I know, its a little unfair… how do you follow a post on a birth?  If ever there was a wedding that could, it would be Jennifer and Tim’s wedding at the lovely Mill at Fine Creek in Powhatan, Virginia.

Weddings can be ordinary events – we receive the invitation, travel with our dress clothes, bring a gift, enjoy good drink, food and times and return home pretty much the same as we were before but with fond memories of a fun weekend.  Few and far between are the weddings that really strike an emotional chord, renew our faith in love and in humanity and stay with us for a long time.  Sometimes you are in the presence of greatness.  This was one of those weddings.

To know Jennifer and Tim is to love them, that’s a good place to start.  High school sweethearts, they celebrated their wedding day on the anniversary of their first date together many years before.  Before the ceremony began, their wedding rings were passed in bags from row to row so each guest could bless them with well wishes.  The ceremony was officiated and performed entirely by family: Tim’s mother Eva and Jennifer’s paternal grandfather officiated the ceremony together.  Eva joked that its a brave woman who allows her mother in law to address a crowd on her wedding day but Jennifer must have known there was no cause for concern: Eva delivered an incredible homily with truly solid marital advice that everyone present could draw from.  Tim’s sister and father performed a song that Eva wrote for just for the occasion based on the homily.  It was truly special.

Jennifer’s color palette of sky blue, sunny yellow and lime green was all summer and were the perfect choices to kick off Memorial Day weekend.  Al of Flora Culture did an amazing job with the flowers and Windy Jennings, one of our very favorite local event coordinators, put everything into its perfect place and time.

Here’s a slideshow with our favs from the day and if you would like to receive an email when their online gallery is available for viewing, click here.  We were so excited to be part of such a great event for such an amazing couple of people… congrats Jennifer and Tim!

Posted by Mel @ 8:56 pm, in Weddings | 1 comment | Permalink

Two years ago I never would have imagined planning a home birth, truthfully I might have had some judgmental things to say about families who did.  But here I am in 2009, planning to have my son at home this fall and learning to eat my words.  

When I blogged about my niece’s home birth back in January, Jacqueline emailed to share her enthusiasm on the post since she and Andy had just decided to have their son at home too.  We were planning a first year documentary project once Baby Boy arrived and the couple asked if I might document the birth itself.  I was really excited for the opportunity but had some concerns, Jacqueline and Andy live out of town and we wouldn’t be able to meet before the big event.  What if my presence impeded Jacqueline’s labor?  How do we time it and what if I didn’t make it? How would it affect my feelings about our own labor and delivery?  How can someone so bad with her cell phone be on call?

While my concerns were valid, it turned out they weren’t necessary.  There was nothing anyone could do to stop the Olympic speed of Jacqueline’s labor: six hours from first contraction to birth.  I was called in at just the right time and made it to their home no sooner or later than I should have.  The experience only made me more excited for our own labor experience, the car ride there and back gave me time to reflect on how prepared and confident I feel about my body, my support team, and our decision.  After a lifetime of fearing childbirth I have finally come to a place where I am no longer afraid, just in true awe of the process.  And I picked up my cell phone every time it rang this month only to promptly lose it again the day after Roscoe was born (if you’ve been calling me, I still can’t find it).  Best of all, Roscoe was born beautiful and healthy and was surrounded – practically flooded – with love from the get go.  It couldn’t have turned out more perfect.

I love this photo of Andy hanging out in the nursery while giving Jacqueline some space to labor.  They had practiced their swaddling skills on a teddy bear that they placed in his crib awaiting his arrival.  Small signs of preparation for this life altering event were scattered throughout the house.

Their pup Chloe was very supportive through labor but decided she needed a nap while Jacqueline was in the final stages of pushing.  She snored so loudly as the baby was coming that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud!  Chloe was startled out of her slumber when Roscoe began to cry, jolting her out of bed to announce his arrival with a bark. 

Chloe got to meet her new pack member just a little later on and I think she approves:

Here are a few shots just moments after Roscoe’s birth.  Jacqueline might disagree with me but, in my opinion, a woman never looks as beautiful as she does in those first few moments of motherhood:

Andy holds his son for the first time:

Home birth, as I see it, isn’t about fear of hospitals, being a renegade or even convenience.  Its an approach that stems from the belief that birth is a normal process with potentially better outcomes when a mother can labor where she feels safe, comfortable, undisturbed, and free of the interventions that have become the standard of care in hospitals.  This doesn’t mean you do it alone: Jacqueline and Andy’s amazing midwife Susan and doula (labor assistant) Lori were there with them every step of the way, working as a team to observe and support Jacqueline’s progress, help her to deliver her baby safely, and closely monitor the baby’s progress with every passing minute following his birth.  

