JULY 2020

BY BAMBI FAMOUS & FAMILY

Hello — welcome to the second edition of B. Our Guest, a cozy, brief newsletter from Western North Carolina. This month is a declaration to keep loving our past, present & potential. Learn from yesterday, create new memories today and help pave an even better tomorrow!

Chat with
Chelsea Cronkrite

Let’s look back at June and #PortraitsofPlateau — a wild idea to send a local photographer around the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau, offering free photo sessions on people’s front yards. Our goal was to celebrate grads, dads and each other, by capturing moments in time to cherish forever.

Thanks to the ambitious lady behind the lens, Chelsea Cronkrite, and everyone who helped spread the word, we were able to photograph 18 families in one weekend, and the stories and photos are incredible! I’ve asked Chels to share her experience.

B: Why do you love photography?

C: I love photography for it's ability to show true vulnerable moments stopped in time. I think that's why I tend to try and shoot the way that I do — a photojournalistic style with a touch of raw documentary is my all time favorite.

B: Where were some of the most memorable locations of the sessions?

C: I am a big history junkie, so there were two locations that really stood out to me and left me speechless. The first was the old grain mill, which is located deep in the woods of Highlands. The house was decorated like a story book of the owners' life, down to every last detail hung on the walls, placed on the shelves, or hung from the rafters.

The second was the Hudson house, which sits just below the base of Whiteside Mountain in Cashiers. It was incredibly maintained, and the details in the multiple cabins throughout the property held so much Appalachian personality. It felt like I was stepping back in time! Besides being absolutely beautiful, both of these locations held so much juicy, local history.

B: What gear did you use? Any tips for other photographers or families who love your work?

C: I really only ended up using my regular base, Canon 6D, paired with my go-to 85mm 1.4 lens. I did also manage to bust out my drone, a Mavic Pro 2, for a few locations in between the wind and the rain!

Surprise Someone
with Love

Limited-time Giftaway

My family and I are excited to continue monthly activities like Portraits of Plateau that unite the community and pay it forward for all. This month, we are inviting everyone across the country to help our ongoing #PickUpPlateau movement to support local businesses.

For July, we are gifting away 10 complementary surprises from local vendors to ten random people who fill out the form below before Friday! Each gift will be valued up to $50 and will include your name & message on it for nominating the giftee. Who do you want to surprise with love!?

Based on your answer below, surprises will be curated from small businesses like Crown Heritage Flowers in Highlands, the Cashiers Store or Cashiers Kitchen Company in Western North Carolina.

New Listing on the Block

Help us name it!

Sapphire, North Carolina is a hot real estate market with high demand and low inventory. I just got a brand new million-dollar listing with EPIC views, so I need your help nicknaming it to make it Famous!

This spacious home with panoramic mountain vistas is listed at $1.2 million dollars with a guest apartment for a total of 4 bedrooms & 6 baths in the lush town of Sapphire, North Carolina. There’s an incredible Tuscan-style wine cellar, spacious chef’s kitchen, steam shower, wood shop, 100 feet of decking & more! What shall we call it!?

Ain’t No Mountain
High Enough

Another month, another musical guest to book for B. Our Guest. This July, I’ve invited Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell to remind us that nothing is stronger than love. Even when there is an obstacle in the way and it appears very challenging to overcome, there is no mountain high enough to “keep me from getting to you, babe!” Just keep following your heart and it will lead you where you need to B.