Kelly Giezentanner photographs

TAR HEELS!!!!

2009-07-11T22:42:00.013-04:00

JB and Kristi have had a busy year to say the least. Both graduating from UNC, planning a wedding and oh, JB played on this year's basketball team for UNC....so they have had a lot to celebrate! Needless to say, there were touches of Carolina Blue everywhere and beautifully so. God help you if you were a Duke fan at this celebration. Undeterred by the youthful exuberance that comes from college years, the fan fair of team spirit and basketball, this was an amazing celebration of the genuine affection these two people have for one another. They were an absolute joy to work with and I was so proud to document this moment as they made the passage from from one momentous point in their lives to another.

Bethany and Zach Engagement Session

2009-06-04T18:52:00.010-04:00

I had such a great time photographing Bethany and Zach's engagement session several weeks ago. We shot on the amazing Queens University of Charlotte campus, where they are both students. They are awesome subjects. I was so glad we got to play a bit and catch their youthful spirit.

I am looking forward to the wedding in Charlotte in just a few weeks. We just shot Bethany's bridal portraits a couple of weeks ago. She is an amazing muse and her portraits are stunning and I can't wait to post them after the wedding.

Sometimes....a girl needs two!

2009-04-07T00:46:00.015-04:00

Since I was in a blog deficit end of last year, I'll take two posts for the price of one! I think the on site studio at Tana and Brad's Grand Bohemian reception deserves it's own place. Again......Honour, it's a privilege. Honour and I have been working on our studio concept since last year and every one is tailored to the event itself. We have a great time with it and the guests are always happy to ham it up for us. BIG kudos for Honour bringing the grandparents into the studio. This series was my favorite of all the studio!!!

Studio images by Honour Mann. Extra thanks to Liz at The Purple Iris for hooking us up with the very cool boas. They went perfectly with our masks!

Tana & Brad christen Grand Bohemian Hotel

2009-04-06T23:30:00.006-04:00

After months of watching this amazing structure rise in Biltmore Village, it is finally open - and GRAND it is. Eclectic and incredibly elegant, the hotel exceeds expectations. Tana and Brad are an amazing couple - he a pilot and she a vet - and they christened the new hotel with a wedding reception as grand as the hotel itself. The amazing Shay Brown Events collaborated with Stacey Brown of The Bloom Room and designed a stunning scheme for the ballroom and salon. Guests were treated to a bountiful antipasto buffet with cocktails on the terrace and then on to an elegant dinner in the ballroom, then dancing, dancing and more dancing. We were all so excited to be a part of the first wedding at the hotel. The staff is incredible and a joy to work with.

This crowd knew how to throw down a party and they celebrated until the very end - they even thought to bring some props of their own to embellish their dancing. They had such an amazing time! My always exuberant colleague, Honour Mann joined me to create and shoot the on site studio. As always, many, many shout outs to my amazing associate Crystal Anderson. Girl, it's on, you're awesome and I'm excited about the possibilities.......

Cucina 24 Shoot

2009-03-01T21:09:00.018-05:00

I love editorial shoots! They are an interesting orb of creative energy married with a demanding timeline. This one was no exception. A collaborative shoot between myself and fellow "Nine" photographer Honour Mann, we had merely two hours to get a rather large shot list and be cleared out so a local downtown restaurant could be ready to open their doors for dinner. The shoot was staged at local red-hot restaurant Cucina 24 on Wall Street. I'm not sure these dear folks knew what they were getting into until the flurry of floral designers, set designers, hair/make up, models, photographers with large cameras and light set ups besieged their lovely restaurant. They were very gracious hosts. The talents of Shay Brown, Michael Hofman of Hofman Studios, Aria Floral Design, Brown's Floral, Flora, Brooke Priddy, Jade makeup and Roberto Coin came together so wonderfully and we got some really lovely work. Can't wait to see the final results!! Big thanks to Peter and Luke of Blend Photography for being our boy "accessories". You guys were awesome models!

Honour Mann preps model Amanda for shoot.

The AMAZING pottery of Michael Hofman. I am such a huge fan!!!

