Tara Parker Photography | NC Wedding Photography | Holly Springs NC Photography | Raleigh NC Photographer | Cary NC Photographer | Fuquay-Varina NC Photography | Children's, Newborn, Family, Engagement, Maternity and Wedding Photography http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:09:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Katie + Chris | Raleigh, NC Engagement Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/23/katie-chris-raleigh-nc-engagement-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/23/katie-chris-raleigh-nc-engagement-portraits/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:09:33 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1410 When we were talking about ideas for Chris and Katie’s engagement session, Katie gave me a list of ideas that she had and somewhere within the list there was “DOT’s plane hangar”. HELLO?!?!?! OF COURSE we should shoot at the DOT plane hangar! Chris is an engineer for the Department of Transportation so he was able to gain us access to the hangar for part of the engagement session. It is nice to know people in high places! :) I loved getting to know Katie and Chris a little better at their engagement session! I CANNOT WAIT for their May wedding for two reasons. The first reason is because they are getting married at Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC! I have never been there but I have seen pictures of it and it looks AH-MAZING! The second reason I cannot wait is because Katie and I both follow one another’s Pinterest boards and we share the very same tastes and often pin a lot of the same things. As I have watched her develop her wedding inspiration boards, I cannot wait to see her ideas come to fruition on their wedding day! It is sure to be a photographer’s playground! I can’t wait! :)

 How many people get to take their engagement pictures with the Governor of North Carolina’s helicopter?!

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/23/katie-chris-raleigh-nc-engagement-portraits/feed/ 0 Ashleigh + Lawrence | Cary, NC Engagement Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/17/ashleigh-lawrence-cary-nc-engagement-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/17/ashleigh-lawrence-cary-nc-engagement-portraits/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:52:34 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1380 What do you get when you combine gorgeous fall leaves, some mustaches that rival Mario and Luigi, some awesomely funny trucker hats, lots of running and acrobatics, a kick buttocks dog, and a WHOLE  LOT  of laughter? You have an unforgettable engagement session with Ashleigh and Lawrence!! We met a couple of months ago during PERFECT timing for some fall colors. I could tell during our initial consultation that Ashleigh and Lawrence were a couple who liked to have fun but I had no idea what I was in for! IT.WAS.SO.MUCH.FUN!! Seriously! I had a stomach ache at the end of the session from laughing so hard!! Ashleigh and Lawrence will be getting married two months from today at the Angus Barn Pavilion and I couldn’t be more excited because as I have said before, really fun couples have really fun friends! ;)

What is an engagement session without a little planking??!! We can’t wait until March, Ash and Law! It will be amazing! :)

 

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/17/ashleigh-lawrence-cary-nc-engagement-portraits/feed/ 0 Cooper is coming!! | Apex, NC Maternity Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/12/cooper-is-coming-apex-nc-maternity-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/12/cooper-is-coming-apex-nc-maternity-portraits/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:51:40 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1356 To say that I love this family, is an understatement! Kristen was one of the first brides to take a chance on Tara Parker Photography. Who would have known how far we all would have come by now when Kristen and I met that first day. Kristen and her husband Quentin had one of my favorite engagement sessions to date (You can see it here!) and they had an absolutely gorgeous fall wedding in 2010 (You can see that here!). I couldn’t have been more thrilled when I saw the Facebook post last spring that Kristen and Quentin were expecting a baby! I was so honored to be able to capture some fall maternity pictures and some family portraits with their other oldest son, Kaelob. I am even MORE thrilled to be photographing Cooper’s birth ANY.DAY.NOW!!!! It is a humbling thing to be a part of all of the biggest moments in a person’s life and to know that they will be looking at your pictures throughout their family’s history. I am BEYOND honored that I will be able to come full circle with Kristen and Quentin while they welcome their new baby boy, Cooper, into this world. There is NOTHING like photographing the moment that a life enters this world! I can’t wait! :)

 

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/12/cooper-is-coming-apex-nc-maternity-portraits/feed/ 2 Jade + Jay | Durham, NC Engagement Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/12/jade-jay-durham-nc-engagement-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/12/jade-jay-durham-nc-engagement-portraits/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:32:18 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1335 Things were so hectic during the end of 2011, that we have gotten behind on our blogging! It’s a new year and it is time to get caught up! :) Jade, Jay and I got together in Durham, NC during the end of October for their engagement session. We started at Duke Gardens hoping to get some fall foliage in the shots but the leaves changed unseasonably late this year so we were still a bit too early even at the very end of October! Regardless of the lack of fall colors, we still had a great time and got to know one another a little better! Jade and Jay will be getting married in Durham in July of this year. We are really looking forward to it!

