Monthly Archives: August 2011

Tidbit Tuesday #90

I did it! Last weekend, after convincing Dylan that we NEEDED a chevron rug, and that I could make it happen in a matter of days for about a third of the cost of buying one, I did just that. With Pinterest as my guide, I painted – yes, PAINTED – an IKEA ERSLEV rug with Behr’s Broadway in interior satin. It took about a million years to figure out how to space the zigs and the zags precisely, but the end result is kiiiller legit. Since then I was also able to convince Dylan that we needed a pallet coffee table. There’s more to come about that little ginormous project later this week! :)  Next up are our bedroom side tables!

I’m considering making Tidbit Tuesday inclusive of at least one insane Alyse-dream every week. Because last night’s was just way too awesome not to share… It started by head-butting a guy wearing a wig in our elevator because he had kidnapped our neighbor and I was NOT going to let him get away with it. This was followed by evading two different gunmen in two different hotel lobbies. Followed by speed-walking down Barton Hill Rd. in Schoharie and throwing myself in a pond in order to hide from said gunmen. I think I woke up while I was still under water. Or maybe I won’t make this a regular tidbit…

Dylan and I will be PA-bound this week, from Thursday through Monday, for Dylan’s brother’s wedding! We miss our Morrissey family so deeply and so often, and we are SO excited to celebrate and shoot Josh and Jenn’s day!! Now if only I could muster up the courage to tackle my closet-full of laundry so I can pack. ;) OH, And because the wedding falls on the first Sunday of the month, September’s 1 For Me // 1 For You kick-off will be rescheduled for the following Sunday!

Those of you who follow us on Twitter may already be aware of the complete devastation Hurricane Irene has caused my home county in upstate NY. The magnitude of damage and loss really deserves an entirely separate post altogether, but it has been extremely heavy on my heart these past few days. My parents and childhood home were unscathed, but I have family members who’ve lost everything they own due to flooding, as well as numerous handfuls of friends in the same situation. We covet your prayers for Schoharie County, knowing that we serve a GOOD God, who loves us, hears our prayers, and will take care of us. If anyone is interested in learning of some other ways to help, please let us know in the comment section and/or by sending us a message through our contact form!

Song of the Week: Go Do by Jónsi. I first discovered this song through a Facebook friend who posted THIS link to Brandon Scott Photography’s new promo video. I laaawved the video, and I loved the song just as much. I added it to my Spotify, and the rest is history… And trying to sing the lyrics in my best Icelandic accent ever, of course. Give it a try yourself by listening to it HERE.

Until we disclose the full process of turning our two $5 pallets into the glorious coffee table now sitting nicely between our two couches, I’ll leave you with this little peek of our craftiness. With an even tinier peek of our new rug underneath it. Let us know what you think!! :)

Happy Tuesday!!

September 1, 2011 - 10:27 PM

Mabyn - I am convinced we’re photog soul mates! Hand painted chevron rug, pallet coffee table, redecorating inspiration from your pinterest addiction…um yeah can you stop raiding my brain at night? K thanks! ;oP
I MISS YOU GUTS!!!!!!

August 30, 2011 - 11:58 AM

pam - you already know i love both projects! so much that i’m going to do a painted rug for my bedroom now!! :)

August 30, 2011 - 11:28 AM

Amber Jacoby - PA-bound…..a dream come true! Hardly real! So excited!

Rice University Cohen House Wedding: Becca & Chris

The ceremony had just ended, and Dylan and I made our way to the jaw-droppingly beautiful Cohen House at Rice University for Becca and Chris’s wedding reception. As we shot the different details of the scene that made this day uniquely theirs, I couldn’t help but choke back tears. For like… the 17th time in four hours.. Though that specific instance could be blamed on the table display of family members’ wedding images, with Kata and Drew’s portrait on the left.

And then, right when I thought I’d been stealthy enough to hide my blubbering for the 18th time, I heard a voice to my right. “I couldn’t help but notice you tearing up during the ceremony… That was touching,” said a guest with a smile. And though part of me felt like, “Dangit, Alyse. Get a HOLD of yourself!” I smiled back and said, “I really couldn’t help it. I just love this family. I just feel so invested… And so, soo happy for Becca and Chris.” And it’s so true.

Becca and Chris.. Goodness, I don’t even know what to say. (Imagine that, right?) ;) The way in which you’ve both welcomed Dylan and I into such an important time in your lives, means SO much to us. Your kindness is mind-blowing. Your love for God is awe-inspiring. And your families, now ONE family, is full of some of the most incredible people we’ve ever had the honor of working with. Thank you. For all of it. With love, Alyse and Dylan. XOXO!!

