Let us introduce the Miller-Mattis family, photographed on a beautiful spring day in Maymont Park.  While weddings are a vast majority of what we do and love, it’s refreshing to spend time with a select number of families each year.  And we love transporting our natural style of photography over to our family sessions.  We think there’s nothing like seeing your loved little bunch not as we want them posed, but as they really are.  With sweet little Olive and the ever-kinetic Jasper…absolutely no problems there!  Thank you, Lauren and Ross, for letting us in to your little circle for a while.  It was a pleasure.

Now, we’re off to a quaint little corner of Northern Virginia called Warrenton.  I think the downtown is the epitome of old Virginia.  Great little main street, tons of local businesses that thrive and easy access to some of the natural trails and scenery that make this part of the state special.  When Dee asked if it was OK to drive up there for the session of course I said yes.  Hopefully, when you view the images below, you can see why.  Everything we needed was within six square block.  Try doing that in a suburb 🙂

Thank you, Dee and Patrick.  You made the drive worthwhile, you warmed up so easily for the camera, and we’re so glad you’re loving them.  The rest of you…enjoy a little old town VA.

So, time to hit the blog again after another crazy August complete with travels, earthquakes, and hurricanes.  We started off September with Amanda’s and Colin’s beautiful wedding here in good ol’ Richmond, VA.  But, since we’re still putting the glitz on the wedding images, I thought we’d give you a little glimpse of Amanda, her gorgeous dress (bride designed, no less) and perhaps the coolest day in all of a very hot July.  Enjoy!

I’d like to introduce you to Loren and Ryan, a fantastic couple that I met at a recent Choice Entertainment “Meet the DJ” night.  From the minute the three of us started to chat I could tell there was a connection and I can’t explain how important Lindsay and I feel about making that connection.  We so often stress the experience of working with your photographer as being as important as the images.  After all, we spend more time with you than any other vendor throughout the entire wedding process.   As we end each wedding season (when does it end, actually?), Lindsay and I reflect back on not only what we’ve created, but also the number of great people that we’ve had the pleasure of spending time with.  Being a full-time wedding photographer with a studio to maintain is tough, filled with long days of editing, business, and shooting.  The people we meet are the payoff.  They are what makes it worthwhile.

Well, these two are definitely a part of the payoff.  We had a blast at the engagement session as we walked through the Canal Walk and Church Hill.   There was plenty of laughter and some great tender moments between them.  I hope you enjoy the session and look forward to their wedding day.  Thank you Loren and Ryan!

Sitting here watching the cold wind roll in to town and the wet ground slowly dry makes it hard to remember that we actually had a little springtime last week.  VCU in the Final Four certainly blunts the depression over the temperatures a bit, and so does looking at these pictures of Shannon and Zach.  I want everyone to send Shannon a little love (blog remarks or happy thoughts…either are fine), because she was so sure her nervousness about being in front of the camera would show through.  I think you’ll agree she did just fine 🙂  (You were OK, too, Zach)

Enjoy!

Some of you may remember Leah and Dimitri from their fantastic wedding at Mankin Mansion this past summer.  Their style and character landed them on Style Me Pretty a little while later, which was very cool indeed.  Well, our friendship away from the world of photography has grown since then.  We love to follow Dimitri’s stellar opera career and Leah’s rise in the theater and symphony scene of New York City.   Getting a visit from them is a treat unto itself, but this visit had a special occasion…Leah’s new headshots.  I think you’ll see why we love working with them.  Hey Dimitri…you’re next 🙂

I’m a big local music fan, as some who know me will attest to.  While I don’t get to see as many shows as I used to, I try to make it out a few times a month as time allows.  One of my favorites, then and now, is the D.J. Williams Projekt.  They’ve been playing the same Tuesday show at Cafe Diem for years and I have yet to see anything less than a packed bar by the time they hit their stride at mid-set.  You really must make your way out if, by some crazy way, you haven’t seen them.

A little while back, D.J. approached me about doing a little session with him and Erika.  Of course I was excited, of course I said yes, and after a few scheduling hiccups we finally found the perfect day.  In addition to a little time up on Church Hill, I got a little time with them both in the studio.  D.J. and Erika indulged me for a little lighting work and I was very happy with the results.

Happy Holidays all and enjoy.

Who says you need sunny days and warm weather to have a beautiful wedding?  Shawna and Paul decided that Winter was the perfect time for them and we were more than happy to be a part of their wedding.  It was a very private family ceremony at Maymont.  The ceremony was at the Stone Barn, with an extended portrait session in and around the Italian Gardens.  Thank you, to you both.  It was a pleasure to witness your ceremony and, with such warm and easy smiles, my job couldn’t have been easier.  Enjoy!

We’ve just said goodbye to Emily and Jim as they head off to their honeymoon, so…it’s time to post her fabulous bridal session.  We started the session at the always beautiful Jefferson Hotel, wandering the halls, stairwells, and lobbies.  As the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts had just opened it’s amazing new wing, I thought I might ask Emily if she’d mind a trip over to take advantage of the pristine new grounds.  It was an easy sell.  Hopefully, you can see why.  Enjoy!

Now that Erica and Patrick have officially walked down the aisle, it’s save (I assume?) to show off her beautiful bridal session.  Erica chose the always lovely, always blooming, grounds of Agecroft Hall.  I think we can agree that her stunning dress was a perfect match for the Elizabethan flavor (it is, after all, the home for Shakespeare’s festival in Richmond) of Agecroft.  Enjoy!