It did not take much convincing from Rachel and Justin to get me to leave the triple-digit scorching Texas summer heat and join them at their family’s vacation home in Crested Butte, Colorado. It was the first week in August, and while my friends and family in Dallas were sitting lazily by their air conditioning units and daydreaming of Antarctica, Rachel and Justin and I were walking down Crested Butte’s main street, going in and out of antique stores and coffee shops and restaurants, enjoying the sun and blue sky and, most importantly, the 60 degree weather. We ate delicious food, took midday naps, read books on cool sunny patios, and somewhere in there we found time to shoot Rachel and Justin’s engagement session. I am so looking forward to their March wedding which is sure to be fabulous, especially with the amazing Paige Chenault as their wedding coordinator! Here are some of my favorites:
Follow the link below to see more!
Click to continue reading “Rachel and Justin’s Colorado engagement session”
It’s always an interesting experience when another photographer hires me to take their photos. It’s even more interesting when TWO photographers hire me to take their photos together! CheyAnne and Doug are two very talented photographers, and they just so happen to be getting married next year in their current hometown of New Orleans, LA – which also happens to be one of my favorite places in the world! I’ve been so lucky to get to visit NOLA several times this year, and every time I fall more and more in love with it. CheyAnne and Doug really wanted to capture the feel of the city, so we started off in the heart of the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and wandered around the city. Here are some of my favorites:
Follow the link below to see more!
Click to continue reading “CheyAnne and Doug’s New Orleans Engagements”
19 Comments
- Beautiful session Stacy, looks very clean and natural.
- OMG! I'm in LOVE!!! I was mentally trying to keep track of my favorites but there's just too many! Love the ones in Jackson square, of the random horse and carriage passing by, all of the ones next to a wrought iron gate, and all that are just in the street showing off the beautiful architecture of the city. And such a cute couple!!
- Holy lord these are awesome.
- I love these so much. STUNNING!!! There are so many that are my favorites! I'm ready for NOLA now!
- Oh my gosh! I absolutely love these photos (and her red shoes-- totally jealous of those) Stacy!
- U-mmmmmazing! Love every single shot. You're incredible Stacy.
- How did you ever pick any favorites? They're all terrific! There's no way I could name one favorite - or even ten. Such beautiful moments with nice use of place.
- Stacy! I'm a huge fan of your blog and these just blew me away...what an awesome session!
- Such a gorgeous session! Those red shoes totally make it perfection.
- LOVE LOVE LOVE these photos! So glad you posted so many of them, because they are BEAUTIFUL! I can't get enough of her red shoes too!!!
- Wow! Look at you guys on the other side of the camera! Stacy, you did an amazing job capturing the essence of our city in your photos. Congratulations guys!
- We just went to NOLA in February--I recognized almost every scene in the photos. I hope they actually ate some beignets at Cafe du Monde!
- Wow! These are amazing images. You captured their emotion and expression perfectly.
- LOVE!! Those red shoes are to die for, and she is adorable! What a great-looking couple, and beautiful photos Stacy!
- You NEVER disappoint me! These are SOOOO beautiful and of course in one of my favorite places!
- Love the mood and feel of your images. Long session wow, day and night!
- These are super cute!
- Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!! It's been forever since I've stopped by, you are such the artist, makes me miss New Orleans! Best of luck in Ireland, can't wait to see what you come back with.
- This was a really neat shoot. Your use of the cityscape made the pictures pop.
I try really hard not to play favorites with my clients… I’m extremely, EXTREMELY lucky to have some amazing clients that are kind, friendly, understanding, appreciative, and generally awesome in every way. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve never yet had a bridezilla – knock on wood – and I’m blessed to really enjoy every wedding I shoot. That said… When a couple tells you they want to fly you out to Paris and Venice to do some portrait sessions, and they happen to talk your boyfriend into coming along and proposing while he’s there.. Well, that’s a pretty tough act to beat. Abby and Zach will always have a special place in my heart, and I truly loved getting to know them more during our travels throughout Europe. You can’t ask for two better friends than these guys, something I’m sure their bridesmaids and groomsmen would echo in a heartbeat! I’m also very thankful that they’re both completely gorgeous and photograph so well! Here are some highlights from their Paris and Venice Day After sessions.
