Five by Five

2011 Favorite Moments

2012-01-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

Hello!

2011 was such an incredible year! I had the opportunity to work with some wonderful couples, spent a year in Louisville, moved my business to Lexington, started making plans to open a studio within my home, found an super sweet kitten, traveled to visit with friends, traveled to shoot engagement sessions and weddings, pushed myself as an artist, learned more about creative lighting, met a wonderful photographer who will be shooting with me this year and found an incredible group of photographers in town.

A huge thank you to everyone who invited me to be a part of their wedding day! I absolutely love photography and am able to do it professionally because yall continue to support me and my business.

Below is a selection of my favorite photos from 2011. Looking forward to an amazing 2012. So excited to meet more couples and wedding vendors around Kentucky!

Happy Friday Night!!

MOVING PICTURES!

2012-01-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

SOOO EXCITEDDD!!

Have been wanting to try this out for quite sometime now. Took a snow day today and spent the afternoon learning how to make a moving still photo. I have so many ideas and scenes to try out over the next few weeks. Below is my first attempt. Not quite sure how to incorporate this into the professional side of my work just yet but think it would be awesome to be able to give each couple one as a part of their engagement session.

Here's a little post Christmas cheer as I have yet to put away all my holiday decorations.

Happy Friday!

CHRISTMAS DAY PROPOSAL!

2012-01-02T13:37:00.001-08:00

I can not think of a better way to start off the year than with this happy news .. MY LIL BROTHER IS ENGAGED!!

He did such an amazing job not only picking a perfect girl [welcome to the family, Ashley!] but also got a gorgeous ring and orchestrated a total surprise proposal. Both of our families have been talking about them getting engaged soon and they have been out looking at rings. So how do you maintain the element of surprise when everyone is expecting it? This is how ..

Here's how it all began. Let's go back to early December when Raj sent me a casual text asking if I may be free on Christmas Day to take some photos of him, Ashley and their pup. They live in Minneapolis. Each time they visit we talk about setting aside some time to do group shots but always end up getting too busy and it get's pushed to 'next time.' So I just assumed he was getting Ashley a photo session as a Christmas gift and didn't think much of it.

So Christmas Day arrives and we all exchange gifts. Raj got Ashley an awesome Louis Vuitton purse and scarf, which she has wanted for a long time; and she thinks that's it for the surprises for the day. That afternoon just before sunset we head out to Keeneland for what both Ashley and I think is a 'quick photo session.'

After spending some time at Keeneland Raj said he was getting cold [which I thought was pretty odd since it was 50 degrees and they are from Minneapolis] and that we should just get one more shot and then head home. So the last shot he wanted was of the grandstands in the background and the two of them pretty small in the foreground. So he asked that I go stand on the other side of the track.

Here is that 'last shot' he requested .. which turned into a series.

Congratulations to you both!! So excited!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

COURTNEY + DAVID :: LOUISVILLE E-SESSION

2011-12-22T10:59:00.001-08:00

Check out Courtney and David's uber urban E-Session! They will be getting married next year in a beautiful bed n breakfast so they wanted a total 180 for their engagement photos.

We spent a chilly afternoon wandering around downtown Louisville.. they don't look at all cold though, do they? I had to much fun with these two running around the city and dodging traffic to get a few shots in the middle of the street. I love shooting in downtown settings .. so much color, so many textures and so many options for backdrops ..

Thanks for a great afternoon! Looking forward to your wedding!!

COURTNEY + DAVID :: LOUISVILLE E-SESSION

2011-12-15T11:28:00.001-08:00

How adorable are these two?! Had a great time this past Saturday afternoon wandering around Downtown Louisville with Courtney and David.

More soon..

Published on Wedding Row Kentucky's wedding blog!

2011-11-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hello!

So excited to see that Wedding Row Kentucky published Patti and Mike's beautiful Iroquois Hunt Club wedding!

Happy Wednesday!

PATTI + MIKE :: IROQUOIS HUNT CLUB WEDDING

2011-11-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Iroquois Hunt Club .. WOW! What a beautiful venue! I didn't even know this place existed until Patti and Mike invited me to take a tour with them a few weeks before their wedding. I love the rustic feel, woodsy grounds, wrought iron chandeliers and candlelight everywhere. Patti and Mike did a great job creating an intimate feel for their guests.

Jill and Matt :: Wedding Slideshow

2011-10-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

IT'S READY IT'S READY IT'S READY! Check out Jill and Matt's bed and breakfast - peacock feather - sock monkey wedding.

Below is an introduction to the couple from the lovely Maid of Honor, Meg. This is the incredibly sweet speech she made at the reception; and she was kind enough to allow me to share it with yall. I highlighted my favorite part - a quote by author Chuck Palahniuk.

Thanks Meg!

------

First, I want to say how thankful I am to be part of your wedding today, Jill and Matt. I knew it would be a fantastic, and I’m so happy that all of your friends and loved ones could be here to celebrate with you both.

For those of you who don’t know me, I first met Jill when she was just weeks old, our mothers introduced us, and we’ve been good friends ever since. She is the closest thing that I have to a sister, and if you haven’t seen us interact with each other, it looks much like a sisterly relationship; with all of the laughter, inside jokes, snarky comments and bickering that go with it, but I wouldn’t trade our quirky friendship for the world.

