Charlottesville Wedding Photographer

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Marcy + Brian | Charlottesville Wedding

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

Most people don’t enter into a relationship thinking they’re going to want to get married after just months, but it happens, and it happened. But timing is everything, isn’t it? [In fact, had the wedding happened a week earlier, it would snowed...]. The two dated for a couple of years, growing mature in their love. They soaked up the dating season, and after a trip to Maine, the engagement season. Saturday, Marcy walked down the aisle without taking her gaze from Brian. Brian’s smile grew and the tears started to well up. In both of their eyes, I saw two things. Surety and joy. But that wasn’t anything new – those had been there from the beginning.

Ceremony // The Haven
Reception // Old Trail Gold Club
Florist // Sugar Magnolias
Gown // Celebration Bridal, Maggie Sottero
Jewelry // Tara Montgomery Jewelry
Paper Printing // Tried and True
Paper Product Design // Vessel Creative
Second Shooter // VA Photography *Groomsmen Shots

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Tags: April Wedding, Brian, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Marcy, Old Trail Golf Club, spring inspired wedding, The Haven, The Omni
Posted in Wedding | 9 Comments »

Bridal Health + A Feature

Friday, January 4th, 2013

I’m just over it. All of the truffles, cookies, candy canes, baked breads, and the stockings stuffed with candy. My body hates me, I’m more lethargic, and I’m finding more and more squishy on me the more I indulge.

Early last fall, I got a call from Lora Kelley, editor and stylist, to shoot a feature for The Wedding Planner on bridal health, and with the release of the magazine, the end of the unhealthy eating season, and the start of the new year, I think it is a WONDERFUL time of year to post about BRIDAL HEALTH!

During the summer through December, I was working out with a personal trainer and became super passionate about it. I have strong feelings about being healthy and about what goes into my body. When you learn what an over abundance of certain foods do to your body, it just starts to “eat” at you. [Pun intended]. As a wedding photographer, someone who photographs a girl looking her best for 8+ hours, I feel TERRIBLE sending brides chocolates, cookies, or something as a “gift.” I want to encourage them to take care of their body! Not only for their wedding day, but for life! So, since produce might start rotting by the time it gets to their front door, this article by Jodi Esselstyn from Clay Fitness is a perfect first step to help brides keep it right!

So brides, pick up a copy of The Wedding Planner! Indulge in this smoothie recipe that tastes like CANDY. I tried it – it’s AMAZING. It’s green, but tastes like it should be a jolly rancher flavor. Also, holler to Adam Barnes Photography, MY wedding photographer, who shot the cover!

I want to say a few words about the shoot! Thanks to Clay Fitness in Charlottesville for letting us use their fitness studio! Lora, her assistant, and I had so much fun styling these little fruits! I could totally see myself going in the editorial direction one day! ONE day…

RECIPE

1/2 cup mango
1/2 cup peach
1-2 cups diluted orange juice
2-3 handfuls of baby spinach or cooked kale
1/2 non-fat greek yogurt

Add what ever else you’d like and BLEND!

Tags: bridal health, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, featured, smoothie, the wedding planner
Posted in Featured, Wedding | 1 Comment »

The Local | Rehearsal Dinner

Friday, August 31st, 2012

Gosh I miss Charlottesville. I never thought a place could sink into my system so effortlessly. A few walks downtown. A few coffee dates with photographers I’d never met. An awesome church. Experiencing [almost] all of the seasons in one place. BAM. It will always have part of me.

One of the many places I never went was The Local. A cute little restaurant with a big push for local, seasonal, perfect food. I shot a rehearsal dinner there a week ago and absolutely adored this place. Look at how perfect the light was – and I love the wine is displayed as art, but not in a way that is too formal. This room was perfect for the small celebration.

Tags: Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, rehearsal dinner, the local
Posted in Wedding | No Comments »

Tyler + Kasey | Castle Hill Cider Wedding

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

We decided to meet in person a few months before the wedding. We sat at Starbucks and talked a though the wedding day, and Tyler kept talking about, “if it rains…” In fact, both of them had decided to make extensive plan Bs – rain plans. More than any other couple I’ve met. Well, they must have had some sort of wedding planning sixth sense about that because it poured all day Saturday. Although not the ideal wedding day weather, Kasey and Tyler wed at the UVA Chapel. Kudos to Kristen, my second, who helped Kasey stay dry as she ran to the church to meet her groom. Tensions were immediately relieved as they were pronounced husband and wife and they celebrated late into the night with one of the best DJ’s in town. After a yummy seasonal meal from The Local, a few donuts from Carpe Donuts, the couple ran off to Aruba, umbrella in hand!

Planning + Coordination // Events with Panache
Church // UVA Chapel
Reception // Castle Hill Cider
Florist // Blue Ridge Floral Design
Catering // The Local
Cake // Albemarle Baking Company
DJ // John Garland
Dress // White Swan Bridal

** The photo of the rain textures, and the photo of the donuts are from my second, Kristen! Thanks Kristen for getting soaked a few times for me during this rainy wedding!**

Tags: carpe donuts, castle hill cider, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, kasey, tyler, wedding
Posted in Wedding | 2 Comments »

Laura + Pete | A Downtown Charlottesville Wedding

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

When I walked into the hotel room, it was spotless. No sign of a wedding except for a beautiful white dress hanging on the door and a bottle of champagne chilling in a metal ice bucket. Laura must have heard the door open because she came around to corner of the attached room. She had her hair and make-up done, and she was wearing a “Bride” shirt and a huge smile. “I cleaned up the room a little, and moved all of our stuff into the bedroom.” I loved her during our engagement session, and I loved her more now.

