tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19350956768898862102024-03-12T23:38:11.148-04:00Patricia Lyons PhotographyLifestyle PhotographyPatricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-28973657292297122212015-06-22T12:55:00.001-04:002016-06-29T10:30:07.737-04:00Southern Living, July Issue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Don't you worry, it's not all going to my head. My family keeps me very humble, with comments like "Oh, that's cool, what's for dinner?" Mhmmm. But I just had to share my very first cover for this beautiful magazine. The shoot was a really great collaboration with the Southern Living team, all made even better by the Vershoors' beautiful home and farm. Did I mention we had full access to two very large barns filled with antiques and styling props for sale? Talk about distracting. We'd drift over during breaks like kids in a candy store, but there was so much awesomeness from top to bottom, it was hard to take it all in! And we really enjoyed quality time with local bad boy, Tibi, the goat. When not munching on the bottom of my sweater, or hopping the fence to terrorize small children with his crazy eyes, he actually jumped ONTO our carefully placed table and traipsed down the middle hoping for his moment of glory (or more likely, a snack). But he was so goofy and irreverent, you couldn't help but love him.<br />
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I LOVED this photo shoot. I could do an entirely separate post on loving Nashville itself, but I am trying to stay on task here! But my gosh, the people, the food, the vibe... anyhoo...</div>
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I'll admit I was a little stressed just before this shoot, I mean, what with all the beauty, timing, trying to get it all done in one day, doing it all justice, famous musicians with not a ton of spare time, lighting (the nature kind, which has a schedule of its own), and it being my first assignment with Southern Living magazine. But as usual, once you show up, set up, the collaboration begins, and hit the shutter that first time, all your worries start to fade and you go into work mode, all pistons firing.</div>
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Our kind hosts, Cassie (check out her fashion Instagram @womanista) and her musician husband Charles (you might recognize him from his little band, Lady Antebellum), opened their doors to us for the day and wow, their home did not disappoint. Bright, comfortable, chic and stunning come to mind, and the garden was just perfect for cocktails and a delicious dinner. Their guests arrived and it was go time. I took a deep breath and got to work, maybe or maybe not hollering across the pool here and there some soft direction (Charles, tell a good story!, Cassie cross your leg the other way, Charles put your foot down, sit back, sit forward, GOT IT!!). I'm sure they were counting the minutes until I left! But they truly could not have been more kind, accommodating and easy to shoot.</div>
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I hope you enjoy the piece. And seriously, add Nashville to your travel list!</div>
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-22663790795721617212014-03-05T20:30:00.002-05:002014-03-05T20:38:36.394-05:00Martha Stewart Weddings' 'Top Photographers List'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Honored. And floored. Swear. <br />
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Several months ago I was asked by an editor at <i>Martha Stewart Weddings</i> to fill out a questionnaire for an article about photography to be in their next issue. Just normal stuff, you know, how long you've been in the business, describe your style, do you travel for weddings, advice for brides, that sort of thing. I was very careful with my words, and a bit verbose I suppose (that's just how I roll), and submitted my novella wondering if they'd use a quote or something. I mean, wouldn't that be cool?? <br />
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Fast forward a few months and one day I get a Facebook message from an old friend saying 'Congratulations on being named one of <i>Martha Stewart Weddings'</i> Top Photographers!!' Whaaa? I made her send me a snapshot of whatever she was reading because I didn't even believe her. But there it was in print, some sort of otherworldly validation by the masters of all things weddings, of ten years of shooting, and learning, and just plain working my butt off (and shhh... doing what I love). Let me tell you, it made my day, my month, my year, my career. <br />
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But my 14 year old warned me not to let 'ranking hubris' affect me (I still think he made that up but have been meaning to check). And so it is. I am beyond thrilled to be part of this list, but back I go to chatting with new clients, committing dates for summer weekends well into the near future, editing until my wrist feels weak and my eyes start to cross... and making brides, grooms and their families happy capturing one of the best days of their lives. Because that's truly the best validation there is.<br />
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-64322906006232334152014-02-28T14:33:00.000-05:002014-02-28T14:33:04.818-05:00Kelsey and Patrick's Kiawah Wedding // Coastal Living Weddings Magzine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many moons ago I photographed Briana and Ben's gorgeous Kiawah Island Wedding at The Sanctuary, and I swore I'd be back one day. I just loved that quiet, beautiful, Southern Coast island and could easily appreciate their family's attachment to it over the years. So when Briana's Mom, once of the nicest people you'll ever meet, called to let me know that her other daughter Kelsey was engaged to the cute boy she had brought to her sister's wedding, I was so excited! <br />
