I didn’t meet Maura until the day of, but I immediately fell in love with her and Robert and their families. They were some of the kindest, friendliest people I met and welcomed me as one of the family into the AirBnB they had rented for their big weekend. And this AirBnB was the perfect location for an afternoon, mountaintop wedding! The inside was bright and airy, and the porch had just the right amount of space for the 14 people in attendance to sit or stand and a gorgeous view of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Read MoreWell, I did it. I took another leap into the unknown parts of this home-grown photography business and opened my own Print Shop! Photography has always been a passion of mine, and before I even started this business, I was printing photos I took to hang on the walls of my home. Beautiful images are meant to be shared, so I thought, why not? Why not share some of the photos I have taken through the years of Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Disney World (of course!), the Florida coast, and some of the gorgeous locations right in our own backyards?
Visit the Print Shop to see more and order a print for your home or other gifts created from the photos (greeting cards, canvases, magnets, coasters, playing cards, Christmas ornaments, and more—which are also available to any of my weddings or portrait sessions)! The prices are very reasonable, and the quality produced by my gallery host is exceptional.
Read MoreI have never not had a summer. I’m a teacher, and teachers look forward to the two months between school years to refresh and energize themselves for the next year. While many of us still work second jobs (I worked camps for 15 summers before I had my children, and now I operate my part-time photography business year-round), it’s still a couple of months doing something different, not having to make 14,000 educational decisions a day, and having time to think through some of the changes we want to make for the next school year. But this summer has been different. While I have been at home since March, there has been nothing refreshing or energizing about our current situation. E-Learning completely turned our school and home life upside down, and when it ended in June, things didn’t change much. Preparing for the upcoming school year in the midst of a global pandemic has created a tremendous amount of anxiety for every teacher, parent, administrator, and school leader that I know for our entire summer. And now that we know the date(s) we are expected to return, teachers are scrambling to ready their physical classrooms, virtual classrooms, and lesson plans to take on this new challenge.
Read MoreI didn’t set out to start this big of a project, but it has been such a blessing as I’ve gotten to get to know so many new neighbors! My own two children are also learning the value of giving back and volunteering. Some amazing essential workers on the frontlines of the war this country is fighting know they are appreciated. And many families and children will be fed. During a time of great difficulty and isolation, this project has given me a mission, but most importantly, it has given me and so many others hope!
Read MoreI rode my bike up to the house and hid behind her dad’s truck while Willow’s friends and family lined up their parade of cars, minivans, trucks, and golf carts down the street. Some of the cars were decorated with streamers, balloons, and posters, and occasionally, I saw an excited little head poke up out of a sun roof. Willow was playing in the driveway with her sister and had no idea what was getting ready to happen. At 1:05, the party “guests” started driving by Willow’s house, honking and waving! Many handed a very surprised little girl birthday gifts through car windows. Willow’s face registered her complete and utter joy and excitement at seeing all of her friends and family in such a special parade! It was definitely a birthday to remember!
Read MoreIt’s almost that time of year for the CHRISTMAS CARD CRAZE!
When I was a child, I loved looking through the stack of Christmas cards my mom piled on our coffee table in the den, especially the ones that came with photos! I enjoyed seeing how all my cousins and family friends were growing up. But that was back in the day where having an actual printed photo card was insanely expensive, so there weren’t that many to look through!
Nowadays, we have a plethora of companies out there who have made it suuuuper easy to design Christmas cards with your photos, and there are so many beautiful designs to choose from! What do YOU do with all these beautiful cards you get in the mail each holiday season? Here are a few ideas!
Read MoreMy little family has found a summer refuge at Carolina Beach, NC. A couple of years ago I found out that one of my friend-clients has a vacation/work home in Kure Beach, just five minutes up the road, and this summer, the stars aligned and her whole family was there while we were, so she asked me to do some family portraits on the beach! Of course I said yes—even though photography is a second job for me, it doesn’t always feel like “work!” (Plus it was a nice little break from all the boy-wildness that is my family!)
Read MoreToday I went to the South Carolina State House to join my teacher voice with 10,000 others in support of public education across our state. It's hard to put into words what it was like. It was empowering, amazing, awe-inspiring, and one of the most historic events I have ever had the honor of being a part of. I often found myself just looking around in awe at the crowds, the creative and witty signs, the determined faces, and the never-ending sea of red, so much so that I didn't take nearly as many photos as I thought I would!
Read MoreGet to know the woman behind the camera! 20 Questions with Kimberly Cauble, Charlotte area wedding and portrait photographer
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