In order to make our blog easier to read, share, search and follow, we are giving it a complete facelift. I cannot wait to share it with you! We are hoping to have it live by the end of this week! Please be patient with me as I will be postponing my blog posts until next week. Until then, here is a sneak peek of our new look.  ...

I am taking a quick break from all the wedding and bridal blogs to write about something near to my heart, photography and fashion. For all you lady photogs out there, what options do we have for carrying our gear around while still looking feminine and professional? Not only do we need to carry our camera lenses, but also the basic necessities like lip gloss, Kleenex, compact, cell phone, etc. I don't know about you, but toting a black or grey backpack around is not my style. My husband, well fiance at the time, purchased me a SHOOTSAC for my birthday...

It’s so hard to believe Christmas has come and gone. Why must it always go by so fast every year? For me, Christmas is the time I finally get to see my entire family get together in NH. I try to pack in as much social activities as I possibly can with friends and family while I am there. This year’s trip was extra special to me. The hubs and I landed in Manchester, NH the Thursday before Christmas. Our first stop was at the Airport Diner where we met my longtime friend from junior high, Marie. I had photographed her...

  The sun isn’t even up yet and everyone is ready to rip open gifts. Before the stockings come down and wrapping paper begins to fly, have your camera ready and read through these tips on how to photograph your Christmas morning.   Check your camera settings the day before. Specifically, white balance, shutter speed, aperture and ISO.   What is one item you always need on Christmas morning? Batteries. Make sure you not only have batteries for the toys and electronics, but for your camera too!   Double check your SD card or Compact Flash card to make sure you...

Hiring a wedding photographer is one of the more important decisions you will make when planning your wedding…and one of the priciest. Your photographer will be entrusted to fully document your special day and for years to come you will view their images. In this day and age, everyone has a digital camera or a photography business. How do you know who is truly qualified? And how do you know who is the best fit for you and your wedding? Below are a few questions to get you started as you interview photographers. We created this essential wedding photographer interview...

This past weekend, I had a brand new experience: bouncy houses! The most fun I’ve had on a photography shoot this year. It all began when I received a call from a father who was planning a birthday party for his two children and needed a photographer. While being two years apart, their birthdays were only separated by one day! The combined birthday party was going to be held at Kangaroo Jac’s in Chesapeake, Virginia.     When I first walked into Kangaroo Jac’s, I was the tiniest bit overwhelmed by all the color, bouncy houses and children running everywhere. Once I...

The Founders Inn and Spa had its 20th Anniversary Founders Illumination this past Sunday. Although we only stayed for a few of the festivities, it looked like a wonderful day for children and families. Puppets, holiday music, face painting, dancers, a buffet, carriage rides and Santa were all part of Christmas events.                              If you did not make it to this year’s event, you can still view the Christmas lights behind The Founders Inn. A word of advice for next year…arrive early! The lines can be quite long....

Thanksgiving this year was one of the best I've ever had. It was my first year as “Mrs. Adams” and I spent it with my in-laws in Virginia Beach, which was a tradition change as every year I have always returned to my roots in New Hampshire. Blending families has been an enjoyable process for me and one I am quite thankful for.   We spent the day watching the Macy’s Day Parade, eating too much, skyping with family, playing board games, sharing our thoughts of thanksgiving and reading from God’s Word. The day could not have been more perfect. 12...

How sweet a day it was, watching David and Christina say, “I do”! Over the past few months I've had the opportunity to get to know them through their engagement, bridal and now wedding portraits. Every time I am around Christina, I am struck by her genuine sweet spirit. David truly loves her and it’s wonderful to see how much he makes her smile.   David and Christina both attend Gateway Free Will Baptist Church in Virginia Beach and chose it as their wedding and reception location. We did take a short trip out to the Chrysler Museum of Art in...

What an exciting week I have had! Engagement, family, holiday and commercial photography sessions all in one week. One of my favorite commercial endeavors so far was my shoot with Twist Salon. They have two salon locations:Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. I have personally experienced their services first hand and have been more than pleased.   Todd Grubbs, the founder and president, has worked hard to put together a fantastic team of stylists. Everyone is friendly, helpful and most importantly, tons of fun! Twist Salon specializes in professional cuts and color services. However, they also offer formal hair styling, brow and facial waxing and...