Portraiture work at Palettes

2009-03-01T20:51:00.007-05:00

I was so excited when Shay Brown of Palettes of Perfection pitched the idea of having a fine art gallery devoted to photographers personal work in her new space. While I love weddings, I also want a place to show other work as well. Of course, there is plenty of wall space at Palettes for weddings as well!! Here are the pieces I chose to show this show.

A special thanks to Honour Mann of HH Fine Arts for her collaboration in styling the chicken image. We had such a great time on a fall afternoon shooting together. BIG thanks to our muse Katherine who dealt with a bit of chicken poop, but remained a trooper!!

Special Portraits. Special Books.

2009-02-15T19:56:00.006-05:00

I love when people think outside the box!!! A client and friend came to me for a special photo session she wanted to do as a gift to her husband for Valentine's Day - not necessarily outside of the box in and of itself. Margo, however, is fearless and really wanted to push herself and create something very intimate and special. We collaborated and did a fantastic shoot together. The images had just the vintage feel we wanted. When it came to a vehicle to contain these images, I knew a hand-crafted book was the only way to go. Asheville is an art town, if you want something made, someone here must certainly does it. Through some investigating, I found the perfect artist for the project. I am so thrilled to have met local book artist Annie Fain of A. Fain Books . Her work is amazing. I appreciated not only her expertise, but her enthusiasm for what we were wanting to do. She crafted a book that had the same intimate feel as the images themselves. It was the perfect complement and the result was a complete art piece. Thank you Annie for your hard work and I look forward to working with you again.

And most certainly, thank you Margo for being so comfortable with yourself and your relationship with your husband. Thank you also for trusting me with your vision.

Been awhile.....

2009-02-15T19:41:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's been a stretch of time since posting..... living a bit of the joys and pains of life and coming through on the other side!! Anyway, time to get back to the business of blogging.......KG

M.E. & Coach

2008-11-21T09:20:00.013-05:00

M.E. and Coach traveled all the way from Canada to get married here in the lovely mountains of WNC. They invited friends and family from all over to the beautiful Cashiers area to be a part of their wedding at The Greystone Inn. M.E was stunning and I just loved their intimate ceremony in a field full of wild flowers. We were threatened with rain, but just before the ceremony, it stopped and they were able to have their ceremony as planned.

They are a marvelous couple and it was a special priviledge to be there to document. Best wishes to you both.....

Beth & Mike

2008-11-21T08:04:00.013-05:00

Beth and Mike were a great couple to work with. I had already gone down to Greenville, SC to photograph their engagement session and I knew they had a comfortable way about them. Beth is one of those women you connect with very easily. She is so honest about herself and talks openly about issues that are important to women. She & Mike have been an inspiration to me in many ways. Thanks guys!! Beth, you were a most stunning bride.

The wedding was just amazing on the Biltmore Estate and another beautifully designed wedding by Shay Brown Events. Shay, you are the woman and it is always fun working with you. Aria Floral did an amazing job on the floral design, as always!! Special shout out to my most excellent peer and colleague Honour Hiers-Mann of HH Fine Arts for coming out and doing special photography during the ceremony and cocktail hour. Our photo tree was a huge success and I love collaborating with Honour. We love photography for the same reasons and I am blessed to have found a creative partner that is so dedicated to the craft. Chica, you are such a dear friend and I look forward to many more creative endeavors with you.

Erin & Jason

2008-11-20T17:56:00.013-05:00

Erin and Jason got the most perfect October day to get married. At the always charming Homewood, they had a wonderful wedding and party. Erin was one of the most radiant, beaming brides. She was so excited to go marry her Jason! Their connection to one another was so evident as there were almost too many great images of them together to pick from. As an extra special suprise, the bride and her family were the best collective of dancers I have ever seen - all of them: bride, mom, dad, sister and brother!! Thanks guys, for choosing me to be a part of your special day.

A special shout out to my amazing assistant and now associate, Crystal Anderson. Crystal has been working and studying with me for three years and I am so proud to have her be a part of what I do. Crystal is starting to do some weddings of her own through Kelly Giezentanner photographs and I am so thrilled. She has a very special eye and I could not ask for a more loyal shooting companion. Thanks Crys for all you do.....

