he says he is going to be a paleontologist but I am not so sure about that. I think photographer is more like it. The entire shoot James would say “let’s try this” or “how about this?” He even thought it would be a great idea to take pictures of him & his sister playing – candid like – I love it.  And that caroline…ahhhh!!! She is a trip! The entire shoot she kept saying, ” I need a hug, I need a hug.” And the looks on her face… priceless. As I was editing this shoot I was literally laughing out loud when I got to some of her “are you kidding me?” expressions. This time next year please do not let me be writing  ”we really need to get together with them” again! I will hopefully make that happen very very soon!

being the end of the summer I am getting very sentimental about “family time.” We have had a lot of it this summer. And I like it. A lot. Makes it even sweeter when I do a shoot & see a family playing together & just enjoying being together.  I had a blast shooting this family of 4… Oh summer…. I will miss you SO SO much!

Martha Stewart might just as well have planned this wedding. Every detail was perfect –  I am talking down to the micro-level here. You just would have to have seen it to believe it (or hopefully the pictures will do it some justice:) Makes me so happy I live in the South!

“This was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to”

” this is amazing, simply amazing”

“right out of a martha stewart magazine”

These were just a few of the things you would have heard if you easedropped any conversation that night. I LOVE LOVE LOVE detail shots b/c I think they make a story come alive through photography. I just could not get enough of them at this magazine-worthy wedding. It was a photographer’s dream – 100 % daylight, a farm/barn setting, flowers everywhere, a bride who loved to be photographed,  and OH THE FLOWERS! Perfect combination for a perfect wedding.

ps – I shot this wedding when Payton was only 10 weeks old & I feel like it took me FOREVER to edit it. And if I thought I was busy before she was born… whew.. no comparison. Cayce & Josh, THANK YOU for being so patient with me. I hope it was well worth the wait!!

**** Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to click on the slideshow… you don’t want to miss it!

***CLICK BELOW TO VIEW FULL SLIDESHOW***

http://gallery.me.com/hopebray/100181

llittle Sophie is not so sure about her new little sister, Piper. She was very very sweet to her when I was there but mommy & daddy have said that it can be quite different sometimes. I could not help think about how short this transition period would be for her. On the ride home this is what I pictured…. 2 little girls whispering secrets to each other in the dark, endless hours playing tea party, dancing around the room with tu-tu’s on, sharing popsicles, dressing up,  & lots & lots of giggles. No worries, Sophie, you don’t even know it & a few short weeks ago you were introduced for the first time to your new lifelong best friend. Hang on there… it will be SO worth it!

Last weekend I traveled to Greenville, SC to shoot a wedding & a 1 year shoot for little Clayton & his cousin, Ellison. One of the things that I love the most about my job is that I get so see the same families year after year & to watch their little ones grow. I have known Ellison & her mom for a while b/c they previously lived in Charlotte. When they moved to Greenville I was able to meet Ellison’s new cousin , Clayton, when I did a newborn shoot for them exactly 1 year ago. It is simply AMAZING how fast kids grow in their first year of life. The last time I saw Clayton he was about 2 weeks old & I was positioning him on some towels in front of a window to get just the perfect shot of his tiny little body. When he walked up to the shoot I could hardly believe it! He was SOOO big! I obviously knew he would not be tiny anymore but seriously the last time I held him he was no longer than my arm! And that sweet Ellison… oh, she is growing up so fast too & she was SO tall! I think she will always have a special place in my heart:) Everything in me just wanted to freeze time & not let these kids grow another inch. You guys have such a sweet family… always love being with you… even at 7:00 in the morning!