Duane Cochran is a North Carolina based wedding, event, and portrait photographer. He serves the Outer Banks Beaches, Charlotte, Pinehurst and Raleigh areas as well as other destinations. Thank you for visiting!
This was the first time I have been able to shoot inside Richmond Senior High School. Susannah and Kyle met each other and became a couple here. It was pretty awesome to photograph their engagement photos at the school. A sincere thanks to Principal Mckenzie for allowing us access to the school.
I’ve been wanting to shoot portraits by the lockers for quite some time.
Seniors have the chance to paint the tiles on the ceiling of classrooms. The room we staged our gear and wardrobe just happened to have Susannah’s painted tile. It’s the NC State one just above their heads.
Thanks to you both. Looking forward to the ceremony!
Ashley and Josh won a free engagement session from me when they attended the Piedmont Bridal Show held at the Cole Auditorium in Hamlet, NC. I was a bit nervous due to both being photographers themselves. We hung out at Hinson Lake for a bit and had a swell time.
I really dig this area of the lake because of the back lighting.
I absolutely love walking shots.
It was great working with you both. Congratulations on your engagement!
Casey, David and myself had two engagement sessions in Hamlet. We shot some images for their “Save The Date” annoucement, some individual portraits, as well as their couples shots. These sessions are really awesome when both are as excited about shooting as I am.
I really love this bridge across the street from the train depot.
We had only moments to get these neat shadows while in the train depot.
No fiances were harmed in the making of this image.
Thanks Mother Nature for the wind!
This car belongs to David’s grandfather. A big thanks to him for letting us play with it.
Thanks to you both. Looking forward to the ceremony!
For those of you who have had wedding consultations with me, the subject of the Preview Book has always come up. If my client opts to receive one, they will receive every image I shoot for them in this awesome 13×11 inch hardcover book.
Every aspect of a wedding service is broken down into sections. This book is from Hanna and Corey’s wedding in the Outer Banks. It sports a full-bleed image on the front along with an image of their ceremony location on the back. The spine contains their names and event dates while the images inside have been broken down into sections. The book begins with The Rehearsal, and continues with The Ceremony. Then we have The Reception and finally The Photo Booth.
The outer images of the preview book are printed on a dust cover. The inside flaps contain images (usually of the bride and groom) along with a listing of all events shot by Duane Cochran. The events are listed by date and the locations are listed as well.
Each page holds either six or nine images depending on the total amount of images shot. This is essentially a proof book. However I wanted it to surpass the look and feel of a proof book to make it more of a keepsake. Most books will look like the one above. However, in some circumstances there will be differences in regards to the above book. It depends on the amount of images and events. Clients will be given the chance to approve the design before going to print.
This was my first time working with Natalie. She has posed before and was very comfortable with things. I found out at the end that she is a former cheerleader and dancer. That being the case, I am sure she will be posted on this blog again in the future. I have a few dance images I want to try out.
Both of us braved LOTS of mosquitoes for this image. I’m glad we did!
I tried to back light Natalie as much as possible. Her hair is amazing when lit properly.
A little bit of Jessica Rabbit here!
Thanks Natalie! I hope we get to play together again. -duane
There just isn’t enough light in a day when it comes to working with Brandi and Chris. Both are photographers themselves. If the sun had not set, I could have kept shooting. They are such a joy to work with, that it doesn’t seem like work. I was honored when I was asked to capture their day. Anytime another photographer hires me, I feel especially grateful.
This was my first shoot in Bennettsville, SC. I do not get this way often. I was amazed at the photogenic locations to be had. Marci, Ben, and I had much fun shooting in and around this historic home across the street from their wedding site.
This was a favorite of ours. It was printed on canvas and gifted to Marci and Ben.
Marci is quite adorable with those boots!
The colorful landscaping at the house made for striking background colors.
We were allowed to go into the attic of the house. It made for great window lighting!
There is an old barn type building in the back. Structures like this make for great black and white images.
We ended the session by going to the church across the street and playing on the swings!
Thanks so much to Marci and Ben for choosing me as their photographer. I will have their wedding images up soon!
I wanted to post these the night Jennifer and I took them. I loved them so much! It was during this session I started doing slightly different things with posing. Thanks Jennifer for indulging me!
This is one of my favorite images of Jennifer. I appreciate how her dress lays as well as the background of the Leak Wall garden.
I don't shoot too much inside the Leak Wall House. However I really like this yellow couch!
Thanks "Mom" for your help with Jennifer's images!
Today I was looking to go in and out of Family Dollar quickly as I had an appointment coming up. A gentleman outside the store caught my eye and ears while there. His name is Mr. Heersma. He was playing a Yamaha keyboard for tips. I did not have long to speak with him. Luckily I had my camera and his permission to photograph him. He said he plays gospel and many popular tunes on his keyboard. He was accompanied by his dog, Number Seven. Interesting name, huh?
Mr. Heersma is from New Jersey. Unfortunately I was not able to spend more time with him.
I was with Mr. Heersma for less than 10 minutes. During that time he had more than a handful of donators.
This is Mr. Heersma's dog. He named the doggie Number Seven. I wasn't there long enough to find out the origin of the name.
Another image of Number Seven. He looked quite tired to me.
This is Mr. Heersma's dinner along with a playlist of songs he had written on a cigarette package.
His notebook of music. At first I did not recognize the image of The Carpenter's on it.
These hands must have been through a lot. He told me he has been playing for tip money in the Richmond County area for more than a year.
Mr. Heersma
How nice of Family Dollar to allow him a space to play for money.
