The McBlog

Justin, Anne, and Olivia

2011-12-21T12:29:00.001-05:00

I love shooting just about anything, but families with a "new additional" are exceptionally fun! Justin and Anne have had to add a new stocking to the mantle this year... Olivia's! I had a great time spending the morning with this family at their new home in Charlotte. The holidays are sure to be bright in this household!

Happy holidays from all of us at Corey McNabb Photography!

Renee and Nick

2011-10-28T11:19:00.002-04:00

This fabulous fall wedding slipped through the blogging cracks last year, but since it's autumn again we thought we'd share. Amber captured these lovely images for Renee and Nick. Their wedding was at the Crest Pavilion. They certainly had a fun alternative to flowers in their bouquets! At the reception, the Smoochbooth was a huge hit with everyone! There was a line all night long.

Alexa and David - Inn on Biltmore Esate

2011-10-21T12:18:00.000-04:00

Since I was married at the Inn on Biltmore myself, there's always that little extra special feeling every time I shoot there! This one of my favorite weddings there, and we had wonderful weather too! For security reasons, I've been asked to not show David's face, but trust me, he had a look of joy all day long... they were so happy together!

Eurofest 2011

2011-10-16T16:39:00.000-04:00

Sadly, I only had about 45 minutes to hang out at the 2011 European Auto Festival... I could have stayed there all day! Tons of amazing cars by Rolls Royce, Jaguar, MG, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes, Land Rover, Volvo, Saab, VW, and more ... you name it! Well, actually I didn't see any Aston Martins. Oh well. Maybe I'll be taking mine there next year ;)

Here's a short slideshow with more images.

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Setophaga Caerulescens

2011-10-11T09:21:00.001-04:00

This shot is a tight crop on a high ISO image, but I was lucky to get it. Well after the sun had set, I had just enough light to grab this shot (and a couple other really blurry ones!) of this little guy before he flew away. He's a Black-throated Blue Warbler. The best part? I got the shot while sitting on my deck at home! Maybe he'll be around tomorrow too so I can try to get a little cleaner shot.

Whitney and Jarrod - Married at Biltmore Estate

2011-10-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

Whitney and Jarrod had a lovely wedding at Biltmore Estate's Lioncrest... one of my favorite places to shoot locally! Wedding Inspirations did a wonderful job with the planning and Stacey with the Bloom Room rocked the flowers!

Parrish and Jonathan

2011-08-30T10:31:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful wedding Parrish and Jonathan had? Amber captured these wonderful images for them. I loved seeing the great use of color the couple employed on their special day. It's no wonder why The Knot magazine chose to publish images from this vibrant, Southern wedding!

Recent Bird Photography Trip

2011-08-07T07:54:00.000-04:00

While the vast majority of the shots I took on a recent bird photography trip to the coast were of waterfowl (coming in a later post), I did grab this painted bunting as well. I've always loved these birds. They're probably the most colorful bird in North America.

Carrie and Matt: A Fairy-Tale wedding at the Biltmore Estate!

2011-08-03T09:21:00.000-04:00

What better bride for a fairy-tale wedding than the former Belle from Walt Disney World!? From beginning to end, the event was gorgeous. Though I've shot dozens of Deerpark weddings, without a doubt I've never shot one there quite like Carrie's and Matt's! A wedding planner herself, Carrie paid careful attention to every last detail. Tara Jordon ensured that all of Carrie's ideas were carried out to a T. Blossoms out-did themselves. The Smoochbooth joined the party alongside a lipsologist, and a signature drink, the Darling's own "Smoochtini", to round out the Smooches Cocktail Lounge. The Biltmore staff cranked out an amazing whimsical cake, which was published in Grace Ormande. And Carrie and Matt were sure to add their touches to everything, from the personalized dining booth and neon sign that Matt built, right down to the embroidered wedding logo inside Carrie's shoes!

No detail was forgotten... Even the insoles of Carrie's shoes were personalized with their wedding logo.

The ceremony was held at the beautiful Basilica of St. Lawrence in downtown Asheville.

My 600mm birding lens came in handy while shooting from the balcony!

The reception started with a cocktail hour in the "Smooches Lounge"! Sign handmade by Matt himself. While guests enjoyed the signature Darling "Smooch Me" martinis, they were entertained by Lipsologists, and smooching in the Smoochbooth!

Another detail handmade by Matt... The "Darling Bar" sign.

The choreographed first dance was beautiful!

Carrie and Matt - Engagement Session at Asheville's Biltmore Estate

2011-07-01T09:55:00.000-04:00

Carrie and Matt had a beautiful fairy-tale wedding (stay tuned for a blog post on that very soon!) at the wonderful Biltmore Estate... prior to that, they chose the Biltmore as the beautiful backdrop for their engagement session.

Carolyn and Todd get married... Memphis style!

2011-06-24T12:38:00.000-04:00

Hundred-plus-degree temperatures and intense humidity didn't stop Carolyn and Todd from having an amazing wedding in Memphis, TN! The famous Peabody Hotel was host for the decked-out reception and the bride and groom even partied on the world-famous Beale Street later that night. Fun times were had by all! Amy Miller did an amazing job planning the event.

