Orange Cat News

You can't have a new website...

2007-09-21T16:43:00.001-04:00

Without a new blog! So without further adieu......

I announce my new blog!

CLICK HERE!

New Website!

2007-09-20T09:40:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce that I have launched my new website! It features fresh work from recent weddings and portrait sessions. Thanks to all you that have made my second year in business so successful! You will also notice that I have added an associate that will also be available for weddings. You will hear more about her later!

There's a lot going on behind the scenes here at OCP. I am excited about the opportunities that are coming up! Keep checking out the blog for more exciting news!

Carson + Bryson

2007-09-17T16:41:00.000-04:00

This weekend I got to go to a houseful of screaming 3 year olds! My good friend had a birthday party for her twins and they had a blast.

I wanted to share a book that I designed for their party. It is a twist on the engagement guest book. The idea is to have your guest sign their book and when they get older they can see what people wrote to them at their birthday party; plus mom has a great book with pictures of her little one(s). These little books are so cute! (Thanks to my friend for the idea.)

Here are a few of the pages from their book.

Jenny + Brandon

2007-09-10T16:56:00.000-04:00

This weekend I drove up to Candler, NC for Jenny and Brandon's e-session. We hung out a little at Pisgah High, where Brandon is a coach. Then we drove up to Cataloochie Ranch for more pictures. We enjoyed the 65 degree weather up there! Jenny and Brandon are such a sweet couple and it was so interesting to get to know them better. Here are a few from the day:

Aspen + Jay

2007-09-07T11:00:00.001-04:00

Here are a few pics from an e-session from last night. Aspen and Jay are such a cool couple...just look at her dress! They are such a cute couple and I can't wait for the wedding.

Can you tell I liked her shoes?!

Tag....I'm it!

2007-08-30T09:08:00.000-04:00

I have such a fun network of photographers! There is a game going on in the photography community where we "tag" each other. Regina Holder has tagged me so what I have to do now is tell everyone eight things they probably don't know about me and then tag 5 other photographers.

So here it goes....

1. My first camera was a Pentax K1000 that I got for Christmas my junior year of high school. It is completely manual, so when all of my pictures were turning out blurry I found out I needed glasses!

2. I have traveled to every continent except Antarctica and South America.

3. I love to do yardwork. I would rather be outside in all of this heat planting flowers or even mowing than inside and cleaning!

4. I am allergic to cats....I am actually allergic to any animal with hair. I realize the irony in this as I have three cats and the name of my company is "Orange Cat", but I love them! I have had cats my whole life and I have so many cat stories (good, bad and funny).

5. I love CSI...I can watch every single eposide in a week! (Miami, Vegas, NY) I think Miami is my favorite...it is fun to laugh at Horatio's one-liners. I guess my crime interest stems back from my Nancy Drew days....I think I read every book the library owned when I was in elementary school.

6. I speak Swedish...maybe a lot of you knew this, though. After living in Sweden for two years I learned the language quite well. I have to speak it to my in-laws because they do not want to speak English. (And I think my Swedish is better than their English now.)

7. I am addicted to coffee....this is also linked back to my days in Sweden (and Denmark). If I don't drink at least one cup of coffee (or anything with caffeine) I get a headache.

8. My second art is ceramics. It has been a refuge and stress reliever for me during college. While living in Sweden it gave me pure inspiration and a new family. It is what I miss most about Sweden! (Besides my family of course!)

Okay, so I tag:

Amanda Caldwell

Brooke Turner

Christopher Record

Melody Hood

Nam Nguyen of BTO Photography

Rebecca + Brian

2007-08-27T19:01:00.000-04:00

The Best Man said at the wedding that there are two kinds of people that Rebecca and Brian meet: Friends, and people soon to be friends. I couldn't agree with this more. I met them earlier this summer during their engagement session and felt like I had known them for years! When I arrived that Saturday she looked at me and told me how glad she was to have a friend photographing her wedding. It meant a lot to me to be able to share this special day with them. Here are a few images:

Asheville Shoot-out...the results

2007-08-22T13:30:00.000-04:00

Last night our photo group had our monthly get together and found out the results of our shoot-out from last month. Many of you remember my bloody leg picture...well my sacrifice paid off because I WON! I was so excited and humbled that my peers would choose my photograph over the other very beautiful images. I thought I would share the winning shot and some of the others.

Here's a picture of me getting the shot...thanks to Erica!

Here's the second place winning image by Jason Tench.

Our third place winner was the fabulous Corey McNabb. For you photographers, be sure to check out his workshop here.

I also won fourth place and here is that image:

Here are my other entries:

Here are a couple other favorites...unfortunately I am not sure who shot what so I will just post them.

San Fran part II

2007-08-17T11:53:00.000-04:00

I know, I am way behind on my blogging! I feel like I am one of those cartoon characters and just running place these days! I have had back to back weddings this month and two workshops in two weeks. Doesn't it always seem to work out that way?! There's lot's to post and I can't wait to share with you everything going on with the Orange Cat!

I'll back up to last week first. While you guys in NC were braving the 100 degree weather, Martin and I were enjoying mild 65 degree San Franscisco weather!

I attended the Nate Kaiser+Susan Stripling workshop last Tuesday in San Fransisco. I am still processing all that I learned and I can't wait to apply it! We met at the famous Blue Sky Studios. We learned everything from organizing gear, great new products, running a business, and using light (no matter what kind) to our advantage. We also got the inside scoop on Al Gore's daughter's wedding. (Nate recently photographed their wedding.)

Here are a few shots:

Here's the view from the studio...I think I know where they got the name!

A couple of Nate in action:

(thanks to Debra for taking this picture!)

Here is what Nate took after setting us up:

He really loved Martin! I guess it's those Swedish genes!

Here is a funny one of Nate:

It was a great week! Martin and I spent the rest of the week touring San Fransisco, but we could have spent two weeks there! There was just so much to see and do.

Back from San Fran!

2007-08-13T09:59:00.000-04:00

After a week in San Fran things are full-force here at the office! We had such a great time! On Tuesday I was part of a workshop by the uber-talented Nate Kaiser of The Image Is Found and Susan Stripling.We learned so much and got lot's of inspiration! Pictures are coming, but because I was away for a week I am VERY much behind! So for now, I will leave with the skyline of San Francisco. This was taken the night Barry Bonds broke the home-run record, so there was a lot of excitement in the air!

Out of Town

2007-08-05T11:40:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be going out of town this week for a workshop in San Fransisco. I will be back on Friday fresh with new inspiration and lot's of pictures from the other side of the country. It is hard to believe that I have been to Papua New Guinea, but never to California! I am looking forward to it!

So if you need to get in touch with me, calling would be the most effective. I will have limited access to email, but do plan on checking it periodically.

Stopping to smell the...

2007-08-03T14:12:00.000-04:00

Roses? Well if you directly translate the word for sunflowers from Swedish they are "sun roses". Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers and I can't resist a field of them. We were driving home from a beach weekend with my family and we passed by these somewhere in South Carolina. I gasped at the sheer number of sunflowers...they were just gorgeous! Of course we had to stop to take pictures! The owners of the general store beside of the field are the ones that planted them. They said they were just tired of mowing the huge field. What an attraction they created simply because they didn't want to mow!

Here are a few images:

Erin + Dan

2007-07-30T17:31:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I had the privilege of photographing a third generation Naval Academy wedding in Annapolis, Maryland. It was a beautiful wedding and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. And as you can see in the pictures...when you get a bunch of men in uniform there is a good time to be had by all!

