Nathan │Virginia Newborn Photography
When Katie emailed me to say she was interested in a newborn session in her Virginia home, I was so excited to photograph their family again. This family is one that is near and dear to my heart, and this would mark our eighth session together over the years! Welcome, Nathan. You sure did pick a great family to belong to!
When Katie emailed me to say she was interested in a newborn session in her Virginia home, I was so excited to photograph their family again. This family is one that is near and dear to my heart, and this would mark our eighth session together over the years! Welcome, Nathan. You sure did pick a great family to belong to!
Congratulations, Katie, Mike & the fam! Thank you for trusting me to photograph your family all these years. I am so happy for you all!
Wrightsville Spring Minis
Spring Beach Mini Sessions are here! This type of mini session is perfect for younger children who may not be in it to win it for those longer full sessions! We will be using the gorgeous beach dune area as well as the waterway.
Contact me to book, time slots are reserved as payment is recieved!
Spring Beach Minis are here! The weather is absolutely GORGEOUS right now and we have to take full advantage of this, am I right?
I will be offering Spring Beach Minis on Saturday, April 28th at Wrightsville Beach. Here's the scoop:
- $100
- 10 minute mini session
- includes 5 digital images in a private online gallery with print release
- can be used for: maternity, family, children, senior portraits, engagement!
- Limited to 8 time slots available beginning at 6:30 pm and ending at 7:50 pm.
This type of mini session is perfect for younger children who may not be in it to win it for those longer full sessions! We will be using the gorgeous beach dune area as well as the waterway.
Contact me to book, time slots are reserved as payment is recieved!
* Rain date Saturday, May 5
Fort Fisher │ Engagement Session │ Andy & Sean
When couples approach me for ideas on photo session locations, I love to draw inspiration from their wedding plans. Andy & Sean are planning a beautiful outdoor ceremony in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and nature. Their wedding color palette features a pretty burgundy color and I loved that Andy wore the perfect maxi dress in this Fort Fisher sunset engagement session! The light was absolutely perfect and even though it was certainly a chilly day, the two lovebirds didn't seem bothered by the weather at all and were such good sports as we knocked out a fun photography session to celebrate their upcoming wedding!
Andy + Sean Fort Fisher Engagement Session
When couples approach me for ideas on photo session locations, I love to draw inspiration from their wedding plans. Andy & Sean are planning a beautiful outdoor ceremony in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and nature. Their wedding color palette features a pretty burgundy color and I loved that Andy wore the perfect maxi dress in this Fort Fisher sunset engagement session! The light was absolutely perfect and even though it was certainly a chilly day, the two lovebirds didn't seem bothered by the weather at all and were such good sports as we knocked out a fun photography session to celebrate their upcoming wedding!
"We hate having our picture taken."
This is a phrase I hear on just about every photo shoot that I have ever conducted. It's usually uttered about 0.2 seconds into the session and followed by questions about how each couple should pose. Here's what you need to know about a photo session with me (and past couples, feel free to chime in in the comments!): I am not as interested in setting you up in the perfect pose as I am in waiting for your natural reactions to each other once I get you into position! I will certainly help you get into "poses" that show off your best angles, the perfect light, the best backdrop but what I am best at is taking a step back and letting you both ease into enjoying this carved out time together. I love catching you in real moments as you laugh with each other, react to whispering in each other's ears, and as you inevitably start to relax and enjoy the engagement session!
My Favorite Engagement "Pose"
One of my favorite things to do during an engagement session is to ask my couple to hold each other close, and one at a time I ask both bride & groom to whisper something in the other's ear. Whether it's a sweet question about what they are looking forward to the most about being married to one another, or something like "Whisper something in your partner's ear that you would NOT want me to hear.", the reactions are always priceless and some of my favorites of any engagement shoot!
Location. Location. Location.
Fort Fisher is the photo shoot location that keeps on giving. Beautiful wind-shaped trees, gorgeous natural light, the ocean, wild and unruly stretches of land that look like something out of a painting, it's definitely easy to see why this location is in high demand. Half of the fun is finding new ways to photograph Fort Fisher because it IS so heavily used by local photographers. I have had my eye on this lone tree for awhile now and am so glad that we were able to use it!