We got started at the Tuileries, a garden near the Louvre, and eventually made our way through the Louve courtyard and to the Arc de Triomphe du Carroussel. It was absolutely freezing but Abby was a total trooper in her little strapless dress and high heels!
As the sun set and the temperatures plummeted we hopped on the Metro (followed by more than a few strange looks) and managed to snag a few quick shots at the Eiffel Tower before the snow and wind got the better of us.
We finished the session on a high note and headed back into the warmth of our hotel. After a few days of sightseeing and a very interesting overnight train ride, we rose at the break of dawn to get things started in St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
I love Abby’s accessories in these shots. She had actually picked them up the previous day at Murano, a tiny island off the coast of Venice famous for its glass (which they use to make incredible and very pricey stemware, jewelry, chandeliers, and statues).
We finished the photos off with a really neat tradition. If you ever travel to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, you’ll see hundreds of padlocks along the river, with initials scribbled onto the sides. As legend goes, if you write your initials and your beloved’s initials onto a lock, attach the lock to a city fixture, then toss the key into the river, you’re destined to be together forever. Abby and Zach loved this romantic idea, so they incorporated it into their wedding by handing out locks to their guests as favors. They also brought along padlocks for every city they were going to visit. As we stopped by a bridge on the Grand Canal, they decided to attach their lock there and toss the key into the famous waterway!
A & Z, Jason and I will always love you guys for giving us such a great opportunity to be your honeymoon paparazzi and for being part of such a special event in our lives. I’m so happy to have you as clients, and we’re both thrilled to call you both friends! Congratulations on your fabulous wedding, we know you guys are a perfect pair!
43 Comments
- I think I've said wow to myself at least three times looking at this post! WOW! I love the European vibe, the perfect posing, the gorgeous couple... all of it is absolutely stunning.
- Impressive! Gotta love that Paris light.
- These photos are awesome!!!!
- Okay, Stacy...seriously..just breathtaking photos! I can't pick out just one favorite! Congrats on a fantastic job!
- The second image of the set is stunning!
- These are AMAZING! The groom looks like the Adam Levine from Maroon 5
- BEAUTIFUL!!! What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We love our "models," Abby and Zach!!!
- You are completely right, you are 1 lucky girl! Clients flying you to Paris, then the clients is willing to wear a wedding gown in the middle of winter, then your bf proposes to you in the most romantic place on earth, I think those are all in the list of a photographer's dream! :) Btw, you're photos rock, but you probably know that already.. :)
- Can't think of any girl that wouldn't want pictures in front of the eiffel tower like that. How perfect!
- AHHHH-MAZING!!!!
- [...] Pretty darned romantic. Lots more photos from this fantastic European-day-after-shoot on Stacy’s site {here}!! [...]
- Wonderful work Stacy!
- Stacy, Every image here is just absolutely stunning! What a dream to photograph not only a gorgeous wedding, but also bridals and day afters and everything in places like Venice and Paris, and THEN get proposed to! What a fantastic trip for you. Beautiful work...they must be thrilled with their images.
- GORGEOUS!!
- wow. not only are you SOOO lucky to have clients who'll fly you all over the place for shoots, they are going to have an impossible time picking out images to print huge for their home! So they're lucky too! They're all gorgeous! How do you think of new poses for a wedding, and two days of shooting the same couple?! lol Congrats on your engagement and all the best to the newlyweds!
- Wow is right. Wow. Wow. Wow. These are just unbelievable.
- These are breathtaking!
- Ok, this is just ridiculous and nothing short of epic. So many fantastical images!
- Stacy I have been a blog stalker for quite some time now, but I must tell you that these images are just insane !! Seriously, I am drooling over each and every one !!
- Gorgeous!! And I love Abby's purple hair flower. How fun to shoot in Paris and Venice! Love :)
- These images are fantastic! I'm sure the bride and groom are beyond excited by them! My favorite is the horizontal in front of the the Eiffel Tower.
