Patricia Lyons Photography

Wine, Garden & Gun

2011-09-27T20:25:00.007-04:00

Have you gotten your October/November issue of Garden & Gun 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now go get a glass of fine Virginia wine, a slice of pie and your new issue! But seriously, eat something first.

Mary Chapin Carpenter

2011-07-28T12:47:00.007-04:00

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 bazinga, that's a job perk!

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.

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.

Yeah, I really do love my job. And the awesome people I get to meet.

Winter Wonderland

2011-06-13T22:31:00.006-04:00

All this heat and humidity has me dreaming about...

I know, I know. Check in next December and I'll be dreaming about the beach. More to come!

Casi and Jimmy

2011-04-05T11:06:00.005-04:00

Hellooo wedding season 2011!

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.

Event Planners: Augusta Cole and Lynn Andrews, Easton Events
Venue: Keswick Hall, Virginia
Florist: Floral Images, Charlottesville
Baker: Sylvia Weinstock, NYC
Lighting: Blue Ridge Light Forms
Stationery and Papers: Rock Paper Scissors
Calligraphy: Jen Maton
Makeup: Lindsay Montgomery
Videography: Beth Phipps, Sprack Media

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!

Cover Bride

2010-12-07T11:47:00.004-05:00

Busy, busy!

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 :)

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 Devon and Dan's Slideshow.

Sigh.

2010-09-08T13:55:00.003-04:00

Good-bye sweet summer and your long, lovely days.

I miss you already.

xo,

Patricia

Secret Gardens

2010-08-02T11:47:00.007-04:00

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.

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.

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 alleé 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.

Did I mention they were designed by Chip Callaway? Landscape artist extraordinaire.

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.

Yum.

2010-07-13T12:20:00.003-04:00

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"?

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?"

Loved. It.

Thoughts on Phonetography

2010-05-03T13:56:00.029-04:00

Hello. My name is Patricia Lyons. I am a professional photographer. And I, um, take a whole lot of photos with my phone.

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).

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.

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?"

Because.

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).
Because sometimes that big camera is, well, big, and within my purse could double as a medieval swinging weapon.
Because if I DID shoot all the time with my big camera, I'd fire myself for adding to my already overloaded processing workload.
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.
Because there are all these cool camera apps that make my inner geek giddy and make the photos look better.
Because it's great shooting exercise, especially those days I'm stuck in the office and not shooting at all.

And most importantly:

Because sometimes the best camera for capturing a moment, is simply the one you have in your hand.

The Forager

2010-03-02T14:20:00.006-05:00

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...

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.

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.

Darryl Carter

2010-03-02T14:19:00.002-05:00

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.

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.

More Home Work

2010-03-02T14:12:00.003-05:00

I recently photographed this funky geo-thermal, environmentally friendly house that sits on the shore of the James River, in Hopewell.

Maine

2010-01-20T14:17:00.012-05:00

August 2009.

Moosehead Lake, Maine.

My daughter and I lay on a massive rock, the kind you expect to find up north. Big and flat as the hood of a car and perfectly sloped like a lounge chair. I could hear the boys skipping stones and talking a few rocks over, but we hadn't seen another soul for hours. The breeze coming off the lake was strong and chilly, so we were snuggled together letting the warm stone toast our backs. It smelled so fresh and evergreen, in that Maine kind of way, that you just knew you were getting healthier with every breath.

My arm tucked around her, we just lay there looking up at the mountain and trees against an insanely blue sky, listening to the water slapping the rock just a few feet below. Doing nothing. Nothing. Nowhere to be, no time commitments. No soccer practices or homework. No shoots scheduled. No sitters. Nothing.

It was… perfect.

She’s a wiggly sort so it didn’t last too long, but long enough to say to her, “Remember this moment, right here. Remember the rock, the sky, and the two of us laying here and how this feels, ok? Can you promise to remember?” As if in asking I could make her record the memory, and burn it in mine as well.

Now it is January and it feels so long ago. We’re healthy and happy but harried and busy, and the rocks here are... smaller.

I still ask her every now and then if she remembers our rock. Just to be sure.

And she always says she does.

Garden & Gun Magazine

2009-10-05T10:07:00.010-04:00

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

2009-09-24T12:16:00.013-04:00

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

2009-09-15T12:45:00.008-04:00

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

2009-07-21T10:53:00.014-04:00

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

2009-07-08T09:09:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-23T14:01:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-18T11:04:00.005-04:00

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.

Ted and Emily's Wedding

2009-06-17T16:24:00.009-04:00

Hellooooo June.

Isn't it funny how at 3 am problems or to-do lists can seem amplified? Critical? Magnifiedx100? Like, how can I possibly sleep when I have SO much to do? But of course you're too tired to get out of bed and actually function, so you go back asleep and then when you do wake up in the morning, it's almost OK. It's... fine. "WHAT was I freaking out about at 3 am, blogging??", I say to myself, almost laughing at sleepy me, downing another cup of coffee and forming my action plan du jour. And yes, blogging is on my to-do list EVERY day. But the important thing is to keep the clients happy and their work flowing, the shooting going and the contracts a-signing. Right? And kids fed and heading the right direction, very important that one.

But I need a good nights' sleep so I'm ON it. As a matter of fact I'm making a note to myself right now to do it again tomorrow. Ha! Take that, you midnight problem amplifier thing that happens to me in June.

Besides, Emily and Ted's wedding is wanting to be shared. They had a gorgeous wedding at St. James' Church in Richmond, Virginia followed by a reception at the Country Club of Virginia on a gloriously sunny day. Rain had been threatening but Emily wasn't worried. From the get go Emily was so happy, so relaxed, enjoying family, friends and of course, Ted. She smiled through makeup and hair styling, laughed through the photo session while well-wishing folks passed by on the streets, and when it was time to walk down the aisle she gave her Dad one last look, a huge smile on her face, and never looked back.

A few of my favorite shots follow, but to see more just click on Ted and Emily's Wedding Slideshow.

Keeping Busy

2009-05-19T10:53:00.010-04:00

I was with my (awesome) bride in NYC over the weekend and telling her how awful I have been about keeping up with my blog. She said, "I know! Every time I click on your blog link and that oyster comes up I'm like, UGH, not the oyster again!" My assistant all too eagerly agreed (she's fired...KIDDING). Hmmm. I guess after 20 times of visiting for some scoop and seeing, again, how to shuck an oyster, you're pretty ready for things to move on. So thank you ladies, for that much needed reminder.

To catch you up quickly, here's what's been going on. My son has ESP, Lordhelpme school is almost over, my daughter still wants a dog and we are healthy, aside from the effects of the sea of pollen that we swim through daily, but no real complaints there. I'm still not a very interested cook, I have only blown up one additional set of hard boiled eggs since my last egg entry, and I am probably going to be kicked out of my book club. I am good at the wine part, but my book reading time is challenged. Phew, OK, so that's that.

Work-wise, wedding season is heating up again and I am ready! In addition, my editorial and other jobs continue to get increasingly diverse and I am no longer even surprised at what the next potential client phone call brings. A prison? An underground alcohol-brewing operation of questionable legality (funnily, not related to the prison story)? Girls in bathing suits on the beach on the Caribbean? A stunning country home? I think my new tag line is going to just be 'shoots people and... stuff'. But I can say this, I think it's really making me a better photographer. I walk away from every single shoot I do having learned something. Every. Single. Shoot. And all of this I bring to your shoot, so just look out. I am bringin' it.

The article in this post is in the current issue of the always beautiful Virginia Living Magazine. On a brisk morning in April I headed up to Lorton, VA not quite sure what to expect out of a visit to an old abandoned prison built in the early 1900s. Accompanied by a guide and two security guards (I think to make sure I didn't accidentally lock myself in a cell) I made my way around the peeling paint, rusted cots, and crumbling brick. Cold and creepy? You betcha. Oh, if those cinderblock walls could talk.

The article explains much better than I can (I work in pictures remember, so bear with me), but basically Teddy Roosevelt built this prison as a model for a reformatory penal system, where inmates would be rehabilitated and taught skills. Largely a low-security workhouse for short-term offenders, they could serve time while learning to become bakers, farmers, ummm and I think dental assistants. Not kidding. Later, the good old-fashioned penitentiary was built for the more serious offenders and of course, that was creepy as all get out. Mwaahahahaaa. I loved it.

But the coolest part of the story is that the prison was shut down in the early 2000s and the first parcel was taken over by the Lorton Arts Foundation and turned into sweet artists' studios and galleries. The brick exteriors were fixed up but kept in the original barracks configuration, and the interiors were gutted and turned into these incredible, well-lit, friendly and beautiful spaces. What will come of the other two sections I got to see remains to be seen, but what they have done so far is really impressive.

And here at the bottom, well this is quite another story. A fun one for sure. More to come, but basically yep, shooting a 2010 calendar in the Cayman Islands. You can learn more on the Vanity Fair Magazine Blog (I know, right??) which featured this snapshot of us hard at work. Yes, permission granted to roll your eyes, but it really was work. No, really!

photo credit for Cayman photo: Mark Chaloner

In case you were wondering...

2009-04-21T11:15:00.007-04:00

Just in case you were wondering, this is how you shuck an oyster. Oh, and that's my photo too! Yay! A few months ago I got a phone call from the photo editor at one of my favorite magazines, Garden & Gun, asking to purchase one of my oyster pics for an article. Naturally, I agreed - what an honor. This is a magazine every southerner (and I use this term loosely, as I like to think we all have a little southerner in us) should have on his or her nightstand. The writing is fantastic, the photography is beautiful, and the articles are so varied and appealing that my husband and I quietly fight over it. When I can't find it with my things, I know exactly where to look.

Last week I photographed my first feature with Garden & Gun which will be posted as soon as I am allowed, and also shot two items for my other favorite magazine, Virginia Living. It was a really fun and adventurous week that took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me in a few different ways. More to come on those!

I wrapped up a busy shooting week with a beautiful Richmond wedding on one of the most gorgeous days of the year so far. Emily and Ted were fun, totally relaxed, and sweet as they come. Will be posting those soon. Can't wait!

Whistler Wedding

2009-03-30T14:34:00.007-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting and working with TJ and Samara in Whistler, British Columbia. Yep, a wintery wedding with snow, mountains, Uggs, and even a one-horse open sleigh.

TJ and Sam are, in a word, incredible. Both combat medical officers in the U.S. Army they met under the most insane conditions overseas and became the very best of friends. In the brief time I got to know them I was humbled and deeply impressed by their compassion and selflessness, and couldn't help but feel deep gratitude for their service and sacrifice. I don't pretend to understand what they went through during their tours, or what combat is like, or how it feels to witness what they have seen, but I do know this. They belong together and there isn't a person in their presence who could tell you otherwise.

But they were also light-hearted, snowboard-loving, a ton of fun, and up for anything as you can see from their photos. I think they would have put on the snowboards had we asked, but the martini luge was calling for them. It was veeery tempting though. The intimate dinner was spectacular, the sleigh rides cold but thrilling, and their wedding song, the acoustic version of Rob Thomas' "Ever the Same", just could not have been more perfect.

The icing on the cake (forgive the pun) was shooting it with one of my best buddies and favorite photographers, Lori of Sweet Pea Photography. I could tell you lots of great things about Lori and our long and treasured friendship, but that's a post for another day.

Thank you Sam and TJ, for everything. Keep safe and be well.

Dreaming Big

2009-03-20T12:04:00.011-04:00

"But what if they DO come?" she asked, her hands pressed together, an uncontainable smile on her face, and her hopeful, chocolate-brown eyes looking up at me. Ugh. She really meant it. I don't do pragmatic very well when it comes to squashing kids' dreams, and really, sometimes just the possibility of it happening, however remote, is better than no chance at all.

I answered, "THAT would be so cool."

So the Jonas Brothers have been officially invited to Dylan's 8th birthday party. In August. Luckily we have about 5 months to work out the details, and we discussed that they will probably be on tour, but she can dream about it in the meantime. Hopefully they can sing a song or two before they hurry off. Or even if just Nick (the curly-haired one, she favors him because he has diabetes just like a friend of hers) can come we'll be thrilled.

I'll keep you posted on that one.

Catching up

2009-01-22T13:51:00.007-05:00

Pretty soon you'll be wondering, does she even do weddings anymore? And the answer is YEAH she does. 2009 holds a lot of fun weddings, in fact, and more fantastic brides. Interestingly, only three weddings are in Richmond, and believe me I love those! In addition I'll be heading up to New York this summer to shoot in The Hamptons, and again in beautiful Locust Valley, also on Long Island. And I'll be shooting a beautiful oceanfront affair on my former stomping grounds, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Plus a plantation in the country. Several in Charlottesville. And more in the works. I even booked a few in 2010, but can't get ahead of myself here.

So for now I am hibernating and getting some blog posts up that have been on my to do list for awhile.

This shoot was done at my friend Freddie's house for R Home Magazine. Sarah Spencer Hurst did her excellent styling as always, and Freddie was such a wonderful shoot hostess! Aside from providing the lovely location, I was coming down with a horrible cold and she plied me with liquids and medicine to keep me going (little did we know it was the beginning of my pneumonia battle). Then when my babysitter had to bail at the last minute, she insisted I bring the kids back to play with hers after school so we could continue (I could have called in my back-up, i.e. husband, as it was late, but it's best not to bother investment manager types for at least two hours after the market closes these days. Trust me.) Freddie even shuttled one of my kids off to guitar lessons! I am not usually so heinously unprofessional, I swear, but it sure is nice to shoot in friends' homes should things go awry.

Here is her beautiful home, filled with some amazing art. Check out the Sally Mann photograph in the slow-shutter shot of her daughter walking. Love it!

Still loving January.

2009-01-09T10:40:00.006-05:00

So exciting! Check out Ronda and Brian's stunning wedding that we photographed this summer on the fabulous Southern Weddings Magazine Blog. The blog is a wonderful resource for new brides, and they just launched a brand new magazine that looks sleek yet very, very savvy.

