Jessica + Derek- Rain Drops, Sunflowers & Mini Pies at Timber Hall

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I have been so fortunate to work with Jessica and Derek for a few photo sessions now. We did a CrossFit themed engagement session and then another engagement session at Biltmore. Totally different but all a true and wonderful part of them. I got to see how they interact together, and see the love that is expressed between the two of them in all things. And there’s always laughter, which is so important!

We can’t say that the wedding day had picturesque weather, because it didn’t, but as in life (and as in marriage) it’s how you deal with what is sent your way that determines your happiness. And Jessica and Derek handled it with grace, and beauty…and of course love. The ceremony got moved indoors after realizing that people would be frozen in the chilly rain that started just before the ceremony time, and persisted into the night.

We were able to venture outside before the rain, however, and got some fun portraits of the bridal party. The girls with their sunflowers, flower rings, and furs to keep them warm.; the boys in their dress vests and jeans, with matching ties. The ceremony was beautiful inside Timber Hall with its sky high wooden-beam ceilings with chandeliers and everyone stayed toasty and dry. Follow that up with family photos, amazing catering by Moe’s BBQ, First Dance and parent dances, speeches and then….the ceremonial cutting of the pie!! Baked Pie company provided the bride and groom pie as well as mini pies in a variety of flavors and fillings. It was so hard to choose just one, and based on the fact that only scattered crumbs remained towards the end of the night, I think people fixed that be eating more than one, LOL. SO YUMMY!

Jessica and Derek were troopers, venturing out in the pouring rain for their bridal portraits. It was actually pouring! No longer sprinkling, but coming down with a vengeance. We did the old Umbrella Running In and Out trick. But just based on the super short amount of time and the limited movement we had on the soaked ground, we decided to do a bridal re-do! Jessica got to have a little mini-wedding day, with new hair and make-up, a new venue, and then a night out on the town in their fancy outfits. How many people can say they got to wear their dress twice back to back? It was fun getting to revisit the day and bring back all the feelings of joy!

Thank you so much to Jessica and Derek for choosing me as your wedding photographer, and also for planning such fun engagement sessions! I wish you lifetimes of happiness and joy.

Vendor Love

Venue- Timber Hall Events

Wedding Hair- Ashley Stevens - Hollywood Vampires

Wedding Makeup-Kelly Cook Luna- Blue Studio

Brides Dress- David’s Bridal

Bridesmaids-Bella Bridesmaids

Groom/Groomsman-Men’s Wear house/Old Navy

Catering-Moe’s BBQ

DJ-Andy Buckwalter

Flowers-Farm to Function

Desserts-Baked Pie Company

Bridal hair and makeup- Kendall Burgess Studio Capelli


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Erin + Michael- An Autumn Wedding At The Bywater

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I love being a wedding photographer more then anything else I do!  But it’s even BETTER when you get to photograph the wedding of a friend.  Erin introduced me to Michael and immediately I liked him and I LOVED them together.  Such an amazing calm and centered energy between them; anyone can tell right away their connection is strong.  And how cute that it was at the Bywater, our old favorite hang out.  

Their plan was to have a laid back and chill wedding day with a focus on what was important…love, family and friends. We started the day with Erin surrounded by her close knit group of girls, doing her hair and makeup, and getting her dressed in her gorgeous wedding dress with YELLOW SHOES, OMG I loved them so much.  It brought such a wonderful Autumnal feel to her look.  Ceremony was simply laid out with the river as the backdrop.  The weather was perfect!  And Erin and Michael were shining in their love for each other, with the sun slowly setting behind them. 

Reception kicked off with Purple People Feeder while everyone settled into the bonfire with drinks from the bar.  After the first dance between the newly wed bride and groom, everyone cut a rug to their favorite tunes.  A unique cake topper of personalized Erin and Michael candles brought in the artistic feel that they share.  Talk about artistic, they MADE the guest gift for everyone to take home; a beautiful print they collaborated on and printed together. 

The whole day was gorgeous and a perfect joining between two wonderful people.  And now I can add one more reason why I love the Bywater!

VENDORS WHO ROCK!

Venue- The Bywater

Jewelry- Elementality

Flowers: Carolina Flowers

Dress: Tre Bella Bridal

Catering: Purple People Feeder Food Truck

Dessert: Short Street Cakes

Hair & Make-Up: My sister :)

DJ: Michael's Friend, Alex Farrar

Forest Goddess Maternity Session with Avyanna + Phoenix

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Avyanna and Phoenix were blessed with their little “blueberry” to be born this November. When we chatted about locations for the maternity photo shoot they knew exactly where they wanted it to be; Big Ivy Pisgah National Forest. It was a magical place that they felt a strong connection to. So Big Ivy we went!

