So long, farewell to...

Melissa.

Today is Melissa's last day working full-time with us at Touch of Color. After two years as a full-time photographer with us, Melissa will be returning to school this fall to try to finish her degree. She will still be shooting as a contract photographer with us, but she will not be here in the office every day anymore, much to Ashley's dismay. Melissa and Ashley shared an office, dance moves, and a distaste for computer problems.

Many of you have had the privilege of having Melissa shoot your wedding, your bridal portrait, your engagement session, or your portrait. Melissa has loved every minute of shooting!

"It is three o´ clock in the morning in the Canary Islands and I am unable to sleep. I just want to take the opportunity to tell you how great you were at the wedding. Everyone was so pleased with your professional, your literally and physically bending over backwards, standing on podiums, swinging from trees--just to get the perfect shot...Thanks for a great job. "

"Melissa,
Thanks for everything yesterday, you really made Randy and I comfortable. We are so excited to look at the pictures. I got the photo plan and the helpful suggestions. Again thank you and I will talk to you soon."

"Hey Melissa,
The photos look beautiful!! Thank you so much for coming out to Duke- I know Pat and I will cherish these forever...Thanks again for all your help! I'm so excited you will be there on our wedding day!!"



Bye for now, Melissa. We will miss seeing you every day. Holler.

True love...Jennifer & Justin

I met Jennifer & Justin almost a year ago and liked them from the first second. They are very much in love and have been together for almost five years. Jen's been playing this wedding while working and finishing her last year at UNC-Chapel Hill. (Not all Tarheels are bad news, I guess. Just kidding!) They were finally married in Durham at First Presbyterian, with a reception at Croasdaile Country Club on June 23, 2007. They are honeymooning in Jamaica and I can't wait for them to come see their pictures! Thanks for choosing Touch of Color! God bless you both!



I snapped this one in the basement of the church, where the couple immediately retreated following the ceremony. Their first few moments as husband and wife were so sweet.

Brooke & Justin...

Brooke & Justin are such a cute couple! They chose Touch of Color thanks to the lovely recommendation of a former bride. It was really funny, because when they arrived for their engagement session last fall, I immediately recognized Brooke as one of my husband's former roommates-- and that had nothing to do with why they chose us, just a funny coincidence! They were married on June 16, 2007 at Highgrove- a haven of loveliness in Fuquay-Varina.
Brooke and her sister-in-law checking out the guests as they arrived...

I decided to include a self-portrait in this one!

"So, we're really married..."

Can we say State fans! They entered their reception to the State song! Go Wolfpack!

Britt & Ryan!

Britt and Ryan were married on June 16, 2007 at North Raleigh United Methodist Church and the reception was immediately following at Britt's family home. Their wedding day was absolutely beautiful! The details were breathtaking. Britt and Ryan have been together for ten years! Sweethearts through school and different colleges, their love was truly meant to be! The couple will return to New York City, where Britt will attend Pratt for her MA and Ryan will be in grad school at Columbia while working to design the new WTC. Thanks for letting us share in your special day! It was a blast! (Even though I fell getting the last shot-- skinned both kness and elbows. It was worth it!)

Richard Conrad, one of the best make up artist in Raleigh, hates to have his picture taken, so I thought his brushes would be okay...

Britt and the girls...
Ryan and the guys... on the golf course! We followed them around after they teed off this morning and then came back for shots once they were all tuxed up.


"There is no safer place than to be in love..."

"I love thee with a love that shall not die. Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old."

The Cunninghams are so in love... and they only have about two weeks together until he is deployed again. They have only been married for 8 months. Perhaps that is why these shots are so touching.

This is what we love about Lifetime Portraits...

We love being able to photograph a bride and groom and then have them come back with their pets, and then their babies!!! Steve & Amanda were married in June 2005 at the Forrest Theatre and now they brought in their little four month old daughter, Samantha! This little one takes after Daddy- she's going to be tall!

Ashley's Engagements

Most of our referrals come from word-of-mouth. Lindsey and Chris are a great example of that. Two summers ago I photographed Lindsey's sister's wedding in Chapel Hill. If Lindsey is as much fun as Molly was I know it is going to be awesome!

Lindsey and Chris are very ready for the big day, which isn't too far away. This engagement shoot at Meredith College was so fun and mellow. They are amazingly calm for having so much happen at once. Chris's graduation, a wedding AND a big move to Texas... talk about keeping busy!

Carrie and Jeremy couldn't be more adorable if I asked them to be. Carrie with her killer eyes and Jeremy with that sneaky smile made this engagement shoot so much fun! It it always nice when you don't have to force the couple to get close and lovey dovey... with these two the mushy stuff came naturally!

Funny note: I swear that Jeremy has a long lost twin that went to highschool with me! Maybe?

What can I say about Val and Geoff... I love them! They are so funny and easy to work with... I mean I made them squeeze between two moving trailers and they didn't complain once... that is until a little spider came along. But who can blame them? I hate spiders too.

I am very excited about the big day... and can't wait to see some old friends. I photographed Geoff's brother's wedding 2 years ago and can't wait to see Matt and Sobia again!

Welcome to a new addition...

Shooting Starrs Maxamillion Jordan!

We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this new one, also known as Max, this little fellow took a long flight from Milwaukee to RDU on Tuesday to join the Bokhoven family. Max is our new 6 week old German Shorthair, a cousin to Gimpy, the beloved seven year old hunting friend we lost in December to kidney failure.

My husband Howard is an avid hunter --as many of you know from the two elk trophies (Larry and Lester) displayed on our conference room walls. Howard and Max will be very busy the next several months training for his first bird hunt...

The jury is still out on Mona appreciating the new addition...

Miss Mona in all her glory...