Julie and Rusty's Engagement Session

Julie is a RIOT. I don't think I have ever met a more spunky bride with so much personality and character! I love her to pieces!!! Rusty, Julie and I spent yesterday evening doing some fabulously edgy photos for their long over due engagement session...these two definitely feed off of one another's personalities and I can tell you first hand that I secretly think Julie has been a model in a past life:))

Kate and Phil

What can I say about Kate? She's amazing. Enough said.

On Friday, May 14, they got hitched in NOVA. They were calling for rain...it was hot hot hot...and Kate looked amazing.

As the ceremony began, the storm clouds rolled in---this was to be an outdoor ceremony. The thunder crashed, and just as Kate's dad gave her away, the biggest rain drops I have ever seen began to fall. Kate raised her boquet in the air and made a mad dash inside the manor house along with her bridal part. Needless to say, it was a good move, because her ceremony shots are incredibly unique, and everyone could see the entire bridal party and both the bride and grooms faces during the whole ceremony. The light shone though the doors to the house, directly on the couple, making some really dramatic cinematic lighting on the couple as they exchanged nuptials.

As soon as the ceremony was over---the rain stopped! Allowing us time to go out and do some awesome portrait work. Kate and Phil opted to do very few family formals and wanted to spend most of the time we had getting images of just the two of them.

Kate and I share a lot of similarities..including the fact that we both have giant peacocks tattooed on our backs. Kates is completely finished, but my poor bird is still missing the color in his tail and the background in which he will be displayed. I was able to do extremely dramatic make up on her---including this gorgeous purple liner that I swear I should wear it every day---but i custom made it for her, and that color will retire and be known as Kate's Color:)

The Bonds!

Lindsay and Danny....I don't even know how to express my feelings about these two! First, I have spent a lot of time getting to know Lindsay, and she is not only a gorgeous lady physically, but has one of the most tender personalities I have ever known. Needless to say, Danny is even MORE tender than she is! This couple is the epitome of true love in every sense!

Their wedding was to take place at Hanover Country Club in Ashland. But, let me tell you about the engagement session first! Lindsay and I worked together to think about some neat places to do their portraits and we had one big thing in mind---we wanted lots of CLOUDS in the sky. We ended up moving their shoot 2 or 3 times just to get the clouds, then finally on the last date we had booked, we did the shoot---with out a single appearance from ANY cloud what so ever. They were not disappointed though, the Diamond (in Richmond) was an awesome place to do their session.

So, on May 15...they were calling for rain. It never rained---but guess who decided to show up? All the happiest clouds in the world! But before I get to that, let me tell you about how amazingly organized this bride was!

Anyone who has worked with me knows I am super fast with the portrait work. I am not about retakes or "do overs" and I work very hard to get the bridal party and family to the reception. Lindsay and Danny cared so much about their photos that they alloted an hour pre-ceremony for EACH half of the bridal party---bridesmaids with bride, and groom with groomsmen. Then we had a full hour and 15 minutes or so to do the family and full bridal party formals AFTER the ceremony. not only that, but we also had about 45 minutes to an hour post ceremony to do shots at Ashland Train Station.

So, for the ladies, I took them down the street about 3 miles to a spot Amanda and I had scouted on the way there...this huge field filled with yellow flowers. We did a bunch of shots with the ladies there, then headed back so I could shoot the men on the golf course.

We ended up getting a TON of photos from this part of the day, but the real kickers were after the ceremony when I rocked out her entire family portraits (with about 30 different people) in I'd say about 10 minutes. Lindsay told her family members the night before that they would be in photos, and to not leave the ceremony area. The great part was that the bridal party did their recessional but stopped at the parents...and just let the family stay seated in their seats until we were ready for them.

These people knew exactly what do do, and I have to tell you, these portraits are so fun, easy going and EVERYONE looks so incredibly happy in them. No stuffy formals for this group!!!

Since we rocked this out so fast, we did the full group together in less than 5 minutes....and I had an entire hour to spend alone with Danny and Lindsay.

The shots we got were incredible. I was able to really engage with them since we had time and were not rushed, with no one else to interfere with our private time. I did some cool perspectives and just really was able to showcase this couples fun loving attitude.

Needless to say, her clouds are there----filling the sky smiling down on them.

But, that wasn't what got me! I am a bit insensitive to weddings sometimes. I shoot them, love my clients, but rarely am affected by them emotionally---although I must say, that this year I have been touched more than once! But, Danny and Lindsay got me yet again---and I think I cried 4 times at their wedding, and then again as I was leaving.

The biggest thing was Danny NEVER left Lindsays side at the party. It's so rare to see this----they danced together, laughed together, greeted their friends together. They are undoubtedly a perfect match---one not whole with out the other. The best part is that NO ONE could take their eyes off of the two. I couldn't take my camera off of them...their smiles, goofy faces, and little shared moments on the dance floor were just too adorable to miss in photos.

At the end of the night, the DJ made an announcement and thanked myself and Amanda for our work. This is the first time I have ever been publically thanked for anything in my life. My face probably contourted in some strange way and I started to choke up again and gave Lindsay and Danny a HUGE hug to cover up my tears. It meant so much to me to have this one little moment---to know that I really was part of their lives for such an important occasion---and that I impacted them in some way. THIS is why I do what I do, why I love my work...and why I strive SOOOO hard to be unique for each client. Danny and Lindsay will definitely have a massive collection of photos from their wedding day to remind them exactly how they felt on this day.

