We had beautiful scenery for the ladies at the Duck Pond and the guys were more than happy to get some photos done in Lane Stadium. The best photo op of the morning was when Taylor looked at this guy in the hotel lobby and said she needed a picture with him. Of course everyone else knew who he was or at least acted like they did. I (Kathie) did not have a clue so true to my style I just flat out asked who the guy was. Well, evidently he is none other than TYROD TAYLOR. O.k. so now anyone reading this from Tech knows who that is, but for those of you who did not attend tech or who do not watch the NFL games enough to know better, he was Tech’s star quarterback and then was drafted in the 6th round by the Baltimore Ravens. So yes, I took a photo of Taylor (the bride) with Taylor (the NFL quarterback) in the hotel lobby…. that totally trumps the guys being in the stadium I think :) There is a cute picture of Aaron & Taylor right after their ceremony when Taylor told him about seeing the famous quarterback. His reaction was great!

After all the pre-ceremony excitement we headed over to the War Memorial Chapel for the main event (just sticking with sports lingo now because it is fun). Aaron was greeting the guests as they arrived which we thought was so cool. Most grooms hide out in a room until they come out with the minister for the ceremony. Aaron was right out there smiling, hugging, and enjoying greeting all the people they had invited to participate in their wedding day. Taylor arrived shortly before the ceremony in her sister’s bus/van. Her sister was awesome and chauffeured the girls to and from locations prior to the ceremony. As she drove us all up to the Pylons, Taylor was getting cheers from students passing by in their cars as they went to class. Since this was a Friday wedding, campus was hopping with business as usual while we went about celebrating a fabulous occasion.

After the ceremony & Post ceremony formal photos were done with family we got to have some fun with the bridal party. I got to stop traffic on campus for a photo with Torgersen bridge in the background. I was very excited about this and it was a good thing Jeremiah was there to shoot the photo since I was preoccupied with being a traffic cop. The bridal party pictures were fun and quick so they could get to the reception for some cocktails while we lingered a bit with Aaron & Taylor. This is when it all gets good! These two just took a few minutes to really enjoy the moments we had before they were to be announced at the reception. Jeremiah and I stood back a little and captured them as they talked, laughed, and reveled in being Mr. & Mrs.  When we were done the Hooptie (again for non-tech people that is a van that is decked out with velvet and bright colors to pick up students and take them to their destination) drove the us over to the hotel for the reception. We showed up at the Holiday Inn with plenty of time for Taylor to get the dress bustled and then line up for the entrance!

The rest of the evening was just pure fun! There was, of course, an appearance from the Hokie Bird, who danced with the guests and entertained the children with his mere presence. There was a beautiful toast from the father of the groom that was very touching and was followed up with a tender toast from the bride’s sister. The children were attempting to do the worm on the dance floor and then we learned who was teaching them when Nigel (the Bride’s brother-in-law) dropped down and showed everyone how us all how it was done.

We really can’t say enough good things about Aaron & Taylor and how much we enjoyed just being around them. We are grateful to have photographed their wedding and we hope this blog gives you just a glimpse of how beautiful the day was. Aaron & Taylor, we loved our time with you and wish you both the very best!

While Aaron was on the field at Lane stadium, Taylor was busy mingling with former Tech QB Tyrod Taylor!

Lovely ladies at the Duck Pond!

Cute, elegant, and stunning!

Getting a quick nap before his big job

The inside of the chapel was such an amazing location for a wedding… not only was it beautiful and intimate, but the layout was also a photographers dream!

Taylor telling Aaron she met Tyrod Taylor at the hotel

A private trip in the Hooptie Ride gave Aaron and Taylor some time alone (except for us of course!) on the way to the reception

Props for having the garter belt on the VT football – came in handy for the toss later in the night!

Slammin cake topper

The Hokie Bird made a special appearance at the reception. Complete with Hokie Bird Secret Service protection ;-)

The photo booth was a hit and gave the guests a chance to let loose. The pictures were printed on the spot and placed in a scrapbook where the guests could then leave a personalized message. Such a great idea!