Back in my day there were no blogs (horrors!), no easy to find online resources, and you actually had to meet your photographer in person (gasp!) to look through their work! Truly the dark ages. We had to buy armloads of non-informative wedding magazines (ok, there were only three) to pick out bridesmaids dresses... trust me, there was no JCrew wedding section then. Sorry for that, yet again, my sweet bridesmaids.

Bring it on, January!

2009-01-09T08:40:00.013-05:00

WHERE DID DECEMBER GO?? Oh my goodness, December is a blur. While I was in the actual month it felt like forever and ever, especially on a 14 hour direct flight to the Middle East, during which I watched 4 episodes of "The Office", three movies, took two naps, and was so eye-tired the whole time I couldn't read a single article. December couldn't pass fast enough during my bout of pneumonia when I was bed-ridden for 4 days with temperatures hovering around 103. And December felt like eternity trudging through the malls and shopping for my hard-to-buy-for husband and three fickle kids. Don't even get me started on the trauma of putting those candles in the windows, decorating... not my favorite, though the holidays would not be the same without the results.

But all in all, you won't believe this. It was the Best. Month. Ever. What an incredible month! Shooting Adam and Dana's beautiful December wedding to wrap up the year. Catching up with friends over recession-friendly potluck parties where the wine flowed and some people shared their secret dance skills doing Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' performance (no, no, not me). A quick jaunt to the Middle East for a wild project. A candlelit Christmas Eve service, so quietly beautiful and moving when the congregation sang an a cappella 'Silent Night' that tears involuntarily welled up and spilled onto my cheeks (while also hoping my kids didn't drop their candles and light the place up).

And best of all, Christmas Day. In our own home. Wrapped in my brand new Snuggie, the one of a kind blanket with arms and legs (KIDDING... did not get a Snuggie, though the kids later confessed David shot down their perfect gift idea). We had nowhere to go, I was surrounded by my favorite people, we had toys and new games to play, and it culminated in a fancy dinner with David and the kids in THE dining room (surprisingly we don't go in there much... we prefer kitchen coziness). Alas, we closed out the month with a flurry of family visits and fun with cousins over the next week, and an insane abundance of comfort food.

It was perfect. It was crazy. We might have put on a few pounds. But I wouldn't have it any other way. And now, January. We recuperate. Regenerate. Sleep. Maybe even exercise. And get ready for all the craziness and wonderfulness that 2009 will bring.

Here is a great start to the year, a "stew" piece I shot with Virginia Living. Tyler said "Shoot soup?". I said "Yup". He doesn't have to twist my arm too hard. Food? Photography? People? Great magazine? While getting paid (can't forget that part)? I'm in.

Sarah Hurst styled with her usual aplomb, creating visual feasts that made us want to live in that French country-looking fantasy stew world. Chef J Frank made mouth-watering stews so delicious that a local thief stole his amazing Salmon and Corn Chowder! We caught him red-handed, stew dripping from his snout and tail between his legs as he ran from the shoot. It was comical, we had left the stews outside in their huge pots as it was nice and cold out. A dog had followed his nose to the porch and somehow removed the top of the pot, thought he had found heaven and dove in. Literally. Sarah came out and chased him away, and he looked back at us, his only regret being not to have taken more. Thankfully we had already shot that part, but it was supposed to be our lunch! No perks that day. Well, except maybe a little wine at the end. And bread. SO francais!

A lot of the beautiful pieces and tureens came from the fab new store Fraiche on Libbie and Grove, behind Starbucks. Have you been there? I could buy every single piece in there. I mean, I can't, but I would.

Enjoy, and stay tuned! Happy, happy new year.

Weddings and Weddings

2008-11-21T08:06:00.019-05:00

"Where ya been?" my friends ask. "Where's Mom?" I hear all the time. "She's on her computer again", I hear even more. "I'll be right theeeeeere". It must be November in the Lyons home.

I've been in a deep dark editing hole, but am starting to see the light. At least long enough to post these (though while I was writing this my egg boiled until all the water was gone and popped, so I had to go clean hundreds of tiny egg and shell pieces off the ceiling. Egg shrapnel. It's not the first time. I should be banned from kitchens.) Needless to say, it's been wild around here, as it always is this time of year. Yummy Fall weddings, lots of editorial shoots, fun portrait sessions. I'll sleep in January, I keep saying.

But I love it, love it, love it all. Except for cleaning eggs off the ceiling, which is hard.

I recently photographed three incredible weddings. Three stunning, spirited, lovable brides and their sweet and adoring grooms. I met so many wonderful families. I mean, LOVED them. Each of these weddings deserves it's own post, with it's own description, but I couldn't wait to share them.

I am heading off to NYC for some much needed quality family time (I am so excited! I am also sneaking out to grab coffee in the big city with a new couple for a New York wedding next year I can't wait to meet). Packing is a challenge when your daughter insists she bring eight stuffed animals and three dolls to share the trip. Then after NYC I am hitting the turkey hard. So while I'm replacing large stuffed animals in the luggage with things we really do need (warm, warm clothes), grab a latte, turn up the volume and enjoy these stories, posted in no particular order.

I just adored these couples and their weddings! Also, I am trying a new larger slideshow format which takes a little longer to load so bear with, it pays off. Leave any comments if you had trouble viewing the shows, ok?

Click here for Randy and Meagan's Wedding in gorgeous Gloucester, Virginia.

Click here for Sam and Margaret's Wedding in beautiful Sea Island, Georgia.

Click here for David and PJ's Wedding in a fabulous place close to my heart, Richmond, Virginia.

Brothers

2008-11-07T09:34:00.008-05:00

Last night Spencer came to me and said, "Mom, this book is really hard. Can you read some of it with me?" I was in the middle of finishing up a task and I said, "Give me a few minutes to wrap this up and I will." Apparently that didn't suffice. He walked out of my office and I heard his heavy steps recede down the hallway. Bad Mom, I know, I know. But if I stopped what I was doing every single time a child in this house needed something then nothing would ever get done.

I quickly finished up and went to find him, read with him and erase my bad Mom guilt. I walked down the dark hall and there it was, smack in the middle of my path. A glowing teepee that had been dragged from the playroom, with a steady voice from within that wasn't Spencer's. Because everyone knows the best place to read is tucked in a teepee, with a flashlight, in a dark hallway. I saw the flashlight moving and two shadows inside, heads together, and heard my older son reading steadily through the difficult words. Their growing bodies, at ages nine and ten easily filled the entire teepee they've had since they were two and three.

So bad Mom listened for a bit, then tiptoed away and let good brother save the day. Maybe she isn't so bad after all.

Virginia Living for the Holidays

2008-11-04T09:45:00.009-05:00

Here's the new holiday issue of Virginia Living! The title is a nice silvery metallic, so don't be fooled by the gray on your screen. I am so, so excited they picked an image I shot for the cover. My guess is it has something to do with those cute munchkins in their ballet attire. Lemme tell ya, the other photographers who contribute to the magazine are really amazing, so to have my photograph be chosen is an honor like you wouldn't believe.

The little girls were adorable. We weren't exactly sure how they would ultimately be incorporated into the shot (should they twirl? run across?), but once they got ahold of the chocolates they just did their thing and we let them concentrate on trying to break into those little candy pouches. Richard Stone styled the piece, brilliantly incorporating silver wrapped chocolates into the mantel decor. The girls sat there much longer than we'd have ever expected as a result, my dorky comments to make them laugh not even necessary. And our guilt over the candy eating was assuaged by the fact they were headed straight to the Dentist's office afterward. Which was a very good thing.

The Champagne Dinner piece was such a blast to shoot once I got past the urge to sit down and join them. My good friends, Reed and Scott, came to the rescue as we sought a house and 'models' who would provide a really beautiful and holiday-ish backdrop for the 5 course dinner that would be prepared for them. It was a wild shoot as there were six of them enjoying the great food (yep, that's Hyde, Manoli, Lacey and Ned in there too!), but there must have been 15 of us in the kitchen. Chefs cooking, writers writing, sommeliers providing proper champagnes, shooting, lighting, styling. It was nuts, but it really came together and they got a great evening out of it with a gourmet meal prepared by the folks a One North Belmont.

Thank you guys for being such good friends and smoking hot models! It's nice to know you have that second career to fall back on. And Scott, I will forever be impressed by your ability to saber a champagne bottle. Even if it did take a...couple...of tries.

Sensational Cakes

2008-10-28T10:30:00.007-04:00

So I'm checking my phone messages last month and one begins in an unmistakable New York accent. "Hellooo Patricia" she starts, "this is Sylvia Weinstock calling from New York." I'm thinking, wow, telemarketers are getting crafty with their recordings.

Now, Sylvia Weinstock isn't a household name to all, but if you are getting married, enjoy a little Martha Stewart TV or read her gorgeous magazine, or like to check the footnotes on celebrity weddings (oh wait, that might just be me), you have probably come across Mrs. Weinstock. You may have even caught her in a guest spot on "Gossip Girl" in her signature owl glasses. Or read that she provides cakes to folks like Oprah, Donald Trump, Mariah Carey, and the royal family in Saudi Arabia. Her cakes literally ship all over the world, and recently two came via the fabulous party planners at Easton Events to my little corner of it.

I clued in that it was a real message when she continued, saying she had seen some beautiful images from two weddings I photographed in Charlottesville, and that she had chosen them to be included in her new book "Sensational Cakes". Cool! And they'd like to use them for publicity. Even better! We spoke several times of the phone and she is a seriously savvy businesswoman in addition to master baker. She was lovely, sharp as a tack and I do hope to work with her again someday. Her cakes are masterpieces, each and every item on them 100% edible. The flowers are little sculptures and people come up to her cakes constantly, their noses inches from the decorations, still disbelieving that these precise and intricate petals are handmade.

Oh, and they taste delicious too (shhh.....).

Elizabeth and Bernie

2008-10-22T12:37:00.006-04:00

There was an uninvited guest. Her name was Hanna. But she was gracious enough to head out as the ceremony began.

Hurricane Hanna hit Virginia Beach on September 6, 2008. Bernie and Elizabeth's wedding day. I packed my lucky yellow galoshes, and Jamie and I hit the road early. We white-knuckled across bridges and through tunnels wondering what to expect as we drove toward the storm, but as we approached the skies turned to a bright white gray and the rain seemed to soften.

Elizabeth and Bernie were the calm eyes of the storm. Nary a freak out, nor a frown, just easy breezy beautiful calm. About ten minutes before the ceremony we peeked out the windows one last time and saw a little patch of cerulean blue. And another. And in the distance a whole beautiful lot of it. The sun broke through and voila, golden light enveloped the Church. It was stunning.

Our plans for a post-ceremony beach shot of the couple was out of the question as the hurricane was being pushed out by a stiff wind that would have sandblasted us all, but we did manage a brisk walk from the Church to reception. It was pitch black when I took these, but my favorite lens absorbs light like nobody's business. I just love this image, how happy they look. How relaxed. And if you look hard you can see our uninvited guest leaving in the distance.

You can watch Elizabeth and Bernie's Wedding Slideshow here.

Of Dads and Brides.

2008-10-22T12:29:00.004-04:00

I woke early and slowly opened my eyes. In the warm morning light I saw my daughter had crawled into our bed while we slept and snuggled up tight under her Daddy’s arm, he on his side. Her tiny arms were wrapped back around his long, tanned forearm which was the width of her little shoulders, swallowing her up in a toasty cocoon. She looked small but protected, content and blissful, like there was no safer place she could be and no place she’d rather be. She opened her big brown sleepy eyes and smiled at me, reached out a hand to grasp mine, then closed them again, burrowed in, and drifted back off to that happy place, still smiling. Basking in this supremely comfortable place. I kept saying to myself, don’t forget this. Don’t forget this beautiful scene.

They grow up so fast.

My own father’s eyes filled with tears when we danced at my wedding. It was the first of only two times I have ever seen him cry. I can’t help but carry these images and memories with me when I shoot any wedding. It’s the best part of my job, that I get to capture these incredible moments as they unfold for my brides. Fathers giving their daughters away, so to speak, and fathers probably wondering where the time went. Fathers, so deeply proud. It is a truly unique bond and such a privilege to observe.

So forgive me if I tear up when you are about to walk down the aisle. Or when you have that dance with your father. Or hear a sweet toast. But I’ll be right there, the not-so-professional professional, hiding my eyes behind the camera, snapping away, to help you remember too.

Julie and Matt

2008-10-21T12:38:00.007-04:00

Well, hey there! Yes, indeed, it's time for a little blog love. Poor thing has been terribly neglected and I have a bit of catching up to do. It's been a WILD few months and I have stacks of weddings and fun editorial bits to post, even a coffee table book inclusion! Top that off with the usual bizarre stories about my kids (let's just say one went to school with his face painted in magic marker by his, um, artiste brother who was inspired during sleeping hours) and I might have to post every day this week. Actually, I am going to try to. No, really. I will.

So let's get started!

Julie and Matt. Charlottesville. UVA. Gorgeous day. Sweet couple. Love and laughter, and of course, the talents of uber-party planners, Easton Events. Sound familiar? Yep, three weeks, back to back, same location but entirely different weddings! Truly, you can shoot 20 weddings in the same place for a year, and because of all the different elements involved and pieces of themselves that couples put into a wedding, they are never, ever 'the same'. It also inspires me to come up with different ways to shoot the couples and locations (while keeping some of the tried and trues that totally work, of course).

Julie couldn't suppress her happy giggles from the moment we came into the hotel room where she and her girls were getting ready. She was all smiles and hugs, loving her friends and family, eager to become Matt's wife. We had an incredible day for photos on the Lawn, and it was such a pretty night at Farmington Country Club we just kept snapping until the light was completely gone. They danced the night away, wrapping things up with a rousing Wahooo-wa (go UVA!) and driving off into the night, beaming.

You can see more images from their wedding by clicking on Julie and Matt's Wedding.

Kelly and Graham

2008-09-16T13:57:00.005-04:00

Kelly and Graham had such a fantastic wedding weekend! From the casual BBQ at the Hunt Club featuring delicious country fare, competitive rounds of UVA cornhole*, really cold beers, and orange and blue m&ms, to the refined and elegant evening at Farmington (once again planned by the amazing team at Easton Events), everyone was happy, happy, happy. Though I have to confess I might have had a tear or two in my eyes when Kelly's father saw her for the first time. And during his toast. Oh, and during their father daughter dance. OK, and as he watched them drive off at the end of the night.

