Not too long ago, before all of the snow, I headed north of Harrisonburg to Glenmont Farm. It was there that I met with Dee and Melissa and their daughters Gabby and Hannah. The girls were entering a new division of competition with their horses, so they needed some portraits to document this time. I know there are photographers who specialize in equestrian photography… and if you are one such person you will have to let me know how I did. While I don’t have that same expertise in horses, I brought my style and point of view to the shoot. As I learned one of the challenges was directing both girl and horse – while normally I am just thinking about people and their placement, expression, and actions, when you add in animals it’s a new game. The main concern was making sure the horses ears were forward, so we did a lot to get their attention. They are such gorgeous animals I felt lucky to do such a fun session, and it was thanks to Jodi Miller who referred me since she was out of town. Thanks Jodi!
February 8, 2010 - 7:45 pmMom - For some reason, last night I dreamed about riding horses and pulling a wagon and I was terrified. Not much experience with horses brought that on, I guess, but these photos make a horse experience look so inviting and simple. These women love their horses and vice versa. I loved these photos, Mary.
February 8, 2010 - 11:08 amMary Dougherty - i think I am posting too fast! I can slow down, that's no problem :) I want to come out and visit you meg!
February 6, 2010 - 9:24 pmmeg - ps. where have all the commenters gone?? maybe you're just posting too fast and others actually have something to do off of their computers :)
February 6, 2010 - 9:24 pmmeg - looking good. i was curious about these ever since you said you did this shoot. it's too hard to say my favorites since saying "the one with the girl and horse" doesnt help much :) it looks to me like you got a variety--head shots, full body, movement, more horse, more girl...targhee and i are awaiting your visit to paradise valley!! that's for sure.
Just so you could see what it looked like today I brought my camera out on a little family walk (Matt, Lexi + I) for some snapshots. Snapshots. I like that word because there’s something very simple and real about it… and that’s pretty much how these photos are. I had multiple layers on myself and a target plastic bag wrapped around the camera – it mostly kept the snow out, but it was still a challenge. To try and keep things simple, I started in aperture priority but of course the camera could not handle all of the white snow and was trying to make it gray. Gray? yes. Confused? Let me explain. To calculate the exposure for an image all cameras have light meters inside of them that measure how bright (or dark) scenes are. Cameras average the light in a scene so that it is middle (or appx. 18%) gray. While this usually works pretty well, it doesn’t in situations like the one I encountered today, where the scene is almost all white. For a better explanation, read this post I found.
February 6, 2010 - 2:50 pmMolly - VA is probably going to vote you out of the state for bringing them so much snow!! :-)
February 5, 2010 - 11:08 pmmeg - nice! and who would have thought, all that snow in virginia? and a great little photography lesson along with the pictures. when i'm not trying to multitask, i will re-read the post and the linked post and see if i can play with my camera. cause i pretty much have the same outside scene as you do here in idaho! do you need to hang on to the blue jacket, now that you actually have a real winter after all?? :) ps. i ran 20 minutes yesterday, nonstop, pain free!
A registry is both friend and foe. The initial excitement of using a little scanner and adding to your hearts delight is soon worn off by the overwhelming amount of choices and sometimes guilt from materialism (maybe that’s not a problem for some people, I know I faced it). Registries all depend on what you’re starting with – have you been on your own and you have a complete set of dishes and pots – or are you starting from scratch? Either way it’s a good time to invest in some high quality kitchenware. That’s my opinion at least… probably because I’m a bit old fashioned that way and I also like to cook. Anyways I didn’t write this to talk about what I did register for, but what I didn’t that I received as a gift, so that you can register for it!
The uncharted waters of wedding gift giving can lead to many surprises, including these three treasures. So here is my list:
February 8, 2010 - 11:12 amMary Dougherty - haha I love that you finish all your old fruit off with chocolate -that's a really good idea! let's go shopping together for kitchen stuff :)
February 8, 2010 - 11:11 amMary Dougherty - wow thanks for sharing the alternative gift registry with us molly! sounds like it worked great for you. As far as a dutch oven goes (I'm not sure mine is exactly a dutch oven) but anyways, I think there is a pretty big difference. If you're working with meat you can sear it and do some things first that aren't as easy in a crock pot. Prob depends most on what recipes you are following + like
February 6, 2010 - 3:35 pmMolly - I have been thinking of getting a dutch oven but don't really know that I need one since I have a crockpot. Is there a big difference between them?
