capturing a moment one photo at a time
"You can learn a lot of things from the flowersFor especially in the month of June There's a wealth of happiness and romance All in - The golden afternoon!" - Alice in Wonderland
Had a sweet maternity session with this couple awaiting their first child a little girl who will be named Alice. I hope you enjoy their photo moments "All in the Golden Afternoon".
Babies are absolutely wonderful. I am always amazed at these tiny little miracles.
Birth Sessions are a little different than normal photography sessions; they normally take place in a hospital, they can happen any time, the space is small and sometimes dimly lit, and the event carries a multitude of emotions. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Watching these little ones take their first breath, the faces of the parents meeting their new little wonder, the little feet being coated in ink and stamped on the birth certificate. the tiny hat , the snuggling, the first feeding, the first bath not to mention the lamb cry that escapes our newborn as they greet the world. Being able to capture those moments in time through pictures, is what I love to do.
Tricia a fellow photographer with Labyrinth Productions, had asked me early in the season to be there with her and her husband Marcus for the birth of her fourth and last child. I had taken Tricia's maternity pictures in the spring, so when the chance came to be there for their last little one, I was in. The day finally came for baby Kai to make his entrance. I had been there for hours watching my friend go thru the pains of labor, tears, laughter.
It didn't seem like Kai was in any hurry to make his appearance; but at 9:31 a.m. he entered the world. At a whopping 5lbs 14 ounces. Believe me when I tell you he didn't come silently, he let the whole room know he had arrived.
Mom and Dad were exhausted, thrilled, and misty eyed as they greeted their beautiful little one.
In the all the activity, time seemed to stand still.
I watched him get measured, taped ,bathed, fed, oohed, and awed over.
I think momma is going to have a little heartthrob on her hands. I am so happy to have been able to be apart of this beautiful day. I am overjoyed for my friend Tricia and Marcus, and the rest of their kiddos, her daughter Tessa and sons Levi and Rune. Kai made the perfect addition to this sweet little family.
Welcome to the world Kai! I can't wait to see what great things you do!
"She knew that she was formed by Gods hands, dreamed up in His heart, and placed in this world for a purpose." -Anonymous
One of my specialties are photographing seniors. They bring their own story, style and ideas to their session and I wouldn't have it any other way. On Megan's session the weather was overcast and foggy. What might be a misfortune to some is a perfect recipe for beautiful pictures. You may not get the sun flares, blue skies and golden lighting, but the fog and mist bring a magic to a photo that the sun just can't touch.
When you have a portrait session its always better to be over prepared than not at all. With that said, I want to applaud Megan for being the perfect client of preparation. She came ready with colorful outfits, a leather jacket and her sweet dog Will. She was a joy to work with. Without further ado ,Buzy Bee Photography presents ..." Megan in the Mist".
"I went through hell this deployment, my husband and I discovered that we had lost our planned pregnancy (two days before he left) and we had to go through all of that alone and away from each other. I was in my last semester trying to finish my degree and was unable to fully grieve both the loss of our baby as well as the temporary loss of my husband. The one thing I learned quickly was to let people in your life know exactly what is going on with you. I told my instructors and they were quite lenient with me. Because I was open with people I was not only able to finish my classes and graduate on time but I also did it with straight A’s! I also learned that it is very important to know when to accept the fact you’re not a super hero and can’t do everything on your own. Know when to ask for help and don’t be ashamed of the fact you can’t do it all alone all the time. The other thing I learned is that if you don’t have family and friends in the area find other people in the same situation as you. You won’t get along with every military spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, parent, etc. but all you have to do is find a few that you click with and stick with them. Maybe they are new and you’re seasoned, or you’re new and they’re seasoned, or you’re all new and/or seasoned, whichever the combo it is important to find these people. These are the people you can talk to about everything you’re going through and they will understand more than anyone else, it makes life so much easier to have someone to go through this with. You never know, they might just end up becoming a part of your extended family (unrelated of course) because during the most difficult times they were there and could understand when no one else could.”
