Just Awesome Monday | Working with Past Brides

I moved to the Hampton Roads area after graduating from JMU in May of 2009. I knew no one except for Jeremy and his friends, and I was desperately looking for a job and not having much luck. I had photographed two weddings before this (one being my godsister’s), and really had absolutely no plans of professionally or even as a hobbyist shooting weddings. I met Shay through mutual friends and she asked if I would be interested in shooting her wedding. I was hesitant at first because after all, I wasn’t really a wedding photographer, but she was so sweet and fun (and I didn’t have a job on the horizon yet) that I decided I would. I of course asked Jen to come along, and we photographed Shay’s wedding that September. Shay has since become one of my great friends and one of our biggest cheerleaders, and it means the world to us that she has told people about her experience, even three years later.

At Shay’s wedding, she had a DJ. A DJ that Jen and I immediately were like “okay, this girl is awesome.” Yes, she was a girl. But she also was dressed cute, dancing around to the music herself, and playing the BEST music. I remember thinking that that was SO different than other DJ’s I had been around or known, and she totally went “against” the stereotype of a wedding DJ..and I thought that was pretty awesome. Fast forward to some months after Shay’s wedding and we get an email from that DJ asking if we could meet to talk about photographing HER wedding. Duh. Of course, we’re IN! Meeting with Amanda confirmed all I had thought when we first met about her personality, style, and the type of person she is. I was SO excited that we were going to get to photograph her wedding.

All of this backstory to say that last night, Jen and I photographed a wedding that Shay was the coordinator for and Amanda was the DJ for. Three years later, four girls all living out their dreams right in the same room. After her wedding, Shay went on to start her own wedding coordination company, A Pinch of Charm , and I’m really proud of how far she’s come and how much she’s put her heart and soul into growing her business. Amanda has taken Fat Cat Productions  to an entirely new level and we have loved watching her grow her company and her brand into something that is totally, 100% HER. And, she’s also DJing/being a guest at my wedding next year so HOLLA.

It was really, really cool to be in that room with those ladies last night. We’ve all taken different paths to get where we are, but it was a honor to get to work with not only people I consider colleagues but genuine friends too. We love you Shay + Amanda! -A

In honor of these two ladies, I’m showing off a couple of their wedding portraits! Up first, Shay + Adam! Our editing and shooting style have definitely changed since 2009, but we’re still really proud of these images.

I still love love LOVE this image of Shay and Adam.

And Amanda + Jason!