I love that I get to live in a place that lets me meet me meet new friends from all over the world! Regina is a talented photographer from San Fransisco, California. She has a heart of gold and in the most expensive city in the country, she offers fine art photography for an affordable price to all.  She has traveled all over the world but settled in California with her boyfriend Monty. The day was sunny but chilly and they braved the Rome winter with ease. "Do it for the Insta!" we kept reminding ourselves.  I loved exploring my favorite park in Rome with these two good  souls. Drew and I first walked this route on Thanksgiving and I loved the way the light streamed in through the trees that I hoped I'd be able to photograph a rad couple here! We met at the Piazza del Popolo and then climbed all the stairs up to an incredible view of the Roman skyline. The church at the top of the Spanish Steps to our left, The Vatican, The Supreme Court, Castle Sant'Angelo, and a sea of colorful buildings and church domes. We wandered into the adjacent 16th century park of the Villa Borgehse gardens and found hidden monuments like the Temple of Aesculapius and pond. I had the best afternoon with them talking about photography and life, and I so look forward to getting together again when Drew and I visit his brother in San Fran!  

I've known Leigh Katherine Bonner since she was itty bitty! She and my sister played soccer together and my dad coached their soccer team for years! On one of my trips home from Miami I even got to take pictures of my friend and her sister Allison and their new puppy! It got featured on The Daily Dog Tag! So I was so stoked when Leigh said she was traveling with college friend Niklas Sade. I bribed them with pizza and espresso to wake up early and adventure to the famous Roman sites while the streets were still empty. It was so amazing to see the Spanish Steps clear! The Trevi Fountain had a film crew so we couldn't get down all the way to the bottom, but it was a beautiful site. And when we arrived at the Pantheon the sun just started peaking out over the edge of the 125 AD temple. It was an awesome weekend hanging out and celebrating together! Leigh Katherine was just named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 as a Social Entrepreneur for her incredible, world changing work with her company Bee Downtown. This fourth generation bee keeper is  focused on building healthy, sustainable, honey bee communities around the world by place beehives on buildings. Read up about her amazing work and give them some love! Thank you for Roaming around the city in the morning with me! Come back and visit soon :D

I was so excited when José contacted me on Instagram to ask about photographing around the Colosseum with his girlfriend, Yuli. He's from Chile and she's from Argentina. They're Instagram influencers traveling Europe and taking photos in all the iconic locations. Traveling together is such an incredible thing. You get to experience unique cultures, old history, and amazing food while also navigating a different language, getting around a new city, and balancing relaxation and adventure. My dad is from Chile so I was able to speak Spanglish and talk about Santiago and Patagonia where my family is. José lived in NYC where he was first discovered as a model so we related to being struggling artists and about favorite US cities. He also just won a big model competition, Mister Chile, and worked with Mens Fashion Week in Miami so we were able to talk about Miami Beach too! Such a cool and small world to have these connections!  They were a joy to work with. They were positive, curious, and go with the flow, my kind of couple! I loved showing them the Colosseum and capturing their love in The Eternal City. 

You can follow their travels on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/melalcalde/
https://www.instagram.com/yulicagna/ 

Thank you for a beautiful Italian morning photographing around Rome!

I don't even know where to start with these two. Burcu and I have known each other since we were 14 years old. It took until senior year of high school though for our life long sisterhood to cement. We traveled to Costa Rica together, along with Drew and a few friends, and served in a small beach community there helping local kids. We went to the same university and went through a lot of life ups and downs together. That's when you know a friendship is forever. We're there for each other in the valleys and there to celebrate the mountain tops. Her beautiful soul is kind, generous, and humor. Her open heart is full of determination, bravery, and healing powers. Her inspiring mind is justice oriented, full of light, and ready to make the world a better place. When Drew and I first met Will, we knew there was something special about him. He is humble, enthusiastic, and altruistic. Always a smile, always a plan to improve our planet, always ready to make B happy. They are the perfect balance, the perfect pair, the perfect match. Hands and action, sun and moon, breathing and living. The best example of this is how they both proposed to each other! Yup! Will proposed next to the gorgeous Saxapahaw River followed by a party with friends and family and Burcu proposed at the end of a Leslie Knope-esque scavenger hunt around the Triangle and Triad. Just the most thoughtful and romantic pair!!!

Lauren and Garrett recently moved down to Durham and wanted to celebrate their engagement with a trip to the Eno River! Garrett works in biotech by day working with gene and cell therapy and in his off hours he's a professional angler! Lauren is equally as cool. She works with x-rays and loves greenery so of course we had to combine fishing poles and lush forest for their session! Lauren's mom even created a sweet sign for them too! Since Hurricane Florence had just rolled through, the mosquitos were absolutely terrible but they were troopers and weren't event phased. They survived a big move, hurricane, and hoard of insects an still are madly in love and full of cheer. I think they can conquer anything together!

