Beautiful North Carolina

I have a somewhat romanticized view of the south. Maybe it's because Sweet Home Alabama is hands down my all-time favorite movie. I don't care who you are, if you speak with a southern accent, you will charm me. And spending a week on Bald Head Island in North Carolina only made me love the south more. (Watching Nights in Rodanthe today doesn't help things either...)

I am still trying to wrap my hurting, overloaded brain on the experience I am coming off of. Spending two solid days with 60 photographers from the United States (and Canada!), in four intensive, 4-hour classes with instructors I have fallen in love with was pretty close to heaven on earth. I say pretty close because there wasn't one espresso stand on that whole island! If we were in the Pacific Northwest, there would have been 10!

I'm having trouble finding words to sum it all up. But I came back from this trip with an entirely new perspective, and a new found love for what I do. I don't remember the last time I took an afternoon to shoot just for myself. But that's exactly what we did on Sunday afternoon, hopping in our golf cart, cameras in hand, tackling the island.

The workshop began Tuesday morning, and for two solid days, we listened to amazing instructors who put everything they had into their presentations. We talked, exchanged ideas, encouraged each other, and exhausted all aspects of running a photography business. I am now officially in love with Tamara, Laura, Lena and Audrey! The lovely Jen Thompson and I were banking on having Thursday afternoon to see the rest of the island we hadn't yet seen, but conveniently a would-be tropical storm decided to roll through. While 95% of the Learnfest attendees got off the island early to avoid the storm, we hunkered down in our house and enjoyed a full day to ourselves. The rain pounded relentlessly on the windows, and the wind shook the house all day, but we survived it. And the long, exhausting trip home.

I will let some photos from the week tell you the rest of story. After all, they have so many more words than I ever could.

This little guy is also at the top of my "love list." He was our adorable model during our session with Audrey, and his baby blues, and long blonde hair won me over from the start. You would never know from these shots that he had about 15 photographers with cameras in his face. And would you believe his mom has never had professional portraits taken of him? Now she's drowning in photos!

This brother and sister were the models during our time with Tamara. The little guy wouldn't stop giggling (and it was contagious!)

And the rest are shots of the island. Everything I imagined North Carolina to be.

Ok one shot of Jen and me. Might I add that Jen has Nikon running through her blood. I personally think she looks beautiful with a Canon in her hand! (She threatened my life for taking that shot...)

This poor little butterfly had a large chunk missing out of its wing. I was amazed to see that it flew just fine, even with that piece missing. I think you can see the analogy writing itself here.

These last few shots are my favorite because of the story involved. On Monday afternoon as Jen and Sue-Leigh (our other housemate) were wrapping up last minute Learnfest details, I snuck out with the golf cart to enjoy some quiet on the island. As I walked down this boardwalk, I heard Nat King Cole's Unforgettable playing very clearly from one of the houses. The song couldn't have been more perfect for that particular moment. But as I turned and looked to see where the music was coming from, I saw the house in the very last photo. There on the second story porch was a couple dancing. I felt like I was in a movie. And at the moment, I was so very thankful for the incredible opportunity I had to have the whole experience. God is so good, and so faithful. And I walked down the beach in awe of His artistry, and humbled by His provision.