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Kelsey is a very patient bride, a skill learned in part by falling in love with a Navy man, so navigating (get it?) the calendars far in advance to determine he would be on his deployment was hard enough, but ensuring the River Course at Kiawah Island, her dream venue, would have been rebuilt in time after a heartbreaking fire made the wait seem ever longer. They set their date and we waited. And waited. And planned. And wow, was it worth it.<br />
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The day started hazy and humid, storms threatened from the west, but spirits were high given Kelsey and Patrick would finally be married! All went smoothly and then suddenly, I kid you not, DURING the ceremony, the sun peeked through and never stopped. It was pretty spectacular. <br />
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Take a look in this spring's Coastal Living Weddings, and enjoy.<br />
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Event Planner: Engaging Events // Invitations and Programs: Sixpence Press //<br />
Bride's Dress: Madison Row // Bridesmaids Dresses: LulaKate // Cake: Market Street Sweets<br />
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-16783810769792820432014-01-13T10:58:00.001-05:002014-04-23T13:54:36.021-04:00Jackie and Scott's Bahamas Wedding // Coastal Living Weddings Magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jackie and Scott had visited the One&Only Ocean Club Resort
in the Bahamas with Jackie's family numerous times, and it always held a
very special place in their hearts. They knew early on they would use
this perfect venue for the wedding, and the ever-talented Dickie Morris
at <a href="http://justalittleditty.com/">just a little ditty events</a> brought us all together. I am still trying to figure out how Dickie got that <a href="http://sperrytents.com/">Sperry Tent</a> down there! The vibrant Caribbean-hued flowers and accents, the bridesmaids' dresses (which were designed and made by Jackie), her gorgeous <a href="http://www.moniquelhuillier.com/">Monique Lhuillier</a> gown, and lovely invitations by <a href="http://www.bellafigura.com/">Bella Figura</a>, plus many more details came together brilliantly.<br />
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Jackie and Scott were great about heading to the beach for a few portraits after the wedding, though the wind was picking up, and as always the images turned out to be some of my favorites. I love when the bride and groom get to step away from the activity and take a few minutes to themselves (with me, their personal stalker, of course). The joy mixed with excitement, amazement, and maybe just a touch of relief that everything went the way the bride had dreamed, always, always, without a doubt always, come through in the images.<br />
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Last summer I was contacted by an art director working on a new magazine called <i>Coastal Living Weddings</i>. You mean as in <i><a href="http://www.coastalliving.com/">Coastal Living</a></i> magazine, I wondered? The magazine that always features dreamy, breezy homes with insane views and makes me wonder why the heck I live two hours inland? Yup. So with the help of some seriously good fortune, both weddings I submitted were selected. Stay tuned for the next installment. <br />
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Now go make yourself a little frozen drink with an umbrella, and enjoy, and look for the 2014 issue of <i>Coastal Living Weddings</i> on newsstands now!!<br />
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-83450387970501848382013-03-07T14:41:00.001-05:002013-03-07T14:41:13.731-05:00Town and Country Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Needless to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway, this was a blast to see in this month's issue of Town and Country. Doesn't it make you want to get married in Switzerland? I mean, I can come shoot it, just sayin'....Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-50365678888745808042012-10-16T11:02:00.000-04:002012-10-17T11:21:04.284-04:00And what about the weddings?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ohhhh the weddings... my friends, it has been one busy, wonderful year with many, many weddings to share. I loved them all. I have so many favorite images, such lovely couples, it's daunting to consider selecting from them, but I will, I will! The editorial shoots are just so much easier to blog because the image selection has been done for me.<br />
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2012 has introduced me to the most fabulous brides, grooms and families, as have the past years. For all the time-sucking evils of Facebook I am thankful that I get to keep in touch with many of them and see where their journey takes them, and even watch some of their families grow. Amy and Jack's precious twins, Lindsay and John's adorable son, the Trivette's growing crew... I love it, love it, love it. I'm now waiting for two new baby announcements this month. Squee! New families!<br />