I know, as anyone who gets to know her figures out quickly, how hysterically funny, witty, cleaver, and creative she is. I know how much she can love people, how intelligent she is, how dedicated she can be, especially to her family. However, I did not know anything about Matt until they first started dating back in college, and I admit that I was initially skeptical but since then, his utterly infallible commitment to Jill, dedication to her close-knit family, and obvious unconditional love for all that Jill is won me over.

I’ve seen the progression of Jill and Matt’s relationship from the honeymoon phase to the 9-year-long, old-married-couple phase where they now talk about their cats like their children. They are roommates, best friends, each other’s support systems, each other’s conscience, each other’s love, and each other’s life.

I found this quote that seems very appropriate for Jill and Matt’s relationship. Incidentally, and not to be ironic haha, but it was written by the author of the novel that later became the movie Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk:
Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'

I think you found that guy, Jill.

So please join me in raising a glass to Jill and Matt for a strong and loving relationship. Cheers.

JILL + MATT :: ONE MORE

2011-10-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Working on something special for Jill and Matt's lovely bed n breakfast wedding from a few weeks ago. In the meantime here is one which I absolutely love. Hope to have everything else up by Friday so check back then ..

Patti + Mike :: Preview

2011-10-23T19:08:00.001-07:00

Happy Sunday Eve! Here's a quick preview from yesterday's rustic wedding at the Iroquois Hunt Club in Lexington, KY.

JILL + MATT :: ONE

2011-10-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

Looked through Jill and Matt's photos this evening and narrowed them down to my top 135. Working on sorting through those for a blog post. In the meantime, here is one of my favorites ..

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT TIL I SAW THIS PIC BUUUT ..

2011-10-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

I ACTUALLY SMILE WHEN I'M TAKING PHOTOS :)

This is from Jill and Matt's peacock feather and sock monkey wedding at the Brome Howard Inn in St. Mary's City, MD. Check back over the next few weeks for photos from their ceremony and reception. Absolutely loved all the details, super sweet ceremony [which made me cry] and extremely touching maid of honor speech [which made me cry again]

Thank goodness for my water proof mascara, otherwise I'd look like a raccoon by the end of the night.

Published on Wedding Row Kentucky Blog

2011-10-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to Wedding Row Kentucky for featuring Keri and Justin's wedding a few weeks ago

and Alana and Kory's E-Session this afternoon!

Keri + Justin :: PART IV [Dance Party Reception]

2011-09-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

I don't advertise these too much but I offer photographic guestbooks as a part of the Five by Five product line. These are great to put out at receptions for guests to sign. And typically, guests are prompted to leave more personal messages than just their names.

Keri's brother brought a jar of moonshine to give the reception a little jumpstart ;)

Love this sweet moment between Justin and his mom.

After some delish foods and cake it was time to get the party started. Keri and Justin passed out mini tambourines for all their guests to jam along with the band.

The Heather Hayes Experience was unbelievable! It was like being at a mini concert and the dance floor was packed the entire night.

Sparkler sendoff ..

Keri + Justin :: PART III [Ceremony]

2011-08-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Keri & Justin were married in a lovely, old church in downtown Lexington. Despite impending rains [which held off], the limo breaking down on the way to the church and most of the major downtown streets being blocked off for that evening's Midsummer Night Run we made it to the church in plenty of time. :)

Also, a huge thank you to Steven for helping me shoot!

Check back in the next couple days for the finale .. dance party photos!

Ceremony: First United Methodist Church
Reception: Lexington Country Club
Wedding Planner: Liz Bucker
Photography: Five by Five Photography & Design
2nd Photographer: Steven Heigl of Heigl Creative
Wedding and Bridesmaids Dresses: Twirl Lexington
Wedding Gown: La Sposa by Pronovias
Keri's Shoes: Kate Spade
Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale
Hair: Shellie Jons ( Super Hair and Nails)
Makeup: Ana Crane Simpson
Flowers: Rachel Sebastian
Wedding Cake: Loolah Cakes
Groomscake: Loolah Cakes
Harpist: Elaine Cook
Bluegrass Band: Shades of Grass
Band: Heather Hayes Experience
Catering: Lexington Country Club
Bourbon Bar: Lexington Country Club
Ice Sculpture: Lexington Country Club
Limo Service: Gold Shield
Charter Bus: Wombles

Keri + Justin :: PART III Preview [Ceremony]

2011-08-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

Editing a collection from Keri & Justin's church ceremony today. Check back later tonight for more.

Keri + Justin :: PART II [Bridal Portraits]

2011-08-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

These first two are some of my all time faves ..

Keri + Justin :: PART I [Morning Anticipation]

2011-08-26T11:27:00.001-07:00

There are entirely too many photos to make this just one post so for the first time Im breaking it down into four parts: Morning anticipation [PART I], Bridal portraits [PART II], The ceremony [PART III] and Dance party reception [PART IV]..

Now let's look at the morning of their wedding day..

Starting with the gold glittery shoes! So shiny and sparkly and fun!

I loved the detailing on Keri's dress and she did a great job of picking out a light chiffon dress for all her girls so they wouldn't be super hot throughout the day. Summer weddings in KY can get quite roasty toasty hot. Twirl Boutique in Lexington carries a great line of dresses for all seasons.