- Stunning work! I love all of them, especially the B&W in front of the Arch De Triumph and the first shot in Venice at St. Marks at dawn. I'm going to these places in a few months and can't wait! :)
- Ah-Mazing! I need more clients like these...whisking me away to Europe, getting my boyfriend to propose! Haha. You can only dream! It makes my heart ache though...I wish I was in Italy again, it brings back some great memories of Venice and Florence...
- Love these shots and the vibrant purple. How romantic is that lock legend?!
- [...] more of Abby and Zach’s European honeymoon photos in Stacey’s blog post. Inspiration , Photography Wedding Ideas No Comments March 1st, 2010 About... Tara Andrews [...]
- These are ridiculously perfect, I couldn't pick a favorite if you forced me to. Fantastic!
- Amazing photos!!! Just shoot me an email next time you come to Paris! I'd love to meet you! :)
- These photos from the wedding and honeymoon are amazing! They are a beautiful couple and fortunate to have the European destination wedding I would love to have some day! Great photography skills with the different times of day. I have been to Venice and I loved how you were able to get pictures in the square without tons of tourists.
- To die for. I hope I get to do something like this soon. They are so beautiful. Love the Venice shots especially.
- These are SO incredible! What a dream come true!
- .......WOW. Stacy, you have totally outdone yourself with this series. It looks like you captured their emotions and the trip perfectly. And of course, stunning processing as always. Awesome job!
- AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! Incredible job girl!
- I am in love with anything and everything PARIS. It is truly my favorite city in the history of this earth. So for me...these were pieces of art!! Just gorgeous.
- Such a stunning couple! You nailed everything...I am speechless!
- These images are stunning. There are so many lovely locations there and you captured them beautifully.
- Oh my goodness, how many stunning shots from one shoot! Amazing!
- amazing.
- I absolutely LOVE your work, I always look forward to your pictures on your website! These are absolutely amazing- The lighting, the details, the poses all so beautiful!
- Wow you can not ask for better clients than that...totally dreamy!
- [...] Europe to shoot a “Day After” session with the bride and groom. You can view the entire European Day After Session on her blog – here’s just a small snippet of this gorgeous [...]
- Hi Zach and Abby, your pictures are stunning!! My fiance loves Zach's wedding ring so I'm curious where it was purchased? He has been looking for a wedding ring forever now and still has not found anything he cares for. Your help is greatly appreciated!! :)
- [...] Abby & Zach’s European Day After Session, Stacy Reeves Day after sessions at the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and Venice? YES, PLEASE! Even better was the Parisian proposal for the photographer. Now that’s what I call a fabulous client/session. [...]
- [...] Europe to shoot a “Day After” session with the bride and groom. You can view the entire European Day After Session on her blog – here’s just a small snippet of this gorgeous [...]
Carrie and Preston are two of those people who you can’t help but enjoy being around. They’re always smiling and laughing, the life of the party. You pretty much know that if these two are going to be there, you’re going to have a great time! I remember the first time I met Carrie and Preston, I immediately called my boyfriend and said “I can’t wait for this wedding, these guys are a blast!” Of course, it didn’t hurt that they were flying me out to NYC to shoot their engagement session, either!
I was also really excited about their wedding venue – a gorgeous Italian themed event hall with statues, fountains, arches, and beautiful greenery everywhere. I know Carrie was in love with the venue as well, so when she found out that they had gone bankrupt and had no money left to refund the deposits of the brides who had booked their weddings there, we were both devastated – and pretty angry, too! Preston, on the other hand, wasn’t too torn up about it.. because their replacement venue was Minute Maid Park, home of his beloved Astros! It all ended up for the best, the new venue was stunning and everyone had a fantastic night. Here are a few of my favorite images:
Check out all of these bridesmaids.. Carrie has some hot friends!! The really cool part about this wedding is that Stacy Bilnoski, another one of my brides, got married at the same church a couple of months later, and had most of the same bridesmaids, so I got to shoot all of these supermodels TWICE! We had a little down time before the ceremony so I got some fun, sexy shots of each girl individually.
One of my favorite aspects of Carrie’s wedding were the flowers.. She knew she wanted white flowers, so she asked each girl what their favorite flower was, and got them each a bouquet of their choice. It was so beautiful, and allowed the girls to get a bouquet they loved while still sticking to the wedding floral theme. I definitely recommend this!
