Photo Blog

Stacy & Matt {Hillsborough Engagement Photographer}

February 25, 2010

0001 Last weekend I met Stacy and Matt at her parent’s beautiful home outside of Hillsborough. We had talked quite a bit about what a “winter” engagement session would look and feel like, but then it ended up being 60 degrees and sunny. If it weren’t for the leafless trees you would never know we did this session in the middle of winter! Between the gorgeous property I got to work with and how natural Stacy and Matt are with each other, it was a perfect session. I love how Stacy and Matt are really romantic and cuddly, but can then turn right around and crack each other up. Every serious photo from this session is followed by a silly one. I love it! I can’t wait for Stacy and Matt’s wedding at Rock of Ages Winery this May. I had a hard time choosing, but here are a few of my favs from our time together… 0003

LOVE this old barn…the color and texture is incredible…

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and it gave us some fabulous back-lighting…

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I told you they were sweet and cuddly…

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Stacy is so beautiful! I love this photo of her…

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Oh, winter light…how I love thee…

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I know I keep saying it, but how incredible is this property? Check out all the amazing backdrops we had for their formal shots. Fabulous old barn…

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beautiful back-lit tree line…

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gorgeous little pond…

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and then this unbelievable field…this place was a photographer’s dream!

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and how adorable are Stacy and Matt?

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Thanks again, Stacy and Matt for trekking all over with me. It was so much fun photographing you guys. Can’t wait for your big day in May!

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Sneak Peek…{Stacy & Matt E-Session}

February 22, 2010

Just a quick look at two images that caught my eye from my fabulous engagement session with Stacy and Matt this weekend…

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Check back later this week for more pics from our time together!

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Jacqueline and Adam {a Classic Album}

February 16, 2010

Jacqueline and Adam’s album arrived at the end of last week. I love this album so much I couldn’t send it off before grabbing a few photos to share. If you are debating about an album, I cannot encourage you enough to get one. They are beautiful and worth every penny. I custom design all of my albums myself and absolutely adore my album printing company. The color and quality is unbelievable every time. Jacqueline and Adam got a Classic Album, which is a 12×12 custom designed, leather-bound, flush-mount album…just gorgeous!

Here are the templates of some of my favorite pages from their album…love this first page!

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A Sweet Surprise…

February 14, 2010

John and I are not big about celebrating Valentine’s Day, but he brought home a little surprise for me…this adorable little box of chocolate truffles made by our friend Lena. John and I LOVE chocolate, so I can’t wait curl up on the couch for our “movie date” this afternoon (during Hayston’s nap) and break this little baby open. Such a sweet hubby…he just made my day!

YUM!

In honor of Valentine’s Day and the sweet gift John gave me, I’m offering a $25 print credit to anyone who contacts me in the next week to book a portrait session. Giving a loved one a portrait session is a really fun gift, so don’t miss this opportunity!

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!!

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SEEDS Ebay Auction {Durham Portrait Photography}

February 5, 2010

Give a Lashelle Chappell Photography Portrait Session as Valentines Day gift while supporting SEEDS

You can bid on a portrait session at the SEEDS Ebay Auction here
Now until February 8th
(some items will have an extended bidding period)

We’ve donated 2 portrait sessions including 1 1/2 – 2 hrs of shooting, an online gallery and CD of images
Sessions are valued at $300 a piece

We’re even going to extend our support by offering a 10% discount on a LCP Portrait Session
to anyone who purchases something from the auction and graciously donates to SEEDS.
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SEEDS is a local organization in Durham whose mission is to
“educate youth and adults through gardening and growing food while cultivating respect for life, for earth and for each other.”
They strive to fulfill this mission with the help of neighbors in the community and through programs at their Southside Garden and Market Garden located in Northeast Central Durham.
To find out more about SEEDS visit them at the Durham Farmer’s Market and check their website out here.

This is an awesome opportunity to spoil a special someone while supporting an awesome organization!

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Love That Boy…

February 2, 2010

This is a little belated, but in the midst of celebrating him, I didn’t have the time to blog but…Hayston turned 1 last week. So, I wanted to wish Hayston a HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!! It was a wonderful day, just the three of us spending some quiet time together, doing Hayston’s favorite things (like going to Foster’s and the science museum) and of course eating cupcakes!

Words can’t express how much I feel about that little guy and the fact that he is a part of, and has ultimately completed our family. I am so proud of the little boy he is now and the man I can see him becoming. I love being a mother and a parent side-by-side with John. It has been such an unbelievable year…not without many sleepless nights and tears of course…but full of so much joy and love as well.

So this is for my little guy…I know you can’t read this yet, but thank you, Hayston for coming into our lives and just being you. It is an honor to be your mother, to see you for who you really are, to be a part of your growth and get to watch first-hand as you become an amazing person of your own.

I love you so much, baby boy!

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LOVE THAT BOY
Walter Dean Myers

Love that boy,
like a rabbit loves to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
“Hey there, son!”

He walk like his Grandpa,
Grins like his Uncle Ben.
I said he walk like his Grandpa,
And grins like his Uncle Ben.
Grins when he’s happy,
When he sad, he grins again.

His mama like to hold him,
Like to feed him cherry pie.
I said his mama like to hold him.
Like to feed him that cherry pie.
She can have him now,
I’ll get him by and by

He got long roads to walk down
Before the setting sun.
I said he got a long, long road to walk down
Before the setting sun.
He’ll be a long stride walker,
And a good man before he done.