I don't know about you but here at Buzy Bee Photography it's been, cold, snow, ice, gray, rain and then snow, and ice all over again. Not the easiest weather to work in, but snow pictures are a favorite of mine. So without further adieu I would share my newest shoot called "Mother Natures waits for Spring". We took a snow laden ed day, clothing and material I had used for plays and past shoots, and created a sweet vintage shoot that warms the soul. I hope you enjoy it and instead of waiting on weather to do the right thing, why not embrace it for a one of a kind unique shoot?
Groundhogs day is proving to be a true prediction of the weather here in Virginia. It's cold outside. Today reminds me of a line from "Cat in the Hat" -“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.” ― Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat So to warm things up how about a sweet little Baby born just this month. Meet our newest additon to the Buzy Bee Photography Family, baby Carson jinshik Bang born to Minah and Eddie Bang and big brothers Edison jaeshik and Mason joonshik Bang. This session was special and unique. Not only did I get to meet a sweet, sweet newborn, but we also brought the studio to their home. When you have a new one and are juggling two additional little ones to boot, this is a great option for controlled chaos. Not to mention protection from the elements. So for today's blog I thought I would share 6 tips to having a successful in home studio shoot. To do an in-home session you need to have the following. 1. Space for the shoot, this really is an important factor to having a successful shoot. Depending on how many people you have in your family, and their ages etc., space is crucial for creating a studio look. In this shoot we used the Dining Room as our studio location. Since the boys were small, having a ton of room wasn't necessary for what we were going for. 2. An area that gets great lighting, I do come armed with lights, but If possible I like to incorporate natural lighting as well, depending on the time of day your shoot takes place. This shoot was taken at late afternoon, so for the first part of the session, natural light was all that was needed. If your session is taken in a room that doesn't get good lighting but size wise is a perfect fit, then the studio lights come in. Man made lighting works great and you will get beautiful pictures so don't let a badly lit room discourage you, I like to have a little help from the Sun anytime I shoot. 3. A child wrangler, this is a life saver. If you have little ones or pets, you can and will at some point lose your mind. So having an extra set of hands to give out snacks, hugs, change out clothing, dry eyes etc. is an absolute life saver and really a must. Minah was lucky to have her husband and mother in law on hand to help love on her kiddos and bring forth priceless smiles. If the natives are happy, everyone is happy. 4. Changes of clothes; Let's face it, accidents will happen, the great thing about being at home, is that it's not a big deal to change into a fresh shirt or pants or exchange a blanket . No stress if there is a mess :). 5. Snacks. This is really only necessary if you have little ones, but it does help the session run smoother. 6. Patience. This is easy to say and so much harder to do, but it's necessary. Be patient. It's okay if it takes a moment for your kid to wind down. It's okay if they aren't perfect. I have yet to meet anyone who is. Getting good pictures doesn't always happen in the first 20 minutes, it may take that long to get everyone on the same page and in a good mindset. I will take good pictures, but sometimes great can't be rushed . Minah, Eddie and the boys are a wonderful example of what you want in a home session. They were prepared for the day and armed with hugs and love to wrangle all those sweet little boys and at the end of it all we got some precious pictures. I hope you have a wonderful day and take these tips into consideration if you ever want to do an in home studio session.
Christmas is literally tomorrow!
It's a big deal at our house; not only is it the birthday of Christ, but this is the time of year many a DIY project ensues and baked goods start their way out of the kitchen and into packages to send to loved ones. I am one that loves to decorate, and each theme is different from the next. I am not someone who decorates a Christmas tree the same every time, oh no..I have to have something that speaks to me and defines what the year has meant to me. Last Christmas my tree was decked out in black and white pictures of family and loved ones here and gone. Belt garlands and many a white light created a sensational memory piece for our living room. Every Christmas we give our kids an ornament specifically picked out just for them. They take those ornaments and decorate their own personal trees. The big tree is normally the themed tree, whatever I have been inspired to do is created into an art piece by the time I am done. This Christmas I reversed it! We put all our family ornaments on the big tree, using a thick burlap ribbon to bind it all together and themed the kids trees in each room. I have to say I LOVE it! The DIY project on our big tree was the creation of the Star. I hate to see a inadequate star on such a glorious tree. I love the star, but as of yet been unable to find one that speaks to my style and balances out the tree. Solution: a paper star lantern with tiny white lights already to go;light weight, easily seen, a little spray paint and voila a tin star with pizazz!