While the adults were busy dancing the night away, H decided to take advantage of the free table favors. Clearly he helped himself to the favors of the entire table

Such a clever alternative to flinging a garter belt. Great idea guys!

Nigel getting it done on the dance floor

When we pulled into the parking lot we were immediately greeted by one of the bridesmaids and off we went. Jeremiah headed downstairs in the church to get started with the guys and I found the ladies upstairs preparing to help Brittany into her dress, which happens to be one of my favorite moments to capture on camera. We don’t have any pictures from our wedding of me and my bridesmaids helping out with the massive tulle laden gown… and I sure wish we did. I remember it being interesting navigating the freshly sprayed hair through the top of the dress just hoping not to catch some of the curls on the zipper as it was gently maneuvered by the bridesmaids….. ahh the memories. That is exactly what is so fun for me during the bridal prep in the brides room before the ceremony and it was certainly entertaining to capture Brittany and her bridesmaids as they helped with the dress. There are definitely plenty of pictures that captured the fun of Brittany and her girls during the donning of the dress :)

The guys were so laid back and mostly ready when Jeremiah met up with them so he took some time to get some details and then he came outside to start shooting all the group shots while I kept the flow of things going. TJ and Brittany chose not to see one another prior to the ceremony,  so of course we used our walkie talkies to be as covert as possible. Once the pre-ceremony pics were done it was time to head inside and wait for the guests to be seated. This time is always special because there is nothing for the bride and groom to do but sit back and relax until they see one another. This time also allowed the flower girls and ring bearer to get out some last minute energy and get in a potty break to hold them through the service.

The ceremony was tender and there were tears of joy shed as the two became one. TJ & Brittany were both beaming as they walked backed down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs. We had a few moments to capture some congratulatory hugs and hand shakes before getting some fun family formals outside in the beautiful sunshine. Thanks to all the family involved for staying close by and making the formals super easy and quick. Once the formals were done Jeremiah drove over to the reception site to start setting up there while I got to ride in style with the new couple and the bridesmaids in the Limo. We had a refreshing glass of water and some fun conversation on the way over to Oakwood Country Club.

Once at Oakwood we captured some great bridal party images and a handful of the new couple before their announcement into the reception. The plan was to come back out later after they had a chance to eat and to capture some images of them in the pretty evening light…. and it was glorious to say the least! TJ and Brittany were glad to have a moment to just look at one another and take a deep breath while we captured the beauty of their love for one another. Brittany was stunning on her wedding day (as you will see in the images to follow) and TJ was very charming as he adored his new bride.

As the night went on, the guests ate, laughed, cried, and danced…. oh did they dance. This group was so much fun! They knew all the popular wedding dances as well as some family members on Brittany’s side who rocked it out when the country music was played.

The best dance moves go to the beautiful young lady who won the prize of longest married couple at the wedding. She and her husband have been married 54 years and she was probably the best dancer out there. She was out on the floor most every song, and could be seen enjoying her time and attempting the robot with some of the young guys. I asked her later how old she was (I know that is not polite, but I just had to know) and I will not be posting that number but I will tell you I hope I can dance like she did that night when I am her age. She was just so cool!

The night ended with a sparkler exit and a perfectly decorated car waiting for TJ & Brittany. I think the groomsmen were pretty proud of themselves for their creation although I am not sure how far TJ drove before he had to pull over to clear away some writing so he could see clearly through the windows!

TJ & Brittany jetted off to their honeymoon after relaxing for a day to recoup from the wedding day festivities. And now that they are home, here is the blog to show off some of our favorites from the day.

We love that you two started off 2012 with such a great day. Your family and friends were all fabulous and you two are greatly blessed!

He is Risen!

Matthew 28:6 – He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.

He is a son, a sibling, a friend, an athlete, and a really awesome guy. He also earned a really nice ring from the State Championship, which you can see in all it’s glory below. We had the pleasure of enjoying an afternoon with Ben and his parents, whom we have come to know over the last couple years.