The mossy rocks and cascading river creating little mini falls and pools, and the beautiful trees created a sunlit canopy with shafts of light breaking through. In fact when we got there, one beam was lighting up a large rock right in the middle of the river. I urged them to jump in quickly so we could grab a few shots while the beam was still present. We started shooting, and about 15 photos in, the beam disappeared behind the mountain in the distance, and all that was left was the memory of it’s beauty. Thanks beam of light, for visiting us even for that one,short moment.

It wasn’t a challenge to get Avyanna and Phoenix to cuddle and love each other. It was such a beautiful day and such a precious moment. Just swimming in a sea of endless love for each other. And for an unexpected funny moment, I had climbed up on a rock and had a little fight with a small bush trying to get into just the right position. After getting some amazing pics of them they looked up and started laughing. Avyanna said she had to take a picture of me with my phone so I could see for myself. See for yourself how the foliage and I had a little cuddle moment, LOL. Whatever has to be done to get the photo, right?

Here’s to the future day when you bring little Blueberry there to frolic in the river and experience the joy with all three of you.

Jessica + Brandon Wedding Day- From City Hall to Biltmore With Love

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It’s amazing how things can happen when true love is involved! I hadn’t see Jessica in a while, after doing some photography for her amazing business Bluebird Designs, and suddenly there she is, on facebook, expecting! I was overjoyed and reached out, only to get a message from her just before mine went through. Love when stuff like that happens. SO…we got together again to capture this amazing life moment with her new hubby, Brandon.

Brandon and her fell madly in love, and hey, why wait! With the blessing of this new little one on the way, they wanted to get married but without all the hubbub that comes with planning a huge event. Asheville courthouse wedding it was! But still wanting to have a special and meaningful moment between them, they planned a photo shoot and vow reading at Blitmore, to capture the beauty of nature as well. After roaming around, and probably taking more pictures than they thought (sorry guys, you were just too magnificent! I couldn’t control myself) we settled on the beautiful bridge leading away from the gardens and around the lake. It was so picturesque. With my amazing hubby capturing with second camera from across the lake, I was close by to capture their very special vow exchange. Weddings are all about celebrating the love between two people in a way that is special and meaningful to them, and that’s exactly what they planned! Loved everything about it.

Baby is due in November of this year!! And who knows, maybe they will have a wedding party next year to cover two amazing things; their blessed union and their new family member! Thank you Jessica and Brandon for bringing me into your special wedding day. I am SO happy for you both and the life you are embarking on together. May you have endless joy, laughter and love through your days together.

Jessica + Derek - Biltmore Engagement and Sunflower Love

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Jessica and Derek are tying the knot in October this year. We actually did TWO engagement sessions, which I LOVE! It got to show two completely different sides of their love; Love of the Gym and their connection to Biltmore and of course…sunflowers. I love the juxtaposition from the tough and interior gym shots and the bright, sunny, flowery shots at Biltmore.

Here’s the link to the gym blog post - https://www.studiomisha.com/blog/2019/4/21/jessica-derek-tough-love-engagement-session-at-south-slope-crossfit

So our Biltmore destination was a special memory for them, since Derek proposed to Jessica at Chihuly Nights. We actually went back to the exact bench where the magic happened. When I heard the recount of the story I discovered that, since they were already sitting, Derek didn’t go down on one knee. I had to laugh because almost 14 years ago now when my hubby proposed, he didn’t go down on one knee either (We were at a beautiful picnic at a park). So we re-created a proposal on the beautiful lawn by the gardens. Don’t get me wrong, it’s so wonderfully open these days to do whatever is in your heart or what you feel when it comes to a proposal; the beauty is in the meaning and the love behind the actions. But there’s also something nostalgically beautiful about tradition, at least to me.

We had a serious chuckle when we arrived at the sunflower field. For those of you that have been there before when they’re in peak season, it’s magnificent. The sunflowers are like 6 feet tall and the size of a bowling ball! When we got there……they were adolescents LOL. We made the best of it, and had some fun doing it! We were also lucky to find the train exhibit there in the gardens. With all of us being pass holders we had the freedom to go wherever we wanted. And there was an epic recreation of the Biltmore House in natural materials. Like a fairy house you would build in the woods, but on a grande scale!

I’m super excited for their wedding day. The weather is going to be Autumnal and gorgeous and I’m betting on amazing color by then. As their wedding photographer I got to experience it all with them. It’s why weddings are so magical for me, and I’m grateful everyday that I get to make this my career. Make sure to come back and see the wedding photos!

