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A friend wanted a special gift for her husband’s birthday. She thought some portraits of their gorgeous children might brighten his office. We waited and waited for a sunny afternoon, but the rains kept coming. So we waited some more. “It’ll be worth it,” I told her. “We need a certain light.” Then late one afternoon, the storms broke and we headed east to a place where the little ones could run and play and be kids. The sky was so amazing that day, almost as if we were being rewarded for our patience. And even though the golden light and blue water practically shouted “Shoot in color,” the preview window said otherwise. I hope these images bring my friends joy for years to come.

 

What do you get when you take the very best local musicians (ie, members of the local rock group Rio Bravo) and mix them up once a week for short power set? Answer: Music with purpose. My friends at Port City Community Church recently asked me to photograph the music portion of the service. With all access to this Christian mini-concert, it’s always a blast to show the world what we get to see (and hear!) every week. It’s clear to see the band plays with passion. Thanks for sharing your talent with us on Sundays!

 

We used to live in the city and vacation at the beach. Now it’s the other way around. This summer, Katy and I headed up to Boston for a welcome getaway while Lucy had an equally terrific time at Grandma Camp. With temps  in the 70’s and 80’s, it was a nice break from August in the South. We took a day trip to Cape Cod and saw some humpback whales on the ferry ride over. Of course I took some pictures while we were there. If only I’d thought to capture those funny yankee accents. To see more images visit http://tinyurl.com/3rualuk

Coldwell Banker Commercial contacted me to photograph some agents, including the boss, for a website upgrade. Rather than the typical conference room location , I suggested a large building with lots of natural light. We wound up in downtown Wilmington’s brand-new convention center. It’s a beautiful, light-filled space located on the historic Cape Fear River. The agents were a bit nervous at first, but after a while we settled into a nice rhythm. Grayson Powell, the boss, added some levity by joking around. Everyone seemed pleased with their images and we are now negotiating shooting more of their team.

I was very happy when a friend asked me to photograph her daughter. She’s a gorgeous little girl and a little shy. So I suggested we go for a walk through the Arboretum here in town. It’s a popular location for photographers, but that morning we had the place all to ourselves. Greta wasn’t afraid of the camera at all. In fact, sometimes I felt like she was looking right through it. Her mom said that I captured her true essence. I can’t think of a better compliment than that.

For the June cover of Focus on the Coast, I had the pleasure of working with Lynn Manock, owner of local boutique Ziabird, and with Morvil Design. It was nice to escape the heat and get back into the studio. Lynn pulled out all the stops with professional hair and makeup. Although the layout called for a tight portrait, I encouraged her to consider the dress choice because I knew even the shoulder strap would enhance the shot. After securing the cover, we pulled back and captured more images, including the accessories Ziabird is famous for. Morvil Design then added their touch with some perfectly placed graphics. Credits include: Model: Kristen Smith  Hair: Jessica Corbett  Makeup: Regan Brown  Art Direction: Maria Hamilton  Creative Direction: Jeff Morvil

Award-winning cinematographer Matt Davis (no relation) with Wilmington’s own Life Stage Films had an interesting shoot the other day. After hiring Matt to produce her wedding video, his client thought it would be cool to get some aerials of her beach event. So I suggested that he bring me along to document this exciting excursion. Now I’ve flown in small planes before, but not a helicopter. Before I knew what was happening we were cruising just a few hundred feet over the Atlantic. The pilot placed Matt exactly where he needed to be to secure the clips. I shot stills the entire time. The lack of doors added an element of danger, but having to focus on my job really helped with the butterflies in my stomach. Thanks to Executive Helicopters for a smooth flight!