This engagement session is so special and near to my heart, my two good friends Kara and Landon are engaged!!! They have been together for 7 years (although to many it feels like 70) and I think the entire East Coast felt the shake of excitement when Landon proposed. I knew about his proposal a few weeks before it happened and thank goodness I left Virginia Beach the day after he told me because it was SO HARD not to tear up when Kara walked over. It was finally happening!
f you’re not familiar with Anderson East, he’s the kind of musician who’s voice feels like it’s from another era. Coated with that raspy, “I’ve been drinking whisky and smoking for decades but can hit every note as if I’m the one that created it.” He doesn’t really fit into a ‘genre’ per se, but rather mixes a few into every song, including early rock and roll, gospel, and soul. However, I think so many people are drawn to his music for his incredibly passionate songwriting. No painful detail of his life is off limits but he composes each song in a way where you’re dancing but realizing that “oh, this isn’t a happy song.”
Kayla and I reunited in Uptown for a quick urban-inspired shoot and I could have spent ALL DAY with her! We had so much fun finding different nooks of the city and if you're in Charlotte, I highly recommend just parking and walking around the city. The walls, the textures, the light, it's all so inspiring!
I've never been to Colorado, never seen the Rockies, and definitely never seen a ski slope. So when Krista asked me to photograph her wedding day in Breckenridge, Colorado, I'm pretty sure I said "HELL YES" before she finished typing. I've been waiting for this trip for months, much like Nate & Krista and it surely didn't disappoint. Krista and I were talking back and forth frequently before the big day and one thing that kept coming up was "I hope it snows.." The forecast wasn't looking good in the weeks leading up, no snow and highs in the upper 40's and sometimes in the 50's. Although I was just excited to be there, part of me really wanted it to snow too. And then something amazing happened....
The Cavalier Hotel underwent an $80 million, five year renovation and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel was originally built in 1927 and painstaking work went into preserving a majority of the original elements and materials. This hotel is nothing like anything in Virginia Beach and exactly what attracted the Marriott Autograph Collection to add it to their list of esteemed properties across the country. If you're looking for a beach vacation in Virginia Beach, this hotel is a top destination.
The Home of the Strange Tour came to central Alabama on Tuesday, September 26 at The BJCC Concert Hall. When the tour was announced, it felt like an instant sell out. Young the Giant has been well established in the alternative pop rock scene for a good time now thanks to the single “My Body” and Cold War Kids made waves a decade ago with their hit “Hang Me Up To Dry”. However, when you think of an alternative music scene, Birmingham, Alabama wouldn’t ever come to mind, and Tuesday’s concert proved just that.
I've known Kayla since she was a wee-little youngin' and the fact that she's married and starting her own family is beyond belief. However, I sigh with big relief because her now-husband Charles is the type of guy that Dad's lay awake and pray for their daughters to find. Both Kayla and Charles are SO full of faith and love, they just radiate happiness and it was even more so evident on their wedding day.
My mom and I flew 2,000 miles to the small island of Barbados. What we saw, ate, and experienced was something far more than a tropical oasis and more along the lines of a cultural awakening. It was an incredible trip, one that I'll never forget.. thanks in large part to these photos.
Nestled among the rolling hills of The Old Mill Farm in Bedford, VA is the most picturesque setting for a summer wedding. Puffy cotton clouds dotted the blue sky but don't let them fool you, we kept our eyes on the weather all day. From a 60% chance of rain, we were ready for whatever happened but not a single drop fell. It was the hottest wedding I have ever photographed but perhaps among the most beautiful as well.
One of my favorite movies is Sweet Home Alabama (bare with me, this is relevant) - I've always loved that movie and it basically makes me a soppy mop every time I watch it. You know the ending scene where it's raining and storming but they both realized that they're so in love and then comes the epic line "So why do you wanna marry me anyway?" "So I can kiss you anytime I want." (Here's a link for a refresher) Well Alicia and Matt had one of these moments during their ceremony.
Nestled between the soft rolling hills of the Richmond suburbs is a beautiful little farm called Seven Springs. Straight out of the colonial period, this farm boasts an impressive campus of 1700 farmhouse, barns, cottages, and farm animals galore. From reading this, you wouldn't immediately think of wedding venue but after photographing there twice, I wouldn't think of anything else. This little corner of Virginia is paradise, where baby goats roam (in cages of course) and the light never seems to disappoint.
