I’ve spent the bulk of today going through 2011′s images, picking some out for a year-end slideshow, re-living the sessions and weddings and all the travel we did. It wasn’t the busiest year for weddings… 2012 is already shaping up to be a great deal busier than 2011. But what 2011 lacked in busy-ness, it more than made up for in just about every other way.

In 2011, we put 24,000 miles on the car, traveling to weddings in Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina, DC, and South Carolina. We stayed in seven different hotels, ate at countless fast food joints, and became really fast friends with the Gas Buddy app for iPhone. We cooked at home whenever we could, and we each gained at least ten pounds. Ellie started the second grade, turned eight years old, discovered Justin Bieber, and got her hair cut to above her shoulders. I chopped almost all my hair off. Mike grew a beard, hated it, and shaved it off. We all found out that we love scarves and thick, comfy socks. Mike and I ate some AMAZING food in some incredible restaurants, from Aubriana’s right here in Wilmington, to Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle, to Maggiano’s in Durham.

2011 wasn’t just fun and travel and calories. We lost Dino, watched some good friends move far away, and went the entire year without seeing my mom or my siblings. In “this isn’t bad, but it’s kind of weird” news, Ellie gained a stepmother and stepbrother in 2011, along with a hamster named Gibble. Mike started a new job, and I reunited with an old boss who has asked me to do some contract administrative work for him in my spare time next year.

In 2011, Mike and I got engaged. (Squeeeeeee!!!!!)

One of the most significant developments from 2011 was Mike picking up a camera at a session early in the year. He’d spent years pursuing photography as a hobby, but it honestly didn’t occur to me that he might want (or be able) to do it professionally. That is, until I downloaded his images. Holy crap, the man can shoot! And, better still, he LOVES it. I’ve spent the last decade rejecting second shooter after second shooter, for reasons ranging from “your work never rises above awful” to “I can’t babysit you while I’m working” to “you smell really, really, really bad”. A good second shooter is hard to come by; an excellent one (who smells good, doesn’t need babysitting, and actually knows what he’s doing with a camera) is damn near impossible. And I somehow stumbled upon the man that not only wants to marry me (squeeeeeee!!!!), but also happens to be an excellent second shooter.

So, in 2011 I quite naturally began the transition from Charo: Solo Shooter to Charo + Mike: Shooting Team. How lucky am I, to be able to work side by side with the man I love (and am marrying! Squeeeeee!!!!!)… pretty damn lucky. (Along with this change we’ll be launching our new website soon… but… one thing at a time for now!)

And, finally… the real point of all this rambling. The pictures. The pictures of the people who made everything possible for Mike and I this year. Our clients friends, who got married, had babies, celebrated anniversaries and family reunions and birthdays, and asked us to capture their joy. In the slideshow below are 165 images of incredible couples, families, friends, who trusted their memories to us. I don’t know how best to express my gratitude and my pride, other than to commemorate their beautiful faces just one last time this year.

Happy New Year. I love you all…

Mike,

You came into my life right when I needed you most (and right when I was most adamant that I wanted to go it alone). You showed me how to laugh without worrying that laughing makes my double chin more like a triple chin, or maybe even a quadruple. You taught me to allow myself to be adored, to be wanted, and to believe that I deserve it. You showed me that every part of me is lovable, even the parts I’ve always abhorred. You’ve been there for times that were amazing, and times that were best left forgotten. Times I was beautiful, and times I was decidedly not. We’ve been poor and rich together, sick and healthy, thin and fat, and always, always happy. From our ramen-and-jammies nights to our high-heeled-dinner out nights, it’s been nothing but joy… and a neverending gratitude for what we’ve both found in each other.

You’re my yin, my counterbalance, my solid ground. I’d be a fool to not say YES.

In case it isn’t clear… we’re getting married!!! After witnessing hundreds of couples commit the rest of their lives to one another, it’s our turn! I could not be happier. I could not be more excited.

Thank you, Mike. For loving me. For being the incredible person you are. And for making an honest woman out of me.

We tried for a self-engagement photo, but I’m terrible at pre-focusing with the self timer, so we got one so-so in focus shot, and two halfway decent but really blurry shots… and then we just took pictures of each other for good measure (and maybe for the bio page). Here we are… your future Mister and Missus B.

This letterpress stationer is Nicole, whose wedding I photographed back in 2009 in Hot Springs, NC.   She and her husband Alex designed and  created the invitations and programs for their wedding, which were INCREDIBLE.  Their story is incredible, too – and the fact that they are both working artists makes it even more special.

I can vouch for Mink because I’ve seen her work firsthand.  Touched it, held it, photographed it – it’s the real thing.  Real letterpress work made with sweat and ink and love and the labor of long overnights working with heavy machinery and the drive to get each piece absolutely perfect.  She is an artist, a craftsman, and her work shows her talent and her spirit splendidly.

