Sterling Life Photo

Author: Liz

Beautiful winter engagement in Lynchburg

It’s Friday! Just to start your weekend off in a great way, I am sharing Mandy & Ryan’s beautiful winter engagement with you all. I had so much fun with them hanging out. I can’t wait for their wedding which is just a few weeks away! I feel like 2017 is just chugging along with perfect people that are coming into my life. I am so happy that Mandy & Ryan chose me to be their photographer. I have loved even the small beginning of getting to know them. We shared some a-ha, Beyonce, and an “it’s such a small world” moments. They were all equally amazing.

I first arrived at the session to be greeted by Mandy and two of her (and Ryan’s) friends. We went down to her room and we talked about what outfit options she had. I think she picked perfect outfits, one casual and everyday and just a little more formal one for her second option.

I particularly love when my couples have locations in mind that are special to them. It really creates a storyline that is unique to you. Of course, there are so many amazing places to do sessions in Virginia, but one that has meaning to you, and a real story, well that is just icing on the cake. We started their session in the exact same place when they first met. Hearing them talk about each other as we struck up conversation was awesome. It was real and authentic and there was just a ton of gratitude. It’s one of the things I always love seeing in my couples. As a wife to my truest best friend, I know what this feels like, and to see other people be able to share that makes my days.

We also hopped over to Randolph College and walked around campus a bit. It is truly a gorgeous campus. I loved that we were able to walk around two different locations to make such a variety of images for their gallery. No shortage of love and happiness here. Mandy & Ryan – you two are awesome people. I can’t wait for March!

If you are recently engaged and planning a Virginia wedding contact me for more information on wedding photography and open dates for 2017 and 2018. I love meeting new couples and getting to know your story so we can create beautiful, authentic images of YOU!

Elizabeth Seidel, Virginia wedding photographer, located in Lynchburg, VA serving the greater Virginia area including Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke.

February 10, 2017
Virginia Beach Engagement – Alex & Blair

Another blog post this week! Look at me! After an extremely busy December, I’ve finally found the down time in January to get so many beautiful images out that have been sitting on my computer for some time. This Virginia Beach engagement session is no exception and truly deserves to be shared with you all!

I have so many amazing weddings to look forward to this year and this is one of them! Alex and Blair were so much fun to hang out with. When Blair first inquired with me, they were amidst a transition themselves. Having been on the West Coast for some time and a long distance relationship, Blair was looking to get back to his love on the East Coast. I’m happy to tell you, he did. He made it back to the East Coast and it worked out perfectly that I was able to meet up with them over Thanksgiving weekend to do this session. We first met at First Landing State Park and followed that up by some beautiful images on the beach.

Their wedding will be this October. It can’t come soon enough! Getting to know them a bit at their engagement session was such a joy. I even got Alex’s wonderful mom to help me hold a camera here and there. Thank you, Dolores! It is always so great to see two people interact and start to understand what makes them work. They are both so upbeat and happy and were making each other laugh the entire time. There is nothing better than having a couple do their own thing with minimal direction and get down to the authenticity of who they are together.

Alex and Blair – I cannot wait to be with you again in October, celebrating the best day of your lives!

love on the east coast

If you are recently engaged and planning a Virginia wedding contact me for more information on wedding photography and open dates for 2017 and 2018. I love meeting new couples and getting to know your story so we can create beautiful, authentic images of YOU!

Elizabeth Seidel, Virginia wedding photographer, located in Lynchburg, VA serving the greater Virginia area including Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke.

January 26, 2017
A Charlottesville Sunrise Engagement

I’m trying my best to catch up on some sessions from 2016 that haven’t been blogged yet and this Charlottesville Sunrise Engagement session is one of them. Blogging more was one of my goals for 2016, and while I did a MUCH better job than in previous years, it’s still something I’m working on.

In October, I got a chance to do a sunrise engagement session with the beautiful Grace and her fiance Robert. It was so much fun! Yes, getting up super early in the dark to get out to the session was a little rough, but I knew it would be worth it.

When I first met Grace, we had an instant connection. We shared some pizza at Mellow Mushroom and we chatted about life and wedding planning. Grace had an awesome idea to do part of their engagement session at the a Farmer’s Market. It was just brilliant. Since Farmer’s Market’s tend to be held earlier in the day, I tossed out the idea of a sunrise session. It was gold. Literally, it was the most perfect golden sunrise followed up by such fun at the market. Grace and Robert are so easy going and a joy to be around. I cannot wait for their May wedding at Wolftrap Farm.

And just in case you were wondering – yes, I will take ALL the sunrise engagement sessions!

