Charlotte, NC wedding photographer, senior portraits photographer » Charlotte NC photography- weddings, senior portraits, headshots, family photography in NC

I was so excited when Vatsla invited me to her henna party. There was NO way I was leaving my camera behind for this! Indian music played while Vatsla, her mom, and sisters showed us some dance moves- I learned to hold one hand up as though screwing in a light bulb while moving to the beat. I plan to download Indian music from iTunes soon. I love it! The one CD I own is worn out!

A little background:
Mehndi, the application of henna, is a ceremonial tradition that originated in ancient India. The henna plant is native to Asia and Africa. It flourishes in hot, arid climates where temperatures soar to over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. A burgundy dye molecule called Lawsone is concentrated in henna plant leaves. Henna leaves are crushed and mixed with liquids to create a paste. Henna has been used to color hair, skin, and fabric for thousands of years.

Throughout Asia and Africa, henna adornment is customary for special occasions. Brides gather with close friends and family before the wedding for mehndi parties where their hands and feet are painted. Music, dancing, and food are integral parts of the celebration. Traditionally, women were not allowed to perform household duties until the marital henna faded. It fades within just a few weeks of application. The designs are beautiful and intricate. After the paste dries, a lemon-sugar solution is applied to the skin to increase absorption of the dye.

After the party, Vatsla’s mom shared a book of photographs with me taken by Indian photographer Raghu Rai. What amazing work! Check out his portfolio here.

Vatsla’s sister applying a bindi. Bindis, which once symbolized marital status and/or religion, are now decorative items that come in all shapes and sizes.








Me with Vatsla’s mom- I love my bindi! Jillian wanted to wear it to school, but the stickiness wore off too quickly.

Angela and Josh were married at Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church on what had to be the windiest day of the year! The wind was so brutal, I couldn’t convince anyone to go outside for pictures before the ceremony!

Angela wore a beautiful gown from Hope’s Bridal. Hope’s customer service is over the top. She makes an appearance on the wedding day to help her brides get into their gowns. I wish I could take her to all of my weddings! She had the back of Angela’s dress laced up in no time!

Josh and Angela exchanged cards before the ceremony:

I’m in love with Angela’s gorgeous antique setting:

Angela and Josh shared a private moment together in the sanctuary for their “first look” but that didn’t make seeing each other
during the ceremony any less special…aren’t they the most stunning couple!?


I had to get a few wide angles of the church throughout the day. Mt. Moriah Lutheran church is almost 200 years old! Imagine all of
the history…the love… the weddings this church has experienced! Lutheranism originated in the 16th century when gothic architecture
was still popular. Today, many Lutheran churches share gothic features. The arched door, windows, and spires represent the gothic period.
I love the way the wind is whipping through Angela’s veil in the foreground here:


When I told the bridesmaids to throw their flowers in the air- I didn’t mean literally, but I love the way this turned out! So much fun!

Angela and her dad shared such an emotional moment during their first dance together. I was choking up as I processed these images!
I can’t say enough wonderful things about her mom and dad. Tragedy befell their family shortly after the wedding. They handled it with
such grace and strength. They made me realize that my work is meaningful and appreciated. I feel so fortunate that our paths crossed.


A bubbly exit:

Anna and Jett were married last October at Tahoma Retreat on Lake Tillery. For their fall wedding theme, they incorporated pumpkins, fall leaves, dark chocolate accents, and orange flowers. Everything came together beautifully! How cute is Anna!? She had all of us cracking up when she covered her head in plastic before getting into her dress! I thought I had seen everything, but this was definitely a first!

Anna and Jett didn’t want to see each other before the ceremony, so we arranged this moment instead. Anna was laughing the whole time, but Jett got a little emotional…it was so sweet!! I won’t post that picture, but just a little warning- I can hear a teardrop from a mile away so be prepared to have it caught on camera for life if you shed one in my presence. hehe ;-)





Anna had Jett’s ring engraved at Helzberg’s. It reads: True Companion. I love the sentimental value that a simple engravement can add!

I was surprised to find out that Jett was a Jedi Pumpkin Carver! Check out how perfect those initials are!

Announced as Mr. and Mrs. and the first dance:

Steve of Blacktop Entertainment kept the crowd on their feet all night! He brought fun props and hats that everyone loved!

