north carolina wedding photographer • • • sadie higs photography »

Earlier in the year, Higs & I realized that documenting the story of our clients is actually part of our own story as well. (Why it took us so long to realize that, I have no idea. We’re dorks.) While we both shoot simultaneously, there are times where one of us is getting a better shot and angle than the other, so we’re able to catch some behind the scenes action. It’s so much fun for us to look back at all we’ve done this year because it makes us realize how lucky we are to do something we love, document a special time in the lives of others and meet some really amazing people all at the same time. In addition to the behind the scenes images, we thought it would be interesting for our readers to see some of the resulting images. Enjoy!

Higs shooting Jackie’s bridal photos at Elon University. That image he got on the right is one of my favorites of the year.

This is why we stay behind the camera.

Megan’s bridal photos at Tanglewood Park. The set-up on the left and the resulting shot on the right.

Megan & Jermey’s Tanglewood Park wedding.

Jackie & Jordan’s Alamance County wedding.

Their Alamance Country Club wedding reception was so much fun! Here’s Higs & I shooting each other at the same time.

Jessica & Michael’s Winston-Salem engagement photos. Left: what Higs saw. Right: what I saw.

A few random shots from Keren & Robbie’s wedding.

Standing on chairs = fun shots.

Renee’s bridal photos at The Captain White House in Graham were some of my favorite of the year.

At Renee & Jason’s Graham, NC wedding.

We document the whole day. This is Renee & Jason having a bite before they were announced into their reception.

I love Higs. And I’m sure he loves me for posting these awesomely-flattering images of him at their reception.

Ashley & TJ’s just because photos were kind of impromptu. They’re friends of ours and we ended up shooting them when we were hanging out one evening, so Nolan tagged along. He is such an awesome, laid-back kid!

Alon & Ira’s Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport wedding photos.

Left: We asked Higs to hold Ira’s glasses for a second while I took a quick shot and I turned around to find him trying them on.

 

Higs & I got to Danielle & Ray’s wedding a little early so we decided to scope the place out. I, being as graceful as I am, rolled my ankle and went sprawling on my hands and knees. I skinned my hand and ripped my favorite pants. I didin’t have a camera in hand so no equipment was harmed in this act of clumsiness. Whew.

We have a tendancy to put ourselves in awkward positions just to get a shot. Totally worth it.

I was shooting the image on the left of Danielle’s flower girl, and then I got a call from Higs to say he could see me in the window.

Left: what I was shooting. Right: my husband sneaking into my shot.

Left: Higs in action. Right: his resulting shot.

Left: Higs shooting Melissa & Ryan’s just because photos. Right: one of his resulting shots.

Higs got me (left) as I was shooting Melissa & Ryan (right)…

…then I got him shooting me.

We never invade our clients’ personal space. Ever.

Higs got me as I was shooting a series of Candice & Daniel in Charlotte.

And finally, just a wide shot as I made my way back from scoping out an area during the shoot with Candice & Daniel.

Have a safe and happy holiday! Enjoy, relax and spend it with the people you love the most.

The last time we got snow in North Carolina was back in March, just a few days before Nolan was born. So he finally got to experience it this weekend, in a semi-ghetto way. He wasn’t sure about it at first…

…but then he loved it!

We never bought him (and don’t plan on buying him anytime soon) snow pants or boots. What’s the point? He’d probably outgrow them before he got to use them. But, we made him a sled. Out of a garbage bag. And he loved it!

He also went to his first Christmas Parade.

We were a little irritated that it started 45 minutes late.

And he helped us decorate for Christmas.

And over the past few weeks, he’s just been exploring everything. Crawling only to a place where he can pull himself up to stand, then hold on and walk around.

Grace is 6 and Ava is 3. They’re sisters, and friends, and full of energy. When at all possible, Higs & I prefer to shoot with any natural light that is available, which is part of the reason we like to shoot outside. But the day I shot Grace & Ava was one of the chilliest, wettest, and dreariest days Winston-Salem had seen in a while. So we shot inside, which allowed me to play with my camera settings to try and capture the spunk and energy of these sisters. This series of images is quickly becoming one of my favorites because it’s obvious that Grace & Ava’s parents, Brett & Tasha, are raising them in a house full of love and happiness, which is why their energy shines right through.

I love these next two!

They did a great job wrapping a few Christmas presents all by themselves…

…or with a little help from Mom…

…or each other.

We bundled up and took just a few outside on their porch before we froze.

Hopefully the 4″-8″ of snow they’re calling for tonight/tomorrow will help with the transition of your move to Boston!

Higs & I are both morning people. (And it’s a good thing, because 6:30am is considered sleeping in in Nolan’s world.) Anyway, I love starting the day early. It makes me feel as though I’ve got so much more time in the day to spend with my family and/or scratch things off my to-do lists. I don’t want to waste time sleeping. If I was smarter, I’d develop a safe and healthy way for the body to function on only an hour or two of sleep. Or if I was richer, I’d pay someone to develop it for me.

I want to live and embrace every waking minute as much as I can, so I often have to remind myself to take a step back from the craziness and enjoy the little things in life.

This was the sight I enjoyed from my back door this morning at 7:08am. Early-morning wake-up calls are definitely worth it.