• Slideshow Widget

    Archive for June 2014

    Pause, Flash: Meet-Ups and Collabos | North Carolina Portrait Photographer

    Thursday, June 26, 2014

    For the past 5 weeks, my life has been a little insane. You may or may not know this, but I am officially in my senior year at East Carolina University. (Go Pirates!) I'll be graduating with a BSBA in Management Information Systems. In my race desire to finish by May, I decided to take 2 heavy-duty quantitative courses this summer; Financial Management and Business Decision Modeling. That's 12 weeks of material for 2 courses, crammed into 5 weeks. Needless to say that by the end of it all, my brains were running out of my eye-sockets. The 1st summer semester ended yesterday. Woot woot!!! So, I celebrated a successful semester by linking up with a group of local photographers in Downtown, Raleigh for a head shot share. 

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    This meet-up has been in the makings for a couple of weeks now. All of us are a part of a huge community of photographers in the Raleigh area. When the idea came up in the group to get together to be art as well as artist, several of us decided to make it happen. It was hot as all get out, and there was a threat of some hardcore rain, but we made it work. We are the 7! Meet the 6 (Ya'll know me already)


    Tosha


    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    Andrea . aka . Andi A.

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    Mike G.

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    Donnell P.

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    Chaquana D.

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    Shantelle C.

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    It was great to meet some wonderfully creative people, clear my mind of math and just shoot! There were definitely some awkward moments being on the other side of the lens, but these were always followed by laughter and more laughter. It's moments like those that help us relate to how you may be feeling when you're on the other side of the lens. We get it. We get you! 

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    North Carolina Portrait Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    What a refreshing way to get the creative juices flowing for the projects coming down the pipe. I certainly needed it. Looking forward to more of these collabos in the future!




    Melcina + Johnnie Celebrate 25 Years | Durham Portrait Photographer

    Monday, June 16, 2014

    You know that your shoot is going to be special when children reach out to you to plan a surprise shoot for their parents. "Special" This was my immediate thought when I was contacted to photograph Melcina and Johnnie, who have been together for 29 years and married for 25. Together they have raised 3 beautiful children and have gone through much, but they have still managed to keep that playful and romantic spark going.

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles PhotographyNorth Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles PhotographyNorth Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles PhotographyNorth Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles PhotographyNorth Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles PhotographyNorth Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles PhotographyNorth Carolina Wedding Photographer | Dawn Michelle Downey | Chronicles Photography

    It was a beautiful thing to just watch Melcina and Johnnie interact with one another. They both look and act as though they're still dating. The love that these two share is SO refreshing and inspirational. What a pleasure, blessing and honor it was to have been chosen to photograph Melcina and Johnnie for their 25th anniversary. I wish the two of you many, many more. Keep inspiring each other, and us!

    Bethany+Denny: A Rustic Chic Wedding | North Carolina Wedding Photographer

    Monday, June 9, 2014

    I met Bethany for the first time at our initial client consult a month or so before her wedding. I drove up to the location of the wedding, which was at her family's farm in Haw River, NC. We lazily strolled along the farm as she told me her vision for the day. Her energetic and super fluffy white dog Bella, ran around us as Bethany walked me through a small portion of the 80 plus acre farm. As she showed me where the different elements would be located, I grew increasingly excited for her and Denny's big day. 

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    Fast forward to Saturday, May 31st. The weather was absolutely perfect! It can get incredibly hot here in NC, but on that Saturday there wasn't even the slightest hint of humidity. The breeze was SO delicious, and fluffy cotton balls dotted the sky. I drove up to the farm and the guys were relaxing, hanging out and grilling the meat for the day ahead. They were so chill! When I got to the girls, however, there was a different kind of energy.
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    The house was abuzz with activity. Bridesmaids were getting hair and make-up done, the flower girl and junior bridesmaids were playing with the dog and the bride was in her element. The energy was great! It was wonderful to see all the girls together and the strong bonds that they had built over the years. It was also a blessing to witness Bethany's vision coming together. The best way for me to describe it is rustic chic. Wildflower bouquets, cowboy boots, horses, quilt covered hay bales, corn hole and skeet shooting were pulled together in a beautiful display that reflected both Bethany and Denny's personalities.

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    There were so many meaningful details that were added to the day. One sweet touch was Bethany adding her grandmother's nursing pin to her bouquet of flowers. Bethany wanted to make sure that her grandmother was there with her in spirit.

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    One thing about Bethany and Denny is that they are both diehard lovers of horses, and own a few themselves. That's actually the story of how they met. Denny and Bethany were both at Circle K Ranch in Graham, NC when Denny saw her walking by. He shared that he had to know who she was, so he sparked conversation with her. He has been hooked ever since. Sweet! So on their wedding day, Denny rode in on Ruger and Bethany rode side-saddle on Lilly, which was her "engagement ring" from Denny. 

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    These two were giving me all kinds of greatness!

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    It was also a lot of fun just watching them in their element, surrounded my friends, family, loved ones and shotguns! Bethany didn't play any games in that wedding dress. She and Denny both joined in on the skeet shooting fun. She even got me to shoot for a bit. I felt like a boss! AND she grabbed a few pictures of me shooting. I LOVE my brides!

    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey
    North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Chronicles Photography | Dawn Michelle Downey

    Bethany and Denny are the sweetest couple that you could ever meet. Because of the nature of my work (if I can even call it that) I was able to watch the love that they have for one another through my lens. It's a pretty powerful thing. I'm honored that they chose me to capture it for them. Bethany and Denny, I wish you two nothing but blessings and happiness for a lifetime.