These were so much fun!  I love to shoot “styled” shoots!

Enjoy!

-erika

First off this week I was able to catch Titan’s first smile at me!  Love that feeling!

Next we got another dog (unfortunately Rock -the white boxer- had to go bc he just wouldn’t listen to us everytime we needed him to and with a new baby that worries me).  Her name is Winnie.  She already listens pretty well and she’s a beautiful doggie!  Her and Ellie get along so well too!  Ellie sits just outside Winnie’s pen to keep her company!

Last night I had the opportunity to capture Danielle and Justin’s big day!  They were so beautiful inside and out and it’s so wonderful to be able to attend a wedding where you can just feel the love radiate from the bride and groom.  Justin is such a sweetie to his new bride!  I wish you two MANY happy and glorious years together!

And finally some shots from our weekly Sunday gathering at the in-laws house……..  Meet Titan’s Godparents.  Will and Tracy (TW’s sister).  They love Titan so much!  We’re excited to know they would take care of Titan at the drop of a hat for us!  We love you guys!

Titan seems to think Aunt Tracy was a good pick too!

Grandpa kept poking him in the belly so I got him back per special request from Titan…..

They usually play a round of cards every week too, I’m not a huge card fan so I usually sit that one out.  Now count me in when we play board games!

TW picked up my camera and I always get all nervous and embarrassed when it’s my turn in front!!!  Glad though to have a picture with my baby boy!

And finally Uncle Luke and his girlfriend were nice enough to make everyone some dessert!

Enjoy!

-erika

Saturday Steal…..Again from Martha because she’s that awesome!

This is super cute!  Why just have the “Just Married” sign on the back of your car and why not post one at your reception?  Download the template here….

I love this advice about the ties!!!  Read more.

Find out how to make this frame!!!  So cute! Read More.

Ring Bearer book………I think YES!!!  Read More.

You know we could totally create these for you!  Let me know if you are interested before we start your engagement shoot and we can work this into the design!!! Read more.

This would be a post my mom would be proud of (she’s an environmental engineer)…..BIODEGRADABLE CONFETTI!!!!  Awesome!  No mess to clean up! Read More.

If there’s anything you’d like to see featured please let us know!  We write these things for you guys anyways!  :)  I’d love to hear from you…..(AKA please leave comments!!!)  :)

Enjoy!

-erika

I think I’ll focus on Fall Weddings since it is just right around the corner!  :)

I just love when brides show up with bouquets like this with all the different colors and textures!

This bouquet takes a cue from the season and is a fragrant mix of white majolica roses, Scabiosa, sage, basil, rosemary, and lily of the valley.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

MMMMmmmmmm…….Carmel apples!  Seriously!  Love it!

Chocolate- and caramel-dipped apples are set out in large copper kettles for departing guests to take with them at the end of the evening.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

Totally love this idea, especially for all our southern weddings around here!  What a great option rather then renting  a bunch of white chairs!  Prob cheaper too!

Guests at this fall wedding sit on hay bails decorated with wildflowers from a friend’s farm in French flower pails.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

What a cool twist on the bride’s entrance!  If you really have a southern themed wedding this is the way to go!

For this September wedding, the bride makes her entrance on farm owner’s hay wagon.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

What a simple but beautiful cake!

Two tiers of the cake, by Elizabeth Loudon, are the mother of the bride’s chocolate cake recipe. Set on a stand trimmed with felt, the confection is covered with bittersweet chocolate frosting and dressed with roses, fiddleheads, and sandersonia.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

I pretty much just planned your whole country themed fall wedding for you!  :)

Enjoy!

-erika

These were taken out at our home and are TW’s horses.  They make me smile!  Be sure to look through all of them, my personal favorite is the last one!

Enjoy!

-erika

Enjoy!

-erika

Meet Elizabeth and Andrew, a ridiculously cute couple! Erika threw me a camera, and I started snapping pictures… a great way to learn the ropes! Erika gave me a ideas for themes, I chose a first date theme for the couple because I thought it would be perfect for them. It was a fun shoot, complete with cupcakes from Bliss Cupcake Cafe, balloons, and lots of laughter. We shot the mini-session with them in downtown Fayetteville. Elizabeth and Andrew, recently engaged, were great to work with!

Bliss was a cute place to begin the shoot, owner Shelley Cassar, was happy to have Bliss as the set for the first date theme.

To set up the first date theme, Elizabeth and Andrew picked out their cupcakes.  Their taste of choice was chocolate milkshake and carrot cake. Yum!!!

*Erika here –  It was such a treat to be able to teach Donnally what I knew about photography this day.  I’m super excited to have her on board as an intern here!  Can’t wait for what is to come!  Be sure to check out her about page.

