colleen & david // charlottesville, va wedding
Today I'm so excited to share an amazing wedding I got to shoot last month: the wedding of Colleen and David! Colleen is the SECOND former president of my college feminist club whose wedding I've done (and I plan on doing more, way more, in fact it's required that if you were in FIFE at UVa you must hire me to do your wedding photography) and her boo David is an artist and all-around amazing [feminist] guy. They had their ceremony at The Haven in Charlottesville and then headed over to Old Met Hall (like Sarah and Brendan!) for some dinner, cupcakes, and tons of dancing and fun! Extra special details of this wonderful night include: vegan cupcakes from Pearl's, amazing honey party favors (reminded me of Nathalie and Joseph's wedding!), a hand-painted wall runner (photo below), and an all-around relaxed and celebratory vibe!
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am SO LUCKY to be able to work with couples like Colleen and David, who care more about having a fair and equitable partnership (and a party to celebrate that) than about spending tons of money trying to design The Perfect Day (TM). I think you'll see in the photos that they were able to put together a simple, beautiful, meaningful, sincere, and of course SUPER FUN evening for their community. Thanks for having me, y'all!
bernice & aaron // maymont park wedding richmond va
Today I'm so excited to finally share the first wedding I shot of 2014! This wedding was simple, sophisticated, and most importantly: tiny! Bernice and Aaron opted for a classic look, gorgeous setting, and immediate-family-only guest list, which I think makes it really unique. Many brides love designing every aspect of a gigantic wedding, but this couple opted for minimalism: forgoing flowers and bridesmaids and instead focusing on hand-made paper goods (Bernice letterpressed them herself!) and spending quality time with their family. Afterwards, we took some time to traipse around Richmond and do portraits!
Behind the Scenes: My Wedding Checklist
It's Friday! Yay! Today I've been inspired by my friend Tiffany of Tiffany Heidenthal Photography, who just posted her own Wedding Checklist, to share a little bit of the behind-the-scenes that goes into prepping for shooting a wedding. As she points out, photographers don't just show up, snap away, enjoy the free food and drink, sing along to every word of the Cupid Shuffle, and afterwards go home and pump out a ton of baller images. No, no, no. I distinctly remember finishing my Very First Wedding and feeling (a) unbelievably exhausted and (b) surprised at how exhausted I was. Little did I know that running around, carrying gear, corralling family members, and taking awesome photos takes A LOT OF WORK and, yes, A LOT OF PREPARATION. So here's what I do to prepare myself for tackling the amazing awesomeness of photographing badass wedding bashes!
TWO DAYS BEFORE WEDDING
Absolutely stop looking at other photographers' work/portfolios and comparing myself to them. I am really bad about this!
Study my "Swoonworthy Shots" folder - a collection of my own images that I think REALLY NAILED IT. These remind me of what I'm capable of from an artistic perspective and also what I'm good at from a technical perspective.
DAY BEFORE WEDDING
Charge all batteries.
Format all memory cards
CLEAN ALL THE THINGS
Pack bags (I use an ONA Union Street bag and a Lowepro Slingshot for all my camera goodies, plus an extra bag filled with "just in case" items like snacks, water bottles, safety pins, and Advil.)
I always try to do some kind of relaxing self-care the night before a wedding: either a nice Gilmore Girls watching sesh, an Aesop face mask, a manicure, or similar
Double/triple check logistical details and shot lists to make sure I know where I need to be and when.
DAY OF WEDDING
LEAVE HOME/HOTEL SUPER EARLY. That is a big one for me — I want to make sure I give myself enough time to find the venue, park, get a lay of the land, and ideally have about 5-10 minutes to just focus, breathe, and collect my thoughts.
Grab a coffee (but not a giant one).
ROCK OUT.
And there you have it! Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes action later in the summer, or for even more of The Real Deal, follow me on instagram or like my page on Facebook! If you have any questions about my process, don't hesitate to email me!
3 Actually Useful Wedding Planning Tips (from a kickass wedding planner)
Christine with her dog Frank
Today in Two Spoons land we're kicking off a very exciting interview series featuring local RVA vendors who work in the wedding biz but don't have their heads stuffed full of tulle. YAY! First up, the amazing Christine Haines, planner/owner at Woodgrain and Lace and owner of the ultra-chic, completely fabulous brand new bridal shop, Urban Set Bride. Christine is a total dynamo and I knew from the first time I saw her work that I'd adore her. Today I asked Christine about the top three mistakes she sees couples making as they plan and now her tips are coming to you FREE as three delicious morsels of advice that you won't find anywhere else. You're welcome.
