Meet the Pirates!

As you know by now, our family loves the East Carolina University Pirates. A few weekends ago we went to a big event on campus, Meet the Pirates. This is a time where the football team and coaches come out on the field to meet their fans, sign footballs and build some momentum before the season actually begins. We had a great time as a family and Caleb and Lydia enjoyed running up and down the field. So, it has officially begun - this weekend is the first football game against Virginia Tech. Craig will be traveling to Charlotte to see them play - Go Pirates! We plan on taking Caleb to a few games this season and I'm pretty sure he will LOVE it!

We were able to get a picture with Skip Holtz, the head football coach.

Craig stopped one of the players, Davon Drew, tight end, and asked him if he could pose for the camera and hold Lydia. He was very polite and Lydia went straight to him with no fuss! I think she is going to be "social" just like her big brother:)

Lydia wasn't quite sure about Pee-Dee. She didn't cry but she wasn't all smiles either. With time, she will soon love Pee-Dee, I'm sure.

Here they are - running up and down the field. They were exhausted when we got home!

Ric+Robyn . . . sneek peak

Last Saturday, I shot a gorgeous outdoor wedding in Simpson for Ric and Robyn. I'll make a more complete post of this beautiful event once I catch up on all the editing. However, I know there were several folks who told me that they couldn't wait to see the images from this wedding. As always, I aim to please. So, here is a sneek peak of what's to come..

Party in the Park

Kim here. As you have probably figured out, Craig's love for a good photograph has slowly rubbed off on me. Now I LOVE using the camera to capture sweet moments. Craig's been helping me learn the camera, so I thought it was time to practice in a 'real' situation outside of my own children and sleeping babies. So, I decided to document a joint Birthday Party for two of Caleb and Lydia's friends. I never realized how much "work" it is to take pictures . . . it's fun but there is a lot of sweat and focus needed to get the shot you want, not to mention the hours spent afterwards sifting thru the images and post processing. Something Craig says often: "ART is PAIN people". I am beginning to understand what he means. I learned a lot today and it was fun to see the party thru the lens as a photographer. Enjoy!

Meet Madalynn. She turned three years old this week. She and Caleb are buddies and he often refers to her as his 'best friend'. I love the "old look" of this picture - it reminds me of The Wonder Years. I LOVED that show. The Wonder Years was the best.

This is Anna Belle. She turned two years old this week. She looks like a porcelain doll to me in this image.

The party was at the park and every child seems to love the swings.

Tucker seems to think, 'out of sight, out of mind'. He'll soon learn, that is not how it works.

The see-saw is hard work. I'm guessing being out in the 98 degree heat has something to do with it. To the right is Avery, she seems a little perturbed that these presents are not for her. She'll celebrate hers again in January :)

Woodlief Twins

When Ashlie gave us a call, she shared that she was looking for someone to capture her and her husband Scott as they both were about to be parents to twin boys. She shared that they had been wanting children for some time and that she was now finally a few months from delivery. It was a very special time for them and they wanted some special images to help them remember the excitement, joy, and in some ways . . . relief in being pregnant. Kim really hit it off with Ashlie on the phone and they talked about what they wanted in the session. I learned that Scott was an avid Pirate fan which endeared me to him immediately. They are young, in-love, and crazy excited about their twin boys, Davis and Hudson, due November 3rd. We spent some time in their home, and on the ECU campus. They were a lot of fun and their excitement and laughter was contagious.

Scott had requested some shots at the ECU football stadium, while Ashlie wanted some at the Cupola. As a huge fan myself, I wanted him to have an image that would combine two of lets say his . . . top three loves . . . ECU football, Ashlie, and (not pictured . . . but present . . . Hudson and Davis) . . . and not necessarily in that order :)

Every pregnant woman has what's called the 'pregnant glow'. It is a beauty all its own. Ladies and gentlemen . . . the next four images show the 'glow'.

I love the way Scott looks at Ashlie. He did it all day.

Once we were out on campus, I tried to insert a little of my idea of a unique CSM Photography Maternity Session.

Ok, I gave in and did the heart on the belly shot. Some types of shots are timeless and are just plain cute. Yes, I said cute.

To Ashlie and Scott: Kim and I had a blast photographing you both. Thanks for trusting us with this very special season in your lives. I'm always touched when our clients intrust us with their most precious memories and ask us to capture them. We can't wait to meet Hudson and Davis.