Olivia Leigh Photographie Blog :: Photos and Experiences from a Chicago Wedding Photographer » Personal

Low Country :: Personal

Olivia — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:45:24 +0000

I usually try to go back home to Charlotte in the spring, before my wedding season gets too busy. This year, rather than just staying at home, my parents and I decided to take a few days and take a mini road trip to Charleston and Savannah. This was my first time in both, and they were each wonderful. The food in Charleston was amazing, and the architecture and history I found fascinating. I was surprised by how different Savannah felt — it was not at all what I was expecting and really is one of the most unique cities in the country, in my opinion. The prevalence of the parks and squares (literally every two or four blocks) lent the city an almost Parisian feel. I would so recommend taking a trip to one or both of these cities if you’re looking for a quick little getaway, and when you go, please eat the following things: greek yogurt panna cotta with strawberry consomme at FIG, everything (though especially the best macaroni and cheese in existence) at cru cafe (high five to the fabulous Caitlin at Blue Moon Events for the recommendation) everything at crazy The Wreck, and the flounder at The Olde Pink House.

And yes, these were all shot on film. I have been shooting exclusively film this year for personal things. I find the last thing I want to do is digitally edit personal pictures when I have thousands of client images, so film is the perfect medium — shoot, get film back, enjoy. An amazing wedding and session coming up soon…

Tuesday, 15 Sept.

Olivia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:10:40 +0000

Before we went to see The September Issue. I love Grace Coddington. Although I will say that if you are going to watch a fashion documentary from this year, you ought to make it Valentino (such a special, wonderful movie! One of the few that has made me cry.)

Quick Travel Update

Olivia — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:56:50 +0000

As per my last travel post, I’ve been travelling A LOT this year, and still have quite a bit to go. I unexpectedly booked a wedding out in San Francisco next month, and I am so thrilled to go back to one of my favourite cities. I will be there, most likely, August 11-13. I have room for 1-2 sessions if desired, particularly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you live in the Bay Area or have a friend who might be interested in a connection session (great for engagements or a couple at any stage), potrait or boudoir, shoot me an email at olivia at olivialeighphotographie dot com.

Also a reminder that I will be out in D.C./NOVA next week and could do one session on Friday for someone out there.

Here is a quick photo that I took while at a boudoir session with a lovely bride-to-be yesterday. I have been very slowly and somewhat passively working on a collection of Chicago tilt-shift images from above to hopefully show in a gallery at some point, since the gallery showing has completely gone by the wayside since I’ve been so busy in the past year or so. Lots of days in hotel rooms prepping for weddings = lots of prime opportunities for photographing the city from up above.

This is Chicago [SUMMER]

Olivia — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:32:31 +0000

A grab on my way home from a session last week. Sort of misleading since summer overall has been so rainy and gray, but this is how I always think of summers in Ilinois: horizons, fields, sun exploding, blood orange and blue skies…

Chicago [WINTER]

Carly + Rob :: NYC Wedding Selects

Olivia — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:56 +0000

When I was in New York City back in March, I ended up second shooting a wedding with an old internet friend, Daniel Krieger. I had an extra day, he had a wedding, and so I was off and shooting a stunning one with him. I completely lucked out, as Carly and Rob had the most “New Yorky” affair I could have wished for, with a classic, NYC style, preparations and portraits in Manhattan, and a beautiful ceremony and reception at Chelsea Piers. They also had the most attractive guests I’ve ever seen at a wedding, so making them look beautiful was not a challenge! Because I second shot, I didn’t shoot the standard formals and very few portraits, but instead was able to just capture the day photojournalistically and shoot myriad details, as well. It was really wonderful to be able to relax a bit and look at things a different way. I am hoping I am able to shoot another wedding in New York next year; I really love many of these images and I hope you do, too.

New York

Olivia — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:38:00 +0000

I was in New York for the past week, shooting two engagement connection sessions, in meetings and seconding (something I hadn’t done in a few years, but was a great experience) at a stunning wedding in Manhattan. I also spent a lot of time catching up with friends who live in town or were visiting, and had a wonderful time walking around, eating delicious food and taking some rare pleasure photos.

It was my first trip to New York, and I really loved it. It can’t really be compared to any other city in the country; I was really shocked by how much larger and more intense it felt than Chicago, a big city by any means. I found myself falling more in love with Chicago on the trip, but now that I’m home, I’m itching to go back a bit. I think I’ll be spending some more time there later this year and hopefully quite a bit more in 2009.

Many more posts from the sessions and wedding coming later, but for now, enjoy some of the photos I took in my down time. It has been a while since I shot photographs for pleasure that I really enjoyed (more an issue of rarely devoting time to shooting for pleasure rather than not liking what I shoot), so I am quite thrilled with many of these.

Sun finally came out on Friday