Coastal Virginia bridal boudoir photographers | Bridal boudoir photographers in Virginia 

Last year was such a huge one for us. We met some amazing people, tackled some tough challenges, and grew closer together through all of it.

When we think about 2013, this shoot is one of the milestones that stands out.

When Patricia Hoffman, the editor of the German fine art wedding book Hochzeitswahn, contacted us and asked us to shoot this project, we were honored but a little overwhelmed.

We knew to get the right look we’d have to leave our digital cameras behind and shoot exclusively on film.

The concept for our shoot was a bride getting ready for her big day with a bridal boudoir session mixed in.

We have nothing against boudoir but wanted to make sure it fit our “style.” We wanted to keep it elegant & timeless.

With the help of an absolutely amazing team, we were able to do just that.  We can’t say thank you enough to the selfless people that helped make our vision a reality. Their credits are listed at the end of this blog.

It’s a testament to the beautiful power of film, to our lovely model, and our hair and makeup team that we can say these required no retouching.

Thank you again to Patricia Hoffman for inviting us to take part.

We’re so happy to be able to finally share, having photographed this back in August 2013. You can purchase Hochzeitswahn here.

“Getting Ready für den Großen Tag: Ein Moment der Ruhe”

Virginia Boudoir Photographers | Coastal Virginia Boudoir Photographers | Boudoir in Hampton Roads

 

 

 

Credits:

Hochzeitswahn Editorial “Getting Ready für den Großen Tag: Ein Moment der Ruhe”

Location: Bay Tree Manor

Styling, dress & lingerie: Shop Gossamer

Hair: Hair by Alice

Makeup: Theresa Little Makeup Artistry

Floral: Storybook Events

Vintage Rentals: Shelley’s Shabby Shack | Meghan Blair Vintage

Film developed by Richard Photo Lab

Assisted by: Jonas Mueller & Meagan Abell

Best bridal boudoir photographers in Virginia in Hampton Roads and Williamsburg. 

 

Coastal Virginia Photographers | Michael and Carina Photography

It’s been a slower month for our photography, but it’s important to take the time to get out and shoot.

Now’s the perfect time to try new things – like new film stocks.

I had the pleasure of capturing some portraits on Fuji Reala 100 with my Contax 645 the other day in Yorktown with Rachel. Overexposed 1-2 stops.

<3 enjoy,

Mike

There are many things ladies obsess over. Among others, chocolate, Ryan Gosling and our hair. Sorry to disappoint you, but this is not about chocolate or about Ryan Gosling.
Lately I have been hooked on the hair tutorials on Kate’s “The Small Things Blog”, which probably half of you already know. 😉

Hair cuts, hair color, hair styling, hair accessories. There is no end to it – Michael can attest to my recent obsession. <3

And there is definitely no day that HAS to be a good-hair-day more than a girl’s wedding day.

This is the day she hopes to look her very best. She wants to look like a bride.

How many months do brides spend today stalking Pinterest and going back and forth between their favorite hairstyles?

I was totally there.

Except, there was no Pinterest when I got married, “all the way back in 2011…”

I just knew I wanted curls. Because my hair is completely straight and you always want what you don’t have, right? 🙂

Even though I am married already, I am still always on the hunt for a new hairstyle to try.

Number one priority: it needs to make you feel absolutely beautiful.

Our brides have amazing style. And I love that they aren’t all going for the same hair-do. Their hair totally work with their personalities and wedding themes.
Whether you are still looking for your perfect bridal hairstyle or your new everyday favorite hairdo – be inspired by our lovely brides. <3

All-up: This is a classic hair-do which is perfect for ballroom and traditional weddings. Lindsay is rockin’ that look! Also love a little sparkle…

All-up for super long hair: Leanne has Rapunzel-hair which works perfectly for these amazing braids, one of our favorite designs from our friend, Alice of Hair by Alice:

Low all-up: Megan’s fall wedding was very romantic. Her hairstyle fit right in. She chose to put a daisy in her hair…which made it magical.

Half-up: Another favorite of brides. Michael always says that if you can’t decide between two, pick both (don’t worry, he’s usually joking when he says this, because it usually has something to do with $$$$ photography gear).

I think this style is a great combination of casual and formal. It’s both romantic and playful. A great way to make this style “you” is to add a litle “oomph” to it. Adding a bridcage, a veil or a braid makes it walk-down-the-aisle-worthy. Morgan, one of our fall brides, showed off her trendy ombre hair with her half-up hair-do. For Miko it was all about simplicity. A few pinned back strands gave her a really soft look. So many options… 🙂

All-down: Some girls just want to show off their gorgeous hair and let it all down. Loose curls and lots of shine mist will make this look a winner. This look is very romantic and sexy. Rachel is the girl to pull it off!

Sophisticated:  Let me introduce you to Lianne. Everybody gasps when she shakes her head. Alice worked her magic and came up with one of the most sophisticated hairstyles I have ever seen. This incredible braid-within-a-braid will make you speechless.

By the way, the amazing hair stylist -no, artist – who did most of hairdos displayed  is located here in Hampton Roads! Her name is Alice (Hair by Alice) and she is pretty much AAAAAAmazing! (she did Lianne’s, Brooke’s, Leanne’s and Yae-Wen’s – not to mention MY hair!).

Other hairstylists: Spring Wiley (last picture, all down, Rachel), Robbie Miller Master Paul Mitchell Hairstylist (long, curly up-do, Alicia), Drew from Shear Envy Hair Salon (ombre, half-up, Morgan), My Moblie Salon Inc. (short curly half-up, Pilar)

xoxo, Carina

Virginia Wedding Photographers | Hampton Road Hair Stylists | Hampton Roads Wedding Photographers 

Hampton Roads Portrait Photographers

Portraits of Tracy. Simple and elegant.
We’ll let her pictures do the rest of the talking 🙂

xoxo, Michael & Carina

When I first got into photography, (this is Mike talking here), I loved finding and connecting with other young photographers on image sharing platforms such as Flickr and 500px.

Right around 2009 is also when I noticed what seemed to be a new trend in photography, (at least I think it was new)… a movement of young artists who solely for the sake of fun and expression were creating an entirely original look of what I would call surrealist photography. Much of it focused on self-portraiture.

Artists such as Brooke Shaden and Joel Robinson  weren’t just capturing the world around them, they were creating new worlds with their photography.

Even though my photography journey took me down another path, I still love admiring the worlds these artists create.

I was absolutely thrilled to learn that one of those artists lives right here in Yorktown, less than 5 minutes away!

Carol of Carol Persons Photography has  a passion for for what she does.

She creates art with photography.

Her photography is influenced by both surrealism and fashion photography, but she is always thinking up new and interesting ways to be original.

She arrived at a beach on the York River at 6:30 in the morning to meet me.

As a personal exercise on an overcast day, I decided to shoot mainly film.

Shooting slower with film allowed for her to practice her passion.

She set up her camera on a tripod and using a remote shutter release and a timer took self-portrait after self-portrait.

I couldn’t help but admire that…

There I sat, next to my Pelican case filled with gear, two cameras in hand…

And watched her with one camera, one lens, one tripod, and one remote trigger, creating art.

That was really inspirational.

She inspired me to get back even more to the basics of what it is I love about photography, which can even be translated into wedding photography…

And that’s not snapping away… but looking for that one special image…

One that really captures your imagination.

Here’s one of Carol’s self-portraits taken in Yorktown, mixed with a little bit of Photoshop wizardry..

Thanks for inviting me to capture these portraits of you, Carol!

film: fuji400h // contax 645 // developed by Richard Photo Lab