She had a beautiful dress!

And here is a view inside the chapel at the Naval Academy. Erin was the third generation to get married in the chapel.

They were both so sweet!

This is a military tradition that could not be overlooked!

A fun picture with the ladies! They were all gorgeous!

And we can't leave the guys out of course!

Dan was on the lacrosse team for NAVY and the team is honored in a room in the Navy field house. Dan's picture is even on the wall!

Apparently wearing one of the guy's hats can get you in to trouble. You have to kiss the owner of the hat if you are caught wearing one!

The kid that caught the garter becomes the hero of the night! This had to be the funniest garter and bouquet toss yet!

And a little fun out on the field. Here are all the lacrosse teammates.

Class of 2008 and teachers

2007-07-25T11:49:00.000-04:00

It is about that time of year again...

Time to shop for new jeans, new notebooks, pencils and paper. Time to call your friends to see what classes you have in common. Time for football, cheerleading and band camp.

I love this time of year!

I love football; I love that the leaves explode into color; I love that the air gets a little bit crisp and cool at night.

In celebration of this time of year I am offering a special for teachers and seniors. During the month of August I am offering a sitting fee of $150, which turns into $150 print credit! That is a savings of $100!

But don't waste any time! August is already a busy month and I don't anticipate having open slots for long. Give me a call at 828.455.3099 or email dana@orangecatphoto.com to schedule a portrait sitting.

Here are a few examples of senior pictures:

Happy 1st Fourth Anniversary!

2007-07-19T09:56:00.000-04:00

Today is my 1st fourth wedding anniversary! Because Martin is from Sweden we were married twice....one time in the U.S. and another time in Sweden. So we have two anniversaries every year! After four years of being married I can easily say I am just as happy if not happier than I was four years ago when we got married. Here is my favorite picture from that day:

Hannah + Dustin

2007-07-16T20:03:00.000-04:00

Hannah and Dustin were married on the luckiest day of the year! They were married in downtown Asheboro and everyone walked to The Exchange for dancing, food, and lot's of fun! They are just the sweetest couple and I had so much fun spending their special day with them and their family.

Here are just a few of the MANY taken that day.

Getting ready...

Their urban location gave us lot's of opportunities to create unique group shots.

My favorite ring shot yet!

They were smiling all day...they are just too cute!

I loved the red door.

Asheville Shoot-out

2007-07-11T11:57:00.001-04:00

Last night we had our monthly get-together for Asheville area photographers. We usually have a speaker, but last night we had a shoot-out. We had two lovely models and walked all over Asheville taking pictures. It was funny to see other people's reactions to seeing ten photographers taking a couple's pictures! We are going to have a contest with our top ten images from the night at our next meeting next month. I am excited to see what everyone came up with! Because this is a competition, I can't show my pictures yet, but I can show the other photographers taking pictures.

Corey Cagle (front) and Corey McNabb

My lovely assistant and upcoming photographer Erica.

Honour Heirs

So you can probably imagine why everyone was staring at us all trying to figure out what was going on. There were some asking us who they were and if they were famous.

Here's Jason Tench and Honour chimping.

And of course I had to get bloody! What we do to get the shot!

Jeremy with Corey McNabb Studio

And our fearless leader Regina. Thanks so much for putting all of this together. It was so much fun!

And the photo shoot had no boundaries...it even ended up in the guy's bathroom...eeewwww!

Little Sophia

2007-07-09T16:56:00.000-04:00

On Friday I got to spend time with the lovely little miss Sofia. She is only about 2 weeks old but has so much personality. Take a look at a few of the moments I was able to capture.

Fourth of July

2007-07-05T14:48:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a great fourth! I had so much fun hanging out with family and old friends...some from as far away as Chile! We grilled out and ate too much and then worked it off a little with some golf lessons at Rock Barn Golf and Spa, where my parents live.

When it got dark we lit sparklers and these crazy worm things, which I have never seen before. They look like big pills and then you catch them on fire and they grow into worms. They were kind of weird! After that, my dad broke out the karaoke machine and most of us sang. So much fun as usual!

Here are a few pictures...

The tables were nicely decorated.

We ate lot's of food....and we will still be eating hamburgers for the rest of the week!

And a couple of golf lessons.....

My leftie-swingin hubby trying to show a rightie how to swing...

Alex was a natural....just a little bit of practice and he could be dangerous!

Amy was very patient and worked on her swing a long time. She really got the hang of it in the end! I just love her expression in this picture!

And here is just about everyone hanging out on the fairway.

And some firework fun!

Brooke + Brian

2007-07-03T09:52:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday I was at Wrightsville Beach for Brian and Brooke's wedding. It has been about a year since their engagement photos, so I feel like we are old friends! This wedding was so sweet and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. They were married at the Blockade Runner on Wrightsville Beach. As you can see it was beautiful. Thanks, Brooke, for letting me be a part of your special day!

Thanks to my assistant, Erica, for staying in the hotel to get this shot.

You look like...

2007-06-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

yummy sherbet! That is what a very proud nana said to her precious little granddaughter visiting from Colorado during a session. It is not hard to see the love that this family shares. They are spread out a bit and so family reunions are looked forward to and then jam-packed with fun activities. And of course a photo-shoot is necessary to hold on to those memories long enough to last until the next time all are together. I had such a blast with this family and I look forward to many more family reunions.

Here are a few...

Not-So-Little Owen

2007-06-21T15:09:00.000-04:00

On Monday I went to visit Owen and his mommy and big brother. Owen is only 3 months old and quite the chunky monkey! He has the cutest chubby legs and buddha belly. He is such a good baby...never even started to cry! And big brother was there to give his support and even take a few pictures of me! Cute, cute boys!

Gettin' Trashy!

2007-06-20T17:12:00.000-04:00

We trashed a dress! And it was so much fun! Jamie and I went to a rock quarry that has filled with water and it had the clearest water...a beautiful location! She swam around with the dress and sneakers on! It was funny to see her shoes pop up every once in a while. We had such a great time until Jamie spotted a snake...we are both terrified of them so we freaked out for a good couple of minutes! Once we were both safe, we laughed the entire way back to the car.

Thanks for a great time, Jamie! Looking forward to football games this fall!

Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

In honor of father's day I thought I would put up a few really sweet images of father's with their kids! I have been so blessed to meet some really wonderful and devoted dads!
Above is a picture of my dad (and mom). I have been so lucky to have a supportive, and positive dad. He has always encouraged me to chase my dreams. So thanks, dad!

It's official!

2007-06-16T18:41:00.000-04:00

The "Trash the Dress" was on Good Morning America! I am so excited for my friend and colleague Mark Eric. You can view it HERE

Watch ET Insider tonight!

2007-06-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to announce that a friend of mine will be featured on ET Insider and Good Morning America! His name is Mark Eric and he is the founder of a website called
Trash the Dress

The show will be on tonight (Friday) at 7 pm on WBTV. Check it out! And please, if you are interested in doing this, let me know! I have been looking for volunteers for months!

The Moments

2007-06-12T15:32:00.000-04:00

As a photographer I would have to say my strongest ability would be capturing the moment. There are so many great moments that happen during the wedding day and that is what I most want to capture. I was looking through some wedding pictures I did a couple of weeks ago at Hilton Head and I remembered the special moment that occurred at the beginning of the wedding ceremony. The bride's face streamed with tears of joy when she faced the man she was going to marry. Those tears of joy turned into smiles and laughter and it was such a great beginning to the ceremony. It was obvious to everyone that she was totally in love with this man.

