Liga Photography | Award Winning Orlando, Florida, Washington D.C., New York, and International Destination Wedding Photographer

The “Unplugged” Wedding: A Photographer’s Point of View

admin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10:36 +0000

Image by Kristen Weaver

“Unplugged” – The new wedding trend. More and more lately I am seeing the trend of couples wanting their guests to be present during their ceremony and reception, and opting to make their wedding “unplugged”. This means guests are asked to kindly refrain from taking photos with their smart phones and iPads and instantly posting them to popular social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This is in efforts to avoid having a crowd of guests constantly snapping photos with their phone or tablet, and to force them to pay attention and be present during their wedding.

I for one think this is a refreshing idea and feel that we all need to “power down” every now and then and become present to what is happening in front of us, especially with such important events such as a wedding. We are so apt to want to record and “share” the moment that we end up never really being IN the moment. It’s all a part of this fast-paced world of instant gratification that we live in.

As a wedding photographer, I LOVE the idea of an unplugged wedding. One being that I don’t have to deal with guests holding distracting phones throughout the ceremony taking away from the beautiful scenery. Not only is it distracting visually, but it probably is skewing the view from the person sitting behind them. Another frustrating element I see quite often is a guest with their arm extended in the middle of the aisle, botching up my shot. I’m sure many photographers would agree, this is a common occurrence that we have to constantly battle with. How many times have we had to wade our way through a sea of guests all with cameras just to capture the cake cutting??? The unplugged wedding allows us, as the professional, to focus on documenting the ever-fleeting moments occurring throughout the day and to provide our clients with those important memories.

And lastly, probably the most important reason that people may not think about, is that the guests are A PART of the wedding experience as well. Not only am I focusing on the bride and groom, but half of the amazing moments come from family and friends witnessing the joy and love. It is our job as the professional photographer to anticipate what’s to come and constantly be reading the faces of the crowd.

Think about it…wouldn’t the bride rather have photos of a tear and a smile on their guest’s face rather than a cell phone blocking it? I would love to know what your thoughts are…Feel free to leave a comment and let’s chat!

Xoxo Abby

Stacey, Dustin, and Baby Paxton…

admin — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:29:00 +0000

Can this family get any cuter? I think not! I met up with Stacey, Dustin, and sweet baby Paxton for their family portrait in St. Petersburg, FL. Below are just a few of my favorites from my time spent with this lovely family.

xoxo – Abby

Then and Now…First comes the wedding, then comes baby!

admin — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:57:44 +0000

One of the most precious perks about being a photographer is having the opportunity (and honor) to become a part of my clients’ lives. From the engagement session to their wedding, to the first newborn shoot, and so on, you end up growing up with their growing family. I photographed the lovely Nichole and Jim on their wedding day in 2009. I was tickled when they contacted me four years later to document the next milestone in their life, their newborn baby girl Madison. Below are a few of my favorites from their newborn session.

xoxo – Abby

Nichole and Jim on their wedding day in 2009. Four years later, they welcomed their Daughter Madison into the world.

“All that Glitters” The Wedding Story of Tia and Kelly – April 20th – The Cloister – Sea Island, Georgia

admin — Wed, 29 May 2013 21:10:20 +0000

This late April I found myself driving back to my old stomping grounds of South Georgia, one of my favorite places on earth. There’s something so magical about the low country and all of its beauty. From the pale watercolor skies and marsh lands, to the hanging moss, and sweet tea, everything about the South exudes pure hospitality. Tia and Kelly’s wedding embodied all of this added in with exceptional style and grace. Close friends and family of Tia and Kelly traveled to the remote historical resort, The Cloister, nestled on the tiny Sea Island, GA. Jessica and I met Tia and all of her lovely bridesmaids in her bridal suite. Each one of them were wearing monogrammed robes and giggling about excited for the events to unfold throughout the day. Tia, calm as ever, just bounced around happily from hair to makeup and laughing with her bridesmaids, all while anticipating what was to come. Kelly and his groomsmen were busy getting suited up with their classic Southern bow ties, navy jackets, and white pants. Pale pink chiffon dresses were worn by Tia’s bridesmaids, and glittery gold dresses for her two adorable flower girls. Guests took their seats on the Black Banks Terrace anxiously awaiting Tia’s walk down the aisle. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful and breezy. After Tia and Kelly exchanged vows, we headed to the Sea Island Beach Club for some stunning beach portraits and then to cocktail hour where signature colorful cocktails were served with gold pom-poms for a little extra flair. Gold and ivory chevron sequenced linens along with fuchsia peonies set the tone for their reception. Thoughtful speeches and toasts were given and then it was onto the clear tented dance floor for a night of dancing. I can’t say enough about Tia and Kelly. The moments and scenes that took place on their wedding day were abundant and full of love. Best wishes to the happy couple and thank you for allowing me to document such an important time in your lives. xoxo – Abby