We explored some well known areas of downtown Lynchburg and also got off the beaten path, all in search of great light. Ben was gracious enough to indulge our pursuits and creative desires and ended up with some truly amazing images. We hope you can look back on these images for many years to come and enjoy remembering this exciting time in your life!

Having a little fun…

A little behind the scenes action…starring Jeremiah and Ben!

State Champs baby!

We were blessed with the opportunity to spend some time with Elizabeth walking around a gorgeous estate on a beautiful Thursday evening. We have been looking forward to this session for some time now. Elizabeth approached us toward the end of last year, but was hoping for warmer weather so she wouldn’t have to pretend she wasn’t cold throughout an entire session. We are always up for shooting in warmer weather so we planned to touch base again in the spring. Well as luck would have it we actually planned for last Tuesday when it was very chilly and not such a photo friendly day. Since we all go to church together we made a last minute decision to push it back a few days and get the better weather that was predicted to fall on Thursday. We are always so happy when our clients are flexible with their schedule because she got a lovely evening to wear her cute little dress, and fun shorts for the session.

Elizabeth and her Mom were ready to go with jewelry options for each outfit and shoes were optional for the first outfit – loved that! We usually chalk up the first few minutes of a session to nerves and our clients getting used to the cameras around them. Elizabeth was a natural. She tried out her fake smile, but we were all over that. Her laugh was so cute to catch on camera and easy to do since her mom was there ready with the one liners that she knew would make Elizabeth crack up. Thank you Ruthie for being your daughters walking jewelry box, helper, encourager, and just a really nice person to be around!

O.k. so we moved through the session so easily that is went by super fast. Anything we asked her to do she did better than we were even hoping for. Elizabeth you are a true beauty and we couldn’t have asked for a better young woman to kick start our year with a Senior Session.

Oh and I love that as I type this my phone is pinging with a text of excitement from you. So fun!

Elizabeth you are just so cute! Love these two images….

A few important details…

So while Elizabeth was changing outfits we were being silly.

Really, Really love these two images. She just sat down and owned these photos!

O.k. we are thinking your dad will need to sit down for this next one… Simply Beautiful!

Pretty flowers and a sassy girl :)

Finishing up with Jeremiah’s signature off camera flash fun.

While on the train to Florence were asked by the conductor for our tickets. When we showed them to him, he informed us that we failed to “validate” them in the yellow boxes all around the train station, and that it would be a 40 € fine. I was like, SRSLY? And he was like, SRSLY (in an Italian accent with one eyebrow raised abnormally high). Luckily I was able to talk him down to only 5 € and chalked it up to a “tourist tax”.

When we got to Florence, we set out for Ponte Vecchia to see the sights, and were on a mission to find a highly recommended gelato vendor that Rick Steves mentioned in his book.

Stepping off the shuttle in Livorno, we were greeted by more great looking European buildings

I was particularly excited to see this local artist working his magic on the streets. He was just starting, but what little he had done was already shaping up to be pretty fat. Ph-fat.

Loved this little dude just chillin on the side of the street with his dad. It started to make us miss our loin fruits… that is until we started to feel sick from the odd smells and all the smokers around us. At one point Kathie was literally so ill that we had to duck into an alley because she thought she was going to lose it. Luckily it was a false alarm.

These officers were hysterical. Luckily you can’t get ticketed for laughing at them. As if the white murses (men’s purse = murse) weren’t bad enough, they were also wearing those lovely matching white helmets. I couldn’t tell if they were trying to look like Roman soldiers or Storm Troopers.

This guy was writing a ticket for this Audi like a boss. Right under a wicked cool light fixture. I was secretly hoping to see him blow his whistle at someone.

Prada Milano! (Window shopping only)

I really liked this random statue right next to this building that had castle walls. How cool is that?

Self portrait time! The pic on the right is what we were looking out on.

Enjoying a nice stroll on the walkway alongside the Arno River

Here’s the view across the river. Yellowish/orange is apparently in.