When the sunrise meets with love

If you are recently engaged and planning a Virginia wedding contact me for more information on wedding photography and open dates for 2017 and 2018. I love meeting new couples and getting to know your story so we can create beautiful, authentic images of YOU!

Elizabeth Seidel, Virginia wedding photographer, located in Lynchburg, VA serving the greater Virginia area including Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke.

January 24, 2017
A Northern Neck Wedding – Dean & Rachel

Happy New Year! Wow, what a year 2016 was and how much I have to look forward to in 2017. I thought that I would go ahead and start the year off with a bang by sharing Dean & Rachel’s gorgeous December wedding in Kilmarnock, Virginia. When I first got Dean’s email about wedding photography, I was struck right away by how meaningful this day was going to be. They were to be married in the same place as Rachel’s parents were some years ago. Emotion and fun led the way for their day. Hanging out with them and their wedding party certainly brought a closeness that I even felt somehow a part of. But that’s how THEY are. They have a way about them that makes everyone feel so special to know them. Literally, to know them is to love them.

When we first got to Tide’s Inn for the getting ready portion of the day, Rachel beamed out with excitement to see me, although our only contact had been via facetime and email. She is a complete delight to be around. Dean and Rachel also traveled back to Virginia from their home in Nashville for the big day. I had already known this, but Rachel and Dean are musicians and it was evident throughout the day just how much that is their core.

Dean was calm and cool all day, and when I first saw him, he immediately asked me how Rachel was doing. It was so sincere, and that’s how he is. It always amazes me how much I learn about my couples just from spending their wedding days with them. It’s something I love doing so much, and am always so thankful for them opening up such a large part of themselves to me so that I can document it for them.

Rachel, Dean and the wedding party all got ready at The Tide’s Inn. It was followed by a beautiful church ceremony at Grace Episcopal Church and a fun reception at Indian Creek Country Club. There was no shortage of dancing, for obvious reasons and I remember snapping a photo of Rachel getting her dance on (see below) and she looked at me and said, “Liz, I can’t stop, I won’t stop,” and just danced her heart out with excitement and joy. Everyone was so warm and welcoming to Kele and I, and I will never forget it.

Dean and Rachel – you are surely a blessing not only to each other but to everyone who knows you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening up your day to me and letting me capture so many beautiful memories. All the love.

A Perfect Kilmarnock Wedding

If you are recently engaged and planning a Virginia wedding contact me for more information on wedding photography and open dates for 2017 and 2018. I love meeting new couples and getting to know your story so we can create beautiful, authentic images of YOU!

Elizabeth Seidel, Virginia wedding photographer, located in Lynchburg, VA serving the greater Virginia area including Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke.

January 1, 2017
A Winter Wedding at Early Mountain – Julie & Mark

December started off with a bang. It rolled in quickly and beautifully with Julie and Mark’s gorgeous wedding at Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison, VA. When I first met Julie and her mom in Charlottesville this summer, it was amazing. We shared a love for sports, our fathers and just laughed and smiled. They felt like home. No surprise, their wedding was just amazing. So perfect for them and even more than I could have envisioned myself. It was a brisk and slightly windy Friday in December and the vineyard had just been decorated for the holidays. The wreaths on the barn, the subtle winter color palette and the most gorgeous bouquets and greens any bride could want. Julie got ready in a cottage just off of the main building and tasting room. It was a perfect place to be tucked away from Mark and we were able to go outside to take some photos of the ladies before Julie’s dad drove her over for the wedding. The ceremony was in the event hall in the evening. It was so warm and inviting with the fireplace going on either end, greens strung across the mantle and gorgeous glowing candle light. FYI – You can never have too many candles (or anything that gives off a warm glow) at your wedding. I think icing on the cake was hearing Julie’s sister make reference to Anne of Green Gables during her toast to the new bride and groom. The entire night was filled with love and every single person in the room was oh so important to Julie and Mark. There was an amazing plated dinner provided by The Local in Charlottesville. Place cards looked perfect in wine corks, simple and elegant. There was dancing and smiling and endless laughs. I had so much fun with these amazing people. Early Mountain Vineyards is a beautiful place to be married and I loved being there. Mr. and Mrs. Radlinski – I wish you nothing but the best for all your years to come! Thank you to you and your families and friends for allowing me to document your most wonderful day.

If you are recently engaged and planning a Virginia wedding contact me for more information on wedding photography and open dates for 2017 and 2018. I love meeting new couples and getting to know your story so we can create beautiful, authentic images of YOU!

Elizabeth Seidel, Virginia wedding photographer, located in Lynchburg, VA serving the greater Virginia area including Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke.

December 20, 2016