My daughter Olivia loves England, and I have to admit I am a little crazy about England myself! For her birthday we created a little haven of England in her room, but what better to go in that room than a England themed tree. Armed with paper, clothespins, ribbons and fur my daughter Erian and I created a tree that will definitely make England proud. This tree is the first tree ever to have boots as a tree skirt, 3D red phone booths. Its awesome and has definitely put me into the Christmas spirit!
My son wanted to go with a Snowman theme for some of the extra ornaments he had left over. Armed with a scarf, and twig arms and a homemade tree topper, it's the cutest thing ever. Being a teen he would never tell you that, but I love it!
Last but certainly not least my oldest daughter would love to travel. She loves all things Korean, Indian, and Italian. She also hopes to journey around the world. Since we are on a budget during the holidays..what is a girl to do about creating that little moment? Stickers, paper and burlap tags and quotes are what make this tree so much fun! Erian the creator of all things wonderful during this Christmas shared her talents with everyone's trees making little things here and there, and I am indebted to her for the wonderful feeling they give each room! Here a few pix to give you an idea of how much fun we had! Tune into tomorrow and we will wrap up our Christmas Crafts part 2!!!
Also Check out our cool video created by Simply Beyoutiful Photography
https://youtu.be/l9qb0nhcm0s
A big thank you to all our Volunteers who helped Make Very Merry Military Minis Fort Eustis a success
Our founder of Very Merry Military Minis Laura Flemming from Laura Flemming Professional Photographer
Newport News Parks and Recreation for letting us hold our shoot at their location,
Jenn and Jon Hugo from Simply Beyoutiful Photography
Ashley Sloan from Sloan Photography
Sarah Nolan from Sarah Nolan Photography
Megan Reed from Reed Photography
Heidi Calma from Heidi Calma Photography
Schyler Rae from Schyler Rae Photography
and my family, they helped in all sort of ways to make this event possible. Thank you !!
[embed]http://youtu.be/WPGEYRhQ_Kg?t=13s[/embed]
Have you heard the good news? Buzy Bee Photography has been featured in Tidewater And Tulle ! This a fantastic Wedding Blog that is a must read for all things bridal. So I thought in celebration of our publication I would write about some of my favorite things from the Burberry shoot or as it has lovingly been referred to as #ProjectBurberry . With the tune from the Sound of Musics playlist "Favorite Things" I will commence with the count down.
Fantastic locations with real cool details.
Our shoot took place at the New Kent Winery. From the recycled bricks to well laid out grounds. The owners of New Kent spared no expense to create this amazing winery and some award winning wines. If you get a chance, go take a tour!
beautiful roses and swags that have long tails.
Catherine Gustafson with Distinctive Floral Designs created this gorgeous swag and wedding bouquets for our bridesmaids and decor that tied in perfectly with our equestrian Burberry theme. I loved it!
A cream colored cake decorated with leather and metal links..these are a few of my favorite things..
Anna Lily with Bella Cakes created a 5 layered masterpiece that tied in the equestrian portion of our Burberry shoot. Between the leather, metal bit details and colors she used this cake was simple yet elegant.
Little Boleros and plaid vests with leather...
Dutch with RicLamar Clothing was a true artist creating masterpieces from scratch and with some of my unique finds. I am always amazed at what he comes up with.
Creative graphics used in banners and seating, little note cards and invites that made our themed shoot sing.
Tricia with Labyrinth Productions brought our shoot together with her creative flair with graphics. The addition of plaid to all of her creations was perfect!.
Tables that are laid out with goodies and teas..these are a few of my favorite things.
Amber and her mom of Inspirations Event Planning worked with me to create these talkative tables. I loved the layout of all the florals, teas and English inspired sweets. The equestrian accents and quirky table runners were a sweet touch as well.
Hair dos that are tosseled in loose braids and styled hair. Trimmed beards and side burns, crazy curls that were pinned everywhere.
