Story Photographers

I decided to join the party.
I needed a lil magic in the sky right now.
Greens and blue
To purple streaks

Thanks Aurora B

Our hearts are broken for the western part of our state in the wake of hurricane Helene. Each of us on the SP team have fond memories of time spent in the mountains, including Becca and Fabian both having graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone. As we hear of different groups that we trust collecting donations, volunteering, etc, we will be sharing those in our stories. Like Mr Rogers said, look to the helpers. Be a helper. Give how you can.

🍂🍁🍂🍁 Ooo we love a September morning that starts off a little chillier than the week before! HERE FOR IT. 🍂🍁🍂🍁

Because that means its time to get your fall/holiday photoshoots on the calendar!
We still have some availability for both full shoots and minis, so get that email or DM to us this week!

We have been growing our mini shoot opportunities as you’ve been recommending us to the people in your story… we love that! Keep them coming!

NOTE: Our “regulars” have had access to these dates since last week, so I’ll let you know below which dates are about to be completely booked.

🟠🟠🟠 Here are the dates and locations you can sign up with us for this fall…. 🟠🟠🟠

October 19th (AM) - Downtown Raleigh - Ashley ((one spot left!!))
October 27th (AM) - Raleigh Park #1 - Ashley ((one spot left!!))
November 2nd (all day)- Raleigh Park #2 - Becca
November 9th (AM)- Raleigh Park #3 - Ashley ((two spots left!!))
November 9th (all day)- Raleigh Park #4 - Becca
November 10th (AM)- Raleigh Park #5 - Ashley
November 16th (AM)- Raleigh Park #3 - Ashley
November 17th (AM) - Durham Park - Ashley ((one spot left!!))
November 17th (PM) - Raleigh Park #5 - Ashley ((one spot left!!))
November 23rd (PM)- Raleigh Park #6 - Ashley ((two spots left!!))
December 7th (PM)- Downtown Raleigh - Ashley

When you reach out, we will share with you which Raleigh park we have scheduled for the dates you’re interested in. We will also give you info on cost, what happens if it rains, and how to save your spot with us!

We loooooooove this time of year with you and yours!!

🍂🍁See you soon,🍂🍁
🍂🍁Ashley, Becca and the SP Team🍂🍁

🍁As school starts back and the weather can’t decide if it’s still summer or wants to start cooling down, you know it’s time to start booking your fall photoshoots!!🍁

🍁Regulars, check your email for our Holiday Short Story Mini shoot locations…. And check back to find them posted here as well! I’ve never opened this many days and this many locations! 🍁

Here’s what I learned from my post about bo***ir opportunities coming up. You all ALSO want to know...

1. Can do a headshot day again where we set the location and the time slots, and you show up for an updated headshot! Let’s do it! Who else needs a quick headshot refresh?

2. When will I be releasing the fall short story mini shoot dates/times/locations. I am actually pulling those together this week... so you regulars will be getting the info before the world soon! Are you ready to book your fall mini?

KTHANKSLOVEYOUBYE

Here's what I learned from my post about bo***ir opportunities coming up. You all ALSO want to know...

1. Can do a headshot day again where we set the location and the time slots, and you show up for an updated headshot! Let's do it! Who else needs a quick headshot refresh?

2. When will I be releasing the fall short story mini shoot dates/times/locations. I am actually pulling those together this week... so you regulars will be getting the info before the world soon!

KTHANKSLOVEYOUBYE

Oh heeeeeeeey. Here’s proof of *the* time I let my hair down this summer. It’s been too humid and too many heat warnings for this hair! Speaking of….

You wanna let yooooour hair down soon? I’m putting together an indoor bo***ir shoot and an outdoor bo***ir shoot (on private land) to take place in the next month or two. Which one would you like to be a part of?? Comment here, DM me, email. You know all the ways to get ahold of me.

I am so passionate about creating photos with you that allow you to feel at home in your body. I want you to leave the session feeling empowered and damn good in your skin.

