{inspiration monday 9.28.10}

get ready for fall!

{married again!: whitney + michael, wilmington nc wedding photographer}

Whitney and Michael are good friends of ours and their five year anniversary was this month. Whitney wanted to surprise Michael with all of our friends to renew their vows! They weren't Christians when they got married and they've always wanted to rededicate their marriage. And now they have the cutest little boy, Tye, and wanted him to be apart of it. I helped Whitney decorate at the top of the hill at the farthest point of Kure Beach. It's so beautiful, right where the sun sets. Whitney told Michael I was going to do family pictures for them but low and behold, I was there to take pictures of something else!

It was so special to witness it and to also capture it. They are such a special family and I'm so grateful to know them.

Can you believe Whitney made the cake?? It was beautiful!

I love this picture, but mainly because of Devin's face.

No lie, their initials were already carved into the tree! WT + MT, creepy.

Did I mention he's the cutest kid ever?

{sneak peak: whitney + michael}

Happy Friday!

{giveaway winner!}

Congratulations! Hannah Lee was our winner for a Left Beach Foto! Can't wait to see what it looks like. Thanks to Left Beach Foto for the great giveaway!

Stay tuned for another giveaway soon!

{inspiration monday 9.20.10}

{giveaway: LeftBeachFotos}

I'm so excited to finally have time to do another giveaway! This one comes from LeftBeachFotos. I live near the beach so why didn't I think of this idea!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am an ambitious 30 year old Southern California native. I am at my best when I am challenged and using my creativity. I have always been drawn to the beauty of the ocean, I feel at peace whenever I am on a beach and I enjoy photography.

What do you like about where you live?
I live a block from the beach in a small beach town outside of Los Angeles called Hermosa Beach. I love being able to walk across the street to a beautiful, wide open beach. And it's super convenient with the work that I do; I can just look out my living room window and see if it's a good photo taking day.

What is the wedding industry like where you live?
There are many weddings along the coast where I live and because of the year round pleasant weather, there are a lot of outdoor weddings. Many of the brides that I have had as customers have gone a relatively non traditional route with their weddings.

How did you start to sell on Etsy?
I made a Sand Impression for one of my best friend's wedding gift. A few people approached me at the wedding and asked if I would make them one. At the time, I was obsessed with shopping on Etsy and figured it couldn't hurt to list a few photographs. After a few months, I received some nice feedback so I decided to concentrate on building my shop and focus on this as a business.

Where can we find you? blog? website?
You can find me at http://www.sandimpressions.com, on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/leftbeachfotos and on twitter at www.twitter.com/leftbeachfotos.

Describe your style?
My style is simple, clean and fresh with a creative splash.

What gives you inspiration?
Living life inspires me. I am determined to be happy and at peace with the life that I live.

Any advice to brides either as a vendor and/or having been a bride yourself?
I haven't been a bride (yet!) but I would encourage brides to be creative and think out of the box. ANd to remember that not everything will be perfect, so let the little things go.

And LeftBeachFotos is so kind to be giving away a free personalized message in the sand image!

Giveaway Details:

Contest ends Sunday, Sept. 19th 12:00 midnight US EST

One winner chosen at random

Maximum of 3 entries per person

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment on this blog with what you would want your words in the sand to say.

2. Post about me or LeftBeachFotos on Facebook or Twitter.

3. "Like" me or LeftBeachFotos on Facebook.

{personal: craft night!}

I have been dying to do some arts & crafts and finally some of my friends and I got together to make some pretty things. I love a good headband and I've been seeing the cutest ones around but didn't feel like paying big bucks for them when I was sure I could make them. You can make 10 for the price of one!

I had bought a scrap bag of Amy Butler fabric on Etsy but it didn't come in in time. So I picked up some fabric squares at A.C. Moore which I was pleasantly happy with. I picked up some headbands (hard & elastic) at the Dollar Tree & I got the beads from Wal-Mart. I've collected the buttons and ribbon over time.

Sorry, Whitney. It's the only other action shot I have.

This is not the best picture of this but she braided some pastel fabric and lace together and it looked awesome!

Oh yeah, we also made bracelets.

It was so much fun! Just get a bunch of materials together, print out some pictures for inspiration, invite friends over, and create! It was fun to get ideas from each other and see what everyone was going to make. I'm ready to do it again.

{inspiration monday: 9.13.10}

{wedding: kim + dan, bristol, ri wedding photographer}

Where do I begin? When it comes to details, this wedding was amazing. The location, the decor, the food! There are so many pictures that I want to post today but let's face it, it takes a lot longer to post pictures than you think and I don't have all day. SO I had to narrow down my favorites to a select few. Kim and Dan's wedding took place in Bristol, RI where they live. I was so excited to go back up North, especially this time of year! I could use some relief from the heat and humidity in August. Kim spent the day getting ready at the hotel while Dan and the boys got ready at their house. Then we all road to the ceremony location in a trolley (separate trips of course). Now, I'm familiar with trolleys since Wilmington is a historic city, but a white one! I loved it. Bristol reminded me so much of Wilmington too.

Then the site, Lindon Place, was AMAZING. I'm sorry if I'm using that word a lot but I can't think of anything else to describe it. The characteristics, and landscaping, and staging, and architecture, oh my. It fit Kim and Dan's idea of a fairytale wedding perfectly. The ceremony was outside on the back lawn and then the reception was actually in a side building that almost looked like an old stable or barn and was beautiful! Then everyone danced the night away with the help of an awesome DJ from NYC. And I spent most of my time at the chocolate fountain. Are you surprised?

oh yeah, and they did a choreographed dance. it was hot.