Bit of Ivory Photography | Virginia and International Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Now presenting... the new Bit of Ivory website!

2012-01-30T14:21:00.005-05:00

For most photographers, January is the month to get things taken care of behind the scenes before the busyness of the year explodes. (Hence why you don't see a plethora of sessions being posted this month!) :)

It's been in the plans to...
* Redesign my website
* Redesign my client relationships
* Revamp my own creativity and how I see things (through creative shoots and shoots just for me!)
* Rejuvenate my perspective
* Reconnect with the amazing wedding vendors of my area
* Design my marketing plan for the 2012

It hasn't been an easy month to be honest. Here-and-there things popped up, but all situations have made me proud to know how I run my business with integrity and how much I love my photo-fam. They have been the backbone of why Bit of Ivory is Bit of Ivory Photography. So you, photo-fam reading, please know without your unyielding kindness, unconditional support, and limitless encouragement, I would not be here without you. Thank you for your love and for giving me the opportunity every day to share our lives together... and heck, just being you. :)

Without further ado, it's time to CHECK off "redesign my website" and remove that Post-it from my office! :D

I can't thank Melissa Love, the amazing web/graphic/identity designer and friend (and cohort from our Jane Austen shoot!), enough for her brains and guidance for this website. It first started last summer when she said, "Chelsea. You need to showcase your masterpieces better." I tugged and whined, "But I wanna be different! I want text!!" She replied, "But people need to SEE your images right off the bat." (Note: you should read her responses in a delightful British accent.) She has a way with words, and she won me over. I was overwhelmed at the tasks that lay ahead though...

Well, it all fell into place a few weeks ago. It really all fell into place at the right time because she will be making something very cool available very soon. I was so excited she chose me to be a part of her "secret lab" as it helped me visualize and better showcase what I'm all about! So thanks to Melissa, I have new vision for my website and SHAZAM! a better website for my clients.

Here is the new Bit of Ivory awesomeness thanks to SHOWIT!

BIT OF IVORY PHOTOGRAPHY

[You know I still had to keep this!]

[I wanted images that spoke to my style but also displayed an example of a Bit of Ivory bride. While all my brides are pretty epic and beautiful, this one image spoke with classic and quiet, yet stunning beauty. I like that. :) Thanks, Meghan, for being wonderful!]

[A new feature is the Love Notes... before Facebook did away with Reviews, I saved them because I knew I wanted to use them somewhere...]

[... and to show that I'm not just a photographer who shows up at a wedding. My brides become my family.]

[The main attraction... Newly showcased images! Woo woo!]

So check it out, play around in the new site, let me know what you think!
- Chelsea :)

Weekend Wisdom from Ayn Rand.

2012-01-28T00:52:00.003-05:00

At times, I struggle a little bit with my speech. I toss over my words even in my photo sessions. My brain is thinking five things ahead of what my mouth is capable of speaking in the moment. It can be embarrassing and frustrating at times, but you know what? I make light of it, have a laugh at myself, and am consistently reminded that I have the best clients in the world by their good natures.

So because of all that, writing has always been a big deal to me. Most know I was an English major in college (hence the Jane Austen obsession). I've always had trouble finding spoken words to say-- yet every time I picked up a pen or took to my keyboard, words came more natural. I became better understood to myself and to others.

With a pen, I could express my thoughts and feelings much more clearly. I could create worlds, characters, plots, and even the everyday schedule. Ayn Rand's quote "Words are a lens to focus one's mind" was just the perfect combination of words for this little photographer. :)

- Chelsea :)

The Ladies of Behind the Veil Studio | Virginia Beach Wedding Hair and Makeup

2012-01-24T14:40:00.010-05:00

At a wedding vendor get-together in late 2011, I met Liz Alfier, and from that moment on, I just knew she was going to a person with a kind and good heart. And heck, I love being around people like that! You know they are good peoples, and our world needs more good peoples! :) (Oh, "Ansel" is in her family name, too. Can we say EPIC?! #iwanttobeanseladams)

Well, when I first met Liz, she told me her dream was to open an exclusively wedding-related salon. A place where brides and their parties can go get ready and be pampered by trained professionals. She told me it would probably be a few years for her dream if it was meant to be.

Even after we worked together a few different times with Bit of Ivory clients, I saw her again about a month later at another vendor event. She announced the dream was happening! WHOA. Talk about when God says GO, you run full speed ahead. In a matter of weeks, proverbial doors flung wide open to make this dream a reality.

I have a soft spot for dreams if you didn't guess already; I get kind of emotional when they become reality. (Remember my bawling when I was in the UK for our Jane Austen shoot? Yep.) I want to fiercely fight for dreams and cheer on my loved ones when a dream starts to materialize; there is such beautiful power in them... I blame it on my Disney-upbringing. :)

Without further ado, Behind the Veil Studio is now very much a reality and open for business on Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach. It's a place that you can get most any salon service provided by Liz, Sam, or Aubrey. It's a lovely salon geared towards the bridal industry, but you can bet your pretty buttons I'm getting my hair cut over there when it's time for said haircut!

It was an honor to shoot some headshots for two of the three ladies (Liz and Sam!) behind the hair and makeup. (Sadly, Aubrey wasn't able to make it to the shoot!) And a ton of fun because you know they'll be stylish in their own rights. ;)

[hee hee I need to make it a goal to sneak my scarves into every shoot I do.... :D]

[LOVE Sam's ring!]

[Pardon the subpar quality of this one since I took it with my iPhone... but I loved this so much from their Grand Opening last weekend. I wish I had wall space because I would do the same thing! She took photos of everyone who has supported them in this endeavor... I won't lie... I did get kinda misty-eyed that she put my mug up there. The one with the cupcake on my head. For realz, friends know me well. :) ]

I wish you ladies all the very best!! It's going to be a wonderful addition to the local wedding industry!
- Chelsea :)

Bridal Show Hilarity. (AKA "Don't let anyone associated with Bit of Ivory out of the house.")

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

One of the best things you HAVE to do when you're engaged is go to a bridal show. It's just the thing to do. To experience the craziness, crowdiness, and ridiculousness of fun. If you've never gone and are not a crowd person (like myself), prep yourself mentally, grab a girlfriend (don't subject the poor guys to this!!), and squeeze through the lines to get to the food samples and treats!

This year, the Bit of Ivory photo-fam took a field trip to the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase at Norfolk Scope. Loaded up with water and snacks, Jenn (May 2012), Ashley (April 2012), and I piled into my car to meet the other photo-fam and walk around the colorful event.

The photos below will tell the story better, but let's just say there's a reason why we tend to gravitate towards each other... if we were stuck in a room with each other for days on end, we could probably survive on hilarity alone. Especially if there's a photo booth.

It'll be weird posting "non-pro photos" (i.e., photo booth and camera photos) on here, but they're sentimental to me... so they're going up here! Yeah! :D

[Basically, we're a mess. A hilarious mess.]

[Love my June brides!]

[This is basically the Ashley collage. Basically, she stalks me, so I stalk her. ;) ]

[Definitely my favorite picture of the whole day. And it basically made my life to find out there is very much an intentional Zoolander link to Blue Steel Lighting. WIN.]

[We pretty much became photo booth experts by the end of the day. And Jenn surely knows how to rock out the props. ;) ]

It was also awesome seeing all of my wedding vendor friends in action and mingling with everyone. Kinda made for all-around perfect day! :)

- Chelsea :)

FEATURED | Le Magnifique

2012-01-11T12:11:00.005-05:00

Blogs mean a lot to Kim; I knew that from the very first phone conversation I had with her when she said, "By the way, I already know what my blog post title will be for your blog!" I know she has Google Reader with all of her favorites, and well, she's just a voracious reader. Girl after my own heart. ;)

So when we got the engagement session all finished, I set out to look for the perfect blog fit for her engagement session because of that intense blog love of hers. I had been a fan of Le Magnifique since its inception last year, and so when the editor emailed back saying she'd love to feature Kim and Ly... well, I was super excited!

Versailles engagement + Versailles-inspired engagement session + French-titled wedding blog = sheer perfection!

I think all engagements should be remembered in a way that makes your heart soar. It only happens once... and so everything about an engagement should tug at your heartstrings and take you back to a time you just were happy to be with your soulmate. :)

And heck, I won't lie. It's pretty cool to have your photography paired up with those memories. :)

So head on over to check out the FEATURE!

- Chelsea :)

Heath + Bethany | Williamsburg Portrait Photography

2012-01-08T22:48:00.003-05:00

Before I moved back home to Virginia, I lived in Boston for two years, and I met some amazing people. ♥ I LOVED Boston. Everything about that city spoke to me, the girl who was born 200 years late. The food, the places, the history... and of course, the people.

I was the service coordinator for the 20-somethings group at my church for a good majority of my living there, so that facilitated some friendships. Heath was one of them! He was like the big brother I never had and always was ready to serve and help out when asked. When I had to fly into Providence, RI, he and my Boston BFF Corin drove all the way to Providence to come pick me up. It's stuff like that that imprints into your good memories. Oh, and he can cook, too. Like really well. I've already challenged him to make some outstanding gluten-free food when I'm up in Boston again. haha

So when Heath said he was spending Christmas in my neck of the woods with his special lady, I was really excited to see him and get to meet Bethany (who was unbelievably nice and is becoming a TEACHER, too!)! He wanted to surprise her... and so we played co-conspirators by way of flowers and photos. It was kind of fun being all sneaky-sneaky.

It was the same rainy day as the Williamsburg Wreaths craziness, but we rocked it out nonetheless with some overhangs and umbrellas.

- Chelsea :)

Williamsburg Wreaths of 2011... well, some of them.

2012-01-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

So, the sad story is that when I was in Williamsburg for my and Rusty's anniversary, it was majorly rainy. Like enough to drench my favorite part of the historic area!!

I promised my PA family, Dad and Mom Forry, that I would post the wreath photos that I did capture though. It's just kind of a bummer that I wasn't able to get all of the ones I wanted like I did last year. Insert MAJOR SIGHING here. :)

One day, I want to find out who the florists are who design these things... and I just want to watch them craft one. Just once. Someone out there in the interwebs must know someone, right!? :)

But anyhow, this black and white photo kind of makes up for the lack of quantity... normally, I'm ALL about the color for the wreaths, but this one just makes me smile a bunch. I think Ansel Adams would be proud... I hope?! :)

So, there you go, Mom and Dad Forry! I wish there were more, but either way, the wreaths will always captivate!

- Chelsea :)

The 2011 Photo-Fam Recap.

2012-01-01T15:23:00.007-05:00

2011 was such an interesting year in terms of life changes. Rusty entered nursing school last January, and God kinda said to me, "This is your last year teaching in a classroom." So in August, I went into full-time photographer mode. Those two events alone have transformed things... and I'd like to think for the better. :)

But no matter my own life changes, it's the people I encounter each year that transform me as well. All of my couples and friends I meet through Bit of Ivory are just huge blessings to me.

In 2011...
... I went to England to see our Jane Austen stylized shoot come to life.
... April 2011's Morgan and Bruce adopted some baby kitties, Shera and Zorro.
... we had a photo-fam BBQ in September.
... May 2011's Kelli and Eric bought a house and got a new puppy!
... October 2011's Amanda and Josh will be having some awesome professional advancements and education opportunities.
... I was published in Professional Photographer Magazine for my Persuasion Boudoir work.
... May 2011's Dreama started a new photography business focusing on families and children.
... September 2010's Megan landed an awesome new personal banking position which she's a total rockstar.
... May 2012's Jenn got an awesome new graphic artist job while launching her own graphic design business.
... the photo-fam went for spa pedicures (well, the ladies did! haha) in September and bowling in December.
... and the list can go on...

There were many other milestones in everyone's lives, but then that'd take about a novel to complete! So do forgive me. :)

A HUGE thank you to those who give me the opportunity to share my life and passion with you. Without you, I couldn't do what I love every day. You are so very important to me, and I'm excited to continue to share this journey with you each passing year.

Love,
Chelsea :)

Morgan... for fun! | Massachusetts Bridal Photography

2011-12-31T01:11:00.002-05:00

This post is WAYYYYYY overdue. My beautiful friend Morgan (yes, she will look familiar as she was an April 2011 bride!) and I work up in Massachusetts every July, and this time she had her husband ship up her wedding gown #2 right before she had her Iowa reception weeks later.

So on our off-time, we frolicked on over to a beautiful little trail near the Amherst College campus and rocked it out. It was actually pretty funny to interact with the bikers and joggers who flew by us on the trail. They were full of congratulations and compliments!

And yours truly totally rocked out that bouquet. However, as much as I enjoyed arranging it, I'll leave my future floral endeavors to the pros. ;)

- Chelsea :)

Happy Crafty December!

2011-12-23T11:47:00.006-05:00

One of my 2011 goals after going full-time was to spend more time with family, be a better wife, and make time for some other crafty-ness (particularly during the holidays). Of course, still a work in progress, especially while Rusty continues his studies in nursing school... but aren't we all works in progress?!

In addition to this month's crafty-ness, I challenged myself to take more photos for "me" with my iPhone. I get so wrapped up in love with my photo-fam and their photos that the eternal woe of a photographer is taking photos for herself! Not this month! iPhone to the rescue!

So here's what I've been up to this month through the eyes of the iPhone 4s! (Hmm... I think I need to name the phone a more proper name... lol Calling it the iPhone 4s is rather sterile in personality. Any suggestions?!)

It all started with a Christmas card making party...

Then I needed a way to display the cards that were starting to come in the mail...

Most of you know I'm gluten intolerant. But before "the Great Discovery," I used to love baking. Like LOOOVE it a lot. When the allergy hit, I just stopped. It was a bit of a downer actually... I had so much baking and decorating equipment and tools... I decided to try again this month. To prove to myself that I CAN adapt my old recipes into a gluten-free alternative. These pumpkin muffins were my firsts... and they were AMAZING.

GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS:
* 1/2 cup of applesauce
* 1 bag of Namaste Foods Spice Cake Mix
* 1 can of pumpkin
(That's it!)

* Bake at 350. For mini-muffins (like in the photo), I baked for 15 minutes. For larger/regular muffins, you will have to bake for 30-45 minutes. It's just a dense batter!
* For the frosting, I used Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting (also gluten-free).

I got so proud and bold... so I tried a NEW recipe.

Chocolate Crinkles! You can find the recipe here.

Adaptations to the Recipe I used:
* I don't use oil in my baking, so I replaced the oil with applesauce.
* I didn't have the Betty Crocker GF cake mix, so I actually used Pamela's GF Chocolate Cake mix.
* I didn't have coarse sugar, so I rolled the cookie balls in powdered sugar instead.

Okay, I didn't make these cards, but as I mentioned on Facebook, sure, it's pretty awesome seeing photos I've taken on holiday cards (because heck, it's darn cool!), but the best thing is seeing my photo-fam's creativity and how they used those images! LOVE! So here is THEIR creative contributions to the holidays!

And lastly... from our home to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Sparkly New Year! May you have a special time with loved ones, eat lots of yummy food, and remember the unique magic of the holiday.

Love,
Chelsea :)

Orchestrated: Ink and Pearl | A Coco Chanel Inspired Wedding

2011-12-16T16:40:00.008-05:00

You know what's always nerve-wracking... doing something that isn't done often in your field. It's almost unheard of to do black and white photography for a stylized shoot. After all, people want color and inspiration! To do something that's a bit unconventional is probably the eternal conundrum of an artist.... do what's popular? Or do what's in your heart?

But when our participants of Ink and Pearl started all posting their beautiful black and white imagery because we encouraged it, I got confidence. I know... it sounds backwards... encourage it and then be nervous yourself... but it was a vision! And then when I was processing my images, I thought, "YAY! It's not such a wacky idea." It really is the mark of trendsetting. Maybe we can get to see more B&W on the popular wedding blogs? (After all, we've seen black wedding gowns pop up a lot more frequently lately! Dare we say we had some influence?! Okay, maybe not. But still. It kind of made us smile that we did have a black gown!) ;)

I did something completely different in my processing... since we were channeling Coco Chanel and the early days of photography, I wanted to give a bit of a richer antique feel. As many photogs know, there are a hundred and one ways to process a black and white photo. It's just not taking away the color and SHAZAM! You've got an image. There are contrasts, highlights, shadows, brightnesses, etc... I sometimes spend more time on a B&W than a color image!

But to reminisce, we had such a blast on November 12th. To see people take one little detail and transform it in so many different ways... it's incredible. And to have people come from western Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware just to be a part of Orchestrated... it's humbling and fulfilling. They make us strive better, work harder, and stretch our creative brains more. For that, we're eternally grateful for their passions and friendships.

Many thanks to our models for their wonderful participation and excitement. They were so much fun and easy-going!

And to our vendors, we couldn't have completed our vision without you and your many talents. Thank you so very much.

Now onto to the show! Be sure to view until the end to see the phenomenal video that our friends at The Girl Tyler created for us...

Orchestrated: Stylized Shoots | "Ink and Pearl" | 11.12.2011 from The Girl Tyler on Vimeo.

Whitney + Kevin : The Couple Who Will Save Lives | Philadelphia Engagement Session

2011-12-04T11:25:00.004-05:00

I swear I'm forever surrounded by the medical field. With Rusty in nursing school and quite a few other Bit of Ivory brides/grooms working in hospitals, it only added to the smiles and chuckles when Whitney and Kevin both told me they were in medical school right now. Plethora of health knowledge... abounds!

We first "met" on Skype for their consultation, and they seemed so calm and collected; I instantly loved them. I'll share a little secret... I'm not the best Skyper. Ever. I get a bit nervous; it's that whole video+voice thing! That's where my "I was born 200 years too late" personality seeps in, and I'd much prefer having a cup of cocoa and chatting in a cozy living room. But this lovely pair was out-of-town, preparing their future to save lives, so technology saves the day!

As a little sentimental sidebar... I can't thank my clients enough for the honor of not only choosing me for their events, but letting me hear their stories. I get to meet the most awesome people... world changers with amazing hearts for what they do. I love it!

You see, Whitney loves the kiddos and is going into pediatrics, and Kevin has a big background in sports and is going into orthopedics. It doesn't get much cooler than that! Though when my father-in-law had his knee replaced, Kevin was fascinated, and I was grossed out. This is why I won't be saving lives. I'll just stick to documenting them. :P

We met at Washington Square Park in Center City Philadelphia. It was rainy on-and-off all day... and so we acted fast during the period the weather said "no rain." These beautiful people rocked it out despite the damp weather with a lovely hot pink umbrella, their little pup Deena, and their sweet affection for each other. I can't wait for their Newport News wedding in April! :)

Many best wishes, you two, as you figure and finish out your interviews for your first year residencies! Can't wait to hear updates!

- Chelsea :)

Orchestrated: Vignettes Vol. 1 Registration NOW OPEN!

2011-11-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

We've been plugging away behind the scenes to really bring a nice little "vignette" or mini-treat in between the big events. At each Orchestrated event, even in a stress-less environment, we've noticed that some photographers can still be a little hesitant to pose and guide our models. As a photographer, it's such an integral skill when working with clients, and we want our participants to be confident to try new things and new poses when they don't have the worries of a paying client. :)

We will set the scene, you arrive at your chosen Vignette, I will teach some posing tips, you shoot, and then the rest is just a fun time!