The boys hung out and played cards while the gals chit chatted and had a nice relaxed morning.

Super sweet wedding gift from Justin :)

Come back next week to see the rest of the photos from Keri & Justin's wedding.

Happy Weekend!

Ceremony: First United Methodist Church
Reception: Lexington Country Club
Wedding Planner: Liz Bucker
Photography: Five by Five Photography & Design
2nd Photographer: Steven Heigl of Heigl Creative
Wedding and Bridesmaids Dresses: Twirl Lexington
Wedding Gown: La Sposa by Pronovias
Keri's Shoes: Kate Spade
Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale
Hair: Shellie Jons ( Super Hair and Nails)
Makeup: Ana Crane Simpson
Flowers: Rachel Sebastian
Wedding Cake: Loolah Cakes
Groomscake: Loolah Cakes
Harpist: Elaine Cook
Bluegrass Band: Shades of Grass
Band: Heather Hayes Experience
Catering: Lexington Country Club
Bourbon Bar: Lexington Country Club
Ice Sculpture: Lexington Country Club
Limo Service: Gold Shield
Charter Bus: Wombles

ONE ..

2011-08-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

.. while Im trying to figure out which others to share. Pretty hard to narrow it down since I love so many..

Keri + Justin :: Dance Party Reception Preview

2011-08-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

LOVED this reception! SO MUCH FUN! SO MUCH HAPPY ENERGY!! Justin and Keri danced the entire night with their guests and I don't think Keri stopped smiling once.

Many more photos from this wedding coming in the next few weeks along with the list of vendors that made this event run smoothly.

Xeenia + Wasiq :: Engagement Party

2011-07-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

In Indian and Pakistani culture friends and family get together to watch the groom-to-be present the ring to his future bride. Xeenia and Wasiq officially got engaged at the Marriott Mansion in Lexington this past Saturday.

It was a lovely summer evening full of friends, family and delicious Pakistani food.

Sarah + Mike :: E - Session

2011-07-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

I hung out with Sarah, Mike and their four legged girls a few weeks ago. We started the morning at the Henry Clay Estate. Then one of Sarah's friends took the pupsters back home and we headed to UK .. [Sidenote: I love using college campuses as backdrops]. Both Sarah and Mike were in the Sociology dept at UK. After UK, we drove downtown to Atomic Cafe where they had their first date. And finished the session in front of the Lyric Theatre where they will be married next year.

Xeenia + Wasiq :: Engagement Party Preview

2011-07-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Quick preview from Xeenia and Wasiq's engagement party this past Saturday.

Story and more photos from the day to follow later this week.

Davis + Matt :: Queen City Club Wedding

2011-07-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

Check out Davis and Matt's wedding at The Queen City Club in Cincinnati.

This venue is amazing! Downtown Cincinnati location equals awesome photo shoot possibilities. And the super talented Julie Schmidt of Cincy Event Planning did a fabulous job orchestrating the day from start to finish.

Loved this wedding's joke filled ceremony and dance party reception. Black Widow [the band] and Maize Music [DJ] switched off and kept the dance floor hopping all night. This lovely couple planned such a fun night for all their guests .. complete with a fully stocked bourbon bar, tons of yummy favors and a late night snack of mini burgers, grilled cheese, fries and mini milkshakes.

VENDORS:
Venue - Queen City Club
Event Coordinator - Julie Schmidt of Cincy Event Planning
Dress - Monique Lhuiller
Hair - Todd Margolis - Hyde Park Salon
Makeup - Michelle Smith @ Saks - Bobbi Brown
Videography - First Image Films
Catering - The Cincinnati Club
Cake -Tres Belle Cakes
String Quartet - Innocenti Strings
Band - Black Widow
DJ - Maize Music
Florist -Robin Wood
Rentals - Camargo
Transportation - A Limousine Associates
Programs, Favor Boxes, Invitations - M. Hopple

Sarah + Mike :: Preview

2011-07-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Alana + Kory :: E-Session

2011-07-07T13:01:00.001-07:00

Aren't these two adorable?! They were both such smiley faces throughout our morning and evening sessions and so much fun to work with!

Check out Alana & Kory's photos from Jean Farris Winery and Keeneland ..

Davis + Matt :: Preview

2011-07-06T14:18:00.001-07:00

Working on editing a huge collection of photos from Davis and Matt's wedding at the Queen City Club in downtown Cincinnati. Love this photo of Davis ..taken just after she finished getting ready.

Alana + Kory :: E-Session Preview

2011-07-05T20:25:00.001-07:00

Wrapped up Kory and Alana's E-Session this evening. I was going to wait until later this week to start working on their photos but I loved them all so much that I wanted to share a quick preview. Spent the morning at the Jean Farris Winery and the evening at Keeneland. Best part of the day was definitely off roading across Keeneland to get a few sunset shots at the start gates .. totally worth it! .. And totally Alana's idea! [Can't take credit for it but I do love the way it turned out]

So many more from today to come in the next week..

Davis Bridal Portraits

2011-06-27T13:18:00.001-07:00

Yay! Davis and Matt got married on Saturday which means that I can finally post Davis' bridal portraits from last weekend.

