Blog - Justy Photography

Allison + Austin | KENNEDY CENTER ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS | WASHINGTON DC

Eylul Gungor — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 07:39:28 +0000

KENNEDY CENTER ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS | WASHINGTON DC

I shot Allison and Austin’s engagement photos at Kennedy Center in Washington DC in November. The day of the engagement shoot was a windy Saturday evening. This incredibly adorable couple definitely showed how much love they have for each other.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has a lot to offer. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is beautiful year-round. If you are in town, this place is one of the must-see Washington DC sites and it happens to be one of the first places I visited when I first moved to Washington DC in 2011.

Pros:

It is stunning
Friendly and professional staff.

Cons:

Parking can be expensive.

Nike + Rob | A Beautiful Spring Wedding at Fauquier Springs Country Club in Virginia

Eylul Gungor — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 07:34:28 +0000

Nikeya & Robert got ready at Poplar Springs Inn Virginia for their May wedding and had their ceremony at Fauquier Springs Country Club. These two were surrounded by their amazing family and friends on their special day. There were so many beautiful emotions expressed this day that Peyton Olivia and I had the pleasure of capturing.

I loved photographing the bride and groom's first look. Nikeya looked absolutely stunning.

The day was lovely and Fauquier Springs Country Club was the perfect setting for these two. Please enjoy some of my favorites from this amazing couple's Virginia wedding!

Lovely bride getting ready for her big day.

Groom and groomsman celebrating with whiskey before the wedding ceremony.

Bride and Groom's Frist Look Photos | Virginia Wedding

I love this bride and groom's facial expressions when they see each other for the first time on their wedding day!

Bride and bridesmaids with bouquets.

Groom and bride's brothers pose together.

Couple exchanging their wedding rings.

The kiss!

Nike and Rob enjoying a dance together for the first time as a married couple!

Bride and her proud father on the dance floor.

Lisa + Cameron | Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens Engagement Photos

Eylul Gungor — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 04:14:26 +0000

We shot Lisa and Cameron's engagement photos at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington DC. It is one of my favorite engagement sessions of 2018. This incredibly cute couple definitely made my job easier by just being themselves. We can not wait to photograph this lovely couple!

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is filled with nature and has beautiful gardens. Hillwood Estate gardens are beautiful year-round. If you are in town, this place is one of the must-see Washington DC sites.

Pros:

Plenty of parking spaces.
It is absolutely gorgeous!
Friendly and professional staff.

Cons (This one is for DC wedding , engagement and family photographers):

Requires photography permit.

Lisa and Cameron plan to get married on July 1, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.

Ceresville Mansion Wedding Photos in Frederick md | Stephane + Mario

Eylul Gungor — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 05:17:02 +0000

Stephane and Mario met as young adults and were friends for a while first. They even had a "friend fight" and did not speak to each other for three months. As people say, there is a thin line between love and hate. LOL! Stephane and Mario had great chemistry since the moment they met, everyone around them knew it. They, however, pretended not to notice it for a long timef.
In December 2017, it will be 10 years since they first met. They could have never imagined it then, but it was the beginning of an amazing journey- They had each met their better half.
Their relationship is full of love and has proven to be very strong throughout the years. Stephane and Mario have grown up together and supported each other through very tough and challenging times. Together, they also lived some of the most amazing experiences of their lives. They were there for each other's multiple graduations, professional and personal accomplishments, met their families in Peru and Brasil and actually got to experience a World Cup in person! They also had the opportunity to visit Europe- a lifelong dream and the setting for one the most special days in their lives.
On July 11, 2016, Mario proposed in the most magical way! Stephane had no idea- which was very unusual since she is always so on top of everything! After deciding that Paris was not the right place for his special proposal, Mario's heart was set in Venice. Some of the family members who knew of the initial plan, were very confused as Paris came and went and no announcement was made. Stephane got some curious texts (you know who you are lol) and a very funny phone call with her mom- she was all giggly and Stephane had no idea why. Venice was an amazing place. As they were enjoying a gondola ride at sundown, Mario decided he wanted a picture. He asked Stephane to hand the camera to the gondola driver and Stephane said: No way! She was so worried about her friend's professional camera falling in the water that for once, she did not want to take a picture. Mario insisted and handed the camera to the driver. Stephane's sight was laser focused on that camera when all of a sudden, Mario got down to one knee and said- "Stephane, will you marry me? I love you!" Stephane had a smile from ear to ear and of course forgot all about the camera, oops! lol Right away, She said Yes!
Since then, Stephane and Mario have been working very hard towards building a solid foundation for their future. Driving themselves super crazy at times, obviously. Even then, they are so happy to begin the next chapter of their lives (kids included!) in their new home.

