Here’s a good look at Kelly and Tom’s 70 page Make Love Real album design:

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.

Rolf and Sam took me up on my neighborhood portrait package

Waxhaw Weddington family and couples portrait photographer North Carolina

My wife has been slowly putting our home back together after we moved.

She’s got a great sense of style and its fun watching her put it all together.  The kids were so excited to give her the Geode from one of their trips over Christmas break and she knew right were it would fit.

My wife just scheduled a time with a busy mom to help her decide which portraits and what type of frames would be best to build their family portrait wall.  So if you get stuck in presenting your photographs, look at some of these ideas – or call My wife at 585.354.2642 to go over your style and decoration needs.  My wife is available for appointments all across the Mecklenburg area including Charlotte, Lake Wylie, Lake Norman, and Fort Mill.

I love your style My wife ~

Heather and Drew had me shoot their engagement photo session at their Lake Norman shoreline home.

You can see the golden sparkles from the fall sun bursting around the couple’s clasp hands in the cover photo on their custom designed greeting card.  Heather ordered that picture on metallic paper as a 16×24 enlargement for her walls, I can’t wait to see where that art will live!

Heather and Drew didn’t want a lot of space inside for writing, but wanted to allow the photos to convey much of the message.  

On the back, Heather wasn’t sure what to do to complete the design, so here’s our e-mail convo:

“How about 102 – 109 for the back cover. I know it needs to be portrait but we don’t want another picture of us on the back. Leaves are pretty..”

“Oh yes Heather I hear you – you want a tone poem to fall, expressing the hidden energy between blue skies and falling leaves – yea I got it.”

And then after she got the cards out, here is her response:

“Hey Neil -
Everyone loves the xmas cards. I’ve gotten notes from most of the people we sent them too. Also, the humane society that we adopted Otis from loves them and wanted your info.
Not too mention how much we love them! You’re so talented!

My wife helped me pick out sizes for some of our pics, we took advantage of the sale!

Have a Great Holiday!
Heather”

We’re so satisfied when we give voice in our photos and design to people’s lives and bring joy to all those around them

You saw their engagement story

Here’s their signature journal.  40 pages for their guests to sign and enjoy.

… Read more

My wife and I are proud to present…

Who is Make Love Real? from Neil Cowley on Vimeo.

…the first section of four short films about our business.  We’re totally excited to share these with you over the next couple months as we book new weddings, meet new people and get used to our new home in Charlotte – anyone in the world can meet with us through our site.  A BIG thanks to Andrew Marzano the producer of our series.

I have to dedicate this first video to My wife, the love of my life – who’s inspired me to such great heights of experience, and such great depths of understanding.

With this post, I’m initiating a new category in the site called ‘Love Note’ where anyone can send in a love note that will be published as a public proclimation for the 5-10,000 people who visit this site every month.  We’re open to any kind of media, and will help you host and present it.  I hope to see us develop this into a little bit of a friendly competion – since my love note to My wife started with a big production budget – I’m winning!

But like the old horse says, “when you are real, you can’t be ugly” – so don’t be intimidated, start sending it in!!

Here’s Tom and Kelly’s signature journal with their personal style showing through in it’s natural and comfortable design.

Organic Granola save the date card photos by Neil on this snowy outdoor shoot…

… Read more

Here’s a look at Courtney & Charlie’s organic trail running engagement shoot and wedding guest book.

See the whole layout and after the jump, or purchase your engagement session through this link… … Read more

Well, today we’ll get through the opening of the reception with Cameron and Britta.

Cameron and Britta danced a Rumba step to Micheal Buble’s ‘Save the Last Dance for Me” which was a sparkling treat for the guests. My complements to their dance instructor who picked a perfect step to characterize these two playful souls. This should communicate it for you:

What a ham, that Cameron – just wait till you see him dance to get his Treo back! But then it’s time for Britta and her father to dance.

Britta and her dad had some moves as well as elegance.

After the dancing, Mr. Johnson started off the toasts to the couple.

And then Stockton and Brendan give a very humours toast, to….well…everything from Oedipus to their darling mother.

Who looks as though she couldn’t be prouder. But the main thrust of Stockton and Brendan, was that Cameron had chosen to marry someone surprisingly similar to his mother. And so I have to swerve away from these very nice pictures to counterpoint the jest – remember for a moment with me, Cameron preparing:

Exhibit A

Now, exhibit B in the prosecution’s case:

Need I go on? Cause I could…..

But I wouldn’t want to bring you to tears once again.

Besty holds back the emotion during her toast.

Cutting the cake to finish the reception and go outside for some sunset portraits.

The rest of the photos should be available tomorrow at Make Love Real.com if you want to subscribe to be notified when the party pictures are posted and the rest of the photos are ready, submit your e-mail address. And stay tuned for some wild party pics!