The Fete Blog

Can I talk about how much I adore Jason and Tammy Keefer? Not only are they fun, beautiful, COOL people– their photographic style is one of a kind. We live in a town with a plethora of photographers, which is a great thing… but yes, the issue of style and diversity and standing out is admittedly a tough one when everyone wants to emulate that Jose Villa, medium format film style or that sharp, crisp digital style. Making a photograph stand out as undeniably you can be tough for any photographer at any skill level in the wedding industry. But Jason and Tammy… their photography is unapologetically unique and refreshing. Their perspective is sometimes dark, a bit more on the raw side, but always, without fail, jaw-dropping and beautiful.

I love this shot. It’s the Keefer take on the bridal portrait– a gorgeous woman, a white dress, a bouquet of flowers– and yet it’s not. The realness of the moment, the interesting patterns of light and texture of her surroundings, and the obscurity of who this bride really is just intrigues me. It’s an incredible photo and just the right way for me to kick off the week.

happy, happy monday.

First things first– I’m a meat-eater. So a photo like this, of delicious, locally-raised pork is divine! But there’s another reason I’m attracted to this shot from the inner workings of The Rock Barn by Andrea Hubbell: the cool, smooth colors. This shot is like a color dream come to life, perfectly balanced, textured, with the sausages popping off the black. I even love the grease and grime in the bottom of the shot– it adds depth! And with all the weird weather we’ve been having, a strong color story like this one is just right for another gray morning.

happy, happy monday.

Yes– I have baby fever. How could I not? All my friends are having beautiful babies, everyone on Facebook is having beautiful babies, and most of my favorite photographers are experts at the newborn baby photoshoot. Suffice it to say, sweet, rolly, fat, beautiful babies are high on my swoon list– which is why this darling, ultra-feminine newborn shoot by Randi Marie Photography is making my heart melt.

Baby girls should absolutely be celebrated with layers and layers of pink tulle! Great styling.

images by Randi Marie Photography | this darling shoot was submitted via Two Bright Lights!

Lately, I’ve been so attracted to movement in photos– from the most subtle blurs of a hand fidgeting or a hair flying out of place to the major motions of a person running through a frame or a couple passionately dancing. Maybe it’s my love of photojournalism, where everything is captured on the fly, with more of an “authentic,” in-the-moment look (versus traditional portrait or fine art photography– which, of course, I love too!), but the appearance of movement on film… it’s heavenly. This shot by Sarah Cramer makes all my movement dreams come true– this bride looks encased in white water, in snow, in froth, yet she never loses an ounce of elegance or striking beauty.

See more of Sarah’s photo loveliness on her blog or Facebook!

First things first– the title of this post is a reference to my favorite ee cummings poem, “i like my body when it is with your.” The final lines go: “And eyes big love-crumbs, | and possibly i like the thrill | of under me you so quite new.”

So. Love crumbs. An appropriate way to also describe the remnants of wedding cake– especially wedding cake by Maggie Austin. Even more especially wedding cake by Maggie Austin shot by Jen Fariello! This is a shot from Jen’s shoot with Jennifer Carroll for Jennifer’s debut magazine; it’s such a beautiful image, I want to have it framed (I really do love cake that much). Check out Jennifer’s magazine online, on your iPad, or in print– it’s a must-read!

Here’s hoping your week is off to a sweet start– and if you have an opportunity to eat some cake, make sure you enjoy it more than ever!

A silly little post for today’s personal Sunday…

My darling husband got it into his head that he wanted to grow out his beard. He tried for a few months last year and the resulting facial hair was fairly grand (I believe one catcall he received while running was something like, “That beard is f**king epic”. Oh my). When he shaved it off last June, he was immediately heartbroken. So, he decided he wanted to grow the beard out again– for a year.

The last day he shaved was our wedding day. Then, the razor disappeared– and his face slowly did too. Here, on our honeymoon about a week after our September wedding, he rocks a little scruff.

