A Glimpse into the Life of Photographer Lori Spiker

NEW BLOG!!!

2008-06-29T13:10:00.002-05:00

I have a new blog!!! This one is officially done, so make sure you you change your bookmarks to the new masterpiece below!

www.lorispiker.com/theblog

Enjoy!

Billy & Jenni, Round TWO!!!

2008-05-27T12:37:00.001-05:00

I've been excited to post this session for awhile now, but my site issues have prevented me from doing so... until now! Everything is up & fully working again, and I will be doing lots of email catch-up over the next day or two. I have come to realize what a large role the internet plays in my day-to-day life, and it is very scary! Kinda like how you don't realize how much you use a certain muscle in your body until you pull it somehow? And then you appreciate it so much & promise to never take it for granted again... until you forget about it a few days later :) Well, you can bet I won't be forgetting about this ordeal for quite a while!

On with the show... You've seen Billy & Jenni a few posts back when I did a mini-engagement session for their invitation. Well, we finally got a chance to hang out a few Sundays back, and I have been so anxious to start working on these since I drove home that night! I finally have enough done in between weddings and portrait sessions to blog my favorites. Let me know what you think!

We started off at the log home that they are building. It is a BEAUTY, with awesome stonework along the bottom that provided a gorgeous backdrop to start out with.

And speaking of "beauty", check Jenni out!

I LOVE this tree! And yes, mom, she climbed a tree in a skirt!

After awhile, we headed on over to Long Branch, where they will be getting married in a few weeks.

Check this next shot out. Look closely at what happened to Billy!

Jenni & I couldn't stop laughing, it was hilarious! Sorry, Billy.. I hope it didn't hurt too much :)

My favorite from the day...

This is the spot where they'll be sharing their first dance as husband & wife...

Thanks to the both of you again for such an incredible session! I can't wait to see the guest book that we create from these!!!

poof... GONE!

2008-05-23T06:57:00.000-05:00

My hosting company is having server issues, and my entire site, email & most images on this blog have vanished... There are hundreds of people trying to get a hold of them so I suspect that I'll be down for the good portion of today. If you need to reach me, please call me at 540.336.5651.

...going to go try and calm myself with some triple chocolate fudge ice cream...

Rylan & Sophie

2008-05-18T20:12:00.006-05:00

I photographed Rylan & Sophie a few weeks ago in Front Royal. Rylan is such a handsome young man, and Sophie is a very adorable, VERY camery-shy little girl :) I had to be sneaky, because as soon as she saw a camera she would run the opposite way saying "No, nooo..."!!! She cracked me up so much! I'm sure in a couple years though, she'll be hamming it up big-time just like her big brother ;)

Running away...

Look at this face!

No.... nooo...

Picking "pretty" dandelions :)

Jason & Rebecca

2008-05-07T20:54:00.005-05:00

If you've never stayed at Stone Manor Vineyard & Orchard Bed and Breakfast in Lovettsville, then you need to go! This place is meticulously decorated with luxurious details fit for royalty. Jason & Rebecca were married here a couple weeks ago, and they had the whole property to themselves. So, of course, I was excited to photograph their wedding. To top it off, I had this song stuck in my head all day... it was a song I couldn't stand in high school, but for some reason, it gave me the warm fuzzy's when I heard it driving to their wedding that day, and seemed to give me a boost everytime I thought about it. I guess it was just the simple fact that it took me back to my younger days :)

The song? Please don't laugh... Motownphilly, Boyz II Men

... I know, I know, but look at what I got that day!

The gorgeous bride, Rebecca...

I never post these B&W w/ color shots anymore, and my clients around here seem to love them, so here's one from the shot above in sepia.

Jason had this signature look... kinda reminds me of "Blue Steel", lol

Their guests were so awesome, and did a great job gathering for this shot!

The sun sat a little while after I left for the day, and the scenery in Lovettsville is so beautiful so I had to stop for a picture to complete their day :)

IT's JON's BIRTHDAY!

2008-05-04T21:43:00.004-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON!!!

He's 30 years old today :)

I had a party for two for him with his favorite peanut butter & chocolate cake. Our days have been so full with this & that lately, so it was nice to have some quality alone time :)

Jason & Tinsley

2008-04-27T19:42:00.002-05:00

Jason & Tinsley were married at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna. This is an absolutely gorgeous location, especially in April when all the beautiful flowers & trees start peeking out from their hibernation! The wedding was so beautiful, and I could tell everyone had such a great time. You probably remember Jason & Tinsley from their engagement session recently in the freezing cold. That session was so worth it, because they had the coolest guest book ever! I'm so happy for the both of them, and wish them a lifetime of happiness!

Enjoy the slideshow!

Earth Day, a little late...

2008-04-25T21:01:00.006-05:00

Since I was working all day on Tuesday, I wasn't able to do anything significant for Earth Day, so I made up for it today :) I planted 192 vegetables, herbs & trees by seed (a total of over 500 seeds!) including 48 Paulownia trees. This tree, nicknamed the "Phoenix tree" due to it's awesome ability of regenerating entirely from it's root system when it is harvested, is an extremely fast grower (some species can be harvested for lumber in as little as five years at a whopping 75 feet tall!). Not only is it SUPER awesome as a timber tree, but this baby is BEAUTIFUL in the spring time! Big, blue, yummy-smelling blossoms fill it's branches, and the fruit it produces are packed full of thousands of seeds that are SO easy to grow! Once I get them to harden off, I'll be giving them out to family/friends to enjoy.