A special thank you to Jessica Friend for sharing in the documentation of their day!

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: The Cloister – Sea Island, Georgia

PLANNER: Elizabeth Ernst & Erin Neal – The Cloister

FLORAL DESIGN: The Vine

LIGHTING & DECOR: AFR Event Furnishings

DRESS: Modern Trousseau – Charleston, South Carolina

SHOES: Jimmy Choo

PURSE: Vintage Judith Leiber

STATIONERY: Needle in a Haystack – Dallas, Texas

HAIR & MAKEUP: Back Porch Hair and Judy Crouch

VIDEOGRAPHER: Ruben Senderey

ENTERTAINMENT: Island Sound

The Cloister in all its beauty…take it in.

A custom sketch given to Tia from the designer itself.

Her Jimmy Choos…

And stunning details of her dress.

Her Mother gave Tia a special locket with her Grandparent’s wedding photo in it.

Getting ready.

All ladies chattering away with excitement!

The lovely bridesmaid dresses.

Love this candid portrait of Tia.

And her out-of-this-world-adorable flower girl!

and her second beautiful flower girl gazing at Tia. I can just see the thought in her mind of when it will be her day, someday.

The Mother of the Bride helping…everyone LOVED her pink Carolina Herrera dress, including me!

The light in her suite was exquisite.

Gold and pink stationery designs from Needle in a Haystack created the elegant brand of their wedding day.

A note from her groom.

Cartier, Jimmy Choo, and vintage Judith Leiber…how can a bride go wrong?

Jessica captured some amazing imagery of the guys…as always.

Kelly getting ready.

I loved the personal touches even down to Kelly’s monogrammed belt.

Another favorite of mine that Jessica took. How Norman Rockwell is this shot?

One of my favorite images of bride and flower girl…

Beauties!

And the wind over took Tia’s veil…I had some fun with that.

Stunning!

Kelly and his Groomsmen…so dapper.

And you can’t forget about the little guys.

Ceremony details…so bright and beautiful!

Tia can’t contain her excitement, it’s finally here!

Just married!

This was one gooooood lookin’ wedding party, just sayin.

This sweet portrait was snapped just as we exited The Cloister lobby.

And I had to give a shot out to the handsome groomsmen.

Beachside!

I loved this group, all overjoyed and happy for Tia and Kelly.

The sky was absolutely PERFECT!

Poster flower girls.

And why not add a little bit of glitter to the party?

The pale pink dresses matched with the pop of hot pink flowers…I was a happy photographer!

And who can forget about the guys? So well put together…kudos!

And now time for their official wedding portraits.

The sky looked like a painting…

Peonies…

A little run on the beach.

And drawing their names in the sand.

Too cute!

Now time to party!

The view of the beach from the cocktail hour.

Sparkly and festive signature cocktails were all the rage.

Love the look of mischief on his face.

Gold, ivory, and chevron details all over.

Speeches…

Tia’s Mother toasting to the happy couple.

And of course, the adorable candy bar…yum!

A precious speech and moment from Tia’s Grandmother.

Cake cutting.

And onto their first dance.

Now this was THE MOST AMAZING MOMENT that I witnessed happen at a wedding. The little flower girl is lying asleep on a bed of pillows, and then the image below you will see her Grandfather lovingly and patiently sitting by her side, watching after her. I teared up…

Pure love in right in front of me…

Evening detail shot.