By late December, the Beard was three months old and looking fine! John was past the “itchy” phase and was feeling pretty good about keeping the beard going strong.

His facial hair was totally beloved– strangers would constantly compliment him, people knew him exclusively for his beard-growing abilities, and he was frequently asked if he was homeless. I often posted portraits of him on Tumblr (for my 365 Project) and any shot of the Beard received hundreds of reblogs, likes, and comments.

But John grew tired of the Beard– and as spring brought humidity, he was “over it.” He wrestled with the decision to shave it off for a week; surprisingly, I begged him not to shave it. The first time he grew out his beard, I totally hated it. I rarely saw him and when I did, he wasn’t that handsome man I fell in love with– he was a bearded hipster. But this time around, I loved it. I was all for the One Year Beard. The handsome man I married only lasted a few days; the Beard became all I knew of my husband. I spent so much time with the Beard, it became intertwined with John’s personality. But despite my protests, John was ready. He didn’t even care that he didn’t make it the full year.

A short stint with a buzzer and a razor… and the Beard was no more.

The man I married is back! It was surprisingly a challenge getting used to the transformation from Beard to Beardless. The first few days, we were both weirded out. He’s an identical twin (really, really identical) and every time I turned around, I swore he was his brother Sean. His face is so much smaller without the added inches of the Beard; it’s strange to see his jawline and his chin.

We both mourned the loss of the Beard. John was upset at me for half a second (“This happened under your watch!”) and when some friends gawked at the Beardless John, he had a moment of regret. But now that we’re used to his face again, life is back to normal.

I need to re-learn this Beardless John and link the face to his personality again, but after looking at images of my husband, Beard and Beardless, side by side, I remembered that gorgeous man I fell in love with and married. I’m so happy he can rock a hipster beard– being able to mix it up and not get bored with our looks is fun!– but I’m so happy to have my gallant husband back.

I’m so thrilled to showcase the personality and talent of such a fabulous lady– I’ve long felt like kindred spirits with Chicago-based photographer Cassandra Eldridge and to have the opportunity to showcase her style is a big honor! Between her charming photographic style, her genuine and heartfelt blog posts, and her artistic, yet elegant, lifestyle, she is a thrill to follow and a friend to cherish. She’s already captivated the hearts of brides across the Midwest (and Paris!)– world domination is sure to follow!

What first sparked your interest in photography? When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into making it your career?

Cassandra: My parents were always so encouraging. My mom would always tell me that I had a great eye, and I never really knew what that meant, but it made me want to keep a digital camera on me at all times (my first one was a little red Kodak point and shoot). About 10 years later, while I was living in Colorado, I was in such a strange spot of not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I knew that it had to be creative, and it wasn’t working the 9-5 that I currently had. That just wasn’t working for me.

Soon after this push and pull, my father fell ill with Stage 4 cancer, and this put everything in my entire life into perspective. I knew I had to take the leap, if not for me, then for him. He was an entrepenuer himself, and nothing gives me more pride than seeing how proud he is, and having the unwavering support from him and my mother. They made this all possible for me. I can’t say I would have done it without their encouragement. I just wasn’t brave enough.

What’s your favorite part of a wedding day?

Cassandra: That’s such a tough question. The story of a wedding day as a whole is such a magical thing, isn’t it? I would have to say either the first look (if they choose to take this route) or being at the reception; this is my answer for many of reasons.

One: you have peace of mind as the photographer. You know this is the last stop of the night. You didn’t get lost. Everyone you need is in one room. The bride and the groom are together. Solace. Two: so many magical candids happen during this time. The bride and groom are seeing people they haven’t seen in ages, they’re seeling people they love unconditionally, speeches are being made and people are crying. It’s just so lovely and vulnerable.  And the first dance / father-daughter dance? Don’t even get me started. I cry 99% of the time.

Nowadays, everyone is a “photographer” (thanks iPhones)– but what does being a professional look like behind-the-scenes? What does a typical work day look like for you?

