You know those couples you go out to dinner with and 3 hours later you realize how long you’ve been sitting in that same booth chatting the night away?  Stephanie + Chad are totally that couple!  We’ve had so much fun getting to know them over the last year and truly enjoy our time together.  We all went out to dinner a few weeks before the wedding, and after hearing everything they were excited about happening at the wedding we knew this would be a fun wedding to photograph!

Stephanie + Chad were surrounded by so many happy friends & family that came from all over the U.S…. Louisiana, Ohio, California… I even had the pleasure of explaining what North Carolina BBQ was while going thru the buffet line!  ;)  There were so many awesome details about this wedding… Stephanie wore her Grandmother’s earrings, her Matron of Honor did her makeup, another Bridesmaid provided the flowers, the wedding party made their entrance into the reception wearing MILLER t-shirts, the band “Shine” rocked it, a Bagpipe dude (what’s the official name for these guys!?) escorted Stephanie + Chad down the aisle after being announced husband and wife, and Stephanie even surprised her Mom & Grandmother when she busted out her Great-Grandmother’s hat.  There were so many sweet moments and amazing DIY details I could have photographed this wedding over and over again!  Not to mention their photobooth!… if you missed that blog post, check it out here.

This was our first time visiting the historic Timberlake House in Louisburg and owners, Joe and Sonja, welcomed us with open arms.  They themselves were married there and have put in so much time and hard work to make this a beautiful venue.  Here’s some of our faves from Stephanie + Chad’s Sweet Southern Wedding… yes, there’s a lot of photos in this post… it was just that good… enjoy!

Stephanie + Chad had the fun idea to utilize the photobooth to create their guest book!!  Folks jumped in the booth with a message, written on a chalk board, for the bride + groom and then they had a little fun with our props too.  So. Much. Fun.

Here are just some of our favorites… Stephanie + Chad’s Wedding blog post is coming very, very soon!!  ;)

Meet Holli + John – this is one stylin, good lookin, fancy cookin, and super sweet couple!!  These two are just fabulous together and in front of the camera.  We had gorgeous weather and the light was making me super happy during this session… not to mention the chemistry between these two.  It was superb!

Holli and I both went to UNCG and were in two different sororities (I was Chi Omega, she was Phi Mu) so we share a lot of friends, but weren’t lucky enough to know each other during those times… but I’m super glad we do now!!!  We are so excited about Holli + John’s wedding in October!  Hope you enjoy some of my faves from their engagement session…

Last week I had the honor of snapping some images at the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of Smithfield’s newest day spa and boutique… Salon 29:11.

Owners Brian & Jamie O’Branovich have created an absolutely beautiful salon with so many options you could spend the whole afternoon getting pampered!… have a manicure & pedicure, get a massage, cut & color your hair, and even leave with some cute jewelry, clothing, and accessories!!

Some of you are probably wondering about the name of the salon.  Almost every time I’m there I hear someone ask Jamie about it and I think it’s super neat that Brian & Jamie named the salon after the Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Furthermore, Jamie had an incredible vision for her logo… not only is it made up of shears, but it also forms the “A” in “Salon” and it resembles the shape of a Cross. Huge props to Karen of KRS Digital Designs for making Jamie’s vision come to life!

You can follow Salon 29:11‘s Facebook page here.  Stop by Salon 29:11 (226 Venture Drive, Smithfield NC) or call them at (919) 938-1100 to schedule your appointment!  (Be sure to tell them we sent you!)

Rebecca + Tom are one of those couples that you just find yourself smiling when you’re around them.  Not only are they fabulously funny, but they are just happy people.  And we like happy people!!

We visited Rebecca’s Alma Mater, UNC Chapel Hill, as the location for their engagement photos… Shawn and I were loving the old buildings and brick sidewalks… it was gorgeous!!!  It was, however, full of people!! There were so many people around the Old Well we could barely get a shot, but we managed to snag just a few.  We had so much fun exploring campus and hanging out with these two.  Already looking forward to their wedding in October!!!

I’m so proud of this sweet little lady!… After having the opportunity to photograph Caroline before competing in her first pageants well over a year ago, I have watched her grow into such a beautiful and poised young girl! She has one of the sweetest demeanors of any child I’ve ever met and knowing her sweet Mommy in high school I can definitely say, “She get’s it from her Momma!” I was so thrilled when Caroline received a Photogenic award last year with an image from her first session!! Yeah!!!

Caroline is now representing a Miss NC preliminary winner as the 2012 Capital City Carolina Princess. She has the honor of accompanying Miss Capital City, Caroline Dunn (yes, it’s the Caroline duo!), on appearances and ultimately on the Miss North Carolina stage this June!!!

