Allison & Rich :: Engagement

Finally, a follow up on Allison & Rich's preview!

First, though, I need to declare my love for these two publicly. Allison is my sweet sister-in-law and dear, dear friend. We were childhood best friends and Allison has always been such a faithful friend. Rich is the newest addition to the crazy Ackermann family, and could not fit more perfectly! He has the biggest servant's heart I have ever met, no joke.

Allison and Rich together are, well, perfect. Perfect for each other and just perfect in general. Down-to-earth, thoughtful, good-looking, they've got the whole package. They're getting married in December and I can't wait to celebrate as a bridesmaid!

Okay, on to the pictures. Just know, there are a lot. I had a hard time deciding which ones to put up; I loved so many!

Having a little fun. :)

I love their facial expressions in this one.

While getting some of these shots, we had an audience of horses. They were a little agressive...

Allison and Rich, I am honored to call you both family. Thanks for letting me take your engagement shots! I love you!

Tottie & Dan :: Wedding

I was honored to be invited by Maria & Drew to Tottie & Dan's wedding! I arrived as Tottie was getting her final touches; it was so refreshing to be around her as she prepared. Tottie and Dan are so down-to-earth and I had a blast with them and the Millers.

Tottie's Dad before they walked down the aisle.

The flowers were simple and beautiful.

The paparazzi.

The yummy cake.

The adorable ring bearer.

Maria, Tottie and Dan.

Drew is quite the charmer.

The dynamic duo!

You can see Maria and Drew's awesome shots here and here.

Thanks for letting me come along, guys!

Bridesmaid love

Usually at weddings, Renata and I try to avoid photographing each other at the end of the night - straggly, smeared and sweaty. Pictures of us hiding behind our cameras are okay, but no faces forward. At one of "crazy wedding week" weddings, we weren't safe behind the camera.

Yesterday I got an email from Becca, a bridesmaid from Dana and Chris' wedding, containing two pictures of us in all our sweaty glory. She kindly sent them to me, edited (thanks, Becca!).

Do not be fooled. Wedding photography may seem glamorous, but made apparent by these images of us, it actually requires a little bit of cheesiness and a lot of extra deodorant. :)

Here is Becca and her sister. Beauties.

Becca, it was so nice meeting you - thanks for the love! The pictures I promised you should be sitting in your email inbox. :)

Mekia & Anthony :: Engagement

I walked into the Starbucks, pretty nervous about my upcoming meeting. I had only communicated with Mekia via email and I had never met with a potential client alone before. I turned down Drew's offer to buy me a latte, caffeine could only make my jitters worse.

Every couple of minutes, I'd ask Drew, Do you think that's them? How about that couple? Oh, that's GOT to be them.

I actually didn't notice Mekia and Anthony when they walked into the cafe, but Mekia recognized me and gave me a warm hug. Jitters gone. Great conversation ensued. We clicked right away and I couldn't wait to hang out with them more.

Renata and I met Mekia and Anthony in Annapolis for their engagement shoot. It was fun, fresh and extreeeemely humid. Despite the heat, Mekia and Anthony didn't mind getting close. Mmhmm. :)

Mekia wore comfy shoes for walking around town and carried her sweet heels in her purse. Smart! Anthony was more than happy to carry her sandals and help her switch shoes. I thought it was very sweet.

Here we all are, on a random Annapolis street. My aim is pretty bad.

I'm so excited to shoot Mekia and Anthony's wedding! Renata won't be able to be there since it will be so close to her due date (!), but I'm already getting a second shooter(s) lined up.

Mekia and Anthony, I'm not sure we've ever been around such a fun-loving, passionate couple! Enjoy the rest of your engagement...it goes by fast!

For Kaley

As I checked my blog stats today, I noticed we had gotten a hit from Mexico. Mexico? I thought to myself. Who looks at our blog in Mexico? And then, Ohhhhh. Mexico!

It just so happens that the couple who's fabulous wedding we shot on Saturday is honeymooning in, you guessed it, Mexico. I'm wondering if the new Mrs. was hoping to see a wedding shot?

Well, Kaley, if it was you, here is a wedding picture just for you. But just one. :) It does happen to be one of my favorites, though!

If it wasn't you, you'll be pleasantly surprised when you read this at home.

P.S. I love you both and I hope you are having a FABULOUS time!

Crazy wedding week favorites

3 weddings down. Only 1 to go! We feel great and are having so much fun. On the way home from last night's wedding, we were talking about how we couldn't believe this was our job. We get to be with a couple on one of the happiest days of their lives, surrounded by people who's faces reflect that happiness, working alongside our best friend. Doesn't get much better than that.

Here is one favorite from each wedding so far.

Kayla and her gorgeous bridesmaids.

Mary walking down the aisle.

Dana and Chris getting married. This has got to be one of my favorite images ever.

We're headed off to Kaley's rehearsal, for the wedding tomorrow! Have a great weekend!