We have three separate stylized Vignettes for you from which to choose... engagement, bridal, and boudoir! This isn't like our regular stylized events. The models will be more stylized than anything else. Vignettes is more of an emphasis on working with everyday models, having fun with other photogs, and challenging yourself to think outside the box!

And of course you can sign up for more than one as each vignette takes place at different times! The breakdown of the day is as follows...

* Boudoir - 12:00pm
* Bridal - 2:00pm
* Engagement - 4:00pm

You can find more info on the registration page. :)

WEBSITE- http://www.orchestratedshoots.com
FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/orchestratedshoots

Now... we know you want to get to the registration page... so let's get with it!

TO REGISTER... follow the LINK and enjoy!

- Chelsea :)

Weekend Wisdom from Henry Thoreau.

2011-11-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is one of my busiest months of the year, and so Henry Thoreau's words rang especially true.

What are we busy about? Are we meaningful busy? Are we making sure that busyness isn't affecting our family and personal lives? Why do we stay busy? Are we busy to change the world? Or are we busy dealing with meddlesome situations?

I don't know about you, but I use busyness as an excuse sometimes. There. I said it! I get overwhelmed and busyness is a lovely little scapegoat packaged in purpose. But not always a good one and relationships can be affected by it.

As we go into the holiday season, it's my goal to let go of the meaningless busy and embrace the meaningful busy. Makin' the moments count! Because when it's all said and done... "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'" - Erma Bombeck.

- Chelsea :)

Crystal + Lannin | Newport News Engagement Photography

2011-11-18T20:38:00.004-05:00

"We will be getting married at Signature at West Neck with about 150 of our closest friends and family there to party with us!" was the first thing Crystal said in her initial inquiry. If that doesn't say, "I will have fun on our wedding day!" I don't know what would.

These two are hilarious and perfect foils (English major talk for "each person makes the other one look good") for each other. Crystal could practically be my soulmate in humor, and don't let Lannin's quietness fool ya, he has his own sense of humor. Ask him about Bridesmaids.

Crystal is in outpatient care as a nurse... which what's up with all these nurses!? Rusty, see, I told you photography would benefit your career as well. You will have no problem finding people if you have questions when you take your exams! :) And Lannin is a super cool director at First Team Auto. When my Helen of Troyota decides to move onto car heaven, you know I'm stoked that I can say I now know a car guy who will tell it like it is! (P.S. Toyota Corollas (like my car!) and Camrys are the most popular this year. You totally know I asked him. I'm not ashamed of my candid dorkiness. There, I said it.)

We went to Noland Trail in Newport News for their engagement session, and I squealed rather suddenly when we found THE tree. Thank you, Crystal and Lannin, for indulging me and my obsession with the golden orange tree. See?! It's so awesome! :)

- Chelsea :)

The Shindelars : The Family Who Warms the Cookies of My Heart | Virginia Beach Family Photography

2011-11-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

It's a rarity nowadays to say that you've known someone for half of your life. Yep, I met the Shindelars 14 years ago... and whoa... there are so many memories, so many stories, and so many crazy happenings that I could pen an entire novel. You already know about Elaine and her being my best friend and wonderful photo-assistant at certain occasions. But here you get to meet the parents!

Mr. Shindy is the tech guy. He just knows everything about computers and the random stuff in life. He built me my first desktop computer for a high school graduation gift, let me drive his truck (which I totally did NOT ruin! ... dumb emergency brakes that I had no clue about...), and calls me his favorite. :) That's right. He gave me the "deed" to Elaine's little Neon back in high school. I still have yet to make claim on that promise. Oh, and he can make a pretty awesome Winnie the Pooh cake. Piping and all.

Mrs. Shindy is just always the go-to woman. She somehow knows everyone and everything. She gives me a yearly Christmas stocking filled with thematic goodies (one year was all baking fun!), loves polar bears, and always great for planning secrets. :) She's practically my WebMD. Confession: On numerous occasions, I pretty much have given myself anxiety attacks over a handful of self-diagnosed/non-existent medical conditions. "No, you don't have Lyme Disease." "No, you don't have chiggers crawling underneath your skin." "Yes, you're normal." Sad, but true. haha

And a recap of Elaine for the new readers... she loves blogs, Tupperware, gingham fabric, and red hair (though she has none). She's a true blue friend, and I miss her cooking from when we were roommates. I hate cooking, but love to bake. And she hates to bake and loves to cook. It was a pretty good situation we had going on. And in our new chapter of our grown-up friendship, she's been a big supporter of Bit of Ivory and is one of my hostesses for Persuasion Boudoir.

I can't say it enough how much this family means to me. It was an honor they asked me to do their family portraits. Love you all so very much!

[Mr. Shindy wanted a photo of Elaine and me! And WHOA boy was it freezing winds and sand flying in our eyes!]

- Chelsea :)

P.S. The Shindys are also avid Peanuts/Snoopy fans... and so this blog post's title is a reference to one of the comic strips. :)

Orchestrated: Ink and Pearl... the VIDEO!

2011-11-14T18:42:00.005-05:00

So this past week and weekend were a crazy whirlwind. From many different sessions to the next installment of Orchestrated Stylized Shoots. Now I'm nowhere near close to finishing my Ink and Pearl images... I actually haven't really touched them as I'm catching up on client sessions right now.

But my good friends Tyler and Martin (of The Girl Tyler) have won over my visual heart yet again with an amazing video of Ink and Pearl.... it was a true representation of how I truly hope our events look like to people unfamiliar with Orchestrated. And Tyler and Martin just wow me every time... and I know I say it a lot, but they inspire me.

Thank you, Tyler and Martin, for being you. And for always forgiving my slight amnesia of what your video equipment is called. For the record, "jibby arm" totally sounds better than "jib arm"... just sayin'. ;)

Orchestrated: Stylized Shoots | "Ink and Pearl" | 11.12.2011 from The Girl Tyler on Vimeo.

In celebration of CoCo, Orchestrated: Stylized Shoots held an "Ink and Pearl" style shoot in Virginia Beach. With a love of the creative and a passion for art, Orchestrated provides creative opportunities for photographers and designers alike to partake in a fun, stress-less photo environment. We'd love to see you out at the next event!

http://orchestratedshoots.com

https://facebook.com/orchestratedshoots

Photography by The Girl Tyler | thegirltyler.com

Give us the big thumbs up! facebook.com/thegirltylerdesignandphotography

Special Thanks:

Concept Design | Meghan Beckwith | http://orchestratedshoots.com

Photography & Co-Design | Chelsea LaVere | http://bitofivoryphotography.com

Event Stylist & Floral Design | Vivid Expressions | http://vividexpressions.com

Stationery & Motion Photography | The Girl Tyler | http://thegirltyler.com

Tuxedo Rental | MWTux | http://mwtux.com

Cake Design | Cake Delights | http://mycakedelights.com

Hair Stylist | Lindsea Forbus | http://facebook.com/hairbylindsea

Makeup | Elizabeth Ansel Alfier | http://hairandmakeupbyliz.com

Jewelry | Premier Designs | http://facebook.com/PremierDesignsJewelryWithRebekahSnider

Bridal Accessories | Sparrow Blu | http://sparrowblu.etsy.com

Flower Accessories | Dear Betsy Handmade | http://DearBetsy.etsy.com

Dessert (Macaroons) | Terebinth | http://theterebinth.com

Dessert (Various) | Executive Chef Harry Osbeck | http://casbys.com

Dessert (Cake Truffles) | Have a Ball Confections | haveaballconfections@gmail.com

- Chelsea :)

Jenn + Jamie (to be further collectively known as JJ) | Colonial Williamsburg Engagement Photography

2011-11-10T12:40:00.003-05:00

If you even mention the words "colonial" and "Williamsburg," you will get a reaction. If you mention them in the same sentence together, you will get an explosion of pure ethereal joy. Yep, and it seems I've met my match in love of Colonial Williamsburg. Jamie even said it; he wants to buy property in the historic area. And I told him he might just have someone who will take residence in their attic. haha!

Hailing from Suffolk, Jenn is a graphic designer who loves to work in all types of media and Jamie is a mechanical builder who loves to work with his hands. I think that pairing couldn't be more perfect.

For all intensive purposes, I tongue-tossed over my words/names/phrases SO many times during our session... that I'm now affectionately calling these two JJ. When I first met Jenn, we (including her mom!) bonded over books and our love of Harry Potter. For real, books are the way to my heart. Oh, and cookies. But I digress...

JJ, we have a bowling double date in our future. I can't guarantee my granny bowling ball rolls won't come out though. :) Enjoy the sneak peek!

- Chelsea :)

Kristin + Robbie | Smithfield Bridal Sneak Peek

2011-11-03T22:22:00.005-04:00

I won't go into their story just yet until we do the full blog post, but it's pretty awesome. Basically this session is the epitome of fun. And what I think everyone should do a year after their wedding (or anytime really)... a POST-wedding bridal/groomal session. Kristin and Robbie, you'll be trendsetters, I say! Trendsetting Hampton Roads bridal photography! Yeah! :D

And onwards to their sneak peek! The light rivaled all things chromatically gorgeous.

Kristin and Robbie, thanks so much for going out of the box and doing something that not many do! I wouldn't have gotten to know you both, and that would just be sad. You two were FABULOUS! :)

And yes, I'm right-side dominant. haha And I just now noticed it as I post these to the blog... :)

- Chelsea :)

Weekend Wisdom from Theodore Roosevelt.

2011-10-29T10:00:00.005-04:00

I got into a discussion the other day about how different forms of media can give us a bit more courage to speak our minds. Take the internet for example! We can use it for bad or for good. We see anonymous posters scribble down on news websites about how they have a strong dislike for an individual or idea. We wonder, "Would they say the same if they met the author in person? How far would their point get across if courtesy were incorporated?"

And we also see the beautiful anonymous comments of people showing support for loved ones passing even if they had never met each other in person. As Snoopy once said, that type of courtesy "warms the cookies of my heart."

How will you use your courage today? :)

- Chelsea :)

Kim + Ly : The Couple Who Loves to Eat | Virginia Beach Engagement Photography

2011-10-28T16:30:00.006-04:00

When she contacted me the first time, Kim said she already had her blog post title picked out. So I claim no credit for the title above... it was all Kim. ;)

They wanted something completely personable, completely them, completely different. So two wonderful friends of mine Tyler and Martin of The Girl Tyler and I joined our powers at be to help create a video Save the Date inspired by an Oscar Wilde quote and photo stylized engagement Versailles-meets-Oscar Wilde picnic that met their vision!

I have to say Kim and Ly rocked it. And totally made it them. You can have all the props and scenes in the world, but if it's not you, it doesn't come out genuine... and this whole production became them. :)

You will meet two people who love to eat, love to laugh, and love to be with each other. They've been dating since they were KIDS (10 years!)! Yeah, they've got history to prove their soulmate-ness. Their smiles are infectious and their generosity and love for others is heartfelt. You can't help but fall in love with them. Who else would take out the entire team to Red Robin after a long day for some food and company!? :)

So without further ado.... here is the ultimate "Nguyen-Nguyen" situation. ;) (Note: Dang, that isn't as funny if it's not spoken outloud... so if you were to verbalize, it's "win-win"... hmm... somehow explaining a joke just loses a bit of its edge. Dang it!! Carry on. Just carry on, my friends.)

Want to see the epic video portion of this shoot? You won't be disappointed.

Save The Date | Kim & Ly | 1.28.2012 from The Girl Tyler on Vimeo.

MEGA THANKS TO:
* Petie Bonifant (for venue) - www.countryvillainn.com
* Meghan Gwaltney (for event stylizing) - www.orchestratedshoots.com
* Lindsea Forbus (for hair stylizing) - www.facebook.com/hairbylindsea
* Liz Alfier (for makeup) - www.hairandmakeupbyliz.com
* Martin Walsh and Tyler Adams (for video) - www.thegirltyler.com
* Sarah Mariel (for assisting) - www.sarahmariel.com

- Chelsea :)

Megan + Kevin... One Year Later! | Anniversary Portrait Session Sneak Peek

2011-10-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

WHOA! Where did 2011 go!? I know I've been saying it all year, but where in the heck did January go!? :D

I won't go into the sweet story just yet because this isn't the full blog post for Megan and Kevin's first year anniversary session... this is just a little sneak peek at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Yep, you didn't misread that. You'll just have to find out later WHY the session was there. ;)

But here we go with the sneak peek! It's the best feeling to get together again with my photo-fam. :)

- Chelsea :)

Weekend Wisdom from Audrey Hepburn.

2011-10-22T12:01:00.005-04:00

I love typography. And I love quotes. And I am trying to really adhere to a more balanced work/home life and do more things that I love. So I came up with a fun little weekend creativity project that I hope to continue every Sunday or Saturday (pending the schedule for the weekend, of course!). Oh, Photoshop, thank you for making it easy for me to play with words. :)

I was drawn to this quote today especially as I was thinking about some Persuasion Boudoir stuff. With some less attractive attitudes and ill will for treating others kindly, it's such a refreshing reminder of how we can transform the world with such simple beauty.

You aren't alone. :)

- Chelsea :)

Through the Rose-Colored Lens (the SEQUEL!) Workshop.

2011-10-20T10:20:00.003-04:00

Back in June, I hosted my first workshop which was all about learning the art behind photography. What makes something art? How do the elements of art and principles of design play into everything? And who are some master artists and how do they even apply to photography?!

Well, two weeks ago, I hosted the SEQUEL! and it was about how to transform photos through post-processing via Lightroom (an amazing program that makes for better understanding what happens when editing a photo, in my humble opinion). It was so great to see familiar faces again and to see things through their eyes. That's what I've always loved about being a teacher. You give a simple assignment (i.e. shoot the model!) and the different avenues of angles, lighting, positions are endless. I hope I'm always in the position to be able to teach in some capacity (or my student loan debt from my master's program really is pitiful!! hahaha).

One thing I regret from the last workshop is not taking the time to really take photos and then sharing them... because even though the blog is part of my business, it's also very much a digital scrapbook for me. :)

Without further ado, I introduce you to our workshop! ... and my beautiful little sister, Lindsea, who was our model. I admit I get a little emotional about these... it was a difficult summer for my family and me as there were a few times when I didn't know if my sister would even be here today. It just makes me really grateful for little things like her being there and even mocking me for asking her to hold a teacup (lol). She is such a big part of my life (and in my business with her support). I love you, Linds.

(Channeling a bit of Audrey Hepburn and classic cafe scenes!)

And the color scheme this time was gray, red, and white... and a workshop is just not a workshop without cake pops! I used a dessert stand typically reserved for cupcakes... and bam! These super yummy cake pops came from Kimberley of Hansel and Gretel's.

We also had a little visitor. Here is Clint, the owner of 757 Creative Space (where we had the workshop!), and his new daughter.

- Chelsea :)

Victoria : The Young Reporter Who Will Leave No Stone Unturned | Norfolk Portrait Photography

2011-10-15T18:36:00.012-04:00

She's leaving in less than two weeks to move to Louisiana to be a news reporter. Not many people can do that, so when a girl has a dream, she owes it to herself to pursue it when the opportunity presents itself! And when she tells you she wants to be the "running after someone with a camera and mic" kind of reporter, well, break out the megaphone and cheer her on! :D

I actually met Victoria earlier this year when we were collaborating on some mutual weddings of ours. You see, Victoria is a news reporter, but she's also the wedding videographer behind Victoria Shirley Productions. It's always a ton of fun working with people who just are in sync with you!

So when I got the email that she was hoping I could squeeze her in for some quick headshots for the new chapter in her life, I was honored! It was fun working on a different type of assignment... and Victoria is crazy beautiful in front of the camera. She chose her news journalist career well!

I wish you the best of all blessings, my friend! You will be missed and come back to Hampton Roads sometime! I can't wait to see what you accomplish this next year! :)

- Chelsea :)

Amanda + Josh : The Couple Who Loves to Volunteer | Chesapeake Wedding Sneak Peek

2011-10-06T17:51:00.004-04:00

One thing has always stood out about Amanda and Josh... they are just so giving of their time. Over the year I got to know them, they had always humbly mentioned their community involvement. Whether Josh was making balloon animals for the local kids' event (as you saw in their engagement photos!) or Amanda was helping out at Shriners events, it just made me smile that there were still people who had a heart for service.

These two are so down-to-earth and easy going that I knew their wedding was going to be a beautiful, calm, special day. And it was! I just about got all sniffly when Amanda demanded I sit at their table for dinner. "You're part of the family now!" she called out with a sweet "duh Chelsea" expression. How can you NOT love these two!?

And she found me gluten-free recipes. She's stuck with me for life. :)

Hope you two enjoy the Caribbean and many safe travels!

[Okay. I had to post this spoon photo... because this wedding REALLY made me have a new obsession... gold spoons. I know. Random... but aren't they a gorgeous touch, especially for a fall wedding!?]

The vendors responsible for those above stunning details...
Floral Design : Daevid's
Event Coordinator : As You Wish Weddings by Julie
Catering : Sweetwater Cuisine

- Chelsea :)

Photographer's Delight | A Photographer's Arsenal (Beyond the Camera!)

2011-09-27T23:41:00.008-04:00

It's been a little quiet around these parts, but you can guarantee if it's a little cricket-y then something is probably happening over at Persuasion Boudoir. It's been a busy, busy month over there!

So I figured it was due time for another Photographer's Delight post!

Amidst the busy month, I've gotten emails about things I use to help my business run smoothly and effectively. There are a lot of programs I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and am happy to share what works for me!

STUDIO MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Pixifi
This came along when I most needed it. I tried StudioCloud before and it kind of drove me crazy with all of the frequent and unnecessary updates and provided mediocre invoicing.

Pixifi is web-based for one, and that was an important feature to me! It has a great lead/inquiry form setup, invoices are smoother, my clients have their own private portals to access live information (and make payments!), and the workshop functionality alone is worth it! I use it for my boudoir marathons, Orchestrated shoot registration, and for my workshops. It even has a Taxes and Expenses function which I will be implementing in 2012 from the current software I'm using. If you'd like to play around with it, I have a special code for a 30-day free trial. Just email me. :)

EDITING SOFTWARE
Lightroom 3
Yep, it's all I use. I LOVE it. I create my own presets and do what I need to do! It's a great way to learn how to edit photos because of the visual aspect of changing elements. 'Nuff said.

DESIGN SOFTWARE
Photoshop CS5
I know. It's funny that I don't use Photoshop for photo editing... but I use it to create my ads, marketing tools, mini-albums, and all that fun photographer business stuff. It's a vital tool in this arsenal!

BLOGGING SOFTWARE
BlogStomp
I can't even begin to tell you how this transformed my entire workflow. I can watermark images in less than 5 seconds. I can watermark an entire wedding in less than 5 minutes. It's unbelievable! MUST HAVE for anyone posting photographs on the web!

WEBSITE SOFTWARE
Showit
I started off on a very tight template site, and when I found Showit, huge doors opened. The website finally felt like ME. No coding necessary. And I could just move things around and put them wherever I wanted. No more tables and HTML jargon!! WOO HOO!

There was a learning curve with it as it took me weeks to figure it out. Thankfully, I'm stubborn. lol I figured it out and things haven't been the same since! Best website program out there (though I understand it may not be for everyone). The Orchestrated website is also built on the same platform.