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Snowy Morning…

January 31, 2010

Yesterday we got about 5 inches of snow here in Durham, NC. This is a very rare thing for us and something that literally shuts down the city. John and I’s street has yet to be plowed, so we are happily snuggled up in our snow kissed house this morning enjoying how beauitful everything looks when covered in fluffy white snow. We are currently drinking our morning coffee and enjoying a piece of Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Crystallized Ginger that I made yesterday. We are going to let Hayston enjoy his first snow a little later this afternoon, but until then we are going to stay warm and enjoy some yummy food. Love a good snow day!!

YUM!!

Here is the recipe for the Banana Bread if you are interested…I made a few little changes but I highly recommend it…

Banana Bread with Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger
Makes 1 loaf or 1 8-inch round cake

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger (I didn’t have that much ginger so I only used about 1/4 c but still got plenty of flavor)
2 large eggs
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup well-stirred whole-milk plain yogurt (not low or nonfat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
(I also added about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, an extra 1/4 teaspoon of powdered ginger and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to give it a warmer flavor)

Directions:
1. Set a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350F. Grease a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan or an 8-inch round cake pan with cooking spray or butter.

2. Melt the butter on the stove or in a microwave and set aside to cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips and crystallized ginger and whisk well to combine. Set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs with a fork. Add the mashed banana, yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla and stir to mix well. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir gently with a rubber spatula, scraping down the sides as needed, until just combined. Do not overmix. The batter with be thick and somewhat lumpy, just make sure all the flour has been incorporated. Scrape the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the top.

5. Bake into the loaf is a deep shade of golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 mins to an hour. If the loaf seems to be browning too quickly, tent with foil. (Don’t be afraid of the browning, it makes an awesome crust with a little bit of a crunch…I love it!)

6. Cool the loaf in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then tip out onto the rack, and let it cool completely before slicing. The loaf freezes well wrapped in plastic wrap and again in foil to protect from freezer burn.

ENJOY!!!

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The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2010

January 9, 2010

As many photographers know, this time of year is busy, but not usually because of shoots. The winter months are when we work on all of our small business-”behind the scenes”-admin stuff. It isn’t the fun and showy stuff of the business, but it has to get done. I’ve been working to finish up my season and year doing a lot of stuff that isn’t very blog worthy. But, I do have something I haven’t had time to blog about that I’ve been really excited to share…

I am so excited to announce that I was voted one of the Knot’s top 25 NC photographers and will be featured in their Best of Weddings 2010. It is an honor that I am absolutely thrilled about. What really sent me over the top about this is that it is completely based on client post-wedding-day reviews. I really believe that there are many great photographers in NC and especially in the Triangle, but the thing that sets me apart is the experience I give my clients during our time working together. It is so exciting to know that my clients agree. I love photography, but for me it is all about the people I get to work with and the fact that I am celebrating along side them and capturing memories for them that will last a lifetime. That is the real reason I love what I do. It is a privilege and honor to be a part of such important moments in people’s lives. So, thanks again to all my clients for your sweet words and giving me this amazing gift. So, in honor of my amazing wedding clients, here are a few of my “best of 2009″ wedding images…

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best of getting ready moments…

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best of ceremony moments…

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best of portrait moments…

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best of reception moments…

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A very special thanks to all of my amazing 2009 clients who made this season such a wonderful one! I had such a great time at all of my weddings and shoots this year. In the midst of the transition into becoming a new mom, it was such a joy to share life with all of you.

Thank you, thank you! I absolutely adore every one of you.

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Happy Day!

December 21, 2009

Yesterday was such a happy day. It was John and I’s 6 year wedding anniversary, so our good friends came over to babysit and we headed out for an afternoon by ourselves. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed about our anniversary being right in the middle of the holidays, but have really come to enjoy having a reason to stop and make the time to connect with John in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this time of year. We had such a great time together. First, we headed to Piedmont in downtown Durham for an AMAZING brunch. If you have never been there, you must check this awesome little place out. 0001 we indulged in brioche french toast with roasted apples…

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and poached eggs with spinach and tomato hollandaise…YUM!

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Piedmont even had some really fun live music… 0004

then we headed north of the city for a beautiful snow-covered-rolling-hills drive out to Rock of Ages Winery for a little wine tasting…

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our footprints in the snow…

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John’s documenting of the fact that I was wearing a cute skirt (I told him to keep this picture during the other 90% of the year when he just sees me wearing my pjs, workout clothes or if I’m feeling fancy…my jeans…as a reminder that I can dress up)

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on to wine tasting…

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love that guy…

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our attempts at looking like we know what we are doing…(no connoisseurs here, but at least we are enjoying ourselves!)

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love the color of this wine…

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to 6 amazing years together, cheers!

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a few more from our wanderings outside the winery…

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love the winter vines…

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and a couple “self portraits”

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I love you, John. Thank you for such an amazing day and for building such an amazing life with me. I am overwhelmed by all that we have walked through together over these years and the joy and strength that we have gained through it all. I just adore the husband, father and best friend that you are to Hayston and I. There are no words to express how grateful I am for you and our marriage.

It just keeps getting better and better.

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10 1/2 months and counting…

December 14, 2009

0001 I can’t believe that Hayston is only a month and a half from turning 1! In some ways this year has flown by, but in other ways I can’t remember a time without him in our lives. I aspired to take portraits of him every 3 months his first year, but month 9 somehow slipped away from me, so we settled for month 10. While we were at John’s parent’s house over Thanksgiving, I was able to do a little 10 minute session of him. I love him in his fall sweaters and hat! He is crawling, cruising and trying to walk now. He has such a little personality and is really discovering his independence (although that has also come with the very scary realization that momma can leave him). The more he becomes his own little person, the more fun I have just spending time with him. He is definitely my little buddy. So here are a few recent pictures of our little man…