Gena and Matt live in Richmond but are getting married at the beautiful Rockwood Manor next April so we tripped out there for a little eSession a few weeks ago at about the same time of day they have their ceremony set for.

What a BEE-UUU-TEEE-FUL setting for a wedding at this gorgeous 130 year old historic mansion set in the rolling hills of Dublin, VA. This gem, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, not only has an accomodating interior, but has all kinds of little vignettes on the grounds that provide awesome backdrops for a wedding. Yum, yum.

So we had perfect weather, an awesome setting, and great conversation which always means you will have beautiful relaxed portraits for an eSession. Here’s a few. I let Gena pick them out which is something I don’t usually do. I have to say she did a great job, although I did throw in one of my faves.

See you guys in April! It’ll be a brand new world by then ;)

Kemper

Amanda and Brian  hit it just right to be a part of crop circle goodness. Just had to post this one cause it proves that sunflowers aren’t just for the bees. There actually was one buzzing right above Brian’s head in one of the shots. More to come of this shoot a little later.

This was a different kind of year in the garden as we moved all kinds of stuff around. Crop rotation I guess you would call it. Interestingly, tomatoes flourished and corn did not, even though both did well where they were at last year. But maybe that had more to do with the sporadic rain we had here all summer. Whatever the case, tomatoes are coming out of our ears and corn looks like it belongs in a wok.

But the big project for me this year was the crop circle! Well, with time crunch as it was in May, it was more like crop semi-circle, but I do plan on finishing it this fall. I took a stake and drove it into the ground, tied a piece of string to it, then put a spray can of white paint on the end of the string and made a template for the circle about 15 ft in diameter. Then, of course, came the real work of getting the sod up and the earth turned for some planting.

So this year I planted it with sunflowers from the seeds I had harvested last year. The seeds were from a dwarf variety that only got about 2 feet tall, but as plants will do, they reverted from their hybrid traits and I got plants from 2-5 feet tall. That was kinda cool as I think it looked more natural than when they were all the same height. There were plenty to cut and give away to friends and neighbors, which everyone always appreciates. It’s nice to bring a little of the outside inside.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do next year. Maybe a whole circle of sunflowers. Or maybe plant some perennial grasses in it like pampas and other tall varieties. I like ornamental grass and it usually looks good year round.

The sunflowers have peaked and are now starting to wane. But I really like that time of the year, and I always like the look of sunflowers that are a little spent. The texture is awesome, the way they kind of wither gracefully. But, I really like to contrast of old flowers and new ones. In a couple of months, all of them will be dried up and I get to explore the seed pods, which really is one of my favorite things to photograph.

But for now, the bees are buzzing and things still look like summer. But in a few weeks, the leaves will start to turn and things will settle down, and we’ll all be ready for some football weekends and maybe a trip or two.

So here are a few shots from the crop circle this morning. It is hard to photograph bees with a macro and no tripod, but one or two turned out like I wanted. Boy, did I ever need a little personal shoot time. All work and no play was making Kemper a dull boy.

Energized….CHECK!!!

I wish there were enough time to blog more these days, but with weddings and albums and seniors and eSessions and dogs….the summer has flown by. But I had to get a few of my favorites up from Jenni and Josh’s wedding. This was a couple who had one of the most beautiful eSessions I have ever done, right in the middle of a spectacular fall. We put together a gorgeous signing book for their wedding and it was a huge hit and certainly something they will cherish forever. Their wedding day was a little warmer than that!! But, we toughed it out and shot some fantastic images.

I have to say that the flowers and dress were beautiful, as was this gorgeous bride. But, one of my favorite parts of the wedding was Jenni’s dad’s uniform. Of course it was colorful and shiny, which immediately attracts me and forces me to become embarrassingly observant and curious. But, it really was more than that. Weddings are all about tradition, family, and love. They are about several relationships that are really just beginning, and they are about the relationships that are so familiar. So to me, that uniform, while a beautiful accoutrement that any bride would envy, was really a comforting symbol of the strength of family that Jenni probably remembers throughout her Life. And, I think if one were to observe this new family as the day unfolded, it would become abundantly clear that this uniform, while intimidating in presence, was all about love and acceptance. Josh, I think the coast is clear ;)

Jenni and Josh, here’s to a very bright future.. Much love and happiness to you both and to your wonderful families and thanks so much for letting me be a part of your special day!

Kemper