Carolyn and her dad had a VERY emotional dance, while Carolyn donned the wedding dress that her late mother had worn. VERY touching!

Todd is a Wolfpack fan... un, UNDERSTATEMENT!

Todd and his sister had an amazing dance-off!

Beale Street festivities...

A wonderful quiet moment shared late that night between father and son:

Published in Grace Ormonde!

2011-05-13T14:19:00.006-04:00

We've been honored once again by being published in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine. This time it was an image of one of Biltmore Estate's most unique and whimsical cakes from the wedding of Carrie and Matthew. Blog post on that wedding to come soon!

Carolyn and Todd Engaged!

2011-04-18T11:22:00.012-04:00

I spent a relaxing few days getting to know Carolyn, Todd, and their families in their Maryland mountain vacation home. The weekend was packed full of skiing, ice skating, snow-ball fights, quality family time and chillin' by the fire! Stay tuned for pictures of their grand Memphis wedding.

Die hard NC State fans... Go Wolfpack!

Even the ski gear is red and black!

~Corey

Kishia and Brian

2010-10-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

In beautiful Little Switzerland, NC, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Kishia and Brian were recently married in a beautiful and charming setting! Family, close friends, perfect weather, and even shuffleboard all helped to round out this special day!

The scenery was breathtaking.

The flower girls were so adorable... they held hands the entire time!

Shuffleboard was a blast!

Kate Ross, Studio Manager

Angela and Greg married at Asheville's Grand Bohemian Hotel

2010-06-28T00:30:00.006-04:00

Both avid runners, Angela and Greg started out their wedding day much like they would start any Saturday morning together... with a run. (Those of you that know me know it was quite a feat , but I was there bright and early to grab a few shots.) The day progressed and culminated with a beautiful wedding at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville. These two make without a doubt one of the happiest couples I've had the pleasure of shooting. Here are a few images...

They sang their first dance lyrics to one another as they danced... it was really sweet.

Melissa and Greg married at Asheville's Biltmore Estate!

2010-05-16T23:08:00.004-04:00

What a beautiful wedding yesterday at the Biltmore Estate's Deerpark!! Wow.... happy couple, great friends, loving family, tons of flowers, and fun times had by all! Thanks, Gwenn! Here are just a few early faves...

Corey in high heels!

2010-04-22T20:45:00.001-04:00

Please help me raise money for a great cause by sponsoring me in Walk a Mile in HER Shoes! Any amount appreciated... then, come out Saturday morning to see all us fellas walk a mile in HIGH HEELS!! Donate here: http://www.firstgiving.com/themcteam

WPPI DVD Special Promotion

2010-03-04T15:31:00.005-05:00

For a limited time, photographers can take advantage of our DVD sale. Only $129 (regularly $199) for the hard copy or only $99 for a digital download version (regularly $149). Click HERE to order, then visit the "Sign-up and Shop" tab!

2010 Thirst Relief Photography Mentor Auction is on NOW! Win a FREE seat in the next McWorkshop!

2010-02-15T14:54:00.005-05:00

Hey photographers!

It's that time again... the next ThirstRelief mentoring auction is ON NOW! This is a perfect opportunity to further your education while helping out a great cause! As always, I'm also donating a FREE seat in the next McWorkshop to the winning bidder! Click HERE to BID NOW. Check out http://thirstrelief.shootq.com/

Boudoir Valentine's Day Special!

2010-01-29T21:46:00.007-05:00

Hi ladies!

Been thinking about giving a gift to your man that only YOU can? Book your boudoir session before February 14th and you'll pay only $495 instead of the normal $795! And each session comes with professional hair and make-up. Find your inner supermodel and let us capture your intimate side... For him! For you! Forever! To learn more visit lafemmenue.com.

Anne and Tim... Married at the Biltmore Estate!

2009-12-01T22:50:00.001-05:00

Amber here. I loved so many things about Anne and Tim's wedding... They had a perfect venue ( the ever-stunning Biltmore Estate), a fabulous planner (Nicole, from Verge Events), spectacular florals and design (Studio Flora Diva), and fun reception entertainment (Smoochbooth!). But the thing I loved the most about this wedding was Anne and Tim themselves. After spending two days with them, I wanted to keep them forever :)

Friday evening, Ian and I photographed the rehearsal at the Riverbend Barn on the Biltmore Estate. It was nice having the opportunity to meet all of the key players, and photograph a casual evening before the big day.

Saturday, I spent a leisurely afternoon with Anne and her sister as they prepared for the ceremony. We really enjoyed each other's company :) Anne and I found that we have many things in common.

Meanwhile, Ian was hanging out with Tim as he prepared for the day. It is so nice sometimes having two photographers on hand, so that all aspects of the day can be covered!

I loved the images that Ian captured during Anne and Tim's First Look. They chose to see each other before the ceremony so that we would have plenty of time to capture portraits of them around the grounds, and I just LOVE the resulting images.

A few portraits...

The ceremony was gorgeous. So many fun details!

And then on to the reception. Anne had opted to have beautiful lights added to the conservatory lawn. The effect was breathtaking after dark.

The End:

Anne and Tim, you guys made me laugh nonstop all day. I'm hoping you are enjoying every minute of married life, and that you stay in touch! So thrilled to have met you both. Enjoy your slideshow!