This was one of the more difficult weddings I have shot in terms of formal photos. The wedding took place after sunset, and Carrie and Preston chose not to do a First Look, so we had to take most of the formal group photos at night. It isn’t the way I usually work, but it was actually kind of nice to be forced out of my routine and have to do something completely outside of my comfort zone. I adore this wedding party shot!
If you couldn’t tell from the size of their wedding party, Carrie and Preston’s wedding was a BIG affair, and Union Station at Minute Maid Park was perfect for them. The room was large enough to feel comfortable and spacious, but not so big that it overwhelmed the wedding. Carrie’s team did a wonderful job decorating it and making it feel cohesive and inviting.
Klockwork performed at the reception, and they were GREAT! They kept the party going strong all night.
11 Comments
- holy biggest-wedding-party-ever! awesome stuff though, Stacy.
- Awesome job... as always. ;)
- My mom is in love with the black collared dress with the lace around the waist. Would there be any way to find out where it is from?
- Stacy, just beautiful! You really caught all of the great moments of our special day! Thank you! And to Jenna, that is my mother-in-law... I will find out where she got the dress and get back to you :)
- Stacy, well as the father of the bride I can't be happier with how you captured this special day! You have tearing up again as I look at these great shots. And you are right about Carrie & Preston - they are a great couple and I think everyone will remember this wedding for a long time to come.
- Stacy, I love how you did the formal shot - it looks simply beautiful!
- Loving the details shots! The reception lighting is awesome!
- You rock!! Love the bridal party portraits :)
- Gorgeous wedding! Absolutely love the groomsmen shot along with the bridal party shot. Simply fantastic.
- Love love pics 1, 2 and 3... and that church large bridal party pose. You have inspired me for future large parties. Great work!
- In that one B&W pic the bride looks like Sarah Jessica Parker. It's in the 6th row down of pictures. Check it out!
This past weekend I was helping my sister shop for her wedding dress, and we were amazed at just how few non-strapless dresses there were out there. It seemed like the only dresses with straps were either extremely simple, or just plain old-looking. I know that many women aren’t that comfortable showing all that skin on their wedding day, and for girls who have body image issues with their arms, a strapless dress will only make things 100 times worse. As a wedding photographer, I have to admit that I am not a fan of strapless dresses, because they tend to be very difficult to work with and, more often than not, don’t fit the bride properly. Although I have to admit that the majority of the most beautiful wedding dresses out there are strapless, I also know that for many women, a strapless dress is less than ideal.
So what’s a gal to do? Well, as I learned this weekend, many bridal ateliers can add cap sleeves to most dresses. In the newest issue of Elegant Bride (just got mine in the mail this weekend!), I saw a bride (fellow wedding photographer Carrie Patterson, as a matter of fact) who added just two small gathered sections of tulle to create her straps, and it looked incredibly delicate and beautiful, and probably only cost her about $5 to do.
Image Courtesy of Nashan Photography
Another bride added a bit of scalloped allencon lace to make a halter, a look just ADORE!
However, my favorite solution has to be the bolero. Boleros are so trendy and hot right now, and they instantly couture-ify any wedding gown. The best part is that they can be removed at any time, so you can go formal for the ceremony and photos, and then remove it when you bustle the gown for the reception. It’s like having two dresses in one! Bonzie on Etsy definitely has the cutest boleros, wraps, and bridal scarves I have ever seen, and her prices are very reasonable (most are below $100). Here are a few of my favorites:
If you want something with a little more drama, Modern Romance on Etsy offers an amazing organza capelet that can also be dyed to match your wedding colors, and Countessa on Etsy has some really hot boleros and wraps, including an uber cute black and white damask wrap that I just ordered for myself! If you want something more traditional, try this lace shrug from Rohm on Etsy or this ruffled neckpiece from indulgencecouture on Etsy. Many brides think “There’s no way I can pull that off!” (like my sister when I tried to talk her into a birdcage veil), and if you’re a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, then maybe a bolero or wrap isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking at these photos and thinking “Oh my god that’s so cute I want to do that!” then chances are you are stylish enough that you can totally work it. Remember, fashion is all about confidence – if you think you look hot in something, everyone else will too. Just own it, girl!