Yes, old fashion Coca-Cola was a must for the shoot!

I’ve got nothing for you… but meet the cupcakes.

Andrew kept blowing bubbles in the Coca-Cola, making Elizabeth all smiles.

*We thought it may be a bit awkward if Donnally wrote about herself, so here I am again.  I loved how she just jumped onto this table to shoot!  She’s learning already one of the most important factors on a shoot…..not worrying about your surroundings and how silly you look propped up on the table!  I love it!  :)

Gorgeous lighting.

I love the way Andrew looks at her.  So sweet.

And forehead kisses… bonus!!!

This picture sums up the couple.  Perfect.

Enjoy!

-Donnally

Let’s start with all the BEAUTIFUL details!

The flowers were created by a local florist that is just starting out in the area her name is Lauren Frost.  She’s super stylish and adorable!  If you are planning a wedding and would like her info please contact me.

For some reason I love this photo!  Guys just have no idea how much work it can take to get that beautiful gown on do they?

Isn’t she a beauty?

This image along with the next few pretty much sum up a “First Look”.  I just LOVE LOVE LOVE when my clients decide to do a First Look!  You still get ready as usual without seeing each other beforehand.  We set up in a pretty location with good lighting before the ceremony begins.  A First Look allows you to relax and send a little time with your future spouse before the ceremony, you can talk, touch, kiss, laugh, hold, hug, etc. all of which are things you usually aren’t doing at the altar.  It also allows for more time for creative portraits as well as getting all those family portraits out of the way so you can move right on to the reception without leaving your guests waiting!

She’s so happy and relieved to be able to see her groom before the ceremony!

And then you get yummy pictures like this!!!!!  LOVE!

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Herod!  :)  Ashton that has a nice ring to it!

Don’t they look so happy together!?!?!

I just love these purple bridesmaid dresses!

What a gorgeous dress!

Ashton’s smile as she sees her groom……

Along with Adam’s smile!  :)

Love this shot I was able to capture!  Some dad love!

What a beautiful day and location for a wedding day!

These two little girls were adorable!

They look a weee bit happy to finally be married…..  :)

Now on to the reception……..just a few more detail shots for ya!

I’m telling you this Lauren Frost girl did an amazing job on the florals!

What a beautiful wedding cake too!

Some more cake cutting…………..

The whole crowd called the Hogs while they cut their cake!  Too cute!

Awww and a cute Hog kiss to seal the deal!

Perfect toss Ashton!

And yes Adam you did well too!

What a beautiful happy couple!

Congratulations you two!

Enjoy!

-erika

I just love how happy they are in this shot!!!  Exactly how they should be after leaving the temple!

I love how John steals one from Cristy to show off for the camera!  :)  Shots like this make me smile!

Beautiful couple at a beautiful temple!

This is definitely my favorite shot of the day!

I just love the lighting in this little nook!  The warm glow from those doors is amazing!

Here’s the famous cupcakes!  All of John’s sister in laws spent the entire day creating these beautiful little cupcakes so I had to give them justice and feature them on the blog!

So who would have thought this old rusty chair that I spotted outside would make the perfect backdrop for Cristy’s bouquet?

Or how about a tree stump to provide such a detailed ring shot?

I love how happy everyone is in this photo as the couple enjoys their first dance together.

This image is priceless to me…..it’s as if John has had a moment to really stop and think as he holds his new wife close.  I can see so much love and care for her here.

Let’s end with this playful shot of dad and son making sure they “get” the new couple as they make their get a way!

Enjoy!

-erika

Week 29:

How big is Baby Dotson this week? He weighs nearly three pounds now and measures about 17 inches. Though he’s getting pretty close to his birth length, he still has to chub out a bit. In fact, over the next 11 weeks, he’ll more than double — or even come close to tripling — his weight (oh wonderful……..). And as he grows and the room in this womb gets tighter, I will be less likely to feel those big kicks and more likely to get poked by an elbow or jabbed by a knee, which I’m not quite sure which I would prefer.  They say I’m supposed to be counting his kicks now and that there should be at least 10 movements within an hour……….I don’t think they realize we must have a soccer player on our hands because he kicks like 59.2 times an hour!!!!  Baby Dotson’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin.  Baby Dotson is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though — I don’t think they necessarily coincide with my own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

We’d like to know what your thoughts for names are……..

We are looking for originality, nothing like Matthew, Tyler, or Andrew.

Also we aren’t interested in popular names like Hayden, Parker, or Peyton.

His middle name will be Jay (in honor of TW’s late brother who passed at 6 months old) and obviously his last name will be Dotson!  :)

And now for a pretty picture….

*please ignore the awkwardly HUGE looking arm.

Baby Dotson is the size of a squash!

Enjoy!

-erika