Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Jessie Mary Photography » happy valley

Shelby and her family

Jessica — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:22:38 +0000

Maternity sessions and family portraits are not very different to me. There’s a belly, that is fun to show off, and makes for some beautiful images. Mostly it is still about documenting a time in the family’s life.

Shelby, Tim, and Sidney invited me to their home for portraits last weekend. They were so much fun to work with, and it’s always great to see my wedding clients again. It was raining hard outside so we decided to stay indoors for the session. I think the intimacy of their home really adds to the photos.

The moments in between {Oregon Wedding Photography}

Jessica — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:40:26 +0000

As I’m going through Shelby & Tim’s wedding photos, processing the images, I found one that is just precious. We were in the middle of formals, and about to photography Shelby, Tim, and Sydney together. Tim started to fix his bride’s dress, while she shared a moment with her daughter.

Shelby & Tim {Portland Oregon Wedding Photography}

Jessica — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:27:02 +0000

Here are some ceremony highlights from Shelby & Tim’s wedding at The Aerie.

First Look {Portland Wedding Photography}

Jessica — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:37:32 +0000

When I meet with brides for the first time, I ask how they feel about seeing the groom before the wedding. Most have a very strong opinion on this. Shelby & Tim were no exception. They did not want to see each other first. So when ten days before the wedding I got an email talking about First Look, I was surprised.

One thing I have learned as a wedding photographer, is that plans change. They change two weeks before the wedding. They change the day of the wedding. They change as the wedding is happening. Shelby was actually my first bride to change her mind on this. I asked her lots of questions because I wanted to make sure they weren’t changing plans just to make the photography timing smoother. (I want photograph the wedding day as it happens, and don’t like to interfere with how a bride envisions her day.)

It turned out seeing each other first was something Shelby and Tim had decided they really wanted, and it worked out perfectly! Shelby was in the bridal lounge with her family, and Tim got ready down the hall with his best man. Tim then stood in the garden space behind a tall row of hedges, as Shelby walked up the stairs.

As a bride, I was insistent on not seeing my hubby until I walked down the aisle. I just had the idea of that moment in my head. I am not a traditionalist but it was one of those things. From what I see as a wedding photographer, it seems more than half of brides choose to do a first look before the wedding ceremony. I am constantly amazed by how special the moment is.

After Shelby & Tim saw each other we did formal portraits, and then the bride snuck away again before the guests arrived. The last photo is my favorite of this series. The flower girls were playing as we were gathering groups for the formals.