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ome restaurants are just suited for casual, relaxed photos... and Bethany and Jon couldn't have chosen a more perfect evening or setting for their rehearsal dinner. Grant and I traveled quite a distance this past friday to get to Kentucky in time, but it was well worth it when we saw the beauty of Belle Notte. Temperatures were cool and patio doors flung open as family and friends arrived in time to mingle as the sun settled and our meals were ordered. Twinkling lights and soft music set the mood as everyone enjoyed good food and conversation... our respite before the exciting events of the day ahead.





Truly meant for each other...


Sisters, bridesmaids and BFFs


...the flower girls needed bribing with some cute toenail polish. ;-)


...this one made me giggle for two days. I'm a complete sucker for red hair. ;-)



Grant shared some interesting stories with Grandpa who was among other things a photographer with Sears after serving in WWII. He wanted to know if his photo would make it to the Internet. ;-) Now you tell me who could resist those sweet blue eyes?







 

orry it's been a little while since I posted last. Our August Rush special is in full swing and keeping me very busy, however I have the coolest family session to post about.  Our long time friends, the Rice's met us in Old town Fredericksburg about 2 weeks ago and even though Steve was on crutches and a hard boot cast he still kept up with everyone...ahem...actually, he led the way a few times! I don't think I've ever seen someone maneuver like he does. Nothing stops this guy! We even had him climbing hills at one point...I know, crazy!

This family is dear to us...and have the sweetest boys on earth. I've watched them grow up and my boys love them to pieces. Not to mention the crush that the youngest one, Tavin, has on my 18 year old Lindsae. ;-) He fully plans to marry her someday.

It was so hard to narrow down my favorites, so as usual I'm posting a lot. ;-)





Isn't this the coolest cast ever?


C is elusive at times, so I though this one of him skimming stones was priceless.


Proof that little brother got some sweet air...





Kim has the most beautiful complexion...


I love that A brought his favorite hat along...it's so 'him' right now...


This is probably my favorite shot of the day. Using the 70-200 f2.8, Grant was able to capture T deep in thought.





This alley is my new sweet spot...perfect light in the evening!





...pickin' and a grinnin' 


Steve and his mad crutch skills...

e made the 2 1/2 hour drive up to Springfield, parked and took the Metro in to D.C one day last week. While Grant finished up some business, Lindsae and I treked around the city goofing off and taking photos. Other than her one request to see the Butterfly Exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, we didn't really have an agenda...just tried to enjoy the change of pace and bustle of tourism in the city. I wouldn't want to live here...but it was fun to get away, even if just for a day.


...it really is a clean city, but I think this window has seen it's better days.


Museum of National Archives.


...it was hot so we dipped our feet in the fountain...Thank Goodness Lindsae didn't inherit my Miss Piggy toes!


He doesn't go far without a Diet Coke...


...someone was tootin' his own horn at the Museum of Natural History...


...before we were allowed to poke one foot into the sealed exhibit, we had to get educated in Butterfly. No touching, poking, lifting, licking or breathing on the little buggers. Got it. Once we promised to be good little kids ...we were escorted into an igloo-shaped, human-sized cocoon. Within about half-a-second Lindsae had one on her finger...sheesh! They left us alone and flew right to her! Now we just call her the 'butterfly whisperer'.

 
Grant was in photo heaven...since there were over 200 species of butterflies and moths in this very small area. Flutterly Amazing!


We didn't make it in time to view the inside of the castle, but I love this interesting shot Grant took.



That's all for now...this weekend we're photographing some friends and their kids in Old Town Fredericksburg. Can't wait to see them again, plus this town is so cool!

or the past 3 years, I've designed for a company named Fiskars. Yes, they are the scissors company...and so much more. They send me tons of new papers and embellishments and the most amazing tools...and pay me to play and make things with them. What a job, eh?! It feels like christmas every time the FedX man delivers a box. Anyhow...recently I needed to design a few things using a paper/embellishment line by Kimberly Poloson called 'Blooming Love'. I thought it looked perfect for a wedding theme, so I used photos from a wedding that I shot with a photographer friend, Kelly Mihalcoe, back in March. I tried to keep it as simple as possible since I like the wedding photos to take center stage.

ittle girls often dream of fairy tale weddings. You know the kind...big blue skies with fluffy white clouds and that perfect spot to say "I do" .  And that's what Stacey had hoped and planned for on the day she married her Prince Charming, Nathan. She and her mom, Lou Ann,  secured the beautiful Berkeley Plantation well in advance...why there was even a horse drawn carriage scheduled to cart the Bride and Groom down the narrow lane. Every detail was carefully planned ...except for the weather.

Friday's rehearsal went as scheduled and tents were even set up for the next day. Then sadly, the rains began. These were not just ordinary rains either, but heavy gushing rains that washed away the road and all hopes for guests to arrive.  Stacey, her mom and friends had to scramble to find another location, and they did thankfully. The wedding went on and she married Nathan and lived happily ever after.

Till one day her Mom told me about the whole past ordeal. Her Mama's heart longed to turn back the clock many times, and then a plan started to emerge. Lou Ann didn't know it at the time, but Grant and I had wanted to do a bridal shoot at that very location..so we scheduled a "they did" session. A few weeks later, Lou Ann crafted a bouquet of peach roses...Stacey wore her dress and Nathan brought along a dark suit. The details were a little different from the original wedding, but when I saw how excited Stacey was...I knew it would be perfect. Oh...and this time, she got her wish...fairytale blue skies and big fluffy white clouds.

Stacey and Nathan...it was so much fun to photograph you last weekend. I suppose we'll never know why things happened the way they did originally...but I hope that Grant and I have captured your story the way you see yourselves....happy and completely in love.  

Click here to see more of
Stacey and Nathan's photos from our main gallery.