Since what feels like a million years ago I have been meaning to show you guys my newest 10×10 wedding album studio sample!  If you missed the gorgeous leather 10x1o album with the awesome metal comeo image strip that I did for Abby and Josh last year after their beautiful Clearwater wedding you have to check it out.  This one, done for Lindsey and Daniel’s Sarasota wedding at the stunning Powel Crosely Estate shows off some of the fun features that my couple’s enjoy!  Ok, admittedly, these are not the most exciting pictures hahaha – I was short on time and had to shoot quickly!

**For those of you photographers out there looking for an incredible album company Forbeyon is absolutely the way to go for contemporary wedding album.  I have been floored by their work every time.  When you order your first album from them tell them that I sent you!!  For more on my album creation process and why I love Forbeyon check out this FAQ video.

Daniel and Lindsey’s album is a 10×10 Flushmount Panoramic album.  The cover features genuine imported leather which is available in a ton of great colors (this fun cover color in “Autumn” – sadly discontinued this year). Other non-leather covers are available as well – in fact, they have the most gorgeous new eco materials.  I also offer an 8×8 parent duplicate albums for mom and dad!  Couples can choose between a cameo cover featuring one of their images or the contemporary imprinting on the spine of the album…or of course both!

The inside features UV coated photographic prints that are mounted right on to thick pages with panoramic binding so that images can spread seamlessly across the full spread. GORGEOUS!  I work with a fabulously talented graphic designer Ashlee Proffitt who does all of my album layout and design.  The feel of the design layout is contemporary and minimalist with a focus on the images.  You won’t find weird overlays of images, just beautiful white space with meticulously placed images laid out in a way that tells the story of the wedding day. Sigh.

In addition to doing these gorgeous albums for my couples I am can also create them for weddings and events shot by other photographers.  So its not too late for you to get a fabulous (how many times have I used that word already?) album of your own!!  Its no secrect that albums like this one aren’t cheap but there are options and alternatives at almost every price point.  Just shoot me an e-mail and I am happy to help:)

On Saturday we had a little a party to celebrate Chloe’s 2nd birthday.  I think when she walked into the kitchen and saw the incredible dessert table covered in pink treats provided by Natalie of Chic Sweets she knew it was going to be the best day of her little life. haha. I will post lots more fun pics in the coming days but I had to just give an enormous thank you to Natalie who did such an incredible job and is the sweetest person (how fitting!).  I don’t know how she does all that she does with a smile on her face!  Thank you Natalie!!!!

Btw I was thinking about how fun it would be to be a professional kids birthday party photographer! haha.  Maybe include a special photoshoot of the child before the party and then cover the event the way I cover weddings!  How fun would that be!?

I recently “refreshed” the frames in my house with all new collections of pictures taken over the past year.  I cannot tell you when the last time that was done…two years ago maybe?  While sorting through all kinds of fun artsy images from the past year I was reminded of how incredibly special it is to have a classic family portrait, you know, the kind where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera. Nothing will ever replace that.  I am going to get on a bit of a soap box here and say, please, PLEASE, make this the year that you get new portraits made and PLEEEEAAAASSE don’t cheap out and do it at a crappy local studio that shoots cookie cutter images in front of cheesy backdrops with weird props. I am begging you!  I have two friends who were talking recently about some less than quality studio experiences – one in which the two people in the back of the family group have heads about 1/6th the size of the people in the front and the other in which there was a posing mishap/optical illusion that resulted in what she jokingly refers to as her “man-leg”.  Thats it folks…captured forever…agh!!!  Please let me help you!

You don’t need a remote exotic shoot location and a whole day blocked out.  I will help you coordinate outfits in colors that will look great on film and in one hour we can have a family shot as well as individual shots of all of the kids (ok, maybe not if you have like 12 kids or something…) and we will even get an updated basic portrait of you and your husband (when was the last time THAT happened!).  Just think it over before you make an appointment at Sears or before you spend any more money on those blagh school portraits your kids get every year.  Let me help you!!

While you are thinking that over (hehe), here is a fabulous set of images from the Fennig family’s photo shoot that I did recently.  Great outfit color choices, a simple beautiful location and voila!!!  We seriously shot this full set in about 30 minutes. The simplicity and consistency between the images would make for the most incredible wall collage!  Love it.  And if you follow through to the end I have a little something for you…

Meet the Fennig family.  You may remember little Elizabeth’s 1 yr photo shoot featured recently!  Every mom’s request…”If I can only get ONE good image of all of us smiling!” Done friend.