An absolutely perfect fall day for portraits! It was a blustery, overcast, cool day in November when I met the Thompson family at the Oak Grove Lake Park in Chesapeake, VA for their yearly family portraits. They were so much fun to work with and never stopped laughing and enjoying the bond of family.                ...

  This year marked our first Halloween at the house together. Rather than handing out candy at the door, we thought we’d be a bit more creative. We've lived in the neighborhood for the past year but haven’t met many of our neighbors. How could we be more involved than the few seconds we had at the front door?   We decided to have Shine with Jennifer Leigh donate time and photos for the community. This way, we could chat with parents, meet the kiddos AND hand out candy. The interest and involvement in the costume portrait shoot was beyond...

Amanda and Jordan, both from Vermont, recently moved to Virginia Beach for work. I was so excited to receive an engagement portrait inquiry from a fellow New Englander! They requested that their golden retriever puppy, Xabi, be in their photos. How could I resist?! Goldens just happen to be my favorite pets! The day was a bit cold with the wind and temps of 50+ degrees, but you can't tell from these photos. Their engagement shoot was at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier on Virginia Beach.  Amanda and Jordan are getting married this July 2012 in Vermont and hope to honeymoon at a Sandals...

The afternoon could not have been more beautiful for bridal portraits at The Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. The sun was shining and the bride was glowing with excitement. Christina and her groom, David, were married this weekend at Gateway Free Will Baptist Church and I am so happy to FINALLY be sharing her bridal session with you!                         David made Christina a special bouquet for the occasion! What a sweet guy.                    Pin It ...

This past week I photographed a bride that requested bridal portraits at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk. Being from the northeast, I had not heard much about this type of portraiture. I decided to do a bit of research on this southern tradition.   Bridal portraits originated in Europe and were historically oil paintings of royalty. These paintings were commissioned by the bride’s family to commemorate the occasion. It is unclear how the tradition made its way to the United States. During the 19th century, it was quite uncommon to have a photographer at your wedding. A studio was...

Being a new home owner can be quite daunting at times when faced with walls and walls of white space that need color, accents, furniture, textiles and more. Where do I start? My idea box is overflowing after attending the Fall Homearama at The Riverfront in Suffolk, Virginia.   We toured 9 gorgeous homes and talked to vendors about design ideas for flooring, video rooms, faux painting and furniture. The homes range from 2,800 square feet to 4,000-plus square feet and are priced from $550,000 and up. If that fits your price range, there are still a few left for sale!...

Marie and Dan chose the most popular wedding date of the year, September 10, 2011 or 9/10/11. The day could not have been more perfect. The sun was shining, a small breeze was blowing through the trees and the fall colors were just beginning to show.    Marie and I go way, way, way back. We attended part of grade school and junior high school together and were close friends. Marie always knew how to make me laugh. You rarely saw her without a smile on her face and she was a friend to all. I was so honored that Marie and...

Does your online corporate portrait really matter? Yes, it certainly does. Your image affects how you sell your product or services, yourself and your business to millions of prospective clients. In an era where most communication is done via the internet with Facebook, LinkedIn and corporate websites, now is the time to update your “look” and make sure your portraits match the character and personality of your business.   While most people may find it difficult to have their photo taken, use this as an opportunity to be creative. Corporate portraits don’t have to be done in a stuffy suit jacket...

David and Christina   Friday was a gorgeous day for engagement portraits at the Cape Henry Lighthouse despite the heat. The weatherman had forecasted a heat index of 108 degrees! Newly engaged David and Christina were both beaming with love and maybe a bit of perspiration. They arrived with iced Starbuck’s coffees in hand and even brought one for me!   We began our shoot on the beach where David and Christina enjoyed their coffees, cooled their feet off in the water and laughed as they poked fun at one another. After everyone had warmed up to the camera, literally, we...