As we gather to celebrate this holiday season, it is our wish that we open our hearts and act on behalf of our Western North Carolina neighbors who have lost family, friends, homes, and livelihoods. Many are sleeping in tents as I write this and are struggling to make sense of their lives turned upside down by Hurricane Helene. The destruction to life and property was catastrophic. Rebuilding will take time and help from all of us. Hoping this post will inspire you to give money or time in the coming new year.
THE CAMERA
“The Camera” is a drawing by Asheville, NC multidisciplinary artist Kira Bursky. It is part of a Hurricane Helene collection of black and white prints Kira created as a way of processing her emotions after witnessing so much destruction. Some of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork will be donated to ongoing flood relief efforts. I was inspired by “The Camera” because to me it represents the power photography has to touch us emotionally and move us to action. Kira graciously agreed to allow us to use her work in collaboration for our studio holiday card. For more information about this collection, visit www.allaroundartsyfashion.com/collections/hurricane-helene-art-prints
MORGANTON, NC
On September 27, 2024 Class 4 Hurricane Helene came ashore from the Gulf of Mexico striking the pan handle of Florida and quickly raking north through George, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee dumping as much as 30 inches of rain in some areas. Massive flooding in the mountainous regions of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee knocked out power, cell phone signals and made roads impassable isolating residents for weeks after the storm. The flooding was biblical and the damage record breaking. On September 28, muddy flood waters of the Catawba River overflowed its banks submerging parts of Morganton, NC. Flooding, mudslides and massive wind damage affected more than 26 of 100 counties in North Carolina alone. Photography by Steve Exum
Here is a list of legitimate organizations providing relief to Western North Carolina.
Project Your Home is a Marion, NC based relief organization focused on building shelters for people who have lost their homes as a result of the flooding from Hurricane Helene. It is a local organization run by friends, employees and neighbors of Camping World in Marion.
Rebuilding Hollers is lead by local realtors and builders Stephanie and Tyler Johnson. Rebuilding Hollers is partnering with a company out of Wilmington, NC called Build Construx that specializes in building houses quickly that require minimal skilled labor. The frames of their houses can be assembled by a small crew with limited skills in less than 6 days. They assemble very much like legos. The website is accepting donations and requests for help in areas around Burnsville, NC.
Camp Harmony is a donation and volunteer site between Burnsville and Spruce Pine off Highway 19E sponsored by a larger relief organization called Onsite Relief. If you click on the link called “VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES” you will see specific locations, names, and phone #’s to contact about how you can help. You can find a sign up sheet for work at Camp Harmony for the “Base Camp” at this specific link – https://onsiterelief.org/base-camp-sign-up/
Catawba Riverkeeper is a volunteer conservation organization focused on cleaning up waterways. Click on the link and sign up for ongoing projects to clean up lakes and rivers in need. Clean up will take years.
Oldforthelp.org and appalachianrebuildproject.org are both good resources to find ways to help, to contribute money and request help if in need.
The Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) Foundation is collecting donations and giving matching grants providing recovery relief as cash donations to people in affected areas that Airstream Owners have always visited in the North Carolina mountains. Flood victims can apply for relief here, too. www.wbccifoundation.org
Asheville Creative Arts is an Asheville-based arts and arts service organization, providing high quality, professional theatre, performance, and arts experiences to Asheville audiences of all ages, and offering fiscal sponsorship and related services to sibling social enterprises and arts nonprofits serving Asheville and Western North Carolina. Click on this link to give financial support to help rebuild WNC. https://ashevillecreativearts.org/donate-to-swannanoa-communities-together/
An art exhibit & pop-up shop called Liars Loft will open on December 16, 2024 next to the Liar’s Bench Sandwich shop in downtown Lansing, NC and will be open throughout the winter with an exhibit featuring artwork and photography related to Hurricane Helene. The gallery will provide artists affected by the storm a platform to showcase and sell their work. This is an opportunity to support local artists, as well as raise funds for families and nonprofits in need. The space will also feature pop-up shops just in time for holiday shopping. Construction on the gallery is already underway, and they are looking for volunteers to help bring this project to life! The gallery is located at 144 S. Big Horse Creek, Lansing, NC (336) 384-1900
The following is a collection of some of my most impactful photographs of the devastation taken within days and weeks of Hurricane Helene.