Ella & Cleo

2008-11-20T17:12:00.007-05:00

I have been so blessed over the years to have families that I work with year after year. These folks are more than clients, they are friends. I treasure the special privilege I have to come again and see how these families have grown and changed. Many of these children I have photographed since they were infants. This is truly why I do what I do - to stop time for my clients, if only for a moment. I'm often hesitant to blog about my family clients as I feel the bond I make with them is so much more to me than the marketing trend that has become blogging. However, it is as a spirit of thankfulness that I blog about them and post a few images of them. As I process more from these shoots, perhaps I'll add images to this post.......

These special sisters always delight me. The eldest is the serious, artistic soul - the "thinker" - and her younger sister is the actress and free spirit. I just love these girls and their special qualities. Their spirits remind me very much of my own nephew and niece who share similar personalities respectively.

Sara & Chuck Get Married

2008-11-20T16:42:00.014-05:00

Sara and Chuck got married in the beautiful cove of Montreat, NC on an amazing early fall day. Montreat has a feel that is unique to our mountain region - quaint, but stunning, it always feels so intimate and spiritual. A perfect place for this special couple who met on a mission trip. They are both so sweet, but strong in their Christian faith. So many of their friends and family traveled to this perfect spot to celebrate with them. Their wedding was lovely and I am thankful to have been a part of it. Many blessings to you both and I hope to see you again when you are in the area.

My Girl, Colleen!!

2008-11-20T15:42:00.012-05:00

Colleen was such a great bride and subject. She braved a freezing cold, snowy morning to do her bridal portrait. She is just a gorgeous creature - inside and out - and her easy nature was a pleasure to work with. I felt a bit guilty as her mom and myself were bundled up like polar bears, but she never complained. She is quite smart though - she came equipped with leggings, wooly socks and clogs under her dress. Between set ups, she would bundle back up with a coat and then just go for it. We traveled over to the charming Clark Farm in Fairview to do the initial shoot. It wasn't all snow and wind for Colleen however, we went into downtown Asheville afterward which had barely a smidge of snow - only vibrant autumn color. Downtown does give you some indoor places to seek shelter and we took advantage. I think we got some great shots of Colleen and I'll be posting about her wedding soon. It was a great day and most definitely reflected her unique sense of style.

Brooks & Chris at Max Patch

2008-09-15T20:57:00.018-04:00

I had the great pleasure of photographing Brooks and Chris' intimate ceremony a couple of weeks ago. On a Friday morning, in what HAS to be one of the most beautiful spots in Western North Carolina, Brooks walked across the field to meet her groom. With only the wind and sweet melodies from a fiddle making a sound, they joined hands and were married. As the always wonderful Howard Hanger performed their ceremony, the complete circle of mountains enveloped us with a tremendous peace. It was a pure moment. I am honored to have been a part of it.

Thank you both so much for letting me share in such a moment and as you are "local folks", I look very forward to seeing you around town soon......

4 Legged Fun

2008-09-12T20:32:00.015-04:00

My good friends over at Blaze N Skyy Pet Boutique are hosting their very fun Halloween Dog festival in downtown Asheville again this year. Last year was the first one and it was so much fun seeing all the dogs - and some owners - dressed in their fun costumes. As well as being fun, the festival is also a benefit for the Asheville Humane Society.

Asheville is a town that loves it's dogs. Anytime we can get out with them, we do!! My team will do the pet photography again this year. We are planning a very fun area for the dogs to come get their portraits done. There will be fun contests as well. The best in show dog this year will get to be the model dog for next year's poster, created by the awesome Angela Alexander. This year the model was the very adorable BooBoo - an adopted Humane Society dog. Make sure to come by and treat yourself to a little easy fun - and support the Humane Society while you're at it.

Some of last years pics:

Rhonda & Kevin

2008-09-12T16:36:00.017-04:00

My good pal Rhonda found the man of her absolute dreams in Kevin. FYI, for all those romantics out there, they met while walking their dogs in their neighborhood. Single ladies..... he could be right there, down the street!! You never know.

