Featured Gallery

What better way to show off my clients' sessions, than by giving them their own gallery that shows more than just a few of their final portraits. I have just added by very first "featured" gallery on my website that features Candee & Jordan's recent engagement session. Be sure & check this gallery periodically...I plan on featuring a new session every few weeks!

New Session Albums

I'm quite excited to now be including a 5x7 album with each of my 2009 portrait sessions (including engagements, bridals, & family sessions). These $200 sessions include a 1-1.5 hour shoot at the location of your choice, a personal online gallery of retouched photos for proofing, and a 5x7 session album featuring up to 30 of your favorite portraits.

Like the designer albums that I offer in the "ultimate" wedding package, the new session albums are of the highest quality. With a wide variety of leathers and fabrics to choose from, these one of a kind albums are perfect for expressing your personal style.

Check out this textured brown session album that was created for the Kirby Family (I added a polka dot ribbon to this album & really loved it!)...



More photos to come!

A First Look

Ok brides, I know it's a big tradition (esp. in the South) for the groom to not see the bride until she walks down the aisle (and I completely respect this), but have you ever really thought about why this is. I mean, who says it's bad luck to see each other & what does that really mean anyways -- Will you end up with a disasterous reception or have children that look like 3-eyed martians? And since when was seeing each other early on your wedding day grounds for divorce? (Did you know that this tradition started back in ancient times when marriages were arranged by families and were often nothing more than good business deals. To ensure the groom wouldn't have second thoughts at the sight of a bride perhaps less attractive than he's assumed, the groom was prohibited from seeing the bride before the wedding.)

I know it may sound silly, but have you considered that seeing each other before the ceremony can be a very romantic & tender moment...maybe even the best moment of the entire day!?!

Imagine this brides, your hubby is standing in a private location with his back to you. You walk in behind him and surprise him in all your beautiful, radiant glory. He gets to see his almost-wife in an intimate, private setting, where he can feel free to express his love and emotion without a hundred pairs of eyes studying him and judging his reaction. You can hug, or kiss, or whisper sweet nothings, exchange gifts or just laugh and have a good time.

You get to ENJOY the moment...a private moment that you normally wouldn't get to enjoy until after the wedding reception. And it doesn't take away from your hubby seeing his wife walk down the aisle; it just adds to the day!

After you have both fully taken in the excitement of seeing each other & spending 15 mins. of private time together, designated just for the two of you, then we can focus on getting some wonderful & creative portraits of you two at the location of your choice that you can display in your album and around your home. You can both relax and enjoy the experience, rather than rushing to finish before the sun sets, or worrying about getting to the reception on time, or being surrounded by a bunch of family members who make those intimate moments just a teensy bit awkward.

Following your special session, the groomsmen & bridesmaids and family can join in for group photographs. And, after the ceremony is over, you get to the reception with your guests, so you can spend even more time dancing and enjoying your loved ones. It’s pretty much a win-win situation for everyone!

So why not take part in a "first look" and make your wedding day even more special for who truly matters most...you & your honey!

Check out these images from a "first look" session that Dallas wedding photographer Stacy Reeves posted on her recent blog....they are gorgeous & if I had to do over, I would love to have some shots like this of me and Marty on our wedding day! I encourage my brides to consider this too!~

New Payment Method!

I've made it even easier for you to purchase prints online through my website! Pay pal will allow you to place your order online & pay with a debit/credit card...quick & easy. Still prefer to mail me a check for your order? No problem, that option is still available too (just select arrange payment offline in the payment menu). Hope everyone is having a great day!

A busy fall season!

So this past month has been soooo busy! Between working fulltime at the newspaper & doing my photography fulltime, it's been crazy! I've truly been blessed & I can't believe how many sessions I've had the opportunity to shoot this season. I know you guys have been waiting to see sneak peaks of my most recent shoots. So, here ya go -- I'm finally posting some pics!