ALBUM PROOFING SOFTWARE
SWAT: Simple Wedding Album Tool
This is a recent addition to the arsenal. I found out about SWAT (a designing tool created by KISS Books) during Showit's PASS Premier in DC back in June... and I love it! I do purchase my wedding albums through KISS, and while it makes it easier, it's not why I love it. It has the options for client interaction ON the album proof. No more email attachments and trying to figure out "How do I switch out that image in the lower right corner but above that B&W one?"

Each spread has a comment box. Client fills it out. It gets sent to you. VOILA! Instant awesomeness and has made albums a lot less stressful. :)

IMAGE DELIVERY SOFTWARE
Dropbox
If I need to send a few files to clients or vendors, Dropbox is where it's at. SO easy. It's on my desktop; I plop a few files into it... and SHAZAM! I can access it on any computer. My album designer and I use it to exchange files, too. It just makes everything easier.

Hope this helps! May your businesses thrive and get organized and efficient!
- Chelsea :)

Now presenting... Through the Rose-Colored Lens... the SEQUEL!

2011-09-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

This past June, I met a group of some pretty amazing women. All women who wanted to better learn how to compose a photograph... but more than that... to really be confident that they could take chances and see what their eyes are showing them. It's kinda crazy how we women convince ourselves that we can't do something, but in reality, we CAN. We just have to see some things in a different light.

Magazines and everything we see don't help either. We think the things we see are straight-out-of-the-camera goodness. Nooooo, ma'am! Everything in the media has been touched up somehow, even if it's just a little brightening.

In our first workshop, we learned the elements of art and principles of design... how to see light... what light did in our photos... and put those into practice with our wonderful models. :)

Now that the things are in place, it's time to move to the SEQUEL! We're going to take the images, pull them into Lightroom, learn how to make aesthetically-appealing edits without going overboard, find our artistic styles, and make some art!

This will be a very hands-on workshop. All participants must bring a laptop with Adobe Lightroom already loaded onto it. Don't have Lightroom yet? You can download a *free* 30-day trial to use during the workshop! But I guarantee after the workshop you're going to want to buy it!

So I present... Through the Rose-Colored Lens: A Bit of Ivory workshop... THE SEQUEL on October 15, 2011!

A workshop for you budding photographers who crave to know HOW to transform photographs. Again, all participants must bring a laptop (PC or Mac welcome!) with Adobe Lightroom loaded onto it as well as their cameras and any necessary card readers. (**Photoshop will *not* be taught... particularly because I think Lightroom does a better job at showing the functions of post-processing!)

Only 10 spots are available so I can spend one-on-one attention and to make the workshop as fun as possible. This workshop is recommended for those who already have a grasp on composing photographs in camera or attended the first workshop.

Ready to learn, eat a deliciously catered lunch, meet new friends, and find something else about your artistic flair?

TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO REGISTER... go to the Workshop site!

Can't wait to meet you!
- Chelsea :)

Orchestrated: Ink and Pearl Registration... now open!

2011-09-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

When Meghan and I were in the UK, on the train from Cardiff to London, we hammered out Ink and Pearl. It was actually kind of funny. We somehow got seated near the train's toilet. And as we talked about beautiful details and ultra-elegance, that stinky toilet door mechanically opened and closed. Not a pretty picture, right?!

Orchestrated's Ink and Pearl channels Coco Chanel and the fine arts world. Think nothing but black, white, and hints of silver. This is going to be ultra-chic, ultra-elegant, and ultra-black tie.

And the storyline this time? It's an intimate affair. The bride and groom have had a private elopement ceremony and have returned to host a lovely reception of desserts, treats, and eye candy galore... with a fine arts spin.

WEBSITE- http://www.orchestratedshoots.com
FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/orchestratedshoots

Now... we know you want to get to the registration page... so let's get with it!

TO REGISTER... follow the LINK and enjoy!

- Chelsea :)

Meghan + Preston | Contemporary Art Center Sneak Peek

2011-09-09T14:59:00.003-04:00

Some brides have one or two colors for their wedding themes... but Meghan's color was MULTI-colored. :) It was pretty awesome, especially since their wedding took place in the Rodriguez Pavilion at the Contemporary Art Center. Yep. Right below the multi-colored Chihuly glass sculpture!

Typically, I meet the bride and groom together, but with schedules and the sort, it just never ended up that way. So from the start, I got to know Meghan and her compassionate and joyful spirit... so when I finally met Preston, it totally was instant confirmation that they were utterly meant for each other.

The first time I met Preston, he was actually in Ashley and Joe's wedding as the best man this past June! So there I was teetering on an aging, shaky ski dock to get a bridal party photo. And as I was trying to get off of said dock, there he was to lend his hand to help me up onto the pier.

Actions spoke loudly that day, and I was soooo excited for September to arrive!

September arrived quickly, and with their family and friends (much of which felt like a reunion because I had seen them in June!), they rocked out their celebrations in a ton of beautiful color.

Even though normally I don't put ceremony photos in the first sneak peeks, I just HAD to this time because every bride wishes for that moment when her groom sees her for the first time... and he's all teary. Sorry, men, but it's totally true. ;) And this one just about made me all chokey.

Enjoy, you two!! Hope you're enjoying your time in the DR!

- Chelsea :)

Jane Austen Meets 21st Century. | UK Wedding Photography

2011-08-26T18:48:00.007-04:00

Okay, I admit. I cried. I was a blubbering baby when I saw and stood in the Great Hall at Wiston House. There was slight embarrassment on my part, but I couldn't stop. It was the culmination of something even I didn't know was one of my heart's greatest desires. There I was. Standing on land that was centuries old. Taking in an estate where history expanded and lived. And there we were to create a Jane Austen-inspired photo shoot in it. Around it. For it.

It's just one of those things that the English language (or perhaps any language) cannot put into words. But I was there. There to take part in something big!

People might not understand why Jane Austen is THE inspiration for me. It's not because I love the pastoral settings or domestic bliss she creates. She crafted extraordinary things out of ordinary events. Something I aim to do in my own work. She is witty when some might not understand her humor. She does not hesitate to expound upon seemingly mundane things... like letter writing or going to a shop to buy ribbons. It is what it is, and Austen rocked it.

The funny thing is that I haven't even been to Bath yet. I KNOW!! What kind of Austenite am I?! I haven't even made a pilgrimage to her hometown! One day, one day. I keep putting it off because it gives me a valid excuse to keep returning. ;) At least that's what I tell myself. haha

Meeting the 40 other photographers and vendors who came to this was unbelievable. Whether they were just as gaga about Austen as I am or they just wanted to shoot for shoot's sake, it was surreal. I'm just humbled by the opportunity.

Thankfully my new UK friends didn't judge me when I definitely made a spectacle of myself as I frolicked through a neighboring meadow... which originally was only meant for Meghan to get a quick shot of me to send back home. (But yes, I'd do it again!)

And I will segue with this... it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a lady in possession of a heart for the old world must be in want of a fantastic Jane Austen stylized shoot.

However little known the feelings or views of such a lady may be on her first entering this shoot, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding participants, that she is considered as the giddy traveler of some other time or place.

PARTICIPATING VENDORS:
Melissa Love Design | www.melissalove.co.uk

Orchestrated Stylized Shoots | www.orchestratedshoots.com

Wiston House | www.wistonhouse.co.uk

The Tea Set (Styling, Menu Execution, and Flowers) | www.the-tea-set.co.uk

White Mischief (Wedding Gowns) | www.whitemischiefbridal.co.uk

Gresham Blake (Tailoring) | www.greshamblake.com

Natalie Clark of NC Bridal Beauty (Makeup) | www.ncbridalbeauty.com

Cherished Vintage Bridal Accessories (Hair Accessories) | www.cherishedvintage.co.uk

Caroline Kearney (Hair Styling) | www.mobilehairandbeauty.co.uk

The Girl Tyler (Stationery) | www.thegirltyler.com

Dinky Vintage (Children's vintage clothing) | www.dinkyvintage.com

Bonnie Baby (Children's clothing) | www.bonniebaby.co.uk

Hope you enjoyed Orchestrated's first international stylized shoot adventure!

- Chelsea :)

The Brief UK Lowdown -- London and Steyning.

2011-08-18T05:18:00.005-04:00

Our brief jaunt into London (a day layover on our way to the photo shoot in West Sussex) resulted in hanging out in train stations, experiencing one of the worst hotel rooms on the planet, and finding the joys of Covent Garden. I'm in love with Marks & Spencer-- a very cool grocery store that carried pre-made gluten-free sandwiches. I just about died and almost bought out the store. (Note-- I'm obsessed with visiting grocery stores in other countries. Seeing the differences/similarities... everything. It's like a theme park to me, and it's AWESOME. Except the hot dogs in a jar. I don't think that's so awesome. Sorry, Wales. lol)

[It was dedication to stand in that phone booth. You do not want to smell what's inside of there!]

So I'm going to tell you about Steyning and the gorgeous countryside outside of London instead.

[The light is different here, so as a photographer, it was an interesting observation!]

Melissa Love and I met through the Showiteers Facebook group. I said I was coming to Europe, and she said we should shoot together. The rest spiraled into history. Jane Austen was mentioned. I freaked out. And we co-orchestrated a massive photo shoot with 40 photographers, wonderful vendors, and beautiful models. But the shoot alone deserves its own blog post so I won't chat about it now.

Melissa picked Meghan and I up from the train station, and it was as if we already knew each other. Well, we kinda did! The blessed wonders of the internet. ;)

[I did a much better frolic at the Jane Austen shoot. lol But look!! Hogwarts to the right! Okay... not really. But it is a school. And it looked like it could be. haha]

She made a detour to a meadow, I frolicked, and then we were taken to our hotel before the evening at the Loves' with other photogs and the sort.

First thing first. A BBQ in the UK means eating outside. So you can imagine my surprise when I showed up about to ask if they needed help with the grill... and was greeted with delicious Italian herbs and dishes. No grill in sight. It wasn't until midway through the meal I realized that BBQ meant something different here than in the States.

[The beautiful tablescape Melissa created!]

So when everyone arrived, people got to chatting and sharing, it became a realization that I was surrounded by so many great stories and experiences. Whoever thinks photography business and knowledge can only be contained in one country is ridiculously sheltered and close-minded. Equipment, training, and everything. I looove hearing how others do things. If you haven't heard of Aspire, you should read about them! There is nothing like them in the States, and I was in awe at this concept and dedication to revolutionizing the photography industry in the UK. AMAZING.

The Jane Austen shoot happened the next day, but again, that gets its own special post... ;)

On our last day, we took a walking tour around Steyning and the Tudor Era and thatched buildings made me smile. It was like stepping into another time and place.

It's our last full day in the UK, and we head home soon. I carry a can of baked beans (YES I love them! I promise they're different than the ones back home... I can actually eat these, and they're amazing on jacket/baked potatoes!), other random food items, photos, and wonderful memories. Maybe I'll be blessed and get to come back very soon. It's strange to me to feel so connected to a place when I've lived any and every where.

Next up will be Wales and then Jane Austen!

- Chelsea :)

Mission: Eat an Eclair... Accomplished.

2011-08-13T15:14:00.004-04:00

We arrived in Paris a little rugged and worn as neither Meghan or I got any sleep on the plane. My French skills were way below subpar as I couldn't even construct an English sentence let alone mentally translate "How do we get to our hotel?"

Our first goal was to find some good ole petit déjeuner (or breakfast for us Americans). We came across Le Prevoyant-- a place we frequented often throughout our three days in Paris. Okay, at least once a day. The people were friendly and even joked with me (in a nice way) when I messed up my verbs. In my defense, pouvoir and vouloir have ALWAYS confused me. Let's just say...

"I can have french fries, please" was more reminiscent of I Can Has Cheeseburger of the LOLCats fame than "I want french fries, please." Lesson learned... it should have been "I'd like some french fries, please." (For the record... je voudrais des frites, s'il vous plaît.)

[My first boisson chaud in Paris!]

Between Sacré-Cœur, a stunning basilica on a hill, and Moulin Rouge, a historical landmark set in a pretty scandelous district which seriously had more than 25 questionable stores on ONE street, I had a few chuckles at the irony.

[Moulin Rouge means "red windmill" for you anglophones.]

(By the way, apparently in Montmartre, there is a "wedding district" as well... wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tuxes, and the sort could be purchased from about 50 different salons-- again, on one street. Granted, these stores aren't carrying Vera Wang... but for two American wedding vendors, this made us laugh hysterically!)

The Eiffel Tower was one of our first stops-- because you can't say you went to Paris without seeing this gorgeous monstronsity. It looms delicately over the area with its intricate lattice ironwork silhouettes against a brillant blue sky. It was stunning to say the least.

[This is our Orchestrated mascot! We are taking photos of him everywhere we go!]

[On a bridge over the Seine, these locks are like signing your name to posts.]

We tried to go to the Musée d'Orsay (home to some of my favorite artists' works), but it was closing within a half an hour. Note to self: August means early closings or some summer closings of stores... meaning most places were on vacation. So we decided to head to the Jardin des Tuileries and relax near a random garden pool.

Meghan likes to just sit and relax, and I saw baby ducks, so we were there for quite some time and that confirmed we're good travel buddies. Seriously, I could stare at baby ducks ALL day. It's just one of life's simple pleasures. (I freaked out when I found out there was an Aquarium in Paris... had NO idea and at that time, no time to even entertain the idea of visiting.)

[Rusty, I want to get this on a canvas next to my other baby ducks photo!]

We went shopping, looking for inspiration for our Orchestrated event in November, Ink and Pearl, but we found chocolate and ice cream instead. Champagne chocolate, that is. That can go along with the theme, right? Black and white? :)

Notre Dame was another WHOA moment as I had only taught about its gothic architecture and rose window for two years, never seeing it before. It was intense. I do realize as I'm getting older I don't handle crowds very well. We didn't go inside the cathedral, but I definitely wanted to cry out, "Sanctuary!" just in homage to Hunchback.

It also bears mentioning that I saw the Opera... the very one that inspired Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera. Loved, loved, loved.

I will pause for a moment and say even though I'm writing as if we were go, go, go, no breaks ever... we did take frequent naps. I do enjoy a good nap, and I justified it by the French way of life... Joie de vivre! Relax, enjoy life! I was also very exhausted from being on the go, go, go since January, and this was my first REAL vacation lasting more than one day, and I think I finally let my body rest. From recovering from a massive chigger bite invasion to having to sleep on a rock hard mattress for almost a month, I can say my body was not happy with me. I think it likes France, especially when it gets to enjoy French macaroons-- a naturally gluten-free delight.

The Louvre was one of my favorites (of course). I mean to go to THE world's top art museum. The WORLD'S. I contained my freakout and calmly said where I'd like to go. You must have a game plan when it comes to that place. It's massive and SO MUCH. If we were in Paris for more than three days, I would have divided it up. My top was to see Antonio Canova's Psyche and Eros... that sculpture has inspired me since I first became obsessed with the Greek myth. I'm not a sculptor by any means... even my Play-doh art leaves something to be desired.

To envision and carve something out of marble... there is no room for error! You mess up? You waste money, time, and materials. Yikes.

[You know you're a photographer when you'd rather pose with the butts of a statue than be on the side with icky light. :) ]

Yes, we saw the Mona Lisa. It's dinky. And I will admit people using their camera flashes on one of the most iconic masterpieces annoyed me. (PSA-- They say NO FLASH for a reason. Light and temperature destroy the pigment in the paintings... and they will dull and lose their depth if subjected to these. Thank you. Byebye.)

After the Louvre, we realized we hadn't seen the Arc de Triomphe yet and naturally we darted over... at the most PERFECT time. Clouds dotted the skies and the sun was finally lowering and hung right behind the Arc. It was as if the Ultimate Artist painted the background just for us, at that very time. I kind of vocally squeed.

Slowly but surely, Meghan and I made it back to our hotel near Gare de L'Est, had dinner, and settled in for our last evening.

And yes, I made the finite decision that I would suffer the tummy/skin consequences of having an éclair. The pâtisserie beckoned me, and for 2 euros and a few French words, it was mine. Throw that gluten intolerance to the wind and embrace a high school dream! Because of some prior food issues I had with some cafes, God must have felt sorry for me because I did not suffer as I normally do. It was weird. VERY weird. Though I made myself go to sleep immediately so if I did, I didn't wake up from it. Win win!

That éclair was the trademark of my Parisian journey. Delicious. Relaxing. And a great start to the next chapter of our adventure.

Mission Mr. Darcy... Begun.

- Chelsea :)

Jane Austen Stylized Shoot = Life Fulfilled.

2011-08-01T19:36:00.006-04:00

Many people say I get excited over the little things. It's true. I won't lie. I'm easily excitable about a LOT of things. Like my dinosaur-themed birthday party this November. Excited enough to start a Pinterest board for it.

But there are also things that completely obliterate my joy into a word I don't even know how to describe.

I entered college already loving to read. I love books. I love being transported out of reality for a little bit into a world that I'll never get to experience. It was my way of relating to the world and learning from it. It was my escape, my teacher, and my muse.

[Yeah, I know I'm holding an Alcott book NOT an Austen one. That will be rectified in the Fall. I do love Louisa May though. ;) ]

I majored in English with a concentration in 18th and 19th century British literature. And so the obsession began with Jane Austen.

She is witty, captivating through her characters, and she wrote what everyday life was like. No magic, no special effects. Just day-to-day happenings. But there is something extraordinary about her work. She turns every ordinary character into something extraordinary.

What I hope to do with my own photography. And this is where Bit of Ivory comes in.

It's pretty publicized that my whole business is named after Austen's reference to her own writing. Even the clever will pick up that my wedding collections are all Austen heroines.

Now what does this have to do with a Jane Austen stylized shoot?

Only EVERYthing. Okay, maybe not. But still. It's pretty big.

A few months ago, I made an announcement that I was traveling to Paris and London in August. A UK friend and designer, Melissa Love, saw this and knew I was one of the gals behind Orchestrated Stylized Shoots... she asked if I'd help her with organizing a stylized shoot in the UK. And knowing my affinity for Austen, she suggested doing a Jane Austen shoot.

My heart dropped, swelled, bursted, exploded, imploded, whatever adjective to describe immense joy.

That's how it started. And so we begin. Next Tuesday, Meghan and I will be on our way to Paris, working our little wheels of business and leisure then onwards to London/West Sussex for our shoot.

On August 15, 2011, we will meet 30 other photographers and revel back in time to the days of Austen goodness. It couldn't get more perfect than this. It's like I dove into Shannon Hale's novel Austenland. But for photographers!

Just wait.

There is a Mr. Darcy model. He will be in a lake. In breeches. Yes. Oh, heavens yes.

I hope to be blogging more thoroughly throughout this lovely business trip to Europe... there will be a theme and some pretty amazing things happening.

To find out more about the shoot, check out the dedicated website.
JANE AUSTEN STYLIZED SHOOT WEBSITE

See you on the other side of the pond!

- Chelsea :)

Get your sea legs on in 2012! | Orchestrated Stylized Shoots Mediterranean Cruise Conference

2011-07-21T11:51:00.009-04:00

To get the email saying you have your first registered participant... for something that you kept doubting yourself you could do... really is humbling.

Many months ago back in February, God told me to organize a cruise. For photographers. I know... I freaked. "What?! A Cruise?! Why is God telling me to organize a cruise?! That's kinda weird. It's never been done before! I will have naysayers because I haven't been in the industry for 10+ years..." I told Meghan and she was like, "Oh my gosh. Can we do it?" We were unsure of ourselves.

