Hello and welcome. I'm a lifestyle/editorial photographer now based in Fayetteville, NC, and working regularly with clients in both Charlotte and Raleigh. My goal is to capture the beauty of life as you know it. My passion is to create images that celebrate life and emotion with a fresh and modern style. I'm happy to share my journey with you here on my site.

Available for travel assignments and adventure, always.
Ross and I just got home from our Christmas trip to Ohio and after a much needed break from my computer, I'm back in action this morning and excited to share some of the highlights from Jenny and David's winter wonderland wedding. I've also taken some of my "down time" to start brewing a really exciting personal project that is starting to take shape!

This wedding was amazing, mostly because I've never seen a bride and groom have to take SO much last minute change... and they took it all in stride. The snow made everything gorgeous, but also threw a major wrench in logistics and transportation!  I got to dust off my styling skills and do her hair since the stylist couldn't get there!! Despite any frustrations, it was a joy to watch Jenny and David just keep focused on what the day was all about... the joining of their hearts and their lives. With Jenny's adventurous background (white water rafting guide, living overseas, and nursing school most recently)  and David's ability to focus under pressure (he is a golfer on the PGA tour) it makes sense that they were able to take everything in stride.  These are 2 incredible individuals who have touched so many lives already by simply who they are, so I have no doubt that together they will accomplish even bigger things!

jenny_final.jpg

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Lauren Sheehan says:

Amy, you are an amazing photographer! You really were able to capture the emotion of each moment. I love your work =)

(12.28.09 @ 10:48 AM)
Bobbie Brown says:

Well, I must say, this bride is one lucky gal to have a great photographer who can also fix hair! I am impressed! Great pix!

(12.28.09 @ 02:26 PM)
Courtney S. says:

These photos are absolutely gorgeous!

(12.28.09 @ 03:24 PM)
Amy Haywood says:

These are stunning! Jen and David will always have these beautiful reminders of their gorgeous wedding! Good work, Amy!

(12.28.09 @ 05:06 PM)
Crissy and Liz Supples says:

Jennster: You look so beautiful and grownup, yet seeing you smile so joyfully brings back so many good memories of childhood. So happy for you. Everyone looks fantastic! Congratulations! What a beautiful day!

Much love!

(12.28.09 @ 09:23 PM)
Crissy and Liz Supples says:

Jennster: You look so beautiful and grownup, yet seeing you smile so joyfully brings back so many good memories of childhood. So happy for you. Everyone looks fantastic! Congratulations! What a beautiful day!
Much love!

(12.28.09 @ 09:25 PM)
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This weekend has been quite an adventure for little 'ole me. I managed to actually survive my trip to an amazing winter wonderland of a wedding outside Asheville. Early Saturday morning brought the most magnificent purity of light and beauty I have witnessed in quite some time....
snow_final.jpg

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Paige says:

Amy...LOVE these shots. They are amazing!

(12.21.09 @ 09:07 AM)
sharon clark says:

oh my these are gorgeous! i cannot wait to see the snowy wedding photos!!

(12.23.09 @ 11:09 AM)
stephen says:

Can't wait to see these! The tea house is such a cool place!

(12.27.09 @ 09:14 PM)
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I'm getting ready to head off to the Asheville area to shoot one final wedding for the year, but I have been combing through images from the year and these kiddos just caught my eye due to the fact that they are so flipping cute. Also, I can hardly believe that Christmas Day is only ONE week from today....

cute.jpg
And as if that wasn't enough...
cute2.jpg

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As I said in my previous post, Todd and Reagan's deliciously Southern wedding has pretty much been the highlight of the season for me. Part of that equation was meeting so many people that just knocked my socks off! One of those people was miss Joni Lay, the very lovely and talented creator/owner of The Chocolate Butterbean. Oh, see... isn't she just charming?!?
butterbean.jpg

Be sure to check out her site and her BLOG today for lots of fun goodies from the wedding. I didn't even have to put together a collage of my photos because she already did it for me. See, this gal is truly fabulous.

So when I got home from the wedding and was busy chatting Ross' ear off about how over-the-moon amazing everyone and everything was... I pulled up some of Joni's work.... and ka-BOOM!! We were inspired with one of our greatest ideas yet. Stick with me here.  One of our life dreams is to have our own barn/farm/ranch one day so that Ross can have his cows and I can have a horse or 2. Sooooo, we decided to have Joni design a sign that we will hang in our house for now, but the goal is to eventually hang it in our barn. It will be our little reminder about what we are working towards. And I'm about to jump out of my skin with excitement over this sign!

