Category: fuji x

Categories
documentary photography fuji x Virginia wedding

Virginia Backyard Wedding – Ryan and Amanda

bride and groom walking at backyard wedding in Virginia - fuji 160C film look photographer

We pause for a time-

-to admire the subtle.

Keep moving! It’s hot.

I wrote this haiku as I reflected back on this beautiful wedding. Everyone was just having a good time taking in the full experience, despite the heat. And it was HOT. Probably the hottest wedding I’ve experienced in nearly a decade of shooting. The key, keep moving around to make best use of self generated wind chill.

*READ THIS BEFORE SCROLLING*

1. This post is LONG. I made it this way on purpose, as it gives a good representation of what we might deliver from a full wedding. It’s roughly 35 percent of what Ryan and Amanda received, give or take. I’d put them all, but that might crash the browser, or my web host might get angry about data usage.

2. To see better resolution, give it a look on a desktop browser rather than a phone. We’ve got some full width images here and they just won’t have the same impact on a small screen.

farmhouse backyard wedding in Virginia - fuji 160C film look photographer
Virginia bride getting ready with flower crown - film look Fujifilm
virginia bride getting ready with flower crown - film look Fujifilm 160C
Virginia bride with flower crown getting ready in farmhouse - fujifilm 160C film look
bride getting ready looking in mirror in farmhouse in Virginia - Ilford HP5+ black and white film look
bride and mother having moment in mirror in farmhouse in Virginia - fujifilm 160C film look documentary photographer
virginia bride portrait flower crown farmhouse - fuji 160C film look photographer
bride with tattoo of birds on shoulder
bride looking out of farmhouse window - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
photojournalistic style wedding photography groomsmen entering farmhouse to get ready - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
family of bride hanging out in farmhouse before wedding - Ilford HP5+ black and white film look
guests relaxing in farmhouse before virginia wedding - sitting in antique chairs - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
groom giving gifts to groomsmen - Ilford HP5+ black and white film look
groom hugging groomsman in Virginia farmhouse - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
looking out of farmhouse kitchen window at Wedding tent - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
farm cat at wedding - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
groom standing with jacket outside of virginia farmhouse - Americana look - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
Virginia wedding ceremony wide angle view - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
guests at summer outdoor wedding ceremony sitting on hay bales - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
guests sitting at outdoor wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
bridesmaid playing guitar at outdoor wedding ceremony in Virginia - Ilford HP5+ film look
groomsmen gathered awaiting wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
guests walking down hill to outdoor virginia wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
groom putting on jacket - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
groom putting on jacket - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
groom headshot portrait - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
outdoor wedding ceremony decor details - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
outdoor wedding ceremony details - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
groom seeing bride walk down aisle at outdoor virginia wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
bride walking down aisle at outdoor wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
mother of bride hugging father at outdoor wedding ceremony - Ilford HP5+ black and white film look photographer
bride and groom holding hands at outdoor wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
bridesmaids sitting on hay bales at outdoor wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
child at outdoor wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
guest reading music at outdoor wedding ceremony - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
crowd watching outdoor wedding ceremony in Virginia - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
children sitting in aisle at outdoor wedding ceremony in Virginia - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
wide angle view of summer outdoor wedding ceremony in Virginia - film look 160C Virginia documentary wedding photographer
Categories
adventure fuji x intimate wedding Virginia

Dustyn and Mariama – Sunrise Wedding – Grayson Highlands

bride and groom kiss at sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit - fall foliage

Dustyn and Mariama were married atop a grassy knoll, surrounded by a grand dawn landscape, speckled with meadows, fall foliage and rock outcroppings. The views were absolutely legendary. We didn’t see any ponies. Maybe the ponies don’t like cold wind or maybe they’re afraid of weddings. It could be either or neither or both. I’m no pony expert.

massie gap parking
bride and groom at massie gap parking lit by flashlight
silhouettes of wedding guests hiking to sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands

The day before, they had pre-staged everything at a top-secret location roughly one mile up the trail to Mount Rogers. We all hiked in in the dark. The old alpine start!