Cassandra: Oh man. I will say that leaving my 9-5 some days has me scratching my head. “Why did you do that? You had it made! A set schedule, a steady paycheck, how heavenly.”– but the truth is, having your freedom is a beautiful thing, when you know how to balance it. It takes a while, but once you nail down a system that works for you, you quickly realize that you’re one of the lucky ones.

A typical day for me, should I have weddings and portrait sessions to edit would go a little something like this…

I wake up slow (I always need about an hour of quiet time– drinking some tea, eating a big breakfast, catching up on my favorite blogs) then I will work on my blog for the day, hoping to have this done by 11am or so. I’ll spend some time answering emails, and then I will take about a 2 hour break in the afternoon for some “me” time– playing with my puppy, taking an afternoon bath (hello induglence!), do some grocery shopping… then I will return home to do some editing. By 5 or 6, I try to wrap up for the day. If I finish early, I may look at that as a bonus, or I may draft up some blog posts for the week. See? It’s all about balance!  It’s a tiring job, and it takes a LOT of tedious time and discipline to ensure you get everything met on time, but it really is so worth it.

You’re very vocal about keeping balanced as a businesswoman and a creative– what are your top five comfort must-haves?

Cassandra:
- fresh flowers near my work space
- a hot bath when my shoulders and lower back begin to bother me from sitting in a chair all day
- some good music on the iPod dock
- my heated throw blanket (I am always cold!)
- some good snacks and fun flavored tea (I love working alongside wheat thins, coconut milk yogurt with berries + vanilla caramel tea)

Where do you turn for inspiration? Do you have any specific mentors or role models?

Cassandra: Other bloggers, absolutely. This is such an amazing industry of people willing to share their lives and muses, and I feel grateful to be a small part of it. Some of my favorite bloggers that always give me inspiration are Mikaela Ruth (a lovely Canadian wedding photographer with some of the sweetest passages); YOUR blog– you have such honesty with what you say and I’m always so excited to see what you’ll be talking about each day; a few other blogs– Cupcakes & Cashmere (her simplicity and care free way of life is a reminder that I often need), Bleubird (I adore her mothering ways, and she leaves me feeling so excited for my future)… I literally could go on and on here.

Pinterest is another way to connect with photographers who remind me of what’s important. Shooting beyond the subject and trying to capture that story and bring it to life. Sometimes we get in a creative rut, and it’s so nice to have a one stop shop that can provide us with some spark.

One of my favorite projects of yours is your Love Sparks series with your boyfriend Trent; what have you found to be the secret to a successful, healthy, and passionate relationship? What keeps the love going when life gets real (and hard)?

Cassandra: Thank you! We have so much fun with it. Of course there are days where we’re like “oh shoot… it’s Sunday!” and throw together a last minute photo, but no matter what, we remember the challenge at hand– and we love it.

We don’t have much of a secret really– we just both genuinly enjoy each other. We’re rarely serious, and I think that’s so important. Life itself can already be so intense, you know? Some of my favorite moments with him are when we’re doubled over from laughing so hard. Sometimes for so long that we forget what the culprit was! He’s just so fun… and I never doubt his love for me. He makes it apparent every single day through the smallest actions… but bringing home flowers and cute gifts never hurts either. He’s good at that too.

What is your dream creative project?

Cassandra: I would absolutely die if I ever got to shoot for Kinfolk or Hearth Magazine.  I don’t even know what else to say. That’s it, that’s my dream project. 100%.

You’re based in Chicago, one major city I don’t know much about– what are a few not-to-be-missed places you’d recommend to a friend visiting?

Cassandra: Well first I recommend that you come either in the spring or summer– dodge the winter! What they say are not myths. It can be quite bruital. Summer in Chicago is my favorite, and I highly recommend heading over to either Oak Street Beach or North Ave Beach to take in the sun, hit the little tiki bar for some mid-day cocktails and some snacks, play some beach volleyball.

