Blog

Approaching an End

2012-02-20T18:46:20Z

Shew it’s been awhile!!! And now this post is something that is so wonderful but it is a little sad…. Evoke is closing down. I will no longer be accepting new jobs. I’ve been photographing weddings now for 9 years and out of these 9 years, my typical work week has been around 60 or more hours a week. I work from home - with my two children. If you have children or are ever around a child, you can imagine that this task has been beyond frustrating for both me and my family. I’ve really wanted to make the business work, but I’m not a business woman - I’m a photographer and I’ve worked myself silly. It’s very draining on my family for me to constantly be behind the computer & then when I’m not there, to be away behind the camera. I’ve had to make a tough decision but I am making a career change that will compliment my family life.

I am back in school now while I close down the business with hopes to begin Dental Hygiene in the fall of 2013. I’m hoping this will bring some normalcy to my family schedule and provide me the income my family needs without sacrificing time with them. I will still be photographing some weddings over the next couple of years through two photographer friends in Raleigh, so I will still be around with my camera - but the business will no longer be around.

I’ve had the most amazing clients I could have ever asked for & I have sincerely loved getting to know and be a part of the amazing Evoke brides and grooms. Thank you for your love & support! I couldn’t have asked for a better clientele!

If you’re in Raleigh, you might see me around now - hanging out with my family & abandoning a life by the computer! Hip hip hooorayyy for a new beginning & a fond fair well to what was!

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Mr & Mrs Blanks

2011-03-28T18:51:09Z

A couple of weeks ago on March 5th, April & Paul tied the knot & it was so very beautiful. April had so many details & thoughtful items - it was a photographer’s delight! I should have a post just on all of her many details!

We started off at April’s house where her & her ladies were getting ready. I found “I Do” sticker on the bottom of her shoes, a precious little nest for the rings, awesome champagne glasses & all kinds of cutsies! Elizabeth Tolley did the hair & makeup and knocked it out of the park!

Then we headed to All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh, which I LOVE & Gregg with Brides and Bouquets did the incredible flowers & design. My second photographer for the day was one of my best buddies Beth Jarvah! She is so wonderful. Barbara Lodge was the officiant & did a great job as always! AND the musicians were just perfect in the chapel - Arioso Strings. It was a day full of great people to work with!

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Bunnies in the Park!

2011-03-19T19:28:28Z

So I grew up on a farm & my father has lots of cute little bunnies on the farm…. and I thought, why not take some pictures of kids with bunnies?! So, I did! And I really liked it!

So, if you have a child then you know they like bunnies… and you know you should get a picture of them with some bunnies… and you know I should do it!

Since it’s sort of a spur of the moment sort of thing, I am offering Simple Spring Sessions - it’s just 30 minutes at the park (or either in my back yard depending on the day) with 3 bunnies. And it’s pretty dog on affordable & I need to return the bunnies in the next couple of weeks! So, email me for more info: april@evokenc.com

Look how insanely cute these 3 families of children turned out this past week!

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Jackie & Kirk… sitting in a tree

2011-03-07T16:40:57Z

A couple of weeks ago I met Jackie & Kirk for the first time and it was an immediate click. I had met with Jackie’s mother & father, who I was crazy about, so I knew I would have fun with Jackie! We started off their engagement session with a photo freak fest - which really got rid of all camera intimidation… I’m beginning to wonder if this is how I should begin all of my engagement sessions! haha! I was wondering if they would be able to let the goose loose in their first 10 minutes of meeting me, but it was absolutely no problem with them! So, of course I’m crazy about these two too now!

Jackie & Kirk came from Boston for their session & we had some fun stuff to describe their personalities & relationship. They are both teachers & are very passionate about urban education. So, being they are in Boston (lots of biking) & are so passionate about being teachers (lots of apples), we had some fun!

Let the photo freak fest begin…

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April & Paul tie the knot TODAY!

2011-03-05T14:46:55Z

Back in October I headed over to April & Paul’s house to photograph their engagement session… and in a little while, I’ll be headed over there to begin photographing their wedding day! It’s so wild how fast that time has come & gone! So, I thought it would be appropriate to share a little bit of their story today!

April & Paul are so calm & comfy with each other and it only seemed right to begin their session at their home. This is their first home together & they have done so much work on it - it’s their labor of love and it is beautiful. From someone who does nothing in the yard ever, it was great seeing how these two made landscaping their project! So… we being with a little hanging out around the house!

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Sarah & Matthew

2011-02-28T00:09:08Z

Last weekend I photographed Sarah & Matthew’s engagement session and it was a BEAUTIFUL day for doing it! This NC weather has been incredible lately! Sarah & Matthew have been living hours apart due to jobs for a very long time and we went into their session just to capture the simplicity of them. They love each other so much & it shows so very much. It was really great spending an afternoon with them - it was sort of like an up close stalker fest for me! It was great! It’s really hard to be natural with a camera in your face, but Sarah & Matthew had absolutely NO problem with it. I really enjoyed witnessing the chemistry that these two share & I think you will too

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Angel & her sweet family

2011-02-21T01:47:28Z

Last year I started helping out with the Awana cubbies on Wednesday nights at my church - Crossroads in North Raleigh. Honestly, I started helping out to give me something to do with my kids while my husband went to school… but it’s become a really precious thing to me. I really love the kids. Over the next couple of years I would love to adopt a child since I can’t have any more & these kids have been my children for the time being. This is also where I met Angel - she loves those kids as much as anyone! Before every night begins, we circle around each other & we always pray for Angel because she has cancer.