It was my proverbial Goliath. A much nicer kind, but still waaaay bigger than me.

Then things started clicking. Photogs wanted to teach. People expressed interest. Said our industry needed this. Because it's against my nature to do anything half-tail, I researched. I was already making travel plans for another business trip through World Class Travel... and it naturally came up in conversation. That was the official confirmation for me.

As businesswomen, we sometimes sacrifice family time for our businesses, so we're reinventing the way we workshop, stylize, and balance family life, vacationing, and business! Gone are the days of separating family and business. For 12 days on the big blue Mediterranean Sea, you can have a quality vacation with your loved ones WHILE still furthering your business and photography growth. Let's be real. When else can you write off a trip to Santorini?!

We welcome all photographers of all levels and all specialties. Whether you are just beginning to learn your camera or have a well-fluffed out wedding portfolio, you are invited to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

This floating conference has been set up to vacation with family and loved ones and to do business with colleagues. While there are onboard activities for children under 10, this particular trip is more suitable for older children. So consider making it either a special getaway for you and your spouse or a mini-family reunion of sorts!

Interested in pricing information, schedules, and options or want to read the 411: Our Official Cruise Manual? Please visit our dedicated website!

www.orchestratedshoots.com

HOW TO REGISTER:
All non-participants must be connected with a participant of the conference to register. You must book your cruise FIRST with World Class Travel before conference registration in the Fall. Official and complete course registration will begin in the Fall and offered first to registered participants. We want you to settle your travel arrangements first without the mad dash for classes! :) You will be asked for your booking code before you can select seminars and workshops.

World Class Travel
561 Cedar Road, Suite 1
Chesapeake VA, 23322
Phone: 757-546-1010
sales@time4vacation.com
(Ask for Mike or Pam!)

If you have any questions, please contact us at orchestratedshoots@gmail.com! It's going to be a BLAST!

- Chelsea :)

The Walls | Smithfield Family Photography

2011-07-14T23:35:00.003-04:00

Ever since I received the very first email from Heather, I knew she was good peoples. Every year, the Walls make it a point to take a family vacation. A vacation to make them relax and even enjoy each other's company... despite what the boys may say. ;) And somehow I've become part of their annual vacation! You bet I'm giggly about it. It's humbling to be a part of someone's tradition. With Carl and the boys' adrenaline fixations and Heather's kindred spiritness, I like to think I live vicariously through their adventures.

It's so interesting to see how a family grows in just one year's time. HOLY MOLY. Jacob and Thomas were GROWN. You can see their session from last year for visual proof!

Last year was the beach, this year was farm/rural... next year I'm rooting for historical. You KNOW I voted for Colonial Williamsburg. I gotta see these fantastic four in the stocks! :D

[And a Bit of Ivory first... Heather and the fam asked me to be in a photo! Thankfully Rusty was there to take care of that, but this is just proof I can't be normal in front of a camera... especially with such a fun friend. haha!]
- Chelsea :)

Now presenting... the Bit of Ivory Cookie?!

2011-07-12T09:00:00.001-04:00

If you've been around for awhile, you'll know I've got a little bit of an obsession with cookies. Okay, a big one. My daily mantra is... "A cookie a day keeps the grumpies away." So when Bit of Ivory's anniversary month came along, I knew what I wanted to give to my brides as an extension of me and my utmost appreciation.

I discovered Jen of JP Creatibles a few months ago and was instantly blown away by her cookie art. Yes, it's ART. These ain't your momma's edible decals. These are completely handmade and crafted with precision! I fell in love and knew that THIS had to be my cookie designer.

She made my cookies to LOOK like my website! Umm. Hello, Awesomeness.

Sadly, there were no gluten-free options, so I wasn't able to actually taste them... but you'll notice at the end of the post, I got Rusty to be my taster. (He said they were good!) You'll also see why we're two peas on a pod when it comes to being in front of a camera. haha!

Thanks, Jen, for creating these for me to give to my clients! They were truly masterpieces!

[The very reason why this is my husband. He makes my heart happy. Between the two of us, it's rare to get a non-silly face in front of the camera. :D]

- Chelsea :)

Jasmine + Rick + Dixon | Smithfield Family Photography

2011-07-09T17:51:00.007-04:00

You will recognize Jasmine as she is my beautiful, most talented makeup artist ever for Persuasion Boudoir. She's just such a blessing to me, and when she said she wanted "family" portraits of Rick, little Dixon in the tummy, and her, it felt like snuggling in a comfy, familiar blanket on Christmas. I knew it was going to be a fun session-- she already trusted me and told me to pick the location... and essentially letting me do whatever I want! I work best under that kind of stress! haha

So here's a little sneak peek of the Douglass fam who is just proof that their son-to-be is going to be stealing all of the ladies' hearts. Especially his momma's. ;)

- Chelsea :)

Monica : The Girl Who Loves to Read | Chicago Event Photography

2011-07-07T18:45:00.004-04:00

When Veronica emailed me and asked if I would go to Chicago to photograph her little sister's quinceañera, I was in a meeting with my CPA dealing with my 2010 taxes. And I distinctly remember bouncing up in my chair and squealing. I have no shame. :D

I was bowled over by this and so incredibly humbled that someone wanted to fly me out to Chicago to document one of the most important events in a young woman's life. Immediately, I wrote back and said how honored I'd be, and we got to planning.

THEN I was able to email Monica to make introductions and get to know her a little bit! If I were 15 and went to school with this girl, I think we'd totally be BFFs. haha She loves to read, do "nerdy" things (which totally aren't nerdy to me! Umm, I do them everyday... haha Go to the library? YES!), and loves her family. I knew God had His hands in making this happen.

Quiet, intelligent, and sweet, Monica is your modern day princess. For her quince, she went a different route in colors and traditions... bold peacock colors (as opposed to soft pastels), an awesome peacock-themed Barbie (as opposed to the porcelain doll), and so many other little details.

I have never attended a quinceañera before, and wow, what a grand experience. The bar is set high because this fam sure knows how to throw a party! Beautiful decorations and live mariachi band! This wasn't your garden variety you'd find at Busch Gardens or something-- they were amazing!

AND guess what?! Mexican food, for the most part, is totally gluten-free, too. Pretty much heaven. Maybe I was switched at birth?! Except... hmm... my blonde hair and blue eyes are not strong indicators of that happening...

But I digress, now I present to you the REAL reason for this post! MONICA! :)

(P.S. Mega thanks to my assistant Elaine who served as translator and mega-helper! :)

- Chelsea :)

Ashley + Joe : The Couple Who Met in High School | Sneak Peek

2011-07-05T12:15:00.003-04:00

It's sooo cool when you get to meet a couple who has pretty much been in each other's lives since high school. You just don't hear that very much nowadays! So being together for just about 9 years, one would understand why this wedding was so unique and detailed!

Meet Ashley who is a fashionista and Joe who loves monster trucks. It's a pretty fabulous duo combo that complements each other very well.

Hope you two had a wonderfully relaxing honeymoon in the Bahamas! Glad Joe got his passport in time! ;)

(They totally had a first look before the wedding! LOVE!)

- Chelsea :)

Ashley | Virginia Beach Bridal Photography

2011-06-27T17:00:00.002-04:00

I'm soo excited that I finally get to share these now that her handsome groom has seen his beautiful bride!

A few months ago, we saw the sneak peek of Ashley at Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach. Now you can see her whole stunning gown and accessories from Pure English. Her bridals were filled with wonderful props and signs, and any time I can get words in a photo, I'm all over that! Yay for words!

This is one creatively unique bride (just wait until you see the wedding photos once I get done with them!)! There can't be any doubt in anyone's mind that she's the perfect fit for a fashion and marketing teacher. :)

SEE MORE of Ashley's session in a slideshow!

- Chelsea :)

Orchestrated Stylized Shoots | Mediterranean Mosaic

2011-06-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

One endless day, I was going through Google just clicking away for ideas and somehow I came across this. I saw this gorgeous mosaic, and I couldn't help but be drawn to its lines, colors, and pattern. I know. So random.

I immediately emailed Meghan and said, "THIS IS IT!! We have to turn this into our next Orchestrated event!!" Normally we mutually decide on themes together, but I was so flippin' excited and adamant about this one, and thankfully, Meghan loves challenges. We met with some (quite a few) bumps in the road to turn this into a theme. We're both obsessed with the Mediterranean right now-- bright colors, fresh foods, and the relaxed nature of that whole region.

We tried to take bits of wedding tradition and turn it upside down... like we had a deconstructed baklava display in lieu of a traditional wedding cake and honeymoon postcard display in lieu of a guestbook.

We couldn't be more pleased with the results, and it has gotten us WAY more excited about the Grand Tour in September 2012... we're orchestrating a cruise conference for photographers with a STYLIZED SHOOT IN VENICE!!! AAHHH!! LIFE IS AWESOME!

A HUGE thanks goes to our intern, Megan Lanzinger, for all of her help in running errands and just helping with odds-and-ends. THANK YOU, MEGAN!! (Yes, we have two Meg(h)ans. haha)

OUR BELOVED VENDORS:
Concept Design and Wedding Planning
Meghan Beckwith
www.meghanblair.com

Photography and Co-Design
Chelsea LaVere
www.bitofivoryphotography.com

Floral Design
Leslie Hartig
www.lhfloral.com

Stationery
Tyler Adams
www.thegirltyler.com

Chef and Menu Design
Harry Osbeck, Executive Chef
Casby's

Ceremony and Reception Setup
Distinctive Event Rentals
www.distinctiveeventrentals.com

Jewelry
Whimsy & Whatnots
laughinglynxie.etsy.com

Makeup
Heather Toler
www.heathertoler.com

Flower Accessory
Sparrow Blu
sparrowblu.etsy.com

Models
Morgan, Bruce, Veronica, Allison, and Breoni

And many thanks to the participating photographers who joined us...
* Sarah Mariel Photography
* Julep Studios
* LeZandra Photography

Orchestrated: Stylized Shoots are fully-decked out stylized events designed and created by Meghan Beckwith (MeghanBlair Weddings) and Chelsea LaVere (Bit of Ivory Photography). To find out more about future events or The 2012 Grand Tour, you can visit the dedicated website or on Facebook.

- Chelsea :)

The Photographer's Wardrobe | Purple and Green

2011-06-20T20:00:00.000-04:00

This was a challenge we did not want to end up looking like Barney. But adding in neutral colors with a pretty bold color combination can help tie everything together! So green and purple CAN go together without becoming a very annoying children's dinosaur.

Obviously, this wardrobe is more ideal for the photographer shooting an indoors wedding in the very late summer and early Fall. Here in Virginia, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing black pants for an outside wedding in August and September. Whew. I'd pass out!

I told you that the black short-sleeve jacket would pop up again!

WHERE TO BUY:
Chiffon top, $35
GAP bootcut pants, $60
Short sleeve sateen jacket | Lane Bryant, $60
Shell jewelry, $24
Gap scarve, $25
A2 by Aerosoles Echlaire Thong Sandals, $60

- Chelsea :)

Meghan | Contemporary Art Center Bridals Sneak Peek

2011-06-19T17:17:00.004-04:00

Any mention of an art museum, and I kind of get a little TOO excitable. Even though I'm an artist who loves her classics, I do have an appreciation for the clean lines and simple construction of contemporary art. When Meghan found out she could have part of her bridal portraits taken here, I think I scattered my fingers over the keyboard in a bit of a gleeful frenzy.

So at the bridal session, the joyful energy was great! Meghan made me laugh. Every time the word "married" was mentioned, her entire face lit up, and she did her own excited personall happy dance. Gotta love it!

Sadly, folks, we won't be able to see the rest of these stunning photos until after September when her groom gets to witness his bride coming down the aisle in the Rodriguez Pavilion at the Contemporary Art Center. I can't think of a better way to support the arts and have a sparkling wedding... WITH a Chihuly masterpiece.

- Chelsea :)

The Photographer's Wardrobe | Pink, Black, and Gray

2011-06-13T17:29:00.000-04:00

I was pretty excited when I got this color theme request... since this weekend, my Through the Rose-Colored Lens workshop will happen! And its theme?! Pink and gray! So this has a little bit of a self-motivated interest since you know I'm going to dress in my own workshop's theme colors! ;)

For us curvy girls and long torso, get a waist belt to break up the black sweater! It can, of course, be worn without it... but personally, I'm one of those with a longer torso and I NEED that breaking up. haha!

WHERE TO BUY:

Ann Taylor button front cardigan, $68
J Crew scoop neck tank top, $48
Ann Taylor walking short, $58
Cole Haan flat shoes, $81
White belt, $32
Hair bands accessory, $28

Photographer's Wardrobe is a weekly blog series posted every Monday night showcasing various options for photographers and their attire when shooting weddings.

- Chelsea :)

Amanda and Josh | Redwing Park Engagement Session Sneak Peek

2011-06-07T21:30:00.003-04:00

Balloon animals. 'Nuff said.

Okay, maybe I'll say a bit more. :) Since this is only their sneak peek, I just have to say how much fun engagement sessions are... they help me get to know the couple before the big day. What makes them work. What helps them warm up in front of a camera. How they interact with each other.

I just love Amanda's gorgeous, quiet smiles and Josh's sweet glances towards his wife-to-be. Gosh, these two are just great.

And heck, he attempted a panda balloon animal just for me (see teal-colored balloon below... awww...). We gotta keep guys like that around on this Earth.

I'm so super psyched for their October wedding!

And thank you to Tia Maria for saving the day and doing Amanda's makeup!

- Chelsea :)

The Photographer's Wardrobe | Black and White

2011-06-06T19:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, I do love color, but there is something utterly classic about black and white. Something that screams, "I'm never going out of style!" AND B&W photos make my life. So it all works.

And of course, I'm going to pull from White House | Black Market since that's their whole business. (Side note-- WH | BM has been the ONLY place I've found jeans that are the perfect length for petite AND fit my hips. Worth every cent.)

A lot of these pieces might be recycled because they can just go with anything. And I'm ALL about reinventing outfits. I guarantee you will see the Lane Bryant black short-sleeve jacket again because I love the look of it... fun, yet professional.

Anyhow, I ramble. Enjoy the monochromatic theme this week!

WHERE TO BUY:
Ann Taylor LOFT blouse, $49
Short sleeve sateen jacket | Lane Bryant, $60
Ann Taylor LOFT lightweight pants, $59
White House Black Market tribal bracelet, $48
White House Black Market post earrings, $18

Photographer's Wardrobe is a weekly blog series posted every Monday night showcasing various options for photographers and their attire when shooting weddings.

- Chelsea :)

FEATURED | Professional Photographer Magazine

2011-06-02T16:30:00.001-04:00

Two months ago, I received an email from a writer from a very popular magazine (which I consider THE industry magazine for photographers). They asked about doing a profile on me because of my boudoir work with Persuasion Boudoir. So what do I do?

I google the author, name, website, to verify its verity. I mean. A writer whose writing style I loved reading. Contacting me. Is this a prank?!

I know! Ridiculous, right! (Don't hate me, Stephanie!! haha) I asked myself, "Do they mean ME? Are they sure they don't have the wrong person?!" I had a bit of an internal freakout. Out of ALL the boudoir photographers in the WORLD, they contact me. WHOA.

So Stephanie Boozer of Professional Photographer Magazine replied to my "oh my gosh, how did you find me?!" email, and we set up an interview time. The moment I got on the phone with her made every nerve melt away. I found another Jane Austen fan who understood the love of the Regency period! And thereafter, I was myself. Any woman who reads Austen, by extension, KNOWS the importance of the written word and how magnificent it can be.

AND my dream of being published one day? Wow. All at once.

I am unbelievably humbled that I was given this tangible honor. In this day and age of digital, to be IN PRINT in a magazine you can hold in your very hands... just wow. So blessed. Thank you, PPMag, for featuring me and helping this gal's dreams come true! Though I know that wasn't your intent, it just was a huge bonus to me. :D

Thank you, Persuasion ladies, for trusting me with such special photos and allowing me to share your gorgeous beauty with the world. And most importantly, thank YOU, photo-fam, for believing in me and for cheering me on to do what I love! :)

(Professional Photographer Magazine's June cover! Amazing photo, but not by me! :) )

You can read the article HERE! And for the rest of month of June, you can also go directly to the PPMag website to read my article and other fabulous tidbits from the photographer's world! www.ppmag.com.

- Chelsea :)

Week One | One of my Favorite Things... Organization.

2011-06-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I love me some organization. Especially when it comes to having to involve tons of people. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I strongly believe in crowd management to keep down all potential chaos... and I thrive in it when all is functioning like a non-squeaky wheel!

Now, add a wedding in the mix. Holy moly. You might have remembered my post on Day-Of Schedules in March where one of my brides made a fabulous schedule and I encouraged all of my brides and non-Bit of Ivory brides to embrace the awesome day-of schedule. :D

Well, we have the exclusive pleasure to have Meghan Beckwith of MeghanBlair Weddings, an amazing friend, but moreso amazing event planner, celebrate with us this week. Schedules are what she lives for... and she is so graciously giving one lucky bride a customized wedding day-of schedule (value of $150)!

A Customized Day-Of Schedule includes detailed information about...
- The ceremony venue
- The reception venue
- Directions to/from key places
- Contact list for vendors/wedding participants
- ... and most importantly, a thorough day-of schedule (hour by hour, nearly minute by minute), which is given/sent to each vendor and wedding participant a few days before the wedding.

Now to win... you must post your favorite way to stay organized and give us some personal tips you use to keep your life together on this blog post!

Already married? You can gift this to a girlfriend as a fabulous bridal shower gift. Seriously, your bride friend will LOVE you for it and so will her vendors! ;)

And for a fun little story... Meghan just told me right before this posted... "This weekend, one of my brides showed up at her venue for a final site visit and gave her MeghanBlair schedule to the on-site coordinator and the woman offered her a job! Hahaha!" That just about wraps up the awesomeness.

A HUGE thank you to Meghan for donating this PRICELESS service. Seriously, I want to get remarried (to Rusty, of course!) so I don't have to come up with a schedule. Even though I love to do it, when I'm personally involved, I get overwhelmed. I love this girl, and she will take care of any stress imaginable. Heck, if you need (which you should!) a wedding planner, she's your girl! I wish I had one for my wedding... maybe I wouldn't have gotten the cold bug right after my reception!

Some fine print regarding the Schedule...
* All entrants must post their "organization favorite" comment on THIS blog post to be entered in the drawing.
* All comments must be posted between June 1, 2011 at 9:00am and June 8, 2011 at 9:00am.
* All comments will be assigned a number in which they are posted. (First commenter is #1, second commenter is #2, et cetera.)
* A winner will be selected by random by using Random.org.
* Winner will be announced at 5:00pm EST on Facebook. (Be sure you are a fan!) Winner must email me at: bitofivoryphotography at gmail dot com by 9:00pm EST to claim schedule prize. If prize is not claimed, a second number will be randomly selected.
* Once winner has contacted me, I will then pass on all contact information to MeghanBlair Weddings where she will take care of you the rest of the way.
* The wedding must take place within two years.