Again, huge kudos to Nicole Riley for putting together a such a beautiful event... HUGE thanks to Ian Riley for being such an awesome second shooter... and thanks to Corey for bringing the SmoochBooth by, and giving guests such a good time! (Images of SmoochBooth fun in the slideshow :))

hugs,

amber

Oops...

2009-10-08T16:27:00.003-04:00

Update:

Ok, so the bad news is that their tech support says that even though the account has been deleted, there's no way to stop the cycle of outgoing messages (seems odd, but whatever).

The good news is that Katie was only with the company for a year or so and therefore only about one thousand, three hundred, and thirty six of you should be receiving emails. Lol.

Hi there,

It looks like some of you may have received and email today (or several) from our old employee, Katie. I myself have received over 300 from her account today. Katie has not been with the company in many months, but it seems that due to a recent technical glitch with our hosting company's server, Katie's account is replying to every email it ever received... but with Sarah's out-of-the-office reply. I don't begin to understand the back side of their servers, but their technical support team is aware of the issue and is working to try and stop the outgoing messages.

We're very sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused. Please disregard the email.

Thanks,

Corey

Megan and Paul: Engaged!

2009-08-30T04:42:00.000-04:00

Hi, Amber here again :)

I love engagement sessions. I love having the opportunity to learn about people. I love listening and watching as they share a bit about who they are... and more importantly, as they show me how they love. I didn't become a photographer because I liked people... I thought I'd be one of those distant, fly on the wall types. But somewhere along the way, I fell in love with people in love. I became addicted to learning relationships. I... started liking people?

...well, at least definitely Megan and Paul. When I climbed out of the car at the Botanical Gardens and started towards Megan and Paul... and they met me halfway with giant smiles... I knew I was in for a treat. And they did not disappoint! This was seriously one of the easiest sessions of my life. They showed me their love in a bigger-than-life kind of way. Anywhere I pointed my camera, I was certain to capture it! Love like theirs makes a job like mine a piece of cake.

Without further sentimentality... a select few images from their session.

(Huge thanks to Ian (again!) for hanging out with us on this shoot!)

Megan and Paul, I'll be in touch soon! I can't wait to hang out at the Biltmore Estate in October!

hugs,

amber

Ansley and Jason... Married!

2009-07-23T02:31:00.009-04:00

Amber here :)

A couple of weeks back, I had the opportunity to spend a spectacular Saturday with Ansley and Jason. You might remember Ansley and Jay from their super fun engagement shoot at the Biltmore Estate... the session in which their adorable pug, Elmer, stole the show. Well, I don't think anyone stole the show from Ansley on her wedding day.

We started off the morning pretty low-key. Bridesmaids brunch... hours of primping... and then suddenly, I was standing in awe of the finished product. Ansley was absolutely breathtaking.

Meanwhile, Jay and his groomsmen were taking Asheville by storm. They had opted to add a second photographer to their package, so my dear friend Ian had the pleasure of running all over town with the guys. I think they might've had just a bit of fun :)

A few ceremony images...

Just as the ceremony ended, a storm hit! There was supposedly 0% chance of rain that day... but apparently someone predicted that one wrong! Thankfully, it passed quickly, leaving absolutely beautiful light in its wake.

(I was standing in a downpour for this image... we weren't sure if it was going to stop. The minute I captured this, the sky cleared!)

And from that point on, the light was amazing.

We returned for the reception, and I must say, I don't think I've ever seen Lioncrest look so beautiful. It was completely transformed. I love these amazing floral details created by Studio Flora Diva that Ian captured while I was running around shooting portraits.

The reception was an awesome party. There was so much emotion to photograph. It was wonderful to be in a room filled with people who were so alive, and so obviously in love.

Huge thanks go out to Melissa and Becca from Asheville Event Company. They completely rocked my world at this wedding. Everything was perfection!

I always consider it a great day when I have the opportunity to photograph alongside of Paul and Holley Jackson from Four Season's Films. Ansley just recently sent me the movie trailer from her wedding... it is absolutely gorgeous! Watch it here:)

Ansley and Jay... you guys managed to crawl right up into my heart and made yourselves right at home there. I can't wait to see you again soon, and give Elmer a giant hug! I hope you enjoy your slideshow.

(here's Elmer's one chance to steal the show!)

much love

-amber

Laters, MJ

2009-07-09T01:47:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I didn't watch the memorial yesterday, but nonetheless I have been a Michael Jackson fan since I was a kid. I got an autographed photo while I was working in the industry in LA and even made Thriller my song of choice when making that silly (and still embarrassing) video from one of last year's workshops...

Fireworks on the 4th

2009-07-06T20:44:00.002-04:00

I'm not so into fireworks as to make an event out of seeing them, or dealing with the crowds and such, but when my friends Nicole and Ian said I could watch them from their driveway, well, that sounded easy enough. I was late getting there and I only took a few hand-held shots. Here's one of the few that was ok:

I like weddings...

