Amy & Damian | Elopement near Boone | Wedding Photography / November 5, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

I did already share a couple images.. and given a full hour with Damian and Amy before their ceremony, I may be over-sharing favorites of their two hours with me at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock.

from the first look.. Amy said she liked this idea as a way to physically start and say “I’m ready to do this”. I thought that was a unique symbolism in the moment and a good start to our portrait session.

I met Amy and Damian at a wine bar in Apex called Peak of the Vine, and got to know them a bit before they needed a photographer. Still, you don’t really know anyone until you see them at their most vulnerable. Before this I just knew they were an attractive couple with four kids between them. Now I know the way Damian is tender and protective toward Amy, the way she lights up for him, and that the kids all seem to love one another already. It was a fine line between laughing and crying for all six.

there were, truly, two swans there. did you know swans spend a lot of time with their heads under water? I didn’t either.

this is about where the crying began for Amy…

I dig all the different facial expressions. Kids are awesome.

me pausing to look goofy.. on purpose. of course. I like how the family is also being kind of silly. :)

Cake | NC Photography / October 30, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

I did a lightly Alice in Wonderland themed wedding recently and haven’t had time to blog it properly but as I hit out on one of the last weddings I have for 2018 (I think there are 4 more, still a couple dates for last minute weddings… call me!) I couldn’t wait any longer to share this cake.

Almost entirely edible… The inside was raspberry torte.. the outside amaretto buttercream. Clearly a LOT of fondant, and I tried that too. I’m not too proud. xo Thanks to Wendy’s Custom Cakes in Chesnee, SC for this beautiful creation. More to come!

Mini-Sessions | Raleigh Family Photography / October 23, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

This weekend was phenomenal. I had three photo events (and no, that’s not typical for me, and yes, I’m still alive). Each turned out beautiful and fulfilling and I’m so happy.. even the weather was perfect.

On Sunday I did 8 mini-sessions for families from Primrose Preschool of Apex. The school and I are contributing 20% of sales and session fees to Make-A-Wish! The State Fair and a wedding at the Arboretum did make parking a mess but I still got great shots for each family at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Absolutely love the lighting there, as well as how much area there is to work in!

One more all-spaces-full mini-session day scheduled for this event with the school coming up— we have had a couple more requests for more slots so please email if you are interested; I can add another day with 3 more families interested. Thank you to all the families that participated!

An Indian Wedding | Durham Convention Center / October 16, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

My fav.. that look you give your husband sometimes.

Several weeks ago I was hired to shoot with another photographer (his second, in the biz) at the Durham Convention Center. I’ve only photographed two other Indian weddings, and this one was much larger than either of those. It was a two day event, so I have omitted a lot and limited to mostly the second day. The first day was lots and lots of dancing by various family members, all choreographed!

I will not bore you with my thoughts or understanding about the culture, although I love it and would LOVE to tell you what I ignorantly (no doubt) think I know about each part of the day. Suffice it to say it often looks like people are having fun, interacting, playacting, playing, and feeling. YES!

So all the images below are click-expand. I know it’s a lot of images but these events are so colorful and beautiful and involved.. I cut out all the crowd shots, and I feel that’s a big part of it. What a great group! Thanks to Manjil at Pixel6Studios for having me along.

Patricia | Fine Art Model / October 12, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

I would not say it was the ideal shoot. Between traffic, mosquitos, and losing a pocket wizard in the tall grass at the beginning… well, the millions of mosquitos that landed on us never bit either of us, apparently, but still.. that’s a mood killer.

Patricia is completely gorgeous. You wouldn’t know that mosquitos just seriously could not stay away..

Working on my own projects is much more difficult, honestly, than working a wedding or family session. Or maybe it’s just new.. but the ideas were all in my head and every model I’ve spoken with wants to know what I want. Finding a way to convey that but also still feel creative freedom has been tough. Patricia wanted to know.. but she let go and let me do my thing regardless of whether I was able to convey it well to her or not.

Patricia is also an artist, and if I was to commission a painting, I’d go to her. I actually.. well, I have brought it up. Her abstracts are really lovely, soft blends of color and line.

Most of what I do in camera mood making— either with my camera or lighting. Because I lost my pocket wizard, I threw out the idea of using extras lights and pushed forward fast. I think we spent about a quarter of the time I normally would, because of those crazy mosquitos. Oh, disclosure, the first image lightly combines another ghostly image I shot of her.

Danielle & Ben | Lake Gaston Wedding Photojournalist / September 20, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

The storm of the century turned out to be FOR US NEAR RALEIGH hardly a thing. A friend of mine said she wouldn’t have known it was a hurricane if not for The Weather Channel. Well said, Summer!

We are very lucky and I hope everyone fared well.

I would get married again for this ring. THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RING I have ever seen. They had to tell me how to stack it because I have never been able to do puzzles of any kind (ha!) but for all seriousness, the fact that it was custom made a… — I would get married again for this ring. THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RING I have ever seen. They had to tell me how to stack it because I have never been able to do puzzles of any kind (ha!) but for all seriousness, the fact that it was custom made and seems Art Deco style to me needs not be said. I love this ring.