For dinner, RPM is my all time new favorite Chicago spot.The food is absolutely outstanding. Lou Malnati’s beats Giordannos for me for Chicago Style Pizza, too.

Parooze around Water Tower Mall (it’s lovely), check out Top Shop (we’re one of only four locations!), head on over to the Hershey Chocolate store/museum, and go a little bit further south to see the Planetarium (I’m obsessed with planetariums) and/or the Shedd.

If you’re a sports fan, I highly recommend heading over to histroic Wrigleyville to watch the Cubbies. Head over to Bacci’s pizza for the biggest slice of pizza and a soda for only $4 (it’s so good!) or walk over to Cubbie Bear for live music and fun Chicago baseball fans. Oh, and you can NEVER go wrong by getting tickets to the Mad House to see the Bulls or Blackhawks play– those, are some of my all time favorite Chicago memories.

My perfect day is _____.

Cassandra: Waking up early, reading all of my favorite blogs before 10am, going out to breakfast, walking around in a maxi dress (which means the weather is lovley!) to do a little shopping, grabbing some lunch at an outdoor cafe, heading over to the beach to catch some vitamin D, coming home to cook a nice intimiate dinner, watch one of my favorite movies that I just can’t seem to get sick of, and end it all with a hot lavender bubble bath. Perfect day!

What’s next for you? What’s next for Cassandra Photo?

Cassandra: Ah, who knows!? That’s where the fun lies, right? The not knowing. I suppose I will continue to be obsessed with all of my clients and throw my heart and soul into capturing all of the magic that’s around me… and sharing it with all of you through my blog… and of course reaching for that aforementioned Dream Project. xx

Follow along with all of Cassandra’s adventures on her blog | on twitter! | on instagram | on pinterest | on Facebook | all images courtesy of or by Cassandra!

The days are getting longer, the nights are finally warm, and it feels like a whole new world! I’m already in the mood for summer nights– but the summer nights of college, where there was no class, no work, no commitments to wake up for. Just a glass of sweet white wine, a few friends, a backyard barbecue, short dresses, flip flops, and a warm breeze. I know, I know– there’s a long wait until then and in the meantime there’s springtime to enjoy. But I’m looking forward to having a few adventures these next few months…

This shot, from Eric Rudd Photography, captures this feeling– and what looks like a fabulously warm night out in Chicago– effortlessly. If you had this week off– no work, nowhere to be, and nothing to do– where would you go?

Rabbit Rabbit! Happy April! Fingers crossed, we can officially think of it as spring, without interruptions from nasty winter weather. I adore this happy little shot from Meredith McKee– the soft sunshine, the cheery heart path (someone who is planning on proposing, please surprise your partner with a little secret path like this one!), the fresh spring ground. Can’t you smell the season in the air?

Charlottesville photographer Jack Looney can only be described as beloved. The brides and grooms he photographs love him; the community of wedding professionals love him; his fellow photographers look to him as a mentor, role model, and friend. Jack steps into leadership roles with an effortlessness reserved for only the most humble, talented, and kind creatives. Teamwork, collaboration, and showcasing the talents of others are what Jack does best– besides, of course, creating photographs.

What first sparked your passion for photography?

Jack: I spent my early childhood living on an island off the coast of Georgia (St. Simons Island) and in Savannah, and was inspired by the live oaks, Spanish moss and history, not to mention the marshes and all that live in and around them.

Photography didn’t strike me on a serious level until I worked for United Airlines filling in at airports such as Chicago O’Hare, Portland Maine, Charlottesville, Charleston, SC, Allentown, Shenandoah Valley, and others. There was lots of downtime between flights, and there were wonderful things to photograph (jets, helicopters, big sky views/storms/sunrise/sunsets on the ramps, ramp high jinks, propellers and chrome, etc.). I love ‘behind the scenes’ access and all that comes with it. I spent a small fortune on film processing in my airline years. I’m quite certain I spent more at Stubblefield’s Photo Lab in Charlottesville than I spent on my college degree. Frank Crocker was a friend and fellow United employee (with United in Charlottesville), and we’d have informal photo contests while at work. We also took photo trips (first class for free, as an employee) to photogenic places like Zion National Park, and others. I never thought of myself as a wedding photographer early on, but once I shot one (as a favor to a friend) I was hooked!