Kelly had the most contagious smile that warmed everyone around her, and Graham most of all. The brief walk at sunset with the two of them was, as always, such a great opportunity to catch them relaxed and deliriously happy alone (I don't count) for a moment while revelers danced inside.

* cornhole is like a bean bag toss, but really devoted UVA alums might utilize wooden platforms painted orange and blue with a huge UVA logo on them and blue and orange bean bags. Maybe. They might also have the groomsmen meet at the famed "White Spot" before the ceremony to pay homage.

You can watch Kelly and Graham's Slideshow here.

Ronda and Brian

2008-09-12T11:24:00.003-04:00

Ronda and Brian lucked out with the weather in a huge way. I mean, it was pouring rain, tornado warnings, all kinds of Mother Nature craziness as we drove up to Woodberry Forest for the ceremony. Once there, everyone was sporting umbrellas, ducking the rains and running into the church.

About 20 minutes before the ceremony the sun came out, and not just peeking out, it was out for good. I don't think a little rain would have changed how excited Ronda and Brian were to be getting married though. His expression when she walked down the aisle was priceless and had absolutely nothing to do with meteorology.

Ronda's Dad provided the coolest green vintage car that made for some great photo opps, and Easton Events did the rest. They created a monogram theme with Ronda that was carried out all the way through, and it was beautiful! From the cake, down to the little flags in the drinks...even the water bottles.

You can watch Ronda and Brian's Slideshow here.

R Home

2008-09-12T11:03:00.008-04:00

I had a blast shooting this piece for R Home with my good friend and super stylist, Sarah. We spent a long day at Katie's beautiful house and had so much fun collaborating. Katie makes a great cover girl, doesn't she? She makes rockin' jewelry too, check it out at Lucky Me Jewelry.

The kids and I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday to find some things for school, and I have to confess I might have let out a little squeal when I saw the crowded magazine racks holding two magazines with my photographs on their covers. I stopped, smiled, had a huge moment of gratitude for everyone who gave me the opportunity for this to happen, maybe even took a photo with my cell phone. Who knows. I was quickly brought back to earth by my oldest going "Come ON Mom, we have stuff to do". Buzz-kill. PPphpphht.

Lizzie and Joe

2008-09-12T10:35:00.004-04:00

I am so behind on blogging so bear with me as I attempt to get halfway caught up today!

Lizzie and Joe had such a great wedding. They were so happy to be surrounded by family and friends on this summer day, their three beautiful blonde nieces making the trip in from Belgium with their Mom and Dad to take part. (side note: multi-lingual children always amaze me. There are days I wonder if mine have even mastered one language!)

As with most weddings, everyone was anxious to get to the reception so I am always thrilled when the couple is willing to step out of their party later on for some Bride and Groom pictures. Once the party is underway and the couple has had a chance to talk to a few people and hug their families, and maybe have a dance or two, they emerge from the building or tent excited to have a few minutes to look at each other, talk to each other, and just generally go "oh my gosh, we're married!!" without the weight of the day's logistics on their shoulders (and without an audience which is helpful!). It shows in the photos, doesn't it? In this case we were downtown which made for a fun backdrop. It's one of my favorite parts of every wedding.

Thank you Lizzie and Joe for having me, and best wishes to you both!

You can view Lizzie and Joe's Slideshow here.

Oystahs....

2008-09-02T09:46:00.018-04:00

Last month I was offered the opportunity to spend a day with Virginia oystermen, mostly on the boat, shooting them doing their thing for a feature in Virginia Living magazine. Being a huge believer in the 'life is short' philosophy, it always excites me to do something cool I might never have done or seen otherwise. It opens my mind, reminds me that my life is just one little part of the huge puzzle and that not everybody spends the majority of their workday in front of a monitor. Oh, and I love taking photographs, so that worked out well.

The Art Director picked me up at a few minutes to 5 (yeah, a.m.) and we drove the 2 plus hours to an inlet near Virginia Beach, home of the quite famous Lynnhaven Oyster which is staging a huge comeback after many challenging years. In my mind I had this shoot figured out. Uh huh. Which when you are shooting outdoors and in unknown territory, typically means it will look nothing like you naively planned.

Here I thought we'd be shooting weathered, craggly oystermen at sunrise with vibrant blue skies throughout the day (don't forget that polarizing filter!) and abundant sunshine (grab the sunsreen!). Not. As we drove toward the beach, the cloudy skies darkened. And when we arrived the crew turned out to be, um, younger than me. Dang, I'm old! But they had killer orange waders and huge smiles that welcomed us and our interest in sharing their story. The light was beautiful, diffused and we were spared the pesky humidity. Best of all, the guys love what they do, and you could tell.

Here is the next issue which should be available next week. My shot made the cover which is always an honor, and so fun (and not just because the kids holler out in the grocery line, "Hey Mom there's your picture!"...hee). While it looks like we might have shot it in the fancy high-end studio I don't have, we actually rigged it on the spot, literally on the dock, as the light was gorgeous and the oysters were as fresh as they could be.

and a few more:

On another day we visited Falls Church for a separate article which will also appear in the next issue. Yes, that burger was amazing, and the fries... mmmm. Eating the props is a huge perk. Then we shot all afternoon and wrapped the day with some amazing Thai food at Bangkok Blues, packing up the equipment whilst listening to some great live music. And I don't know what happened to that martini...

Shhhhh....

2008-08-27T08:52:00.014-04:00

It's quiet. Too quiet. So quiet I can hear incoming emails ping in my office upstairs while hooking up my I.V. to the coffee maker. No sleepyheads slowly rising, soft footsteps creaking the stairs. No one leaning their elbows on the back of my chair while I check emails, rocking me backward, asking what we're doing today. No one riding their bikes alongside on my run, stopping abruptly to rescue misguided caterpillars and placing them back in the safety of the grass.

Yep, they're back at school. I miss them like you would not believe, but we were all ready. I think.

August was exciting and exhausting. 3 gorgeous Charlottesville weddings. 3 fun editorial shoots (2 covers, I still can't believe it). A trip to the beach featuring the most astoundingly perfect weather of the year. Front row at Bruce Springsteen, my ten year old mocking me when I told him I was so close I touched Bruce ("oooooh" he said, all faux googly-eyed with jazz hands a dazzling). He is so grounded. Then Michael Phelps. Usain Bolt. Jumping out of bed every night to stand 2 feet from the TV screaming, hopping up and down, urging ______ (enter Olympian's name here) to "COME ON!". Restless sleep as a result of adrenaline overload at those crazy hours.

And one wicked roller coaster that literally suspended us at the top, not enjoying the view on the horizon, but SIX long seconds, paused, looking at the ground, stadium seating only three rows deep because they wanted you to see how it would all go down. Yes, just over the crest. Six seconds. Looking at your shoes dangling and the pavement beyond. Props to the masochist who came up with that one. Seriously, what was his childhood like? The ride was insane, but easily the best coaster I've been on in years.

So now, just getting caught up. Completing the summer's weddings. Returning calls. Meeting lovely brides for next year. Booking editorial shoots. Navigating this Facebook thing, late to the table but learning. Oh, and homework. They already started homework. No rest for the weary.

5 more hours until they come home. I wonder what they're doing? Sigh.

No, she does not drink Diet Coke, she was carrying it for me. Sheesh! My husband even asked if it was my beer. Riiiight!

August

2008-08-15T07:31:00.009-04:00

August in Richmond. Just saying it usually makes people wrinkle their noses. August. Typically so hot, humid, and unbearable that kids don't even want to play outside. So hot you walk out the door and all the air gets sucked out of your body and camera lenses instantly fog up from the humidity (which is always tricky when shooting a wedding and no, you can't wipe them or it comes back smeary so you stare at it for 5 of the longest minutes of your life until it dissipates). No color in the skies, just steamy colorless haze, and on the ground, brown grass. And you scream "Mercy! Uncle! Bring on Autumn. Please!".

But not this year. Oddly enough, all month and at three back to back August weddings there has been none of it. None! The thermometer has hovered around 80-90 degrees which is simply unheard of. At receptions, folks are lingering outside and late to hit the dance floors not wanting to leave the rarity of clear air and cool breezes. My hottest wedding ever was in June. Up North. Go figure! (Amy & Jack rocked it with huge smiles though, and we all lost about 5 pounds in the process).

Yup. This August, haze-free blue skies. White puffy clouds. It can't possibly stay this way. Look OUT September.

Ronda had a beautiful bridal portrait earlier this month that I posted above. She was so fun, and such a sport. Her wedding was gorgeous and photos are coming soon. I just remembered another shot I want to post but I'll come back on that one as we are heading out the door for a day of zipping, jolting, screaming and flying on every roller coaster I can manage to hit. My oldest son is tall enough to go on everything, and brave enough too. Yippee! They are all awake now in anticipation...better run...

and Go Michael Phelps!

Holly and Tommy's Wedding

2008-08-11T17:09:00.006-04:00

Holly and Tommy got married in a gorgeous Colonial Virginia church built circa 1735. George Washington had been born a mere three years earlier in nearby Pope's Creek when the church was completed. History hung in the air, and when I entered the chapel I was intrigued by chest-high wood walls that lined the aisle and enclosed the pews, with small swinging doors to access them. I could almost see the dignified parishioners of the era, the powdered wigs and flapping fans, trying to keep cool under the huge vaulted ceilings. The enormous doors on three sides of the structure would have allowed a refreshing cross breeze.

On June 14th, Holly and Tommy added to the history of Christ Church, marrying on a golden summer day.

A powerful storm threatened to douse us all shortly after the ceremony, but kindly waited until we were under the tent at the Indian Creek Yacht Club. And once it let loose it wasn't going to dampen anyone's spirits, especially Holly and Tommy's. They danced the night away and enjoyed friends, family and eachother.

Best wishes to you both! It was such a pleasure sharing your day.

You can view Holly and Tommy's Slideshow here.

Summer

2008-07-21T09:42:00.009-04:00

As my daughter and I strolled through Target yesterday we stopped in our tracks at the new school supplies section. While I personally love school supplies and the yummy smells that accompany them (erasers! fresh notebooks! crayons in... more colors than actually exist in the natural world!), I thought Dylan was going to cry. I thought I was going to cry. Our jaws dropped and I panicked, checking my cell just to see what date it was (hey, it's hard to keep track). "But Mom, we CAN'T go back to school, we haven't done anything fun yet!" she pleaded. Oh, come on, we're at Target, I thought. What's more fun that that??

Rest assured we have had a great summer so far, but six-year olds have reeeally short-short-term memories. She couldn't remember past the previous day spent catching up on chores around the house. Prior to that we had spent a fun weekend with good friends at Virginia Beach followed by a week in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Hours in the waves. Putt-putt. Fisher's caramel popcorn served warm and gooey at the walk-up window. Fourth of July fireworks and sparklers. Sandy sandwiches. Grotto's Pizza. Anchoring off tiny islands and crabbing for hours while playing Scrabble. Bike rides. Fishing. Movies. Sleeping in. Losing track of time.

On the work front, lots of great things going on that I can't post quite yet. A few cool magazine features, beautiful weddings, and really fun bridal shoots. August should be a great blog posting month so keep coming back.

I did not take very many photos on our trips except these few momentous occasions. It may sound criminal to not whip out my camera on vacation, but it's a choice I have to make sometimes between participating and observing. And at the rate this summer is flying by, I'd much rather join in!

Ella

2008-07-02T07:56:00.011-04:00

I have typed and erased this entry ten times over the past week. Once I even had four paragraphs written but it didn’t sound right. It just didn’t tell the story right. I really want to get it right.

This is a happy story. About a family and their new baby girl, Ella. About the crazy love that sets in the minute you lay eyes on your child for the first time, bonds that run deeper than we can understand, and even about cute twin siblings who con you into thinking they are shy but then stand two inches from the lens, front and center. And want to show you their toys. And follow you everywhere, those gorgeous blue eyes trained on you unless they hear "gummy bears" and tear down the hall to find the magical source.

I met this lovely family through Noah’s Children, Richmond’s pediatric hospice, and Kathy, social worker extraordinaire, to whom I have gladly given my services over the past five years taking photos of incredible families just like Ella's.

Here's the hard part of the story. Ella has a chromosome disorder that will significantly shorten her life. She might not have made it to birth, wasn't even supposed to make it home from the hospital. A year is optimistic.

Ella just celebrated her one month birthday. To this family, whose dream at one time was just to meet Ella, or hold her once, this is the most precious blessing. They feel like the luckiest people on the planet. They know what will come, but are living every moment in the moment. They are the reason this a happy story, their faith and strength are truly inspiring.

So they let me in, and I photographed them with Ella and her brother and sister. And as they always do, these Noah’s families, they affected me. Reminded me of how lucky we all are. How precious these little people in our lives are. How incredibly blessed we are for every single minute, every single day we have with them. To live in the moment.

Here is Ella's slideshow from our time together.

Amy and Jack

2008-06-23T15:20:00.010-04:00

Once again short on time, but long on material. How does that happen??

Amy and Jack turned what could have been a very challenging day (it was, like, 850 degrees) into one that I will always remember filled with smiles, laughter and happiness. And awesome style. Hot pink, lime green, killer damask design. No stone unturned when it came to details, Amy had it DOWN. I loved it all! It was like shooting fish in a barrel... in scenic Allentown, PA. Now before you start going all Billy Joel on me and visions of welders start dancing in your head, take a look at this GORGEOUS place.

Amy and Jack's Slideshow

Amy and Jack, thank you for making it so fun for us. You and your beautiful families were such a joy to be with and photograph. And Amy, let me know when you realize event planning is really your calling.... ha!

Speaking of which, Amy and Jack found me last winter after they happened to see my work on this cute Preppy Wedding Blog and tracked me down. I love that! I don't know who the mystery preppy wedding lady is, but I sure do like her.