This is why I love my job.

Kyle + Lauren

2007-06-11T10:35:00.000-04:00

I am so behind on posting! There is so much to share and I promise to do my best to catch up! I thought I would follow my cliff bride with her wedding from last weekend. These two are so sweet! They are genuinely caring and kind and just so much fun to be around. I had such a great time spending the day with them and their family and friends.

Click Here for the Slideshow

Here are a few favorites from the day:

Possibly the youngest ring bearer I have ever seen. What a cutie!

These two have been friends for a VERY long time. I just love the expressions they are sharing with one another.

Off to the party!

This sums up how happy they looked all day.

Bridal on a Cliff

2007-06-04T09:33:00.000-04:00

Finally I get to share these pictures!

When Lauren told me she wanted a bridal session, I knew exactly where we needed to go. She is such a natural beauty, I knew anything we did would be great. But I also knew that she trusted me enough to follow my lead. That is why we did something a bit daring. I knew of the perfect rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway that she could stand on and the backdrop would be nothing but the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. So that is what we did! We hiked with a couple of her friends up the mountain. I am very happy with the results and have been wanting to share these since! Lauren and Kyle were married Saturday...an absolutely perfect day! And I am not wasting any time showing these off! Pics from the wedding are on the way as well!

E-Sessions on the beach

2007-06-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

I have spent the past two weekends at the beach not only shooting weddings, but engagement and bridal sessions. Unfortunately, I can't show the bridal sessions yet, but I can share the engagement sessions. I had a great time with both couples! We had rain the for the first session, which only seemed appropriate because they say it rains for every special event in their life. Hopefully the rain will hold off in August! No rain for the second session...just sunshine and smiles! The sun was so orange and beautiful I just had to use it as part of the pictures. Here are a couple of the images..more to come of these couples in the fall!

Remember the wind?

2007-05-31T11:54:00.001-04:00

Do you remember about a month ago when it was really windy...and I mean REALLY windy? Well during that time I had scheduled a bridal session and we decided to go ahead with it. It was so much fun! We used the wind to our advantage to see what we could do with her long veil. I hung out all afternoon with my bride, Gwyn, and her parents and her dad drove us place to place to do pictures of Gwyn. It was quite the adventure! We even ended up at someone's house, whom none of us knew, and took pictures. What fun! I had so much fun with the three of you!

Fun in the Park

2007-05-30T13:22:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I had fun chasing around a little two year old in the park! At least I wasn't the only one...mom and dad were doing their best to catch up as well! This photo session was very important for me to do because the dad will be leaving his family for military service soon. So I made sure we squeezed in a photo session before he headed off...and trust me, it was a squeeze! This is such a fun family and it doesn't take long to realize just how much they love this little boy!

I have picked out a couple of favorites below, but you can SEE MORE HERE.

Boone Hall Plantation

2007-05-29T11:54:00.000-04:00

The past two weekends I have been busy at the beach. This weekend I was at Hilton Head photographing an engagement session and a beautiful wedding. Pictures from the wedding are coming...
But first of all I wanted to catch up a little and share pictures from the absolutely stunning Boone Hall Plantation. If you remember the part in the movie "Forest Gump" where they are yelling, "Run, Forest, Run!" and he is running on a dirt road surrounded on each side with huge oak trees draped with spanish moss, then you have seen a glimpse of where I was last weekend.
It was a destination wedding for Leslie and Colin. They couldn't have picked a more perfect day. The weather was mild and lovely. I really enjoyed working with everyone in the wedding party. They were a lively bunch! Here are a few favorites from the wedding, but you can see more by clicking HERE FOR THE SLIDESHOW.

Adios, Hermano!

2007-05-25T10:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we said good-bye to my baby brother. He is going to Spain for the summer to do a study abroad program and learn Spanish. He flew out yesterday and because of a shuffle with the flights, we had about 2 minutes to say good-bye..eventually they were calling his name on the loud speakers to get on the plane! Here are some pictures from yesterday...

Here are a couple actually from the other day at his going away party.

Yes ladies, he's single!

Here's the Orange Cat wanting to get in the pictures as usual.

Here's my favorite guys...my brothers on the end and husband in the middle.

Here's a self portrait by my husband...his arms are so long he can do it without getting a double chin!

We had to run to catch him because they bumped him on an earlier flight!

Here we all are...good shot, Dad!

And now he is running! He didn't miss his flight, but it was close!

And here's the family without Daniel...we miss you Daniel!

Clemson Tigers

2007-05-22T17:54:00.000-04:00

Yes, I was in the midst of Tigers last weekend. I am a Tar Heel through and through so of course I was a little nervous about being in the company of Tigers all day! But I was quickly put to ease the moment I walk into the bridal room. I could not have been welcomed more kindly in Chapel Hill! What a bunch of sweet ladies! They took care of their bride so gently and considerately. Stephanie and Dustin were just too sweet themselves! Before the ceremony even began, Dustin made sure she received a rose; a tradition they have had since high school days. Wow, Dustin! You should right a book on how to romance a woman because I think you have gotten it down! Here are a few images from the day.

Out of Town

2007-05-17T11:50:00.000-04:00

Hi! This is just a reminder that I will be out of town this weekend, from the 17th to the 20th. I will have limited if any access to email, but I will be available by phone. See you next week!

Wedding Season is here!

2007-05-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Well it is time for the excitement, chaos, energy, and emotions of the wedding season to begin! It has started off great! I have been busy doing weddings, bridal portraits, and engagement sessions. Wow...do I wish I could show you the bridal sessions! I absolutely love having one-on-one time with the bride and taking beautiful pictures of her. I will share them after the wedding has passed, but until them I can share this image to give you a sneak peak:

Also, I will be out of town the rest of the week with limited access to email. I will be available by phone, however. I will have tons of pictures to share next week!

Calling All Seniors!

2007-05-07T13:02:00.000-04:00

I am looking for student representatives that can promote Orange Cat Photo at their school. Do you know someone that may be interested or are you a senior yourself? I need someone that is comfortable in front of the camera, willing to sign a model release form, and is good with people. In return you will receive a free sitting and prints. This is a great opportunity for seniors that want their senior portraits to be fresh, modern and a little edgy. This is NOT your typical photo session...it will be fun and contemporary!

If you are interested or know someone that may be interested, please call 828.455.3099 or email me at dana@orangecatphoto.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Jona + Hunt

2007-05-03T15:50:00.000-04:00

Reception: Mimosa Country Club

Catering: On-site

Band: Right Turn Clyde Band

Last Saturday I was in Morganton to photograph Jona and Hunt's wedding. I was so looking forward to shooting my fellow UNC Alumni on their special day. It was a beautiful day that went without a hitch! Everyone was just so easy going and fun. Take a look at a few shots from the day. Or you can view the slideshow here.

Happy Birthday to my favorite 4 year old!

2007-05-02T16:05:00.001-04:00

Sunday I had the pleasure of going to a birthday bash for my favorite little 4 year old. Wow, was she excited! She is usually wide open....but I have never seen her this excited before. It was so much fun! Here are a few pictures from the party.

Can you even get an idea of how excited she was?!

Big Brother with his best buddy.

The family...aren't they sweet?

This is my favorite picture from the day.

Swinging...

Sugar high has dropped...time to refuel!

Sugar rush begins again!

Dancing Queen

2007-05-01T14:31:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the job is so much easier if you just let loose and get down. See example below:

Have you ever seen Elaine dance on Seinfeld? It was kind of like that, except much faster! She was hilarious and apparently could care less what anybody else thought of her. I loved it!

