Fall Weekday Wedding October 18, 2012

The Fall is very popular for Outdoor Weddings in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Sometimes finding a venue that isn't booked can be a challenge.  Planning your wedding ceremony during the week can offer more flexibility in your schedule and allow you choose a time when the foliage will be at its best.  I had the privilege of photographing a Weekday Wedding on Thursday October 18th at the Golden Horseshoe Inn in Stanardsville, Va.  The Bronze Color was just starting to show on the trees this year and the Sunlight came out on this overcast day just about the time the ceremony started.  These are some of my favorite shots of the day.  

 I loved the way the natural light was coming in through the window illuminating the veil and highlighting the Brides Curls.  I softened this photo with a white vignette.  

Pink shoes have been very popular for the last couple of years.  They make for a great accent.  I always try and get a shot of the brides shoes and something complimentary like the Wedding Bouquet. 

This was a nice close up of the Groom.  The ambient light from the window was really soft on this overcast day providing a very natural skin tone.

I brought in white mini pumpkins to shoot the wedding rings on.  They make for an elegant and unique Fall wedding statement.

Once the ceremony started, the sun popped out of the clouds as it seems to do for all of my brides this year. Only 5 days since my last wedding and I can really start to see change in the foliage.  The Hydrangea in the Brides Bouquet was a perfect match to the Fall Color of the Trees in the background.

The sun really softens and illuminates the Grooms hair in this shot.

This was a nice companion shot to the previous one of the Groom.  The veil looks beautiful providing another layer to this gorgeous picture.

The first kiss as Bride and Groom hold hands on this lovely day.

This photo has some lovely yellows in it and I used the sun as a soft back light for this shot taken immediately following the ceremony.

Seated photos can add an entirely different contour to the composition of a photograph.  We wanted to capture the natural beauty of the day for this wedding so we remained outside on the Wedding Deck and in the Gardens for many of our shots.

For this shot, we pulled the veil back over the Brides face and had her tuck her bouquet underneath to lift it off of her face and soften the lines.  Her smile says it all.  Beautiful Photo.

Family and Friends gathered at the edge of the deck for this group shot.  We spent a lot of time afterwards on many more family and bridal party configurations throughout the property.  Weekday weddings have a completely different feel and are a lot more laid back.  If you are planning a wedding during a busy time of year and are having a difficult time in scheduling either your venue or specific time frame, I highly recommend considering an weekday.

Let's Ride! October 13, 2012 Wedding

This year, I got the Fall Wedding Season started with a good ole Country Wedding at the Golden Horseshoe Inn in Stanardsville, Va.  The Bride and Groom really personalized their wedding to their tastes and it was fun for the entire family.  The ceremony was to take place late in the afternoon so a lot of photography was done before the couple took their vows.  The Inn looked marvelous as always and I hope you enjoy this selection of some of my favorite shots from the day.

 Freshly cut Hydrangea, Pumpkins, Corn, Straw and Apple Crates adorned the front of the building welcoming guests to the Wedding.

It wouldn't be a proper Country Wedding without Cowboy Boots.  The personalized signs make for a great element in the photo and help tell the story of the day.  This kind of detail is the Halmark of a great Wedding Planner going the extra effort to make even the simplest of details memorable.  Thanks again to Heather.

The selection of the angle for this picture really helps you focus on the Bride in her dressing suite without the extra detail of furnishings taking away from the photo. 

The boys with their father relaxing in the Men's suite before the big showdown.

The Wedding Cake sitting on a piece of cut timber.  A piece of Framed Chicken Wire helped give the reception area that extra County feel.

The Bride and Groom decorated and personalized this Wooden Wagon for their infant daughter to be rolled down the Aisle.  Burlap, Pink Ribbon, and a Monogrammed Heart tied into their theme made the moment fun for this weddings smallest participant.

 The Bride and Groom posed for some Outdoor Photography before the guests and family arrived.

Black and White really brightens up a photo especially in this shady spot under the trees.

Love the Stetson.  This was a candid shot of the Groom leaning on the front Pillars outside the Inn.

Bouquets always look elegant against the backdrop of the Bride's Wedding Dress.

 The Bride and Groom with hands joined. 

This little lady loved the attention she got in this set of wheels.  I love blending color with Black and White.  It gives a feel of old and new.  This wedding continued off into the Sunset and the promise of a new beginning for this family.  If it's a Happy Ending you're looking for....Let's Ride!

Scenic Portrait Photography

Location can really add sizzle to your Wedding Photography.  Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains offer limitless potential for Wedding Photography in a natural environment.  Following a recent ceremony, I had the opportunity to photograph the Bride, Groom, and Family from a scenic overlook on Skyline Drive.  I had scouted the location several days earlier at the couples request and was happy to get some great shots of this couple in the short time we had before heading back to the Golden Horseshoe Inn for the reception.  This Westward facing overlook offered a small ridge to the South that helped with shooting into the sun.  Although there were clouds constantly passing that day, the mountains in the background were well lit and offered a beautiful backdrop. 

The Bride and Groom photographed standing on the wall of the overlook.  The stone really adds to the natural feel of the photograph.  The clouds actually soften the backdrop and lend a texture you would not find in a clear sky.  Beautiful color.

The groom shown here in a tighter shot.  The black and white photography draws your attention to the subject and the dark suit.

The sun popped out from behind a cloud during this shot and really made the color pop a lot more.  The blues of the bouquet and shoes stand out in this photograph.  Still photographed on the wall, this angle helped in cutting out the blacktop of the parking area just inches below.  

