samantha & paul at the park

Blowing the dandelions was Samantha's idea...and we absolutely LOVE the spontaneity of it!

There were lots of snuggley moments between Samantha & Paul : )
Moments like these are the ones we love to catch!

The train tracks seemed symbolic of the journey they will face together... 

Sunday afternoon, Jen and I had the pleasure of spending some time with Samantha and Paul. They are a lovely, young couple, engaged to be married this coming June (06-07-08!)! They are also the first couple to book with us for their wedding photography! 

The couple chose Pullen Park, near NC State in Raleigh, as the location for their engagement shoot. It was very important to them to be somewhere outdoors, and this particular park had a personal  significance for Samantha. We enjoyed exploring the park with Samantha & Paul, from the ponds to the meadow-like grassy areas, and even the train tracks that ran along side. One of the perks about owning your own photography business is getting out to explore all the great places our clients bring us to.

We were so excited when we met Samantha and Paul a few months ago, and now after getting to spend more time with them we are really looking forward to their big day. The details are all falling into place with their planning, and from the sound of it Samantha and Paul have planned a wedding that is uniquely "them." Just as it should be!

the anderson family

brooks caught this quiet moment between Greyson and her dad...one of my favorite shots of the day.
sisterly love

such a beautiful family!




jana and her girls
Brooks and I had the pleasure of photographing some of our favorite people on Saturday.  We met up with the Anderson family at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens in Fayetteville and had a great session.  Emma was feeling a little sassy that day, so we had a great time trying to make her laugh for the camera.  Greyson was the perfect model for us and was ready to pose and smile without any guidance!  We didn't have to bribe Sam to smile, either (just kidding, Sam)! :)  Jana, you know how much we love you and your family...thank you for allowing us to capture some family moments that I hope you enjoy forever!  Oh, Happy Anniversary to you and Sam tomorrow! :)

new headshots!

So, ANY excuse Brooks and I can find to take pictures, we are all over it!  We really did need some new head shots to put on the website, but we made it into a totally fabulous evening of fun!  Of course, we always have way too much fun together.  Let us know what you think!  On a side note, we are off to NJ this weekend for our first wedding and we cannot wait!  And, you know NJ is not too far from NYC, so we decided to stay an extra day and check it out.  We are taking along Jana with us as part of her birthday present (happy birthday, Jana!!), so it will be a weekend of fun and great friendship!  We will definitely blog about all the excitement, so stay tuned!

hair, friends, and fun!

the fabulous Jenni Flood




brooks always looks so pretty!
i swear, we never stop laughing!
Brooks and I constantly get asked who does our hair, so we thought we'd introduce everyone to our fabulous hairstylist and friend, Jenni Flood.  She is AMAZING!  We've known her for over 3 years now, and I can say that I have never EVER been bored with my hair!  She not only is good at what she does, but she is passionate about it as well.  We had her over for some fun Friday night and you can see what a blast we had.  Thanks for a fabulous night, Jenni!  And, now all of you know the answer to the question, "who does your hair?". :)

the bat signal!

this photo is the offical "bat signal" for jennifer/brooks photography...watch for it in the night sky! we'll be there for any photographic emergencies : )
reviewing the work...
i think this is how our clients probably see us!
jen looking awesome with her camera!

This post is just a quick one to let you all know how our weekend started out! Jen and I took some head shots of each other and we thought we'd share some of the preliminary results...there will be more on this later (plus some head shots of our friend and favorite hair stylist, Jenni Flood). 

This weekend was a very busy one, so keep checking the blog this week for new posts. We have a lot of photos to share!

the lifestyle of the wilsons

Jen knows just how to make Caden crack up laughing...it even made me laugh!
Scot is a wonderful father. 
Caden got sleepy while watching Shrek.
Pacey is always near by. I think he likes listening to the stories too.

Love this photo of the family together at bed time. The light coming from the bedroom door added such an amazing feeling of warmth. I also love how Caden's hand rest on his parents'.

A sure sign that you are really doing what you love is when you choose to do some more of it on your day off! Last Saturday I went over to the Wilson house to take some lifestyle photos of their family. I got to be their own personal paparazzi and get the inside scoop on what their life is really like. It's sort of like reality tv for photographers. Can't go wrong, right?!

The idea seems strange at first...taking photos of a family living their everyday life, no one saying "cheese," no one dressed up, but the end result is a grouping of photos that document the life and love of a family in reality. There are so many beautiful moments in our day-to-day lives that pass by us so quickly...so many things that we never want to forget like story time before bed, tickles and giggles, or just how sweet children look right as they are falling asleep. I was privilege to it all this weekend and it certainly was an honor.

The Wilson family is a beautiful one. They work hard and love even harder. They know how to laugh, and how to soothe one and other. I'm so lucky to have them in my life!

loving the lirianos : )

Even with an impending rain storm, working with the Liriano family was truly a joy today at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens! We were so grateful that they didn't give up when it started to sprinkle. They waited it out with us on a covered porch, and the results were well worth it.

Sara and Cesar, a couple who has been together 11 years, are looking forward to renewing their vows this May. An idea that both Jen and I adore! They brought three of their children to take some photos with us in the gardens...and their children are beautiful (not to mention very photogenic)! 

If there was one thing that stood out about this family it is how much they love and cherish one and other. Their love is as apparent in person as it is in these photographs. We cannot wait to meet the rest of their family, and spend more time with them on their upcoming special day!

play time with the anderson girls!

Emma wanted to make sure, Sheepie, made it into the pictures...
Caden never leaves home without his cars!
2 of my favorite girls!
Emma giving a little attitude to the camera...that's my kind of girl!
Sweet Greyson...truly one of the kindest souls I have ever met, child and adult alike!

Lovin' the faux hawk!!
Caden loves to grab my iphone so he can call Nana!

Moving around has its ups and downs, but the biggest up, is finding some truly amazing people that you would otherwise have never known.  I met Jana and her girls shortly after I moved to North Carolina and I am so glad they were out playing in the front yard that day I walked by with the puppies. :)  We've been friends ever since and I don't know what I'd do without Jana!  Of course, she had to go and move to the other side of town last year, so we don't get to see each other too much anymore.  But, Caden and I made a trip down to see her and my 2 favorite girls last week.  Caden LOVES Jana (jnna is his name for her and he likes to yell it out when he sees her) and I think he might have a little crush on Greyson.  But, hey, who wouldn't? :)  Not only is Jana an amazing friend, but she is an amazing artist as well!  She is the creative mind behind our handmade baby announcements.  Stay tuned for a blog about all of her awesome work!  She has done so many things for me (baby shower invitations, baby announcements, Caden's 1 year b-day invites, family cards, and on and on) and I think her talent should be shared with the world! :)