• Abby Grace brand portraits. Because trust me- the world doesn't need more photographs of you smiling at a laptop.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 😬 💻 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In writing the copy for the new branding portion of my website we're working on, I wrote ^that line^, and my palms began to sweat a little bit. Is that too direct? Should I soften it a bit?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I decided to just let it sit as it is, because I really do believe it's true! When it comes to brand portraits, I'm looking to create a collection of photographs that powerfully tell the story of what your business offers, how you offer it, WHY you offer it, who it serves, who YOU are as a business owner. Photographs, in short, that help you stand head and shoulders above the rest. Photographs that DON'T look like what everyone else has, because your BUSINESS doesn't look like everyone else's! And because I don't shoot them like anyone else! What you do as a creative small business owner is SO MUCH MORE than you just sitting behind your laptop. Don't you think your brand portraits should reflect that?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💪🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Shot for @ashlynscarter, copywriter for creatives, elegant Southerner, fellow French 75 lover. #abbygracebrandportraits
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    Abby Grace brand portraits. Because trust me- the world doesn't need more photographs of you smiling at a laptop.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 😬 💻 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In writing the copy for the new branding portion of my website we're working on, I wrote ^that line^, and my palms began to sweat a little bit. Is that too direct? Should I soften it a bit?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I decided to just let it sit as it is, because I really do believe it's true! When it comes to brand portraits, I'm looking to create a collection of photographs that powerfully tell the story of what your business offers, how you offer it, WHY you offer it, who it serves, who YOU are as a business owner. Photographs, in short, that help you stand head and shoulders above the rest. Photographs that DON'T look like what everyone else has, because your BUSINESS doesn't look like everyone else's! And because I don't shoot them like anyone else! What you do as a creative small business owner is SO MUCH MORE than you just sitting behind your laptop. Don't you think your brand portraits should reflect that?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💪🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Shot for @ashlynscarter, copywriter for creatives, elegant Southerner, fellow French 75 lover. #abbygracebrandportraits
  • Our desire is that our wedding serves to praise God for his provision for us, and to express our gratitude to the friends and family who have walked alongside us every step of the way. ❤️ Every moment throughout Morgan & Miles' wedding day lived into that vision she described in her first email to me! From the honest, hopeful prayers of her bridesmaids to the gospel-centered ceremony, from the precious few moments M&M had together right after walking back down the aisle to the final moments of their reception, the overall theme of the day was glory and gratitude. It was the sort of day that reminded me why, after 10 years in the wedding world, I could still photograph couples like this one every weekend of the year!
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    Our desire is that our wedding serves to praise God for his provision for us, and to express our gratitude to the friends and family who have walked alongside us every step of the way. ❤️ Every moment throughout Morgan & Miles' wedding day lived into that vision she described in her first email to me! From the honest, hopeful prayers of her bridesmaids to the gospel-centered ceremony, from the precious few moments M&M had together right after walking back down the aisle to the final moments of their reception, the overall theme of the day was glory and gratitude. It was the sort of day that reminded me why, after 10 years in the wedding world, I could still photograph couples like this one every weekend of the year!
  • ^The look of two people who are SUPER happy that the Louvre security didn't ask us to leave. I know a lot of photographers despair of 35mm film, but I LOVE it for moments like these! Still so grateful that these two asked me to take their portraits in Paris- Cavin, can you believe this was almost three years ago?? 🇫🇷 (P.S. If y'all aren't already following @cavinelizabeth, you NEED to go see her absolutely stunning @marchesafashion gown from her own wedding- literally jaw-dropping)
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    ^The look of two people who are SUPER happy that the Louvre security didn't ask us to leave. I know a lot of photographers despair of 35mm film, but I LOVE it for moments like these! Still so grateful that these two asked me to take their portraits in Paris- Cavin, can you believe this was almost three years ago?? 🇫🇷 (P.S. If y'all aren't already following @cavinelizabeth, you NEED to go see her absolutely stunning @marchesafashion gown from her own wedding- literally jaw-dropping)
  • This is my obligatory pink photo for Valentine's Day, even though it was taken in Paris during the month of June⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 😁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This evening, Matt and I will be fulfilling our favorite February 14th tradition of Chinese takeout and a movie rental- the only issue is that we have ZERO idea what to watch- any votes for favorite new releases??
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    This is my obligatory pink photo for Valentine's Day, even though it was taken in Paris during the month of June⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 😁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This evening, Matt and I will be fulfilling our favorite February 14th tradition of Chinese takeout and a movie rental- the only issue is that we have ZERO idea what to watch- any votes for favorite new releases??