Merle Fest

2007-04-30T11:26:00.000-04:00

For the past 20 years there has been a festival in memory of the legendary Doc Watson's son, who tragically died at an early age. Each year the festival grows and 20 years later several thousand people attend from all over the country. Lucky for me, it is held in North Wilkesboro, a short drive away. Martin and I went up Friday night to hear several artists perform and catch up with old friends. Here are a few pictures!

Courtney and Cindy.

Me and Martin

Cindy and me

The Watson Stage...this is the main stage where all of the headliners play. Alison Krauss played this year on Saturday...I had a wedding and didn't get to see her, which made me sad! But we saw Elvis Costello and The Carolina Chocolate Drops They were great fun!

And here is the very talented Robinella from East Tennessee.

For more information go to Merlefest's Website to see who was there this year and to see the dates for next year.

Celebrating Earth Day

2007-04-23T10:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Earth Day so I thought I would put up a few tips to make our earth a cleaner place.

If you are like me, you get about 4 credit card applications a week. I found a phone number that puts you on a list similar to the "Do Not Call" list and will stop CC apps from coming to your mailbox. Just call 888.567.8688. You will have to put in your information, but after a while, the applications will stop coming saving you the hassle of shredding them and saving a few trees!

Click here for a list of changes you can make to reduce your carbon levels and save money!

Plant a tree! It is easy and if you join The Arbor Day Foundation you can get 10 trees for free!

These are just a few suggestions, but they can make a huge impact on our quality of life. Happy Earth Day!

Textures

2007-04-19T19:51:00.000-04:00

So I have been seeing some really inspiring work from other photographers that have textures layered over the photographs. I really like this technique and wanted to learn how to do it myself. So I start to play around in Photoshop (which is so dangerous because I can get sucked in for hours!) and this is what came out. This is from an Easter session and I just love this little girl and her brother. They are so much fun! So what do you think?

Happy Birthday to the Orange Cat!

2007-04-16T12:11:00.000-04:00

So many people have asked me why the name Orange Cat. Well, here is my inspiration for the name, Chester and yesterday was his 8th birthday! It is hard to believe he can already be 8! We had a little party for him. He and his buddy, Cat, (yes, that is his name!) got kitty treats. Chester got to wear his birthday hat, which he absolutely loves, (can't you see the excitement on his face?!) and we sang happy birthday to him. He was so happy, but of course he is a cat so he couldn't show us how happy he really was!

Asheville Photographers Meeting

2007-04-12T11:36:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I posted last! Time flies when you are having fun! I have had some unbelievable shoots in the past week. One being a bridal session that I SO want to show off, but can't until after the wedding...I guess good things are worth waiting for!

Easter has passed us by yet another year. I have to say I felt as though we were celebrating Easter in Sweden this year it was so cold! I do have Easter portraits to share, but I will save those for another post.

First of all, I want to introduce some of my friends and colleages in the photography business. We get together once a month to share ideas, get to know each other better and just have a great time! This month our featured photographer was Corey McNabb. He showed off his beautiful work and then later invited us to his studio. We had such a great time we stayed until 3 am! Thanks, Corey!

Just a few pix from Corey's blog, which are mostly taken by Regina....

Here is Corey with his wife to his right and Jill Schwarzkopf on his left and Tara with Weddings with Tara on the end.

Michael, who will be shooting with me in Baltimore this summer, and Corey Cagle with her husband, Billy.

And Regina and I.

Amanda + John

2007-04-03T13:26:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Amanda and John in Asheville. We started in the botanical gardens and then we walked all over downtown taking pictures. They are so much in love with each other...and their cats! Yes, we had much to talk about when our cats entered the conversation! (I am still waiting for you to send a picture of them to me!)

I wish you both the best as you prepare for your wedding in Alabama. I hope that it is as beautiful as the friendship the two of you share!

Here are a few pictures from the day:

And HERE is the slideshow. Enjoy!

Among the elk

2007-03-30T16:31:00.000-04:00

E-sessions have put me in some very interesting places. From the farm with cows trying to eat my camera bag, to the coast, where one of the last battles during the civil war was fought. I have to say that this e-session from last Saturday will have to go in the books as the most memorable.

Our e-session began in the cozy, quaint town of Waynesville. But as I was talking with the couple Ben, the fiancé, mentioned something about a field where a herd of elk were released back into the wild and they just stood there, unafraid of the people watching them. Wow, I thought, what a great place! Well it took us a while to get there (haha...Anna and Ben!) but when we did it was so worth it! What a magnificient location! The sun was glowing a beautiful golden hue down onto these strong yet gentle animals. of course the focus quickly shifted from the beauty of the natural world, to my fun-loving, soon-to-be-married couple...because we only had about 30 minutes of daylight left! So here are a few to share. I am really excited about your wedding!

Sibling Love

2007-03-28T10:19:00.000-04:00

Here's two siblings that just love each other...well, most of the time. Little sister looks up to big brother and big brother leads the way. These two are just so cute to watch!

Weekend Update

2007-03-26T11:04:00.000-04:00

This weekend has been busy! On Saturday Martin and I drove up to Waynesville for an e-session. There is much to say about that experience, but I am going to save it until I get the pictures ready to show! ;) But it will be worth the wait...probably the most memorable e-session I have done!

On Sunday I participated in the wedding show at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. There were tons of brides (and even a few grooms) along with moms, sisters, bridesmaids...and even those that weren't getting married, but just wanted to check it out. I met so many excited ladies! There were many that weren't getting married until next spring but already starting their research. As one that has been through that process, I have to say they are very wise! I had a year to plan my wedding and I finished one month early to spend time with our out-of-the-country guests. Start your planning as soon as you get engaged! Here's is a list of things I would plan in order:

1. wedding/reception location-These places fill up quickly; especially if you are getting married at a destination spot such as Charleston, Hilton Head, or Asheville.

2. photographer- I have already gotten requests for 2009! While extreme, it is definately not out of the ordinary. Photography is the most important aspect of your wedding...think about it; in 20 years the only thing you will have left to remember your wedding and to pass down to children or grandchildren is your pictures. It is the only way to share moments that happened in the past to people that weren't a part of your life then. You don't want to be stuck with whoever is left! Book early; get your first choice!

3. wedding dress- Most boutiques have to order your dress which can take weeks. Once the dress arrives, you will probably have to have it altered. Save yourself the stress and start looking early!

These are the top three things you should start with. Of course the list goes on...but it is a good starting point!

I thought I would share some pictures of my booth. A HUGE thanks to my hubby, Martin for making the "walls" in my booth and for helping me set up and then pack up. I just love him!

2007-03-21T10:34:00.000-04:00

I am still going through my pictures from Sweden! I cannot believe I took so many pictures!
This is little Sara...what a fireball! She is all of 3 years old and not afraid to speak her mind. She is such a cutie and I think she had a little crush on my husband...or was it visa versa? Anyway, it is not hard to see why....

Look at those big brown eyes...

It didn't take long for picture taking to get booorrriinng...until we let her jump on the sofa!

Mama Mia!

2007-03-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

Last night my husband and I saw "Mama Mia", a musical based on the music by ABBA. WOW! I wasn't sure what to expect but it was hilarious! The dancing was amazing and they even managed to write a storyline that fit in perfectly with the songs. By the end of the show everyone was out of their seats dancing to the music. It really was that good! I would highly recommend anyone to see this musical. You can find it on Broadway, London, Stockholm, and the North American tour.