Lindsay and Danny---thank you both so much for every bit of courtesy, respect, and collaboration. Lindz, you know how I feel about you! I really can walk away from this wedding calling both of these two friends and NOT clients. I am so touched that both of them not only shared their wedding with me, but shared their story, their personal history, and the love they have for one another.

Niki and Greg-Oxon HIll Manor, MD

What a fabulous day! I can't even explain to you how amazingly beautiful this place is! Not to mention, most of the gorgeous wall paper and tapestries in the Manor House are BIRDS! This simply elegant wedding was just perfect for Sunday. The wind was blowing, the details were gorgeous, and the setting was just outstanding. I hope to continue shooting at Oxon Hill in the future!

Americana

Tonite, I had the amazing opportunity to photograph 2 shoots I have wanted to do for so long and combine them into ONE amazing session.

My idea was that there are these "old school" kind of romantic things---picnics and carnivals. they both go hand in hand with summer, spring, and sometimes fall.

I got very lucky that the carnival was in town this week. It's just a very small carnival with maybe about 20 rides total outside our local mall. It worked out perfectly for some amazing photos of Jenny and Brandon.

This worked especially well for them because they are the "all american" couple. I don't know what it is about these two, but they are seriously in love and totally silly and goofy. I was fortunate to have them walk into my studio and book me!

The Sparrows get married at the Mill!

What an awesome couple to spend my Sunday photographing! Travis and Nicole have been so awesome to work with over the last year and being a part of their wedding was sincerely an honor.

I had talked to Nicole about doing the "first look" and she seemed pretty stoked about it. For those who are wondering what a "first look" is, let me explain.

Traditionally, the bride and groom do not see one another before the ceremony. In Medieval times, the reason was absolutely clear----the groom more times than not, had not even met his bride prior to the arranged marriage. The parents of the bride didn't want the groom jumping ship if he did not find his bride attractive (taking with him expensive doweries.) So, the tradition of not seeing the bride before the cermeony has crossed hundreds of years to what it is today---where it doesn't apply.

A lot of brides (and grooms) think that that moment that the bride steps down the isle is the one magical moment that is sacred---the grooms first look of the bride---her biggest kept secret (how she will look in her gown)....but, I am sure couples who have done t he first look will argue to the contrary.

For Travis and Nicole, they wanted a few breaks from tradition. And honestly, they were both so nervous, I am afraid that if they didn't do the first look, one of them may have passed out at the altar! (Love you guys!). My assistants and I plotted out a spot at the Mill where we could get gorgeous photos of her approaching Travis from behind and also photograph all the anxious faces Travis would make as he could hear his brides foot falls on the ground.

During this walk, I grabbed Nicoles hand and we walked a little ways down the path before she began the walk alone to reveal herself to Travis. I could feel all of her nerves and looked in her eyes and knew that this moment was the one moment in the entire day that they would remember the absolute most. I squeezed her hand and she glanced at me and I lost all my professionalism and cried right there on the spot and had to take a step back! I was so overwhelmed because I knew exactly how she was feeling in that moment---and to Nicole---I want to thank you for allowing me to be a part of that moment!

I let go of Nicole and she walked to meet Travis, tapping him on the shoulder when she got close----and as he turned around the look on his face was beyond priceless---watching the two of them share the most amazing moment in their lives filled me with so much happiness and joy.

Not only did the first look allow the couple to have a few special moments that can't be replaced, replicated, or acheived at the altar, my team and I were able to photograph this in a way that would not be possible during a ceremony. Capturing REAL moments, real interactions, and the genuine love that the two of them have together in those moments free of family, guests, nerves etc.

After we finished photographing the immediate emotional responses, my assistant and I left Travis and Nicole alone for about 20 minutes----time they would not have gotten at any other part of the day---time to share each others emotions, excitement, and joy before they are bombarded with guests, the reception and being wisked off to their honeymoon. I can promise you, that both Travis and Nicole 100% believed that seeing each other before the walk down the isle was far more emotional and rewarding than the actual walk.

After the 20 minutes, we were able to take the bridal party off and photograph them all before the cermeony. Eliminating a TON of time being taken up post ceremony for formals. This worked out extremely well and the shots we got of Travis and Nicole reflect a sense of relaxation, with no feelings of being rushed.

Ringing in 2010!

I literally just had the most whirlwind experience in my entire photographic career!
Starting with December 27, Lauren and I shot a very simple but completely elegant wedding at Grace Manor Inn located on Grace Street in Richmond. Following that, on December 31, we s hot Kellie and Chris's dramatic New Years Eve wedding at the newly rennovated Henrico Theater. January 1, we were in Virginia Beach for Cat and Mat's beach front wedding, January 2, we were in Staunton, VA for Jordan and Phil's wedding, and back home on January 9th in Petersburg for Amanda and Perry's wedding. We finished up our early wedding season with the Bridal Showcase in Richmond on January 10th!

Here are some photos from each wedding that I loved!

Grace Manor Inn Wedding:






Kellie and Chris 12/31/09
This is one of our recreation photos we did...I get chills seeing it in the marque!
















Cat and Mat January 1, 2010











Jordan and Phil, January 2, 2010











Amanda and Perry 1/9/10









And last but not lease, a couple of shots of our booth at the bridal show...my wonderful daddy built this wall for me:)