  • People talk about how quickly the time passes, but good gracious, I had no idea it would be so true! We passed the five month mark the end of January, and it's absolutely blowing my mind how much he can change in the span of a week. His laughs come more easily than ever, he makes the best sounds and squeaks, and his smile when we first go into to get him up in the morning could seriously melt permafrost! He eats strawberries, apples, pears, pumpkin, squash, leeks, and carrots with gusto, and tolerates the obligatory baby cereal. He's rolling (and rolling) and his current favorite toy is a black & white polka-dot box from Sephora that contained @milkmakeup 🤣 We've had a few people ask, so for anyone who's curious, with the way Virginia state law works when it comes to adoption, once we hit the six-month mark, we'll begin the process of filing for finalization! Over the last five+ months, we've had three post-placement visits with our social worker- she checks up on how everyone's adjusting, offers resources for anything we might need, and gathers medical + milestone updates to file with the court for finalization (also, photos- we're required to provide 5 photos per visit... but in true photographer form, I go WAY overboard!). 📷 We just had our first call with our adoption attorney this week who walked us through what the process will look like, and it turns out that will take an additional 3-4 months for finalization to be processed and made official once filed with the court (this doesn't mean our family of three is in jeopardy, it's just how the process works!). If there's one thing I've learned when it comes to adoption, it's to LET GO of my own timeline. And learning to let go and be more flexible has been such a gift as I simultaneously learn how to be this little guy's mama! #springmannjourneytobaby
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    People talk about how quickly the time passes, but good gracious, I had no idea it would be so true! We passed the five month mark the end of January, and it's absolutely blowing my mind how much he can change in the span of a week. His laughs come more easily than ever, he makes the best sounds and squeaks, and his smile when we first go into to get him up in the morning could seriously melt permafrost! He eats strawberries, apples, pears, pumpkin, squash, leeks, and carrots with gusto, and tolerates the obligatory baby cereal. He's rolling (and rolling) and his current favorite toy is a black & white polka-dot box from Sephora that contained @milkmakeup 🤣 We've had a few people ask, so for anyone who's curious, with the way Virginia state law works when it comes to adoption, once we hit the six-month mark, we'll begin the process of filing for finalization! Over the last five+ months, we've had three post-placement visits with our social worker- she checks up on how everyone's adjusting, offers resources for anything we might need, and gathers medical + milestone updates to file with the court for finalization (also, photos- we're required to provide 5 photos per visit... but in true photographer form, I go WAY overboard!). 📷 We just had our first call with our adoption attorney this week who walked us through what the process will look like, and it turns out that will take an additional 3-4 months for finalization to be processed and made official once filed with the court (this doesn't mean our family of three is in jeopardy, it's just how the process works!). If there's one thing I've learned when it comes to adoption, it's to LET GO of my own timeline. And learning to let go and be more flexible has been such a gift as I simultaneously learn how to be this little guy's mama! #springmannjourneytobaby
  • We're back at it again (but not with the white Vans)! Round one of #LetsWedTogether was SUCH a success that we're hosting a second one! You’re invited to join us on March 2nd from 6-9pm at @ajax_dc for a night of wedding industry education! • In case you missed out last time (because registration sold out in *less than two hours!*), Let’s Wed Together is an evening of high-end, honest education with a handful of DC wedding industry darlings. We dig into deep to some of the questions we know you’re burning to know, but that so far, you haven’t found anyone to answer. Featuring NEW CONTENT from myself and @abbyjiu and guest speaker @laurynprattes, we'll be covering topics like leading your clients through a luxe wedding experience (@laurynprattes), how to cultivate lasting vendor relationships(@abbyjiu), and how outsourcing can take your business to the next level (that’s me!). • Link in profile for registration while tickets are still available! Toss a comment down below if you're already planning to be there- we sre SO excited to meet you!!
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    We're back at it again (but not with the white Vans)! Round one of #LetsWedTogether was SUCH a success that we're hosting a second one! You’re invited to join us on March 2nd from 6-9pm at @ajax_dc for a night of wedding industry education! • In case you missed out last time (because registration sold out in *less than two hours!*), Let’s Wed Together is an evening of high-end, honest education with a handful of DC wedding industry darlings. We dig into deep to some of the questions we know you’re burning to know, but that so far, you haven’t found anyone to answer. Featuring NEW CONTENT from myself and @abbyjiu and guest speaker @laurynprattes, we'll be covering topics like leading your clients through a luxe wedding experience (@laurynprattes), how to cultivate lasting vendor relationships(@abbyjiu), and how outsourcing can take your business to the next level (that’s me!). • Link in profile for registration while tickets are still available! Toss a comment down below if you're already planning to be there- we sre SO excited to meet you!!