Candee & Jordan - This session was absolutely so fun! Candee & Jordan are so great together, always making each other laugh! We took a drive up to Hangin Rock park for these pics & I must say if you've never been there, you should go...it's beautiful! More sneak peeks to come from this session!



Kirby Family - Can you say picture perfect? This family was such a pleasure to work with...when I thought of photographing 14 people (with five of those being children) plus 2 dogs, I thought I'd have my work cut out for me. But, boy was I surprised! The kids were wonderful & everyone was just so relaxed! And what a great day for photos...the weather was great out at the Iredell Art Museum & the old buildings served as a great backdrop!





Ralph was so good for the pictures....It's amazing what a little candy corn bribe can do!



These boys were having so much fun with each other...I couldn't resist this photo!



Cal - Cal is just such a cutie with those big blues! Girls you better watch out...he's going to be quite a looker!







Bath time was so precious with Cal! He just giggled and giggled! Can't wait to see you guys again in a couple weeks for Christmas photos!


Jennifer & Ki-Ma - This was one of the most inspiring weddings I've been to! From the pink and brown satin sashes to the creative bouquets, this was a beautiful ceremony! My favorite part had to be the groomsmen and bridesmaids entrance...each groomsman came in and leaned against a pew (very GQ) & then the bridesmaids came in one at a time & grabbed the arm of their man as they walked down the aisle. If I had my wedding to do all over, I would def consider doing something unique like that!





A gorgeous dress for a gorgeous bride!





My favorite picture of the night! What a magnificant clock tower in downtown Mooresville!


Melissa & Artie - I love you guys! Your wedding was so much fun...It's always wonderful to see friends unite in marriage, but it's even more wonderful when you get to take part in a couple's big day. Artie & Melissa, I hope ya'll are enjoying being newlyweds... marriage truly is something special!



I love these flowers! What beautiful colors!







This wedding party was so much fun to work with! You guys have some great friends who really care about you!

Happy Holidays!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? I sure can't...This year has really flown by! It seems like Christmas was just yesterday & it's almost here again.

I just wanted to let everyone know that my 2008 holiday card designs are now online (in a gallery titled "Special"). And yes, I know I'm behind on blogging but I promise to have sneak peeks of my recent sessions soon!

Jingle Bells!

With Christmas & New Year's quickly approaching, yes Dec. 25th is less than 2 months away, I can't think of a more wonderful way to wish your family & friends a happy holiday season than by sending them a personalized greeting card!

I am offering a new collection of card designs for this holiday season...below is a few samples of the beautifully elegant designs! Look for more designs on my website in the next few days as well as special holiday pricing. And hey, with a little tweaking these designs would also be perfect for birth announcements, invitations, save-the-dates, etc!

Aren't these designs just fabulous?!!?

Krissy & Jeff -- Love Boat

Last month I had the opportunity to take part in Krissy and Jeff's wedding aboard the Lady of the Lake at Queens Landing. The wedding was short but sweet, lasting 2 hours. Krissy & Jeff were wonderful...you could really tell they were truly in love! I felt so at ease the entire day from arriving to get group shots to watching the guests send the couple off with a shower of bubbles (did I mention they were showered with bubbles at least 3 times...their guests really wanted them to get the full effect..so sweet). I had a great time, and from the smiles on their faces, I know they did too!


Congratulations guys! More photos of Krissy & Jeff's wedding will be available online in a couple weeks!

Farm Fun with Melissa

So 2 weeks ago, I met Melissa & her very sweet mom at Carrigan Farms in Mooresville for a bridal session. I was quite nervous since on my way from Statesville to Mooresville that day it was sprinkling rain thanks to tropical storm Hanna. The rain held off long enough for me to get several shots of Melissa in her gorgeous gown before the floodgates opened & the downpour began. There was an old wooden building on the property as well as the apple orchard which served as a wonderful backdrop. And I must say, although the rain cut our session a little short, the cloudy sky provided perfectly even lighting for the shoot.



