elizabeth + steve

So I know what you're thinking: Hey, Gretchen isn't a wedding photographer.

And usually, I'm not. But I do make the occasional exception. For Elizabeth and Steve, I'm sure glad I did. It was a tiny wedding, which is why I agreed to do it. (That, and the fact that Steve sounded pretty darn nice from his email.)

It was such a sweet ceremony, and I have to admit it was tough not to cry as they choked back the tears on the altar.

I love documenting love. Some days, my job just couldn't get any cooler:-)





Elizabeth's kids, David and Hannah. David was 4 and his antics while they were saying their vows had me (silently) chuckling to myself.

Isn't she lovely? :-)

Hannah's special bunny who was wearing the EXACT same dress as she was. How cute is that?

My future competition (or assistant!)

a fond farewell...

Two pregnancies + two new babies = four sessions in the last 13 months for this awesome family.

And now they're moving away. Sniff, sniff! (Although as luck would have it, they're moving not too terribly far from my sister-in-law, so hopefully we'll be able to plan more sessions in the future:-)

The newest beautiful boy for this family is sweet, tiny Landon. He and his big brother Maddox both have February birthdays... just one year apart! They couldn't be any cuter if they tried.

I'll miss my trips to Wilmington to visit your family, Michelle and Bruce. I wish you well in your new home!



Totally unplanned... she thought I was just taking pictures of daddy and baby.


Is she not just so super cute while pregnant?! Here are a few from their fall session in Raleigh.


Big brother Maddox. DOLL. BABY.

see you in Italy?

1987.

That is when I met Jon, who ended up becoming one of my best friends. Time and distance have never kept us from keeping in touch - sometimes more frequently than others. He's traveled the world as a military officer while I've traveled the world of motherhood. Our lives went down completely different paths, but he was always only an email away, even when I was in Durham, NC and he was in a desert defending our country.

A few years ago, Jon married Beth. And despite hearing how wonderful she was, I never made it up to Alaska to visit. Then in January, when they were packing up and moving from Alaska to Italy (yes, I'm officially jealous), they decided to make a pit-stop in the lower 48. The Mathisons were a stop along their way. They'd had a long day of travel and weren't feeling so fresh, but I talked them into letting me drag them into the cold and take a few shots. Just the two of them, before baby comes along this summer. (Yes, she's pregnant! Yay!!)

Jon and Beth, I hope when your package of prints arrives in Italy, they'll make you smile. I love how in love you are. That is what makes me smile every time I look at these... your love for each other practically jumps right out of the photographs:-)

xoxo,
gretchen

spring mini-sessions... shorter session, sweeter price!

In honor of the spectacular weather that I'm just sure we have coming our way, I'm announcing another round of spring mini's! These are shortened versions of my regular sessions, and are held outside of my studio in Durham. (I'm on a really cute street:-) This is perfect timing for Mother's Day/Father's Day gifts!

Here are the details:

* Thursday, March 26th (morning and afternoon sessions available)
* $75 + tax session fee, due at the time you book the session
* good for up to 2 kids (mom/dad always welcome to hop in a few!)
* sessions are for 20 minutes, and you'll receive an online web gallery with 10-15 proofs
* if you'd like to schedule a session for your baby, this type of session is best for a baby who is sitting independently
* feel free to bring any props you'd like - tricycles, wagons, bubbles, that special lovey, etc.
* rain date is the following Thursday

Last year's mini's were super fun, and the weather was great. If you'd like to schedule a session, please email me at: info@gretchenmathison.com or give me a call at 308-2334.

coloring outside the lines

In the fall I was contacted by Van Fletcher, a Triangle-area realtor with Allen Tate, who had a fantastic idea for a website. I knew after talking to him for, oh, 10 seconds, that not only was I on board, but that working with him was going to be an insane amount of fun. Instead of the standard realtor's website, he wanted a site that showcased the families whose homes he had helped sell and buy. I needed no persuading - I'd get to do my style of photography, and he'd get a cool and unique site. A win-win.

