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.

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.

Fisher Wealth Management is a Burlington, NC  based financial advisory team lead by Rick Fisher. They manage retirement savings, college savings, investment accounts and more for their clientele. Exum Photography is one their clients and FWM is one of our clients.  The Fisher Wealth team is on the  Exum Photography Christmas card list receiving our zany Exum family Christmas card every holiday season. Years ago, Rick asked if we would create a custom birthday greeting card they could send to Fisher Wealth clients … something fun and memorable like our holiday cards. With that request, an era of creative birthday greeting card photography began. Our first concept entitled “Hope You Have a Blast!” featured their team crowded around a giant birthday cake with a single sizzling stick of dynamite. The card opened and the dynamite candle had exploded spreading cake innards and frosting all over the staff. The cards have become a unique conversation piece that have helped build rapport between the staff and clients at Fisher Wealth. They help keep their referral business strong with a funny and memorable marketing mailer. After the exploding birthday cake, the next year we created a Happy Days cast, followed by the Rat Pack, then a nod to the movie Saturday Night Fever, The Brady Bunch. Our last card just finished its year of circulation is “Born to Be Wild”. Photography by Steve Exum, Card design by Kelsey Flowers, Costume Design by Steve Exum and Kelsey Flowers. Hair and Make-up by Herita Jones and Jennifer McCollom.

Yosemite Valley is one of the Top 37 parks to Visit Before You Die