Kimberly Cauble Photography Blog — Kimberly Cauble Photography

My First Attempt at Studio Photography | Hazel's Dance Photos

A few months back, one of my dearest friends, Erica, asked me if I would take some dance photos for her daughter, Hazel. It was December, so it was already pretty cold out. She asked if I could do some studio-type photos inside, and even though I have some studio equipment, I don’t have a studio or space big enough to set up my paper white backdrop. However, they have a basement in their home with a big open space, so I said I’d bring over my backdrop and lighting equipment and we could have a little fun!

Preparing for A Bridal Show | A Wedding Photographer’s First Experience

If you are a wedding photographer wondering whether or not you should invest in bridal shows, my advice is to just go for it! Maybe don’t start out by jumping into a huge, regional show, but there are bound to be local venues or coordinators who host smaller shows, and that is a perfect way to start. You don’t have to spend a ton of money—and your booth doesn’t have to have a lot on display! A “look book” is the best thing to show off your work, and maybe a laptop with a slideshow. The most important thing is to be YOU—share your passion, experience, and how you approach a wedding day. Be prepared to be on your feet most of the day—wear comfortable shoes! Bring snacks to keep up your energy! During down times visit with other vendors—those connections can often be the biggest perk of participating in bridal shows! You might meet your next referral source, or better yet, make a new friend.

Cheyenne & Ethan's Wedding | The Venue at Edgewood

This past October, I was once again called to capture the magic of another Fowler family wedding—this time, it was for Blakely’s brother Ethan and his bride Cheyenne. While their wedding wasn’t quite as “Halloweeny” as Jordan and Blakely’s, it certainly carried a hauntingly beautiful, almost ethereal vibe, with details that seemed pulled from a ghostly dream.

Common Wedding Photography/Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

I have been shooting weddings for over 12 years, and I’ve built a strong workflow for ensuring I capture all the important moments of a wedding day. But there’s nothing worse than feeling rushed and unable to deliver the quality and quantity of photos I know I could deliver if I had enough time on the wedding day to dedicate to documenting them! Couples put so much time, energy, and money into planning their perfect day, and obviously, they want every moment captured. In order to get every moment captured, though, thoughtful planning and consultation with your photographer is essential. Here are ten mistakes I have seen my wedding clients make over the years and suggestions on how to avoid them.

WeddingsKimberly CaubleFebruary 15, 2025Wedding Planning, Wedding timelines, Wedding TipsComment

Logan & Caiden's Cedar Creek Ranch Wedding | Waxhaw, NC Wedding

Logan and Caiden got married on October 5, 2024 at Cedar Creek Ranch, in Waxhaw, NC. It was a perfect sunny, warm, October day! Cedar Creek Ranch is a gorgeous barn on an open space at the end of a wooded drive, with a bridal suite, pond with water features, several spaces for ceremonies, and a huge reception tent! It’s the perfect spot for a couple wanting a venue that has plenty of space, amenities, and a rustic yet sophisticated vibe!

Bridal Portraits, Engagements, Love Stories, Portraits, WeddingsKimberly CaubleJanuary 31, 2025Cedar Creek RanchCedar Creek RanchComment

Hangry Photographers Don't Take Good Pictures (Feed Your Vendors)

In the wedding industry, there’s a definite controversy over feeding vendors. Some clients/coordinators suggest vendor meals, and others opt not to feed their vendors at all. But I’m here to tell you that hangry vendors do not perform well! You really should plan to feed your vendors, or at least the ones who will be at your event for the entire day, and here’s why.

Why You Need to Print Your Photos

You just got your photos back from your photo session, and you’ve shared them on your socials so that everyone can oooh and ahhh over them. Now what are you going to do with them? Are they just going to live in a phone, cloud, or hard drive forever? Or will you do something to feature them in your life for years to come? Framed prints, wall displays, canvases, and albums can become cherished keepsakes that help your images live on for you to enjoy for years to come! There’s just something truly magical about holding a tangible piece of your memories in your hands. Let me share with you some reasons you should print your photos:

Education, Photography, Print ShopKimberly CaubleNovember 30, 2024Kimberly Cauble PhotographyPrinting PhotosComment

What to Put in your Bridal Emergency Kit

As I was writing a blog post with tips for planning weddings a while back, one of my suggestions was to have a bridal emergency kit with you on the day of. As a photographer, this is something I always carry with me, and it has come in handy more than a few times! So I decided to expand upon that post and create this one outlining some important things to put in your bridal emergency kit. (This would also make a fantastic bridal shower or Christmas gift for a future bride!)

Death-Proofing your Photography Business

Besides setting up a will and making sure your family has access to all of your personal information and accounts, have you thought about what might happen if you are involved in an accident and are out of commission to run your photography business (or any small business)? I often think about what would happen if I have weddings in my queue and am unable to finish editing and deliver the galleries. That would be devastating for me as well as my clients. And there are so many bills and subscriptions I have just for my photography business…who would know what they are and be able to access and close them out?

Small Business, EducationKimberly CaubleOctober 30, 2024death and taxes, small-businessComment

Printing Your Photographs: Leave it to the Professionals

In today's digital age, it is easier than ever to snap a photo and share it instantly with the world. However, there is something special about holding a physical print of your cherished photographs, or better yet, framing and displaying your precious memories. While home printers and one-hour photo labs offer convenience, there are several compelling reasons why you should consider leaving photography printing to the professionals. Let’s explore the advantages of entrusting your printing needs to the experts!