Wedding Show coming to Hickory

2007-03-17T18:16:00.000-04:00

I just thought I would let all of you Hickory brides know that there will be a bridal show next Sunday, March 25th at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. It is located just off of I-40...close to Outback. I will be set up with a booth, so if you come please stop by and say hello!

More From Sweden....a quick e-session

2007-03-16T16:44:00.000-04:00

Seeing friends and family was the highlight of our time in Sweden. So any chance we had to hang out, we took it! We took that chance one Sunday morning with Lisa and her fiance, Marcus, as we walked around Borgstena, the village where Lisa and my husband grew up. We had such a nice time catching up with each other's lives and of course taking a few pictures. It is so much fun to see how happy they are. Congratulations and we look forward to hearing when the big day is going to be! ;)

Asheville Photographers meeting

2007-03-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

It hasn't taken me long to get into the swing of things. After a VERY nice break in Sweden, life at the Orange Cat is back full force. On Tuesday, I drove up to Asheville with Brady Linkous for a photographers' get together. Guest speakers from Chattanooga, Amber and Nathan Holritz talked about organization in the office and in life. They gave us alot of good pointers...and for those of you that know me, know that I need some organization help! It was very interesting and I got alot of tips that will hopefully help me do my job more efficiently. Probably my first step should be cleaning off my desk...but then again I am creative, I am not supposed to be neat and organized, right?!

Anyway, here are a few pics courtesy of our Ashville photographing queen, Regina Holder.

Here's most of the group. There were photographers from Charlotte, Asheville, Hickory and even SC represented.

Brady and I.

Regina Holder and Amber Holritz

Amber and Nathan Holritz

Back from Sweden and MANY pictures to share!

2007-03-12T08:50:00.000-04:00

We got back from Sweden on Saturday very tired after about 24 hours of traveling. It is not an easy trip with all of the connections and possible delays, but it is worth every minute! We were so blessed to meet many of our friends and family. Of course I stayed busy photographing...alot of friends are having or have had babies and it is so exciting! And there are even a few friends engaged to someone special. I promise to show pictures from the sessions, but first I wanted to show you pictures from the Vasaloppet; the biggest and longest ski race in the world! My husband competed in
the race, which is mostly why we decided to go to Sweden at this time. There were over 15,000 participants ranging in age from 18 to 85. The cross-country ski race lasts 60 miles, from a town called Sälen to Mora. It is a fantastic thing to watch all of the skiers zoom past you at the start line. It is truely overwhelming!

Here we are at the start very early in the morning.

Here is the start. Wow. Of course I have no idea where Martin is and a friend of mine and I decided to find him would be pure luck! It took probably 20-30 minutes for all of the skiers to go by.

We found Martin! He is doing so well!

And there he is again. He is at a control place this time. They have several control spots along the course. You can get water, sports drink, or the traditional blueberry soup at these stops. They also have someone there to rewax your skis if needed. Also, they have a time limit for each control place, so if you do not reach the spot by a certain time, the race is over for you.

And here he is at the end. For the competitors that come in by the winning time + 50%, they receive a medal. He finished right at 6 hours. The winner finished about an hour before. He did great!

For more information, you can go to http://www.vasaloppet.se There is an english button on the top right hand of the home page. If you want to see his stats, just search for Martin Andreasson, number 10941.

I will post more during the rest of the week. I took so many pictures that I overloaded my laptop, so I could not work on any of them...talk about torture! :)
It also means I have a lot of work to do this week!

A very happy little one

2007-02-22T17:56:00.000-05:00

laughing.

crying.

sleeping.

eating.

and oh yes, the occasional you-know-what.

Oh to be a baby again. Here is his schedule, along with the occasionally snuggling with mom and dad. He has got it made and you can see it on his happy face. He really is a happy boy and why wouldn't he be? His parents love him so much that they almost glow.

I had a wonderful time with you.

A little bit different...

2007-02-16T05:59:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I did a session that is a little different than my usual sessions. It was beautiful, sensual, and a little bit sexy...(okay, maybe a lot sexy!)

Guest Book

2007-02-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

You may remember this couple....

Well, they are getting married very soon now! They ordered a guest book, which has become one of my most popular products! The guest books look like this:

So I decided since I just finished up another one, I would share all the pictures that go into the book. The book is 20 pages, but mostly designed two at a time. That means that you will only see about 12 images, which include the cover page. I am really excited about these books and I hope it shows how much work goes into these.

Click here for the slideshow! Enjoy!

Saturday's wedding

2007-01-25T10:58:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday I drove down to Spartanburg, SC to take pictures of a bride that looks so much like Jennifer Aniston I had to look twice! She was so beautiful and it didn't take me long to find out she is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. We had a great time and I felt like we were old friends! And the wedding went off without a hitch. The day was absolutely gorgeous with blue skies and sunshine. Below are some images from the day....

AAAHHH, the cake! Can I say enough times how delicious this cake is?! Wow, she insisted I have a piece and I said that I would have a bite. So they gave me a fork and I took a bite....then immediately looked for a plate to get a whole slice!

Home to Chapel Hill

2007-01-17T15:11:00.000-05:00

On Monday I had the priviledge of photographing two Carolina alumns. What a fun couple! They were laughing the whole time and so was I! I can't even imagine how much fun the wedding will be! We hung out in Chapel Hill that day and enjoyed beautiful weather! We started at the Old Well and then through campus a bit and ended up on Franklin Street. I now have a slideshow program so that you can view all of the pictures to music. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Click Here for the slideshow

I know, I know....

2007-01-10T14:18:00.000-05:00

it's been a while! Well I hope everyone is having a great start to the New Year. I guess we are fully into the year 2007...hard to believe! I am really excited to see what 2007 will bring! I have a lot of goals and expectations for this year so I am anxious and excited to see what happens.

I have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes...things that would totally bore you, which is why I haven't posted! But you may interested to hear that a new gallery is being set up as we speak and will hopefully be up and running by mid-week next week. There may be problems ordering/viewing your gallery until then...just have a little patience...I promise it will be worth the wait! I will extend gallery deadlines for those of you that will be ending soon.

That is all the news for now. I will post pictures soon!

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-23T10:42:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmastime marks one year that Martin and I have been back to the States. What an exciting year we have had! I have had such a great time working with so many of you this past year. I have seen many cute little faces in such a short time! So here is a big THANK YOU to so many of you that have been supportive of me and appreciative of my art. I truely do love what I do and without the faith and encouragement of so many of you this could have been a very tough year. I look forward to 2007; there will be a few changes that are very exciting to me and I think to you as well!

So MERRY CHRISTMAS to all! Look forward to seeing you next year!

Love, Dana

Martin and Dana Andreasson, 2006

Beautiful Baby

2006-12-16T12:04:00.000-05:00

Little H was born just a day after mommy's maternity shoot! We thought we had planned it well; we didn't realize just how perfect we had planned it! She is such a pretty baby and looks a lot like her mammaw already. You can see in the pictures that she is full of personality! This was such a peaceful session for such a little baby. I don't think she really cried at all!

Congratulations to the new family!

Look what I got in the mail...

2006-12-10T18:04:00.000-05:00

my new guestbook! I am so excited about this idea...it is another "wish I would have known about that when I got married"! In my wedding packages I have something called a guestbook that I don't think everyone quite gets. Well now I have pictures to show you exactly how it looks but first let me explain a little. It is a coffee table book that features pictures from your engagement session and has space left on some pages for your friends and family that attend the wedding to sign. Now everyone can see the pictures from your engagement session AND sign a short greeting that you will be able to keep and even pass on from generation to generation. I am really excited to offer this (if you can't tell!) and the quality of this book is just phenominal. Have a look for yourself!

