Is it weird that I tend to get a little extra nervous for a shoot when I know it’s going to be awesome?! Driving up the hill to Swannanoa, I had butterflies in my stomach and I felt all jittery up until we got started shooting! I knew this place was going to be so beautiful and so fairytale-esque. It’s a PALACE! In Virginia!! What could be more dreamy?! There’s even a little cottage that looks like Cinderella could have lived there… right next to a huge tower that could have housed Rapunzel! I’m not even kidding. This place is unreal! It was so awesome meeting Jennifer and Hugh here for their one year anniversary photos. They got married here at the palace (casual) and it was the perfect place to return to and capture them one year later. There is something so sweet about anniversary sessions. The love I capture at these shoots is a little different than the love I see at engagement sessions… there’s something “worn in” about the way couples interact with each other, joke with each other, and walk side by side. Like they’re fitting comfortably into an old sweater that is just as cozy and warm even though it might have been through a lot. I LOVED spending the evening with these two laughing with them and comparing Hugh’s silliness to Justin’s when he gets in front of the camera. It was hilarious!! Even though a massive thunderstorm rolled through at the very end of the shoot, we still got so many photos! I hope you two treasure these for years and years to come… :)
This was in front of “Cinderella’s Cottage!”
Annnnd there it is!! Ahhh! Talk about a dream wedding venue! :)
The light. Inside. These archways.
Favorite!!
And then it was off to Rapunzel’s Tower! What a dream fairytale shoot!!
Oh my goodness! I love these photos! I have always wanted to a do session there. Great job!
And Jennifer, you look amazing!
Thanks Kristina! It definitely was such a dream location for a shoot! I’m glad I got the chance to do their anniversary photos in the same place they got married, too :)