The view looking down the river from the bridge at Ponte Vecchio

The streets of Ponte Vecchio were full of tour groups, gold vendors, and kamikaze scooters. It was both entertaining and enjoyable. I actually really liked the material the streets were made out of. No idea what it was. I just know it was way cooler than American asphalt.

Here’s that gelato shop I mentioned earlier. It was really hot that day and this stuff was sooooo money. Literally. It was almost 10 €.

After negotiating a canvas painting from a street vendor for 5 €, Kathie picked up a few genuine Italian scarves (made in China) for some gifts and we made our way to the museums. Unfortunately they were closed on Mondays, which was a major bummer, but we still got to walk around and see a lot of neat stuff outdoors.

Had to pixelate a few areas in order to maintain my G-rating on these images ;-)

We went to check out the famous Florence Cathedral (commonly called the Duomo)

Even though it was under construction, it was still quite amazing to see up close. The gold and green walls were accented by a rust colored roof that really stood out amongst the other buildings. That and it was half the size of the city.

This place is just so massive. And unfortunately the line was much longer than we cared to wait for. Here’s just the front of the line… the rest wraps half way around the building! By the way, can you identify which of these people are the tourists? The correct answer is all of them, including the one who took this picture…

Probably my favorite picture of the day. I wanted to throw this guy a euro or two just for looking sharp. But alas, he didn’t leave his case open, and I wasn’t sure where else to leave it. Plus that pigeon in the lower right was giving me the eye.

These two pictures made us think of our sister-in-law Amber. We almost got her this flower purse, but then we realized it cost more than my first car.

We had done our share of walking for the third day in a row, and were glad to get back to the train station to head back to Livorno. On the ride back we almost got off at Pisa, but we would have been pressed for time and didn’t want to risk missing the ship all for a picture of me pretending to hold up the leaning tower with my back. Instead we relaxed on the train and swapped some recipes with a local lady who was also on holiday and visiting a friend in Pisa.

We took a 45-minute nap upon arriving back on the ship at 5pm and enjoyed another awesome dinner in the Minstrel dining room. After we ate, we met up with our friends Patrick and Kristina from England for the nightly show. They were one of the couples at our assigned table for dinner every night, and we really enjoyed getting to know them and learning common English phrases. (My favorite was “Cheers”!)

After the show we headed back to the room and spent the next hour and a half charting our course and planning out the next day. After all, it was one of two places we wanted to see the most on the entire trip, and we did not want to arrive unprepared.

So stay tuned for the next city in our trip – Rome, Italy!

Happy Monday.

Happy Reading!

This first attempt at being helpful will cover just a few common questions we go over during a first meeting with a potential client or throughout the planning stage when our brides are putting together the final plans for the wedding day.

To see or not to see

We always ask our couples if they plan to see one another prior to the ceremony. This is something you will want to think about because this one question can help you to better determine the plan for the day.

If you are not seeing one another, then we will get all the images we can prior to the ceremony without the bride and groom seeing one another. This typically includes the bride with her bridesmaids, a few bridal portraits (just the bride), and some with parents if they are there and ready. Ditto for the grooms side. Directly after the ceremony we will take the formal images with extended family (approximately 15 minutes for this), the entire bridal party and the new Mr. & Mrs. (We like to ask for about 30 minutes with the couple and we only need 15 minutes with the bridal party). Most often we head outdoors for the bridal party images where the light is pretty and everyone always seems to be much more relaxed. After the bridal party is done we ask them to go enjoy the reception while we have some time with the Bride and Groom, capturing some time with just the two of them.

If you are seeing one another then we get all the images done prior to the ceremony with the exception of formal shots that include extended family. This means that you will want to allow for extra time prior to the ceremony for a “First Look” session with just the bride and groom. We like to have at least 30 minutes for this time so that we can first allow you to share some tender moments seeing one another, and then second to enjoy a relaxed portrait session. This will allow us to create wonderful images of the two of you while you are fresh and looking your best for the day.  We then take all the bridal party images right after the “First Look”, so that after the ceremony there are only family formals to photograph. Those take all of 15 minutes and then you are on your way to enjoy your guests at the reception.