A couple of cuties...

2006-11-29T15:08:00.000-05:00

Meet the Lutz's....

I bet they don't get many dull moments...

Even sitting still is hard to do..

Aaawww, come on, are pictures that hard to do?!

Now that is more like it...what a cutie!

The website is back!

2006-11-28T16:25:00.000-05:00

My website is now back together with fresh pictures, a new color and Christmas music. The music is by Michael W. Smith from his Christmas album. I highly recommend this album as it has really nice and has different arrangements of Christmas songs.

The pictures are from the Christmas sessions I have done during October and November, so if I took your picture during those months, there is a good chance you are on there! ;)

Yeah, and can any of you believe that it is the END of November?! I want you to know that I ate lunch outside today wearing a short sleeved shirt! And for those of you that know how cold natured I am can be even more shocked by that. It is just absolutely beautiful. So stop reading this and go outside and enjoy! ;)

Site is slow!

2006-11-27T21:55:00.000-05:00

Sorry guys, my website is VERY slow today. I am not sure if it is the host or what, but I will be calling them tomorrow. It really disappoints me because I just "decorated" for Christmas, with Christmas music, new colors, and a new slideshow on the front page. Keep checking back to see it because I am really excited about it!

In the meantime, I have added a link to view your gallery from this site. If you look to the right ------------->
you will see a box that says "view online gallery". Simply put in your password and your gallery should appear. It is that simple! Don't forget that your password is case-sensitive!
Please email or call if you have any questions!

dana@orangecatphoto.com
828.455.3099

Christmas Shopping

2006-11-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

Well the Christmas season is full-force! How many of you braved the early morning and long lines to take advantage of all of the sales?! For me, getting up so early is worse than saving money! I am definately not a morning person!

I thought I would let you know about deadlines as far as ordering Christmas gifts. First of all, the card ordering deadline has past. Unless I have already spoken with you, I can not guarantee you will get your Christmas card order at this point.

The reprint deadline is December 8, so please place your orders by then!

Gift Certificate orders must be made by December 15th. You can order a gift certificate for any money amount. This is a great idea if you know someone with children, pregnant, or getting married. The gift certificates work the same as money. They are good towards any type of purchase!

Of course you are welcome to order prints up until Christmas, but I can not promise you will get them by Christmas. I promise to do my best to get orders out as quickly as possible, but of course it is better not to wait until the last minute!

Thanks to all of you for your patience and kindness towards me at this time. I am convinced that I have the best clients! Thanks so much!

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-24T17:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We have had such a great week. In my family November is just a warm up for Christmas. Between mine and my husband's family we have 8 birthdays in our immediate families! (ours included) On Tuesday I celebrated my 30th birthday...wow that is hard to believe! I had such a nice day. I am really blessed because so many friends called, emailed, sent gifts and flowers to wish me a happy birthday. I truely felt so much love from all over the United States and Scandinavia! I thought I would share some pictures of the lovely flowers I received. These arrangements are just stunning and still give me so much happiness as I look at them.

It was also nice to celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time in several years here in the United States. I have kept the tradition going in Sweden while we were there, but it just wasn't the same. For them the food was so different and I had to explain all of the dishes. And I had to cook it all! Talk about a big job! It was nice to work in the kitchen with my mom and brothers and other friends to make a wonderfully delicious meal together. As tradition we stuffed ourselves and then waited about 30 minutes to eat dessert and then sat around miserably the rest of the night because we had eaten WAY more than we should've! What a great holiday!

I hope all of you had a wonderful time with family and friends! Happy Thanksgving!

Update, Gift Ideas, and Pictures

2006-11-09T17:35:00.000-05:00

After a long weekend, I am back in N.C. I had such a great time seeing my brother (even though UT lost)! I also had the chance to meet a lot of talented photographers this week. There were about 100 photographers in Chatanooga for a conference. They were from all over; California, Oregon, Florida, NC, SC, Georgia, NY, and of course Tennessee. We had classes that taught us better ways to manage a business, to inspire us, and to encourage us. It was a wonderful and very educational experience.

But now I am back and busy with Christmas card shoots. It is not too late to book your session! Please call me at 828.455.3099 to reserve a spot. Don't forget to scroll down to view the border options.

I am also offering Gift Cards for you to give to your loved ones. Do you know someone pregnant, with children, or even getting married? This is a unique gift that will be appreciated and loved for years to come! And it is so easy; just give me a call and let me know the card amount you would like and I will ship it to you in a festive holiday envelope ready to give! You can order a gift card for any amount. Gift Cards are good for sessions and/or reprints. The deadline to order a gift card and receive it before Christmas is Dec. 15th so don't let this idea pass you by!

Now on to some pictures. Here are siblings that just have the sweetest and gentlest spirit. I had such a pleasant time with them. The day was beautiful and so was the setting. Trees, mountains and horses surrounded us. Take a look at these sweet kids!

Goin' to Tennessee

2006-11-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

Hi all! I will be out of town starting tomorrow. My brother hooked me up with a ticket to the UT/LSU game, so I will be there tomorrow...Go Vols! And I will be staying on for a photographer's conference the beginning of next week in Chatanooga. It is going to be a fun week!

But it also means that I will not be able to return emails as quickly as I would like. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible, but please be patient with me. I will have my phone with me, so you can call.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Christmas Card Special

2006-11-02T23:05:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is already time to start thinking of Christmas! So just in time for the Christmas season I am offering a special photo session for you and your family.

Holiday Special:

1 Set of 24 folded cards

(Cards include envelopes.)

$50 Print credit

All of this for only $105!

Of course you can order more cards. The prices are as follows:

Folded Cards:

1 set = $42/set
2 sets= $40/set
3 or more sets= $38/set

*All cards include envelopes

For those of you interested in the folding cards, I can add a Christmas greeting and your name on the inside for no additional charge!

Call soon to make an appointment, because sessions are limited and will go quickly! For those of you that have had pictures made this year I will be putting up all galleries again. You may order holiday cards or reprints.

I can guarantee cards before Christmas if ordered before Nov.25th. After that I will do my best to expediate your order, but I can not promise Christmas delivery after Nov. 25th.

And now for the borders. I have unique borders for you to choose from. I will number them for easy referencing.

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10.

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Here are a few examples of what these borders look like when paired with a picture.

Of course if you would rather just have your picture with text I can do that as well!

Now I understand that there is a lot of information here and I understand if you have questions. Please call me at 828.455.3099 to schedule an appoitment or to ask any questions.

I look forward to hearing from you!

McRee Family

2006-11-02T14:19:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share some family pictures I did a couple of days ago. I rarely showcase these and there were some really nice moments from this day. They all looked so cute wearing their "pea coats"...okay, Brian, not all of you were "cute"! Maybe I should rephrase it and say they looked "stylish". Anyway, we had a great time. For some reason I keep ending up in cow pastures! But what a beautiful backdrop an open landscape with multi-colored trees provides! And the cows didn't seem to totally mind, although they were giving us the stare-down during most of the shoot.

For those of you thinking of doing something similar, I do have a Christmas card special going on. I will post more about that soon. But the time is now! As unbelievable as it might be, Christmas will be here shortly! Please call me at 828.455.3099 to schedule your Christmas card shoot.

