Category Archives: Nature

US Weekly Celebrity Wedding Feature | Alicia Silverstone’s Wedding

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Suzy was recently contacted by US Weekly who is putting together a celebrity wedding book featuring her work from actress Alicia Silverstone’s wedding in Lake Tahoe.   Alicia was an amazing client to work with and wanted an organic, earth-friendly wedding.  She planned her wedding in the gorgeous Lake Tahoe area, walked down the aisle barefoot, and used the natural environment to enhance the beauty of the day organically and reduce waste.

Suzy captured Alicia for a bridal portrait that was stunning in this natural setting. Alicia’s sage green sash played beautifully against the foliage in the background.

The couple exchanged vows on the waterfront of the Lake in front of close family and friends.

Lake Tahoe is a gorgeous place to get married. Suzy enjoyed working in the natural elements, capturing the surrounding mountains and sky in this couple’s wedding photographs.

Alicia served an entirely organic, vegan menu to her guests at the cocktail hour and reception.  These adorable mason jars were a great touch and, along with the barrels, worked really well with the natural, outdoor environment.

We wish Alicia & Christopher a lifetime of happiness together!

 

Wedding Chicks Blog Feature | Floral Arrangements

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I recently visited with Janie Medley of The Bride’s Cafe in Richmond, Virginia.  Naturally, no visit with Janie would be complete without some floral arranging and photographing!  Janie pulled two sweet bouquets together from the fresh blooms she found at the local farmer’s market that day and wrapped them in a pretty sash from Vera Bradley.  Janie wants you to know how to do so as well so she’s helping you out with all the names of the flowers and some tips on putting them together.  I have to say, though… Janie makes it look soooo easy, but we all know how much talent is involved, don’t we?

Our shoot was also featured on the blog, Wedding Chicks.  Check it out – and have fun arranging your own blooms!

Barn & Country Inspired Weddings

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With Summer weddings in season, I thought it would be appropriate to share some outdoor venue inspiration for upcoming brides.  With great weather on your side, any venue is the ideal location, but a barn or farm setting can be one of the best spots to utilize for the natural outdoor beauty surrounding your venue.

I love the details of this barn in beautiful Sea Ranch.  Everything from the vintage wood that lets the indoor warmth shine outwards from its cracks, to the giant wreath which indicates a celebration, to the three little white guest chairs paired to the left side.  All of these details add interest and character to what could be just considered an old barn.  These decorative accents and the glow of illuminating lights from inside the barn,  give it a warm, fuzzy, and inviting feeling.

Inside, I love that the couple invited their guests into a world that they never expected at first glance.  A warm, detailed design inside the barn dresses it up for your wedding and encompasses both modern and vintage touches for your reception. Cascading drapery, candles, and touches of favorite colors or flowers can add personalized touches that allow guests to forget they are still inside a barn.

I love the potted grass as centerpieces on the tables. It continues the feeling of being outdoors, somewhere rustic, and a touch of chic country for the reception decor.  Modern dishware and glassware also add an updated touch to a countryside venue.

Outdoor venues are truly gorgeous and can capture a couple’s presence in the most natural setting possible.  Barn weddings are equally chic and beautiful to any other venue and for the right couple, make for a truly memorable wedding.  I hope we’ve inspired you to further personalize your own venue space!

Scottsdale, Arizona: Desert Beauty & Butterflies

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I traveled to Scottsdale recently for a wedding and I am so in love with the desert landscape.  We (my wonderful friend and assistant, Gabriel and I) had a free morning the day before the wedding so we got up super early and headed to the Desert Botanical Garden to take advantage of the softer morning light.  (Funny story:  when inquiring at the hotel about the best place to “go to the desert and shoot cacti”, the concierge thought I meant shoot with a GUN and simply looked at me in horror, totally speechless!)

Anyhow, we ended up at this beautiful garden and I’m so glad we did.  It was really well-done, beautifully maintained, and incredibly informative about life in the desert.  If you are in the area, I highly recommend it.

From soft and golden...

To spiky and strong.

This reminds me of birds that perch on the backs of the wild ponies in Chincoteague, Virginia. Doesn’t this seem like it would be poky on those little bird feet?

Meet docent Charlie. I love the sway of the trees framing this shot, and the edge of the path drawing me into the image. (Compositional elements, people!!)

Charlie is 90 years old, and logs the most volunteer hours of anyone at the Botanical Garden. He's a character, full of stories and it was a real treat to meet him.

We were lucky enough to be there for their very, very cool butterfly exhibit.  It was like a large greenhouse constructed of screens, and it was SUCH a relaxing place to be.  We stayed quite a while to enjoy watching the flutters.

And, a-one

and, a-two

I can't say that I totally planned this, but I quite like the soft effect of this shot, with sharpness only on the outer wings. Sometimes sweet photos are a happy accident.

I can never resist these types of goofy things. Gabriel was a good sport.

I wish I’d had more time to stay in town after the wedding.  Now my brain is spinning on the idea of a southwestern road trip…

Find Beauty, continued.

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I spent some time in Tahoe over the holidays, and while we were initially disappointed at the utter lack of snow, we had a fantastic time.  We were able to explore the area much more than we ever have before, and discovered some lovely parks and trails.  We also discovered that my four-year-old can hike much, much farther than we ever suspected… so, after a hiatus of some years, whole new worlds are opening up to us once again.

Few things make me happier than getting away to a new place and spending time simply exploring with my camera.  This foray was mostly about getting close in on nature.  But it almost doesn’t matter what the photos look like, or if I ever do anything with them; it’s about the journey, the experience, and the seeking of beauty in expected and unexpected places.  As it turns out, though, there are a handful of images from this most recent haul that I like very much.

Pony Love

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Over the summer, we had an amazing trip to Chincoteague Island in Virginia.  Horse lovers will know that wild ponies live on neighboring Assateague Island, and that this is the setting for Marguerite Henry’s beloved “Misty of Chincoteague” series of children’s books.  My girl is horse crazy, and her joy was complete.  Of course, horses (and girls that love them) make fantastic photo subjects, so I was pretty happy, too.

A slice of heaven right here for my girl:

His name was “Mr. Sinatra”:

The only girl cousins:

Cousin Rachel is a gymnast:

My daughter flies.