Engagement Session at Belle Isle & Legend Brewing Co. in Richmond VA | Sarah Kane Photography

After a long two weeks of winter (oh my friends up north are scowling at me right now) it was nice to get out and hike through the beautiful trails at Belle Isle in the great RVA! Perfect place for an engagement session! With the wacky weather Richmond had been having I wasn't sure if Allison & Dave's engagement session was going to happen or not. Both fingers were crossed for nice weather because these two love birds were traveling South from the DC area, so bad weather wasn't an optoin. We really didn't have time for Mother Nature's reindeer games.

It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day and I was so happy to finally meet Allison & Dave in person!  Since they were not living in Richmond we had only corresponded through email,  it was so nice to put faces to names.  All of my wedding experiences include an engagement session because I could not imagine meeting a couple for the first time at their wedding!! I had an amazing time getting to know Allison & Dave.  They are such a sweet couple! We started off at the river hoping to get some nice shots along the rocks, but the river was not in the mood. With all of the snow melting the river was so high and in such a rage that you couldn't even see any of the rocks!  Even if you could there was no way I was heading out there or letting Allison or Dave head out there to be swept away!  Not to fear though there are plenty of other absolutely a-mazing backdrops throughout the park!

The first thing you see before even entering the park is the Pedestrian Bridge that crosses over the river. It is so massive and is suspended by wires.  It's likely a civil engineer's dream bridge and it just so  happens that Dave is an engineer and was impressed by the bridge! This was their first time at Belle Isle, it's always fun to experience the park with newbies!  After we made our way around the trails Allison & Dave did a quick wardrobe change into their running clothes.  They met in college on the track team, so I thought it was very cool that they chose to incorporate their love of running into their session!

Last and possibly best stop of the day was Legend Brewing Co. in Richmond. Another thing Allison & Dave like to do is visit breweries and Legend in the perfect place to bring someone visiting Richmond.  They have a great deck that overlooks the city, not to mention the ridiculous amounts of award winning micro brews and delicious food!! Richmonders, if you haven't been to Legend Brewing Co.  you must go there!! The manager & staff at Legends was so welcoming and accommodating to us!  Jason, the manager on duty, was beyond nice and even let us into the brewery! It was the perfect end to the perfect day!  Once I packed up my gear I left Allison & Dave to enjoy more beer and a fabulous lunch without me hanging around like the paparazzi!  I'm so excited for Allison & Dave's wedding this fall. I know it's going to be spectacular! 

That bridge is a-mazing!! 

Now let's go have some micro brews!

How cool is this? We got to go into the brewery!! 

Huge thank you to Legend Brewing Co. for welcoming us and being so cool!!

Sarah Kane Photography | Trash the Dress Bridal Portriats at Belle Isle in Richmond VA

This has got to be the most fun I've had on a bridal session to date. When Jessie approached me about doing bridal portraits at Belle Isle in Richmond I was all for it. When she mentioned she would be "trashing" her dress, well that took things to a whole new level and I was beyond elated!! I've always wanted to photograph a trash the dress session, but not many brides are willing to do this. Especially if their dress was muy expensivo! What makes this story even better is that when Jessie and her husband got married they weren't able to hire a professional photographer and Jessie did not have any high quality pictures from her wedding and certainly non of her in her dress. Knowing this made the experience even more special for me. 

These are the non-professional pictures from Jessie's actual wedding.  Doesn't matter who takes a picture of Jessie or with what equiptment she is always stunning, but I'll let you decide if there's a difference between professional and non-professional pictures ;)

First let me start by saying not all trash the dress sessions really have to completely "trash the dress" (although Jessie did). A bridal session after the wedding when you are not as concerned about getting a speck of dirt on your dress (that you will never wear again and will likely be preserved only to be stored away forever) is perfect for getting unique artistic pictures. Plus you get to put on your dress again! Some brides do it right way and others wait a few years. As long as you can get in your dress it's never too late :)

Belle Isle is so beautiful in the fall and Jessie looked absolutely stunning! So many of her images look like she could be on the cover of a high-fashion bridal magazine! Jessie's not your average girly girl though. She is a down-to-earth nature loving tom boy and I loved that she chose to wear her cowgirl boots with her dress!

Everything was perfect. We wandered all throughout the park and took a variety of very diverse pictures.  I was completely in the zone and could have stayed there day. At the very end of the session we made our way to the rocks along the James River where, despite the freezing cold temperatures, Jessie got right into the water with her dress on (hence the reason it was trashed). Up until that point there was not a scratch on it just a little bit of dirt. I'm so glad I got to help Jessie out and give her the pictures she never got from her wedding day. We not only created beautiful images that day, but many amazing memories!

Look at this girl! How did she even get up there? Love it!

Here are a grouping of some of my favorites! You wouldn't believe how long it took to get that one in the middle right. Oh how I wish I saved the bloopers!

I love the light coming in on her face!

Some more of my favorites. Look at the color variation in the trees! So cool!

And now...

Just a teeny bit cold.

Jessie with her game face on. Can't even tell her feet are frozen blocks of ice.

Richmond Family Photographer Sarah Kane | Family Portraits at Belle Isle in Richmond VA

Sarah Kane Photography

Another favorite location in Richmond for family portraits is right along the James River at Belle Isle. This park is so beautiful in the fall! It has so many different backdrops to choose from. Whether you are jumping rocks along the river, set in a tall field of grass, strolling through the paths, admiring the cityscape from the Pedestrian Bridge (or even from the river) or exploring the ruins of buildings left behind, this park has so much to offer!  Not only is Belle Isle a great choice for a portrait session, but Brown's Island is right there too and is another great spot for a portrait session!

The Pedestrian Bridge, also known as the Suspension Bridge, is so magnificent! When I take my boys there we like to pretend that the bridge is a path that leads to a secrete portal that takes you to Narnia! When you get to the end of the bridge there is an industrial walkway that really does feel like you are heading into another dimension (that is if you haven't lost your imagination). It leads you straight to a massive opening which once served as a prison for Union soldiers during the American Civil War.  We then explore all of the "secret paths" in this strange land until we head back through the portal to our home land! I have so much fun with my own family at this park.

Speaking of fun families I'd like to introduce you to the Richards family! A very easy going family who loves the water.  Little Dean captured my heart with his calm demeanor and sparkling blue eyes! Mom and Dad helped me out and knew exactly how to get him to smile! Oh and what a smile it was! All it took was a toss in the air from Daddy or a squeeze from Mommy! Don't worry Dean, I don't take it personally that you wouldn't smile for me. I'm not really all that funny.

Well, I hope you enjoy meeting this family as much as I did! Wishing the Richards family much love and happiness  in 2015!