The birth itself left me awe struck, Jacqueline was inspiring and I commented more than once that she set the bar a little high for myself and first time mothers everywhere.  Regardless, the photos most appropriate to share here are of Jacqueline and Andy becoming familiar with this new life before them.  I feel lucky to have been present for those first couple of hours when Roscoe met his family for the first time, he was instantly adored.

Roscoe’s parents kept his name under lock and key until he was born.  Rather than announce his name aloud, Jacqueline told her mother and sister to find the newborn gown with his name stitched on it that she had folded into his top drawer so that she could dress him.  I ran after them to the nursery to watch them scramble through his clothing to find this little treasure.

Shortly after Roscoe’s birth the family was called and invited to come meet him.  The aroma of adobo chicken that Vanessa and Stacy had been preparing wafted upstairs as the family prepared to celebrate with champagne and a meal.  Jacqueline’s grandparents just so happened to be visiting the area from Hawaii, yet another way in which Roscoe’s timing was perfect.  Andy’s parents and grandmother came as well and Roscoe was surrounded by a flock of admirers who passed him around, snapped pictures, and congratulated the new parents.  It was very emotional.

The family was there to witness Roscoe’s first exam and place bets on how much he weighed.  Check out that little foot hanging out of the baby sack, he came in at 7lbs, 2oz…

As you can see Roscoe has just a few fans:

The most amazing thing about a newborn is how they change in appearance from minute to minute and hour to hour.  Stay tuned for more photos of baby Roscoe as he grows, I’m so excited to take photos of him and his family over his first year!  Congratulations to Jacqueline and Andy on the healthy birth of their beautiful son, Roscoe Ellis Hopper, and thank you a million times for inviting me to be part of such and intimate and life changing experience.

Posted by Mel @ 7:07 pm, in Newborns, Portraits, Wee Ones | 9 Comments | Permalink

You may remember Jesse & Jonathan’s amazing wedding from a few posts ago, the event took place in Crozet, Virginia at King Family Vineyard.  The couple thought it would be fun to have some wedding photos taken around Richmond as well so they returned from their honeymoon to get all gussied up again for a local shoot.  Day After sessions are kind of like a Trash the Dress sessions but with the groom too.  Its ideal for couples who want relaxed, fun photos that we can’t get the day of the wedding due to geography, a setting sun, a tight itinerary or inclement weather.  And those aren’t the only good reasons to consider this option: you don’t have to worry about the dress, you don’t have guests waiting on you so there’s no rush, you’ve had time to reflect on the wedding experience, you can try out a different hairstyle or make up look and best of all, you get to wear the dress more than once.  Amen to that!

Jesse & Jonathan knew they wanted some photos taken in their neighborhood so we headed down to Forest Hill Park, just an acorn’s throw from the couple’s new house.  

We couldn’t resist hitting the park’s playground and getting some play time in there.  I think our favorite shot was this ultra-formal with the horsey:

Clearly a night in shining armor, its Jonathan to the rescue:

maybe…

Forest Hill bumps right up to the James River so we headed down to Reedy Creek to find some train tracks.  After all, what better way to represent the journey that has just begun than train tracks?  And what could be a more “Richmond” sight than train tracks?  And the answer is: train tracks with trains on them!  We were happy to find a few cars in rest and took full advantage. (This is what art school does to your brain, in case you were wondering).

Congratulations once again to Jesse and Jonathan on their marriage and wedding, we were glad to draw out the celebration a little bit.  Here’s a slideshow from the shoot and if you would like to visit their online gallery, click here.

Posted by Mel @ 7:51 pm, in Bridals, Portraits, Weddings | 2 Comments | Permalink

Once again, the forecast made some threats of thunderstorms but when it came down to it, Katie and Matt had a gorgeous wedding day on the grounds of Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia.  The sky was blue with big billowy clouds and sail boats cruised back and forth across the James.

Katie might be one of the smiliest, happiest brides ever.  The color scheme of black, white and pink was accented with fluffy pink peonies and a checker board dance floor beneath the reception tent.  Occasions made sure all the details were in place.  

There were some very personal touches as well.  Katie’s sister Mary Carter attached the brooch from her wedding dress to Katie’s bouquet for good luck:

I love that Sam captured this shot of Matt winking at Katie as she and her dad came down the aisle.  I was told I stuck my tongue out at Sam while walking down the aisle but no one got a picture so there is no proof… it must not have happened!

Here’s a slideshow with our favorites from the day.  If you would like to be notified by email when the online gallery is available, click here.

Congrats to Katie & Matt and many thanks to their families for their warm hospitality, it was a pleasure!

Posted by Mel @ 5:43 pm, in Weddings | 3 Comments | Permalink