CREDIT where credit is due....

i want to just take a minute to give a little credit, where credit is due!!!! my good friend and photographer, kris gay from bella vita studios, was my "insurance" while i was at this wedding!!!! she helped w/ ALL aspects of this wedding. she helped schedule things, she helped reschedule things when they got off schedule, she made executive decisions when i'm not brave enough, she posed people, she brought all her equipment, she metered lighting and told me when and what to shoot, ect..... she was my "insurance" in that, there was no way to fail at this wedding because she's been doing weddings for 10 yrs, and there was NOTHING that came at us, that she couldn't fix or handle!!! while there were many times i did pics on my own, there were also several that she completely setup and guided me on, and all i had to do was focus, lock, and recompose, and SHOOT the picture!!! (hee hee....kris knows what all that means :) ) so while i'm very happy and proud of my pictures, i'm not going to go w/ out giving credit to my partner in crime to kris! here is a link to her website if anyone would like to check out some of her pics!! http://bellavitastudios.net/gallery/photo-viewing-gallery.cfm THANKS KRIS!!! I OWE YOU A MILLION!!!!

AND I CAN'T FORGET JILL!!!! my best friend jill carmony, also tagged along that weekend! she was our "assistant"! if it wasn't for her and addam, i would have never gotten the privilege of meeting these people! and, if it wasn't for her being there, kris' and mine lives would have been a whole lot more hectic and miserable!!! jill did everything from carry equipment to carrying bottles of water, snacks, fluff dresses, run all OVER CREATION TO PICK UP THINGS WE FORGOT! so......more credit where credit is due!!! thanks jill! you're the best! lots of love!

A few Biltomore Wedding photos....

well, i am finally getting around to posting some pics from my trip to north carolina! i was asked last fall to take some pics at a small private wedding in nc @ the biltmore hotel. and i can't tell you what a wonderful experience the whole wedding & weekend was!!!!!! if anyone ever gets the chance to go......GO! and stay at least 1 night at the Biltmore Inn located on the estate. you are wined and dined, and treat like ROYALTY!!! i could go on for hours but i won't. i'll briefly explain a couple pics. the first up w/ the rings, is one of my favorites!!! see how the rings make two hearts???? isn't that the coolest!!! my newly learned trick from my good friend Kris! she is a professional wedding photographer from northern indiana, and she graciously agreed to go w/ me and help "run the show".......since i had never done a wedding before! btw - all these pics posted here w/ my names on them are MY actualy pictures. i will posting some of kris' work as well! and they will all say "bella vita" on them..... meaning they are her pics!

this may not look too exciting to you all......but let me explain. the bride and groom saw each other for the first time, outside on this beautiful balcony that overlooks the estate property. this picture was snapped at the exact moment that he saw her for the first time in her dress! how exciting!!! they were so fun to watch and it was so emotional and romantic! they just cried and cried! and i tried but had to stay focused!

this picture was taken at the "gardner's cottage" located on the estate property. it was just beautiful!!! you can rent this cottage, INCLUDING A CHEF to go with it......for oh......about $6000/nite, w/ a 2 nite minimum rent!!!!!!! ouch!

this pics is in front of the actual biltmore mansion.

the couple actually got married in an old horse barn that was just gorgeous inside!!!!

and this moment REALLY had me balling! they just hugged and cried.....and hugged some more....and cried some more.......it was so special to get to capture! i feel very honored to have been part of such a special wedding. this family was so hospitable, so loving, so generous.....they really made us feel welcome and loved! i can't thank them enough for asking me to tag along and being part of their extra special day! thanks guys!

my little snaggle tooth......

well....isn't this a sight! it's hard to believe olivia is old enough to be losing teeth!!!! this tooth, however, didn't just "fall out". the other day i got an email from her teacher.....IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY..... and it was titled "Recess". i thought to myself, oh boy.....my kid has finally made it to the principal's office. GREAT! but, luckily, it was just a note to inform me that olivia and a friend had ran into eachother on the playground during recess, therefore, resulting in the loss of a tooth! it was already lose, so no big deal. but, the other tooth still in there was actually waaaaaay more lose! i was shocked when i found out which tooth was knocked out! so........now look at the beautiful smile!!!! :) poor girl appears to have her mommy's teeth :( oh well........nothing braces can't fix!

Day 2......

well.....we got another day of pics. still not sure we got all we needed, BUT i tried. i don't know why it's so hard to incorporate more than 1 person into a picture, but it's extremely difficult for me. posing, angle, lighting, settings, all of it has to be just right! and boy is it hard!!!! i guess that's why it's practice practice practice!

A hunting we will go.....

MUSHROOMS!!! yes...hunting mushrooms is on 'ol favorite of mine. i have so many wonderful memories going mushroom hunting with family and friends, in many different places!!! (can't tell ya where...hee hee) but i don't know WHY i have "good" memories....cause i NEVER could find the stupid things; DAD always did! however, there sure is something exciting about finding them!!! and now my kids are enjoying it too! may sound boring and silly to some.....but as we left our secret place, all three kids said, "mommy....THAT WAS FUN!"

leave it to sophia to be the first child to find one first! that sure didn't make big sister very happy.......BUT, low and behold by the time we were done EVERYONE had found a mushroom!!!! we only found about 22 or so.....but we sure are proud of those!

i talked to a lady friend the other day, and she said she went to a flea market one time, and saw people BUYING THESE THINGS FOR $47/LB!!!!!!!!!!!!!! man.....why can't i find a few pounds!

this is just a picture of leaf that was "glowing" in the shade. it was just growing straight up out of the gournd and it appeared to glowing! it was really cool! i thought it was pretty......nothing breath-taking but thought i would try to capture it the best i know how!

Ellie Kate.....

well....i can actually say i am for once pretty pleased w/ these pictures! while it took me several hours to get these, i'm embarrassed to say that i'm NOT DONE! all that time and we didn't get any good ones of MOMMA AND BABY! but.....that's why i'm not a "professional"! ha! however, thank goodness this is my family, and i can trot right back down there and try again. you know the saying, when all else fails, try try again! hope ryan & jenni enjoy the ones we have so far! btw - for those of you who don't know these people, this is my cousin ryan johnson and his wife jenni! baby ellie was born.......ummmmm....i believe last thursday?! (sorry guys....fried brain) she was 8 lbs 14 oz!

Bologna.....

what little kid doesn't love biting a hole in a piece of bologna and peeping through it! my kids loooove doing this! especially my boy!