Tabatha and Christian

2008-06-14T12:05:00.007-04:00

Tabatha and Christian. Such an amazing, fun, beautiful couple inside and out. As with most couples lately I didn't meet them until the wedding day (oddly, I haven't shot a Richmond couple yet this year), but knew from some great phone conversations that Tabatha and I were going to get along juuuust fine. She said, "Just do your thing, tell us what to do, we totally trust you". She won me over instantly.

Their reward follows. I am running out the door to shoot another gorgeous wedding, so enjoy!

Tabatha and Christian's Slideshow

p.s. Note to single women everywhere: If you find a man who looks at you like in this slideshow, keep him. Seriously. Do.

Noah's

2008-06-13T13:07:00.005-04:00

"Thank you for everything. We have found so much good in people since she was born", the Mom looked me in the eyes and said as I gathered my things. I didn't know what to say back. I mean, what do you say? What do you say to someone who is going to lose their child?

For the past four years I have given my photographic services to the families whose sweet children are in hospice care with Noah's Children. They range in ages from birth to roughly 16, and have various conditions that will take their lives way too early. Some are first born children, some have siblings. All are very, very deeply loved.

This morning I did a very special photo shoot for a family whose daughter was born with a genetic condition that was expected to take her life before she could even leave the hospital. She is home now, thirteen days old. The parents are all too aware of what the future holds, they just don't know when. So they will hold her, hug her, feed her, love her and cherish every single second.

Her older brother and sister are too young to understand, which I guess has its benefits, and greeted me shyly at the door hanging at their Mom's skirt, protected. Within minutes they were following me around, curious, then graduated to full on hams, stealing the show.

People always ask, how do you do it? How do you not do it. as carzy as life is, how can you not share your abilities. I guess my hands don't shake as much. I'm not as scared when I go in. I don't cry quite as much afterward. In some ways, I suppose, I have come to terms with it. I go in, do my job, and feel thankful that I can give these families a small bit of peace in their grief, that they'll know at least they have these photos in the years forward when of course they'd rather have the child.

I think the most incredible thing is when I see these families, they give me strength. It blows me away every time I hear these exact words, "We are just so thankful we have her for this little while".

Seven Sure Signs it's Summer

2008-06-06T08:20:00.010-04:00

The kids are out of school and the signs are clear:

1.) Baseball is over. I'm pretty bummed about this one, but my nerves were about shot after the playoffs. Alas, they won the Little League championships in a nail-biting finale!

2.) My hair is not cooperating. At all. Richmond humidity is legend, and I feel like a human barometer.

3.) Can't keep food in the house. Buy it, bring it in, it disappears. Every morsel. Like they're starving. What did these kids eat at school? Then there's the ice cream man who now circles the 'hood with his sqwawking truck that sends my kids into a comical keystone-cop frenzy. You would seriously think they have never seen ice cream before.

4.) Band Aids and Neosporin are being dealt out like cards at a black jack table. I'm telling you, the injury per day stats are ridiculous. We're crossing fingers Dylan doesn't hit the ER for busting her chin for the fourth time. Odds aren't good according to the doctors. No kidding, the ER doc said "See you in a few months" last time we were in. Great.

5.) Not to mention, I have removed 9 ticks so far. 3 from places that should never, ever have ticks. Gentlemen, you may cringe...now. Poor kid (and poor Mom).

6.) Sleep, glorious sleep. We are all sleeping past last week's 6:45 am school alarm and ALL are much happier for it. I love seeing their cute, sleepy-eyed, tanned faces coming down to breakfast with crazy chlorine-infused bed head.

7.) And last but not least, weddings, weddings, weddings!! I shot a really beautiful plantation wedding last weekend that was pretty much perfect and defied all weather predictions, and have one this weekend that with an adorable couple I can't wait to meet. I will share the photos this coming week!

Have a great weekend.

Summer Music, Movies and Books

2008-06-03T09:48:00.012-04:00

A small diversion while I get caught up on some photos here.....

OK, the books part is a joke. Since the last three novels I read were "I Wish That I Had a Dog", "I Love My Dog" and the eagerly anticipated follow-up, "The Very Angry Girl" (who, it seems, did not get a dog) by Dylan Lyons, I cannot actually comment on books. Except to say I wish I had more time to read them.

Movies have temporarily replaced books during my busy season because I can get more satisfaction with a great story that will all be over by the time I put my head down for the night. After a day of shooting or editing, it's all I can do to just sit there, escape and absorb, little letters being a challenge for my tired eyes.

Lori sent me a link to a cool Vancouver Site that listed their top ten indies love stories of the year. It's just what I needed. I printed it out and am making my way through the list this summer so I thought I'd share. Indie films are my weakness, they're fresh, unexpected, quirky, off-beat, often hysterical, totally original, and typically have great soundtracks. I also have a Patrick Dempsey threshold that has been surpassed for the year, so.... here goes:

1.) Once
2.) All the Real Girls
3.) Lars and the Real Girl
4.) Me and You and Everyone We Know
5.) Conversations with Other Women
6.) Waitress
7.) Broken English
8.) Wristcutters: A Love Story
9.) Shopgirl
10.) Dedication

On the music front, just wanted to say that Richmond is really stepping up the live music scene. Finally. We went to The National last night to see Marie Digby (there's an accent on the e in Marie but I can't remember how to make it happen) and Eric Hutchinson, and they were AWESOME. And you simply couldn't ask for a better venue. If you haven't been there, check out the schedule and find a reason to go! Marie Digby is coming back August 1 with Gavin Degraw, FYI.

Marie has some beautiful original songs (see Kate and Jay's slideshow) but I also love her cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella". We chatted with her after the show and she is this tiny, gorgeous, sweet girl who started playing piano at age 3. You can tell! She also plays guitar, sings incredibly, writes. Gushing talent. All the guys (and some of the girls) in our group left there with HUGE Marie Digby crushes. Check her out:

Ali and Michael's Wedding

2008-05-25T13:20:00.010-04:00

It's a holiday weekend and I am not supposed to be working but shhhhhhhh...I snuck into my office to post this slideshow really quickly. A few weekends ago I photographed Ali and Michael's wedding in Jekyll Island, one of many beautiful tiny islands on the southernmost part of Georgia's coast.

I watched "27 Dresses" on the plane last weekend, and in the movie, a romantic comedy about weddings, the characters say their favorite part of the wedding is looking at the groom to see his expression when the bride walks down the aisle. That has always been, hands down, my favorite moment too. When Ali confidently strode down the aisle, Michael did not disappoint. It was very clear that he felt like the luckiest guy in the world. A great moment I was so glad to capture (oooh....I love the freedom of being up close in outdoor weddings).

Ali and I have been emailing about her wedding for a little over a year and finally meeting her was such a pleasure. She was easy, gracious, kind, accommodating, and Michael was as well. Their families were equally welcoming and so sweet! Thank you all so much for having us (Lori, my Vancouver photographer buddy flew all the way over & down to shoot it with me!).

So watch and enjoy Ali and Michael's Wedding. It's jam packed with photos and takes a second to load, so be patient.

MmmmMaroma...

2008-05-23T10:51:00.014-04:00

The Coffee Fairy never came this morning. No piping hot carafe of coffee with a mini New York Times mysteriously delivered to my porch. No Manuel to swing by my breakfast table with a pitcher of fresh-squeezed, impossibly-orange orange juice, sliced papaya and mango. No Moses to smile and wish me a "Buenos dias, Senora Patricia" and bring a basket of homemade breads and pastries. No sitting on the veranda with David overlooking the translucent azure water, breeze in my hair, wondering if it even matters what time it is when I wonder what time it is. And definitely no Serge clearing sand off our lounge bed on the beach (with a small dry paint brush to get even the smallest grains... and no, I could not make that up) and starting the endless supply of anise-tainted margaritas with a side of 'fresh as fresh gets' guacamole.

Sigh. We're baaaack!

OK, I did miss the kids a lot so it is good to be home, but we had one heck of a grown-ups only getaway to celebrate my birthday (which is now officially over, 30 days later). David and I spent the most decadent 4 days at a gorgeous and romantic resort tucked in the Mayan Riviera of Mexico. It's a fine line between sharing and bragging, so I'll let the photo speak for themselves. But put this 'note to self' in your PDA, rolodex or a post-it above your desk: "I absolutely must go to Maroma Resort and Spa sometime in my life". Now back to work!

* all photos copyright 2008 Patricia Lyons Photography

SuperFunHappy

2008-05-14T09:59:00.005-04:00

I know, I know, you already heard that Kate and Jay's wedding was outstanding. They couldn't have been more superfunhappy if they tried. As I worked on their slideshow it became evident that this would be the 'theme'. Happy. Totally, utterly happy.

To see the slideshow, click on Kate and Jay, raise the volume and enjoy!

Sisters

2008-05-06T12:40:00.008-04:00

Close-age siblings share a special relationship. They have their own little world, sometimes completely losing themselves in work or play. Often not even doing the same things but just being near, a deep comfort in knowing the other one is breathing just a few feet away. For photos they fold into each other, easily connecting, awkwardness never an issue. And laughter is spontaneous and genuine, spurred by just a look or a knowing nudge.

One of my sisters is only two years older than me. We did everything together, sharing a room and a childhood. I cried, screamed, cried some more every single day for months when she went off to kindergarten. I didn't know how to not be with her. I mean, my entire life she had been RIGHT there, then suddenly she was marching off in her new school uniform with her shiny lunch box, and I was supposed to stay home alone? Ooooh, I was so mad I scribbled in all of her books. Every page. Of every book. Which was kind of dumb since they were my books too. Mom was not happy. I can still remember sitting on the floor between our beds for hours erasing page after page of angry pencil, my dress covered in a growing community of Pink Pearl eraser crumbs.

This might explain why Mom enrolled me in school a year early.

In my job, it's so fun to see close-age siblings at every age. I get to hear their stories at rehearsal dinners, see Maids of Honor and Best Men stand by their buddies at the altar, beaming. And all of them have great stories and closeness. That gets me every time.

These two are going to have such a fun journey together.

Big Week

2008-05-02T13:27:00.011-04:00

I couldn't resist putting a few more up here

More Kate and Jay... and Bruce!

2008-05-02T13:27:00.010-04:00

I couldn't resist putting a few more up here. It's been a busy week and as I edit all these photos it's hard not to share a few. The photo above was from our quick beach detour (I loved how they looked at eachother) and the one below in front of Kate's home. Her Mom has exquisite taste so it was fun to play with her decor on some of the detail shots. The photo of Kate on the grass really came to life as the sun peeked from behind the clouds. We waited, waited, they were calling for her to get ready to go, then the sun popped out just in time and wow, it was worth the wait! I love backlighting, the way the sun filters through the leaves and her hair, but also softly bounces onto her face.

I had a great week catching up but a huge highlight for me was the Bruce Springsteen concert Wednesday night. Every time I see him I get thrown back to my teens as he is inextricably tied to so many memories. I remember stealing my sister's "Born to Run" album, locking the door, laying on my stomach in front of my stereo turntable and singing along to every song, over and over. When we got older we'd drive to the beach, windows open, howling at the top of our lungs.... wait for it...wait for it.... here it comes.... "A ONE TWO THREE FOUR, the highway's jammed with broken heroes...

I loved how each album was a collection of vivid short stories, each song introducing me to Mary, Eddie, Spanish Johnny, Jane, Kitty, Annie or of course, Rosalita. How each song created these images for me, no music video necessary, and I could almost see Mary standing on the porch, screen door slamming, dress waving. Or how I'd get goose bumps every single time Rosie heard that the record company had just given him that big advance. He's the master storyteller.

...and the poets down here don't write nothing at all, they just stand back and let it all be...

He's still the Boss. 58 and totally rockin'. WOOHOOO!!! Ok, back to work.

Kate and Jay

2008-04-29T16:55:00.006-04:00

She was the kind of bride so happy about marrying her fiancé that nothing could dim her smile. The kind of bride who didn’t want to burden her eight bridesmaids who were flying in from San Francisco and NYC to Virginia Beach to celebrate with her. 'Wear what you’d like for the wedding', she said, and they did. Short dresses, long dresses, every color and all stylish and stunning.

She laughed frequently and easily, her head back and face to the sky when the best man dropped the wedding bands at the altar. Later, her usual smile broadened to the megawatt version at the suggestion of a spontaneous detour to the beach for a few photos on the way to the reception (which was right next door to the Church... and well worth it).

He was into photography, greeting me at the rehearsal with a handshake and a “We’re so glad you’re here”. And that was all I needed to become one of his many fans.

Together they totally worked. Clicked. Fit. A pair meant to be. It was such a pleasure shooting their wedding and meeting their amazing families and friends. I was honored to be their photographer.

More to come....

A Happy Birthday

2008-04-23T13:13:00.015-04:00

At first I thought it was perfect. Well how about that, what a sweet message in my birthday fortune cookie! “Keep true to the dreams of your youth”, I told the kids. “Look”, I showed my husband, "such a cool fortune for a birthday".

And, as always, one of the kids said, “But what does it mean?”.

I read it again and thought, “Huh. I have no freakin’ clue”.

When I was five I dreamed I would grow up to be a princess. (In this economy, cushy princess jobs are at an all time low so... phew!)

When I was eight I just wanted to live with my family, and of course my stuffed animals, for ever and ever. (My parents are so happy that didn’t work out).

When I was ten I dreamed Parker Stevenson would marry me and I'd be the first Hardy girl. (and where is he now?)

When I was a teenager I dreamed I’d go to medical school. (I agree, that is just scary).

When I was working on my MBA the big plan was to be a ruthless businesswoman and make millions in really cool suits with short skirts. (Ally McBeal. Snort).

But truthfully. Seriously. I never in a million years dreamed I’d have this. All of this. My own incredible, beautiful family. A great job that I really love, in photography of all things.

So I taped that fortune to the wall beside my desk to remind me that dreams can change. Maybe you won’t keep true to the dreams of your youth, but you should definitely hold onto them so you can see how much you’ve grown.

Thanks for the best birthday ever! Don't worry, no more deep thoughts for today.

