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WELCOME

It's been said that a picture is worth 1,000 words (or something like that). And it's true that the pictures speak for themselves.

And yet, sometimes I also want to talk about the story behind the photo. As a photographer, particularly as a wedding photographer, I get to visit unique places, witness intimate moments, and meet amazing people. This blog is my place to tell you about those adventures and (perhaps self-indulgently) express my ideas and feelings about the art and challenges of modern digital photography.

about me...

I've been taking pictures for over 15 years. My first love was film. But, a couple of years ago, I hung up my Leica and switched to digital (Nikon). I currently live and work in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area with my wife, two teenage children, and our dogs. (My wife took this photo of me at our favorite hang-out spot, Hyperion Espresso, in downtown Fredericksburg).

I hope you'll take a moment to scroll down and see what I've been up to recently!

Holiday Shopping? How about Art?

October 22, 2008 – 9:18 pm

Are you still looking for that perfect gift for a special someone this holiday season? Give up! You aren’t going to find it. But, if you head on over to www.aaronspicer.com and click on the “Client Proofing” section, you will find a whole bunch of neat photographs for sale. All you have to do is plop them into your “cart,” mouse on over to the checkout…and VOILA! Beautiful pieces of art show up at your house a few days later (ok..so maybe i left out a few steps in between …like the Elf who inspects each print by hand, or the big gas guzzling sled that carries them to your door, but you get the point). 

Keep checking back, because I’m going through the archives and reworking a lot of fine art prints that I’ve made over the years, and will post them as they come! 

If fine art isn’t your bag, maybe a loved one you know would like a custom portrait, or maybe you need a family shot for the holiday greeting card? Whatever your photographic need may be, act fast before you end up like my wife and I did last winter….standing on the side of the Target in Central Park at 1 a.m. in the rain, hoping that we could get ours hands on a Wii.

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Brent and Brianna

October 15, 2008 – 10:51 pm

 

Geoff, my second shooter, and I had the pleasure of heading down to Louisa, Va for Brent and Brianna’s wedding in late August. It was a gorgeous day, and the event was definitely indicative of their relationship. Brent and Brianna opted for a very simple ceremony, with their guests seated at tables under their tent in the middle of a field adjacent to their home (which they built together). During the middle of the ceremony the family dog wandered in to see what was going on, and decided to stay for the duration. After the ceremony, we got to trek (some of us got to ride, as you can see) all over their property and get some really unique shots together. Of course, it helped that Brent and Brianna were no strangers to the camera. We had met earlier in the summer at Maymont Park in Richmond, VA to take some engagement portraits. First of all, I can’t recommend Maymont enough. My family and I have been there a number of times, and we absolutely love it! I’ve shot engagement portraits there two or three times, and the possibilities are limitless!

More importantly, and I know I have said this before, but I can’t stress the importance of the engagement session enough. Brent and Brianna may have taken a while to loosen up to the camera while we were shooting engagement portraits, but when the wedding day came around, they were old pros! I will be the first to admit that being in front of the camera is a bit disarming. But after you’ve had the opportunity to work with a photographer once, you will find(I hope) that it is entirely painless, and even a bit fun!

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It’s Been a While.

October 13, 2008 – 8:40 pm

 

It’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been running around like a mad man, so I thought I would get up to speed with a few pictures from an August wedding. Yes, I know it’s October. It’s my goal to get back on track by the end of next week as far as the blog goes. These pictures are from the wedding of Patricia and Jonathan. They got married on a gorgeous private estate in Spotsylvania, VA. It was a small affair of about fifty people, but the setting made it very intimate and it was exactly what they wanted! As you can tell from the photos, this house was gorgeous! In fact, they are eventually planning on hosting events, and when they do, you will want to be first on their list! I’ll keep you updated when I hear that they are up and running. I’m always on the lookout for great venues in and around Fredericksburg, and this will definitely be on my list!

Needless to say, I was very busy during August, September and October (still going). I went all up and down (and across) Virginia, DC and Maryland for the past three months, and I can’t wait to share some great photos with you! If you are planning a wedding in 2009, make sure you visit my website and check availability, my 2009 is booking fast! Saturdays in May are completely booked, and June is well on its way! Keep coming back for more updates!

