Spotlight – Nathan Abplanalp

The Cookie Cult

September 18, 2015 No Comments

Working with Jessie, of The Cookie Cult, was a highlight of this year. She is so open to crazy ideas and brings her own to the table as well. This collaborative shoot was inspired not only by the name of her company but by the very passion and fanciful quirkiness that she brings to her baked goods. With models, props, open minds and a bunch of cookies, we set out to make a collection of images that blends both the immediate stereotypes of the word “cult” with the whit and whimsy of a company and leader who does not lack humor in their image. You can say she is mad about cookies and let me tell you, she will make you mad as well. Her baking prowess and image that she has created has made her one to watch in Charlotte and the Carolinas.

Website: thecookiecult.com
Twitter: @thecookiecult
Instagram: thecookiecult

The Cookie Cult box with a pocket watch in Charlotte NC

A teapot with glasses on with cookie and a sugar bowl for the Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Woman wearing cookie glasses for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Man looking out a door with cookie binoculars and a women with cookie glasses for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Man holding cookie binoculars for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Two grown men in small chairs sipping tea for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Woman with Cookie Magnify glass and cookie glass for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Two men with cookie monocles for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

A cookie bowtie and cookie glass for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

A plate of cookies for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

A pocket watch sitting in a cookie for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Cookies on a plate and a tea pot for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Woman with magnified filled with a cookie for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Group standing in the mist between two trees for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Girl standing with hands on hips with glasses on filled with cookies for The Cookie Cult in Charlotte NC

Professional, Spotlight, Vendor

The Cookie Cult

September 16, 2015 No Comments

The leader and master-mind of The Cookie Cult. Taking over the world one delectable edible at a time from her home base in Charlotte, NC. Pride, Passion, and perseverence pervade her baking and life. Become part of the movement and learn more over at The Cookie Cult.

Professional, Spotlight, Vendor

Cheesecake Etc.

July 3, 2015 No Comments

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down, photographing, and discussing business with Gail Buff of Cheesecake Etc. based out of Charlotte, NC. Gail has been in the business of crafting designer cakes for the discerning bride for over 17 years. Winning Wedding Wire’s Bride and Couple’s Choice awards every year since they began in 2009 and doing the same for the Knot since they began in 2007. With such a long standing presence in Charlotte and outstanding products to back it up it is no wonder she created 158 cakes last year.

Her primary clients are brides who want a cake that will be custom to them. Gail says that she does not ever want to make the same cake twice. We discussed how a bride might bring in a photo of a cake for inspiration and how Gail will dissect the components of the cake in order to find out what the bride really loves about it, then build something special for her based on her desires.

All of this customization and attention to detail is enhanced by the amount of hands on time that she spends with each bride. From day one to the day that the cake is delivered, she is there with the bride. When the bride sits down with her, they do the sketch, and talk about all the different details of what she wants, she is talking with the same person who will actually be decorating and baking that cake. Gail has a minimal staff and none of them even touch the cake as far as baking or decorating. She wants to make sure that each and every cake leaving her doors is up to her standard and exactly how she promised it would be.

Gail’s offerings include about 20 different flavors and cakes that can serve a few people to hundreds. There are an unlimited number of variations that a couple can choose from and they can be assured that each and every cake will be unique. A popular sized cake will typically serve 180-190 and has 4 tiers, scrollwork, flowers, or ribbon. More custom cakes would have cutout fondant lace or sugar flowers or bows or other minute details. Intricate cakes being Gail’s favorite to make.

When asked what she would tell a couple that is looking for a baker, Gail said that any bride looking for a baker, particularly a home baker, is to make sure that they are licensed and zone properly, health inspected and insured. Not just for peace of mind, but to make sure that you do not run into any violations with the venue that could upset a wedding.

Starting her business after moving to Charlotte from New York and working a successful corporate job was a gamble, but because of her history of cooking and baking stemming from an Italian heritage, she bet that she could make a passion into a business. 17 years later it seems to have worked.

Please visit Cheesecake Etc. at Cheesecake.biz or call at 704.509.2020

Portraits, Spotlight

Dan Myles

March 2, 2012 2 Comments

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Dan Myles is owner of Hoss Leather out of Chapel Hill, NC. He has been leather working since his early college days when he lived in Australia.