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This year's wedding journey started on a pretty January day in Charlotte, NC, then moseyed on through Charlottesville, Richmond, Henderson, NC, then up through Warrenton, VA. Came back through central Virginia, across the Atlantic to a timeless magical town in a tiny 1400's hillside church in Switzerland, back to a beautiful farm in Virginia then down to the sunny fun Bahamas. Richmond and Charlottesville round out the rest of this fantastic year then... 2013. Can you believe it?<br />
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2013 brings more wonderful weddings and travel which at the moment include Kiawah Island, SC, Washington, DC, Easthampton, NY, Montclair, NJ, Rehoboth Beach, DE, Warrenton, NC, to name a few, and one state I have yet to ever visit, Wisconsin. Lake Geneva here we come! And of course some Charlottesville and Richmond in the good old VA. Love that place. I can't wait to see what else develops.<br />
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Stay with me, the photos are indeed coming. These couples and their celebrations are too amazing not to share.<br />
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<i>(above, my bridefriend Davita as we ran to catch the fading light in the vineyard in Cressier, NE, Switzerland. I've been practicing running and shooting simultaneously... ha)</i>Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-27873232100855721462012-10-16T10:22:00.004-04:002012-10-16T15:21:13.347-04:00A Gem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This summer, on the hottest and possibly most humid day of the year, I headed up to the Shenandoah Valley to photograph Elizabeth Locke's estate for <a href="http://www.gardenandgun.com/">Garden&Gun</a>, one of my favorite magazines ever. Needless to say, it was divine and even her chickens were quite photogenic. The house had been featured in Architectural Digest so my focus (ha) was on the gardens and the gardener extraordinaire. Elizabeth and her husband John had the gardens and home looking perfect (which I suspect they always do) and graciously extended an invitation to stay overnight in their guest cottage (yes, please!). We enjoyed dinner on the veranda, where I enjoyed hearing their stories and all about how Elizabeth started her jewelry business over delicious foods from her garden. Perfection.<br />
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Photographers typically prefer to shoot exteriors and landscapes in the morning or evening light, so I try to schedule these so that we can shoot, sleep, then shoot again in the pretty morning light. Everything looks completely different when the sun is coming from the opposite side, so it's nice to be able to see the options and shoot things the way they look best. One of the greatest payoffs was coming up to the house at 5:45 am or so and catching the sun rise over the greenhouse. The pinks and yellows were so dramatic, I knew we had our shot! <br />
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Elizabeth herself was a treat. A very cool lady, even in the torturous heat, who managed to look like a million bucks while my hair was pasted to the left side of my face and I continually wiped the um, humidity from the camera screen. I loved her green sneakers which matched her stunning peridot necklace! And being the perfect hostess, she sent me home with two large bags of delicious vegetables, and flowers from her cutting garden.<br />
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Elizabeth, thank you for a lovely shoot and I do hope our paths cross again (in a cooler climate perhaps) soon! <br />
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-4381861978088363252012-08-19T18:19:00.001-04:002012-09-07T00:16:54.789-04:00PARADE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So fun! <br />
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I had the best time shooting this wonderful piece in the August 19 issue of PARADE magazine (you know the one, tucked in your Sunday paper, lands in about 32.2 million homes - which did happen to cross my mind once or twice while shooting, no pressure or anything). Claudia, the Photo Editor, and I trekked into the hills of Lenoir, NC (via airplane and rental car, not on foot so much) to meet up with some of the nicest people you could ever want to know. I even got to go way up in the bucket of a fire truck to get an aerial shot courtesy of the wonderful local Fire Department, which wasn't used of course since the really tough ones never are, ha. I learned a lot about gardening, the kindness of this community, and the power of a great idea. And this little girl on the cover? We haven't heard the last of her. She is destined for some great things.<br />
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.<br />
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-60846564199117594302012-05-16T13:12:00.000-04:002012-05-16T13:16:17.767-04:00Laird & Ross in Brides Magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"> This month, <a href="http://www.brides.com/">Brides</a> magazine was
relaunched in a cool, updated format. Yes, the same Brides that's been
around so long I can remember lugging it around like a dog-eared wedding
Bible long, long ago when I got married... which may or may not have
been around when the internet was invented. I can't imagine a more
perfect way to inaugurate the new look than with Laird and Ross'
absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous wedding in Sea Island, Georgia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sea Island is a little gem of a place near St. Simon's Island on the
southern coast of Georgia that I've been so fortunate to visit over the years with friends, and to shoot weddings on as well. Think massive trees, palms, Spanish moss, golf and bicycles.