Davis wanted to shoot her bridal portrait session at her parents house in Cincinnati because they had "a nice yard." I think "nice" is a mega understatement .. this yard was gorgeous! .. Actually, I wouldn't even call it a yard, I'd call it a mini state park. Seriously beautiful backdrop for the photo session. And it goes without saying that Davis is such a lovely girl and looked stunning in her dress.

I tried narrowing her photos down to my top 5 faves but ended up not being able to decide which ones I liked best .. soooo here are my top 7 faves.

Photos from their wedding day coming soon.

And PS - The bridesmaids dresses were amazing! Quite possibly my favorite bridesmaid dress to date. I think I'm going to look into getting one for myself because it would make for an awesome New Year's Eve party dress.

Oky enough chatter.. here are Davis' pics ..

Mandi + Ryan :: Spring Valley Golf Club Wedding

2011-06-10T20:53:00.001-07:00

Check out Mandi & Ryan's wedding photos ..

One word .. beautiful.

The fluffing of the dress.. there may have been some pinching for good luck going on there too.

Then it was off to watch Ryan put on the finishing touches

Handsome, huh?

Then we staged a "First Look" for the couple. Mandi is off to see Ryan for the first time!

This is becoming an increasingly popular wedding custom. Traditionally, the couple doesn't see each other until the bride is walking down the aisle.. the groom may be overwhelmed with emotion but he has to hold it all in until after the ceremony. The First Look allows the couple to share a private moment before the ceremony.

Another benefit to a First Look is that we can take bridal party photos before the ceremony. This cuts down on photo time between the ceremony and reception and the couple can spend more time mingling with guests.

Did I mention she was a beautiful bride? So lovely and effortlessly glowing.

Mandi + Ryan :: The Photobooth

2011-06-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you combine a bin of props, a few oversized photo frames and a super fun reception crowd ..

Mandi + Ryan :: Preview

2011-06-06T18:39:00.001-07:00

Preview from this weekend's super sunny summertime wedding at Spring Valley Golf Club in Lexington, KY.

Jill + Matt :: E - Session

2011-05-22T17:57:00.001-07:00

I must say [knock on wood] that I'm one of the luckiest photographers .. for two reasons.

1) I get to work with fabulous couples who share their stories with me and allow me to take part in their wedding days; and
2) Mother Nature [despite her temperamental mood before and after the wedding or engagement session] always perks up and provides decent weather during the time of the shoot.

Such was the case with Jill and Matt's engagement session last weekend. I talked to Jill a few days before driving out to DC to figure out the best game plan incase of rain. The two of them went out a few days before the shoot to scout out a series of locations so we could move quickly just incase the storm clouds started to roll in. Jill and Matt met while they were studying at the University of Maryland so we were really excited to use the campus as a backdrop for our photo session.

The day of their photo session, I woke up to a gray and drizzly morning. We decided to meet up in Maryland anyways and play it by ear. Crossing all 10 fingers and toes for the day to clear up, I drove up to UMD. Thankfully the skies began to clear as I crossed over the bridge into Maryland.

The start of photo sessions are always interesting as I try to figure out the couple's dynamic and find the best way to make them feel at ease in front of the camera. Jill and Matt made it so incredibly easy for me to photograph them. They kept cracking each other [and me] up throughout the entire afternoon. After a while, I had to tune out their hilarious conversations because I was laughing so much I was afraid all the pictures would turn out blurry from me shaking the camera.

After our afternoon session, they took me to an amazing brewery for lunch and to talk more about their wedding. The campus had many great buildings and park settings to shoot in but we also wanted to incorporate a few urban shots. So we finished off the day with a quick round of photos around the brewery and parking lot.

Thank you for such a fun day! It was wonderful to finally meet you both and I'm so excited for your upcoming wedding!!

2011-05-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

A fun lil Save The Date card idea .. from Jill and Matt's University of Maryland E-Session.

More photos from the day coming soon. :)

Keri + Justin :: E - Session

2011-05-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

National Photography Month :: Day Four

2011-05-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Soo no horsie photos as I had originally planned on for today.

I wound up getting a bit preoccupied trying to find these two pupsters owner.

They wandered into our yard this evening and after a few unsuccessful attempts at going door to door to see if anyone recognized them, I gave up and just lured them into my garage with a handful of doggie biscuits.

We live pretty close to a super busy street so there was no way I could just say 'Good luck pupsters. Hope you find your way back home' and not do anything. Luckily one of them had a phone number on it's collar. The owner lives on a farm that backs up to our neighborhood and she had no idea there was a hole in her fence or that her little ones had gone out exploring.

She was so sweet and happy that we took them in that she brought us fresh asparagus from her garden as a thank you.

Duggie waiting on his momma to come pick him up.

National Photography Month :: Day Three

2011-05-04T12:04:00.001-07:00

Only three days in and have already started falling behind. There are 4 super fun horses that live at the top of my parent's neighborhood. May go hang out with them later and take a few horse photos in honour of the upcoming Derby.

Took these a few years ago out at Jacobson Park in Lexington.

Also been listening to a lot [A LOT] of Mat Kearney recently. If you're looking for some new music, I recommend checking out his City in Black n White album. Runaway Car is my fave song on there.

Oky, back to working on Keri n Justin's engagement photos. :)

2011-05-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

.. and a funny story about these pics ..

I asked them to put their foreheads together. They were both so sweet about cooperating even though they both said they felt a bit silly.

