Of course, while I’m waiting, they are working. I checked in with Mike and Nikki and asked them to share their progress and experience as they prepare for the wedding. I know how much work they are putting in and I thought you would all enjoy seeing how they pull everything together. They left their Manhattan home to visit over the 4th of July and Mike wrote about their trip and plans for the wedding:

July 3, 2010 – 113 days and counting.

It’s 10am on Saturday morning and I can already feel the beads of sweat forming on my back. Looking out on the rolling Virginia hills in front of me I can see the heat coming off the corn fields. It’s hot now, and it’s only going to get worse. Eighteen hours and one short plane ride ago we were on an air conditioned trading floor in Manhattan, and I was part of a group frantically trying to wrap up the mid year performance estimate to send to our anxious investors. But that was our real lives back at the hedge fund in New York. For this long Fourth of July weekend, and many more to come for the next several months, we’ll be down here on the Jebson’s farm sweating it out and putting in a lot of elbow grease to make their cute farm into our ideal wedding location.

This is the farm Nikki grew up in; it’s a beef farm with nearly 100 head of cattle and sits on about 150+ acres of land in Culpeper, VA, which is about 1.5 hours southwest of Washington DC. For her, this is home. For me, it’s a world away from my suburban New Jersey upbringing, and even further from my stuffy New York City studio. The Jebsons’ seem to think of this as work, for me it’s like I’m in a giant sandbox, with all my trucks, only the box is much bigger and the trucks are real. If they think that I think digging things up with backhoes is work they’re sorely mistaken.

It’s not the first time we’ve been here to work; back in June we came down for a weekend to start knocking out fences and plant a garden. This weekend we will finish the demolition, start some cleaning, and focus on painting. Every wedding guest is going to receive a homemade jar of pickled green beans and cucumbers, Mrs. Jebson’s specialty. We wanted to incorporate as many aspects of the farm as possible and this being a beef farm, the reception’s main course was an easy call.

For the ceremony we’ll be getting married on top of a hill just behind the house. It’s the highest point on the farm and in October the sun will be setting just off our shoulders but far enough to the left not to make our guests squint. We’ll face the mountains to the west, with vast cornfields down the hill to our right and cow pastures down the other side of the hill to the left. Mr. Jebson will use the tractor and planting equipment to smooth out the hill, so the land will be flattened and our guests will sit comfortably on rows of square hay bales.

Behind the ceremony, closer to the house, there is a cluster of four barns, three of them are rectangular and line up parallel to each other. One barn closer to the house is the cattle barn, where one or a few cows are kept when they’re not in the fields. It’s the biggest and most suitable for the reception with big sliding doors, a couple open sides, and it’s made of really old oak. Unfortunately it’s also full of 100 year old hay, old doors, broken tools, and just about anything else you can imagine saying “eh, just throw it in the barn” to. My main job this weekend was to continue ripping down one of the older and more beat up sides. Additionally we started cleaning it out, which means getting all the hay out and identifying what can be thrown out and what can be salvaged elsewhere. After we finish cleaning it out Mr. Jebson is going to lay a new floor of concrete.

The forth barn near the house, and closest to the ceremony is named the calf barn because that’s where they often put the babies to nurse them after birth. Nikki, armed with an electrical paint gun contraption made this white cinderblock structure a classic barn red. We also painted the windowsills white for good measure. This is the most completed thing we’ve done so far and it looks great.

There is a square fenced in area between the calf barn and the reception barn and this is where we’ll have outdoor seating around a bon fire complete with whiskey and cigars. The fence, which has been ripped down, was old and not in very good shape. Later this summer we will be building a new one and painting it white. Right now it’s hard to imagine but in three months these buildings which are more suited for barn cats and tractors are going to host an elegant dinner for nearly 200 people!

Thanks for sharing your progress and I can’t wait to document the wedding and see the hard work you’ve put in!

While this was classified as a maternity session, I think it is more aptly named a “before the baby” session. I think I like the sound of that better, and it opens up the doors for the creative freedom that took place. Taking these photos was a great way to document the unique time in Ryan and Christie’s lives as they prepare for their son to join them. Some call it the calm before the storm.

Having photographed Ryan and Christie before(and been friends with them for a while) they trusted me to do something new and different especially for a before the baby session. We set out to capture bright summer images early one morning and end the session in the nearby creek. 

