Jen & Shawn’s Family

It was only a 5% chance of rain. No need to reschedule the shoot, right? The 5% must have been right on top of the covered bridge in Mt. Jackson because just after three clicks of my shutter, the rain began to fall. Luckily, I was hanging out with the coolest-family-on-the-block!  Their warmth and love made the evening brighter. And talk about silly. There is enough silly in that little boy for the whole family…not that they need any help in that department. So much laughter and fun!
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L-O-V-E (haha)

L-O-V-E (haha)

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Troxell Family

The first time I met Lisa was at the Swannanoa Palace where I photographed her fun-loving family. On this particular Sunday afternoon, we met in Staunton so I could get some shots of her husband’s side of the family. These two are so fun to work with and I love any chance to meet more and more of their family! They are a genuine, kind, good humored group of people. What more could you ask for? Below are some of my favorites from that 80 degree October fall day.bsomeIMG_4527 bsomeIMG_4542 bsomeIMG_4547 bsomeIMG_4550bsomeIMG_4544 bsomeIMG_4573 bsomeIMG_4576bsomeIMG_4578 bsomeIMG_4583 bsomeIMG_4584bwbsomeIMG_4598bw bsomeIMG_4635 bsomeIMG_4624 bsomeIMG_4703bsomeIMG_4719 bsomeIMG_4706 bsomeIMG_4729bwbsomeIMG_4728bwSMALLtroxellCOLOR055bsomeIMG_4778 bsomeIMG_4785 bsomeIMG_4799bwSMALLtroxellBW40bsomeIMG_4783bsomeIMG_4793 bsomeIMG_4788

Jody & Ava

It’s always a pleasure photographing parents with their children. There’s a love and a happiness that you couldn’t pose if you tried. It’s natural and real…and it makes my job super easy. This natural connection is exactly what I see through my lens when I photograph Jody and Ava. There’s never a dull moment with these two gals. They play off of each other in a way that keeps me chuckling behind my camera.  This particular shoot involved a “nature walk” (as Jody calls it), bugs, humidity, a big fat rabbit, blue lights (ahem), CrossKeys Vineyard (unrelated to the blue lights), and a juicy burger from Jack Brown’s Single Wide. Pretty much an awesome Sunday evening.
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Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.

Thompson Family

I’ll admit it. I was a little nervous agreeing to do a photoshoot for fellow photographer Kristina Thompson.  And of course the forecast (80% chance of rain) didn’t help matters. But when you’re a mom with a baby boy and two princess daughters, getting everyone cleaned and dressed at the same time (on the same day) is no easy task. This shoot was happening! I met Krissy, Dave and their three beautiful children at Barren Ridge Vineyards. We headed out back to their covered patio space to start the shoot and after a few laughs and snaps, the rain stopped just long enough to get some shots with the gorgeous backdrop at the vineyard.

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Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.

Amisha & Braelea

Amisha and I have scheduled half a dozen photo shoots in the passed two months but the late spring rain was not falling in our favor. When this day finally came, it was a sunshiny miracle! Braelea, her daughter, hopped out of the car saying “cheeeeese” and  flinging phrases like “Oh pickle juice!” around. She is a hoot! Her personality shouts through these images and had me smiling and oohing and EEEing all the way through the editing process. And Amisha! Not only is she gorgeous(!) but she jumped a barbed wire fence with me for a photo op. In a dress. And sandals. Ok so we switched shoes for a hot minute but she was up for it and still looked stunning standing in that wheat field. One tick, an eskimo kiss and a few rosy cheeks later, our session came to an end and we drove away smiling. bsomeIMG_7114collagebsomeIMG_7107bw

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Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.

Hughes Family

I met the Hughes’ in Dayton one evening to take some photos of their sweet little family. In the distance was a dark skyline creeping up quickly and the farther we drove toward it, the more uneasy I felt. We decided to make a last minute decision and head back to their Harrisonburg home…you know, incase the sky broke open on top of us. Luckily, their backyard is absolutely gorgeous. Green and lush and free of power lines and cityscapes. Comfortable in their own element, the children let their personalities come pouring out. Go ahead and try to get through these photos without laughing. I dare ya.
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Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.

Eliza

I’ve photographed sweet little Eliza before and she always takes a few minutes to warm up to me. I think my giant camera is a little intimidating. But it’s nothing a few baby cheetos and a juggling daddy can’t cure. I think I should just start taking this family on the road with me!
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Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property. 

Baby B

This baby might be the cutest baby I’ve seen (…since my own two of course…) in real life. This kid’s got the look. I was thrilled to join Kelsey and Megan soon after the birth of their baby boy for some shots that will memorialize this tiny human and all his preciousness. What a gift he is and will continue to be.
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Benjamin-Oglesby Wedding

The beauty of this day truly caught me off guard. I dropped my kids off with their grandpa and hopped on the interstate to Lauren and JoAnn’s wedding. It was a nice day.  *for once* I mapped my way to Lauren’s mother’s farm where I found family and friends scurrying around to make sure all the details were in place. I blended into the background for bit to take some photos of the simple and elegant details. Everything fell into place just in time for the ceremony as everyone gathered in the front yard to partake in the front porch union. There was an energy in the air that I hadn’t experienced at a wedding until this day. The birds and the wind and leaves were all on cue. It was a moment I feel so blessed to have shared with the guests that day and it couldn’t have been more reassuring that something spectacular was happening right before my lens.bsomeIMG_2527collage

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