We had fun shooting around our little hometown! Huge thanks to Allison (Mommy) and Caroline for hanging with me and not calling me a crazy woman when I asked you to do certain things for the photos! Excited to do this again and again for every title little miss Caroline holds! ]]> http://www.brealphoto.com/blog/caroline-capital-city-carolina-princess/feed/ 2 http://www.brealphoto.com/blog/mom-dad-40th-anniversary/ http://www.brealphoto.com/blog/mom-dad-40th-anniversary/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:12:00 +0000 brealphoto http://www.brealphoto.com/?p=3867 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

WOW!  Today is my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary!!  I’m so proud to have parents that are able to make marriage work for that many years… so blessed to have them.  :)

I convinced Mom & Dad to join me in their peach orchard (okay, I kinda just told them that’s what we were doing, and they didn’t argue) for a few shots to commemorate the day… it was a perfect, overcast afternoon after a fresh rain… but of course as soon as we got in the orchard to start shooting the sun came out!  Despite that bright, direct sunlight I was able to get a few good shots of my Mommy & Daddy!!  They had me (and each other) crackin’ up pretty much the whole time!

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad… Love you!!

This is it!!!… the BIG announcement we’ve been preparing for over a month now is FINALLY here… it has been on my heart for so long to be able to give more and to make the time to do so.   I’ve finally made the jump and as soon as I mentioned the idea to a few of my amazing wedding vendor friends, they jumped on board too!!

I’m so excited to share the details with you about our giveaway… which just happens to be a WEDDING!!… and of course we want it to go to someone that absolutely deserves it… just call us the Extreme Wedding Team!  Ha!  So far we’re giving away over $12,000 worth of services & products!!  We have an amazing group of vendors from the Raleigh area that are working hard to make this happen.

Please help us spread the word about this giveaway!!… we would like to see a deserving couple from or with ties to the Raleigh, NC area receive this gift.  See all the details and find out how to apply below.

  Click here to download the application.

And a HUGE thanks to all of our sponsors!!!!

(Click the image to visit their site.)

Wedding Vendors want to become part of the giveaway!?

Contact us at myrealwedding@brealphoto.com!!

Some of you may know I took a little trip the beginning of February!!  I packed up my bags and flew to Cincinnati where I attended the PhotoPro Expo.  To be honest, my main reason for going was to see one of my favorite wedding photographers in the world, Mr. Jerry Ghionis.  His creativity and understanding of light just amazes me.  Not only did I get a few hours with him during the conference, but I opted to also spend a full day with him that following Monday as well!!!

The entire trip I was learning and taking in so much I truly feel like my head has just now stopped spinning (a couple weeks after my return).  So many ideas and lessons learned.  I’m sooooooo excited to continue working on some fun things I already had in the works, as well as adding some new stuff to my list.  And I’m already looking forward to whatever trip I decide to take next year!  It will definitely be an annual thing for me to go somewhere and grow as a photographer!!  Below are just some iPhone photos from my trip…

During the Trade Show, Westcott had set up some shooting bays for their “shootout” where photographers could literally step up to a beautiful model and snap away.  Below are my two favorite images I was able to grab during a quick walk-by.

Obviously it was a pretty amazing trip.  So happy I was able to make fabulous new friends (holla Cindy & Kristal!!), learn and be stretched in my skills & business tactics, and finally be able to come home to my hubby who I missed dearly!!!  ;)

If  you know me well enough, you know I am not a super high maintenance gal.  There are many days I don’t put in my contacts, my hair stays in a pony tail, and I certainly don’t wear makeup, shoes, or a bra.  However, you would also know that every so often I LOVE spending a little extra time playing with my eye makeup, experimenting with funky hair cuts & colors, and wearing things that SPARKLE!!  I guess it’s the Marine/Farm/Country side of me vs. the Sorority/Pageant/Dancer side. LOL!

I’m sure some of you can relate…. which can make for an interesting list of beauty to-do’s in preparation for your wedding day! Well, I’m here to help you prioritize that list!!!  As a photographer, I get to witness 90% of the getting ready process on wedding day and I’m there for all the behind-the-scene mishaps, realizations, and snafoos.  Don’t worry, none of those things are a big deal and usually make for a good chuckle, but there are a few things that every bride should know… these will not only make you look your best, but also help me with my job!