Canaan & Kyle's Vineyard Wedding | Dugaren Vineyard

It’s no secret that I love color. When my children or students ask me what my favorite color is, I have a hard time answering, because I love them all! Canaan & Kyle’s Dugaren Vineyard wedding was so full of color, I could not help but feature it. Just a little over an hour away from my home, Dugaren has a beautifully crafted building with both indoor and covered outdoor areas, a big open vineyard surrounded by beautiful trees, and the most amazing bridal AND groom suites! And on June 8, the weather was warm, but not too hot, and sunny…a perfect summer day.

Love Stories, Photography, WeddingsKimberly CaubleSeptember 30, 2024Dugaren VineyardsDugaren VineyardComment

Tips for Capturing Great Family Photos (For the Family and Photographer!)

At a recent family session, I started thinking about how educating families on what to expect at their family photo sessions would be helpful as well, so I decided to put together some tips for the whole family AND family photographers to help create as stress-free of a family portrait session as possible. And like any good teacher, I love an acronym to make things easier to remember! So, I am going to teach you how to PLAY at your family sessions.

Jaycie & Brooks | A Beaufort Engagement Session

We began this Beaufort engagement session by wandering down Bay Street, across to The Lewis Reeve Sams House (currently for sale!) and Steven Elliot Park with the cannon across from Woods Memorial Bridge. Then we headed back through Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, and finally, we headed across the bridge and ended the evening at sunset amongst the oaks and along the Beaufort River at Whitehall Park. It was a bit breezy (par for the course along the coast), but thankfully, it wasn’t a million degrees! It was a beautiful evening for an epic Lowcountry sunset engagement with a gorgeous couple…what photographer could ask for more?

Everything You Need to Know to Plan a FANTASTIC Senior Portrait Session!

You’re heading into your senior year, and it’s time for that rite of passage: senior photos! But where do you even begin? Read on for some ideas that will help you and your photographer plan the best senior portrait session to reflect your personality!

Teaching Writing and Artificial Intelligence: Can the Two Coexist?

I have been teaching students how to read, write, and communicate for 26 years. I am a middle school teacher and have taught fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. I always spend time teaching about plagiarism and why it is wrong, and every year, I have one or two incidents where I catch students plagiarizing and they (and sometimes their families) have had to learn some painful lessons. But this past year, the number of students who discovered generative AI tools and used them to cheat shot through the roof.

Education, TeachingKimberly CaubleJuly 25, 2024teaching writing, artificial intelligence, generative AIComment

Capturing Life's Most Precious Moments: Preparing for your In-Home Newborn Session

Babies change so much in the first year, and those first several weeks are often a blur…so document those sweet newborn moments, from the scrunchy stretches, yawns, little fingers and toes, and even the little pouty faces! While some families prefer more posed portraits that can be captured in a studio, others prefer in-home newborn sessions, also called lifestyle newborn sessions. These are best for providing a more relaxed and intimate setting, allowing photographers to capture genuine moments that reflect the love and joy of your growing family in your own, comfortable space. To ensure that your session is a success, here are some tips to help you prepare…

The Challenge of Teaching the Tik-Tok Generation

This past school year I had more students who exhibit ADHD-like behavior, particularly when working on their iPads, than I have ever seen before. It’s been building for the last few years. Yes, some of them are truly diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but most of them have a learned inability to stay focused on something for more than about 12-15 seconds. …my students just cannot focus, and therefore, they are suffering academically. If something does not change, this will eventually spill over into their teenage years and adulthood, and it terrifies me to think that we may have drivers, doctors, and pilots who are so easily distracted with the inability to sustain focus on something important like driving, performing surgeries, or flying a plane.

Life, Education, TeachingKimberly CaubleJune 15, 2024teaching, technology impact on educationComment

Why Can't I Have All the Raw Photos?

I am always reading stories in Photography Facebook groups I am a part of where clients ask or demand all the raw photos from their sessions or weddings. Thankfully, I have only had that happen a couple of times, and my explanation about why I don’t give my raw photos has always satisfied wondering minds.

Photography EducationKimberly CaubleMay 15, 2024raw photos, editingComment

Catie & Kishon's Dairy Barn Wedding

Catie & Kishon got married in the loft of the Dairy Barn at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill. Her soon-to-be brother-in-law officiated the ceremony. One of the biggest surprises of the ceremony was the song that Catie chose to walk down the aisle with her dad to; it was her mom and dad’s wedding song. Surrounded by family and friends, their day was perfect…the weather could not have been more beautiful, and there was the most dreamy sunset before their reception began.

Love Stories, WeddingsKimberly CaubleApril 21, 2024Dairy BarnComment

Some of my Favorite Wedding Venues in the Charlotte, NC/York County SC Area | Kimberly Cauble Photography

If you’re a couple who has recently gotten engaged and begun planning your wedding, you know that one of the most important things is finding your venue, which will also dictate your date and other vendors! There are so many things to consider when choosing a venue: your vision, the size of your wedding and the number of guests, whether or not you’re set on getting married in a church, whether or not you want an all-inclusive venue, and of course, your budget. Luckily, if you are in the Charlotte, NC/York County, SC area, you have a plethora of wedding and event venues that suit every wedding vision imaginable to choose from!