Kim of Hair by Kim was an artist at creating these updos and tousled looks for our models. I love how beautifully her hair styles looked with the tailored clothing. Opposites definitely attract!
Makeup that made our bride glow in the spring!! These are a few of my favorite things!!!
Keren with Makeup by MUA LLC brought a European Vogue type feel to our shoot. Armed with two assistants Harmony and Niah , they enhanced our models beauty and helped create unity with all the looks. Well done ladies!
Before I go, I want to thank Kim Scott Pike for her wonderful Equestrian prop additions along with Caitlyn of Caitlyn Gerres Photography as my second shooter. All our models (Corey Swann,Taylor Sites, Sierra Stone, Keren Robinson, Sam and Zach Keller) that braved the cold and made it look effortless. It truly takes a village to make an amazing idea come to life.What once was a scarf and a notebook of scribbles became a colorful quirky beautiful shoot! I hope you have enjoyed the list of My favorite things and consider using one, some or all of these talented people and venues to help you create some of yours!
My trip to Oklahoma was so much fun. Not only did I get to visit my old haunts, enjoy many a glass of my favorite Ice tea ( Raising Cains in Norman Oklahoma ) which I am completely addicted to. I also had the opportunity to photograph some new families. Families happen to be one of my specialties. Each family comes with it's own challenges and blessings. Sometimes you may have someone who is uncomfortable smiling, or is nervous or irritated and smiles to much or not at all . Include the stresses of what to wear; I mean who can't relate to that? Nyky and Bo were the exception to the rule. They created great outfit combinations so that fit, so that everyone was comfortable and their individual personality got to shine.
In photography I always strive to achieve the perfect blend. The perfect blend is a balance of colors, emotions, lighting, location etc., the key to great photos is showing your personality. If my client lets down their wall of nerves, and anxiousness and lets me see who they really are, the pictures become more authentic, less posed and works of art. As you ponder on getting your photos done, just remember the perfect blend starts with you. Think about what your wearing, where your going, and letting your personality shine thru in your photos.
What can I possibly say about #ProjectBurberry ? From some of my clients, colleagues and friends a question rings through. What is it about? Project Burberry was inspired by a scarf one of my clients wore in a shoot last fall. I loved it's warmth, and the plaid. It spoke to me.
So this spring as I was planning out my next stylized shoot, a thought came to mind. Could I put Burberry in a wedding? Furthermore, if I mixed it with a huntsmen theme how awesome would it look? Answer: amazingly awesome! So for the months following that idea I met with my makeup artist Keren Robinson Nigh of Makeup by MUA LLC, and Tricia Duncan with Labyrinth Productions. What we created was a fantastic team of creatives who I would like to give credit for being involved with this venture. Starting with Dutch Douglas, a clothing designer of RicLamar clothing. I found our outfits, showed him my inspirations,and he customized pieces of our Wedding Parties trousseau . From handmade vests, to a darling little short coat, he created art with whatever he touched. Tricia Duncan provided all the graphics for our shoot. She is amazing, and never fails to surprise me with her talents.
Anna Lilly of Bella Cakes created a masterpiece of a cake, by capturing the theme perfectly and still making it look classic. Working with Anna Lilly was an enjoyable process, she came up with some great ideas and delivered with gusto. Of course, our shoot wouldn't have been the same with out the flowers! Catherine at Distinctive Floral Designs delighted me with her creations. With European flair in mind, she designed everything from the bridal swag to the bouquets, and hit it out of the park. Our tables were styled by Amber Roberts of Inspirations Event Planning Company. She took every idea I gave her and translated it into a beautiful display. I really enjoyed working with Amber, and I look forward to doing many more projects together. All the equestrian pieces were provided by Kim Scott Pike. Kim owns a stable, and keeps busy with shows, trails rides and taking care of all her horses. I am looking forward to meeting some of them for one of my next upcoming shoots! My makeup artist Keren is not only someone I like to brainstorm with , but she is crazy talented. She brought in a team of makeup artists for our shoot and specially designed a look that would have a VOGUE type feel to it. Special thanks to MaivNyiaj Thojz and Harmony Williams for assisting Keren, and doing your makeup magic on our Bridesmaids and Groomsmen. Kimberly Nigh Grubbs of Hair by Kimberly rocked like no other. Her attention to detail and creative touches turned our shoot from being ordinary to absolutely incredible. I want her on all my shoots! Last but not least, my second shooter Caitlin Gerres of Caitlin Gerres Photography. Caitlin was so much fun to work with, and the shots she captured were absolutely beautiful. I loved having an extra set of hands on such a huge shoot.