OLD FORT
Old Fort, North Carolina – Oct, 5, 2024 – Rodney Stevens, Jr. stands in front of his flooded trailer in Old Fort, NC a week after Hurricane Helene rains brought flash flooding. Stevens’ lost 3 vehicles, his trailer, and 3 storage buildings.
SPRUCE PINE
Source Pine, North Carolina – Oct, 4, 2024 – A handwritten note on a barber chair surrounded by mud in Mark’s Barber Shop reads “Do Not Throw Away.”
Spruce Pine, North Carolina – Oct, 4, 2024 – Shop owner David Nevin shovels mud out of DT’s Coffee Shop in the downtown Wily building.
MICAVILLE
Micaville, North Carolina – Oct, 4, 2024 – Flooding waters of the North Toe River wrapped a truck and debris around a telephone pole in Micaville near Highway 19E.
LITTLE SWITZERLAND
Little Switzerland, North Carolina October 6, 2024 – A road crew works to repair a hairpin curve washed out from a mudslide on NC Highway 226 after flooding from Hurricane Helene.
MARSHALL
Marshall, North Carolina – October 4, 2024 – Rescue volunteers float the French Broad River near Marshall, NC in search of flood victims.
OLD FORT
Old Fort, North Carolina – Oct, 5, 2024 – Volunteer Jonas Maloy of Nebo, NC cleans mud out of a crawl space under the Lankford house.
SWANNANOA
Swannanoa, North Carolina – Oct, 5, 2024 – A hole in the roof reveals how residents escaped catastrophic flooding on Edwards Avenue.
Swannanoa, North Carolina – Oct, 5, 2024 – Beacon Village neighborhood hero, John Ardt, worked with his neighbor, Rob, in 2 separate kayaks to rescue more than 20 residents and many of their pets ferrying them from rooftops to safety on the day of the flood in Swannanoa. John and Rob broke through 2 roofs to help residents escape from their attics on Edwards Avenue.
Swannanoa, North Carolina – Oct, 5, 2024 – A sign that reads, “Warning Dangerous Waters” sits propped against a mailbox in front of piles of ruined personal belongings outside 142 Edwards Avenue
BROAD RIVER TOWNSHIP
Black Mountain, North Carolina- Oct 6, 2024 – Cars remain stranded in the mud at the home of Matthew “Chew” Thomas off NC Highway 9 in the Broad River Township. This spot is just one of many areas where the roadway has been partially washed out. The area was cut off from power with limited road access for over a week after Hurricane Helene brought torrential rains on Sept 27, 2024
Black Mountain, North Carolina- Oct 6, 2024 – Matthew “Chew” Thomas, his son Jackson and friend repair plumbing in their basement after flood waters from the Broad River just missed the first floor of their home on NC Highway 9 south of Black Mountain.
Black Mountain, North Carolina- Oct 6, 2024 – A man inspects a truck teetering on a wall next to the Broad River, where a house has washed down behind it. The truck and house are casualties of flash flooding from Hurricane Helene just off NC Highway 9 north of Chimney Rock.
Black Mountain, North Carolina- Oct 6, 2024 – Residents on Lower Flat Creek Road were completely cut off from Highway 9 when a bridge over the Broad River was washed out from flooding. Highway 9 is their only access road out of their mountainous area north of Bat Cave and Chimney Rock. Ropes connect either side of the Broad River where residents used paddle boards and kayaks to ferry themselves back and forth.
Exum Photography and Fisher Wealth Management came together in a match made in pirate heaven, conjuring up a birthday card idea that’s more treasure map than greeting card. Steve Exum and Rick Fisher, the creative captains of this ship, charted a course straight to the heart of art, recruiting Rob Edwards from Prairie Dog Productions to bring their vision to life. At Fisher Wealth and Exum Photography, we’ve turned the art of birthday card creation into a yearly tradition. It’s our unique way of helping Fisher Wealth tickle their clients’ funny bone and a crafty way to help FWM stay connected to their treasured clientele.