🌻 Bye sunflowers…. See you next year! 🌻

🩵 Shew this heat! We hope you stay nice and cool, whether in the AC or outside in the shade (and maybe even in a pond!). Perhaps you might even get some reading in with your favorite people and pups. 🩵

Tis the season for ✨sunflowers and butterflies✨….

…. And for y’all to start asking about fall shoots because it’s so stinkin hot outside. 🤓

More soon….

Esse Quam Videri
“To be rather than to seem”
[North Carolina State Motto]

I want to BE the thing, rather than to SEEM like the thing.

I want to BE FULLY ASHLEY, rather than to curate something that SEEMS like Ashley.

I have wanted to update my headshot for awhile, and this time I had the timeline of wanting to do them before my skin cancer surgery next week.

It is SO EASY to fall into wanting to SEEM like a version of yourself when being photographed. Especially being photographed alone. I was going to still do that in tiny ways, like putting concealer under my eyes to hide my lack of sleep.

How do I BE fully me while being photographed?

What am I going to wear - clothes that are my FAVORITE, things I’ve tried on, accessories that are important to me (though I forgot most of my jewelry I was going to wear but its all good)

Where am I being photographed - in one of my favorite locations, with my feet to the earth and water, golden light, sounds of stream, lightening bugs waking up around us

Who is photographing me - Becca, who I have known for almost 20 years now… who I can be vulnerable to, sharing how I currently feel in my body, what I want to feel like in the photos

The outcome? Sure, there were moments I was in my head about my body, and not just in my body. I have learned it’s a PRACTICE. But once again Becca created photos of myself that are me. I see me now, I see me over the years. Thank you for that, Becca.

Pride month is just a few days away… big companies who might actually give their money in ways that are not allied to the LGBTQIA community will be putting out their rainbow gear. Yeah, it’s nice for them to see the numbers, that people want to support pride month. Can I give you some other suggestions of things you can do to celebrate pride with the LGBTQIA community?

🏳️‍🌈 By all means, get that rainbow gear. You NEVER know who you might be signaling safety to around you when you show that you are an ally. Can I interest you in doing a little research though? Instead of getting that rainbow gear from amazon or Target, maybe find an Etsy shop or independently owned shop where you are supporting a small business owner’s dream?

🏳️‍🌈 Think about the people in your direct community (at work, in your family, your next door neighbors, at church) that identify as LGBTQIA. Without asking for their input, reflect on ways that you might be a better ally to them. Think about conversations you have had that maybe you might want to revisit with them, or maybe you’ve been avoiding you want to talk with them about that shows them you are supportive of their full identity, etc.

🏳️‍🌈 Instead of the cheap rainbow gear, maybe donate to a non profit that supports the LGBTQIA community in some way.

🏳️‍🌈 Evaluate your language (pronouns, gender inclusion, etc), your companies policies and practices, your church’s stance on welcoming and affirming. Do a little digging, have some good conversations.
(Continued in comments)

Fiiiiinnnnaaallllyyyyy got the baby boy to let me do the first round of his senior pictures, less than a month away from his graduation 😂🤷🏼‍♀️. Second round? TBD. People just pay me to do this at Story Photographers but WHATEVER.

Bless. I love him.
[a couple behind the scenes and a lil peek]

💐🌼🌷This weekend was abundant with opportunities to photograph people this beautiful time of year. We met new clients, photographed long time clients. Photographed a backyard Hindu wedding, spoke about being a photographer to middle schoolers, photographed new clients at Duke gardens, photographed a pastor installation service, photographed seniors going to prom, and a sweet reception celebrating an already married couple. Thank you thank you thank you for the ways you refer us and continue to invite us to tell your stories. Love you mean it. 🤓🪻🌹🌸

The wait is over! Here are the dates for Spring Short Story mini shoots with us!!!

🌷Saturday April 20th - Becca

🌷 Friday May 10th - Ashley

🌷Saturday May 18th - Ashley, afternoon

🌷Sunday May 19th - Ashley

As always, if you are interested in working with us but you aren't able to make these dates work, reach out! DM us, text us, email us ([email protected] OR [email protected]). We also have a few spots left for full photoshoots in our spring calendars. Thank you for working with us and telling others they might want to work with us too!!