Justin: "I don't think I'm gonna like these very much."
Keri: "You look kinda funny up close." [I was cracking up to myself at this point]
Me: "Trust me" :)

I love them and hope you do to! I think they are some of my favorites from the whole day! Thank you for being such good sports!!

National Photography Month :: Day Two

2011-05-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY ..

Been on a health kick lately .. eating better, exercising more and trying to drop some lbs. [30lbs by my 30th bday, to be exact] Tonight's dinner .. super delish, BTW .. is a recipe a friend posted a few weeks ago.

*Realized that food presentation is not easy! Especially since I don't have the patience to arrange orange slices when I'm hungry.*

Chicken n Mango Mandarin Salad ..

~Pepper Chicken Breast with mango and mandarin oranges, avocado chunks, sliced cucumbers and goat cheese on a bed of mixed greens. No dressing necessary.

Ginger Ale with Fresh Raspberries n Blackberries. Would be pretty amazing with a splash of bourbon, I'd imagine. Gotta work this evening though so this is the non-party version.

Keri + Justin :: E - Session Preview

2011-05-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

I met Keri back in December and knew I wanted to photograph her wedding after reading her very first email.. she said she wanted a photographer with an artistic, photojournalistic style AND she wanted to set aside a portion of time to take a series bridal party photos around Lexington .. my dream bride! I love it when I get full artistic control and free creative reign :)

Keri loves the gardens at the Henry Clay Ashland Estate so we spent the afternoon walking around there and taking photos. If you're from Kentucky [or anywhere along the East Coast] you are familiar with the absolutely nutty weather we've been having lately. After a few weeks of nonstop rainstorms, I was so excited for the rainclouds to disappear for a bit.

Justin found this gorgeous black and white tree with a carving and we were able to work in the 'in case of rain' umbrella I picked up yesterday. Justin & Keri were so easy to photograph, constantly cracking each other up and Keri has one of the biggest, brightest smiles I've ever seen .. you'll see it in the next post.

Thank you both for such a fun afternoon and being open to trying some non traditional photo ideas!

Looking forward to your wedding!!

National Photography Month :: Day One

2011-04-30T22:24:00.001-07:00

I gotta simmer down and go to bed. I always find myself full of excited energy the night before a shoot .. [like a lil kiddo the day before their birthday when they know the following day is gonna be super duper fun] .. and I have TWO engagement shoots tomorrow!

The weather has been a hot mess lately so here is my hope for tomorrow.. If everyone could cross their fingers and do a little rain dance for me, that would be awesome. I'm hoping that it rains early morning and lets up about 7am [not ALL DAY LONG as forecasted] .. in time to dry off a little before the morning session but still have the glisteny, reflectiony glow in the streets. I have been wanting to do an engagement session with umbrella props and found a super cute one today that coordinates with one of the couples outfits.

So what's with the title .. Nat'l Photo Month?? Thanks for asking, I'll tell ya :)

May is National Photography Month .. didja know that? I absolutely love my job but I get wrapped up at times with editing wedding and engagement photos and doing album layouts, which leaves me with little to no time to shoot for myself. Sooo I've set up a little challenge for myself to shoot, edit and post a new pic each day for the next month that is totally unrelated to weddings. And it's officially May 1st so here is my first post .. [plus editing photos helps me to calm down before bedtime]

DAY ONE ..

Zach + Kelly :: Lexington KY Wedding

2011-04-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

Check out Zach & Kelly's super sweet wedding from January!

Current Wedding Fave :: Kelly + Zach

2011-03-24T11:33:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things to photograph during the 'getting ready' portion is the bride's dress and shoes. I'm a total sucker for all the gorgeous gowns and shiny, colorful shoes.

Whenever possible, I like to photograph these details with a modern twist and create a composition out of the dress/shoes rather than doing the standard dress-in-window shot. Taking this approach not only allows me to constantly challenge myself to come up with something new but also allows me to provide the client with a unique photo for their collection.

Current Wedding Fave :: Kelly + Zach

2011-03-23T19:25:00.001-07:00

Working through Kelly and Zach's photos from January's wedding.

Also spent the past few month putting together albums from last year's weddings and new sample albums. I'm super excited to finally get them in soon. I've found an awesome new vendor that offers many more cover options and sizes. Photos coming as soon as they arrive.

Kelly + Zach :: Preview

2011-01-10T14:07:00.001-08:00

Such an elegant and lovely couple.

Also, the father/daughter dance song, Cinderella, totally made me cry. If you haven't heard it .. check it out and keep your tissues handy.

More soon.

Current Wedding Fave

2011-01-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

In the process of finishing up editing Amy and Gary's wedding photos. Amy had some very creative photo suggestions .. this being one of them. She wanted a shot looking out the window as the groom and groomsmen approached the entryway. I hope this did justice to what she had in mind :)

Also working through Denise and Jon's wedding photos and Priya and John's so more daily favorites coming soon ..

TOP 10 OF 2010 .. and exciting plans for 2011!

2011-01-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season!

Last year was my first full year as a new business owner. I'm extremely thankful to everyone who has supported me through this process, invited me to photograph their weddings and left encouraging comments and 'liked' my posts. I hope to have plenty more photos to share in 2011.

No New Year's post would be complete without a few goals for the upcoming year. So here it is .. my 'I hope to accomplish' list for the year ..