Bergner and Johnson nails it again! And remember Becca’s Pronovias dress from her bridal session? Yeah, it’s pretty unforgettable…
My favorite image from prep-time! Becca, you are flaw.less.
Chris, looking dapper in preparation for the first look!
Becca and Chris were on the fence about doing a first look for a while, but ultimately decided that it was the perfect decision to maximize enjoyment of their day. I am SO glad they did it. And I just love this set so much. :) 
The wedding day timeline Becca and I worked together to create allowed for some pretty chill portrait-taking time prior to the ceremony.
Remember the other day when I tweeted that I may have a Dylan Morrissey Photography trying to give me a run for my money? Well, case in point is the left picture below. (With my angle is on the right.)
And this right here? ALL Dylan.
Becca and Chris got married at Grace Bible Church, which has the most character-full courtyard ever.
D’s shot. Don’t they just radiate happy?
By this point you already know Dylan shot this wedding with me. ;) But I’m just so proud of him and THIS shot of Kata praying just minutes before the ceremony started!
The GBC chapel.
Cue the tears. And lots of them.
Dylan’s!
This was Chris’s face when first seeing his bride walking down the aisle. So priceless. Don’t you just feel it??
Ahh!! BEST part of every wedding. :)
MARRIED!
After arriving at the Cohen House, we shot a few more portraits outside the reception hall.
Exquisite.
When I first laid eyes on this giant oak tree, the paper lanterns, and that amazing fountain, I just about died and went to Heaven. Add a simply beautiful couple into the mix? And well, you get the images below…
And while I was capturing things like this..
Dylan was capturing details like this..
Quite possibly my favorite shot of Chris all day.
Heading inside now! Again, a huge thank you to Bergner and Johnson for all the floral.
And also to Edet Okum for the cake!
Wait, I lied. This is outside. And I LOVED the vibe.
But inside was just as fancy!
The first dance..
D’s! LOOOVE.
Hey Michael (bride’s younger brother), if you’re reading this, your dad and I have already made a pact that when you need a wedding photographer, you’re to call me up. ;) No, but f’real. Pretty please??
Something about this moment… A man and his wife, holding each other, in prayer.. I like it a lot.
And this? Well, I can’t wipe the smile off my face. :)
Okay, okay, I had to include this one. A wedding plus a toad sighting at the fountain? Best day ever. And do I like asking rhetorical questions as captions for my pictures? Well, yes. Yes I do..
You might remember Jeff from Kata and Drew’s wedding. His dance moves are LEGIT, people. Leh. Git.
The band Doppleganger brought the house down. Clearly. :)
And a sparkler exit as Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson.

Happy Saturday all!!

February 17, 2012 - 10:52 AM

Dewayne Ross - Beautiful shots! I look forward to working with you on Kelly Mercadals wedding set for November 3rd at The Cohen House!

October 21, 2011 - 4:43 PM

Melanie Little - We are trying to have a Rehersal Dinner at Cohen House. Was worried about the food and wine. Can you let me know if you have an inside on this. Thank you

August 31, 2011 - 3:42 PM

Blair Ainsworth - LOVE LOVE LOVE! Amazing photos of the lovely couple! xoxox

August 30, 2011 - 10:24 AM

jessica - wow!!!!! amazing capture of an amazing wedding!!! I absolutely love the two picks where they are just hugging each other!!! they make me melt!!! great job friend!

August 30, 2011 - 9:31 AM

Diane - absolutely jaw-dropping!

August 28, 2011 - 6:54 PM

Erin - O.M.G!! i don’t even know these two and you had me all teary with that first sight down the aisle!!

August 28, 2011 - 1:06 PM

pam - gorgeous. wonderful. beautiful. you just capture moments so well alyse (you too dylan).

by the way the whole lanterns/tree/fountain thing has me melting over here, nicely captured!

August 27, 2011 - 1:58 PM

Erin W - Stunning! Love everything about this wedding!

August 27, 2011 - 1:31 PM

Faith - Simply GORGEOUS! :)

Rice Village Bridal Portraits: Becca

What to say about Becca? She is one of the sweetest people you could ever, EVER meet. She and Chris tied the knot this past weekend, and that’s an entirely different blog post altogether… (See what I did there?) :) But I am soo excited to share a small peek at the bridal images we took a few weeks back around the esplanades near Rice Village. She was an absolute vision/dream come true to photograph. And something tells me you’ll agree… XOXO!!

As soon as Becca got out of the car in THIS Pronovias dress, I would never be the same. Seriously? And that hair? GORGEOUS.
I could shoot at the esplanades every day of my life.
Many thanks to Bergner and Johnson for whipping up this beautiful bouquet!
Ahhh, liiight!!
Well, B. I’m not sure what I could say that hasn’t already been said. So I’ll leave it at, you’re STUNNING.

Happy Thursday!!

August 31, 2011 - 2:55 PM

Sara - Alyse! I don’t know if you remember me from an AAS class we took together but I just had to tell you that I am OBSESSED with your work! For some reason my gmail saved your email from a project wed did and so I get your gchat status thing and I am seriously checking for updates on your page for new pics all the time :) my boyfriend makes fun of me saying that I am stalking strangers’ weddings lol ok just had to tell you! Congrats on all your doing and great work!–Sara Lopez

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