Garden & Gun Magazine

In TIME magazine, Jay McInerney (you remember... fabulous author, "Bright Lights, Big City") contributed a short list of 5 items that are catching his eye these days. One of the items listed is what he named "a very unlikely magazine." He went on to say "I couldn't believe the title either, but Garden & Gun captures the contradictions of contemporary Southern living. Beautiful photography and prose from the top Southern writers." This merely confirmed something my husband and I, and most southerners, had discovered a year or two before. Garden & Gun has graced our coffee table and flipped between our nightstands for some time now. It's yummy.

So when I got a call this summer to shoot a feature for them it took me zero seconds to respond. Really? Wow. Um, shooting carnivorous plants? Of course, I love shooting... plants!!! Now, is it me, or did this not conjure up for you images of Shaggy and Scooby running away from a large plant with teeth and an oversized pink mouth? It didn't matter, I was on it.

One steamy summer evening my assistant and I drove into unknown territory somewhere west of Charlottesville, and were pleasantly surprised to find Robert's secret garden filled with the most intricate, dazzling array of plants that just so happen to digest bugs for food. They were such a treat to shoot, almost overwhelming in this 'oh my gosh am I doing them justice' kind of way, all the while listening to Robert's incredible descriptions of how they worked, the patience required to grow them (30 years for some), and his love of all things botanical. He is a really neat guy. And I'm glad he didn't tell me about the snakes and black widow spiders that liked his garden until I was nearly done. Mental note: no more flip flops on shoots.

I just finished another piece with them last week that I cannot wait to see. More Garden & Gun adventures (and I mean adventures) to come! I shot another piece in the issue prior about a nice fella in Virginia who happens to make moonshine in his basement. Of course, I did NOT try it. :) Mmmmm.

A friend recently told me he loves giving subscriptions to G&G to friends and clients, northerners especially, as it is such a unique treasure, and lifestyle magazine, that appeals to everyone. Here, I made it easy for you! Just click and you can sign yourself up or give the awesome gift of Garden & Gun Magazine. Shameless plug, sure, but you'll thank me later.

More Home Work

In August I did an interiors shoot for R Home and really enjoyed meeting the designer, Betsy Gate Moore, who was featured in the magazine that is on newsstands now. We shot on a day of legendary Richmond heat and humidity, so we kept our time outdoors to a minimum as we stared longingly at her fabulous pool. Sigh. We even had to start a fire in her fireplace since, well, fireplaces look better with flames in them. That didn't help with the heat, but we worked fast and got the shot.

I tried to get the inside scoop on the work she did for Johnny Depp's private island home (can you imagine?!?!), but mum's the word... dang.

Proctor and Christen

When I think about Christen, I think all hugs and smiles. She is such a sweet soul and beautiful bride, and one of those people that when you find out what they do for a living, you go, "ohhh, that totally fits". Christen is a nurse, and if you spend five minutes talking to her, you know she's a really, really good one. Caring, gentle, smiling, and gives THE best hugs. Swear.

Proctor is the light of her life, and together they are adorable. He is funny as can be and had us all laughing hysterically, even during the serious shots. Ahem. But truly, we loved being around the two of them on their wedding day. As I was editing their photos, I literally found myself smiling at my computer screen, and I'd catch myself, because... it's kind of weird to be smiling at your computer screen. Their smiles are that contagious.

I first heard their slideshow song while in a shop and had to ask the owner if he knew the name of the artists, and thankfully he did. The artists are an amazing duo singing the most beautiful words with the yummiest voices. Sam and Ruby. (not to be confused with Sam and Libbie, the shoe company which I kept googling. duh.) Dreamy. Check them out. And a perfect choice for Proctor and Christen's wedding slideshow.

So without much further ado, feel free to enjoy more photos from their stunning Easton Events wedding, click here for the slideshow and see if you're not smiling by the end.

Brian and Amy's Wedding

It rained in Bridgehampton, New York on June 20. Then it rained some more. It rained down, sideways, and I think sometimes even upwards. Remember the golf US Open, when they showed the grounds crew using squeegees to clear the greens? We were a mere hour down the road that same day, alas, no squeegees.

Holy moly, did it rain.

But Amy was getting married that day and had decided early on that no matter what, she was going to marry Brian with a huge smile on her face and have the time of her life. When we talked a few days before, we laughed that she should get some cute wedding day Wellies and umbrellas, and make the best of it. Because really, what are your options? Not two hours later she texted me that she had found some, and better yet, they matched her bridesmaids' dresses. That's my girl!!