Instead of a registry of specific things, I used http://www.alternativegiftregistry.org/ You create a list of things you need, and then enter the number of them you would like. You can be as specific or as vague as you want and I got SOOO many complements on it because people didn't feel they needed to buy a specific brand of something, but they still knew what we truly needed. You can embed links in the description if there is something specific or an example of what you need. If you want to see how it turns out, go to the site and type spateholts in the find box and take a look :-) It was so easy because I didn't have to go around to different stores or websites and neither did my guests.
February 5, 2010 - 4:16 pmmeg - i'm right there with ya on the need for quality cooking ware and kitchen utensils. it is one of my downfalls to wander through the kitchen sections of any and every store thinking about what i would like when "i grow up and have my own kitchen...for real." i sure hope my collection includes the above items as i have already had great experiences with cast iron annnnnnd i make "chocolate fondue" by heating milk and two handfuls of chips in a mug in the microwave...just to make me finish all the fruit in the fridge. (everything's better dipped in chocolate) that's pretty much the best way to get in a serious chocolate fix while feeling decent about it. and yes, for a more sophisticated, party style, sharing fondue event, the electric pot does wonders! do you have to wait until you're engaged to start a registry? :D
February 4, 2010 - 4:09 pmSarah Knight - Good idea! I got a bunch of stuff that wasn't on my registry AND I never used;) These seem like pleasant surprises, hooray!
February 4, 2010 - 12:48 pmSuzanne - Thanks for these suggestions! Rory and I are working on our registry now - and it can get really overwhelming sometimes! I think we'll definitely add these items, though!
Outside of being a photographer, I am also a runner and a coach. Actually I’m an assistant coach to my head coach husband – and I love it! I’ve been a part of a team for a long time and I’m glad I’ve been able to keep it up. Each day at 4:00 we meet for practice, and go through the same routine of the workout for the day. While workouts vary, the days are generally similar… except for today. We’ve had so much snow that we actually brought out the snowshoes for the distance runners to use today. The first time you run in snowshoes is usually awkward so we knew everyone would be in for a treat. I remember vowing under my breath to never do it again, never mind the fact that my husband has several records in the sport. It’s a completely different kind of workout and if you are wondering what I mean, you really just have to try it. Oh also, if you are imagining those old tennis racket like snowshoes you saw in a picture from your history book in middle school or on the sweater your husbands grandmother gave you for Christmas (true story)… no, you don’t use those anymore – they are more like this.
After a trial run (literally) it was clear that snowshoes weren’t the best choice for our workout today. So, after reviewing a few other options Campy and I decided what needed to be done: shovel the track. We didn’t know how big the task ahead of us was, but grabbed our shovel (we only had one, but it didn’t matter) and got started. The plan was to shovel a loop all the way around for everyone to run on, and 10m in I realized this was going to take a while. It was actually good that we had one shovel, so that we could take breaks and trade off turns. After the crew finished 4 repeats, we were finally done with the whole loop and I even had a blister to prove it. Even though I’ve lived in snow, this was a first for me. I’ve never shoveled a lane on the track and believe me it was such hard work especially with the heavy wet snow we were working with. You’re probably thinking that we’re crazy for doing this… and while you might be right it was also totally worth it. Besides the fact that everyone had a good practice, it was also the kind of day you pass down in stories years later “there was one time that we had to shovel off the track to do a workout… and run uphill both ways”
February 8, 2010 - 11:12 amMary Dougherty - I know, right what were we thinking!! haha it was funny though and we got a good workout, believe me
February 4, 2010 - 4:20 pmJoy - Wow...that's dedication
February 4, 2010 - 1:27 pmelicia - you are crazy! 400 meters? eek.
February 3, 2010 - 11:52 pmmeg - ewweee...yes quite the shovel job! and yet another cool hat. remember when i was a freshman and you would come before or after my volleyball practice (or i would get you from point peddler) and we'd run, including some loops around the completely covered track? and when we were desperate for a speedy workout, we would hit up the dry aired, tiny indoor track of macomb? can we go back to those days?? :)
About a year ago I met up with Andrew + Arryn in Java 101 to talk about their wedding plans. They were relaxed, creative and planning a day that was focused on their commitment to each other and the friends and family that support them. That can be a hard thing to do in the world of wedding planning; it is all to easy to let things get out of control and forget where you are in the first place. If that ever happened to Arryn and Andrew it didn’t show. I looked forward to their wedding from our first meeting until I headed up to Maryland in mid December for the big day.
