As 2012 comes to an end it is time for me to show some of my favorite images that I took in 2012.

My goal professionally is to continue to grow as a well rounded photographer. To me, a pro photographer should be able to take any situation and create images with impact.

From weddings to NFL games and everywhere in between, these shots stood out to me from the others.

First up, my favorite wedding shots…

These girls could not wait to hit the lawn and start dancing as soon as the opportunity arrived. The motion blur in the image was used to give the image more of a dynamic feel. Stopping the motion with a faster shutter speed would have lessened its worth.

This little fella was so excited to execute his more important of jobs. The image showcases him by being the only subject, but introduces glimpses of others to put his job into perspective.

Shot in the dressing room of a castle in Asheville, a gorgeous bride in her princess dress looks the role.

The Mint Museum uptown. Underexposing the people provided an excellent opportunity for silhouettes, making it more graphic and impactful. Shot at a very wide angle to emphasize the scope of the building and the moment.

I love shooting eyes before the ceremony. They always seem to say so much.

Hitting the bar before the reception is always encouraged! This was a nice candid moment.

The Best Dog gets some well deserved praise for behaving during the ceremony. You can really tell he is soaking up the loving attention from his owners.

Love the energy here! Every bride needs a shot like this.

My Favorite Bridals…

Shooting a bridal in the mid afternoon can be a very challenging experience. It also provides opportunities for interesting light and shadow.

A more modern studio portrait. I feel like the classic studio bridal portait is nearly dead. I aim to bring it back.

Boudoir –

My boudoir business grew in leaps and bounds this year, with over 200 photoshoots. Obviously, I can’t show you my favorites from the vast majority of the clients due to discretionary agreement. But I can show you these…

I just love the lines here. Taken in my studio, this shot is lit with a single video light through a fake window.

Sometimes grabbing a random studio object can make a shot. These ugly ear phones were lying around, heck, lets take a chance and use them in a shot. It just works.

This was shot through a large fan. It gives the image an interesting texture without the use of photoshop gimmicks.

Sometimes a minimalist approach yields the best results. A lady, a hat, and my studio backdrop. What else do you need?

Other Portraits…

This is a pinup portrait of my lovely wife, who was 6 weeks pregnant in the photo.

From my Lake Norman swimsuit shoot for Carolina Huddle. Fun pic.

Mugsy Bogues! One of my favorite all time NBA players. I shot this for a German apparel company.

I’d get strongly worded emails from my gal friends if I did not include any good lookin dudes in this post.

A rare Igo baby portrait! This is Hud, the most smiling baby of all time. His parents Brian and Bailey are good friends of ours.

NFL

Here are some of my favorite Panthers shots…

Deangelo Williams being introduced in the rain. Like the energy here.

Cam Newton throwing on the run. Might be the best action portrait I have seen of him.

Brandon Lafell dunking after a TD. Right place, right time, right composition.

Drew Brees being sacked is always a great picture.

Greg Hardy looking as crazy as… Greg Hardy.

Landscapes

They call them the Blue Ridge Mountains for good reason.

Good landscape photography is not about shooting land, its about finding characters. The tree, the barbed wire fence, both characters in a composition.

Lake Norman at dusk. I actually took this while floating in the water with my little waterproof point and shoot camera. Sometimes the best camera is the one you have available.

So there you have it, a look back at 2012 and some of my favorite shots. Hope there was a few you liked as well !