This first couple did not see one another prior to the ceremony, so we did a brief session between the ceremony and reception. We had 20 minutes and it was a lot of fun to photograph them as they enjoyed a few moments for themselves.

This couple had a “First Look” prior to the ceremony. We had 15 minutes to capture a few tender moments between these two.

When to start coverage

It’s a good idea to sit down and determine what all you would like to have captured during the wedding day.

Some brides contract us for the entire day so that Kathie can meet up at the salon or home of the bride while hair and makeup are being done, and Jeremiah can head out to the golf course, bowling alley, or Grooms house to hang out and capture what is going on there. Other Brides ask us to meet them at the church right before they are ready to get into their dress to start coverage from that point on all the way through the grand exit from the reception.  Another thing to think about is whether you want us to be there through the end of the reception or not. Most couples have a grand exit planned, and they want to be sure there are professional images from that part of the day.

When you have determined the amount of coverage you need, then we will work with you to choose a good time and location to start in order to capture everything you want. We don’t plan anything else on the day of a scheduled wedding, so if two brides book us on back to back weekends, the first wedding we might shoot from 1-9pm and the next wedding might be from 3-11pm. It all depends on our clients. We are hired by you to provide a service that best represents your day, and that is exactly what we like to do. We are glad to help with recommendations for planning out a timeline, but in the end it is the decision of the Bride and Groom that we follow.

Here is an image that shows you what we are looking for when we start coverage early in the wedding day. This bridal room was busy with activity as bridesmaids put together finishing touches. In the background sitting on the bed is the beautiful bride reading a letter from her groom.

Jeremiah got this image while hanging out with the guys over at the grooms house prior to the ceremony.

Happy Tuesday!

FAQ

Question #1 : What brand of camera should I get?

Answer: Canon and Nikon are the top two brands. They are popular and both very good choices for consumers and professionals alike. They both have a great selection of cameras and lenses that fit most any budget. Canon has a larger selection equipment and is a bit more mainstream, so it is easier to find exactly what you are looking for whether it’s a camera, lens, or accessory.

As for us, we own all Canon stuff and recommend Canon to everyone who asks. Mostly because we are very familiar with their lens and camera lineup. If you want to see what’s in our bag, check out this post.

Question #2: Should I get a DSLR?

Answer: What do you want to use the camera for? If you want something small and inexpensive to carry around all the time, then the answer is no, a DSLR is not good for that.

If you want the ability to change lenses, better image quality, and don’t mind spending more money, then a DSLR is a good choice. There is virtually no delay between when you press the shutter button and when the camera takes a picture, which is a killer feature for parents trying to capture moments of their kids.

Question #3: Will a more expensive camera or one with higher Megapixels take better pictures?

Answer: No. In order to take a good picture, the camera doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think. People take good pictures using cameras. All DSLR’s out there are more than capable of taking award winning photos. The main differences between various entry level DSLRs are the features. Taking good pictures is more about understanding light and how you use your camera, not how much you spent.

As for megapixels — anything 5MP and above is just fine for everyday use and enlargements up to 8×10. All DSLRs are much higher than that, and therefore should not be a factor in your buying decision. It’s primarily a marketing spec these days. A good tip for all digital camera owners — just because you have a large number of megapixels doesn’t mean you need them all. It’s kind of like buying a car that goes 175 mph. So do yourself a favor and adjust your camera settings to a smaller resolution for everyday use. You will not notice the difference on your computer or in prints, and it will save you valuable hard drive space.

Question #4: Will an expensive DSLR camera last a long time?

Answer: Yes. Most entry level DSLRs are rated to last at least 100,000 shutter clicks. That’s a lot of pictures. The higher dollar models are built with more durable parts and are rated for even more. The Canon 1D Mark IV, for example, is rated to 300,000 clicks. There’s nothing magical about these numbers, but it’s kinda like hitting the 100,000 mile mark with a car — generally speaking things tend to become less reliable after that.

