Destination Weddings in Italy

Last May, I had the wonderful opportunity to photography a wedding in Tuscany. Italy was like a fairytale. Beautiful just doesn’t even seem sufficient to describe it. It just makes you wonder why it is so beautiful. I wanted to go up to people’s doors and ask if someone told them to put those beautiful flowers outside their house, because it seems every house and building is so quaint. If you are looking for a fairytale wedding or a once in a lifetime wedding experience, you’ve got to check this out. The couple that I photographed (Andy and Erin) back in May of 2011 have put together a Tuscany Destination Weddings service. Andy is Italian and Erin is American, which make them such a super combo for destination wedding services in Italy. They have put together a website that includes destinations (AMAZING!) where you can have your wedding and so much more information. They can even help you plan a marriage proposal in Italy. If your not getting married but want to visit Italy they also provide private tours, which would make for the perfect visit to Italy. Shannon and I definitely want to go back some day. I could stay there for months…of course, it is an artist’s dream. I put together a destination weddings package. If you use Andy and Erin I will give you $200 off any wedding package. So, check them out….tell your friends! ITALY DESTINATION WEDDINGS

New Year, New Job, New School, New City

It may look like I have been missing in action for a while. But, here is where I have been parking it:

I am officially a “Patriot.” The last few months have been quite a whirlwind. In late November, I accepted a position as an Associate Professor of Visual Arts – Photography at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. Which of course means, we are on the move! It was a difficult decision to make because I will miss my friends and students at Lenoir Community College and Shannon (my husband) and I will certainly miss our friends and church family at Greenville Christian Fellowship.

I have been in my new position for a few weeks now and I am excited (and a bit overwhelmed) by all the possibilities at Francis Marion. The Fine Arts Faculty have certainly been very welcoming and I am looking forward to getting to know my new students.  I am teaching three classes this semester, Introduction to Digital Photography, Intermediate Photography and Advanced Photography. In the Fall I will be teaching Introductory Photography (the Darkroom) and Alternative Digital Imaging (can’t wait for this one!). I hope to add two new classes (Photographic Lighting and Alternative Processes) to the course catalog in the near future. This position is a 9 month post, unless I apply to teach in the Summer, which may be a possibility in the future once we are settled. So that means 3 months off! What to do with myself? The University offers summer research grants which I can apply for every year, so my brain is in overload thinking about all that I hope to start researching.

I am still offering wedding photography services, so you will continue to see those posts here. My goal is to extend my wedding photography services into South Carolina this year or next year.

Shannon and I are trying to sell our house in Winterville, so I will be back and forth for a while. During the week I am commuting from my parents’ house. That’s right, I’m back at my parents’ house. No complaints here. Coffee in the morning. Dinner in the evening. I am super spoiled. And I get to play with my parents’ new kitty (Holly Kitty) to boot. We are best buds even though I am super allergic to her and she gives me asthma.

So, big changes this year. We anticipate it will be a year of transition, but both Shannon and I are looking forward to the change and we are putting on our patient pants during the transition.

If you would like to check out what is going on with the Photo Department at Francis Marion University check out the blog I set up: www.francismarionphoto.wordpress.com. I also post “Call for Entries” for photography exhibits if you are interested in those.

 

 

 

Holiday Sale

Lindsey + Mike :: Engaged!

These guys were so much fun, which really makes me look forward to their wedding in May. They really just seem to have a good time together. You can see we did a little pre-wedding pose practice with the dipping and the “fireman hold.” Those really are not things you and your loved one do everyday, so being serious and not so serious at the same time, it is good to practice those things before the first dance….great photo opportunities! Oh and be sure to get a look at the ring! It is amazing.Congrats to Lindsey and Mike…I can’t wait for the next photo session!

 

 

Brittany + Zach :: Engaged

Brittany and Zach are getting married! Zach is a super ECU fan and of course an alumni, so we spent some time on campus before heading over to Washington, NC to get some different scenery. I don’t think we could have asked for  a better day. I LOVE the fall. Other than great weather the colors in the leaves are fabulous. Heather (my super awesome friend and assistant) agrees that we would take this 70 degree weather shooting over 95 degrees any day! Brittany and Zach also brought there pooches along for the second part of the shoot. I was in love with these two and hope to see them at the wedding. Hint hint. I can totally see Otis in a tux and Tootsie coming down the aisle in a little wagon.  Oh and a big thanks to Heather for roughing it in the bushes, while holding a light stand, balancing on one leg, swatting mosquitoes and changing the flash power. And a big thanks to Brittany and Zach too for climbing up on that log. They are troopers. So, here are my favs.