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Portraits, Spotlight

Community Spotlight: The Good Child’s Leather

February 29, 2012 No Comments

Our good friend Sarah Pohlig recently allowed me to photograph at her shared workshop in Chapel Hill, NC. Within the last couple months she has started The Good Child’s Leather to expand her passion for leather working. She learned everything she knows about leather from Dan Myles (Another blog post for him to follow).

The workshop is owned by Dan and she utilizes the space for her creations. “I love working with leather” she says “I love the feel of it, the smell, the long life and the history behind it. I would love to learn everything there is to know about leather working. The purpose of Good Child’s Leather is, currently, to make beautiful things. I sell bracelets and cuffs to afford more leather so that I can make more beautiful things.” Sarah says that she would have joined Dan in his business but she prefers the more feminine look where “delicacy meets durability”. “I like intricate and detailed, I like finished edges and the glisten of bridle leather, I love the dyes and stains, the different stitches, the hundred or so braids in Dan’s outback book. Currently I’m playing with the line between leather and jewelry.”

Sarah is excited that her work will be available at a new Carrboro market hosted by Erin Griffin from 10am to 5pm on April 14th. The market itself should run every second Saturday of each month, more details can be found here: http://www.carrborocraftmarket.com/index.html

Portraits, Spotlight

Community Spotlight: Phud Chambers

August 10, 2011 No Comments

Nathan Abplanalp - Charlotte Wedding Photographer

We are delighted to introduce our community spotlight for July! Meet Remedy Church and it’s pastor, John “Phud” Chambers. We have been attending Remedy Church in Rock Hill, SC for the past year. We aren’t quite sure where the nickname of “Phud” came from, that is the only way anyone knows who you are referring to at church!

Remedy Church is only two and a half years old, but Phud and his wife, Christie, have been dreaming about it for much longer. Phud was called to be a pastor in 2006, but he felt that God wanted him to do more than to lead at an existing church. He knew that he was meant to plant a church. That’s a lot of work, if you haven’t guessed! Planting a church requires people, open hearts, cooperation, money, space, planning, praying—a lot of faith. Phud and Christie began holding services in their own home in 2008 and the next year, Remedy was launched in the Baptist Ministry building on Winthrop campus. For nine months the fledgling congregation met at Winthrop, after which it finally moved to a place of its own. They now meet in downtown Rock Hill, in a renovated space devoted to the arts.

More interesting than the history of this young church is what they have become in their surrounding Rock Hill. The name Remedy references the healing of Christ for all people; that is what this church shows the people around them. They volunteer at local schools and gather school supplies for children who don’t have paper and pencils and backpacks. Members have created a community garden as well! There are different groups within the church who help in ways around the city as they feel called.

In addition to their busy schedules running a church, Phud and Christie have four beautiful and energetic children, Jaycie, Charis, Aiden and Mackalla.

Remedy is a young church, thrumming with life and passion. Simeon said, “I am waiting for the consolation of Israel.” The consolation is the healing of God’s chosen people and Remedy Church is doing God’s work.

www.remedychurch.org

Contributions: S. E. Pohlig

Music, Portraits, Spotlight

Spotlight: David Wimbish

April 19, 2011 No Comments

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This is David Wimbish. He is a musician who lives in the Greensboro area in North Carolina and is a good friend. It always seems to take too long before Rachel and I are able to spend a day with them. Several weeks ago though we were able to do just that. David is one of those guys that just oozes talent, his humble demeanor will never let you on to how talented he is. Every time we hang out I see more and more how deeply music runs in his soul. His music is all his own but the thing that astounds me about David is the fact that he will readily welcome someone into it. His band is called “The Collection” and it truly is that. A collection of people who all form together to create this work of art that is David’s music.

David & The Collection on Facebook

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Portraits, Spotlight, Video

Spotlight: Jim Pohlig

March 16, 2011 No Comments

Yesterday, Rachel and I visited with our friends, the Pohligs, in Waxhaw, NC. They live in a beautiful house tucked away in the woods. Recently they built a chapel to house Jim’s organ and Steinway piano. The piano dates back to 1913 and was rebuilt in Richmond, Virginia by Henry Dorflein around 1965. According to Jim, “Rebuilding in this case would mean a new soundboard and probably new action, and certainly a new pinblock–the very heavy, enormous beam of wood that holds all the tuning pins. Oh, and new strings, of course.”

The piano has much meaning for Jim beyond it’s aesthetic appeal. It has been in the family for over 40 years and still sounds and looks beautiful.

Jim Pohlig from Nathan Abplanalp on Vimeo.