* Book a total of 15 weddings for the year.
* Meet a few awesome photographers to help me photograph weddings.
* Expand my list of contacts and do tons more networking.
* Display photos in local coffee shops around Louisville.
* Blog once a week.
* Travel more. This year's itinerary includes Seattle, Kansas City, Minneapolis, DC, Amsterdam, India.
* And finally .. the really big one .. be ready by the end of 2011 to look into opening a studio location in 2012.

And because I love pretty pictures.. here are my top 10 favorite wedding and engagement photos from 2010 ..

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! =)

Amy + Gary :: Lexington KY Wedding

2010-12-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

Amy had set aside 2 full hours just for bridal party and couple's photos! .. AWESOME! One of my favorite parts of the day is taking creative bridal party photos in unique locations. Setting aside a few hours allowed us to take plenty of photos in a calm manner and gave the bridal party a chance to relax and hang out together before the ceremony.

Below is a small sampling of photos from Amy and Gary's Thanksgiving weekend wedding.

Amy + Gary :: Preview

2010-12-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

Denise + Jon

2010-11-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

Portrait Favorites

2010-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

A collection of portrait favorites from over the years ..

Denise + Jon :: Preview

2010-10-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Such a sweet couple! =)

Quick post from this past weekend's wedding in Louisville. More photos from the day to follow ..

Priya + John :: Engagement Session

2010-10-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Below are a few of my favorites from last weekend's E-Session with Priya & John ..

Summer in Kentucky this year has been sweltering hot! After being faced with too many 100 degree days in June and July, we decided to postpone their engagement session til after their wedding.

More to come soon ..

Priya + John :: One More

2010-10-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

Totally missed this one during my initial pass through all their photos. But I think it's one of my favorites. Love how happy they look :))

Priya + John :: Indian Wedding

2010-10-04T13:30:00.001-07:00

Check out Priya and John's Indian wedding! ..

Loved both their grand entrances .. John arrived via convertible followed by a procession of dancers and Priya was carried in by her 3 uncles, who after reaching the alter, changed their minds and began to run back towards the door with the bride :)

Mary + Ellis :: Headley Whitney Museum Wedding

2010-09-27T12:27:00.001-07:00

Check out Mary and Ellis' gorgeous outdoor ceremony at the Headley Whitney Museum in Lexington, KY. I love shooting outdoor ceremonies .. natural light, beautiful setting in the landscape .. what's not to love?

Sneak Peek :: Indian Wedding

2010-08-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

Quick post from my first Indian wedding in Lexington, KY this past weekend. Stories from the day along with tons more photos to follow in the next few weeks. In the mean time, below are two of my fave images. I think the first photo really showcases the bride's absolutely beautiful personality. She was another bride that didn't just smile but laughed throughout the day.

Sneak Peek ::Headley Whitney Museum Wedding

2010-08-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

A quick post from this weekend's wedding at the HWM in Lexington, KY. Loved the bride's dress and vintage-y hair.

Dance Showcase

2010-08-13T12:48:00.001-07:00

A few months back, I had the opportunity to photograph a dance performance. I absolutely love photographing dancers .. the forms and compositions dancers make with their bodies are truly beautiful. And I hope to have the chance to shoot more events like this.

See more here

Shayla + Kees :: Brooklyn, NY Wedding

2010-08-07T10:39:00.001-07:00

Shayla and Kees have one of the greatest 'how we met' stories.

Shayla had been living in NYC for a few years when Kees showed up in her weekly bible study one evening. Kees was traveling from the Netherlands and spending a few weeks backpacking through the U.S. In an attempt to help Kees meet a few friends while in New York, Shayla organized a get together with some of the younger members of her church group. The weather was absolutely terrible on the night of the dinner party and everyone cancelled .. leaving just Shayla and Kees at a small, "hole in the wall" NY Pizzeria. They spent the evening sharing travel stories over greasy extra large slices of pizza. After Kees's backpacking trip, he returned to the U.S. for a few more visits and invited Shayla out to the Netherlands over Christmastime .. where he proposed in front of an old castle. He said "well where else would you propose to a princess??"

Shayla and Kees invited their friends and family to watch them get married near where they first met in Brooklyn, NY.

Shayla has an incredible flair for fashion and did a such a wonderful job mixing her modern style with family traditions.

Dance Showcase :: Sneak Peek

2010-06-15T19:15:00.001-07:00

In India, classical dance is a huge part of the culture. At the end of one's dance studies they are required to showcase their talents as a part of the graduation ceremony. This particular dance performance consisted of 6 different dances. A few encompassed traditional dance moves and poses, while others were interpretive dances of Indian stories.

In similar fashion to photographing a wedding, I started the day with getting ready photos. This dressing room was pretty fabulous .. loved all the costume hats on the walls. Also, after the show, we went outside for a quick 10 minute shoot. The humidity has been out of control in Kentucky lately, so we didn't stay outside any longer than necessary.

Below are a few favorites from the day. More to follow.

Shayla + Kees :: Sneak Peek

2010-06-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

A few favorites from Wednesday's wedding in Brooklyn, NY.

Such a beautiful ceremony in Brooklyn Bridge Park and reception by candlelight at Galapagos Art Space. Full post to follow in the next few weeks.