Congratulations, Andy & Sean, I'm so looking forward to your big day!
Wilmington, NC │Newborn Jordyn
Introducing beautiful Jordyn in this Wilmington, NC newborn lifestyle photography session.
Jordyn Emma
born 12.22.17
Jordyn is an absolute dream of a baby. She was a little older than some babies for our newborn session due to some health issues, but that is never a problem in my eyes. I love photographing all ages, newborn sessions can be adjusted no matter the issue and I think this particular age was fantastic because we got so many of Jordyn staring down my lens with that gorgeous head of hair!
Some of my favorite moments during any newborn session are usually the everyday interactions in-between. I love seeing images of little ones being soothed by their parents. I love to look back and see just how tiny those babies of yours were, all of the baby details, the way they snuggled into your neck. Definitely some of my faves! In any newborn session, I try to take the time to photograph those fleeting newborn/parent moments along with baby-focused images of course!
Jordyn looked adorable in her coming home outfit which was perfect since Valentine's Day happened the week of our photo session! We decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and let baby Jordyn lie in the sun on a few soft blankets in her Valentine's best.
Jordyn, you are the best! Jessica & Michael, congratulations on your new addition!
Wilmington │128 South Stylish Bohemian Folk Wedding
Wilmington, NC wedding at the beautiful 128 South venue with a unique Bohemian Folk theme.
Amy, Tim and I met for our beautiful Fort Fisher engagement session and when they showed up with one of their awesome pups, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite weddings to date! The venue was absolutely perfect. 128 South is an amazing wedding venue in downtown Wilmington, NC and fantastic for so many different wedding types. I typically start each wedding way ahead of my second shooter, as I am with the girls and the boys generally take much less time to get ready. Amy was able to use the bridal suite of 128 South, The Cottage on Orange Street, which I highly recommend using. It is the perfect set up, and makes for one gorgeous "Getting Ready" scene backdrop. After Tim & Amy had their special moment, "Uncle Timmy" got a second First Look of the darling flower girl! And let's not forget the sweet puppy kisses from their zoo at the end!
The Boys
While Amy was getting ready, Tim and the boys were getting ready as well with my second shooter, and hubby, Thor (yes, that is his real name, and yes, it is pretty cool!). Boys take about .05 seconds to throw on their wedding day attire but the in between moments are always some of my faves.
The First Look
Amy & Tim wanted to do a First Look with each other, which I of course am so for! Not only does it lend itself to some pretty emotional and beautiful images of one of those highlight moments of your wedding day, but you also knock back those nerves before your walk down the aisle! After Tim & Amy had their special moment, "Uncle Timmy" got a second First Look of the darling flower girl! And let's not forget the sweet puppy kisses from their zoo at the end!
The Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony was beautiful! The couples favorite band, The Mid-Atlantic, played live throughout the entire wedding which was a wonderful tie in for their Bohemian Folk style wedding. The flower girl darted up the aisle and wanted to hold Uncle Timmy's hand during the ceremony, which was adorable. The lighting by High Performance Lighting was incredible. Perfect ceremony!
The Reception
And the rest, my friends was history!
The Bride & Groom
And the rest was history!
more wedding fun for you!
Wilmington │Bridal Portrait Session
Bridal Portrait sessions are something that not all brides choose to do, but they are SUCH a brilliant way to capture gorgeous images of each bride before their wedding day! Brides, if you are considering booking a bridal session, allow me to sway you with this image collection!
Bridal Portrait sessions are something that not all brides choose to do, but they are SUCH a brilliant way to capture gorgeous images of each bride before their wedding day! Whitney, her mother and I chose Fort Fisher as the perfect bridal portrait location. We also happened to choose the windiest day I have ever experienced which was challenging, but really made for beautiful images with her veil being caught in the wind! Whitney, you are absolutely stunning! We had such a fun time at your engagement session, I am so happy we got additional time to do a bridal portrait session as well. Brides, if you are considering booking a bridal session, allow me to sway you with this image collection!