2009-07-02T01:31:00.007-04:00

As you might expect from someone who has chosen to dedicate his life to capturing the special bonds witnessed at weddings, I have an acute appreciation for a fine pairing. In this case however, it is one of the most elegant couplings to which I'm referring... the marriage of Jaeger LeCoultre and Aston Martin. Two of my favorite brands. Here's the latest offspring from the union:

Sadly, I've also recently learned of a disappointing new venture that Aston is said to be taking on... a mini. Hmm. A "luxury commuter concept". Bad idea, you silly Brits.

Janet and Thomas at the Bohemian!

2009-06-15T16:54:00.011-04:00

Amber here :)

There are a lot of people in the world... good ones, bad ones, dumb ones, funny ones... Sometimes I think I must be the luckiest girl alive, because even in the midst of ALL of those people, the most amazing ones always seems to pick me to photograph their lives. That's how I feel about Janet and Thomas. I can't imagine two more amazing people. We connected immediately at their engagement session, and have had a wonderful relationship since!

I was blessed to have my friend Ian hanging out and shooting with me for the day. It was SO nice to have a second shooter to provide a second viewpoint of the day, and to help me be in two places at once. At this wedding, we needed that often. It was a crazy busy day!

We started off the morning at the salon with Janet and about three thousand of her family and friends.

From there, we moved to the amazing Grand Bohemian (possibly my new favorite place to photograph... there's SO much character!) to spend the rest of the day leading up to the Ceremony.

I love getting ready images...

These shots prove that having two shooters is amazing. I love seeing two perspectives of the same moment :)

I love how good Thomas was in front of the camera. He was awesome!

And Janet was just stunning. I cannot get over how beautiful she is!

The ceremony was perfect. The weather was beautiful. I hadn't had the opportunity to photograph at The Ramble at Biltmore Forest, and I was pleasantly surprised at how lovely it was. Digital Video Memories captured the ceremony for Janet and Thomas as well, you can watch their ceremony highlight video here.

The new couple... Janet and Thomas are insane about each other, and it shows in every image!

Loved the light and the atmosphere in the Bohemian for the reception. We had SO much fun shooting in there.

LOVED the party atmosphere!

A final image of the lovely couple. I'm so proud to have experienced this day with them!

Huge thanks to the amazing Tara Jordan for pulling off an incredible event. She was a pleasure to work with, as always!

Another huge thanks to Ian for working so hard and providing so many amazing images. I can't wait to shoot with him again!

Janet and Thomas, thanks SO much for letting us hang out... We enjoyed you guys SO much! I hope that you love your slideshow.

much love

-amber

No photos allowed!!! ...for the photo contest?!?

2009-05-27T23:29:00.003-04:00

Ahh the irony...

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Amtrak Photographer

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Gay Marriage

For real?

2009-05-25T13:21:00.001-04:00

I'm not convinced this wasn't staged, but I thought you might enjoy it either way...

Dell and Bari in LA

2009-05-23T09:34:00.003-04:00

A few weekends ago, I (Amber) had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful wedding in sunny California. When Corey McNabb asked me to photograph his friend Dell's wedding, I was both honored and terrified. Of course, I wanted to do it, but I was also super nervous to photograph a wedding that someone I respect so much would be a part of.

The day came, and my nervousness dissipated. Bari was a stunning bride, Dell was a wonderful groom, the bridal party and family treated me like a special guest. It was a wonderful experience. I think the relationships formed over that weekend truly allowed me to capture the intricacies of the day.

I don't think LA has ever seen such a clear and beautiful day. I know I've never seen anything like it. It was supposed to rain, but rather than rain, the sun shone and a cleansing breeze blew over Stephen S. Wise Temple. I didn't even know there were mountains in LA until the wedding day!

Here are a few images to give you an idea of how wonderful the day was!

I loved being a part of their rehearsal dinner and the following Shabbat service. This image of the couple lighting the Shabbat candles was one of my favorite.

On Saturday, the girls went to the salon to have relaxing manicures and pedicures.

I even got to join in the fun! I love this image of Bari's Aunt Tobi enjoying a bit of pampering.

A few wedding day details:

Bari and Dell are in the film industry, so as a tribute to that, they had their wedding party read

famous lines from movies during their ceremony. I thought this was a super cool touch.

A beautiful dress.

Fun images of Bari getting ready. I love capturing people watching the action.

One of my favorite First Look images ever!

A few portraits:

I cannot get over this amazing view...

The ceremony was beautiful.

And the reception was a blast!

And of course, I must share a few images of Corey in action.

He was a wonderful addition to the day, and was constantly making me laugh with his antics.

I can't wait to see what images he captured!

Corey and Jill, thank you for your love and support. Corey, thanks for trusting me! I love you guys.

