*Buzzbuzzzz* "That's probably Erin," Larry announced as he pulled out his iPhone. I glanced at the screen. Much to my surprise instead of a photo of Erin it was a photo of a kitty cat. Well, there was Erin sitting next to the kitty cat. But mostly it was a kitty cat. "Oh my gosh," I whispered to myself. "I think this is my dream couple."

"A Wes Anderson affair" that's how Larry and Erin chose to describe their wedding to me. Wes Anderson directed one of my favorite movies of all time, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. As if that didn't confirm how awesome this wedding was going to be I also spent the two hour drive from the Norfolk airport to Corolla, North Carolina gushing with Larry about Led Zeppelin and our favorite concerts.

And did I mention kittens?

Larry & Erin's wedding was perfection on so many levels. It was a very small wedding, only family and close friends. And we all stayed in a gorgeous beach house right off the coast. During the day the sound of laughter filled the walls and at night the sound of waves lulled us to sleep. It was one of the most peaceful, refreshing weddings I've ever had the pleasure of photographing.

I like throwing out little tributes to my favorite fine artists - This photo was inspired by the wonderful Vincent Van Gogh's "Shoes".

Larry & Erin opted to have a "First Look". Yes and please.

I swear the light in North Carolina is magic. I've photographed one wedding previously in NC in 2009 and it was exactly the same way. So, if you are from North Carolina and looking at this right now - bring me back!

I'm a sucker for good ties. And this wedding was packed full of them.

I can't end this post without thanking Larry & Erin's magnificent family and friends for welcoming me into their lives and their home for a weekend. You all were amazing. And Larry & Erin, you know what I think about you guys. :) You are just the best. Thank you. Hug the kitties for me.

(This wedding was edited using VSCO Film. If you are a photographer and not using this amazing tool yet - what are you waiting for?? I can't say enough great things about it.)

I've been editing like crazy this weekend. (If you are one of my clients and reading this right now - I'm working hard to get you your photos before the holidays!) But, naturally, with all this time spent staring at a computer monitor tweaking thousands of photos I've had some time to think as well.

I've thought about how lucky I am to have a job I feel confident in. That I've never looked down and thought "what is this camera doing in my hands!?" It's the most natural thing in the world to me. When I'm shooting I'm in my comfort zone. And the older I get the more I realize that being good at something and enjoying something do not always go hand and hand. And that even if you are lucky enough to find this you can rarely make a living from it. So, I'm thankful that I can say that with my job.

I've also thought about how crazy bizarre my weddings can be at times. If you follow me on Twitter you've read some of my thoughts. At my last wedding of the season I realized that my job makes staying the weekend at a beach house with 30 strangers completely normal. My job makes helping a bride use the bathroom and sharing my chapstick with groomsmen pure instinct. I've had to play the role of best friend, confidant, roommate, deejay, wedding planner, seamstress, florist, waitress, interior decorator, chauffeur, babysitter, peacemaker, drill sergeant and, oh, photographer all in one day. I've had people curse at me, ask me out, dry hump me, spill beer on me, call me ugly, call me beautiful, make me laugh, and make me run into the bathroom crying. I've been in a car accident on the way to a wedding and had to lie my face off that I felt fine the whole day. I've had trials in my personal life that have haunted me like ghosts and made it hard to photograph two people entering 'happily ever after'. But, I've also cried happy tears, made true friends, felt so much happiness I thought I would burst, taken photos I couldn't be more proud of, and visited far away places surrounded by complete strangers only to be loved and treated like family.

In one month I will graduate college. It's been insanely difficult at times to balance work and school, but I know I will look back and be incredibly proud of myself for not taking the easy path. Because honestly life is anything but easy. And I've wanted to quit it more times this past year than I ever have before. But I think if you make your life about other people it might actually be worth it. And that's one of things I'm the most thankful for with my photography business - that it's just as much about me as it is about the people I photograph. I have shot five years of days that people will often look back on as the happiest of their lives. And if I can preserve that happiness for anyone I'd say my job was well done.

Here are a few photos to close out this post. If you are a wedding photographer you know what I mean when I say that you can feel like the designated driver for hundreds at a wedding reception. ;) You witness all the crazy while not actually being a part of it. It makes for some very honest photos I think.

Much Love & Happy Thanksgiving