The pressure is always on high when I’m photographing people that I know…especially those who are near and dear to my heart!

Sweet Amanda is just that.

Amanda and I grew up together, lived a couple doors down from each other, rode bikes throughout our neighborhood, played Barbies together, tacked into our creative side and made tape purses together, and being two years older than I was, Amanda drove me to school my first two years of high school.  So I have to give Amanda props for making me one of the “cool kids” by not having to ride the bus every morning my freshman year.

When Amanda contacted me with interest of booking me as her and Steve’s wedding day photographer-I WAS THRILLED! (but again-pressure is on!) Amanda and Steve are getting married December 4th of this year in downtown Raleigh, NC.  They originally had plans for a June 2016 wedding, however they had to move their wedding up to December because Steve received orders to move to Korea for the next two years! {Steve’s in the Army & absolutely LOVES it!} While Amanda & Steve are on the “fast track” to their wedding day, we thought we’d get together last Saturday morning for a short 15 minute engagement session before their end of September session we had originally planned.  It all worked out for the best because Amanda and Steve celebrated with their family and friends this past Saturday night at their engagement party…and I’d like to think that our little mini-engagement session put them in the partying mood!

I simply can’t wait to travel to Raleigh to greet them and officially have their engagement session throughout the streets of downtown! (My only stipulation y’all is that you take me back to Beasley’s Chicken+Honey while we’re there!)

Amanda+Steve-It was so great to spend our Saturday morning together! Steve, you are too precious & I’m SO happy that Amanda has found such a wonderful guy to call her Husband-to-be! Amanda, YOU my dear are simply gorgeous! Inside & out! I am honored that I get to capture your love story & I’m just so anxious to be a part of one of your most exciting chapters of your life! Thank you! Much love to you both! XO-Emma Loo