Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

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  • Stay Tuned…

    Okay, so I admit I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to blogging the past several weeks. I have been catching up on editing, album designing, and planning for 2011. I also even did a little much-needed resting and visiting with family over the holidays. But now it’s back to business once again! And even though this is sort of my “off season” for shooting weddings, I am still working: bookkeeping, portfolio updating, planning, and still more album designing. But what to post on the blog if I’m not shooting as much? In the tiny bit of free time I hope to have, I’ll be working on a few non-photography related projects (our house is in dire need of some TLC) and I plan to share those things here! I also have a few things in the to-blog backlog. So if you’re here because you’re a long-time blog reader, THANK YOU for sticking in there even though I didn’t have fresh content for six weeks straight. (Hanging my head in shame.) Stay tuned – I promise I will at least have a few personal posts up here and there over the winter. And if you’re a prospective client, please do peek through the archives for my most recent work a few weeks back!

    And in the name of having a little visual content for a blog post, how about a random image that has nothing to do with this post. It’s my new nephew, Andy! He’s a baby Weimaraner (5 months old here). I got to meet him while visiting my family in Colorado over Thanksgiving:

  • Margot & Jesse – 12.31.10

    Margot & Jesse – 12.31.10

    First of all, Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was peaceful, joyful, adventurous, restful or whatever your heart desired most. I definitely needed family time and rest (hence my little absence from the blog), so Chris and I started off our holidays by visiting my parents and siblings in Colorado for Thanksgiving and then we visited Chris’s family in Charlottesville for Christmas. We spent New Year’s Eve with Margot and Jesse’s family and friends to celebrate their wedding! Now I know I said I was done with the 2010 wedding season, but when I received a call from Margot she just sounded so warm and friendly that I absolutely couldn’t resist. Besides, it sounded like such a fun way to ring in the New Year, and it was!

    Margot and Jesse hosted an intimate wedding for their family and closest friends at Morrison House in Old Town Alexandria. All decked out in garland, wreaths and trees inside with twinkle lights, it had that wonderful cozy feeling of the holidays.

    Everyone gathered around in the parlor for the ceremony.

    Margot was STUNNING. I loved her dress, and wait until you get a better look at her gorgeous feathery headpiece…

    I simply can’t resist taking a fun and festive ring shot!

    So classic and beautiful!

    I love how they look at each other.

    The reception began just right down the hall in one of the beautifully appointed dining rooms.

    And then shortly after dinner we returned to the parlor/library to cut this lovely (and very tasty) cake.

    First dance as husband and wife:

    And of course we toasted and counted down to the New Year!

    So congratulations Margot and Jesse! You really know how to start your brand new year off on the perfect note. Chris and I had such a fun time celebrating with you and photographing these moments, and we wish you all the best!

  • Megan & Brad – Engaged!

    Megan was a bridesmaid in Renee and Natie’s wedding last year, and I’m so happy to be photographing her wedding next year! Megan and Brad met up with me in Old Town Alexandria yesterday for their engagement session, and we were happy to have an amazingly gorgeous day for it! I keep expecting winter to swoop in and just take fall away, but we’ve been lucky this year. There’s even still a few leaves hanging on, showing off some color, but surely you’ll notice my gorgeous couple first:

    Perfectly grungy and rusty stairwell – yes, please!

    Megan and Brad are the kind of people you just instantly adore. I can confirm that they are as nice/friendly in person as they look. 😀

    SO cute!

    Seriously, seriously adorable.

    My favorite!

    Told you – this day was gorgeous. Look at that sky!

    Love all the random nooks in Old Town: It was great to see you again, Megan and Brad, and I think I said it a dozen times already, but I really am very excited for your wedding next year! Thanks for hanging out with me yesterday. 🙂 Have a wonderful holiday season and I’ll see you soon!

  • Sweet, Sweet B. Family

    Oh this family! They are so sweet. Heather and I have been trying to coordinate our schedules for a while to do a family portrait session, and the stars finally aligned on the most perfect fall day. And I was thrilled to discover that there was still plenty of fall color in their beautiful backyard. Here’s the whole family:

    This is Isabel. I just love her inquisitive little face!

    And this is Mia, with Dad, who made her smile and laugh every time.

    Such a happy baby!

    Time for playing in the leaves…(ha!)

    I LOVE the look of pure JOY on Isabel’s face! When was the last time you felt like that?! Amazing, isn’t it? How the simplest of things can elicit that expression…

    Mia had a fun time in the leaves, too.

    And leaves are tasty, apparently.

    Perfect little hat model:

    Doing some tree-hugging!

    And I’ll end with this last dose of sweetness: So fun to photograph your family, Heather and Geoffrey! I’m so glad we were finally able to do it. 🙂

  • Kara & Greg – 11.06.10

    “Cut! Okay people, that’s a wrap!” On 2010 weddings, that is. Kara & Greg’s wedding was our last wedding of the 2010 season, and we couldn’t have ended it on a better note! We have been so very blessed to have the most wonderful clients, and Kara and Greg were two of those very amazing people. So sweet and more like friends than clients, they hosted an amazing event for their friends and family last weekend. I started out at the uber fabulous Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria for a few quick getting ready shots of Kara before we headed to the church.

    Kara, you look radiant!

    You know I love a pop of color for the shoes!

    Mom and all three bridesmaids helping out:

    The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lourdes in Arlington.

    Married!

    After the ceremony we headed back to Alexandria to take a few photos around Old Town. Hello fantastic colorful garage, totally perfect for framing the bridal party!

    The infamous cobblestones of Prince Street – it’s classic Old Town!

    Indigo Landing, where the reception was held, is at a marina, hence the seashell ring-shot inspiration!

    I actually can’t say enough wonderful things about Indigo Landing and Katherine Turner, who ran one of the smoothest receptions I’ve ever seen. Everything was just perfect and impeccably timed. The staff was beyond friendly and accommodating, and the space (set up entirely for the private event) looked so fabulous. I absolutely LOVE the architecture and decor there.

    First dance:

    Toasts:

    Kara and her dad danced to Bruce Springsteen, which totally made me miss my own dad (he’s a fan of Springsteen)!

    The band, Snackbar Jones, was A-MA-ZING. Sorry if I sound like an American Idol judge, but I loved the way they took songs on the customary wedding playlist (examples: Brown-Eyed Girl, Sweet Caroline, etc.) and “made the songs their own.” Plus they covered a few non-standard wedding tunes (from Blur, Third-Eye Blind, and Snow!) and just kept the dance floor completely packed the whole night. I was blown away.

    This is one of my favorite images of the night, because this group of girls represents three of our past, present, and future brides! From left to right, Amy (future 2011 bride), Kara (current, of course), and Heather (2009 bride). Love these girls!

    Wah-hoo-wah!

    Kara and Greg! Your wedding was such a blast. Thank you so much for having Chris and me there – we absolutely loved it and we are so happy for you both! See you next year at Amy and Scott’s wedding! 🙂