He swept her away to Italy in late June for a beautiful wedding just for the two of them. They are a lovely couple and I am so thrilled for them! Of course, there were many waiting here in Asheville and around the country to celebrate with them. They had a party in their beautiful home in Kenilworth on an amazing summer evening in August. Kevin being an architect, no detail was overlooked. The girls from Colorful Palate did a fantastic job on the catering. Italian themed with a just touch of Texas, the party was perfect. Surrounded by their family and friends, they celebrated until late into the night. Rhonda, I'm so glad to know you and could not be more thrilled for the wonderful journey you are on now. I look forward to spending fun times with you and Kevin.

9/11.

2008-09-11T08:20:00.007-04:00

I could not let this day go by without posting a thought or two about the significance of September 11. I cannot recall many - if any - events that are defined merely by the mention of it's calendar name. September 11 means different things to different people. For me, it represents that one stand out moment that stole away the innocence of my generation. Every generation has that moment. The one where you know exactly where you were at the time you heard. Being a child of the 80's it's very fair to say my generation was not as innocent as that of my parent's. I suppose every generation changes a bit from the previous one. And even though my generation had scaled down from some of it's indulgence, we still were basking in the light of unheard of prosperity, opportunity and freedom. I think on that day, it changed. In a few short hours, we were changed. We had witnessed a horror we never saw coming. We found ourselves questioning what we thought we knew about prosperity and freedom. However, for a brief moment in the days after we were united.

On this day in 2008, a point where we as Americans are quite divided - in an election season, we hear that the politicians are going to take the day off from mud slinging and unite. While the intention may be noble, I know that tomorrow they'll go back to business as usual and continue to divide instead of unite. In 2001, when the congress stood in unison and sang "God Bless America", I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I was hopeful. I was hopeful that the people would stay unified and hold those in office to account to do the same. I knew that couldn't last forever either.

My post today is not about politics. Today, it doesn't matter to me at all what political party you support, your stance on the war or your thoughts on U.S. foreign policy. Hopefully, we will all take a moment today and remember the 3000 people that lost their lives just doing what they always did. Living their lives. Some never knew what happened, some had to wait in despair and some rushed in and sacrificed their own lives to save others. We are a good people, we Americans. It seems like we soar in the midst of crisis. My hope is we will soar to make our moments count, to treat others as we would like to be treated and that we will not wait for another crisis to be at our best.

O.K., this is my "preachy" moment for the year. Know that I'm preaching mostly to myself. Have a blessed day......

The Nine. Amazing Women. Amazing Photographers

2008-09-09T12:29:00.006-04:00

I am so excited and proud to introduce The Nine to the world today!!

www.theninephotographers.com

Composed of myself and the amazing Audrey Goforth, Honour Mann, Regina Holder, Corey Cagle, Jill Schwarzkopf, Katy Cook, Dana Andreasson of Orange Cat, and Brie Castell, we are a unique collaborative. A group varying in styles and background, but a uniform commitment to excellence in craft, we formed at a lunch table with the idea that together we could do something really unique. To be a source of reference for one another, a source of ideas for our clients and a source of support for our community, we realized we were opening the door for a new way to do business as a photographer. I am honored to be a part of such an extraordinary group of photographers.

I look forward to an incredible experience of growth and collaboration with this dynamic group of women!

Happy 1 Year. Honour & Jason

2008-08-05T22:08:00.016-04:00

My new friends Honour and Jason celebrated their one year anniversary a couple of weeks ago with a fun and funky BBQ at the always yummy Twelve Bones Smokehouse. Armed with friends and homebrew, we trolleyed into the river district ready to roll. Shay Brown designed a wonderful party for them and so many gathered to celebrate. So glad to know you chica Honour and I look forward to many years of friendship with you both.

Anna & John

2008-08-05T20:45:00.014-04:00

Anna and John are a couple I connected to right away. They both have the sweetest of spirits and they live in New York City - one of my favorite places! This urban couple invited family and friends to downtown Asheville for a fun wedding party. After the reception, they invited guests to an intimate gathering at Sante Wine Bar. We had such a great time trekking around downtown Asheville to do the photography. You both are the best and I look forward to seeing you both again during one of my jaunts to The Big Apple.

