Thursday, May 14, 2015

Sundress & Clovers | Senior | Cameron, NC Photographer

Annaleigh has such a "girl-next-door" gorgeous-ness. <3 lol Yes, I'm making that a word! I was excited to find out my lil' photographer's group was shooting with her in Cameron, NC. First of all, like I said above, she's gorgeous and fun to shoot. BUT every time I drive through Cameron, I'm always like, "Why don't I ever shoot here?!"

 

It's such a cute little town! But look! We found a BIG ol' patch of clovers and yes ... I MADE her lay in it and was like, "I'm pulling out the big guns!" (My Lensbaby lens). haha! It gave such a hippie-dippie feel to the session and I love the out come!

But of course, my Lensbaby isn't a "whole session" sort of lens, so I busted out the 50mm again and did these amazing close ups of her. I mean, wow! right?!





Towards the end of the session, we decided to get a tad creative. As much as I love other's black and white photography, I still haven't found my "Happy-place" in my black and white editing. But this location was fantastic and allowed me to practice a more "dark feel."  <---- Apparently I'm digging quotation marks this blog ... hang in there y'all ... I'm almost done talking ... LOL!


Below I had this idea after finding this old teapot ... and I ran with the idea. I absolutely love how it turned out! The BW editing came out great, and the floating pot? LOVE. 


A little before and after fun:

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


Monday, May 11, 2015

Prom Portraits with a Twist | Senior | Fayetteville, NC Photographer

When I got the email from this beautiful girl about prom pictures, I was super stoked! Of course I'd photograph y'all before your prom!!


Do you remember your prom pics? In front of a cheesy backdrop, with a photographer who you only talk with for about 10 mins ... the same amount of time you have in front of the camera? Yeah, this is not your typical prom session! I met with them for 30 mins, their mommas were there too. And we just shared some stories and laughs as I photographed them together and exchanging boutonniere and corsage. 



 Momma had to help out a tad ... those boutonnieres are something else! I have issues at weddings too!

But look how gorgeous this corsage is! The flowers were just stunning AND they had glitter! I mean, you can NOT go wrong with glitter!


Even though they don't go to the same school, these two are super cute with one another and have been dating a few months. They met through mutual friends. I asked about going to his prom too and the mommas both looked at me wide eyed. LOL I forget how much money goes into proms LOL! They were like one is enough! haha!


I don't know what is about the above pic, but I stinking love it!


I hope their prom was spectacular ... I mean, they sure looked awesome and had a great plan for their night that included dinner and the dance! I did forget to ask what the theme was! Hopefully they'll get back with me and tell me! I'm such a sucker for themed events! I think that's why I go so overboard with personal parties for my family! ;)

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

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Small & Late, but none-the-less Great Homecoming | Military Homecoming | Fort Bragg, NC Photographer

As y'all know, each homecoming has it's own story to it. She contacted me at the end of January to book a homecoming session for her and her boyfriend in May. (I like her style! She made sure she had a photographer with LOTS of notice ensuring she'd get one ... and that one was ME!) :)

When she finally got a time frame in May, I made sure to block off a few days to ensure I'd be there for them. It was all looking fantastic for the first weekend in May and then she got the updates ... they had been pushed back a few days. Then they were up in the air with a date .... sigh, those darn military flights!


Finally, we were looking good, the 5th of May at 5:30pm. What a fantastic time! That's like golden hour for lighting and by the time they were to be getting in the car, the rush hour traffic would be off post.

Aha ... yet another push back ... May 8th at 3:30 .... in the MORNING! Gah! LOL


Listen, folks, if you book me and everything pans out with my babysitting needs and personal obligations ... I'll be there. Sitting with you at your location in the wee hours of night or the butt-crack of dawn. I'll have coffee in one hand and my camera in the other! ;)

There was literally 4 soldiers who walked of that early bird. I have never seen Green Ramp so empty during a homecoming. As you saw above, the rows of seating were empty except my client and the three other families. I had so much room to maneuver around the couple, I was in heaven! haha!

How cute are they?! They may not be married (yet) ;) but they still understand the hardships of a military life and the commitment (and struggles) that couples go through during these long periods of separation.

I just love the emotion of those reunion jitters and butterflies ... shoot, I get them watching these couples be reunited! lol


Make sure to book your reunion as soon as possible! To learn more click HERE.



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


PS ... can I let you in on a little secret? Must have been the reunion jitters, or constant time changes, or both.... but I had to do a little photoshopping on the sign .... can you see what needed to be corrected? ;)

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Welcome Home | Military Homecoming | Fort Bragg, NC Photographer




This was another cute homecoming as his entire family was there to welcome him home and one excited wife! <3 Her times and dates kept changing ... as per the norm a homecoming. Those darn military schedules are never predictable. But we finally got word and it was at a different location that I had never shot at before.


I was a tad nervous only because I didn't know the location, but it seemed that within the same weeks that led to this homecoming, a lot of photographers were photographing here and I was able to pull from their knowledge of the location. Seeeeee??? This is why it's so important to know the photographers in your area and - gasp - befriend them! ;) No, but seriously, there are some great photographers out here and it was awesome for them to "shed some light" (see what I did there?) ;) on the location.

We arrived around 5pm and were told they were still about an hour out. They were actually flying into Fort Bragg, but wanted families at Simmons Air Field so we had to wait for them to get their gear unloaded and turned in before they were to march into the Hanger at Simmons.


When the buses pulled around the fence, everyone ... and I mean EVERYONE ran from the (somewhat) cooler outside to the much more humid and warm inside of the hanger. But sigh .... they still weren't going to walk off that bus just yet ...

Mom and wife were super anxious and updating other family and friends via phone.

Finally, the buses' brakes were heard outside the hanger and the crowd began to buzz again with excitement. Then it happened ... they marched in as the band played a marching tune.

After the usual National Anthem, Army Song and SHORT (i know right? surprising) words from the commander, the soldiers were released to their families.

We waited and waited and I even asked her what she was going to do. Wait in one place or go running. She decided to not run, but walk quickly to the formation to find him. It seemed like for ever and even though she was waving her sign ... she wasn't finding him. THEN he found HER in the crowd and they ran to each other. How cute is his face?!
 

I nearly ran over momma though because when she saw him, she too began to run to him. I had to .... slightly... push my way through (you can see her arm as she took pics above in the reunion shots) so I could get this precious moment. How stinking awesome are they?!


Then it was momma's turn. ;) Look at that joy and relief in her face!


 Here's the family. Mom, Dad, brothers (girlfriend and wife) and then his beloved wife. Looking good.




How perfect is that flag above them?! I totally dig it.


Together at last. And look at that light outside the hanger ... lol I wish were could've shot some pics on the flight line! Would have been gorgeous!


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