Bridal Session = Wedding Day Practice
One of the smartest things you can do for your bridal session, is to also plan your hair & makeup trial on the same day. This will allow you to get a feel for the complete look, and when going through your bridal portrait images, you will see exactly what you love or want to change before your big day!
Bridal Session Props a Must!
Whitney just so happened to find a chair that she thought would give us some pose options for her bridal session. I love the way the soft, muted colors of the chair gave a certain feel to her images. Great find! I always suggest that my brides bring a flower bouquet with them to their session. You certainly do not have to spend an arm and a leg to do so, you would be surprised how a basic floral bouquet from Whole Foods or Trader Joes can really add the perfect finishing touch to your images!
Golden Hour is Prime Time for Photo Sessions
You cannot go wrong with a golden hour photo session, and this is certainly true for bridal portraits. The hour before sunset is perfect for flattering images because you have nice even light, very little under eye circles from the harsh overhead sunlight, and you get the added benefit of beautiful sunset-filled skies as the session shifts from daylight to night.
Whitney, you were such a beautiful bride! Thank you so much for spending the evening with me at beautiful Fort Fisher! Stay tuned for a blog post of Whitney & Chad's Oak Island wedding!
Check out featured Wedding & Engagement blog posts!
Wilmington │Spine Family
Wilmington, NC family mini session taking advantage of beautiful fall foliage on this hidden gem walking trail with Tiffany Abruzzo Photography.
Around September or so, the inquiries for Fall Mini Sessions come rolling in and before I know it, the calendar is jam-packed with families wanting to check off a few To Do list items before the big holiday rush. You may remember this family from our downtown Wilmington, NC family session (if not, you should definitely click here to check it out). Ashley & Joel have the most adorable kiddos and we decided to spend the afternoon on a nature trail to make the most of the fall foliage for their mini session.
Fall Foliage Mini Sessions for the win!
The best part about this particular trail for me is that at a certain point, the trail opens up to this small bridge surrounded by trees and water, which I absolutely love. The kids always get kick out of it and it feels like such a hidden gem in Wilmington, NC.
Thank you, Ashley & Joel for tromping through the woods with me for our mini session. You're the best!
Check out other Family Session features!
Top 5 Tips │How to Rock your Newborn Session
Today on the blog, I am talking all about newborn sessions and breaking down how to get the MOST out of your session with the LEAST amount of stress! Mamas, you just had a baby, you don't need a giant to do list just go get those photographs you are hoping for! Here is the inside scoop on exactly how to rock your newborn session!
I often field questions from potential clients asking what exactly their newborn session will be like. Many of you have questions on what you need to do to prepare for your in-home photo session, if you need to supply your own props, how to prepare your baby or their siblings (or even pets!), etc.. Today on the blog, I am talking all about newborn sessions and breaking down how to get the MOST out of your session with the LEAST amount of stress! Mamas, you just had a baby, you don't need a giant to do list just go get those photographs you are hoping for! Here is the inside scoop on exactly how to rock your newborn session.
Tip ONE │How to Prepare Your Home for your Newborn Session
Let's jump right in, Mamas you do not need to deep clean your house in order to have a successful in-home newborn session. When I come to your home, I am on the hunt for beautiful light, first and foremost. If you are immediately worried because you believe your home has no decent natural light, there is ALWAYS a way! Glass patio doors, opening the front door and standing near the doorway, if it's a beautiful day outside, we can even spend a few minutes outdoors and take advantage of mother nature, there has never been a newborn session where the lighting was just impossible. The only thing I typically ask Mom & Dad to do to prepare their home is to turn the heat up a little bit because babies love to be warm and cozy, and this usually helps to keep them comfortable if we happen to need to do an outfit change or two.
Typically, parents love images of their newborn in the nursery they have created for them. Photographing your baby surrounded by those special items you have chosen for them is always sure to fill your gallery with special images for you! Baby in their crib, being rocked by Mom & Dad in their rocking chair, these images showcase those first moments together in your home. I do suggest that if you have something special or an heirloom item that you would like photographed, just have it handy so we can incorporate the special items into your images as the photo session unfolds.
