Letters from my friends....

I get a ton of thank you notes and I really never knew what to do with them...so I think, I will start with the one I received today and backlog and re-write some of the favorites I have gotten from clients....


Received Today:

"Dear Melody,
I'm not sure how i can thank you for the role you have played at our wedding. When we first started planning, I didn't even want to hire a photographer because I was so camera shy and self conscious but when I saw your work I was blown away, if a bit skeptical that we could look as amazing as the model pretty people on your website. Let me just say that I think hiring you was the best decision we made on the whole wedding. You have made me feel so special throughout this whole process and given me the self confidence to feel not just "pretty" (which I knew) but gorgeous, sexy, and even stunning! Confidence that helped me glow on my wedding day.

I am thrilled that for years to come we will look back on our photos and think not "oh, those are great photos---what was that guys name" but rather "what great photos Melody took of us, I am so glad she was there with us instead of some stranger!" Plus, um, it goes with out saying that we are 100%+++ happy with all the images we've seen so far. You have completely and totally exceeded every expectation I had and most of my unrealistic dreams too! I am looking forward to seeing you soon once we get back!"

Cathy.....

Amanda and Ricky are nothing but smiles!

If there were a photo of a person in the dictionary to define the word happy, it would showcase Amanda! I swear I think this girl probably sleeps with a gorgeous smile on her face...

Words can't express how grateful I am to both Amanda and Ricky for inviting me to be a part of their wedding. I fell in love with Amanda when I first met her, then again at her bridal shoot and at her wedding, I was just beside myself with how welcoming both her and Ricky were, but also both families. I truly felt like I was part of the family and that made my job of photographing these two spectacular people incredibly easy.

Needless to say, the images are with out saying, some of the most breathtaking photos I have ever shot.

Catherine and Josh

Every time I shoot this couple, it rains. But then, everything is all sunshine and rainbows...literally!

So, as usual, I got to really connect with this couple on a personal friendship level...I don't know what it is about my clients this year, but I keep drawing fabulous people to me and that makes my job so much more fun!

Catherine and I got to work together for several weeks where we basically spent about 30 hours together...so, needless to say, I feel like I am part of their family. It's amazing how much she and I have in common---and then again how much Josh and I have in common as well.

At their engagement shoot, it was pouring down rain...I made my first "boo boo" by not dumping my only CF card with me to the shoot...and we had only done about 1/4 of their photos...I made some calls, no one could bring me a card...so I made the decision to brave the rain and dump all of the images we had already shot. It's a good thing I did, beccause the downpour that occurred left us with 3 separate shoots: Rain, Storm, RAINBOW, and sunny skies! How amazing right?

Well, on the wedding day....to no surprise, it poured. The ceremony had to be altered (at Wilton House) and when I say it rained, it was even raining inside the tent. However, it made for a really UNIQUE ceremony where the guest got to be especially close to the couple...and Lauren and I got to be super engaged in all the moments.

One of the super unique things about Catherine is that she LOVES period dance...now, most of you know, it's super hard for me to put down the camera...I think sometimes I practically live with it glued to my eyeballs...but, during the reception, I desperately wanted to put the camera down and just watch the dances...

Oh..and they had fried green tomatoes!

Anyway, here are a few shots from the day!

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!