Best of 2013 // Hampton Roads Photographer

I have LITERALLY been looking forward to this post the whole year (Parks & Rec, anyone?). With each portrait session and wedding, I've become a stronger, more confident photographer who can deliver better images. I'll be honest - launching my business was terrifying! And really, it still is. I get nervous before each portrait session, and before each wedding, and every time I get a new inquiry...the list goes on. I've realized, though, that I'm not nervous because I'm afraid I can't deliver stunning images. It's because I want to get better each time I click the shutter, and I want each of you to see that progress.

I know I can tell my improvement throughout the year, and I hope you can, too. I'm excited for 2014 and all that it will bring. Have a wonderful New Year and enjoy some of my favorites from 2013!

Veritas Vineyard in Charlottesville // Justin & Mary Workshop

As you probably know if you've been following my Facebook page,  I had the absolute pleasure in attending a workshop hosted by Justin and Mary. They are photographers based out of the northeastern region who are just absolutely phenomenal. Their work is incredible and I found out last Tuesday that they are also some of the kindest, most open people I have ever met.

They hosted a workshop called the Art of Authentic Posing in the beautiful mountains of Afton, Virginia, at Veritas Vineyard.  We sat down for a few hours first and learned from Mary about WHY we do what we do in the first place, and why it's important to cultivate real feelings and emotions in photography as you capture the special moments of a couple's (or a family's) life. We talked about what our most treasured picture is, and each person had an example of a photo that wasn't necessarily technically correct, but captured everything we were feeling in the moment.

From that workshop, I am committed to making sure my posing is authentic - not canned or fake, but a REAL representation of that couple or family, even if it's totally different from the next set of photographs I take. I'm so excited about this workshop. I feel like it really took my photography to the next level, and I loved meetings so many photographers from all over. 

We ended by shooting a bride by herself, an engaged couple, and a bride & groom together using all the techniques we'd just learned. It was incredible, and these are some of my favorite pictures ever. I can't wait for my next session and to pose couples in an authentic and real way...contact me if you'd like to set something up! 

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A Giving Spirit // Spady Sunday

Over the past week, I’ve had the absolute joy of meeting tons of different photographers, some local and some from far away. Recently, Katelyn James wrote a great article about why our industry is so different from so many others, and it echoed exactly what I’ve been thinking about this whole week.

It has been a crazy week. I mean, absolutely insane. I’m typing this right now in the car on the way to Maryland for a wedding while my sweet husband drives so I can get some work done (and, in theory, sleep…ha!). I traveled to Charlottesville on Tuesday to attend a posing workshop by Justin and Mary, then drove to Virginia Beach on Thursday to meet Amanda Hedgepeth at a styled shoot and Q&A session. On Friday I shot a gig for Fox Hole Kingdom, and Saturday was a wedding. And I have SO many pictures to go through, edit, blog, and everything that goes along with that!

But as I think back on it, there’s not one single thing I wouldn’t have done. Meeting Justin & Mary, and Amanda, along with all the workshop attendees, was such a huge blessing. The photography industry can be so cutthroat. I’ve heard stories of big name photographers treating those who are new to the field in such an unkind way. Thankfully, I’ve met none of these people; in fact, I’ve had the OPPOSITE experience. I have just been absolutely blown away this week by how open other photographers have been. It’s a scary thing to share your business secrets, or your shooting style, or how to set up off-camera flash, or ANYTHING. And most of these photographers learned it through trial and error, and messing up a lot before they got it right.

I am truly blessed. I got to ask SO many photographers SO many questions this week, and not once did I receive a canned response or a cagey answer because they didn’t want me to know how they did it. I am owed absolutely nothing, and yet, I have been given so much. I have pages and pages of notes from this past week, a newfound confidence in my ability, and so much knowledge about how to be successful.

I just want to publicly acknowledge how thankful I am for each and every person I met this week. I wish I could name everyone in here but I honestly can’t remember everyone I talked to. So, to those who have helped me, thank you. To those who have answered questions, I am grateful. To those who have given me ‘industry secrets’ joyfully and without hesitation, I am indebted to you. I am excited and terrified to go on this journey of being a photographer, but it is because of the giving spirit of people like you that I’m able to step out in confidence. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Sunday everyone!

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