So while I love having two separate sites to showcase my portrait work versus my wedding work keeping up with two blogs is pretty much impossible for me.  One always suffers.  I think that if you read my blog and enjoy my work you want to see all of it in once place so I'm combining the blogs from melissaarlena and from sweetsimplicityweddings into one blog.  I will still keep the websites separate because I don't want to mix the wedding information with the portrait information, I think it becomes too jumbled.

Along with... Read more..]]> So while I love having two separate sites to showcase my portrait work versus my wedding work keeping up with two blogs is pretty much impossible for me.  One always suffers.  I think that if you read my blog and enjoy my work you want to see all of it in once place so I’m combining the blogs from melissaarlena and from sweetsimplicityweddings into one blog.  I will still keep the websites separate because I don’t want to mix the wedding information with the portrait information, I think it becomes too jumbled.

Along with the combination of the blogs I thought this would be a good time to just talk about my photography business and hopefully answer any questions you might have.  I think I will go oldschool here and pull out my elementary school five W questions.

Who and What:  So who is Melissa Arlena Photography and Sweet Simplicity Weddings and why the two different names? 

Melissa Arlena Photography is the portrait side of my business and I, Melissa Arlena Jeffcoat, am the only shooter for this brand.  All sessions for Melissa Arlena Photography are done on location at your home or at your favorite local spot.  I photograph kids, pets, families, Seniors, maternity and newborns.  I also photograph singles for dating website photographs through Accuphoto.   If you need headshots or marketing photographs please feel free to contact me and we can put together a custom package for your needs. 

Sweet Simplicity Weddings is the wedding side of my business and while I am the primary shooter for this brand I also feature several associate shooters that photograph alongside me.  I like to find associate photographers that complement my style so we work well together.  We include engagement sessions with all our packages so we can get to know the Bride and Groom before the wedding day!  The more weddings we photograph the more I find I really love it, the emotion of the day and all the beautiful details keep me in photographers paradise  

Where:  I’m based out of the Stafford and Fredericksburg, Virginia area but I have no problems traveling to other locations in Virginia.  I’ve lived all over Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Burke and Springfield and I love to travel towards Southern Virginia and along the Shenandoah Mountains areas.  My grandparents live in Lexington so I would be happy to have an excuse to come visit them if you would like portraits or are having a wedding in that area.   

When:  I try to schedule portrait sessions for times I know there will be good light, this is usually very early in the morning or about an hour before sunset.  The reason being the sunlight at that time is what is referred to as golden light.  Golden light is soft and easy on the eyes which means no squinting or raccoon eye shadows.  We typically schedule portraits for weekday evenings and on weekends when we do not have a wedding booked.  Weddings are booked on weekends usually but if you are having a midweek wedding please contact us also!

Why:  So why photography?  From the first time I was in a darkroom and I watched the image appear on the paper in the developer I was hooked.  Even today it is like magic to me to watch it come up.  )Tearjerker portion of this post ahead!)  More then that the importance of photographs was made abundantly clear to me when I photographed a friends newborn baby girl about 7 years ago.  It was for a project for my Photo 101 class and I took photos of the newborn with her paternal grandmother, I was contrasting old and new.  I was focused on my project so I didn’t take the normal additional photos I usually would have of other friends and family with the baby.  I did not take photos of the maternal grandfather holding his first granddaughter and when he died unexpectedly later that month it was discovered that no one had taken a picture of them.  I’ve heard stories from wedding photographers that happened to get the last photo of a dear relative at a wedding and were thankful to be able to provide the family with that last photograph.  Also there is a wonderful organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) that photographs babies that aren’t going home from the hospital.  This is a free service they provide and photographers can sign up with the charity to donate time and services.   So that is where the importance of photography has made a home in my heart.   

