Seventeen blog posts in 2 weeks?  Holy blogging marathon, Batman.  We’ve definitely had a lot to share and still have two cool engagement shoots to include upon our return in addition to lots of albums.

Speaking of comic books, we’re headed to Japan, the motherland of manga, early tomorrow morning.  Which means I better start packing (note the time on this post and see if you freak out for me).  We’ll have limited access to email while we’re abroad but feel free to write, especially if you are seeking availability information… we’ll be sure to respond if and where we can.  While yes, we are taking a camera and a couple lenses, we may hold off and blog our vacation photos when we get back.  Or, if we see something that’s way too cool to keep to ourselves, we may have to share it from the road.  

I believe our destination is turkeyless but we wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving regardless and look forward to sharing our adventures with you soon!  Until then…

Posted by Mel @ 2:20 am, in News, Personal | 2 Comments | Permalink

Cindy and Ed’s wedding brought us to The Mill at Fine Creek in Powhatan, Virginia where fall is slowly giving way to winter.  A rainy forecast gave way to sunshine just before the ceremony began, lending a beautiful sunset and the opportunity to get some outdoor pics by the creek and around the ruins.

As always, Windy Jennings did a beautiful job coordinating the details running everything behind the scenes.  It was a complicated operation since the ceremony site had to be converted to the reception space: Windy is a master.  Will Rollins took care of the music and The Mill always does a fine job catering, Lisa’s homemade lasagna was amazingly delicious and her chocolate cake is my absolute favorite.

Cindy and Ed share our sense of humor and made it a point to enjoy every moment of the day, making the event a pleasure to photograph.  Cindy altered her bridal shoes with blue jewels that spelled “I Do”… or was it “Do I?”…  It all depends on how you look at it but at the end of they day, it was definite that “they did”. 

Speaking of cool details, I loved how the programs were hung from each chair, adding to the atmosphere of the room.  As always, Al of FloraCulture did an amazing job sculpting flowers into art.  Check it out:

It was great to shoot such party people…

Congrats Cindy and Ed, thanks for inviting us to be part of your wedding and for your patience as we scoot out of town.  Here’s a slideshow to tide everyone over and if you would like to be notified by email when their online gallery is available for viewing, click here.

Posted by Mel @ 2:08 am, in Weddings | No comments | Permalink

Amy and Jeff and the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy, Brayden Foster VandeSand, who was born on October 19th.  He was just two weeks old when we took these photographs and I’m looking forward to watching him grow over the course of his first year.

Amy and Jeff are already such loving and doting parents:

Sammie & Ella are pretty curious about this new member of the pack:

We got lots of sleepy pics of this sweet little guy!

Here’s a slideshow with my favs from the session and if you would like to see an online gallery, click here.  Can’t wait for the next session when he can smile, stay tuned!

Posted by Mel @ 11:36 pm, in Newborns, Portraits, Wee Ones | No comments | Permalink

I was excited to meet Anna (18 months) and Lauren (10 weeks) for the first of many sessions we’ll do together over the year to come.  I don’t have much experience working with babies over the age of one so Anna taught me a few things: 1) you have to move fast, 2) it takes a little while to earn trust and 3.) hide and seek is a pretty good ice breaker.  We played a lot of that.

Baby Lauren is just as cute and chill as she can be, I love her impish smile:

Chrystal makes being the mom of two small fries look easy even though I know its not: 

Check out this slideshow with my favs and to see the entire session online, click here.  I’m looking forward to our holiday shoot!

Posted by Mel @ 6:13 am, in Portraits, Wee Ones | No comments | Permalink