From now on, all new posts can be found on the NEW BLOG.

www.danamackayphotography.com

Hope you’ll join me! :)

I really hope I don’t get in trouble, but I’m kidnapping this blog post idea from a design blog I truly adore {thanks Emily!}. It’s my 2011 recap highs and lows.

High: We started 2011 with a new baby {our daughter was born in December 2010} and lots of pretty snow.

Low: Lack of sleep and the hubs getting sick caused for a rough start.

High: I went to Vegas and WPPI. I learned so much from fellow photogs, found some great vendors,  made new friends, saw old friends, ate awesome food and caught up on rest (yes, you can actually do that in Vegas).

Low: I missed my new little one so much and getting daily videos from my sister-in-law in GA about killed me.

High: Getting asked to second shoot weddings with lots of amazing Charlotte photogs and getting to travel was total awesomesauce in 2011.

Low: I learned that sometimes you can bite off more than you can chew and it’s okay to back away from doing too much to spend time with your family.

High: Getting published in Carolina Bride thanks to one of those said weddings I second shot. I swear I floated on a cloud when I saw my name in print.

Low: Forgetting to post about it. Oops! {check out October 2011 slideshow on Carolina Bride}

High: Shooting some fantastic weddings with one of my favorite friends and then having her shoot my family reminded me how lucky I am to share in such fun times.

Low: Not getting to spend enough time with said friend.

High: Shooting events for Wells Fargo in Greensboro and Charlotte was the best. I got to even ride in a Stage Coach.

Low: Not getting to take Jackson Brown, the boxer, home with me. :)

High: Getting an image published in the 2012 MAPR calendar to benefit Pug rescue. Special thanks to Erica from Sweet November Events for submitting an image from a session we did together.

Low: As much as it was an honor, getting asked to photograph a dog that was going to be put down due to bad health. This was one of the hardest things I have ever photographed. It was amazing to see such a specular dog and know the tough choice the owners had to make. Thank you so much for trusting me with capturing these images (Jack and Patty D.)

High: Signing into this blog only to find comments not approved from some of my photog heroes. *Swooning over here*

Low: It’s been way too long since I signed into my blog to post. I’m working on a new blog with a semi-new look and hope to launch it this year. I promise it will feature all the weddings I’ve neglected to post from 2011. :)

High: 2011 was my year to learn and branch out. I had some fabulous clients, meet lots of talented photogs and celebrated another year in business, which is a huge thing in this economy. I never would be where I am today without my family, friends and clients. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all your support, love and enthusiasm over the past year.

Low:  There really isn’t a low here. Things were not always easy in 2011, but they were worth the struggles.

Here’s to 2012 and the journey it brings. May it be filled with happiness, adventure and love.

And before I go, here’s a picture from a very special birthday close to my heart. My little dog Reese {and first fur kid} turned ten the day after Christmas. I got her a cake from Barbara’s Canine Cafe in honor of this event.

Pilar always has a picture of Frank and her on her desk at work from over the years together and carries hundreds of pictures of their dog Coco on her phone. She’s the person I call when I need a good laugh (even if half the time it’s in spanglish which she thinks I understand). So when I met Pilar for lunch and saw her beautiful ring, I could not be more thrilled when I learned that I’d get to shoot her wedding. Pilar and Frank are the kind of couple that would do anything for their friends and family. And don’t even ask her about the time I borrowed her Vespa. She’d probably laugh and spill the beans on the one secret we share. :)

Pilar and Frank are getting married this weekend in Uptown Charlotte, NC and here are  some images from their engagement session we did at the Peninsula Yacht Club in Lake Norman, NC a few weeks ago. Can’t wait to see you guys this weekend!

