The summer issue of clutch, the girl’s guide to everything essential is out, and we were so happy to feature this Summer of Love shoot. It’s perfect for this time of year! If you haven’t picked up a copy of the publication, you can see it online here, but until then, enjoy this beautiful session.

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First of all, let me start out by saying that I feel SO weird posting this! Why, you may ask? Well, because it’s ME and my husband of 17 years, but I am totally in love with the photos. I am so grateful to Jen and Stephanie who were responsible for the shoot. Let me start from the beginning.

Stephanie has a fantastic blog for Charlottesville brides entitled Fete by Stephanie Marie. She has wonderful ideas, and one of the best things is that she is in the midst of her own wedding planning (plus, she is the editor of The Hook and also a steeplechase runner for New Balance… she’s amazing!!). I was perusing her blog one day when I saw a fantastic giveaway that she and Jen Fariello were doing… post 3 words describing your ideal love shoot, and on a whim, here was my response:

I would love to have a vintage inspired, creative (& unique!) session at a rustic, abandoned, little-known-of place with my husband of almost 17 years! I’m game for mimicking an era … I’ve always wanted to do that (20s flapper, 40s drama, 60s Hollywood … they all sound fun! ).

Well, I found out (on my birthday no less!) that we had won the photo shoot. Winter weather did not permit, so on a lovely, sunny day Jen, Stephanie, Earl (my husband) and I set out for a fun day. Stephanie is super sweet, and Jen is so talented… just stopping here and there along the way when she was inspired. I love the results! A full vendor listing is at the end. Also, I am just posting a few of the photos as a teaser for you to head on over to Fete for the full posting.

It was HARD to narrow it down, but here are a few of my favorites:

Stylist: Stephanie Marie

Photographer: Jen Fariello of Jen Fariello Photography

Makeup: Jeanne Cusick

Green Dress: 30s Vintage (purchased at Estate Specialists in downtown Lynchburg)

Lavender Dress: 50s Vintage (purchased at Anastacia’s in downtown Lynchburg)

Pink Dress (in first black and white photos): 50s Vintage (purchased at Low in downtown Charlottesville)

Feather Headpiece: Cherries on Top

Black Headband: J Crew Clearance Center

Gray Suit: Thrifted at Goodwill

Gray Hat: Greene Street Consignment

Venues: Studio of Jen Fariello Photography and Swannanoa

To see more, just click here to head on over to Fete to see the full posting. Thank you so much to all involved!!

I am on “blogiday” this week spending time with family and friends. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that you get a chance to relax and take a little bit of a break, too. I will see you with everything fresh and new in January!

Well, I guess it is about time that I add an “Everyday Love” category to the site. After all, we have everything before the wedding, but life together does not end there! I truly love this posting. It is an article from the heart by Kristen Breedlove, who is the wife of Christopher Breedlove of Christopher Breedlove Photography, and it features Christopher’s photography. Yet, it also features the photography of another one of our talented photographers, Adam Barnes of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography.

Brides, I would take Kristen’s words to heart. I have heard her story in person, and she and Christopher are very passionate about their business … you will read why below. Enjoy this heartfelt posting capped off by a photo session of a lovely couple.

“The Great Wedding Tragedy”

It happens all the time, and it truly is a tragedy!  The wedding and honeymooning are over, the presents are unwrapped and placed away in their fully functional spaces within the comforts of your newly established lives, and yet you are still waiting for something … the walls are still empty, where are those wedding pictures?  The tragedy for many married couples is that they are encouraged or pressured to have that “friend of the family” or that “family member” take the wedding photos to save money.

For Chris and I, husband and wife team for Christopher Breedlove Photography, that is exactly what had happened to us on our wedding day.  A few weeks before the wedding, we were so stressed out, and the money was lying very thin … so thin that we entrusted a “friend of the family” to take our wedding photos. To this very day we only have 10 photos of the most important day of our lives.

Same thing happened to married couple Steve and Emily Brisson (two dear friends of ours).  They were left with very dark photos that seem to only tell the dark story of how they should have hired a professional photographer.

But there is hope for all the married couples out there, which have experienced this great wedding tragedy.  Go get anniversary photos done…

Near their anniversary, Steve contacted Chris back in August and explained their story.  Chris didn’t waste any time.  The Brisson’s were booked shortly thereafter, and portraits were taken on a cool evening around downtown Lynchburg and around Percival’s Island.

Today Christopher Breedlove Photography would like to encourage all those married couples with tragic wedding photos … a HOPE in that the wedding is never over; it is an everlasting promise, a declaration to the All Mighty and the world that love will last forever and pictures can too.

For you brides-to-be do your research, and invest in a professional photographer that meets your personality and needs because if you don’t, you will never be able to capture that day again.

To all the married couples and soon to be … what are you waiting for?  Contact a Hill City Bride vendor photographer today, and invest and enlighten the flame with professional photographs.

Chris proposed in April 2008 and to my delighted surprise brought Adam Barnes to capture that moment.  We are both so thankful for our friendship in Adam and for his willingness to capture the proposal – the photos you have seen so far have been a sneak peak at the day.  We cherish these beautiful images from Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography more than anything.

And without further ado, enjoy these Antiquated Film Expressions by Christopher Breedlove Photography featuring Steve and Emily.

Thank you so much, Kristen, for your sage advice and your words of wisdom from experience. I personally love seeing your engagement photos … they are so sweet and sentimental! Just to clarify, Christopher and Kristen’s engagement photos (aren’t they the most adorable couple?!?!) are by Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography and Steve and Emily’s images were captured by Christopher Breedlove Photography.

Engagement isn’t the only time that a couple can schedule photos … how romantic is it to have a session after you’re married and settled into your life together? Not only can a couple create images after they tie the knot, but it also gives fuel to the ideas of those who are interested in an engagement session … so the ideas here do double duty!

It was a lot of fun to receive this session from Crystal of Crystal George Studios because I actually know April. The photos are stunning! Emily at Bodyworks Day Spa and Salon worked her magic in making April’s beauty shine through by doing the hair and makeup, and Crystal did the styling herself.

Here is what Crystal had to say before you enjoy the photos …

April and Will got married in Mexico and never had engagement pictures done. We put their love story together to celebrate them, and I think they rocked it out. Super romantic; super from another era.  Love it!

Crystal and Emily, you make an amazing team, and April and Will … thank you for sharing your continued love story with the readers of Hill City Bride.

The wedding day takes so much planning, and sometimes couples don’t have the time to fit an engagement session into their plans … if that describes you, then why not think about planning a fun anniversary shoot? Even though Michael and Candace had engagement photos taken before their wedding, they still took the opportunity to take some time out for fun with Sabrena Deal of S Carter Studios.

Here are Sabrena’s words about the session …

I took Candace and Michael’s engagement photos, wedding photos and they have been in a couple other weddings that I shot. I was so excited when Michael called just before their one year anniversary because he wanted to surprise his bride with another session to celebrate. Her very favorite book is Anne of Green Gables, so we both worked together to create a very “Anne and Gilbert” like session. She had also just found out that she has a gluten intolerance, so I treated them to gluten free cupcakes with hand made flags to add a sweet touch to their beautiful images. Candace was thrilled when my husband and I snuck up on them during their picnic (see the first image).

Thank you again, Sabrena, for this cute session … I love the Anne of Green Gables idea. How unique, and it turned out so fun! Congratulations on your anniversary, Michael and Candace, and I wish you many more happy years together.