For now, enjoy the pictures.

Cliffs at Glassy

2006-10-31T23:08:00.000-05:00

While I edit pictures from a wedding I have this goofy grin on my face. You see, I am a romantic. And I have said many times that I would get married five more times (to the same man of course!) if it weren't such a ridiculous idea. (And for those of you that don't know, I actually did marry my husband twice; once in NC and another time in Sweden) So I guess I sort of live through the bride I am photographing during her special day. Well I have to say I had a blast living through this bride during her wedding day. She and her husband were married at the Cliffs at Glassy. Wow. For those of you brides that are trying to figure out where you should get married please google Cliffs at Glassy. There is a cozy little chapel on top of one of the cliffs, which has a window at the front of the church that makes it appear as though you are sitting in the clouds. It is stunning!
It was a full day of activities and I had such a great time working with the talented Brady Linkous of My Favorite Memory photography. (www.myfavoritememory.com) Planning the event was Nicole Riley of Verge Events. (www.vergeconsulting.net) And I can't
leave out Mike, the videographer. He works with a company called Sanctified Crack Gorilla (yes you read correctly!) (www.scgproductions.com) They are doing some really edgy stuff for wedding videos. What a great crew!

Here are just a couple of the pictures I took during the day. It was very hard to narrow it down to just these! There were so many good pictures of this lovely couple!

A couple getting ready shots...

Love the shoes!

Seeing each other for the first time.

Do you see what I mean about the view?! Just gorgeous!

And a waltz for the first dance...you two were so graceful and sweet!

Holding on to those moments

2006-10-26T19:28:00.000-04:00

After looking at the pictures from a session I did this week, I thought I would give this post a theme. I had several pictures of this precious 11-day-old little boy in the arms of his mom and dad. So small and so vulnerable, this little one depends so much on those arms and hands to feed him, bath him, hold him and see that he gets big. So this post goes out to those arms, may they be strong and soft in the same moment; may they be supportive and stern; and may they carry on the love from generation to generation.

Shoe Fanatics

2006-10-25T16:19:00.000-04:00

Most of you know that I lived in Sweden for several years with my husband. And it is custom there to take your shoes off when entering the house. Well now that I have moved back, I can't get out of the habit of taking my shoes off. So this morning I knew I would be at my morning session a while because they are good friends and so the shoes came off. Well a few moments later, this little guy comes in sporting my shoes!

And what one does, the other must also do!

They may not like to wear clothes, but they sure love their shoes!

Baby G

2006-10-24T21:38:00.000-04:00

This poor little one was sleeping so cozy just out of the bath and snuggled up in a big blanket in grandma's arm. Then I showed up! Poor thing was not only woken up, but taken out of that big warm blanket to be laid out on the floor with no clothes so I could take her picture. I would have been unbearable! But not this sweet little one. She opened those big blue eyes with such grace. She looked around and even smiled every once in a while. She is such a good baby. (and beautiful!)

Blue Ridge Mountains

2006-10-19T18:22:00.000-04:00

This afternoon we said good-bye to Martin's parents. Back to Sweden they went after a very busy visit. We saw much of this beautiful state and even a little of South Carolina. Life has calmed down now and I am able to work more. I thought I would share a few pictures from our hike yesterday in the mountains. Wow, what a beautiful day! We were a little worried when we left because it was so foggy, but we got above the clouds in the mountains and saw such a beautiful rainbow of colors. It is not quite peak season for the changing of the leaves, but it is close. I recommend a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway soon!

On the farm

2006-10-17T16:37:00.000-04:00

I recently did an e-session out on my great-uncle's farm. I have been eyeing his farm for a couple of months and was just waiting for that chance to take pictures out there. I finally got that chance with Lauren and Kyle. We had such a great time out in the cow pasture, walking carefully to make sure we didn't step on cow poo. Kyle got a chance to feed the cows, but I don't think he was too excited about it. He apparently didn't feed them enough because one of the cows came over to me and tried to eat my bag! That was pretty disgusting! That was the only incident, though. It was such a nice day and beautiful landscape. I have warned my great-uncle that I will be back!
I actually had a hard time picking out my favorites to post so I am posting a little more than usual. I hope you enjoy!

Senior Golf Session

2006-10-14T22:17:00.000-04:00

Well I have been to Charlotte, back home, to Seagrove, NC, Myrtle Beach, and back home and then to Chapel Hill this week! WHEW! I need a vacation from my vacation! We are having a great time with my husband's parents. They have seen a lot and I think I have almost worn them out....I have about 5 more days to see the rest of North Carolina and I am not sure we are going to make it!

I have had opportunties to work in the midst of everything. I thought I would post some from a session I did the day they arrived so you know that I am still here! This is from a senior session I did with a great guy that is older than his age. He is such a laid-back good guy. He also likes golf as you will see in the pictures. We had a great time running around the golf course and he even got a chance to play a little (well, yeah, VERY little).

I will be posting more soon...I have to let you know about my very close encounter with a cow!

And lastly, a little Blue Steel!

Out of Town

2006-10-10T10:22:00.000-04:00

Hi all! I will be out of town for the next couple of days showing my in-laws this beautiful state. Therefore, I will not be able to respond to emails until the end of the week. Hope all of you enjoy a crisp, fresh new week of fall! And I promise to post some pictures of the trip.

D

A few from the wedding...

2006-10-08T14:33:00.000-04:00

I know, I know...it has been a while since posting. Life has been crazy these past couple of weeks. My in-laws flew in from Sweden yesterday and before then we had so much to do! But now they are here and it is a little more calm. I have had some really fun sessions over the past couple of weeks that I will share soon! But here are a few from the wedding two weeks ago. It was my first wedding in Hickory...which is a bit surprising because I am from this area. But I have been blessed to be able to travel all over the world to photograph weddings.

And before I post the pictures I would like to let you know that May and June are almost fully booked. July is soon to be full as well. I do have a few dates open between these three months, so let me know as soon as possible if you would like me to photograph your wedding!

Until next time...

Model in training

2006-09-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

I am in the middle of editing a wedding I photographed this weekend and had to stop to post this picture. This little boy just made me laugh the whole day of the wedding! He had his own little point and shoot camera and he went around, following me and taking pictures. When it was his turn for a "photo shoot" he really showed his stuff. There was absolutely no directing necessary. And this little pose...well, he came up with that all on his own!

Korbyn's getting so big!

2006-09-21T14:10:00.000-04:00

Meet Korbyn. He was born in March and I had the priveledge of photographing him only a week after he was born! Well, now he is about 6 months old and a lot bigger. He even has his first tooth poking through! I am working with his family on a "Baby's First Year" package. For those of you that may be interested, this package includes 4 sessions throughout baby's first year; you choose the dates. At the end of the year you will be presented with a professionally bound album that include many of the pictures from the four sessions. You will also have a private, online gallery for friends and family to view. This is such a great chance to document the ever-changing and growing little one. To inquire about this package, please email me at dana@orangecatphoto.com or call me at 828.455.3099.
For now, enjoy some great moments shared between mommy and baby...

Kure Beach Engagement Session

2006-08-29T17:37:00.000-04:00

Although I am born and raised in North Carolina, there's a lot of this state that I have not seen. So for me, this trip to Kure Beach was a first! I was impressed with all of the colorful houses that have newly popped up along the shoreline. I also enjoyed walking on the mossy soft stones the waves crash against. I also had fun meeting and getting to know Brandy and Blake during our engagement session. We walked all over one end of the beach and Blake being the history buff that he is, told us all about the huge mounds that today look strange, but during the civil war were used as protection from the canon balls plunged at the confederate soldiers. Okay, so we did take a few pictures in the midst of all of this history and beauty! I picked out a few for you to see below.