When it comes to wedding day beauty, it’s never too early to start thinking about these things.  There are some habits you can start to develop ahead of time so that you’re not stressing about your skin or your hair close to wedding day.  So here are my Five Beauty Tips for the Bride (from a photographer’s perspective, of course)!!…

{1} Do a hair & makeup run thru with your stylist.

This may seem obvious, but apparently it isn’t.  Especially if you have hired someone that has never touched your hair, make sure you schedule a consultation and/or practice run.  This will not only help them get familiar with your hair & skin so they are better prepared, but it will also ensure you’re happy with the end product.  There’s not usually time for redo’s on wedding day!  If you already have someone you love, go ahead and contact them as soon as your date is set.  It would be awful for them to book your date simply because you didn’t contact them early enough.  This also provides plenty of time to fix damaged hair, color issues, and to allow for lengthy locks.  And be sure to bring your veil or any headpieces you’re using to your appointments.  Also, I highly recommend you have both your hair and makeup professionally done on wedding day.  This will give you the chance to sit and relax and be pampered, rather than stressing and trying to take care of everything yourself.  And with a day full of photographs and video, you’ll want to be sure your makeup is applied just right and it will last throughout the events.

{2} Avoid the kind of tan that sprays on.

I understand and agree with the desire to be a little darker than your wedding dress, believe me!  My only request is that you do not get a spray tan.  I’ve photographed several different folks with spray tans and every time it has presented to be a painful experience with editing the images.  Every single person has been a different color and they’ve never looked quite right standing next to their significant other.  I’ve even had couples get spray tans and they were two totally different colors.  Thus, I have to do extra color correcting on the skin and it takes longer for you to receive your images.  I even had a bride (while on the way to the wedding) notice that her spray tan was getting on her dress!!!!!  Let’s just avoid these issues all together and explore other options… I’m not a tanning expert, but I’m sure 15 minutes in the sun a few times a week (with a little SPF protection!) can help you reach a less pasty color by wedding day.  I hear there’s also UV Free tanning available at tanning salons now!!

{3} Do away with those pesky unwanted hairs.

Let’s just admit it.  Some of us were blessed with bushy eyebrows, embarrassing mustaches, and random chin hairs.  So let’s get these out of the way before wedding day.  The eyebrows can be waxed or plucked… I suggest starting this months before the wedding so if there are any accidents there’s time to grow back.  Mustaches can be bleached or waxed.  Do it.  Enough said.  And those pesky random chin hairs… start plucking them and have your hair & makeup stylist help you eye those little suckers.  Also, remember to take care of that bikini (or any other) waxing a week before the wedding!!

{4} Get glowing skin, without any surprises.

Take it from me, just because you had a facial 10 years ago doesn’t mean your skin won’t react to one now.  I suggest treating yourself to any spa treatments you’re considering a couple weeks before the wedding… you will most likely need them at this point, and you’ll also know ahead of time if you’re skin can handle it.  If you have any serious skin problems, consult a dermatologist at least 6 months before the wedding… you don’t want to start any new medications or products too close to wedding day.  Take time out for yourself all along during the planning process… take an extra few minutes after you bathe to moisturize your skin, and pay special attention to rough spots on the elbows, knees, and feet.  And of course, be sure to get enough sleep and drink lots of water… you’d be amazed what these two simple things can do for your skin!

{5} White teeth are better than not white teeth.

This has to be the most important one on this list!!  Since most brides wear a white (or almost white) dress on their wedding day, your teeth will naturally look less white than they already are!!  I know if it were me, I would refuse to give up sweet tea, coffee, and Mountain Dew so get in the habit of using a straw!  This will help keep your teeth from getting any worse.  Furthermore, those Crest whitening strips work!!!!  Shawn and I use them and we can tell a significant difference from before we started!!  Start using them a few months out and you’ll see the difference too!  Be sure to schedule a teeth cleaning for a week or two before the wedding as well.  Not only will everyone notice your dazzling white smile on wedding day, but I’ll be ever so grateful when I don’t have to whiten your teeth in every photo!!!

I’m sure there’s a million other beauty tips out there among all the articles and posts about the topic.  These are just a few that I feel are important from a photographer’s perspective.  Most importantly, take care of yourself!!  Take a deep breath and relax.  You’re going to be gorgeous!!  It is my personal opinion that yes, the wedding is important, but it is not the most important day of your life… every day after that is… how you nourish your marriage is much more important than having perfect hair the day you say I Do!!  So yes… eat well, drink water, exercise, and sleep… but between all that, make sure you take the time to date each other!!  It will be good for both of you to unwind and take a break from wedding stuff.  You’ll both feel better and keep your eyes on the prize…. marrying the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.  Trust me, married life rocks.