For weeks I have heard Halloween in downtown Beaufort described as something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. As the days grew closer, I anticipated the scene and it proved to be more than I could dream.
Halloween on Ann St. in Beaufort, North Carolina felt as if I had stepped into one of my childhood Halloween books. The kind of books that are lined with vivid illustrations, contrasty paintings, jack-o-lanterns, and bright costumes.
The air was crisp, the outlines of costumes vivid against the last light in October, and the houses were a sight to behold.
I often find myself trying to find childhood nostalgia and relieve the feelings that surrounded holidays as a child.
As I carried around my Fujifilm, my goal was to recreate photos that felt like they jumped from the pages of my childhood storybooks. The darkened neighborhoods made alive by the lights and hum of excitement. The flashes of colors as children raced to and fro porches delighted to find pails brimming with their favorite sweets. Neighbors lingering under street lights to make conversation with friends. Voices echoing down alleys and pouring into neighboring streets. The delight that comes from a community celebration.
As a photographer who delights in documenting life and the in-betweens, I’m constantly drawn to these moments. The ones that tell stories of family, belonging, and the beauty of ordinary celebration. Photographing this coastal town during the holidays feels like stepping into a living memory where every smile, every porch light, feels like home.
Step into the charm of Beaufort, NC — a town by the sea that feels like living in a Norman Rockwell painting. Join Beaufort photographer Hailey Rae as she captures the nostalgic beauty of small-town holiday traditions and porch-light gatherings.
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