Stephane and Mario held their gorgeous Friday wedding at Ceresville Mansion in Frederick, Maryland. My lovely second and third shooters and I were so excited for their big day. After photographing Stephane and Mario’s engagement session at Meadowlark Gardens in Virginia, I knew their wedding would be beautiful. My assistant and I started with our stunning bride Stephane and her bridesmaids in the getting ready suite at Ceresville Mansion in Frederick Maryland. Mario, his groomsmen and our second shooter started across the hall. They were truly meant for each other and we had so much fun photographing their special day. Here are a few of our favorites from their wedding day!

Vendors:

Photographer: Justy Photography

Videography: SOK

Venue: Ceresville Mansion

Dj- Master Productions

Cake- custom cake designs

Officiant- Pastor Ed Choy, Premier Wedding Pastors

Florist- Deicy Sinani Flowers

Saxophone- Espinoza Music Professionals

String duo- Capriccio String Quartet

Photo booth- Say Cheese Rentals, LLC

Meredith + Rich | Josephine Butler Parks Center Wedding Photos | Washington DC

Eylul Gungor — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 08:31:13 +0000

Kryssy + Billy | Omni Shoreham Wedding Photos, Washington DC Wedding Venues

Eylul Gungor — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:42:37 +0000

Omni Shoreham Hotel Wedding Photographs- Washington DC

Kryssy + Billy | Wedding at the Omni Shoreham Hotel

Our last wedding for 2017 was also one of our favorite weddings from last year!

The Omni Shoreham Hotel, the location where Kryssy and Billy chose to host their wedding, is a picturesque luxury hotel in Washington, DC with loads of historical charm. The ceremony was held outdoors in the hotel’s lush garden overlooking Rock Creek Park, and the overcast skies were just perfect for ceremony photos — the clouds were a natural softbox, making for some stunning wedding photos! We were racing against the weather, though — almost as soon as Kryssy and Billy walked down the aisle together as husband and wife, the skies opened up and the rain began. We had to work efficiently capture the portraits and family photos, then usher everyone inside before we all got soaked. Luckily the hotel staff were incredibly accommodating and provided a box of umbrellas for us to use.

Omni Shoreham - DC Luxury Hotel Wedding Venues

We’ve heard that rain is considered good luck on a wedding day, and we couldn’t agree more! During the reception, once the sun had set, we pulled Billy and Kryssy away from the dance floor for a few minutes to shoot some more portraits in the rain. We set up a flash and had Kryssy and Billy stand in front of it while holding an umbrella. Look how dramatic the raindrops look in the photos! This is most certainly one of my favorite pictures from this beautiful wedding.

The reception had even more great moments for wedding pictures. To celebrate their big day, Kryssy and Billy opened a huge bottle of champagne after they cut their wedding cake. Turns out, when you open an extra-large bottle of champagne, you will have an extra-large champagne explosion. I love the bride and groom’s reactions in these photos! I was right up close to the action, but don’t worry, my camera gear got away unscathed.

Another one of my favorite moments from the reception was the surprise hora. That’s right — a SURPRISE hora. I quickly guessed what was about to happen as soon as the band started playing Hava Nagila, and got into position as the groomsmen brought in a chair. Turns out, you really ought to practice a hora first. We had a slight mishap during the first attempt to lift Billy up, but the groomsmen quickly added a few more guys to the chair and Billy was safely returned to the ground at the end of the song.

What more can we say? This really was the perfect wedding. From the great band to the tasty food, to the wedding couple who so clearly love and adore each other, it all went off without a hitch. We are so happy Billy and Kryssy chose us to photograph their special day, and we really couldn’t ask for a better final wedding for the season.

P.S. We’re now booking weddings for the 2018 season. If you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, feel free to chat with us here.

