HICKORY, NC PHOTOGRAPHER | SUMMER 2018

Hickory, NC Photographer

Now that school is back in and I have a little more time to work on personal projects. I have gotten around to editing a few pictures taken with the “big camera” this summer. I LOVE summer. It is my favorite season. I am a sun lover and a pool rat through and through. Additionally, I  am a beach junkie. I love it even more now that it means easy days with my children. I know these are the best days of life. Of course, I am so thankful for that. That is a perk to being a wedding photographer. The ability to work when and how you need to. It makes me sad that it is over (we still have one upcoming warm beach trip that I’m excited about though)! Also, I am excited about documenting families and weddings this Fall as we head into the busy season.

If you need a Hickory, NC Photographer. Or a photographer for a wedding in the mountains, call me. Remember I serve Boone and Blowing Rock as well as the surrounding areas for wedding and portrait photography.

So what have we been up to this summer?

Outer Banks Trip: Hickory, NC Photographer

We kicked it off with a trip to the Outer Banks, Hatteras Island to be specific. We stayed in Frisco this year. This trip has been a tradition for us every year since before Mike and I were married. Our 13th anniversary is next week so that would make about 14 years of vacationing on the island. We lost a year when my Mom was dying and then a year when it was just too hard I guess but we were determined to make it back. This year it was just our little family of 5. Very different than what we have been used to. My entire family used to make this trip and the memories are oh so precious. Now it is time for us to forge ahead with our own. This year did not disappoint either. We even took the dogs and that is a first in a long time. I can’t wait to make it back again next year.

Pennsylvania and Canada Trip: Hickory, NC Photographer

Come mid-summer we made the LONG journey up to northwest PA to see my in-laws. That was an absolute blast and we got in a little swimming at the bay. A bit too cold for me but the boys loved playing in the water and luckily for them we found a dead log that made for some great fun. From there we ventured on to Canada and saw Niagra Falls. This was my 2nd trip but the boys had never been. It was a little hot the first day as we walked the falls but cool to see. We also took a boat ride in on the Hornblower which was amazing! The power of that water is incredible. I don’t have photos of that on the Canon because, well water. Of course we did a bit of touristy stuff and rode to the top of the Sklylon Tower. Very cool to see a 360 degree view.

Home Renovation: Hickory, NC Photographer

The last major thing that has consumed our time this summer is our house renovation. We are taking our tiny log home and adding on to it so that it suits our family long term. This means there is an addition on two sides, top and bottom. We started the project a year ago with digging the new foundation. It’s a major undertaking and we are doing a lot ourselves. My husband is an engineer and has a general contractor’s license but we also have two great builders that are working on it as well.

I wish I would have taken one more updated photo before I blogged this but … time! If you are interested you can follow the project on the Instagram page I have created for it @hrinnovation. I try to post there when we hit major milestones. The past couple weeks have brought some pretty good ones like getting all deck rails installed and mostly finishing the exterior. There’s a lot of staining and a bit of detail work to do but it’s close. Then on to cutting out walls and the interior!

All said and done, the summer of 2018 was fantastic. We made lots of memories, spent lots of time together, had lots of campfires, swam in creeks and pools and oceans, we simplified our life in many ways and we enjoyed each other. We soaked in the time and our family in the best way and I am grateful for so much! Life is SO, SO VERY good!

That said, here are some highlight photos. A far cry from being a wedding photographer. My boys are my favorite subjects though. However, I am ready to see some fall brides and families. A career as a wedding photographer has its perks.