Carolina Liar

2008-04-16T13:17:00.016-04:00

I missed out on that whole chapter about 'not talking to strangers'. Don't worry, I've watched enough episodes of Law & Order not to be foolish, but I really enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories.

This is especially true if (insert stranger's name here) lives somewhere far away or leads a life that isn't like mine at all, giving me a little window to peek out of my oft too comfortable world. Sometimes these conversations take unexpected turns, like when I met Massachusetts-based filmmaker, Linda, in a Las Vegas Starbucks and over the next 6 months we orchestrated (with lots of help) a fundraiser that raised $85,000 for cancer research. Or when I picked up the phone and called a Vancouver photographer whose work I admired, and over the next five years she became one of my closest friends despite the 3,000 miles between us.

My buddies Jill and Kelly are like this as well, and when we were in L.A. last January (a trip that was also the result of the fundraiser) we were a walking talking interview machine. I think it's partly a southern thing that can make people really uncomfortable, or totally open them up which is way more fun. Either way it made the trip what it was, though we could have lived without the conspiracy theorist at the pool. He was so freaky.

So in our very happenin' hotel lobby one night, we started chatting with a kind stranger about the difficulty of texting on an iPhone, which eventually brought us into the world of Chad Wolf and his soon-to-be-famous band Carolina Liar. About three hours and many twists and turns later we were at a party and asked Chad to sing us something from his work-in-progress. He kindly obliged (though Damien Rice would not... I think we scared the lad) with his writing partner Tobias on the guitar. We were in awe. We kept looking at eachother going, "Wow, he is really, reeeeeallly good!". Loved the songs, loved his voice, and to top it off he was just a really nice guy. When we told him about the fundraiser and how we ended up in L.A., he responded "Man, that is awesome. You guys are helping save people's lives, I am just making music." Do you love him or do you love him? We said we'd keep an eye (ear?) out for Carolina Liar down the road and wished them well.

Fast forward several months and their songs have been playing on "The Hills" for three weeks in a row, their video for "I'm Not Over" even playing at the end. While I personally exceed the legal age limit for watching the show, I can totally grasp the greatness of that coup. It has been fun to watch, from afar, success come to someone insanely talented, but also seemingly humble and grateful. From playing coffee houses to signing with Atlantic Records, then landing on a cult hit like "The Hills?". Odds aren't high. They are on a radio tour now and even blew through Richmond last week. Hopefully they'll be back to play soon.

Their album drops on June 3, but two of their songs are available on iTunes. Seriously, beat the rush, download now. I'll be saying "I knew them when" (even though I don't really) before too long.

Note: I did not take that photo, but couldn't find who to credit. I guess Atlantic Records? Please don't sue me...

A Weekend in the Mountains

2008-04-15T09:16:00.012-04:00

I white-knuckled the steering wheel up the seemingly never ending driveway, the kids in back screaming "Don't look down!!" and "AAAAAACK!!!". Not terribly helpful. Of course I had to glance over, super fast, and immediately below us was the valley, lilliputian houses and rolling farms in emerald green patches ringed by the famous Blue Ridge mountains. Guard rails would have been a welcome sight considering my truck was almost the entire width of the lane, and I would be lying if I said my heart wasn't beating out of my chest when we came face to face with another truck. But somehow we squeezed by (hold breath and cue more kids 'playful' screaming) and made it to the top.

The reward, the impressive stone house and spectacular backdrop, was best summed up in Peyton's exclamation "OH MY GOD!". I said "Peyton, you don't say God, you say gosh". He responded "No Mom, this one deserves an 'Oh my God'". The boy had a point.

Our weekend destination was a friend's family retreat to celebrate Allison's (Queen of 'the running man') birthday. Home for the following two days would be a... well, a castle, nestled on the side of a mountain. We joined 36 friends, some new, some old and all great. The next 48 hours on 'activity mountain' would include hiking, hitting golf balls, shooting skeet, tennis, foosball, late night ping pong, dancing, eating, drinking, huge country breakfasts, bocce, and a midnight limbo contest under the watchful eyes of a few authentic suits of armor, which I think have seen a lot in their time and are very confused.

The kids spent a lot of the time pushing on things in an attempt to make bookcases revolve and find hidden passages. I would not have been surprised to see it happen, alas, it did not.

One afternoon we all took a slow hayride to the top of the mountain which was not a peak so much as a huge grassy field from which you could see 360 degrees. Breathtaking. We played an aggressive game of kickball. Haven't done that in, oh, twenty years. I told Peyton the view from the top made it easy to imagine how Lewis and Clark felt on their expedition across the Appalachian Mountains. He decided it looked more like the opening credits of "The Simpsons". That's what you get with a ten-year old. And again he had a point.

And to my Vancouver friends who are saying 'what mountains?', pipe down. Those are Virginia Mountains. And that's my daughter holding a HUGE lethal Virginia snake of some sort. Actually, maybe that isn't my kid. The two making 'ick' faces seem more genetically connected. I mean, ewwwww...

We did it!

2008-04-07T10:56:00.009-04:00

Yep, we did it. We woke up in time, got through the traffic and made it to the starting line at 8 am in the rain. Tadaaaaa! That should have garnered it's own medal. Actually, it wasn't that bad because the kids were so fired up....and it didn't hurt that we had gotten some fine lookin' Krispy Kremes to lure them out the door.

So our kids ran their one-mile race on Saturday morning. It was chilly and soggy, but awesome. They raised $2,000.00 for cancer research through their efforts which is pretty insane. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who supported them! They pumped their little legs as fast as they could. I was such a proud mama, on the side cheering and fighting back the biggest lump in my throat. Watching my littlest one run a mile with her Dad by her side was too much for my emotional self, and my 8 year old surprised us with his 7:30 time! It is freaky when your kids start to outperform you. I guess I'd better get used to it. Or start running faster.

Overall, the Kids' run and the 10k race raised over $500,000 for Richmond's very own VCU Massey Cancer Center. David and I ran the 10k, which is something to be experienced. It's the 4th largest race in the country down the most gorgeous stretch of Richmond, regardless of the pouring rain, and somehow functions like a well-oiled machine with 30,000 participants.

I thought I had a good pace going on mile 5 but then got passed by a tall gorilla-suited guy on my left. Even worse, the Chiquita banana passed me on my right. I could not possibly make that up. I could handle being passed by the monkey, but the fruit was too much.

And now back to work. Wedding season kicks in here in a few weeks and I am so ready. The next 6 months are going to be wild, with really fun, cute couples and weddings taking me all over the east coast . Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Pennsylvania, Charlottesville, Irvington and Virginia Beach. Even a couple in Richmond. I am so excited and my kids will be thrilled for me to point my cameras elsewhere!

The Big Race is almost here!

2008-03-26T10:27:00.009-04:00

I am so proud of the kids! I am equally proud of all my amazing friends, clients, vendors, kids' teachers and family who posted pledges for our race-running guys. And I have the best Brides EVER. I can't believe how many of you, and your parents too, posted pledges in just the past few days that are now north of $1,000.00. WOW!

The photos above are from last year's race, when they raised $425.00. They are checking the pledge stats every day now and cannot believe "how nice people are being". They are beyond excited.

So in a few weeks they will run the mile in honor of their grandmother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer about 6 years ago. It was a very scary time with some major complications. We spent a lot of time trekking up and down I-95 for visits and ate in a lot of hospital cafeterias, which is how they remember it, but she got through it and has been cancer-free ever since.

The funds raised benefit the VCU Massey Cancer Center and cancer research. It's so cool for the kids to learn they can make a difference, and believe me, they work for it! One mile is a long way on little legs. Last year you couldn't wipe the smile off their faces after they crossed the finish line AND they felt like they really did something to help their grandmother.

It is an incredibly rewarding experience for them in so many ways. You can POST A PLEDGE HERE, or just come out and cheer ALL the amazing kids on!

The Paper Pig

2008-03-25T13:00:00.007-04:00

I am guessing you don't have a paper pig. I am sorry, I don't mean to brag, but everyone should have a paper pig.

The kids made this organizer for their Dad's birthday present. I had nothing to do with the end result, I guarantee, because I was the one with all the bad ideas. They wanted to make a sculpture, to which I responded, "ohhh...why don't you write something, or maybe draw a picture...". "Nah", they said. Cringe. If you know any kids then you understand that the words 'create a three-dimensional sculpture' from the mouths of three box-hunting, scissor-wielding, glue-loving artisans is S-C-A-R-Y. Especially in a clean kitchen.

But they would not hear of it. The box my Christmas present boots came in was sacrificed. Marbles were scrounged. Paper plates and cups were strewn across the floor. Ideas were flying. And a pipe cleaner was coiled for the tail, of course. The assembly line began.

Me: Why don't you make it a paper alligator or something?
Them: Becuase it's a pig.
Me: But Dad is going to have it in his office and people might think you think he's a pig.
Them: Well, he does have a lot of papers everywhere. This will help him be organized.
Me: Why not an alligator?
Them: Because that doesn't make sense. It's a pig.

And so it went. Only one band aid later (those dang scissors) and now their Dad has this awesome paper pig that never, ever should have been anything but a pig. It's absolutely perfect.

Jumping back in

2008-03-19T14:46:00.013-04:00

Oh my goodness…so much to do. Re-entry after a vacation is always hard but coming home to tax time is the ultimate worst, especially when your accountant needed everything last week. So naturally I will update my blog first.

We had a great break in the Florida Keys. It started with a speeding ticket on the way to the airport but the kids thought that was a really cool kick-off to our adventure. “Dad, don’t you think you’re going a little fast?” was heard more than once in the following week... from all of us. Comedians. David laughed along the first few times.

We got to the airport in the nick of time to find…our flight as delayed. Then again. And again. Four hours later they found us a new plane and we were off, all saying how much we loved JetBlue as we boarded. Crazy, I know. But not only did they keep us informed the whole time, they had (good) snacks, drinks, ordered pizza for everyone, helped us find movies for our kids to watch, gave us free cocktails on the flight AND free one way tickets for each passenger. Now THAT is how you run an airline.

In preparation for our time in Miami, we spent waywaywaytoomuch to make my son’s dream of seeing his all-time fave basketball player, Dwyane (that is not a typo) Wade, come true. Of course they sadly announced Dwyane was out for the REST of the season due to injury the night before the game and the scalpers were begging people to take tickets. Which left us watching the two all-time worst basketball teams, Knicks vs. Heat, duke it out for worst-dom. And covering the kids’ eyes when the Miami Heat dancers were shaking their booties. Crikey, they were... something!

But all in all, the trip was awesome. We swam, ate, laid about, chased lizards (not me so much), played basketball (not me so much), and enjoyed our week-long search for the perfect Key Lime Pie (me).

We spent a chillier day sightseeing in Key West. Ernest Hemingway’s house was a huge hit. There were 47 cats there, all descendants of his beloved 50 cats, and I am certain my daughter managed to pet at least 45 of them. They were literally everywhere, in the rain gutters, in shelves, under plants. And they’d look at you like “oh, you pathetic human being whatdoyouwant and yes, right there, yes, between the ears yes, yes, ok stop now go away, you are exhausting me”. They were wicked cool and kind of famous. And they knew it.

I can hear all you dog people ewwwwwwing, but personally I like cats. I had a great cat named Ed who was a wild shade of silver-blue, was really fat and liked Doritos. I mean, he could literally open a bag himself and eat them.

OK, so now I am really stretching. Procrastinating. Must go do the inevitable. Ugh. Maybe I'll make just a few phone calls first.

Getting back to normal...

2008-03-04T15:15:00.017-05:00

I had no idea where the Aland Islands were. Do you? Had you ever heard of them? Then you must have been paying closer attention in geography class, because I had to google them. They are 6,500 rocky islands between Sweden and Finland. Sounds a little chilly for me, but I'll bet it's beautiful.

OK, so I go to check my web site stats and we're approaching 1,000 new visitors to my site this week. This is largely due to the squash slideshows, I know, because Alanders probably aren't googling Virginia Photographers, and the slideshow links are posted on some international squash websites. So anyway, in my dumbed down stats report there is a page that shows the top visiting countries next to their cute little flags. Aland has a great flag by the way. And some of the Alanders are checking out my squash slideshows in addition to folks from about 50 different countries around the world (but I had actually heard of all the others). I don't get out much apparently, because I think that's pretty cool. Here is the Virginia Pro Tournament Finals Slideshow they're watching. The Rounds 1 & 2 Slideshow is in the last post.

Which brings me to my blog stats which is a different set of stats altogether. I just added this cool little ClusterMap (at the bottom of the right-hand column) and while I know there are other compound cluster-blank words that may be popping into your head, we're just not that kind of blog. Geez! But it's still fun/weird/great to see that folks are reading my and seeing my work in lots of places. I have no idea what that all means to me or my business, but I'll try and spend some time thinking about it over spring break. Ha.

So now my squash duties are over and I can get back to my real life. Like playing squash instead of shooting it. Above is my new rockin' Harrow racquet, do you love it, or do you love it? Thank you Dave! I played with it for the first time today and I can't begin to tell you how much better it was than my old hand-me-down. Patrick snapped his strings and we broke the squash ball so I must have been killin' it! Actually, his string and the ball were toast to begin with, but surely my new racquet had a little something to do with it.

Cool trip coming up, will be sure to post some photos soon!

...even more squash

2008-02-29T15:05:00.005-05:00

Got over the Wednesday hump of 8 matches, made it through last night's four, so tonight's mere two matches should be a breeze! I found my happy shooting place with my ISO, shutter speed, white balance and aperture so the photos are coming out sharper and better. Just in time, right?

You might think I have nothing better to do with my time than to sit around and put photos to music, but frankly I make these slideshows because you can jam a zillion images in there and the movement helps tell the story without making it seem like you are looking through someone's squash photo album. Snore. Lastly, it's great because you can send it around easily, and virally.

Here is the link for the first two rounds featuring some of the best squash players in the world. Some of my more conservative fellow Richmonders were a little suprised by the choice of song, but they didn't make the slideshow so it stays :) Ha! Besides, it has great energy and the lyrics work better than the expected songs about 'apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur'. Know what I mean?

