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!

Liesl 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

I have some of the coolest clients in the world:

Tom and Tracy, searched me out for unique style that would help define their relationship.

Tom was headed to Iraq

I went to the Charlotte Wedding & Event Professionals meetup yesterday and had a blast meeting people!

Here’s a quick laundry list…

Did you know Charlotte has a Charicature artist? yep - Joel Kweskin

• The gals from BLUSH - were styling it in black, making me feel at home (like NY)
• Debbie Dos Santos and I traded funky travel stories, she does custom travel I hope she’ll tell her story for ya’ll
• People were raving about Elizabeth’s cakes and what a cute brand Elizabethan Delights - and she calls herself a food artist - what a bonus!
• Diana Collins - Celebrant and Interfaith Minister sat next to me at lunch
• On my left was Samantha Neal a culinary school graduate managing the Rolling Hills Country Club - (that means she been taught how to plate a dining room when the food is hot, train the servers to serve, and is a stickler for detail=you’ll be treated great)
• Lauren S Ansley got a packet of my postcards for her unique reception venues like the Anne Springs Close Greenway Dairy Barn
• Natasha Watson-Bellamy was the second smiling face to say hi to me, she coordinates events
• and Melvin Wilkes was the first to say hi to me, probably cause he was the only other guy there - I look forward to one of his mixed drinks as he’s a freelance bartender for your backyard event.
• Patricia Minter a Realator for Keller Williams couldn’t believe my photos were real, so here’s the rest of the story Patricia<–click
• Finally we come to our planner Laura Massie who’s slogan is “I Do Done Right” welcoming and introducing the host…

• And for the grand finale, Aliya Constant - Event Manger for the Hilton Garden in by the Carolina Place Mall in Pineville.

Sexy - Private - Stylish

Charlotte NC Boudoir Photographer 

If you are looking for a discreet photographer to take some beautiful alluring gift portraits please contact me for more information!

-Liesl Cowley

I was thrilled when Liesl announced she had tickets for Friday’s performace.

The kids were filled with dread.

Eben had such a foul attitude leaving his friends playing on the street that I had to discipline him for what he was saying.

“Art show, music - WHY do we HAVE to go” they whined, feeding on each other’s negativity.

We got them dressed and out of the house, and went for a look through the Gallery Crawl in the North Davidson (NoDa) area of Charlotte which is loosely the ‘arts district’.  We made it to the corner of 36th and Davidson to start our crawl at the Boulevard at NODA where Liesl and Tia enjoyed browsing all the jewelry and gifts.  Eben and I wandered and waited for the Lark & Key to open their doors for the evening.  We really enjoyed the quality of work shown at the Lark & Key, here’s their info so you can stop by:

453-B East 36th Street | 704.379.1826 | Sandy Snead
www.larkandkey.com | www.larkandkey.wordpress.com

There seemed to be two loosly organized shows on the walls at the Lark, Eben & Tia gave their consideration to the emotional work by Duy Huynh:

The contrast on that reproduction is a little higher than my memory, but the work is very contemplative even if it’s a little lonely or isolated.  The generously activated surfaces speak well of their studied application of color and development of form.  I enjoyed the unstated narrative of the pieces that quietly spoke of a sly, thoughtful wit.  You can see more of his work on his own website.  Eben & Tia appreciated the snacks which lifted their mood at the Lark (big thanks from the parents to the gallery!).

We then sauntered next door to visit the Green Rice Gallery opening of ”NOSTALGIA” Featuring New Works by Kate Vasseur.  I was looking forward to looking through as I was considering renting gallery space from them.  The opening was quiet, but we didn’t get a greeting which we felt was odd.  I enjoyed her treatments of a couple landscapes, but didn’t find a theme or strong vein to hold onto. 

Time’s up so we scooted back downtown to park in the Hearst Tower, and the kids began to get excited.

Upon walking out into the downtown streets among the skyscrapers, Eben’s face lit up with a giant grin.

Eben and Tia were captured by the excitement of being in the big city and entering the glass doors of the Bloomenthal Performing Arts Center.  We picked up our tickets from the will call booth and made our way down to our front row seats.  The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s simple directions to the theater were easy to follow even on my second time to downtown Charlotte.  Eben and Tia were caught up in the late night exploration of the glass atrium and didn’t mind being early while Liesl and I people watched and joked with one eye on the kids snapping some pictures….