The Schultzes Blog

The Schultzes Blog - RSS http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/ en Copyright 2012 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:06:40 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification I miss him. Goodness gracious, do I miss this guy.

I'm having a nice time in California with my family...but man...life just isn't as full or as fun when I don't have Geoff by my side. It might sound a little dramatic, but I can't help but feel a definite and real void when he's not with me. I'm so very grateful to have him as my husband and I am so incredibly honored to be his wife....no way, no how do I deserve this life that I have.

It's so nice to have our phones and skype to stay connected while Boone and I are away. I will say, though....I can't wait to see my sweet man's face in person when he picks us up from the airport next week! Love you, baby!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/02/i-miss-him.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/02/i-miss-him.html Us Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:06:40 -0500 Mint Museum Wedding - Melissa and Jarian

Melissa and Jarian's wedding was our last wedding of 2012. And goodness....I couldn't have asked for a better wedding or a nicer couple to wrap things up for the year. We truly hope that they are in our lives for some time to come.

A couple of my favorite parts of their day....

- The fact that Melissa and Jarian did a first look prior to their ceremony. This gave us an hour to dedicate solely to portraits in the gorgeous sun beating down into uptown Charlotte.

- As part of his toast, Melissa's dad recited a quote from the movie Lost in Translation:

"It gets a whole lot more complicated when you have kids. The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born. Your life, as you know it...is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk....and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life."

Man, that got me.

Planner - Katrina of come+together

Makeup - Who's the Fairest

Hair - Mel w/ Therapy Essentials

Bride's dress - Lian Carlo purchased at Ivory and White

Bridesmaids dresses - BCBG

Flowers - The Place for Flowers

Band - Swinging Richards

Caterer - Something Classic

Invitations - Wedding Paper Divas

Photobooth - Audio to Go

The first look.

LOVE this.

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/02/mint-museum-wedding---melissa-and-jarian.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/02/mint-museum-wedding---melissa-and-jarian.html Weddings Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:24:59 -0500 Me + 17-month-old Boone on a plane

Well, we made it. To say that I was nervous about flying across the country from North Carolina to California with my 17 month old Boone - without my husband - was an understatement.

Flying with him by myself at the age that he is isn't altogether ideal. However, since getting word a few weeks ago that my 92 year old grandmother's health is declining, Geoff and I decided it was best that I take advantage of this time of year when we've got a little down time as far as the business is concerned and go for a visit.

Before I left for my trip put out a tweet soliciting advice/tips for flying with a toddler and thought I would share some things that I found particularly useful for our 1 hour flight to Atlanta, 1.5 hour layover, and 5 hour flight on to California....goodness, it was a long haul!

The night before I left we took a trip to the dollar section at Target to hunt for some new toys. We ended up with a slinky (which was a big hit with Boone), a coloring book and lots of stickers (we didn't get to use these on the flight out, but will definitely take advantage of them on the way back) and a totally random plastic cow that he quickly attached to. We also picked up some travel packets of anti-bacterial wipes and hand-sanitizer, which I used what felt like every 10 minutes during our travels. As it turns out, his favorite "toy" was my empty starbucks cup...he loved putting the stopper in and out and fitting the cup base into the sleeve...provided two 20 minute installments of fun.

A few other items we brought along:

- A mini-dvd player with some of his favorite dvds....I had no problem digging out "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" for this trip....whatever works!

- Before we left I had Geoff screen capture "The Elmo Slide" and put it on my laptop. This child LOVES this dance. Geoff also put some home videos we had taken of Boone on the computer...also a favorite. :) And although we didn't have the iPad with us, the app "Talking Tom Cat" would have been a hit as well.

- A pillow. Totally worth it. It really helped keep him comfortable during the flight...he even fell asleep at one point leaning back against it while watching a show.

- Paci and sippy cup for drinks...especially helpful on take off and landing for those hurting ears.

- Snacks, of course. Lots of snacks including string cheese, goldfish, granola bars and applesauce. A lot of people said to try lollipops, so we're going to give that a go on the way home.

All in all, it was a pretty good trip out here. I took the advice of a friend who suggested boarding last instead of pre-boarding. The least amount of time we needed to be confined to a small space, the better. After we had landed in San Francisco, I thanked the three young business men sitting in front of us for never making me feel like they were irritated and frustrated even though they were probably very much so just that. Lucky us, one of them had a 1 year old, a 2 year old and a 3 year old....and another had a one month old...so they were very understanding. Made all the difference for me!

I think one of my favorite pieces of advice from a friend on facebook was to have a sense of adventure about the whole thing and to embrace "whatever happens, happens". Great tip in putting myself in the right frame of mind.

Here's a few quick articles with some more flying with small children tips...

How to enjoy a plane trip with young children

How can I keep my children entertained on a long flight?

Where can I change my baby on a plane?

What should I do if my child cries during a flight?