15 Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Photographer before Hiring Him/her

Eylul Gungor — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 05:49:00 +0000

Wedding planning is not only about setting the date and buying your wedding dress. You should as well meet the different people helping you on that big day, and these include the event organizer, the emcee, and the Washington DC wedding photographer. Each one of these people play a key role in your wedding day, and it is important you meet him/her before you hire them and on the rehearsing day. For a wedding photographer, you should ask him the following questions.

Finding Out About His/Her Availability

Before hiring your photographer, you need to verify their availability. Ask them some of the following questions.

Are you available on my wedding date? This is so that you verify his/her availability and if s/he is not available you hire next option
Are you working with someone else? Find out if s/he has an assistant. Some DC wedding photographers will prefer working with an assistant, and others will not.
What is your shooting style?
How many weddings do you shoot per year?
Do you send a highlight gallery?

Finding Out About Her Prowess

How long have you worked as a Maryland photographer? You definitely want an experienced wedding photographer for your special day.
Are you familiar with my wedding venue?
Do you know about my wedding organizer?

Do You Know His/Her Rates?

What is your pricing style? Some Virginia wedding photographers will charge per photo others will charge the hours worked. Go with the one that suits your budget.
So how much will you charge? Depending on the answer above, get a quote.

Ask Him about Printing Style and Frame Designs

Which printing styles do you have? You want a creative printing style and so let him show you the different styles you can choose the best.
Is the rate inclusive of Framing? There are Virginia wedding photographers who will offer a free frame.
What Frame types do you offer? Choose the framing type that you like. There are different types of frames used by DC wedding photographers.
Do you offer soft copies? You definitely want to share photos online. So request for soft copy

The above wedding photographer questions are aimed at communicating what you would like your DC wedding photographer to do.

10 Wedding Planning Tips You Will Want to Know!

Eylul Gungor — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:57:00 +0000

The wedding day is one of the special days in life, and therefore it is important you plan well for the events that will unfold in that day. Planning for a wedding begins early so that the all the key players such as destination wedding photographer is well informed of the day to make the wedding day memorable.

1. Avoid Last Minute Rush

There are people you need to invite to your wedding so that they can perform some duties. For example, you need an event planner to assist in planning the venue and other things. The venue needs to be booked early for you to get a good venue. In most cases you will find that wedding venue in Washington DC will be booked for up to three months depending on the season and therefore you have to book early to get a good venue and also be convenient in terms of the day you want to have the wedding.

2. Hire Top Notch Performers

Not everyone knows the secrets of wedding photography. Again, you want someone who knows what you need. So if you are having your wedding in West Virginia, you should look for a Virginia wedding photographer since he has some experience.

3. Hire People Who Know the Place Well

If your reception is in Washington DC, you should go for destination wedding photographer since you will save more money. If you have to transport someone from another place, you will pay more.

4. Go for a Convenient Venue

It is advisable to have the wedding reception to where you will be getting married. If you are going for a church wedding, you can consider a wedding reception venue close to the church. This saves on transport and time.

5. Confirm Number of Guests Who Will Attend

After invitations are sent out, the people will accept the invitation, and therefore you need to hire a venue that is convenient and economical. You can then save by avoiding extra seats since most venues charge per capacity.

6. Meet Your Destination Wedding Photographer before Actual Day

There are some special people and events you want to be captured well, so it’s important you alert him early regarding the same.

7. Work Closely with Event Planner

No matter how busy you might be, it’s important you meet event planner regularly for updates. If you are far apart, technology can help you. This helps avoid disappointments.

8. Rehearse Before Wedding Day

You have bought new clothes and shoes, and it is important you try them out before the day to avoid such a disappointment where you are in an unfitting wedding dress.

9. Flowers Are Important

These will help brighten the photos taken by Virginia wedding photographer and secondly the day will feel warmer.

10. Plan Your Honey Moon Well

You might need the destination wedding photographer for your honeymoon, and thus you need to book with him early.

Wedding planning is not a one-day event; it is actually something you need to think well about. You should work with these people you are hiring closely for a successful wedding day. Your Washington DC wedding photographer will be important, so hire one early.

