Love, love, love....

I love my job. Not only do I truly enjoy photographing brides and grooms and all the details of their special day, but I'm energized by the excitement and hope for the future that you feel at a wedding. It's like a drug for me, I'm addicted, but I don't want help! ;-)
All of my brides and grooms are special and every wedding day has something about it that makes it unique. Once in awhile, though, I will get to work with a couple that really stick with me long after our working relationship has ended. I think I have started down that path once more.
Brittany & Trey contacted me a couple of months ago and after meeting and discussing their style and mine they decided to hire me to photograph their wedding. Yesterday we met downtown, braving the freezing temps and gusty winds, to take some engagement shots. Although we stayed out for less than an hour, I was charmed by their stories and plans for the future (they want to move to Europe and are going to make it happen darn it!) They are both so sweet, respectful, level headed and laid back that I cannot wait to work with them again on the big day!

Let there be light...

I love light, and dark, and art- especially art. So, as a lover of those three things I have spent countless hours pouring over books filled with the works of Vermeer & Rembrandt. As a photographer I am constantly watching the light, trying to figure out ways to make my photographs resemble the paintings these guys did in the 1600's. Sometimes the light is glaring and bright & makes you squint your eyes, sometimes it's a soft and filtered through the clouds. The perfect light in my, and many photographers opinions, is the late afternoon/evening light. It's warm and glowy & because it's coming in at a slant it makes pretty shadows on your subject.

This past weekend I was asked to photograph a friend of mine. She has some gorgeous prints that she bought when we were in Italy a couple years ago and she was keen on recreating them with her as the subject and I was thrilled to get an opportunity to practice. So we waited for the pretty golden light to come shining in and set up an impromptu studio in my living room. I'm very happy with the results and think that you will be to!

The Dewyea Family

This weekend I had the opportunity to photograph a family whose kids go to school with mine. They are also friends with some of my good friends, so it was really nice to get to spend a little time with them and get to know them better. Here is a quick look at some of the highlights from their session. Hope you all enjoy! Also, if 20 of Jen's friends leave comments here on the blog she will receive a free 8x10 from her session! Yay!

The Baby Swanns

I've been pretty busy lately with life in general, but also with family pictures for the upcoming holiday cards. Yesterday I had the great pleasure of photographing my sister in law, Susie & her beautiful family. They are all gorgeous. No really, like straight from the pages of a magazine pretty and I don't just say that because I love them! Lucky for me Susie is also a fantastic cook, so I enjoyed a nice meal while I was at their house too! Here is a sneak peek from their session. :-)

She's gaga for The Lady...

It's that time of the year again, time to plan Daisy's birthday party. It's always a challenge, because Daisy is so in love with life and every idea that comes into her head seems SO awesome that she may die if she doesn't get to try it. So we have discussed many things, one day it's riding horses on the beach, another day it's a roller skating party, 24 hours later she wants to go to a spa for makeovers. These birthday wishes are usually delivered to me in a loud, laughing voice as Daisy stands on her head on the couch or bounces on the bed with a mischievous glint in her eye. But I think we have finally figured out what Daisy really and truly wants for her birthday. It's quite simple really. She wants Lady Gaga.

Yes, you read that right- Lady Gaga, super star singing sensation. The amazingly talented, vivacious young woman has captured my girls heart. For several months now 6 year old Daisy has been enthralled with Lady Gaga, listening to Paparazzi over and over & then moving on to Bad Romance. Upon reading Gaga's bio on her website Daisy was charmed to learn that they both admire The Beatles and Queen (Daisy's favorite lullaby as a baby was Another One Bites the Dust, true story.) We have spent loads of time looking at Gaga's pictures online so that Daisy can admire her outfits and her hair-do's. She is quite disappointed with my skills as a hairdresser and doesn't understand why I can't tie her hair in a bow like the Great Lady wears hers. Daisy is also in the depths of despair because I won't let her watch Gaga's videos, which I think are fantastically done, but obviously inappropriate for young eyes.

So, when Daisy asked me to invite Lady Gaga to her 7th birthday party, I promised I would. I told her that it's not something she should count on, being that Gaga is a very busy girl. But I'm sending this out anyway, if you by some chance read this, Lady Gaga, you are now officially invited:
What: Daisy's 7th Birthday
When: Sept. 13th, 2010
Where: Daisy's house
RSVP: blusunphoto@yahoo.com

What do I have in common with Hillary Clinton?

Hi guys! It's been awhile! Sorry about that, but I've been busy. With what you ask? Well, lots of things- yoga, portrait sessions, sewing, but one of my top priorities the past week or so has been making sure that my kids are acclimating to a new school year. The summer flew by and they started back on Monday the 9th, they seem to be happy as little clams at high tide. I'm happy too, I LOVE the school that we have chosen for our kids. It's a new school, this is only it's second year in operation, but it's a school with a lot of heart and talent. The teachers and staff are caring and dedicated, test scores are high and most importantly the kids seem happy to be there. I know this because last year I spent a lot of time volunteering at the school. When you sign your child up for The Spartanburg Charter School you sign up to volunteer at the school and be involved with your child's education and character development. When I walk into the school not only are my kids excited to see me, but I get tons of smiles and hugs and greeting from the other kids too. I love these kids and believe that I can have a positive effect on their lives, as can the other parents and friends. So that's where Hillary & I think alike, as she said in her presidential campaign in '07, it takes a village to raise a child. I like to be part of that village.
Now, the important part of my message, stick with me here- SCS runs on roughly 1/3 of the money that traditional public school in the state receive. This is not out of the ordinary, charter schools traditionally do receive less government funding. Luckily this year we are in the running to win 1/2 a million dollars for the retail store Kohl's. This money could be used to install air conditioning in the building (a partially renovated, beautiful building that was constructed in the 1930's,) it could be used for a computer lab, a science lab....there are any number of uses and I think that these kids deserve it.
If you can take 5 minutes follow the link below and vote, then forward this onto your friends you could change these kids lives. I know how powerful the internet can be & how quickly word can spread on here. This is a simple way to be part of something really big for these kids. Thank you!

http://www.votescs.org/

If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium....

