smitten photography

katie + paul wedding

it was something about a spoon, but she said fork...  

the joke that sparked a whirlwind romance...short & sweet, ended with an amazing marriage ceremony on saturday.  katie & paul laughed so much with each other that it was hard finding photos of them being serious!  it was the kind of day that photographers dream about...beautiful weather, a playful-loving couple, supportive familes & great friends.  

i have been looking forward to this wedding for several months & all day i was reminded of why i feel so blessed to be a photographer.  katie's dad asked me at the rehearsal dinner if i ever get tired of capturing all the moments as they happen, always having to "click away".  i replied with an animated "NO WAY!" and told him that those moments are my favorite...when a groom looks lovingly at his bride, when a dad kisses his daughter after their dance, knowing that she is no longer "his" little girl, when a bride holds back tears as she walks down the aisle and says her vows in front of all her friends and family, when the sun comes out from behind the clouds in just the right way to light her veil from behind, making her look like an angel.  these are the moments that can't be staged, posed, or forced.  they are the moments that just happen.  they are the moments that make each and every wedding fun. fresh. & real.

katie and paul, thank you SO much for letting lauren & i share in your amazing day!  we laughed & cried along with you & couldn't imagine two people better made for each other.  hope your honeymoon is a glimpse of heaven & that you enjoy some of the best images of the day...

****CLICK HERE FOR THEIR SLIDESHOW!!!****

megan & ej...the love story.

authentic.

passionate.

loves others well.

the calm to her storm.

relentless pursuit.

constant.

these were just a few of the words mentioned by megan & ej's friends and family on the night before their picture perfect wedding this past saturday, in the mountains of north carolina.  the words were used to describe them both as individuals and as a couple.   they were serenaded by megan's grandparents, applauded by life long friends, affirmed by their parents & given the seal of approval by megan's three brothers.  it truly was a weekend filled with love, tears, joy & anticipation.  the weather was a constant ? but in the end, we were given grace by god for a perfect scene to help megan & ej remember their wedding day forever.

megan and ej were the winners of the 2008 smitten love story contest when blog readers voted on their favorite couple between three finalists.  it was more than apparent to me why they are so loved by others & i was so blessed by sharing in their wedding weekend.  i chose my one favorite photo to go with this post because the slideshow tells the whole story so perfectly...

***CLICK HERE*** AND ENJOY :)

oh, and ps...

keep your eyes out for the announcement of the next smitten love story contest coming soon...!!

smoke alarms...

here is a little preview from a bridal shoot i had with caroline, who is marrying her charlotte fireman, chris, in august! all i have to say about their wedding is it will involve lots of fun friends, a big party & a ride on a fire truck that i am insanely excited about! because i like to keep you waiting, here are three of my favorites...

molly + drew

that its in the way you lift me up
i can't offer riches but i'll fight for your heart
all that i can give to you
is a promise to be faithful and a love that is true
i'm a better man for you

this is the chorus of the song written by drew & mark wagner that mark performed during their wedding ceremony on saturday, in knoxville, tennessee. it was a wedding-weeklong-celebration, with friends & family from near & far. i was delighted to be part of this day in so many ways...capturing every moment with my camera, sobbing as molly walked down the aisle with tears in her eyes & watching the many ways god smiled down on them with a golden evening, lots of laughter & the joy in their faces as they made their vows to one another.
hunter valley farms was the perfect location for the outdoor ceremony & reception. their band, smooth groove, rocked the house and left everyone wanting more when the night came to an end. drew & molly, thank you for letting me share in one of the most wonderful wedding weekends i have ever been a part of. i love you both, dearly & couldn't be happier for your love and new marriage. snuggle lots. love, sharon.

here are some of my favorite shots...

at the rehearsal dinner:

picture perfect ceremony location:

my favorite ring shot EVER!

this is sooooo jcrew:

the boys:

the reallllly cute flower girl:

gorgeous moment:

married!!!

my favorite:

such a fun party:

love the green details :)

what a perfect night:

so HAPPY!!!

