As the bride, you have budgeted countless dollars for your wedding dress, mani and pedi’s, makeup and hair. You want to look your very best on the most important day of your life. This is a day you will want to remember. Hiring a qualified, professional photographer will guarantee you great photos of the day. However, it's not just the photographer's responsibility to capture your perfect bridal look. Here are a few posing questions I've received from brides. These tips will help you pull off the perfect bridal portraits and make it look easy! Your photographer will certainly appreciate it too....

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...

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...

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...

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...

Do it yourself (DIY) tips, blogs, books, magazines and television shows are popping up everywhere. This common theme is also the biggest trend for 2011 weddings.   Planning a DIY wedding is not only about being practical and economical. It’s about diving into the details and involving your guests in the big day. It makes those long months of preparation before your wedding more personal and meaningful.   What type of DIY wedding projects are there? The list can include save-the-dates, invitations, wedding favors, flowers and bouquets, table centerpieces, the wedding cake itself, wedding card boxes and much, much more!...

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...