ONLY ON 3: Photographers use skills to help homeowners assess damage

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — Some local photographers are using their skills to help property owners with storm damage.

The historic rainfall flooded streets, eroded beaches, and damaged homes across the coast.

“The pieces of the dunes were kind of falling down and were just being taken away by the ocean,” Unique Media and Design editor Catie Voglio said.

The conditions put business on hold for Unique Media and Design.

“We do real estate predominately, so our cameras can’t get wet,” Voglio said.

Normally Owner Adam Hawley’s team of eight photographers capture images of homes and rentals across the southeast, but this project was different.

“Our customer base here really doesn’t live here full-time,” Voglio said.

That’s why Hawley and Voglio braced the conditions.

“We kind of ran in between the rain drops,” Voglio said.

They kept the cameras rolling from every angle.

“To show them what happened without them having to physically come to their house and see the damage,” Voglio said.

Voglio said they worked from the car and waited for breaks in between the rain.

“Working with the weather, you hope for the best, but you don’t always know what you’re getting is 100% what you’re looking for,” Voglio said.

Voglio said, this time, what they got was fascinating.

“What was fascinating to me was the destruction of the dunes,” Voglio said. “As sad as it was, I mean you could just see it falling by the sheets.”

A sight she said you rarely get to see.

“I think it makes you really grateful for how it usually is here and then realize what nature can do,” Voglio said.

A sight they wanted to share with everyone affected on Topsail Island.

“I think they can’t believe it,” Voglio said. “This has just been a doozy.”

A doozy that is now just a photograph.

“I think most people have been on hold, so it’s kind of funny to see the sun come out and businesses go back to usual,” Voglio said.

Click here to see all the footage from Unique Media and Design.