There is just something special about the bond of brothers.  Wouldn’t it be so special to recreate this image with the boys every few years!?

Big brother Brice.  Handsome as can be.

Little brother Charlie.  Such a sweetie!  Do these boys have the best smiles or what?!

Even mom and dad got a new portrait made:)

And now, as promised, a little something for you!

Happy 2nd birthday beautiful girl.  Thank you for all that you have taught me about being a mommy and most importantly about how much God loves us no matter what.  I thank God for the little songs that you sing and for the way we cuddle and rock and have silly time at night.  I thank God for your head full of messy curls and how you just discovered how to jump.  I thank God for how much you love your daddy – that he is your hero (and mine too!).  I thank God for how much you love your little friends and for the sweet and silly prayers that you pray before meals.  I thank God for Family Fun Friday and happy dances in the kitchen. I thank God that you love to read and sing about Jesus, even though you don’t quite know what he has done for you yet.  Our life is very full sweet one.  What your mommy and daddy lack in a plan we try to make up for in laughter and love.  Thank you for the blessing that you are. Happy birthday little Chloe.

Photogs – what are your thoughts on balancing photography trends with images that will be loved forever, not just for right now?

Ya’ll might recognize this smiley faced cutie that I photographed a year ago on her parent’s back patio as a newborn.  Well, I just had the pleasure of doing her one year photos and it is just CRAZY to see her grow before my eyes from the sleepy little baby all nestled into the chair to this little doll full of life and anxious to be able to chase her big brothers around!  Elizabeth may have taken inspiration from Chloe’s 1 yr shoot for her patio wardrobe but Chloe totally stole her one shoulder dress fashion statement for her 2 yr shots. haha. Oh little Elizabeth, I love you and your bright blue eyes and your contagious smile.  Happy 1 yr birthday little one!!

There are couples who hire a photographer because they know that it’s their wedding day and “there should probably be someone there taking pictures”…ugh…and then there are couples who hire a photographer because they are actually incredibly excited to see the artistic rendering of their big day.  I heart these couples.  I knew that John and Holly were going to be one of these couples when we had our first phone consultation in which they both asked a ton of great questions and were clearly excited to share their style as a couple and their vision for their wedding images.  So, not only did I instantly love John and Holly because they valued photography enough to fly me to VA to shoot their Richmond wedding…but I also love them because they are from my alma matter JMU (Go Dukes!!!) and those of us from JMU know that there is just something special about the bond of going to the greatest school ever. haha.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day to have a wedding…so much so that the Governor’s daughter was having her wedding the same day at the the state Capitol which was literally across the street from the hotel where Holly and John were getting ready!  Everything about the locations that the couple chose were just perfect.  Before the ceremony we were able to walk across the street and get so many fabulous shots in front of the Capitol building overlooking downtown.  Then the trolly whisked them away to the equally gorgeous ceremony location at Main Street Station (which I hear has a waiting list as a wedding venue!) where both the ceremony and reception were held in the most beautiful two story historic train station – a station that still has passenger trains that come through!

The first time that John met Holly he remembers thinking to himself that she had a light-footed, glowy, down to earth aura about her.  I have to agree that Holly is one of the most calm brides that I have ever met – nothing seems to phase her.  They bonded over their love for music and pop culture.  Holly loved his smile, his thoughtfulness and how everyone seems to love being around John.  I love what Holly told me about her favorite memory from their first date,  ”…John said I was stunning.  I feel like any guy can call you pretty, beautiful, or sexy, and it can sound cliche.  But when he called me stunning, I knew he really meant it.”  Little did she know that John would one day bring her back to that spot to ask her to be his wife.

Which brings us to today…

Holly is a self described shoe person…she bought four pairs of wedding shoes before she decided on these. (And you returned the rest right Holly? hehe)

Her favorite part of her wedding dress was the back.  The sash gave way to a gorgeous gently pleated train – simple elegance.

Holly’s red lips, dark hair, red nails and black jewelry made her wedding day style the perfect vintage-hollywood-glam meets modern-elegance.

Her maids arrived dressed and so excited to celebrate with Holly.  Each rocked their own fabulous little black dress of choice and individual brightly colored shoes to match their bouquet (more on this fabulous idea later!).

Thank you Holly for picking a hotel in such an incredibly gorgeous location for pictures! Ahh!  Love it!

This shoe and bouquet shot is possibly one of my favorites of all time.  Brides – this is such a fun idea!  A modern use of your wedding color palette.  Ok, maybe this is just cheesy but I totally feel like the colors and shoes chosen end up fitting the bridesmaids’ individual personalities…crazy? Anyway, this was so fun. Love. Love. Love.