******click here for their slideshow & to hear their song written & performed by mark wagner******

parker + adam

lauren & i had the pleasure of taking part in such a gorgeous wedding on saturday, with parker & adam, at the hudson manor, near raleigh, nc!! it feels like it has rained at every wedding over the past 6 months that i have photographed, so it was a welcomed day filled with sunshine & a light breeze! the location was perfectly southern...an old plantation home with great details, beautiful flowers & a long aisle pathway. the wedding ceremony was outdoors, on the patio & the reception took place in the ballroom near the house.
parker was a stunning bride & was full of all the emotion she could bare. i've never seen so many sweet tears shared between a father and daughter like parker shared with her dad. i swear, there wasn't a dry eye at the reception when parker's dad sang a song to her as she danced with her new husband.
parker & adam, thanks for letting us capture the love & laughter that you share together! i hope the cayman islands are ridiculous :)

here are a few of my favorite photos and a slideshow at the bottom. enjoy...

the bouquet:

parker stepping out in her dress for the first time:

adam & his father-in-law-to-be, posing proudly with their guns :)

definitely my favorite ceremony photo of the day:

love this shot lauren caught from inside:

i love parker's expression here when adam put on his hat after the pronouncement:

one of my favorites of the day:

a fun. fresh. real. smitten bride :)

yummy shot from lauren:

laughter/tears combo from parker as her best friend gives a toast:

LOVE this light:

off to the cayman islands for 10 perfect days!!

***CLICK HERE*** FOR THE SLIDESHOW!!!

carolina bride...

i don't know why i continue to be surprised at the sheer AWESOMENESS of every smitten bride that i meet, but i really am!! they are all fun, have great smiles, are ridiculously good looking, are natural & NONE of them hesitate when i ask them to do seemingly silly things in front of my camera :)
yesterday, on the most perfect day of the year, thus far, i met mickie at her parents home in concord, where she grew up. i love to see family's that value each other and i felt so honored to capture mickie in her wedding gown on the same steps that she played on as a little girl. the light was spectacular and, of course, light is the driving force behind perfect photographs!! her dad was so sweet and commented on how "enthusiastic" i was during the photo shoot and i told him thats what happens when you LOVE what you do & know, without a doubt, that you have the best job in the world :)

enjoy some of my favorites...

i'm thinking not too shabby for the first shot of the day :)

love these flowers:

the light in this spot was perfect:

realllllly perfect:

love this next series of three photos:

barefoot, carolina bride. does it get any better??!

go.rg.eous!!!

love her eyes in this one:

a classic shot for mom & dad :)

the front of the house was so pretty & had a charleston feel to it:

this one is so pretty:

bling & bloom :)

another favorite:

i seriously adored the front porch!

last shot of the day:

alison + bryan

i just spent a magical wedding weekend with ali & bryan in atlanta, georgia! lauren & i headed down on friday for the rehearsal & rehearsal dinner where we cried along with ali & bryan's friends and family as they spoke of what a pure & sweet love the couple shares. they have a story full of trials, joy, long distance, endurance, redemption, hope & a desire to not walk another step without the other.

the wedding day was pure bliss...we were at ali's parents home for getting ready and would return there after the ceremony for an unbelievable reception in the backyard! ali & her mom were responsible for every detail of this event design. everything from the linens to the outstanding details were perfect. lauren and i had so much fun with the wedding party & guests at the reception and we were definitely doing a little boogy on the outskirts of the dance floor :)

here are some favorite shots & a slideshow from the weekend! enjoy my favorites...

the shoes, of course:

ali, relaxed & enjoying her pampering:

beautiful friends:

i love this shot:

bryan couldn't wait to see her:

sweet moment with her dad:

married!

one of my favorites:

my very favorite of the day:

never a dull moment:

the reception at ali's parents house:

details, details:

first dance as husband & wife:

congratulations!!!!

