Hollywood Glamour Photo Shoot

I think everyone has at least one of these friends. You know, bold & beautiful and not afraid of anything. Not to make her sound like a soap opera although she can tell a story of going to the grocery store that would sound like an adventure. Well, Tricia is my bold and beautiful friend. We call her “Trish the Dish” even my husband calls her that and you will see why when you see the pictures. The only word I can find to really describe her and it doesn’t really do it well is eccentric. But you have to format it with “in a sassy, cute, I am woman hear me roar” kind of way. We have been friends since 1994 where we met at a training class when we worked for the same company. Mind you even living in separate states through our whole friendship we have never lost touch and talk regularly. So last month Tricia emails me saying she needed a black & white old Hollywood 8x10 of me for her wall. Hmmm… I think, what on earth now? Well my sweet Tricia, who is in the process of decorating her oh so chic new condo, has chosen a kind of art deco décor. She has a long buffet that lines one of her side walls that looks a little 1950’s that has 8x10 frames-I think 8 of them outlining above. These are reserved for all of her sassy, successful, diva friends and they should all be signed with a note to her in the old 1940’s autographed photo kind of way. She clearly states this is mandatory and being that I am a photographer I have NO EXCUSE not to comply. I send her an image and NOPE not good enough. It needs to be smoldering! I am SO not smoldering. I am cute at best but sexy is just NOT me. So I promise I will work on it and get back to her. So a month goes by and lucky for me my big photography convention that I love (see most previous blog) happens to be in her new home town. She informs me with my visit we MUST take those pictures and we will be taking pictures of another one of her diva’s as well, Diana, who is also bold, beautiful and not afraid! So my friend Julie, another photographer friend of mine, and I take on the mission. Sunday night the first night of the convention we gather at Tricia’s drinking Champagne and getting ready in that 1940’s Hollywood glam kind of way. Julie is so funny, she even did a Marilyn Monroe mole on her cheek. See below. And Trish the Dish could seriously open her own cosmetics counter and make a living as a makeup artist! To say we had fun puts it mildly! I guess even at our age we still love to play dress up! Here is a little peek at our photo shoot. Enjoy!

Diane, Trish & Diana

Diane & Julie

Trish's Make Up Counter!

The Diva's glammin' it up!

Julie & Diane pretending to be Yervant
Do you think we could charge $17,000 per wedding too?

Below: Trish the Dish!

Photography Convention in Tampa, Florida

The first week in January another photographer friend of mine from Dallas, Texas and I headed out to beautiful sunny Tampa, Florida for one of the biggest photography conventions held. It was in the 70's and 80's the whole time making us wonder if we shouldn't be moving there. We always love this convention because they have so many great classes and the trade show is full of fun stuff to buy. There are some amazing photographers from all over the world and from all segments of photography ranging from fashion to wedding. Did you know in Australia they spend almost the whole wedding day taking pictures and go to multiple locations? It really makes for some GREAT images.

Doesn't this just make you want to pack your bags and head south???

Julie & I walking from the parking deck to the convention stop to take a picture of ourselves in the reflection of one of the many high rise buildings.

These are some of the new albums I bought at the trade show that I decided to add to our collection of albums. They look so vintage! I just couldn't say no!

2007 A Year in Review

It is almost the New Year and with New Year's Resolutions furiously being scribbled at my desk it reminds me of the year we just spent. It was a year with mostly ups but a few downs. I thought it appropriate since we are just starting this blog to recap 2007 with all it's great moments and memories. We look forward to a GREAT 2008! Diane

December-
What an exciting month. More so on the personal side than the business side. Little Miss Hannah was born in the wee hours of the morning - quite by surprise. She was scheduled days later for a c-section and ended up being born natural!

Little Hannah
Doesn't she look like an angel?

While recovering after labor and delivery Diane got caught up on her Yearly books for her oldest daughter who is now three. She does a page for each month in the year. Here are a couple from the 2007 book.

At three years old Santa and understanding how he brings the presents finally kicks in... When Katie was told it was Christmas Eve day and that Santa would be coming that night, she replied, "I think I am going to be scared, or I think I am going to be really happy. I don't know which." Needless to say, Mommy cracked up! After Christmas we asked her how it turned out and she replied "really happy". Good news. Diane

November-

With 2 photographers on maternity leave and Thanksgiving festivities this proves to be a big family month!

Diane's pregnancy pictures. Thanks Jen!

Even though Diane was on maternity leave and 9 months pregnant she managed to photograph her nephew's wedding the WEEK before little Hannah came! At one point she got down on the floor and couldn't get back up with out using one of the guest's knee. I am sure he was QUITE surprised!

Congrats Seth & Becca!

The McKinney Boys

And yet another baby for the Liquid Light family. Little Stella came into this world in November at 8 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches long! Congrats Amanda!!! (If you are wondering, yes we had a lot of pregnant photographers this year. But don't worry we haven't found it to be contagious!)
Album Designs: With maternity leave looming we got VERY busy trying to design as many albums as possible for Christmas deliveries. We designed and delivered over 10 albums. With each design taking a minimum of 8 hours this was a lot of man hours (or woman hours in this case!). The first one shown wasn't even our wedding. This couple got married in St. John and came back to have her album designed. We had a lot of fun designing it! Wish we could have been there to photograph it! Did I mention we are happy to travel to the beach???

