Sumner Wedding

Posted on November 18, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Portraits, Uncategorized, Weddings

May the wind be at your back. …and in your face and up your nose and through your hair and…well, you get it. The day was windy, to say the least. When I arrived at the scenic Barn at Kline’s Mill, to the view of rolling hills and 360˚ blue skies all around me, the breeze grabbed a hold of me and nearly gave me whiplash – jolted me right into photo mode quicker than my morning coffee. Good thing, too, because I was in for a photographic treat of a wedding!
This wedding marks a record for me. It was just held on November 2…which means I cranked this sucker out in a whopping two weeks! That never happens…but I couldn’t help it really. The joy of the day was so contagious it followed me home. Plugging in my camera was like opening a really awesome gift. Catie and Daniel hosted their wedding like it was their job and everything was hand touched and personalized. From the homemade wedding arch to the table settings to the wedding dress worn by Catie’s mother and grandmother to the veil that has been worn by every female in Catie’s family to the superhero undershirts worn by the groom and his men. And from the white daisies in empty chairs representing the absence of beloved family members to the superman pin on Catie’s bouquet to memorialize her father to the soil ceremony combining soil from Catie’s hometown (Sterling, VA)/Daniel’s hometown (Blacksburg, VA)/and the town they met and married (Harrisonburg VA). The ceremony included communion served to guests by the almost-bride-&-groom and the wedding cake itself was made by Catie’s aunt! And if that’s not personal enough for you, even the meal was catered by their local favorites such as Mr. J’s Bagel and Deli and Italian Touch which also happened to be the spot of their first date. AND they had a Kline’s Dairy ice cream station with singing and dancing dippers! Their family and friends relaxed and mingled in place of the usual pre-wedding hustle bustle almost as if they were hired to show up and look happy and help out. Talk about a good group of people to be around…I was in the right place. It was great fun to watch this day unfold through my lens and I’m excited to share these images with you.

Marker Family

Posted on November 4, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Family, Portraits

Six months ago, Baby Beckett was my first ever newborn model. The time moves quickly and suddenly here it is fall and Beckett is a whopping six months old! I met him and his mommies at the park for an evening shoot. Beckett was all squished up and napping the way babies do when we started so we let the pups do the baby-sitting while I snagged a few shots of Kelsey and Megan. Beckett joined us and his brotherly connection with their pugs is dang adorable. I just can’t get enough of Beckett’s expressions and personality. Look out world. This kid knows what’s up.

Jen & Shawn’s Family

Posted on October 19, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, 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!

L-O-V-E (haha)

Troxell Family

Posted on October 19, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Family, Uncategorized

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.

Jody & Ava

Posted on September 26, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Family, Uncategorized

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.

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

Posted on September 9, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Family, Portraits, Uncategorized

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.

Parks Wedding

Posted on July 23, 2013 by bsome under Couples, Uncategorized, Weddings

I first met Kara and Chris when I was photographing Cassie and David’s wedding. They were this sweet couple at a guest table that asked me for my business card. Fast forward a couple months and we’re sweating our bums off in the middle of a Linville cow field in the June sun. You won’t pick up on the heavy humidity or feel the body heat radiating under layers of wedding attire or even notice the sweat beads gathering around their foreheads. In fact, they may not have even noticed. I’m convinced Kara and Chris felt no discomfort at all during that day. They were just two happy young lovers in love. The kind of love that beams brighter than the June sun? Absolutely. I am so happy I was involved in this local wedding. Cheers to many more beaming years!

Eliza

Posted on June 10, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Family

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!

Baby B

Posted on May 22, 2013 by bsome under Children, Couples, Family, Newborn, Portraits

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.

Flora-Parton Engagement

Posted on May 19, 2013 by bsome under Couples, Engagement, Portraits

One side effect I typically have in the company of Lee and Jodi, is a sore face. Literally, my face aches after only a few short hours of laughter and prolonged smiling with these two. I expected nothing less from the day as I pulled up to Jodi’s childhood home in Roanoke, Va. The Blue Ridge Parkway was just a deep breath away and the grey skies hardly hinted of rain. It was perfect. Jodi and Lee were knee deep in a sea of clothes when I arrived and I entered with caution as to avoid the occasional airborne shirt, boot, and hot leather pants(!). We loaded up the car and headed to the Parkway for the first half of our shoot then on to downtown Roanoke. A lot of laughter and memories are documented below. Enjoy!