Hello everyone! I've been wanting to post these for some time now but going through the rigors of fall wedding season did not leave me enough time to even eat or sleep...let alone blog! 
 
My gorgeous Emma. What a privilege and honor it is to be a dad. It's not the kind of "cool thing to do" as say, driving a motorcycle or a fast car is. Being a dad is an enormous responsibility. Aside from the everyday duties of providing and nurturing children, as father's we have a responsibility to be an example for our children.  
 
This did not hit home for me until I had my own family. To Emma, Avery and Samantha, everything they think of in regards to boys, men and one day...a long, long time from now...future spouses (cocking my gun), is shaped through the lens through which they see me. In many cases girls grow up and want to marry someone just like their dad...and in many unfortunate cases they want to marry someone completely opposite of their father. 
 
In no way have I cornered the market on being a male role model for my girls but it's a role that I pursue and am continually in need of God's grace for. Anyone can pull off looking like they have it all together in public but our children see us everyday at our best and at our worst. As a father, all you can do is keep pushing forward and continually seek wisdom through prayer and trust in God as you lead your family. 
 
I am so proud of Emma and all that she has become so far. She exudes joy and happiness! Emma's name means "complete joy" and we see that in her life as there is a "fullness of joy" about her. Emma loves to be social, she genuinely has a heart for people and she is wise beyond her years. It's not uncommon for her to ask someone bluntly, "do you know Jesus?" or gather all her toys and tell us she wants to give them away to kids who don't have toys. 
 
That's just a snapshot into her character and personality and Ang and I are so proud to be her parents yet we are cautious because of the weight and burden of the responsibility we have to shape and mould this precious gift from God. 
 
Emma is attending Turner Creek Elementary in Cary. Avery also started pre-school this fall and we are so proud of her for making that big jump as well! 
 
Thanks for following...God bless!

I've been dying to get this rockstar couple of mine on my blog for sometime now and seeing how their wedding is just around the corner I had to get them published, like yesterday! 
 
I always recommend to my clients that when planning an engagement session, try plan far enough ahead of time and try to make it personal. The memorable and unique results of a well planned and thought-out session almost always exceed the alternative of just showing up at a park and snapping photos. While I like to think I'm good at making something out of nothing...imagine what I can do when I'm given something to work with! :) A plan, a prop and a place that tells your story is all I need to take an otherwise ordinary session and turn it into something totally awesome! Just a little tip for those of you still planning! 
 
Ashley and Sean wanted to incorporate a part of their everyday life in and around Winston Salem, NC, Wake Forest Deacons football and their little puppy Lola! 
 
Enjoy! 

I have learned to never complain when weather seems to not cooperate with a shoot. Too many times, the unpredictability of weather fosters some kind of creative inspiration that you would not find otherwise. Caroline's bridal session was another one of those moments. 
 
Being forced to shoot inside at the Cardinal Club downtown Raleigh is NEVER a bad consolation spot...because it's simply oozing with class, making it the perfect spot for a wedding or bridal shoot. It's definitely one of my favorite venue's and they have a great team there to work with! 
 
I was unfortunately already booked for Caroline's wedding but I'm glad we were able to get a bridal session with her...take a look below and you will see why. 
 
God bless!

With my downtime this summer I've been feverishly working on catching up on blogging! Because we shoot so many weddings it does not leave much time for one of my favorite things about this business and that is sharing wonderful images from the awesome weddings that we have been privileged to be a part of!  
 
Here is Lydia and Ken's wedding at the gorgeous Legare Waring House in Charleston, SC. 
 
Southern Protocol did an incredible job with the styling and coordinating as you will see from some of the photos. 
 
Thanks for following!

Who says you can't do a year in review in February? Our year here at MMP is like one of those wacky "fiscal years" anyway...weddings start in March and don't end until the following January...so, I guess I'm even a little early! :) 
 
Ang and I tabbed 2012 as our "year of growth" and our proclamation could not have been more accurate. MMP continues to grow in it's geographical reach as well as the number of weddings we shoot each year. Last year we photographed weddings from San Francisco to St Lucia and everywhere in between. We topped over 40 weddings for the year and even then had to turn many away because we simply could not handle any more!  
 
As for feather's in our caps, 2012 also saw us published in Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine as well as becoming a member of Style Me Pretty's little black book. Which is quite the feat since we did not reach out to either to initiate the process!  
 
Personally, 2012 did not disappoint either. In April we purchased our first home as a complete family! After years of apartments and rental houses, we now get to call the place where we live, our home. We get to raise our three girls in one place where they will grow up with fond memories of the house they grew up in complete with growth charts, crayon-ed walls and a superior knowledge of best places to hide when playing hie-and-seek. 
 
I am blessed beyond measure with three beautiful, healthy girls and a beautiful wife who inspires me to be more than just a body filing up space here on earth. Just watching her grow and mature as a loving mother and a devoted God-fearing wife who still works a day job is nothing short of amazing. Many times as I ponder these things in my heart, I just have no explanation, no words to describe how good God has been to me. I deserve so much less, but therein lies the great truth about life and God...if we all got what we deserved, we simply would not be here. There would be no hope for tomorrow. 
 
Warm fuzzies aside, 2012 was a great year and I am eager to see what 2013 has in store! I"m so thankful for all the wonderful clients of ours who invited us into their lives and for all the totally amazing wedding vendors out there that I get to meet and those that refer us to their clients...thank you! 
 
May yours be blessed! 
 
Michael