Today my Grandpa died. It wasn't a surprise, as he had struggled with Alzheimer's for some time and recently begun to deteriorate physically as well. It's a terrible disease and takes away a persons dignity. I know that he is in a better place, but that doesn't make it easier for the loved ones that are left behind.
Now though, I would like to focus on the good memories that I have of Grandpa Welch. He was a Navy man and then an electrician. He had a huge heart, a giant smile and laughing eyes. He was tall and thin and had big strong hands. I loved to visit his house when I was little because it smelled like Dutch Masters cigars and he had lots of kids books on the bookshelves for me to read. He lived in that house for over 50 years. When I was a bit older we would walk out in the backyard and he would tell me about the rabbits and squirrels and birds that he watched out his window. Grandpa always drove a big pick up truck. He owned land that he loved, spending lots of time hunting and out walking on it, just enjoying nature. Grandpa was mellow, he always seemed to go with the flow and not worry. He loved fishing and bowling and was friends with the same people that he had been friends with as a young man. I was infatuated with the tattoo of an Indian maiden on his right forearm. When I was small he would pick me up so I could pet the mounted deer head that was hanging in his house. Befitting a man who didn't ever seem to want to be the center of attention or have people make a fuss over him, he asked for no funeral, but to be cremated and have his ashes scattered at a favorite spot.
I can see my Grandpa in my Dad's face. I see some of his traits in myself and my siblings. He was a wonderful man and he will be missed, but part of him is still here in us.

I want to be like her.

This evening after a lovely pizza picnic on the back porch we stayed outside to play for awhile. I was planting flowers and the girls decided to run around under the hose. Surprisingly they kept their clothes on. I guess they are becoming more modest in their old age, heh. After a good soak in the water it was time to play "Rock Star." Daisy immediately began strumming her imaginary guitar (bright pink and electric, in case you where wondering)and jumping off the picnic table. Emma looked on, quietly strumming her own invisible guitar.
I decided to take pictures of the kids, since they were so cute and the light was right. As I was snapping away Emma looked at Daisy, who was in her full rock and roll star glory swinging her hair around and snarling her lip, and said "I want to be like her." I totally understood at that moment, but only later looking at the pictures did I see the whole story....
Emma was standing beside or slightly behind Daisy in nearly all of the shots and in several she was holding Daisy's legs up and helping her do a cartwheel, because every good rock star has to preform gymnastics onstage, d'uh. Emma is the careful, level headed, motherly one. Daisy is the girl who jumps from the highest branch she can climb to and won't admit that her leg hurts when she falls. Emma hasn't realized it yet but she plays a very important role, she's the backup to Daisy's lead guitarist. She's the Dave Grohl to Daisy's Kurt Cobain, the Page to her Plant, and that can be a pretty great thing.

I'll take After School Conversations Ending in Peanuts for $400, Alex...

Once upon a time I was not the confident, sometimes outspoken person that you all know today. I was painfully shy, at least it must have been painful for my kindergarten teacher who advised my parents to take me to therapy because I wouldn't speak at school. I actually wasn't terribly worried about not talking though. If I liked you I would talk to you and being quiet has it's advantages. For example, I began skipping classes in 1st grade and when I was caught I never got in trouble. I was "that sweet, quiet girl," certainly I hadn't just been hanging around in the girls room to get out of doing work. Uh-huh, whatever.
Anyway, lets talk about the here and now. Today when I picked Emma up from school I asked her how her day went. She responded "It was half good and half bad." After learning about the good half I asked her to explain the bad part. She went on to tell me about three boys who were "really mean" and accused her of not being able to talk. Aha...this sounded familiar.
Apparently Emma froze up and was standing still while they were making fun of her, because she said that the boys said they were going to pick her up and take her into the classroom where they were supposed to be going. They didn't actually try it, but the thought sent me into mommy mode and I offered to beat the mean boys up. Emma said that wasn't necessary, that she was going to "Kick those boys in the peanuts if they bother me again!" Riotous laughter ensued, I think she can take care of herself.

Wedding Bells are Ringing...

I had a blast last weekend shooting Tracy and Mikes rehearsal dinner and wedding. Not only are they an adorable couple and totally in love, but they are fun and entertaining too. Thanks for letting me be part of your day!

Catching up...

It's been a busy couple of weeks! Family shoots, rehearsal dinners, weddings and a couple of birthday parties have kept me busy. Now, while Jimmy works on our taxes (yeah...we're last minute kind of people,) I'm catching up on processing some recent pictures. Hope you all enjoy them!

Hi, I'm Carrie!

I have a blog? Does that mean I'm a writer now? Where are my commission checks? Will I be recognized whilst buying my chai tea at Barnes & Noble? I better start putting on make up when I'm going out, or at least dark sunglasses.

Actually I am just here in an effort to grow my photography business. We'll see how it goes. :-)