Sage is growing up! | Outer Banks Family Photographer

I first met Sage when she was just four or so months old. Now she's almost a year! It was great to see this adorable family again. We had a great time playing in the sand on the Outer Banks!

Take It or Leave It

*Cancer: Seriously? I feel like I know too many people who are dealing with cancer at the moment. Why must something so yucky even exist? I wish a cure would be found soon!
*Wal-mart: Although I do a lot of shopping and Wal-mart and I'm sure that I'll continue to do so, why, oh why, do they not only bother but spend the money on 23 cash registers and check out lanes if they are only going to have TWO open. Seriously? TWO out of twenty-three?
*My Blackberry: Does anyone else's Blackberry freeze? Like two or three times a day? It use to not do this- maybe I'm not holding my mouth just right anymore?!?!
*Wet Flip-flops: I always seem to fall or almost twist my ankle once my flops get wet and I try to walk. If not then they make the most awful sounds. Don't know which is more embarrassing: the sounds or me falling. ha!




*Warriors: There are many warriors out there. When I think of Warriors I think of people battling said cancer above as well as their family members. I just had to share the following story: My friend, Lisa, has a son, age 7, who is battling cancer. This is her second child who has faced this battle. This weekend was her son, Hayden's 8th birthday and from the looks of it he had an awesome weekend. I wanted to give a shout out to Hayden and wish him a Happy Birthday but to also give a shout out to the ROC SOLID Foundation and the Norfolk Police Department for reaching out to Hayden during his battle.



You can click here to read an article about Hayden's weekend. And a shout out to Lisa, the rest of Hayden's family and all other family members who have a loved one who is battling cancer at the moment, you ROCK too! Your encouragement and courage for your loved ones is amazing!
*CMT's Singing Bee: Seriously, I really like this show, not only does the host crack me up but i love to see what some people really think the lyrics to a song are. Hilarious! Most nights I really think I could totally be on the show. But you'd all probably turn the channel if you were watching because of my horrendous vocals! :)
*100 Calorie Lorna Doone Cookies: Probably one of the best cookies I've had in a long time, and the best part about them... only 100 Calories, duh! My sister-in-law turned me on to these and I can't thank her enough! Yum-O!

Hope you all are having a fabulous Tuesday!
Hugs,
Meg

Laura {2011 Senior Session}

I met up with Laura, the winner of Megan Lane Photography's senior session giveaway, over at Somerset Plantation in Creswell. Somerset encompassed as many as 100,000 acres and became one of North Carolina's most prosperous rice, corn, and wheat plantations. I could shoot all day there. There's so many different scenery options  just within one space.



MLP: What are you most looking forward to your senior year of high school?
Laura: All of the final high school memories with my friends.



MLP: What is your favorite movie?
Laura: Alice In Wonderland (Tim Burton version)



MLP: Where's your favorite place to shop?
Laura: JCPenny



MLP: Whats your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Laura: Coffee, yummm.



MLP: What are your hobbies?
Laura: Singing, Marching Band, is texting a hobbie?? Haha ;)



MLP: Who do you look up to the most?
Laura: I would have to say my Mom and my cousin Brittany.




MLP: If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Laura: I would probably be one of those mixed crayons with more than one color. More than likely pink and green.

I think the following photos is my favorite of her session...


MLP: What are your plans after graduation?
Laura: I hope to go to a Community College and then transfer to ECU to do something with music!



Laura, Congrats on becoming a senior this year, I hope all of your dreams come true!

Hampton at 9 Months | Zebulon Children's Photographer

I love it when families change and continue to come back for updated photos. I met up with The Gibbs family again for some updated portraits of Hampton. You might remember their maternity session or even Hampton's newborn session. This time we met up at my house in Zebulon and mainly stayed outside with a few inside breaks from the heat to capture Hamptons adorableness! Take a look at how much this little man has grown!

Preggo | Columbia, NC Maternity Photographer

"A great joy is coming." – Author Unknown

Jenn & Brandan are expecting a baby girl any day now. This was one of my favorite maternity shoots because we laughed a lot! I can't wait to meet their new bundle soon at her newborn session!







Meet Houdini. He's been in Jenn's family for over 30 years. So we had to get a few photos with him included.

2010 Riverfest 1M/5K

Ride to a Wish and Partnership for the Sounds presents
The 2010 Riverfest 1M / 5K
Saturday, October 9, 2010
7 am

The First Annual Riverfest 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk and 5K Run/Walk will be held in Columbia, NC.

There will be plenty of time to participate and then make it out to the rest of The Riverfestival activities including the parade. All monies raised go back into the Tyrrell County community! Monies will be split between the Sherriff’s Department K-9 unit, the Volunteer Fire Department, the EMS folks and Riverfest committee. This is a family friendly event. Walk, run or RIDE (yes bikes are welcome!) and a 1 mile course will be laid out also.

Its only $20.00 to participate if you register prior to October 1st. (that’s less than 4.00 a week!)

A family registration for the 5K has recently been added to the event so $45.00 will cover a family of 5 ( kids under 18). This way the kids can be involved without breaking the families bank!



All entrants receive a goody bag and event T-shirt!. First place male and female 5K runners get a $50.00 Visa Gift Card. Registration forms can be downloaded by clicking HERE or picked up at Tyrrell County Offices, Columbia Municipal Center and at the Tyrrell County Visitors center.

