Ott Photography LOVES newborns!

Consider having your newborn photographed in a tranquil environment complete with rocking chair, soft music and a relaxing snack. You can even put your feet up! Just enjoy a moment with you and your newborn in a private setting. Then, as your newborn falls asleep, the photo session will begin. We hope you enjoy our latest client, only two weeks old. They enjoyed a wonderful time and great photographs!

Kasi and Michael were so sweet to work with and had an absolutely beautiful wedding. We enjoyed working with both of them and they report they love their pictures. Congratulations to both of you! We enjoyed being a part of your special day.

Senior Mania Continues into the Fall

I want to thank all of my senior clients for the fun I have had with them from August and even as November approaches. It's been an incredible ride Class of 2010 and I've loved the ride. Good luck to each and every one of you bright young men and women!

Join us for the Greater Virginia Bridal Show Sunday, September 27, 2009

World Renowned Tenor Nick Palance

We had the honor of seeing and photographing world renowned tenor Nick Palance warm up for his debut concert at Historic Jordan Springs. The rehearsal was dynamite but the concert was AMAZING! Check out Nick at http://www.nickpalance.com/

Tara, Mike and Oscar tie the knot!

Oscar, you say? As the father of the bride so eliquently put it, Oscar was the bastard basset hound of the couple whose mommy & daddy now made it official. Oscar was adorable sporting his tux and his top hat. We just loved him and the energy of this couple. The family was so open with emotions and cried lots of happy tears which I gladly did with them. It was such a special day with absolutely gorgeous weather for July 18th. Check out Oscar and this beautiful couple!

Senior Mania!

I have had the best fun this year with Seniors! I just love 'em. I have been so busy with them and my beautiful brides, that I've fallen behind here in blogger land. I would be remice if I did not tak a moment to thank my 2010 seniors, all of whom have such brilliant and bright dreams for the future. I wish you all the success the world has to offer. Please check out my Senior Spotlight Photo Collection. Even my senior parents had fun during these sessions and I absolutely loved meeting and spending time with each and every one of them. Thank you for allowing me to capture your true essence in your photographs.

We're in love with this maid of honor's toast tribute to her sister, the bride!

This toast was given at one of our June wedding's and it was fantastic. Click and paste to view it on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=genxw7QlYaA

Congratulations Christy & Nick!

Christy and Nick are just so darned lovable that we absolutely had the best time photographing them on July 11, 2009. They are just a perfect couple in every sense of the word. Their marriage and wedding was a beautiful celebration and was held at the Purple Iris in Martinsburg. We can't say enough good things about the beauty of the Purple Iris at Hartwood, both of the house and grounds, but especially of the owners and staff. It is always a pleasure to work there. Along with that, we worked with our favorite officiant gal, Reverand Di Cooper. She's always a pleaure to work with and we enjoy her company in many ways when we are at a wedding. Check out this sneak peek of Christy and Nick while they are honeymooning in the Dominican Republic. Wow! We danced between raindrops---ah, make that downpours, to capture some of this lovely couple outside. Congratulations Christy & Nick!

Our Favorite Rachel & Jonathon Moments!

Amber & Aaron

There is only one word to describe this couple, SWEET...and so in love. We had a fabulous time photographing them at Historic Jordan Springs. We danced between rain drops to get shots of this couple outside, but the Bride and I thought it was worth it. The rain did not dampen spirits or the fact that the ceremony on the terrace was moved indoors. Another perfect wedding and great family!

Emily & Bob

Emily was a beautiful bride! She was fun and the camera loved her! We loved the spirit of Bob & Emily. They coach women's basketball at Shenandoah University and they had the whole team at this wedding. Talk about a great time. My favorite moment was when Emily's sister gave her toast. She pulled out a ukulele and invited her women's basketball team to sing a song they'd written with her. The chorus was Emily Crider married Bob Burner set to a popular tune. It was awesome and hilarious! This was definitely a memorable wedding. We had the best time!

Andrew & Kara

Andrew and Kara were a joy to work with and boy, was I impressed with their first dance. They literally glided across the dance floor! It was obvious they had dance lessons and wowed the crowd. If you are going to do something for your wedding, I recommend learning to dance. Seriously impressive. Congratulations Andrew & Kara!

Dream Couple!

