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!

Happy Holidays!

This year I don't think we'll make it through the holidays without reminiscing, we never do...but it will be particularly important for us to do so this year. I (Joyce) just lost my paternal grandmother this past June. My grandfather passed away two years prior to her death. Her death was really bittersweet. When you lose someone you love, it is HUGE as we all know. It is more than a little overwhelming, however, to lose again so quickly. That seemed to happen to me a lot this year with my grandma and a friend. Although my grandparents were both in their 90s when they died, they have left a huge hole in my family. It is strange to go home and not have their home, someplace we called home as well, no longer there. Even my kids think so, and how blessed they were to even know great grandparents! So, this year, as you celebrate with your families, remember what's really important. More importantly, remember who is really important in your life. I know my grandparents were important in my life for the better part of 40 years and I wouldn't exchange one memory or one precious second for anything tangible they've left behind. One thing that has been of comfort for me and my family have been photographs. So let this blog serve as a reminder to take lots of pictures this holiday. You won't ever regret one of them, especially as years pass.
On a brighter note, we want to extend our best wishes to our clients, family and friends for the best holiday season yet. Keep what's important, the gift of time with family and friends, at the top of your holiday list. We also want to take this time to say thanks to our clients, family and friends for allowing us the pleasure of being in your lives this year and most of all, for letting us capture moments of your lives in photographs. This holiday season, make your memories, grab your camera, smile, click and enjoy fantastic memories for years to come. See you in 2009!