This is the perfect “Man Lean” achieved. I love when a groom rocks his model pose!

Baby Kyllian Newborn Session - Music, Medicine and Owls

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The best part about doing maternity sessions? NEWBORN SESSIONS! And in this case, it was wedding to maternity to newborn. My amazing couple from 2017 got back in touch with me to capture this very special moment in their lives. It’s such a privilege to be in this profession and take part in the amazing moments like this.

So Jamie and Rob new they wanted a few things for this session. An owl hat, a medicine theme for Rob and a music theme for Jamie. They are loving their cloth diapers and used many of the unique ones they have to play into these themes. We got a genuine Baby Ky smile right off the bat! It wasn’t gas, it was a smile, I know it! And he was amazing and sweet through the entire rest of the session. Well, balancing him on a cello was not his favorite LOL, but third times a charm with some extra cushioning underneath, and voila, the music them with all of Jamie’s instruments.

Thank you SO MUCH Jamie and Rob for connecting with me again and letting me be a part of this very special moment. Can’t wait for many more family memories for you both! Joy, love and laughter to you all.

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Vintage Glamour in Downtown Asheville- Juliette + Keevon at Rennaissance Hotel

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Downtown Asheville is a beautiful and eclectic metropolis, both with a modern edge and breathtaking scenic views from all angles. Our real life couple, Juliette and Keevon, were a perfect fit for this downtown wedding.  We picked TWO fabulous dresses for Juliette at Wedding Inspirations Bridal Boutique; a wedding dress that fit like a glove with a gorgeous, dramatic train, AND a beaded, fringe reception dress giving a nod to the roaring twenties for the after party. It was great that they had so much selection at the same store; Wedding dresses, mother of the bride, some wedding party, reception dresses, flower girl dresses, robes and so many jewelry and accessories. This is my first styled shoot I’ve done with a reception dress and I definitely plan to do it again. I loved having a whole second look to play with and Juliette and Keevon had fun pretending they were in the “kick-back party time” segment of the wedding day.

For Keevon, we fitted a classic black and white tux from Mitchell’s Tuxedos. Kathy is a genius and picked out the perfect look for him.  And he looked SO handsome in it! Some men were just born to wear tuxes. For the second look, with something this classic, we just lost the bow tie and partied on into the night.

A special touch to our couple’s photo shoot was a 1955 Bel Air classic car, bringing an old Hollywood feel. Burrell Vintage Cars parked it right outside the hotel, and we couldn’t stop clicking away. For couples who want a special touch, you can’t go wrong with a classic car! The pictures from that part of the day had such an amazing flair because of the beauty of that car paired with this gorgeous couple.

From the super chic lobby to the top floor views of the mountains and surrounding city, The Renaissance Hotel was the perfect venue for our shoot.  For couples who have lots of out of town guests, a large amount of guests who might range in age or needs , or people who just love amenities, a hotel wedding is a perfect choice. Renaissance Hotel is also a dog friendly hotel, making this a perfect destination for dog lovers. You can do everything from your bachelorette pool party or bridal shower, to rehearsal dinner, to wedding and reception, even the morning after breakfast; with a hotel wedding, it’s all in one spot. And as a wedding videographer and photographer here in Asheville, I can speak from experience that it’s nice to have that capability. And not to get rained out LOL.

We really enjoyed showing such a wide range of moments with our couple; from sweet and cuddly overlooking the sunset, to edgy and editorial in front of the RH bookshelf.   We had the best; the venue, the amazing flowers and chic cake, the FABULOUS dresses and tux, a one of a kind classic car, not to mention award winning hair and make-up, and the sweetest, cutest couple. Thank you to everyone for your passion and creativity. This wedding styled shoot will be hard to top!

Special thanks to Christine at Renaissance for taking care of us all day, and Silvio for such a beautifully decorated table!

VENDORS WE LOVE

Photography- Studio Misha Photography

Venue- Renaissance Asheville Hotel

Hair- Britton Asheville with Eclipse Salon

Beauty- Frances Martinez with Franky and Rouge 

Flowers- Asheville Wedding Florist

Cake- Parfaits and Petit Fours 

Bridal Fashion- Wedding Inspirations Bridal Boutique

Groom’s Fashion- Mitchell’s Tuxedos

Antique Car- Burrell Vintage Cars

Photo Assist- Myriah Wood 

Bride Model- Preston Juliette Owen

Groom Model- Darius Keevon Baten

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Jamie + Rob with Baby Kyllian - Revisiting Memories at Fletcher Park

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My favorite thing in my profession is that I get to re-visit with people throughout their lives. I get to be there to witness and capture some of their greatest moments. Jamie and Rob worked with me as their wedding photographer back in 2017. And now, two years later, I am photographing their maternity session with baby and family photos to come. It almost feels like I just saw them yesterday! Time passes so quickly.

