We're really looking forward to January, when we'll meet Jeff and Lizzy again for their wedding at Sacred Heart Cathedral and reception at the Marriott City Center. Any guess which day they'll tie the knot?

Enjoy more images from this fun session here:

After a quick change for Sarah, we headed downtown to catch the last of light and grab some night-time shots.

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE shooting downtown?

My favorite!

Sarah and Nick, thanks for such a great session. We are so excited about photographing your wedding in December! See you soon!

Tyler proposed in the very chic bar at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills, so we headed over as the light faded. After a quick outfit change, these two were back on -- and such good sports, 'cause it was pretty hot and humid. You'd never know it by looking at them! (Now me, that was a different story -- humid hair horrors.)

Heather and Tyler's only photo request was to get something in the same spot where Tyler proposed -- and of course, it was occupied. But after a little gentle intimidation from me, in the form of hanging out too close to the banquette and sighing loudly, we were able to get some cool shots. (Those of you who know me are laughing right now -- because I couldn't intimidate a squirrel.)

LOVE.

Heather and Tyler, thanks for being so much fun! Frank and I can't wait for October 15!!

Things to know about Dianna and Todd: 1) they are adorable; 2) they are getting married in one month; 3) Todd's head makes a great light reflector; 4) a Victory is better than a Harley; and 5) they are madly in love. We can't wait for the wedding on September 26th!

Check out Dianna and Todd's engagement session slideshow

P.S. I finally found a good grassy spot that no one has destroyed yet. :)

There's so much I want to say about Emily and James and so many photos I want to share that I think I have a bad case of blogger's block. I guess the best place to start is at the beginning: the engagement session. I hadn't met with Emily and James until the morning of their session. Up until that point, I'd been working with Emily's amazing mom, Julia, on all the brass-tacks details, since Emily and James live in D.C. I've said it here on the blog so many times, but it bears repeating: I love engagement sessions. They're fun, relaxed and (hopefully for everyone) stress-free. But more importantly, this time together gives me a chance to get to know you as a couple, find out how comfortable (or not) you are in front of the camera, discover your best angles, what makes you laugh and just generally prepare you for the experience of being photographed relentlessly on the wedding day. Just like you have a multiple dress-fittings, tux fittings, make-up and hair trials, the e:session is like a photography "trial" before the wedding.

Even though I'd never met them before, I knew in a flash that not only were Emily and James going to be great to work with, they had an amazing chemistry and -- just, well, happiness -- and that it was going to be a great shoot. And it was. So without further ado, I give you...Emily and James.

That about sums it up. Happy, goofy, expressive and in love. I could stop here, but I'm not going to.

They have 1,000 mega-watt smiles...it took days for my vision to recover.

Emily and James met at Raleigh Charter High, so of course we had to go there for some photo ops.

Texture, angles, pretty people...life is good.

This is what you call working with the sun. Boy, was it bright that morning (and it was early, too).

After RCHS, we headed downtown. If you live in Raleigh, you know what this is.

If not, I'm sorry you're not lucky enough to live in Raleigh. Come visit us and find out.

If you haven't figured it out by now...Emily + James = FABULOSITY. Want more? I thought you would.

Emily and James got married on January 3 at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham. What would turn out to be one of my favorite weddings ever started early in Emily's suite. Usually, this is a pretty chaotic part of the day, but it was quiet and peaceful as Emily was getting glammed-up.

All of the floral design for the wedding was done by the always top-notch Kelly Odom, including Julia's peacock-feather-fabulous hair piece. Julia, in case I didn't tell you that day because it was so busy, you absolutely ROCKED that dress and only you could make that hair piece prettier. 

The shoes, the dress, the just-right-ness.

I don't know why exactly, but I LOVE this shot of Emily putting on her shoes. No fuss, no muss, just gettin' it done.

Maybe it's that awesome window light.

Julia and Mark get the first look at their beautiful daughter in her wedding gown.

Mark's help was needed to tie the perfect square-knot in the sash. Dad's are handy for things like that. (Happy Father's Day!)

Perfection.

My favorite. (Just FYI, I did NO retouching on this shot. That's how awesome Emily's skin is and why photographers go a little nuts when the light is right. It makes all the difference in the world.)

Time for a little blog love for James.

Thank goodness the tux shop has a Bowtie Hotline 24-7.

James, you handsome devil, you.

Is there anything better than nine handsome guys in tuxes all following directions?

Yes. One glowing bride and seven gorgeous bridesmaids. (Sorry guys, you lose.)

Yes, I love it. Yes, it's on permanent rotation in the blog-header. All you other bridesmaids out there, time to step up your game.

(Off topic, but hey, it's my blog: look how the flowers form a pretty wavy line-like shape. You girls rock).

Flowers so pretty I could just eat them up.

Stay tuned for Part 2 (it's a blog cliff-hanger!): more portraits, James and Emily's First Look,

(Gasp! They saw each other BEFORE the wedding? Oh no, they di'nt...oh yes, they di'id!) and the reason

we're all gathered here today (erm, then): the ceremony.

One of the reasons I enjoy engagement sessions so much is how relaxed and fun they are. Especially with a couple like Jen and Adam, who will take the plunge into married bliss on June 21 at Caffe Luna in downtown Raleigh. Both are easy-going, adventurous and love photography: a couple after my own heart for sure. Here are a few of my favorites from our session.

Meet Jen and Adam. Jen's an elementary school teacher and Adam works for IBM.

Jen is just adorable. She has the greatest smile and no one brings it out like Adam can.

We stumbled upon this location and now it's our secret. This is one of my favorites!

Jen and Adam are so sweet together. Jen says this shot is her favorite. Check out her cute shoes!

Sigh...I really miss wearing cute shoes.

 I love all the colors and textures you can find just roaming around downtown Raleigh.

Frank and I are so excited to shoot what I know is going to be a colorful, sweet and personality-filled wedding.

Just like Jen and Adam. See you soon!

More great art in City Market...the pig looks positively scandalized. I love a little glow on an image!

Brad has the whole heel-click move down. Wish I could do that.

I love this shot...they are sitting on the sidewalk leaning up against the door of a bar.  There was this beautiful light bouncing up on their faces from nothing more than a simple white concrete sidewalk. The light was really starting to fade, but somehow, it worked!

Re-creating the post-engagement stroll down Fayetteville Street...

A cool spotlight under an awning. I really like the expression on Jaime's face in this one and all the red and yellow light!

Probably my favorite of the night in front of Blue Flame Tattoo on Hillsborough Street. How cool is it that the bike just happened to be parked right where I needed it?

Jaime and Brad, thanks for being so adventurous and up for anything.  This was one of my favorite engagement sessions ever. It was a lot of fun to step outside the norm and do something different. I'm really looking forward to the wedding in October!

View the slide show here.

Occasionally, I'll send my mom and sister slideshow links to get their feedback. I love what my sister wrote about watching Stephanie and Dave's show:

When I look at this slideshow, it is so emotional...it gave me goosebumps.  Partly b/c I really connected with that background song and the couple looks soooo in love.  I felt like I was watching a music video of a love song.  It really evoked a sense of joyful happiness and honest love. I really got the impression that this is a couple who mutually love each other and have fun with each other. You captured it all. They had to be blown away by that video. Amazing!

Stephanie and Dave are plannning a March wedding, so check back then for more from this fantastic couple. I can't wait!