First comes love,

then comes marriage 

here comes A & C with a...well you know the rest!

Engagement photography location: The JC Raulston Arboretum

Wedding photography location: The Doubletree by Hilton in Durham, NC

Maternity portraits location : The NC Museum of Art

One of the best things about being a wedding & engagement photographer is getting to capture the proverbial 'circle of life on a yearly basis. Its an amazing thing to see a family dynamic develop in front of my lens like a Polaroid picture.

Its a real blessing to be able to capture the love shared between soul mates, husbands and wives & to know that someday their children will see these photographs and know for sure that their Mommy and Daddy loved them even before they were born. 

My clients A & C have been together for many years and are just the sweetest couple ever. Every moment spent working with them was a blast as we apparently shared the same sense of humor and laid back candor. :)

We first worked together at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh NC when I photographed their engagement portraits. As usual the Arboretum did not disappoint in the background category as a beautiful afternoon unfolded. 

The next year flew by and before we knew it their wedding day was here! C & A were to be married at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Durham NC. They had originally planned to wed outside on the back garden lawn but a thunderstorm filled afternoon forced the couple to move their ceremony inside one of the hotels 'smallish conference rooms at the last minute. Yep, it was CROWDED for sure but this never dampened the spirits of the happy couple or their guests as the vows were exchanged.

After the ceremony we headed outside to dodge a few raindrops to capture the wedding party and couples portraits on the waterfall behind the hotel. Got to love big personalities mixed with confident smiles!!

Once the rain returned in ernest it was time to return to the hotel to attend the wedding reception which was held under a great big event tent on the hotel property. C & A shared their first dance with grace and it was a real treat to capture so many shared candid moments of my clients families and friends as they laughed and danced the night away.

A year had passed since C & A tied the knot and one afternoon I received a call from C asking me if I photographed Maternity portraits. I actually haven't done this before and was a little unsure on exactly how to go about it but I ended up telling C. that if she would take the chance of being my first maternity photo session client then I'd be happy to capture these photos for free since I wasn't 100% sure that I could  deliver the results she was looking for and the worst that could happen is that she's got some free extra photos.

C. wanted to have her maternity session taken somewhere with a contemporary artsy vibe so we chose the always beautiful NC Museum of Art downtown Raleigh NC as the perfect spot to capture these photos. C & A did a lovely job smiling for the camera and the thing I was most worried about "posing" turned out not to be so scary as C & A just naturally made these relaxed photos glow with the warmth of their love for each other and unborn child.

I am forever greatfull to have people like A & C in my life to help me grow as a photographer and as a person. My wish is that these photos that Iv'e taken will help generations of families connect today or 50 years from now. Though I have much to learn in regards to the art of photography I know that if I'm blessed along the way with people like C & A my work will only get better as each day passes.

I am looking forward now to capturing my 2nd newborn photoshoot when their little boy is born soon. Good times ahead, wish me luck!

-S.SIko