Cherine & Mark

2008-08-05T19:53:00.019-04:00

My dear friends, The Dabbagh Family, had a beautiful wedding for daughter Cherine in June. They are the loveliest of people and I am so blessed to know them. The event was simply amazing as the exotic and beautiful Cherine married the proper English gentleman Mark. They had friends from all over the world come to Asheville for a weekend in the mountains. They picked the perfect place for a multi-cultural wedding as Asheville thrives on moments such as these. Complete with English hats, a belly dancer and a hookah lounge set up at the Biltmore Club, fun was had by all. Best of wishes dear Cherine and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Jereann and Lawren

2008-07-30T07:49:00.013-04:00

Jereann and Lawren had such an amazing wedding. A beautiful late afternoon ceremony in the garden of the always enchanting Biltmore Estate, they radiated with happiness. The very fashionable Jereann looked stunning in her blushy pink gown which perfectly accented her silver Manolos.....( I'm glad you kept the shoes Jereann, they were great!!!)

Sara & Chuck

2008-07-30T07:10:00.010-04:00

I met Sara & Chuck a few weeks ago for the first time and love the connection they have to one another. We went to the quaint town of Black Mountain to do their engagement session and had such a great time. They are such a sweet couple and I am looking forward to their wedding in Montreat coming up in September.

Kelly&Liam

2008-07-04T11:53:00.004-04:00

I am so excited to be working with Kelly & Liam. They are such a fun loving couple and were enthusiastically game for climbing up a vertical maintenance ladder to do images on a downtown rooftop. We had such a great time on the shoot and I'm looking forward to their wedding in August.

Me and You and a dog named Chrissy Lou

2008-07-02T21:03:00.001-04:00

Last week Coco & I traveled to the Outer Banks with the amazing photographer and good friend Honour Hiers-Mann and her dogs to join in on a mid-wedding season vaca organized by the always fun and fearless Shay Brown. The journey was long and rather adventuresome as it required 4-wheeling about 11 miles to our house - the island had no real roads, only beach and random matted-down sand paths that required gunning your vehicle over sand dunes to reach! What a bunch we were....seven adults, seven dogs and a beautiful 3 month old baby. It was quite a busy house as the dogs were much more of a handful than the baby. After a few scuffles for dominance, the house soon settled. Coco readily submitted - it was her only defense.

We were treated to fun, exploration, relaxation, little cell and internet connections and way too much great food - mostly cooked by the wonderful artist and potter Michael Hofman. Once we discovered his culinary talents, he was appointed honorary chef and we never looked back. He was a good sport and a great person to get to know. It was just the perfect amount of time to be away and soon Thursday came and it was time to come back to daily life. Honour and I made our journey back to Asheville rested and ready to jump back into the demands of a working photographer's life. Albeit, a few pounds heavier!

Oh yes, let's not forget Honour's beloved Shih Tzu - Chrissy Lou....

...or as she became affectionately known, "Empress Lu" - said with an accent, of course. The second smallest dog in the bunch, but mighty, she quickly became top dog of the house. She was kind to Coco though and mostly ignored her puppy-like antics.

Coco - The Supermodel

2008-07-02T19:05:00.002-04:00

Today Coco and I helped out our good friend Adelaine at Blaze-N-Skyy with a little bit of doggie fashion. We had fun playing with the shoot as Coco always loves a trip to Adelaine's amazing store. If you're on Wall Street, make sure to check them out!!

Beth & Mike

2008-06-28T17:24:00.003-04:00

I so enjoyed the time I spent with Beth & Mike during their engagement photo session. We went to the lovely Falls Bridge area in downtown Greenville, SC for the shoot. They are such an affectionate couple and I loved how comfortable they were being themselves. Beth is part of the morning DJ team of WSSL 100.5 FM in Greenville. Check out her wedding page on the station website. We will be doing updates of all the planning. I am looking forward to the wedding in September. We are going to have a great time!!!!