An aside about hiking boots…and if you know me at all, you already know this. If you don’t know me, let me fill you in…I’m at home when I’m in my boots.

bride enjoys the sunrise at adventure wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit
silhouettes of bride and groom climbing on rocks at sunrise in the Grayson highlands
black and white photograph of wind blowing brides dress at sunrise
silhouette of bride and groom climbing on rocks in hiking boots
wedding rings tattoo
couple kiss on top of mountain at sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit - fall foliage
bride and groom walking through meadow at sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit - fall foliage

Dustyn and Mariama’s ceremony has been described by many, myself included, as quaker-style. “We keep hearing that from everyone. Quaker style.” replied Mariama, shrugging off the fact that they unintentionally planned a psuedo-quaker ceremony. I guess that’s just how cool they are. The quaker ceremony is a wonderfully relaxing alternative to the stiff and repetitive way of getting married. I won’t go into depth on the topic here, but definitely look it up if you’re seeking a no-frills, yet still very meaningful event.

sunlight hitting top of mountain in Grayson highlands illuminating trees with fall foliage
guests hiking in to sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit
sunrise wedding gathering in the Grayson Highlands Virginia
bride and groom play guitar and sing at sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit
sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit - large vista backdrop with fall foliage
wedding guest speaking about bride and groom at sunrise wedding - documentary style photography
a hiker along the trail at sunrise wedding in the Grayson Highlands, Virginia
panorama of bride and groom climb on rocks in the Grayson Highlands of Virginia with blue sky
bride and groom looking at vista in the Grayson highlands
bride and groom in serious pose - sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit
mountain laurel in Grayson highlands
bride and groom standing on rock at sunrise wedding in Grayson Highlands - natural edit

The Grayson Highlands and a Quaker Ceremony at sunrise: 10/10 would highly recommend. Congrats to Dustyn and Mariama!

Categories
adventure Engagement fuji x Shenandoah National Park

Rachel and Roger – A Dusk-time Big Meadows Engagement Session

engagement session couple walking in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C

Describe the perfect evening, I’ll go first: we book a session with Rachel and Roger at Shenandoah National Park. When it calls for crazy thunderstorms, we don’t call it off. Instead, Aneila and I ride there on our motorcycle and show up absolutely drenched. I mean, saturated. We meet in the parking lot of the Byrd Center, and just then, the sun emerges. We proceed to slosh around the meadow for two hours in wet shoes and make some of my favorite images of the summer. We stay until it’s too dark to see and get silhouette photos with a wild sky. On the dark walk back to the parking lot, we converse about interesting travel including the insane cost of a mixed drink at an airport in Iceland. 10/10 would recommend.

engagement session couple walking in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
engagement session couple laughing blurry photo - big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
black and white lifestyle photo of couple in big meadows Virginia - Ilford hp5+
engagement session couple portrait in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
engagement session couple portrait in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
engagement session couple portrait in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
engagement session couple portrait in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
black and white lifestyle photo of couple in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
black and white lifestyle photo of couple in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
black and white lifestyle photo of couple in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
black and white lifestyle photo of couple in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
closeup of engagement ring - natural edit film based fuji160C
engagement session couple motion blur dancing in big meadows Virginia at sunset - natural edit film based fuji160C
black and white motion blur engagement session in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
black and white motion blur engagement session in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
black and white motion blur engagement session in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+
couple silhouette with stormy skies in big meadows Shenandoah national park
black and white motion blur engagement session in big meadows Virginia - film based edit Ilford hp5+

Seriously though, the text in this post is intended to be a message about going with the flow when the situation seems iffy (at best). I can’t tell you how many times a shoot has been called off due to weather, and I think that’s just a shame. Sometimes, the day must be allowed to have a voice and we must be quiet and listen to it. The reward on this occasion: a low, soft magical glow of evening sun cutting through the end of a wild storm…

I’m working on a post that will be dedicated to this topic. It’ll be done when it’s done. Oh, and here’s our bike in the still-wet parking lot at the Byrd Center.

KLR650 parked in Byrd Center Parking lot, wet after a recent rain
Categories
fuji x intimate wedding Virginia

Susie and Dane – A Quaint Wedding at Haines Chapel

a couple gets married in historic Haines chapel lit by oil lamps

Stick around long enough in this trade and a quiet guy can start to get tired of all the clutter and the timelines and the noise. This wedding was the antithesis of all that. Put simply, Susie and Dane’s wedding at Haines Chapel was down to earth. And I mean that in all the best ways.

