After the session we all sat down and had lunch together, shared a few laughs, and talked about the wedding day. We also talked about the plane crash that happened recently and I found out that Daryl’s son is a part of that squadron. So thankful there were no casualties from that incident. I think this incident is also a reminder of just how fragile life is and to never take a day for granted.

I would also like to take the time to shift gears up a bit and say that this was originally supposed to be an engagement session, but Lori and Daryl wanted to include their whole family and turn it into a family session. I have to stop right there and say that this brought a huge smile to my face as the more I get to know Lori, Daryl, and their family it just really minds me a lot of my family. It is great to see just how close they all are. Family is a very important part of my life and I just can’t help but get a huge smile on my face when I meet other families that are that close and share the same values. I am honored and very excited they chose me to capture their wedding day. I am excited about the location they chose as well…it’s going to be soo soo beautiful.

It’s so hard to find good help these days!!!
LOL…look at them hamming it up for the camera!

For this session I was thinking of ways to really “Trash the Dress.”  After we got setup (I say “We” cause I was assisted by a great friend and AMAZING photographer Herson) on location and after looking around I had an idea in my head of a HOT/COLD kinda feel for this set.  Herson also came up with some pretty amazing shots during this shoot as well…so BIG thanks again to you bro!  Also another thanks is in order and that one goes out to Samantha’s Mom who also joined us for the shoot.  Without her I wouldn’t have been able to get focus on a lot of the night shots…she was the BEST voice activated flashlight holder assistant person EVER!  :)   Last but not least to Samantha who I know had to feel like she was in Alaska during the last leg of this shoot…thanks for holding out for that one last shot.  It was a fun day/night and can’t wait till I talk another bride into letting me shoot a “Trash the Dress” session.  HINT to all you brides out there.

Now onto the photos…and Please feel free to comment on them below…we love to hear what you all think.

Thanks for looking!

Ok so a little back story here…Drake took Samantha to the Virginia Zoological Park for what  she thought was just a fun day with the man she loves.  Turns out Drake had a lot more in store and had a game plan to pop the BIG question when they got down to the Butterfly Garden.  Well Drake was a mess and couldn’t wait that long and popped the question right at the tigers den.  Which is a pretty amazing spot…and the fact that they wanted to do their engagement session there had me so excited.  I love nothing more then really going to a place that has meaning to the couples I meet and photograph.  You could really tell they were remembering that day all over again during our session.  I think you should also know that this couple freaking ROCKS!!!!  Not only are they madly in love and a gorgeous couple….but they are also big Pittsburgh Steeler fans…I was like GET THE ^&@%#^@ outta here!  So big huge congrats again to Samantha & Drake on their engagement and can’t wait to shoot your wedding!

Now for some visuals from their special day!

I really had a great time and the weather was beautiful too.  Big thanks the one and only Herson Rivera for helping me out!

Show some love and “Speak your Mind” by leaving a comment or sharing this people you know on facebook!

Big huge thanks to two amazing photographers who helped me photograph this magnificent wedding….Glenn Fajota and Herson Rivera….can’t thank you both enough!

So here are a few snaps from the day…hope you enjoy them….and don’t be afraid to leave a comment at the bottom or share it on facebook!  :)

Big HUGE thanks to Glenn Fajota for assisting me on shooting this wedding…and Jerry for your help running the photo booth!  You guys rock!

I really can’t wait till I get to hang out with these crazy kats again and go grab a few beers!  I love it when clients become such good friends too!

Cheers once again to the bride and groom.  P.S. you guys are buying the first round!  :)

So on July 9th we had the pleasure of photographing Danielle & David’s Wedding down at the Sheraton Hotel in Virginia Beach.  The wedding took place on the beach right in front of the hotel under a beautiful arbor and surrounded by tons of family and friends.  We gathered here just in as the Hotel started to block the direct sunlight from where the arbor was placed…timing couldn’t have been any more perfect…and I had nothing to do with that…probably why it turned out so well…  The ceremony was beautiful…and directly after the ceremony when Danielle and David were making their way back to the hotel they ran into another couple who just got married and I just thought that was such a cool moment.  Both brides & grooms huggin it out and just having a great time. Such a great turnout and all the guests were really fun and everyone was having a blast!  Thanks again for allowing me to be apart of your day guys…congrats again and I’ll talk you all soon!

Big thanks to Glenn (who is one amazing photographer) for doing his thang and second shooting for me.

It was suppose to rain the day of their wedding and ended up being really nice out…really nice…but really HOT!  :)  Thankfully, we all got to stay inside as the ceremony moved from the back patio to inside the reception hall as a precautionary measure in the event it did rain.  The wedding was beautiful and so was everyone there.   I love it when everyone is so easy going and likes to have fun and is open to whatever.  This day was amazing and I really want to thank Glenn Fajota and Natchez Richburg for their help shooting this wedding….you guys did an amazing job!

Congrats again to Christina & Brandon…wish you both a lifetime of happiness!!!

Hope you all enjoy these photos as I can’t stop smiling when I look at them myself!

Congrats again to you both!

Another big shout out to Herson and Jerry for all their help during Mr. & Mrs. Taylor’s big day….thanks guys you are both amazing!

Another big thanks to Herson for getting photos of the guys while I was getting the girls getting ready…thanks again!

Decided to start adding slideshows to my blog posts….enjoy!

Hope you all have an amazing week!