Amy + Gary :: Engagement Session

2010-06-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

A few more favorites from Amy and Gary's engagement session at the University of Kentucky Arboretum. This is such a beautiful location for those who like to incorporate natural landscapes into their photo session.

Amy and Gary :: Sneak Peek

2010-05-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

A few favorites from yesterday's engagement session at the University of Kentucky Arboretum. The first photo is a spot Gary and Amy happened upon while walking through the Arboretum on their first date. A few weeks ago, Gary took her back there for a birthday picnic .. and to propose. =)

Sneak Peek :: Talon Winery Reception

2010-05-16T20:07:00.001-07:00

Preview from yesterday's Reception at Talon Winery in Lexington ..

Monica :: Seattle Portrait Session

2010-05-06T13:02:00.001-07:00

A few more from last week's session with Monica. Check back in a few weeks for the rest as well as cityscape shots from around Seattle!

Sneak Peek :: Seattle Portrait Session

2010-05-06T13:01:00.001-07:00

Monica is a clarinet instructor in Seattle. She needed a few headshots to accompany her bio and for other promotional materials. I was excited to work with her and even more excited when she told me I could be as artistic as I wanted! Typically, headshots are fairly straightforward with monotone backgrounds .. so I was really happy when Monica said she wanted anything but standard.

Denise + Jon :: Engagement Session

2010-05-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

Jon and Denise and just so dang cute and up for pretty much anything. Chances are, you will hear me say 'just so dang cute' about every couple I work with .. but I can't help it. They always are.

Anyways, they left me in charge of choosing locations for our photo session, with the one stipulation that we do a few photos at the Dixie Dozen movie theatre, where they both met and worked years ago. I think it's great to incorporate a location which has sentimental value and it's a wonderful way to learn more about the couple's story.

After the theatre, we drove out to the Louisville waterfront. I love to include a variety of backdrops with each photo session; and the waterfront area offers rough textures for photos with an urban feel as well as a pretty park setting for more romantic photos.

Below is a selection of some of my favorite images from the day. I have plenty more to edit but will be traveling for the next week. Just wanted to get a few up before leaving town.

Denise & Jon - Thanks for such a fun day! Looking forward to your wedding!!

Denise + Jon :: Sneak Peek

2010-05-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Preview from an engagement session in Louisville, KY

Happy Holidays! :: FREE Engagement Photo Session

2009-12-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

Five by Five Photography and Design is offering a complimentary engagement portrait session*(see below) when you book your wedding with us! These photos are great to include with save-the-date cards and/or wedding announcements. Each portrait session is custom designed for you and your fiance. Check out our sample engagement session and full portfolio.

We have a wedding photography package for every budget or build your own package off our a la carte menu.

Five by Five Photography and Design services include ::
:: full wedding ceremony coverage
:: full wedding reception coverage
:: custom designed albums
:: save-the-date cards
:: wedding announcements
:: thank you cards
:: AND MUCH MORE!

Please feel free to contact us for more information.
[email] vidyuta@fivebyfivegallery.com
[phone] 859.533.8555

[Preview :: 4x6 postcard. Sent these to print last week and am very excited to get them back.]

front

back

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years!

*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

Liam & Martha :: Children's Portrait Session

2009-12-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

Over Thanksgiving I went up to Louisville to photograph my friend Cate's niece and nephew who were visiting from out of town. Cate's parents' backyard had everything from porch swings to pumpkins and provided for the perfect backdrop. We had a wonderful, relaxed afternoon and the weather [yet once again] was so beautiful and unseasonably warm for late November.

Cate's mom had mentioned to me that she had taken the kids to a portrait studio once and they didn't quite cooperate with the photographer. Apparently they just hadn't been in the mood to smile that day. So, needless to say, I was a little nervous and the fact that this was my first children's photo shoot didn't exactly help to calm the nerves.

Lucky for me, Liam and Martha were the best kids! Maybe they were more relaxed because they had their parents and grandparents around and we had a wide open backyard to run around rather than being confined to a studio space. Or maybe it was the bubble maker I gave them as a little present at the start of the photo session and the promise of cheese pizza at the end. =) Whatever the reason, they were so good! We moved around the yard taking pictures .. candids and posed. And incorporated a few breaks with snacks in between.

I was very happy with the way the photos turned out and the day ended, as promised, with cheese pizza, Wii Tennis and Mario Kart.

Below is an abridged selection of my favourites ..

Sneak Peak :: Children's Portrait Session

2009-12-03T15:06:00.001-08:00

Could these two BE any cuter?!

I have a large collection from this session that I'm working my way through editing so stay tuned for more!

My friend Cate's niece and nephew; ages 2 and 4, respectively.

Family Portrait Session

2009-11-23T20:48:00.000-08:00

Melissa has been my wonderful hair stylist for many years. Whether it's pink highlights or the Victoria Beckham angled bob [I've had both, not at the same time], Melissa always makes my hair look fabulous! She has a great sense for knowing exactly what style would suit me best, which is great because I am totally clueless when it comes to the latest hair trends. If you're looking for a fresh new do, I highly recommend visiting Melissa at Clipso Hair Design on Regency Road!

I recently had the opportunity to do a family portrait session with Melissa, her husband, two kids and two boxer pups. We spent the afternoon at UK's campus enjoying the beautiful fall weather and taking a series of photos. The weather is so wacky in Kentucky and can easily fluctuate from 70 degrees and sunny one day, to 50 degrees and rainy the next. We got very lucky and caught one of the 70 and sunny days. Totally unseasonable for this late in November.