They are going to be great parents… but I can’t help but love the surprise face on Ryan below

Did I mention that the session took place on Ryan and Christie’s 3 year anniversary? It’s hard to believe three years has gone by already but it’s awesome to see what time brings. Oh yeah and the lensbaby shots I talked about yesterday – here’s more of them. I love the bokeh + blurred background!

Part II of the session was planned around a refreshing walk through the creek, which gave Christie the opportunity to show off her belly! Now I know pregnancy and bathing suits aren’t for everyone, but they are for me – and Christie who looks amazing with only a month to go! In fact, the water wasn’t at all deep enough for swimming, but I think it would be awesome to do something even more in the water – any takers? It was refreshing to be at the creek as the sun came out and the day started to heat up.

Christie posed for a few while Ryan caught some crayfish… and makes pregnancy look easy. Didn’t I say the session was the start of her modeling career? I love the drama and range of tones in the black and white images.

to end the day, a kiss. It was a successful before the baby session if you ask me, and a great way to add to the celebration of their anniversary. Now it’s just time to wait for Griffin to arrive!

We were determined to make the session happen. After meeting up after the wedding I shot in Rome, NY we drove to our planned location and it immediately started to downpour. We waited it out for around 15 minutes until the rain died down, although it was still a challenge to find the right spot for pictures. After a few tries we found our way to a quite overlook where we could avoid the glances and stares of passerby’s – no one wants a crowd. So finally with no rain, no crowd, and a nice setting this is what I captured, starting with some classic boy + dog images…

this just looks so classic to me! their dog is hilarious and obviously very good with kids.
the Stevensons obviously already have one very cute son, so I can’t wait to see what their daughter looks like!

Diane looks fabulous! Even though it took me a little longer to finish these photos… they weren’t taken that long ago. I want to look this good 4 weeks before having a baby!

I’m glad we were able to meet for this session and I wonder what my chances are at photographing their newborn… too bad I don’t live closer! Either way next time I’ll plan better weather :)

There’s nothing like a wedding around a holiday. They combine for a great weekend and getaway for family and friends and this weekend was no exception. Yesterday Chris and Beth were married back in my hometown in Michigan and had beautiful church wedding followed by a fun at home reception. It was an event celebrated by many and I think they had the largest wedding I’ve ever photographed… was it 350 guests? It was also the first wedding in which I was able to photograph my sister playing the piano, and since Beth and her family have been friends for some years my parents were also in attendance and helped with the set up and grilling having pulled off my sister’s at home reception a few years ago. Everything came together beautifully and I’m so happy for Chris and Beth and look forward to sharing more of their wedding day soon. It’s time to go enjoy the 4th of July with my family here in Michigan – I see ladderball and lawn games in my future!

There really wasn’t any other time to do the session. Living in the Chicago area meant that they wouldn’t have much time in Virginia before the wedding, so we decided to do the engagement session the day before. It also meant that I wasn’t able to meet with Tommy + Megan in person prior to the wedding, but I was able to get to know them through our emails and conversations. We settled on heading into colonial Williamsburg for the shoot which was right next to the site of their wedding the next day at the Williamsburg Inn.

I was looking forward to it, and while I had stopped at many historic sites on road trips as a child, I had never made it to Williamsburg. Tommy and Megan didn’t know what to expect, but arrived as any couple would the day before their wedding: completely in love. It had been an understandably busy few days for them so the engagement session gave them some time together and away from the planning, organizing, out of town guests, family, decisions, and everything else that happens the day before a wedding. Despite being self described as camera shy, they were one of the easiest couples to photograph. Most of the photos took place in gorgeous locations right off of the main street in colonial Williamsburg, but I couldn’t help but include pieces of the city like in the photo above!

After the session we walked over to a coffee shop to get some drinks to cool us down, and Tommy said something to the effect of “while that could have been one of the most awkward experiences in my life you made it fun.” Mission accomplished. If you thought their engagement session was great then you have to stay tuned for their wedding since it was even better!

