The VanderHeiden kids

Some of you may remember the senior shoot I did for the adorable Brenna back in June, (you can view that shoot HERE!) well this time I had a chance to photograph all the VanderHeiden kids as a surprise present for their parents anniversary!  How cute is that?!  We did some planning and managed to sneak out for a couple hours to snap some pictures of this awesome family.

Mom & Dad you guys have done an awesome job raising these children!! I have been blessed to get to know them and to see the passion they have for God shine through their lives.  Happy (very late at this point) Anniversary and I wish you many more!

Enjoy!

 

Love, 

Carrie

Been a long long time...

It's been awhile.... too long actually. To any one that even occasionally looks at my blog, I apologize for the many months of absence. Honestly I'm not sure why I haven't blogged in many months, have I been busy? Yes, but not uncommonly so, and not enough to excuse my lack of writing a few simple paragraphs and adding pictures to update people on what I'm doing in my life. So here I am... and for sake of time, I am not going to post a picture and paragraph on every month missed between my last blog post and this one, but instead show you some pictures of a lovely lady who I recently got to photograph.

Meet Brenna.

I first met Brenna back in October when Joel and I started helping (or more like hanging out at) a local youth group called Teens for Christ (TFC). When I first met Brenna I thought she was quiet and very sweet, and while she is still very sweet I'm discovering the not so quiet side of this gorgeous lady. She is super outgoing, willing to try new things, loves her family and friends deeply and is a devoted daughter of the King. I love watching the way she soaks up the bible and the way she truly walks with Christ. She is a wonderful young lady, and I am so blessed to know her. Brenna graduated from high school last year, but we got together a few weeks ago to shoot some "belated" senior portraits. We had a great time, and actually managed to choose a photo date that was sunny (rare in spring of Washington I'm discovering). So, without further adieu, here she is! Enjoy!

Bro & Sis

Today's post is....

Dawn and Derek Elam in their portrait session for their Mom's surprise Christmas present! What a cool way to say I love you then by sharing yourself! I wish I could see their Mom's face as she opens the present and see's their faces! How cool! So anyone who see's this... shhh it's a surprise!

I know Dawn from Gardner-Webb university where I went for my freshman year of college. Dawn lived in the same dorm as I did and we both lived in, or near Winston-Salem so it was a great friendship right from the beginning! The summer after our freshman year we both got jobs working at the same restaurant and remained good friends! Over the years we have kind of done our own things, she is now a Senior in college and will be graduating in May! She is such an awesome girl, full of energy and fun. Dawn is an amazing piano player and singer- unfortunately, we couldn't find a piano the day of the shoot- but her talent it amazing!

Derek, is her 13 year old brother who I believe I had met once before but only briefly- so it was a challenge getting him to warm up enough to smile in some of these pics ;) His comments were hysterical as he talked about food and video games just waiting to be done with pictures. Typical teenage boy.

We met at Target then headed on our journey to Old Salem, an awesome historical place where the Moravians first settled after traveling from Germany! The place is full of awesome old buildings, log fences and history- I love it. Here's some favorites from the day!







I love these photos because they are just so natural, the colors, the sun reflection in my lens, their faces etc!





Annnnd this about sums it up.



Thanks for such a fun day guys!! I hope your Mom loves the pictures of you guys! Merry Christmas!!

Ashelyn Hines

10:30am... I arrived at Abby and Bob's house in Winston to start our trip to Appalachian State University to take pictures of her lovely daughter Ashelyn, (a couple months ago I took pictures of Allie her sister, fyi). I absolutely love this family. I have known them since I was ehh around 12 years old and they are like a second family to me.
So Abby and I started our trip, the hour and a half drive was a blast as we chit-chatted about life and love, the book of Revelations (the tribulation), the Bible etc. It was a great time! When we got to the campus we met Ashelyn and went to eat at Macado's restaurant, a small chain were Bob and Abby had their first date. Then we were off... to some places on campus and then some places off. It was so much fun! To watch Ashelyn pose and laugh in front of my camera lens as I got in her face and made her sit in funny places was great. She was such a good sport and a joy to work with! I totally hope that her laid back, adorable, fun self shines through in these pictures. Ashelyn- you are gorgeous and it's been so great to know you for so long!

Enjoy!!

Us ;)

So it was a gorgeous fall day... a Sunday afternoon and a perfect day for picture taking. Thank gooooodness I was off! So armed with a tripod and my 50mm lens, Joel and I set out into the woods for some picture taking. We did the same thing last year, right before we were engaged- so it was an 'anniversary' of sorts. A year after becoming engaged, 6 months since getting married... it's been a busy year!

Here's a few of the pictures from the day! I'm sort of a fan of us so I had to share! Hope you enjoy!
















leave a comment!
Carrie

Allie Hines

Yesterday morning I woke up early got ready and headed off to Elon University to see my best friend, Allie. I've known Allie since 7th grade- and we have been best friends about that long. This girl has stuck with me through everything and I'm not sure what I would do without her. About a week ago Allie contacted me and asked if I would take some headshots of her for her 'resume' for school. Excitedly (yet nervous) I accepted the task and yesterday morning was the day.
I got to her apartment around 9am, praying the sun would peak through the clouds- or that it would hold off rain. (It did- it didn't rain until after we were done and eating lunch in a little cafe on campus. Thanks you Jesus). When I saw Allie she was her normal bubbly self all excited to get photographs- like a little kid waiting to play dress up. She was gorgeous (as always).
She has such a fun spirit, it's hyper, often excited, fun but can also be serious when the time calls for it. She has mellowed me out over the years and the girlishness you may see in me today is alot to her credit. So Thanks Allie for being such a fabulous friend and I hope the pictures show your beauty to the world!
Enjoy!!








(isn't she gorgeous?!)






(I loved these columns!)




(she's so cute)

Okay- so that was alot. Loving those comments- keep 'em up!

Carrie