I also started the 3-4 month cold stratification process for my Japanese Maple seeds. So, they'll be in my fridge waiting for exactly the right time to sow.. probably around our wedding day :)

And last, but not least, I started to scarify hundreds more seeds of beautiful plants, including 100 passionflower vines! We LOVE passionflowers. We love them so much that they will be a part of our wedding... more to come on that later!!! Tomorrow, I'll get to set up another greenhouse area in the backyard, and plant all the pretty stuff :)

Oh... one more thing: everything is being grown organically this year... at least for now :)

Relay for Life

2008-04-24T20:26:00.003-05:00

As some of you know from an earlier post, my Uncle Ronnie lost his very short & harsh battle with cancer late last year. The Warren County Relay for Life is coming up in June, so I wanted to do something in his memory. He loved all three of his children so very much, and I thought that it would be nice to make a donation from child portrait proceeds coming up. So, if you have been wanting to have your child's portrait done, but have been procrastinating for whatever reason, DON'T wait any longer! I will be donating 50% of all child portrait proceeds from now until June 6 to Relay For Life. This can include newborn sessions, babies, toddlers, small children & teenagers (don't forget senior portraits for the Class of 2009!). I have LOTS of ideas, and I'm always open to yours. I will spend 1-2 hours with your child in the location of your choice. No cheesy backdrops, no scary old men or mall rats trying to make your child "pretend" to be happy. Just natural, genuine emotions that you have grown to love and cherish :)

I don't have a goal, but I will keep everyone updated on the size of the donation as it grows!

Baby Connor

2008-04-23T21:29:00.005-05:00

Yay! My blog is finally cooperating, so I can start posting again!

First up, is the adorable Connor! This little guy was so tuckered out when I arrived, so getting an expression was next to impossible. But, I was still able to get some great shots because he is SOOO cute! You have to agree with me on this one :)

He did manage to sneak a smile in a couple times, and what a perfect little smile it was!

I brought over a balloon for him to admire for a little while...

He really liked when mommy threw him up in the air!

Yesterday

2008-04-20T13:44:00.005-05:00

On the way to a wedding I shot yesterday in Lovettsville, I passed by this & had to post it :)

I've got some posts to catch up on, so I'll start out tonight with an adorable baby boy!

**EDITED*** Blogger's giving me problems, so the post will have to wait until later :-(

Update on '08...

2008-04-10T20:42:00.006-05:00

It's official! 2008 is completely booked!!! I have no more dates available for weddings, unless there is a cancellation. Also, I already have several 2009 weddings booked, so if you're planning a 2009 wedding make sure to talk to me soon!

Icky, yicky time

2008-04-08T19:23:00.010-05:00

Just so everyone knows, I'm still alive :) I'm just buried in a huge mess! It's that horrible time of year that I dread so much, and consumes every last minute of extra time I have. That "T" word that rhymes with "RELAX"... yeah right! It's really not that bad usually because I'm usually super-organized.

Usually...

Last year my business grew so much that I got messy. Being busy was a great thing, but now I'm paying the price for being messy. Jon felt so bad for me that yesterday I came home to him taking up where I left off in my receipt-sorting duties. He had the day off, so he spent the ENTIRE day taking some of the weight off of my shoulders. He's the best :)

This year I have a better plan to make sure I'm not spending next April in another pile of receipts! As soon as we're done with making sure everything is in perfect order, we'll post what I've been dying to post since we left Vegas!

Vegas, part deux

2008-04-04T10:30:00.011-05:00

After one of our classes in Vegas, Jon got so excited to start taking some pictures that we went right back to our hotel to grab our camera gear. He used this time to practice directing his subjects. I did whatever he told me to do, even if I didn't think it would look okay, just so he could see what different poses did to the subject. We ended up spending a few hours walking around Luxor and Mandalay Bay Resort, and got TONS of pictures! Here's some favorites that we both picked of each other to show.

First, check out my gorgeous husband-to-be!!!

This one is my favorite that he picked out of me...

Jon really likes this one... but I don't! He says it looks like he's looking up at his Queen (how sweet), so I had to agree to post it :) It just goes to show that what the photographer really likes, is not always what the subject likes. Although, I do like how he framed it to look like I had a halo & wings... that's pretty cool!

I have this thing for elephants, so he wanted to get this shot for me...

We got some nice shots of each other, but wouldn't it have been nice to have some taken of us together by one of the awesome photographers that was at WPPI?!? Well... stay tuned tomorrow!!!

I know, I know

2008-04-01T21:11:00.007-05:00

I said that I'd post more Vegas today, but I lied ;)

How awesome was it in the Shenandoah Valley today?!? The warm weather took me back to my childhood days, sneaking out to the barn at my grandma's house with all my cousins to climb the rafters. I couldn't get enough of it, and I certainly didn't want to work on Vegas pictures.. sorry! The breeze was perfect, just like it is in Hawaii, and so I dug back in the archives to the shots from my last trip there a few years ago. I really haven't done much with any of them, but that's about to change. I'm going to be displaying some of my work at a fine arts festival soon, so I'll be using a few of the Hawaii shots in the show. Here's one that really matched my mood for today... mellow :)

Aloha!

No, it didn't "stay" in Vegas...

2008-03-30T19:37:00.013-05:00

We've just been running in circles since we returned from WPPI, that I haven't had a chance to even think about Vegas. This first post is just some shots around the strip, since this was the first time for both of us. Tomorrow I'll post some images that we took of each other, mostly so Jon could practice directing his subjects more easily. I have something way cool to post after that (for me anyway). And the next day, I have something even cooler to post for Jon & me. But we're not there yet...

Tonight, I'll show you some shots we got while being tourists :)

We stayed at Excalibur. I love this place!

Yeah, I know I'm a dork! I don't care though, we had fun!!!

Definitely "Sin City"...

I'm anxious to see what kind of awesome hotel this becomes next year!

We went to lots of parties & met so many great photographers, but we were having so much fun that we forgot to bring our cameras most of the time! Here's a shot of us after coming back from a super-fantabulous party with all my favorite photographers at 2AM... (and we still made it to the first class at 8:30 the next morning!)

We are both so looking forward to next year's event! We learned so much, and we are so hyped up for all of this year's weddings coming up! This is definitely going to be a great year for us & all our brides! Remember to check back over the next 3 days as I post more from Vegas!!!

Later!

Billy & Jenni... & Champ!!!