And off they go!

And this beautiful moment between Mother and Daughter…

xoxo

The Confidential Workshop – The Low Down…

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:02 +0000

Image by Kristen Weaver

Wow! Last week was amazing! After announcing the launch of The Confidential and revealing the teaser video by Jeffrey Stoner, we’ve gotten a great response! Many of you are inquiring and asking what’s the deal with The Confidential and how is it different from all the other workshops out there? Well, I will tell you, The Confidential has been an idea that I’ve had for years. After attending my fair share of workshops and seminars, while I did leave with valuable knowledge and great experiences, one thing that I left wanting is the opportunity to review some of the images I photographed at the workshop. I remember my school days at The Savannah College of Art and Design and putting my images up every Friday in front of the entire classroom to be critiqued. While, for many of you, this may seem scary, and I assure you, I never LOVED “critique day” either, but what it DID do was provide me a sense of why I shoot the way I shoot. Which in turn, has catapulted me into believing in my work, myself, my eye, and ultimately becoming a more confident artist.

The Confidential will provide you the opportunity to shoot, edit, present, and discuss amongst your peers giving you insight into who you are as a photographer. In addition to the challenging photo shoots, The Confidential is also about gaining more confidence in your business practices. During the 3 day workshop, we will examine the key elements of favorable business practices in areas such as branding, marketing and client-vendor relationships, complete with industry professional speakers. We will help you determine where your weakness and strengths are, and help guide you to developing your unique style as well as strengthening your position in the market place. I am spotlighting two amazing and talented friends of mine, wedding planner extraordinarre Lisa Stoner of E-Events, and master branding and marketing / invitation designer, Amy Morelli of The 2u Collection and 2u Creative. They will be speaking about Branding, Vendor Relations, Social Media, and much more to share their experiences and help guide you to put your best self out into the market place. Workshop dates are October 14-17th in Orlando. Check back June 1st for the launch of The Confidential website filled with details on location, and other important details. In the mean time, check out the great teaser video Jeffrey Stoner did to learn more about The Confidential and be sure to “LIKE” The Confidential Facebook page to get updates on important info and news!

xoxo – Abby

Unwavering Love: The Wedding Story of Nikki and Chris – Carlouel Yacht Club, Clearwater Beach, FL

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:42:07 +0000

When you think of the two words true love, you might think of two people on the cover of some cheesy Nicholas Sparks novel or maybe one of those couples in the engagement ring commercials. One of the joys that I have in my profession is I get to see the real true love between two people, not just fluff you see on the bookshelves or tv. I met Nikki and Chris on April 13th in Clearwater Beach where all of their wedding festivities were to take place. The weather was horrible the evening before and the forecast for Saturday did not look good. Thankfully, all worked out as all we had were blue skies and fair temperatures. Nikki was as cool as a cucumber peacefully getting her hair done at her Parent’s house while all of her other bridesmaids were at the salon getting their done. Quite a smart idea! Their ceremony was held at The House of Prayer a beautiful church with vast gardens and waterfalls. Just before the ceremony, we secured a private area where Nikki gave her blindfolded Groom-to-be a kiss telling him that she love him and can’t wait to marry him. Again, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen love quite so pure. After the ceremony, Nikki and Chris released doves and read some personal vows to each other. The reception was held under a monumental white tent nestled perfectly amongst the white sand on Clearwater Beach. Several gigantic crystal chandeliers hung from the middle of the tent while the orange and purple uplighting cast deep hues against the tent walls. First dances, a performance by Grammy Award Winner Billy Dean, and even a serenade by Nikki’s Father made this reception truly unforgettable. I wish you all of the best Nikki and Chris! You two are such beautiful people inside and out.

xoxo – Abby

A special thank you to my fabulous second photographer Jessica Friend for all of your hard work!