Anyway, it takes a minute to load all that squash, so click the link, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.

First and Second Rounds of The 2008 Virginia Squash Championships

More Squash

2008-02-27T11:19:00.008-05:00

Had fun last night shooting the matches and we're finally through Round One. Phew! The boys came with me for a bit (I left my daughter with a friend as 'not moving during match-play' is a physical impossibility for her). They were each given a signed ball from the winners' matches for spelunking under the bleachers to retrieve a runaway ball during a match. They loved it, but am suspicious it had a lot to do with not having to do their homework while there.

Not to whine too much since I am not the one out there running around, but I am facing some challenges shooting these matches. The room, while dramatic and very well-lit for watching, is brutal for shooting. There is zero ambient light apart from the lovely overhead fluorescents (oy, that word took six tries with spellcheck to get right) which forces me to shoot at far wider apertures than I'd like for all the depth of movement, and also leave me at much slower shutter speeds than I'd prefer. They are moving so freaking fast from corner to corner and back to front that I am working hard to keep up. Just learning as I go...

My camera shoots an insane 8 frames per second, which can add up reaaaally quickly if you're not careful. I slowed it down for some of last night but as the matches get more heated I will have to suck it up and just overshoot. Can't miss a thing! You can see some of the latest shots at SquashSite.

Check Patrick out. Thank God he isn't teaching us that one in clinic. Ouch.

They're baaaack...

2008-02-25T09:28:00.013-05:00

This week I am the 'official' photographer at the Virginia Pro Squash Tournament. Crazy, eh? But once you gain a solid technical understanding of your camera you really can shoot anything, and if you actually enjoy and know what you are shooting, all the better. In the spirit of 'you never know where your next job is coming from' it is really cool to get this kind of global exposure and the hits to my website become wildly varied (Ghana, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, the Middle East, etc.). Maybe someone in Italy or New Zealand will trip across my blog and think I'd be perfect to shoot their wedding, ya think?

8 of the top 10 players IN THE WORLD are competing in our tournament. As the photographer you have to shoot crouching down by the corner of the front wall, just outside the glass. By day three, Motrin is a dietary staple and you might need a super-chilled, Chopin vodka, extra-dirty-martini-3-olives just to unclench your shutter-release hand (yes, at the end of the day). It is tricky not to flinch when they are literally beaming 90 mph shots towards your face. If you move you risk distracting the players and they can call a 'let' on you (not good and very embarrassing, I imagine). Even trickier is freezing the action in the 'not great' lighting conditions when they are lunging towards you in bursts. You have to have a pretty fast-focusing camera, or pre-focus on a spot and hope they step into your focal range while possibly missing something else. The above shot was taken at 1/250th of a second, and that couldn't even freeze the action. It's definitely a challenge and every match is different, which is what I love about it.

Patrick, reaching for the shot in the photo above, is our local pro. He's awesome. He teaches our squash clinic, is insanely quick, and is totally ruthless on us amateurs. You do not want to be the only one showing up for clinic or he runs you into the ground (8 more, no, no good, 10 more...no...again!), and when it's over you're so exhausted you wonder how you will even drive home.

Here are a few squash slideshows (because I am a geek and have to put everything to music) from last year. With double the matches this year due to tournament growth there won't be quite as much slideshow-making, but we'll see. And if you think of any great songs to go with 'em, email me!

First Round Matches 2007
Second Round Matches 2007
Quarter Finals 2007
The Semis & Finals 2007

If that wasn't enough for ya, here's a slideshow from the NYC tournament last year in Grand Central Station:

The Tournament of Champions 2007

No child left behind...

2008-02-19T15:06:00.006-05:00

Peyton turned ten this weekend. The little golden-haired peanut we brought home from the hospital ten years ago now stands just below my chin. His sneakers are the same size as mine. He keeps stealing my college T-shirts and they kind of fit. The books he buries his nose in are thicker than the few I have time to read. His homework is even becoming a challenge, and I confess, I have secretly googled an item or two just to keep up.

But the one thing, the main great thing about him that we've picked up on since day one, is his caring, gentle nature. He has a soft spot in his heart for his sister and for lots of little kids. My daughter thinks he hung the moon. Our neighbors' kids and toddlers flock to him like the Pied Piper. He has something special.

It's his sister he looks after most. He manages her better than I can most days, and lets her hang around without complaint. Even this weekend, when he had 5 guys over for his birthday to go to the movies, spend the night and play outside, he let her be around the whole time and not even once did he ask us to keep her out of the way. She tagged along, and he let her. They have a neat bond that I am so eager to watch evolve. Of course in ten years we won't be letting her hang around his friends...I mean, yikes.

I couldn't resist this shot of all their shoes by the back door. Dorothy lives!

Friday

2008-02-15T11:56:00.008-05:00

Orchids rule. Seriously. This was my awesome Valentine's gift. LOVE it! Trust me, I am aware it takes a certain brand of crazy to shoot your Valentine's present, but what can ya do. Slow season. Must..shoot...something. The spa gift certificate wasn't as pretty. And yes, my dining room curtains are grass green and azure blue stripes. Hmmm... that looks kinda crazy too.

I am off to school to have lunch with my son, who is turning ten. TEN. Double digits. That is huge!! He is so excited.

Happy VDay

2008-02-14T08:57:00.020-05:00

Yep, she picked out this combo herself. Don't you love it? Heartstravaganza, tights and all.

Valentine's Day is such a great excuse to spoil your kids and let them know just how....nice you are. As a little Valentine's token I gave my daughter a four dollar t-shirt from Target that had a 'kitty and puppy' on it encircled by a pink heart. Yes, it was dreadfully cheesy. Glittery. Plasticky. I knew she'd adore it because her love of things plastic and pink, while deeply cliche, is decidedly chromosomal (plastic watches, even green ones, are cool too). Moreso, I knew she'd love it because these days she's all animals, all the time. She brings home books from the library like "Raising Your Bulldog" and "Jasper's Big Day", which incidentally, my weeping husband told me, was about a family having to put their dog to sleep. She loved it.

So she took one look at her new shirt and exclaimed, in her sing-songy voice, "OH my GOSH... it is SO beautiful it...it...it makes my eyes fill up with tears. You are the best Mom in the whole live world". And then she hugged it like it was her new best friend, her eyes glistening. Oh, sweet validation. And that, my friends, is how parents are trained to spoil their kids. And she's only six.

Spencer on the other hand was a little down this morning. He says 2nd grade "sucks all the fun out of holidays". All work no play makes Spencer a dull boy. Poor guy, he's having a little one-fifteenth life crisis as it sets in that he is, in fact, getting older and they don't have parties all the time in school. He's gonna love college though, eh?

L.A. Update:

My kids wanted to know what celebrities we saw in L.A. and I could not impress them to save my life. Michael Bolton, will.i.am, Ryan Seacrest, various basketball players and the Millionaire Matchmaker chick did not register. Go figure. But you kind of wonder who you might have missed along the way.

Well, it has been brought to my attention that Us magazine ("7 Nights in Hollywood") reported Orlando Bloom was seen dancing crazily to "Tainted Love" at the Friday night hot spot 'Teddy's' on January 25th. OK wait, WE were dancing crazily to "Tainted Love" at Teddy's that night. And that dance floor was about 10x20 and not that crowded....so.....that means he must have been...wait a minute... oh man! Missed it!! What the heck was I looking at, my feet? The ceiling? Now THAT would have impressed the kids...the swashbuckling guy from 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Argh.

The Tiniest Nymph

2008-02-08T20:30:00.001-05:00

As I came into the yard, I caught three little nymphs dancing under a tree. It was a balmy 80 degrees instead of the usual winter fare, and fairy costumes were the requisite uniform to relish the balmy weather. After a busy afternoon spent pushing dolls in strollers, clacking on the pavement in their plastic Barbie shoes, and painting the driveway a rainbow of colored chalk, they celebrated the day.

The setting sun brought an indigo sky more typical of August than mid-February, and their pink gauzy skirts caught the breeze as they twirled, each fairy carrying her own very distinct rhythm. The boom box bellowed “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, their little voices gleefully sabotaging whatever words The Duchess had written. And I was so grateful we’d been too busy to take down the holiday lights, their glow adding to the already magical night.

At that moment, all seemed right with the world.

In the time it took to grab the camera, two little fairies had grown shy leaving the tiniest dancer to proudly close the show.

Spencer Day

2008-02-06T08:57:00.001-05:00

Spencer stole my heart when he came barreling into the world 8 years ago, all 9 lbs 11 oz of him, even breaking his collarbone in the urgency to make his debut (I had opted for drugs, yes indeedy). He came out looking like a 2 month old, perfectly plump and round, so I took lots of pictures in the hospital. I swaddled him in the bed and stood above him, shooting down, my north-facing room offering beautiful diffused light. The nurses weren't happy about me standing on the bed, but the photos were well worth it.

Funny, he was my chunkiest baby and now he’s all sinewy and slim. He climbs everything. He scales the doorways in the house, suspending his body 6 feet off the ground by his outstretched arms. He doesn’t like bread, or math. He can shoot baskets for hours. He doesn’t like to read, so at night he sits in bed drawing in his sketch pad. He’s hysterically funny and deadpan, his observations are unique but often true and beyond his years, his homework is sparse with words but illustrated beautifully (even when not part of the assignment). He does not like to wear stripes and he won’t play games he can’t win. I 'get' him.

He reads people well. “Mom, why is your voice all bumpy, are you tired?” or “Did you have a good day?”, he’s the first to say “you look beautiful” on a night out, or “please do not dance on the Ellen show”. For the record he thinks that if my favorite song, 'Falling Slowly' from the movie 'Once', wins best song at the Oscars, that “they should carve worst song ever written” on the back of the statuette. He’s quite honest.

Yesterday was Spencer day. Just him and me, and his fever that prevented him going to school. He let me put in a few hours of work, but once the Tylenol kicked in he was not going to let me be. We downloaded a few 'good' songs to his ipod, ate lunch, talked a lot. Freakishly warm and summerlike, we went outside as he miraculously healed. We went on an excursion, he on his bike me running alongside for some exercise, up to the 7-11 for a treat then continuing on our course. It went like this:

Spencer: Mom, you can go faster if you want.
Mom: um…this is fast.
Spencer: No really, I can keep up if you go faster.
Mom: Dude, this is all I’ve got.
Spencer: Can’t you sprint or something? Dad goes much faster.
Mom: No. *Gasp*
Spencer: Man, no wonder your runs take so long.

He’s not perfect. He used to have these horrific temper tantrums, he introduced his first grade class to the worst cuss word you can imagine (that he learned from his uncle and thankfully has no clue what it means) and he can be mean to his sister (that's in his job description). But somewhere along the way he became this cool little guy who says “I love you more” without fail, every single time I tell him I love him.

It was hard sending him to school today. He tried to stay home but the thermometer wouldn’t budge over 98.6. I got an extra long hug though. I miss him!

Milan, Virginia

2008-02-01T13:33:00.001-05:00

Italy is very, very, very high on the list of places I'd like to photograph a wedding. I have shot many destination weddings but Europe hasn't called... yet. I got close with this one, they brought Italy here! The couple and the majority of their guests came from Milan, most not speaking any English. Fortunately, the camera gave away my purpose and we all knew what I was there to do.

They are such a beautiful couple. While communicating was tricky at times, it never posed any real obstacles. They did everything they were supposed to do: be happy, be in love. This wedding was a little different from what I am used to in that they got married very early in the day, followed by a luncheon. The focus was really on the ceremony, not as much on the after-party (which they did the night before, which I guess makes it a pre-party). Overall, the day was so elegant and very impressive.

Her father gave a toast during the reception, in Italian of course. She was so moved, as was he, that my eyes welled up and I had no idea what he was even saying. The translation that followed filled in the gaps. It was the most eloquent speech I have ever heard, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

As you may know, I love pairing music with my slideshows. Each wedding has its own story and takes on its own personality. I try my best to find music that serves it well. Of course, not knowing this couple at all I had to wing it a little and ended up with a song that I adore and just happens to be in Italian, "Sogno" by Andrea Boccelli.

You can watch the slideshow by clicking HERE.

Once

2008-01-31T13:58:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I was at Blockbuster (I'm one of the three people who still go there) in that fluorescent-lit daze where you're staring blankly at the titles and nothing looks good. My Vancouver soul sister, Lori, had recommended this little indie '06 film called "Once" so I half-heartedly grabbed it as a back-up (the cover looked just a little cheesy with the warm backlit couple...you know). It sat next to my TV for a week, but as I packed for LA I threw it in my carry-on to watch, if I had time, on the 5 hour flight.

So on the flight, after burning out on flipping through my 800 magazines, I watched it. OMG I laughed, cried, LOVED it. I got one of those headaches you get when you're trying hard not to cry since everyone else around me was sleeping, reading or putting spreadable fake cheese on crackers with those impossibly small plastic knives.... but it's not medical-condition sad, it's bittersweet life happy/sad with gorgeous music that drove it home. I guess you'd say it is a musical documentary? I couldn't get enough, I kept replaying parts and my laptop was starting to burn my legs, begging me to turn it off (those airline trays are small too). I love Swedish-influenced pop :) as much as the next girl, but sometimes those raw acoustics and sweet melodies hit the spot.

So, check it out. You can download the Oscar-nominated song "Falling Slowly" for free by clicking HERE. Then go buy the whole album, it's awesome. Just wanted to share.

Home Again

2008-01-28T14:08:00.001-05:00

On the long flight back I tried to figure out what I liked best about our girls' trip to L.A., and I think it boils down to this. That the things we expected to be the highlights of our trip were not. The parts we didn’t give that much thought to turned out to be the gems.

Any celeb sightings? Sure. Have fun at Ellen’s show? Absolutely. Was the Jimmy Kimmel experience cool? Yep.

