The Root Photography Blog

Remember back in May when we had that big portrait contest?! Well, we were finally able to do our first session with one of the runners-up!! Hayley and Elfyn stole my heart immediately. She started her entry admitting to be a blog stalker (my favorite kind of bride!) and let us know that while they wanted to have us shoot their wedding day, their budget wasn’t Root friendly. :(
“When I first starting reading your blog, your personalities really came through in the photos, and I felt that you matched ours really well! Photographers just don’t seem as fun in the UK! We’d love a photo that Nate climbed a tree to take; we’d love a self-photo in an elevator mirror with the Roots; and we’d absolutely love to see our photo in the blog with Jensey exclaiming ‘favourite!'”

Hayley also let us know she recently lost 40 lbs for her wedding day and was looking forward to having some pictures to show off her rockin’ new bod. Ok, so maybe she didn’t use those words per-say, but still. ;)

Anyway, somewhere between Hayley being crazy flattering to us in her sweet note and the next 3 amazing photos she included in her email, Nate and I fell in love with Hayley and Elfyn! We felt so completely connected to them and immediately knew we not only wanted to give them some pretty pictures of themselves, but we wanted to become their friends! I’m talking friendship bracelets and all! :)

Hayley, you’re such a better bed jumper than me!!!

Hayley and Elfyn spent almost a month in Orlando around the time they got married- How amazing is that?! We scheduled their photo shoot shortly after their wedding day so we could capture them in all their glowy-newlywed goodness! No, seriously, I’m convinced there’s a special glow around a couple for a few weeks after they’re married- See? :)

Hayley, this is why we picked you guys. :)

It felt like we hadn’t shot around Disney’s Boardwalk Resort in ages… Kinda felt like slipping in a comfortable pair of jeans! :)

Hands down, my favorite moment from the session: I told Hayley to walk up behind Elfyn and do something, assuming she’d walk up behind him and give him a bear hug or snuggle or something, and we got this! Hayley for the epic win! ;)

FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!

Hayley ended her contest entry with, “Okay, okay, I give. The underlying reason we’d love to have you for a shoot? We just have to meet Huck! :)”

I feel dreadful about completely forgetting about that part! In fact, it was the night after Hayley and Elfyn’s session that Huck had his little adventure. How terrible is that?

Hayley and Elfyn, we’re so excited to have you in the Root Photography family and as new friends! Can’t wait for our next visit. :) And I promise that next time, you can hang out with Huck!! Thank you for entering our giveaway!!!

The summer of 2010 has been simultaneously the longest and shortest summer of my life. On the one hand, it feels like we just got back from our trip to Africa yesterday, but it feels like it’s been years since we’ve shot a wedding. We’ve never gone so long between events, but I think after the busy 1st half of the year, I really needed the break!

The morning of Sara and Ryan’s wedding, I was running around the house so excited. You see, I was that nerd that genuinely looked forward to the first day of school. If I’m being completely honest here, one of my favorite days of the year growing up was probably when Mom took us school supply shopping! I was so excited to get fresh notebooks, pens, and Mom always let us splurge on the good stuff- You know, I didn’t just have to get the plain purple folder, I was allowed to get the Lisa Frank folder with the golden retrievers on it! :)

While Nate didn’t let me go school supply shopping before Sara and Ryan’s wedding, I am pushing him to let me get this amazing camera strap I found on Etsy… (*hint hint*…)

Enough about school supplies- On to Sara and Ryan’s amazing day! We started by photographing some really pretty things:

This one feels magical. :)

Sara and Ryan opted to put photos first and see each other before the ceremony…

… Which totally paid off. :)

Their bridal party was amazing. I casually suggested it’d make a cool shot if we could get everyone on this cement wall, and the next thing I know, girls in high-heels are scaling this thing with no complaints. Did I mention this was all happening in crazy August heat? Amazing. :)

Our most favorite florist in the universe sprinkled his pixie dust over the Wedding Pavilion- I’ve never, ever seen it look so beautiful. If you don’t have your florist yet (and especially if you’re a Root bride!) go contact Lee Forrest immediately. Tell him we sent ya! :)