Dell and Bari, I can't express how at home you both made me feel. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you love your slideshow, and I hope we always remain friends!

hugs

-amber

Leigh Ervin and Will

2009-05-20T03:05:00.000-04:00

I had the best time at Leigh-Ervin's and Will's wedding! They're such a genuinely happy couple! I guess just about all couples are on their wedding day, but these two had a little something extra. It was also super fun to have had the help of my friends Amber and Bob Davis. Amber was only able to help for a little while as she had her own wedding to cover that day, but Bob and I had a blast... from early morning golf and spa to late night fireworks on Biltmore's South Terrace. Bob (for those who don't know him, he shot Selma Hayek's, Eva Longoria's and Eddie Murphy's weddings) was gracious enough to fly in from Chicago to help out! THANK YOU, BOB! ...and to his dear wife, Dawn, and his kids Bobby and Alli, for letting me borrow him for a couple of days! Tara, with Weddings with Tara, once again did an amazing job. Paul at Four Seasons worked his magic too. Of course the Bloom Room and A Fine Line both did amazing work as well. Classic Event Rental provided this glorious tent. Here's a quick quote of what Leigh-Ervin and Will had to say... "Corey McNabb was THE most amazing, professional, photographer we could have ever dreamed of working with and his photography speaks volumes towards his ability. I would highly recommend him to absolutely any bride and groom! I still get so excited to watch our slideshow, it always puts a huge smile on my face!! ...BEST PHOTOGRAPHER EVER!!!! :)" Leigh-Ervin and Will

Here's Paul's awesome clip:

Last minute seat opened up!!

2009-05-01T02:41:00.002-04:00

Hi all! We just had a seat open up for next week's 5-Day McWorkshop, so if you've been debating, or weren't able to get a seat before, now's your chance to jump on it! Give us a call at 828.254.4954 or email us at sarah@coreymcnabb.com to sign up. Check out www.mcworkshops.com for some more info. Hope to see you next week!

Ansley and Jay: Engaged

2009-04-17T10:32:00.003-04:00

Amber again... I'm trying to get caught up on stray blog posts before the insanity of the workshop and summer weddings creeps up on us.

Ansley and Jay are amazing people. They drove all the way to Asheville from Pennsylvania. Ansley had a horrible cold. Traffic was bad, and they got a late start. And yet, despite all these obstacles, they were in amazing spirits for their engagement session. This is an amazing example of two people in love.

Ansley and Jay needed no prompting from me... they were naturally engaging and interactive. And the Biltmore Estate is beautiful. Honestly, this session almost felt like cheating, it was so easy :)

I can't wait to photograph their wedding in June!

I love that they brought Elmer with them. He's so adorable that he stole the show a couple of times...

I've always wanted to see Biltmore when the tulips were in bloom. Tulips are my favorite flower, and this display did not disappoint. It was absolutely amazing.

Elmer again... He's seriously cute.

My favorite view of the house. The light back here was just amazing.

Thanks so much Ansley and Jason for hanging out with me. I'm super excited about your wedding day. I think we're going to have a blast!

-amber

What's all the Skype about?

2009-03-31T22:32:00.003-04:00

You iPhoners out there... check out the new app from Skype. I'm sure a lot of you already have a Skype account, so it's a cool addition to your phone.... talk, chat, etc. over wifi. Pretty cool! It's new today, so we'll see how practical it ends up being, but it sounds promising.

~Corey

How sad!

2009-03-19T11:24:00.003-04:00

I was very sad to learn this morning that the Richmond Hill Inn burned down last night! It was a gorgeous, historic home! Such a shame. I'd shot many a wedding there, and the Inn was also a commercial client of mine. I took the majority of the images for the Inn and their restaurant, some of which can be seen on their website here: http://www.richmondhillinn.com/

I think the fire was set, but what do I know. They were rumored to have been in severe financial troubles. And in 1995 an 'unsolved arson' burned part of an addition to the inn when they were having issues at that time. Very sad.

Here's the paper's story: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990319003

Is for fun...

2009-03-04T17:10:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone, Jeremy here.

I'm always trying to find new ways to keep my photography fresh and the other day I stumbled across this gem. I hesitate to share it with my fellow photographers but it's really only a matter of time before these ideas catch on anyway.

My Ideas For Staged Photos Set Me Apart From Other Wedding Photographers.

Since I have yet to implement any of these in my own photography I figured I'd take this opportunity to slip in two of my favorite sequence images. They have nothing to do with the elaborate and slightly disturbing staged photos we'll all be shooting soon per the above list but Cristin's dad makes me laugh every time I see this so I figured since we're already smiling...

Workshops, Antics, and Shenanigans!

2009-03-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

Goodness... I debated pretty hard about posting this video. Certainly there's nothing wrong with it at all, in fact quite the opposite... it's fun, but oh so embarrassing. It's from a 4-Day workshop in Kansas called Keep N it Fresh where I was the featured photographer. We had a great group of photographers and we all learned a ton of information... and had fun doing it. So why the hesitation in the posting? Because never before have my dancing 'skills' been publicly on display... I worry now that I'll be getting too many calls from recruiters wanting me to be a backup dancer for Justin Timberlake. I'm already just slammed as it is.

Here are a few shots from the workshop too...

Chris Smith shooting...

Darrin Hackney and a couple of background chimpers ;)

Nicole Goddard sporting a cool shooting pose..

The talented Brett Schauf, co-host of the workshop, holding my SB-900 for the above photo.

And as I've had so many requests from other photographers to add some technical info as to exactly how I get some shots, I'd thought I'd start here. I've added the exif data to the below image... as you can see it's a bit dull looking as is. I purposely underexposed it on what was otherwise a cloudy, but bright day. That way, when I added a single, gelled, hand-held SB-900 from the side, it provided a nice warm, almost sunsety kinda look.

Exposure and camera settings didn't change for this photo from the above. I just added the flash.