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Ransom of the Bride!

August 23, 2008 – 12:38 pm

 

One of the things that I love about being a wedding photographer is being able to learn about different cultures. Recently, I had the opportunity to shoot the wedding of Yuliya and Andrey, two Russian Americans. 

When Yuliya contacted me she told me that I would be shooting the Ransom of the Bride, a Russian tradition. She gave me a brief description over the phone, but I had no idea how fun this thing would end up being! All of Yuliya’s girlfriends met Andrey at the front door, led by Yuliya’s sister. The girls had a five page list of tasks that Andrey had to complete before he could see his bride. The tasks included forking over a whole lot of cash and strings of pearls to the ladies, a poetry reading, singing to the bride’s window, spelling “love” in quarters on the sidewalk, a bunch of carrots, and a “how well do you know your bride” quiz. To add insult to injury, when Andrey had completed all his tasks successfully he was met by his best friend dressed in a wedding gown instead of Yuliya (who was waiting patiently in the next room). The ceremony was lively and good natured, and in the end, I think having a good laugh really helped calm the nerves of everyone involved.

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Congratulations to Meredith & Dave!

August 17, 2008 – 6:18 pm

Ever meet a couple and immediately like them so much that you say to your wife (or girlfriend), “Let’s make friends with THEM”? That’s the kind of couple Meredith and Dave are - the kind you instantly like, admire, and want to hang out with. They are cool, accomplished-yet-humble, thoughtful, kind, intelligent, and (to top it off) adorable together. So it was a lot of fun to hang out with them last week for their engagement photo shoot in D.C.

We tromped around the Mall area, taking some photos in the gardens of the Smithsonian, on some marble steps (always plentiful in D.C.), posing with a giant triceratops skull, and well, just walking around. They were really good sports about a few things — like ants in the ivy I asked them to lean against (sorry Dave) and damp grass on the lawn where I asked them to sit (sorry again). The reward, as usual, came in the form of fun photographs that really captured the easy-going nature of these two world-traveling, D.C. natives.

 

 

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“Days of Wine and Roses”

August 11, 2008 – 10:40 am
at Ingleside Vineyards

at Ingleside Vineyards

Lisa and I recently visited Potomac Point Winery, a new vineyard in Stafford County. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and the weather just seemed to call for a drive and a leisurely wine tasting. Friends had been telling us about Potomac Point for some time, but this was the first time we’d gotten around to visiting. Man! It’s just absolutely picturesque. The vineyard owner, Skip, was onhand to give a tour. He and one of his docents, Jenn, explained how the land was found & cultivated, as well as how the fruit is processed into wine. More than that, they explained how the owners puposefully designed the winery with guest services in mind. And, believe me, you can tell. This may be one of the nicest places for an outdoor wedding in Stafford County. I can’t wait to shoot a wedding there!

I’m already a fan of shooting weddings at Ingleside Vineyards in Westmoreland County. (Incidentally, much of Potomac Point’s fruit comes from that area while they are waiting for their own newly planted vines to mature and produce). Ingleside has a lovely courtyard area with fountain and gorgeous scenery. It’s a charming winery that Lisa and I have also toured on more than one occasion.

If you’re planning an outdoor wedding in Virginia, I can’t recommend our area vineyards strongly enough. It’s easy to find a directory of wineries to choose from. Harvest time begins this month, probably this week. Wouldn’t it be fun to spend a late summer or early Autumn weekend visiting a half dozen vineyards as potential venues for your vows?

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Jump!

August 4, 2008 – 8:00 pm

This weekend I made a trip up to South Lyon, Michigan with my wife to take part in the wedding of Michael and Kasey. Expect a whole lot of pictures of this gorgeous event. It took place in the backyard of a wonderful lodge, complete with brick and stone patios, waterfalls and superb landscaping. Take a look at the grounds at River Birch Lodge in Hartland, MI, and see for yourself. I love the jump shot, and we snagged this one while the bride and groom were taking part in what was quite possibly the longest receiving line I have ever seen in my life. Check back in a few days for more pictures!