Rachael, the bride, just told me to "have fun" with her wedding photos and boy, did I ever have fun. The location, Duffy's on the Potomac in Hagerstown, MD, provided a perfect backdrop for this modern bride. I was touched by her family and the groom's family. It was just a perfect wedding and a perfect day. Rachael's mom, passed her something old and blue right before the ceremony. It was a little silky fabric that when opened contained a penny. It wasn't just any penny either, it was a penny that had been there for all of the marriages in Rachael's family along with the fabric. She wore it in her shoe just as her mother and all family brides before her had. It was very dear. Her mom said that all of the gal's in their family who wore that at their wedding had marriages that lasted.
We wanted to provide you this sneak peek of Rachael, and have featured some of her pictures on the home page of our web site. She was a gorgeous bride in every sense of the word.

What a fun couple!

This couple definitely didn't need any help in posing, they barely knew I was there they were so in love with each other. They were adorable! Our walk through the park provided us with several wonderful backdrops and lots of creative ideas. I can't wait for their wedding!

Dream Wedding 2009 Winners Announced

Erin & Joey 2009

Congratulations Liz & Danny!

Liz & Danny were another sweet May 2009 couple we photographed. Their wedding and the people in it were wonderful. We particularly liked Uncle Arthur and the car he used to take Liz & Danny to their reception. It was sweet! It was an antique Cadillac with all the bells and whistles...too cool. Liz's aunt & uncle were celebrating 40 years of marriage the same day Liz & Danny got married. The couple thought it would be neat to surprise them with their Pastor (as well as the aunt & uncle's Pastor--same guy) and a renewal of their wedding vows at the reception at the end of the Anniversary Dance. That was really special and the newly married couple and guests enjoyed it. Best wishes Liz & Danny for a long & happy marriage. You are off to a great start!

Congratulations Dream Wedding Winners!

Congratulations Dena Morgan and Todd Glover, of Martinsburg, WV, who won the Dream Wedding Giveaway 2009. Please visit www.historicjordansprings.com for more details about the upcoming wedding. The public is going to vote on what this lucky couple gets...voting is now open. Vote on everything from Dena's gown to the wedding cake. It will all be unveiled as a surprise to the couple as they wed at Historic Jordan Springs on October 11, 2009. The contest is now open to 2010 entrants. We have loved participating in this contest and plan to continue!

Erin & Joey's Wedding A Quick Glimpse

Wedding Season is here!

Ryan and I have been working hard kicking off our wedding season. We've met some great couples and already have hundreds of beautiful wedding portraits to show for it. We want to give you a sneak peek into our Spring 2009 wedding season kickoff with one of our brides, Erin Waugh Anderton. Isn't she a beauty? At least, what you can see in her sneak peek!

Vote for the 2009 Dream Wedding Giveaway Contestants

Ott Photography is teaming with Jordan Springs for the first annual Historic Jordan Springs Dream Wedding Giveaway 2009. The contest is also now open and accepting 2010 couples. Please go to www.historicjordansprings.com for more information. To vote for our four finalists, you may do so by going to http://www.historicjordanspringsdreamweddinggiveaway.com/vote.php. One vote per IP address once per day until May 15, 2009 at midnight. Contestants will be announced at Historic Jordan Springs at 7 p.m. on May 21, 2009, my birthday!

You may view videos of the couple competitions by going to the You Tube video bar at the bottom right of our blog and selecting the video slideshow you'd like to watch. The couples all did a fantastic job. We have become attached to all of them and we wish they could all win. They are delightful couples and all deserve this wedding. We wish all of them good luck!

Dream Wedding Finalists hit the papers!

Check out one of the Dream Wedding Finalists 2009 in the Martinsburg Journal. Follow our link under Journal down the right side of our blog under Publication's We've Been In...

Dream Wedding Finalists 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J6Fi2qTOSc&layer_token=68a2c8cb322349b

Our personal guarantee to you when you book with Ott Photography is that you will be completely satisfied with your service and your photographs. We offer packages that will give you everything you need, from the start of your engagement to your wedding day. We want you to be so satisfied with our outstanding service and our work that we follow you from your pregnancy through all your children's milestones. Please get to know us through your free consultations and ask us what other clients are saying about us. We can't wait to get to know you!

New 2009 Packages

We encourage you to take a look at our newly designed 2009 packages. We have something for everyone. If you don't see something you like, feel free to sit down with us and customize your very own package. Packages are available at under our investment link. Check 'em out at www.ottphotography.com.

Ryan is so excited about the Super Bowl Steeler win, I actually think I spotted him playing in the game...

Create your own FACEinHOLE

So you've bought the rights to your photographs, now what?