The result:

One night we went out to shuffleboard! Super fun!

My skills were nearly unmatched! Although I still lost... to a girl. ;)

A few of the shooters. Thanks everybody, for such a great workshop!

Seems a bit higher than normal...

2009-02-22T18:21:00.003-05:00

I returned this week from a wonderful, exciting, and exhausting trip to Las Vegas for the 2009 WPPI Convention. More on that later, but just wanted to mention that I came back into the studio this morning to find over 3000 emails waiting for me. I got back with as many of you as I could while out of town. I just wanted to let you know that there might be a slightly longer than normal delay in responding to many of you, but as always, I do my best to reply to everyone. Thanks for being understanding. You might get a faster response if you email sarah@coreymcnabb.com for questions. I'm excited to share my WPPI experience with you soon! Thanks again!
-Corey

Eco-friendly wedding books!

2009-02-10T09:39:00.010-05:00

As part of our ongoing effort to make eco-friendly products available to you, we are extremely proud to announce the addition of two new books in our line. These new books feature acid-free, lignin-free, chlorine-free cover materials, combined with acid-free book cloth made from a cotton/linen mix. They are the most eco-friendly books Corey McNabb Photography and White Glove have ever offered! They are priced comparably with the other matte books in our line, and also come with their famous lifetime guarantee! These great books will be available to add on to any of our Collections, as well as those from our uber-talented associates, Jeremy and Amber.

For you other photographers out there that will be headed to next weeks WPPI convention in Las Vegas, swing by Booth 533 to check out these awesome new eco-cool books!

As one of the first and only photographers in the Asheville area to have gone green a few years ago, we look forward to sustaining our great relationship with White Glove so that we may continue to bring you the high-quality imagery that you've come to expect from us, showcased in the best environmentally-friendly albums available!

In the movies...

2009-02-05T19:26:00.002-05:00

It was fun last night to watch Being There again on TV. I'd not seen it in many years, but it's still darn funny. It also happens to have been partially filmed at Asheville's own Biltmore Estate. It was neat to see some scenes, though quick ones, where cars drove through Biltmore Village and notice how things have changed so in 30 years (DVR helped to rewind and pause)! I was also surprised that they allowed the actors to smoke cigars in one scene in the billiards room... clearly, I suspect there have been countless cigars smoked in that room before, but when the house was being used as a residence. Having shot in and around the house before, I know what care they take to preserve to property and it's contents now that it's a museum atmosphere and open to the public. The film stars Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine and my dad! ;) I also love watching this video that dad's in... he plays Randy Travis' dad... too funny!

Melissa and Alex

2009-02-05T07:08:00.001-05:00

Melissa and Alex were high-school sweethearts! They were married in a gorgeous wedding at the Biltmore Estate's Lioncrest. You could tell that they and their guests all had a grand time! Their reception wasn't their first wedding-related party either... they threw an awesome engagement party on a yacht in Miami last year and I was lucky enough to cover that too. The amazing Tara was their planner and the totally talented Paul and Holley over at Four Seasons Films shot the video. Here are some of my favorite shots (some of which were artfully taken by Jeremy)...

You can check out the trailer for Paul's and Holley's film here:

It's almost Valentine's Day!

2009-02-02T15:25:00.004-05:00

Ok, ladies... it's almost that time again: Valentine's Day! You can give your man some chocolates, or flowers, or one of those nifty balloons shaped like a heart. Or you can give him a special gift that only YOU can. One that will last a lifetime and only get better with time... that gift is you, immortalized forever in all your vibrance and beauty. Give him imagery that he'll adore forever. Call or email us now to learn more about boudoir sessions, special rates, and how you can feel sexier than ever!

You know you want it!

2009-02-01T21:21:00.001-05:00

Less than an hour to go!! Win a FREE workshop seat and help provide clean drinking water all over the world!!!

BID NOW!

Please help me to welcome our newest employee...

2009-02-01T15:34:00.002-05:00

...Sarah Brown!

Sarah is getting her Masters from Western Carolina University, so she doesn't have much spare time as you can imagine. Therefore, we're very grateful for her dedication to Corey McNabb Photography! Sarah will be taking on many roles here from customer service to helping keep our books in order (yay!) and everything in between. As she settles in to her position, more of you will be dealing with her from time to time. Her email address is sarah@coreymcnabb.com. Please join me in letting Sarah know how much we appreciate her being the newest team member of Corey McNabb Photography! We're glad to have her aboard!

Of course, Katie, Jeremy, Amber and myself are all still at your service!

Corey

2009 WPPI Thirst Relief Charity Auction Starts Tonight!

2009-01-29T09:45:00.005-05:00

UPDATE: Just over 12hrs left! Win a FREE workshop seat and support a great cause! http://tinyurl.com/csya5c.

The WPPI Thirst Relief charity auction starts tonight, and I'm very excited to be a part of it once again for 2009! Thirst Relief is a great charity that provides clean drinking water to people around the world. Did you know that every 15 seconds someone dies of a waterborne illness? That's 5760 people every day! Anyone can learn more or donate at www.thirstrelief.org, but photographers can help in another special way... visit http://thirstrelief.shootq.com tonight at 10pm EST (7pm Pacific) and bid on a mentoring session with your favorite photographer! Many of the photographers participating in the auction are sweetening the deal by including a free lunch, one of their DVDs, and more if you win their auction. I'm offering to the high bidder of my auction a FREE SEAT in one of my next 5-Day McWorkshops... a $1775 value!! The next McWorkshop will be May 4-8, 2009. So, please visit http://thirstrelief.shootq.com tonight and bid for a great cause!

