I hear something a lot like this from brides all the time: ”I love your style, but I don’t think that my wedding will be as amazing as the ones I see on your website.”  After I blush because of such lovely compliments, I immediately tell them to hush.  See, there’s a secret for having amazing photography – The trick is to just keep true to yourself and who you are.

At every single consultation, I try to really understand each and every one of our couples.  What makes them unique, how their wedding will be like no other one I’ve ever photographed.  I listen for the tiny little clues that are hidden like gems in between details about the dress and florals.  At one consultation, one of our brides for this year, Emily,  very briefly mentioned  riding a tandem bicycle for a few photographs.  Emily immediately shrugged it off as silly, but I immediately protested and went on and on about what a great idea it was.  This is unique, fun and completely memorable.  Since Lucas and I eloped, I would give anything to have some images of us on my red Vespa on our wedding day; that’s who we are.

I also had to share a few images from Meagan & Mike’s wedding.  They had a friend who had this amazing classic car and offered to be their chauffeur on the wedding day.  Meagan told me about it before hand, but didn’t let me know just how incredible it would be.  After it pulled up, I knew it would be the perfect backdrop for some amazing portraits.  It perfectly captures the everyday, understated elegance that is at the heart of Meagan & Mike.  So, as you’re planning, make sure your personalities shine through in all the details, and I promise your wedding will be as incredible as the ones you see in the magazines you’re reading and on the blogs you’re following.

I’m so excited to share with you baby Estella, who has the craziest baby hair I’ve ever seen.  She’s only three months old, and I think she has more than than some one year olds!  But I’m getting ahead of myself…

Jenn emailed me inquiring about baby and family portraits, and after a few emails, I knew we were going to hit it off.  Maybe it was her brutal honesty or sense of humility, but I just knew I was going to love this family.  When we met a few weeks ago for our pre-consultation, I felt like I was meeting some old, dear friends.  They welcomed us into their home, and Bella the Boston Terrier was immediately taken with Lucas; like all dogs are.  We ate cookies, talked about photography and football, and I laughed at Mike’s dry, sardonic sense of humor.  What I love most about Jenn and Mike is their parenting style – They are realistic and human.  They take it all in stride.  They are the best new parents I’ve ever seen in my life. Mike even has earned the coveted title of the “baby whisperer.”

This weekend we had a morning session because beautiful light flooded their home in the morning, and Estella is a happy, morning baby.  Well, that was the plan – And like most plans, they never work out how you think they’re going to.  But we all were so relaxed, so willing to go with the flow, that it all worked out for the best.  See, Estella took a small, unscheduled nap during the session.  And Bella the Boston kept nudging into the photographs.  And it was all incredible and I’m so glad it all happened – We were able to get portraits of these new, amazing parents just marveling at their daughter, with the dog peeking in.  Someday I hope that Estella can look at these photographs and know how unbelievably loved she is.

This session is from the fall, but I’ve yet to share it.  Here on the East Coast, we’re getting even more snow, so tonight I thought I’d bring out a too-cute-for-words session out from the archives in the hopes of some smiles and collection ‘awwwws’ to ease the pain.

Meet Reese.  Reese is one of the happiest babies I’ve ever met.  And one of the most adorable; just look at those big eyes, that smile and fuzzy hair.  It probably doesn’t hurt his parents love him to pieces.

Somehow looking at these photographs again tonight has warmed me up inside.  I hope all you East Coasters stay warm and safe.

Lea married Steve on a chilly afternoon in January.  The week before the wedding, I hesitantly asked if she was prepared to brave the cold January wind for photographs, and she confided that she was hoping for beautiful, romantic snow flurries.  I then knew this wedding was going to be incredible.