It’s hard to believe it, but the holidays are right around the corner. My calendar has been full of weddings, pet sessions and trying to squeeze in some family time. Needless to say, my clients are getting their products and my blog has taken a backseat. I’m also in the process of getting a new look so it’s been hard to get motivated to get new blog post together. Needless to say, I wanted to make a special offer for my readers…

Holiday Mini-Sessions $100

20 minute session includes:

10-15 edited images in a online gallery proofs, 15% off boutique orders, and a special gift.

Sunday November 6th

AM Time slots: 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30

PM Time Slots: 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Sign up now by using the contact sheet or by emailing contact@tishmackayphotography.com

What is more sassy than a three year old girl? How about a three year old girl in pink cowboy boots. Here’s a sneak peek from my recent weekend session.

There’s something about Pugs. I’m not sure if it is the snorts they make when they get excited, or the sweet curly tail or even the wrinkles on their head. Everything about this breed is just so much fun. These dogs have the best personalities – I’ve never met a Pug I didn’t just fall head over heels over in love with.

And all that could be said about Avett and Norm. Both of these Pugs are just amazing. They are sweet boys, LOVE to eat Cheerios, both toy killers and most of all, adore cuddles on the couch.

Norm is fawn colored and Avett is black. :)

Erica pointed out to be that even though Avett is black, he has traces of fawn on his back side. And I’m guess that you have figured out that Avett was named after a local Concord, NC band that struck it big – - The Avett Brothers. If you haven’t heard of them – PLEASE check them out. They are such talented guys!

This is one of their favorite toys. Notice the missing eyes and nose.

Thanks again Erica and Steve for having me over to capture your Pugs. They are just darling if you ask me.

Oh, and P.S. Congrats on your announcement today. So excited to hear about your new human addition coming Feb 2012. Yay!

In between weddings and corporate shoots, I’ve been busy on Twitter. And thanks to all the wonderful connections, I got the chance to photograph some really sweet pugs. Here’s a sneak from our session. Special thanks to Sweet Novemeber Events, Erica Stawick and her fabulous pugs, Avett and Norm.

What happens when great minds think alike – - they all get together for a shootout. I had the honor to shoot with some wonderful local photographers here in Charlotte, NC over the holiday weekend. Each one of us brought our knowledge to the table, not to mention an afternoon filled with laughter and lots of picture taking of Jessica, our bride.

Here are the details:

Dress: Enzoani Couture, Christina
Shoes: Steve Madden
Hair Flower: Target
Necklace: Etsy
Flowers: Flower Diva in Pineville, NC  (Thanks Carrie!)

Other Photographers:
Kelli Boling
Ashley Gillett
Lindsay Hess
Jessica Horton

And now the goods.

This next one is my absolute favorite. The tin ceiling in the farmhouse must sound amazing when it rains.

Special thanks to Jessica Horton for pulling this shootout together for all of us. I am so excited to have a fun group of gals to shoot with and learn from. Hope to see you all soon!

Hi there! Remember me? I promise I am still alive. Things have been so busy that blogging got tossed to the back burner and life just took over. Now that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been out shooting; it’s actually quite the opposite. I have so much to share that I have no idea where to even start. There’s my February WPPI trip to Vegas, a ribbon cutting ceremony at a cool new fire station, an awesome corp event, two weddings, a head-shot and a fun bridal shoot. How about I just start at the end and work backwards. (the same way the plots of really cool action movies start out a the end and then you get zapped back to the beginning).

Here goes. This sneak peek is from yesterday. It was a fabulous bridal shoot with a super sassy bride. I am so in love with her shoes and the flowers – - out of this world. Keep checking back over the next couple weeks as I play catch up.

I’m so excited to share that Tish Mackay Photography is featured on Bryn Alexandra Interiors blog. If you have a chance, jump on over and see the transformation to a really awesome historical home’s living room here in Charlotte, NC – Dilworth neighborhood. It was so much fun to work with Bryn and see her in action. Here’s one of the pictures I took of the client’s dog Samantha – you can check out the rest on Bryn’s blog.

And here’s one more not featured but I had to include of Sam. Enjoy!