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.
Tag Archives: va
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.
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.
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.
Parks Wedding
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!
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. 
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.
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!
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.
Flora-Parton Engagement
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!
Like these? Check out the bloopers on my personal blog. 🙂
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.
Zweigler Wedding
This certainly didn’t feel like a photography job. I attended this wedding because my good friend, Lisa, was marrying her love, Jim. It was a small, intimate wedding in Lisa’s backyard barn, complete with the classiest chandelier I’ve seen in a barn to date. A wedding that required guests to shoot tequila before the ceremony began and when it ended. A wedding that left me relying on auto-focus with hopes to still capture clear images through tears of joy. Cheers to good friends and good times on sunny days. More please.
Below is a small collection of photos the bride asked me to share:
“I love you the mostest”
Lisa’s hands with her daughter and daughter-in-law.
Brandy Somers Photography 
