Epic Wedding Was Epic - Adrianne & Ricky

This wedding was long in the making and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! On September 1st, Adrianne and Ricky made it official and partied the night away. You might remember them from their engagement photos at the Duke Gardens (still one of my favorite photo shoots). That seems so long ago now but like a fine wine, Adrianne and Ricky just got better.

Adrianne planned the wedding down to the last detail. She knew exactly what she wanted and right there is a photographers dream bride. 

The couple sprung for our full day package so we were able to see everything unfold from the beginning. That was a real treat. 

Gratuitous empty dress photo...

And another, for good measure. 

Adrianne made a beautiful bride and she was so happy. The day was really amazing. 

Beyond the awesome couple, their whole wedding party was fantastic. Jess and I felt so welcome. If it hadn't been for the fact that I'd been on my feet for nearly 12 hours, I would have been tempted to stay for the after party.

Adrianne and Ricky, thank you for another great experience. You two are a good people and you're surrounded by good people. Enjoy your future!

Liz DiNatale

www.oakcityphotographync.com

Cohen is turning 1!

A long, long time ago in a land far, far away called Carystone. Two couples, who were living in sin, became fast friends over their mutual love of dogs, beer and socialization. Plus the proximity was amazing. Since then we've both sold our first homes and moved into our bigger second homes, we've attended each others weddings and my husband and I got to celebrate the other couples new addition almost 1 year ago! So please join me in a premature, but ever so joyful, Happy Birthday to Cohen! 

We had fun this morning in downtown Apex. It's such a small downtown area but it is packed full of awesome. 

I have a great story behind that basket. Lets just say I rescued it from a bad home and gave it much more purpose in life. 

This...this I love. I love this because Kato is an awesome dog and the biggest (literally) teddy-bear dog I have ever met. I love this because it is a clear example that "bully" breeds like Rotties are super trustworthy. I love this because it looks like Kato is saying "mine, no touchy". 

Thanks again to Nate and Veronica for the chance to photograph your family! It's always a pleasure!

Liz DiNatale

www.oakcityphotographync.com

Photo Friday: Dogs

This is too easy. 

The pups, in their element. 

Liz DiNatale

www.oakcityphotographync.com

Photo Friday

The photo Friday for today is "Words" but I don't have any pictures of words and I've been wanting to share the photos I took at Catawba Falls for a while now. So you'll get the Catawba Falls photos and just have to deal without photos of words. I hope you don't hate me for that. 

In the beginning of June Steven and I, and our friends Nate and Matt went to Old Fort for a weekend of riding for them and a weekend of Mountains for me. I did some riding as well but it wasn't my focus. My focus is always "Hey! I'm in the mountains!!" which you would think would get old after countless trips...but it doesn't. 

The morning of the Sunday we left, I went on a hike up to Catawba Falls with Nate while Steven and Matt rode up Kistuma. It was a nice treat to walk with Nate since he is also an avid photographer. He didn't mind me stopping to take random photos. He also helped me capture some unique ones. He had the tripod to make it happen. 

This technique may be overdone but I still think it makes photos look dreamy. This walk was dreamy unto itself. I hope to do it again someday. 

Besides my camera gear, the other essential equipment for this hike: Vibrum Fivefingers

KSO: Trek's are absolutely perfect for this type of hiking. 

Thanks for reading and stay cool this weekend!

-Liz DiNatale

www.oakcityphotographync.com

Photo Friday: Grandeur

Happy Friday everyone! Today's photo is brought to you by the word "grandeur" which is a fancy word for fancy.

I'm going to use this Photo Friday challenge to use another photo from my Italy adventures. While Venice was definitely the most grandiose city that we visited, this photo actually comes from Verona. Verona is littered with fancy wrote iron. While reviews say that Verona is one of the safest towns in Italy now, it must not have been at one point because every window and every door (within reach of the street) were guarded with wrote iron fences and gates. But they weren't ugly, dismissive things. They were intricate and lovely.

And some looked like letters. Behold, the letter S. 

Isn't that just fancy-shmancy. 

I'm in the midst of writing a ranty type blog post about out Italy travels on my other blog, Awesomely Domesticated. If you'd like to hear more about our trip, click through the hyperlink and enjoy!

We're off to Asheville this weekend! Finally going to try Strada and get some good riding/mountain hiking in! Can't wait...going through serious Asheville withdrawal. 

-Liz

www.oakcityphotographync.com 

Photo Friday: Of House and Home

Welcome back to Photo Friday! It's a nasty Friday out right now but I hope the weather at least improves. Or else my House and Home might float away. 

For this Photo Friday I thought I'd share two pictures I've taken recently. The first is from our trip to Italy and features a private Venetian house.  

I thought this home was so truly Venetian. With the bridge to the front door, the canal right there, the gondola and then the ivy was just icing on the top. I thought this house was more beautiful than most of the churches and museums I saw. Mostly because it wasn't over the top. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Less is more. 

The second photo I'd like to share, I took last night after dinner. Gunnar was fat and happy and taking his after meal snooze. This is of my house and home. Dogs laying in the most inconvenient locations. 

Eh, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Thanks for reading and happy Friday!

-Liz DiNatale
www.oakcityphotographync.com

Celebrating Sydnee

I had a nice walk around JC Arboretum in Raleigh this past Sunday with Sydnee and her parents. Little Miss Sydnee has just turned 1! She was so interested in everything in the arboretum. We'd set her down and immediately she'd start playing with the grass or perhaps a leaf within her reach. Her mind was going a mile a minute. 

As a method of catching her attention I had bought her a Fourth of July pinwheel. What kid doesn't love a pinwheel? I love pinwheels.... Anywho, this is what happens when you dangle a pinwheel in front of a 1 year old. 

  I believe you can translate this look to "Want!" 

I'm ashamed that I've never been to the arboretum before this photoshoot. It was always right down the road from me while I was attending State and I never stopped in. I'm glad I finally went at least. It was quite the garden. I recommend it to anyone who wants to be jealous over other peoples' green thumbs. Oh and I need to grow an artichoke plant now. That thing was epic. 

Back to the topic at hand though. It was nice meeting Sydnee and her parents and capturing this moment for them. Happy Birthday Sydnee! 

I call this one "The Squish". hahaha

Thanks for reading!!

Liz DiNatale

www.oakcityphotographync.com