The lighthouse you now see standing on that spot is actually the third built there. The first was so poorly built that it developed cracks and began to lean, resembling the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it was eventually torn down.

The second, which was complete in 1859, suffered a tragic end when retreating Confederate soldiers attempted to foil the Union Navy from using it for naviagational purposes, blew it up in 1861. The Union later found a pile of valuable lighthouse parts including fresnel lenses at the North Carolina Capital building.

Finally on October 1, 1872 the current lighthouse was lit for the first time. Eighteen days later a flock of geese crashed into the fresnel, after which time screening was placed strategically around the lens and further such collisions have been avoided.

Although the lighthouse is not open for climbing you can go inside the base and look up to the top. The lighthouse keepers quarters have been renovated and are currently being used as a visitor center for the lighthouse.

This week as I drove past the lighthouse several times, I was curious when I saw it’s unusual appearance. I decided to stop and check out the situation, on closer inspection I realized that it was surrounded by a massive amount of scaffolding. I apparently is undergoing renovations.  It always amazes me when the government, be it federal, state or local, decide to undertake a renovation or construction project during the heighth of tourist season. One of the main attractions to the beach are our lighthouses. Does it only seem logical to me that this is not the best time to be doing a project like this? Anyway,  soI had to take pictures, I whipped out my trusty digital SLR and took several pictures. This is what our beautiful tourist attraction looks like as of July 19, 2010! While it is interesting to see all of the scaffolding and it can be an artistic element itself, it is not what people expect to see when coming here. So much for using it as a backdrop for family or wedding portraits.

To read more about the Bodie Island Lighthouse and it’s history visit @http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=357

These photos were taken at 8:45 pm July 19, 2010.

Since they were staying in Rodanthe on  Hatteras Island, (on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina) I thought it would be a great idea to shoot down by the pier. This is the same pier that appears in the movie “Nights in Rodanthe” with Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Then I thought it would be romantic to go to the beautiful house with the blue shutters that appears in the same movie. The house had been moved, so I would have to check out its new location before committing to the decision to shoot there.

When I arrived at their beach house the wind about knocked me off the porch as I waited for them to answer the door. Oh boy, here we go! I knew if the wind was that strong this far from the beach that once we were out there we would be sandblasted, the veil would be blowing straight up into the air, and it would definitely turn into a bad hair day. Admittedly, it is funny to see a veil blowing straight up like that, but not if you are trying to make serious, romantic portraits of the bride and groom. After the suggestion from the bride’s mother and some discussion, it was agreed that we would relocate our session much farther north to Coquina Beach.  As we drove northward to Coquina Beach we drove past the Nights in Rodanthe house and with an air of disappointment waved as we drove by, it is tryly a spectacular house. I am happy that they were able to rescue it from the ravages of the sea and reopen it for visitors to the Outer Banks.

Coquina Beach is one of those beaches that is just far enough off the beaten path, that few people know about it. I have never seen it crowded and it is spacious and beautiful! It also just happens to be across the road from the Bodie Island Lighthouse, which makes for great scenic photos as well as a nice backdrop for portraits. At this time it seems to be under some kind of renovation though, surrounded by scaffolding, so it was not an option for this evening’s portrait session. But there was still plenty of idyllic scenery to take advantage of.

Having just traveled from that direction I knew that it was not as windy up there as on Hatteras Island, and I was hoping that was still the case by the time we got there 30 minutes later. If not, then we would be out of daylight by the time we could move to another location. Luckily the wind was much calmer, and we spent the next hour having a great time on the beach, in the dunes and in the surf. I am sure that we elicited quite a bit of surprise and interest when bride and groom began walking through the surf in their wedding attire and then possibly even a little angst as the both laid down in the surf as it washed ashore. I now for a fact it caused the bride’s mother a little distress because before we even got to the beach she expressed loud and clear that she didn’t want that dress going into the ocean! Well we complied, sort of…just the skirt of the dress got we, as the bride was saved mostly by her groom who provided a great support as she rested on his back.  We had a fun time! Alex and Matt are a fun couple and I wish them many, many years of happiness!! Love you guys!