Tip Two │Newborn Props for your Newborn Session
My passion is to photograph your family in a natural, documentary style while focusing on beautiful portraits of your newborn in their home. I will not show up to your newborn session with backdrops and backdrop stands, tons of baskets or buckets to position your baby in, etc. Some photographers do a fantastic job with this style of newborn photography, but it is just not what I do. My goal with every newborn session is to capture images that focus on those beautiful newborn baby details: tiny baby toes, the way their finger hand wraps around your finger, sweet baby cheeks, all of those little details that change so quickly over the first few weeks. I want my clients to be able to look back and remember just how little their baby was! I love more natural images and will position your baby in their home with a selection of neutral blankets and knit hats if you would like, without getting too set-up and posed. I do suggest that if you have something special or an heirloom item that you would like photographed, just have it handy so we can incorporate the special items into your images as the photo session unfolds. Often times I will take a step back after asking parents to just sit together with their baby somewhere comfortable in their home, and these gorgeous images unfold naturally as the parents enjoy this priceless moment with their sweet child. Take a peek at this fantastic newborn session with siblings, look how cute those kiddos are with their new brother, and all I did was get them to sit together on the bed and look at him. Those loving expressions are just reactions to their new little brother!
Tip Three │New Parents: Get in the Photographs!
Listen, I understand completely. You just had a baby, you don't feel like you look amazing, you don't have the energy to get all dolled up and really just want photographs of your baby to share with family and friends. But please, hear me: you are going to regret not getting in on the photo session action. You won't get this time back and how amazing would it be to be able to hold a photograph in your hand that really shows how you snuggled that new baby against your cheek, cradled them in your arm, kissed their sweet lips when they were so brand new! You don't need to go crazy and spend hours preparing for your photos, but keep in mind that I always hope to get at least one or two images for your gallery that show each parent with their baby, and together as a family, for documentary sake! Share them with friends and family, or keep them for yourself, but get in the shot. You can thank me later ;)
Tip Four │Your Newborn Makes the Rules at this Photo Session
One hour? Two hours? Three hours? The length of your photo session will completely depend on your newborn. Plan on taking a break to feed, change, feed, cuddle, feed, change, burp, feed your newborn any and every single time they need you. These pauses do not hurt the photo session process in the least! My goal is to keep you and your baby as comfortable and relaxed as possible, and I would never push through just to try to keep the session to a set end time. We may go a little over on time, we may have a miracle occur and be able to capture amazing images in just one hour! It's a toss up, and you just never know. The best way for you to prepare your newborn for this session is to do what you can to make sure they are fed, burped and changed as close to our start time as possible, and then after that we just play it by ear! When your baby needs you, we stop and get them settled again, and that's all part of a typical newborn session. P.S. those sweet parenting moments make for beautiful natural images for your gallery! I usually swoop in like a photo-ninja and focus on baby details while they are in the settling down moments, which I adore! Check out this little love, Baby Jesse, and his newborn session. Jesse needed Laryn to snuggle him many times at this session, which was adorable, but probably made Mom worry that we would never be able to get photos! Some of my favorite images of her sweet boy are from this session, she had nothing to worry about!
Tip Five │Plan Ahead if Possible
The best time to do an in-home newborn session is within the first two weeks, if possible. This is that little stretch of time when your baby will feel and look completely brand new. Ideally, after our maternity session, we will get you on the calendar for your tentative newborn session date and adjust as necessary depending on baby's birthday! Sometimes, newborn sessions have to be done later on because of each baby's circumstance, health issues, etc. and that is not a problem. No matter when your baby is welcomed home, your newborn session can be a success!
Check out our featured blog posts while you're here:
Vizcaya Villa Wedding │Domonique & Darryl
I met Domonique & Darryl in Wilmington when they arrived for their engagement shoot at Hugh Macrae Park. They had driven all the way from Fayetteville, not necessarily needing a wedding photographer, but they wanted to capture special images from their engagement stage and I was so happy to do that for them. Check their engagement session out here! I felt a real connection to them right away, and secretly hoped that something would work out and they would need me for their wedding after all. As luck would have it, they did ultimately choose me to photograph their Vizcaya Villa wedding in Fayetteville, North Carolina and what an awesome day it was!
