If you’ve followed my blog for any time, you probably recognize this lovely lady. Lara is the editor-in-chief of Southern Weddings Magazine, founder of the Making Things Happen movement, creator of PowerSheets and an amazing mother to three sweet faces. Last fall, Smitten Magazine asked me to photograph her home for their first ever Lifestyle Issue, and I jumped at the chance! As you’ll quickly realize in this  post, Lara’s home is a DREAM to photograph in. I’ve done family, nursery and maternity pictures here and every time the light is clean, beautiful and bright. Continue reading below to find out more about Lara’s home inspiration and why her family loves living in Chapel Hill. Loved spending afternoon with you, sweet friend! Give all your little ones hugs and kisses from me :)

You can see Lara’s home here in Smitten Magazine!

Film Processing: PhotoVision

I grew up on Pensacola Beach, and have such wonderful memories of beach life as a young girl. Our home is in the woodsy farmland of Chapel Hill, NC, but inside these walls, we wanted to feel transported to the coast. So, everything you see is very simple and beach inspired. Now, let me start by answering a very frequently-asked question: How do you have white couches with kids!? Answer: Slipcovers! Most of our furniture is from Ikea and most of it can easily be thrown in the washer when a baby diaper explosion happens or we get dirty playtime feet on the couch. But, more than that, there is nothing in our house that we wouldn’t be okay with saying goodbye to. Our motto: You can’t take it to Heaven with you. We wanted everything to be okay for Grace to use and touch and experience (once she reached the age of not putting dangerous objects in her mouth all the time!). If it’s in our house, it needs to have a purpose, not just be there there because it’s pretty. Each print, photograph, and memento was intentionally chosen.

Something unique about our home is that the second story is my office! Inside you’ll find four busy ladies (and two who telecommute) working each day to make Southern Weddings magazine and the Lara Casey Shop come to life. Having a busy business and babies all under one roof can be a challenge at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. “The Ladies,” as Grace calls them, are a part of her every day life. They are incredible women that I am blessed to work alongside. I am grateful that Grace has them as role models. As a mom, being able to walk downstairs to feed the baby, or tend to toddler emotions, is something I don’t take for granted. I am very grateful to have a home-based business.

I am also grateful to live in such a quiet neighborhood in they beautiful city. We love our church family and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Chapel Hill is indeed home for now!

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