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.
"The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart."
- Josiah G. Holland


Truly, Rusty and Bekah's wedding day was a celebration of their lives being united. She was quite literally glowing with bridal joy. He was looking upon his bride with the knowledge that her heart was now fully his. And I kid you not when I tell you that there was an electricity between them (which I also mentioned from the photos I took the day before the wedding). These images were a blessing to capture because I'm pretty sure that Rusty and Bekah were completely oblivious of me for most of these photos... they were enraptured with each other, and that is how it should be. I'm just so thrilled for these two, and hope that these images give you a peek into the beauty of their day!


(10) comments add a comment send to a friend
emily says:

ahh. i love these. esp the one with the bride/groom walking with the umbrella.
love it.

(04.29.10 @ 02:46 PM)
audra bender says:

amy, i just think you are the most amazing. you display such a humble attitude in your blog with the most depth in your photographs. the last one makes me smile! i want you to take my family photographs in a few months. be safe on your travels.

(04.29.10 @ 04:20 PM)
Cheyenne Schultz says:

the shot of the b&g walking away with umbrella over head? took my breath away. i love everything about it.

(04.29.10 @ 08:51 PM)
deb schwedhelm says:

you have such a great eye amy. and wow! i love that one of them kissing under the umbrella so much. oh...and the one of them jumping. they're all beautiful. are you going to start doing weddings regularly? you do them so well!
xo
deb

(04.30.10 @ 09:02 AM)
deb schwedhelm says:

p.s. you are such a natural talent. proud of you!!
deb

(04.30.10 @ 09:04 AM)
Sarah Foster says:

Amy these are beautiful! And Bekah, you look GORGEOUS!! Love that dress....

(04.30.10 @ 10:19 AM)
sharon clark says:

i love the last picture. so much.

(04.30.10 @ 11:32 AM)
amy free says:

Only you could make this kind of magic happen on a rainy wedding day. Perfection.

(04.30.10 @ 01:41 PM)
Darla Gobert Pitman says:

These photos are wonderful!!! I can't wait to see the rest of them. What an amazing talent you have! And the one on the bridge is perfect in capturing both of them-I pray the joy pictured there will be with them every day of their lives together. Love you both-Mom

(05.02.10 @ 11:20 AM)
Lauren Jackson says:

#1 - i love love love rusty & bekah's pictures!!!!!!!!! you took a rainy day and made the best of it by making it dreamy.
#2 - i love your banner up top :)

(05.03.10 @ 09:44 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: rusty + bekah: married . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.amyfree.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/220
If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth. -Mitsugi Saotome

 There is something electric in the interaction between Rusty and Bekah. Just observing them made me get all choked up because they are filled with the utmost love and joy at this exciting stage of their relationship. Since we weren't ever able to get engagement photos, we snagged these shots around downtown Rome, GA yesterday before the rehearsal dinner. They too met at Lost Valley Ranch, but it wasn't until several years later when they also worked alongside each other at Vista Verde Ranch that something clicked and their relationship shifted. Listening to their friends and family talk about them as individuals, and as a couple, it is perfectly evident that their lives were most certainly meant to be intertwined together.  Since Rusty has been a dear and faithful friend of mine for years, this union is particularly sweet to watch. I have a feeling that I might be shedding a few tears of happiness for them as I shoot the wedding today!

rusty_bekah_web.jpg

(6) comments add a comment send to a friend
Ross says:

So great! Congrats Rusty and Bekah!

(04.24.10 @ 03:53 PM)
Judith says:

Fanastic Amy, I hope you will put the wedding photos on too!

(04.26.10 @ 01:03 PM)
Niki says:

Stunning! Beautiful! These pictures tell such a wonderful story!

(04.26.10 @ 04:03 PM)
Niki says:

Stunning! Beautiful! These pictures tell such a wonderful story!

(04.26.10 @ 04:03 PM)
Lauren Jackson says:

I am so happy for Rusty. Amy, these photos are fantastic... love the church doors

(04.27.10 @ 01:35 PM)
sarah Foster says:

So sweet! Happy for you guys! Great job, Amy!

(04.27.10 @ 06:39 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: rusty + bekah . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.amyfree.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/218
Once there was a boy named Philip and a girl name Hillary. They sent out invitations for an engagement party, but had something else in mind...