The Cloister is the main resort on the island that is breath-taking, in
an oooh and ahhhing kind of way, and will spoil you rotten. It is an
idyllic place full of history and charm, and the G8 Summit was even held
there in 2004. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Laird is one of those girls who was born stylish, and it came through
in every detail. Her Carolina Herrera dress was perfection on her, and
the girls in their black gowns looked so elegant. Laird had help from
the talented team at <a href="http://www.kristinnewmandesigns.com/">Kristin Newman Designs</a> as it was quite a feat to pull off such a full and wonderful weekend of events, and her sweet family couldn't have been more accommodating and lovely. You can see more images and read their wedding story <a href="http://www.brides.com/wedding-ideas/real-weddings/2012/05/georgia-real-wedding-black-and-white-wedding-laird-and-ross#slide=1">here</a>. </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Laird and Ross, I wish you the best and thank you for letting me
take part in your big day. And for risking the rain with me for some
portraits between those crazy Southern storm fronts, I think we did quite well! </span><br />
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-75522472139789857342012-05-15T15:45:00.001-04:002012-05-16T12:01:01.028-04:00Home for Garden&Gun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One fine day, my Photo Editor at the ever-awesome Garden&Gun magazine called and said they were fiiiinally ready to do a city profile about Richmond, Virginia. YAY! I had been creating a list in my head forever, waiting patiently for this fantastic opportunity to show off my town. Of course I know this place so well after living here for 16 years, what a breeze this would be to shoot, right? I practically had the article written for them! Uhhhh-huh. Then I got the shot list as long as my arm and I hadn't even heard of some of them. Tricksters! What was this BBQ place I had never heard of? This pub? This bookstore? The adventure had begun.</div>
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Like a Type-A scavenger huntress I google-mapped all the locations on the shot list (what you see in the final article is a mere portion, as the images I took could have filled a coffee-table book). I broke the locations down into navigable chunks, designated shoot days for each with the owners (thanks to Margaret's help), coordinated them with the appropriate good light for each, packed up my stuff and hit the road. While I enjoyed seeing some familiar faces and places, what I found were even more delicious dishes, more of the kindest people you could want to know, and really cool new-to-me places and spaces. I fell even more in love with this city I now call home. </div>
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My friend and author Dean King wrote the wonderful introduction and the list of locations came from the writer Donovan Webster with a few ideas sprinkled in from Dean and me. While it would have been much simpler if they had just asked my opinion (I mean, just ask my husband, I know EVERYthing), we all would have missed out on a lot these great spots! Apparently I don't get out as much as I thought I did, but that would soon be remedied.</div>
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Some highlights of my shoot (and yes, it is a job folks, but it's a really fun one) included visiting some favorites of mine, Comfort, Lemaire, and Midtown Acacia restaurants. Comfort sent me home with a large bag of food (shoot it, eat it is my policy), and yes that banana pudding is DIVINE. I loved catching Flogging Molly at The National with my husband and shooting from a safe distance (have you seen a drunken Irish mosh pit? their fans are wonderfully nuts), and taking my kids to Belle Isle (you can see them running away from me on the bridge below... kids... kids... come back!!). Shockoe Slip and Bottom are areas I just don't get to enough, and next time Rosie Connolly's Pub is a must visit. It feels like a small pub on some side street in England, and they made me try a dark ale (I do suffer for my art) that was delicious and the owner could actually pour a perfect four leaf clover print into the foam. The good luck was all mine.</div>
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Another fun shoot with Garden & Gun. Check! More to come...</div>
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<br />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-71426334877988603322012-05-15T13:24:00.000-04:002012-05-16T12:03:04.828-04:00A Room with a View<br />
A few months ago RHome asked if I could photograph this stunning Garden Tour home that looks out onto the mighty James River. As I've said before, I always come back to my humble abode after these home shoots and want to purge, redecorate and paint, and maybe even buy myself a couple of Picassos and Sally Manns. But I was too tired... and the store was fresh out of Picassos. Dern.