2008-03-24T11:18:00.008-05:00

It's great to be back on the East Coast, and I've got images to share from Vegas... but first, I've got to show you some shots I took of Billy & Jenni from their "mini" engagement session! They just wanted me to come to their home and get a studio shot of them, but once we were done with those we had a little fun. Jenni's awesome dog, Champ, even got in on the action! If you don't know already, I LOVE doggies, so I was so happy to get to hang out with Champ :)

Jenni is such a doll! She has this bubbling personality that just makes me smile inside when I'm around her! The first time we met, we talked for so long I didn't even realize how late it was. We're doing another "mini" session when it warms up outside, so you'll be seeing more of them soon!

How sweet is this?!?

Off to Vegas!!!

2008-03-14T05:37:00.004-05:00

We're heading out the door to start our adventures in Las Vegas for WPPI!!! Be patient, because as soon as we return there will be new sessions to post as well as some shots from our trip! We will return all emails and phone calls when we return on March 24. See you soon!

Jason & Tinsley

2008-03-08T01:04:00.004-05:00

I LOVE it when couples are willing to do their engagement session in a downtown area. So when Jason & Tinsley suggested that we go to Leesburg for their session, I was SUPER-excited! I'm so grateful to have such an awesome couple to work with! When we met up early that Sunday morning the temperature in my car read 24°! Brrrrrrr!!! But, as soon as we started shooting, all my thoughts of frozen fingers & sniffly noses disappeared, because these two were so enjoyable to photograph. Jason is a photographer in his spare time, and has beautiful nature & architecture images on his website, so be sure to check it out at www.jasonstricker.com.

Can you guess their wedding date?!?

Thank you to the both of you for being so willing to try so many of my crazy ideas. I can't wait until your wedding next month!!!

Dark Side of the Moon :)

2008-02-20T22:21:00.007-05:00

Jon & I just came in from freezing our toes off watching the Moon slip into the shadow of the Earth. As many times as I've seen this, it's always amazing to see it again. And to see it with him just makes the whole experience pure magic!!!

Speaking of the magic in the sky, we have officially set our wedding date for August 16th, 2008... yes, that's THIS summer!!!! It will be a late evening ceremony on an organic farm in Luray, VA, and we will be celebrating with our family & friends under a 12-hour full moon with the mountains of Skyline Drive as the backdrop! More details to come!

As we warm up on the couch together, I am booking all the final details of our Vegas trip next month. For those of you who don't know already, we are making the trek out west March 14-21 for WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International), which is the best photographers' convention/tradeshow/workshop line-up ever, as some of my mentor's would put it! I am SOOOO insanely excited, and I can't wait to meet some of the photographers that I have drooled over the past few years! Not only that, but I'll be coming back with so many new ideas to try out on my 2008 couples, and new products that will ROCK this area!!! Can you tell I'm cheezing bigtime?!? Jon is sitting here giggling at my excitement, but he's really excited too. He's been wanting to become a bigger part of this business for so long now, and this is really going to boost his confidence. We will be attending lots of classes/seminars taught by some of the top photographers in the world...

...okay enough of my chatter... we're going back out to admire the fiery glow of the Moon, and the great view of Mars (directly overhead)! GOOD NIGHT!!!!

Long Awaited...

2008-02-16T23:02:00.011-05:00

I'm so excited that I finally have a chance to share these with everyone! Before the cold of winter came, I went out with 3 awesome high school seniors to do a Funky Formals session with each of them. We had so much fun that it was really hard to pack up for the day, because we all just wanted to stay in the water and play some more! I can't wait till the weather warms up, so I can go out & do this again! Oh... and in case anyone is wondering, all 3 dresses came perfectly clean!

I couldn't pick out just a few, so I've put together a slideshow for you to view. Make sure you turn up your speakers to hear the music I picked out for it. This was the theme song to my favorite tv series of all time. Anyone know which show that might be?!?

Not 1, Not 2, but 3 FREE sessions!!!

2008-01-24T18:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I'm feeling a little frisky today & I want to share a little love :) I am giving away 3 free couples' sessions! I was going to make them engagement sessions, but I know there are couples out there who aren't engaged yet that definitely deserve a good fun portrait session! Heck, even if you're married already you can take advantage of this also!

Yes, there is a little catch... just a little one. I am only doing these on this Saturday or Sunday in Winchester, VA. So, if you're out of town this weekend, then I apologize but you're out of luck :( All you need to do to take advantage of this crazy promotion is to contact me using the contact form on my website, and let me know who you are & when you can be downtown this weekend. There is absolutely NO obligation to purchase anything from me, I'm just looking to have a little fun this weekend & try out some new ideas. Don't worry if you've already hired another photographer for your wedding, or if you've already had an engagement session done elsewhere... they can't blame you for taking advantage of this offer, can they? I didn't think so ;)

Good luck!

**UPDATE: As of Friday morning, I've only had one response on this offer! I think some of you may be fearing the 40 degree weather. I promise we'll keep you moving & warmed up... and if you're still skeptical just send me an email & I'll send you some links to some of the ideas I've had with winter wear that looks AMAZING!!! You really don't want to pass this up! **

Happy New Year!

2008-01-20T01:40:00.000-05:00

Since this is the first post of 2008, let me say "Happy New Year" to everyone who may be tuning in! I hope everyone had a safe & memorable New Year's Eve!
As for me, I am finally all moved in to my new home, and I'm loving it! I never thought I could miss having a kitchen all to myself so much! I also want to thank everyone who has emailed me or left comments here congratulating me on my engagement. I appreciate all your kind words & thoughts :)

The next several weeks will be very busy setting up appointments with brides of 2008/2009. I will still be posting however, so don't forget to check in every now & then. As a matter of fact, hopefullly by the end of this week I will be posting a really unique group senior portrait session that I think you'll really enjoy... That's all I'll say, so you'll have to come back to check it out!

Since 2007 has been such an awesome year for me in some respects, I wanted to do something cool to end the year out on my blog. I came up with a slideshow dedicated to all my super-fantabulous couples of 2007. Originally, it ran over an hour, so I had to cut out a TON of pictures! Actually, I am showing the entire slideshow at the Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase tomorrow with all the fancy transition & motion effects included... oh, and better music too! For the purpose of the blog, however, I've shortened it just a bit :)

We're Engaged!!!