Thanks you for such a fun day! Below are a few of my favourites ..

Fine Art Photography :: Chicago

2009-10-21T10:11:00.001-07:00

Absolutely LOVED Chicago!

Made a quick trip up there to see my brother and hope to return for a longer visit sometime soon. The one thing which caught my attention in Chicago was how friendly everyone was. I really like that I was able to smile or say hello to people passing me on the street and they would return my greeting. And of course, it had all the general traits of any large city that I love .. easily accessible public transportation, coffee shops in walking distance and something new to see around every corner.

I also think it's so interesting how each city has its own distinct personality.

Portraits

2009-10-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty busy lately finishing up my website but I just wanted to share a few photos of my lovely friend, Shayla, who was my hostess, tour guide and model in NYC. I was in New York for 4 wonderful days photographing everything between the Brooklyn Bridge and Harlem and am looking forward to editing/posting some of my favourite images from the trip over the next few weeks. The NYCityscapes will be the start to my online gallery where I will be selling prints from my travels.

Heading to Chicago tomorrow. Haven't been there in years and this is the first time I'm going since I've really gotten into photography so I'm really excited to walk the city with my camera. Hope to return with a series of print-worthy images.

Shayla, thank you so much for such a fun trip! I had a wonderful time!!

Have a good night and great weekend fellow Bloggers :)

Katie + Chris :: Couple's Portrait Session

2009-09-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Katie and her boyfriend Chris were visiting from Seattle this past week.

Katie and I got to be good friends over a 13 hour drive to Canada during our first architecture studio class at UK. I have always loved Katie's artistic flair and seen her try out many amazing hair styles over the years. Her latest is a streak of Kentucky Blue. Very few can pull this off but Katie manages effortlessly.

Chris and Katie met in Seattle about 4 months ago and can only be described as soooo cuuuute! One afternoon, we went to lunch at Bangkok House .. my favourite Thai restaraunt in Lexington .. and then spent the afternoon taking pictures around Triangle Park and Victorian Square Shoppes in downtown Lexington.

Below is a sampling from our photo session. I would like to start offering photo sessions like this as a part of a wedding photography package. These photos are great for save the date cards and/or to include with wedding announcements.

ReZeta Radio Show :: Promotional Photography

2009-09-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

One of my most memorable photography projects has been to create the promotional photography for a new online radio show in Washington DC .. ReZeta Radio.

ReZeta has 6 radio personalities .. and when I say 'personalities' I really mean it for this group .. as they each have such great personalities. This group is so much fun to be around, they exude such great energy and rocked it at each photoshoot!

[ReZeta Radio launched their show last Wednesday. You can catch them live every Wednesday night from 7pm-11pm at www.kestadc.com/re-z]

FRANCIS...

DAN...

VERONICA...

ROSARIO...

MELVIN...

IAN...

... each representing a different aspect of Latin American culture.

The producer and founder of ReZeta .. Kristhian .. had the idea of developing a radio show which would infuse various genres of Latin music, popular American music and a wide array of conversation topics which cover everything from cooking segments to solving relationship dilemmas and, of course, the latest news and gossip.

Our first photoshoot was in the DC metro. I was a little nervous to be taking a full lighting set up into a metro station. I figured we would have to do our photoshoot guerilla style and run as soon as we saw a metro guard coming. But we got very lucky and no one bothered us on the metro ride over or as we set up our lights and tripod underground. The only questions we got were from a group of kids that thought we were with MTV. As a result, we were able to take our time and get the shots just as we wanted.

We started by photographing the group riding the metro. They have such a dynamic chemistry and are always entertaining to watch. We amused onlookers as we did a series of candid shots ...

The photoshoot underground went very smoothly. We only had the small issue of one of my umbrella lights nearly toppling over from the gust of wind off of a metro car flying by! Luckily, Kristhian was very quick and dove to grab the light stand in time. I had no idea what was going on and thought he had tripped ..

From then on, Kristhian held onto the light stands if we heard a metro coming down the tunnel ..

Final image of group at the DC metro ..

Our third photoshoot was at State Theater in Arlington, VA. The lighting crew at this place was fantastic and worked with us for almost 2 hours to get the shots just right ..

A huge THANK YOU to Francis, Dan, Veronica, Rosario, Melvin and Ian for bringing so much energy and enthusiasm to each photoshoot. Kristhian for providing his home as our photography studio. Marisol for working with us as our stylist and make up artist. And Juan Luis for hooking us up with State Theater.

I had such a wonderful time on these photoshoots and am so proud of what y'all have accomplished!!

Fresh Start

2009-08-03T21:47:00.000-07:00

After three wonderful years in Washington DC, I moved back to my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky to pursue a career as a professional photographer. I've spent the past 5 years or so dabbling in photography and developing my style. And now it's time to take it on FULL TIME!

I've devoted the past month to redesigning my website - www.fivebyfivegallery.com, developing a logo and promotional package .. and it's almost all done and ready to be launched. In the mean time, below is one of my favourite photos from Washington DC of the World War II Memorial shot around October 2008 with a preview of my new logo design!

I love the reflections in the water.