Congratulations you two!

Rainy Day Beauty

2006-08-17T14:29:00.000-04:00

You never know when you'll meet your next bride. I met this lady at Lowe's home improvements a couple of months ago. We were (are) remodeling our house and so I visited Lowe's at least a couple times a week. (now it is only about once a week!) I was on the phone with a business colleague and she overheard me talking about photography. At the time, she was interested in a photographer for her sister who was soon to be married. Little did she know that her boyfriend would propose the day before her sister's wedding! I had the priviledge of photographing both of their weddings.
The wedding day started off pretty wet, but luckily the rain subsided during the festivities.
Congratulations Heather and Kenny!

Football season is here!

2006-08-10T16:04:00.000-04:00

Well football season is well on its way and after two years of being abroad, I am ready for it! I think everyone in this area are counting down the days too. I have done several fun, but HOT sports shoots. Here are a couple......

These kids were too much fun! Their dad is a coach and they even named the baseball press box after their grandfather! We ran all around the grounds of Bandys taking picture after picture. We were sweaty and nasty by the end of the shoot, and I think it was worth it.

And here is the rival to Bandys...the Blue Devils. This was just a short senior shoot. And again, don't let the long sleeves fool you...it was HOT!

Price Park

2006-08-07T10:44:00.000-04:00

What a great Sunday I had! I went to Price Park with my family where we met our church. We all brought food and ate probably too much. But that was okay, because afterwards we played! There was volleyball, ultimate frisbee, playing in the creek and crawdad catching. Everyone had a great time and it was so refreshing to just hang out with everyone for the day. It is not so often that we can just sit around and talk and enjoy each other's company without feeling a bit rushed. Of course I couldn't resist the chance to take pictures, so here are a few from the day. Enjoy!

Vacation is over

2006-08-03T18:21:00.000-04:00

Well you may not believe this, but since writing my last post my husband and I have moved into a new house, been to the beach for a week, hosted a friend from Sweden, and celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary twice! Needless to say it feels nice to sit in our new home and do absolutely nothing! (Well, for about 20 minutes anyway!)
First of all the beach was absolutely wonderful! We went with about 15 people and laughed what seemed to be the entire time. It was such a great time and I am already counting down to next time. I have put together a little collage of SOME of the 100's of beach pictures taken.
Now that the vacation is over and we have said good-bye to our Swedish guest :( we are back to work. The photo sessions are going strong and I will post of few another day. I am working on a Christmas special that includes cards that you can send out over the holidays. I will keep you posted on that. There are also available weekends for weddings this fall but don't wait because they are filling up quickly! Look forward to hearing from you!
Until next time....

Last post for a while!

2006-07-11T23:06:00.000-04:00

Life is busy here in Conover. We are in the middle of a move (finally). And we are anticipating a great visit by a friend of my husband and I. She is our first Swedish guest and we are thrilled to see her! Needless to say we have a lot going on. Not to mention a much needed beach trip next week. I look forward to a couple of shoots on the beach, but other than that I will be relaxing! But because of all of this I will not be posting for a while. And if it takes me a while to respond to your emails, have patience...I will get back to you!

I am posting a picture of a little man that loves the creek! We did a photo shoot in the creek and had a blast. We got a little wet and had a lot of fun!

Have a great week!

Baby Will

2006-07-07T09:10:00.000-04:00

I just love itty bitty baby shoots! A newborn baby is just so beautiful. This is little Will and he was actually born a couple of weeks ago, but his parents thought he was so small that they wanted to wait for the newborn shoot. And even after 3 weeks he is pretty small. But he was the most alert 3 week old I have ever seen. He has his daddy's big blue eyes and I think he may even be a daddy's boy!

Have a great weekend!

Are they...?

2006-07-02T22:36:00.000-04:00

twins? Yes. But that is about all they have in common! These two little guys look nothing alike and don't even have similar personalities, but they are twins. They are both as cute as they can be and they keep mommy on her toes! And they repeat whatever you say trying hard to get the English language down. They will be there soon and it will interesting to hear what they have to say about everything! Here are a few pics for you to see! Enjoy!

Midsommar party!

2006-06-25T20:33:00.000-04:00

We had a great party here with friends and family and lot's of Swedish food! We ate herring, quiche, pasta salad, and most importantly, new potatoes with sour cream and chives. And as tradition calls for, the rain did come! As promised, I am posting some pictures for you. That is my husband with the viking hat and me beside of him. The other picture is one of our VERY excited guests....she thought everything looked "bootiful"! I look forward to next midsommar...maybe we will even build a midsommar pole!

Enjoy!

Happy Midsommar!

2006-06-23T15:20:00.000-04:00

Hope you are having a great midsommar! I know most of you have no idea what I am talking about, but as most of you know my husband is from Sweden and midsommar is one of the largest holidays there. Midsommar is a celebration of the longest day of the year. And when you live as far north as Sweden, you truly appreciate a day where you have light from 3 in the morning until midnight. (Especially when you compare with their shortest day, which can be no light at all or as little as 6 hours of light!)
They spend the day outside with friends eating and just having a good time together. They usually make a midsommar pole decorated with tree leaves and flowers. Many children wear a crown of flowers around their head...it is just beautiful. I have included a picture from last year's midsommar. This is our good friends' youngest little one wearing a rather large crown! Too cute! I will hopefully have pictures of tonight's party to post later!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Anonymous Posting

2006-06-22T13:28:00.000-04:00

I have changed the settings per my brother's request to enable anonymous posting. Apparently you had to login with a blogger account to be able to comment, so I made it easier for you to make comments! So please, let me know what you think!

Also, 2007 weddings dates are starting to book. If you are interested in booking me for your wedding, you may want to do so soon!

More pictures coming soon!

Big Girls Have Purses

2006-06-20T18:09:00.000-04:00

Here is Ms. Addison. She is only 3 but has a boyfriend that is 27! (Her sister has the same boyfriend and he happens to be my brother.) As much as she loves my brother, she is terrified of my husband. None of us know why...maybe it is the "strange" accent; he is from Sweden afterall! For whatever reason she will not have anything to do with him. But actually on this day we went out to eat with her and her family and she actually spoke to my husband! We were all surprised at first, but now we think they are soon to be good buddies.

Has it really been a month?!

2006-06-17T11:01:00.000-04:00

I was looking at my blog and realized that it has been a month since I posted last! May has been a very busy month. I have been to D.C. for a wedding and also to visit a good friend. (And of course the required trip to IKEA to stock up on Swedish goods!) There have been many interesting people to photograph this month. I will post one for fun and show more later!

Michelle and Travis

2006-05-09T15:13:00.000-04:00

The week is just getting started and already it is busy! I had the pleasure of meeting this couple on Monday to take a few engagement shots. The picture doesn't lie...they are crazy about each other! I just wonder how they are going to make it until their wedding....next year! I guess I know how they feel. Martin made me wait an entire year to get married to him! I thought I would never make it, but of course I did.
I also shot a wedding this weekend...but I will post more about that later!

Maci

2006-05-03T17:59:00.000-04:00

Here is Maci. She has bright red hair and big brown eyes that just beam at the mention of her daddy. We had a great day walking around, looking at the ducks (we even found a duck nest!), and taking pictures. She even brought along her 6 week old puppy! What a fun time!