http://evokenc.com/index.php/blog/details/ en april@culturepilot.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-08T21:50:19-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/newey_goodness/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/newey_goodness/#When:20:50:19Z {summary}Yep… it’s no joke. The economy is in the potty. It’s no fun. So, what to do??? Well, Evoke has created new packages. That’s right… newey goodness. There’s something for everyone now I think… from weddings to bridals to engagements to boudoirs… I have a boudoir package that’s $195 now!! That’s pretty awesome. And it might not last forever, but it will for 2010 at least. So, you should check me out. You just might like it. Seriously. 2010-03-08T20:50:19-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/just_a_little_reflecting.../ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/just_a_little_reflecting.../#When:14:35:38Z {summary}This morning my 4 year old Diego & my 2 year old Victor were sooo excited to find bunnies in one of our bathtubs… Maybe I should explain that a little. My father has lots of animals on his farm, including bunnies & a friend of mine is borrowing some bunnies for spring sessions that she is doing with children. So, last night I came into the house wondering where in the world to house 2 bunnies until I could get them to her today - the bathtub seemed to make sense. So, the boys were super excited to see the bunnies… which made me pull some of the old pictures I have of Diego as a baby with some bunnies. And it just makes me smile & remember why I am doing this. 7 years ago I started working at a photography studio in Raleigh, then when I got pregnant with Diego, I realized it was a good time to leave the studio… and I really didn’t want my own business. So, I just started little children shoots - one of my first shoots was called “Bunnies & Buttercups” - you LOVE that egg I made for the shoot, don’t you?! haha… I didn’t really love children sessions, but found out I loved photographing couples & chemistry. And a little thing I loved, got bigger & bigger and developed into this wonderful thing. And then it got busier & busier until I really had no idea how to manage the busy-ness/business. Anyways, now that I’m re-cooperating & reflecting & getting more educated on the business side of things, I’m remembering why this “evoke” thing even exists… I got so busy & overwhelmed last year, it made me more sad than happy. But I’m breathing again & have learned A LOT.  A LOT. A WHOLE LOT. I really care about this & I really care about my clients - but I got too busy to invest what I wanted to last year. So, thank you to everyone that hung in there with me! And I’m so happy to be doing this… and I’m excited again to re-focus on the love of it & keep it all in moderation so madness doesn’t strike my brain again! I’ve got some lovin’ to catch up on! 2010-03-05T14:35:38-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/mr_mrs_berg/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/mr_mrs_berg/#When:18:26:48Z {summary}June 12th, 2009 Melissa & Alan threw an INCREDIBLE soiree. I mean - INCREDIBLE. Every little detail was very well thought out & spectacular and her “people” were really just a complete riot to be around all day. I love people, but there’s a certain type of rowdy crowd that I can really connect with - and this crowd was right down my alley! I loved her colors, her other vendors (Keith with KA Studios for videography & Alyse Woodward as her coordinator & All the Right Grooves DJ), Brier Creek Country Club… I mean - she even died her crinoline hot pink!!! She’s amazing, Alan’s awesome & her wedding was just a beautiful representation of these two fine people! 2010-03-02T18:26:48-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/mr_mrs_sessoms/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/mr_mrs_sessoms/#When:00:08:52Z {summary}As promised, here is Brian & Eleana’s big day! These two really had everything planned out so gorgeously - they had a beautiful church ceremony & then a really awesome party at The Metropolitan room in Fayetteville. I love that place! So, since you know these two so well… on with the story! 2010-02-17T00:08:52-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/a_little_more_eleana1/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/a_little_more_eleana1/#When:19:58:50Z {summary}So, we’re moving right along & now into my first week of June!! hahaha..pitiful. Eleana is all over my website & you are about to see more of her! She’s in my engagement gallery on the website & she’s in my video… Now you get to see some of her bridal portraits before you see her amazing wedding! Eleana & her mom wanted some traditional portraits, which we did. BUT I was so super duper excited because she also wanted some less traditional shots & it was awesome going around Fayetteville on Hay Street - which is definitely one of my favorite spots now! So, first the