_________________________________________________________________________________

We fly back to NC a week from today - I would welcome any other tips that any of you with small children would like to share! Thanks in advance. :)

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/02/me-17-month-old-boone-on-a-plane.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/02/me-17-month-old-boone-on-a-plane.html Us Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:11:57 -0500 The Booth - pillow fights + Tebow

Caroline and Zach had quite the crew at their Palmer Building reception - they certainly didn't disappoint in the photobooth!

If you missed their wedding post, click HERE.

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/the-booth---pillow-fights-tebow.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/the-booth---pillow-fights-tebow.html Photobooth Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:52:27 -0500 Published - The NC Knot - Katrina and Hutch

It is such an honor to have had our work from Katrina and Hutch's wedding at the Mint Museum published in the current issue of The Knot (North Carolina) magazine. Be sure to pick up a copy to check it out!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/published---the-nc-knot---katrina-and-hutch.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/published---the-nc-knot---katrina-and-hutch.html Press Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:47:28 -0500 Palmer Building Wedding - Caroline and Zach

The girls were all smiles when we arrived to begin shooting Caroline and Zach's wedding day.

It was mildly chilly, but for a late November wedding, the weather was near perfect. Seeing as the ceremony start time was after sunset, I was SO glad when Caroline told me she and Zach wanted to do a first look. This allowed us to have plenty of time to take advantage of photographing the two of them together in the gorgeous, soft light of late afternoon/early evening.

Caroline and Zach are easy going, SO genuine and very much in love - it was an absolute joy to be a part of their day. :)

Ceremony - Salem United Methodist Church

Reception - The Palmer Building

Hair - Modern Salon (Tammy at Phillips Place)

Makeup - Who's the Fairest

Dress purchased at J Majors

Bridesmaids dresses - J.Crew

Groomsmen suits - Fairclough and Co.

Flowers - The Place for Flowers

Band - A-Town A-List

Cupcakes - Polka Dot Bake Shop

Rentals/Furniture - Sterling By Design and Party Reflections

Caterer - La Tea Da's

Calligraphy - Lynn w/ Lyncrist

Negative space....yes please. :)

Their first look was very sweet.

See what I mean about that light?!

Could he have been ANY cuter?!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/palmer-building-wedding---caroline-and-zach.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/palmer-building-wedding---caroline-and-zach.html Weddings Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:09:19 -0500 Izzy and Lane

When Izzy and Lane told me via their engagement questionnaire that they like go antiquing together for fun, a lightbulb went on in my head. After I mentioned shooting their session at an antique mall, she wrote back and told me that she literally squealed at the idea. Jackpot!

Geoff and I had a ball running around with them. It was so fun to sift through the aisles looking for fun props to incorporate or a cool mirror to shoot into. I absolutely love their style and I love their love for one another. I wish they lived in Charlotte so we could be regular friends! :)

The wedding date.

Mason jars.....just had to. :)

Couldn't resist having a little fun with some random, old hats.

We finished things off in a nearby field....so glad we caught the last bit of sun before it sunk completely.

See you guys SOON - March will be here before you know it!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/izzy-and-lane.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/izzy-and-lane.html Engagements Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:24:08 -0500 Baptisms - Code Orange Revival

Last night I had the privilege of shooting night #7 of the Code Orange Revival. This time I was at our Matthews location, which was the location we baptized over 200 people. Here are a few of my favorites from the evening.

You can tune in to the Elevation Network tonight at 7pm for night #8!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/baptisms---code-orange-revival.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/baptisms---code-orange-revival.html Elevation Church Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:15:47 -0500 Tuesday - On My Mind

- Yesterday Geoff had the day off from work. After seeing an instagram of sweet Stevie at Monkey Joe's, I couldn't wait to take Boone. And let me tell you, this child LOVED it. The first time we sent him down the big slide he had a look of sheer terror on his face. But, once he was at the bottom, his big, toothy, dimpled smile came out and he couldn't wait to go down it again. He is so cute I don't know what to do with myself!

- I am really looking forward to having our friends and fellow photographers Nancy and Will Ray stay with us for a couple days over this weekend. I prepped Nancy for what their stay at our home will look like - it includes dog hair, a crazy almost-17-month-old running and shrieking (and sometimes STREAKING) around, a small futon for them to sleep on that is stashed in our office, and dog hair....a lot of dog hair.

- Night #7 of Code Orange Revival is tonight - Pastor Perry Noble of Newspring Church (where I used to go when I lived as a South Carolinian for a year). If you can't get yourself there, I highly recommend you watch online.

- Somehow, my inbox made it to 50+ emails last week and I can't manage to get it below that. Today, I'm going to try my best to hack through a good bit of it.

- I just finished culling through the wedding we shot this past Saturday - our first wedding of twenty-twelve! The shot below was taken on top of a parking garage. The "before" image looks quite different from the finished one...20 minutes of photoshop on this guy and voila! :)

And now, it's Cheerio time.

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/tuesday---on-my-mind.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/tuesday---on-my-mind.html Weddings Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:29:51 -0500 Help me - I need help!

Late last week I consulted with some friends and colleagues to get their two cents on which they thought would look best. I gave them NINE options. And so, I have narrowed it down further to three and thought it would be fun to take to the blog to get our readers to weigh in.