2007-12-31T04:34:00.000-05:00

I have the BEST man in the entire world :)

The Christmas Plan: Jon & I finished all the wrapping of presents 2 days before Christmas so that we could enjoy Christmas morning together. This year my Grandma was set on cooking Christmas dinner. I had helped her with a few things on Christmas Eve along with my Uncle Steve so that it wouldn't be so much of a burden on her come Christmas Day. We were going to my grandma's around 11AM so Jon could spend a little time with my family before he had to go to his mother's for dinner at 1PM.

The Christmas Reality: We woke up at 7AM at his mother's house and started prepping the 24-lb turkey for Christmas dinner. His mom came home at 8AM from her family's house in Charles Town & suddenly realized that there was so much she needed done that we had to help (wrapping more of the grandchildrens' presents, sprucing up the pool table room & the tv room downstairs, straightening up the front porch, and all sorts of other things). We never had a chance to enjoy the Christmas tree & unwrap presents, so I went ahead to my Grandma's house while Jon stayed and helped his mom with the rest of the list of things to do. When I got to grandma's, my dad was already there along with his wife & my little brother. A good portion of the rest of my dad's family was also there waiting for dinner to be ready. Once we ate, I kept wishing Jon could be there since this was probably going to be Grandma's last big dinner that she made for us.

The Heart-Stopper: All of a sudden a knock came at the door, and Jon walks in with that big smile of his that is so infectious! My dad let out a loud laugh that I didn't pay attention to, because I was distracted by how Jon was acting when he was walking toward me. He was sweating & then looked like something was wrong, & he walked right past me and said "I have to go to the bathroom". I immediately became worried that something was wrong at his mother's house, because they were supposed to be eating right about that time, and he looked like he had just went through an awful ordeal. I heard him in the bathroom breathing really loudly (the walls are very thin) & I kept hearing water splashing. Then I remembered dad's weird laugh when he saw Jon, and I thought for a second "Oh my God, is he going to ask me to marry him?"... but that thought was gone in an instant because Jon has a huge problem with being in large groups of people. In fact, whenever I would want to go out downtown or into D.C. to a bar with some friends, he would have to drink a couple beers just to be comfortable enough to go out... needless to say we don't go out anymore unless it is a very special occasion, which has turned out to be a very good thing (we're much happier at home with eachother anyway!). So, I knew he wouldn't be desperate enough to drink on Christmas Day in front of my family, so there was no way he would be asking me to marry him. Absolutely NO way. So, then I thought that something really must have gone wrong & I began to worry. He never argues with his mom, so it couldn't have been that; everything was almost done by the time I left, so he couldn't have forgotten anything really important for her dinner; the only thing I could think of was someone was hurt & he wanted me to go to the hospital with him. That was it. That was the only logical conclusion. My heart started pounding & my brain started going in circles hoping that whoever was hurt wasn't hurt too badly... & then he comes out of the bathroom.

The Good Part: I was about to stand up to give him a hug, and he stood in the way so I couldn't move & looked down at me with his big blue eyes wide open & notably scared. I noticed his whole body was shaking & then he reached in his pocket as he came down on one knee. He pulled out a very familiar box that we received on our last trip to Georgia from a sushi chef as we were eating a romantic meal all alone in the restaurant. We had talked about so many things during that meal, and the staff kept giving us more things to try & then they gave us this neat little box with two origami cranes inside (a symbol of longevity & prosperity in Japanese culture): one was blue for him, and the other pink for me.

"Will you marry me?" he asked as he looked so brave while opening the box to reveal the most perfect ring I would ever imagine having as a token of our love. I am not the kind of girl who likes to wear a lot of jewelry, and rings are especially hard to find for me because my fingers are so ugly & bony. So many beautiful rings look atrocious on me, but he managed to find a gorgeous ring that actually makes me feel beautiful wearing it. And if fit perfectly! I immediately said "Yes... YES!!!" while failing miserably to hold back tears. I gave in & just started crying along with him. I looked up, and I could tell half the people there were trying to hold back tears as well. My dad had a grin on his face a mile wide, and then he said "I was wondering when you were going to show up!". I was suprised and asked "You knew?!?".

Of course he did... I shouldn't have been surprised. Jon knows how important my family is to me.

Thoughts: This past year or so has been awesome because I have been able to see my family more often & Jon actually encourages us to visit them as much as possible. I've never had a boyfriend like that, and now I can't believe I ever lived without someone like that before. I am so lucky :) It's so funny that we are engaged now, because my entire adult life I always imagined being with someone for several years before plunging into this world. But, this is just so right. Nothing has ever felt better than this relationship. And I still can't believe he asked me in front of 3 of my most favorite people in the world (my daddy, my brother & my grandma). I feel bad my mom couldn't be there to see it, but other than that it could not have been more perfect. I could not have planned a proposal any more romantic than this one (and trust me, I've daydreamed about some pretty romantic proposals over my lifetime!). My Grandma was so happy, and I have Jon to thank for giving that happiness to her. Before we left, she took his hands & said "God bless you, Son, God bless you!" as a tear came rolling down her face.

Nothing could ever top this...

Of course, he continues to amaze me all the time :-)

Chelsea

2007-12-15T18:24:00.000-05:00

Meet Chelsea! She is another wonderful senior from the Class of 2008 that I have had the pleasure to meet this year. Chelsea is one of those girls that is every parents dream: very charming, lots of personality & some of the best manners ever :)

Gabe & Rebecca

2007-12-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

I went to Vienna to photograph Gabe & Rebecca's engagement session at the beautiful Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. I felt so sorry for Gabe, because the night before he had hurt his ribs & was in pain the entire time! But, he came through with flying colors & even toughed it out to get some shots of him holding his darling Rebecca :)

Keith & Jessica

2007-11-26T22:51:00.000-05:00

I've got a few posts going up in the next few days, and the first one up is an engagement session I did in Harper's Ferry, WV. Keith & Jessica are getting married next fall at Cheat Lake, and I can not WAIT until that day comes. The venue is gorgeous, and look at how cute these two are! We had fun taking over Harper's Ferry for a few hours, and I'm sure we'll have even more fun on their wedding day!