Please get the word out! Challenge your neighbors, friends and co-workers!!!

The date for the 2011 Ride to a Wish Bike Ride has been announced and will be held Saturday, April 16, 2011. You can see the images I took at the 2010 event HERE.

So Worth the Wait... | Raleigh Newborn Photographer

Do you remember a post that I did back in December, about friends of mine who were beginning the networking processes to find a match for their adoption process? If not, you can read that post HERE. All of their networking and time paid off and they were matched with a mother who was pregnant. Luckly, the mother was close by and Kristen was able to be with her every step of her pregnancy through doctors appointments and the delivery process. I'm so happy to announce that they just recently welcomed a baby girl into the world! When Miss Ella Grace was just 6 days new I went to their house for a newborn session. Carey & Kristen are beaming with pride for their new baby girl!

Stephanie + Bryan | July 17, 2010

When I was a child, summer where I lived was so much fun. It meant not only getting to play in the water but also friends who had vacation homes in the area would be coming just about every weekend to visit! Stephanie was one of those friends. Her sister Nichole and I were best buds and I spent many a day with their family. Now we've all grown up and it was Stephanie's turn to get married.

Stephanie ... Bryan met in 1997 while working at the same place and they became fast friends. From what I understand, they both had a crush on each other but never spoke of it and remained friends for several years. In 1999, Stephanie lived on campus at VWC, and didn't get a chance to see many non-college friends. However, that thanksgiving weekend she happened into Kelly's in Greenbrier area and ran into Bryan. Even though they hadn't seen each other in monthes they quickly began joking with one another, which turned into flirting and Steph daring him to meet her and her friends out the next night. They started dating that weekend and dated until 2001.

They broke up in the summer of 2001 and never expected to reunite. Both went their separate ways and had different lives with out one another's presence. However, in the fall of 2002, Bryan showed up at a Halloween party that Steph was at and they sat and talked for hours about what happened since their departure from one another. They were able to rekindle their friendship which slowly turned romantic again.

Since then they have walked each other thru some of lifes many trials and tribulations. They both moved out of state and learned that against all odds as long as they had each other they could survive anything. Steph and Bryan have been thru countless job losses, career successes, and the heartache of losing loved ones and learned that sometimes when that pain felt unbearable they could turn to one another to get thru it together. They have been blessed to witness the births of nieces and newphews - and share in the joy of watching them grow up and how happy the little ones make their brothers and sisters.

Steph ... Bryan have shared so much together. It was a long road to reach this point of their wedding day, but their road has really just begun. They certainly know that whenever they may reach a fork in that road, they will grasp each others hand and decide which path to take. TOGETHER.




The ceremony and reception was held at Albemarle Plantation in Hertford, NC. Although they had planned to get married outside in the grassy area seen above, which sits on the Albemarle Sound, the heat and thunderstorms had a different plan. Steph ... Bryan chose Albemarle Plantation as their venue because it represented them. Steph grew up going to the Albemarle Sound and Bryan is an avid golfer. It was the perfect mixture of the two of them, plus is such a beautiful place.









Who Wants Cake in Elizabeth City, NC did their fantastic cake. Steph told me they wanted something simple but elegant with clean lines and little decorations but that would taste great. I think their wedding cake has been one of my favorites  yet. I loved the bow and the broach! It was beautiful! And it was very tasty!





Stephanie decided to do her own flowers. She enjoys floral design, and knew just how she wanted things to look.  She chose to use silks because she could work on them for a good deal of time prior to the wedding. Their flowers were purple hydrangeas, light pink roses and light green tulips.



Mr. David escorting his daughter down the aisle...



And they're hitched...


Although we really wanted to get some wedding party shots with the Albemarle Sound in the background we were unable to do so because of the rain. I actually shot the following image while standing under an umbrella and its one of my favorites from the day!







Steph & Bryan danced to Dig by Incubus as their first dance.



There was some sadness to the day because Steph's mom wasn't with us. I had the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Brenda and she was an amazing, strong woman! Things representing Mrs. Brenda were shown throughout the day. After the first dance, father-daughter dance, and the mother-son dance, Stephanie asked her and Bryan's siblings out on the dance floor for a 'yellow rose' dance. The yellow rose was Mrs. Brenda's favorite flower and they all danced to Forever Young by Rod Stewart, Mrs. Brenda's favorite song. Her mom and her brother brother danced to that song at his wedding. If you listen to the words to the song, it is a message to a child from a parent. It also has duel meaning to Stephanie and her sibilings because their mom passed so young. There was also a yellow rose placed on the table with the unity candle and Mrs. Brenda's veil from her wedding day overlayed the table cloth on that table as well. I know her Mom was looking down and smiling.



Table markers represented the years Stephanie ... Bryan dated. The kids table was "1999-2001" to represent first time they dated then every other table was one number (ie 2002, 2003, 2004 etc.) to represent the years since. The fish in the pieces represented their love of the water and they're both water zodiac signs.



Their neices and nephews had a ball at the reception! They are some precious kiddos!



And some more random reception shots...







A toast to the newlyweds!




Stephanie ... Bryan thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding day! (And for getting me to put down my camera and dance!) Congrats! XOXO