Chris and Kate’s relationship started at Notre Dame and grew as they studied engineering and took jobs across the country in Seattle. The brought some Seattle weather back to Michigan with them for the wedding but it turned out to have just enough sun we could go outside for pictures and wind to make Kate’s veil look fabulous! I only shoot a few weddings in Michigan each year and I was so happy I was able to be a part of the day and I can’t wait to hear what you think. I’m going to have to add on to this post in a few days as I’m traveling and this is all I could get up for now. So – enjoy this and check back for more!

Kate looked amazing as a bride and I love this series where I feel it all came together. The moment you put on the dress is when you really realize that this is your wedding day.

They are the cutest couple and don’t let their brains fool you they know how to have fun!

Yes, I couldn’t get enough of Kate’s gorgeous dress and veil. The scenery was perfect too- these enclosed gardens blocked enough wind that it was perfect back there.

To end, a few of the wonderful bridal party! To see the complete set of photos head over to the proofing gallery, register and have fun looking through all of the images! You can also help Chris and Kate earn a free enlargement by leaving a comment on this post. Enjoy!

It was gorgeous. There were wide stretches of land and open fields, mountains in the distance and grasses blowing in the wind. I know the country has grown on me, even though I grew up in a close to opposite location. My destination was Culpepper, Virginia and Nikki’s parent’s family farm. It was the location not only for their engagement session but for their October wedding. It was wonderful to get a feel for the area and meet up with Mike, Nikki, and her family and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding. I think you’ll be excited to see it as well.

I’m sure the wedding is going to be amazing. The view you see above will be visible for the ceremony and the reception will take place in and around a barn on their property. I know they have work to do to get ready, but I think it’s going to be completely worth it in the end.

Don’t be fooled by the country setting. Mike and Nikki are New Yorkers now – even more so than I – and love living in the city. Not only that, but they’re pretty much what I would classify as world travelers. They like to take a three day weekend and hop on a plane to Amsterdam, Holland, Paris, you name it. This is the beginning of many more adventures for these two.

Mike and Nikki have a great twin lens reflex camera that they’ve used on some of their trips. Since there’s a darkroom in Nikki’s house she prints some of their images and enjoys photography… maybe we’ll see more from her some day. We loaded up some film in the camera for the esession and Mike and Nikki took some pictures of each other. I sent the film off to be developed and I bet it’s done but en route due to our change of address. I hope they turn out and if so I’ll have to do a second post of those.

Nikki you’re gorgeous! I can’t wait to photograph you on your wedding day

I asked them what the plan was for their honeymoon. They’re going big : Africa. Tanzania and Kenya to be exact.

We headed out into a field where some of the cows were grazing to get them in some of the shots. I learned that the cow they’ll be serving at the wedding is already picked out – I know that sounds weird but it doesn’t get more local than that.

I love those b+w’s and you know you can’t wait for their wedding. I certainly can’t.

Sean and Jess were reintroduced to each other through their very good friend, Becca Fuller. A missions trip to the Dominican Republic that Sean was leading was what initially gave them the opportunity to connect, and I have no doubt that these too will do great things together to serve and help others.

thank you, Mill Race Design for having a gorgeous wood door and colorful exterior!

I love motion in pictures, and especially in this one. They’re off on an adventure and I can’t wait until it really starts when they’re married in August!

This wedding shoot was pulled together to combine amazing flowers, creative letterpress, and modern photography. I showcased the flowers before by Sassafras in Rochester, New York, but you’ll see a few of the images again because I love them so much! It was fun to pull this together with Sarah + Margaret (who’s engagement session you just saw below) and they set most everything up and arranged for things to happen. Margaret created all of the signs that you see and we’re excited to give the one you see above away. Just leave a comment and the most convincing person will win! (how does that sound?) Erin + Ben were our lovely models and made looking good look really easy… thanks so much for being a part of the shoot!

Erin is gorgeous, hilarious, and super smart. She was kind enough to squeeze this in her busy doctor schedule.

Ben is a talented musician, soft spoken, and thankfully the kind of guy that agreed to be in photos with his wife! I’m counting it as an anniversary shoot for them.

more fun signs by Margaret – the above reads “til death do us part” and the bride + groom signs below are also up for grabs if you want to leave a comment for them!

oh yes, and there were horses… well we got lucky and their owners lent them to us for a few shots. thanks! I’ll leave you with this last dreamy shot and leave some comments if you want to win a set of signs!