My favorite wedding of the year...

2007-11-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

I know it's been awhile since my last post, but I've been working on a very special wedding that I've been waiting for all year. Kara found me at the "Official I Do Bridal Showcase" at Bowling Green last winter, and I was excited to see her because years have gone by since the last time I saw her. Kara was my very first best friend (back in kindergarten), and I have always thought so much of her & her beautiful family. We grew apart & lost touch over the years, so it felt great to suddenly be a part of such a special day for her.

Congratulations, girl!!! I always knew you'd beat me to it ;)

I've been playing with some new things that I think everyone is going to love. First, here's an example of "digital scrapbooking" that I created from an otherwise normal formal shot... I used elements of Kara's wedding to spice it up a bit.

Also, since there was no way I could choose only a few images to post, I decided to upgrade my blog a bit to include this awesome slideshow feature that showcases some of my favorites of the day. Look for more of these in the future! Just click to play...

It's here!!!

2007-11-06T18:43:00.000-05:00

I am FINALLY launching my new website tonight (getting rid of that ancient site of mine!) & marking my official step into the modern world! I'm so excited, and hopefully everyone will love it! I wanted to let you know that while everything is being finalized, the website may be down for up to 48 hours. Images on this blog will also be affected for a short time. Also, any emails that you send may possibly not reach me properly, so if you need to contact me, please give me a call! 540.336.5651

See ya on the other side :)

Joey & Brigitte

2007-11-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

You may remember Joey & Brigitte from the engagement session I did at Brigitte's family home in Berkeley Springs, WV. Well, they finally tied the knot at the same place, and it was one of my favorite outside weddings of the year! Jon & I couldn't stop taking in the beauty of the surrounding area, with gorgeous views of the mountains & hills all around us. Not to mention that Brigitte's mother had completely outdone herself with every single detail of this event. Of course, she had lots of practice, since Brigitte's two older sisters were also married here.

This message on a chalkboard from Brigitte's parents greeted you as you walked in the family home

I love love love LOVE Calla Lillies, so I had to use these for a ring shot!

This is Brigitte's dress hanging right next to her mother's wedding dress,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

They always come in threes...

2007-10-25T09:57:00.000-05:00

Well, you know what they say... death always comes in threes. The past month I have been to two funerals of people I care about, and now just yesterday my Uncle Ronnie passed away. He was diagnosed with cancer last month, and unfortunately his cancer was way too far gone to try to stop. Ronnie is the 2nd child my grandma has had to bury, and I really can not comprehend having to go through that kind of pain at 90 years old. She sure is one tough cookie :) I remember once when i was really young, she stepped on a big rusty nail that went right through her foot. She couldn't pull it out, so she packed all of us grandkids that she was babysitting at the time (including Ronnie's son), and drove down to my daddy's job to have him yank it out with a pair of pliers without even making a sound! Ouch!!!

Here's a picture of Uncle Ronnie & Uncle Donnie (his twin brother), both standing, and my grandma & daddy back in 1986. My family are such hillbillies, & I wouldn't have it any other way :) I wish I had all the aunts & uncles in this one, but I guess it was hard to fit everyone in one shot.
Oh, and yes I took this picture, but you can't critique my photography skills since I was only 9 years old at the time...

I love you Uncle Ronnie, and you know I will ALWAYS remember you :)

Geoff & Jennifer

2007-10-22T20:31:00.000-05:00

Geoff & Jennifer will be getting married next September. We went out to shoot their engagement photos a couple weeks ago, and had a great time despite the heat. I know Jennifer is going to make an absolutely stunning bride, because you just can't take a bad picture of this girl... see for yourself!

Save the Date cards

2007-10-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

I wanted to show you samples of the Save the Date cards that I am now offering. These cards can be mailed just like any postcard to your wedding guests to let them know that you will soon be getting married. This is very helpful to those guests that need to arrange travel, or for weddings that will be taking place in peak family vacation times. I don't know how many weddings of friends/family I've missed because the formal invitation was not sent until after I had already made my vacation plans for the year! These can be as simple or as intricate as you desire. You choose which images you want on the card, and I design them to your liking. Right now, I charge $85 for each set of 50 that you purchase.

Here is the front, which is printed on glossy cardstock that really stands out:

And the back is black & white:

Check it out!

2007-10-08T22:03:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd pass along some exciting info! Remember a couple posts back I introduced "Funky Formals"? Well, I decided to submit some of my first Funky Formals session to the national website that shows off some of the best images from around the country, and guess what?!? They picked some to put up on the site! These were of Catie, who is a natural in front of the camera. Actually, you'll be seeing more of her in about a week or so, because we just went out yesterday and did a group Funky Formals session with her & two of her friends! We all had such an awesome time, and these images definitely show it... I can't wait to post them! I really love my job :)

For now, make sure to check out the website showcasing the nation's revolutionary seniors here: www.letsgettrashed.com

Here's one of the shots they chose:

Donnie & Christian

2007-10-08T21:09:00.000-05:00

I went to Sherando Park to photograph Donnie & Christian's engagement session. Usually during an engagement session, I try to get the couple to relax & take in the nature around them if we are outside... but we happened to choose the very day that the park had an Hispanic Festival complete with some of the loudest fiesta music I've ever heard! So, instead of trying to relax, they went along with the great time everyone was having, and even danced out on the dock of the pond to the wail of the horns & the pulse of maracas! These two are so fun, and I can tell their wedding is going to be an awesome day to be a part of!

Stephen & Amanda

2007-10-05T22:50:00.000-05:00

I'm a little behind on my blogging lately due to a couple crazy weeks, but I'm back now & I have a few posts to catch up on. For tonight, I have the beautiful wedding of Stephen & Amanda to show. This took place at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. I love this venue, and I always recommend it to my brides who are undecided about their wedding location. Jon & I had a great time photographing this wedding, as Stephen & Amanda are such a fun couple to work with! Congratulations to the both of you!