But the best part of our trip to L.A. was the people we met along the way and the simple pleasures from having slowed our frenetic lives down to a sleepy, lumbering pace… with lots of great food. Rolling out of bed, hitting the coffee shop next door, extending a one hour hike to two sans repercussions. Reading the New York Times front to back. Leisurely lunches and resting on the cushy pool lounges… under the heat lamps when the rain took a break. Drinks before dinner in the gorgeous lobby of our hotel, The Roosevelt. Sushi at Katsuya that was so good, the tuna melted in our mouths. Laughing, a lot.

Honestly, our most ambitious goal each day was to get to our dinner reservations on time.

And so many great people … the umbrella-wielding writer who stopped picketing long enough to escort us across the street so we wouldn’t get soaked; George Clooney’s cousin and his cute wife who sat with us at the Ellen show; the young soon-to-be-famous singer, so refreshingly wide-eyed at his own good fortune and odds defying status, yet more impressed with us that we had raised money for breast cancer research (watch for him… www.CarolinaLiar.com); our super-friendly hotel staff from bellman to concierge.

Then there were the renowned Swedish record producers who were so sweet and granted us honorary employee status so we could access the uber-exclusive club Teddy’s (much to the dismay of the grumpy bouncer). And it was surreal chatting up Damien Rice who really needs to end his hiatus and put out some more incredible music. I tried to keep my gushing to a minimum, but I absolutely love his music. "The Blower's Daughter" gives me goose bumps.

The last day was more challenging. A trip to the Hollywood police precinct to file a missing driver's license report required pre-flight (no celeb sightings there, surprisingly), a prolonged visit to the shipping store to figure out how to get our new 32" flat screen hdtvs home (our generous giveaways from the ellen show… even if they did cost 300.00 to ship home), packing up, heading out.

The final highlight of my trip was waking my three smiling sleepyheads this morning and receiving their warm, earnest embraces. They give the best, tightest hugs that let you know exactly how much you are missed.

And no, we didn’t see Marc Anthony, that was a shot I took from when we saw him being interviewed in NYC this summer. It just seemed lame for a photographer to post a blog with no photos. But at least I took it.

Back to work....

We're going to Ellen Degeneres' 50th Birthday Show!!

2008-01-23T20:58:00.001-05:00

I love when you can trace a chain of events from something silly or maybe even regrettable, to something really great. Is it karma? Luck? Coincidence? Funny, it doesn’t even matter. It is what it is and sometimes it’s something good, sometimes it’s bad and sometimes it’s just really freakin’ cool!

So maybe, your kid throws up in carpool and it begets…. a trip to the Ellen Degeneres show with VIP passes for her 50th birthday celebration? AND VIP tickets to Jimmy Kimmel with Green Room access? Now that is crazy.

Sure, there are about 10 months of acts of kindness, sweat and tears from the beginning to the end of that story (and the story hasn’t ended yet…stay tuned!) and a LOT had to happen along the way for it all to fall into place, but when it all boils down, if my sweet child hadn’t gotten sick on his way to school I wouldn’t be sitting here, thousands of miles high above...Oklahoma?... writing this, two friends beside me, on our way to a four day fun-fest in Los Angeles. If you want to learn about the ‘in-between’ chain of events, scroll down to “The Pink Carpet Premiere” entry.

The Ellen taping will be on Thursday and the show will air Friday, Jimmy is on Friday. We have no idea what to expect but we are excited nonetheless. We hear that there are lots of surprise guests which is fun.

In the meantime, we will check into our swank hotel and enjoy some great sushi at ‘The Geisha House' tonight (our awesome concierge hooked us up with some great dining spots). And no, I didn't bring my paparazzi lens... but I did bring the camera :)

Squash...fashion?

2008-01-03T11:43:00.001-05:00

Several years ago I fell hard for the game of squash. My husband, David, had been playing for a long time so I knew it involved a lot of sweating, a racquet, and the space-age looking glass courts near the fitness center, but I hadn't bothered to check it out. Then a pro-tournament came to town, I was dragged to watch, and was intrigued. Somehow the players made it look easy yet they came off the courts looking like they had gotten an incredible workout.

Having had three babies within as many years and the Richmond marathon newly under my belt in an effort to shed the pounds, I was ready for a new exercise challenge. Something to shake up the running regimen (which I was SO over), make my heart rate soar, and efficiently (please...no more three hour runs) give me that killer workout. After one lesson I knew I had found it! It was sprints. Lunges. Arms. I. Could. Not. Breathe. It was awesome. To top it off, Forbes magazine had just ranked it THE number one cardio exercise. 700 calories an hour? Bring it on!

Fast forward a few years later to The Virginia Pro-Tournament having grown to one of the top ten tournaments in THE WORLD, and top two in the US. Here. In Richmond! I suggested to Tyler (Art Director/Virginia Living) that maybe there was a place in the magazine for squash as something other than a food article, and that he take a lesson with Gus Cook, CCV squash pro. He was sold (and worn out). The stylists, make-up artists, writer, Editor, lighting tech and thankfully the Publisher, jumped on board.

Within a month of getting the green light we somehow lured 5 amazing world-class players to Virginia for the two-day shoot at the Wood 'n Racket Farm. Using them as models became the best way to briefly tell about squash and make it work visually in a lifestyle magazine. We purposefully shot on a squash court which allowed them to whack the balls and give us realistic swings to show the dynamic nature of the sport. I shot from a safe distance but knew they had incredible ball control and for the most part wouldn't hurt me....

Natalie, Shelley, Anthony, Mark and Patrick were outstanding as athletes and models, and just plain fun to be around. They endured planes, trains and automobiles to get here for which we are grateful. A true testament to their love of squash and interest in raising awareness.

Bottom line, it was a fantastic experience and I hope it inspires lots of people check out the sport. Better yet, come to the Pro-tournament at the University of Richmond in Feb/March!

The Gift

2008-01-03T10:43:00.001-05:00

Back in my grueling-but-fun advertising agency days the tide of work would ebb and flow drastically. Sometimes we'd work 80 hour weeks, travel extensively, chase deadlines and produce mountains of work. Other times we had what we labeled 'the gift'. These were spells of time that would last a week, maybe two or three, where work was ongoing but seemed like breaks or 'gifts' of time made so much sweeter having just come through the grind. We would take long lunches, re-acquaint with our spouses, do stuff around our homes and still produce at work, but we could just kind of... coast.

January, for many, is a gift. Only three days in and I am a happy camper. In November and December, we shot tens of thousands of images. I photographed several beautiful wintry weddings (one was in Jamaica...oooh), three editorial assignments for Virginia Living and countless portrait sessions. Holiday orders and appointments for bookings next year filled the spare moments. The desktop digital Mount Everest was largely conquered by my awesome assistant Jamie while I was out shooting and adding to the pile. I loved it, thrived on it, and now, the gift! Yahoooo!

SO this month will be about catching up. Work continues, but in addition I will enjoy family, home, exercise, and a fun trip to L.A. with the girls. More on that later.

Following are a few pieces in the latest and greatest Jan/Feb 2008 Virginia Living magazine. Cary and Pierce's wedding was fun and gorgeous, and it was such a treat to work with them. The food was delicious, and I am now a fruitcake convert. That creation was divine!!! But I confess, I was a wee bit surprised to find the chili was deer (ok, venison) meat when I read the actual article loooong after eating it for dinner that night.... which explained the slightly different texture.

The Upside of Talking to Strangers

2007-11-12T10:24:00.002-05:00

If you were anywhere within 100 yards of me during the months of September and October you probably heard about the Pink Carpet Premiere. I haven't blogged about it because I wasn't sure how to keep it from becoming a novel. The nutshell is this:

I was sleeping soundly in my hotel room in Vegas, where I had gone for a photo workshop. My husband called at 5 am (8 am ET) reporting our son had... thrown up in carpool. In someone else's car. Ewww. He was fine (the child) but then I was wide awake and my roommate was not. So I brushed my teeth, threw on some clothes and grabbed my laptop seeking refuge in the lobby Starbucks.

Next to me appeared another bleary eyed east-coaster, Linda, a documentary filmmaker. We started chatting. She told me about an independent film she had made chronicling her her sister-in-law's battle with breast cancer, "The Breast Cancer Diaries". Linda also happened to be an award-winning journalist (CNN, NBC). "Wow. What are you going to do with it?" I said. Linda replied that she was mulling how to screen it as a fundraiser in a few select cities across the country. What a great idea!

I came home and presented it to Becky Massey and the VCU Massey Cancer Center. They loved the film and its incredible message, and put put their mighty muscles behind it. I called 16 smart, wonderful women who happened to also be good friends and the committee was born. We worked hard, tapping into every resource we had to make the event a success. On October 12 we premiered the film, threw an after party, held a huge auction with incredible packages and netted over $85,000 for breast cancer research.

Oh....and during the auction my bid card shot in the air during the L.A. Girls' weekend package. That was a surprise for all of us. Especially me! But it feels pretty dern good when the money goes to breast cancer research! It's a win-win-win-win.

Jill and Kelly (above), my great friends who co-chaired and will join me on the L.A. trip, and the rest of the committee members, worked so hard, reached out to contacts, families, and businesses to get incredible food donated (from 10 of our favorite restaurants), secure auction items out the wazoo and put together some amazing flowers... they're the BEST!

We will forever be indebted to Easton Events for hearing my plea and DONATING their time to help plan our event. Thank you Lynn, Kennon and Dickie. You guys are awesome!

I will always be grateful my friend and fantastic photographer Julie Skarratt who flew down from NYC and donated her time to come shoot it (and for answering my email many years ago when I told her I loved her work and was thinking about getting into wedding photography). And we love The Martin Agency (you made me miss working there!!) for lending us two amazing art directors.

Mostly, I am so amazed by the strength and inspiration of beautiful Ann Murray Page who kicked breast cancer's ass and was willing to tell her very personal story, and Linda Pattillo who helped her tell it. We miss you girls!

Check it out: The Breast Cancer Diaries

Oops...

2007-11-08T11:37:00.001-05:00

OK, a mass apology is due to everyone I have ever e-mailed. Ever. I was trying to be organized and efficient and did an 'auto-reply' message that I'd be out of town and holy moly...it went into action and sent it to everyone I have ever known. Luckily my buddy in Vancouver called and said " Hey, how are you?? Uh...please stop the madness...turn your computer off...I just got 18 emails from you and they keep coming". Sorry. Please ignore. But I have made contact with some old friends due to the error... that's a plus.

Following are a few Virginia Living items from this issue. One is a beautiful wedding I did with an adorable couple, Macon and Cole. They were so happy and easy-going, and didn't seem to notice it was 104 degrees outside.

The other spread is a piece we shot for Christmas, which was so odd to do when it was still warm and all, but we definitely got in the holiday spirit. Nothing like a roaring fire in the middle of September! The homeowners were so fun to work with and made it very easy, and the stylists were GREAT as always.

I am working on some really cool projects now (oh, the logistics...) and will post soon...

Hot Oils

2007-11-02T10:45:00.001-04:00

Late in August Tyler called and asked if I could shoot some infused oils for the Sept/Oct issue of Virginia Living. I confessed I had no idea what he was talking about, but it sounded interesting. We decided to do it at my fancy studio (my house) so the talented chef, J Paul, could prep and sautee and infuse his heart out. It was so cool to see my kitchen being used... the way it was meant to be used. Fresh herbs and ingredients all over the counters, halibut, scallops, sea bass filling the fridge. The food was very, very good. It almost made me want to cook.

We liked the indirect, diffused light in my backyard so we carried my kitchen table outside, set up the scenes, and one by one shot the meals as they were prepared. However, it was the hottest day of the summer. I had to leave my equipment outside as the humidity from in to out would condense on each layer of glass in my camera, and we'd have to wait for it to clear otherwise. As I was shooting, the oils would start to 'melt' and become watery, so it was even trickier than shooting the ice cream on a hot day. And then there was standing on a ladder, shooting down at the spices while trying not to drip sweat on them. It was SO hot. But we got the shot!

Catching up...

2007-09-22T12:05:00.001-04:00

OK, that was pathetic. I had not fed my blog in so long I forgot my sign in ID. Terrible! It took several tries.

Things around here have been so crazy I have purposefully neglected my blog. Every time I thought about adding to it I was the proverbial deer in headlights, not sure which way to go. Too much to cover and too little time! So I didn't do anything at all. But I am finally responding to some gentle prodding by some friends who have gotten a little bored with the ice cream shoot (as much as they loved it ;-). I hope this is a new beginning of more regular posting. Wish me luck!

This summer was amazing. The kids have gotten to that age that it's really fun to travel with them. Not that it wasn't fun before...it just used to be a lot harder. Naps, bottles, diapers. Now we just pick up and go. And hanging out with them is like being with your favorite group of friends. They're funny, smart, observant and can talk about anything. They show us stuff we would otherwise miss with that wide-eyed appreciation that comes from seeing things for the first time.

We went to NYC for the kids' first visit. In a million years I never thought it would be so much fun to do the big city with the kids. They loved everything about it! Peyton's favorite part was being on TV (CBS this morning), Dylan's was the horse-drawn carriage ride (worth every over-priced penny for the vision of her hollering "I love New York" as we cruised the busy streets). Spencer's highlight was chatting up Adam Sandler on his movie set on 5th Avenue. He's a nice guy! I haven't looked at all the pictures yet. The photos are trapped on hard-drive 6.

We spent a week in a big rambling house on the coast of Massachusetts, on a bluff overlooking a small harbor, a beach and the vast Atlantic. We explored, hiked, searched for sea glass, went whale watching, hit Fenway Park, went on a boat ride, swam and ate lobster. None of us will ever forget it - it was beautiful and such a happy place. These can be found on hard-drive 7.

I hope to liberate those family photos sometime soon.

Business has been great. Lots of gorgeous weddings and the sweetest couples. When it comes to photography, work comes first. I'm keeping up with those. What's that saying about the cobbler's children? Ha.

Above is a fun wedding that appeared in the inaugural 'weddings section' in Virginia Living. I hope to see lots more in there! It was a beautiful day with lovely people, orchestrated by the inventive and tack-sharp party planners at Easton Events. Here is the slideshow for Liz and Scott's Wedding.