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2012/01/12/jade-jay-durham-nc-engagement-portraits/feed/ 1 Mary Grace + Josh | Cary, NC Wedding Photographers http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/29/mary-grace-josh-cary-nc-wedding-photographers/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/29/mary-grace-josh-cary-nc-wedding-photographers/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:54:15 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1286 Our last wedding of 2011 was filled with so much love, emotion, and hope that it was the perfect way to close out this year’s wedding season. Mary Grace and Josh were married in November at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, NC on a beautiful fall day. The leaves changed unseasonably late this year so we were so excited that they remained around for some added color to their beautiful day. I was very touched to see how loving and supportive everyone was that surrounded Mary Grace and Josh on their wedding day. Their bridal parties were obviously not only their very best friends, but they were a source of spiritual comfort for them on the day of their wedding as they all prayed over them right before the ceremony. It was very touching to hear the words that they had for their friends as they began their lives as husband and wife. After the ceremony began, Josh sang a song to Mary Grace that he had spent the last year writing. I couldn’t help but get choked up while listening to his vulnerable words of love that he sang to his bride before he married her. Kudos, Josh! It was a beautiful thing! Congratulations you two! It was an amazing day!


Wedding + Reception Venue: MacGregor Downs Country Club

Flowers: Flowers on Broad Street

DJ: Joe Bunn DJs- Steve Stowe

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/29/mary-grace-josh-cary-nc-wedding-photographers/feed/ 1 The Linder’s | Orlando, FL Family Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/09/the-linders-orlando-fl-family-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/09/the-linders-orlando-fl-family-portraits/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:38:05 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1280 There are not enough words to express how much I love Jeanine Linder! Jeanine and I met in an online photography workshop close to three years ago and she has been my BFF ever since! Not only is she an amazing photographer, but she is also an amazingly talented logo designer! I should know, she designed mine! ;) But besides both of those facts, she more importantly is one of the most kind, generous, selfless, and sweet people that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! If those facts weren’t enough, she has probably the largest stash of Kelly Moore camera bags besides Kelly Moore herself and who doesn’t love KM camera bags?! Even with her diagnosable obsession with photoshop actions and Kelly Moore bags, she is one of the sweetest and down to earth women I know! :)

The worst thing about our friendship is that Jeanine and her family live in Switzerland so I never get to see her in person. We met for the first time in person last February when we both attended the WPPI convention. Then last month, I had the most AMAZING opportunity to fly down to Orlando, FL for the day to photograph Jeanine and her family while they were in the states vacationing. Jeanine’s husband and son, Phillipe and Ryan, were every bit as awesome as Jeanine! Her son, Ryan, is one day older than Griffin and he was a hoot! Even though he and I could not communicate very well because he doesn’t speak English yet, he and I had the best time playing in the backseat of the car as we rode around Orlando. I taught him about high fives (gimme five, up high, down low, too slow) and in no time he was saying the “too slow” part by himself and he was TOO cute! If we wasn’t the cutest already, he is made even cuter by his cute dimples that are courtesy of his beautiful mama. Even though I was only in Orlando for a little over 24 hours with the Linders, we had the best time! I was so thankful to be able to get to know and photography my friend’s beautiful family and spend some time with my friend that I wish I got to see more often! :) I love you my Swiss BFF!! ;)

Check out Jeanine’s photography website and her logo design site! You will be happy you did! :)