11 questions you should never ask your wedding photographer

Eylul Gungor — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 01:48:00 +0000

11 questions you should never ask your wedding photographer

Wedding consultations are one of my favorite parts of my job. Whether it is in DC or Virginia, I really enjoy discovering new coffee and donut shops (my favorite donut shop is in Alexandria). I love meeting my couples in person and getting to know them better. Most of my clients come well prepared and know what they are looking for. However, there are a few questions I get asked far too often. These are some common questions that most photographers dread hearing during a consultation.

1. What kind of camera do you use?

This is probably one of the most common questions I receive as a wedding photographer. It is not only my couples, pretty much everyone who hears that I am a professional wedding photographer asks me this question. The problem with it is that it is not the camera that takes the pictures! The type of camera a photographer uses does not determine his or her skills. I have seen so many photographers with top of the line cameras who are not trained well enough to shoot photos in manual mode. We dedicate our lives to becoming the best photographers we can be by going to school, creating our portfolios and spending countless hours critiquing our own work. People should understand that there is a reason you’re not hiring uncle Bob with a DSLR to photograph your wedding day.

If you guys are still wondering what's in my camera bag, here it is:
2 Nikon Full Frame Camera
1 Canon Full Frame Camera
2 Fuji X Mirrorless Cameras
Prime Lenses: 35mm, 50mm, 56mm, 18-55 mm, 85mm,90mm,135mm, and Lens Baby Control Freak
Zoom and Telephoto Lenses: 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 17-55mm
6 Speedlites
MagMod Flash Diffusers & Light Modifiers
Creative gels
Soft boxes
Umbrellas
SD Cards
Extra batteries and chargers
Probably some Redbull and energy bars

2. Is it cheaper if we give you the Flash Drive?

Simple answer : No.

3. Can we see all of the images you took?

What people may not realize is that you are paying your photographer to do more than just take photos. We also help with the planning, lead guests and family, go through a huge number of photos and edit the selected shots. Culling, or selecting the best photos, can take up to 20 hours for one wedding. This is a crucial step in the process as you don’t want to see the shots where the bride is blinking and the groom has his fly open!

4. Can we get the Raw photos?

The majority of well trained professional photographers will NOT give out RAW photos. Would you ask a painter to give you a blank canvas with their name signed on it? Probably not. Just like you wouldn’t ask a chef for a RAW chicken. It is simply unfinished work.

5. Are you going to eat at my wedding?

This question was asked to one of our photographer friends. I feel like this one is a really silly question. Most of our weddings require 2 hours of driving and 8-12 hours of shooting so chances are your photographer is going to be hungry. If you don’t think you can fit a vendor meal into your budget, then please let them know so they can bring their own food.

6. Can you give us a discount?

Asking this question right off the bat might make your photographer feel undervalued and he or she may not take you as seriously as their other prospective clients.

7. How many photos will you take?

The problem with this question is that most photographers do not have a set number of photos that they limit themselves to take during a shoot. The number of photos we take depends on a number of different factors, such as the type of event, the flow of the wedding and the location(s). Also, this goes without saying; if you buy a package that comes with two photographers, you will receive more photos than you will with a basic package.

8. I saw another photographer’s work online that I like. Can you edit and/or shoot like them?

Every photographer has their own style! It's important that you find a photographer whose personality and style matches with what you are looking for.

9. Do you give discounts for Sunday weddings?

I know there are some venues and vendors out there that are trying to book every wedding possible and will, therefore, offer discounts for Sunday weddings. However, the photographers at Justy Photography provide the same service for everyone regardless of where and when your wedding takes place. Each client will still be given our undivided effort and attention whether it be a Wednesday afternoon courthouse ceremony or a 12 hour Saturday wedding at the Ritz.

10. “Can you photoshop that out?”

To be honest, probably not. Your wedding photographer is going to have to back up and go through 1,500+ photos and pick the best ones (this takes around 10 hours). In addition to this, they will import them onto her/his hard drive, color correct, crop and enhance them (15-20 hours of work), backup the edited ones, sort them and upload your gallery. Photoshop is an expensive software that takes up a lot of time. One can spend hours photoshopping out something totally minuscule. Imagine doing that for every single photo delivered to you. It will likely cost you a pretty penny to get those manipulated photos.

11. A guest at my wedding is also a photographer. Can they take photos too?

Of course! As long as they are respectful of the other photographer’s space, they are more than welcome. But one important reminder: please don’t let them stand in the aisle during the kiss!

