Hot night with a hot couple!

Kelley and John are getting Married here in Raleigh in October. They wanted something a little different for their engagement pictures. Lately, I've been trying to sell folks on the idea of nightlife sessions. What better way is there to remember being young and having fun than to have a night on the town documented?

Anyway, we started at Fletcher Park in Raleigh and hit a few nice spots on Glenwood South. I'm amazed by all the growth that's going on downtown. It's very cool to see the renewed interest in a more urban lifestyle.

Enough chatter from me... here are some pics.

No bridals for you!

It's like bridal portrait season or something. I'm starting to get dizzy with all the scheduling going on. Add 100+ degree heat and you have a recipe for a very sweaty Shane. I had to make an emergency Costco run to replenish my deodorant supply. That way, even if I look like I just jumped into a swimming pool, I'll smell like fresh... uh... sport scent.

But I digress. I'd love to show you some recent bridals but I don't trust those pesky grooms-to-be... they don't need to sneak a peek before the big day. So, I'll share some more fun pics from recent shoots.

First off: Nate and Robin. What an awesome couple. They agreed to be my guinea pigs for a night shoot in Chapel Hill and it really paid off for them. We nabbed some unique and interesting shots. Far from your traditional couple, Nate and Robin stayed out late with me and the wife and we drank a few beers and traded punk rock show stories at Milltown Tavern in Chapel Hill. Fun night. Beer is yummy.

The funny thing is that Nate was really nervous about the whole idea of a portrait session. But I think nervous people make for more interesting subjects - they tend to laugh more and be more spontaneous. So, it's OK to be nervous around me - just like all the ladies. (I can hear my wife laughing in the background).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Hello world!

I decided today to take the plunge into the vast blog universe. I had been avoiding blogging because I have a famously big mouth and a penchant for controversy. Also, in my previous life as a newspaper reporter, sharing your thoughts publicly was frowned upon. Now free from the chains of journalism ethics, I'm baring all. Think of this blog as soul-nudism.

I want this place to be honest. Yeah, sure it's a marketing tool. But you'll also be able to learn about me and get a feel for my personality. On second thought, maybe it's not such a good marketing tool.

I'll be posting images from weddings and thoughts about my journey through this crazy life.

Thanks for reading. I'm adding some of my favorite wedding pictures so you can get a feel for my work.

This one is an absolute favorite. It's a real moment (not set up). It's my first AGWPJA award winner (I have a few under my belt now). Oh, and that would be the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalism Association - of which I am a member.


This one is featured on my website. It looks like a setup shot, right? Wrong. It's a real moment. The bride was laughing because the wind caught her veil. While I do setup portraits, I don't try to fake real moments. I think that's cheating.


Guys, do not do this. It will make your honeymoon very awkward. Of course, this particular bride kind of had it comin'. She got him first. This one is another *cough* award-winner for the WPJA.


OK, this is probably my most recognizable shots. It was my first WPJA top ten placement. It's reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock, which is no coincidence. I'm a huge fan of old movies and one of my favorites is Hitchcock's Vertigo. My creative eye is very influenced by cinema.


That's enough for now. I hope you return and enjoy some photography and some random observations on life.