Sunday
Jul112010

camping on july fourth

I'm sure some of you are wondering if I actually do any design work anymore, seeing as most of my posts lately have been heavy in photographic wares. The answer - of course - is yes, I am super busy with design. And I promise to post more of that in the very near future. However, with that said, here I go again with yet another group of summer pics - a weekend in Blowing Rock over the Fourth of July. We hiked. We camped. We made s'mores. And, we wore our winter coats. It was 49 degrees Saturday night in the mountains. 49 degrees. In July. Amazing.

He never says "no" when I ask to pull over at random places on the side of majoy thruways to take a picture. And he always waits paitently while I risk my life crossing the street to get the "perfect" shot. He's the best.

Favorite shot of the weekend:

Yes, I am afraid of heights. Don't judge me.

Ron, Kelly, Moxie - it was such a blast to spend the weekend with you guys - lets do it again soon!

Friday
Jul022010

summer breakfast

Summer is my favorite time of year. Summer brings with it - an excuse to walk barefoot in freshly cut grass - impromptu house guests - fireflies on after-dinner walks with the dogs - trips to the mountains, and trips to the beach - longer days and richer sunsets.

And, Summer brings bowls of fresh berries that transform into pancakes on Sunday mornings.

The car is packed and the dogs are anxious as we prepare to head up to Blowing Rock in the morning for a camping trip with Ron, Kelly + Moxie. Wishing everyone a very happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!

Wednesday
Jun302010

karen + jeremy: engaged

Some of my favorite things: horses, cows, fields, lakes, blueberries, hydrangea, and the light at the end of a hot day.

Congrats on your engagement, Karen and Jeremy!

Wednesday
Jun232010

izzy catt: v. 8 months

Izzy doesn't really know it yet, but this is our third photo shoot together. The first one was here. The second one, here. And now, months later, she is literally a bouncy bundle of joy. I mean, does it get any cuter than this? I didn't think so.

[this next one could possibly be my very favorite from the day]

Catt family, you're the best -- lets do it again soon. When its not 100 million degrees outside! :)

Wednesday
Jun162010

albums for amy free

Thanks in large part to The Schultzes, I have had the incredible experience of working with even more wedding photographers - Amy Free being just one of them. Below are a few sample spreads from two albums I designed recently for her clients. Check out her work here, its just delightful.

[A soft, breezy island wedding...]

[...and, classic black and white.]

Amy -- so great working with you -- let's do it again soon! :)

Sunday
Jun132010

sugar + spice

And everything nice. That's what little Selmer girls are made of. Not to mention a natural affinity for being in front of the lens. And a palette of pinks, greens and soft vintage-y pastels. Meet Elly and Sofiana.

"Children make you want to start life over."  – Muhammad Ali

Monday
Jun072010

more confessions from an etsy addict

At the start of the new year, I posted some of my favs from Etsy. Unique finds I had bought for holiday gifts, and ones I yearned for. You can see that post here. Well, as we reach the half-way mark in 2010, I thought I would post a new list -- that which I have bought (or received as gifts), and more diddies I yearn for. Especially since the last birthday of my 20s is right around the corner... *nudge*nudge*...

Etsy Finds I've Bought (or Received)

01. Mixed-media wall art - a gift from friends; 02. A graduation gift; 03. A hilarious wood-cut print - appreciated by cyclists and artists alike; 04. A commissioned painting - 10"x48" - just awesome ; 05. Gorgeous tags for all my bridles - a gift from friends; 06. Reusable food storage bags (for all my G-F goodies) - a gift from friends; 07. Hand screen-printed bag from Italy; 08. One for every room in the house - a gift from friends; 09. Linen snack bags - for mom on mother's day; 10. Organic baby wash clothes, for friends with a new baby; 11. Vintage brass heart beads, for a new project of mine; 12. Something about this screamed "you must have it", and now I do - a gift from friends.

Etsy Finds I Love

01. Sweet bracelets in sweet metals; 02. Typographic coasters - duh; 03. A sweet creamer; 04. Wobbly croissant plates in fun colors; 05. An encaustic painting original piece in my fav colors; 06. Who doesn't love blue mason jars?; 07. Connecticut beach house soap - reminds me of home; 08. Big words for the wall - and made from recycled wood? Yes, please; 09. Reclaimed wooden frames; 10. Custom heart art; 11. A pillow of love to lean on; 12. Japanese masking tape - in all the colors and prints possible.

There are many more on my favorites list, but I'll save those for another Etsy-addicted day.

Thursday
Jun032010

lyndsay + quinn

The photo shoot experience with Lyndsay + Quinn brought me back to the photo shoot experience of Lyndsay's bridal portraits, oh-way-back-when. During her bridals, we spent the day being chased by thunderstorms, and now - 2 years and 1 baby later - we spent the day escaping storms again. And even though it took two days to get it right, it was worth it. Quinn, now 5 months old, is just the biggest ham, faux-hawk and all.

Yummmmm...

Thank you, Sunshine...

*Love* these next two...

Lynds - so great to see you and meet your little man! 06.01.2001

Thursday
May272010

a busy may

A woman I know has said, "May is like Christmas without the tree." And while she has kids and I don't, I feel as though I can relate. Here is to hoping that June brings a little more down time.

May 1: Mitey Rider Spring Festival



May 8: Misty Meadows Jr. Equestrians Spring Horse Show



May 15: Impromptu trip to Boone



May 15-16: drumSTRONG


"But what minutes!  Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day."
  – Benjamin Disraeli

Sunday
May232010

new identity: the schultzes

This is the story of one logo becoming another. One company becoming something new, bigger, and better. One wife joinging forces with one husband. This is the story of how Cheyenne Schultz Photography transitioned to become The Schultzes – arguably one of THE best wedding photographers in the state. In the region, even. Maybe ever.

We started this project by hosting a Brainstorming Party. As Cheyenne and Geoff prepared to become a husband-and-wife team within the photography business, they needed both a new name and new design direction. I proposed that we get some people together with good food and attack their brains. A combination of friends, colleagues and clients gathered around the dinner table and opened their minds to silly creative exercises, hard questions about the future of the business and prompts for their opinion on everything that would become The Schultzes.

After compiling all of our notes and thoughts from the party, we dived into round one of concept and design for the new brand. We drank coffee and talked about colors. We exchanged emails with links to visual inspiration. We researched who The Schultzes wanted to target, and how they wanted to represent themselves.

There were many rounds. Many sketches. Many different color selections. Probably over 100 initial ideas. All of which were necessary to come up with the final identity system you see here.

Once we had the final logo direction, it came time to apply it. Complete the correspondence package. The new blog. Website elements. And much more. Our first order of business was, well, the business cards. One of our goals was to be as intentional and careful with wording as we had been with every decision thus far. From what the new URL was (www.lovetheschultzes.com) to the individual titles (i.e. His/Her Other Half). And who could resist adding a little bit of photography to the back... Here is the end result:

From there we moved on to the thank you / correspondence card. Wanting something simple, yet brand-ful.

Lastly, the world wide web. Both the web site and the blog got a facelift, being sure to carry the brand through in every detail. In business today - especially the photography business - a blog showcases one's best and most recent work. The challenge comes in creating a brand that supports and compliments the photographs, but doesn't overshadow them. Once it went live, The Schultzes blog carried their brand and their work seamlessly.

To Cheyenne + Geoff -- thank you so much for the experience of working with you. And continuing to work with you. You are amazing people, and photographers. Congrats on the last year of changes in your business, and all the good ones yet to come. // If you haven't cheked out The Schultzes work, do so now.