"Extended Family" Family Session in Raleigh, NC

Is there a word for someone who is your cousin's cousin? My cousin Sean(his mom is my mom's sister) referred his cousin Drew(from Sean's dad's side) to us for family pics. How cool is that?? I had heard about this set of cousin's my entire life but did not meet any of them until recently when I did their family session in Raleigh. They just happen to live in Raleigh too and we had a great session at the park. I'm excited to have some extended family living in the same neck of the woods.

Check out some of their pics!!!
Happy Saturday!
Cara

Janelle + Jabari Get Married at the Sheraton in Downtown Raleigh!

Janelle and Jabari were a super sweet and fun couple that got married back in February. If you know me then you know that I LOVE a Winter wedding! That is, if you could really call it "Winter" since it was 70 degrees that day. I just wanted to share a few of my faves from this wedding. Congrats to the newlyweds!!

Btw, we have been working on the amount that we blog! Can you tell? ;)
Enjoy and take care!!
~ Team f8

f8 Photo Studios Shoots a Maternity Shoot in a Very Rainy Honolulu, Hawaii!

Hi there! I just wanted to share a little sentimental shoot that was very special to me. My dearest friend Rachel from highschool and college moved the Honolulu, Hawaii 3 years ago with her husband Tim. I went out for a visit last month and we found a free moment to do this very fun maternity shoot on one of the last days of my trip. We hadn't seen eachother since she had moved and honestly her and I had not talked as much as we would have liked over the last few years. But this trip was truly what we needed to reconnect. We had a lot of laughs and a lot of tears and we promised to never let distance affect our friendship ever again.

The location of the shoot was in the cove next to the "Halona Blowhole" on the island of Oahu. I just loved the lava rock as a backdrop as well as the pop of color that the green added to the images. The best part about this shoot is the significance of the location. Rachel and I had visited this spot together 13 years earlier. We had rented a car one day and on our trek around the island we stopped to check out this spot. It stuck in our memory because we had watched a wedding take place of top of the rocks. There just seemed to be something kismet about it all.

Enjoy the pics!!

Adorable Raleigh Family Photo Shoot!

Hi Folks! Meet the Hopkins family! They are so adorable. These are the kind of people that you work with and you thing to yourself, "I want to be their friend." They found me at our studio after visiting their favorite salon Halo, which is located right next door to me. A few weeks later, we did a fun outdoor shoot as well as an indoor shoot in the studio. I look forward to getting to know them better and doing more shoots for their family in the future. Check out more of my faves from the shoot!!!

Ashley and Eddie's Wedding Film

Ashley + Eddie from f8 in motion on Vimeo.


I just wanted to share this on our blog as this wedding really held an emotional place for me as an artist and a photographer. Jonathan's gorgeous and emotive film trailer really brought all of that back for me. I have watched it several times and it has me tearing up each time as many of his wedding films do. But this one was special to me. First of all, I loved the couple, but we feel a close connection to all of our clients. How can you not when you are photographing something so intimate? But what felt so special was how "deep" the family roots ran with this family. Ashley and Eddie had a strong support system in their marriage before it had begun. The wedding and reception were held at her childhood home. I thought it was so cute that her room was kept the same and that was the place that she was to put on her wedding dress. And the lawn where she played as a child, would be the spot where she would pledge her love and devotion to her best friend. It was truly beautiful. Not only that, but to have Eddie's grandfather marry the couple was lovely. I just feel honored to have been witness to so much love and family history. Thank you Ashley and Eddie for having Jonathan and I be a part of your day. We look forward to photographing your pretty babies someday.

Wedding season is about to begin!
Stay tuned,
Cara

We Heart This Wedding!

I loved this couple! Adia and BJ were definitely one of my favorite couples that we photographed in 2011 and their wedding reception, held at the fabulous Bay 7 on the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, was planned by wedding planner Shawn Shindler, owner of Your Special Day-Weddings and Special Events, was one of the most beautiful set ups that I have ever seen. Shawn and her team did an amazing job. It was one of those weddings where my jaw literally dropped when I walked into the reception to photograph details. From the flowers from Greg Warren Flowers to the lighting from Get Lit Watson, this event was INCREDIBLE from start to finish. Stay tuned for the video from our sister company f8 in Motion!

Also I wanted to share a little something about the couple because they were such cutie patooties! Adia and BJ were friends for a long time before their took it to the next level. We had the honor of photographing their engagement session in Atlanta at the High Museum of Art. We got to know them a little better that day and the love between these 2 just filled the air. Adia and BJ are just beautiful people inside and out. I am so happy that Jonathan and I were a part of their day. "XO A & B!"

SBG magazine's "Girls Night Out!"

Southern Bride & Groom Magazine threw a real “Girls’ Night Out” party for a bride-to-be last fall. We brought in a team to enhance Sparians’ private bowling room with a 60’s mod theme. A Southern Soiree helped SB&G plan the shoot. Florals and décor were provided by The English Garden, cupcakes from Gigi’s Cupcakes, entertainment from Island Sound DJs, food and drink from Sparians, and beautiful themed invitations from Maria Scheel Invitations & More.

f8 was there to shoot stills and to cut a little film of the events.
 
Enjoy,