It’s such a beautiful moment to capture a little one while they’re still with mom, nestled inside and just waiting to spring forth. And it’s super important to schedule maternity sessions early! LOL. It has happened more times than I can count that the maternity session never happened because baby came early. And baby Ky was no exception.

We went back to Fletcher Park where we had done the engagement session. It was fun to revisit those memories and do another river shoot just like their previous one. Unfortunately it wasn’t in the same exact location. It had rained A LOT and the river was so high and fast it would have been impossible. But through exploration we found a little side river that was almost the same, BUT SAFE! One shouldn’t endanger their couples during their maternity session.

Can’t wait to meet baby Kyliian, or baby Ky, at our session next week. I need my baby fix :) Congrats to these amazing parents as they begin their next life journey together.

 
Here’s a look back at our engagement session from 2017. This specific river spot was full of rushing, brown water from storms, however we lucked out with a side river, and we accomplished our goal! Who knows, maybe we’ll have to bring baby Ky here t…

Here’s a look back at our engagement session from 2017. This specific river spot was full of rushing, brown water from storms, however we lucked out with a side river, and we accomplished our goal! Who knows, maybe we’ll have to bring baby Ky here too!

 

Avyanna + Phoenix - Sanctuary in the Pines at Highland Lake Cove Retreat Center

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This wedding day was just a glorious collection of people, emotions and shining elements of beauty and love that came together to bless these two people, Avyanna and Phoenix, as they joined their lives together. Every piece of the day was intentional, and brought in for reasons meant to enhance and elevate. These two are true soul mates! And I am overjoyed not only that I got to be there to witness and capture it as their photographer, but also because I get to count them as special people who matter to me in my life.

Avyanna was a vision in her pink, sparkly “princess” dress! Their little one, soon to be joining their family, took a center place in the middle of the day, always there, always feeling into everything they were experiencing, and soaking up all the love. Even when we had to make a run for it during our couples pictures early in the day when a HUGE wall of water was falling from the sky and making its way toward us, there was always a smile and a happy kiss between the couple. The rain was just another beautiful element.

The ceremony was the most moving part of the day. Avyanna made her way down the aisle with a slow march, taking in every face, every detail, soaking up every second of this important journey. I got teary eyed watching it! And at the end of the ceremony, after their first kiss as a married couple, they surprised everyone with a first dance, right there in front of all family and friends, complete with bubbles. Their exit song was singing “thank you”s to everyone there, and Avyanna and Phoenix hugged and had a special moment with everyone in attendance. I am going to have to steal that idea for myself in the future LOL.

This was such a lovely and heart-felt celebration. And I’m so honored that they chose me to be their wedding photographer and videographer. We captured the ceremony to be relived forever, and with all those special moments, I’m so glad they made that decision. Blessings to you both and little “blueberry”. More joy soon to come.

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Gabi + Trey at Long Leaf Vinyard- Wedding Sneak Peak

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This was one of the most picturesque weddings of the season! Not only are Gabi and Trey a beautiful and sweet couple, but it seemed that every element of the day came together in a magical way. The weather, although on the hot side, was perfect. Blue sky with white puffy clouds met with green, hillside vineyards to create a stunning view behind the ceremony site. And there were dark clouds peaking up in the distance causing a light sprinkled for about 2 minutes, and then it was clear the rest of the day. Flowers by Blue Ridge Blooms along with NINE beautiful bridesmaids added pops of blush and pink everywhere. Add in a classic and chic reception tent with chandeliers, a rockin’ band, and happy smiling friends and family, and you get an AMAZING wedding day!

I’m so grateful to have been a part of this day! Thank you Gabi and Trey for choosing me to be your videographer. I can’t wait to get it all done for you to enjoy. For now, here’s a little sneak peak to bring back the joyful memories of the day.

Vendors Extraordinaire

Videography- Studio Misha

Venue- Long Leaf Vineyard

Flowers- Blue Ridge Blooms

Caterer and Cake- Verbena Cakes & Catering

Ceremony Music- Ben Phan

Photography- Chelsea Allegra

Reception Music- ECE: Nigel Experience

Hair and Makeup- AnaRie

Signage- Freckles and Ink

Wedding Planner- Carolina Love Events

DOC- Nikki Sciurba