CEREMONY: House of Prayer

RECEPTION: Carlouel Yacht Club

PLANNER: Shannon Wilson of Tabel 6 Productions

VIDEOGRAPHER: Brett Culp CVP

FLORAL DESIGN: Botanica

LIGHTING & DECOR: ConceptBAIT

HAIR: Salon Gaboa

MAKEUP: Colors by Linny

ENTERTAINMENT: Project Soul

Nikki writing her letter to Chris..

And showing off her robe in all her hot roller glory.

“I Do!”

Chris and his groomsmen relaxing before getting ready

Some details of the House of Prayer, truly a peaceful place.

Nikki and her Aunt getting her gown on, she was all smiles.

This sweet moment happened just before the walk down the aisle, love the blindfold.

Nikki and her adorable ring bearer, he couldn’t get any cuter!

“Dum, dum, da dum!”

Love the way Chris looks at Nikki, pure happiness.

One of my all time favorites from today. Love the way you can see the joy on Nikki’s face.

Dove release!

Lovely periwinkle colors…

Which contrasts nicely with the tuxedos.

Chris is so cute, he can barely contain his excitement!

The beach was the perfect temp complete with a slight breeze. Here’s a handsome portrait of our Groom.

Some favorites of sweet Nikki and her fabulous bouquet.

A little laughter and cardio never hurt a bride and groom!

Love this look

And they even had their dog “Sage” make a cameo.

Tent pitched, time to party! Love all of the purple, green, and ivory details.

Their cocktail hour was filled with wine and the sounds of steel drums…my ideal beach setting.

Billy Dean performed for their first dance…so sweet!

Love me some chandeliers.

Nikki’s Father serenading the happy couple with a song he wrote just for her.

More gorgeous details…

xoxo

Liga Photography graces the lifestyle cover of The Wall Street Journal

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:56:04 +0000

Happy Friday to all! I am so excited and honored to share this feature I photographed for none other than The Wall Street Journal. The article called “Go To Your Room!” is about how teenagers are changing interior design by creating “Teen Suites” consisting of teen lounges, hangout areas, and offices for homework. I met up with two lovely teenagers in Ormonde Beach, Florida and photographed them in their unique suites. The cover image below features a 12 year old girl hanging out in her “Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe” inspired closet. Truly unique and a great way to encourage imagination through interior design. It’s a great article and definitely encourage you to take a few minutes and read.

xoxo – Abby

Oh So Pretty! Lindsey and Chip’s Wedding – April 6th – Winter Park, Florida

admin — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:05:46 +0000

April was one fabulous whirl wind of three Ah-mazing weddings that I had the honor of photographing. And it all started with the beautiful and so sweet Lindsey and Chip. These two couldn’t stop smiling, it was so sweet to see. Everything was perfect. The weather, Lindsey’s dress, the happiness between Lindsey and Chip, the ceremony and reception…I could go on and on. Jessica, Sarah, and I had a ball documenting their day. The getting ready images were taken at Lindsey and Chip’s brand new house, something very special to them. Chip even surprised Lindsey a few weeks earlier with a custom wooden bench with “The Wooten’s” branded on the back…what a meaningful wedding gift. Her bridesmaids wore lilac dresses, such an iconic “April” color. The groomsmen were handsome in light gray suits with pink peony boutonnieres. It was like everyone stepped out of a wedding magazine. The ceremony was held at the historic Knowles Chapel at Rollins College in Winter Park. Miles of glass hurricanes with candles lined the aisle awaiting for Lindsey to walk down it. More candles and candelabras decorated the reception at The Interlachen Country Club. The light was so warm and romantic and the gold chivari chairs added to the glow of the room. Dancing, toasts, two fabulous cakes, and one heartfelt send off made up the stunning reception for The Wootens. I feel so blessed to have been a part of it and wishing nothing but the best for these two lovely, lovely people!

xoxo – Abby

A special thank you to Jessica Friend and Sarah Bray for being amazing assistants!