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Enjoy!<br />
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<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/RHOME_gardenhouse_4.jpg" />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-62573532411856040582012-04-20T11:27:00.000-04:002012-05-16T12:02:04.042-04:00Town & Country, Wyoming Style<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/blog/TC_JHa.jpg" />
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Well (she said sheepishly), hi there. I know, I can't believe I'm blogging either and don't even look at the date of the last post. You just did, didn't you. SO embarrassing. I will do my best to keep this blog a little more current. So much to come in 2012 (Switzerland, Bahamas, Charlottesville, and even some... Richmond!) and 2011 still to share. Baby steps.<br />
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In hopes you'll start to forgive my blogging lameness, here is a special wedding I was thrilled to photograph last summer as seen in the May Issue of Town & Country (with Gretchen Mol on the cover... I still need to read that and find out where the heck she's been). It was a nice surprise to see the photos I sent to T&C for possible inclusion turn into full page coverage, but with a ridiculously scenic location and sweet couple like <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1935095676889886210" ref="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/AnnaandBrian">Anna & Brian</a>, I guess it's not all that surprising.<br />
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Now what they don't tell you in the brief paragraph is how incredible Jackson Hole is, or how the weather and the light there is dramatic, dreamy and inspiring. How on the day of the wedding we encountered hail 30 minutes before the ceremony (this is one reason it's handy to have 14 groomsmen, to wipe off the seating super quick while guests are making their way in). And there was an owl overseeing the event. And a rainbow at sunset. I KNOW, right? Give me a break, crazybeautiful place!! Half the challenge of shooting this event was not standing there with my mouth hanging open instead of taking photographs. It's hard taking in a place like that through a 1/4 viewfinder! But don't cry for me... I managed.<br />
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I could go on, but there are not enough words to accurately describe the awesomeness (the fact that I chose the abused word 'awesome' being testament) that is Jackson Hole, and I will forever be indebted to Anna and her family for introducing me to this part of our country, which in turn gave me the privilege of sharing it with mine. To quote my son while we biked from Dornan's to Jenny Lake, as he took in the snow capped Tetons in front and plains surrounding us, "I think I found my happy place, Mom."<br />
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Indeed.<br />
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<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/blog/181a.jpg" />Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-13683128665103551282011-09-27T20:25:00.007-04:002011-09-28T09:04:03.068-04:00Wine, Garden & Gun<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/bVA_Wine_1.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/bVA_Wine_2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/bVA_Wine_3.jpg"><br /><br />Have you gotten your October/November issue of <a href="http://www.gardenandgun.com">Garden & Gun</a> yet? Check your mailbox, or your closest Barnes & Noble quick! This one might be a sellout with an incredible pecan pie gracing the cover and a guide to the 50 best southern foods. Don't read it hungry. No, really.<br /><br />In those yummy pages you will find a feature I photographed in Delaplane, VA last month. Or the month before. Hard to remember these days. But it was a beautiful summer evening and I traipsed about Rutger's underground cellar with my tripod wishing someone, ANYONE was with me to go 'oh my God this is so cool' with. It was somewhat surreal, Patricia surrounded by barrels and barrels of fine wine in what felt like James Bond's secret lair. <br /><br />I drove my truck the way it was supposed to be driven (not as a suburbanite bus of sorts, hauling sweaty children from activity to activity), up mountains and back down in search of the perfect images to capture this magnificent place. The sunset was casting a wicked pink glow and I set my tripod on the roof of the car, clambered up the windshield (in hindsight possibly dangerous since I was truly alone) and just kept shooting, Blue Ridge mountains to my back. Rutger had accompanied me for a bit to get his portrait then headed out for dinner and I just embraced the solitude and watched the sun set. Click. Click.