Our shoot was hosted by the New Kent Winery, and it is a place of historic beauty. This winery is created with recycled material from centuries old buildings, and it is a lovely site to behold. From the inside out , the owners have made this winery an artistic endeavor tucked away in the hills of New Kent. They also have award winning wines, which we were fortunate to showcase in our shoot. So if ever you have a weekend free, definitely go check out New Kent Winery. You won't be disappointed!
What I love about #ProjectBurberry is that it shows a different wedding style. Something elegant, and yet laid back. It showcases some of my favorite things in a unique way. We really tried to push the envelope with design, and style. I hope you enjoy this little sneak peek and if you are planning a wedding, don't be afraid of stepping outside the box.
I would like to thank all our Models
Bride: Taylor Sites
Groom: Cory Swann
Groomsmen: Sam and Zac Keller
Bridesmaids: Sierra Stone, Keren Robinson
You were all wonderful to work with!
Hey Jessica Stone Photography Family, I am finally seeing daylight! Its been awhile since I have kept you updated on the happenings of Jessica Stone Photography, and it's been busy, busy around here. To start with we wrapped our #ProjectBurberry shoot and premiered it this past Sunday. It was a great success and I can't wait to show it to you tomorrow on the blog. This past Saturday I had the privileged to photograph a sweet friend of mine. She is a fellow photographer who is super talented in her own right. She is my graphic designer of most of my styled shoots, and we are partners in crime planning more shoots through out the year. Tricia juggles a million things at one time. I thought today I would do things a little different and do a Q & A session with her about her recent Maternity shoot, and of course show off some amazing pictures. Let me set the stage for Tricia's shoot. 4 days prior to our shoot, Tricia re-injured the ACL in her left leg. She was in a brace, on crutches and having a tough time of it. This maternity session was not looking like it was going to be in the cards for us until later in July. Tricia surprised me by calling me the Wednesday prior, stating she was going thru with the shoot. Considering the severity of her injury I was shocked she was going to be able to model. I am telling you all this, because her injury limited what we were going to be able to do, but we were still able to Rock her shoot.. With that knowledge in mind let's talk to Tricia about her Mermaid Inspired Maternity Session. Jess: So Tricia what made you decide to do a Maternity Shoot?
Tricia: I had one with (her son) Rune and very much wanted one with this baby. He will be our last. I never had one with my other two children simply because they really were not around 11 and 14 years ago. I love being pregnant and I feel totally beautiful when I am. Its the most forgiving part of a women’s life sometimes.
Jess: That's awesome! So tell me, what inspiration did you use to come up with your look?
Tricia: I love the beach. I love the little mermaid. This little guys new room (and his brothers) has a nautical theme. I am always known for my bright red hair so I decided to just use inspiration from the little mermaid. I love starfish and shells so I created the head piece based on those. I wanted to shoot at sunset because I love, love, love the colors it creates. I knew you could combine them all and create exactly what I wanted.
Jess: They were pretty stunning, if I do say so myself :). Tell me what was your favorite part of the process of the shoot?
Tricia: Honestly just getting to focus and enjoy being pregnant. Keren with MakeupBy MUALLC ( https://www.facebook.com/MUBMUA ) rocked my hair and make up also. Though Jess, you guided me into positive thinking of this baby and what our family will be and I think it will show in the photos. It was also somewhat funny since I have been on crutches and ditched them for this shoot!
Jess: It's my job! You were a rock star doing this shoot with your recent injury. Hat's off to you for braving the beach and the water to make some amazing pictures! What tips could you give to someone who is pregnant consider when they are going to have a maternity shoot done?