So one day I'll get to look out my window and see little guys like this, that will make me smile.
horses.jpgAnd Ross can look at little guys like this... and smile.
cows.jpg
And a modest little property, something like this. Heh. heh. (Image courtesy of Farm and Ranch)

Picture 3.jpg
Sigh. Someday. So there is our little dream.

And you better believe that I'll share photos just as soon as I get my hands on the glorious masterpiece that I know Joni will create for us!!!

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Whit says:

Amy, one day you'll have your own little Pioneer Woman thing going on and it will be fabulous. Just fabulous.

(12.16.09 @ 02:39 PM)
Joni Lay says:

Amy, you are awesome! Thank you so much, and I can't wait to get the sign done for y'all to display.:)

(12.16.09 @ 04:14 PM)
Joni Lay says:

p.s. thank you for removing the feather from my hair.:) ha!

(12.16.09 @ 04:24 PM)
Tara says:

Amy - this is awwwwwwwesome, and YES, so is Joni!! She is truly a gift in all of our lives, and what a tag team both of you can be!!

p.s. the feather was hot. But Joni don't need it, i spose! ;)

(12.16.09 @ 05:59 PM)
jen hunt says:

i believe in your dream!

(12.16.09 @ 07:18 PM)
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This wedding was the most incredible combination of Southern charm, sass, beauty, grace and elegance... truly, it was the wedding that dreams are made of. But really, what else could I expect when one half Southern Proper and one half Coffman's joined forces?  Reagan and Todd were celebrated by so many loving family and friends that even I was brought to tears on numerous occasions. Yes, it's true. As I have recounted my experience of this wedding, I have said that this was the "total package" kind of wedding.... all the attention to detail and planning perfectly matched with genuine love and jubilation (special shout out here to Joni of Chocolate Butterbean for the incredible signage and design work! - a post just for that is coming soon!). I was honored to be a part of such a special celebration uniting two amazing lives. And on top of all that - this whole wedding was FUN. The last set of images really captures what a blast was had by all!

Reagan and Todd, you both are amazing and I hope and pray that these images help you to re-live the sheer awesomeness of your day!
howell_1_web.jpg
howell2_web.jpg
howell_3_web.jpg
So yes, like I said this group was never lacking in the fun department... nope not for one moment. Perhaps the greatest highlights of the reception was a toast given by Reagan's best friend and business partner, Emmie, which turned into a full fledged performance by all the bridesmaids and several friends. That is also when the Uuuups signs came out to play - read about it here, please note that there is a facial expression that goes along with the sign that is very important, ha! Thank you to all you wonderful people that made this wedding totally unforgettable!
fun_web.jpg

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Joni Lay says:

Amy, these pictures are beautiful! I love them - you did such a fantastic job, and you were so much fun to hang out with, too!!:)

(12.14.09 @ 03:40 PM)
nicole fiehler says:

Amy--such a small world! My mom is a young life leader and Todd is on her team in Greenville! Great pictures!

(12.14.09 @ 04:14 PM)
Tammy Dawson says:

Fabulous Amy!!!! Please let me know how to order/view more pics.

(12.16.09 @ 08:30 AM)
Mary Graham and Fred Love says:

We've known Reagan since she was five. She has "blossomed" into a beautiful "Southern Bell". The wedding was a "mind blower"...a beautiful church, a spiritually sincere wedding with some "Southern humor", a fabulous reception in a elegant "magical tent" (that you could have player a Carolina football game in), you name the food and it was there with an awesome band, and to top off the evening......the "craziest, most energetic, innovative, non-stop, wild & funny brides maids we have EVER SEEN. It was a night remember. Oh the "fireworks" ...almost brought "the tent down".
Wil and Donna did it First Class for their "First Class daughter".
Yes, we are giving Todd some socks for Christmas.

(12.16.09 @ 09:33 AM)
Emily @ Southern Weddings says:

Too cute! What a beautiful dress!

(12.17.09 @ 12:48 PM)
Sarah Foster says:

Obsessed with these- great job! Looks like it was a beautiful blast.

(12.17.09 @ 04:52 PM)
Emily Barefoot says:

Stunning Amy!!! If their wedding felt as good as you made it look then it was truly a joyous occasion.

(12.28.09 @ 09:48 PM)
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