Over the years we have received many thank you notes and compliments about our photography. We are humbled that people actually take the time to tell us how grateful they are for the moments we capture.  It reminds us that what we do is special and means a great deal to the people who are part of the Love Shutter family.  Every now and then we receive a note that is so ‘on-point’ that we need to mention it.   This post is about one of those notes and it also came with a “before”  photo that says more about what we do than words ever could.

“Dear Love Shutter, thank you again for what you do. You bring something extra to a photo session that just cannot be found in your run of the mill ‘mall shop photo studio.’

The proof is in the montage you took of Corey. You captured who he is. Compare your photo to his school photo and you’ll see what I mean. There is no merriment in his eyes. No joy on his face. He is miserable. And it is not at all who he is.

You two have a gift in being able to transform a disinterested or unwilling photo subject into something that is honest and authentic. It results in capturing the essence of who that person is. You have an eye for what is beautiful. For unique angles and lighting that transforms a picture into art.

Thank you for your gifts and using your dream to photograph ours.”

There are love stories that start with a flirting glance across a restaurant. Others start with the anticipation of a blind date. Diana and Kevin’s story began on the football field. Flag football that is. This amazing couple met playing flag football and have literally been inseparable ever since. And good thing they are used to playing football in the cooler weather because their outdoor evening wedding at the gorgeous Alexander Homestead was a balmy 45º.  But the chill in the air didn’t seem to affect anyone. From the flower girls to the bride herself, you would never have known it was just a touch on the cool side. The best part of the entire evening was when we took a group photo of the cousins on Diana’s side of the family. It seemed like half the reception room came up on the dance floor for the photo, and they stayed there for the rest of the party.

You know what they say: the family that tackles together, stays together.

The Love Shutter crew just learned we are one of The Knot’s 2013 Best of Weddings!!! Holy macaroni y’all, this has rocked our little corner of the universe. Thank you to all the amazing couples who have voted us as the best of the best. We are humbled and sooooo thankful to be awarded this honor.

Be sure to check us out at www.theknot.com. (FYI, The Knot  is the largest wedding blog/database where you can find “everything you need to plan your wedding, literally! Wedding dresses, planning tools, wedding ideas, inspiration, photos, plus the best wedding vendors.”)

Late fall engagement session at the most amazing Carrigan Farms? Brilliant colors in the trees? Gorgeous reflections on the water, and just enough of a nip in the air to remind us that winter is right around the corner? Swoon. Seriously this was one of those engagement sessions where everything just fell perfectly into place, and even their sweet dog Bella was able to stop chasing Frisbies long enough to get into a few shots. Angela and Peter have a special connection that is apparent the first time you see them together and at times, it seemed that they were in their own world totally oblivious to the fact that we were even there.

We. Love. This couple. Kris and Ryan are two of the sweetest people you’d ever want to meet and we had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with them at Freedom Park on a Sunday with every other photographer in Charlotte shooting babies, engagements and anything you could possibly imagine. “But Love Shutter, these photos don’t look like the traditional Freedom Park photo shoots and you can’t even see anyone else in the photos.” Exactly! We took the path less traveled and went to a few of our favorite tucked away spots and walked away with an engagement session that was totally Kris and Ryan. Beautiful. Warm. Genuine. Awesome.

Awesomeness x 1,000 = Stephanie and Josh. From the first time we met them we knew there was something special about these two. Perhaps it was the fact that they wooed us with chocolate-covered pretzels or their infectious laughs and personalities; whatever it was, this couple is seriously in love and everything about their wedding day was perfect down to a tee. (Get it? Birkdale Golf Club wedding? Tee?? Nevermind.) There were so many tender moments at this wedding it’s hard to count them all, but one that stands out was just before Stephanie and her father were about to leave the prep room for the walk down the aisle. They hugged, laughed and even shed a tear of happiness. It was touching beyond belief. We are so happy for you and your families and wish you two the very best in your future. Do you happen to have any extra chocolate-covered pretzels by chance?

The only thing we love more than one-on-one time with our couples during engagement sessions are our bridal portraits. We spent the afternoon at the most beautiful Ranson House where Aubrie’s reception will be. And even though it rained for a short period of time the only thing the raindrops seemed to do was make the sunshine afterwards even more glorious and our subject glow a little brighter as well. Here’s to you Aubrie, we can’t wait to be part of your wedding.

Charleston engagement session? Can you say hell yeah?! Claire and Martin invited us to return to Charleston for their engagement session and seeing as C-town is where Martin first proposed and also one of our mostest-favoritest places on earth, we were all in. We dodged raindrops all day and were able to shoot some amazing shots at some of their favorite hangouts including Pitt bridge and all the scenic back stsreets and cobblestones that make Charleston, Charloeston. It’s clear from the first minute you meet them that they are completely-head-over-heels in love and we can’t wait to see them again on their wedding day. Especially when Martin gets the toes cut off his socks during the reception. Yep, it’s an old school Danish tradition, it’s gonna happen and we’ll have the pics. Stay tuned. Or, as they say in Danish-land; Vær klar!

It’s raining its pouring, but this couple is far from boring. Erica and Franklin, two recent transplants from St. Louis Missouri, are some of the warmest most genuine people you will ever meet. But no one told that to the weatherman. Five minutes after we started the session so did the rain. Did that stop the intrepid Love Shutter duo? Not a chance. We did what we normally do when we can’t control the weather: we ignore it and make it look like it’s a beautiful day. We brought out the big lighting guns and a few other tricks up our sleeve, and transformed an otherwise gloomy and dreary day into beautiful soft light. We just cranked out the artificial sun and made some magic.

Every wedding is a story. You start the day as two different people, two different families, two different lives. By the end of it, you’re married and writing your own story of commitment and love. For Aubrie and Brad their story is not only of their love, but also a grand vision of DIY beauty and scrumptious details created by Aubrie and her mom, get this, all from items discovered at local Goodwill stores and thrift shops!! It was such an unbelievable story it was picked up by TV stations and featured in the newspaper. The day was kicked off at Beauty Brands where Aubrie is a stylist and ended up at The Ranson House in Huntersville where Rhenea and her staff pulled out all the stops to make sure the day was as picture perfect as it could be. Our best wishes for a happily ever after for Aubrie and Brad and based on what we’ve seen, it’s one wish that will almost certainly come true.