Christina & Roy || A Knightdale Engagement

You know how, on Facebook, you can see the list of mutual friends you share with someone whether or not you are directly connected to that person? Christina and Roy had more than 50 friends in common on Facebook before they even knew of one another's existence. When Roy noticed this, he started a Facebook chat with Christina to find out why they didn't know each other--a chat which reportedly lasted until 6:00 the next morning, and which, ultimately, led to them dating and getting engaged. They'll be getting married this November, and judging by how much fun their engagement session was, the wedding is going to be a blast.

We started their session at the Knightdale Environmental Park, which is located behind the East Wake County Regional Library--here, Christina and Roy had taken some "practice" engagement photos to use to announce their engagement to their friends and family, so it only seemed fitting that we shoot there with them, as well! We continued on into Knightdale proper and took advantage of some gorgeous light to finish out their session. We can't wait for their wedding in November, but in the meantime, enjoy their images below! (And more on Facebook.)

Sara & Elliott || A Warehouse District Engagement in Raleigh & Apex

Sara and Elliott are, as you read this, counting down the days until summer vacation. They're both elementary school teachers in Wake County (Sara teaches fourth grade and Elliott teaches second)--they met in the education program at Gardner-Webb University. Sara is a girl after my own heart--she's a lover of all things Disney! Not only did Elliott propose in Disney World (sounds familiar!), but Sara had him sign her character autograph book afterwards, and underneath his name, she wrote, "Prince Charming"! I fully plan to be on the lookout for hidden Mickeys at their wedding next April.

For their adorable springtime engagement session, we started in Apex at the property of a friend of Elliott's family, which they lovingly refer to as the Powell Estate. In addition to having gorgeous grounds and lovely and perfect outbuildings, apparently, the family has never sold or given away or otherwise disposed of any cars. A graveyard of old car parts extended farther than I could see, but the real highlight was the row of rusted up antique car bodies. After we had gotten our fill of that unique location, we headed into the Warehouse District in downtown Raleigh--I had been wanting to shoot in that area for months, and I'm so glad that Sara and Elliott were up for it! I can't wait for their wedding next year, but in the meantime, I can share their lovely engagement images! Enjoy them below! (More on Facebook.)

Rachel || UNC Chapel Hill Senior Portraits

Rachel is a 2014 alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Graduation was just this past weekend, and so I am very excited to share the senior photos I had the pleasure to take of Rachel. The campus was busy and bustling, not only with other graduates (and some fellow photographers!) taking photos and students enjoying the nice weather, but with giant groups of prospective students taking tours, parents, folks throwing frisbees, and general late-in-the-semester college activity. Rachel and I have something special in common--her fiance, Tom, is a Navy man just like Michael. Tom surprised Rachel by coming up from Pensacola to see her graduate, and even though I wasn't there to document that part, I know how it feels, and I hope it made her graduation even more special! Rachel heads out soon to take up a Teach for America teaching position in Kinston, NC, and I wish her all the luck in the world! Enjoy her images below! (More on Facebook.)

Crystal || American Tobacco Campus Portraits

Crystal is a fellow alumna of the Queens University of Charlotte MFA, my wonderful program. Her kids, Cameron and Sidney, are adorable, her poems are striking and honest, and she herself is awesome. I'm always glad to provide my fellow Queens alums with new author photos! Her book, Routes Home, is available from Finishing Line Press; there are more of her images on Facebook.

Cameron & Sidney || American Tobacco Campus Portraits

Cameron and Sidney are too dang cute for words. They were so well mannered that it took every trick in my arsenal to get them even giggling for me! (It was the monster faces that did the trick, and imitating the silly faces their mom and I were making.) They are very pleasant and polite young men, and I know their mama is very proud of them. Enjoy their images! More on Facebook.

Tom & Mel || A Yates Mill Park Engagement

Tom and Mel are my very dear friends from college, and I could not be more excited that they're getting married next year! While our whole friend group was camping together a couple of summers ago (and before I seriously got MKM in motion), I shot a few impromptu portraits of Mel and Tom and showed them the shots in-camera, saying something like, "See?! When you guys finally get engaged, you have to let me take your engagement photos!" When they started planning a trip down to Durham for the end of October, Mel emailed me to ask, "Were you serious about that?", to which I said, "Of course!" We ended up with a gorgeous, if slightly chilly, afternoon for their session at Yates Mill (since they're not from the Triangle, we just picked the prettiest location!), which Mike and I shot together, and I am so excited to share these images with everyone. I'm even more excited that my wonderful friends are happy together, and can't wait for their wedding next year! More on Facebook.