Abby Grace Photography blog

Carly Arnwine - April 18, 2013 - 9:49 pm

Abby, these photos are absolutely incredible. You are a master of light, my friend. Awesome work!! xo

Kristen - April 17, 2013 - 12:02 am

That bright sunlight made for some beautiful, beautiful photos! And that one of her looking up at her bridesmaids is adorable! Just such a lovely collection to scroll through. I think I’ll go do it again.

Eryn Kesler - April 16, 2013 - 2:20 pm

BEAUTIFUL. I just love love love the lighting in all of it! Your reception and detail photos are gorgeous!

Rosa - April 12, 2013 - 3:11 pm

Beautiful!! I would have been so nervous shooting in such bright daylight.. but you did an amazing job!

ashley barnett - April 12, 2013 - 1:16 pm

I would do unspeakable things for that dress!!! My goodness this wedding is gorgeous! I LOVE the style- so different yet timeless!

Lessons Learned: Shooting in crowded spaces » Modern Virginia + Destination Wedding Photographer - April 12, 2013 - 9:32 am

[...] days I have a few go-to tactics to help when our location isn’t as clear as I’d like! Joe & Sara’s wedding was such a good exercise for me- we were photographing part of their wedding portraits down at the [...]

heather - April 12, 2013 - 8:57 am

Beautiful

Karen Allen - April 12, 2013 - 8:30 am

Abby!! These are simply stunning!! Awesome job girl!

Side note: I always get SO CONFUSED when I see “Karen Field” in the comments…I think, ‘wait, I haven’t commented yet, and why did I use my maiden name?’ every.time.

Karen Field - April 12, 2013 - 12:22 am

What is there to say that all of the previous commenters haven’t already said? Here was one shot in the area of the cherry blossoms, I think, where they were embracing and she looks up at you and you see are looking into her beautiful green eyes. Magic.

sharon elizabeth - April 11, 2013 - 9:59 pm

holy stunning wedding!

Shauné - April 11, 2013 - 8:22 pm

Gorgeous, stunning, fabulous, perfection! Abby, I am completely in awe of the amazing job you did capturing Joe and Sara’s day. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

ashley link - April 11, 2013 - 6:51 pm

oh my goodness!!! this looks amazing!!! such a classic bride!!! STUNNING!!! fabulous job as always, girl!

Rebekah Carter - April 11, 2013 - 6:10 pm

Abby, you out-do yourself w/ each new wedding you shoot. And this girl has got to win the most beautiful bride ever award. Wowwww.

Blythe K - April 11, 2013 - 5:32 pm

WOW! The details are amazing and you captured everything so beautifully!!! I have so many favorites!!!

Leo - April 11, 2013 - 1:41 pm

Fantastic work, Abby. This was a beautiful wedding and you captured the day perfectly.

Jean - April 11, 2013 - 1:27 pm

Beautiful photos, Abby! Great job!

Shalese - April 11, 2013 - 1:21 pm

This is the most gorgeous wedding ever! You did an amazing job capturing little moments. I loved every single photo!

Kathy - April 11, 2013 - 1:01 pm

Impeccable. Seriously – gorgeous! Great job!

Megan Chase - April 11, 2013 - 12:53 pm

My favorite wedding of yours EVER! Wow! Gorgeous! It screams ABBY!!!!! Every detail and shot is absolute perfection! LOVE it!

Jodi - April 11, 2013 - 12:37 pm

ABBBBBY!! This is amazing!!!! Your photos are so dreamy! I’m so happy that I ran into you in the hall at United! I am so inspired by you and your work! Keep rocking.

xo. Jodi

Rachel Ziegler - April 11, 2013 - 12:34 pm

totally swooning over this wedding!

Erica - April 11, 2013 - 12:13 pm

Absolutely stunning, Abby! What a way to kick off your wedding season!

Rebekah Hoyt - April 11, 2013 - 12:07 pm

OH MY GOSH ABBY I AM DYING. This wedding is GORGEOUS from head-to-toe and you captured it to perfection!!! WOW!! Seriously seriously gorgeous…!

Apr 10 2013

A preview!

I swore to myself that I’d never shoot portraits at the Cherry Blossoms because of how insanely crowded it gets. Welp, I’ve photographed down at the Tidal Basin TWICE in the last five days, and I’m not the least bit sorry! The Blossoms are an incredible sight to behold- I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to make the trip to DC to see them! No wonder it gets so busy down there- those clumps of pink petals are stunning!

This morning, I met Tim & Lauren for their e-session at the Cherry Blossoms- holy cow, guys. These two know how to work it in front of a camera. Here’s just a small preview to tide you over until their full post next week!

Now please excuse me while I crash for a couple of hours- I haven’t quite adjust to my 4 am sunrise session wake-ups yet.

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Emilia Jane - April 11, 2013 - 8:13 am

I’m so jealous your spring has already sprung! Can’t wait to see the session

Kirstie Frydenlund - April 10, 2013 - 5:21 pm

this is so stunning!!