On  lighter note I just love capturing a moment in time, something that 50 years from now someone else can look at.  I love to photograph people laughing because I think that is when you are at your most natural.  As for weddings the why is the moment a father sees his daughter as a bride for the first time or the moment a mother pins a boutonniere on her son.  Add in the fabulous dress, beautiful bride and awesome details and it is paradise to me!

 So there you have it a little more information about the photography you will find when you hire us!

Fredericksburg, Stafford and Northern Virginia Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Don’t forget to check out our Wedding and Portrait Portfolios at the links below

Visit our Portrait site!

Visit our Wedding site!

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Last summer when I was shopping around for a blog for my photography site I noticed a lot of photographers had these blogs with big pictures displayed on them.  I loved it!  We are photographers, the purpose of our blog is to show off our work and who wants to show off tiny photos.  So I started poking around with my little friend Google to learn more about these types of blogs and most photographers I saw had custom blogs that cost hundreds of dollars to design.  Being this was my first blog I wasn't feeling the price tag of a custom blog especially since I... Read more..]]> Last summer when I was shopping around for a blog for my photography site I noticed a lot of photographers had these blogs with big pictures displayed on them.  I loved it!  We are photographers, the purpose of our blog is to show off our work and who wants to show off tiny photos.  So I started poking around with my little friend Google to learn more about these types of blogs and most photographers I saw had custom blogs that cost hundreds of dollars to design.  Being this was my first blog I wasn’t feeling the price tag of a custom blog especially since I like to change my mind on design and layout.  I wanted something I could customize and play with and not have to learn code to write.  Then I came across Jared’s website http://www.prophotoblogs.com/ for ProPhoto Blogs and he had big photos on the blogs and a slideshow header!!!  Oh and his price didn’t make me want to throw my keyboard   So I purchased his theme and followed the directions and soon was all setup with a fabulous new blog.

About a month ago I had a question about something I wanted to do with my blog so I headed over to Jared’s site and low and behold he had updated his blog theme and there was so much more you could do with it!  I didn’t hesitate to upgrade right then and there.  I love my blog so much and all the customization options, that I’ve decided to move all my client information from my website here to my blog.  I now will be using my website exclusively to display my portfolio and client galleries.  The rest of the information can be found on my blog.  So as you keep checking my latest blog posts check out the link up top labeled Clients and you will see pages for all the information you will need for your next session.  As soon as I finish getting those pages complete with images and information I will post a new entry to show off those new pages.

Onto the discount part, because I love my blog so much I contacted Jared to find out if he would offer a discount code to my blog friends so they too can have their very own ProPhoto Blog!  He happily obliged with a coupon code just for Melissa Arlena Photography readers.

MARLENA535

This will give you a $10 discount on your new blog theme.  So now you can have a snazzy new blog and you can take your $10 to Starbucks for a fancy cup of joe!

Check out the video for ProPhoto below:

http://www.prophotoblogs.com/overview/

 Pro Photo Blog Theme Discount Code

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I am so behind the curve on everything right now so here I am posting about Learnfest almost two months after I went! 

I have found that when you are passionate about something you want to learn as much as possible about it.  This has always been true for me when it comes to photography.  I've continually taken classes at my local college just to keep pushing myself to learn more and to really focus on my art.  Then I discovered the wonderful world of workshops!  O... Read more..]]> I am so behind the curve on everything right now so here I am posting about Learnfest almost two months after I went! 

I have found that when you are passionate about something you want to learn as much as possible about it.  This has always been true for me when it comes to photography.  I’ve continually taken classes at my local college just to keep pushing myself to learn more and to really focus on my art.  Then I discovered the wonderful world of workshops!  Oh there are so many and I wish I could go to them all and just soak up everything.  I knew that this year I wanted to attend at least one business oriented workshop and one artistic workshop.  For the business side it was a toss up between The Secret Workshop and The Learnfest.  After reading a fabulous review from Jessica Grieves of Hey Girl Nice Shot of both workshops I was sold on The Learnfest.  (Ironically a bunch of other photogs at the workshop heard about Learnfest from her blog also, Jessica maybe you should get a commission   So I watched the clock on registration day and 45 min after it opened I panicked because I was late.  I jumped on signed up and lucked out because it sold out in a matter of hours!!! 