Why You Should Have a Winter Wedding

Eylul Gungor — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 07:41:00 +0000

Alexandria Wedding - Torpedo Factory wedding

Capitol Hill Building DC wedding photos

Wedding photographers have something known as a Wedding Season; these are months out of the year — March through November — when they get the majority of their bookings for wedding photography. But when everyone is holding their wedding in the summer, here are my reasons why every bride should consider having a winter wedding:

Your vendor of choice will likely be available.

When it comes to summer weddings, there is so much competition to book a venue, DJ, and wedding photographer. Not so much in the winter — chances are you’re not competing with another wedding couple for the same venue or wedding photographer during the winter months.

Snow themed wedding

Snow!

Here in Washington, DC we usually get at least one good snow storm every winter. Think about how amazing it would be to have the beautiful snowy backdrop for your wedding photos! Now those would make for some wonderfully unique wedding portraits.

You can do a winter wonderland theme.

Winter weddings can go full on winter wonderland with their decorations. I’m talking garlands, candles, snowflakes, evergreen trees, twinkle lights, pine cones, etc. Serve your guests hot chocolate and mulled wine. Hand out roasted chestnuts as party favors. Surprise your guests with carolers!

Santa Claus can officiate!

If you have kids at your wedding, how cute would it be if Santa dropped by during the reception and handed out some presents? Or even better, what if Santa was the one to officiate your wedding? By the power vested in me by the State of the North Pole, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

No humidity.

Summer weddings in Washington, DC are quite often hot and muggy. Winter weddings don’t have that problem. Your hair and makeup will look flawless without that summer weather messing it up.

Your guests won’t have wedding fatigue.

Summers are so jam-packed with weddings, friends and family can get tired of attending a wedding every other weekend. When you hold your wedding in the winter, it’s the highlight of the season! Another bonus is that your family will already be getting together for the winter holidays, so no extra travel will be required for your wedding.

Perfect weather for black tie.

Tuxedos really aren’t meant to be worn in the summer, especially since many of them are created out of 100% wool. In the winter, however, they are absolutely ideal for an indoor wedding. Your female guests will have the perfect event for wearing floor-length gowns and sequined dresses. Rather than looking hot and sweaty, your guests will appear elegant and polished for your wedding.

You can wear a cape.

Since outdoor weddings photos can get chilly in just a wedding dress, brides choose to add a cape to their ensemble for warmth. And how often to you get an excuse to wear a cape? It’s the ultimate accessory for winter weddings!

Capitol Hill Building wedding DC

Union Station wedding DC

Capitol Hill wedding DC

Capitol Hill Building wedding DC

Torpedo Factory wedding

Alexandria Wedding - Torpedo Factory

Bride and groom - First dance - Torpedo Factory wedding

Are you looking to book a photographer for your winter wedding? We here at Justy Photography would love to photograph it! Get in touch with us here.

A Day in the Life of a Wedding Photographer

Eylul Gungor — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 06:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered what a wedding photographer does when they’re not shooting a wedding? The answer: a lot! Being a wedding photographer is about more than just artistry, it’s about running a business. Here’s what a typical day for me looks like when I’m not off shooting a wedding:

7:30 AM

Sometimes I wake up from my alarm, but most often my dog, Pongo, will wake me up by licking my face. She gets fed and walked first thing every morning, and she likes to keep to her schedule.

8:00 AM

After returning home from walking Pongo, I shower, change, make breakfast and drink coffee. I try reading some of the news headlines, but quite often I end up checking social media.

9:00 AM

I catch up with my emails. Usually, I answer emails as soon as I receive them, but sometimes they accumulate too quickly and I need to block out time in my day to go through all of them. I send out contracts, schedule engagement sessions, answer inquiries and talk with vendors. If there’s a wedding coming up on the weekend, I check in with my second shooter and send her the schedule and shot list. I also use this time to update my website and check my SEO analytics.

10:30 AM

I make another cup of coffee and call a bride for a phone consultation. We talk about the details of her wedding, and I answer any questions she has about working with me as her wedding photographer.

11:30 AM

I prepare a batch of photos to post to my blog. I try and update it at least twice a week with wedding photos, engagement sessions, and posts related to working as a wedding photographer in DC and Maryland. I also prepare the social media collateral to coincide with publishing the blog post.

