Neil & Leisl -

Thank you, once again for truly capturing hte heart of our special day.  It is thanks to you that these special moments have been immortalized.  We look forward to sharing the albums/photos with our families for years to come.  I can’t imagine that we could have found anyone else that could have told the story of our journey more accurately.  Your talents are a gift and we appreciate your sharing them with us.

WIth much gratitude -

Tom & Kelly

Thanks guys – we are so grateful to have you as clients!
For those of you that haven’t been following our blog very long, here’s a summary of their journey:

• Kelly & Tom’s save the date cards
• Snowy Organic Signature Journal
• Kelly & Tom’s Buffalo NY wedding album

Here’s a close-up shot of Heather’s menus at her reception held in Del Frisco’s wine cellar, the menu designed by Neil.  However the story start a year infront of their wedding…

…with their Chirstmas card and save the date combo.  Here is me holding their limited edition Christmas card, custom designed by me:

Heather and Drew were overjoyed with the complements they received from family, friends and even the rescue organization that they got their dogs from that they had me do their save the date cards as well.

From the save the date postcard which used photographic imagery, Heather decided to take the rest of the suite minimalist to match her wedding decor and theme.

Save the date on the right, menu card on the left.  The paper stock is a pearlescent metallic finish that even though chocolate brown, give a shine to the color.

And here’s what it looks like in the placesetting!

Heather wanted a monogram to tie the pieces together, and with 10 years of design experience I didn’t find that hard to accomplish with style.

The name tags and menu blended in wonderfully with the rich chocolate color scheme.

The Invitations

The invitation design used a fashionable panorama fold on the left of the 5×7″ card.

Inside, flowing blocks of text communicate the details to the guests.

Here the response card design is shown front and back (back side blurry) as it was printed in creme white and slipped into the invitation’s fold.

Response card text.

So if you would like one less vendor to work with, if you would like to have the design elements continue from your save-the-date card through to your album.

Just have us do it – contact us above and we’ll get to work on your engagement shoot and talk styling!

I love all things Asian, and so love a chance to photograph that mysterious beauty and exotic flair!

Choose your portrait session and purchase some beautiful art portraits for your loved ones.

Answers will be graded!

Seriously though, leave your approach – or comment if you’ve got a jucy story about ‘attracting’ just the right guy; or falling for a crazy girl.

Lauren & Tyler has a wonderfully mild January night for their intimate wedding evening in uptown Charlotte.  Congratulations and thanks so much for having me (I’ll let the pictures do the talking).

Wedding Team members:

• Kymm Stylist – Who’s the Fairest
• Wedding ceremony Saint Mary’s Chapel – Uptown Charlotte
• Wedding Reception VanLandingham Estate

What do I need a sensual journal for?

Handmade 6×8″ Sensual Journal – buy now

To make a mark, to express your love!

As we point out in our ‘Sense of Touch’ gallery (password=touchable) we work to capture this touchable sense in our pictures and wish for you to enrich your lives with our art.  To that end we introduce the erotic journal product for you to fill with the photos from your session and your own writings, markings and musings.  We hope this product enriches your lives and continues the dialog that a boudoir photo session can create between loving partners.  We hope this journal stimulates your bonding experience and heightens the interaction of your relationship.

More detailed photos:

Handmade 6×8″ Sensual Journal

Portrait Session with Neil – good for any concept, pinup poster or sensual portraits $300

Boudoir Portrait Album Package gets you a custom printed private book $600

Lux Boudoir Photo shoot: hair and makeup included, book and iPod slideshow $900

A little photo walk in Sparks Maryland before going back to work with Amy – doing some design and consulting.

Stacey blushes and ducks as I shoot a few headshot portraits for her in her new studio space at the Hope Artiste Village in Providence RI.

AAAAAHHHHH! I’m being photographed!

Stacey’s a high energy grinner.

Now that you know what she looks like, hire Stacey to do your actor and professional headshots at www.StaceyDoylePhotography.com

Hire Neil for local candid portraits of your children and family – Candid portraits on sale for $100

Artistic head shots on location. Give the eye contact that will get you the audition!

Professional retouched headshot package with 100 full color business cards.

Innocent and normal enough

But it set off a smile

And turned into a kiss

a grin, following a cuddle

and a snuggle

and a pose for the camera

but who can keep from kissing this poor girl!

and falling for her blue eyes

Big sister gets in on the photo taking action (mini camera with flash-toy in her hand)

And then we take a couple ‘real’ pictures – so Abel puts his model face on

So Cyrus contemplates grace – while Liesl sleeps

Papa cherishes the blessing

A cameo appearance by the photographer!

