I’ve got to say I am very excited! Why, you ask … well there is no better way to start off this blog then with an amazing wedding and some awesome pictures! Elizabeth and Dan’s wedding this past Saturday was a culmination of all the right ingredients coming together. First, Elizabeth put an unbelievable amount of detailed and well thought out planning into everything with a little help from an amazing wedding planner and one of my new favorites, Colleen Cook of CCS Events (if you are getting married and thinking of hiring a wedding planner definitely check out Colleen, whether for your entire wedding or just the wedding day). Secondly, the weather forecast for most of the week called for rain and luckily it ended up being a gorgeous day! Third, Elizabeth and Dan have some of the nicest, most beautiful/handsome, and fun friends and family one could ask for! I could go on, but I don’t want to make you jealous! 
Thank you guys for making me a part of your wedding! I can’t wait for everyone to see the pictures! Here are a few to tease you with:
I started off the day with Elizabeth and her beautiful bridesmaids while they were getting ready!
When I first met Elizabeth almost a year ago I was immediately struck by her beautiful smile and gorgeous eyes!
I loved their house and had fun with the ladies getting this relaxed portrait. Thank you ladies!
Although they were not supposed to give gifts, Dan gave Elizabeth these amazing Mikimoto Pearls for her to pass down in their family for generations to come. I knew I had to get a picture of them with her grandmother’s ring, which was passed down to Elizabeth.
Also, I must note that I was fortunate enough to have my good friend Eric Kelley helping me out. He is an amazing photographer and I was luck that he was available. While I was with the ladies he was photographing the guys getting ready and also had the task of driving my car around while I got to do such fun things as ride in the RV and on the Trolley! I couldn’t have done it without you bud, thanks!
Yes, I did say that I got to ride in an RV! After over a hundred weddings I am happy to say that I still have a few “Firsts” now and then. This was the first time I took an RV to a Church! As you can see below, the laides rocked it out as we were riding in the RV!
If you are wondering, Elizabeth and Dan were married at Hatcher Memorial baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia on May 3rd, 2008.
As you can see Elizabeth’s father was a very happy and proud parent!
They were glowing with excitement throughout the ceremony and had the biggest smiles immediately after the first kiss! In the background, Dan’s father had the honor of marrying the two.
We had fun in the Trolley on the way from the church to the Dominion Club. It was very hard to pick just one of the pictures from the trolley as there were so many great moments, but then again this is supposed to be a teaser. Look for the rest of the pictures in the Recent Events section in the next few weeks.
All of the time I am asked by perspective couples whether I do portraits/posed pictures within my photojournalistic style. I’m thnking to myself of course, don’t you see them on my website! Then I realize, my formals (as I like to call them), don’t look posed, stiff or forced instead they are very natural, so couples sometimes mistake them for photojournalistic pictures. Afterall, I generally don’t call them posed pictures anyway, as I never actually pose anyone. Instead I like to put people into a scene (usaully one where I can’t take a bad picture), and give direction for emotions and feelings instead of posing each person. It makes things much more natural, relaxed and overall provides a better picture. The pictures below I could not have posed, however by putting everyone in this beautiful location on the golf course (and with a little direction) we made a beautiful portrait!
We also had a little fun, can you tell?
Shooting on the golf course at the Dominion Club provided many beautiful scenes. I am so glad the weather turned out to be gorgeous, as it provided this amazing scene, and my favoite pictures of this year so far.
Inside the Dominion Club there are two levels (with the main ballroom on the lower floor) and a beautiful staircase that provided a lot of interesting and fun angles for pictures.
Beforehand Dan and Elizabeth told me they had been taking a few dancing lessons, which definetly paid off! Along with a little bit of improv, it made for a great first dance. Appropriately they danced to Son of a Preacher Man by Dina Carroll!
The Dominion Club in Richmond, Va is a gorgeous place to have a recption. Everyone there is great to work with, especially Jamie Ashenburg! Definetly give him a call if you are interested in having your event there. I hope to work there again in the near future!
I loved the cake (even though I didn’t get the chance to have a taste), and especially the nice touch of rose petals surrounding the base. The beautiful bouquets and floral arrangement were provided by JC Gourmet and More.
During the Father/Daughter dance I notticed both Dan and Elizabeth’s mother together and kept them in the corner of my eye. I am glad I did as I captured this amazing moment a few minutes later!
The evening provided some great dancing and fun moments, including this one with Dan pulling Elizabeth by an invisible rope!
Again Elizabeth proved to have impecable taste, as Eric Cunningham provided excellent music all night! The dancefloor was packed all night providing for some great moments. In the first picture (from left to right) this couple provided for some fun pictures all night, they could definetly dance! During Thriller (a Michael Jackson great and a must play for every wedding) the groomsman in the second picture turned into a Zombie. Lastly, another invisible rope made an appearance as guests had fun playing double dutch!
If you’re looking for a great DJ to provide great music and a great atmosphere for your wedding definetly check out Choice Entertainment and ask for Eric Cunningham! Another great person that I hope to have the pleasure to work with again in the future!
Lastly, a shoutout to two awesome couples Megan and Geoff (left) and Melissa and Mike (right)! I have the pleasure of photographing both of their weddings this coming Fall and next Spring! Look out for pictures from their upcoming engagement and bridal portrait sessions!