The Next 5-Day McWorkshop Announced!

2009-01-28T17:13:00.000-05:00

In the podcast for Pictage I recorded yesterday, I officially announced the dates for the next 5-Day McWorkshop to be held here in beautiful Asheville, NC, so I thought I'd better get those dates on the blog too! Mark your calendars and grab your seat while they last... May 4-8, 2009. Check out www.mcworkshops.com to learn more and to sign up. Get ready for lots of learning, shooting, sharing and more... can anyone say Cinco de Mayo? Here are a couple of shots from the last workshop...

Pictage Ask and Learn - Today, Wednesday, Jan 28th!

2009-01-28T07:06:00.000-05:00

Once again, I've been asked to participate in the Ask and Learn Wednesday on the Pictage Forum! All you Pictage photographers out there, please join me this evening as I answer your questions and hopefully provide a little advice on not only surviving, but thriving in today's tough economy.... hope to see you there !

We love Shoot Q!

2009-01-19T20:56:00.003-05:00

For those photographers out there that aren't using Shoot Q... you should be! It's a brilliant studio management tool with lead management, online booking, workflow and relationship development, and lots more... all online! Our business wouldn't be where it is today without Shoot Q. Today, the new Version 2 of Shoot Q was released to the public so go check it out at www.shootq.com.

2008 Reader's #1 Choice!

2009-01-19T18:12:00.006-05:00

I'm very pleased to report that, for the second year in a row, Corey McNabb Photography was picked by the readers of The Bride's Book magazine as their number one Gold Choice photographer for the Asheville area! Thank you all!

Smoochbooth!!!

2009-01-12T11:33:00.003-05:00

We had the BEST time at the recent Wedding Festival hanging out in the Smoochbooth! Smoochbooth is the area's "only deluxe partybooth solution" and is available to rent to brides, event planners, photographers, and more for weddings, corporate parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, sweet 16 parties.... you name it, it's sure to be a hit at ANY event!! Everyone loves a good photo booth!! You can see more shots in the slideshow, but here are a few pics we took...

Tara and me being silly...

Regina, Amber, and me...

Ian and Nicole...

Check out Smoochbooth.com to find out more or to book it for your next party!

MacWorld

2009-01-06T11:01:00.001-05:00

We photographers always love the MacWorld conventions... and today's doesn't disappoint either! Check this out...

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Not A Resolution

2009-01-02T20:41:00.011-05:00

Hello everyone, Jeremy here.

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions but I really have been thinking a lot lately about changing my outlook on communication. I tend to be a fairly private person but in thinking about how that fits in with my life as a wedding photographer I've realized that I am keeping too many wonderful little moments to myself.

After every wedding or session I find myself coming home and running through all of these little fun/weird/touching bits of life in my head. Sometimes my wife will hear a few stories or run through a few images as I download my cards, but I've realized I need to share more.

Many years ago, more than I care to admit, I was photographing a friend of mine dressed up like never before, in his tux...the shiny shoes...the whole deal. He was standing on a dock by a pond, in the woods. He was about to meet his soon-to-be wife and it struck me what a special moment I had been invited to be a part of.

I have been the last person to see several of my friends and clients in those quiet moments before they walk down the aisle. In a dark hall or tucked just around a corner. I have been invited into homes and private little rooms, only shared with a few close family members. I have seen some tears, both happy about the future and sad for those who might not have been with us anymore. Most often, however, I have simply shared a few laughs.

So that's what I've been thinking these first few days into 2009. I won't call it a resolution, as those are too often broken...perhaps a "declaration of intent." Yes, that's way different...

Anyway, here are a couple images that came to mind as I was typing this.

I found Shanna and her dad talking quietly on the steps a few hours before her wedding.

Not all of the "moments" are serious. The reason you can't see the hands of the two on the outside is because they were in handcuffs. Mary, Ross, and I came across them as we were shooting downtown after their wedding and they demanded that they be in a picture before heading to court.

Brian told me later that this picture was on their fridge. I'm not sure if he was just trying to make me feel good but it made the twelve hours of shooting for him and Cristin worth every second. And yes, this was at hour twelve or later and I look it.

Ashley and Kevin invited me to stay at their house near the beach so that we could get an early start for their shoot the next morning. Kevin even cooked me some breakfast! This still seems kind of amazing to me... I mean, how many photographers have you invited to stay at your house?! Anyway, we wandered the beach all morning, shooting and talking. Good times.

Ok, I just don't know when else I would post this of Jeremy (no, another one). He and Leanne were obviously a blast to work with.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T00:38:00.002-05:00

WIshing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year! I know I'm posting a few minutes late, but I just returned home from shooting Laura's and Brandon's awesome honeymoon in St. Thomas (more on that very soon), so this is the first chance I've had.... here's a shot of the fireworks from our balcony last night:

Happy Holidays, everyone!