I met Lea that morning, and I have never seen a more nervous bride.  She was quiet and seemed to have small tremors that ran through her arms, but she somehow managed to eat oatmeal before running out the door to the church.  I absolutely love the photographs of her sipping coffee out of a large mug, which she held on to with her slender, graceful hands anchored by two beautiful rings. Lea anticipated that she would be nervous, and told me she was going to get to the church just in time to walk down the aisle.  Lucas caught the most amazing photograph of Lea running into the church, with her sister and maid of honor, Danielle, following closely behind.  The ceremony was beautiful and the nerves seemed to melt out of Lea as soon as she saw Steve.

A formal cocktail hour and dinner was planned later that evening for guests, so I had hours to photograph Lea, Steve and their bridal party.  Everyone seemed full of love and happiness despite the temperature being in the teens.  They relaxed, soaked in the bliss of the day, drank a lot of champagne, ate nachos and danced.  All before a single guest arrived.  Once the guests did arrive, Steve and Lea danced, were toasted a long and happy life together, and ate a simply delicious dinner.  Once the party started happening, the floor bounced along to ‘Paradise By The Dashboard Light.’  And it didn’t stop for hours.  I left that night and still heard the laughter and music from afar.

Reception: Cairnwood Mansion

Gown: Sabrina Toy Couture

Cake: Ciao Bella Cakes

Cupcakes: Georgetown Cupcakes

Catering: Jimmy Duffy

Florist: Monday Morning

I’m very excited to introduce Courtney – Our very latest addition to the team here.  She hails from Lock Haven University and is our intern for the next semester or so.  While Courtney will be involved in many aspects of the business, we really want her to get a hands on experience.  So wedding clients, be expecting an email from Courtney in the coming weeks; she’s a resource for you as you’re planning.  If you need any help at all, she’ll go above and beyond to make it happen.  Trust me, she’s a go-getter, and that’s why I adore this girl so much.

She’ll also be a familiar face during sessions, client meetings and even on the blog; Courtney will be writing bi-weekly blog posts featuring unique wedding ideas, planning tips and who knows what else – But I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve.

Welcome to the family, Courtney.  We’re beyond delighted to have you here!

Like everything else right now, our website is covered in about eighteen (metaphoric) inches of snow.  We’re trying to dig ourselves out, but creating an entirely new brand and website is a long process!  We’re still working out the small kinks, but please bear with us.  Just know that so many wonderful weddings and other sessions will be featured very, very soon.  Isn’t there a saying, like, ‘good things are worth waiting for?’  Well, that couldn’t be more true in this case.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store for this week!

I’m not an in-between person.  I either think a film is brilliant, or it isn’t.  That a record is either the best I’ve ever heard, or just mediocre.  So, this winter has been a bit of a letdown for me.  No good, major snowstorms – Just overcast, cold days with the occasional flurry.  Last night that all changed, and I woke up this morning to snow everywhere!  The trees look like they shrank in height, everything was covered in that amazing white sparkle snow, and the branches sagged under the weight of it all.  I had to take a photograph today of the snow resting on these small, tiny azalea branches.

I hope you’re all staying safe and warm this weekend, if you’re snowed in like a lot of us are on the East Coast!

It’s been over a year now since Jessica Ames Photography has officially launched. In that short year, my life has been turned upside down. But in the best way possible. In ways that I would have never imagined or hoped for. I’ve met clients that have become some of the most important people in my life. I’ve seen pregnant bellies turn into newborn babies. I’ve cried during some of the most sentimental wedding unions I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve laughed and shared jokes with newly engaged couples who are absolutely glowing with happiness.

The photographs, the clients, this business… It’s a labor of love for us. And that’s why we’ve spent the last four months obsessing over every single detail of launching our new look; the colors, the paper, the typography. We’ve spent so many afternoons with endless cups of tea, talking about how to create what you see now. A heartfelt thanks goes out to the most patient and friendly Ashley, over at the extraordinary Luxecetera, who somehow made all our crazy ideas come to life.

We hope that you love this new look as much as we do. Exciting things are on the horizon for 2010, and we can’t wait to share it all with you!