Edwards created the black-and-white mock-up illustration as the beginning of our treasure seeking trip. The sketch was given a hearty ‘aye-aye’ by Captain Richard Fisher with the addition of pirate-themed gear and props, courtesy of the Fisher Wealth crew. The final touch? Makeup artists Herita Jones and Jennifer McCollom, who proved that a touch of pirate-inspired makeup magic is all it takes to push a photo from ‘argh’ to ‘awesome’. And voila, we present the pièce de résistance, the grand finale – the stunning artwork for the card’s innards!
To understand the how, know that it was our captain of the lens, Steve Exum from Exum Photography, who didn’t just walk the plank, he led the Fisher Wealth crew all the way through pirate shoot. Each buccaneer was snapped in their finest sea roving attire, under lighting that transported everyone right onto the deck of a pirate ship.
Click here to view a quick behind the scenes short of the photo shoot featuring Logan Sharpe of the Fisher Wealth team
Then, our images were whisked away to a Photoshop treasure island by graphic designer Rodney Hogan for some Photoshop enhancing magic. Next, illustrator Rob Edwards took the helm, skillfully steering these images into an animated pirate boat scene. It was like watching a treasure map come to life. Ahoy matey!
Many thanks to Fisher Wealth Management for being creative mates in this annual endeavor. The team at FWM works to provide the very best investment, retirement, insurance, education and estate planning. Located in Burlington, NC the Fisher Wealth team puts clients interests first and takes a holistic approach to financial planning. With the largest in-house team of independent brokers/dealers, they work to select only the best investments for their clients.
Thank you for your continued support and friendship. We hope you enjoy this client spotlight and keep a check on our website and blog in the coming year.
Merry Christmas from Obi & Cooper
How it Came to be that Cooper & Obi are the Stars of the 23rd Annual Exum Family Christmas Card
Long story short, they’re easy & bring our family so much joy! And honestly, that’s what we needed this year— more ease & more joy.
You see, we almost didn’t send out a family card this year. With Bella working in Spain & Sawyer busy in school at NC State, we weren’t sure how, or if, we were going to pull off a Christmas card —not one we could all agree on anyway. It just wasn’t logistically possible unless we photoshopped everyone in, and we ALL agreed we wouldn’t do that again after we had a stand-in model for Bella one year (guess which card?!).
After weeks of going over every idea we could think of, Steve & I came up with what we thought would be a perfect & easy solution-send out a card featuring one of Steve’s fine art photography images. Yes! Well, Bella & Sawyer weren’t ready to give up just yet. They wanted to keep the tradition alive for at least one more year. What?! We didn’t expect that reaction & I’m telling you our hearts grew three sizes that day. Then Bella offered the idea of doing a collage of our past Christmas cards which we all loved! I mean, if this happens to be the last year, a retrospective is, well, beautiful. Steve wanted to add something fun & different, but he also knew he didn’t have time in his schedule to produce a big shoot. I’ve been offering the “ugly Christmas sweater” photo idea for years, but Steve had never bought into it before. Too easy. Too cliche. Then it hit me, the dogs!
Unlike our human children, Cooper & Obi were available. They’re pretty well-trained & will do almost anything for an extra pat or treat. They listen, always agree with us & just want to be near us. Perfect!
We told ourselves we didn’t have time & it would be too difficult, but that’s not the full truth. The truth is we were looking for ease & joy, & thankfully, we found it. May we all continue to seek & find more ease & joy this holiday season.
Merry Christmas from The Exums
Obi & Cooper
Bella, Sawyer, Steve & Molly
CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW TO WATCH A 23 YEAR EXUM HOLIDAY CARD RETROSPECTIVE
The Empty Nest
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Empty Nesters, Molly & Steve, along with Cooper & Obi, Bella who is a 3rd year at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona & Sawyer who just completed a semester studying in Hawaii & will attend NC State in January!