Melissa, I had a lot of fun with you and your mom & I can't wait until the wedding in 2 wks! See you soon!

New, New, New

I'm very excited to let everyone know about the recent additions I've made to my portrait & wedding packages....might I say these new products are absolutely amazing!!! I've been searching & searching and I have finally found the hottest & most gorgeous way for my clients to display their portraits.

For starters, my 2009 wedding packages will now come with a beautiful & totally unique preview box. In the past, clients received their 4x5 or 4x6 proof prints in a decorative envelope; nice but no where near the wow factor as these new boxes. Each preview box is handmade and wrapped in a custom-designed cover. I'm so excited about these...they are perfect for displaying in your home & will def grab your guests' attention.

So, what is this new package & what other products are new??? Well, (drum roll please) here it is!

My 2009 Wedding Package includes everything you need to tie the knot in style!

First of all, it now includes an engagement session - 1 to 2 hours of photojournalistic portraits of you & your finance doing what you do best --- having fun & loving every minute of it! The couple receives access to a personal online proof gallery featuring their retouched (yes, retouched -- no blemishes ladies) photos...great for showing friends & family the portraits with just a click of the mouse...esp. great for those relatives/friends who live out of town. And, reprint orders can be easily made here too. Oh & did I mention, you can link your facebook or myspace page to the gallery!The couple also receives a complimentary 5x7 session album with 30 of their favorite portraits -- did I mention these albums have over 50 cover fabrics to choose from.

Secondly, the package also includes a bridal session - Just like the engagements, these are 1-2 hours at the location of your choice... I always love doing shoots at ordinary places that make extraordinary pics like the farm, an open field, downtown, etc. This session comes with access to the personal gallery for proofing as well as the 5x7 session album. A 16x20 masonite bridal portrait is also included which can be framed & displayed at the reception for everyone to admire.

In addition, 100 wallets of the couple's favorite engagement photo & 100 wallets of the bride's favorite bridal portrait are provided as special gifts for your wedding guests...just a little piece of your special day for them to keep!

As far as coverage on the wedding day, I arrive as the bride & groom are getting ready (if the couple chooses), capturing shots of the little details building up to the big day...the bride & groom spending time with their bridesmaids & groomsmen before the ceremony. All group portraits with the exception of those including both the bride & groom together will be taken before the ceremony...I always ask my brides to get me a list of all of these photos before the wedding to be sure no one is left out. The ceremony, in all its grand & glory, is photographed followed by group portraits with the bride & groom. Coverage ends with all the many details & happenings of the reception being captured...for me, this is usually the most fun part of the entire wedding! Like always, each couple can customize their coverage to fit their individual needs!

With this package, the couple receives access to an online gallery for viewing & ordering, and 4x5/4x6 retouched prints of the wedding day in a designer preview box featuring a photo from the newly weds' big day as well as their names and wedding date.

Now, for the kicker!!!! The designer wedding album! I am very proud to be offering the highest & I mean highest quality in portrait albums to my wedding clients with this package.

These designer albums are the hottest I've seen...Flush mount albums with attitude. Exquisite quality combined with fabulous leathers and design options & you get to pick every aspect of it. Move away from the ordinary towards the extraordinary. Imagine an album with leathers that range from quality basics to the most sophistocated looks around. Imagine numerous cover design options including single & double tones, accent leathers & fabrics, & even satin and classic canvas. And did I mention the cutouts that allow your favorite portrait(s) to peek through the beautiful cover. Amazing doesn't even describe these...they are the ultimate in albums!!!! Each of these albums feature 40 custom layout pages, designed by me personally to fit you & your wedding style.

Just look at some of the available cover leathers/fabrics. Yes, I did say some...there are more!

As you can see, the quality pages of this album are very sturdy & open flat!

And each album is delivered in a black case with beautiful packaging!