- Chelsea :)

Robyn + Greg : The Couple Who Laughs | Sneak Peek

2011-05-31T13:45:00.000-04:00

Everything about Robyn and Greg's wedding was contagious. Laughter, happiness, joy, and even mellowness. Yes, the bride even took a little NAP a few hours before the wedding. I pretty much want to transplant that calmness into my daily life! :)

From the ceremony at Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church to the reception at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, these two were surrounded by love and celebration. There was no lack of energy here!

Before I share the sneak peek images, for real, Robyn planned the PERFECT time for portraits (around 7pm this time of year). The light was the yummiest I've even seen it in a long time! It was breathtaking... and like any photographer, perfect lighting is my BFF.

Hope you two are thoroughly enjoying your honeymoon in Mexico!!

- Chelsea :)

The Photographer's Wardrobe | Navy Blue and Gray

2011-05-30T21:57:00.003-04:00

So this all started because I told some lady photographer friends of mine that I love to dress in a muted variation of my couples' wedding colors. What can I say, I'm a theme girl! And basically they said I should do a weekly blog post on outfits photographers wear to weddings or shoots!

Since I already do this for Persuasion Boudoir, I thought it'd be awesome to extend the weekly tradition over to this blog, too!

I'll warn you now... a lot of wardrobe pieces will be coming from Ann Taylor/LOFT mainly because their pants/shorts/skirts fit my hips. I'm a size medium on top and a size 10-12 on the bottom with short stubby legs. Ann Taylor has been the ONLY place where their Petite bottoms aren't too short or too long on me. And they FIT me in the hip area. So, that is my PSA for this series. If you've got hips, you've got to try out Ann Taylor Loft's stuff!

So, without further ado... thank you, Virginia Ladies, for being the catalyst for this new weekly series posted every Monday: The Photographer's Wardrobe!

****************

It was only fitting I tie in my favorite colors into this wardrobe option. I love navy blue, I love headbands, and I love gray. I won't do "me" all the time, but I thought it'd be perfect for the first outfit!

I think photographers should feel comfy, beautiful, and professional when on the job. When I stopped wearing all black, guests approached me more and brides love it when I'm in "theme" for their special day. I'm rather dedicated to my photo-fam!! :)

So anyhow, Clarks shoes have been sworn to be super comfy for a day on your feet, and I can at least attest to their ballet flats. So I can't see why the sleek sandals would be any different!

Enjoy and be confidently stylish; don't hide behind that camera!

WHERE TO BUY:

Ann Taylor LOFT striped top, $49
Ann Taylor LOFT scoop neck top, $34
Ann Taylor LOFT grey pinstripe pants, $54
Clarks long shoes, $70
Ann Taylor LOFT sparkly hair accessory, $14

- Chelsea :)

Dreama + David : The Couple Who Booked First | Sneak Peek

2011-05-23T17:15:00.004-04:00

Almost two years ago, I received an email from Dreama. For her 2011 wedding. So you can imagine my excitement when she and David told me I was "the one"! I had a very small wedding portfolio with most portrait work... and so not only did she take a chance, she trusted me. I kinda get emotional about this sort of thing. Two years ago, she saw in me what I saw in me. I just needed to be given the chance. To have someone confirm that (who didn't know you prior to meeting!) is humbling and was the first moment I believe I surrendered to God and His plans for me. So, let me meander and say... thank you, Dreama and David, for being catalysts. You started it all. :)

Well, like couples choose me, I also go through a bit of an interview process, too. I have to make sure we're a good match! So how did I know they were my ideal clients? When David said he was going to show up in a tuxedo t-shirt to the wedding and the look Dreama gave him after he made his proclamation. As I said in their engagement post, their relationship is pretty much like mine and Rusty's. But we need those guys to keep life from being too serious, right, Dreama? ;) haha!

You guys are hilarious, and I totally enjoyed being part of your special Fort Monroe wedding! Gazebo and beach? YAY!

May you never stop laughing over life's crazy moments! And enjoy your honeymoon and keep updating us on Facebook of Jamaican antics! ;)

- Chelsea :)

Kelli + Eric : The Couple Who Can JUMP! | Sneak Peek

2011-05-20T14:45:00.003-04:00

She pretty much lives on Etsy. And so the story began. Etsy brings people together. Hmm, except Etsy didn't really bring us together; we're both just obsessed with the website... okay, nevermind. I fail at coming up with catchy phrases for the site. I'll stick with my day job!

Kelli and Eric were just a ton of fun to get to know, and I'm so blessed to have documented their day for them! If you want to be around good peoples, these are your peoples. Even their families were so wonderful to get to know, too, so you KNOW it must be genetic. ;)

Beyond that, Eric is awesome at GQing it up and Kelli just has a stunning profile. AND they let me do whatever I wanted. I think this is a forever love. haha!

So here's your sneak peek, you crazy beautiful and handsome two! Keep enjoying that honeymoon!

- Chelsea :)

The Brooks Family - Sneak Peek | Sandbridge Family Photography

2011-05-13T21:15:00.000-04:00

I pretty much want to be adopted by this family. So fun, so laid back, and just loves life!

Kelli and Eric's wedding day is tomorrow (Saturday), but they wanted a family portrait session with everyone together before then. How fabulous of an idea is that?? Watch out, folks, this family is one unique fam.

Hence my notice to be adopted. ;)

- Chelsea :)

Morgan + Bruce and their Party + Details | Sandbridge Beach Wedding

2011-05-08T22:03:00.000-04:00

It was so great to be given tons of time to get these portraits and details! Pretty much Morgan let me do whatever I wanted (I know! Spoiled!!). Her laid back personality is the perfect foil to my Type A one; it's basically why we're such good friends. ;)

You know it's going to be a good day when you tell the bride you had a vision of a colorful scarf because of the strong wind... and the bridesmaids immediately go out and get two scarves in BOTH of the wedding colors. LOVE. The girls were just tons of fun to be around the entire day and the guys made me laugh so much. They were true supporters of Morgan and Bruce with their weather-crazy, but awesome wedding.

Not one person complained when it could have been easy to do-- it was quite the opposite! They were ready to take on whatever task needed to be done to make sure Morgan and Bruce had a truly special day. The girls and guys were totally my kind of people. :)

And as for the details? A lot of emphasis on eco-friendly at this wedding. More info coming later!

- Chelsea :)

It's almost Bit of Ivory's Anniversary Month!! ... and it involves an iPad 2!

2011-04-25T09:00:00.003-04:00

We know I love to give gifts, and we also know that I LOOOOVE to celebrate, especially anniversaries. Well, let me start off by saying...

This is my last year teaching in a classroom. I've been called outside the classroom and into photography full-time. When God says GO, you better go. (I mean, yes, it's already felt like it's full-time with all that goes into the business, but now it's REALLY full-time.)

So this August, Bit of Ivory Photography will be operating with business hours, more weekday availabilities, and all that jazz. I'm STOKED! Bring it on, WORLD! :D

Okay, okay. Giveaway announcement time.

To commemorate June as the anniversary month (since two years ago I embarked on this journey)... it's going to be big. Yes yes!

During the months of May and June 2011, every bride who books their wedding with me will be entered into a drawing to win... a FREE iPad 2 (valued at $499; see specs below) with their wedding photos LOADED onto it! I dream big, so I strive to give big.

Because I love gifts and there can be only one iPad winner, the rest of the new Bit of Ivory brides who weren't chosen will receive a FREE 16x20 canvas gallery wrap with their choice of an engagement, wedding, or bridal (if added on) photo displayed on it.

And you wonderful current clients of mine whom I love so dearly... If you refer a new bride, and she becomes a Bit of Ivory bride during the months of May and June, YOU receive a FREE 11x14 canvas gallery wrap with your choice of session photo displayed on it.

So everyone wins! YAY!

For current brides, portrait, and Persuasion clients, don't worry. I've got some other super fun gifts for you, too, but you'll have to wait until June 1st to hear more! :)

Consider the next two months as the "These are a few of my favorite things" giveaway extravaganza! Hope you like two of my favorite things already! [insert Sound of Music dance moves here] Canvas wraps and iPads, oh my!

Some fine print regarding the iPad 2...
* You must sign your contract and place your nonrefundable retainer between May 1, 2011 at 12:00am and June 29, 2011 at 11:59pm to qualify for the drawing. Your wedding does NOT need to take place during May or June (because that'd be impossible! I'm booked up! lol)
* Each bride will be given a number in the order she was booked. (First bride will be #1, second bride will be #2, et cetera.)
* Winning bride will be chosen at random using Random.org.
* Winning bride will be announced on Facebook and the blog on Thursday, June 30th at 10:00am.
* Bride and groom will receive the new iPad AFTER their wedding in accordance with post-processing time of 4-6 weeks and will have only their wedding photos loaded onto it. No other session photos will be included.
* The new iPad will be the 16GB with Wi-Fi version only. No connectivity contract required.
* If the iPad 2 is replaced with a more current edition (such as iPad 3) by the date of the contracted wedding, the bride and groom will receive the NEWEST edition available on the market. Of course. :)

Some fine print regarding the canvas wraps...
* All photos requested for the canvas wrap must have been taken by Bit of Ivory Photography. This is a way to reward previous clients and their awesome images!
* If you haven't had a session with me yet and still refer a bride to me... first, thank you! Second, you will receive a placeholder for your canvas wrap when you do have your session.

Go ahead and tell your engaged friends! :)

Love,
Chelsea :)

Ashley: Sneak Peek from Hunt Club Farm | Virginia Beach Bridal Portraits

2011-04-23T13:07:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned on Facebook, this stunning bride has encouraged a new love of Hunt Club Farm for me. And it's KILLING me not to share the rest... just simply wrenching my heart to pieces! Is that dramatic enough for effect that I have to wait until late June to share? :)

- Chelsea :)

Morgan + Bruce : The Couple who told the Storm who was Boss | Sneak Peek

2011-04-21T21:56:00.002-04:00

One of the month's biggest storms, tornado watch, and crazy high winds didn't stop Morgan and Bruce from celebrating and enjoying their big day on the BEACH. That's right. On the beach in Sandbridge, Virginia. Bring it.

And not only can I check off "photograph something in a storm" on my life's list, we have proven that love really does conquer all. To be honest, I would have been a mess on my wedding day if the weather was like it was on April 16th... and Morgan handled the entire day with so much grace and still rocked it with her gorgeousness. I admire her bundles more than I already did (even if she was already one of my greatest friends!)!

Here's your sneak peek, lovebirds. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon!!

- Chelsea :)

Orchestrated: Mediterranean Mosaic Registration... begins NOW!

2011-04-19T11:00:00.001-04:00

Meghan and I have been hard at work hammering out this challengingly awesome theme. See, I had a vision. The vision included this beautiful mosaic piece I saw on Google. And it included my insatiable desire to go to Greece. Well, since I couldn't technically have either one of those right now, I told Meghan we needed to do this theme. She laughed and gave me a look that only emails can convey as... "Oh boy."

We had so many ideas and went back and forth FOREVER on them. Using this pattern, that pattern... this necklace... that design...

Well, 6 hours of meeting at Jason's Deli, venue visits, and Starbucks breaks... we GOT IT! And holy moly, it's going to be fabulous!

At our last shoot, I said I wanted to live in the pool house because of the beautiful property. Well, this time, I want to live in one of the cypress trees because it's just that amazing.

Orchestrated's Mediterranean Mosaic weaves in the Greek and the Med influence with a modern and old-world twist. Think white, royal blue, hints of metallic, and a splash of lime green. This is bigger than our last shoot with even more details and stunning location-related elements! ... we are shooting into the evening because the location alone is going to knock your lens caps OFF!

You will officially be transported into a Mediterranean dream. And that's not being cheesy either! You won't find any location like this in Hampton Roads... and we are SOOO blessed to have this special connection especially since when planning these stylized shoots, location is numero uno before we can plan any other detail.

Right after our last shoot, we got a website and Facebook page up and running... so if you haven't checked those out yet, please do so!

WEBSITE- http://orchestrated.bitofivoryphotography.com
FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/orchestratedshoots

Now... we know you want to get to the registration page... so go ahead! Spots are limited so everyone has a fabulously quality time.

TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO REGISTER... follow the LINK and enjoy!

- Chelsea :)

Now presenting... Through the Rose-Colored Lens: a Bit of Ivory workshop | June 18, 2011

2011-04-14T20:00:00.004-04:00

For months now, I've been getting emails from clients, friends, and even new friends (who found me through the Facebook page) with a similar question... How can I take better pictures?!

To be honest, I was nervous. I'm different from most in that I'm quirky, have a different background than most other photographers, and dance to the beat of my own little Chelsea drum. Despite my extensive background in art, photography, and teaching, I was nervous. I know. Crazy!!

But like God always tends to do... whacks me with a huge foam brick of reality. Everything that makes me different is a good thing. I do see the world differently than most. I do see things in a positive light-- always have, always will. And what once was supposed to be a slight to me has become the title of my first workshop.

Yes, I see the world through rose-colored glasses-- there is too much beauty to focus on the ugly of life. I see my clients and my world through a Rose-Colored Lens. And I believe other people do, too.

So I present... Through the Rose-Colored Lens: A Bit of Ivory workshop.

A workshop for you budding photographers who crave to know the art behind photography, to learn from the classical painting masters, to understand natural lighting, and to strengthen your "eye" skills behind the camera! ALL types of digital cameras welcome (yes, even the point-and-shoots).

Only 10 spots are available so I can spend one-on-one attention and to make the workshop as fun as possible. Soooo...

Ready to learn, eat a deliciously catered lunch, meet new friends, and find something else about your style?

TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO REGISTER... go to the Workshop site!

Can't wait to meet you!
- Chelsea :)

Photographer's Delight | Giving Back... Photog-Style.

2011-04-13T18:01:00.005-04:00

Giving takes so many shapes and forms, and I'm so grateful that we are all different and that we have different gifts, talents, and skills.

Recently, there was a Showiteer who just needed some encouragement and good news. People rallied together and, without her prompting or asking, gave to her what seemed to be such a small thing, but in reality, being a HUGE blessing to this person.

It got me thinking.

What are ways that we can give back? If we are unable to give money, what are the ways that can be blessings to others in our industry? To help build it up? I truly believe we are blessed in different ways so we can ALWAYS give back. In my life, I have some awesome friends whose gift-giving language have run the gamut... from financial, time, skills, to connections.

With those four in mind, I brainstormed some ways that no matter where you're gifted, you can always give back. Giving is not a four-cornered box. It's a multi-dimensional cube that houses many, many different ways to show you care.

If your gift is financial...
- Donate an amount to a personal cause. If you hear something in your local photog groups, investigate if there is a need.
- Purchase a set of business cards. (See "Gift is skill-related" below!)
- Send a little camera-related treat. Like a Shutter Buddy for family photogs.
- Gift a photography industry magazine yearly subscription. Get some quality materials into a person's hands and you've set them afire for aspiration.

If your gift is time...
- Leave some blog love. Just show you took a few minutes to read what they wrote.
- Meet up to have coffee with a new photographer. Get rid of the idea of competition and embrace someone who might need some advice or a listening ear.
- Offer some marketing advice. You don't have to give away all your tricks, but you can give some sound and tried-and-true words.
- Skype it up with someone who's struggling with their website. Okay, so I don't use Skype, but I know a lot of people who are, and what an amazing tool for this!! I've seen a few people offer up help this way.

If your gift is skill-related...
- Design a small logo to get someone started. Don't let them use WordArt! You have Photoshop, and I bet Photoshop feels all warm and fuzzy when you use it for good. :)
- Customize a business card. You might already have a buddy whose gift is financial... partner up and go in on a collaborative gift.
- Hatch out a simple 5-year business plan. You've got the biz smarts, now you can help guide someone into getting more long-term with their passion.
- Show your organizational techniques. We may not all be near a Container Store or love Real Simple, and it's so difficult to be on top of everything without some help! A little guidance can be such a HUGE blessing to someone whose not naturally organized.

If your gift is connection-related...
- Introduce someone to a favorite vendor of yours. Create a NEW connection.
- Refer your "didn't work out" client to someone. If you're unavailable one day, refer them to someone you trust or believe in.
- Recommend a great photog-vendor service. No need to be all secretive about who you use with photographers. Be open about your favorite print or canvas lab. It's all good. :)
- Organize a get-together of your local photographer friends. No cliques here! Welcome any newcomer because you never know who will be your strongest ally or cheerleader. And besides, it's just better to be nice! :)

I will be honest. The easiest for me was time since that's been a gift of mine since I was younger and barely had any money. So I got creative to show my love and how I care... some come easier than others. Find what speaks to you and DO it. Actions always speak louder than words. Yes, the cliche lives on!

So, fellow photographers, leave a comment to add to this list of ideas! I'd love to hear them! And please share. We can only build an industry when we're putting forth the effort to strengthen the foundations and not weaken them.

... and I LOOOOoooOOOooove what I'm seeing. Seriously, to quote Snoopy, it "warms the cookies of my heart" to hear and see some amazing things that are happening. (I will admit that most of them are concentrated or related to Showit. What IS that group all about? You just need to join. Those are some movers-and-shakers right there. ;) )

Love,
Chelsea :)

Veronica, Orlando, and Charlie | Chesapeake Couples Photographer

2011-04-10T19:25:00.002-04:00

It all started last Fall. Last Fall when I got an email that briefly stated "I was referred by Megan." And instantly I knew she was good peoples! (For those new to the blog, Megan was our September 2010 bride!) I love word-of-mouth clients immensely! Because friends don't tell friends to get bad things. haha

Veronica was new to the area, and she wanted portraits taken of her, her husband, Orlando, and their doggie, Charlie. Orlando is also in the military and we all know how the military is with scheduling... soooo, what was going to be a Christmas card session ended up being a winter "just because" session. (Which I just received their March Christmas card... and it is one awesome idea. Send people a Christmas card when they don't expect it, and shazam! Instantly more memorable. I need to take notes for next year.)

These two have become good friends of ours (it helps they literally live right around the corner!). I mean, come on, how awesome is it to be invited to have a dog birthday party with a piñata?! They filled it up with dog treats, and oh my goodness, it was the CUTEST thing ever watching Charlie go after that colorful thing. He LOVED it, and Rusty and I loved watching! haha

Anyway, their session was so easy-going and so much fun. And Charlie was the most posable, lovable dog ever. Seriously, you could mold him into any position you wanted! Orlando's a pro at it!

Vero and Orly, I'm SOO excited that this isn't the last time I get to work with you guys! I'm ecstatic for Chicago to celebrate and document Monica's quinceañera this July!! AHH! Chi-town, here we come!

You can see some other images from their Sneak Peek post!

- Chelsea :)

Sgt. Wes is Bit of Ivory's First Groomals!

2011-04-08T17:39:00.006-04:00

What was so cool was that Michelle wanted her groom to have his own portraits because Wes had just been promoted and got some awesome-looking dress blues! What bride wouldn't want her hubby lookin' all handsome and all dressed up? (And just P.S... Michelle's reactions made me all giggly! Hand fanning and EVERYTHING.)

So this is Bit of Ivory's first Groomals. Yes, I said it again. And I'm owning the phrase!! Groomals will take the world by verbal storm. Mark my word! ;)

If you didn't see his wife's bridals, go check them out, too!
- Chelsea :)

Now Presenting... the Drawing Room!

2011-03-31T21:59:00.005-04:00

Drawing room [n.] - a room in a house where visitors may be entertained.