Hannah Rancourt - April 10, 2013 - 2:10 pm

These are SO beautiful!!! Can’t wait to see the rest! Can I just say that I have sorely missed your e-sessions and weddings on the bloggity, I’m SO glad they are back!!!!

Megan Chase - April 10, 2013 - 1:15 pm

Those blooms never get old! You know how to rock them!

Morgan - April 10, 2013 - 11:14 am

SO beautiful!! They are a lucky couple!

Sarah Adams - April 10, 2013 - 10:59 am

Abby– The light is just INCREDIBLE. I cannot wait to see more!! My goodness!

Jean - April 10, 2013 - 9:59 am

Gorgeous! When I was working as a teacher’s aide, we took fifth graders to DC and we were usually there during the Cherry Blossom season. I have lots of great memories from those trips.

Alexandra {Heart Love Weddings} - April 10, 2013 - 9:58 am

This is gorgeous, Abby!!! Those cherry blossoms!!! My heart be still!!!

Regan - April 10, 2013 - 9:18 am

Gorgeous!! I cannot wait to see the rest from this session! I’m dying to head up to DC now, thanks to these two photos!

tim riddick - April 10, 2013 - 9:14 am

i mean seriously… this is darn amazing! Abby you are already awesome but your work recently is going to another level…

Melissa Arlena - April 10, 2013 - 9:14 am

I have a session for Friday down there at sunrise and like you I’m not looking forward to the 4am wakeup call!!!

Rici - April 10, 2013 - 9:12 am

Seriously can´t wait to see the rest of this session!! Sleep well

Rebekah Hoyt - April 10, 2013 - 9:10 am

YAY!! I was sad when you swore off shooting there because I knew you were missing something so beautiful – these previews are gorgeous and I cannot wait to see more from this shoot!!

Apr 09 2013

Everyone Loves A Classic: New York City B&Ws

Today marks the beginning of a new series! And since I’ve already planned out the first 29 installments, I’m pretty sure this one will last longer than the Wine Wednesday series.

A few months ago, I blogged about an epiphany I had regarding my style, branding, artistic leanings, etc. The realization that I’d been dressing, shooting, and stylizing my brand after the cooler version of myself that I thought I was supposed to be, rather than who I actually am, was such a turning point for me! It’s been so freeing to be able to really embrace things I actually love, rather than things I see everyone else loving. So in celebration of all the things that make me ME, the “Everyone Loves A Classic” series was born! First up on the series: black and white photographs. And not just any kind of black and white photographs- specifically, black and whites in New York City.

To me, there will always be something so intoxicatingly romantic about New York and the timeless beauty it holds in US history. It’s crowded, it’s always busy, but it’s where everything EXCITING happens! When I think New York, I think post-war 1940’s, I think Macy’s at Christmas, I think of Tiffany’s, of sophisticated, elegant fashion, and of that iconic sailor + nurse kiss in Times Square- I think of what I’ve always heard called the “good old days.”

And then there are black and white photos. I’m very selective about which of my images I convert to b&w because I just LOVE color so much that an image really needs to scream “PLEASE CONVERT ME!” for me to do it. But New York? New York was made for monochromatic photographs. I don’t care how modern the Big Apple is, there’s something about the city that will always hold retro, old-world charm to me.

Perhaps this is why nearly all of my favorite images from our anniversary session with Justin & Mary are black and white. Because they were shot in New York City, and because J&M have such an iconic style, these images will never grow old to me. I will never tire of looking at the canvas in our living room, or of the prints hanging in my office. All of which were taken in New York City, and all of which are in black and white. Even just being in New York City for our session transported me back to a time when movie tickets cost a quarter, when all the cabs were yellow, and when malt shoppes reigned supreme.

Happy Tuesday! All images by the incredible Justin & Mary.

Tags: black and white photographs,classic style,New York City

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Kristen - April 17, 2013 - 12:03 am

I’m such a fan of black and white, I love it! Also, your coat + shoes= ADORABLLLLLLE.

Karen Field - April 11, 2013 - 10:39 pm

I just love these photos of you and Matt and NYC! I think Matt should frame the one of him solo leaning against a bench or something and give it to his mother for Christmas. I think she’d live to have such a great picture of her handsome son. He looks great in that photo. Mom

Rici - April 10, 2013 - 9:00 am

I´m so exited you are trying something new! SOOOO great! Love you portraits by J&M! Incredibly much!

Megan Chase - April 9, 2013 - 9:50 pm

Looking forward to this series! It’s soooo YOU!

ashley link - April 9, 2013 - 9:43 pm

this is awesome!!! i love how you and your brand go hand in hand (not trying to sound like dr. seuss . this has inspired me to try and be more like my brand (once it’s out in the open haha)!!! thanks, girl!