And a grande finale!

Purchase a complete portrait session with Neil in our shopping cart for $300

Hire Neil for local candid portraits of your children and family – Candid portraits on sale for $100

Here a SimpleViewer Flash gallery should be displayed. Click here to open the post in your browser to see the gallery.

Here are a couple of my favorite spreads:

If you’ll give me a moment to talk about the elements of design we use in our albums – in this horizontal spread, I cropped the images in a tight panoramic 1:5 format to show the tight moments of the bride and groom placing the rings on each other’s fingers. The tight spacing and blurred edges allow for a quick ‘read’ of the eye across the page. That emphasis is heightened by the horizontal bars of color running through the background of the image at the grooms eye height and the bride’s ring height. The lines tie together the separate pictures with implied continuation of line that I ‘felt’ between the photos while laying them out. This extra amount of care and attention brings your album to life telling the visual stories of your wedding.

In this spread we use the design element of a light vignette to tie together and soften the overall page design, can you see the subtle darkening at the coreners?

And if you’re looking for a creative photographer, look at how we tie the action of the day into the album design! We’re wiling to see the whole day for what it is, without presuppositions about what wedding photography ’should be’ – so we notice the littlest things that make your wedding yours! (did you notice the bee on the clover in the above spread? – I know it’s hard on the web, but we noticed it and shot it!)

Enjoy your album Kelly and Tom.

Gretchen was excited to host her wedding day in her childhood neighborhood in Rochester.  She has taken all her Sacraments at Blessed Sacrament as well as attending school there.  Gretchen’s excitement and energy beamed the whole day.  Thanks so much for having me there guys – enjoy your slideshows!

Gretchen and Dan’s helpers are listed here:

• Church of the Blessed Sacrament
• American Association of University Women – Perkins Mansion wedding reception
• Reception Catering by All Occasions Catering
• Flowers by the (always fun) Jimmy Catalano, Edgerton Floral Company
• Ronda Wedding gown by Pronovias

The above slideshow is in flash, you may download the podcast show below; here are a couple favs if you can’t do either!

A mini me
Of blue eye proportions
Seeing reflections of myself not in a mirror
Changes me from the inside out
Looking at the little man I love

• Save the date for Heather and Dave
• Skaneateles NY engagement portraits : wedding guestbook signature journal
• Waxhaw Weddington family and couples portrait photographer NC
• Lake Norman cove engagement shoot Sherrill’s Ford North Carolina
• Fall leaves and the Genesee Country Museum
• Custom designed Engagement holiday card – Lake Norman NC Photographer
• Personalized guesbook photoshoot and design service
• Your photographer can teach you wheelies
• Manhattan Engagement photo session photographer
• Where art lives – by Neil Cowley
• Organic trail running engagement guestbook

My sweet goof pop Tia. Who’s eyes are unforgettable to me!

Even when they’re crossed!!

Heather had a lot of great help putting together her wedding:

• Samantha did Heather’s makeup – www.PotionBeauty.com
• Wedding Ceremony music by the Carolina Chamber Players
• Lake Norman waterfront wedding site at Jetton Park
• Wedding reception in the wine cellar room of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse Charlotte
• bridal bouquet and decorations by Huntersville Floral Design
• Desert from Cake Expressions by Lisa
• Wedding hairstyling by Bella Lago Salon & Spa, Mooresville, NC
• Wedding dress shopping and fitting by The Lily Rose, Cornelius, NC
• Wedding Planning and ceremony by Patrick and Dottie Maloy – Calm Blue Water

Leave your comments below!

Today’s small dream,
was ignited by a child
who didn’t want to be photographed
“no flash photography allowed”
she spouted over and over again
looking at me out of the corner of her eye
each time
hoping
running away to be chased
covering her face
for the excitement of being exposed
who knows how needy she was to be noticed
how much her heart needed to feel beautiful
but she brought beauty into my world
with a giant yellow leaf

Click to purchase your Professional Headshot Package with 100 Business Cards

Professional Model Comp Card Package

The best of man is like water,
Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,
Which flows in places that others disdain,
Where it is in harmony with the Way.

So the sage:
Lives within nature,
Thinks within the deep,
Gives within impartiality,
Speaks within trust,
Governs within order,
Crafts within ability,
Acts within opportunity.

He does not contend, and none contend against him.

Tao Te Ching 8

Click to purchase your Professional Headshot Package with 100 Business Cards

Professional Model Comp Card Package

Glamour portraits – for you, or to impress!