CEREMONY: Knowles Chapel at Rollins College

RECEPTION: The Interlachen Country Club

PLANNER: Sonya Keller of Busy Brides

FLORAL DESIGN: Lee Forrest Design

DRESS: Watters from Solutions Bridal

SHOES: Tom’s

MAKEUP & HAIR: Flawless Faces by Alicia / Jeanette Hughes

CAKE: The Sugar Suite

VIDEOGRAPHY: Imprint Cinema

PHOTO BOOTH: DJ Photobooth Rocks

ENTERTAINMENT: White Rose Entertainment

CHAIRS & LIGHTING: Orlando Wedding Party Rentals

Love the little touches of their new home…

And all of her lovely bridal details. I’m obsessed with her paint color!

Lindsey’s out-of-this-world Watters gown…It was seriously meant for her.

More sweet details…

And her adorable Niece bubbling with excitement.

Antique brooches from Lindsey’s Grandmothers, such a meaningful accent.

And Chip…you gotta love this guy!

A few lovely details of Lindsey…

The colors throughout the wedding were so smooth and subtle.

Lilac and heather gray…lovely combo.

So sweet.

A little fun with the guys at the club.

Love this portrait of Chip.

And as if she couldn’t be any more adorable.

She couldn’t be any sweeter!

Lindsey’s Mother and Sister helping with the dress…

Love this moment between Lindsey and her Mother.

Stunning!

Love the single peony in her hair.

A few of Lindsey and her bridesmaids and flower girl.

Knowles Chapel at Rollins College.

And this sweet moment between Lindsey and Chip just before their ceremony.

The iconic walk down the aisle

They couldn’t stop looking at each other during the ceremony…so sweet.

Or laughing.

The late afternoon light beaming through the sanctuary.

Just married!

And love these bridesmaids and groomsmen shots…and the colors too!

Sweet Lindsey.

She’s so classic!

And Chip just makes her instantly start giggling.

Hand holding.

And all of the glowing details at their reception.

Lindsey and Chip reacting to the stunning room.

First Dance.

And a few toasts.

Cake!

A beautiful moment between Father and Daughter.

Sky lanterns!

And lots of dancing!

A few evening portraits…

And their final send off.

Tachina and Edward – March 25th – Shades of Green Resort – Orlando, FL

admin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:07:55 +0000

It is rare that I ever have a wedding on a weekday, especially on a Monday. But when military couple Tachina and Edward contacted me to photograph a few simple portraits of them just after their ceremony, I couldn’t say no. Typically, I only offer full coverage weddings, however, for all of the time and devotion they dedicate to our Country each day, photographing their official portraits on their wedding day seemed to be the least I could do. So…below are a few of my favorites from my one hour of time with the beautiful and sweet Tachina and Edward. God Bless!

xoxo – Abby

Table for Ten goes Italian!

admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:14:43 +0000

A puff of white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signifying that the cardinals had chosen a new pope — Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in Orlando at Buca Di Beppo’s “Pope Room”, an equally significant event was taking place with a group of ten wedding industry professionals that were deciding which delicious italian dishes to indulge in. Yes, it’s another fabulous Table For Ten Luncheon! Our intimate gathering consisted of yours truly, and the following list of talented vendors: Amy Morelli of The 2u Collection, Lisa Stoner of E-Events Design, Linda Grier and Tommy Murphy of Greenery Productions, Simone Rosas of Makeover Station, Schuyler Osborne of Perfect Sky Productions, Victoria Angela of Victoria Angela Photography, Sarah Florio of AFR, and Andrea Gillman, fabulous sales manager of Buca Di Beppo. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this lovely afternoon spent among colleagues and friends. Between the wine, intimate conversation, and very fitting decor of the room, a great time was had by all! Looking forward to the next thrilling chapter of Table for Ten.

xoxo,

Abby

You can’t get more iconic “Italian” than this! …I never thought I’d say this, but introducing the Pope!

And Lisa Stoner and Tommy Murphy…

We started off with bountiful salad and bread…

yum!

Linda and Victoria…and the Pope.

Salute!

Our lovely hostess Andrea giving us the skinny on Buca Di Beppo.

Mr. Schyuler Osborne, he was loving the ratio in that room!

My favorite, chicken picatta!

Amy and Tommy, all smiles.

Group shot!

And now for dessert…the chocolate cake was my favorite!

After much thought, we decided to deem Schyuler as Pope for the day.

Ladies of the hour.