These days most photographers, including us, either package up or offer separately the rights to your photographs. Since we've been selling a lot of the rights to our photos lately, we thought we'd blog about what we feel is the best way to go about printing and preserving your memories. Most photographers provide you your full resolution jpeg photographs on a storage device with a written copyright release. So, then what? Ott Photography has some recommendations for you. First, once you purchase the storage device, it's yours. Make sure to take great care of your newly purchased photographs. Put them in more than one place. It's great to download them on your computer or computers, but don't stop there! Secure your storage device for safe keeping. We recommend putting it in a safety deposit box or a fire proof safe that is bolted to the floor. You want your memories to last forever, so safeguard them. Also, print out copies of your photographs. We DON'T recommend that you print from home, that just doesn't do professional photographs justice. We also think that going to local 1 hour photos or super centers or pharmacies aren't the best choices either. Uploading on line does two things. One, it gives your photos an extra storage place, further safeguarding them, and it gives you a quality print. For those of you who don't have access to professional labs, one place we recommend is http://www.kodakgallery.com or upload to www.ritzpix.com. We also recommend matte prints over glossy ones. They are easier to see, don't leave smudgy fingerprints as easy and look more professional. If enlarging photos, consider the same thing. Photos these days are also made, according to the paper you choose, to last sometimes as long as 100 years. Of course, storing them in a darker place will help. When framing them, consider putting them behind conservation glass so they do not fade. Particularly if they are in a well lit area of your home.
Whatever you do with your photos, make sure that you have plenty of memories showcased in your home and work place. Loved ones also love to have memories of you around, so make sure to make and frame plenty of copies!

Dream Wedding Giveaway 2009 Website Information

http://www.historicjordanspringsdreamweddinggiveaway.com/

Dream Wedding Giveaway Finalists Announced!

From the Historic Jordan Springs Website (www.historicjordansprings.com)

And the Semi-Finalists are:
(In no particular order)

Josh Lumley & Katie Kraemer of Winchester, VA
Ryan Smith & Susan Faber of Stephenson, VA and Homer City, PA
Josh Branham & Teeka Murray of Winchester, VA
Todd Glover & Dena Morgan of WV
John Merrick & Michelle Donegan of Salem, OR and Winchester, VA
Josh West & Jaime Marion of Stephens City, VA
Charlie Cornwell & Holly McKee of Front Royal, VA
William & Audrey Hudgins of Winchester, VA
Chris Knolls & Valerie Dempsey of Hershey, PA and Winchester, VA
Daniel Dealers & Krista Chanter of Richmond, VA

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Thursday, January 29 7:00pm Announcement of Finalists
Sunday, March 15 12:00pm-3:00pm Bridal Show
Sunday, April 19 12:00pm-3:00pm Bridal Show
Thursday, May 21 6:00pm Announcement of Winner
Sunday, October 11 3:00pm Dream Wedding Day
In order to be eligible for the Dream Wedding, couples must be present at the announcement of the 4 finalist couples at the Historic Jordan Springs Estate on Thursday, January 29 at 7:00pm. Couples must also be present for all above listed dates. The semi-finalists need to be dressed and looking their best (something you might wear to a formal wedding), as the four finalist couples will be getting publicity shots taken by Ott Photography, one of the actual photographers who will be shooting the Dream Wedding Day!

Attention BRIDES - Come meet us at THE EDGE SALON

Join us at the Edge Salon on March 2, 2009 from 4-8 p.m. The Edge is located on Edwin Miller Boulevard right next to Pill and Pill. The girls will be doing updos and hairsyles for brides and Ott Photography will be there to showcase our work and network with brides. Join us for some pampering and some fun! Watch the video of the Edge and come on out to see an updo by Cori Campbell. In the meantime, check out one of her updos right on our website. It is of one of our 2008 Brides, Kristen. Kristen and her updo are currently featured as the first picture you see on our website. Thanks, Kristen! You're a sweetie! :)

January 2009 Wedding Slideshow

Watch our Slideshows on You Tube or Friend us on Facebook!

Friend us on Facebook or visit us on You Tube for slideshow samples of our weddings and work!





http://www.youtube.com/OttPhotography

April and Clay's Wedding

I cannot tell you how much Ryan and I enjoyed working with Clay and April. They are the cutest couple and are absolutely perfect for each other. They have such a fun spirit, great family and fabulous friends. Their wedding was both organized and relaxed. We enjoyed photographing and sharing their beautiful day! By the time April & Clay said their vows and we left the church, snow began falling which made the day even more special. Although it was cold, the warmth of the wedding more than made up for it! When we walked into the venue, it was like walking into a Winter Wonderland. The bride's colors were a beautiful teal and white. The decor brought a little of the outside in with tree branches draped in crystals on the dance floor while white square teal vases holding white roses and tulips adorned the tables. Other tables had frosted tree branches, and tables reserved for family which sat in front of the double row head tables contained silver branched crystal trees. It was truly a room fit for our Queen, April and her new husband! When we finally left April and Clay around 10:30 the party was in full swing and we, along with the packed room of guests were having an excellent time. What a great start to a new life together!

