My Favorite Oak Tree

For years I have told myself that I would photograph this tree. I absolutely LOVE the thick solidness of the trunk, the sturdy, dependable branches, and the feeling of spring that is completed by the reappearance of the leaves on the tree. Finally, last week, I drove by at sunset with my camera, and I got the pictures that I've envisioned on my wall for over a year (clearly a very busy one!). Now, I just need to pick which one I like the most for my living room. Here are some of my favorites!













And these ones are pure vanity...my husband shot this of me while I was picking my way through the sticky grass in the field. I love the way the dress looks a little out of place in the field, and the black and white stands out so nicely against the green! Did I mention I was on the way home from a wedding when I decided to do this spontaneous photo shoot?

Stephanie and Travis' Wedding

While I was just a guest at my friends Stephanie and Travis' wedding (they had fabulous Harrisonburg-based photographer Jodi Miller as their official photographer), I got some great pictures and wanted to share them with you. Stephanie and Travis had a beautiful wedding atop Lydia Mountain in Greene County. The ceremony was open air, and the reception was in a great log pavilion! The orange flowers accented by periwinkle flowers and bridesmaids dresses made for some gorgeous photos.

Even though I wasn't the official photographer, I did get to sneak Stephanie and Travis away for a few special shots in a child's log cabin on the property - they'll be living in a log cabin when they return from their honeymoon!

Wafi and Natasha's Wedding

Wafi and Natasha's wedding was set at a family friend's home in Hume, Virginia. Their intimate wedding, with only forty guests in attendance, took place at dusk in a stone garden behind their friends home, facing the lovely Virginia mountains. Surrounded by only their closest friends and family, Wafi and Natasha were right at home, delightfully affectionate and excited to start their life together.

Alycia and Derrick's Engagement Photos

For Alycia and Derrick's engagement photo shoot, we all climbed in the truck with the dogs and drove through a field next to Alycia's dad's house to this beautiful crest of a hill with lovely trees and long, green grass. For those of you who don't know me, I love incorporating the family dogs into photographs. I myself have a mini-dachshund, so I know how much dogs are part of the family. And for Alycia and Derrick, that's even more true! Derrick proposed to Alycia by tying a beautiful engagement ring (see the last photo on the blog) onto Alycia's dog's collar. It's that romantic? You can just tell in these photos how much this couple loves each other!

Henry Family Photos

Part of what I love about my photography job is getting to spend time with friends! While I often develop friendships with my clients, sometimes I get the privilege of photographing families that I've known for a while. Those opportunities are always such a blessing, as they give you a chance to get to know a family as a whole, see how they interact together, and capture in photographs what you love about those people.

Photographing the Henry's was an absolute joy. Their little girl was absolutely precious: happy to smile at the camera, happier still to play with the camera (a privilege I don't allow just any toddler), and just a delight all around. At one point, she came up to me and just wanted me to hold her instead of photograph her!

Tara and Chris' Engagement Photos

To do this fun couples' engagement pictures, I headed out to a beautiful farmhouse in Amherst, VA. It was about 45 minutes outside of Charlottesville, but completely worth the drive for the beautiful mountains and farm scenery that we had available for our photos. I hope you enjoy them!

Rachel and JR's Wedding

As promised, here are some photos from Rachel and JR's beautiful wedding. I got some great photos of Rachel getting ready at the Dinsmore House. Then, Rachel and JR had a sweet and personal ceremony at the UVA Chapel, followed by a fun reception at Kluge Vineyards. Be sure to check out our Fan page on Facebook soon for new photos.