Tell-Tale Heart | Concept | Fayetteville, N.C. Photographer

"It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this!" — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

This session couldn't have turned out any better ... it started out rough, but turned out great. At last minute, our model canceled on us. But Tay stepped up to the plate and hit a home run for us! I had this crazy idea (maybe it was all the Halloween hubbub around me) to do a concept based off of Edgar Allen Poe's short story, The Tell-Tale Heart.

"He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it ... Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him." — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

For those of you not familiar with the story, I have put some excerpts into this photo series to help paint the picture even further for you.

"I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old man sprang up in bed, crying out --'Who's there?' ... When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little --a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily --until, at length a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye." — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

"I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage ... It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! --do you mark me well? I have told you that I am nervous: so I am ... But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me --the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man's hour had come!" — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

"If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body ... I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye -- not even his --could have detected any thing wrong." — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

"As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, --for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police ... I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: --it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness --until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears." — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe 

I pitched the concept to my photographer buddies, Tysha and Will and they ran with it. Will even got a real pig's heart for the concept! And a big shout out to Tay for holding that thing. I mean, I was pretty squeamish about it, but she's a Vegan and was still able to rock the shots for us!

"It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath -- and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly --more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men -- but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed --I raved --I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder --louder --louder!" — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

"Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! --no, no! They heard! --they suspected! --they knew! --they were making a mockery of my horror! --this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! --and now --again! --hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! --'Villains!' I shrieked, 'dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! --here, here! --it is the beating of his hideous heart!'" — Tell-Tale Heart | Edgar Allen Poe

** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. *** 

Return of Daddy | Military Homecoming | Fort Bragg, N.C. Photographer

These boys were just super cute and ready for daddy's return.... not to mention mommy! Oh and get this, his mom and dad came quit the distance to surprise him as well! ;) Not to mention, his dad is a professional photographer too ... (no pressure at all!)

 

So, needless to say, he was kinda confused when he walked up and saw the crowd waving at him! ;)

It was quit the tease as well for this family because daddy wasn't with the big battalion that came home, but happened to be on the same flight as them. So they walked into the hangar separately and the family got to look at him and wave, but was forced to wait to hug, kiss or touch him until he went back with the larger group and they had the formal ceremony of return. 

Luckily, the commander was brief in his speech and really, the family only had a few seconds to cheer and wave their signs before the soldiers were released to their families ... but then they waited ... and waited ... and waited some more.

 Finally ... from across the room, their hero was standing on a bench waving to them.

Finally, he was in their arms and hugging!

And the below image is one of my absolute favorite images to this date ... OMG. I'm in love with this image!!

** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. *** 

Music of the Heart | Concept | Fayetteville, N.C. Photographer

My beautiful sister and I were at it again ... I had to take advantage of all the time we had together this past summer and do another concept shoot. I photographed her at the beach HERE ... but also wanted to try and get a lil' creative when she came back to Fayetteville to fly home. So ... we did.

And boy was I happy I got her up early! ;) She is not a morning person, but she was a trooper and the below image was EXACTLY what I was going for. And then she gave me the other images that are gorgeous! So what more could I have asked for?!

 Haylee ... you will forever be my muse ... so be prepared! ;) Next time, we are using Wyoming as our backdrop and we are going to rock it!

  ** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. *** 

Patriotic & Cute | Military Homecoming | Fort Bragg, N.C. Photographer

Each one of the homecomings I photograph are special in their own ways and each have a story that each family shares with me. These two lovely ladies were waiting on their hero to return. And like all the other families I photograph, their date and time changed multiple times. The final date that was given happened to land right when I was in DC running the Army 10 Miler... go figure right? 

She told me not to worry and that she'd keep me posted, but I could tell she was going to be bummed out if I couldn't make it back in time. But I told her, as long as he arrived the day after the race ... I'd be there. Well, he arrived the day after the race ... at 6 am. Yes. I drove 6 hours to DC with my boys in the back of the car Friday night. Spent the night somewhere in Virginia. Arrived in DC, picked up my mother who flew in from Vegas. Went to the Expo, visited my friends who are laid to rest in Arlington. Got some rest, woke up bright and early Sunday morning ... ran my 10 miles. Met up with my family, took the metro back to hotel. Showered, packed up ... got back in the car and drove the 6 hours back home. Relaxed a few, went to bed and woke up bright and early Monday morning to photograph their special reunion.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat. I mean, look ... he leaned, ever so slightly to smile as his beautiful wife and daughter in formation. <3 Absolutely love.

In the crowded mess of families being reunited, he rushed up to his ladies.

And gave hugs and kisses. There really isn't any other great feeling than holding the ones you love tightly ... especially after being away from them for so long!

I didn't hear it exactly, but I heard him say to his wife, "You look absolutely beautiful." I mean come on?! How cute are they?!

Daddy and daughter private time before having to turn in equipment. sigh ... I love this picture.

 ** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. *** 

Market Square in the Rain | Concept | Fayetteville, N.C. Photographer

I met up with a rather large group of photographers at the Market Square for a sunhat themed session ... well, it rained. LOL Yeah... a sun hat with rain REALLY doesn't work. But that didn't stop us. We worked together with low lighting and our one model that showed, Farrah. She's always someone we can count on! She's a trooper through and through! Check out her Facebook page HERE.https://www.facebook.com/f.helenbeck

Will let me take a few shots with his strobe ... You know me. I'm a natural light kinda girl all the way. But I'm not going to lie ... These pics of Farrah are pretty awesome! ;-)

And because there were a ton of photographers and one model ... We did a lot of sitting around, laughing, chatting, and of course, taking pictures of each other! ;-) Here's Tysha, with Tysha Hallman Photo!

And Will from Darkroomportraits.com took this awesome shot of me ... ;) 

** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***