By Molly Exum
Approaching empty nesting was the hard part. The grief & nostalgia for a family lifestyle that was coming to an end broke my heart some days because I loved every single second we shared under the same roof & in the same car & in the same time zone! Then the end actually came and we realized it was really a beginning. Sure, I want to hold my babies again & hear the pitter patter of their feet & pack them up in the car & just have them near me. At the same time, we’re so proud of their independence & sense of adventure. Bella and Sawyer’s stories are just beginning and Steve and I have a front row seat… if only virtual at times.
We’re thankful for each & every day we get to spend with family & friends & we’re especially thankful for time spent with Bella & Sawyer (super thankful for FaceTime too!).
Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season surrounded by the ones you love!
Bella in Sitges, Spain 
Sawyer in Hawaii 
Molly’s behind the scenes 2022 Christmas card pitch video sent to Bella & Sawyer.
Molly Exum – Copy Writer
Steve Exum – Photographer
Sawyer Exum – Surfer
Bella Exum – Dancer
Cooper Exum – Beach Bum Pup
Obi Exum – Beach Bum Pup
Rodney Hogan & Rob Edwards – Card Designers
Thank you for your continued support and friendship. We hope you enjoy the Exum Family Christmas card and keep a check on our website and blog in the coming year.
Christmas Tree in Roaring Gap
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
By Molly Exum
Feeling a little nostalgic like many of us do this time of year as I look back at Christmases past and remember the excitement of Christmas mornings with little ones, cherished traditions that live on and ones we’ve had to let go, loved ones we’ve lost and the many blessings of each Christmas Season. I’ve loved every minute of every stage of our children’s lives and remaking our 2008 Christmas Card was not just a reminder of all the precious memories behind us but also a joyful glimpse into the next stage of our lives with adult children—a reminder to live in the present with open hearts and open minds as we make new memories and new traditions. Bella and Sawyer were barely 6 & 4 years old the first time we bought a tree on a lot and drove it to the Blue Ridge Parkway where we then hiked it to the top of a mountain to make it look like we cut the tree down in the mountains all for a Christmas card photo. They are now 20 & 18 years old and a lot has changed. A few things remain the same though—they still go along with our crazy ideas, they still think we’re crazy and none of us would have it any other way.
May your Christmas Season be filled with joyful memories, old & new,
Molly, Steve, Bella & Sawyer Murphy & Cooper
Original photograph by Joey Seawell shot in December 2008 when Bella was 4 and Sawyer was 6 near Roaring Gap at Doughton Park off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Molly Exum – Copy Writer, Tree Carrier
Steve Exum – Tree Carrier w/Axe
Sawyer Exum – Walker
Bella Exum – Walker
Murphy Exum – Runner
Cooper Exum – Runner
Joey Seawell – Photographer
Rodney Hogan – Card Designer
Llorenҫ Fernández Güell – Assistant in Spirit
Murphy has been with us for nearly 13 years and always a super active dog. In late August he was diagnosed with nasal cancer and the tumor has taken it s toll. It’s Christmas Day and as we write this email he is still with us thankfully. Getting Murphy to our shooting location on a mountain top off the Blue Ridge Parkway required the little blue wagon on loan from our neighbor. (Thank you Lori Frank, and all our neighbors that offered their wagons when we were in need: Joel and Dana Martin, John Falker, Andrea Saurage and Mitch & Denise Jacob)
Many, many thanks to Joey Seawell for not only taking the original photo but for coming back for the redo 14 years later. Thank you for your continued support and friendship. We hope you enjoy the Exum Family Christmas card and keep a check on our website and blog in the coming year.
Exum Photography was responsible for the off-model photography for a spring mailer. This catalog features multiple spreads with a lifestyle shot of a model next to a studio product-only shot of their clothing professional styled and lit by Exum Photography. While the models worked on a photo shoot in Bermuda we created our lay flat scenes with Bermuda inspired colors and props. I especially like the shot of bathing suits lying across a borrowed surfboard donated by my friend and Broughton High School 1988 classmate Wes Craft of Custom Craft Surfboards If you are in the market for a custom surfboard reach out to Wes. To see more samples of similar work please check out the Apparel Photography services page.