<br /><br />I stayed in Winchester, searching high and low for a place to grab dinner that the local serial killers didn't frequent (yes, we know I watch too much Law&Order) and finally settled on a slice of pizza in my room while I uploaded photos and got a good night's sleep for my sunrise shoot at Linden Vineyards. Yes, we photographers are funny about the light and I will even get up crazy early for the good stuff.<br /><br />I headed off to Jim's at 4:45 am or something awful like that, and was rewarded with a killer sunrise over the rows of vines and grapes. He loves what he does and seemed to enjoy being out there pruning the vines. I wonder if he thought the same about me, camera glued to my face snapping away, yapping about the gorgeous light. 'Cuz I gotta say, I really, really do love it.<br /><br />Now go get a glass of fine Virginia wine, a slice of pie and your new issue! But seriously, eat something first.Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-69035546865801243432011-07-28T12:47:00.007-04:002011-07-28T14:05:58.807-04:00Mary Chapin Carpenter<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/blog_mcc_660.jpg"><br /><br />At the risk of sounding like a lame college application essay I always say one of the best parts of my job is the awesome people I meet and the cool places I get to visit. I know, I know, I hated to even write it, bleccch, but when your assignment is to get a shot of Mary Chapin Carpenter in her beautiful country home, then <span style="font-style:italic;">bazinga</span>, that's a job perk!<br /><br />So I'm in her office doing my camera things. She's holding her favorite guitar telling me this great story about how she came to own it, a testament to the goodness of people and their faith in her obvious talent when she was starting out. Her sweet animals, her pack, surround her as she starts to play on my request (because, you know, to hold a guitar naturally you should play it, right?). I involuntarily stop what I'm doing. I listen. I want to sit on the floor in front of her and hang out, but I don't since I'm a professional and all, and I pinch myself (not literally, that would have been weird) then start snapping away.<br /><br />She is such a gifted artist with a row of Grammys to prove it (which I did NOT touch even if maybe I wanted to hold one for a quick sec and pretend to give an acceptance speech), and an incredibly humble, super nice person. <br /><br />Yeah, I really do love my job. And the awesome people I get to meet.Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-37027416214341271182011-06-13T22:31:00.006-04:002011-06-13T22:42:53.174-04:00Winter WonderlandAll this heat and humidity has me dreaming about...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/e_MG_8012.jpg"><br /><br />I know, I know. Check in next December and I'll be dreaming about the beach. More to come!Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-57318810216710982322011-04-05T11:06:00.005-04:002011-04-05T21:59:52.742-04:00Casi and Jimmy<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/casi_1.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/casi_2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/casi_4.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/casi_3.jpg"><br /><br />Hellooo wedding season 2011! <br /><br />What better way to kick of the new (wedding) year than with Casi and Jimmy's gorgeous wedding which just hit the newsstands in one of my favorite magazines, "Weddings Unveiled". This October event was perfection from beginning to end, masterfully coordinated and created by Easton Events as imagined in Casi's dreams. And they had the cutest furry ring bearers you have ever seen.<br /><br />Event Planners: Augusta Cole and Lynn Andrews, Easton Events<br />Venue: Keswick Hall, Virginia<br />Florist: Floral Images, Charlottesville<br />Baker: Sylvia Weinstock, NYC<br />Lighting: Blue Ridge Light Forms<br />Stationery and Papers: Rock Paper Scissors<br />Calligraphy: Jen Maton<br />Makeup: Lindsay Montgomery<br />Videography: Beth Phipps, Sprack Media<br /><br />Now back to packing equipment for the first big wedding of the year this coming weekend. A few more bicep curls and I should be ready to wield that camera again for 10 hours. And lunges, lots of lunges. More to come!Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-24309195345347267472010-12-07T11:47:00.004-05:002010-12-07T12:04:04.608-05:00Cover Bride<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/DevonCover"><br /><br />Busy, busy!