  • This week is a ballet-filled one for me! Tuesday night saw me at the Kennedy Center for the @nationalballet's performance, and this morning I leave for Phoenix for a ballet photography conference! Bring on those warmer temps... even though I'm positive I'll start asking Matt for photos of Felix by the time I get to security at IAD. 😭 This will the first time in several years that I've attended a conference JUST as an attendee with no speaking obligations at all, and I cannot wait!! One of the unintended joys of my #abbygraceballerinas series that I started all the way back in 2013 is how it's influenced the rest of my wedding & branding work- how I look for motion, how I've learned to be more intentional about hand placements and subtle body adjustments that help my clients look their absolute best and most relaxed in front of my lens. And maybe my favorite perk, that SO MANY of my brides are former ballerinas! So this weekend, I'll be soaking up all the breakout sessions and keynotes, practicing with lighting set-ups I've never encountered before (can we say RAIN MACHINE?), and filling my creative tank as full as it can get. 📷 Creatives, you know I've said it so many times on the 'Gram, but the joys and importance of personal work can't be overstated! Personal work keeps me full when I'm headed towards burnout, it helps me refine my style in a low-pressure atmosphere, it forces me to think & problem-solve in unique ways, and allows me to experiment with tools and techniques that would never make an appearance otherwise! • At the @paisleyandjade studio with two of my favorites, @lee_annie90 and @crockney #abbygraceballerinas
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    This week is a ballet-filled one for me! Tuesday night saw me at the Kennedy Center for the @nationalballet's performance, and this morning I leave for Phoenix for a ballet photography conference! Bring on those warmer temps... even though I'm positive I'll start asking Matt for photos of Felix by the time I get to security at IAD. 😭 This will the first time in several years that I've attended a conference JUST as an attendee with no speaking obligations at all, and I cannot wait!! One of the unintended joys of my #abbygraceballerinas series that I started all the way back in 2013 is how it's influenced the rest of my wedding & branding work- how I look for motion, how I've learned to be more intentional about hand placements and subtle body adjustments that help my clients look their absolute best and most relaxed in front of my lens. And maybe my favorite perk, that SO MANY of my brides are former ballerinas! So this weekend, I'll be soaking up all the breakout sessions and keynotes, practicing with lighting set-ups I've never encountered before (can we say RAIN MACHINE?), and filling my creative tank as full as it can get. 📷 Creatives, you know I've said it so many times on the 'Gram, but the joys and importance of personal work can't be overstated! Personal work keeps me full when I'm headed towards burnout, it helps me refine my style in a low-pressure atmosphere, it forces me to think & problem-solve in unique ways, and allows me to experiment with tools and techniques that would never make an appearance otherwise! • At the @paisleyandjade studio with two of my favorites, @lee_annie90 and @crockney #abbygraceballerinas
  • Today is a BIG day - @creativeatheart announced their 10th Conference and I'm SO happy to share that I'll be there!!! I have the honor of being a keynote speaker at Round 10, sharing on a topic you all KNOW I'm passionate about: Protecting Your Creativity in a Cluttered Digital World. 🧠 Creative at Heart hosts an annual conference dedicated to encouraging dreams & equipping businesses. With over 40 educators, there's something for every season of business! At Round 10 sessions on: email marketing, leaving your 9-5, passive income, team building, copywriting strategies, tips for selling... and a ton more. There are SO many practical options to give you the practical, go-home-and-do-it-NOW tools you need to grow your business PLUS inspirational content from industry leaders sure to have you feeling more motivated and capable than ever before. Personally, I am SO excited to hear @emilyley's session!!! (Ah! Emily Ley's going to be there!) ❤️ Registration opens TONIGHT at 8pmET and last year seats sold out in just *3* hours. Head over to @creativeatheart for more info! I'd LOVE to see you there in June!! #creativeatheartround10 #herestothecreatives #creativeatheartfamily 💪🏼 From @alicialaceyphoto’s branding session! #abbygracebrandportraits
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    Today is a BIG day - @creativeatheart announced their 10th Conference and I'm SO happy to share that I'll be there!!! I have the honor of being a keynote speaker at Round 10, sharing on a topic you all KNOW I'm passionate about: Protecting Your Creativity in a Cluttered Digital World. 🧠 Creative at Heart hosts an annual conference dedicated to encouraging dreams & equipping businesses. With over 40 educators, there's something for every season of business! At Round 10 sessions on: email marketing, leaving your 9-5, passive income, team building, copywriting strategies, tips for selling... and a ton more. There are SO many practical options to give you the practical, go-home-and-do-it-NOW tools you need to grow your business PLUS inspirational content from industry leaders sure to have you feeling more motivated and capable than ever before. Personally, I am SO excited to hear @emilyley's session!!! (Ah! Emily Ley's going to be there!) ❤️ Registration opens TONIGHT at 8pmET and last year seats sold out in just *3* hours. Head over to @creativeatheart for more info! I'd LOVE to see you there in June!! #creativeatheartround10 #herestothecreatives #creativeatheartfamily 💪🏼 From @alicialaceyphoto’s branding session! #abbygracebrandportraits