*****THE SLIDESHOW*****

the faces behind the photos:

off to georgia!

i'm off to georgia this morning to shoot a fabulous wedding for alison & brian, one of the finalists in last year's smitten love story contest! i can't wait to post photos from their wedding weekend, so check back on monday to see them!

also, there are only 3 spots left for the smitten photo academy on april 26th! its going to be a REALLY fun few hours & for anyone who wants to know how to take better-every-day photos, then this is definitely for YOU! email sharon@smittenphotography.com if you'd like to sign up!

i'm off to pack...happy friday :)

parker. fun.fresh.real.

first, i want to wish everyone a happy easter & hope that you got to celebrate this wonderful weekend with family and friends! i was reminded yesterday about the great lengths that jesus goes to pursue me & am so thankful for the sacrifice that was made on my behalf. this is something that i want to remember often because i am so grateful!

this post begins a blogging spree for me over the next 24 hours! last week, i was in the-middle-of-nowhere-florida, with no phone service and limited access to email. so, after returning home on friday night, i had three photo sessions this weekend & they were sooo fun!! i am kicking off with parker, a truly fun. fresh. real. smitten bride that drove to lake norman from raleigh with her mom to take some ridiculously amazing photos!

this was our first face to face meeting & the only words out of my mouth when i saw parker were "wow, you are beautiful!!" she was so natural & i took her to three of my top secret locations where we captured the essence of who she is. parker, thanks for such a fun afternoon & i can't WAIT to be with you at your wedding in may!! hope you enjoy my favorites...

location #1:

holy cow. this is so beautiful.

perfect, for a southern girl:

location #2: i love these next few images. the color is amazing and fits parker so well! we had an audience for these ones :)

these next two are my FAVORITES from the day:

gorgeous!!!!!!!!!

this is so unique...i really love the angle:

location #3:

i love this one, too...her eyes say everything:

yummy-licious smitten light:

i love when the wind blows right on cue:

okay...these next two are amazing. i love how different the texture is & i think parker is stunning:

a classic shot:

one last photo that i love:

sara + travis, a heavenly day.

truly, one of the most beautiful stormy days i have ever seen...

this isn't a typical statement that a bride would make on such an occasion, but these were the words out of sara's mouth as she was captivated by the rain, clouds & thunder on her gorgeous asheville wedding day. she was right, in that it added to the comfort & intimacy of every detail that she had thought out when planning this day of her dreams.

sara was giddy & bubbly all morning as she was surrounded by her "professionals"... { as she liked to call her stylist, makeup artist, videographer & me :) } it was the warmth of her friends & family that stayed by her side until she walked those tender steps on her dads arm, that helped her calmly count down the hours until her vows. i got emotional as i captured several moments that sara couldn't fight, when sharing her love with travis. these really are the moments that couples remember for the rest of their lives...the tears shared with a first look, trembling hands as a father gives away his daughter & the sheer elation when sharing those first moments after walking up the aisle together.

hope you enjoy some of my favorite snapshots & the slideshow that shows what a heavenly day it really was...

"the" book:

surrounded by professionals:

i'm a shoe shot lover:

sara's florist called her to tell her that she had a "moment" when her boquet was finished being made because everyone in the shop stood around it in awe of its beauty! i thought it would be worthy of a dramatic photo:

the romantic ceremony:

yay!

a few shots with those closest to their hearts:

wow...this screams romantic movie ending to me:

something about this photo, i love. maybe their expressions, maybe the colors, or maybe that i was holding my breath trying not to laugh at how serious they looked when i told them not to smile :)

an artsy goody:

YUM.

***CLICK HERE for the slideshow***

-also, i am going to add some vendors names that helped make this wedding spectacular! i am in florida right now & don't have my bag with the contacts in it. so, check back to this post next week if you are needing the names of some rockin' professionals :)