I've been wanting a place online that has all the good stuff in it. A special spot for inquiring clients to go to see what the Bit of Ivory experience is all about. I LOVE connecting, and I LOVE communicating. There are no gray areas! Just black and white. (hahahah! Love that reference to my fave type of photography!? I'm so clever. At 10:00pm! Yeah, brain!)

To go along with my Chapters, we now have the Drawing Room-- the exclusive client area. You knew I was going to name it classic British something. :) So there we have it!

Because the site is password-protected and only available to potential and current clients, I took some screen shots to share with you what's going on behind closed doors.

This central location has all pricing information, expectations, timeline, and a whole lot more goodies aimed to educate and excite all!

It means a lot to me to be able to connect with my photo-fam, and this was a way I could do it in a simple fashion. I care very much to ensure booking a wedding is as LOW stress as possible. I don't mess around with jargon or hide behind pretty designs; it's all there, straight and to the point.

I hope it's helpful to you, and I look forward to building onto it as bridal needs evolve.

- Chelsea :)

Helpful Hints | Day-of Schedules

2011-03-30T17:29:00.004-04:00

The moment Dreama (May 2011 bride) sent this to me, I flipped with excitement and immediately asked her if I could share this on the blog!

Schedules. Yes. We already know I'm OCD and Type A. You know I live by Post-Its and schedules. I thrive off of them because it eliminates miscommunications and encourages FUN. Okay, you may not have fun making them... but that's why you delegate that task to someone who does! ;)

So. Anyhow. Why wouldn't I love it when my brides send this over? For background knowledge, Dreama has a degree in graphic design and is venturing into the world of photography, so she's a visual person.

And this is her Day-of Schedule as of today (because we all know something is bound to change within the next two months! Oh, the joy of wedding planning!)...

Now with that being said, you don't have to be a visual person to make up a schedule, but let me convince you why a schedule is a HUGE deal.

WHY A SCHEDULE?
- It helps out EVERYONE, including you, the bride! Can you imagine how much at ease you'll be knowing that everyone else knows where they need to be and that your vendors are well-informed? Literally, you should have NOTHING to worry about. :) We (the collective wedding participants) got it covered.

- If something/someone is missing, it gives a layout on how to fix it asap without your stressing, or even better, without your knowing about it!

- You will make your photographer very happy. :) Shouldn't that be enough!? Kidding, of course, but truly, it will allow me to be all that I can be for your big day when you let me know your timeline expectations for the big day.

** And P.S. I have to give a BIG shoutout to Dreama for adding in extra portrait time for sunset photos. The awesome portraits you see everywhere? It's all because couples give me that extra time! You'll LOVE the results.

And lastly... I don't know if it's my teacher background, but remember, there will ALWAYS be something that doesn't go according to schedule. That's OKAY. But at least you made the steps to ensure a beautiful, less stressful wedding day and the designated people will take care of anything off the schedule for you!

Bit of Ivory brides, I'm sure if you join the Bit of Ivory photo fam Facebook group, Dreama will probably share the actual Word document with you. ;) She's a pretty cool gal.

And thank you again, Miss Dreama, for letting me share your aesthetically appealing schedule! Hearts!

- Chelsea :)

FEATURED! on Showit Live and a Bit of Ivory Bride's Blog

2011-03-26T13:57:00.008-04:00

I should have posted this earlier because I nearly attempted a multi-cartwheel of excitement... but I expended all of my squeals on the Bit of Ivory Facebook page. And now it comes over to the blog! And because this blog is like a family album, I wanted to document it!

When I announced my Bit of Ivory Chapter sites, I was already ecstatic that my photo-fam loved them. However, no more than 24 hours later, I get a shoutout for my design on ShowitLive-- a daily newscast with the Showit Studs, and for this particular segment, Andrew Barlow and David Jay.

TO WATCH THE VIDEO: go here and check out the 16:11 mark!

I had my little segment of fame! I was so humbled that my little Chapter idea (a spin off of their +sites) was applauded! Heck, we know my love language is Words of Affirmation, and this was it!

But just for the record, no matter what my work is or will do... we know what's REALLY important here. They think my name is chic. My lifelong dream of having a French last name has been made shiny. My life is complete. ;) hahaha!

...... AND another important feature meant even MORE to me. One of my brides keeps a wonderful wedding blog, chronicling her planning process... and she wrote the sweetest post ever. (Seriously, this girl can write!)

CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE: here!

Truly, I'm humbled, and in the grand scheme of life, it's just one little tiny stepping stone to the big ole road I hope to go down one day.

- Chelsea :)

Retro Buttons, Candy, and Vintage Soda... oh my! | Virginia Wedding Photography

2011-03-21T16:17:00.005-04:00

I had the huge privilege to be a part of Katelyn (James) Alsop's Sugar Shoot this past weekend in Richmond to enjoy GORGEOUS eye candy (no pun intended... okay, it was. ;) ), to meet fellow photogs, and to learn new perspectives.

This was exactly what I needed. To be personal, I needed to be rejuvenated. I needed to be inspired and allow myself to dive right into details without worry of x, y, z. With the nervousness of what's to come later this year, I needed to be reaffirmed that God knows what He's doing with me. And I have to be trusting of that.

Without further ado, even though this day was coated in beautiful shades of teals and oranges... you know I have to start with a black and white image! :D

Thank you, Katelyn, for hosting and for being you! And thank you, Lauryn and Jared, for being awesome models!

PARTICIPATING VENDORS:
Sweet Spot Candy Shop - http://www.shopsweetspot.com
Florist & Guest Speaker - Janie Medley (The Bride's Cafe) - http://www.thebridescafe.com
Cake - Shyndigz - http://www.shyndigz.com
Bride's Necklace - Button Soup Jewelry http://www.etsy.com/shop/buttonsoupjewelry
Catering - Mosaics Unique Events - http://www.mosaicedibles.com

- Chelsea :)

Michelle + Wes | Newport News Military Wedding Sneak Peek

2011-03-20T11:30:00.001-04:00

One chilly morning, a bride showed up rocking "Bride" socks and a Starbucks cup to the Poquoson Hair and Body. It was the BIG day that she had been waiting for-- to celebrate her marriage to her best friend.

So begins the introduction to their wedding day... :)

Welcome back from your honeymoon, Michelle and Wes!

- Chelsea :)

Now Presenting... Bit of Ivory Chapters.

2011-03-14T10:00:00.006-04:00

I'm SOOOO excited about the addition of Bit of Ivory Chapters! It's been in the works for awhile now, and I'm kinda jumping up and down now that I get to share it!

Bit of Ivory Chapters are personalized wedding websites (also called +Sites for you Showiteers out there!) for my brides! These are available in all of my wedding collections and just plain fun, awesome, and spectacular. I wanted a way to not only help brides disperse information to their friends and family, but put it in an aesthetically pleasing way without getting all commercial-y like other wedding websites. It's personalized to you and your groom!

[Homepage]

This is not a custom website since the basic design will remain the same. This is so because we want to help tie all of the Bit of Ivory Chapters together as a big ole happy photo-fam book! BUT.

Chapters are personalized by...
* Adapting your wedding colors or colors of choice in the design.
* Allowing your friends and family to comment DIRECTLY on your site as a little guestbook!
* Incorporating all written details of your story and wedding day information.
* Including your choice of photos from your engagement session and then later with wedding photos.
* Identifying your website with a ____________.bitofivoryphotography.com address of you and your groom's names! [ex. charlotteandethan.bitofivoryphotography.com]
* Streamlining proofing gallery information to your guests.

[Our Story]

Each Chapter includes the following pages...
* Homepage
* Our Story
* Gallery
* Details
(With your "Leave a Note" guestbook on every page!)

[Gallery]

[Details]

Please do check out the LIVE SAMPLE SITE!

** FAQs **
What if I already had an engagement session, can I put those photos on it?
Due to copyright and wanting to respect that, I cannot put any photographs not taken by Bit of Ivory. Even if they are snapshots you took, I'm sorry. This is to protect all parties involved. After all, I would to uphold the integrity of your gorgeous site! :)

If you do not have an engagement session, I can make your Chapter site live after your wedding, or I can place some Bit of Ivory stock images in the photos' places...

Basically what this is all saying let's have an engagement session!! ;)

Can I add more pages to my site?
For an additional cost, you can add up to two more pages. To add an RSVP page, a Google Docs account is required. Not familiar with Google Docs forms? See this and that tutorials.

How do I get my information on there?
Right after your engagement session, I will send you a Chapter Website Questionnaire to fill out. This will have all of the questions regarding personalization so we can get this up and rollin'!

How long will the website be active?
It is guaranteed to be up for one year after your wedding proofing gallery goes live. :)

Can I update post-wedding information on the Details page?
You sure can! I hope you will!

That's it for now. I'm excited to launch these and look forward to many, many special Chapters to come!

- Chelsea :)

i heart faces | Sun Flare

2011-03-13T22:57:00.003-04:00

(EB, October 2010)
[To go see the other photos for this challenge and leave a comment, go here!]

There's a bit of imperfection in terms of the sun flare, but I love it anyway. This is my BFF, Elaine. And I know I talk about her a lot. haha We've known each other since middle school as we met one fateful sleepover night with our church's youth group girls.

She's been there for me ever since. I'm still her Dad's "favorite." I still know I can always call her when I need her to pick up a wheel of brie for a Persuasion marathon. I still can send one word text messages, and she'll know exactly what I'm talking about. She's my beautiful BFF sister. I love you, ElaineyBob!

And yes, Elaine, I do miss your cooking very much!! For real. The saddest thing I lost when I got married and stopped being your roomie. hahaha Oh, I still miss you and Bridget Pockets, of course, too. ;)

- Chelsea :)

P.S. Bridget Pockets is Elaine's cat... which apparently I'm on back pay on kitty alimony. HA!

Warm and Fuzzies: Udi's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-03-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

[a ongoing blog series dedicated to the things that make me warm and fuzzy]

Everyone has their comfort food. Everyone might be able to choose one thing to eat for the rest of the lives if there were no health consequences. Everyone has a food that they crave on any given day, at any given moment.

So imagine that my whole world was destroyed when I found out I had a gluten intolerance. My famous chocolate chip cookie recipe was no more. I could no longer eat my friends' cookies...

And if you don't know me, cookies and I go WAAAY back. Cookies ARE my comfort food. It's severe enough where I rate my days according to how many cookies I need to eat. (Like last week, it got up to a 4 cookie day... all by 11am.) ... and I'm not even categorized as an emotional eater! I'm an emotional sleeper! I sleep things off!

About a month ago, my father-in-law came over with some goodies. I had told him about a brand called Udi's and that I was trying to find their bread since it has been the only gluten-free kind I've liked.

Well, to my surprise, he not only found the bread, but some magical CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! These weren't even advertised on Udi's website, so I nearly just cried because I've had some nasty gluten-free desserts in the past months. NASTY, I tell ya.

Not these cookies. These cookies were... Chewy. Great texture (if you're a GF person, you know texture is huge and can be hit-or-miss). DELICIOUS.

So this month's Warm and Fuzzy goes too... Udi's Chocolate Chip Cookies! They saved my sweet tooth ways!

(Yes. I have a reindeer glass, and I use it YEAR ROUND! :D ... and yes, just like my life, my glass is ALWAYS half-full. Take that, cruel world and seasonal change!)

My father-in-law has found these at his local Kroger's. Kroger's supposedly has an entire Udi's product line in their bakery section... it's an elusive stand at the Kroger's near me, and I never found it... so at least the Newport News one has 'em!

Thank you, Udi's, for having such a great tasting cookie that Celiacs and gluten-intolerant people can eat. Yes, the Snickerdoodles and Oatmeal Raisin are good, but your chocolate chip is far superior. Much love!

- Chelsea :)

Michelle - The Beautiful Country Chic Bride

2011-03-12T16:03:00.003-05:00

Now that Michelle is all good and married, I can share with you some of my all-time favorites from her bridal session last month!

To introduce Michelle to you, you must know what I associate her with... all things Americana, good ole Southern hospitality, loves her country and pearls, and downright spunky and beautiful. She went out of her way to make sure there was some sort of gluten-free option for me at her wedding! That right there shows us the size of her heart. She's become a great friend, and I'm truly honored that our friendship won't stop now that the big day has already passed.

(And for the crazy couple-- Hope you guys are having fun on your honeymoon!! I wanna see pictures when you get back!)

We'll have her hubby's photos on the blog shortly since he had his own groomals, too! ;)

- Chelsea :)

Ashley and Walt | Virginia Beach Couples Photography

2011-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I didn't meet or chat with these two until the day of our session. That's right. Unconventional at its best! ;) WHA! Got your attention now? Our Orchestrated needed a groom, and Meghan's friend Ashley volunteered her sweet North Carolina boyfriend to play the part! All because he had a super nice gray suit.

I guess that might be a warning to boyfriends, fiancés, and husbands everywhere. If you own a certain colored wardrobe option, you might get roped into a stylized shoot. ;)

As our HUGE thank you, I wanted to do a mini-session for them, especially since Ashley was not our bride model that day. Both were the greatest. Ashley won my heart when SHE showed up in theme. That's right. She totally rocked a gorgeous yellow sundress in chilly weather so she could be yellow and gray to our backyard soirée!

Ashley and Walt (and p.s. I still love your distinguished name!), you two are HILARIOUS! Watch the hands, you two, watch the hands. :D I wish you all the best with your respective programs! Hearts! I hope this isn't the last I'll see of you! Thanks for being so wonderful!

- Chelsea :)

Yellow and Gray, Backyard Soirée | Orchestrated Stylized Shoot

2011-02-28T19:00:00.002-05:00

Saturday, February 26th was the first of ongoing stylized shoots called Orchestrated. This has been on my heart since 2010, and it became a reality when I met Meghan Beckwith of MeghanBlair Weddings who was equally excited about my idea!

We love to create. We love to see our ideas take form. And we love to present opportunities for others of like minds to do the same! ... all without the stress of a real client's wedding day. We LOVE weddings, and we are sooo in love with our clients! But, oh, that thing called time. We are serving our clients and helping make their days awesome, not for our own needs. When we're not doing a wedding, we can sometimes forget why we became photographers to begin with. Orchestrated aims to fulfill that!

Yellow and Gray, Backyard Soirée was a HUGE success! Our models were beyond amazing with flexibility and just being wonderful despite the chilly temperatures. Our participating photographers were just an amazing group of ladies from all various levels. Our hostess was so generous with her home. Our vendors created such beautiful pieces and perfectly in line of our vision. Everything was perfect.

To have your idea create such excitement really is humbling. My heart was all in this, and when people validate its worth, gosh. It's pretty cool. I can't thank everyone enough for being so supportive (lemons, 4-EVA!)! I will post a separate post with the behind the scenes shots of all the photogs a bit later this week... :)

Because of the support, I have now created Orchestrated's own website AND Facebook fan page.

So I now present to you... Orchestrated's Yellow and Gray, Backyard Soirée!

VENDORS:
* Event Design - MeghanBlair Weddings
* Ties and Bowties - Me and Matilda
* Stationery - The Girl Tyler
* Flowers - Leslie Hartig Floral Design
* Headband and Sash - SparrowBlu
* Cake - Bella Cakes

PARTICIPATING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
* Erin Lundy
* Leila Wylie
* DeAnn Rinehart
* Tyler Adams
* Jennifer Campbell
* Jena Cornell
* Kristie Bradley
* Latanya Wilkowski

To find out more about Orchestrated and upcoming dates/themes, please visit the website for more info.

- Chelsea :)

Veronica + Orlando (and Charlie!) | Sneak Peek from the Chesapeake Arboretum

2011-02-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and this is one of them. We were scheduled to do this "Anytime" session right before Christmas, but Orlando's work had him in training, so it just wasn't meant to be then.

Well, today was the day! We had a beautiful day with perfect weather AND just an awesome time at the Chesapeake Arboretum.

Enjoy the sneak peek, you two! The rest of the photos are just... eeeee... you'll love them. :)

- Chelsea :)

Photographer's Delight | SEO Tips and Tricks

2011-02-07T19:30:00.001-05:00

Wow, I didn't realize so many would want this info! This all began because my ranking in Google increased, and I shared my excitement with my fellow Showiteers on Facebook. They asked for the information... and voila! Here we are! So this month's Photographer's Delight is here!

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is HUGE for any business wanting to stand out on the limitless web. I don't know if my way is the right way, but it's certainly worked for me as I've done my research and gathered tips from the past year! I'm on the first page for "chesapeake boudoir photographer" and on the second page for "chesapeake wedding photographer." So something must be working, right?

One thing to note is that the stinky thing is that Google DOES "see" where you surf the web. Your ranking will unfortunately look different on every computer/web browser you use. AND it will be ranked differently with different clients based on their web habits. Don't be saddened if you rank lower on another computer. Do what you can for SEO and keep doing it!

I don't do any paid advertising... and so all that I do is free. I haven't used an SEO tech guy to do it for me (though that is available through some marketing firms). The free way is just a little time-consuming and patience-testing. :) As time goes by, your web presence and clout will strengthen.

If you don't blog, stop right now and go open up a Blogger or Wordpress account. I'll wait. :)

Blog ready? Okay. Let's do this.

1. Use that SEO view when building your Showit pages (if on that web platform). It will show what text is found that is NOT flash. This is where you can diagnose what needs to be "texted."

1a. In your blog posts, link your Showit webpages (where applicable). Since your blog will always be stronger (in the eyes of Google bots), link your contact page or your investments page. It can't hurt.

2. Submit to engines. I was told about the directories and search engines that ranked high in the Google algorithm were the following:
- dmoz.org (It takes weeks to get listed-- and I'm not even listed on there yet! But apparently, this ranks VERY, VERY heavily for search engines.)
- Yahoo! Local
- Google (obviously)

3. Get inbound links. This is where networking with other vendors helps! Do a link exchange, but ultimately, get others to have YOUR website on their website. You can use Alexa.com to check to see who is linking you. Commenting on other photographer blogs helps (just don't be obnoxious about it and say, "Here is my website for SEO purposes!!!" lol). Try to get at least 5 new inbound links every quarter.

4. BLOG IT UP! Cover local events on your blog. Google has placed MORE weight on local businesses with their new search algorithm. Blog with keywords, but mostly phrases and complete sentences.

Create meaningful posts. Find your writing style. It's a bit easy for me; I was an English major in college and have always loved to write. But I know it doesn't come easily for some... just find a way to get words out! It may sound silly, but if it is difficult for you, create your "ideal captive audience" (the one that you could talk on and on to) and "talk" to that audience using whatever vocabulary and syntax you generally use. Pretend you are writing and talking to them with each blog post; it will help getting your blog style down.

4a. Titles and Tags. It might look a little tacky and cheesy, but really utilize those blog post titles (e.g., "Billy and Betty | Chesapeake Wedding Photographer") and tags (e.g., "chesapeake wedding photographer, personal, weddings"). Some photogs go REALLY overboard with it, and heck, guess what? Their rankings are really high. Do what suits your brand. I think as you gain more web-clout, you won't have to rely on this so much.

5. Article marketing. This is ADVANCED SEO! I haven't done this yet... but it's on my to-do list for the middle of this year to get higher rankings.