The cottage where she got ready was so sweet and the garden... the garden!!! The rain had turned the garden into a lush, stunning backdrop as green as green can be, so we donned the wellies and dodged raindrops, Amy and her friends laughing the entire time.

Throughout the afternoon and evening the rain continued, but somehow we managed to get these little windows of time where it would softly drizzle or stop altogether. I was constantly putting my nose up against the window trying to see if it was still coming down, and immediately after the ceremony it did a massive downpour and then, for twenty precious minutes... nothing.

So we ran outside and were able to get the shots Amy had dreamed of, the two of them on their favorite beach. Where they had spent so much time getting to know eachother, fallen in love, and then decided to have their wedding, and ultimately, had the time of their lives.

Amy and Brian, thank you so much for having me be a part of your incredible day.

You can see Brian and Amy's Wedding Slideshow right here.

Jeff and Erin

Jeff and Erin got married on a gorgeous summer day in June. They were, in a word, adorable. They had this way about them where they would fold into eachother so casually and easily, quickly forgetting I was there (helloo, guys, I'm still here!!) which made for some very fun photo taking. Their families were sweet and clearly adored those two, I really enjoyed getting to know them all and catching their heartfelt expressions.

They opted for the 'first glance' before the ceremony, and before you go all traditional on me, it is SO great. She snuck up behind him and when he turned his smile was as big as they get. They enjoyed this moment with family in the distance and a few clicks of my shutter, up close and personal. It also allowed us to get all the group shots before their ceremony so they could enjoy more of their reception. LOVED it!

The Easton Events team pulled together a visual feast that blew me away. When they said mango ceiling drapes my head probably cocked to the side like a curious dog, but that's why I am not the wedding planner, because holy smokes did it ever WORK! The warm glow lit the room beautifully and one of the highlights of my night was hovering near the entrance of the tent to hear all the oohs and ahhhs.

If you want to see Erin and Jeff's slideshow, just click HERE.

A Little Home Work

Last month I had the pleasure of shooting the Carr's beautiful country home on a sunny and intensely blue-sky day. The entire time I was there I was in a state of awe with a twinge of space, grass and country envy. And porch envy. The breeze came in one door and went out the other bringing with it the scent of honeysuckles, fresh cut grass and well, country. While the city is my home, I could see myself picking it all up and heading out there, but of course I'd have to kick Melissa and her family out to make room and that's not nice.

The dogs were not paid actors but they certainly wanted their share of the limelight. Every time I set up a shot they would mosey over in their relaxed country dog saunter and comfortably melt into the scenery. While I was editing I was playing 'where's Waldo' with the dogs, because they showed up in ALL of photos. But they were so perfectly color coordinated to their rooms that I left them, and kind of forgot they were even there.






Lee, the Art Director sent me the lovely behind the scenes photo below, and it only seemed fair to post it since I post photos of everyone else and, it makes me laugh. I was on the jeep to take the cover shot as I needed a higher vantage point so you could see more house, less driveway as it was on an incline. And yes, I look particularly dorky but I swear that's not how I focus. I was turning the polarizing filter and it's hard to do up there without sticking your fingerprints on the glass and working within the lens hood, while trying not to break the jeep. That I would never live down.

Enjoy the magazine, it's on newsstands this week!

Nathan and Leslie's Wedding

Rainy days get a bad rap, especially from sweet brides who have imagined their wedding day their whole lives in a golden sunny setting. I like blue skies and sunlight too, believe me, but of course we don't have a whole lot of control over that one little detail of the wedding.

So if you are planning your big day at, say, Keswick Hall, and you want to get married outside and the forecast looks ominous, you have hopefully hired the amazing women at Easton Events so they can execute Plan A or Plan B, and maybe even Plan C.

But most importantly, you do exactly what Leslie did. You smile, you laugh, you maybe peek out the window once or twice hoping for some clearing, but in the end you remember exactly why you're there and you enjoy every single minute of it.

As a photographer, I love a cloudy day. I know, you're going pffffft, but really, beautiful diffused light that makes greens pop and faces glow. Resort pools are clear of sunbathers and aside from actual rainfall, we are much less limited in what direction I shoot from based on lighting. And even better, no squinting or harsh shadows.

So if the skies open up a few minutes before your ceremony, and Plan A (full outdoors) gets dismissed. Then Plan B gets passed upon when the rain comes down sideways and into the tent, you simply glide down the stairs, just like Leslie did, a smile so heartfelt it could light up any room, and you marry the man of your dreams.

If you'd like to see Nathan and Leslie's Wedding Slideshow just click here.