traditional… 2010-02-03T19:58:50-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/may_09_boudoir/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/may_09_boudoir/#When:20:13:43Z {summary}So, then the day after Tara’s incredible bridal, I had the opportunity to photograph her & 3 other ladies during an all day boudoir marathon in Charlotte! It’s always wonderful - boudoirs are one of my favorite things to photograph. It’s a time I get to spend getting close to 4 new ladies, have fun with light, have fun with the elements & create something wonderful and empowering! And I get to spend the whole day with Elizabeth Tolley - the most incredible makeup artist on the planet in my humble opinion! Elizabeth blows me away time after time and she’s definitely a great source of entertainment on these 12 hour shoots! Since boudoirs are very private shoots, here are some not so revealing shots of my 4 lovely May ladies! 2010-01-26T20:13:43-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/taras_bridal/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/taras_bridal/#When:15:55:47Z {summary}So, I returned to Raleigh on a Thursday night from St Maarteen & then drove out to Charlotte bright & early Saturday morning to start a weekend of Charlotte fun! And it all started with Tara’s Bridal! She found this phenomenal place to do her session: The Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary  It is really an awesome place to be & they were incredibly nice to deal with! I would highly recommend checking this gorgeous place out if there’s a shoot you’d like to do in Charlotte! Tara was just so inspiring to be around - she is beautiful, nice & funny… and I don’t think she has any idea that she’s perfect! She even told me that she had to STOP working out so she wouldn’t look too muscular in her wedding dress!!! GAH!!! Girl got some good jeans didn’t she?!?! Tara wanted to get some classic shots - bordering traditional for her mom’s house. We didn’t go too crazy, but I am absolutely in love with how timeless these bridals are! 2010-01-23T15:55:47-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/st_maarteen_fun_times/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/st_maarteen_fun_times/#When:19:56:56Z {summary}Here began the insane insanity of 2009… I flew into Nashville, TN for Ashley & Brandon’s Wedding on a Friday, flew back to Raleigh on Sunday & worked straight through the night to fly out to St Maarteen on Monday morning… Shew. And the rest of the summer kept that pace. It was really nuts & I’m so happy 2010 doesn’t quite look like this! So, Tania Lezak contacted me about this time last year & asked if I could shoot a wedding with her in St Maarteen. I obviously said “YES”. We had such an incredible time & if there’s any other person out there that wants to fly me out to some exotic location to shoot a wedding - the answer is YES. Ha! We had a blast… I probably had tooooo much of a blast Thanks Tania for an awesome time in the islands!! So, onto just some fun shots… since I wasn’t the lead, it was cool getting shots that I normally don’t focus on. 2010-01-20T19:56:56-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/ashley_brandon_part_1/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/ashley_brandon_part_1/#When:21:33:10Z {summary}Back in 2008 I offered Free Wedding Photography & had all my blog stalkers vote for the winner… Well, now you FINALLY get to see the results.. If you haven’t somewhere on the web already! The winners were Ashley & Brandon and wow… they really are incredible people & I am so honored that I was able to capture their wedding day in Nashville, TN. If anything, I got WAYYYYYYY more out of it than they did. I’m not sure I can even articulate how special they are. Just the way Ashley approached her wedding blew my socks/heels off. There was not even ONE element of her wedding day that was insignificant. Ashley is VERY VERY talented & did the entire wedding herself - jewelry, programs, dress, bouquets, etc… She is so artsy & unique. It was one of the most beautiful & MOST memorable weddings I’ve ever been a part of and she did the whole wedding for $2,000. In fact, Ashley now helps create & coordinate weddings, and I think you should contact her for your wedding: http://www.oliveyoudeerly.blogspot.com/ AND before I get into it, a HUGE thank you to Ashley for pimping me out on several different & very recognized blogs! She’s been very kind & generous in submitting her wedding images to blogs for more exposure!! AND 1 more thing - there are lots of details in these next 3 posts because Ashley did create so many very personable touches for her wedding & I just think it’s so awesome and inspiring! 2010-01-15T21:33:10-05:00 http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/ashley_brandon_part_2/ http://evokenc.com/index.php/site/ashley_brandon_part_2/#When:21:30:37Z {summary}And we pick up where we left off… some wonderful barn business. 2010-01-15T21:30:37-05:00