Some photographers take beautiful images—and then there are storytellers like Terrah Hoobler, who capture entire love stories in a single frame. With over two decades of experience, Terrah has become a trusted name in Coastal North Carolina’s wedding scene, celebrated for her ability to find raw, authentic emotion in even the smallest, in-between moments.

Standing at the intersection of design and fine art, Heidi-Lee Peach has spent a lifetime chasing beauty through color, light, and form. What began as a childhood passion—nurtured by a father who painted outdoors and a school principal who once framed her drawing—has evolved into a vibrant career as a painter whose work radiates joy and connection. After 15 years as a professional interior designer, Heidi-Lee has returned to her first love: the canvas.

In a thrilling literary turn, Wilmington, North Carolina's own Dr. Greg Player—better known to patients as a trusted family physician—is now making headlines for a very different kind of work: fiction. His debut medical thriller, The Enemy Within.

For this year's Cape Fear Living Photographer of the Year, that magic isn't just inspiration—it's his canvas. We caught up with this year's winner, Chandler Hatch to talk about sharks, stillness, shooting in Portugal, and why the Cape Fear coast continues to call him back