It all started with a brunch on the morning of the party. Their "wedding party" and family gathered to enjoy a lovely time together, and a lovely time it was. Especially after they confessed to their inner circle that they were in fact getting married THAT very evening.

There was a fun energy in the room while excitement swirled. Aren't they a gorgeous couple?
phillary_1.jpgPhilip has really great guy friends in his life. They are all quite dapper, as you can see.
phillary_2.jpg
Yes, quite dapper indeed. And funny too.
phillary_3.jpg
phillary_4.jpg
Their siblings were there too....
phillary_5.jpgLet's not forget Philip's sister too, well, and then everyone all together....
phillary_7.jpg
phillary_6.jpgHillary's girls are quite a gorgeous bunch too. But I do believe that the bride had that extra special, beautiful glow....
phillary_8.jpgSo then, the party began as planned @ the Green Rice Gallery in NoDa... as an engagement party. Philip and HIllary mingled with their unsuspecting guests for a bit, until they slipped away to transform themselves into the BRIDE + GROOM.

phillary_9.jpgAnd once the guests were informed what was going on, they stood and watched them tie the KNOT right then and there!
phillary_10.jpgThey had decided to slip away and walk around in NoDa for a bit right after the ceremony. SO that is what we did. Got a cup of coffee at the Smelly Cat. It's not every day you see a bride in a coffee shop, but it was FABULOUS. Everyone was honking, yelling congratulations... Philip and Hillary were giddy and totally smitten with each other.
phillary_11.jpg
phillary_12.jpg
phillary_13.jpg
phillary_14.jpg
Then they went back to the PARTY and danced the night away.
phillary_15.jpgAnd they lived happily ever after. The end.

(9) comments add a comment send to a friend
Gibbs says:

LOVE IT!!! They are such a gorgeous couple and you did a great job of capturing their love for each other! Great job once again Pookie! (man, coffee sounds like a great idea after saying "i do")

(03.25.10 @ 02:16 PM)
The Groom says:

I am not crying at work. I am not crying at work. I am not crying at work.

(03.25.10 @ 02:33 PM)
meredith huntley says:

wow wow wow this is so simply amazing!

(03.25.10 @ 02:55 PM)
stacy says:

wow amy. wow. AMAZING photos and what a great story! sooo fun! i think the coffee shop shots are incredibly adorable.

(03.25.10 @ 03:00 PM)
Tbruce says:

Wow these are awesome, it was such a great night!

(03.25.10 @ 03:07 PM)
Rebecca Davis says:

These are fabulous!!! I love it!

(03.25.10 @ 03:55 PM)
anya says:

These photos are lovely...and what a wonderful story!!!

(03.25.10 @ 04:28 PM)
Kathryn Ivey says:

Not only is this wedding one of the COOLEST ideas I've heard about, but your pictures literally took my breath away. Amy you are SO talented! I'm trying to think of an excuse for you to come take pictures!!!

(03.25.10 @ 05:10 PM)
whitney sturge says:

Gorgeous pictures, and a beautiful couple!!

(03.26.10 @ 09:17 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: philip + hillary = a surprise kind of wedding story . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.amyfree.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/201
I've been doing lots of organizing and preparing to get ready to leave for my 6-week long road trip adventure and as I was sorting through images on my hard drive this image caught my eye. I didn't pull it to edit on the first go-round, but there is something about the movement of her veil and the edges of her smile... seen in her lips and in her eyes. The softness. This image somehow stirs in me that inexplicable emotion about that one day of being a bride. That was a good day.

beautiful bride.jpg

(2) comments add a comment send to a friend
emily says:

i am so glad i put you on my RSS feed. THIS image is what makes me want to shoot brides. i adore it. you talented lady!

(03.21.10 @ 09:23 PM)
Cheyenne Schultz says:

love it.

(03.22.10 @ 02:12 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: oh, to be a bride. . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.amyfree.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/198
"Brides always look beautiful. However, their beauty lies not in their attire, but in the warm glow of love that radiates from their countenance."

Elizabeth defined this warm glow of beauty for her bridal session. Truly, her joy is so evident from her lavish smile, and her stunning dress and natural beauty absolutely make for the total package. Her pup, Opie, also shone for the camera in his flowered collar....

elizabeth.jpg

(1) comments add a comment send to a friend
meredith huntley says:

STUNNING!

(03.02.10 @ 06:42 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: bridal beauty: elizabeth hunter . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.amyfree.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/188