The church was just stunningly beautiful and reminded me so much of the churches we saw when we were in Paris two summers ago. It provided a very historic European backdrop for Brittany & Reid’s wedding. Centenary is full of winding stairwells, unique accents and white stone, which was fun for me as I was photographing all the wedding day details.

I love this shot of the rings on the window of the main doors to the church.

The architecture of Centenary’s sanctuary was incredible and very humbling.

As I was shooting the details, Higs got to hang out with the guys.

Centenary’s back door opens up on to 4 1/2 street in downtown Winston-Salem. Yes, there’s actually a 4 1/2 street.

I finished the details just in time to meet up with Sally as Brittany was putting on her dress and veil.

So cute!

It’s go-time!

Just moments after the ceremony.

Reid was such the gentleman with his new bride.

The front steps of Centenary United Methodist Church were the perfect spot for group shots.

It was a tad windy that day!

Congratulations Brittany & Reid! And thanks to Sally for having us shoot with you!

I love Fall. It’s hands-down my favorite season and I look forward to everything about it each year. Tomorrow begins September. A month that, even though today, the last day of August, was 94 degrees and sunny, means that Fall will be here, in full-swing, within the next few weeks. And I say bring it on!

In the spirit of all-things Fall, here’s a color palette created from a few of my favorite Fall photos taken at Stone Mountain State Park. The reds, oranges, yellows and blues are bold, primary colors that all compliment each other just right.

In January, she was coming out of a difficult relationship that just wasn’t working. Then, she got the news that her sister was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. She felt powerless and helpless. It was at that moment that she realized that she needed a change. She needed to do something to take care of herself, but also wanted it to be something that involved helping her sister. So, she signed to complete a triathlon, which is something she had always wanted to do. She selected one that raised money for cancer research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

She began fundraising for the event and training with a group of people who are all there with the same vision and goal because they had all been affected, in one way or another, by cancer. Those people, her teammates, helped her realize how powerful it was to work towards something that has so much reason and emotion behind it.

Candace described the training as spiritual and healing. Every morning when she was up training at 5:00am, she was driven by the thought of her sister, as well as her own personal experiences she was having throughout the training process. She was amazed at what she was able to accomplish, which was so much more than she had ever thought possible. Candace began what she described as a “lovely” relationship with her body and wanted to treat it well by giving it enough rest, the proper food and the right amount of hydration because of all that it was accomplishing for her every single day.

By the time the triathlon came in June, Candace had raised $1,600 and could easily call her teammates her friends. Seeing her sister there, cheering her on as she crossed the finish line, was an amazing feeling.

Her sister’s health at the moment is steady. She’s participating in a clinical trial at Duke and so far, her monthly MRIs have shown no re-growth of the tumor.

Candace said that this experience taught her how to create a good life for herself in body and mind. The triathlon was out of her comfort zone, which was intimidating, but she pushed through and in return, gained so much confidence. It taught her how to get out there and go after something you want, and that it is possible to make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

When we talked on the phone, I was even more drawn to her story and her strength. Candace wanted do a portrait session to celebrate her life and spirit. She wanted to remember how she turned a dark time in life into something beautiful and to document the happiness and contentment she has with life and herself at this point in time.  When I met her for the first time, I felt like I had known her for years. She welcomed me with open arms and we chatted like we were old friends. Her spirit and happiness were not hard to capture because they simply radiated in every word she said.

Candace is currently training for the Olympic-distance Nation’s Triathlon which takes place in September in Washington, DC. She’s raised over $2,600 in preparation for the 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike ride and 10k run.

If you’re interested in learning more about Candace’s experience and fundraising efforts, please visit her personal site.

*Special thanks to Bradley & Jessica Allen (336.768.6195) for doing a beautiful job on Candace’s make-up and hair!

Yes, we stripped our son down to his diaper and let him play in the fountain with the other kids. He loved it!

Shortly after that, he konked out cold for the remainder of our walk.

This is what we saw when we looked up as we crossed the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. It’s a spectacular cable-stay bridge over the Cooper River connecting downtown Charleston and Mt. Pleasant.

We took our point & shoot on the bus tour. When’s the last time Higs & I had a self-take?

We got to spend one of our days at the beach, which was so relaxing.

Nolan enjoyed this beach experience much more than the past few. He was busy playing in the sand and finding shells for a large chunk of the day and even enjoyed jumping waves with us.

And then he konked out again.

I love the creeks and waterways of Charleston. They’re so beautiful and calming, even on a cloudy evening. The view makes me feel like I’m back into an old Southern novel.

Company Name: Floral Visions Design Studio

Owner/Contact: Wayne Hurst

Specialty: Independent and completely personalized floral design for weddings, events, commercial and residential clients.

Areas Serviced: Floral Visions Design Studio is located in Winston-Salem and services all of The Triad.

How many years have you been in business? “I have been designing floral arrangements for over 30 years and, after spending a few years in Atlanta, decided to move back home to Winston and opened Floral Visions Design Studio in 2002.”

What makes your business unique to others in your field? “While we’re known for our signature design flare, we’re very versatile in our design capabilities. We can do everything from simple, classic and conservative Martha Stewart-inspired design to ultra-contemporary and over-the-top designs, not to mention everything in between. No matter  how simple or complex, the sky is the limit. We pay very strong attention to detail which helps us as we strive for impeccable quality.”

“We like to think of ourselves as big-picture people. We don’t just do floral arrangements. We’re considered more of an aesthetic advisor or visual planner. We help bring together the entire look, feel and atmosphere of the event. We’ll assist in selecting everything from the table linens to votives to fabrics and decorations such as Chinese lanterns.”

What excites you when you meet a client for the first time? ”I love getting inside a new client’s head and learning their personality, likes and dislikes. All of that is brought out in the event we design and is captured in the final product. Someone who is whimsical, free-spirited and outgoing would tend to have much more colorful and cutting-edge arrangements, while someone who is more reserved and classic would tend to have an all-white palette and very simplistic and elegant arrangements. Nothing we do is pre-packaged. Everything is completely customized and different for each client.”

Web:  www.floralvisionsdesignstudio.com/

Address: 729 North Peace Haven Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104

Phone: 336.793.2363

Email: floralvisions@msn.com