That being said, keep in mind that camera companies come out with new camera models every year. These are almost always incremental feature additions that don’t have any impact on image quality. One of the biggest changes in recent years is the addition of high-definition video capability to DSLRs. Since new camera models come out so frequently, they depreciate significantly in value over a short period of time.

Question #5: What kind of lenses are available for DSLRs?

Answer: There are two types of lenses – zoom lenses and prime lenses. A zoom lens is capable of zooming across a predefined range of focal lengths. They are extremely versatile because with them you can cover a wide range of perspectives with a single lens. This greatly reduces the need to have multiple lenses, and less switching of lenses means less dust that gets inside your image sensor.

Prime lenses have a fixed focal length. The main disadvantage is that they can’t zoom, so you need to use your feet to change your view. However, they do have some distinct advantages. For starters, the image quality is better – color, contrast, and overall sharpness. They also have higher maximum apertures (lower f-number) – up to f/1.2 for the best prime lenses that Canon makes. Compare that with the f/2.8 maximum aperture of the Canon’s best zoom lenses. A higher aperture allows more light into the camera, which is great for low light situations.

Question #5: What kind of lens should I get?

Answer: The best place to start is with a good zoom lens. Zoom lenses have a lower maximum aperture, which increases their depth of field. This means it will be easier for you to keep things in focus. They also let you cover a wide range of perspectives without having to move or change lenses.

Question #6: Where should I buy my camera and accessories?

Answer: We buy all our stuff online at B&H Photo and Adorama. They always have the best prices, and it’s easier to shop online. You can always buy local at retail stores like Best Buy or Sam’s Club, although their selection is limited to entry level equipment. The good thing about these places is that you can touch and hold and physically see what you are considering before you buy it.

General Recommendations

1. The number one piece of advice we can give is:

“Invest in a good lens”

The lens is more important than the camera when it comes to image quality. If you have the best camera in the world but you’re taking pictures through a Coke bottle, then your pictures will look like garbage. And although new lenses come out from time to time, updates are very infrequent and some versions last decades. Therefore, when you invest in a lens, you don’t have to worry so much about it being replaced anytime soon. Lenses also hold their value much better than cameras, and can be resold for as much as 60-90% of their original purchase price many years later if they are in kept in good condition.

2. Don’t forget to budget for accessories. The main two things you’ll need in addition to the camera and lens is a memory card and a camera bag. However, if you start adding things like a flash, tripod, lens filter, cleaning kit, etc. then it can begin to add up.

3. Buy a brand name memory card (Sandisk, Lexar) from a reliable source (B&H Photo, Best Buy, etc.). If you try to save a buck and buy from a no-name company on Ebay you will be sorry. A good starting size would be 8GB or 16GB. It’s cheap, so don’t be afraid to get a couple.

Top Entry Level Canon DSLR Recommendations

Most people researching their first DSLR are typically looking to invest $800-1600. Keep in mind that buying a kit (camera + lens) may provide a cost savings. Given these limitations, we’d recommend:

Canon Cameras

1. Base consumer models – Rebel Series (Canon T2i, T3i) – $500-625
2. Better consumer models – D-series (Canon 60D) – $900

Canon Lenses

1. Basic Kit lens – Canon 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6 – $170 (Canon’s cheapest zoom lens)
2. Better Kit lens – Canon 18-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 – $350
3. Decent lens – Canon 28-135mm IS f/3.5 – 5.6 – $450
4. Decent lens – Canon 17-85mm IS f/4-5.6 – $515
5. Decent lens – Canon 15-85mm IS f/4-5.6 – $694
6. Good lens – Canon 17-55mm IS f/2.8 – $1040
7. Good lens – Canon 24-105mm L IS f/4 – $1091

Memory Cards (SDHC)

1. Sandisk 8GB - $17
2. Sandisk 16GB – $28
3. Sandisk 32GB – $55

Hopefully this answers some basic questions and helps those of you considering a DSLR purchase. If you liked the post, feel free to pass the link on to a friend. And if you have any other questions, let us know in the comments and we’ll try to answer them!