For most people, Labor Day just means a nice long weekend. For our friends, Labor Day has become sacred. It’s the weekend we’ve all committed to reunite, near or far, at our sweet friend Caroline’s house on Lake Norman. For the last six years, Caro’s mom has hosted our growing friend group. I’ve only been the last three years, and each year it’s a weekend I look forward to with an incredible amount of anticipation. This year it fell on my birthday, so it was just about the best ever. From start to finish, lake weekend smells of sunscreen and tastes of Blue Moon. It’s tangled hair after going out on the boat and scraped elbows from clinging for your life on the tube. It’s going to bed late after rich conversations and dance parties, but still waking up early to watch the sunrise.  I treasure the time I get to spend with these incredible people that are more family than friends. These are people who stood by us on our wedding day and convinced us to climb buildings at UNC the weeks leading up to graduation. They’ve been used by the Lord to draw us closer to Him and encourage us in times of doubt or hardship. We’ve hosted them and they’ve hosted us. They’ll be uncles and aunts to our children, and I just have to say that one of my greatest dreams is that the Broughman’s future child marries me and Brendan’s future child. I would literally die of happiness. I love everyone in these pictures (and the ones who avoided my lens as well :)) and know that these are people I can call lifetime friends.

I always take pictures of lake weekend, but this year I only brought my little 35mm film Canon. All these images were shot on Portra 400 and scanned by PhotoVision. I’m in love with them to say the least, and can’t wait until next year!

Next year I am determined to try this picture again. It still rocks, though.

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Emily is a destination wedding photographer. She loves natural light and is available to travel worldwide.