!


The longest train I've ever photographed ... May bride Katie Shultz is working it!  This dress and veil were custom made by Lea Ann Belter at Wedding Wonderland.


I loved that amazing train and veil ... but my favorite element was the lace around the middle and the sweet button detail.


So exciting to photograph another local photographer Sondra (deitz) Eikenberry.  I assisted Jamie Weiss for the sweet little backyard event.  And yowza ... that brave, beautiful lady wore a Sangria colored dress!  Talk abotu working it!  


Heather and Andrew ... married in June ... planned plenty of time for their first look and portraits.  Seeing each other before the ceremony is a decision that is hard for some people to make ... but every time I photograph a first look I am assured that its a decision that always works!

Another lovely June bride ... this is Genevieve.  One thing to make your wedding day work ... be picky about finding the perfect dress!  Genny saw a photo of a dress she loved in a magazine, researched the designer, traveled to New York City for a fitting and bam ... perfect dress!  The dress design is Blue by Christina Kara in Soho, NY.  Those stunning flowers are by Lisa Foster.


The number one most important element to make every wedding work ... a couple in love!  This is Yanci and Scott.


Some wedding day portrait sessions work better than others.  There are so many factors ... time line ... location ... light ... the list goes on!  One way to make sure your session works to your advantage ... trust your photographer!  Seriously ... I often begin by saying "I know this might sound crazy ... but would you be willing to try --insert crazy suggestion here--."  In Ashley's case ... the crazy suggestion was to traipse through the weeds in the gorgeous, hot sun.  It was either this or a parking lot ... so our choices were kinda limited.  I am SO grateful when my clients trust me!


Beautiful Brittany ... working that fitted satin gown with the amazing open back and beaded lace detail.  I LOVE the simple, country look of a picket fence ... and that's one of my favorite portrait spots at Hunter Valley Farm.


Megan's adorable wedding was in Rogersville, TN.  This is a town full of history and adorable little buildings.  I LOVED that we found this doorway that actually matched her shoes.  Win!!! 


A winning combination is a bride who knows how to work a gown hand made by a seamstress who also knows how to WORK it!  This adorable Audrey Hepburn inspired look was created by the AMAZING Colleen at White Orchid Bridal.  This lady is such an artist when it comes to all things frilly, vintage, and wedding related.


Oh, yeah and the bride is Stephanie Dowdy ... a creative girl who did an amazing job making her wedding personal, unique, and SO much fun to photograph!


Another styled session helping me work a destination portfolio ... this is my 2nd shooter and main squeeze Sara modeling in Hilton Head.  Dress and accessories by Gilded Gown.  Flowers by Sassafras Flowers.


One way to work a bridal portrait ... gorgeous model, gorgeous dress, gorgeous location, gorgeous sunset.  The end.


Sara and her hottie boyfriend Jack on the beach part 2 ... Never before seen on the blog!  I've been saving up the images from this session to warm you up on a cold day.  Cause these images are HOT!




Amy and Kevin got married at Little Gardens in Atlanta, GA.  We were already done with portraits and this was just moments before the ceremony when I noticed the beautiful light coming in that window and got a vision for this image.  I was a little anxious to interrupt the flow of things  but I knew I would regret it if I didn't at least ask.  Thankfully Amy was happy to give me a few seconds to set this portrait up and it turned out to be my favorite image from the whole wedding.  Something more artsy than the average bridal portrait always works for me!


In September I spoke at the Folio Love folio building workshop.  I love talking ... and I love what I do ... so naturally I love getting to talk about what I do!  That works for sure! 


I made tons of new friends and got to shoot a little bit too.   I love Folio Love!


I love a bride who knows how to work it!  This is Jessica who got married at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville.  Of course helping her work it were some amazing vendors ... Claire Balest on make-up and Colleen Moore with White Orchid Bridal styling up those gorgeous yellow shoes.


Nothing works better than a beautiful view.  Simply gorgeous ... This is Claudia at White Stone Inn. 


I'm realizing that I haven't blogged a LOT of these weddings yet ... which means I've been behind on blogging and that is something in 2011 that did NOT work.  New Goal :: more blogging for 2012.  Yay!

I will be honest ... I definitely have favorites.  One of my favorite weddings this year ... Greta and Aaron, October 2011.  Greta is one of my best friends in the whole world.  I was honored to be a bridesmaid and the photographer.  The only way I was able to make it work was with the help of my main squeeze Sara.  She did an amazing job taking over when I had other responsibilities.


I do not require that my 2nd shooters and assistants be super models ... but it just happens to work out that way.  This is Olivia ... who along with Sara also 2nd shoots with me at lots of weddings ... she is also my editing assistant.  This girl is AMAZING.  There is no way I could run my business alone ... and not only are Sara and Olivia talented, fun, and professional ... but they also both happen to be gorgeous and willing to model whenever I need it.  This was the fall Personal Professional shoot ... which I am SO SO SO excited to share more of really soon. 


I appreciate good weather more and more every year.  After a super hot summer ... I was so happy to shoot a beautiful November wedding.  Kate and Jason got married at Hunter Valley Farm and it was such a beautiful day.  I will be sharing this whole wedding soon ... and this couple has a very sweet story!


I LOVED Kate's dress fromJim Hjelm Blush.


And finally I ended the year with a really festive Christmas wedding.