Sydni Jackson - April 9, 2013 - 4:53 pm

It’s true – NYC is just the perfect place for B&Ws. Love this series – can’t wait to see more!

Jean - April 9, 2013 - 1:22 pm

Great photos! You and Matt are so perfect together!

Bethany - April 9, 2013 - 12:55 pm

Black & white photographs are the epitome of the classical look that you seem to strive for. They’re just timeless.

Rebekah Carter - April 9, 2013 - 12:44 pm

I love this idea for a series!

Apr 08 2013

Monday Mash-Up

Helloooooo MONDAY! I’m so glad you’re here. You see, I shot this gorgeous wedding over the weekend and since I’ve vowed not to work on Sundays, I can’t start editing and drooling over the images until today. And now the frenzy of editing can begin!

Joe & Sara’s wedding on Saturday was STUNNING. I’m having such a hard time not posting 47 previews right off the bat. Trust me, though- the Kek wedding is totally worth the wait! I was so anxious leading up to Saturday because it was my first wedding in two months that now, once I’m able to relax, I’m realizing how excited I am for the season! I have weddings every weekend through mid-May and I’m so stoked for each and every one of my brides and grooms. And now that the weather’s finally starting to look like spring, the warm air and sunshine have me all aflutter as well. So three cheers for wedding season and three cheers for spring!

As always, lessons learned/things that transpired over the past week:

I love going out in public for portraits with brides and grooms on their wedding day. And on Saturday I learned I love it even more in a busy city. Joe & Sara received honk after honk and dozens of squeals & “congratulations!” throughout the day as we walked around DC. I think my favorite moment was when three little girls saw Sara, their mouths dropped open, and the youngest exclaimed “a princess!”
After photographing all of the Kate Spade details on Saturday, I think I’m finally beginning to understand what the obsession is about. There’s a Kate Spade store at the outlets I should probably go visit this week… or maybe it’d be better to stay away.
Remember that show “Kids Say The Darndest Things?” I loved that show, and I’m a firm believe that my niece Isabella needs to be on it. My dad looked at her yesterday and stated it was time for a haircut and she quickly responded with “What?! No! I want my hair at least to my knees!”
Fact: hard boiled eggs taste better when they’re of the technicolor, Easter variety. Plain white hair boiled eggs = not as delicious. The color makes all the difference.

And because I’m SO excited to have fresh wedding images, here’s one more preview of Joe & Sara’s wedding to keep you at bay until Thursday!

Happy Monday, friends!

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Spring Has Finally Sprung – Blended Beauté - April 11, 2013 - 7:02 am

[...] pictures to come, but for now, head over and get a preview from photographer Abby Grace’s blog. She’s a phenomenal photographer, and I can’t wait to see what other images she [...]

Shauné - April 10, 2013 - 9:19 pm

What a gorgeous shot! I can’t wait to see more! Pleasure meeting you Saturday.

Hannah Rancourt - April 8, 2013 - 7:23 pm

AHHHH!!!! That dress! Those trees!!! Perfection!

molly stillman - April 8, 2013 - 4:03 pm

oh girl don’t even get me started on how much i love kate spade… now, if only i could afford it. <3

Carrie holbo - April 8, 2013 - 8:57 am

I still can’t get over that dress……..love this!

Rebekah Hoyt - April 8, 2013 - 8:36 am

Gorgeous gorgeous!! I simply cannot wait to see more from this wedding!!

Sabrina - April 8, 2013 - 8:31 am

This post makes me so happy!!! 1) we have another wedding this week so this makes me excited for that. 2) YAY SPRING!! 3) I love your work… it just brings a smile to my face

Megan Chase - April 8, 2013 - 8:30 am

Holy Cow Abby! I am dying to see more from this wedding! Stunning!

Jean - April 8, 2013 - 8:30 am

Gorgeous! So happy you had the cooperation of Mother Nature! What a beautiful shot!

Apr 05 2013

Wedding season starts tomorrow!

It’s been lovely with the “break” I’ve had over the last couple of months- I’ve had time to get albums designed and ordered, taxes taken care of, my office a bit more organized, etc. And I’ll admit it- I even had time to REST. There were weeks where I didn’t work a full 40 hours, and I’m honestly ok with that. Because wedding season can often demand 60-80 hours a week, taking a bit of time to rest during the off-season is what recharges me and makes me that much more excited to get back in the swing of things. My 2013 wedding season kicks of tomorrow with what I KNOW is going to be a spectacularly beautiful day- Joe & Sara are getting married in DC, and it’s the height of the Cherry Blossom Festival!

I’ve got the symptomatic pre-wedding butterflies, so I’m spending today prepping: charging batteries, clearing cards, and running to the store to pick up snacks and water bottles to keep on hand. And since today’s my dad’s BIRTHDAY so we’ll be celebrating tonight, most likely with steaks on the grill and marinated zucchini strips.

I’m off to run errands, my friends! The happiest of Fridays to you all!

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