I actually have the pleasure of knowing John from college where we were both psychology majors.  John is the consummate extrovert.  He loves people, loves being with people, loves to make people laugh.  Maybe the only thing he loves more is music.  Funny story…my husband (now an audio engineer) also loves music and was a part of the JMU music scene in his own band back in the day.  Well, John used to come over for jam sessions with Graham’s housemate and the three of them would bond over music and recording.  I have even heard a song or two recorded by John back in the day.

John and his groomsmen were all handsomely dressed in classic black and his guys made sure that John stayed relaxed and had fun amidst the craziness that can be the wedding day.

Finally the moment arrived.  Main Street Station with its cathedral ceilings, marble pillars and wall of windows overlooking the city was packed with friends and family all excited to celebrate with the couple.  Before the wedding Holly had sent me one picture photocopied out of a magazine that had stuck with her during her wedding planning.  It was the one picture that Holly knew that she wanted me to try to get – her and her father walking down the aisle, the beautiful back of her dress, her groom at the front waiting in anticipation…because I had to be up at the front of the room to capture the expressions and emotions of this moment, I hired an incredible assistant from VA, Kate Magee Joyce, who I could trust to get the shot that was so important to Holly! Kate you are fabulous!  Thank you!

I mean is this location gorgeous or what!?

After a few casual group shots we eventually were able to steal away for a few moments to get some really beautiful images of the couple.  Weddings rarely go according to plan but when the day is over and the hickups of the day fade, you are left with images that can represent your wedding as beautifully as you intended for it to be full of what matters most. Love.

As was fitting for the music loving couple – their reception was full of incredible music and lots and lots of dancing.  The best moment had to be when John surprised Holly by having Max Bemis, the lead singer of one of their favorite bands, Say Anything, write and record a song specifically for Holly and their first dance. It was the only recording of the song, “a true one of a kind, just like Holly.” as John puts it. Sigh…

I have been to a lot of receptions and I have to say that this one had some of the best music ever.  Each song was hand picked by the couple themselves with everything from the Beatles to Cartel. And can I tell you a secret that I learned…Holly can dance.  I didnt even realize until after the wedding that she used to be a dancer but she just looked so classy and cute out on the dance floor!  Eventually, the party had to come to an end and the couple made their grand exit to adoring friends and family with sparkers in hand wishing them a beautiful life together.

The clock struck 11:00 and off they went into the night.  Guests lingered on the steps of the beautiful train station, not wanting the party to end and enjoying the warm summer night.

Holly and John, I wish you a lifetime of love together.  Thank you for flying me all the way from Tampa to photograph your wedding.  I really am honored.

A big thank you to Kate Magee Joyce for doing such a fabulous job as my second shooter to Collen Cook of CCS Events for her fabulous game-time expertise and to Casey Templeton for 1) teaching me everything that I know about photography 2) letting me steal your Richmond wedding clients 3) for letting me borrow your light poles…again 4) and for letting me borrow said fabulous second shooter Kate from you.

Amidst the billions of things that I am working on this week (when will the madness stop!), I am hoping to get a post up soon from last weekends wedding at Main Street Station in Richmond, VA.  Holly and John flew me up to VA and I am just in love with everything about this wedding from the brides black jewlery and red lipstick combo to the individually colored bright monochromatic bouquets that each of the bridesmaids carried!  For now, here is just a little peak at one fun image from their day – John and Holly specifically wanted an anthropology/vintage feel to their images and they loved this pic!

Yesterday evening I got the chance to photograph a very sweet friend of mine.  I cannot even tell you how gorgeous she looks in her photos but I dont want to give it all away just yet so I am going to tease you with two images until the real deal is ready to go.  I’m just sayin’…look out world…this girl rocked it. Some of you may know her…

Just wanted to share the rest of my favorite images from part 1 of Chloe’s 2 yr photoshoot! Yes, thats right, there will be a part 2…even more cuteness!  It just needs to be photographed at some point. haha. Eventually. The funny thing is that the photographer in me is thinking “ugh – I should have gotten detail shots of the ring pop, the jellies, the headband…” But the mom in me during the shoot was thinking “If I can just get ONE smile out of her, thats ALL I want – Pleeease Clo, be your silly smiley self on camera for once!!”  Well, it was a success thanks to Auntie Ashlee for saving the day with a ring pop and Chloe’s love for singing silly songs.  Sigh…I love her.