So fast forward to the first week of April and I was headed to Atlanta for my workshop.  Now this workshop is put on by 4 amazing ladies.  I knew about Lena Hyde from the wonderful Design Aglow site where I drool over all the awesome products.  I heard about Laura Novak with her Strategy Avenue dvd’s to help get your business plan together (thank you Laura for helping me get my butt in gear and get my business plan out of my head).  Audrey Woulard was this amazing childrens photographer that I kept hearing about on different forums.  The only one I was not so familiar with was Tamara Lackey.  Of course the photographer I knew the least about I got the most from!!!  Tamara may have saved my sanity and my marriage   Seriously though she helped us all get our time back and get off the computer and back to the land of the living.  That alone was worth the price of the workshop for me. 

I learned so many amazing things from each of these fantastic women that I feel like I’m still trying to soak it all in 7 weeks later.   If you are a photographer and are looking for a workshop to attend this year or next you have to put The Learnfest at the top of your list.  Beyond the instructors I met so many amazing photographers from around the world.  I wish we had 3 more days to talk to each other and learn because in the short trips to and from the airport I learned so much.  Now I have a great group to bounce ideas off of and to help me with any issues I’m having.  I love seeing what they are up to also on their blogs!  I really cannot recommend Learnfest enough.  During the workshop we got to do shoots with Tamara and Audrey on kids around the Chateau Elan.  Below are a few of my favorites.  FYI: Tamara and Audrey were great about telling us what they were shooting on and why and giving us tips to make the best out of any situation.

The second workshop I’m doing this year is by a great urban photographer Brianna Graham.  This will be a more artistic workshop held in DC this weekend.  I’m really excited to try out my new 70-200 2.8 lens!!!  Although my arms may be tired from lifting it all day

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Who would have thought that building a business and a web site would be similar to planning a wedding!  This time last year I was obsessing over the colors for our wedding, which incidentally were pink and brown.  To be honest I've never been much of a pink girl but suddenly last year I became obsessed with pink.  Maybe it is that whole redheads shouldn't wear pink thing so it is making me want pink more and more.  Anyway pink and brown is pretty normal for wedding colors, it didn't take me long to find lots of stuff with pink and brown.

I recently had the chance to think about how referrals affect my decisions to use certain small businesses. What I mean is that there is nothing worse then needing a plumber for instance and having to open the phone book and play the close your eyes and point game. With my luck I end up with the plumber who could care less that I have zero hot water and really really need a shower. What I want is someone to say to me "hey I know a great plumber, call Joe from XYZ Plumbing. He was great and got us fixed up right away." That my friends is a referral and you ca... Read more..]]> I recently had the chance to think about how referrals affect my decisions to use certain small businesses. What I mean is that there is nothing worse then needing a plumber for instance and having to open the phone book and play the close your eyes and point game. With my luck I end up with the plumber who could care less that I have zero hot water and really really need a shower. What I want is someone to say to me “hey I know a great plumber, call Joe from XYZ Plumbing. He was great and got us fixed up right away.” That my friends is a referral and you can bet I’m calling Joe!

Recently my husband and I were discussing some work we need done to our home and we both agreed that we really wanted to find a local small business to hire vs. a big box store. Without having referrals from anyone we were forced to use the good old yellow pages and point. So now I’m going to make it a point on my blog to do a little pay it forward to the small businesses that are local to me that I use so I might save someone else from having to hire blindly from the phone book!

So while this is not entirely photography related I hope to help my wonderful clients out by pointing them in the direction of other small businesses that offer excellent customer service and a great product. If you use one of these great small businesses please tell them that Melissa Arlena Photography sent you there!

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