12:30 PM

I’m meeting my second shooter for lunch at a little cafe down the street from my house. I take Pongo with me. I love using my lunch break to take a walk outside and get some fresh air. During our lunch, my second shooter and I discuss our game plan for the upcoming wedding.

1:30 PM

Time for another consultation — this time the bride and groom are visiting me in my home office. I prepare refreshments and some sample wedding albums to show to the couple.

3:00 PM

Done with meetings! But my day is hardly over — I have several weddings for which I need to edit the photos. I sit down at my computer, crank up my photo editing playlist, and get to work.

6:00 PM

I take a small break to walk Pongo and answer any emails that have come in.

6:30 PM

Back to editing!

8:30 PM

Usually, around now I finish working for the day. I make dinner, take Pongo on one last walk, and end the night curled up on the couch either with a book or watching Netflix. If I have the energy, I’ll go down to the gym and work out for an hour.

12:30 AM

Time for bed!

There you have, a typical day in my life as a wedding photographer!

Advice for Brides and Grooms from a Wedding Photographer

Eylul Gungor — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 03:46:43 +0000

Your wedding photos will be some of your most valuable mementos. Here’s some advice from a wedding photographer — that’s me! — with tips and tricks that will make your wedding photos absolutely stunning.

For Brides

Purchase a nice hanger for your wedding dress.

You’ve invested so much time in choosing your wedding dress, and the last thing you want to do is display it on a plastic or (gasp!) wire hanger. A classic wooden hanger would work best for displaying your dress. You can even get a personalized hanger with your name and the date of your wedding written on it.

Keep your face powder handy.

I’ve photographed quite a few weddings in Washington, DC, and let me tell you, summers here are unbelievably humid. If you’re having a summer wedding, chances are you’ll start to sweat during your portrait session. And no one likes looking shiny in their photos! Assign one of your bridesmaids with the job of carrying a compact and performing any necessary touchups during your wedding photos.

For Grooms

Don’t forget about the socks!

Tux? Check.
Cufflinks? Check.
Socks? Er….

Let’s be honest here — grooms don’t have many options for accessories. Instead of sticking with plain black socks (for the love of all that is good, do NOT wear white socks to your wedding), try donning a pair with a fun color pattern. It’s a great way for you to express your creativity, and you can even coordinate with your groomsmen to make a matching set. One of my favorite wedding photos to take are the groomsmen showing off their fun (and sometimes funny) sock choices!

Plan a fun activity with your groomsmen.

Grooms usually take far less time to prepare for their wedding than their brides. Sometimes this works out great for scheduling — the photographer takes the preparation photos, captures a couple of portraits, and then heads to the wedding venue to get the detail photos before the ceremony and reception. Other times, the photographer is left twiddling their thumbs. Try including a fun impromptu activity, like a poker game or a light soccer match with your groomsmen. This will add variety for your photos, and ease the stress of a hectic day.

For Both

Prepare everything you need for detail photos in a box for your photographer.

That includes the wedding rings, shoes, invitations, and RSVP cards.

Brides, please add to this box your bouquet and any jewelry you’re planning to wear. Grooms, if you’re planning to wear a tie or a watch, include that in the box as well. Make a note for your photographer of any significant items — like the something old, something new, and something borrowed (she’ll probably figure out which item is blue herself!).

Keep your getting ready room clean!

Nothing can ruin beautiful preparation photos like empty plastic water bottles on the dresser, or clothes tossed all around the floor. Preparation can get hectic, so at the very least make sure the parts of the room where the bride is getting ready — her makeup table, the full-length mirror, the windows — are kept free of clutter. Same for the groom — work with your photographer to designate a part of the room where the photos will be taken (usually close to the window) and keep that area clean.

Jenn +Brian | Historic Round Barn Wedding in Pennsylvania - St. Anthony’s Shrine

Eylul Gungor — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Historic Round Barn Wedding Photos

I photographed Jenn and Brian’s engagement session back in 2016, and so I was absolutely thrilled when they asked me to take the photos for their wedding! I loved shooting their engagement photos — Jenn and Brian are full of joy and laughter, and were an absolute dream to photograph. As a bonus, we also shared a mutual love for Georgetown Cupcakes!