The pollen is swirling so you know it's almost time for the 🌷 Spring Short Story 🌷 dates to drop! Check back this evening to catch those here and grab your spot!

📣New offering alert!!📣 You asked for it, so we are offering it! Outdoor 🎓 cap and gown minis 🎓 for your 2024 graduates! Check back this evening to catch those opportunities as well!

It is an honor to share this story shoot with you all from 2022... come back to your inner kid and lets run through the woods, climb a tree, swim in the lake for this one...

Life Story Shoot — Story Photographers I have such a special place in my heart for story shoots. Every shoot I do, I am looking for the best way to reveal and document the heart of what’s being communicated… an authentic look at the people involved. Story shoots get directly to the heart of that. Elizabeth is a newer friend of mine, ...

[[Straight to the point: Are you not sure what to get the small business owner in your life this holiday season? Want another write off for 2023? I’ve got you! Start the new year off right with an in person or zoom business consultation with me! One time, special pricing offered ONLY in December 2023. Consultation must be booked in January, February or March 2024. More business and photographer tools to come in the new year!]]

After starting Story Photographers in 2005, we experienced massive growth in the first few years. By 2008, people interested in becoming photographers started asking me what my secret to growing so fast was…. And honestly, I wasn’t totally sure yet. In more recent years when asked I have sat down with friends, colleagues and clients to offer them advice as they began their entrepreneurial adventures - I always loved these conversations.

I’ve learned that one of my greater callings in life is to walk along side people as they go through the big things of life, especially things I have already experienced. This has looked like changing spirituality, sudden death of a loved one, divorce, sexuality… and growing/sustaining a business that has solely supported me for this long (through all those life things, a recession, a pandemic…). We always have to do our own work, I am just available to walk alongside of you, offering guidance when needed.

Let me be *so honest*: I have wanted to offer this for a long time, getting lost in the “why add another voice to all those giving advice out there?” But through many conversations, requests and some digging deep personally, I realized I bring something unique to consulting. So does Becca. Just like how we have brought something unique in how we have run this business all this time. If how you’ve experienced or seen us do business resonates with you, we would love to be invited into the story of your business.

Between now and the last day of 2023, you can reserve/gift a 1-2 hour in person or over zoom small business consultation with me at a SILLY low price. It’s absurdly affordable. My colleagues will be so annoyed with me for that but I am too excited! I have to! I want you all to join me! I am passionate about my annual “close out last year, dream and vision for the new year” meetings with my self every January… so the deal I am offering in December 2023 must be scheduled sometime in January, February or March 2024.

FYI… In 2024 we will be offering many different educational resources, including one on one small business consultations with me, portfolio review with me or Becca, editing/work flow with Becca, in person workshops, zoom workshops, live photoshoots to observe and photograph, as well as instructional downloads for each kind of photoshoot we do. Again, some of these resources will be specific to photographers, others will be for any small business/creative entrepreneur. Check back as I will be sharing more about this as the year closes out. I AM EXCITED! DM me or email me for more info!

PS. As always, if you know someone that would be interested in gifting or purchasing a meeting with us, please share this post with them. We love being connected with your people!

Since we've been sent back into second summer here at the beginning of September, let's plan for fall!!!

🌻ICYMI: The 🌻sunflowers🌻 are beginning to open up so it's time! Let's get your shoot on the calendar asap!

I stopped by there today and saw the first of the sunflowers are opening so let me know when you want to book your mini or full shoot out in the sunflowers in the next week or two! I am excited to see you out there! 🌻

It’s Pride Month... stick with me for this post? Read all the way through? Ashley here... for me?

There’s a lot of anger and fear and misinformation around Pride month… it’s meaning, it’s merchandising, etc. There’s a lot of fear in the LGTBQIA+ community as more and more rights are taken away from real people, leading to the potential harm of our bodies/lives increasing. There are so many threats on pride celebrations and it’s just really easy to be fearful right now. This month isn’t just about wearing rainbows and “trying to turn people gay”.