<br /><br />This fall season has been awesomely, wildly, busy. January will bring a new year, some much needed rest, and lots of blog posts so I can catch you up on all of our fabulous weddings. Happy brides and grooms in Palm Beach, Kiawah Island, Jupiter Island, Charlottesville, Washington DC, and of course Richmond too. So many. I feel truly blessed this holiday season for all the wonderful couples whose paths have crossed with mine. Lucky me :)<br /><br />In the meantime, enjoy Devon's gorgeous self on the cover of this magazine. Her wedding was also posted on Martha Stewart's wedding site, and Martha's people recently let me know that Devon and Dan's wedding is their TOP most viewed real wedding in Martha Stewart site history. Almost 1,000,000 viewers served! Very cool. And if you haven't seen their wedding yet, you just might want to click on <a href="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/DevonandDan">Devon and Dan's Slideshow.</a>Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-10770774989925582812010-09-08T13:55:00.003-04:002010-09-08T14:02:18.406-04:00Sigh.<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/byesummer10.jpg"><br /><br />Good-bye sweet summer and your long, lovely days.<br /><br />I miss you already.<br /><br />xo,<br /><br />PatriciaPatricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-76543103154861647492010-08-02T11:47:00.007-04:002010-08-02T12:53:42.515-04:00Secret Gardens<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/JG_Garden_1.jpg"><br /><br />Now you know I love food shoots, but once in awhile a garden or home shoot is presented and I pinch myself thinking how fortunate I am that I get to see and experience these spectacular places. I mean, to spend the day outdoors meandering through history, taking in views that are often reserved for the owner, family and friends. And taking pictures too?? It is not lost on me. It's a good gig. <br /><br />And then I feel the pressure, how do I capture it so everyone else can experience it too? So I walk the space, repeatedly, up and down different walkways, trying to figure out what it is that makes it 'what it is', and determine the angles or vantage points that tell more in a single image than others. Or maybe it's just a little 'moment' or vignette of two chairs that speaks to me and 'feels' like what I am experiencing there. I only have a couple of pages to encapsulate a scene that could feasibly take up an entire coffee table book. Oh the pressure! But then I remember that no lives are at stake or anything, so that helps a lot.<br /><br />I spent a breezy summer day at the estate of John Graham capturing this breathtaking series of restored gardens. On one side, with the Atlantic Ocean peeking through in the distance, I shot a restored 19th century alleƩ from a somewhat perilous spot atop the 200 year old plantation home ("don't lean on anything" being my sole instructions and the mantra I repeated while shooting up there). On the other side, a gorgeous 1930's formal garden with incredible boxwoods cut into three dimensional federal chain sculptures. Just beyond, a 21st century garden designed and dedicated to John's parents with lovely oyster shell paths.<br /><br />Did I mention they were designed by Chip Callaway? Landscape artist extraordinaire. <br /><br />Check out these images from the August/September issue of Garden&Gun Magazine. The must-read, happening magazine for Southerners and anyone who likes the South.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/JG_Garden_2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/JG_Garden_3.jpg">Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-81472183393924209332010-07-13T12:20:00.003-04:002010-07-13T12:32:18.536-04:00Yum.<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/BLT_1.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/BLT_2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/BLT_3.jpg"><br /><br />Hands down, this was the best sandwich I have ever eaten in my life. Was it the homemade mayonnaise that tasted nothing like the white stuff in the jar that makes me cringe? The organic applewood smoked bacon? The fresh baked bread that had literally just come out of the oven, still warm to the touch and so soft it almost melted into the bacon when you handled the sandwich? The greens we picked from her garden called, no lie, 'Drunken Woman Frizzy Headed Lettuce"?<br /><br />Regardless, it was another brilliant journey with Virginia Living magazine. To a place nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the streets take odd turns and the house numbers aren't in order. A magical little place I'd never have seen were it not for this fun assignment, and a shoot with a subject so lovely and vibrant she makes you say "excuse me, did you say you're 70?"<br /><br />Loved. It.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/BLT_TOC.jpg">Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-43707820753291177322010-05-03T13:56:00.029-04:002010-05-03T16:38:21.595-04:00Thoughts on PhonetographyHello. My name is Patricia Lyons. I am a professional photographer. And I, um, take a whole lot of photos with my phone.