Jessica Riehl Photography Blog » Travel Sessions

{Jess and Hawley}

Jessica — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:27:40 +0000

I am really excited to be photographing the wedding of Jess and Hawley. I flew to Snowmass, Co a month ago to photograph their engagement session! I know I am way behind. It was amazing, we drove all over Snowmass and Aspen, photographing any where and every where. There are so many photos to choose from since we spent 2 1/2 days together. Jess and Hawley were amazing to photograph, they were always ready for the next thing and didn’t get tired of being in front of the camera. A photographer’s dream.

These photographs will be extra special because I am designing a guest book with them for their wedding. The uber romantic part…I get to use the journals Hawley kept once he decided he loved Jess and wanted to marry her. Swoon! It is a rare gift to be able to photograph a love and then read about how it came to be. I will post the book design once we are done with it.

Enjoy,

Jess

{The R. Family}

Jessica — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:46:08 +0000

What better way to start a trip to NYC than at Grand Central Station with my fab clients Missy and Paul? I met Missy and Paul two years ago when they vacationed with their extended family here in Virginia Beach. It was the windiest day I have ever spent at the beach…we never actually made it to the beach. When I knew I was going to NYC, I gave Missy and Paul a call to see if they would like to meet me in the city…they live just outside the city. Missy said she was actually getting ready to call me, because the next weekend they were coming to Va Beach. Our noses must have been itching, since we were thinking about each other.

Their session was just plain awesome. From Grand Central we headed down 5th Avenue just taking in all the sites. It was an especially cool experience for me, since Paul knows so much about the actual buildings. Their kids were wonderful and indulged me in all my impulses. Although they were none to happy when we skipped the zoo in Central Park. They were not having any of it. Terrible photographer…skipping all the fun stuff!

Missy and Paul…thank you for an awesome day taking in the sites! Until we meet again…

Cheers,

Jessica

{Adrian and Christina}

Jessica — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:30:34 +0000

I am so behind in my blogging! So now it is my sworn duty to catch up. I am trying out a new slideshow format, so you have to let me know if you like it or not. It’s a little crazy, but very cool at the same time.

This was an amazing session. Adrian and Christina flew me up to New York City to photograph their engagement session and their engagement party. We were lucky enough to be able to shoot in the Metropolitan Opera House, since Christina works special events for the Met. We had the entire lobby to ourselves and I have to say, what a perfect match! My favorite part of the session was watching them dance on the balcony…there was a crowd down below waiting for the open air HD projection to start up. I just know everyone was dying to know who this amazingly special couple was and what they were celebrating. On Sunday, Adrian and Christina had a special ceremony to give thanks for their relationship and bless their engagement. It was so simple and beautiful…I loved it.

Adrian is a dear friend and it was such an honor to be asked to be a part of his family for the weekend to experience all of this with them. As I was standing in the church listening I got all teary eyed because I have been able to experience so many amazing and intimate moments in my friend’s lives…through the camera. For me, this makes my experiences all the richer and deeper. Watching Adrian and Christina stand together in the church was one of those moments that takes my breath away. It makes me thankful for this life, all I have experienced with my friends and all the experiences we have yet to enjoy together.

I am so happy you found each other and may you have the most amazing life filled with peace, love, light and joy.

Simply,

Jess

P.S. I apologize to those of you, who like me, like to have things centered and lined up. I don’t know how to get my video centered! Working on it!

{4th Of July}

Jessica — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:51:06 +0000

I know. I am way behind on posting. Way behind. Well, today I am starting to catch up. Trying .

These are some photographs of my weekend with my cousins down at Lake Gaston. I love being able to go down to Gaston, kick off my shoes, change into my swimsuit, grab a drink and not change a thing for the rest of the weekend. We had a wonderful time…fishing, tubing, playing volleyball, and just hanging out. We also had our own version of the show wipeout, those photos are at the end of the slideshow. Sean my youngest cousin also gave me a demonstration on how you make a burp, which I find hilarious. He was truly proud of his burp, as you will see.

Enjoy and I hope everyone had as much fun with their families as I had with mine!

Cheers,

Jess

A reminder on the slide show, just click on the image just above the thumbnails. The right side will advance forward and the left side will go to the previous photo.