What is your strongest personality trait and how does it positively influence your work?

Jack: I’d like to think that I engage and get along with people, and as a photographer, that makes me enjoy what I do, because if you listen well, sincerely care and are willing to adapt, then clients appreciate those traits. That’s just my opinion. Plus I work a bazillion hours to stay on top of things.

Photography is profession in which very subjective results are created, so you (as a photographer) really should listen to a client’s vision and preferences, AND be willing to do things in addition to your expectations, wedding check-list and comfort level for that matter. Plus, I believe that enthusiasm for your profession is pretty valuable. I’m lucky to have a job that I absolutely love.

What is one of your favorite images and why?

Jack: No favorites. You know, all images (in terms of weddings) are important, even if in a checklist sort of way. That said, I always hope to find (among my images after a wedding) that candid moment in which I’m amazed as a viewer. That keeps me going, I think. Sort of like a fisherman always thinking with the next cast he’ll catch THAT fish. I think that’s a photojournalist’s motivation. That moment when having great equipment (and knowledge of that equipment), enthusiasm, assertiveness, positioning, knowledge of settings for that lighting situation, and just plain luck will create a timeless shot. I love weddings, the documenting, creating, and all of the posed and family shots. Every bit of it. But I’m always hoping for some unexpected amazing highlight shots. Absolutely. And it doesn’t happen as often as you’d think.

What is your favorite part of a wedding day?

Jack: It’s all fun with weddings. I guess the time I’m allowed to be alone with the couple is my favorite. That’s my best chance to get the shots the couple will really cherish.

What is your dream project to shoot?

Jack:  Nothing comes to mind, but I get particularly excited by collaborative projects, whether music, music video, weddings, weddings as 2nd shooter, weddings for friends, documentary projects, insect and reptile projects, etc. Documentary projects for organizations such as The Nature Conservancy or Southern Environmental Law Center excite me. Going out on the road on occasion for musical artists does too. Meaningful pro-bono projects are aplenty here in our area, and I try to be available for as many of them as I can! I also really enjoy working with local musicians. I have to be careful about what it is I dream about, since I try not to travel much anymore, having young kids and all…

My perfect day is spent _____.

Jack: We’re in the process of booking a lakehouse for a week this summer, and I’m really excited about days on or around the dock fishing, swimming, canoeing and grilling with the kids and Ryan (my wife).

You’re such a leader and mentor in the Charlottesville photography scene– who are your mentors? Who and what do you look to for inspiration?

Jack: I don’t really have a traditional mentor, although I draw inspiration and advice from all sorts of folks around here, and my parents and in-laws are wonderful people and advisors. And my wife is someone I respect immensely and rely on a lot. I’m very fortunate.

Dan Addison, UVa’s photographer, was sort of a photo-mentor early on in the process. To this day, we bounce lots of ideas off one another. And Jim Hall and I share lots of ideas. He moved, unfortunately, to San Francisco long ago. But our careers are in parallel in many ways, and he’s a guy I really connect with. Oh, and my Dad’s a nature photographer, and has been really supportive over the years. And we’re able to share lots through photography, which is really nice. I admire so many people in and orbiting around the photography community here, and feel a tremendous amount of support within the community. It’s great considering my profession is sort of a solitary one, traditionally.

What’s next for you? What’s next for Jack Looney Photography?

Jack: I just love being a part of the scene here in Charlottesville. Every day brings a chance for a fun, new project, collaboration or event. And weddings every weekend!

Follow along with Jack on his blog, Twitter, and Facebook! All images by or courtesy of Jack Looney.