{katie+tyler}

so i started working with a new video/slideshow program called animoto and i must say, it's pretty darn cool. this video is from my recent engagement session with katie + tyler...check it out!

{slacker}

ok...it's official...i'm a blog-slacker.  i'm a HUGE blog-slacker.  i have been so terrible about keeping up with my blog this summer it's not even funny.  so, starting tonight i've vowed to myself that in the next two weeks, i'm going to get completely caught up so that i can slide smoothly into the fall season.  it's been a great summer...super busy, but definitely great.  i've had so many fantastic weddings, met a lot of new friends, and had a few days for myself just to breathe and take in the beautiful sunshine.  i've heard a lot of people in the past few days saying that fall is their favorite time of year.  i don't really have a favorite time of year...of course, i love christmas, and birthdays...but i don't really have a favorite season.  i love all of the seasons...i love that we get to experience all of the seasons here in hampton roads...and i absolutely love the time in between the seasons...summer turning to fall, fall to winter, winter to spring, spring to summer.  the subtle change in temperature hinting at things to come...the anticipation...the newness...i am a gypsy at heart...change is my friend.  hope you are all excited about the things to come...whatever that may be for you...i know i am.  :)

stay tuned...there are new projects on the way.

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{jessica+matt}

matt contacted me several months ago when they were searching for a photographer. i knew immediately that i wanted to be a part of their wedding. matt is an art director and extremely creative in his own right. he and jessica had a vision from the very beginning...and i wanted in! it was an amazing day...the weather was gorgeous...love and support and friendship were plentiful...matt and jessica were as laid back a couple as i've ever seen. we had lots of extra time set aside just for super creative photography and i took full advantage. i met so many amazing people, and made some great new friends. thank you so much, matt and jessica, for allowing me to document this special occasion. it is one i will not forget.

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{heeeelllllooooooo out there}

well...i know this is a long shot but i HATE not being able to follow-up with people who contact me. it makes me feel very irresponsible and i don't like it when people do it to me! so, i had a couple contact me about a wedding in portsmouth next summer via my contact form on my website, only they didn't put their email address or phone number so i don't know how to get in touch with them. it has been stressing me out since i first got the info earlier this week. i know it's highly unlikely...but who knows...maybe they'll read my blog! so, tracy jones...if you see this, call me or email me so we can get together!

oh...and i got the 13x11 hardback album in the mail two nights ago...A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. AND, it survived the gigantic rain storm we had on tuesday. all i can say is thank goodness for bubble wrap. stay tuned for details...

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{christmas in june}

one of the things i haven't been able to do *until now* was to stock studio samples of the albums i am offering for purchase in my lovely shopping cart! i've been dying to have some on hand since many of my brides are asking to see them...and rightfully so! when i had a little extra in my account, i took the dive and ordered two samples...one sample of the 13x11 hardback album and one of the wedding guest book. so when i got home today...there was a box waiting for me on the doorstep...always exciting! poor kade, he thinks i get fun stuff all the time and he never gets anything. i'm going to have to order something for him just for the sake of his ego. :) ANYWAY...back to the story at hand. i made myself wait until after dinner to carefully open the box, so that i could give you a first hand account of how it was packaged...talk about details! finao is on top of the details, no doubt...even the packing tape on the outside of the box was folded in perfect 90 degree angles. i know...who cares...but my life IS all about the details! beautifully textured corrugated presentation box...the kind of thing you just have to touch. i was so excited that i accidently tore the tissue paper that was wrapped around the book...oops. the album is absolutely gorgeous...talk about soft leather...like buttah! the cover is metal oxide leather with copper imprinting on the inside. it is 10x10 with a 5x5 cutout opening in the front. the idea is to choose 6 of your very favorite engagement photos, mount them in the book, and use it for a very special, one-of-a-kind guest book at the wedding, where your friends and family can share their wishes. sound interesting? gotta have one? don't wait too long to order prior to your event...every single album is custom made at the time of ordering, so they take about 3 weeks to ship. stay tuned...i'll show you what it looks like when i get the photos mounted. oh, and yes, the backdrop is one of my new ones...just waiting for someone to be brave and give 'em a try. ;)

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coming in june...

so i have a TON of stuff to post from april + may...i promise i'll get to it very soon. most days i'm lucky to have the time to eat dinner...much less vacuum or do dishes or laundry...who can be bothered with THAT stuff??!! i absolutely cannot complain about being so lucky to be so busy with something that i love so much. i just need more hours!!! and although i hate to admit it, and although my 5 year old may disagree that i'm not superwoman (gotta love him), i am only one woman and i can only do so much. SO...i'll get off my complain-train and tell you what i REALLY came here to say. since i started my business, i've always been more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of photographer where i just go with the background and make it work for me. however, for those of you who know and love me, you know my fanaticism for yummy color and pattern and texture...and sometimes you just don't have those laying around at your disposal. SO...i decided to invest in some really FABULOUS fabric backgrounds that i will be getting in june and ready to test out on some unsuspecting clients! can't you just see your little munchkin sitting in front of one of these babies with a bright green lollipop! wanna try 'em out? BOOK A SESSION ALREADY! :) can't wait to play.

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F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!!!!

well...it's not totally finished...it's still missing lots of photos...but it was so darn depressing to have it close to finished and just sitting there on my computer waiting for me to have a few extra minutes to get some photos uploaded.  so, i bit the bullet and got a few up for the homepage gallery.  there will be updates over the next few weeks to complete all of the individual galleries which are not on there right now, so be sure to check back often.  i very much appreciate feedback, so let me know what you think!

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