engagement: amy & blair

I feel pretty lucky these days with the weather - as I have had perfect weather for every outdoor portrait session booked this winter. One day it was cold, but not impossible. Like for Amy and Blair's Engagement session, last week. We went to Bald Hill on a warm Saturday morning. The sun was shining, and the clouds were beautiful.

I love the big open barn for photographs.

Their wedding date is set! Congratulations to both Amy and Blair!

incredibly flattered; stamps

In the past week, I have received two letters with stamps created from MY PHOTOS. I am not sure why, but it is more exciting than seeing my photographs in a magazine, mostly because it is just crazy flattering. Like the invite for Mike and Julie's December wedding (upper right) where I had no idea that my hand holding image was being made into a stamp... Nina and Joon's wedding invitation envelope (lower right) from last June also had a Danielle Anthony Photo stamp, so, I grabbed the three envelopes and photographed them!

Thanks fantastic clients: You have made my day!

Julie & Mike, engaged

I met Julie my second or third day in Oregon. At a dinner party. And she was polite and friendly, like a new stranger should be. Then I met Mike. And he was perfectly nice as well. THEN, I witnessed the two of them together, and (I mean this in the nicest of ways) they kinda grossed me out.

This couple kisses ALOT. and hugs. And gazes lovingly into each others eyes (over french fries and ketchup) as if no other humans are around. My momma taught me not to stare, but I found myself unable to turn my eyes away from their public display of affection, and I admit I felt a bit envious of their completely evident love. AH LOVE. (Insert photo here because not everyone wants to read your stories, danielle)

I kinda stuck my foot in my mouth about a month ago, (after one or three cocktails at my Birthday Celebration), when they were smooching at the table and I said "OK YOU TWO, whaaaaaaaaaat is the deal with all your kissing? I mean, am I supposed to turn away, or do you want everyone to watch?" silence. laughter. the whole table cracked up at my self -appointed voice of reason. Julie's answer warmed my heart when she said that she had N E V E R felt for anyone like how she does for Mike, and that when they lock eyes, they feel completely alone and happy. Which is Sweet. And Admirable. Then I felt bad and asked if they wanted me to shoot their wedding. And they did!!!

The conversation made me think about how concerned I tend to be with my public smooching and hugging. I mean, I love Dan; I want the whole world to know... So, I made the decision right then and there to hold hands, kiss, giggle and stare longingly into Dans eyes WHENEVER I felt like it, from that point forward. I am so happy for Mike and Julie. And I am happy they trust me to photograph their wedding. Where kissing, dancing and smooching of all sorts is totally allowed!

Engagement Portrait Session, Greensboro Style

I love Greensboro, North Carolina. It is urban AND country. I adore the variety of shots available within a 5 mile radius. So, since I was not completely happy with Nina and Joon's first engagement portrait session (click here), I suggested we put the show on the road. The weather was perfect and I am super happy with our results.I love a dyptich, so, here are three, yummy!
This might be my favorite from our session. I just love the sky.

sweet love (stop with the kissing)

I love shooting engagement sessions like this one a few weeks ago in Chapel Hill. Couples engaged to be married, all freshly in love and googoo-eyed, when the boy is still opening doors and the girl appreciates the gesture... it makes me miss those days, when love is young and not complicated by much, when two people live in the moment - and with Nina And Joon, their moments involve a lot of kissing. I mean these two can NOT keep their hands off each other. which really is so sweet. But, this session was a collection of semi-catastrophes. First, the UNC Botanical Gardens were under major construction, so two of my favorite natural areas were GONE. There are these HUGE rocks right as you come in - not this time. Vanished. AND my favorite pathway of wild flowers was also gone. PLUS, there were at least five large yellow metal earth movers and wayyyyyyyy too much yellow "under contstruction" tape strapped between trees. NOT-PHOTOGENIC.
And, since Nina had recently nearly broken her ankle she was sporting the most godawful black boot - which is why most of the photos shown (and taken) were from the waist up. I did have her remove it for a few - and Joon was nice enough to help her move without her crutches - SO the images without shoes weren't me getting creative and beachy, but just getting rid of the dark foot eyesore. So, this was session was challenging for me, and the couple, but these two didn't seem to notice since they were in their own happy world! Crutches and all.

Emily & Adam, engaged at last!

Emily and Adam are getting married this July. We wanted to do some not-so-traditional engagement portraits so I picked downtown Greensboro for our destination. It is full of environmental 'diversity' and is extremely colorful. Because of how insanely well it went, and how great these images are, I am officially doing more engagement sessions this year. Here are my favorites!

HOW CUTE are they? Seriously, so adorable, so sweet. Their wedding will be fabulous!

food photography

This weekend was awesome! I shot birthday parties for 2 magazines - and it was rather fun. I am most happy with the images of the food especially due to my new Canon 85mm 1.8 lens.

My friend Joanna asked me how to create these images where the stuff in the front is in focus and the the back is blurry. It is called Depth of Field and happens when your aperture is a small number and the focus is at the front. This shot is 2.5 so the food at the end of the tray is nice and blown out. Magazines typically like food to be shot like this.



Also, I finally framed my 20x30 black and white photograph print titled "patiently waiting" of the young couple kissing on a path at Duke Gardens. My halls are a light tan, but the end walls are this luscious red. The image fits JUST right!