Write applicable articles to your business (e.g., "How to Take Good Photos of your Kids" or "The Best Lighting Setup for a Wedding Reception") and submit them to article sites. Remember to include your name, bio, and link to your website at the end of your article.
- ezines.com
- goarticles.com
- digg.com

6. List your address/location on every webpage. I have noticed some photogs don't even put the city in which they service! Put your city and surrounding/service areas. If you have a studio, make sure to put that brick-and-mortar address. This goes back to Google's looooving local businesses. They will give more preference to these websites. It's hard for me to put my address out there since my business address is personal to me, but I'm trying to find ways (see below).

7. Google, Google, Google. Create a *complete* Google Places profile. That helped my ranking significantly! (But this also frustrates me sometimes because sometimes my Google Places doesn't even show up! I know it's there though!) Use Google Analytics if you don't already. SUCH a great resource. It helps me see exactly what people are searching for. Seriously, I think Google will take over the world one day. ;)

8. Submit a blog post to another well-read blog/website. What helped me significantly was that I did an article for MCP Actions last year. I'm still getting visitors from that.

9. Ask potential clients how they found you. On your contact page, ask! A ton of inquiries comes from Google for me (which was my kickstart into beefing up my SEO).

10. Just like inbound links, do outbound. There is something in the Google spiders that love this stuff. I'm no tech guru, but it has something to do with a web-effect-- everything connecting with each other. In blog posts, post links to other websites and especially to your other webpages AND blog posts. If you reference a past wedding couple in a new post, link their old blog post!

11. List yourself on every free wedding website/directory you can find. Here are just some...
- WeddingWire
- OneWed
- SnapKnot (really cool NEW website just for photogs!)
- The Knot Message Boards (I found this out when a bride kept posting my link as a recommendation! I didn't ask her to do this, but it was appreciated when I googled myself and saw my biz name on the Knot! Do NOT post this yourself. 1. It's annoying for vendors to "attack" brides with advertising when not asked for (I got it all the time when I was a bride!). And 2. It's against the board rules and is considered spamming. Let that word of mouth speak for ya!)

12. Facebook. My Facebook biz page helps to an extent since it is published text. I don't know if my ranking has risen from this or not, but it can't hurt!

Hope these help you all! <3

Again, do what works for your business and within your brand. My market is saturated with wedding photographers... and I know it'll take me a few years to get REALLY high. Keep doing it. It's not a one-time shop-and-stop. SEO is continual and needs to be built on.

... and for the record, I don't obsessively check my rankings everyday. ;) I do however work on SEO once a month and check them then.

[I couldn't have a post with JUST text. :) ]

Best wishes!
- Chelsea :)

Warm and Fuzzies: Pretty Photo Mugs

2011-02-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

[a ongoing series dedicated to the things that make me warm and fuzzy]
A little over a year ago, Kodak Gallery asked for hostesses for a photo-party to celebrate their new website launch. I totally was all over that and getting little freebies along the way. And as your everyday consumer, I stand by Kodak Gallery's quality... so win!

As I was getting a glass down for some Crystal Light (the strawberry, banana, and orange kind) the other day, I came across my most favorite mug. I'm not even really a mug person. I prefer the random cheesy plastic cups. You know. The kind with candy corn dancing around on it. Or the one that pays homage to Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

So I dedicate this Warm&Fuzzies to... my custom photo mug. This mug came from hostessing that fateful Kodak Gallery photo-party, so I got to design my mug and keep it!

Instead of cramming fifty images onto one template, I chose one, zoomed, cropped, and changed for variety.

It's over a year now and quality is still excellent! So with that being said... I had to get some siblings for my lonely mug.

MAJOR WARM AND FUZZIES.

Each mug represents a really special moment for me-- a vacation with my PA family to the Thousand Islands, my first year anniversary being snowed in at Colonial Williamsburg (just two months ago!), and a little "field trip" with an old high school friend to teach her how to use her camera.

With me, things need to be practical. And so now every time I take a drink, I can hardy-ha-ha over my practical art.

- Chelsea :)

i heart faces | Favorite Face of January 2011

2011-01-31T21:31:00.004-05:00

(Untitled, January 2011)
[To go see the other photos for this challenge and leave a comment, go here!]

It's been awhile since I've done an I Heart Faces entry... mainly because of busyness, but tonight, I needed an excuse to procrastinate on the other work I SHOULD be doing. lol When I saw this week's challenge was "fave face of January 2011," I immediately thought of this one from a Persuasion session I had earlier this month.

There is something about a genuine laugh. Something that speaks in volumes about someone's heart and general disposition. It's the soul revealed. I admire and am drawn to individuals who have that positive outlook on life because I strive to have the same. :)

Sure, I may be looking too deeply into this (all of the above is true though!)... but heck, genuine, candid smiles just look better in photos, too! :)

- Chelsea :)

Now presenting... Bit of Ivory's Photo-Fam Facebook Group!

2011-01-31T17:58:00.004-05:00

For many months, it's been in the works to set up a message board for all of my clients to interact and chat with each other. Especially my brides. When I hosted my Brides' Night Out Cupcake Decorating Party last June, I had to sole intent of just wanting to bring people together!

Well, I thought about it and a message board didn't seem right. It was too disconnected from everything. And honestly, it didn't seem as personal.

Recently, Facebook Groups have BOOMED. Convenience. Ease. Fun.

And then the answer hit. My message board would be on FACEBOOK! A good majority of the population is on Facebook; it is THE social network after all. People would go on, check when they wanted to, post when they wanted to... all without having to log onto a separate website.

Dream perfection! It's exactly what I wanted on a great platform.

Our private group just opened up last Friday, and since then, it's been steadily growing. Who knows where it'll end up, but for right now, I'm pretty excited. :)

So, past, present, and already booked clients of Bit of Ivory and Persuasion, please join us for the perpetual photo-fam get-together! I'd love to get to know you!

And if you haven't become a client yet, get on it! We're wanting to meet ya! ;)

- Chelsea :)

Sneak Peek | Michelle and Wes {Bridals and Groom-als}

2011-01-30T12:06:00.005-05:00

I would like to proudly present some gorgeous bridals AND the first ever GROOM-ALS! That's right, take that, spin-on tradition!

Michelle came to me and asked for a groom's session along with her bridals because her suave-y groom was getting his military dress blues for his promotion. I fell all over the idea! How cool is that?! As Michelle said, a wedding takes two! It's not just all the bride! I thought it was really sweet, and it just confirms how glad I am that she's become a friend. :)

Since Michelle asked for a sneak peek (sans gown, of course), here they are!

And P.S. I do believe SGT. Wes may be starting a trend. ;) Who can resist a man in uniform?!

- Chelsea :)

Now presenting... Orchestrated. | Hampton Roads Creative Stylized Shoots

2011-01-23T20:50:00.002-05:00

Hey, local photographers of Hampton Roads!

This one is for you!

In collaboration with Meghan Blair Weddings, we have created a priceless opportunity to shoot for creativity's sake. :)

Meghan and I decided to create bi-annual stylized shoots to stretch our artsy personalities and to create just because we can and without restriction. I NEED to create. It's in my blood. If I don't, I get cranky. Seriously. Ask Rusty. ;)

For me, when I do a wedding, I have a mission. A mission to document the best day of someone's life. All the beautiful moments and details within a certain time span. I can't count the times where I just wish I had just one more hour of awesome light to get just one more shot.

This is from where "Orchestrated" came.

So twice a year now, we will create an entire mock-up wedding-- everything from a ceremony setup to bridal party portraits to a reception setup. With details. With models. With limitless opportunities!

We won't tell you what to shoot. It's not a workshop. Sure, I'll answer questions, but ultimately, we urge you to be in your element and do what comes natural. Interact with the models, gain confidence in posing, and get those detail shots!

Art for art's sake!

The only post-shoot request? When you post your gorgeous images on your blog or Facebook, just link back to Bit of Ivory Photography (http://www.bitofivoryphotography.com) and Meghan Blair Weddings (http://meghanblair.com) with a shout out for the new Orchestrated series! Other than that, use these for your portfolio and show them off! They're yours. :)

So I now present to you... Orchestrated's first... Yellow & Gray, Backyard Soirée!

To ensure a quality time for everyone, we only have 5 spots available for this first stylized shoot... so join us now!

We will create a waiting list for those who are interested but weren't able to get a spot... and see what happens after that.

** SO SORRY! SOLD OUT!! Please still email at bitofivoryphotography@gmail.com to be placed on waiting list.**

- Chelsea :)

P.S. I Love You Mini-Session Event | Virginia Beach Couples Photography

2011-01-22T12:45:00.003-05:00

It's obvious I feel very strongly about marriage. Marriage goes through ups and downs. Marriage isn't easy. And marriage certainly isn't what Hollywood can portray it to be.

But marriage is sacred. Marriage is a journey. Marriage is waking up next to your best friend, and even though his morning hair looks like Big Bird, you just want to stay close to him because the world is at peace right in that very spot.

This Valentine's Day, I decided to dedicate it to married couples. Whether you have been married 3 months or 20 years, this is the session for you!

When we grow older with our spouses and kids start entering the picture, we don't take as many photos of ourselves as a COUPLE. Sure, yes, you have a family. Kids are beautiful and wonderful. BUT the couple is where everything started!

It's time that you celebrated that! :) And it's about time to remember your dating days and just laugh!

Join us for a mini-session event just for you two on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at a beautiful Virginia Beach location (to be given upon booking) and get ready to have some fun and share some stories!

Spots are limited, so to book your session, go right on to the Reservations site! You'll hear from me afterwards with contract and info sheet stuff! :)

Can't wait to hear your love stories!
- Chelsea :)

Now married... Becky + Jason | Wedding Sneak Peek

2011-01-20T15:16:00.005-05:00

You met Becky and Jason last October for their engagement session, but NOW they're MARRIED!

It was a chilly January day, but that didn't stop us from getting some gorgeous lighting and portraits! Here's the sneak peek of some of the details from their special day.

And P.S... many call her Rebekah, her birth name, depending on when they met her (I learned this AT the wedding!), but she'll still always be Becky to me. :) And Jason will always be associated with sneakers. Some things never change.

Thank you, Becky and Jason, for allowing me to capture your special day! And THANK YOU for the honor of having a seat at a special table and gluten-free cupcakes! :)

VENDORS:
* Venue - Lighthouse at the Cove
* Flowers - Designs by Jody
* Cupcakes - Gourmet Bake Shoppe
* Gown/Tuxes - David's Bridal of Norfolk

- Chelsea :)

Photographer's Delight | Displaying Work and Bridal Shows

2011-01-18T15:39:00.004-05:00

I decided to take a different spin on this month's PD, especially since I've gotten a lot of questions from fellow photogs about my very recent bridal show experience. I'll break it down into two parts, but they are still connected!

DISPLAYING WORK
If you're anything like me, you can be a photo hoarder. I collect my images and prize each of them as if they were my children. Each one is the best! Each one should be displayed! Each one should be acclaimed!

No.

Gotta get that hoarder mentality out of your head!

No. You do NOT have to display every single beautiful image of yours.

Simple really IS better. Show your strongest work. As an artist and art teacher, I'm always telling my students that when you choose the best of the best, you show yourself as a stronger artist. Quantity does not equal good. QUALITY equals good.

(The main focus of my wall. A 16x20 canvas wrap. I chose this because 1) I want to be known for black and white and 2) I knew it would grab people's attention.)

When you go to an art gallery, you see everything is displayed aesthetically. Each piece is given a space. Each piece stands on its own. Each piece becomes its own masterpiece. This piece would be remembered. I don't think we'd see tiny little Mona Lisa if da Vinci crammed all of his other astounding work around it. Truly. It's so small and would disappear in the crowdedness!

When you try to cram every single little image, you lose your strength as a cohesive collection and statement.

BRIDAL SHOWS
Now that we have the displaying work out of the way... use that first and foremost for when you're planning for your bridal show. For every two feet, think of one piece. (For mine, I chose no more than 4.)

The point with art is you want people to stop and look. When they stop and look, they stop and look at YOUR show booth. The best compliment to me was when people stopped, stared, tilted their heads, and smiled. That was enough confirmation to me.

My Booth Experience
Mine wasn't perfect, but I've gotta toot my own horn and say I was PROUD of my booth. As a previous post mentioned, when the Chrysler Museum of Art gave their compliments, I nearly squealed like I just met Ansel Adams. I'm an artist first, photographer second.

MATERIALS/COMPONENTS I USED:
- 8 2-foot door panels
- Crown moulding
- 4 vintage cameras
- 2 classic round frames
- 3 canvases
- 1 white artist canvas with vinyl logo
- 4 dozen mini cupcakes (half gluten-free, half regular)
- Lots of 5x7 special promo cards
- 2 black tables
- 2 black art easels
- 4 sample accordion albums
- 1 sample leather parent wedding album (yes, I said ONE)
- 1 slip-in album for boudoir work
- 1 best friend to help meet and greet visitors :)
- 2 clipboards of "I'd love to chat with you more!" fill-in contact info sheets
- Several awesome old-fashioned/modern pencils

QUICK TIPS FOR PLANNING:
- Think of how you want people to react. I wanted to make people look, to think art, and to go wow. So I designed my booth to do just that.
- Your branding should be very clear in your booth. The moment my sister's friend said, "Your booth looks like your website!" I probably just fell over with joy. I succeeded there! If you don't have a solid brand yet, then start one with this booth! Don't waste money otherwise.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses. There is NO way in God's green earth that I could have built my wall. My stepfather-in-law is totally a master carpenter in my eyes. He took my ideas and ran with it! I also knew I couldn't afford a ton of vintage cameras at the moment. So I asked my local photog lady friends. They let me borrow some of theirs! Get inventive.
- Budget, budget, budget. A lot of photogs will have different views on this. Some say bridal shows are a waste of money. Some say they are the best thing ever. I don't really say either of those... I say it's at least worth the investment for exposure. My goals for the Bridal Show were to:
* Meet new vendors
* Meet new brides
* Get my name out there in a more public place

Was it worth every penny? Yes. I accomplished all three of my goals.

- Give yourself time to plan out a booth display. It's obvious when something is thrown together. To be honest, my whole entire heart was all in this booth. To the point where each time a person complimented me, I nearly got teary-eyed. Seriously, I was a nervous wreck at the beginning because if my booth was rejected, I was rejected. Thankfully, I wasn't! :D
- Allow yourself to be different. It's okay! I struggle a lot with wanting to be like everyone in the photography industry, but never in my life have I ever been like everyone. Because I took a chance and was drastically different in my setup, I got a lot of attention and positive feedback.

QUICK TIPS FOR EXECUTING:
- Have a take-away item for brides. I had my mini-cupcakes, mini-business cards, and a special promo card (I offered a complimentary bridal session if a bride booked her wedding by a certain date). I should have ordered more than 75.
- Have a friend or two help you the day of. I don't know what I would have done without Elaine. She helped people when I was still talking to other brides, and she knew if I needed something when I needed it.
- Have open space. Because of the crowds, people retreated into my booth to wait for a friend, and I loved it! I was shelter! (That's right, people, Chelsea means "a harbor"... now I may not have a whimsical meaning, but I've grown quite fond of providing shelter from the craziness!)

(Yeah, pardon the snapshot. I was nervous and trying to get pictures as quickly as possible!)

- Be practical. I saw a ton of booths with couches and chairs. When I was a bride-to-be, the last thing on my mind was to sit down and relax. I wanted to get in and get OUT! Save yourself the time and money-- invest in samples and focal pieces instead.
- Be hospitable. I offered cupcakes. I am of the Southern Hospitality persuasion. When you have guests, you give food and beverages. Granted, I didn't have beverages, but cupcakes were there!
- Be simple. Yes, I had ONE wedding album. It was of my most recent wedding. Now I may get a lot of disagreement on this... but my one album showed all I needed to show. My style, my design, and my look. I told visitors they could see more on my website and get to know me there. Next time, I might bring one more album to show while other people are waiting around... but crowd control would be the only reason, not quantity.
- Be smart. Carolina Cupcakery made my cupcakes for me. Since they were also there with a booth, we did some cross-promo for each other. I ended up sending a lot of brides their way, and they did the same. :)
- Be realistic. You won't book a million brides. And I didn't expect that. I expected to at least get some great leads to potential new friends/brides. :) (I am excited to say I have two definites already!) I was either out of price range for some or we just didn't click. That's okay. There is a photographer for everyone out there, and I still met some great people. :)

With all of that said, this was my first (and, at this time, last) bridal show. Take this post as a guideline, not the end-all-be-all. I was successful at mine, and I loved every second of it. Tired? Yes. Fulfilling? Most definitely.

- Chelsea :)

A BIG Bridal Show Thank You!

2011-01-17T18:03:00.004-05:00

Wow, this is my 100th post! And what I'm about to post couldn't be more perfect! :)

Yesterday was the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase at Norfolk Scope. There I met dozens of brides and friends amidst the crowded aisles. I seriously was sooo glad for my somewhat open booth not filled with stuff. It was as crowded as a crayon box... which was a good thing!

As great as it was to meet new friends, it was also such a wonderful thing to see my current brides stop by to give their support and encouragement! ... and some laughs when a few cheered out, "I'm on the wall!! I'm famous!!"

I wanted to use this post to thank EVERYONE who contributed to making my booth and first bridal show such a success.

- Thanks be to God for just being Him and guiding me. Right before the show, I was given some strong words of wisdom that stuck with me the entire day... "Think not on what you could have done. Think on what you have done."
- Thank you to my in-laws for building, delivering, and setting up my unique booth. It truly, truly could NOT have been done without them. At all. All credit and compliments go to them.
- Thank you to my BFF Elaine for devoting her Sunday to help meet and greet brides and their friends.
- Thank you to Rusty for bringing us lunch and all that he does daily to help me achieve my dreams.
- Thank you to my sister Lindsea for being proud of me. (And for her friend Britt who said my booth looked like my website! YAYAYAYAYAY!)
- Thank you to my brides and friends for being excited for me as I venture into this new phase of Bit of Ivory.
- Thank you to Carolina Cupcakery for your wonderful friendship and gluten-free cupcakes. I'm so blessed to know you and look forward to many years together! I admire you a ton!
- Thank you to Flowers- Wayne Jones for creating such a beautiful floral masterpiece for my booth.
- Thank you to the Chrysler Museum of Art. From one artist to the next, your highest compliments meant the entire world to me. At the risk of sounding like an absolute fangirl, I'm your biggest fan, and I totally squealed in my head. :)
- Thank you to the new vendors I met because I love to network!

and...

- Thank you to the new brides whom I'm loving getting to know. Just today, one bride emailed me this: "Can I just say, I'm in awe. What I've said from day one of my adult life when it came in the realm of possibility that I would be married one day, I have wanted the "unknown" photos, the ones that aren't posey and orchestrated but the ones that show the true emotion of that day. You achieve that. Completely."

I am humbled yet again. This whirlwind of a weekend has only been more affirmation of what I always hope to be and to do with my photography.

Thank you, readers.

- Chelsea :)

Megan + Kevin {Album} | Virginia Beach Wedding Photography

2011-01-15T10:46:00.003-05:00

We re-meet Megan and Kevin in their own album design!

It's such a beautiful way to have your special day as a keepsake. With all current Bit of Ivory collections, an album of some type is included... because quite honestly, when are you going to print all of those images when you purchase a disc?! :) I truly, truly believe in having something physical to give to your children and grandchildren one day. Who knows if a disc will even be a media that is used in 40 years! Oh, technology.

