East Beach Photography was in Richmond last month and having a great time until we ran into some seriously RAD girls!  Thank goodness I had a camera lens in front of me to protect myself.  I slowly backed away and they got even more aggressive…I’ve heard that Richmond girls can be like that!

So, why tell you this?  ‘Cause the same thing is going on this Sunday in Virginia Beach.  10,000 runners will shut down the city south of Princess Anne Road…just be forewarned, it will be like the Rolling Stones have come to town for a concert!

Rock on!

What happens when you “frame” a few people at a Saint Patrick’s Day party?  Well, you get some interesting pictures for sure!  This was at the Second Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Party in East Beach, Norfolk, with over 180 people in attendance.  I always like to try something new photographically (preferably during a non-paid assignment) to see how it might turn out.  In this case, a wooden frame served as a great prop and ice-breaker for those who are camera shy (yes, an oxymoran at a St. Patrick’s Day Party)!  Using a 15”x15” Lastolite Ezybox threw some nice soft light but was somewhat challenging to keep the shadows from messing with the composition.  I think next time I’ll add a Westcott Icelight into the mix to add some fill light.  Here are a few of the fun pictures from the night!

Here are a few images from a photo shoot I had over at Fort Monroe last year.  Tracie had an awesome black Jeep and wanted to capture it using high dynamic range imaging.  Definitely a great place for senior portraits or even an engagement session.  I’ll have to keep this place in mind for future assignments.  My next major event coming up is the Color Me RAD 5K runs in Richmond and later in Virginia Beach.  Can’t wait, last year’s RAD event was sold out and this year is also!

Much appreciation to Amber Yankow who was the stylist for Abby’s wedding and bridal portrait session in 2012.  I was thrilled when Amber asked me to provide some images for her to use in her booth at the 13th Annual VOW Bridal Event coming up on February 24, 2013.  Be sure to come down and see Amber and all the vendors at the show!

Abby and Bart’s wedding was one of the highlights of the 2012 wedding season for East Beach Photography.  First there was a bridal portrait session with Abby and her horse, Savannah.  Multiple locations were chosen around the Alpha Omega Farm as well as heading down the road to a secluded area near the West Landing Marina.  When the wedding day arrived it could not have been more perfect.  Both Abby and Bart arrived on horseback and exchanged vows before the 300 plus guests present.  After a few family portraits in the polo field, the party began in earnest in the massive tent erected nearby.  A few raindrops came and went but nothing dampened the party that night.  Thanks to Jessica Shea for assisting with the wedding photography.

• Wedding Planner:  Courtney Tyler @ Whimsical Weddings
• Dress:  Maya Couture
• Hair & Makeup:  Amber Yankon
• Flowers:  Flowers-Wayne Jones
• Cake:  Cakes by Crystal
• Ceremony Music:  Harbor String Quartet
• Reception Music:  The Original Rhondels
• Invitation Suite:  Elf Letterpress & Design
• Monogram:  Allison R. Banks Designs
• Catering & Linens:  Catering Concepts
• Tent and Lighting:  Big Top Entertainment
• Location:  Bride and Grooms home, The Virginia Beach Polo Club @ Alpha Omega Farm

August 20-26, 2012

This was the fourth year of East Beach Photography’s coverage of the surfing, bands, and Miss ECSC contest at the ECSC.  Though this year did not have the large waves of prior years, the caliber of surfing and surfers was amazing.  A 6-Star event ranking by the Association of Surfing Professionals brought the big guns to town to share in the $155,000 purse.  For the event, East Beach Photography brought in its own heavy gun to take the images, i.e., a new $7,400 Canon f/2.8 300mm telephoto lens.  The sharpest lens you’ll find anywhere – proof is when you can see the eyelashes of a surfer riding a wave 200 feet away.   Many of these images below were used by Jon Coen in his ESPN surfing blog.  Can’t wait for next year’s event!

How do you keep yourself fresh and creative?  One way is to do something you’ve never done before, like run a 5K with people throwing colored corn starch all over your body!  Only problem was I was there to photograph the event and had expensive camera gear to keep safe…yes, a Canon “L” lens that was white, but not for long.  While up on the lift above the crowd I was snapping away until I saw a purple blur sail by and hit me in the shoulder!  In my foolishness I thought I was immune from the Color Bomb squad.  Not!

I can’t wait until Color Me Rad comes back to Virginia Beach and Richmond.  If you were there, you know what I mean!

P.S. Who were those three Toga guys…they rocked!!

Aretha and Antonio had a Midnight Ride wedding, i.e., “one by land, and two by sea” on June 30^th in downtown Norfolk.  First, was a wedding ceremony on land overlooking the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River followed by a reception on the Spirit of Norfolk.

With a heat index that day of over 100 degrees, First Class Pedicab were there to take Aretha and Antonio in comfort to the cruise boat.  East Beach Photography hitched a ride on a second pedicab to capture some great in-motion pictures on the way to Town Point Park where a few intimate shots of the couple were taken.  Then on we went to the Spirit of Norfolk where their air conditioning gave us all some welcomed relief from the heat.

Later in the evening, the wedding guests relaxed topside as the cruise went up the Elizabeth River towards the Naval Base.  Unfortunately, an approaching line of thunderstorms required the captain to take the Spirit back to the berth early but the party continued on late into the evening with  John ‘JJ’ Campos of Astro DJs providing the entertainment.

I’m so glad Aretha found East Beach Photography on Thumbtack.com and I’m looking forward to doing another Midnight Ride wedding in the future!

Last weekend, Kia and Sherman came together on the beach in front of the Oceanfront Hilton to say “I do”!  This is the first wedding that East Beach Photography has done that was arranged through Thumbtack.com.  Ted Johns advised me of this online search service and it is a great way for a bride to find the best provider for various elements of her wedding. 

The wedding on the beach was simple and elegant with the ceremony under a bamboo arch erected and decorated by Mary and Shannon of Palette of Petals.  Kia arrived in a striking red Mustang and as she walked down the ramp off the Oceanfront boardwalk, the tourists lined the railing, snapping pictures and congratulating her.  During the ceremony, the railing stayed full of tourists taking in the entire ceremony!  

Taking pictures after the ceremony was a bit challenging as this was a hot summer day and the beach was quite crowded.  But the bathing suit crowd all got into the swing of things and moved out-of-picture (or else will be cloned away later in Photoshop)!  

More pictures are to come.  Here is one of my favorites with Kia and her bridesmaids.

The Race Day Soiree at East Beach brought out the frilly hats and bow ties to raise money for The American Cancer Society. Here are a few images from the event with more to come in the next week!

I must give a shout-out to Paula Lipsey (and her committee) that put on this awesome event! Now if only I had bet $1,000 on “I’ll Have Another” to win!