CHARLOTTE WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
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Senior Pictures at McGill Rose Garden
Senior pictures for this Hough High School senior girl in Charlotte NC at McGill Rose Garden. I specialize in senior photos because graduation is such an important milestone for my clients and families that need to be captured.
This was a great evening at one my favorite Charlotte garden parks, where this lovely senior and her mom met my for her senior pictures session. Lots of greenery and blooms as background for these casual portraits.
Planning Spring Photography
Spring in Charlotte starts March 20th. And client’s most common question for their spring wedding proposal, engagement, bridal, family, or senior session is when blooms will arrive. Cletus and I scouted favorite photography locations this week and found lilies, daffodils camellias, Bradford pear trees, and Japanese maple trees already in bloom. So it’s early March, and we’ve already got blooms!
In April, expect azaleas, flowering cherry trees, Eastern redbud, and more spring wildflowers to show blooms, grass to green up, and green foliage on vines and oak trees.
In May, look for dogwoods and hydrangeas to flower with even greener grass and full green tree canopies.
Know of any blooms in your part of Charlotte? Or have questions for this Charlotte wedding and portrait photographer on the best time to schedule your photography session? Contact me and I’d be glad to help!
Catholic Weddings in Charlotte NC
As a Catholic wedding photographer, and a Catholic myself, here’s my insights on photographing Catholic weddings in Charlotte, NC. Our family’s home parish is St. Gabriel Catholic Church, where my wife and I went through Pre-Cana ourselves. I’ve photographed several weddings at St. Gabriel, as well as St. Peter in Uptown Charlotte, and am looking forward to photographing weddings at St. Matthew and St. Patrick next year.
I believe that the sacrament of marriage, and it’s a blessing every time for me to be able to capture it for my couples. Whether the bride and groom have planned a ceremony with a Mass or not, I understand the unique order of celebrating matrimony and how to capture it beautifully and respectfully.
Proposal at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
A winter wedding proposal in the Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, where the greenhouse provides lush greenery and flower blooms year round regardless of the weather outside. Helping Kevin plan his surprise proposal was so much fun, and getting to photograph and film him proposing to Olivia was very special. After the proposal, we celebrated with engagement pictures around the gardens, popped a bottle of champagne, and even did a quick highlight film with drone footage. An amazing day!
Excited for these two, and their wedding!
St Gabriel Catholic Wedding
Classic wedding at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte NC by Charlotte wedding photographer Michael Parks.
Lauren and Charlie lit up the afternoon with their smiles. Lauren wore a timeless white wedding dress from Vow’d, while Charlie’s outfit was the smart black tuxedo. There was an incredible vibe of love and support for the couple all day, and it lifted everyone up to be a part of that ceremony.
St. Gabriel is also my home parish, and I live just five minutes from it. Always a blessing to be able to photograph there. Congratulations Lauren+Charlie!
Senior Photo Album
My best recommendation when seniors and parents are deciding what to print from their senior picture session is always an album. Just like my wedding couples, I hear from seniors and their families that the album is what they go back to over and over. For my own daughter’s high school graduation, I created an album and it’s come out over and over as we have visitors.
Just like my wedding albums, I design each senior photo album myself using a proprietary software package and work directly with the professional industry-standard MillersLab who makes each album by hand in their MidWest shop. In my view, it’s the best album you can get.
Myers Park Family Photos
Fun family pictures in Myers Park in Charlotte NC by Charlotte wedding and portrait photographer Michael Parks.
I’ve known Tri since middle school, and it was awesome catching up with him and his family on a quiet evening at Freedom Park for family photos. They had great winter outfits with blues, greys, and creams that complemented the evergreens and stone at the park and around the pond.
Charlotte Wedding & Portrait Photographer
Charlotte wedding and portrait photographer Michael Parks is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) through Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Michael completed his certification in 2021, and re-certified in 2024, demonstrating his photography expertise through a rigorous testing process and photographic demonstration and evaluation by PPA Master Photographers. In Charlotte NC, Michael is one of only four photographers with this prestigious designation.
Extended Family Pictures
Such a special evening celebrating a wonderful grandmother and grandfather and extended family with a casual backyard portrait session in the Southpark neighborhood of Charlotte NC by Charlotte wedding and portrait photographer Michael Parks.
Mountain Winter Wedding
Romantic winter wedding by Charlotte wedding photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography in Charlotte NC. Ainslee and Kale’s wedding at The Eighty-Four was on a crisp December day with blue skies and wide open fields surrounding the property. A beautiful bride, a handsome groom, and lots of close family and friends made this a wonderful wedding to photograph!
Family Photos in Myers Park
Fall family photos in the Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte NC by family photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography. What a fun family session this was with cool weather, autumn colors, and wide open spaces to ourselves. We personalized this shoot to be full of candid poses and a fun environment for kids to capture authentic expressions of one great family!
Engagement Pictures at Pine Island CC
A lovely late fall engagement session at Pine Island Country Club in Charlotte NC. Pine Island has a beautiful clubhouse, which was the setting for the start of the engagement photos. We personalized this couple’s session to match their interests with a surprise bottle of champagne and heading out in golf carts onto the golf course at sunset.
It was awesome getting to know these two before I photograph their wedding at Pine Island the following year. Photographed by Charlotte wedding photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
Family Photos at Quail Hollow Club
Family pictures at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte NC by Certified Professional Photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
A beautiful fall evening with these members, enjoying the Quail Hollow clubhouse and sunset overlooking beautiful golf course. This family of five wore great coordinating fall outfits with creams, browns, and blacks that complimented the clubhouse and grounds.
Myers Park Engagement Session
The fall leaves were peaking at this autumn engagement session in the Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte NC. I help personalize every session and location to match the couple’s unique interests, so we choose this wooded park to show off their fall outfits with cowboy boots. And we got lucky with perfect fall weather and leaves in full color.
It was so great getting to know these two before I photograph their wedding at Quail Hollow Club next year. Photographed by Charlotte wedding photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
Family Photos at Duke Mansion
Family pictures at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte NC by Certified Professional Photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
A beautiful evening at Charlotte’s most historic icon in the Myers Park neighborhood.
Senior Pictures at Duke Mansion
Senior Pictures at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte NC by Certified Professional Photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
A beautiful evening at Charlotte’s most historic icon in its Myers Park neighborhood with twin girls as they celebrate their senior years in high school.
Family Pictures at the Mint Museum
Outdoor Family Pictures at the Mint Museum in Charlotte NC by Family Photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography. The shoot was full of candid poses and a fun environment to capture authentic expressions of one my favorite families.
Charlotte Studio Portrait Session
Editorial studio portrait session at VAPA (Visual And Performing Arts) with model Lauren McDowell, photographed by Charlotte Studio Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
Family Pictures at Carmel Country Club
Outdoor Family Pictures at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte NC by Certified Professional Photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
Engagement Photos at Queens’ Belk Chapel
Fun sunset engagement session at Queens University in the Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte NC. This couple’s candid, fun vibe made for a great photo session, and it was awesome to get to know them better before their wedding at Queen’s Belk Chapel next year. Photographed by Charlotte wedding photographer Michael Parks, owner of ParksPictures Photography.
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