Nathaniel and Ashley's E session...

Brandy and Ashley's bridal sessions...

So today I had two great bridal sessions! First was Brandy, who chose Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the location of her session. This place holds a special place in my heart since this is where Brandon and I got married. Brandy looked beautiful in her gown and everyone at the Mill stopped and wished her well. We were even lucky to have a photographer from Richmond Times take pictures of us taking pictures! How cool is that?!

Next it was off to Ft. Chiswell for Ashley's bridal session. She chose the Mansion at Ft Chiswell where her wedding reception will be located. This place is amazing, and the new owners have down a spectacular job in renovating it! I can't wait to see what they do for the reception! And Ashley look stunning in her gown and the combination of her and the mansion was perfect!

So, check back in about another month for glimpse at Brandy's session and a couple more for Ashley's! I wish you can see them now, but hey, you can't see them before the grooms do!

Bark in the Park redux...

Bark in the Park...

We had a wonderful time yesterday at the first Bark in the Park at Felt's Park in Galax. This was the first event for the 2010 Relay for Life for our area. All profits from our pet photography at Bark in the Park goes to benefit Relay for Life. It opened with a lap for those people and owners who have survived cancer. There were also demonstrations for training, health care, and Galax and Sparta Police Departments and Sheriff Departments were on hand to demonstrate the K-9 units. The dogs were amazing! Check back later tonight for some images from our tent!

Galax Gymnastics Center!!!

For the second year, we had the honor of getting to shoot these amazing little girls! Nearly 80 girls in 4 hours and all of them cute as buttons! We had such a good time and you should have seen the preschoolers! They were just so adorable!

High school juniors needed!!!

I'm looking for some juniors to be reps for Thompson's Photography. I still need one for Carroll County and one for Galax so if you know an outgoing high school junior that would be perfect, send me an email at angie@thompsonsportraitphotography.com or call me at 233-4797!

Senior reps receive a free session at the beginning of May and will get cards to give out to all their friends. Those referrals will earn them free stuff! So pass along the info to someone you think would be perfect!

Emma & Josh's Easter Session...

For the second year, I had the opportunity to shoot the Easter session for Emma and Josh. These are two adorable children who are so easy to work with! We had a fun time just messing around and the kids did such a great job! Enjoy the preview!

Chase's Baseball shoot...

So my littlest baby, Stephanie, turns 6 tomorrow! Where did time go? After school today, she got to dress up and have fun! It's so much easier when you just let them do what they want, and I love what I got!

Happy Birthday, Little One!

Brandon & Brandy's E Session

I had the cutest couple over at my house on Thursday for their engagement session! Meet Brandy and Brandon! They are getting married in May, and were just so easy going and fun to work with! This is the first of two E sessions we are doing for them and I can't wait for the next one! Hope you guys had as good a time as I did! Enjoy your preview!

Choosing a wedding photographer...

We all understand that making the decisions regarding your wedding is difficult enough. But making the final decision on those crucial details that are going to affect this one time only day is so much harder when you have so many different options to choose from. A couple of us photographers here in town noticed that within the span of a little over a year, the number of wedding photographers here in our little mountain community has jumped significantly. The problem with this, is you are going to get what you pay for.

Keep in mind that the person you hire will be able to give you a references from brides and grooms that they have worked with. When asking to see work, ask to see all of it, not just their best shots. Don't be afraid to ask to see and entire wedding from start to finish and ask questions about those pictures. For instance, I'm not going to have 100% perfect shots all the time like we would all like to believe happens to us. But I want you to see these as well as the ones that you notice on our website. We shouldn't be opposed to this.

Also, if you are going to trust Uncle Harry or Cousin Carla just because they have a great camera, unless they have experience, you may be trusting those important memories to the wrong person. And the $250 photographer? Red eye looks great for Halloween, not in your wedding images.

I don't care if you choose someone else, I just want you to choose the right one. Pay a little extra and go for the person who knows what they are doing. Best wishes on your upcoming wedding to all the brides who read this!

Happy New Year!!!

I can't believe it's 2010! What happened to the first decade of the new millennium? 2009 was filled with it's ups and downs, but hopefully things will turn around in our little town and our country. My wish for 2010 is for everyone reading my blog to have a happy and prosperous new year!

Merry Christmas!!!

From all of us at Thompson's Photography, here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year!

An apology and a thank you...

First off, I would just like to say thank you to everyone for your support of Thompson's Photography over the last few years. You all have made my life more special by including me in all of your important moments. That is why I also have to apologize. Starting immediately, I will no longer be offering sports photography. This is due to the fact that I refuse to raise my prices to suit the recreation departments demands for kickbacks. My final decision was made today upon receiving a letter from the remaining county recreation department that I was still doing photography for. Because my bid was not in suit with their demands for kickbacks, I did not get the bid for the next two years. I love doing sports along with weddings and portraits. But I don't think that it is fair to raise my prices when parents are already paying more than enough to see their children play the sports they love. That is why I kept my prices low. To help the parents, not the county. I hope that those of you who have used me in the past understand this. And keep in mind that if you want me to do your teams pictures, I can still do them, but I won't be offering to do them on a regular basis.

We're on Facebook!!!

Become a fan of Thompson's Photography on Facebook! We would love to have you as a friend there, so you can keep up to date on us both here and on Facebook!

Venue to remember: Plantation at Sunnybrook

Like I said in my previous post, this is definitely an amazing place. The history alone makes the Plantation at Sunnybrook worth visiting, but do check their food as well. I can tell you from experience, scrumptious! They offer everything the discerning bride could want for her wedding, from stunning ceremony locations to the cake! Oh, the cake! Mouth watering and so beautiful! And the crew at the Plantation is so nice and gracious! Some of the most hospitable I've ever had the true honor of meeting. Next time you are in Roanoke, stop by. Follow this link to the Plantation!

The Wedding of Kylie and Richard...

Yesterday, I got to shoot Kylie and Richard's wedding. While I wasn't officially on the clock for this one, as this was a family wedding, I had an amazing time with two amazing people at an amazing place! The wedding and reception took place at the Plantation at Sunnybrook, a truly stunning location. The ceremony was an intimate affair with the closest of family and friends in attendance. Kylie's aunt Michele was the officiant and provided a beautiful and spiritual ceremony. Here are some of my favorite images from their wedding (I'm always shocked sometimes at the acrobatic positions some grooms will get into to avoid cake in the face). And please check out the Plantation's website, I'll post more on them tomorrow!

Josh's 1st Birthday shoot...

It's amazing to see kids grow before your eyes, and it's even harder to see them go from being held as a newborn, to walking in no time! I got to shoot Josh last week for his birthday and this little guy is so quick! I mean, you could have him sitting then he is chasing the cat in the blink of an eye! But what a doll and those eyes are just too beautiful!

Chris & Jennifer's engagement session...

I'm a few days late getting Chris and Jennifer's engagement session posted, so please forgive me. Between work, editing, and a sick family, life doesn't always go according to plan. But the plan for Chris and Jennifer is a wedding on 10-10-10! I had fun with these two last Tuesday at Dannely Park. And poor Chris, I know guys hate having pictures taken, and he was such a trooper! He even climbed up the kiddy play equipment repeatedly so I could get just the right shot! I hope you enjoy this preview...

Brittani's Senior Session...

This week I've been busy! Tuesday was an engagement shoot (I'll post those tomorrow) and today was Brittani's senior session. Racing against the sun, we got in some great shots before it got too late! And Brittani, a senior at Carroll County, was such fun, even after I had her wading into the New River with me! She is such an amazing young woman and I hope she had as fun a time as I did! Here's a preview of her session...