<br /><br /><img src= "http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/blogiphone"><br /><br />Now don't you worry, I'm not going to show up at my next job with just my iPhone (though I can't swear that won't happen in the next ten years). <br /><br />Like your mobile, the phone itself neatly wraps the fragments of my life, work and personal, into a sleek little glass-faced box. Oh yeah, we're talking color-coded kids' schedules on iCal, games to keep them happy during doctor visits, client emails, one touch weather (which is usually wrong), ESPN updates or FB checks, and texts from Dad. They're all on there. In one small unit. Sometimes I even use it to make phone calls.<br /><br />But the thing is, the phone itself is freakishly close to my grasp at any given moment and has accidentally become an integral part of my personal photography vault. Now you might ask (as my husband has, while twitching and maybe holding the Visa bill in one hand), "why on earth would you shoot with a phone when you have all that expensive equipment?"<br /><br />Because.<br /><br />Because all day, every day, I see things I want to shoot and frame them up in my mind, but my camera is ______ (fill in blank with any location excluding my hand).<br />Because sometimes that big camera is, well, big, and within my purse could double as a medieval swinging weapon.<br />Because if I DID shoot all the time with my big camera, I'd fire myself for adding to my already overloaded processing workload.<br />Because I thought it would be cool to take a shot each day and slap them all together after some time to see if they encapsulate my week, month or year. Like a photojournal.<br />Because there are all these cool camera apps that make my inner geek giddy and make the photos look better. <br />Because it's great shooting exercise, especially those days I'm stuck in the office and not shooting at all.<br /><br />And most importantly:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Because sometimes the best camera for capturing a moment, is simply the one you have in your hand.</span>Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-67379479217150100362010-03-02T14:20:00.006-05:002010-03-26T16:49:10.944-04:00The Forager<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/forager.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/forager_2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/forager_3.jpg"><br /><br />I am going to come back and fill this little space, and the two entries below, with some insights, information and witty (ha) comments, but for now I just wanted to share this piece I did for Garden&Gun. I loved the day I spent shooting with Vickie and learning about how she forages food in her backyard. And was most happy that I didn't end up with chiggers, like someone else who visited her. Yeah, just google that term and you'll be glad too. Come back if you're curious later...<br /><br />I also have about, oh, 6 or 7 awesome weddings I cannot wait to put up. A few are on hold as they await possible publication decisions, but they were all so gorgeous and the couples were fantastic.<br /><br />My typically sleepy January February went bonkers on me and time has been a luxury I haven't had much of... but I cannot wait to get back on this blogging, if for no other reason to stop my friends from harassing me about how slow I have been to post! I guess the good news is I have been shooting a ton, and am so glad for that.Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-18412783277679743172010-03-02T14:19:00.002-05:002010-03-26T16:49:27.914-04:00Darryl Carter<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/Darryl_Carter.jpg"><br /><br />Very possibly the hardest part of shooting gorgeous homes is coming home and thinking what I need to do around here. It's every so slightly depressing! Terrible home envy ensues.<br /><br />But Darryl Carter was so fun to work with and his home on Embassy Row (it used to actually BE the Embassy of Oman) in Washington, DC was simply breathtaking. I loved his home, I loved his dog Otis, I loved him, and his awesome employees. I love my job.Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1935095676889886210.post-6788256378076777722010-03-02T14:12:00.003-05:002010-03-26T16:49:38.750-04:00More Home Work<img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/hopewell.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/hopewell_2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/hopewell_3.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.patricialyonsphotography.com/hopewell_4.jpg"><br /><br />I recently photographed this funky geo-thermal, environmentally friendly house that sits on the shore of the James River, in Hopewell.Patricia Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916160088536777917noreply@blogger.com0