Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

tonight...we are young...

 

 melissa winn photography Booth #89 at this weekend's Bridal Showcase in Northern Virginia

I met so many excited, interesting, and fun brides and grooms to be, their mothers, their entourage, and of course, their bridal parties! Such a great experience. Many thanks to my twin sister Heather for manning the booth with me and handing out brochures and answering questions when the crowds grew larger. Could not have done it with out her!

Although I didn't get to see much of the show outside of the booth, it was educational to see some of the upcoming  trends in the industry and weddings arena. Namely, that Spring and Autumn wedding dates are on the rise. We heard more April, May, August, September, and October wedding dates for this year and next than June or July, for certain! We also heard Fun's "We Are Young" an estimated 300 times that day, as it played on a loop of only six songs, over and over and over and over, by the DJ in the booth next to us. I guess it's a popular reception song choice, and a lot of people like the song!? We used to like it, too. Used to. 

We were also intrigued by the return to vintage in many realms, including rings and dresses. I'm excited to apply some of my vintage film presets to the photos and really capture the mood! 

I was especially impressed by how many grooms were in attendance at the show, accompanying the bride and sometimes Mother of the Bride, as well, to taste cakes, peruse the music, and discuss photo visions with me!

I also heard from several brides, a request to return to the more traditional wedding albums and photos...meaning a more scaled-down version, excluding the photojournalistic coverage of bride and groom and their parties preparing for the wedding, or the full-day storybook behind the occassion. Some brides just aren't looking for the whole shebang, they told me, and inquired about alternative pricing for documenting photos of the ceremony, reception, and the formals in between, only.

"You don't want to take any pictures of me dressing. Trust me," one bride even joked with us.

Other brides said they have small one or two hour cermonies planned with 10-20 people, and don't need nor want, 6-8 hours of ongoing coverage or candids from such a cozy event.

While some photograpghers may choose to turn down these events, in an effort to keep the dates open for higher paying customers/wedding packages, melissa winn photography is flexible and willing to discuss any and all options. If you're having a two hour ceremony and reception combined, of course you don't want to pay for four, six or eight hours of coverage at full price. But you still want big, beautiful, professional images from your big day, too! We can customize the photo coverage and options to match the event you're planning!

Please get in touch with me at (703) 855-8193 or melissa@melissawinn.net for more information.

Also, visit my main Web site www.melissawinn.net for pricing guide, products, etc.

Thanks again to all who stopped by Booth #89 at the Showcase! Hope to see you at the next big showcase soon!

 

casino royale

a little casino night fun...

it's fine dining we suggest...be our guest

It's time to shake up the formality of your big day and have a little fun with your friends, family, and other guests. Your friends have tales of college pranks, and your Aunt Martha has the goods on the embarrassing Xmas story starring you and your brother. It comes up every year over egg nog. Not everybody gets to stand up and toast the Bride and Groom with endearing thoughts and humorous anecdotes. Give all of your guests a way to leave you their memories and their (sometimes hilarious) predictions for your married life. How many kids will you have? How long until the snazzy sports car gets traded for a sensible sedan? Or worse...minivan!! This guest book offers your friends and family a way to share with you their thoughts, their congrats, their memories, and their humor. I can customize the book to your lifestyle and tell your love story, too, complete with photos from your engagement session for all to ooh and ahh over. Here are a few sample pages from the book, which is a custom hardcover, 10x10, layflat book with 20 pages of interactive fun for your guests and you to share.

it was you and me...

 

In closing out the holiday photo season, I spent a few hours doing family mini-shoots for a mom's group in Northern Virginia. (Thanks to the referral of another wonderful Mom and client from earlier in the season, Meredith West.) Wanting to ca...pture some of the D.C. charm, but shelter the kids from the ice cold temperatures that weekend, we decided to shoot at the Kennedy Center. Plenty of light and charm inside, but also a balcony view to catch some of the memorials in the backdrop. The families and especially the kids were super good sports about the wind chill factor on the balcony. And, you can see, we managed to get some great photos to complement their holiday cards. Thanks again Meredith, and all the families that came out that day!

 

 

lady in red...

And this folks...is Rachel...
 

Oh what a charasmatic sweetheart! I think you can see, she needs little introduction. What a doll!

this xmas, baby please come home...

With the holidays winding down, I finally have time to share some photos of the many friendly, eclectic, wildly interesting and wonderfully welcoming families I had the pleasure of snapping family photos for this season. Here are just a few of the dozens and dozens I met over the past three months. Thanks to every one of them!

where a kid can be a kid...

 

This past fall, I ran a groupon-type ad on Certifikid for discounted family portrait sessions. I was overwhelmed at the number of families that purchased the sessions and ecstatic to start work on them. Most families wanted photos in time to include on their holiday card, so I set out to capitalize on good weather weekends and weeknights before the dark came too early. Many weekends in November, I was shooting 5-6 family sessions a weekend. Whew! Fortunately, the season brought good weather and good luck. I had much fun meeting so many interesting families. I especially love the discovery in each child's face, and trying to capture it with my camera. This season brought many faces with wonder and joy. Bright eyes and red cheeks. Laughter and light. Here are some of  the images...