Catie

2007-09-24T21:38:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to finally get Catie's senior portrait session done! We started a session in August, but mother nature decided to rain down on us. We got some great images anyway that day, but we really wanted to have some fun in the sun! So, we finally had the chance to run wild in Winchester last weekend & we walked away with some wonderful shots! Here's some highlights from both sessions:

Announcing.... Funky Formals!!!

Catie was also my first senior who wanted to participate in the "Funky Formals" sessions that I am now offering. This is actually my take on the whole "Trash the Dress" craze that has been spreading across the country. If you're out of the loop, the idea is to take your wedding dress or prom dress & make beautiful, fun images in an out of the ordinary setting. This craze has been highlighted on numerous national news media & talk shows, including "Good Morning America", Entertainment Tonight's "The Insider", & the New York Times. Some people have misunderstood the title of "Trash the Dress" as completely destroying it, which is not the goal of 99% of these sessions. The goal is to make some great images while not worrying about getting a spot on your dress (or tux if you're a guy!). So, that is why I have created my own name for these sessions that is more fitting for what we are trying to accomplish. Check out the following websites that showcase the nation's best sessions submitted so far:

For Brides: Trash the Dress
For Seniors: Let's Get Trashed

And.... check out these images of Catie's Funky Formals session from last weekend! Stay tuned for more of these sessions soon! Also, if you're wanting to take part in a Funky Formals session yourself, I'm offering the next few sessions booked at 75% off of the regular price, so get in touch if you'd like to participate!!!

Passiflora caerulea

2007-09-20T23:13:00.000-05:00

The other day Jon & I had a rare experience that I wanted to share with everyone! I was outside watering my veggie garden, when I noticed two buds on the passion flower vine that were about to bloom. I knew that once they begin to open, it doesn't take long for them to fully bloom. So Jon got the camping chair out, and I got the camera and we watched them bloom in 30 minutes. We were both betting on opposite flowers to win, but what was strange is that they both popped fully open at the EXACT same time... very sneaky little things! If you've never had a passion flower vine, I must say you need to get one. They grow so fast, and they are my all-time favorite flower. I first saw one on my first trip to Hawaii, and knew that I'd have to have one. When I came back, I found out that they are hardy in our zone in the warmer months, so i was thrilled! This vine grows on an arbor that Jon placed right outside my bedroom window, so I get to see it when I wake up every morning :)

Here's the yummy banana peppers I've been growing all summer...these things are great on salads!

And the awesome jalapeno peppers that just won't stop! I've got about a hundred of these babies ready to go... have you ever had a jalapeno stuffed with bacon & cream cheese? Oh my goodness, yummy-yum-yum!!!

Jon & Erica

2007-09-12T03:47:00.000-05:00

I actually knew both Jon & Erica before I knew they were to be married, but I never knew they were together until Erica contacted me in March. Now that I've spent time with them together, I could never imagine the two of them with anyone else. They remind me so much of Jon & I, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to document their wedding day. They recently moved to Las Vegas, and I'm sure they're going to have a fun, exciting life together! I wish you two all the happiness in the world :)

Mike & Brieanna

2007-09-03T15:58:00.000-05:00

Mike & Brieanna were the first to be married at the new Bowling Green location in Front Royal, VA. I was impressed with the great job that the country club did in decorating the beautiful new bridal lawn. I'm looking forward to doing many more weddings here!

This was a true Cinderella wedding.... Brieanna definitely fits the part!

Location: Bowling Green
Transportation: The Cinderella Carriage by Shenandoah Carriage Company

John & Rebecca

2007-08-23T12:40:00.001-05:00

This wedding was in Winchester at Calvary Baptist Church. Rebecca & John are two of the sweetest people I've ever met, and I hope to see more of them in the future :)

I wish you could hear this girl's voice... she was so precious!

All the children were sitting in a row watching John & Rebecca's first dance. It was so sweet!

This shot I've seen done quite a bit lately by some of the wedding industry's top photographers, so I wanted to try it out for myself. I think it looks great!

Gallery Exhibit

2007-08-22T23:52:00.000-05:00

I've been so super-busy lately with editing, so I have a few posts to catch up on in the next few days. Also, we're preparing for Sunday's excitement at the Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase! We have an entire room in the beautiful White Hall Manor to ourselves for this show, and we've got lots of planning to do to keep our guests occupied! Hopefully, we can have everything done in just a few short days.... everyone should come out and see how we do!

Being busy with editing has also prohibited me from telling everyone about the art show at the Shenandoah Arts Council in Winchester this month. I have 4 pieces being displayed, and I'm starting to do something a little different with my framing. Actually, I only had time to work on one of the four pieces being displayed, but next time around I will apply it to everything I show. You'll have to be kept in suspense until you go to the gallery and check it out, but I'll at least show you the image that I had to work with. The finished piece is called "Frozen in Twine", and if you happen to visit the gallery, you'll see that the name is definitely fitting for this one :)

Don't forget to come see us this Sunday at White Hall Manor in the Foyer!

Brieanna's bridal session

2007-08-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

I went out to shoot Brieanna's bridal portrait a few weeks before her wedding, and I've been so anxious for her wedding day so I could post them! She is such a unique person, and I wanted to show that in her images. Look out for the wedding post soon!

Dan & Nicole

2007-07-23T23:36:00.000-05:00

Dan & Nicole were married in Gainesville, VA on the most popular wedding date of the year, 7/7/07, at 7:00 in the evening. Some say this was the luckiest day of the century, but these two don't need any luck in love, that's for sure!

Krystal

2007-07-21T19:34:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again to start taking on some fun senior portrait sessions, and I can't wait to meet all the new seniors from the Class of '08!

Krystal was a blast to work with! She has the most gorgeous long hair... or I should say "had"... because the very next day she donated 13 inches of her hair to Locks of Love! What an awesome donation! And I must say, this smile of hers was infectious!

Thirty, Flirty & Thriving!!!