Arryn was an art major and more specifically a ceramicist, but she is an all around creative person and it showed at the wedding. In the collection of details above, let me walk you through the decorations and details she incorporated. The colors were red and green with an all around wintery vibe, so the tables were decorated with evergreen and berries in vases that she made. As a favor to all of the guests, she made the mugs you see pictured – each and everyone of them, which I think totaled 125 at least. One of my favorite parts of the decorations was the dropped chandelier/ceiling you see in the dancing photo. It was lined with lanterns and draped with fabric and totally transformed the room. We’ll have to see if we can get a tutorial from Arryn on how she made it, but first on to the wedding day… (update: I’ve learned that Andrew + Nate Gerard engineered the construction of the ceiling, and it was a family project that everyone contributed to- great job everyone!).
Looking fabulous, Arryn got ready with her bridesmaids and mom nearby. The yellow room they were in was perfect to light and cast a soft warm glow – getting ready rooms are usually tricky to work with but this one was an exception.
See the ceiling that I’m talking about? Honestly it was perfect for their reception and I’m so impressed. As much as the wedding was about them (as it should be) it was also about everyone who is in their lives. As a statement of marriages that have gone before them, they hung photos of couples and the years they’ve been married around the room. There is also nothing like friends at a wedding, and so I love the two pictures below, and all the others like them.
The evening finished off with cake and giving away the bouquet to Arryn’s grandmother. Looking at the picture below makes me think of family moments that you pass down through generations. It is so fun to witness and share these events, so once again thanks to Arryn + Andrew and all of the family and friends involved in the day. To see the complete set of photos go here and enter their last name for the password (You must also create a profile first for login). I’m sure they would like a nice large print to display in their home so leave a comment to help earn one for free! (20 comments=11×14, 40 comments=16×24).
February 7, 2010 - 12:08 pmSherri - Pictures are GORGEOUS! I love Arryn to bits and you really captured her personality. Fabulous job!
February 6, 2010 - 6:52 pmMichele Radzibaba - Every single picture is absolutely incredible. The bride is beautiful and the groom so handsome. One of my favorite pics is the bridal party, linked arm in arm outside the church. Then of course there is the touching picture of dad and daughter in the parlor before the ceremony and the picture that makes me smile and cry...mom and daughter laughing before the ceremony. And every single pic of the bride is stunning. I love you Arryn! Love, Aunt Michele
February 6, 2010 - 2:37 pmMolly - Beautiful! it must have been a little warmer than Jan. 2nd lol I love the pictures of the details, especially the rings!
February 4, 2010 - 8:27 pmAlaina - AMAZING!!! Arryn looks gorgeous, you really captured all the unique and special moments of the day. The one of me and Arryn is hilarious I'm pretty sure I was gushing over the wedding:)
February 3, 2010 - 7:56 pmefred - so i know i'm a little late on viewing these, but these photos are amazing!! i've been keeping my eye out for the link to these photos because i was so excited to see how they turned out. my favorite photo is where they are in the car and andrew is hugging arryn and she's looking at the camera. the way her flowers and everything look is just breathtaking. way to go mary!! :o)
February 3, 2010 - 11:21 amAnalee - Wow-- these pictures are wonderful, you captured every part of that amazing day!Everything was beautiful and I am so blessed that I got to be there. :)
February 2, 2010 - 9:49 pmFlo Wolfe - Sharpness, clarity, color, and love make this a fantastic wedding album. Dave and I were honored to be part of your special day.
February 2, 2010 - 8:07 pmG A Radford - Beautiful pictures. I especially love the look on Arryn's face while Andrew is singing to her during the ceremony.
February 2, 2010 - 4:14 pmBob and Ruth Vogan - Mary - What a wonderful documentation of Arryn and Andrew's wedding day! You are so creative in composing photos.
February 2, 2010 - 3:07 pmArryn - Mary - as I have said I could not be happier with our pictures! You are such a talented photographer. I just wanted to say I absolutely LOVE the picture of my two Grandmothers!!! I think it is so adorable and I am so glad you caught that on your camera!
February 2, 2010 - 2:48 pmCrystal Swanson - Aw these pictures are beautiful just like this couple : ) I loved all of them. Congrats guys!
