Back when we were designing our website, we chose a photo of Sally Ann and Clint for our splash page.  From the business perspective, it was a no-brainer: gorgeous couple, fun photo, very Richmond, so on and so forth.  Truth be told though, I think we chose that image for more personal reasons.  After the wedding we started hanging out and over the years this couple has laughed with us and cried with us.  Its comforting to see their mugs on our website because we’re lucky to count them among our closest friends.

Its a little strange, looking at the wedding photos that hang in their home and thinking of how we hardly knew them then.  The couple we photographed back then reminds me of what the business of weddings is supposed to be about, what it has the potential to be about.  And it makes me want to be better.  Turning the lens on Sally Ann and Clint again, four years later and as a new family, felt both familiar and daunting.  Because now, that same couple makes me think of what marriage, family, strength, faith and friendship should be about, what it has the potential to be about.  And it makes me want to be better.

And that’s a lot to want to show to Bellamy.

I’m hoping that she’ll see their wonder,

their pride,

their sense of humor,

and the love that knows no boundaries in this time and place, 4 months into parenthood.

Here’s a slideshow and gallery to check out.  Welcome, sweet Bells.  While I know you will never doubt how much you are loved, I’m so happy to have made these photos for you.

Posted by Mel @ 5:34 pm, in Portraits, Wee Ones | No comments | Permalink

Who rocks the bathtub like my boy?  Nobody, that’s who.  If you haven’t given yourself a soap-hawk in the shower lately, we highly recommend reconnecting with your inner rock star….

Posted by Mel @ 6:31 pm, in Personal, Portraits, Wee Ones | No comments | Permalink

I don’t have the best track record of sharing bridal portraits so I wrote “blog Jess’ bridal portraits” on my Monday to-do list with 3 stars next to it, just to get my own attention.  Bridals are taken in advance of the wedding and must be kept out of the public eye so as not to ruin the great reveal the day of and therefore, even when fabulous, these sessions just kind of fall off my radar.  So I’m here at my desk chanting my own little campaign slogan for the duration of this year and beyond, “no bridal left behind!”

We took Jess’ bridals on the historic grounds of the Virginia House, a medieval English estate moved piece by stone piece to a beautiful piece of land overlooking the James river in present day Windsor Farms.  The gardens surrounding the house are every bit as impressive as the house itself and make a romantic and dramatic backdrop for portraits.  While I’m not generally a fan of post production antiquing, I felt like it was appropriate for a few of these and Jess agreed.  Its nice to step out of the comfort realm every once and awhile…

A big thanks to Jess for being such a relaxed, gorgeous and enthusiastic bride.  I’m certain that we prefaced more than one shot plan with, “I know its going to sound weird but do you mind if we try ___?”  And congrats once again to Jess and Jason who tied the know on 6/18.  And thanks to you for checking these out!

Posted by Mel @ 9:16 pm, in Bridals, Portraits, Weddings | No comments | Permalink

A few years back, a photographer asked me how we get people to look so happy in their wedding pictures.  If only we had magic powers like that!  The real question, the one we are always asking ourselves, is how do we get such amazing couples to hire us?  Because we know that not every couple tying the knot is crazy in love, joyful, relaxed and ready to party down on their wedding day.  If every couple were so awesome, all weddings would be awesome and we would all jump up and down every time an invitation arrived in the mail.  But let’s face it: some weddings stand out in our memories.  For whatever reason, I feel like its the standout weddings that we get the honor of shooting again and again.  And just so you know, I’m knocking on my wooden desk right now.

Enter Jess and Jason.  There are so many things to love about this wedding but they are first and foremost.  Aside from having one of the best “how we met” stories (Jason, an anesthesiologist, knocked Jess out so she could get her tonsils removed and she slipped him her business card when she came to…), they just light up in each other’s presence.

Jason’s nieces and nephew all got to play a role and they took it very seriously, right down to the matching navy and pink glitter nail polish and flip flops!  You gotta love this kind of dedication to a color scheme, check it out…

Jason’s grooms’ cake might well be one of the most relatable among couples in the great state of Virginia.  The UVA/Virginia Tech rivalry is pretty fierce, for those who are unfamiliar: its like oil and water, like the Hatfields marrying into the McCoys.  But there’s no denying it: Hokies and Wahoos attract.  Football season serves as a litmus test for the strength of the relationship and these two clearly pass.  Anyway, I thought this was a mighty clever cake…

Windy did an amazing job designing and coordinating the day’s events  just like she always does, I feel like a broken record because I say that every time we have the opportunity to work together but I’m never any less sincere.  The Mill at Fine Creek remains one of our fav event locations, or more specifically, one of our favorite places to eat (its not just a pretty place, the service and catering is always gracious and delicious).  Here’s  a slideshow with our favorite photos from the day and click here if you would like to be notified by email when the online gallery is available for viewing.  Congrats, Jess and Jason!  Thank you so much for inviting us to be part of it…

Posted by Mel @ 5:26 pm, in Weddings | No comments | Permalink