The project was even more fun than I'd imagined, and after countless hours of shooting and editing, brainstorming and laughter, Van's website is ready. I encourage you to take a look, and peek into the lives of his clients. Read how he feels about his job and interacts with his clients (the testimonials say it ALL). And if you ever are in need of a realtor, well, Van is definitely your man. He's real, he's funny, he's out-of-the-ballpark smart, and he's amazing at what he does. I have told him several times that I want to sell my house now, just so he can help me find a new one:-)  (Nevermind we don't need a new house and have only been in ours for a year. He's just that good.)

Van's Completely Fabulous Website

...and a few shots from the site.  (He has great clients... something we both have in common!)

happiest of holidays...

... to all of my wonderful clients! In the insanity of the holiday season, I had to let my blog take a back seat. I have so many un-blogged sessions that I'm going to have to break my posts up over the course of several days.

To all of you who invited me into your lives to photograph your families yet again this year, I thank you. I can't wait to see your kids again in 2009.














(more to come soon!)

comic relief

What do you get when you cross a fun, 6'6" dad with a spunky 3-year old on a trike?

The best laugh I've had all week:-)

well, hello fall

Brr! Okay, maybe not quite "brr"... but fall is definitely here. Chilly mornings and tepid days mean jack o' lanterns and turkey are right around the corner.

Things have been oh so busy here... I've decided I'm just a bad blog updater. And I guess that will have to be okay, since I'm always working to get everyone their pictures:-) But I did want to take a few minutes to share the little ones I've had the pleasure of photographing recently.



First up is Cole, and boy was he a DOLL! He was about 6 weeks old when I photographed him and he was already smiling and happy. Such a precious boy!


This is my beautiful client (and now dear friend) Elizabeth's dad, Cliff. We recently did a session with their family. You see, Cliff is battling cancer and of course we needed an opportunity for him to wear his Life is Good "Half Full" shirt! And let me tell you, Cliff personifies that saying. Seeing their family together and how much they truly love each other was as much a gift to me as the pictures will be for them.


Two of Cliff's grandkids, Eli and Owen, wearing their age-appropriate wear! (I've been photographing Eli since he was still in his mommy's tummy!)


Luke and Isabel. Last time I saw Isabel, she was about Luke's age. And now she is FOUR... she went and grew up on me! Truly such a fun session for me.


And Ben. Ben went from newborn to one year old almost overnight, it seems. Now he's a big boy, and he made sure to show me all of his cool stuff, like his blocks and his wagon.


This is Ian, and this little guy has the biggest, most adorable eyes you'll ever see. Such a sweet boy!


And Sophie. Sweet Sophie makes my Top 10 Smiliest Babies list. What a happy girl she was. Her parents came to my studio to get some opinions on their wall portraits and I am afraid I was of NO help because I loved them all!


This little chunk-a-munk is named Grant, and belongs to my friend Shannon. Her third boy, which made her my soul sister for sure.



Baby Campbell and her lovely mommy. (Does she not look just FANTASTIC for having just had a baby!?) Campbell was the cutest, tiniest little peanut.



And another beautiful mommy and baby. This is Caroline and her mommy. I've known Caroline's dad since he was 12 (he's the younger brother of my college roommate.) What a lucky baby to be born into such a wonderful family!



This picture of Lindsey and her little sister Remy just about sums up our session... they were SO fun and, of course, adorable. Mom ordered a large wall portrait of this one and I think it is going to look just gorgeous in their home!



And precious Whit, who happens to be baby Oakley's cousin. (you can see baby Oakley in my last post) It is baby season for this family... lucky grandparents! Whit was such a calm baby for our session. I wanted to pack him right up in my bag and take him home with me!



This picture makes me laugh out loud... I love it so much! This is Landon and he is very much a 3-year old boy. I loved it - and felt right at home since I'm used to the boy mania. Picture of his cute little sister will be coming in another blog post:-)



And last but not least, Henry. He was so sweet and we had such a nice morning together!

So as the holidays quickly approach (at least for me... whose holiday season starts in August/September), I will not promise to post more, but I WILL promise to at least try. I have many more pictures to post that would not fit into this one... so much cuteness, so little time!