So, just a week before the storm we had similar rain at Danielle and Ben’s wedding on Lake Gaston. Oh man, it’s a good thing they didn’t listen to me. When I heard they were moving to plan b, I was like, oh no! The pretty spot they’d set up by the l… — So, just a week before the storm we had similar rain at Danielle and Ben’s wedding on Lake Gaston. Oh man, it’s a good thing they didn’t listen to me. When I heard they were moving to plan b, I was like, oh no! The pretty spot they’d set up by the lake for the ceremony and not yet a drop? Who cares if there’s thunder?! We can just run for cover if it starts to rain. The groom politely declined my advice, and his dad said we should probably get some pictures of the site anyway, all a great way to let me experience shooting that site AS IT STARTED to DOWNPOUR on my head. Yes, so I got my wish and I got to run for cover from the rain to Plan B site. When I got there, guests had taken shelter, for the most part, under a variety of umbrellas and tents (and sometimes both) and I found out that my plan of putting an umbrella in my top was not, in fact, better than those little baggies they make to protect cameras from rain and did not actually work. I’d have been better off wearing an umbrella hat.

When I got there they’d taken shelter, for the most part, under a variety of umbrellas and tents (and sometimes both) and I found out that my plan A of putting an umbrella in my top was not, in fact, better than those little baggies they make to pro… — When I got there they’d taken shelter, for the most part, under a variety of umbrellas and tents (and sometimes both) and I found out that my plan A of putting an umbrella in my top was not, in fact, better than those little baggies they make to protect cameras from rain. Plan B of someone shadowing me with a camera likewise didn’t work out. Turns out I need to practice holding an umbrella with one elbow, camera in other. I even managed to switch out lenses, eventually. Pretty not-bad.

Fun family wedding photography. I adore them.

I like this, although it’s not my usual style. It’s awfully posey-posey. I try to give a variety to the couple, and if I had to guess this won’t be their favorite but someone in their family will love it.

My favorite thing to do at a wedding is “find” moments like the last few. No one needs to pose, people are being themselves, there’s something poetic about it. I’m grateful when I’m given time to do my thing and get these images.

I love the laughing! I think I thought Canoe’s were more like in Lord of the Rings and you could lie down easier. There are two more from this portion of our day in the post below… Sorry I made you work so hard on your wedding day, Ben and Danielle!… — I love the laughing! I think I thought Canoe’s were more like in Lord of the Rings and you could lie down easier. There are two more from this portion of our day in the post below… Sorry I made you work so hard on your wedding day, Ben and Danielle! And special thanks to the family that helped us maneuver the canoe. This is a canoe right? (hah, jk…)

Posting this for the dog that looks very Eeyore like in this photo. Too funny!

When adults just can’t hear the real beat.

I admit.. this photo would have been impossible to take, so I made it. I don't often wish I’d worked with someone else but this time I did— there was a lot going on, a beautiful couple, sparklers, boats, fireworks, dogs, kids, tents, rain. A pig roa… — I admit.. this photo would have been impossible to take, so I made it. I don't often wish I’d worked with someone else but this time I did— there was a lot going on, a beautiful couple, sparklers, boats, fireworks, dogs, kids, tents, rain. A pig roast… .

There were so many moments that didn’t happen, like the dog jumping in while we photographed at the lake, and those that did, like your sis being concerned you’d topple in the lake yourself, and I missed her expression while posing you in the boat! There are a million ways a wedding can go, and I think yours was beautiful and perfect.

Thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer! I should have your gallery ready early next week! xoxo ~L.

And last but not my least, my own favorite image.

Oh! Huge shout out to Exquisite Events who did all décor, florals and catering! Beautiful job ya’ll (plus they were really sweet and got me a salad! yay!)

Danielle and Ben | Teaser Image | Lake Gaston Photography / September 12, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

So… not that I’m worried, but with the approaching storm I haven’t had much time to get a blog post ready. I had so much fun at their wedding last weekend on Lake Gaston.. more on that later. But as you can see, the bride and groom were totally cool with getting in a canoe for me.. even though a lot of people were worried they’d tip… Danielle and Ben just said yes, let’s put a towel down and do it.

Bonus image.. this is what happened when I suggested Ben do something with his hand. He waved! I like to see what couples do naturally before I tell them what to do, but this was funny and I like it. :)

More soon.. hopefully next week, because what else will I have to do when the storm hits but edit your wedding pics?! <3

Kat and Jason | The Cotton Room, Durham, NC / September 5, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

I feel like the celebration of Kat and Jason's marriage at the Cotton Room in Durham was a great success.. I had so much fun working with them, their families and friends. The Cotton Room is a cool venue, if you've never been.

American Tobacco Campus Wedding Portrait

We also went to the American Tobacco Campus via a shuttle rented to haul all the bridal party (and me, too!). I realized this was one of those instances that I could have used an assistant or second shooter to message and have them instruct the couple and bridal party because they seriously couldn't hear me well over the falls. BUT, we must have had a connection because it all worked out via motioning and shouting direction, and general common sense (not always mine).

I liked the part where Kat tried to cut the fondant luggage on top of the cake.. those will not slice really nicely folks. Fondant doesn't usually taste great, anyway. Stick with the cake! And the dancing was superb.

Anyway, I only wish I could do it again and again. <3 kisses to all.