Below are the three options, including a mock-up with what the images will look like on the actual wallls (please don't judge me for my half eaten lunch and starbucks on the coffee table!). Now, go cast your vote by leaving a comment with your favorite - #1, #2 or #3!

Thanks in advance, friends....I SO appreciate it! :)

#1 - NUMBER ONE!

#2 - NUMBER TWO!

#3 - NUMBER THREE!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/help-me---i-need-help.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/help-me---i-need-help.html Business Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:36:36 -0500 Ritz Carlton Urban Garden Wedding - Erin and Matt

Erin and Matt were married mid-November at First Presbyterian Church in uptown Charlotte, with the reception following at The Urban Garden at the Ritz Carlton. It was such a pleasure to photograph this sweet couple and experience the amazingness of their wedding day right alongside them.

A few highlights of their wedding day:

- Erin, Matt and their wedding guests were led by bag pipers from the church to the reception. It was so fun to see everyone waving their ribbon wands as they marched around uptown Charlotte.

- As mentioned at their engagement session, Erin and Matt are big Panthers fans - so much that Matt and his buddies rewrote the words to Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA" to "Party in the BofA"....and they sang it...at the reception. Love it. And if that wasn't enough of a tribute, none other than Sir Purr himself showed up at the reception - a surprise to Erin and Matt - for some fun times on the dance floor.

- This was our first time working with wedding planners Hall & Webb and what a treat it was! Elizabeth was fantastic to work with in every way and clearly, as you'll see below, she knocked it out of the park with the vision and execution of the day. :)

- Elizabeth had warned us prior to the wedding day that there would be a lot of details to capture....goodness gracious, was she ever right. The Urban Garden was decked out and looked truly incredible. My jaw straight dropped when I saw all that the team of vendors had created.

I'll be including the full list of vendors as I know them, but for now, here are a few that I can remember:

Ceremony - First Presbyterian Church

Reception - The Urban Garden at the Ritz Carlton

Wedding Planner - Hall & Webb Event Design

Florals - Crawford and Company

Cupcakes - Polka Dot Bake Shop

Erin's dress was really spectacular. And...her garter pictured below is probably the prettiest garter I have yet to see!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/ritz-carlton-urban-garden-wedding---erin-and-matt.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/ritz-carlton-urban-garden-wedding---erin-and-matt.html Weddings Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:07:38 -0500 Code Orange Revival

It's here. The Code Orange Revival hosted by our church. 12 nights of knock-down dragout preaching...from some of the top preachers in the world. Yes, in the WORLD.

I was there last night for the opening night with Lifechurch.tv's lead pastor Craig Groeschel. It was pretty incredible. Sometimes it's hard to focus completely on the sermon when I'm shooting....but one takeaway that really stood out to me from Pastor Craig was related to generosity. He spoke about how instead of scheming how to GET more, we should be scheming of ways that we can GIVE more. Love it. Totally inspired me (and excited me!) in regard to our business and our general finances.

There are still ELEVEN nights left - for more information check out the FAQ here. Also, each night will be streamed live online at the Elevation Network with the pre-show beginning at 6:12pm each night.

I'll be shooting a couple more nights through the revival, but on the nights I can't be there (motherhood calls :) ), I'm excited to tune from the comfort of my home. You can bet I'll be on my couch - pen and paper (and probably chocolate & latte) in hand - ready to soak up all the wisdom that I can and prepare my mind and heart to be the best wife, mom and business woman I can be in 2012.

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/code-orange-revival.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/code-orange-revival.html Elevation Church Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:47:34 -0500 Shannon and Travis

Hi friends and Happy Wednesday!

On this dreary, rainy Wednesday (which I am kind of loving!) I bring you the sun-filled engagement session of Shannon and Travis. While we won't be shooting their New York wedding this June, I was very happy to have had the chance to take these pre-wedding pictures for them.

Thank you, Shannon and Travis - many happy wishes to you! :)

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0002.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0003.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0004.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0005.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0006.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0007.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0008.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0009.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0010.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0011.jpg

CharlotteWeddingPhotographer_ShannonTravisEpics_0012.jpg

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/shannon-and-travis.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/shannon-and-travis.html Engagements Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:01:43 -0500 Published - Charlotte Wedding Magazine - Melissa and Ryan Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden? We feel so very honored to have it be featured in the current issue of the gorgeous Charlotte Wedding Magazine.

:)))

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/published---charlotte-wedding-magazine---melissa-and-ryan.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/published---charlotte-wedding-magazine---melissa-and-ryan.html Press Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:20:02 -0500 Christy and Russ

I was over the moon when my dear friend Christy told me she and her boyfriend, Russ, would be in Charlotte for a conference he was attending. They live in Arizona, so this was quite a treat to see her and meet him. :) Christy and I were roommates while attending graduate school in middle-of-no-where Illinois from 2003-2005. I am blessed to still have her in my life even nearly 5 years later!

]]> http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/christy-and-russ.html http://www.lovetheschultzes.com/blog/2012/01/christy-and-russ.html Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:17:38 -0500