14 Comments
- I totally agree. Being a girl, I am always looking at pretty wedding dresses just to plan my imaginary wedding! I never can find one with sleeves. I remember prom wearing a strapless dress and how miserable I was because my dress did not stay up. I do not want that for my wedding at all!
- how fabulously clever. I had a strapless dress and to this day wished I'd done something with straps. Great ideas!
- I love these! i so would of worn one of these for my wedding! so vintage!
- [...] http://www.stacyreeves.com/2009/04/06/tips-for-brides-boleros/ « Featured Gown: Cosmobella | [...]
- I was wondering if you would be able to do this with a strapless dress! I am looking for a halter-style dress to help minimize the shoulders (I am a firefighter so read - broad shoulders and muscular arms) and halter dresses look best. What a fantastic idea to have someone add a bit more fabric to get the look I'd like! Now I don't have to be so picky when trying to find a dress for a budget conscious bride like me! Thanks!
- Hey there! I LOVE your new site. How do I subscribe to your blog though?
- [...] bridals! Notice something cool about Rebecca’s bridal ensemble? She read my T4B Straps and Wraps post and decided to add some tulle straps to her dress! I think it completely transformed the [...]
- I am so happy I found this..... I am getting married in one month today! I do really LOVE my dress but it is strapless (which I never thought I would go for in the first place...)I now want to cut the train off and make straps or some sort of wrap! I just need to find someone to do it for me.
- Oh yes, that was one of my few wedding dress stipulations: I wanted STRAPS and I didn't want my dress to be beaded. I found an amazing Yolanda Couture dress that provided the right amount of "special" without looking like just another strapless wedding dress (not to mention that it covered up the dreaded underarm fat that loves to make an appearance when I wear strapless dresses!). Amen, sista, preach it! :)
- I love the ideas above! Here is an idea for girls who love more formal and traditional weddings: I had a strapless and sweetheart wedding dress, I ask the seamstress to add straps and I kept them tucked into the back of my dress and then at our reception after a little while, I went and added the straps! It was perfect and I could dance my heart out without pulling at the top!
- Very unique Boleros , am definitely getting one.....
- Where can I find the jacket on the top middle photo? It's no where to be found on Bonzie's web site, but is *exactly* what I want. Please e-mail me! Thanks.
- Lol Stacy! I just noticed you were suggesting Bonzie in this article! I read it, but I wasn't even engaged yet! :-) But the Bonzie bolero is what I ended up with! You influenced me subliminally.
- Thank you for hosting my photo of Carrie and for giving credit. She was such a gorgeous bride.
Okay, so it’s sort of a Day Of Session.. Since Mark and Jaclyn’s wedding ended fairly early in the day, we went ahead and did part of their Day After session as soon as the reception ended. It happened to fall at the perfect time of day, just before sunset, where the light is the most beautiful. Since Kelly and I didn’t know the area at all, I had to rely on Mark’s amazing-photo-op-location-scouting abilities for our locations, and he certainly knew how to pick them!
Our first major stop was in a little town called Helen, where everything is German-inspired, from the food to the architecture.
Jaclyn is definitely not the type of girl who loves to be the center of attention.. Wandering around in the middle of a busy city square wearing a huge wedding dress was not exactly her cup of tea, but we are so proud of her for toughing it out. Hopefully the photos are worth all the unwanted attention!
After scarring poor Jackie for life, we managed to find a secluded park where we could get some more romantic shots. I love parks!
The next morning we headed to an old abandoned building that we had seen on the side of the road. I love old worn-out warehouses almost as much as I love solid color walls!
Then Kelly spotted an amazing parking lot filled with old vintage gasoline pumps.. What a cool find! We didn’t stay long for fear of someone getting tetanus, but we did get a couple of really awesome shots.
The goal of this shot was to capture the lovebirds surrounded by “tree monsters”… Don’t ask.
Finally we finished the day at a small airport tucked away in the forest. We nearly got run over by a couple of planes trying to take off. Whoops!
Jaclyn and Mark, I cannot thank you enough for allowing Kelly and I to photograph your awesome wedding. We fell in love with the both of you, and I just wish you guys were closer so we could hang out more! If you’re ever in Texas, you know who to call!