Tricia: What is important to you? Do you want a intimate home setting with your family? Do you want something soft and sexy ? This shoot I really just wanted to embrace being a women and my changing body. My kids and husband were not with me because they will be in a session later. This is a way to freeze all those warm and fuzzy pregnant moments in time, and really be happy with where you are, stretch marks and all.
Jess: I love how you stated that. It's something I never really thought about, but after seeing how much fun your session was, I kinda wish this would have been available when I was pregnant with my children. Speaking of which, how many children do you have?
Tricia: I have three children. Tess 14, Levi 11 and Rune 4.
Jess: Sweet! I love that your kiddos are old enough to help out with your soon to be newest addition. That is always a plus. Back to our shoot, tell me about the significance behind the jewelry you wore.
Tricia: My ruby ring has two ruby’s set in it. It is my and my mothers birthstone. She passed away in 2002 from complications from breast cancer. So I like to keep it on as a reminder she is still with me. The bracelet was my grandmothers and is a beautiful vintage piece. I am always terrified to wear it and that i will loose it but I had to get it out for this session as it is inlaid with shells. Its a way to keep the women in my life who were important and no longer here close to me.
Jess: I love that! It's a great idea to pull out those meaningful pieces and showcase them in your portraits. I also would like to add I totally loved the crown you made fore the shoot! It was beyond beautiful! Where did you get your gown?
Tricia: The amazing gown came from silk fairies via etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilkFairies#
Jess: Thank you Tricia so much for the inspiration behind your shoot and the story to go with. I can't wait to see your newest little one!
What I hope you will take from this, is that Pregnancy is beautiful. It really is, you may not like the weight gain, or the cravings, or the temporary new silhouette, but I promise it's a moment that you will never forget. I love working with women and helping them see how beautiful they really are. Maybe it's because I have been you. Pictures aren't about waiting for the perfect size, or hairstyle, or outfit. They are so much more than that. They document a moment. One that never comes again. If you are interested in doing a Maternity Session, let me know! I work with some pretty awesome people that specialize in showing you how amazing you are. Don't forget tomorrow is the big reveal of #ProjectBurberry! So don't forget to check back to see our newest Stylized Shoot!
I don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring!! I am done with the crazy weather, winds and rain. So to celebrate Spring, I thought it would be fun to show off one of my favorite Seniors I photographed last spring! If you are gearing up for graduation, this is a great time to get your pictures done. I love working with Seniors, each very unique and diverse. They have a voice that come across loud and clear when they get their pictures done. I would love to work with you and your senior as they gear up ready to embark onto the next adventure.
A big "hello" and "how do you do to you today?". It's windy and cold outside, but its full of warmth and great tips inside. As we countdown to #ProjectBurberry ,our guest blogger for today, Tricia Duncan from Labyrinth Productions (http://www.labyrinthproductionsva.com) is here to share with you her experience know how when it comes to "custom paperie" for your special day. I hope you enjoy and remember an event is all about the details.
If you really want your wedding to pop, and want to do it stress free, considering finding a graphic designer to work with for your wedding. I have the advantage of being a graphic designer long, long before I became a photographer. There is nothing I love more then creating custom items for my Brides and Grooms.
Invitations can be printed on normal gloss card stock or if you want a softer touch linen papers. I offer a custom line of very thick linen stock that really makes invitations blow away the people receiving them. Your designer can customize these further with things like custom designed seals and envelope inserts.
I love taking it a step farther and creating beautiful custom seating charts, guest book albums to sign and even amazing wedding banners which you will see in the upcoming shoot. Don’t forget the small things. Sure you can buy pre made table markers, menu cards and food labels at places that carry stationary, but why not match it to your wedding?
One of my favorite things to design are custom wine labels or wine tags. Even a converting your favorite beer into a one just for you day is easy with a custom designed label.
The possibilities are endless and I am excited to be able to work with Jessica on this project even though I was booked to shoot a wedding the day of the upcoming shoot. I hope you are all as excited as I am. - Tricia Duncan
