Hi, friends!

About Alisandra Photography

Hey friends! My name is Ali, and welcome to my blog!

I am a Wedding Photographer based in Richmond, Virginia. I try to keep this baby as up to date as I can with recent shoots, personal thoughts, and the random, fun little things life brings. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to visit. I really appreciate it. Please make yourself at home and enjoy your time here!

Questions or Comments? ali@alisandraphoto.com

Tag: ‘Richmond’



Marriage Monday | Girl Time

Monday, September 24th, 2012

So I’m back from a weekend of a wedding and some portrait shoots. My feet are still swollen, but I’m off them for a few days of editing, burning DVDs, packaging photos, uploading galleries, and of course, a little football mixed in. Football is something Chad and I love watching together. Our “shows” go out the window when football is on. He is caught up in his 4 FFLs, and I’m a huge Redskin’s fan – so I root against any team that will make their standing lower. [Although right now, you can't get much lower than last... hail to the Redskins].

But although we love watching football together, I crave some girl time. I’ve never been super girly, but I love to sit around at coffee shops or on rooftops, or at a restaurant that doesn’t mind, talking for hours. You’ve read before in one of my other blog posts that girls just talk a lot. So the other night my good friend Rachel invited me over for an evening of rooftop chatting. We watched the sunset, gossiped about our husbands [nothing bad, Chad and Caleb, nothing bad], and dreamed of tropical vacations and shopping trips to New York all the while knowing that our best bet for vacationing would be a local camping trip – which we were equally excited about. But during that time, Chad had a delightful evening of playing on his old Nintendo and bingeing on Dominos with one of his guy friends. We need our time apart as much as we need our time together. We have different interests and needs, some of which can only be fulfilled by our friends.

Jacqueline | Richmond Virginia Portraits

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

The girls I met at CDIA are such an encouragement. I don’t know how to appropriately express my love for them, how much I love their work, and how much I want to keep them in my pocket so that we can share jokes, photography stuff, and, because we’re girls, clothes. We’re so different in our styles, but I have such a deep appreciation and love for their work!

Jacqueline one of these ladies. She is a wedding photographer based in DC, getting ready to make a huge move with her husband across country in a few months. I had the huge honor of shooting her wedding [it was one of the most beautiful weddings I've been to; Style Me Pretty picked it up!], and when it came time for her to update her portraits on her website, we decided to swap sessions. We used Richmond as our backdrop, including Can Can, a little french cafe in Carytown. Be sure you check out her work. Not only her wedding portfolio, but also her travel and lifestyle work. Girl’s got skills.

*Just as a note, some of these are edited with VSCO Film Presets. I’m still playing around with them, but let me know what you think!*

I was so inspired by this Anthropologie skirt! Such great movement.

Had me at hello…

Marriage Monday | Lucky Charms & Texas Toast Croutons

Monday, February 27th, 2012

I grew up in a home where we bought brand name food items. Not because we’re food snobs, but it was just our habit. Once I started shopping for myself, I realized I could buy store brand and save 20 cents here and there. Great Value canned corn really does taste the same as the Green Giant brand! But this isn’t a blog post about saving money. You see, Chad has some preferences. Texas Toast Croutons are a must. And I’ll admit, they are good. But I’m not a crouton girl. Leave the buttery baked bread off of the salad, please. But this is a non-negotiable for Chad. I tried to fight it at first; control his crouton intake, switch to the on-sale croutons… But it just lead to stupid fights about nothing.

Another must is ACTUAL Lucky Charms. The other day I bought Giant Brand Lucky Charms. Magical Mellows or something. I was laughed at, “You save money in the strangest ways,” said Chad. Yesterday I was accompanied to the grocery store where the General Mills brand was placed in the basket. Ok. Ok. I get the point. Although I’m convinced it’s a mind thing with some items, it’s not worth the petty fight.

Another About Me

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

I see these fun collages sometimes and I thought I’m make one today! It was sort of a challenge to myself to run around the house and find some things that I love, style, and photograph them. Meanwhile, you get to learn a little more about me! Do we have anything in common??

Glen Allen Office

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

After three weeks of living in Richmond, I’m pretty much settled in! One of the reasons we chose this apartment complex is because it had a two bedroom WITH an office! I immediately saw myself living here, working in this little office nook! There are no windows [sad, but good for having no distractions], enough floor space for a comfy rolly chair, and plenty of built in shelving. The desk is long and wide, fitting both of my computers and my printer. It really has been fabulous so far. I can’t wait until this summer when I can sit in here and edit with my pandora stations blasting.

Some details! An inspiration board and my dvd cases all lined up!

Broke down and got this adorable stamp from Rubber Stamps.

Office supplies + film.

Love having this photo in my office. One of my favorites!

It’s Time

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Tomorrow we load up the moving truck. Sunday we move to Richmond. I was really sad when I moved to Harrisonburg from Woodbridge. I wanted to stay with my parents. But I learned to love my college town and when the time came, I was sad to leave Harrisonburg! When we moved from Winston Salem, I was excited because I was moving closer to family. And I was excited to have a more permanent location. Charlottesville wasn’t my first choice, but I was happy it wasn’t some place in Alabama. Nothing against the Tide, I just wanted to be in Virginia!

This move took us by surprise. The decision was hard. We cried over it. [Such babies]. We are so thankful for the opportunity, yet we are just saddened to leave our friends, relationships, church, Carter’s Mountain, and even our apartment complex! I know that God is preparing a community for us to move into in Richmond, and I’m anxious to start building more relationships. But I’m so used to the small town feel of Charlottesville. Richmond is a different beast. It’s big! But here we go! Packed is our little life. Next time I blog, it will be from a two bedroom in Glen Allen!

Andy + Christy | Second Shooter

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

A second shooter, for those who aren’t familiar with the term, is a main photographer’s back-up and assistant. Not all weddings demand a second shooter, but it does relieve some nerves on those days where time is limited and there is a large number of people. Second shooters carry gear, get reaction shots, are in another location if two things are happening at once, shoot a lot of details, and work FOR the main photographer as part of their business. I LOVE second shooting. It is a sneak peek into the way another person does business. Even if its not for you, it is really awesome to observe and learn from others.

I second shot a Richmond, VA wedding with Shay of Shay Cochrane Photography [Facebook and Twitter...you should Like her and Follow her]. She is an amazing woman of the Lord, and a great photographer.

Things I learned from working with Shay:

  • Smile. Even when you’re behind the camera.
  • Do business in relation to how you do life. Don’t mix up your priorities.
  • Laugh. Because weddings are FUN!
  • Balance confidence and humility.
  • Dress cute and do your hair. Shay, besides the bride, was the cutest thing in Richmond! So stylish! :)

This wedding was just awesome. You can read Shay’s account on her blog! Its worth the read; I cried. Christy and Andy had a dating relationship that had taken many turns, but all seemed to lead to this day.

People were praising God, worshiping, and celebrating all morning. This day was covered in prayer for the couple and their marriage.

Seriously. I have never seen a couple have so much fun during their ceremony.

When I say fun, I mean a surprise gospel choir busting through the doors in a glorious rendition of O Happy Day.

Such a wonderful day of learning, photography, and love. O Happy Day, indeed.

 

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