Her and Pete are a super fun couple. I guess that’s what you get when you combine a VaTech and JMU grad. They married at Laura’s mother’s church and headed back to the Omni for their reception. It was a night of connecting with friends from the past and celebrating a new future. I got to work with some fabulous vendors, and Marcy of Marcy May Photography came along as my second! It was a blast!

Reception: Omni Hotel
DJ: Allison Kinney, allisonmariekinney@gmail.com
Hair/Makeup: Bristles
Cake: Chandler’s Bakery
Dress: Church Street Bridal, Atelier Diagonal
Bridesmaids: Rosalin’s Bridal, Bill Levkoff

AHH! I love this shot. You can see the storm clouds rolling on in… Laura, you’re so stunning!

The Omni has glass elevators, and after their rose-petal getaway, I grabbed some shots of the couple inside the elevator as they went up. It was SUPER dark, and the flash reflected off of the glass, so I had to turn it off. I’m so please with the effect of using available light! You can see the onlookers, the trees from the Omni gardens, and the couple as they go up. Congrats you two!!!!

Tags: blue and pink, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Downtown Charlottesville, Downtown Mall, Laura, Omni, Pete
Posted in Wedding | 4 Comments »

Sarah + Ilya | King Family Vineyard Wedding

Thursday, July 5th, 2012

The power was out all across the region after those storms. I arrived at The Boar’s Head where Sarah would be getting ready and was informed that the Chapel had no power and that there were two trees down blocking the road on the way to King Family Vineyard. But Sarah handled the situation so well – she didn’t even seem worried. And Ilya? Mainly worried about memorizing his vows. The day went brilliantly. Even with power outages and 100 degree chapels and downed trees, Sarah and Ilya were married and celebrated in style. The King Family Vineyard was as beautiful as I’ve ever seen it. The night stayed clear, and my second shooter, Abby, and I had a great time shooting this awesome event. Thanks to the wonderful vendors who rocked out this event:

Caterer: Harvest Moon
Florist: Family friend
Band: Rosetta Stone
Makeup Artist: Deena Hambsch, deenahambsch@yahoo.com
Bride and Bridal Party Hair – Salon Cielo
Bridal Gown: J Crew Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: J Crew

Tags: Alisandra Photography, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Ilya, J.Crew, King Family Vineyard, Sarah, summer wedding
Posted in Wedding | 3 Comments »

Change

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.
~ Paul Tillich, German Theologian

I have been realizing lately that I am much better at the concept of OBEDIENCE than I am at DISCERNMENT. And that might be true of everyone, but the realization just manifested itself in my life. Chad and I have been writing pros and cons lists, having long moments of thinking. And talking. We’ve been mourning potential loss and celebrating potential gain. Thanking God for opportunity and wishing it away at the same time. Over the next few weeks, I’ll have more details, but as for now, I just ask for your prayers in the area of being confident in making decisions.

Tags: boots, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, choices, decision, fall, thoughts
Posted in Personal, Wedding | 1 Comment »

Laura + Pete | Downtown Charlottesville Engagement

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

I’m starting to experience how fun it is to shoot in the same town in which you live. I love having a chance to scout out a few places to shoot before I arrive. The shoot goes by SO fast because only a small percentage of time is spent finding the light. Laura and Pete are getting married in Charlottesville next year and I’m so excited we’re working together. Laura is a JMU grad, and like most JMU brides, she is AWESOME. So energetic, and as a mutual friend described, “A bubbly little thing!” We had a blast wandering around. Laura loved different textures so we tried to incorporate those as much as possible! Pete, you’re great too. I think I made you sit in mud at some point. Thanks for putting up with me! Again, so excited for this wedding!

Tags: charlottesville engagement, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Downtown Mall, fall, JMU bride, Laura, morning engagement, Pete
Posted in Engagement | 4 Comments »

Claudia + TR | Snowy Northern Virginia Wedding

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

The only bride I’ll ever meet who was glad it snowed on her wedding day. A wedding that was supposed to be outside. Because TR proposed on the ski slopes, she was happy to have the snow as a little reminder. She giggled as she told me how he fell a few times and was afraid, not that he’d lost it, but that he might have broken it. I learned through a teary speech from the the best man and brother of the groom just how perfect these two are for each other. They seem to bring out the best. Claudia and TR, congrats!!

Thanks to Landsdowne for the beautiful setting and Melissa Schwartz Jones for the Bridal Party’s hair and make-up.

LOVE the photo of Claudia and her dad captured by my second, Sarah.

I heard lots of “Black and Yellow” type songs…HERE WE GO.

A girl can always use a good spinning dress…

Tags: Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Claudia, cold, fall, Landsdowne, Northern Virginia, snow, spinning, steelers, TR
Posted in Wedding | 2 Comments »

Nikki + Corey | Charlottesville Engagement

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Although I’ve been in Charlottesville since May, I’ve not had but a hand full of shoots here. It takes time to let people know I’m here! Nikki and Corey are getting married in Fredericksburg next year, but were excited to come to Charlottesville for their engagement session for “something different. We drove around looking for parks with parking and water. The water was the tricky one. I spent time on google maps looking for little blue dots and lines representing rivers and ponds. It was great to get out and explore my still-new city! Anyway, Nikki and Corey arrived and off we went to the locations I had scouted out. Nikki and Corey are so fun together. They have a child-like, playful kind of love. They make each other laugh, and are clearly so right for each other. Enjoy these images!!