I’m finally getting around to blogging some pictures from my trip to the South. One of these days I’ll catch up! Hahaha! I traveled to North Carolina a couple of weeks ago for a wedding, and decided to take some precious vacation time and explore an area of our country I’ve always wanted to visit!

My mom (my favorite travel partner) and I set out in our rental car and drove from Raleigh to Savannah on the first day. When we travel together, traditionally we prefer to stay in hostels… She’s cheap, and I’m young, so this usually works out in our favor. I love hostels for the environment they create among young travelers, and my mom loves them because you can usually score a place to stay for around $15 a night. Not bad huh?

The Savannah Hostel, not quite the case. I think this USED to be a hostel, and has recently changed ownership and the world wide web hasn’t quite caught up yet. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone…. It’s more like a really really bad hotel, that’s overpriced, and unsafe. But an adventure non-the-less!

Highlights of Savannah:

• Paula Deen’s Restaurant!!!!! It’s called the Lady and Sons. Oh Lord, sweet Southern food. I would be 400 pounds if I lived in the South. Glorious food.
• Charming streets centered around squares.
• Caught a glimpse of the new Robert Redford movie in the making, The Conspirator!

Classic Federal Style of architecture. All over Savannah. This is the Davenport House, one of Savannah’s many beautifully restored historical homes. AND it’s open for tours! Ladies to the right, gents to the left!

Just a little picture of Paula and I that was hanging on the wall in her restaurant. Love her!

Add a little BUTTA to that biscuit. Yummm.

And in case you need any gold teeth…. this place does them while you wait.

I’ve reached a point in my life where I could care less about what anyone thinks of me. I think it’s one part age, and the rest is a result of working for myself by myself at home. This double edged sword gives me a great sense of confidence… but it also keeps me from getting dressed most days.

I prefer to call them “freelance pants” instead of pajamas.

Last weekend I did get dressed, and headed up to La Conner to photograph their highschool homecoming dance. I prefer to think of myself as a wedding or editorial specialist, but I do love a good rump shaking, and could never say no to an invitation to a dance. I LURVE to dance!

In addition to formals, we also set up a photobooth and had a blast! Thanks for bringing your game faces La Conner!!! Let’s do it again soon!!!

view their slideshow here.

and finally my trusty assistant Tre…. without him none of this would be possible:

I can’t help it. I have this shameful obsession with reality television. Ok, All television. A couple of years ago, Billy and I had to turn it off. We shut off the cable most of the year because ALL we were doing with our time was catching up on the shows we love…. 12 of them. Yup, not an exaggeration. Now that college football season has started, we have cable again. Billy has the Oregon Ducks, and I have ABC, CBS, NBC, TLC, WeTV, FOX, and A&E. Oh sweet fall line up. I love you.

While shooting this amazingly adorable family a couple of weeks ago, we were of course chatting about one of my FAVORITE guilty pleasures…. Toddlers and Tiaras. It’s both compelling and appalling. Don’t judge me. Sweet Emma Rose worked it out just like Tootie for this shoot, and she made her mama proud. Of course it put us all in side stitches of laughter,  I love my job! Hilarity, and silly moments.

Here are just a few of my most favorites from the shoot. Enjoy!

This last weekend my beautiful cousin Virginia married her best friend. Among 50 of their closest family and friends they read their vows with the sun setting and Bass Lake sprawling in the background.

Virginia’s sister Elizabeth wrote the best speech about these two, and I asked her if I could share it with you here. Thankfully she obliged. She is a captivating writer, heading for greatness in her field.

Here are her words in case you missed them:

[Many of you probably think that this is Virginia’s first marriage but it isn’t. Virginia Rayleen has wanted to be a bride since day one and has been married many times to various neighborhood children over the years. Her first marriage was in Kindergarten, to a lucky boy named Joey much to the dismay and utter heartbreak of this other kid named Kenny. Her confidence, pretty-pretty face and respect for romance and love have attracted hopefuls from near and far. And until now no one knew just what she needed.
Any one, who knows her, knows that Virginia knows what she wants. She has always been a headstrong romantic who is decisive and acts without hesitancy.  She has never in my experience allowed opinions or judgments to interfere with her plans. She does what she wants and she doesn’t look back. And these are the things that I admire most in her. Her thoughtfulness and discretion inspire confidence in her choices and those she holds in high regard.
I first heard mention of Ryan the day that she took me to a surprise Dixie chicks concert at the Tacoma Bowl. She told me that a boy in her class had given her tips on where to park. It was a simple exchange, but I could tell that he wasn’t just some boy. I could hear that special cadence in her voice that turned electric. It was charged with hope, excitement, nerves and anticipation. I hadn’t heard that from her for a while. I was super-happy for her then and I couldn’t wait to hear more about the boy in her class.
Soon enough, they were friends that just happened to spend every waking minute together.  He attended to every old-fashioned courting gesture possible, which was super sweet and ultra peachy keen. He held open doors, pretended not to notice when mom interrupted him, he bought her flowers and wrote her letters. He is just as, if not more, romantic than Virginia and has been willing and able to meet all the needs of her particular brand of love. For that, I am infinitely grateful to him. There is nothing better than someone who knows how to love you and does so without restraint. Ryan made it his business to prove to Virginia that he loved her more than just a buddy.
Because of his faith in her love he earned that sacred place in her heart. It is my good fortune to know that once you have Virginia’s love, it is yours to keep. She is the strongest, most trustworthy person I know and she has always held love above all things.  She’s like a love bank or a love safety deposit box. In fact, she once told me that she hated me during a sister-fight and promptly burst into tears, telling me that she loved me and that she was sorry and asked me please, please not to tell on her.
When I heard that Virginia was going to marry Ryan, I wasn’t surprised. I could tell she was serious about him. And I worried a bit, because it’s my job to watch over my sister and keep the baby happy, which was something mom said every frickin’ day. But, it was also my job to go out and play with my sister which, as an adult is still true and translates into joining her on her life path and celebrating the love that she has nurtured for a new member of our family.  It’s not my job to worry anymore and my sister is probably the last person anyone has to worry about.
Today, Virginia and Ryan aim to build upon our family and face the universe together as a team and I want to support them in all they do, even if it means that I am only expected to come out and play and help them celebrate their love. I would like to raise a toast to the belief in romance and the decision to love and be loved.  May your confidence in yourselves and your dreams be cosmically rewarded.]

Ryan and Virginia there are no words for how much I admire you both. Your courage, your thoughtfulness, and the way you love each other so openly. I enjoyed being a part of your day so much, and feel very honored to know you both and to be a part of your family.

Love you,

Laura

For more images from this wedding view their slideshow here!

For more images please view my website.

Everyone knows I love me a hot dog. I love every combination, from plain ketchup, mustard, relish to chili cheese. There is this amazing hot dog place a friend of ours whisked us away to in Salem Mass., last time we were in Boston. It’s called Boston Hot Dog Co., you can get just about anything you can possibly think of on a hot dog here. I’m totally obsessed and wish they would open one here in Seattle, and if you’re ever in Salem you should try it, don’t forget to get the fries too, they’re famous.

When I had the opportunity to bid on this project for Ovations Catering for their digital reader boards, I knew I had to do it. They do the concessions for Rose Garden, the Memorial Colliseum, and the PIR in Portland, and I had so much fun shooting this. Oh the glorious hot dogs. I’ve never been so excited about hot dogs and hamburgers in all my life. The only thing better than shooting this food was STYLING this food!

You can get all of these fine food items from Ovations the next time you go to a Blazer game. Go Blazers!