TIP #1: Don’t spend money on details that no one will remember.
Think about the last three weddings you went to and write down what you remember from those. Now think about the three things you want your guests to remember about your wedding and put your money towards that.
"I see so many couples stress out about recreating their Pinterest wedding, and most of those details will go unnoticed. Keep it simple, personal, and fun. At the end of the day, it’s a party."
TIP #2: Know your limits and understand where your frustrations might pop up, so that you can plan on how to avoid them.
Everyone is going to want to help, but that doesn’t mean they know what you want or how to do it. The best part about hiring a planner is you have someone to stay organized, and stay firm with your family members. You won’t have to be bossy and meltdown because your Aunt Mildred won’t stop asking you questions when she is just “trying to help.”
"I have a client who has a huge family and everyone wants to help. I created a detailed timeline, and assigned every family member with a task. Everyone has my cell phone number and they know exactly where they need to be, how they can help, and have firm instructions to relax and have fun after their task is complete. The couple isn’t bombarded with questions and the whole family feels like they contributed to the day."
TIP #3: Be very aware of your time and personality when choosing a venue.
With the plethora of “wedding porn” out there, the pressure to have an amazing offbeat venue with DIY amazingness scattered throughout. There is no shame in choosing a popular venue that doesn’t require much from you. The biggest wedding expense (aside from food and booze) is tables, chairs, linens, and décor. This stuff can really add up, so save yourself the trouble if you know you are going to be overwhelmed by the choices and the expense. Restrict yourself to a few DIY projects and stop looking at Pinterest at least thirty days before your wedding.
"I support a 'less is more' attitude to event décor and planning. I help create celebrations that represent the couple, not this creepy princess mindset that tradition tends to project."
BONUS TIPS (ones you may have heard before but are still worth sharing):
Hire a planner! Christine's goal as a planner is to exceed her fee in savings back to the client. Hiring someone who does this 14 plus times a year will save you money and headache in the long haul. Planners have vendor friends (see: this current article you're reading right now) that will cut them a deal, can review vendor contracts to ensure there isn’t a clause that will sneak up on you later, and will ask the questions you wouldn’t think to ask.
Take the advice of others lightly. Weddings, just like pregnancy, have become an outlet for everyone and their mother (literally) to offer their two cents whether you like it or not. Graciously thank but stay true to yourself.
maureen & nathaniel // old town alexandria engagement shoot
When I met Maureen and Nathaniel at Busboys and Poets in Washington DC, they were the third of four appointments I had on that pretty hectic day. Fortunately, my meeting with them didn't feel like work at all--it felt like hanging out with old friends! We ate tasty baked goods, joked about wedding colors, and laughed a lot. It was awesome. Needless to say I was really looking forward to doing their engagement photos (which had to be rescheduled once due to late-April sleet in DC. Sleet).
We spent the evening in Old Town(e?) Alexandria, soaking up the lovely backdrops and charming views of the river. Oh, and there were some photos happening too. The only mishap was that we lost the tiny chalkboard we brought along...but we're sure it found a nice home!
sarah & reid // suffolk, va. wedding
Remember Sarah & Reid from their Charlottesville engagement photos? The lovely couple tied the knot December 29, 2013 in a beautiful ceremony at the First Lady of Suffolk, in Suffolk, Va, and we're excited to share a few photos from the wedding.
Together since high school, Sarah and Reid’s wedding was an elegant affair with touches of Christmas lingering like warm cheer. The nuptials were officiated by the groom’s father, Pastor Dan Kerly of Crosswater Presbyterian Church.
We snapped the photos with the couple's interests in mind: Enjoy the warm, whimsical palette inspired by Wes Anderson and nods to the classic film era.
But most importantly, CONGRATULATIONS to the couple!
4 DIY Infused Liquors for Unique Signature Cocktails
Feeling a little crafty? Want to experiment with some handmade booze options for your wedding reception, bridal shower, or just because? Have we got the project for you!
If you ask me, the world of flavored liquors has really gotten a little out of hand. Aside from bonkers flavors (Pecan Pie?) and questionable corporate partnerships (Cinnabon? Really?), the majority of flavored options are full of artificial everything. So if you want something with a little more pizazz and a lot fewer additives, here are four options for DIY flavored liquors (and recommended signature cocktails) that will knock your socks off!