If you are planning a visit to the Outer Banks, why not take advantage of the beautiful locations,  gorgeous weather and all the fact that this may be one of the few times that your family is together at the same time in the same place.  Schedule a family beach portrait. For many families visiting the  Outer Banks, it is a family tradition, and a great way to preserve the memories of your vacation.  We have availablility for July and August.   Give us a call today to schedule a family beach portrait.

Book your appointment by July 15th and receive a FREE frame with your wall portrait (16×20 or larger).

Call us at 252-453-4366!!

For only $750

you get up to 4 hours of coverage and a high resolution image disk with a written copyright release.

Book your 2010 or 2011 wedding by July 31st and get this exceptional offer!

Available Next Week – Accordion Minis with Custom Covers!

We will soon be rolling out a few enhancements for one of our most popular products.  Beginning next week, we will relaunch our Accordion Wallet Books with not only a new name, Accordion Minis, but also with some fantastic new features!

New Cover Options
We already offer a wide array of colorful cover options, but we’ll soon add Custom Cover options in both Satin and Metallic to the list.

TuTu Cuties                  $75.00

We have tutus available in several colors and sizes for your daughter, ages newborn to 13.  We suggest wearing a swimsuit or bodysuit to match the tutus for older girls and younger ones can wear just the tutu.  These make an adorable portrait of your daughter.  We play fun music and let them dance around and be silly to capture a variety of expressions.  We have rose petals to sprinkle around as well.  We’ll spend 30 minutes to 1 hour photographing your daughter.  The package includes:

            Online gallery (with password protection option)

            1 – 8×10                     2 – 5×7                       8 – wallets

Birthday Parties             $100.00 for the first hour, $35.00 for each hour after

We can provide a candid photographer for your child’s birthday party.  Our photographer stands behind the scenes and takes unobtrusive photographs of your child with his or her cake, presents, and guests.  This is especially great for milestone birthdays (1^st, 13^th, and 16^th).  This allows mom and dad to be in on the fun and mingle with their guests without having to worry about taking pictures.  What you get:

             Online gallery (with password protection option)

            A CD/DVD of all images from the birthday party

To Love a Child              $95.00

A 30 minute session for children, newborns to 16 years of age.  The package includes:

             Online gallery (with password protection option)

            1 – 8×10                     2 – 5×7                       8 – wallets

          Photo Party Invitations     

We can custom design photo party invitations for your child’s birthday party to match the theme and/or colors.  They are available in the following sizes and prices:

             4×8/4×6                                                             5×5/5×7

            10 for $25       20 for $45                               10 for $35       20 for $65

            30 for $65       40 for $85                               30 for $95       40 for $125

            50 for $100     Add’l 10 for $20                     50 for $150     Add’l 10 for $25

Milestone’s                    $225.00

A session for every milestone (birth to 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months).  Each newborn and quarterly session includes 1 – 8×10, 1 – 5×7, and 8 – wallets.  The newborn session also includes 1 – 11×14 collage or 25 – 4×8 or 4×6 birth announcements.  The 12 month session includes 25 – 4×8 birthday party invitations or a Folio with 1 – 8×10 & 4 – 4×5.  Failure to schedule your child’s portraits within 2 weeks of milestone forfeits that quarter’s session.  Must be paid for at newborn session.

Baby’s First Year             $350.00

A session every month for your new baby (birth to 2 weeks through 12 months).  Each session includes 1 – 8×10, 1 – 5×7, and 8 – wallets.  The newborn session also includes 1 – 11×14 collage or 25 – 4×8 or 4×6 birth announcements.  The 12 month session includes 25 – 4×8 birthday party invitations or a Folio with 1 – 8×10 & 4 – 4×5.  Failure to schedule your child’s portraits within 1 weeks of each monthly “birthday” forfeits that month’s session.  Must be paid for at newborn session.

Dream Duo!

For a limited time I am offering this fabulous Dream Duo! The Dream Duo includes the 9×9 Dream Album and a digital collection. The flush mount, lay-flat, digital mat album is heavenly! It is the perfect way to highlight your favorite images from your session, and tough enough to withstand your three-year-old turning the pages day after day. But the digital collection completes this Dream duo. This gorgeous image box is made to hold a CD of images from your session as well as digitally matted 5×7 prints. The best thing about the full resolution digital collection is that you can make prints from the files on the CD-as many as you want, and as big as you want! Don’t let this offer pass by without getting your own Dream Duo!