Great product photography of clothing helps sell great clothing brands. Johnnie-O appreciates the impact of professionally styled lay flat clothing photography alongside inspirational lifestyle shots of models wearing their brand. Exum Photography was responsible for the off-model and some select on-model photography for Johnnie-O’s latest summer and spring mailers. This catalog features multiple spreads with a studio-product-only shot of their clothing professional styled and lit by Exum Photography, next to a lifestyle shot of a model. Our studio partners with talented apparel stylists who understand the nuanced skill of styling for lay flat clothing photography. We created our flat lay scenes with bright yet relaxed California-inspired colors and props, designed to complement the models’ photo shoot in California. One of our favorite shots was when AstroTurf and golf accessories were laid behind the clothes to emulate a putting green! To see more samples of similar work please check out the Apparel Photography services page.
Commercial photography studio Exum Photography partnered with this clothing brand out of South Carolina to produce the studio product photography to create a holiday catalog. The catalog features roughly a dozen spreads with a lifestyle shot of a model next to a studio product-only shot. Commercial photographer Steve Exum and his team partner with talented apparel stylists who understand the nuanced skill of stying for lay flat and tabletop clothing photography. The studio is located in Elon, North Carolina between Raleigh and Greensboro. To see samples of similar work please check out the Apparel Photography services page.
Putting 2020 in the Rear View Mirror
Merry Christmas and a Hopeful New Year
By Molly Exum
2020 has been hard for all of us — full of pain & loss for so many of our friends & family. My Dad passed away January 4, 2020. We lost one of my Mom’s younger brothers, our beloved Uncle David, in October. We haven’t been able to gather, visit, grieve, worship or celebrate together. And while we yearn to be together again, our current political climate seems to distance us even further. It has been gut-wrenching & heartbreaking. I miss hugging & traveling & potlucks. I miss the very idea of going to a sold out concert, musical or football game. I. Miss. All. The. Things. I miss truth & civil discourse. I miss compassionate leaders who welcome different voices, opinions & ideas & who know that freedom of the press is the lifeblood of a democracy. We all miss Papa & Uncle David. We are all weary.
But when I take a moment to look closely, I see so much good in the world. I see people putting aside their political disagreements & working together to help neighbors who have lost their jobs or their homes, to help a mom pay for internet so her children can attend school via zoom & to help families during Christmastime. I see God at work. I’m thankful for the extra time Steve, Bella, Sawyer, Murphy & our new puppy, Cooper, have been able to spend together at home. I’m hopeful & grateful for each new sunrise. And I will forever be thankful for those working on the frontlines who put others before themselves every single day.
God bless you all & may we all enter 2021 with a thrill of hope & open hearts full of joy, gratitude & goodwill. We’re all in this together.
Merry Christmas from Molly, Steve, Bella, Sawyer, Murphy & Cooper
Molly Exum – Family Wrangler
Sawyer Exum – TP Tosser
Bella Exum – Filmmaker
Steve Exum – Photographer & Jeep Wrangler
Murphy Exum – Co-pilot
Cooper Exum – Co-Co-pilot
Rodney Hogan – Assistant Photographer
Rob Edwards – Illustrator
Bella Martin -Body Double
Rafe Grimball – Assistant
Oscar Vital – Assistant
Nell Geer – Assistant
Thank you to Carl Wilburn for loaning us the 1984 Jeep CJ7
This year we wanted to produce a card that encompassed much of 2020 visually, was hopeful for the future and inspiring. The card is truthful and meaningful to us while maintaining a quirky zanniness that is very Exum. Our team at Exum Photography wishes you peace, joy and prosperity throughout the coming year. Thank you for your continued support and friendship. We hope you enjoy the Exum Family Christmas card and keep a check on our website and blog in the coming year.