Making Use...

Christina and Charlie

Christina and Charlie are getting married in October here in Charlottesville.  

Though they live in Northern Virginia now, they decided to return to their alma mater for their engagement portraits.  We started off in the Pavilion Gardens and then made our way up to the Rotunda.  Then there was a quick change of attire (for them, not for me) before we walked down to the Corner for some different scenery.  

I love talking with couples during portrait sessions.  I usually want to know some details about the upcoming wedding, and I always like to hear stories about how they met.  Christina did not disappoint when she told me that she used to work at Ragged Mountain Running Shop and that Charlie came in to be fitted for new running shoes shortly after they met.  

"I was so flustered!" she admitted.  

"Yeah, the shoes ended up being the wrong size," Charlie concluded.

Carrie and Adam

Carrie and Adam are getting married today!  

A couple of weeks ago we spent an evening wandering around UVA, since the ceremony is at the UVA Chapel.  We also went to Para Coffee on the Corner for a little refreshment and some chatting.  They have cute, vintage chairs and sofas at Para (courtesy of Circa!) that I are as photogenic as they are comfy.  

Carrie and Adam picked one of my favorite places for the reception...  Can you guess where?!

Mary and Dan

Mary and Dan are getting married at a vineyard in August.  For their engagement portraits we ran around the Lawn and Pavilion gardens before heading down to the Corner. 

Mary and Dan live in North Carolina now, but they met in Charlottesville.  During their courtship they lived for a while in Bryn Mawr, PA.  Shocker, right?  It's not very often that I tell people I went to Bryn Mawr College and they say, "we lived just down Montgomery Avenue!"  It is always nice to make unexpected connections with people.  My strongest connection with this happy couple, however, is that Mary's dad owns the photo lab that I frequent at least once per day during the work week.  So he actually saw the film from this shoot before I did!

I love including pets in portraits and Mary and Dan's dog, Oakley, was a star.  I wonder if she will be at the wedding...?! 

Laura and Phillip

Laura and Phillip are getting married in October.  The wedding will be in Laura's hometown in Virginia but for their engagement portraits I drove down I-95 to their current home in Raleigh, NC.  

Driving around the cute neighborhoods that afternoon I was surprised to see that Raleigh was a few weeks further into spring than Charlottesville.  Dogwoods, azaleas, hydrangeas, EVERYTHING was in bloom!  We started off in a park, then moved downtown to the cobblestone streets of the historic City Market, and finished our session on a bridge very close to their home, where the urban skyline stretches across the view.

I loved hearing about their wedding plans and look forward to photographing the big day (oh just wait!) in the fall.

Molly and Tim

Molly and Tim will be married next year in Ohio, but since they live in Charlottesville, they decided we would make their engagement portraits here, around the Downtown area.  We wandered along Water Street, the Mall, and Court Square, enjoying afternoon light and mild fall temperatures. 

They were very cute and shy as we began the portrait session, not quite sure where to look or what to do.  This reaction is quite common amongst non-professional models (i.e. most everyone), though you see it less in brides and grooms--I think the "costuming" of the day helps take some of the edge off.  PDA in street clothes, however, takes a little more courage. 

But the yellow light shone a great golden color on Molly's hair, and they really were quite cute--I could not help but exclaim about what I was seeing through my lens...  They quickly warmed up to the idea of being cuddly in public.  Most everyone does.

Mindy and Eric

Mindy and Eric are getting married next fall in D.C. but since they met in New York City, they decided to spend an afternoon wandering around Manhattan for their engagement portraits.  I was excited at the opportunity to photograph in New York again because it's been two year (2 YEARS!) since I last photographed there.  

Mindy had told me she wanted to shoot in the West Village and at various locations in Central Park so the day before we met, I scouted out those areas.  Cobblestone streets, urban architecture, orange leaves and afternoon light... Looked pretty perfect to me.  

When we coordinated our meeting on the morning of our session, she suggested we find each other at the intersection of Gansevoort and Greenwich Streets, which is EXACTLY where I'd been hoping to shoot!

The weather turned chilly and windy just before we got started and Mindy was a real trooper to run around the city with bare arms and high heels.  "Don't worry," she told me, "I do this all the time!"  And I believe her because she never stopped smiling.

 

Briana & Kori

Briana and Kori started dating as teenagers in Hawaii.  Now adults living on the east coast, they welcomed their first child, Jackson, this spring.  Last weekend they were married on a gorgeous, sunny evening at the beautiful home of Kori's aunt outside of Charlottesville.  

In late August we wandered around downtown Charlottesville and took some engagement pictures.  Baby Jackson participated for some shots and waited quietly and VERY patiently in his stroller for others.  

Their wedding celebration included lots of personality and youthful details, though I won't divulge more without sharing the photographs!  Here are a few hints to get the imagination going: bright colors, beautiful people, a dash of attitude, and a patient little baby in a tux!

Pictures to follow...

Conner & Ben

Conner and Ben are getting married at the UVA Chapel in October. They brought their dog, Penelope, along for the shoot and though she was beautiful and well-behaved, she was not particularly interested in being a part of the photographs. Eventually, Penelope got picked up to go play in the country, which, for most dogs, is far more exciting thank posing, and we continued with our shoot around the Downtown Mall.

Earlier that week, I had driven down Market Street and noticed the gorgeous purple wisteria growing down one of the buildings. "THAT is where we will take some pictures!" I told myself. Luckily, Conner and Ben were into the idea.

Conner and Ben shared a few of their wedding details with me that afternoon and though I won't divulge what I learned before the actual event, I really look forward to documenting their day and photographing some of the unique elements they have planned...!

Heather and Morgan

Heather and Morgan are getting married next July at the UVa Chapel. Since they both went to the University, the plan is to get lots of great wedding party shots on the Lawn following the ceremony, before moving onto their reception at Veritas Vineyard (www.veritaswines.com). When it came time to choose a setting for their engagement shoot, Heather decided to start on the Lawn because, as she pointed out, "It might rain in July!"

Although our November afternoon was a little overcast, we managed to eke out a bit of sunshine and play with some fall colors.

Then we moved on to the Monticello Trail for a more natural setting.

Heather and Morgan quickly warmed up to the camera, even when the temperature outside might have called for another layer of clothing. I look forward to photographing their wedding next summer when the air will (surely) be warmer, the skies will (hopefully) be bluer, and all their friends and family can join them in front of the camera.