This was just a candid shot of the bride having a little fun in between shots.  I loved this particular expression and it made for a nice shot.  Once again, the blue of the bouquet really stands out in this photo and ties in nicely with the sky and mountain backdrop.

Weddings are a beautiful day and the location was perfect for a quick get away for photography.  This photograph makes me think about looking to the future and the beautiful things that are in store for this couple in their new lives together.

For a change in the scenery, we moved to the grassy knoll behind the parking area.  As you can see, there was a lot more sun in this area but we were situated in a way that we could still photograph without having to stare directly into the light.  Most of the grass was matted down here due to the wind it is exposed to and it lends a soft feel to the foreground.

 

 The black and white shots of this same location allow the faces and bridal dress to stand out nicely.

Shooting in portrait allows you to get a tighter shot on a smaller group of people and allowed me to capture a little bit more detail of the tree limbs that I did not get while shooting in landscape. 

It was about time to head back to the wedding but I had to get a shot of the flower girl by herself in this awesome location. 

Sometimes the perfect background for a shot is as simple as the sky itself.  The wisps of cloud add perspective to the composition of this photograph of the Bride and Groom holding hands.

I zoomed out for this shot shown in black and white of the couple as they were looking down.  It was an interesting perspective and I was grateful for that soft grass to lie on as they indulged my interest in trying this shot.

One last kiss before we got back into the cars and headed down the mountain.

Photo shoots in natural settings can be very rewarding and should be planned out in advance.  Lighting and weather can be major factors in the success of the photography.  If you have the chance for wedding photography or engagement photos in a natural setting such as Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, I highly recommend it. 

July 26 Wedding

These are some recent photos from a small wedding I shot at the Golden Horseshoe Inn on July 26, 2012.  It was a lot of fun shooting there as always.  There are so many indoor and outdoor settings that are excellent backdrops for photography and the furniture and decorations there are gorgeous.  Please enjoy this small collection. 

The Bride's dress with Pink Cowboy Boots.  I have photographed many brides who have chosen to wear vibrant colored footwear underneath their dress.  The Pink, you will see, ties in nicely to the bouquet and wedding cake.

 

I love the color and composition of this simple cake photographed with the Champagne glasses and fern in the background.

 The vibrant colors of this bouquet really stand out when photographed with the Bride's wedding dress as a backdrop.

I have always loved veils photographed in Black and White.  The detail of the folds can easily be seen.  This was a close up shot of the bride positioned sitting on an ornate chair.  

"I Do" Glittery lettering on the bottoms of the Bride's Cowboy Boots.  We also had some fun by crossing her feet creating the words "Do I".  

 

Post Ceremony Photography at the front entrance of Golden Horseshoe Inn.  With a hint of ferns in the picture tying to the stems and foliage of the Bride's Bouquet.

It was a hot one on this day.  We used this white umbrella to keep the sun off and get some lovely pictures in the Gardens.  

This is truly a Musical Chair.  The natural light lends a warm touch to this photograph of the Bouquet.

We took some photos of the Bride seated in the gardens.  The trees and natural backdrop really let the subject stand out.

I photographed the Groom by himself in front of these white columns.  Shown here in black and white keeping the color and composition uniform.

We photographed the couple's hands, bouquet, and rings together for this shot.

 I have photographed a lot of rings on the bible and was pleased with this photo of the hands, rings, and bouquet.  This was a really nice angle to pull off all of the elements.  

Come As You Are

How many times have you been told "Just Be Yourself!" or "Do What Makes You Happy!"?  Weddings should be no exception.  For many brides, the wedding day is celebrated with a physical transformation complete with wedding gown, jewelry, new shoes, hair, makeup and a bouquet.  It is almost as if they become a new person for the day.  In choosing what you will wear for your wedding, it is possible to maintain your person style and still look radiant.  The traditional white dress, although beautiful and symbolic, has become the "norm".  But it's not for everybody.  It is important, that your wedding day and ceremony are meaningful and reflect who you are as a person as well.

Shooting small weddings, I have had the great opportunity to meet a diverse group of people.  I was extremely excited to work with this bride who was recently married at the Golden Horseshoe Inn in Stanardsville, Virginia.  Her personality and style go uncompromised in her choices. 

I love the way this bride's tattoo is left uncovered by her choice of dress.  If your body art is prominent and can't be covered, you can try and find a way to accentuate or feature it.  

The shoulder tattoo appears to be a natural part of this beautiful black lace-up dress. 

You can enhance your look and compliment your arms by adding a pair of long bridal gloves.

Dangling earrings are an excellent choice of ornamentation for brides who choose not to wear a veil.

Wearing a multi-color bridal dress can really make your patterns stand out.  Here, you can see how the gloves and the dress compliment one another. 

As a composition, you can see from this photo of the bride looking out of the window how your personal style can really shine through the everyday wedding dress.

The hair clip and necklace complete the look for this strapless dress ornamenting the hair and neck for portrait photography.

 

 This bride's look and feel was very natural and relaxed. 

 A comfortable bride is a happy bride!

It is amazing how all of these colors and contrasts come together in this photograph.  Simply beautiful.

During the vows, you can see how the Bridal Gloves add a touch of elegance to the hands. 

As a Bride embarking in a new stage of your life, I challenge you to find a way to let your personality shine.  The best way to enjoy your day is to be yourself and come as you are.