It has been raining (Or snowing ) in this area for literally a month or more! I mean about every day I have had to reschedule or cancel Photo sessions! YIPES! No photographer wants to do that! 
In the meantime, I worked on pictures for my book project honoring Appalachian Musicians, attended Merlefest for the first time, which was a major blast! Met a long time facebook friend from Sweden, whom I hung out with and wrote an article for Photoshop Creative.
But the most important event was seeing my daughter , Cassidy Joy, Graduate from Radford University! I am so very proud of her! Not only did she gradate RU, but is going to JMU in the Fall for her Masters in Student Affairs ! Heck Yeah, I'm a proud momma!!!

I love music and writing and Adore my daughter more than anything , but I always long to be out taking pictures ! I mean, its how I make a living, so things get a little anxious when the weather goes crazy! Ha!

So Im doing a happy dance and Singing Praise to the almighty sun!

Elizabeths Bridal Session!

Finally the clouds cleared and the rain ceased and my beautiful wedding client , Elizabeth Wassum, was available for her Bridal session last night! Yay!! 
First I had a Photoshop class to teach which went well, and had packed my car with my Canon 5Dlll and my fav portrait lens, the Canon 50mm f/1.2 , which produces the dreamiest Bokah ever! (okay  the 85 f/1.2 is equally dreamy!) 

I arrived at the Wassum farm at 6:00. First her father Tom, made sure the newly installed commode was working fine (Yay Plumbing!) and we talked a bit about the age of the house and how he wanted to leave it as original as possible. (Good choice) I joked that I wanted to rent the place and enjoy the peace and he said he has considered spending some time there whenever he could. 
Teresa, (Elizabeths' Mom) showed me around this amazing 170 year old farm house! But first ,let me explain that the drive to the farm is down a wonderful dirt road that parallels the creek which flows so cozy and romantically between majestic Maple and Oak. There is lilac and honeysuckle scent drifting through the air and seducing you to stay on the path excited about what awaits you at the end!
As you arrive at the farm you feel as though you have walked into an Andrew Wyeth painting that has come to life . So, rustic and earthy ,and a sweet blend of milky white, beiges , browns , rusty red and bottle glass greens. Heaven!  To the right of the creek is a spring house, yes a real spring house with a crooked little tree providing just the right bit of sentimental whimsical mood ,and behind this rises the stately but very friendly  2 story farm house with an L shaped porch and 2 stair ways leading to the kitchen and the entry way of warm wooden floors, light beiges , pinks and floral wall paper that embodies the delightful touch of creme coffee color stain in the cracks and corners. The stairway leading to the bedrooms is the sort that angles around in a balcony affect where small children and curious adults love to lean and see who is rapping on the screen door below.
And the windows!! Oh My! A Photographers most sought after light source! Every window had those window panes with the almost patina texture producing the perfect diffusion of natural light that you could never purchase or hope to find via any manmade sources! But here, provided by God, and Elizabeths Great Grandparents spirit was this ideal setting!

After Teresa, showed me around the house with me gasping and ooohing and awing with every turn, Elizabeth arrived with that Joy filled face she has always worn since first meeting her as a preteen! But, now, this 'Soon to be Bride' is just glowing with Love and Hope and Dreams for her future!
Now I cant disclose anything about the dress because , well you know! Richard has not seen it yet! So, no pictures or description can be posted here until after the wedding, so please check back after this weekend! Lets just say he will be enraptured when she walks towards him down the aisle!
We took our first pictures in a living room area on the couch and there was an adorable little dressing table with a mirror ! Next we went upstairs and I told them they had to pull me away from those windows before the sun set , because, it was really so pretty I could not stop hitting the shutter!
Then we went out to that porch, where I swear I could see her Great grandmother sitting in the porch swing with a floral cotton dress and apron , snapping beans and singing "Amazing Grace".

After a few pictures here and down the path to the Spring house , we all stood and gasped at the "Maxfield Parrish' Sky (If you know this artist then you know this sky, if not, look it up & you will know this sky! :) The big brown barn cut a nice sturdy profile in the soft yellow-blue of the approaching night with just the most gentle wisp of watercolor clouds.  Elizabeth and I stood and appreciated this moment of passing light as her Mom ran back to the house and grabbed my newly bought flashlight with Saran Wrap diffuser that I have been wanting to try out.
Right then the cake lady arrived to insure to touch base and it was good to meet her.  Grandmother Erma, came down to chat and we all just had  a nice warm realization that indeed the wedding was so close and so real now and how wonderful it was for the weather to clear just in time and provide a forecast of a perfect 75 degrees for her day! YES!
Now we were loosing light pretty quick and I suggested we walk down the road by the river, but as I reached the road , I suddenly noticed a newly mowed plush lawn path into a thicket of trees and bushes providing the perfect environment of subtle light and a Camelot canopy that would provide just the right backdrop for Elizabeth's Sparkling eyes and radiant smile! We had to work quick, as it was getting darker by the minute, but the LED Flash really came in handy ! Teresa was a real trooper as she crouched behind Elizabeth to light her veil and walked into the tall grass to illuminate her face from the side.  ( Thank you Teresa!)
Even though it was getting chilly, Elizabeth said she was having so much fun that she hardly noticed the drop in temperature ! 
We all chatted about rehearsal and the wedding and how beautiful it is all going to be until the last drop of sun sunk into the rhythmic soothing sound of the creek behind us.

I drove home with a smile on my face thinking how blessed I am to be doing what I love and to be honored with capturing some of the most joyful times of good, honest, kind and humble folks.  Its a good life ...

Congrats Elizabeth and Richard!  May the 18th is YOUR day, bask in the beauty of each moment and enjoy it to the moon and back !!  Big Hugs!!!!!