Historic Round Barn Wedding Photos - Georgetown Cupcake engagement

The two decided to hold their ceremony at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This is a picturesque church not too far from the Maryland/Pennsylvania border (the reception was held in PA). We did all of the pre-ceremony photos around the grounds of the church, and the overcast sky provided the perfect lighting for the portraits. While Jenn and Brian didn’t do a first look with each other, Jenn did a first look with her father and her brother. Their reactions were so touching; Jenn’s father had the biggest grin on his face when he hugged her, and her brother even teared up when he saw Jenn for the first time in her wedding gown.

Jenn and Brian did exchange letters before the ceremony. We placed them around the corner from each other, and photographed away as they read their letters. Moments like these are why I love my job as a wedding photographer! You can see the love and adoration they have for each other on their faces.

Then it was time for the wedding ceremony inside the church, and the natural lighting made for light and airy wedding photos. Another one of my favorite moments from this wedding was when Brian saw Jenn walk down the aisle. The two spent almost the entire ceremony grinning at each other.

Jenn and Brian hosted their reception at The Historic Round Barn in Biglerville, Pennsylvania. I loved the rustic setting, the dramatic ceiling, and the twinkle light strung all across the dance floor. My final favorite moment from the night was when Jenn and Brian’s friends and family performed a surprise dance show.

What a lovely wedding! Jenn and Brian were a wonderful couple, and it gave me so much joy to photograph their wedding day!

St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding photos - Bride's dad first look photos

St. Anthony’s Shrine - Bride's brother sees the bride for the first time

Historic Round Barn Wedding Photos by Justy Photography - PA wedding photographers

St. Anthony’s Shrine - First touch

St. Anthony’s Shrine - first touch photos

Historic Round Barn Wedding Photos - St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding

St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding photos - Bride crying

St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding photos- Groom's first look

St. Anthony’s Shrine PA Wedding Photos

St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding photos

St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding ceremony photos

St. Anthony’s Shrine PA wedding ceremony

St. Anthony’s Shrine wedding - The Kiss!

St. Anthony’s Shrine - PA wedding photographers

St. Anthony’s Shrine and Historic Round Barn wedding photos

Historic Round Barn wedding photos

We recreated Jenn and Brian's engagement photo! It's so cute seeing these two photos side-by-side.

Historic Round Barn wedding photographers

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - Champagne wedding photo

Romantic and cute Historic Round Barn wedding photos

beautiful Historic Round Barn wedding photos

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - PA

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - PA Biglerville wedding photographers

Historic Round Barn wedding photos

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - Center pieces

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - Romantic First Dance

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - Father Daughter Dance

Historic Round Barn wedding photos - Mother and Son Dance

Photographer: Justy Photography

Dress: Charlene Little

Cake: New Oxford Baker

Flowers: The Flower Boutique

Catering: Bollinger’s Restaurant

DJ: Wizer Productions

Officiant: Father Rob Walsh from the University of Maryland Catholic Student Center

Ceremony Venue: Saint Anthony’s Shrine

Reception Venue: The Historic Round Barn

Kelli + David | Wedding at Little Seneca Creek

Eylul Gungor — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Kelli and David first met while traveling through Costa Rica. Kelli and her sister Holli were crossing Lake Arnel by boat when they ran into David. They started up a conversation and, upon reaching the town of Monteverde, they discovered that all three of them were staying at the same hostel. Kelli and David spent the next day hiking together through the jungle. The day after that they parted ways.

Kelli went back to Atlanta, and David returned home to Washington, DC. Not long after Kelli moved to London for graduate school. The two wouldn’t see each other for several years.

After graduating, Kelli moved to DC and started working as an English teacher. One day she took her students to a Nationals baseball game. Her class posed for a picture with the Abraham Lincoln mascot, and Kelli posted the photo to her Instagram account.

David saw it. He sent Kelli a message asking if she would like to get together and catch up. Kelli agreed, and the rest is history.

Kelli and David decided to host their wedding at The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek. As a wedding photographer, I loved how the tent where they held their outdoor ceremony provided so much natural light for photos. The lodge where they held their reception had even more great photo opportunities — the rustic interior made their wedding photos look warm and inviting, and I loved the twinkle lights all around the room! Another favorite were the candles and the mirror they set up in the fireplace. That was such a creative decoration, and I was able to use it to shoot some of Kelli and David’s dance photos.