Pride occurs in June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that took place that month in 1969, honoring those who were part of those very important gay rights protests, as well as reminding us that we are still fighting for our rights. We are still having to remind people in power and all around that LGBTQ bodies deserve to take up space, as they are, in the world. LGBTQIA people are beautifully and wonderfully made.

From a business stand point, there are a lot of businesses that want to capitalize on pride month. “Sell the merch! Post ‘love is love!’” Friends, pay close attention to what companies are backing that up… who isn’t just talking the talk but also taking action.

As a business owner, I want to take a moment to be PROUD about some things in our business history:

* The first two gay weddings announced with a photo in my alma mater Campbell University’s magazines? I photographed them! And adore both of these couples!! (photos 1 and 2)

* We were the first photography business in the Raleigh area that posted pictures of couples who happened to be LGBTQ+ on our website and social media. We were told by some people that loved us that we would loose business, we would be boycotted, etc. Yet here we are, going strong all these years after that first post (shout out to Aaron and Bobby for being the beautiful couple in that post!) (photos 3 and 4)

* In 2014 I hung out at the courthouse for the announcement to come down that gay marriage had become legal in North Carolina. As some of the judges chose to stay after regular business hours to perform wedding ceremonies, I stayed in the courtroom and served as a witness and free wedding photographer for the couples that made their unions legally binding that night. (photos 5 and 6)

* I will (and have many times) happily photograph your straight wedding at a conservative southern seminary with joy because that’s your story and I am honored you chose to me to tell it. There is room at my table.

As a business owner I have pride in how we tell the stories we tell. Your love (in all it’s forms) is important and worth documenting well. I am proud that we are seventeen years in as a business with the choices we’ve made along the way.

I am proud to be a business owner who happens to be a woman/queer/follower of Jesus/North Carolinian.

CONGRATULATIONS FABIAN!!

YALL! Our beloved fabulous Fabian has graduated from the photography program at Appalachian State University and we are just so proud! If you’ve not met Fabian, you’re missing out. At various times in high school and beginning of college, he would shadow me at shoots, assist me on busy mini shoot days, and always ask me one million really good questions. As his experience, knowledge and craft grew, he started second shooting with me at weddings. We hope to see him for more of that in the future!

Fabian, you have worked so hard to accomplish all that you have accomplished. You are so eager to learn all you can to do this thing you love so very much. It’s been an honor to have a front row seat to how hard you’ve worked, how smart you are and to watch your work get better and better and even better. I feel so confident that your hard working spirit is going to help you take on the world!! I am always here to cheer you on!

🌸🌷🌸Spring Minis 2023🌸🌷🌸

The warmer weather has been teasing us the last couple of weeks and you know what that means……. it’s time to talk about spring mini shoots! Celebrate the returning green, flowers, Mother’s Day, etc with us at a floral location in Raleigh. Here’s when you can work with Ashley and Becca for your spring mini:

Becca:
�Friday May 12th (afternoon)
Saturday May 13th (morning)

Ashley:

Friday May 19th (afternoon)
Saturday May 20th (morning)
Sunday May 21st (afternoon)

Shoot us an email, send us a DM and get on the schedule!

🌸🌷🌸🌸🌷🌸🌸🌷🌸🌸🌷🌸🌸🌷🌸

Here on small business Saturday, following a national day of Thanks, Ashley here to say THANK YOU.

This year as a business owner I’ve had so many reasons to have to apologize, ask for patience, thank you for your graciousness, reschedule, etc. These are all things I don’t want to have to do being a service providing business, and also, simply put these are things that humans do and need.

So this year, in my very much humanness, I have never been more grateful for the ways you invite us to do our job, telling your stories.

We get a front row seat year after year to watch your babies grow, we get to meet the friends and family you so generously refer to us, we get to cheer you on as you show love to your people in your photographs, and even more importantly as you show love to your self while being photographed.

Honored. Grateful. Full of love.

Ashley

Ps HUGE THANK YOU to the SP team this year!!! Adria and Hayatt for your help with blogging and social media. Beth and Martha for creating beautiful work for our incredible clients. And Becca, who does it all around here and for whom I am so very thankful to work alongside. Here’s to year 17 for Story Photographers!