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Back in Black

July 30, 2008 – 7:38 pm

Lisa and I went down to Hyperion Espresso in Fredericksburg, Virginia last night to meet up with Geoff, my friend and second shooter. Being a perpetual gear fanatic like me, Geoff was eager to see my brand new Shootsac. I’ve only shot one wedding with it so far, but I am already in love. It gives me quick, easy access to all my important tools, it’s rather fashionable…..and most importantly, black! Ask any wedding photographer what they wear to weddings, and they will undoubtedly tell you “black on black” or some variation thereof. Why black you ask? Because we blend in, with the surroundings, with the wait staff, with the shadows! It’s especially handy when you have two photographers working…because really, you don’t want any pictures of Geoff or me popping up in your wedding album, trust me!

I had a wonderful July, and I am looking forward to all the things I have coming up in August and September. During August I will get to shoot at a gorgeous lodge in Michigan, document a Russian buy-out ceremony in Vienna, and party into the wee hours of the morning at a field party in Louisa, VA. I’ve got tons of engagement sessions lined up in-between, so look for regular blog posts in August. But wait…no one has booked you for August 16th, you say? That’s right, if someone doesn’t book me on August 16th, I might actually get a mini-vacation…and that’s not good for anybody’s health. So if you know someone in need of a last minute photographer, point them my way! As a last minute booking, I’m offering a 15% discount on any package for August 16th only. Act now before it’s gone (or before I’m forced to sit on my couch and watch “Platinum Weddings” all day long).

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Robin and Adrian

July 27, 2008 – 2:44 am

After traveling up and down the East Coast during July, I wrapped up the month at home in Fredericksburg, VA. Robin and Adrian were married at TJ’s Celebrations, which, I must admit, impressed me quite a bit. If you’ve ever driven up Route 1 out of Fredericksburg, you’ve no doubt seen TJ’s. It has a modest facade, but as soon as you set foot inside it is quite evident that the people running the show at Tj’s really take pride in their events. And that makes me happy.

Earlier today, I was asked what made being a photographer “worth it.” After some careful thought I realized that while I may not be saving the world, I am contributing to something that really means a lot to people…and that gives me purpose, which I think is important to have in a career. When I capture an image like the one above I know that ten years from now Robin and Adrian won’t remember that the DJ was an hour late, or the cake guy showed up just before the ceremony, they will remember that nothing mattered on their wedding day except their love for each other. They will remember that all their friends and family were there to share in their joy and be witness to the beginning of the rest of their lives. And in some odd way that gives me hope for myself, and for the rest of the world. And so in the end, it is the renewal of faith that makes being a photographer worth it to me, and it is my sincere hope that my work reflects that belief.

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Two Years!

July 23, 2008 – 4:44 am

Aaron Spicer Photography

On this day, two years ago, Lisa and I got married in Clifton, VA. Our wedding was beautiful, fun, and really reflected who we are as people. When I think back to our wedding day, I have no regrets, and truly remember it as one of the best days of my life. The ceremony was conducted by one of Lisa’s long time friends, Gerry Larkin, who is a Buddhist monk. Whenever people hear that, they immediately assume that we are buddhists. We are not. Though the ceremony was officiated by Gerry, there was also a poetry reading by my sister, and a passage from the Bible, read by my grandfather who is an Episcopalian minister. Our faith lies somewhere in the middle of all three of those (and yes, we consider poetry a faith–both being creative writing teachers at local high schools). I can’t believe that it has only been two years!

This may not be about my wedding photography, per se, but I wanted to take a moment to thank the real brains behind this operation, my wife, for being so understanding and supportive of my photography. It is not easy being married to a wedding photographer. We tend to be workaholics…. we are booked just about every Saturday, and spend all of Sunday recovering. We take our cameras….everywhere. We drag our spouses unwillingly into camera and electronics stores. We edit photos into the wee hours of the morning, and all too often, we expect our spouses to just “understand.”

Not only does Lisa understand my obsession, she supports it(proof postive, she just bought me a shootsac!). She is the brains and the backbone behind my web presence, my marketing, and my organization. She tells me when I have misspelled my own name, and she tells me when my blog posts sound like someone I’m not. I can’t thank her enough for all the time and effort she has put into helping me create my website and structure my business. To put it simply, I couldn’t have done it without her.

http://www.aaronspicer.com

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