Allison & Rich preview

I just had to post one image from Allison & Rich's engagement shoot yesterday. It is just so gorgeous. And they are just so sweet.

I think it might be my favorite image ever.

You're so vain

After downloading our cards, we discovered that we had several matching pictures of ourselves, most on accident! We thought that since we can't blog any actual wedding images yet, we'd post these suuuuper flattering pictures of us. (Please note the sarcasm.)

Renata shooting away at wedding #2.

Me in the same spot in the room. Renata was randomly shooting the bride and this is what came out.

A little accidental back focusing.

And Renata follows suit.

After wedding #2. Whew.

Us with the super sweet, fun bridesmaids in wedding #1, kindly taken by a guest.

Crazy wedding week 2008: 2 down, 2 to go!

The cutest pregnant lady around

I know this is crazy wedding week, but I had to post these. I rented an 85mm 1.4 and it is ridiculous! I will be saving to buy this lens ASAP.

After the wedding rehearsal last night, I wanted to try that little baby out some more. So Renata graciously obliged.

This lens is smooth and crisp at the same time. I can't wait to shoot these weddings with it! (And you can't tell me Renata is not the cutest pregnant lady you've ever seen.)

The week of multiple weddings

These things all have something in common: Borrowlenses.com, extra deodorant, two lenses with a 1.4 (!) aperture, 15GB of memory (and then some), Maria Vicencio, hairspray and a partridge in a pear tree.

Well, all except the partridge. :) But what does it all mean?

Crazy wedding week starts...tonight! We're shooting multiple weddings this week and we are excited! A little nervous, but no complaints here :)

We'd like to ask you to do 3 things:

1. Pray for us. :)
2. Excuse our blogging absence.
3. If you are attending one of these said weddings, please come up to us and promptly say, "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" It is sure to make us laugh and all non-blog readers will have no idea what is going on; it'll be like a secret code. It will totally make our night. :)

We may be MIA for the next week or so. But then, do not fear, we will return with a vengeance, armed with lots of images!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy presents day to me!

I know husbands aren't perfect. Drew is no exception. But let me tell you, the man's getting closer to sainthood everyday.

Drew has been extremely encouraging and supportive throughout this adventure. He's looked at my images, patiently listened as I tried to understand manual shooting by talking out loud, and given me a pat on the back when I told him I wanted to quit my job. A good man.

Drew's most recent good deed? Letting me splurge a little. :)

My first purchase? A shootsac. Duh.

She's a beauty.

I used the shootsac for the first time yesterday on an engagement shoot (which was sweltering, sweet and awesome...and will be blogged soon). My review? Totally worth the money! It holds everything and stays put. Plus, it's just so darn cute.

I'll let you in on a little secret, too. I didn't buy my shootsac from the shootsac website (no hard feelings, Jessica Claire!). I bought it from adorama.com, where a shootsac + cover is the same price as JUST the shootsac on the shootsac site. The only downside is that the cover choices are limited, but they just happened to have the one I've been wanting. Jess, you are a genius!

My other purchase was a Sunpak Readylite 20. This teeny light is cheap and powerful! We used it for the first time yesterday as well, and love it. It's the perfect solution for cheap, continuous light.

The only downside to this little guy is that the light only lasts for 17 minutes, with a 5 hour charge time. Our solution? Buy 2. They're about 30 bucks a pop on amazon.com.

Hurray for new toys!

Amy & Andrew :: Wedding

Weddings can be stressful. It really can be a shame. Somewhere in all the hubbub and craziness, the joy and holiness of the occasion are drowned by details and bridezilla-like tendencies. Sometimes though, that isn't the case. Sometimes, the bride smiles in pictures because she's really happy. Sometimes, the groom won't even mention money or a schedule because he's so captivated with his new wife. Sometimes, the wedding day is truly a celebration. Those are the kind of weddings we love, and let me tell you, that was the kind of wedding Amy and Andrew had.

This was the first wedding I second shot with Michelle and Lisa of Three Blondes and a Camera. Michelle was my wedding photographer and she has been so gracious in talking with me, teaching me and encouraging me. It was a great day.

When we arrived, Amy was putting on her make up, completely unstressed. Ahhh. The whole day was like that - sweet Amy just excited to finally marry Andrew.

That kind of true happiness really comes through in pictures. See for yourself.

I can't get over how much Amy's eyes pop against this yellow.

While looking through the pictures later, I noticed I had taken a lot of detail shots...benefits of second shooting: shoot what you want. :)

Andrew seeing his bride for the first time...

Amy's facial expressions were so sweet during the ceremony; nothing but joy.

Married! (Side note: While capturing the ceremony shots, I was positioned on the stage. In the middle of the ceremony, I realized I was sitting in a huge ant pile. Fun.)

Being announced as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time.

A special thank you to Michelle and Lisa for teaching me how to some flash techniques, and to Amy and Andrew for allowing me to be part of your day!