Purchase your portrait session with Neil now:

• Studio session at Neil’s Studio in South Charlotte
• Location portrait session: Charlotte, Gastonia, Lake Norman, Rock Hill, Fort Mill etc!

Bring a Pillow, get a portrait:
Bring a pillow for my ultra boho portrait couch and you’ll get a web res digital portrait like the ones in the event gallery! drop by or stay awhile and mingle.

Starving artist print sale! Help Neil clean out his boxes of prints and frames, walk away with fine art 8×10″ print for $20 and framed works for $40

Movie showing at 9pm!
“BLOW UP” a 1966 British-Italian film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, that director’s first English language film. It tells the story of a photographer’s accidental and incidental involvement with a murder. One of my favorite art flicks!

Please RSVP by Facebook, or in the comments here:

• Pillow Party 1 Tuesday September 22nd
• Pillow Party 2 Sunday Sept 27th 5-9pm

This will just be a mellow mixer, unless you bring me a bottle of Tequila and get dancing started, feel free to come and stay or just drop by!

Pillow Pickup map if you need help finding a pillow for the party!

Pauline plans weddings in the Richmond VA and Brooklyn NY areas, as well as authors the blog Wedding Overdose.

Click to purchase your Professional Headshot Package with 100 Business Cards

I spent the day shooting for the E Agency models on the Black + White theme.

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Click to purchase your Professional Headshot Package with 100 Business Cards

How lovely, and how funny they were!

We had a fun time with their casually arranged moments

Here’s the wedding details for all you planners out there:

• Flowers by Fioravanti Florist
• Ceremony location, reception location and catering, wedding cake design all by the Burgundy Basin Inn
• DJ entertainment by Go Sound Systems
• Wedding dress was the Chiffon Empire Dress BR1007 by David’s Bridal

Thanks guys for having me document your day!

Wanting to be Filled

Water overcomes the stone;
Without substance it requires no opening;
This is the benefit of taking no action.

Yet benefit without action,
And experience without abstraction,
Are practiced by very few.

Tao Te Ching 43

I’m more than glad to fill you in on the details:

• Nikka ceremony at the Islamic Society of New Jersey
• Wedding Preparation at the Satler Hotel
• Wedding hair and faces done by Makeup On Demand
• Wedding Ceremony at Sage Hall Cornell University
• Wedding Reception at the Williard Straight Hall Memorial Room
• The suburb and memorable menu was prepared and presented by James from The Heights Cafe & Grill
• Wedding cake and desserts by Sincredible Pastries
• The floral arrangements and wedding table decorations made by Michaleen’s Florist
• The mastermind helper and planner Tara Reimer from Terra Rosa
• Order prints and see the complete set of photos at www.MakeLoveReal.com

Thanks guys!

Click to purchase your Professional Headshot Package with 100 Business Cards

• Wedding Ceremony downtown Lake Placid NY at the Adirondack Community Church
• Wedding Reception at the Lake Placid Club Boathouse by Crowne Plaza
• Flowers and decoration by Trillium Florist, Tupper Lake, NY
• Wedding cake by the Lake Flour Bakery, Saranac Lake, NY
• Slideshow music free courtesy of Amazon.com
• View slideshow without music
• Login to Make Love Real.com to view all the photos and order prints

Penny and Will held their wedding near their first and favorite vacation spot – Lake Placid NY.  Penny and Will are silly and full of love for life and each other while they brought their friends and family together to celebrate this shared love.  Will was excitedly explaining to me how he wanted to drive to the top of Whiteface mountain to take pictures between the ceremony and reception and I was hesitant to make any promises knowing that the weather on top of a 5000ft mountain in the last days of May in Northern NY is as likely to be snow as sun.  Again this day the universe smiled on me and gave us good weather while on the summit of Whiteface Mountain.  Here are a few of my favorites from up there.

When we first came up a cloud was rolling up the mountain, while the sun was still shining over the cloud giving us a mystical and unique light!

The temperature on the summit was a brisk 45 degrees with a stiff 20-25mph breeze. As the cloud rolled over the summit we were momentarily lost in fog and then rested just under the belly of the cloud.

Will and Penny were surprised when I told them on the way to the summit that it would be great to be hit by a cloud, and they were even more surprised when it happened. My wilderness experience in the High Peaks has taught me about the amazing ecological conditions these mountains reside in. If you are yearning for a mountaintop wedding ceremony, Whiteface mountain just North of Lake Placid is an amazing summit. You can drive to within a few hundred feet of the summit and then take either the elevator or stairs to the top. But here is the panoramic view:

The Adirondack Park is really just a big swamp with mountains interspersed amongst it, and this picture captures that quintessential environment with the bride and groom.

