Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

Category: weddings

  • New Products: Mini Books/Albums!

    I have a few new products to share with you! Cute, itty bitty products. First up are these fun accordion-style books. Available in wallet-size or 3×3 square, these sweet little Mini Accordion Books come in a set of three, and are perfect to give as gifts or to toss in your purse:

    Both sides of the accordion pages are printed with your favorite images from your portrait session or event.

    And in other teeny tiny product news, we also have these adorable Pocket Albums – a set of two mini 4×4 replicas of your main wedding album or portrait session album. These are also such a fun gift idea. Who doesn’t love miniature stuff? (Note: These can also be purchased without an album order as a simple one image per-page design.)

    Seriously, they can’t get any cuter unless you put them in their own tiny little pouches.

    Oh wait, they DO have their own tiny little pouches! This makes it super easy to just tuck it into a purse and go. So please do contact me for the details if you’d like to add these little pocket-sized goodies onto your package or if you’d like to purchase them with images from a previous session.

  • 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!

  • 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! 🙂

  • Karen & Ryan – 10.29.10

    Karen and Ryan’s wedding was one blustery day at the end of October, but they didn’t let the chilly temps and crazy winds bother them one bit. They were all smiles all day and they were such a joy to photograph! Karen was absolutely stunning – here she is getting an extra bit of hairspray before we head outside to brave the breeze.

    Karen and Ryan chose to see each other before the ceremony:

    Keeping close to stay warm!

    Gorgeous!

    Don’t be fooled – it might look sunny and warm, but it really wasn’t!

    Oh gosh, you guys are so CUTE!

    It might have been chilly, but the ceremony was just beautiful.

    Married!

    A fall-inspired ring shot for a fall wedding!

    I love these little streetlamp escort cards!

    First dance:

    Funny and touching toasts:

    Parent dances:

    And then the par-tay!

    Air guitar challenge!

    Tiny bride (future SSP bride?!):

    Congratulations Karen & Ryan! Thank you so much for allowing Chris and me to capture your wedding memories. It was so lovely to meet you both this year and to celebrate with you on your wedding day. We wish you both all the best!

  • Megan & John – 10.23.10

    Megan and John are two of THE sweetest people I’ve ever met. John is just really laid-back and kind, and Megan is the kind of girl you instantly want to be friends with. She has such a contagious smile, you can’t be unhappy around her. Not that anyone had a reason to be unhappy – their wedding day was absolutely perfect! Perfect weather, perfect schedule, and everything went according to plan. How about some pictures to show off their perfect day?! (Is anyone keeping track of how many times I’ve said “perfect” so far?) Meet John and Megan:

    Chris started out taking a few pictures at John’s family’s house…While I was over at Megan’s family’s house, which happens to be built around an old post office! As in, the old post office is literally in the middle of their house. How cool is that?! So of course I had to incorporate it into a few shots.

    The dress:

    Mom and new sister-in-law helping with the dress:

    I’m a sucker for bride + pet photos!

    Just chillin’ before the ceremony begins…

    I’m also a sucker for father/daughter moments:

    Megan, your smile lit up that whole church! I love it.

    Family formals, smartphone-style:

    Bridal party! They’re all siblings and siblings-in-law now. 🙂

    Hellooooo gorgeous couple!

    This next one is a bit of a departure from my normal processing style, but I thought the scene called for it…

    Megan and John planned quite a bit of time for photos (yay!), so we were able to wander all over the golf course at Chantilly National Country Club.

    Seriously, you two are the cutest!

    I’m digging the lines/composition of this one if I do say so myself!

    While we were out taking portraits, Chris was back inside capturing some great fall-inspired details:

    In addition to cake, there was a candy bar full of treats! The more sugar the better, I always say. 🙂

    So, you know I’m always trying to spot something fun to do with the rings, and I just couldn’t resist plunking them right into this jar of candy corn. I want you to know, though, that I carefully carved out a scoop of candy to put the rings in, and then I made sure to remove that scoop (which Chris and I snacked on later). I know someone at a table nearby probably thought it was weird of me to put my fingers directly into the candy, but I DIDN’T – I promise! 😀

    The toasts were lovely and well-executed…

    But it was this letter from John’s 92 year-old grandfather, who couldn’t make it to the wedding, that had everyone choked up (including me):

    First dance:

    Parent dances:

    And then the PARTY! Such a fun reception.

    He’s not two feet taller than everyone, he just had some maaaaad jumping skills:

    Okay, one more ring shot! Bride and groom Pez dispensers? YES!

    Megan and John! Chris and I are both so incredibly happy for you two. We had a wonderful time celebrating with you and your families/friends, and we feel very honored that you chose us to document the day, so thank you!