Julie and Alan got married this October. We were lucky enough to have some time between the ceremony and reception and went out to the warehouse district to do some cool shooting. It made for some GREAT images and LOTS of fun! Thanks Julie & Alan! Here are a couple of designs from a new demo album we ordered to show clients.

Another one our fabulous couples who made the demo album!
Melissa & Scotty

Amanda shot this wedding with only 2 weeks left before her due date! You rock Amanda. It is so obvious how happy the bride and groom were on their big day. The combination of their obvious love for each other and the colors they chose were amazing for the incredible pictures!


Lani & Dustin

Shot at the beautiful Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst this wedding was so classic. It was a beautiful day and the bride and groom looked amazing. Thanks for the Christmas card Lani!


Melissa Day (Hester) Bridal Portraits
These were shot at Melissa's mother's home. It made for some great window light and a more intimate feel.


August-
What a busy month! Here are just a couple of the weddings we shot this month.

Randi & Eric

Congrats to Randi and Eric. This was a huge bash at North Ridge that Diane and Amanda shot together. This one of Amanda's shots. Randi and Eric both really know how to have fun! The party raged on and on! Congrats!
Suzanne & Jason
We just love beach weddings! They are always so fun and make for some great images. They had such cute details too. Diane's niece, a budding photographer in her own right, came along to shoot as well.


Cheryl & Ryan
What a sweet bride and a groom to match! This wedding was shot just south of Cary at Shady Wagon Farm. What a unique place for a wedding. How cute are they?!

Megan & Doug

Another great wedding at North Ridge!



Denise & Patrick

Another Pinehurst wedding! Met my first try Pinehurst locals!






July-

Heather & Tim
Our 7-7-07 Bride and Groom! This date booked out over a year & a half in advance!

June-
June was about the craziest month ever. Diane's family moved but were homeless for about 3 weeks. Since she is responsible for most of the after wedding production: posting images, sending cd's and designing albums it was crazy with no home to live. They spent the 3 weeks living at the family's beach house but it had no internet access. She would have to drive to her brother's to upload weddings. It was crazy but even with all the craziness all weddings were retouched and posted within 2-3 weeks! The second week they were there, they were visited by old family friends from Houston. Here is the family portrait Diane took while they were there.

The Future Studio of Liquid Light Photography

We finally have a house!

After 3 weeks we finally get into our new house. The house has a separate entrance into the office where the future Studio will be housed.

Diane's office

Christy & John

You should have heard the best man's toast. I have never laughed so hard! It is one I will surely remember!!!


Tara & Jason
Betsy loved shooting this wedding. The bride & groom not to mention the wedding guests really had a great time.

Diane got the award of Best Pick for the Knot real weddings.
A true honor! Thanks to all of her past brides who voted for her!

Elyse & Josh

This was QUITE an eventful wedding. The limo actually got into a car accident on the way to the wedding. This prompted a trip to the emergency room. We ended up having the ceremony in the Hospital wedding chapel. Once Elyse was given the all clear by the doctors it was back to Caffe Luna for the reception. That is one story for the children and grand children!











Jennifer & Joell

Another one of my sweet brides. She is so loving! I think she probably had 20-30 kids at her reception from all her years of babysitting. They all just loved her and wanted to hug her the whole time. I wish you were still babysitting now! My little munchkins would love you! Diane
Megan & Stephanie

These are some of Megan & Stephanie's bridal portraits. They are sisters who were married within 1 month of each other.Their parents survived it all fortunately. They certainly make BEAUTIFUL children. All the girls in that family are gorgeous!


April- April was a busy and sad month all in one. Diane's mother who had been diagnosed with cancer the previous July passed away on April 15th. She was an amazing woman.

I strive everyday to be more like her. She was always kind and thought of other people first. She was also an astute business person with great vision and compassion.
And the absolute BEST mother a person could wish for...

Mom & Katie

Mom & Me at my wedding

Mom & Me at Disney We took the all Grandkids

Mom LOVED Halloween. She always had a great costume.

Mom & me at Easter

Despite it all April was one of our busiest months. 5 weddings for Diane alone. It wasn't easy but we had such amazing brides!

Alicia & Jon

March- Jen & I attended WPPI in March. WPPI Wedding and Portrait Photographers International held their annual convention in Las Vegas. You would THINK I would have been living it up but I had just found out I was pregnant! But we saw some of the great photographers who are renowned around the world. What an inspiration!

Valerie & Marc

Valerie is one of the most full of life people I know. She is very adventurous. I am sure she will continue her new adventures now with Marc! I hate that I couldn't shoot this one but Betsy said it was amazing and did a GREAT job! You looked FABULOUS!

Thanks Betsy!