2008-12-25T05:12:00.006-05:00

Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases, the best Chanukahs, the happiest Kwanzaas, and the most love-filled Holidays... from all of us! Corey, Jill, Katie, Zac, Jeremy, Kirsten, and Amber

Upcoming Speaking Engagement...

2008-12-23T20:42:00.006-05:00

I am excited and gearing up for one of the biggest speaking engagements I have done... WPPI! This will be the first year I will have spoken as a Platform Speaker at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International photography convention in Las Vegas this coming February! This is a huge opportunity for me and I hope to see a lot of you fellow photographers there! Thanks to White Glove, Shoot Q, and Pixel2Canvas for your very generous, gracious and most-appreciated sponsorship.

And again, thank you all for your continued support.

Corey

Julie and Matt

2008-12-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

Julie and Matt had a great wedding! Moses (their cute little dog that came with us to their engagement session) couldn't make it to the wedding, but made a wonderful appearance at the ceremony on the bottom of the programs, thanks to the help of the amazing Tara, with Weddings with Tara. Deerpark made for a great setting, especially as nice as the weather was! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the night....

Brianna and Jason

2008-12-21T09:06:00.001-05:00

Brianna and Jason had an awesome wedding at Biltmore's Deerpark Restaurant. The day started at the salon with all the ladies getting ready and ended with some good times had by all on the dance floor! Congrats! Nicole Riley of Verge Events and StudioWed pulled the wedding off perfectly!

Missy and Joe

2008-12-19T20:05:00.000-05:00

Missy and Joe were married recently, in the same spot I was married about 4 years ago... the Inn on Biltmore, so it holds a special place in my memories! I loved the special pre-ceremony meeting these two had to see one another for the first time... super sweet!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2008-12-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

Today's my dad's birthday... so I just wanted to wish him a very happy birthday here. Happy Birthday Dad... you're a huge inspiration to me! Thanks! He is putting together a new web site, so if it's not under construction, you can check out gerrymcnabb.com to see some of his recent work.

Green Weddings!

2008-12-17T07:25:00.006-05:00

As a green company ourselves, we were very happy to have been interviewed for, and contribute to, a new book, released today!

The Everything Green Wedding Book: Plan an elegant,

affordable, earth-friendly wedding

By Wenona Napolitano

For more green wedding planning resources and more about the author, Wenona Napolitano, please visit www.everythinggreenweddings.blogspot.com

Please check out the blog for tons of great tips to help you plan the perfect green wedding! Here's just one example of all the great information you'll find in the book:

Top Ten Reasons to Choose a Green Wedding

from The Everything Green Wedding Book

By Wenona Napolitano

1. Your big day can have a big impact on the environment; an eco-friendly green wedding can reduce that damaging footprint.

2. For those of you who are already living a green lifestyle it is natural to plan a wedding that expresses your personal beliefs.

3. You want to share your eco-friendly beliefs with your family and friends.

4. You can make a statement and raise awareness about environmental issues by having a fabulously green celebration.

5. You want everyone to know that you love the planet and you are willing to do your part to protect it, plus you’ve been dying to check out that organic gourmet caterer you’ve heard so much about.

6. Having a green wedding is a great way to support charitable causes.

7. Enviro-conscious weddings support retailers and providers of organic, sustainable, and recycled products and services.

8. You love shopping at thrift stores, yard sales, and consignment shops and a green wedding gives you the perfect opportunity to go treasure hunting.

9. You want to showcase your creative side by having a green theme wedding; naturally green, recycled retro, or vintage glamour…take your pick, you are only as limited as your imagination.

10. From simply green to eco-extravagant you can show everyone that you can have the wedding of your dreams while being green.

Rachael and Bryan

2008-12-16T22:52:00.003-05:00

As coordinator for weddings held at the Biltmore House, Bryan knows a thing or two about weddings. Rachael even works for the Estate too! So when it came time for them to tie the knot, they were well versed... and the logical place for their wedding might be the South Terrace, right? Would you want to get married in the office in which you work everyday? Didn't think so! Bryan got ready at the Grove Park Inn and they did have a wonderful, intimate ceremony in a secluded garden setting on the Biltmore Estate, but they had a great reception at Coleman Place. Here are a few of my favorite shots...

Tair and Chris

2008-12-16T15:57:00.001-05:00

Deerpark weddings can be so magical, and Tair's and Chris' was no exception. Much of her family had flown in from Israel. They had a wonderful ceremony and exchanged some really emotional vows... very touching. Then they danced the night away! Here are a few of my favorites....

Gallery show at Pack Place

2008-12-15T18:25:00.009-05:00

I was pleased to have several entries accepted into the annual Carolina Nature Photographers' Association's juried photography exhibit held at the Pack Place Gallery and Museum in downtown Asheville. I should have blogged this sooner, as the show has already come and gone, but felt so privileged to have been a part of it, I still wanted share some photos with you.... be sure to not miss it next year (I'll blog it sooner, I promise!). I was honored to have had my prints included among some of the best nature photographers the Carolinas have to offer... including my dad! Here are some of the images I had hanging in the show...

These and other signed and numbered limited edition prints are available for purchase

if you email me by clicking here. Framed images make great holiday gifts!