Garden Butterfly - Canvas Overlay
As I was editing photos for two wedding albums and an engagement session, I ran across these photos of butterflies I took after the engagement session. They were just hiding in the folders of other photos. I thought I would just share these with you. I hope you enjoy.
Butterfly - Cape Fear Botanical Gardens
George Joell 3
Yesterday we had the opportunity to photograph members and guests of the 503d Military Police Battalion from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There were close to 500 attendees. We were set up in one of the larger rooms in the Holiday Inn Bordeaux. This was our second Ball at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux this year. The staff at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux was awesome. They provided us with a very spacious room, water with glasses, change when needed, and copies of our order form when sales exceeded our expectations. The event was very organized and we truly enjoyed photographing the couples. The Soldiers looked sharp and the spouse were beautified for the event. We are looking forward to next years Ball and we are hoping that they select us again to capture the memories of the Battalion Soldiers and guests. Sylvester Williams of SND Memories Photography assisted with this event as well as my wife Millie.
Once again, I had the privilege of photographing a very emotional but spectacular wedding. The Bride and Groom started out as friends, then best friends, then husband and wife. It was a fairy tale come true. I had the opportunity capture every detail of this event and it was everything I could have imagined. The wedding was held at the Main Post Chapel on Fort Bragg, NC. After the ceremony and formals, I took the Bridal Party outdoors for some additional photos. Then I followed the limousine downtown for more photos with the Bride and Groom. Those photos came out amazing. After the outdoor photo session, we ended up at the Rainbow Room in Downtown Fayetteville NC for the reception. The receptions was very intimate and fun. I would like to give a shout out to Genevieve from the Rainbow Room who coordinated the entire event, Marcie Mang with a very beautiful cake, and Carol Rutledge of the Bridal Bouquet with some awesome floral arrangements. I have attached a few photos so that the Bride and groom could enjoy prior to our proof session.
Main Post Chapel, Fort Bragg NC
Lady In Red
Bridal Party having fun
Relaxing in the Park
Love in the Air
Love In The Air - 2nd Edit
A Beautiful Fall Afternoon
Strolling
The Bride
This wedding has been over two years in the making. It was originally set for November 2008 and was changed to November 2009. The wedding was held at the Evening Light Holiness Church in Garland, North Carolina and the Reception was held at Lu Mil Vineyard in Elizabethtown, NC. This wedding was number 50 for me this year and I was starting to look forward to the holiday. Recently I had just been uploading finished slideshows as a quick way to get some of my work out there, however, after sorting through a few of the early edits, I realized that there are some amazing shots and I just wanted to share them with the Bride, Groom, and there family and friends. I hope they enjoy these while they are honeymooning.
I also wanted to congratulate Nicole Guess of Magical Creations for coordinating and directing a perfect wedding.
Bride Waiting
Jumping the Broom Ceremony
Bride and Groom at Lu Mil Vineyard Fountain
A Helping Hand of Love
Kissing in the Vineyard
Relaxing on the Bridge
Cake Cutting Ceremony
Bridesmaids Dancing The Night Away
Engagement Portrait Sessions are great ways to get to know your clients and establish the rapport needed to produce great wedding photos. When I initially meet with a wedding client, I always ask if they are interested in an engagement portrait session. If they say yes, then I try to schedule the session as soon as possible. The engagement portrait session serves two distinct purposes. The first purpose is to produce amazing photos for the couple.
These photos are used in various ways. Some couples use engagement photos in their save the date cards, some make programs, fans, mugs, T-Shirts, and some turn the photos into portraits for friends and family members. I have even seen these portraits displayed at the reception. Nonetheless, there is a wide range of uses for the engagement photos produced from the session and it is great way to utilize their chosen professional photographer.
The next purpose is two-fold. First, the couple gets to test out the skills of their photographer prior to the wedding day and the photographer gets the opportunity to bond with the couple and gain their trust. I have found that working with the couple prior to the wedding helps both of us to relax and makes the wedding photos realistic and fun.
Down By The Lake
I would encourage all weddings photographers to include engagement sessions as an option or package add-on. I offer engagement sessions in several of my packages and also offer engagements ala-cart. If a couple is getting married in another state or country and they only need my services for their engagement or bridal portraits, then my ala-cart is for them.
Happy Couple
I am available for other couples who only need my services for their initial portrait, but have a photographer for their wedding day.