1. Herbed Vodka
What you'll need:
an airtight jar (we got ours at AC Moore for $0.99 each)
decent vodka (enough to fill said jar)
fresh herbs (we used basil, mint, dill, and lemongrass)
plus a tiny bit of fresh ginger and a slice or two of lemon
How to do it:
Fill your jar with all your herbs and muddle them well.
Add your slice(s) of lemon, pour in the vodka, close jar, and give it a little shakey shake.
Store in a cool, dark place no more than 24 hours (or the herbs will make the vodka bitter).
After that, strain out your mix-ins and enjoy!
Best in:
Bloody Mary's and any cocktail that has apple or grapefruit juice.
2. Ginger Bourbon
What you'll need:
an airtight jar (we got ours at AC Moore for $0.99 each)
decent bourbon (enough to fill said jar)
fresh ginger
How to do it:
Fill your jar with a ton of sliced ginger.
Pour in bourbon, close jar, and give it a little shakey shake.
Store in a cool, dark place for 3-5 days (or as long as you like).
After that, strain out your ginger and enjoy!
Best in:
Juleps, hot toddys or any cocktail that calls for Fireball (we prefer the burn of ginger to the burn of cinnamon!)
3. Pinapple and Sage Tequila
What you'll need:
an airtight jar (we got ours at AC Moore for $0.99 each)
decent silver tequila (enough to fill said jar)
fresh pineapple
fresh sage
How to do it:
Fill your jar with three parts cubed pineapple for every one part sage.
Pour in tequila, close jar, and give it a little shakey shake.
Store in a cool, dark place for 2-3 days.
After that, strain out your mix-ins and enjoy!
Best in:
Margaritas or any cocktail that has Grand Marnier
4. Mango Rum
What you'll need:
an airtight jar (we got ours at AC Moore for $0.99 each)
decent rum (enough to fill said jar)
fresh mango
How to do it:
Fill your jar halfway with cubed mango.
Pour in rum, close jar, and give it a little shakey shake.
Store in a cool, dark place for 2-3 days.
After that, strain out your mix-ins and enjoy!
Best in:
Mojitos or any fruity punch
sarah & reid // charlottesville, va engagement
My first meeting with Reid, before he was officially my client, was magical. Unbeknownst to me, he was in Richmond for the Neutral Milk Hotel concert at the National, a show that I had tried in vain to get tickets for. To add insult to injury, the coffee shop where we met up was staffed with employees who were excitedly discussing their VIP ticket access to the show; needless to say I was bumming about it. However, when I asked Reid about why he was in Richmond (instead of Charlottesville where he and Sarah live) and he told me about the show, he also added: I actually have an extra ticket; do you want it?
So I knew it was a [photography] match made in heaven! Later, when I met Sarah and realized what a wonderful person she is and what an absolutely perfect couple they are, I was even more thrilled! We spent a short, rainy afternoon in Azalea Park in Charlottesville, snapping away in the light snow. The results are adorably early-winter-y (perfect since they had a Christmas wedding!) and ever-so-slightly Wed Anderson-y (at their request). Enjoy!
leah & seth // roanoke, va elopement
I was so giddy when Seth reached out about the elopement he and Leah were planning. I'm all about pretty outdoor celebrations of love, and the fact that they wanted me to come down to just outside my hometown to capture their special day was icing on the cake. It turns out they have a "special spot" on the Blue Ridge Parkway and wanted to do a private ceremony officiated by their friend who had been (online) ordained. It was, in a word, beautiful. But more than that, it was thoughtful and meaningful and perfectly suited to them, from the tops of their heads (and Leah's DIY hairdo) to the tips of their toes (Seth's were covered in hand-knit and charmingly mismatched socks). Seth and Leah: THANK YOU for inviting me to your lovely afternoon!
nathalie & joseph // [post-wedding] engagement session // brooklyn, ny
Autumn might very well be my favorite time of year to take photos. The light is beautiful, the foliage color is just stunning, and the clothes are awesome and cozy. Fall lends itself well to walks in the park, snuggling, and cider. So it's winning all around!
Last month I visited NYC and spent an afternoon with the delightful Nathalie and Joseph (whose incredible wedding you can see here) to do some [post-wedding] engagement photos in Prospect Park. These two lovebirds showed me the place where the proposal happened, and we even stood on the bridge awhile watching another couple get ready to be married at the Boathouse. Adorable!