February 2, 2010 - 10:51 amDebi Radford - This was such a beautiful and fun wedding. The pictures definitely capture that.
February 2, 2010 - 10:15 amApril Foster - Wonderful pictures. I love that you did both color and black and white!
February 2, 2010 - 9:50 amSarah Knight - These are beautiful! Arryn did an amazing job with detail and you did a wonderful job capturing it.
February 2, 2010 - 8:49 amNita - Goodness, that dropped ceiling is fantastic! Also love the thoughtful idea of the personal mugs. I just need to say that the photo out by the car of the couple, where she is looking into the camera... WOW. It's defintely my favorite of the series, though the whole day looks amazing through your lens.
February 1, 2010 - 8:37 pmSarbob - I sure hope this couple earns the large print!!! I think this is one of my favorite weddings you've shot, mary, but of course i say that just about every wedding. The bride and groom did a fantastic job incorporating everything into a beautiful artsy look and i love the idea of hanging pictures of couples around the room! it looks like they absolutely transformed their reception site into this elegant ballroom! you did an amazing job too with the car photos. love those tons.
February 1, 2010 - 6:38 pmmeg - where to begin my comment...i love this post! diving past the fact that the photos are amazing as usual and a great way to tell the story for one who was either there or not...i absolutely love the details in this wedding! way to go aaryn. first off, the ceramic ware (i saw the cups and vases and thought, someone involved must have a serious connection with a potters wheel). and the bridemaids' dresses are unlike a style i've ever seen--awesome! (perhaps i'm just not stylish enough, but either way...) the ceiling, yes. totally transformed the room into a glamourous venue. and yes, i love the cake, the dress, the car, the grandmas, the everything! love it love it! beautiful photos and an inspirational and unique wedding from details to the more traditional aspects!
February 1, 2010 - 5:27 pmelicia - beautiful pictures!
February 1, 2010 - 11:49 amMargaret - I've been so excited for this post and, of course, it did not disappoint. My eyes are welling with tears (again!) at the photos of Andrew looking at her walking with her dad, singing to her during the ceremony, her singing to him during the first dance... also love the one of Alaina & Arryn! Haha--I can imagine the dialogue!
Beautiful, Mary! I'm sure the new couple is ecstatic. Arryn is so gorgeous and I think if they do earn the large print, they should choose the largest portrait of them in this post--where his arms are around her and she is looking at the camera--I have to say that one is my favorite.
February 1, 2010 - 11:11 amElizabeth - I too love the ceiling effect! so pretty! Nice job on the photos Mary!
We got another snowstorm here in Virginia, and today we went outside to take advantage of it. We broke out the skis and snowshoes (which we didn’t think would get any use after moving from New York) and went around the nearby athletic fields with the dog. Lexi absolutely loves getting out in the snow, and since she’s so low to the ground she can be hilarious to watch. I got a flip for Christmas and love having a handy little camera for home videos and I brought it out with me today. I went all professional and used imovie to piece the clips together and add music… okay actually it is totally random and the definition of home movie (complete with a shaky camera and not enough clips for a whole song) but I thought you’d all enjoy it anyway, so here you go!
February 8, 2010 - 11:13 amMary Dougherty - she loves the snow! it's so crazy you would never think it - but as they say, don't judge a book by it's cover - or in this case a dog by it's size :)
February 4, 2010 - 12:54 pmSuzanne - I love the video! Your dog is so cute!!
January 31, 2010 - 10:43 pmMarClair - WOW! Virginia has SO much snow. Nice way to transition from Western NY, eh? That looked like so much fun. And Lexi never ceases to amaze me. She's unstoppable.
January 31, 2010 - 8:56 pmelicia - haha great video.
January 31, 2010 - 8:40 pmmeg - wow! you guys look so hardcore--with the sweet hats and cool sunglasses :) i need to update my gear selection in those departments. cool video. and nice jacket mair! :) thanks for sharing and i will try calling you tomorrow.
January 31, 2010 - 7:22 pmMom - Just like being there. We have gray, gray, gray. I really don't miss the snow but it is more beautiful and fun. Love you guys and glad Lexi can get out too.
January 31, 2010 - 6:56 pmMolly - omg Lexi is hysterical! if you had gotten another inch of snow she'd just disappear lol
by Mary Dougherty
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