September 2020 - Erika Frances Photography

When choosing a wedding photographer for your wedding or elopement, you’re not only picking someone to take your pictures, you’re selecting someone to be by your side the whole day. Finding someone that you can “click” with is so important! Since Jennifer and Brian were coming in from out of town, we only had one chance to meet briefly on Zoom. I knew from our first conversation that we were going to click. I asked Jennifer to describe her wedding day, she said relaxed, fun and “just us.” I like all those words!

Jennifer & Brian are from Northern Virginia and had been planning a weekend getaway when they decided to take it up a notch and elope! (They did get blessings from their family so it wasn’t a surprise.) Jennifer found me on Instagram and told me their plan, and I was so excited that I’d get to be a part of something so special!

The grounds of the Williamsburg Winery and Wedmore Place are beautiful! The day of their wedding was PERFECT fall weather (being in Virginia, it could either be 1000% humidity or gloomy). We found a secluded area next to a small lake behind the Wedmore Place that was the perfect location for them to privately exchange their personal vows.

Married by Evan was wonderful with officiating their ceremony!

We had to get some shots in the wine cellar! (They got married at a winery after all!)

The whole day truly could not have been more relaxed and perfect. Jason, my husband, came along as my assistant to help my carry my bags (we joked that he’s the unofficial VP of customer service for Erika Frances Photography), and the 4 of us instantly clicked! When we were taking bride & groom portraits, we kept getting sidetracked and carried away in conversation. It was like we were catching up with long lost friends.

Jennifer & Brian- Jason and I absolutely loved getting to know you two and to hear all your stories. We came to the wedding as strangers and truly left as friends! Finding your only wedding vendors online can be risky, but I think you’re 2/2 with finding “the good ones” online! 😉 We wish you all the happiness and love!

Last year, Brittany reached out to me with an idea to do a 6-month photo session for her daughter since she didn’t have the chance to do newborn photos. She wanted to have pictures to cherish and help remember when Kinsley was still small. Before the session, Brittany sent me her Pinterest inspiration board and I knew it was going to be epic! We made her vision come to life with the sweetest floral milk bath for Kinsley!

I’d been itching to do a session in my back yard, where the woods, trees and perfect glowy light went along perfect with her vision. (It also gave us so much flexibility for the milk bath to be at my home!)

After the session, Brittany was telling me how when decorating Kinsley’s nursery, she thought she was going to need to get stock-photo prints of flowers to match the décor. But since she picked colors for their clothes and flowers that match Kinsely’s nursery, she could use their own pictures to decorate! It made the nursery decorations so much more meaningful and special to them. (In case you missed it, check out my post that talks about selecting what to wear for your session.)

I understand there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world today. If you are unable to have newborn pictures taken, I encourage you to use other milestones to help remember your little one while they’re small- half birthday, first holiday, just because. Babies don’t keep, they grow up so fast. A year has passed and this little one is now 18 months and getting ready to be a big sister!!