Salem Law's Staff Portraits | Winston-Salem Brand and Headshot Photographer | Jasper & Fern

Staff Group Portrait for Salem Law, Winston-Salem Estate Law | On Location Brand Photographer | Headshot and Branding Photographer | Jasper & Fern

The hot sun glanced against my cheek, breaking through the dense overhanging pine needles. The citrus-y musk of the pine tree sap wafting through my open car window. It always feels like returning to my mountain home when I visit the Salem Law team. I could easily see why Daniel, the founder of the business and an avid outdoorsman himself, would be drawn to this location for his small business.

Pinecones crunched underneath my tires as I ascended the blacktop drive up to the Salem Law office building. Not much had changed since I was here last time taking their brand photographs. I breathed the sap and earthy smells into my lungs, closing my eyes so I could memorize them and revisit their scent later. Moduled light danced across my closed lids as a warm “Hi!” met me from across the parking lot. Smiling, I opened my eyes, greeted by Lindy and Caroline’s sunny dispositions.

”Is it okay if we do the headshots out here like last time? Daniel really liked having the trees in the background,” Lindy said as she stopped to greet me. “Oh, and is it okay if Daniel’s dog joins us for the group shot?”

My eyes lit up in excitement and I couldn’t hide my glee, “Wait, Daniel brought his dog?! AAAH! YES, PLEASE!! I’d love to meet him and have him be part of the portraits!” I was already excited about taking new headshots for Daniel and his team and getting to spend time with them. Adding his dog to the mix was the icing on top of the cake!

Re-focusing from my excited dog distraction, I surveyed the shadows in the row of pine trees behind where I wanted to take their headshots. I knew I’d be editing the tones in their photographs to compliment their brand colors and getting the right shadows was key.

As always, we had lots of laughter, fights with the wind blowing hair about, and a careful avoidance of the pokey pine cones on the ground. The heat quickly warmed us all as we swiftly moved to capture the best body language and expression for everyone - pupper included.

Sad to leave the covering pines and good company, I packed my gear back up to head to the next location. Waiving goodbye to Lindy, Caroline and Daniel - and sneaking a few last puppy pets - I headed back down the blacktop, the crunching pine cones and citrus-y musk softly drifting further away.

Kismet. Seriously.... kismet. | Winston Salem Portrait Photographer Jasper & Fern

Do you remember us sharing about the lavender field portrait session? You know, the one where all the dominos fell perfectly into place in a whirlwind even though it was raining and I was learning to dye material for the first time?? (Click here if you want to read that story) WELL…. you’re not going to believe THIS then - because the story continues and gets EVEN BETTER!

So, as you know, we were invited back to Frogholler Lavender Farm for their Harvest Day celebration to take portraits of their patrons and anyone else who wanted to participate. Well, it was an AMAZING day and all those dominos popped up again and turned into an incredible tale.

Meet Jonothan and Esther. They are getting married next month.

As part of their wedding planning, they wanted to pick all the lavender for their wedding decorations and gifts - plus use the day as a fun date. They’d set aside this past Saturday, June 15th, to go to a lavender farm in Charlotte, NC and pick all day.

The day, however, had other plans.

When Esther and Jonothan showed up to the Charlotte lavender farm, it was closed. Disappointed but not discouraged, they searched for another lavender farm - which took them THREE HOURS away to Raleigh, NC.

After driving to the lavender farm in Raleigh, they began to worry. It wasn’t what it had seemed online and it wasn’t going to fit their needs. Alas, they turned to Google once more and found Frogholler Lavender Farm’s Harvest Day celebration.

Upon arriving at the farm a mere 45 minutes before the Harvest Day closed, Esther and Jonothan were warmly welcomed by Dorthea. She gave them a tour and told them that the official farm photographer (me) was there if they wanted to have their portraits made. As Dorthea introduced me, Esther’s eyes lit up. Esther then excitedly explained that she and Jonothan never had engagement portraits done and they’d given up on the prospects and resigned to taking a selfie in the lavender field to print as a large canvas for their wedding reception. Coincidentally, this meant they’d brought their traditional attire with them.

See - KISMET! All these dominos falling into place far in advance for so many awesome moments to happen! I. Love. This.

In the end after a discouraging day for Esther and Jonothan, coupled with the dominos falling into place for me weeks earlier, Jonothan and Esther were able to have professional portraits made and have a beautiful experience together.

It all goes to show that sometimes the plans set in place for our lives are bigger and better than we could imagine.

Esther and Jonothan dressed in their culture's traditional wedding attire standing in a lavender field | Winston Salem Portrait Photographer Jasper & Fern | traditional wedding headdress | lavender farm outdoor portraits | engagement session | l… — Esther and Jonothan dressed in their culture's traditional wedding attire standing in a lavender field | Winston Salem Portrait Photographer Jasper & Fern | traditional wedding headdress | lavender farm outdoor portraits | engagement session | lifestyle photographer | professional photographer |photography studio