Ott Photography Recommends...

There are a lot of good vendors and venues out there that will provide you with the picture perfect wedding. However, we recommend that you consider using Historic Jordan Springs in Winchester, Va. We have found that they are absolutely first class in service and in style. If you want a dream wedding, look no further. The CEO Tony Wallace-Aitken along with Event Planner Colt Nutter comprise a dream team that will make all of your wishes come true. The grounds and mansion are perfectly decorated and well manicured. Team up with Ott Photography for a winning combination! Visit us at www.ottphotography.com and Historic Jordan Springs at www.historicjordansprings.com. Historic Jordan Springs can be contacted via e-mail at ColtNutter@historicjordansprings.com or by phoning 1-877-837-8313.

Join us at the Martinsburg Mall for the February Bridal Fair

Visit us at the Journal's 11th Annual Bridal Fair on February 8, 2009 at the Martinsburg Mall from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. See you there!

Virginia Bride Magazine

Get ready for the Virginia Bride Magazine to be published in late January 2009! Our brides, Melisa and Lisa, along with their grooms and our photographs, will be featured. We are so excited for them and ready for our first magazine debut!

Photography Tips for Brides on Your Wedding Day

On your wedding day, you may have a variety of emotions, nervousness, excitement, anticipation, joy, etc. It is so important that you show these emotions to your photographers and feel comfortable with them. Photographers want you to relax and be yourself. Do not worry about impressing or offending them, just be yourself by saying and doing what you would normally do. Let your personality shine! Portraits are best captured when people are relaxed and being themselves.

Take a risk! This is, for most people, an event of a lifetime. You've hired a professional, so take their advice. If they ask you to pose a certain way or tell you something will or won't look good, consider their input when you make decisions. Let them steer you. Remember, in a photograph, a moment of embarrassment is worth a lifetime of joy! However, don't be afraid to tell them what you would like to see either. They can materialize your vision, and welcome your input.

Don't be afraid to step outside in that dress. Some of the very best pictures come from being photographed in natural light. Also consider your venues. Are they well lit? Good light is so important! Always consider the amount and type of light. If indoors, a daytime wedding in a venue with large windows will produce better results than a cavernous, dark hall. Lower ceilings (if white) will enable the photographer to bounce their flash, creating a more diffused natural-looking light. If your wedding will be outdoors, the best light will be early or late in the day. Less flattering is mid-day, and the absolute worst is a mix of sun and shade. When in doubt, consult your photographer before finalizing your venue and time of day.

Be touchy feely! Give hugs, express joy and cuddle up to your groom! Don't hold back any affection if you are hoping for those romantic photos you've seen in magazines. The photographer will have better photo opportunities and much more to work with! Nuzzle each other's neck, touch noses, touch each other on the arm or waist, look into each other's eyes, and take some private moments to "get away" and sneak in a kiss or gaze into each other's eyes. A good photographer will follow you a few of those times at least and get priceless shots. Be aware of the scenery when you do so. Taking a walk outdoors with your photographer can be the best thing you can do for your wedding photos. Dedicating a little bit of outdoor time, weather permitting, to the photographer after the ceremony will pay big dividends when you see your proofs and choose your photographs.

Have any questions about your big day? Ott Photography does free consultations and is here to help create your picture perfect day!

Our Last Wedding of 2008

We photographed the nicest couple on December 20, 2008. Amber Ray and Donny Lindsey were married without a hitch! They had a beautiful wedding, made all the more special by their remembrances. They had the first pew on Donny's side dedicated to the memory of his parents with a nice photo and flowers and did the same for their baby which they lost in June. I was impressed with their strength and their ability to talk with us about it. They are an amazing couple who have already been through a lot and will definitely have a solid marriage, as they already have shown amazing strength and love for each other through the past year. They have built a solid foundation. We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of their big day and photograph such a memorable occasion for them. Amber's mom, Kathy, was fantastic as well. She was so much a part of the wedding behind the scenes and it was absolutely well planned, organized and smooth. Our hats are off to her for all of her hard work. Everyone was fun, ready for Christmas and ready to have a great time at the wedding.
Congratulations and best wishes Donny and Amber!