My Favorite…fishing is lonely business.

Here a SimpleViewer Flash gallery should be displayed. Click here to open the post in your browser to see the gallery.

{The View From Above}

Jessica — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:05:10 +0000

Oh, about a month and a half ago, my friend Rich contacted me to do some portraits for his dad. He had just retired from the Navy and felt it was time to update the photographs in the frames. I would agree, since Rich almost never gets his photo taken! Boy, was I in for a treat when Rich and I started talking about what we would do for his photographs. He is an avid private pilot and loves old war planes. So, we headed out the the Military Aviation Museum where I received the most through lesson in the history of avaition…ever. Rich should definitely teach this stuff!

Part two of our session was heading up into the skies so I could see why Rich has fallen in love with flying. Well, I think I may be in love also. We started off at the Chesapeake Airport, headed out to the beach past Sandbridge and Knots Island, down the coast for a bit, over the Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond, then back to the Suffolk Airport for a quick cup of coffee for me and breakfast for Rich. After our cup of joe, we left Suffolk and headed back to the Chesapeake Airport. We were up in the air from about 6:45 to about 9:30 am and flew at about 2,000 feet. What a fantastic photography session!!!!

Rich…thank you for your service and a wonderful trip into the skies.

Cheers,

Jessica

*A note about the new slideshow feature…just hover your mouse over the right hand side and you’ll see an arrow. Just click and you can advance through the photos.

Here a SimpleViewer Flash gallery should be displayed. Click here to open the post in your browser to see the gallery.

{Megan + Eric}

Jessica — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:22:14 +0000

What to say? I am overwhelmed with things to say about Megan and Eric who were married this past weekend in Tahoe. Megan and I met for the second time when she reported onboard my second ship the USS Mt. Whiteny. She was three years behind me at Oregon State, but we didn’t really know each other. She definitely knew who I was, because Jim and I got in trouble for dating , yes, I know! Ask me the story and I will tell you sometime. We soon became fast friends, spent a lot of time together, and found we were kindred spirits. We’ve grown so close over the last six years as she went to San Diego for her second tour, then to Rhode Island and her temp duty to Iraq. Thank goodness for unlimited long distance.

She and Eric started dating in San Diego about four years ago and I don’t know how she would have made it through her stint in Iraq with out him. I was finally able to meet Eric in Newport, Rhode Island. He took a sabatical from his job to be with her until her time in the Navy was over. I can’t tell you how happy I was to meet Eric and know that he really is the one for her. They are perfect together and if they can make it through the last several years, they can make it through anything.

Looking back through the thousands of images from this past weekend, I am struck by what a beautiful spirit Megan is and how much Eric enhances her glow. Friends from all over the country and even from Japan came to celebrate their wedding and all helped to bring it together. The list of credits for this heart felt event was quite long and includes only family and friends.

I was doubly honored by being asked to photograph the event and be a bridesmaid as well! It made things a little tricky at times, but with the help of Gazelle and Amber, we did an amazing job…if I may say so myself! Once I get caught up, I will post a slideshow of images from the wedding and the rest of the weekend’s events.

Megan and Eric, I wish you…everything…light, love, peace, happiness, beauty, friendship, family…

Love,

Jess

{Holding On}

Jessica — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:14:35 +0000

{Rain In Portland…no!!!}

Jessica — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:22:15 +0000

Yes, would you have guessed that this Portland, Oregon session was ruled by the rain? No, of course not! But, yes, there was possible sunshine on one Sunday a couple of weeks ago and well, we made it. And, we didn’t melt either.

Mia has the most gorgeous hair in the world. I just love it and I think it fits her personality, funky and full of life. I am not sure what she thought about me, though. She kept checking me out waiting to pass judgement on whether I was going to be a friend or not. I think I passed. We’ll see if she wants me to come back anytime soon.

Here’s to rain and the best cheese face. Please don’t tell your kids to say “cheese” until I am done with them, ok?! This was near the end of the session, so that’s ok and I love it.

Cheers,

Jessica

My personal favorite.

Best Cheese Face Ever...

Just because you aren't ready for a family photo, doesn't mean I am not going to take one!