I have a love/hate relationship with Blink 182. I love them because, well, they're Blink 182. I hate them because they seem to have discovered the secret to eternal youth, or atleast their music does. Every time I hear Travis tear up the drums or Mark shred the bass, I'm instantly transported to 1999. This band does. not. age. While Tom DeLonge's absent still sits on the forefront of most fan's hearts, we can all agree that Matt Skiba has stepped up and filled the much anticipated role. While all of these guys are in the 40's, they keep putting on one hell of a show with seemingly no end in sight.
If you've never seen a show at the newly renovated Lyric Theatre in Birmingham, AL -- add it to your list. On the outside, this unassuming brick building would pass as any other city building but on the inside is this restored 1914 performing arts theatre with as much character as history. Although seating remained separate, this stunning theatre also serves as the first venue in the south that allowed both whites and blacks to watch the same performance together. It's an important piece of Southern history and was a beautiful backdrop to the soulful and folksy sounds of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
'A mermaid marries a diver' was the theme of the day, Dylan being a diver in the Coast Guard and Elizabeth, well, does anyone actually need a reason to be a mermaid? A love of the beach and the water shared between them was evident in all aspects of their big day! From the stunning bridesmaids dresses to the tables at the reception, the dream team of vendors transformed the Hilton Garden Inn into a beautiful nautical oasis!
I've known Monica for what feels like my entire life. She was my cheer coach from my awkward pre-teen years all the way until my senior year of high school. She moved away to be awesome here in Birmingham and fate brought me here too. I obviously had to reunite with her but I wanted to do something more EPIC.
It's really no surprise, I am terrible at communicating with my clients. There is SO much information, especially when it comes to brides, that it does always seem to slip about where my favorite place to print your photos yourself. It's my #1 most asked question so here it is, my favorite lab!
I'll be 100% honest here, I have never ever been/photographed/experienced/or know anything about Indian weddings and culture. I went in completely oblivious to all traditions and I felt like I was so unprepared and a little embarrassed. I figured I would miss shooting something or miss some small little detail simply because I didn't know about it -- however, the Patel family and all of their friends were SO kind and gracious, they truly made me feel like I was just another member of their massive family and made sure that I knew exactly what was going to happen and when. It was such a beautiful day, absolutely no expense spared, and boy did it show
I met Casey & Derek in a very serendipitous way. Their original photographer (*shout out* Skylar Scott Photography!) found out she was expecting and asked if she could refer them to me. I said absolutely, because I love Skylar, and I couldn't be more thankful that I did! The Signature at West Neck is one of my favorite venues I have ever photographed. There is seriously a photogenic view in every turn of this golf course. We had the opportunity to take the golf cart out and about and I was just in awe at the amount of places I wanted to shoot. It was a stunning September day, albeit a wee toasty, but every bead of sweat was so worth it, we had perfect light all day long.
J'Aimee and John contacted me a few months ago and were looking for a photographer for their elopement in Norfolk. I had already reached my capacity for weddings this year but I was available on their date and an elopement was something that I haven't photographed yet, so I couldn't say no and I am SO glad I didn't.
An open letter to all of you hard workers juggling a full time job while pursuing your part time passions on the side. You aren't doing it wrong, you aren't alone, and you ARE doing enough.
Katy & Blake have one of those love stories that make for a really great sappy love movie. They've been together for many years, the military kept them apart for awhile, they reunited, been through many deployments but they are finally getting their happily ever after. When I first met Katy, her radiating smile and personality made me know immediately that this was a girl I wanted to be friends with. I was lucky enough to work with her for a few months but even after she moved offices, we remained friends and before we knew it, she was wedding planning! I was beyond thrilled when she asked me to capture their wedding day because I knew Katy would pick the most gorgeous venue and I was so right.
yler & Madison's wedding was absolutely perfect. The day started off overcast but the VERY second we stepped outside for portraits, the skies cleared and it was nothing but sunshine the rest of the day.
Wedding season is in full swing and I can't get enough of these warm weather weddings. However, with warm weather comes with the chance of thunderstorms, rain, the whole nine yards. The forecast for Caisee & Brad's big day was trivial.. 60% chance of storms. During the middle of the day, it rained cats and dogs and the winds gusted but then it miraculously cleared up and we had the most beautiful diffused sunlight right in time for their bride and groom portraits!
This engagement session is so special and near to my heart, my two good friends Kara and Landon are engaged!!! They have been together for 7 years (although to many it feels like 70) and I think the entire East Coast felt the shake of excitement when Landon proposed. I knew about his proposal a few weeks before it happened and thank goodness I left Virginia Beach the day after he told me because it was SO HARD not to tear up when Kara walked over. It was finally happening!