I met Domonique & Darryl in Wilmington when they arrived for their engagement shoot at Hugh Macrae Park. They had driven all the way from Fayetteville, not necessarily needing a wedding photographer, but they wanted to capture special images from their engagement stage and I was so happy to do that for them. Check their engagement session out here! I felt a real connection to them right away, and secretly hoped that something would work out and they would need me for their wedding after all. As luck would have it, they did ultimately choose me to photograph their Vizcaya Villa wedding in Fayetteville, North Carolina and what an awesome day it was!
How sweet was that First Look between Domonique and her Dad! I love those wedding moments!!! Not a dry eye in the house. While I was photographing the girls, my second shooter Erica was with Darryl and the boys photographing their wedding prep. This is typically what we do when we work weddings, I will stay with the ladies all morning while they do their hair and makeup, documenting those candid moments in between, while my second shooter hangs out with the men!
Military weddings have my heart! I grew up an Army brat, with both Navy & Air Force grandparents, married to a man who was an Army medic, so when I get requests for military weddings, the heartstrings are pulled and I am so on board!
The ceremony at Vizcaya Villa in Fayetteville, North Carolina was absolute PERFECTION. The ceremony location is stunning, in the middle of garden on their property, overlooking a pond, under a beautiful vine-wrapped wrought iron trellis.
We spent a few minutes after the vows photographing the couples' family & friends, before setting off to take Bride & Groom portraits in the garden.
Absolutely perfect bouquets from Rainbow Florist in Fayetteville, NC. They could not have complimented the bridesmaids' dresses better in shades of lilac, lavender, magenta and plum.
Friends, let's talk about this stunning David Tutera gown! A) How gorgeous does Domonique look in this gown that fits her like a glove. B) Domonique had a wedding goal of David seeing just how amazing she looked, and we actually made that dream come true via this Instagram post!
On to the reception. It's a shame this couple had no fun at their wedding, am I right? Dancing, laughing, the best family & friends! One of the most special moments for me was when Domonique was surrounded by her sorority sisters as they sang their traditional song, with tears filling Domonique's eyes. Beautiful! Loved every minute of it and who doesn't love a sparkler exit??
Domonique & Darryl,
I wish you nothing but happiness as you begin your life together!
Thank you to these incredible vendors:
Venue │Vizcaya Villa in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Florist │Rainbow Florist
Limousine │Exclusive Limo and Shuttles
Makeup & Styling │FaceCafe NC
Hair │Aisha "Pinky" Cole
2018 Introductions
Hi, Friends! I thought I would start off the new year with a little blog post introducing myself. For those of you who do not know me, I am Tiffany Abruzzo and this is my photography business. I am based out of Wilmington, NC and as a former military brat, I am always up for a travel session inquiry! I love to photograph weddings and families, particularly maternity/newborn sessions.
Hi, Friends! I thought I would start off the new year with a little blog post introducing myself. It has been entirely too long since I did one of these, and actually, entirely too long since I updated the blog/site in general. 2017 was a very busy year for the business and I admit I let things slack a little here. 2018 resolution: Must. Blog. More. Consistently. Stay tuned, folks, I am going to really try to stick with this one!
For those of you who do not know me, I am Tiffany Abruzzo and this is my photography business. I am based out of Wilmington, NC and as a former military brat, I am always up for a travel session inquiry! I love to photograph weddings and families, particularly maternity/newborn sessions. Wilmington has such a fantastic variety of photo session locations at our disposal.
I have one daughter, 3 year old Isla, who keeps me on my toes and is quickly beginning to lose interest in my camera, but can't blame a mama for trying! Look at this little peanut!
My hubby, Thor, and I have been married for 5 years now, and started dating in 1999, so technically he's been stuck with me for the past 18 years! It's crazy when you think about how many life changes we have gone through together. I was 19 when we started dating, and that seems about three lifetimes away from my now 37 year old self. You may see Thor working along side of me at your wedding, as he is a fantastic second-shooter and I often ask him to come along to photograph with me when he is able.
* Photo by the wonderful Laura Ivanova at the Jedediah Hawkins Inn in Jamesport, NY
Here's to a fantastic year, I am so excited to share more sessions with you, a little behind-the-scenes peek of how my business is run, favorite local vendors, and more!