Haines Chapel is situated along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Raphine, Virginia. It was built in 1914 and is mostly original. They have yet to tie it into the electric grid.

“But lights? How will it have lights?” one might ask. Well, that’s easy. Oil lamps. Actual real genuine certified flames that give off light. And smoke. Which explains the slight haze you might notice in these images.

We were there for two hours, tops, thanks to my new-ish hourly rate options…hint – having a short and sweet micro-wedding like this? Inquire about my hourly rate via the contact form. (but definitely look through this fun wedding first!)

Hope you enjoy.

black and white photograph of Haines chapel on rainy day - Ilford HP5+
road off of blue ridge parkway leading to Haines chapel
blue ridge mountains and fog on rainy day
wedding program with rose petals at Haines chapel, Virginia
wedding portrait of bride and groom on rainy day with natural edit - natural skintones - fuji400h
black and white photo of bride and groom in Haines chapel
wedding portrait of bride on rainy day with natural edit - natural skintones - fuji400h
bride and groom hugging with eyes closed on rainy day - natural edit - natural skintones - fuji400h
black and white photograph closeup of bride hugging groom with eyes closed - Ilford HP5+
black and white photograph closeup of grooms hands hugging bride on rainy day
couple stands on steps at Haines Chapel, Virginia after wedding ceremony
black and white photograph of dog at wedding at Haines chapel, Virginia
closeup of shoes standing near rose petals at Haines chapel, Virginia
black and white photograph of wedding guests entering church Haines chapel on a rainy day with umbrellas - Ilford HP5+ - documentary style photography
umbrellas and a wedding sign outside Haines chapel, Virginia - Ilford HP5+ - authentic documentary style photography
musicians playing at wedding at Haines chapel, Virginia
woman holding wedding program at Haines chapel, Virginia
bride peeking through doorway, about to enter ceremony at Haines chapel, Virginia
black and white photograph of women watching wedding ceremony at Haines chapel, Virginia - Ilford HP5+ - authentic documentary style photography
wedding ceremony at Haines chapel, lit by oil lamps - natural edit - fuji 160C
wedding musician at Haines chapel
oil lamp at Haines chapel
bride and groom smiling at crowd at Haines chapel
wedding rings being passed around the crowd for blessing at Haines chapel, Virginia
groom smiling at bride during wedding ceremony at Haines chapel
black and white photograph - looking out of window at Haines chapel on a rainy day - Ilford HP5+
guests watching wedding at Haines chapel, Virginia
bride putting ring on grooms finger at Haines chapel, Virginia
guests praying at Haines chapel, Virginia - Ilford HP5+
guests applauding at a wedding at Haines chapel - authentic documentary style photography
dog watching wedding ceremony at Haines chapel
officiant pronouncing bride and groom at wedding ceremony at Haines chapel
bride laughing after bring married at Haines chapel, Virginia
closeup of bride and groom holding hands exiting Haines chapel
wedding reception in picnic shelter at Haines chapel, Virginia
wedding decor flowers in vase
wedding decor and apple cider
bride and groom entering reception with umbrellas
wide angle photograph of wedding reception in picnic shelter - authentic documentary style photography
guests get food at outdoor wedding reception
guests sitting under blanket at chilly outdoor wedding reception - authentic documentary style photography
black and white photograph of bride and groom portrait with eyes closed - Ilford HP5+
bride posing in homemade wedding dress on overcast day - natural edit
closeup of bride and groom holding hands on overcast day - natural edit - panorama
bride and groom walking along the woods - natural edit
black and white photograph of bride and groom entering Haines chapel on overcast day - documentary style photography - Ilford HP5+
bride and groom environmental portraits inside Haines chapel - natural edit
black and white photograph of bride and groom inside Haines chapel - environmental portrait
bride and groom walking dog on road to Haines chapel on rainy day wedding - natural edit
black and white photograph of bride and groom driving away from wedding at Haines chapel - bride sticking bouquet out of window
Categories
Engagement fuji 400h fuji x nevada Red Rock Canyon

Stephen and Paige – Red Rock Canyon Engagement

Stephen is an old high school friend of mine. Back in the late 2000s we did a little mountain biking together and we also worked at the same resort for a few years. Schedules lined up nicely this past May during our road trip to a California wedding, and so Stephen and Paige took us out to Red Rock Canyon for their engagement session.

