When Mabry was born, the doctor who delivered her asked what we were going to name her. I suppose that in my weakened and teary-eyed state, I wasn’t very understandable. Because when I said “Mabry” (May-bree), he thought I said “Mayberry” (which I found rather hysterical, since we were in North Carolina and all). But alas, as much as I love The Andy Griffith Show, I wasn’t about to name my only daughter after it’s fair town. But the word stuck as a nick-name… and I actually think we call her that more than her real one! She’s a quirky, fun little four year old… and so it’s only right that her nickname be cute and silly, too. Here she is at her finest.

Unique spaces for interesting businesses
Savvy retailers turning to historic buildings for space

By VANESSA CLARKE SHORTLEY
Staff Writer

Drive down Queen Street in downtown Kinston and it’s hard to miss Melanie and Jeff Mansfield’s photography studio. The business, called Portraiture by Melanie, is located in a grand building with an iconic silver dome, the former home of First Citizens Bank. For Melanie Mansfield, having a business in a space with a history was as important as having her business in an easily recognizable building.

“Well, we wanted something unique and the silver dome on top is very identifiable,” she said. “… We’re a unique photography studio and we needed the space to reflect that same spirit of uniqueness.” Adrian King, director of the Pride of Kinston, said there are several buildings downtown that have been converted into interesting business space — while many others have such a potential. He noted the old bank building now home to Mansfield’s business — along with several others — “just aches to be turned into condominiums.”

“We slowly but surely are re-doing a lot of downtown,” he said. It’s a revitalization that’s doing a lot for those businesses that chose to relocate or open in an historic location. According to Mansfield, who moved to the Queen Street location in January, “business pretty much tripled. At this point, right now we’re booked for our children and family portrait shoots until May of ‘09,” Mansfield said. “Up until this move, we were still booking weekly.”

Previously, the couple, who do weddings as well as portraits, worked out of an apartment in their backyard. Mansfield said moving the business off their property added a certain professionalism. Mansfield, who grew up in historic Natchez, Miss., said investing in and revitalizing a previously booming downtown is extremely important. In her hometown, she said people would just use their Saturdays to explore their own city. “I don’t think anything jolts an economy more than having a thriving downtown,” she said. “But unless you look like you’re thriving, people aren’t going to want to come here.”

And that’s just what organizations like King’s Pride of Kinston are trying to rectify. King said the CSS Neuse Information Center, a $3.5 million project just in the first phase, could bring that jolt Mansfield described. “That’s going to be, in a sense, as transformational for that area of Queen Street as Spirit (Aero-Systems) is for the whole region,” he said.

Melanie’s Note: Okay, so I grew up in Cleveland, MS and my DAD is in Natchez… but I was born there, moved away when I was almost three, and then lived there again my junior year in high school. It was just easier to say “where I grew up” than to explain all of that. I’m not denying Cleveland!

This wedding had one of my FAVORITE stories! I was outside scouting locations for formals and found this huge, old tree that just SCREAMED to be used (and I’m not typically a tree person!). So I walked over to make sure the ground wasn’t too muddy… and that’s when I saw it. Carved there into the trunk was “A♥D”. I thought, “How sweet! Duke came out and engraved their love into a tree!” (hush… you know what I mean). Only, when I told him about it, he was totally in the dark. So I was like, “Okay… ASHLEY did it!” (though not quite as romantic as if the husband thinks of it himself!). But when I told Ashley about it, she was just as clueless! No one knows where it came from! But there it was… ready for a photo op and its mark made in history.

I’m also choosing this post to admit something… I love bustles. I think they’re so neat looking! I typically love long trains more when they’re pulled up and secured in place. There’s just nothing more textured and demensional than a bustled dress. And Ashley’s was one of my favorite. I know she thought I was NUTS when I kept telling her to turn around. I really loved the puffs and layers! I dare you to disagree! This was one of my favorite shots from the day… bustle and all.

Okay… I can’t even play all cool about this. Her magazine (Greenville, NC) has an intern that’s chronicling the planning of her wedding and this month’s column is about… ME!!! Did you squeal?? Cause I did! In fact, hold on while I do it again!!! Okay… I’m calmer now. Does this bring my level of professionalism down? I bet it does. But maybe the article will balance out my giddiness.

Thank you, Katie (October 4th Bride), for pointing it out to me!! And thank you LAUREN for all of the super nice things you said! I’m always excited to find a bride who “gets” what we do and what we offer. Your wedding day will be even MORE spectacular because the mindset around the day is of utmost importance when it comes to pulling everything else together. Here’s to a great team effort!

Read the story here!

Or pick up a copy and I’ll autograph it for you! JUST KIDDING!!! (kinda)

I wanted to take some “serious” pictures of the kids. Just to showcase their faces at the ages they’re at right now. It’s amazing how, when you take away the goofy grins and the silly expressions, you’re left with a shocking sense that they’re WAY TOO GROWN UP!!! I may never recover.

People joke about Jeff and me not having any free time during the summer. And it’s totally true. But we still try to stay connected to the outside world here and there. In a few weeks, our church is hosting Vacation Bible School and I’m one of the primary leaders for that program. Like any church, it’s sometimes difficult to find grown-ups that have the time to volunteer to help out four nights in a row. I had an idea to do a video promo to showcase our need. Once I got the okay from the staff, I wrote up a script and took the kids out for a Family Day of shooting. Below is the final cut… proof that I need to stay a photographer… proof that my boys are good sports.

I just can’t tell you how happy I was to be shooting this wedding! Bobby and Rachael are amazing people. Of course, Jeff knew that about Bobby already, since they grew up together. But neither of us had met Rachael and we discovered how great they were TOGETHER. Is that too sappy? I don’t care! The wedding was intimate and small… everyone there not only knew them well, but loved them dearly. I love weddings like that!

Afterwards, they had a stretch hummer rented for three whole hours and we got to drive around Nashville and take pictures at some of the coolest sites!! Most of the wedding party was with us, so one of those hours was spent eating dinner at the Mellow Mushroom… you can bet the camera didn’t shut down there! Water gun fights and lots of laughter kept the food in second place to moments of fun. It was just a grand day all around. Below are my favorites!!!

Seriously, does it get any better than that moon shot? *sigh*

We have a wedding this weekend in Nashville, TN and will be leaving tomorrow morning (Thursday) and coming back in on Sunday. We learned the hard way, back with one of our Seattle weddings, that you never fly in the day before an event… delays and cancellations could kill your plans! And so if all goes well, Jeff and I will be able to have a little free time to rest and unwind with a couple of dear friends who live in the area (Big Parker!!! Haley!!!). I’m so excited! There’s supposed to be an awesome 4th of July display of fireworks downtown… FUN! See y’all next week!