2007-07-18T17:57:00.000-05:00

Okay, maybe not so much "flirty" anymore, but you get the point. I've been dreading this one for a while, not so much as my last few birthdays, but dreading it never-the-less. I know all you older than me are rolling your eyes thinking "If she only knew how young she was...blah...blah...blah...". I understand that, as I'm sure 10 years from now I'll be laughing at the young girl's videoblog I'm watching that shows her complaining of being "old". Yet, I really DO feel 30 now. I've never been able to say that about any other birthday before. You know what I mean? When it's just another day that doesn't seem much different, except the presents & partying & such... but you still feel young? Not this day. I really feel 30. That's so strange to me. Yesterday, I was thinking "I don't think I'll ever feel my real age", but today it's a whole other story. Weird.

Anyway, to get on with it, I just wanted to announce to the world that I'm finally grown up! Yes, I'll still laugh uncontrollably like a 9-year-old at times, and cry my eyes out like a teenager at times, and act crazy like a 21-year-old at times.... but all-in-all, I'm grown up. Look out world, here I come!

Here's my little bro & I back in "the day"...

Here we are with daddy at HersheyPark a few years later...
And about a year ago at daddy's house when I was still a baby ;)

I wish I had one of us from this year to post, but no such luck. Thanks to my little bro for providing me with those first two pics from the younger days!

Billy & Laura

2007-07-15T19:16:00.000-05:00

We made a trip to the Chesapeake Bay in June to shoot a local couple's wedding at Herrington on the Bay. This is a gorgeous venue right on the bay with a Polynesian Bridal Lawn, complete with palm trees & an island-inspired pergola!

With the new design update of the blog, I figured it was about time to start giving everyone more in each post, so this one is longer than usual... I hope you enjoy! To see even more of Billy & Laura, check out their proofs here!

Here, Laura is helping her mom dry her hair :)

The beautiful Bridal Lawn...

This reception ranks at the top of my list! Everyone had soooo much fun!!!

I caught this one of them while they were hiding in the middle of the dance floor...

Laura glances back at her parents dancing, who just happen to be celebrating their wedding anniversary the same day!

Congratulations Billy & Laura, as well as Paul & Marlyn!

Joey & Brigitte

2007-07-07T11:19:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday I headed up to Berkeley Springs, WV to shoot Joey & Brigitte's engagement portrait. They are getting married on Brigitte's farm that she grew up on, just like her two sisters before her! I can't wait until the wedding! Here are some of my favorites from our session.

New Equipment

2007-06-25T18:22:00.000-05:00

I bought a new lens & some extra flash equipment last week, so Jon & I trekked it out with our friend, Casey, to Blandy Farm to do some test shots.

This little guy was curious, so he came up to see what all the action was about....
I couldn't resist setting up this shot of Jon & I. The sun was peeking through the canopy of trees to give just enough lighting for the background. Thanks to Casey for taking the shot... great job!

Ethan & Brooke

2007-06-24T11:57:00.000-05:00

Ethan & Brooke were married in Frederick, MD. The bride preferred more of the traditional wedding photography, instead of photojournalism, so I took a different approach to this one. Luckily, Brooke is a stunning young woman with a gorgeous smile to match!

Alright, I just can't decide which one I like better: color or B&W with a ray of light from behind...

A few details:

This little girl must've taken dance lessons...she had some great moves! As did the boys...

Are you wearing a wire???

2007-06-11T18:30:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was a tad bit exciting! I was in the emergency room all day Friday, and ended up leaving attached to what felt like a car battery!

Here I am right after we got home from the hospital...then "Dr. Jon's" smiling face cured me... & I was brand new again!

Really, I'm okay, just some crazy things going on with my heart. I went to the hospital by myself, and a couple hours later Jon comes around the corner to keep me company, so that made my day! I did take the doctor's advice somewhat & rested for a few hours while I missed a friend's party I really wanted to attend... but hopefully they will forgive me :) Saturday evening's wedding was a great one, and you'll see more of that in a future post... My wires kept popping out though, and I kept getting the same "Are you okay?" question.

My reply? "Shhhh! I'm working undercover, don't tell anyone!"

Sunday I had some fun with Jon's niece, Hannah. She is an absolute doll baby, and is no doubt the best model I have ever worked with:) I wish I could post them all!

Tara & John

2007-06-11T09:49:00.000-05:00

Thank you Tara & John for letting me photograph your beautiful wedding!

These two make a gorgeous couple, so I had no problem creating some great images!
Tara & her mom sharing a moment before the ceremony:

The reception was held at the Millwood Country Club in Boyce. Here they are making their first entrance as husband and wife :) Father/Daughter & Mother/Son dances:

I love the road leading into the Millwood Country Club!

Thanks again guys!

Crystal & Mark

2007-06-04T07:15:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Crystal & Mark's wedding. Here's a few of my favorite images.

They were lucky enough to have Crystal's step-dad chauffeur them around in this red-hot classic!

I'm back!

2007-06-03T19:25:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so I've been busy, obviously. Which is great since we are now officially saving to buy a house next year :) Let's start with our trip to Georgia... SO MUCH FUN!!! I've gotta say, Jon is without a doubt the best traveling partner ever! Stress-free, no schedules & the best part is that we got to make so many stops for the sole purpose of taking some awesome pictures!

Here's a shot under the boardwalk of Tybee Island's pier.

Savannah's beautiful spanish moss...

While visiting Fort Pulaski, we spotted an alligator in the moat!

If you ever get a chance, definitely stop at the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. This place is so enchanting! Here's the famous Gracie Watson statue...

And, another statue in Bonaventure...

These flower bushes are everywhere on Tybee, so I had to get a quick portrait :)

2007-05-03T12:06:00.000-05:00

I photographed the retirement party of Dave Blount last Friday night. I've known of him for some time now, but not until this night did I realize the contributions he has made to our local community. He is one of those great men who do not like the spotlight... he is very humble, and I admire him greatly for that. He does not make his contributions with lots of flare & fireworks("Hey look at me, I'm giving this needy organization a bunch of money, aren't I a great guy?"). It's almost as if he's giving because he actually cares about the needs of the community, and not the tax break or the publicity he's getting for them... wow, what a concept!!! Truly, what a guy :)

Here, Mike Sexton from the Virginia Economic Development office is presenting Dave with an authentic Virginia State Flag.