Most people won’t procure letterpress wedding invitations – not when there are dozens of online retailers offering gobs of pretty thermographed and bulk-printed stationery at deep discounts.  But there is something indescribably  special about a letterpressed piece of stationery.  It  communicates more than just the words pressed into its fibers.   Feeling the heavy weight of the carefully-selected paper… smelling the unique undertones of each ink… admiring the fine imprint of each letter, each swirl, each carefully designed imprint.  These pieces are REALLY something special.  I definitely recommend at LEAST ordering a sample from Nicole, just to see what I’m talking about.  These invitations – they just don’t get thrown out, you know?  They don’t feel like something that shouldn’t be held on to, and cherished, and maybe even handed down.  They just feel SPECIAL.  And, in turn, they make each guest feel special to have received something so delicately produced just for them.

I can’t wait until I have an order to place with Nicole

There’s no way to talk about Amy and Neal without gushing.

Amy was referred to me by Danielle, whose wedding and engagement I shot in 2004, and who now makes amazing custom lamps which can be found at Blue Hand Home in Wilmington, and Nube Green in Washington state. It won’t be long before her work is shown in more major cities and states – she’s amazing. I have been meaning to create a blog post just about her work, and of course because I’m lame I haven’t done it yet… but this will be a good kick in the pants to get that done. Because I owe her. Yeah, she totally posted an out of this world article about me on her blog a while back… it almost made me cry when I read it. Wow do I love her.

Now, Amy and Neal are friends of Danielle’s, which means they’re automatically my friends. Which makes perfect sense, because when I first met Amy it was like kismet. She is the BEST. She’s hilarious, hyper, scattered, and wonderful. I love her. I didn’t meet Neal until the day of the session, and he was a tad under the weather, but he is the perfect match for Amy. The yin to her yang. They were wonderful to be around, and were such a gorgeous visual reminder to me of how great love can be. Not that I’m not reminded of that every day… it’s just nice to see “outside”… you know?

On to the PICTURES!

I’m a few hours late in posting this, but no worries – Black Friday will last all week here!

First, I have a special on Portrait Sessions: book your session at the normal rate ($250 for a one-hour session on-ocation), and receive the full set of digital files FREE.  That’s a $500 value, and it’s only available this week!  To secure this deal, you’ll need to book your session ($125 booking fee to reserve your space) no later than 8pm on Friday December 2nd.   As long as I’ve received your reservation fee by the end of the week, your session will be upgraded to include the high resolution files at no extra charge!  Any bookings made after 8pm on Friday December 2nd will be treated as normal sessions, and files will be additional.

*50% reservation fee of $125 is required to lock in deal by 12/2/2011. Balance of session must be paid on or before
session date.  Sessions will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and are not always available
on weekends due to wedding and travel schedule.  Sessions may be used for engagements,
headshots, family, kids, boudoir, etc and are limited to one hour at a single location.

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Now for Weddings: Between today and next Friday (December 2nd), my two most popular wedding packages are on sale! Here’s the skinny:

Package 1: $4,500 $3,350
engagement session: 2 hour Wilmington area engagement session
engagement session signature/guest book: included
engagement session files: included
rehearsal coverage: up to 2 hours (subject to scheduling availability/travel issues)
wedding day coverage: up to 9 hours continuous
product credit: $500 (can be used toward travel costs)
sharing + ordering: private online gallery for 9 months after the wedding
digital files: they’re yours – you can do with them as you wish (within reason)

Package 2: $3,200 $2,500
engagement session: 1 hour Wilmington area engagement session
engagement session signature book: included
engagement session files: available for purchase
wedding day coverage: up to 7 hours continuous
sharing + ordering: private online gallery for 9 months after the wedding
digital files: they’re yours – you can do with them as you wish (within reason)

If you want to take advantage of this deal, you need to act quick.  Call me, email me, use my contact form and tell me about your wedding!  If I’m still available for your date, we’ll talk details, I’ll send you a contract, and as long as you get the signed contract and retainer fee back to me by Friday December 2nd, you can lock in that awesome rate.

Oh, and HUGE bonus: for 2012 I’ve added a second photographer to all my packages at no additional charge (the no-charge thing will change for 2013!).  Which means that not only do you get a crazy discount on the package, but you get a free second shooter for less than nothing.  (Second shooter may not be available for all dates, and is not guaranteed until date is secured with signed contract and retainer)

THE FINE PRINT:

• Contract and retainer (50% of package price) must be received no later than 8pm Friday December 2nd
• Sale prices apply to new inquiries and bookings only, and are not applicable to any inquiry or booking occurring prior to Friday November 25, 2011.
• Booking availability is subject to my schedule, and taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Travel costs may be additional for weddings occurring beyond a two hour radius of Wilmington NC.

How cute is Elizabeth? She contacted me a few months ago about their Oak Island wedding next June. Dan and Elizabeth live in Chicago, but her family has vacationed at Oak Island for years, and it’s become a second home for her. From the early planning ideas, I can say that this wedding will be incredible – casual, elegant, and filled with meaning.

I’m really excited to get these two back in front of the camera next year. They’re absolutely adorable, funny, and so easy to get along with.

We had so much fun, between location scouting, joking around about bunny rescues (long story), and getting to know each other, it was a blast. I love these guys, and I can’t wait for their wedding in June!