(What's sad is that this photographer STILL has not printed all of her wedding photos a year later. So I KNOW. Oh, goodness, do I know. I'm a terrible example. BUT I do have a little leather flush mount album! So printing can wait a bit longer. ;) )

- Chelsea :)

No crickets here.

2011-01-09T20:51:00.004-05:00

At the first of the year, it's always a tad bit hectic. But, Chelsea, it's so quiet on the blog right now! For new readers, I am a family-friendly photography business, so when I opened up Persuasion Boudoir last June, I knew it needed a separate, but connected and celebrated home. ;)

Soooo... it may be a little quiet on the blog, but only because it's so Persuasion-y currently and that other blogsite is inundated with posts and updates!

It'll be a hectic month, but EXCITING month. This weekend, we will have our first wedding of 2011 AND Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase happenings. That's right, folks, come visit me at the Showcase at Norfolk's Scope on Sunday, January 16th! I'll be showcasing my work as well as ME! :) Brides get in free, and guests pay $5... which is then all donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

After this week, you can expect sessions of couples, bridals, and more! You won't know what to do with the blog posts then!

And every post needs an image... so here's a favorite out of a TON of favorites from this past weekend's Persuasion marathon.

Hope you have a fabulous week! And you'll hear from me again very soon!
- Chelsea :)

The Sibs | Norfolk Family Portrait Photography

2011-01-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

This session was way back in November, but because it was a Christmas gift, nothing could be revealed until now! Dun Dun DUNNNN. ;)

Nicole and I again have some history. We've been friends since high school. We even worked Children's Activities at a local resort hotel back in those days. It's always nice when friends just remain constant. She's still Nicole, she's beautiful, she loves babies, she's got ambition, and she's a makeup connoisseusse. :)

She wanted to give her father special portraits of her and her half-brother for Christmas. Most perfect gift idea. Ever. Martin was a great brotherly kind of guy! Hey, any high school senior who will go get portraits taken for his older sister just for their father... that takes love. ;) And I thought that was pretty awesome.

And let me tell you. Portraits of any sibling pair can be tricky. You don't want a photo that looks like they are engaged. And you don't want a photo that looks like they can't stand each other... so what do we get? These!

I think we did a pretty good job and had some crazy laughs. Posing Success!

- Chelsea :)

Looking Back on 2010... in Stories.

2011-01-01T13:11:00.001-05:00

So I had this grand idea for a Looking Back on 2010 series of posts... gathering images from all year. A post for each type of session. A little cute story for each.

Then I realized.

It's not what I really wanted to do. Sure, we love the pretty photos and we see personalities in the photos. But what about the peoples' STORIES behind those pretty photos?

My childhood consisted of my nose being stuck in a book... anything from Socks to Goosebumps.

I'm a story collector. I feel alive when hearing engagement stories and little inside jokes exchanged in hidden glances. Life is thriving and abundant.

"A birth certificate shows we were born, a death certificate shows we died, but photographs show we lived." - Unknown

In 2010, I learned...

- A Dad can get just as excited about his family portraits as the Mom.
- To never underestimate the power of awesome ideas of a fashion teacher bride.
- That the military may separate brides from their grooms, but it won't stop them from having a special REAL wedding day.
- That a bride may have discovered many food allergies, but it will NOT stop her from having a cake and eating it, too! Nothing gets her down, and her jumping proves it.
- That photos bring siblings together. (That post is coming soon now that Christmas is over!)
- A bride's venue may have changed, but her wedding vision is still ON and painted in the colors of teal blue, lime green, and white.
- Even after many years, a groom will forever be known in sneakers and the bride in glasses.
- It can be an arduous task to "go green" for a wedding, but a bride would have it no other way.
- A mom is forever beautiful.
- That women have many reasons why it's difficult to remember why we are beautiful, and sometimes a simple photo can shatter years of self-doubt.

And even though there are MANY MANY more stories to tell... I especially learned that...

A photographer can ask for no greater blessing than those brought into her life who believe in her.

Thank you, friends, for a wonderful year, your love, your support, and most of all, your encouragement.

Here's to a wonderful 2011! I continue to look forward to the weddings coming up and the people I have yet to meet.

Love,
Chelsea :)
P.S. It was difficult choosing favorites for this collage... VERY difficult. Seriously, each photo is like my child! ;)

Snowpocalypse in the Historic Area. | Ink and Snow Black and White Photography

2010-12-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

I decided to process all of these images in black and white because 1) I love it, 2) it does the images more justice, and 3) it's more fun!

A little back story about my husband. He's an audio guy. He can pick out tunes and replicate them on a guitar. He can hear a song and hear every single minute detail about a note. When it comes to the visual arts? He is actually red-green deficient (meaning he has trouble distinguishing between reds, greens, and browns) and just does not have the same appreciation for the minute color details in the works I love.

And that's OKAY! Because me and music? I actually have some hearing deficiencies that started when I was a kid. I had tubes put in when I was in first grade. My eardrums have so many scars on them; it probably looks like the texture of cheesecloth! Ewww, right? A sound is a sound to me. I hear it-- it either sounds good or it sounds bad. There are no minute differences. I don't have as much appreciation for music as he does. When it comes to the visual arts? Ohhhhhhhhhh is that my thing. Obviously.

Rusty isn't a photographer. I've tried teaching him and teaching him, and he's the prime example of why it's the photographer behind the camera NOT the amazing camera that makes a good image.

BUT with these images, I'm proud of what he captured. The hubbins is learnin'! And Colonial Williamsburg helped. :)

(P.S. These are rare images of my hair actually NOT being in a ponytail. Don't worry. It's not permanent. I literally had had a haircut like 30 minutes prior to these photos being taken. haha!)

It's obvious which season is my favorite. And I like to say God was just showing off this winter. We didn't have any snow on our wedding day, and so He totally thought to knock our socks off for our anniversary!

You're welcome, Hampton Roads. ;)
- Chelsea :)

The Christmas Wreaths of Colonial Williamsburg.

2010-12-27T17:03:00.004-05:00

The best part about being your own boss is being able to make the decision to take the entire month of December off so you can take care of life, get business-ready for the next year, celebrate holidays and anniversary, and really just take photos for photos' sake. I don't take photos for "me" often enough and so enforcing a "lull" is a blessing for me!

Rusty and I are celebrating out first year anniversary this year, and he surprised me a few weeks ago to tell me we were going to spend Christmas Day/Night in Colonial Williamsburg. AHHH, I said. And immediately instated that it be a tradition every year now. We began our lives together there. 'Nuff said.

That snow storm that hit? Yep, we were totally there. And I couldn't be happier with staying an extra day because of it. I was in my favorite spot in Hampton Roads, and the answered prayer of snow only made matters BETTER.

Alas, I digress... throughout the Historic Area, there are Christmas wreaths galore with beautiful colors displayed within them. All natural. No glitter sparkles. No plastic berries or icicles. No blow-up snowmen. No animatronic creatures. Their annual decorations are WHY we got married there last year. And any bride loooves to use perfect pre-existing decorations!

On Christmas Day, the lighting was splendid! Overcast. Hazy. And downright chilly. My favorite!

And so just like our grand reception entrance with the fife and drums, we begin...

(This post is picture-heavy, but promises mega-design eye candy!)

And for a hint of the next snowy post on this blog...

(And for those camera lovers... all of these were taken with the awesome Nikon D40-- my forever-and-always camera of choice. I started my business with it (no feather-and-tarring, please!), but it has been retired to vacations now to let the newer Nikons do all the hard work. ;) Proof you don't need a crazy expensive camera!)

- Chelsea :)

The Unveiling of One-Year Old Cake.

2010-12-25T19:00:00.000-05:00

The worst three/four words you could ever say to a bride who is about to eat her wedding anniversary cake in one month: You are gluten-intolerant.

The cake that sat in our freezer for 12 months was now inedible to me. So what does any cake lover do?

Make a plea to the original pastry chef to find out her options. She would not miss out on anniversary cake. Especially the best cake in the whole world. Rich, dense carrot cake sans nuts, avec French Buttercream icing.

I sent off that email to the Williamsburg Lodge, telling them of my situation. Immediately, they affirmed they could make a replacement topper!

As I said on the first day of meeting him at my food tasting, Pastry Chef Rodney is my hero. (He seriously said I could come in and watch him make a cake. It was so cool! Alas, I didn't take him up on the offer since it got crazy busy in 2009... but still!)

So this cake lover was able to have a version of her wedding cake. Just as is. Well, without the decorations, and that was fine by me!

So now I present the unveiling of Year-Old Cake. And when Year-Old Cake meets Replacement Cake. But first. Let's take a trip down Memory Lane and show what it ONCE looked like oh-so-many-months ago.

(Photo taken by Fahrenheit Photography)

Now... the carnage of being wrapped up commences...

(What's that sloppy mess hanging off the side? Well, 12 months ago, it WAS snow cascading down.)

(Oh, my husband.)

(My wonderful gluten-free cake which was the best GF treat I've ever had.)

And because inquiring minds want to know, Rusty and his Dad thought the Year-Old cake tasted super yummy and fresh! (Thank you, Mrs. Shindy, for wrapping it just perfectly after the wedding for it to last until now!)

Upon my return, I hope to have snowy Colonial Williamsburg images to share! Because that's where Rusty is taking me for our first year anniversary and it better snow!

- Chelsea :)

Photographer's Delight | Bokeh

2010-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

[Forenote: I'm starting a new blog series called Photographer's Delight... every once in awhile, I'll showcase some little fun camera trick/activity. Explain it and then show it! I thought bokeh would be a great starter!]

According to Wikipedia, "in photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or 'the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.'"

(Normal bokeh without a shape plate)

Let's just say I love bokeh. I love the way the light gets distorted. I love the creativity that comes with it. Love, love, love. I loved it enough that I conducted a bokeh experiment with my high school photography students last year.

I also love Christmas. And what better way to show off awesome bokeh? Christmas lights! You can distort the light into any shape by making a "plate" to go over your lens.

MATERIALS TO MAKE SOME BOKEH PLATES:
- Lens cap
- Box cutter/X-acto knife
- Scissors
- Opaque cardstock (preferably black)
- Penny
- Tape

I took some cardstock, traced my lens cap on it, took a penny, traced the penny in the dead center of the lens cap circle... and then drew the shape I wanted to transform my light into! After I made sure everything was centered, I used a box cutter to cut out the inner shape and scissors to cut out the lens cap circle.

I shot wide open (think of your pupil being super big in a dark room-- that's what I had my camera do). And for this experiment, I kept my "subjects" out-of-focus.

Some shots I was close up to the Christmas lights, and others I was pretty distant. Distance between the light source and you makes a huge difference, so play around with it! Go on the ground, go to the side, tilt up the lens.

A tripod is recommended. I didn't use one for this experiment, but I would have if I wanted to do a portrait of some sort.

(Star plate bokeh. As you can see, it wasn't as successful since part of the star shape is cut off; it makes it very maple-leaf-like! The position of the plate on the lens plays a huge role! I probably will size down the star next time.)

(It's great to have a husband who will hold your sparkly birds! You will notice it's not a very sharp image. This is why a tripod is necessary!)

(Heart plate bokeh-- this was MUCH more successful than the star!)

(I played with the mirror behind our Christmas tree to get this effect.)

Now go do your own! Snowflakes, clovers, candy canes... there are many more shapes out there to test out!

Hope you enjoyed!

**UPDATE: I had some questions about which lens I used! For this, I used my 50mm 1.8. I've found prime lenses work especially well for this! :)

- Chelsea :)

Hollydazzle 2010 | Newport News Event Photography

2010-12-20T18:05:00.004-05:00

When I was asked, "Can you climb onto the roof of the Marriott?" firecrackers were going off in my head. Firecrackers of EXCITEMENT! Best seat in the house to take photos?! Sign me up. Stat.

Hollydazzle is seriously Hampton Roads' best kept holiday secret. Here on the Southside a lot of people don't even know about it, and I sadly acknowledge I was one of them until I was contacted by Newport News Parks and Rec to be the photographer.

Like a good little photographer, I did my research to make sure I knew what was getting myself into. And holy moly! What an event! And it's only gotten grander and better with each year. Movies, crafts, games, performers, food, and fireworks.

This is truly a tradition one has to make a tradition.

I may be biased, but the fireworks are really the crowning jewel of the event. Spectacular light and a really cool soundtrack... just stunning. It TOTALLY beats 4th of July. Then again... any event not in 90 degree weather is tops. ;)

I was so humbled I was hired to do this because really, the whole thing couldn't have been better. Great people, great event, and some great experiences.

Merry Christmas!
- Chelsea :)

My Ansels.

2010-12-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

Even if you've known me for an hour, you will have already picked up on my obsession with Ansel Adams. The man was a genius. And I grew up with him.

One of my clearest childhood memories is my Mom always having an Ansel Adams calendar hanging up in the computer area. Always. The large print, white spiral-bound. I would look at the images for each month, fascinated by their grandeur... but I never REALLY looked at them until I became older.

We lived in San Diego and even went to Yosemite for camping trips. It meant nothing to me as a kid beyond "What a cool place! But uggggh family vacations! Blah blah blah!" I know; I'm ashamed! I kick myself for taking all of that for granted!

Rusty and I went to Yosemite right after he proposed back in June 2008. And Yosemite took on a whole new meaning for me. It's like the mecca of all black-and-white photographers. And I yearned to be like Ansel.

(Trees | Yosemite, 2008)

(Moss | Yosemite, 2008)

(Falls | Yosemite, 2008)

Through his photography and his involvement with the Sierra Club, Ansel gave solid visual evidence on why we should preserve historical land and gained President Roosevelt as a supporter. This tiny man photographing these huge landmarks.

I want to do something BIG. Maybe I'm not destined to save a national park, but I know I was CREATED to do something big. Boooooy, do I wish I knew what that was, too.

So let's wrap it all up into a nice neat bow. And you can imagine why my father-in-law's early Christmas gift to me means so much. They were delivered two days ago, and I finally got to hang them up.

I've always wanted to own authentic Ansel Adams reproductions. And now I have them beautifully matted and framed in our living room.

Now a daily reminder of that I may be small, but I can do great things.

- Chelsea :)

i heart faces | Self-Portrait

2010-12-05T22:53:00.003-05:00

(Me, August 2010)
[To go see the other photos for this challenge and leave a comment, go here!]

Self-portraits are rather difficult to do. Whatever people may think, photographers take hundreds of photos and may end up only using one. Like this. I think I took around 50 and decided on this one out of the set. The angle wasn't right, the composition lacking, the lighting a little off. And even though we are our own worst critics, here is this one.

I love self-portraits for the sole reason it attempts to reflect who a person is. I like up-close and personal shots. I don't smooth out flaws. My pores are there along with my sebhorric dermatitis and flecks of mascara. Yet I'm joyful. I'm joyful with my life despite the ups and downs. I'm joyful with Bit of Ivory despite my own self-doubts. I'm joyful with God despite my moments of questioning. I'm joyful with my art despite my limitations. I'm joyful for my future despite the unknowing.

... now if only I could be joyful about the lack of time in a 24-hour day... ;)

- Chelsea :)

Robyn + Greg | Norfolk Engagement Photography

2010-12-01T21:00:00.001-05:00

Let me first preface by saying that Robyn will probably kill me for posting this. But I'm posting it anyway. 1) She loves me. 2) We have history. 3) She already signed the wedding contract. hahaha

Yes, this was at our high school prom in 2001. Yes, we and our dates went to every formal dance together. Yes, we haven't changed one bit.

A few months ago, Rusty and I went on a double-date with Robyn and Greg (at PF Changs's!), and so instantly, the bells of "This is TOTALLY the guy!" went off. So I'd like to say I totally knew an engagement was nigh. Okay, maybe I'm not a psychic genius, but it was pretty obvious the connection. ;)

When I got the text message that she and Greg wanted me to be their wedding photog, Rusty and I were driving up to New York. I squealed in the car and startled my dear husband the driver. And then the rapid text messaging back and forth commenced. This girl has it GOING. She had already booked her ceremony place and her DJ within a matter of days of returning from Jamaica (the place of proposal!)!

Robyn's enthusiasm and love are just so contagious-- it's no wonder why Greg was drawn to her! I just know every person in attendance at their May wedding is going to be blessed.

- Chelsea :)

i heart faces | Scenic B&W (Ansel-style)

2010-11-29T09:00:00.001-05:00

(River Marsh, August 2010)
[To go see the other photos for this challenge and leave a comment, go here!]

Scenic B&W? SCENIC B&W?! I think that's exactly what I said when I found out this week's theme. Ansel Adams channeled. And it was as close as I could get to being like him.

This is where my heart is. Truly. Incorporating God's beautiful creations with portraits. I tap into my artist and English-major background for them... the sublime (see Wiki for more info). Nature and people speak in magnitudes when paired up with each other. It's like a PB&J. Perfection.

Since I'm not near Yosemite like Ansel once was, this land near the Lynnhaven River was good enough. I immediately thought of this engagement session when I thought scenic. A+J's wedding will be here next June... and gosh, I sigh every time I see this landscape.

- Chelsea :)

What does Holly + Dazzle Equal? | Hampton Roads Event Photography

2010-11-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's the Kevin Bacon theory. You always know someone through someone and it ends up networking somehow. It's how this happened.

A current bride of mine emailed me, asking about if I did events. I LOOOVE events. There are so many details, you're never bored, the joy on people's faces, AND I don't have to talk much! It's all candid! It's the most freedom I can get in photography!

I actually have to end up turning away some events because I reserve most of my weekend dates for weddings (which is where my passion is)... so it's really exciting when one just "happens."

Well, it just so happened that this one date was open, and the director emailed me after my bride gave her my contact info. So I did my research and whoa. F-U-N! The City of Newport News is hiring me as the photographer for their big Christmas tree lighting, fireworks, family activities, shopping event put on by the Department of Parks and Rec called Hollydazzle on Friday, December 3rd! (Check out more Hollydazzle information here!)

Over the years, Hollydazzle has grown to awesome proportions and is a huge family pleaser. Basically, I'm inviting everyone to go! I'll be milling about the crowds, getting in people's faces, and capturing some exciting things.

AND... I get to climb up on awesome buildings to get awesome shots during the fireworks with the awesome 70-200mm (alas, it is a mere rental lens for now, but I was dying to have the opportunity to test it out! And now I get to!). Now if only I can bribe my husband to be my bag/tripod boy... ;)

(Just because every post needs a photo. Here are some flowers Rusty gave me for my birthday!)

- Chelsea :)

Behind the Scenes with a Trio of Photogs!

2010-11-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I met a new photog friend Courtney of Courtney Hathaway Photography down in the Outer Banks. She offered up her family's land for a family session, and Amanda immediately wanted it for her fam session and accepted!

So what does a photographer do when another photographer is photographing a photographer? (Try saying that a million times fast!)

... She photographs!

Thank you so much, Courtney, for taking these! It's always interesting to see how goofy one looks while doing her thing!

I'll share some side-by-side images after Amanda sends out her Christmas cards. :)

And P.S., readers, Courtney and I are on a mission. We want to photograph a destination wedding... so if you contact us for one, there might be a little surprise. ;)

Without further ado... I present... ME! :)

[All photos are property of Courtney Hathaway and were taken by her! These are NOT Bit of Ivory. Either way, no stealies even without a watermark!]

- Chelsea :)

P.S. I could live in that gray coat ALL YEAR. I wear it a ton. haha