Summer Music Season

2007-04-26T15:27:00.000-05:00

Here's to the upcoming summer concert season, which I indulge myself in quite often! This year will be different, due to being so busy with weddings... but I still plan to catch a few shows while I'm out & about! On the way to a wedding on Tybee Island that I will be photographing in a couple weeks, we are stopping to see some of Jon's old friends from the band Moonshine Still in Charleston, SC. After the wedding, on our way back up to VA we will be attending the Ash Lawn-Highland’s 13th Annual WineFest. We'll be sampling some great wines along with some great music including bluegrass by The Whiskey Rebellion. I've always heard great things about this band, and I'm anxious to finally get a chance to hear them :)

2007-01-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase to visit us on the 21st! The snow definitely put a big damper on the turn-out, but we still met lots of great couples! Jon & I had fun showing everyone the new Deluxe Coffee Table Album that I just started creating. The Slim Line version that I have been using for a few years have sold very well, so I really think that these new Deluxe Lines are going to be a huge hit! We received so many compliments about the layout of the album, and of course the great couple that was featured inside: Omar & Jennifer Kaskas. To answer a few questions I've been getting recently about the album, the layout took me about 14 hours to complete (a few hours here and there over about a 10 day period). I was rushed for time, as usual, so there were lots of images that did not make it into the album. You can view the proofs from Omar & Jen's wedding here. Within the next month or so, depending on my schedule, I will post the complete album layout for you to view on my website. The cost of the album featured starts at $470 & there are many add-ons that you can take advantage of that will tell your story even better. These prices are extremely competitive, and I am actually thinking of evaluating my pricing structure over the next few months, considering the "other guy" in Winchester is charging anywhere from $1000-$2500 for the same book, and also charges for any changes you make to his initial layout of the book. FYI, I think that since you are paying so much for a wedding book, you should be completely happy with the layout before the book is printed... but hey, that's just me... I'm sure the other guy has his reasons, as he seems like a very nice man ;-)

Of course at the show we had to have the area's very first accumulation of snow on the one day of the whole season that I was praying for it NOT to snow (can you sense a slight hint of cynicism?!?)... So, I have decided to participate in the "Official I Do Bridal Showcase" at Bowling Green this Saturday, February 3rd from 10am-4pm. This show is free to the public, and is always a very delightful event to attend for a bride. The show is smaller than the Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase, but it makes up for it's size in it's elegance. If you decide on stopping by to take a peek, please make sure you visit Jon & I in the sunroom at some point during your visit.

Since I have promised myself that I will post an image on each blog entry, here is a snapshot of Jon & I after the show...very cold & tired! Let's hope for better weather this Saturday...

2006-12-29T15:18:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone's Christmas was as fulfilling as mine! Here's a shot of my baby, Dikata, saying "Happy HOWLidays!!!" He's such a sweetheart :-) If you look at the image closely, you can tell I did some quick Photoshop work... Dikata does not like to wear clothing of any kind, he's a true naturist at heart ;-) So, I had Jon hold the hat on him while he ever-so-loudly protested. I know, I'm so cruel. But, it's okay: I gave him a big Greenie afterwards for a peace offering, and he graciously accepted. The Photoshop work was done in a hurry, since I had only 10 minutes to upload the photo, do some magic & finally burn the cd before we had to leave for the printer to create the Christmas cards.

I'm still deciding what to do for New Year's Eve... which is somewhat odd, considering I usually have hotel reservations, concert tickets & any other travel arrangements set in stone by Halloween. I'm anxious to see how this one turns out since I'm not quite the partier I once was :) Somehow, I feel it will be just as fun... although not many can top the excitement of last year's celebration, when I had the most fulfilling elevator ride of my life... ;)

Alpha

2006-11-28T14:21:00.000-05:00

So, here I am finally starting my very first blog. Woo-hoo!!! What an appropriate time to do so as well... new life, new home, new man (!)... and everything seems to be going in the right direction this time. But, then again, it all is still "new", so I guess we'll see how long the good vibes last...

Here's a picture of the new me (looks awfully like the old me, only that's a genuine smile on my face...not forced or faked in any way) with Jon on Bourbon Street. We just returned from New Orleans. It was a trip of closing doors and opening new ones for us both. He has finally closed the last door that connected him to his past life that he has miraculously survived. Maybe I'll elaborate on that one day... but perhaps maybe not.
I am definately feeling lighter this week, now that everything pretty much is caught up from my big move (maybe one day i'll elaborate on that one as well). No more orders to send out, no more phone calls to make, no more emails to send... the only thing left now are all the wonderful photos from the Wilderness Jam. I'm excited to finally be getting a semi-office back in order next weekend with the addition of my computer, so I can finally edit photos in the privacy of my own home.... the college's computer labs were really starting to frustrate me...but don't get me wrong, I am very grateful that they are there for us to use. I just never expected to have to rely on them as much as I have these last few months.
So, to keep things going on a positive note, as soon as the Jam's pix are complete, I am going to start working on the bridal shows that are going to supply me with most of my wedding business next year. I've signed up for the Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase, which broke my bank for Christmas, but it's definitely a very important one to be in. I was so relieved to hear that Encore is having it on a Sunday this year. I wanted to participate last year, but for some reason it was scheduled on a Saturday... and the week of Valentine's Day at that... and weddings are on Saturdays...the busiest wedding days in winter are the two surrounding Valentine's... so if you're a wedding professional that has to be directly involved on the wedding day (which definately includes photographers!), then you were out of luck unless you had a staff to appear at the show for you...and i really like to be at the shows myself to meet the brides&grooms-to-be. I'll update my progress as it happens.
I've posted pictures from the New Orleans trip up on my New Orleans Page. Don't yell at me for having no pix of Bourbon Street at night... I only brought one camera with me and I didn't want to risk some drunk college kid spilling their high-octane Hurricane on it!
I have a very busy day ahead, so I must be off to update my planner now (I know, it should have been done BEFORE I started the blog...oh well!).

~Lori