The Cover

2007-07-01T13:26:00.001-04:00

Somewhere along the way, on this wild photography ride, I became adept at shooting food. Go figure. It's a very learnable talent (as proven in my case) but I think you can begin to excel if you love it, like I love food. So many foods are really pretty if you think about it, with unusual shapes and textures. Eggs are timeless perfection. Fruit is colorful and gorgeous. A great dessert is like fine art.

My friend and food photo mentor said "if you are taking a photograph of a delicious pie, make sure your image captures the pie-ness of it." I laughed out loud when he said it, but it's so dern true! You just try to capture what it is that makes it so delicious-looking. A killer lens or two helps. For those of you who know me and are snickering, I re-admit that I don't actually enjoy making food. The irony is classic.

I am writing this because of ALL the things I photograph and love to shoot, my food photography is what has earned me the coveted spot on the cover of Virginia Living. I could go on and on about how much this means to me. How I still have the e-mail I sent to the Editor 5 years ago asking if they'd be interested in looking at my work. Their response that it was not really what they were looking for (it was all kids' portraits and not all that great). No guts, no glory, right?

Bottom line, I have had a crush on that magazine ever since I first laid my hands on its super-sized, color-laden glossy pages. And it's positively mind-blowing that this opportunity has arrived. You'd have thought I won the lottery if you were anywhere near me when I got the call.

The yummy ice creams and sorbets were made by the amazing J Frank. Tyler and I co-styled the shoot, largely with bowls and linens from my favorite store, Anthropologie. My sweet friend Ivy let us shoot it at her farm and use her family (see earlier post 'A Day at the Farm' which is when I got the location idea) and ALL the kids had a blast, especially during the unscripted egg toss. Even the grown up ones! (p.s. brown egg shells are stronger than white ones and will often not crack even when chucked like a football 30+ yards...just sayin').

So here it is. My first cover of Virginia Living. Can you believe it?? Now go buy it!! (on newstands July 10ish) and get a subscription too! I shot another article in there about quirky-wonderful Colonial Beach, VA. I'll post those soon.

Here is the actual article. If one of the kids looks kind of familiar...well...what can I say....;-)

Father's Day

2007-06-18T09:58:00.001-04:00

We've given David shirts. Ties. Gift Certificates. All well received, some slyly returned, some never used. Like the Nano we gave him ages ago that still sits in the box. No time to deal with loading it. So it sits.

But not this one, no sir. The kids and I did a little photo project and the little saints sat so professionally for me (ha!!). We gave him this gift yesterday, the nine images filling the holes in this great big frame I found. He said it was his favorite Father's Day gift ever. Ever!

I've been in a little bit of a family photo rut. I still love my digital camera, LOVE IT!! I love everything it can do. But for as many photos as I take, so many personal photos are trapped (and archived on CDs, ALWAYS archive...) in one of my many external hard drives for lack of time to deal with them. Noone to look at them. Just sitting there in pixels and bits. So I just keep buying new hard drives. Sad. Like the nano that sits in his closet, new technology brings great benefits but requires time to learn, do, deal. Ugh.

I plan to retire someday and spend lots of time organizing the thousands of photos in there, but for now they wait. I spend too much time at my computer already. But it's nice to know they are there when I am ready to tackle them, and archived, sometimes even printed. And I am sure his nano will one day be stocked with great tunes, especially if we hire our babysitter to do it for him...

Marty and Spencer's Beautiful Wedding

2007-06-18T09:19:00.001-04:00

Aren't they adorable? And get this, her Mom MADE the dress and her sister did her hair and makeup. Wonderful talent to have around for your wedding, for sure.

Marty and Spencer's wedding day started out hot and sticky. The kind where you really don't want to venture outside unless you have to, especially wearing a wedding dress or tux, and you move reeeaaally slowly or you risk breaking into an instant sweat. As we drove from Marty's home to the ceremony at the stunning Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, the skies turned purple, lightning flashed in the distance, rain splattered on the windshield. We feared the worst for their outdoor wedding.

But it seems Marty and Spencer have been very, very good this year. In the short while we were there, the skies cleared, the humidity was swept away with the storm and we got the kind of light photographers dream about...golden, warm, glowy. I couldn't believe it!

Their ceremony was so sweet. They had written a few words about eachother that gave me goose bumps and a lump in my throat, and the rare access to the front of the altar allowed me the gift of capturing their expressions. It was genuine, lovely, and perfect.

Check out Marty and Spencer's Slideshow.

Marty and Spencer

2007-05-30T11:58:00.001-04:00

Marty and Spencer's wedding was a-MAZING! They were adorable, funny, sweet and kind. She works for the Vans shoe company and had custom Vans made for the 14 groomsmen. Love the wedding date on the heel!

I'll try to get more photos up pronto, but am a wee bit swamped. Three weddings back to back is hard enough to keep up with, especially if you overshoot like I do. But throw in every end-of-year school party, fieldtrip, baseball playoff, dance recital, soccer wrap up and you're glad just to get the images on your computer!

The few photos I peeked at looked so great. A testament to the great couple and their super-cool families. I can't wait to work on them! Come back to see!

Dorothy and Darth

2007-05-22T11:01:00.002-04:00

Up until about six years of age, kids are nutty. They say what they think, don't edit anything, and certainly don't care what you think of them. They just do what comes naturally, and it looks so fun and liberating! After six, they start to lose that 'lack of censorship' so I am savoring every moment...

Dylan saw the Wizard of Oz last week and decided she IS Dorothy. We don't have actual Dorothy clothes or a black Toto, so she made do with pink sparkly shoes, a white toto, braids, the closest thing to a blue dress....and (washable) magic marker freckles.

She went to school in full Dorothy costume, and when told she really couldn't wear that every day, she decided Mondays would be Dorothy days. Freckles and all. This is her interpretation of the witch coming... Oscar, please....
When Spencer was five he had serious Star Wars fever. Even sent a Valentine to George Lucas, no lie. But he made his own costume, just came down to breakfast one day in it. Unfortunately he used permanent sharpie markers to make his face like Darth (under the mask). He looked like that for DAYS.
We're never at a loss for photo ops here....

Beth and Jimmy's Wedding

2007-05-22T10:40:00.002-04:00

I had the honor of shooting Beth and Jimmy's gorgeous wedding last week at beautiful Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, Virignia. The amazing folks at Easton Events performed their usual magic and entire evening was perfect!

Here is Beth and Jimmy's Slideshow.

Kids, Kids, Kids

2007-05-10T13:50:00.001-04:00

I love kids. I love taking photographs of kids. They keep it real in every sense. Their expressions are honest, they quickly forget I am there, they do their thing, and I just go along. And I shoot a lot. That helps!

My kids are a bit camera savvy so the honest photo takes a little work... sometimes they'll just ignore me. Other times they'll let me take photos but know I can go on and on, so they'll just tell me when they are 'done'. Hmph! But I admit I can be a pain...like the time my daughter got stitches and I (slightly) tortured her trying to get a macro shot of the wound.

Here's a little Kids Slideshow I put together that hopefully shows what I mean....don't worry, it doesn't include photos of the stitches...

Jamaica

2007-05-09T21:12:00.001-04:00

(click on images to view larger)

If someone had told me 10 years ago I'd have a photo assignment in the Carribbean, at one of the most luxurious locations in Jamaica, I would have asked them what they were smokin'.

In March I was asked (no giggling, please) to spend several days capturing beautiful Bluefields Bay. Along the bay are 5 villas, owned by a family in Alexandria, VA, which are rented out much of the year. These are fantastic houses, and their best features aside from their cliffside perches, open air architecture, gorgeous beaches, infinity pools and freezing cold Red Stripe Lights (I swear, Red Stripe Light!) were the amazing staff who magically reappeared when you even thought you might want something.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the owner, Debra. She showed us around, our eyes big as saucers, astounded by our good fortune. She returned us to our rooms, where our clothes had been carefully unpacked and hung, suitcases stored. Yep. Great start. And the laundry was scooped away each night and rediscovered in the closets the next morning clean and pressed. A tired mother's dream! Huge canopied antique beds, large doors that swung completely open to let in the sea air while you slept. And a view to die for.

Every meal was cooked with fresh ingredients and served on china and silver, on beautiful antique linens. Lobster, fish, mango sorbet, key lime pie. All were deftly served with a smile and drinks were replenished before you could ask.

I know you're thinking, "What a cake job!", and yes, in some ways.... yes. But it is daunting, trying to capture that fourth dimension of amazingness, where the smells, the views, the textures, the lightness of being and being pampered, are all relayed in a two dimensional photograph.

But I'm not getting any sympathy here, am I.

Tyler and Schuyler

2007-04-28T11:25:00.001-04:00

Springtime is a busy time for most photographers. When everything is in bloom and the weather turns warm, the phone will ring. Editorial shoots, inquiries about weddings for '08, ordering albums, clients asking for prints from previous shoots. It can be overwhelming, but it's all good. Then there's wanting to actually enjoy the weather, hang with the family, the homework/soccer/baseball/dance recital rigamarole, and before you know the week is gone. Poof.

It's been nuts!

So on Thursday I took the kids to school, barred the doors, hunkered down and vowed not to leave my house until Tyler and Schuyler's slideshow was done. I have been wanting to work on it for two weeks now!

So here's Tyler and Schuyler's slideshow. It was a very special wedding. Lots of emotion, happiness, warmth and love. It was awesome!

A Great Day at the Farm

2007-04-26T10:55:00.001-04:00

There was a time that the word 'Colonial' put me straight into a catatonic state. History has never been my thing, but as I am forced to revisit past eras through my kids' homework I am realizing it's really not all that bad. I almost even like it..shhhhh.

Especially when I can work on my..I mean my child's.. projects and let the creative juices flow. Peyton, my oldest, was assigned to do a poster about indentured servants, so naturally the camera reared its head and wanted to join in. Hey now, I am a photographer. It's allowed!

We visited my friend's beautiful farm, put him in his garb, and had the best time with her three kids and mine traipsing around creating colonial-looking servant scenarios. Yes, that sounds kind of dorky, but the kids loved it and got very involved and it was cool to watch their brains churn with ideas. I think they were learning out there.

I learned I have an irrational fear of cows. They freaked me out a little, but that's another story.

Peyton also got an education in photoshop as we removed the 'adidas' from his cleats and ran cool actions to make the photos look old.

Then as the sun set, we Moms poured some wine and watched the kids play capture the flag and I was pretty grateful we didn't live back then. The kids were exhausted from just pretending to do the work.... and there's the cow thing.

The Peaks

2007-04-17T13:30:00.001-04:00

As with every career, there are peaks and troughs. Some deeper, some higher, and sometimes things are just regular. And regular is fine a lot of the time.

But the peaks, well, ya gotta love 'em. You know you can't stay there forever, so you just enjoy it and try to figure out how you got there so you can visit again really soon.

The past few weeks have been like that, culminating with the beautiful wedding of two really wonderful people. The day couldn't have gone more smoothly. They were so kind and easy-going, and clearly meant to be together. When the gospel choir broke into "Oh Happy Day" and once the goose bumps on your arms subsided, you could only agree.

I also completed a sweet travel assignment for my favorite magazine. Can't say much about that until it publishes next month, but it was one of the most blissful locations I have visited. Ever. And it didn't hurt that it was sunny, warm and came fully staffed with outstanding people who made sure your every whim was met, and a view that could make you cry.

One last thing...an international magazine emailed asking to use some of my work for their next issue. Can't say who yet, but...oh, happy day!

Ahhh, I love my job.

A Gift

2007-04-10T12:43:00.001-04:00

A few years ago I started doing pro-bono photography work with a pediatric hospice called Noah's Children.

The families I shoot are in varying stages of losing their children. I can't put into words how it goes, stepping into their lives for a few hours. The parents overwhelm me with their attitudes and their skills, managing respirators, medicines, feeding tubes. I just go in there and try to capture their relationships, and their joy in having these children, if only for a little while.

The social workers with Noah's are saintly. They care for these families as their own. I have been told what a gift these photo sessions are to these families, but they have no idea what a gift they are to me.

Richmond Magazine published an article about Noah's and all their amazing work this month. I was honored they used my photos. You can click on the article above if you want to read it. It's really nice.

Viva Las Vegas!

2007-04-09T20:49:00.001-04:00

I just got back from an amazing trip to Las Vegas where I met up with my favorite fellow photographers and a few thousand others I didn't know, went to a mind-boggling quantity of photography seminars and workshops, and checked out all the latest developments in the photography field. The warp-speed changes in technology make it necessary to keep up... but can also make you want to run madly into the desert yelling "why can't I just shoot film?!".

Digital offers so many benefits over film, but requires us to be photographers and tech experts. It can be pretty demanding. You learn one thing, it gets overhauled, and back you go to square one (ok, maybe 2). Or you buy a camera that costs more than your first car, and they come out with a new version rendering your old one obsolete. Argh! And you want it. Bad.

On the artistic side, I really love the direction that wedding photography has taken the past several years. It's fresh, dynamic, beautiful and relevant. And the talent!! It's humbling and motivating. I left there totally inspired.

Best of all, I got to hang out with my little brother, Will, a Vegas resident. It was so great to see him.

A Lesson from a Five-Year-Old

2007-04-04T14:58:00.001-04:00

Dylan, my five year old, has been bugging me for a week to wash her favorite baby doll, Babette.

Dylan has had Babette since birth and she is well-loved, soft and smells yummy. I can't put my finger on it, but it's a combination of Gain laundry detergent, candy, and that good, sweet, indescribable baby smell. She has a clump of yellow yarn bangs that Dylan will roll between her fingers when she is stressed or focused. Or she'll put the bangs right under her nose and breathe herself to sleep.

But when Babette loses her smell, she doesn't work the same magic.

Dylan kept asking "Please, Mom, can you push the button and make her clean?". I kept forgetting. But she did not.

I went down to do laundry today, opened the washing machine door, and surprise!, there she was in her faded pink, velvety glory ready for the wash cycle. Lying there, expecting me, with that "I am so loved" smile on her face. She was even sprayed with Shout to get those pesky stains out. I did not move her, I just laughed and got my camera. She's such a poser, that doll, having been photographed a lot over the years.

I learn so much from Dylan. She's a doer.