Kelly Niemann, thanks so much for taking so many amazing photos and being the perfect second shooter. You’re awesome! Go check her out!
13 Comments
- I love the last fifteen. They all are gorgeous, but the last fifteen are amazing!
- awesome awesome photos stacy (and kelly)! jaclyn's smile is so beautiful!
- Tree monsters... haha! Kudzu is pretty. :D And yes, I was totally stoked about gas pump find. Like nerdy - excited. Jackie and Mark, y'all are amazing! Stacy, thanks for being brave under the airplanes with me. ;) I had a ton of fun the whole weekend!
- these are hotttt!
- Beautiful photos and beautiful couple!!
- Fantastic set! Better and better with every post. Keep rockin it!
- I really love the shots at the old building. Such great textures and feeling.
- Stacy, these are fabulous! I'm especially in love with the Veronica Lake peekaboo eye shot, which really features her gorgeous coloring perfectly. What an adorable couple! They must be thrilled with these. :-)
- Stacy, Great work as always, I'm sure it was a lot of fun to shoot. Man, why can't I find an old gas pump graveyard in my neighborhood?
- MAN! Stacy! I just LOVED LOVED the images from this session! They so rocked!!! Cheerio -Melissa E Earle
- this is a awesome day after session! the old gas pumps are a cool backdrop. love the style.
- You are so lucky to shoot this beautiful couple and they are luckt to have you as a photographer! Amazing mix!
- wow. i've been stalking around on your site for hours. these are my favorites. amazing!!!!!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.. Photographers throw the best weddings!! When Mark Elkins, my friend through an online photography community, began his search for a destination wedding photographer, I knew I had to be the one to shoot his wedding. He and his then-fianceé Jaclyn are super sexy, their wedding was going to be an intimate affair in a tiny town outside of Atlanta (one of my favorite cities!), the wanted to do a Day After session (and you KNOW how I love those), and of course, that unbeatable photo-factor. Working with photographers is such a joy because they totally “get” me and understand what I am going for when I do something unusual. I also had the pleasure of bringing along friend and fellow photographer Kelly Niemann to shoot with me, and we had an absolute blast cavorting all over Georgia!
Jaclyn and Mark’s wedding was a very unique one, for many reasons. First and foremost, instead of throwing a huge bash, they stuck to their small-town roots and had their wedding at Mark’s parents’ home, with just their family and closest friends in attendance. Here are a few details from the day:
I absolutely LOVED Jaclyn’s dress.. I am a sucker for ruffles :)
Don’t you just love her hair? Stunning!
Writing his vows before the ceremony.. Slacker ;) Just kidding!
My favorite.. The rings!
Coming down the stairs for the ceremony
Some quick formals after the ceremony. Jaclyn and Mark’s Best Man and Maid of Honor are also married – Cool, huh?
Their reception was a very short one. They shared a sweet first dance..
Ate some cake…
And hung out with all their friends!
I love little details like this one of Mark fiddling with his new ring. I think it’s the tiny moments like this that really tell the story of the day. 
Check back soon for images from their awesome, awesome, AWESOME Day After Session. Big thanks to my second shooter Kelly for taking several of these gorgeous images!
7 Comments
- Great images... well done...
- Wow, Stacy, these are just fabulous - what a gorgeous collection of images! I especially love the "formals", and the detail montage at the top is all kinds of awesome! Thanks for being such a fantastic source of inspiration :-)
- Gorgeous photos - they're so bright and airy!
- Yummy, yummy dress!! Beautiful couple too. Great stuff.
- Beautiful wedding and great story! Your blog is perfect.
- You have been grown up mark since the last time that i saw you, I think it was in Ireland! Me and Jannie wish you and your wife a great time. Enjoy !
- Incredible pictures Stacy! This brings back great memories of a very happy day!
Erica May - This session is amazing! I love when you do parts of your session in full sun, very unique!
Kent Wedding Photography - Simply beautiful photography
bec {wanted imagery} - Such a lovely session Stacy! I love the mountains as a backdrop, it almost looks like a painted studio background! My favourite I think is the purple wall with yellow windows. Beautiful couple.