End of the night…Look at those smiles!

Kristin Vining landed the cover of Carolina Bride magazine this month. As a photographer, it’s always exciting to have images featured in magazines! Last night, local photographers, caterers, and wedding planners got together to celebrate. January is a slow month - it’s always a popular month for networking events. I love attending these events because I get the opportunity meet so many amazing people!

I had the pleasure of meeting Kristen Prestwood with By Design Event Group for the first time. She decorated Kristin’s studio for the party. It was stunning! The room glowed ruby red from lighting special effects and the centerpieces were fabulous! I would highly recommend checking her out for wedding receptions, corporate events, and theme parties. Get in touch with her at kristen@bydesigneventgroup.com to view more samples of her work. I promise you will be impressed! =)

I also enjoyed meeting Cecily Jowers, the owner of Bella Bridesmaid. How cool is to have a specialty store for bridesmaid dresses in Charlotte? You can find more information at http://www.bellabridesmaid.com

I’ll be attending more networking meetings this month. I hope to share more unique finds that will be helpful for all who are still in the wedding planning stages.

Tonya and Matthew were married on October 4th at the Belk Chapel in Charlotte. Their reception was held at Pewter Rose. The decor at Pewter Rose is so warm and inviting- it makes for great pictures! Here are a few favorites from Matthew and Tonya’s wedding:

It has been a while since I’ve updated the blog… I photographed Blaire’s bridal session in Albemarle yesterday, but I won’t be releasing those images until next June! It is so hard to keep pictures to myself for so long! Look for Anna’s session after this weekend. Angela’s will be posted after her November 15th wedding and Chelsea’s will be online soon. =)

Leslie and Matthew were married at the vineyard last month. I was so excited when Leslie told me they were going to see each other before the ceremony. I wish more couples would forgo tradition in favor of sharing a private moment together before the ceremony. Once the ceremony begins, the day is a whirlwind! I love Leslie’s dress- she is one of the few blessed with an hour-glass figure! I had to steal her heels away for some shots with the wine bottles and anything else I could find! One of the first questions I ask during a consultation is: sooo…what style of shoes are you going to be wearing? I have yet to see the same pair twice. It’s always exciting to hear about all of the wedding details! A few favorites:

Amanda and Chris had a beautiful wedding at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont. If you have never been to DSBG, I would highly recommend spending a day there! The gardens are so lush and amazing! Our day got off to a bad start when it started raining. I tried to hide my disappointment from Amanda when I realized we were going to be more limited than usual. I tried to play it cool, but inside I was dying! About 10 minutes before the ceremony, the rain subsided.

The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Maloy. He was very kind and accommodating. Photographers know exactly what I mean by “accommodating”…We are sometimes asked to refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony, but Rev. Maloy didn’t place any restrictions on the photography.

Amanda and Chris added so many unique touches to their wedding. All of their hard work definitely culminated in a fairytale wedding. Check out Amanda’s hot pink crinoline and shoes! I hope to work with many more adventurous brides in the future!

What a beautiful day…check out those blue skies! I was thrilled when Courtney and Jon agreed to climb up on the wall that surrounded the fountain. It was narrow…she was wearing heels…it could have been a recipe for disaster! Thankfully, everything worked out because it’s definitely one of my favorites from their session!

One of the best parts of my job is receiving packages in the mail every week! I’m usually awaiting the arrival of at least a few albums, so I never know which one it will be. This one was delivered yesterday…who could be the lucky couple? I work with a few album companies; I love that my primary company uses eco-friendly packaging materials. Working with companies with ethical business practices is important to me.

After I posted about eco-friendly packaging on Earth Day, I received a few emails from people who were curious about how I package my products. I wrap large albums with Kraft 100% recycled paper. I then tie a piece of raffia around the package. I wrap smaller items in magazine pages. It isn’t fancy, but it feels good to lessen the environmental impact.

The next to last picture was taken in April, but I plan to add a few unique touches to future packages. I found a great site that shows how to use things around the house as wrapping paper. I’m currently collecting buttons and sequins…you know, the extras that you throw away or never use that are included with new shirts? When you receive your packages from me, please recycle! Although, the DVD jewelcases in my product line are made of recyclable polystyrene- these are not meant to be recycled. They are meant to be enjoyed for years to come! ;-)