Recently Angel has been undergoing chemotherapy & she has been such a Champion. She has a fancy new wig & her energy is incredible. The church asked for people to bring her meals, but I’m no cook… I do take pictures though. So, sweet Angel let me come to her home & we ran around with her two precious children. We captured some sweet moments and I’m so thankful…

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K-V-A!

2011-02-18T20:54:29Z

This past Saturday I did something I’ve never done before - Sports Photography! My niece is on the Cheerleading squad at Kerr Vance Academy & my sister asked if I would consider photographing the big cheerleading competition there… so without hesitation I went! I spent all but 2 years from Kindergarten-High School Senior there, so it was nice to re-visit. And it was even nicer to see my niece in action!

So for fun.. here are some of the shots I captured

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July 2010 Sneak Peek!

2011-02-04T15:34:57Z

I wish I could show more… but I can’t! You just get to see a little sliver of the Seven Boudoir goodness that happened last July! I had 2 big sessions there last year & I plan on doing the same this year. My spring session is already booked up, but I am planning on having another one in the fall 2011… so let this snippet of these 4 sexy ladies entice you & email me if you’d like to get some boudoir info - april@evokenc.com

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Chelsea

2011-02-01T21:20:18Z

Once I got back from Mexico, I got straight to work & one of the first things I did was a boudoir session at Seven… I might see if I can find a little peek to show, but as much as I love photographing boudoirs, it’s a very private session so I can’t share them most of the time. BUT I can show you this Senior Portrait Session that I did after the week after I photographed those boudoirs!

So, here are a couple from Chelsea’s senior portrait session. She is a very focused, level headed lady & as caffeinated as I may be, it’s nice to be able to get calm & quiet subjects! She is a beauty!!

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Danielle & Rob - The Beginning

2011-01-21T15:04:17Z

Danielle & Rob are very full of life and their life it very full of PARTYING!!!

But first - the fierceness as promised

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Parte Dos

2011-01-18T16:22:41Z

Are you blown away yet?! 2 Blog posts in the same month??? Well be amazed my friends!

So, here’s Part 2 or as I like to call it Parte Dos of my July 4th Mexico wedding! Danielle & Rob are so full of life & love and I think it’s only right to have an entire blog post about their ceremony. They were so comfortable during their ceremony, it made it easy for all of us to be sucked into their emotions. It really was beautiful to laugh with them & cry with them. They have a big story and everyone there was absorbing it. I hope it comes across in their photos…

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Will Work for a Vacation

2011-01-14T20:54:27Z

I know. I’m sorry. I’m blogging about my July 4th weekend… from 2010. haha! I am so sorry! My fall went nuts & I have had a blast this winter with my boys!!! So… I’m going to start the year off right… again!

So, yes - I do LOVE photographing weddings when it works out to also be a vacation. I have been known to give deals just so I can incorporate some family fun into a wedding weekend - just like Danielle & Rob’s wedding in Mexico! I photographed their engagement session back in 2009 (you can see them in my engagement gallery!) & I was hoping and praying I could be a part of their Mexico celebration.. and not only did I, but my husband came along as my second photographer! He was WONDERFUL & we had an incredible incredible time! In. Credible.

It will hit you immediately that Danielle & Rob are both very beautiful people, but I really treasure them as people. They were a complete riot & I admire them so very much.

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Not 1 but 2 Newborns

2010-08-08T21:15:17Z

Oh yeah.. not only did I take on a baby.. I took on twins! My friend is now blessed with these sweet bundles & asked if I would take on this “project”.. and since I’ve been open to new things lately, I thought I would just try it out. Turns out I LOVE photographing babies!! I’m not sure if I’m ready to take them on over a year old & I’m definitely not sure about family sessionsl.. but this baby thing was awesome! So, Evoke is definitely now open to maternity & newborn sessions!

I was terribly nervous about photographing twins, but we took them outside in the heat and they pretty much let us do anything we wanted! They were DREAM babies and were so sweet with each other.. Enough talking about it! Check it out!

Also - If you want to see more, check out their slideshow: Jack & Elizabeth

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Baby Bumps & Such

2010-08-05T01:09:14Z

So.. one of my best clients ever, Aeriel, talked me into doing a maternity session for her, which she labeled a “relationship” session so it wouldn’t freak me out! She is so wonderful.. but when she first asked me to photograph her baby bump I wanted to say no.. but since I’ve photographed 2 boudoirs & a day after session for her, I’ve really come to like her a lot! So, I very very anxiously agreed to it. And I am so glad I did! I knew she would want something different & not so “maternity” & we had such a GREAT time! I really enjoyed it & I’m 100% sure I want to start adding maternity sessions into my portfolio - just as long as I get to do some stuff that’s not so standard… which is what we spent about 4 hours doing!

I asked Aeriel about her pregnancy & we tried to find ways to incorporate her baby items and pregnancy quirks. There are some really cute things, but you’ll see almost at the end, a potato on her shirt. Her & her hubby have been calling this baby “Super Spud” since they found out about her. They weren’t sure if she was a she or a he, so they started nicknaming the baby “Spud”. Then I think she started kicking so hard & moving so much, they upgraded the name to “Super Spud”. And even once they had a name for their little girl, they still called her “Super Spud”. So… you know I had to throw her in a Clark Kent suit & a red telephone booth! It HAD to happen!

Anyways… enjoy my first professional maternity session! Feel free to comment how you do or do not like it because this is definitely an area of photography I am interested in getting into more!

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