What more could you want in an album!!!

Album Option 2:

Want a traditional matted album...no problem. For those brides who are looking for a more traditional wedding album, I am now offering a matted album. This leather-bound album is both elegant and timeless. Special care is given to the entire album; each individual photograph is lacquered and hand-mounted into a matted frame. The pages have gilded edges and rounded corners which are a hallmark of handmade quality. Each album is delivered in a soft cloth cover with a black presentation box to protect precious memories and makes for an elegant display.

Leather choices for the matted albums ---

**And Don't Worry -- If you're a bride that I've already quoted a package to for 2009, no worries, you can either keep your current package or upgrade to this one!

Another new product: As a new add-on to any of my portrait sessions or wedding packages, I am now offering a 10x10 designer mat box! Personalized with my client’s name and favorite image, the designer mat box is beautifully printed on a choice of canvas or silk and is treated with a protective coating to ensure that it lasts forever. And tucked away inside this box is a selection of 10-15 perfectly matted prints for the portrait session. This product will quite a delight for setting on a coffee table, bookcase, office, & anywhere else in the home to display select wedding, family, or children's portraits! And how cute would it be to make the "spine" of the box look like a book to put on a book shelf -- esp. for children's portraits -- a "chapter" for each stage of childhood. They even have a ribbon that looks like a bookmark! You could also set one of matted portraits on an easel to display in your home, rotating the photos out as often as you'd like!

And what a great idea for my brides, mother of the brides, wedding planners, or anyone else trying to come up with a stylish idea for a reception !!! Place one matted print from the couple's engagement session on each table during the reception (they look great on a small easel) & let guests write a message on the mat around the portrait. Then at the end of the night, collect the mats & put them in the designer box as a keepsake. This is so much more elegant than the traditional guestbook...I mean I've been married over 2 years now & haven't even opened my guestbook. Too bad I didn't know about this...I def would have loved to have one of these!

Well, I can't wait to hear some feedback about these awesome new offerings! I know you all will love them just as much as I do!!

Bryan & Megan...love you guys!

Two of mine & Marty(my husband)'s best friends Bryan and Megan were married on June 14, 2008 & I had the opportunity to cover their wedding (well, I covered part of the wedding... another one of Megan's friends - Elizabeth- took a big chunk of the pics since Marty was actually a groomsman & I wanted to enjoy the evening with him too). What can I say...It was soooo beautiful! Megan in her fitted gown & flowing hair, Bryan in his handsome tux & bridesmaids in navy; a song written for the special couple that would bring tears to any eye (I held the tears back as they crept up...watery eyes make for blurry portraits); and an amazing reception! Although the rain kept us from doing many portraits outside, everything turned out perfectly! I loved all the small details of this wedding; the navy accents everywhere were a great touch. Megan & Bryan -- we love you!

Megan & Bryan's first dance fit them so well with it starting out slow & switching to an upbeat tune.
Their cake matched their contemporary style perfectly...The swirls & ribbons are great together in the blue & green!

Yeahhh! The rain held off long enough for Bryan & Megan to be showered with bubbles!

Artie & Melissa

Two weeks ago I had the great pleasure of spending an hour or so with Artie & Melissa who are getting married in early October. You could just tell that this couple is a perfect match. The portraits in this session came so naturally with the playful pair joking with each other, laughing, & having lots of fun! Making this session even more fun was getting to involve Artie's dog who was a great sport! More photos of Artie & Melissa will be uploaded to my website the middle of this week!


PS - I told Artie I'd tell all of his friends that we (his future bride and I) forced him to take this corn field photo.

Hooray... Blog!

My very first blog...how exciting! So I've had my new website (www.sraechellephotography.com) now for seven months & finally I have ventured into blogging. I'm so excited to be able to post details of my recent shoots...letting everyone not only hear tales about working as a photographer but about the wonderful people that I get to meet on an ongoing basis.