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I don’t know if I’ve ever laughed as much during an engagement session as I did with Morgan and Grant. Morgan brought her mom along as a surprise guest and she was a HOOT! The four of us were giggling the whole time walking through the gardens. Morgan is a North Carolina girl, growing up […]

Airlie Gardens Engagement Photos | Morgan and Grant

Engagements

March 26, 2024

Ashlyn and Matthew have have known of each over basically their entire lives, going to the same high school and only living 7 minutes down the road from each other. They randomly connected over social media and have been inseparable ever since! Matt made Ashlyn’s proposal dreams come true by taking her to the Biltmore […]

Engagement Photos in Downtown Wilmington, NC | Ashlyn and Matt

Engagements

March 18, 2024

Another classic annual blog post – the behind the scenes of making the magic happen!!! While our days are spent focused (literally) on our clients, I do try to be intentional about capturing moments for myself along the way, whether that’s appreciating the beautiful spaces I get to photograph, my fellow vendors doing their thing, […]

Behind The Scenes of Dakota Hersey Weddings 2023

Weddings

March 13, 2024

I haven’t done one of these posts in a few years because they’re a little overwhelming. Going through full galleries from 20+ weddings and narrowing them down to a few favorites is a major challenge…but also what a joy!!! Sometimes when you get to experience beautiful things so often they can start to lose their […]

The Best Of Dakota Hersey Weddings 2023

Weddings

March 6, 2024

As a girl growing up in the South, I remember going over to my friends’ houses and seeing their mother’s bridal portraits hanging in their homes. I loved seeing their moms as brides, and it was always really interesting to see the generational differences between portraits.  Bridal portraits are a very Southern tradition. Traditionally, the […]

How To Prepare For Your Bridal Portraits

Bridal Portraits

February 26, 2024

The wedding venue is booked, you’ve chosen your photographer, and now the exciting part starts – celebrating with engagement photos!  As a photographer, the engagement session is incredibly important because it’s an opportunity for us to get to know each other in a stress-free environment before the whirlwind of the big day (yes, even if […]

How To Choose Outfits For Your Engagement Photos

Engagements

February 22, 2024

It is one of my true joys when I get to work with someone through multiple seasons of life. Kalli was actually one of my seniors years ago (along with her sister!), so when she reached out to me about her wedding date I was ecstatic…and I hadn’t even met Colby yet!! He is the […]

Late Summer Engagement Session at Fort Fisher | Kalli and Colby

Engagements

February 21, 2024

If you know me…you probably know how I would answer the question “Should I use my own space or rent a space for brand photos?” Lighting is everything. Lighting above all else. If a space doesn’t have access to a good amount of natural light, it will dramatically change the look of your photos. Now, […]

Should You Use Your Own Space Or Rent A Space For Your Brand Photos?

Brands

February 20, 2024