The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek is a lovely rustic log cabin with cathedral ceilings that can host up to 120 guests. The interior also has a huge stone fireplace and panoramic views of the 26 acres of wooded park land. The cozy atmosphere of this lodge is a great location to host a Maryland wedding, and makes for warm and inviting wedding photos. The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek is in Gaithersburg, just a short car ride from Bethesda and Downtown DC.

Some of my other favorite details from Kelli and David’s wedding photos: The hand-drawn chalkboard signs used at the ceremony and reception. Kelli’s wedding bouquet. The beautiful sunset we caught for some of Kelli and David’s wedding portraits.

Cindy + Mackenzie | Engagement in Georgetown

Eylul Gungor — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Cindy and Mackenzie love everything October! It’s their favorite month, and so an October engagement session featuring Octoberfest beers was just the right fit for this incredibly sweet couple.

We met at Georgetown Waterfront Park in DC to shoot their engagement photos. The afternoon lighting was absolutely divine — it was soft and warm during the golden hour, and later on in the photoshoot we saw an incredibly colorful sunset over the Potomac River.

Georgetown is one of my favorite places for photo sessions. The Waterfront Park is filled with nature and has gorgeous views of the river, with the Kennedy Center, the Key Bridge, and the Rosslyn skyline in the background. Walk a block north and you’re in the old Georgetown industrial neighborhoods. I loved shooting against the brick walls and finding cute little nooks and crannies in this historic street for photos. There was even a haunted house — of course we had to stop for a picture!

Cindy and Mackenzie plan to get married on October 13, 2018 at beach wedding in Bolivar, Colombia.

The haunted house! I loved how Cindy and Mackenzie were always trying to make each other laugh, silly faces and all.

Meghan + Dean | Capitol Hill Club Wedding

Eylul Gungor — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 01:03:46 +0000

Recent DC transplants Meghan and Dean are a power couple. The two do everything as a team— from refurbishing the house they bought together, to traveling across Scotland, to attending baseball games at Nationals Park. You need to only glance at their wedding photos to see that Meghan and Dean are madly in love with each other.

Meghan and Dean chose to host their wedding at the Capitol Hill Club in order to hold the ceremony and reception in the same building, as well as provide a location that was accessible by metro for their out-of-town friends and family. The venue can host up to 250 guests and provides dramatic lighting for the reception (look how nice the purple lights look in the photos!).

Some of my favorite moments from the wedding photos: when Dean sees Meghan in her wedding gown for the first time. The ring bearer walking down the aisle with his tongue out. The gilded baroque mirrors Meghan used when getting ready. And — always an emotional moment at every wedding — the father-daughter dance.

Kelly + Sarah | Silverbrook Farm WEDDING- Purcelville va

Eylul Gungor — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 20:29:51 +0000

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Same sex couple wedding

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Bride crying

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Bride getting ready

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Bridesmaids dresses hanging

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - First Kiss

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Bride portraits

Bride and bridesmaids

Silverbrook Farm Wedding Photos - Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Bride crying - Candid moment

Nick + Bianka | Wedding at Herrington on the Bay

Eylul Gungor — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 18:07:27 +0000

Eylul Gungor

Bride and groom watching the fireworks on their wedding day , Maryland Wedding Photographer Justy Photography

Bride's shoes "I DO"

Bride's Dress and Shoes

Bride and bridesmaids dresses

Bride getting her makeup done

Bride and bridesmaids on the balcony

Manassas Engagement Photos

Eylul Gungor — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 20:19:07 +0000

Tiffany + Josh | Southern Maryland Wedding at Mary's Hope on Church Cove

Eylul Gungor — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 03:38:42 +0000

Eylul Gungor

Mary's Hope on Church Cove

Bride and Bridesmaids at Mary's Hope on Church Cove wedding

Groom and his groomsmen at Mary's Hope on Church Cove wedding

bride and groom portraits at Mary's Hope on Church Cove wedding

Mary's Hope on Church Cove wedding photos

Mary's Hope on Church Cove wedding photos - groom

Mary's Hope on Church Cove wedding photo - bridal portraits