Stephen has a good RBF. I won’t say the same about Paige because I don’t know her as well and I’m just not sure if she’s into that description. Let’s just say Paige has a good serious RF.

All in all, this was a great session to help me to ease back into portrait photography after the great wedding drought of 2020. Stephen and Paige may not have detected it, but I was nervous as heck. It had been over a year since my last engagement session. It seems Red Rock Canyon and a familiar and photogenic couple was all I needed to get back into the groove of things.

Afterwards, Aneila and I had added some extra days (weeks) up in Central Nevada in order to do some more exploring…climbing mountains, chasing horses and riding dirt bikes in the desert. During the extended stay in Nevada, I snagged my favorite landscape photo of all time: Wild mustangs running along a panorama of snow covered mountains. You’ll notice this entire end-of-paragraph is underlined, which means it is a link. Click it and you’ll find the entire post about that photo, the story behind it, the printmaking, frame making, and Etsy store link where it can be purchased!

Categories
elopement fuji x intimate wedding Virginia

Katie and Ollie – Sunset Elopement in Shenandoah National Park

bride and groom walking in meadow wide angle - sunset elopement in Big Meadows Virginia

On a chilly autumn evening, Katie and Ollie eloped at Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park. Katie let me decide the precise location of their tiny ceremony and so I headed for the best spot I knew. It did not disappoint.

bride and groom portrait at sunset elopement in Big Meadows Virginia - Shenandoah national park - natural edit
bride resting head on grooms shoulder - natural edit
bride laughing at sunset elopement in Big Meadows Virginia - natural edit
groom portrait at sunset elopement in Big Meadows Virginia - natural edit
Big Meadows at sunset Shenandoah National Park
bride and groom sunset elopement ceremony in Big Meadows Virginia - Shenandoah national park - natural edit
bride and groom portrait at sunset elopement in Big Meadows Virginia - Shenandoah national park - natural edit
Bride and groom hugging portrait with mountain backdrop in Shenandoah National Park - natural edit
black and white photograph of bride and groom walking through meadow at sunset - Ilford HP5+ - Shenandoah National Park elopement
bride hair florals lit by sunset - Shenandoah National Park elopement
Bride and groom sunset portrait - Shenandoah National Park elopement - natural edit
bride laughing in portrait at sunset - Shenandoah National Park elopement - natural film based edit
Black and white portrait of bride and groom hugging - Shenandoah National Park elopement - Ilford HP5+ - film based edit
black and white detail of grooms hands hugging bride with goosebumps - Shenandoah National Park elopement - Ilford HP5+ - film based wedding photographer
bride portrait at sunset elopement - Shenandoah National Park elopement - fuji400h - film based wedding photographer
Bride and groom silhouette - Sunset elopement in Shenandoah National Park elopement - Fuji400h - film based wedding photographer
wedding couple walking through meadow at sunset - Shenandoah National Park elopement - fuji400h - film based wedding photographer
Bride and groom hugging under tree - Shenandoah National Park elopement - fuji400h - film based wedding photographer
Bride and groom closeup hugging - Shenandoah National Park elopement - fuji400h - film based wedding photographer
Categories
adventure fuji x nevada Personal

Winter-esk Ascent of Mt Jefferson

Late spring in the higher latitudes of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest can be a wild ride. The weather patterns of the Basin and Range area offer some of the most dramatic visuals I’ve seen…great for panoramic landscape photography, especially black and white. We try to stop there whenever we can. Ever since our cross-country motorcycle trip back in 2018, Aneila and I had been dreaming of summiting Mt Jefferson (south summit). We simply weren’t prepared at the time, but this time we were.

I didn’t take many photos on the hike from 7000 feet to our camp at 10,000, but here’s a video showing the beautiful springtime atmosphere of Nevada’s finest alpine forest. It felt like we were in a movie about springtime with the budding aspens, green grass, flowers, and a trickling stream that intersects the trail about twelve times.

This campsite was the high point of our 2018 hike and it looked like an inviting spot to pitch a tent.