I was sooo honored when Jose emailed me asking if I was available to photograph his proposal. He was so excited over email that I couldn't wait for the day to come! He had ever detail planned and involved their family and friends. Betsy always wanted to visit Vizcaya and her sisters sneakily took her one lovely afternoon. We looked over maps, planned out her route, and even got the security guards to help us scout her arrival. As she arrived to the spot with her back turned, Jose came down the stairs to surprise her. He handed her a rose, said the sweetest promises, and then got down on one knee. I was shaking like a leaf bubbling with nerves and excited to get the shot. I think it's perfect :) As he slipped on the engraved ring, her sisters and friends in to congratulate them as the crowd that had gathered cheered. It was so beyond heart warming, I have chills rethinking about the lapping waves, the hot sun, the smiles, the joy, and being able to document the next chapter in their love story. This is my last engagement session in Miami before we move to Raleigh then Rome, Italy. It was a perfect one to end one! Thank you for letting me join and a million congratulations!!

I first met Maureen & Gerald at my favorite place in Miami's Art District, Wynwood's Salty Donut. It was like love, I mean, super friendship at first sight. We talked, laughed, Gerald pointed out celebrities, I ate like 4 GF donuts, and we made plans to all hang out again at the new riverside bar, The Warf. Miami has soo many amazing places to explore that it's helpful to have a guide like Maureen. She's an incredibly talented writer (check out her site HERE) and I frequently come across her articles when I'm Googling about where to eat in Miami. And then I feel really cool and proud when I see her name at the bottom! Her fiancé is just as kind and loving with a heart for service. He was a science teacher with a goal to provide interactive education and build up his students. Now, he's starting his journey as pharmacist! If this faith centered, high school sweet hearts, power couple love story isn't already making you swoon, just check out these photos!! 

We adventured to a field in Coral Gables, prayed for dry skies, and skipped through the tall grass to chase the dipping sun. She looked radiant in her black v neck dress with orange and peach complimenting hair piece and bouquet from the talented Sara Rose Coulored Florals. I also loved Gerald's light gray jacket, their hilarious felt letter board sign, and just their genuine and pure love. I'm so honored to have made life long friends and overjoyed to be a part of their wedding celebrations!

Love y'all!!!!

Where to even begin!?! Drew and I have known Ryan since high school in Raleigh, NC. Ryan and I took tons of classes together, survived (ish) Spanish, and then he and Drew became room mates for 3 years of college! Ryan was in our wedding and has made so many trips to Chapel Hill to see us. We have so many good memories together over the past 10 years! We're beyond grateful for his friendship! Ryan is witty, smart, and caring. I always know when Drew giggles at a text that Ryan probably sent some clever gif. When Ryan moved to Charlotte for his engineering job he started playing volleyball with a group of friends. Sara was also in that group and the two hit (ha) it off. Ryan is insanely athletic, I watched him and Drew play lots of soccer in college and we played ultimate with him, so when we started hearing about this amazing girl who dominated the courts we were intrigued. We couldn't wait to meet Sara at a friend's wedding. We danced, and laughed, played bocce ball, and had a blast together. Drew and I got in the car to head home and immediately said/knew they were going to be together forever. Truly, we knew they were the perfect match in so many ways. Sara's just as bright, energetic and thoughtful. She's an educator at a local state park and has lived and traveled all over the world.

Over Christmas, they ventured to South Africa and went on a safari. After an amazing day seeing wild dogs, and the big 5, Ryan organized a tent side romantic dinner for two where he proposed. Just beyond perfection. He even custom designed her engagement ring!!! Just the level of romance and thoughtfulness makes my heart so full!

Drew and I were over the moon when they texted saying they booked their flight to come see us in Miami!! It had been too long and we couldn't wait to properly celebrate their engagement in person and show them around our city before we take off on our own adventure. We went to the art district, floated all day in the ocean, played games at yummy sea food by the marina, and just laughed and told stories and dreamed about the future. This engagement session was a joy to photograph. While I can't wait to be back in Raleigh photographing families, engagements, and weddings, I love being a wedding photographer in Miami because we can run around in the sand and sea and catch amazing sunsets! They were just authentically them! We got a few romantic moments and classic poses in there but I just love the energy and joy in them too!

​We are so grateful to both of y'all and can't wait for next July in Asheville!!!

Sara's just going to be my second photographer now, thanks Drew, haha. She just picked up the camera and now we know how it feels to be on the other side for a hot awkward second! Is there anything you can't do Sara?! 

I am always so humbled when my friends/clients refer other friends/couples my way! Andrea and Jeff (view gorgeous wedding HERE) so kindly set us up and mother nature responded in kind with dry skies! Summer in South Florida can be unpredictable with lots of afternoon storms. I was so thrilled to capture a few photos in celebration of their engagement and upcoming wedding in France! Derek is in aviation so it I was happy to capture a plane in one of their shots and also break out the drone! M+D rocked the all white and the wind provided the most romantic feel to the evening. The spins, dips, and lifts were magical as the sun set over South Beach! So happy we got to meet and laugh, and I can't wait to see their stunning wedding photos!