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/09/the-linders-orlando-fl-family-portraits/feed/ 2 Jenna + Charlie | Wilmington, NC Engagement Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/09/jenna-charlie-wilmington-nc-engagement-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/09/jenna-charlie-wilmington-nc-engagement-portraits/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:32:15 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1273 In October, Dave and I had the pleasure of heading down to Wilmington for the weekend to photograph Jenna and Charlie. Jenna is my sister in law’s best friend and has been following our work since we first began. Jenna has always been so complimentary of our work as our business has grown and it was a true honor to be able to photograph her and her fiancé, Charlie. We met in downtown Wilmington for their session and it was quite cold and windy! One good thing about cold weather is it is easy to get natural snuggly and cuddly pictures! Despite the cold, we had a lot of fun! Thank you Hollie for setting this session up for Jenna and Charlie. :) Unfortunately, we will not be photographing their upcoming wedding in May, but we wish them both the very best as they begin their lives together! :)

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/09/jenna-charlie-wilmington-nc-engagement-portraits/feed/ 0 Erin + Tim | The Highgrove | Fuquay-Varina, NC http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/02/erin-tim-the-highgrove-fuquay-varina-nc/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/02/erin-tim-the-highgrove-fuquay-varina-nc/#comments Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:21:00 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1262 I can’t tell you how much I love Erin and Tim! Their relationship reminds me so much of my relationship with Dave! We met up together to eat sushi the week before the wedding and I laughed at how Tim would excitedly tell me about all of his little plans for the wedding day including many different Star Wars details, and Erin would just sit next to him, smile, and shake her head quietly. I feel like that is how Dave and I operate on a daily basis! Haha! Erin and Tim are one of those couples that I wish I could stick in my pocket and take home with me because I just enjoy being around them! :) Erin and Tim were married in October at The Highgrove in Fuquay-Varina, NC one of my VERY favorite wedding venues! I loved editing this wedding because you could see in the way that Tim looks at Erin and the way he smiles at her that her loves her endlessly and she loves him the same. Tim is a big Star Wars fan and I loved the tiny Star Wars details that were strewn in throughout the day. We had Darth on the garter, Star Wars cufflinks, and an R2D2 groom’s cake. We even allowed some of the Star Wars characters be to be guests at different portions of the wedding day. It was a lot of fun! I also have to call attention to the GORGEOUS florals by Flowers on Broad Street! Erin’s bouquet is my absolute favorite bouquet ever and I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of it! It was stunning, but not half as stunning as the bride that was carrying it! :) Congratulations Tim and Erin! We were so thrilled to have been your wedding photographers and we wish you the VERY best!

Ceremony + Reception Venue :  The Highgrove

Food: The Highgrove

Flowers: Flowers on Broad Street

DJ: Jim with Joe Bunn DJ

Cupcakes: Ashley’s Cake

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/12/02/erin-tim-the-highgrove-fuquay-varina-nc/feed/ 2 Emily + Michael | Chapel Hill, NC Engagement Portraits http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/11/22/emily-michael-chapel-hill-nc-engagement-portraits/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/11/22/emily-michael-chapel-hill-nc-engagement-portraits/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:07:10 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1256 Two songs come to mind when I think of Emily and Michael for some reason. Carolina Girl and Brown Eyed Girl. I am not sure why but they do. I don’t know if it is because we shot the engagement session on UNC’s campus or if it is because of Emily’s brownish-greenish eyes, or just that Emily and Michael are just a sweet southern couple but I hummed those two songs the ENTIRE time I was editing the session. It was really funny! Emily and Michael are getting married in March 2012 at a really cool new wedding venue in Winston-Salem called Winmock at Kinderton. We can’t wait! I am sure it is going to be stunning!

]]> http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/11/22/emily-michael-chapel-hill-nc-engagement-portraits/feed/ 0 The Fort Family | Durham NC Family and Newborn Photographer http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/11/22/the-fort-family-durham-nc-family-and-newborn-photographer/ http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/2011/11/22/the-fort-family-durham-nc-family-and-newborn-photographer/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:46:17 +0000 admin http://taraparkerphotographyblog.com/?p=1250 Last month, I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful Fort family right after they welcomed the newest addition to their family, Channing. When I was talking to Leslie about what she would like for her pictures, she said that she was a big fan of candid and lifestyle pictures and really wanted some pictures of her girls being themselves in addition to some more traditional newborn pictures of Channing. It was so refreshing to just allow young children to be themselves and goof off instead of trying to coax them into sitting still and saying “cheese”. Just looking at the pictures of these two little girls makes me giggle and I hope that their parents will look back on these pictures one day and remember the sound of their constant giggles! Love it!

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