We all had such a blast on this shoot that I like to call…”Town & Country”!  In our travels we ventured from downtown to the country to capture some special moments of these two love birds.  They were very open to all suggestions…(which as you know I love) in a couple as this allow me to take more fun & exciting photos.  There were even a few instances were I was joking around with them about getting up on certain areas that just were not even possible and then I hear Jamie say something like….”well I think we can get up there….it would be sweet”….LOL!    Not only where they very adventurous but they even came up with a bunch of ideas themselves which is always great and refreshing as this is what really shows their true relationship and personalities together and I just love it when couples start ignoring the camera and just start being themselves….that is what this is all about…them!  I’m just so happy for you both and look forward to your big day…thanks again for all the laughs!

Also…big huge thanks to Danny Tranz for all his help on this shoot…you da man!

Here are a few from their session!

In addition to donating I will be participating in a “moment of silence” by not posting on my blog for the rest of this Friday. If you are a fellow blogger you can do the same.

O.K….so now onto little newborn Gavin. You have to admit he is such a little cutie and we all just had a great time with this session. Jackie, Gavin’s mom whom I did the maternity shoot for a few months prior is doing great and her delivery went well. Will, Gavin’s dad and I were talking about some photos they want done when Gavin gets older, and I have to say they are going to be a blast to shoot. I definitely look forward to that and hope you all enjoy the photos.

I have to say that Tina’s family reminded me a lot of my family in the sense that they only get together but once a year and sometimes once every two years.  They are all very close and I could sense just how much they all care for one another.  I felt like I was a part of their family.  I was giving grandma hugs and we all shared a bunch of laughs, hot coffee, and great company…and it was just a great time. 

At one point I forgot I was there to take pictures.  I think it was after I slipped and almost went into the lake…haha!  Big thanks to Herson for his help on this shoot…always a pleasure!  I could go on and on about how much fun we all had, but I’ll  leave you with some of the photos from the session.

Hope you all had an amazing holiday season and look forward to future shoots with you all!

I was going for that old school xmas christmas card look!

Cheers!

I did some different processing on some of them that I normally do not do, but thought it worked well with these.  I will say that I had a great time and hope you enjoy the photos!

P.S. I still have availability for 2011…so please contact me to setup a free consultation today.

Sapana created her line which is called “DreamsBySapana” in 2009. She is currently living in Bombay, India and has been living there for the past 5 years while her family lives in Virginia. It’s been a tough journey for Sapana but she is not one to give up. So here she is with her new Fall Collection for 2010. Sapana’s inspiration comes from everything around her. The people she meets, the places she sees, and the things she experiences through her life. The clothes she designs, come from the beautiful fabrics and colors of India and she gives them a twist of what Sapana likes to call the western culture.

Hope you enjoy her designs and if your interested in knowing more please visit her website at: Dreams by Sapana

BEHIND THE SCENES

We always have fun on every shoot and here we will share some of that fun with you…just a little though…LOL!

Also big thanks to Danny for helping out on this shoot.

One of my great friends and photog friends asked me if I would take pictures of his family this passed Sunday. I was more then honored as Herson is an amazing photographer whose work not only inspires me but is just amazing. We have worked together on numerous projects and events together and have a blast doing it.

His wife Vanessa whom is just a wonderful and caring person was a real trooper through the whole shoot. She is about to have her second child any day now and never complained once as we trenched through some pretty ruff terrain. Then their little boy Noah, who is just one of the happiest kids I’ve ever met and he was tearing it up…running through the dunes and having a great time. My wife Stacey assisted me on this shoot…and don’t worry I treated her to the dinner of her choice directly afterwards like a good husband.

Here are some of the photos from their shoot…hope you enjoy!

Snap snap snappin off pictures and having a great time as both Amanda and her mother are just very chill people who are very easy to talk to and I think Christy actually missed me up in the tree cause she was texting…LOL! I love it! This is only part 1 of 2 as we still need to hit the studio to finish up the rest of her photos.

Hope you enjoy!

From the dress to the ceremony to the reception…as well as Tiffany’s amazing shoes, this day couldn’t of gone any better! Thank you both again for allowing me to share in your special day. It was great to meet everyone as well as see some old friends as well. Also big thanks to Herson for all his help…thanks bro! Had a great time…Congrats to you both again and God Bless!

Brittany and Jonathan are two very amazing and talented people that have such an amazing style. They had a great spot already picked out before I even got there for portrait shots after the ceremony. So they really put a lot of time and effort into this wedding and it showed. Congrats to you both again and I know your lives will continue to grow into an amazing and beautiful journey together. God Bless!

During the cake cutting I found out the cake was the bunny and Holy Hand Grenade of Equinox (for those of you Holy Grail folk)…you know what I’m talking about!

So thanks again to Kelly & Jason for being so fun and easy to work with and also to Val for allowing me to help out. Had a great time!

Ah way too much fun…and weather wise they couldn’t of asked for a better day. I have to be honest that I was a bit skeptical about the weather. The night before it was raining pretty good and didn’t look like it was going to be as nice as the weather guy was predicting…cause we all know how often they are wrong.

Reason I was a bit concerned was the ceremony was scheduled to be outside back behind the hotel near the water. Due to the rain the night before the ceremony was held in the second floor banquet hall and still turned out to be just as amazing. In my experience you can’t have a wedding and EVERYTHING go right…lol! That being said the day went really smooth and everyone had a great time. It was a pleasure to meet a bunch of new faces. Also a big thanks to my second shooter Herson for helping me out.

So without further ado I would like to say cheers and many blessings to the new couple… Justen and Allana Long!

Here are some behind the scenes look at Herson doing what he does best!

I even had the wedding party chipping in and helping!

I figured since I spend so much time in behind the camera I would change rolls for a bit!