Thanks so much guys for bringing me back to the Adirondacks for your great wedding day!

Real Estate doesn’t have to be stale!  Gun show by @BeeRealty – .

So the question is – how many bales can these guns pop?

Personality Portraits for Real Estate Agents by Neil Cowley – Charlotte Real Estate Bar Camp

Find your personality portrait shot today at www.MakeLoveReal.com – should be ready Sunday May 17th.

The wedding took place at the Glengoyne Highland whiskey distillery and we all enjoyed the generously poured high-quality scotch!  wowsa!!

Congratulations Gerry and Jenny – thanks for bringing me to your wedding!

I had an awesome time visiting the clubbing scene in Glasgow and partying till 3am – at that latitude the sun rises at that hour and I got to experience my first Celtic ‘time between’ with a beautiful sunset departing Gelengoyne, and a sunrise after dancing all night through the packed clubs of Glasgow. 

We had a blast with their dogs and enjoyed shooting through the fall colors and evening sunset..

Pet portraits Lake Norman, North Carolina

This one above is on of Heather’s biggeest favorites!

I had the kids play with the phones to tell me which their grandma would like best, and after a little waiting the show definitely impressed my 10 year old son, who wasn’t thinking he really wanted to be there till he saw guys flying upside down…

Yea that’s a meter of air on top of an adult male with his arms outstretched, so probably a solid 12ft off the ramp, 20ft off the ground.

It’s a theme we have rolling here, it’s an answer to ‘what is a photojournalist’, ‘what is a visual storyteller’?

In today’s installment it’s also an answer to ‘How do I get good photojournalistic pictures?’ and how we as intense artists like to burrow into your life to tell these stories….let me illustrate so you can help me find these stories and threads to make your pictures come alive with your own family’s stories. You see I wouldn’t have known to look out for this, had I not ridden to the ceremony with the bride and her father in the classic Rols Royce limo:

In Courtney’s father’s hands is a plastic sandwich baggie of candy:

They are laughing sharing memories of how he would bring candy in his jacket pocket to keep his children occupied during church services.  Courtney’s not to old to demand a few sweets!

So when it comes to the real church service, I know what to look out for….

Grandpa handing out the candy, and grandson eagerly filling his cheeks with it.

These pictures are not technically masterful, or emotionally poignant – but simply show the care and consideration of a grandpa, and a photographer.

Maybe I should remember to sneak some gummy bears into the service to remind me to keep my eye on the story!

So when you’re filling out your wedding information forms, or something pops to mind on your wedding day – share the details with me so I can best be informed of what your family relationships look like.

When you’re choosing a senior portrait photographer what are you looking for?

soul?

smiles?

something prim, proper, or punky?

get your pictures done by an artist, who’s interested in your self expression

South Charlotte NC – Senior Portrait Photographer Package <–book session now

Purchase your senior portrait session now and book your date before you run out of time!

• Mallard Creek
• Vance
• North Meck
• Myers Park
• Hopewell
• Providence
• Charlotte Country Day
• Audrey Kell
• Highschool
• High School
• Graduation

Piedmont Hunter Jumper Association Horse Shows

A lovely spring day for riding and it was amazing to see this little girls launching the horses over the jumps.  Quite a lot of bravery and skill.

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A couple of my favorite design layouts feature the close combination of related photographic moments:

I can’t wait until my next Toronto wedding photojournalism assignment!

Classic styling

Feminine mystique

Soft vintage feel

Arresting vintage movie poster styling

and the dreamy overview

Front above – Inside below

Back below:

Book your portrait session with Neil and choose your card style:

• 8×5 full color double sided postcards
• 4×5.5″ Folded Greeting Cards
• 5×7″ Folded Delux Greeting Cards

With all of us:

What was this all for?  It was a charity party for charity:Water fundraising to put clean water where there isn’t any!

charity: water promo featuring “Time Bomb” by Beck from charity: water on Vimeo.

The whole event was put on by twitter users and I will attempt to list them here:

 

• @CLTNightlife
• @crystaldempsey
• @davidkyle
• @jakrose
• @jarodhillerman
• @jruckman
• @kateymarie
• @kateymarie
• @mtyndall
• @nathanrichie
• @richtucker
• @whitneyferrall

 #CLTwestival thanks to: Terribennett.com – our Guest Speaker check her out on twitter 

#CLTwestival thanks: Cruisedeals.com, Carolina Nightlife.com, CltBlog (who has some webcam video), NR Creative Group, Hippo Internet Marketing Consulting & Traininig,

- if you’re not listed here drop your URL in the comments -

I’m @neilcowley