Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center Irish Wedding - Norfolk Photographer

Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center Norfolk

Irish Themed Wedding

Maggie and Sean got married, and it was amazing!! I have lots of images to share with you from their gorgeous Irish themed wedding at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk . These two beautiful humans stole my heart when I shot their engagement session photos in downtown Norfolk, and I knew their wedding would be a fantastic celebration of love and life.

The day started off gloomy and rainy, but that didn’t put a damper on anyone’s spirit. These two belong together, no matter the weather. (And I love a good dramatic sky, so you won’t hear me complaining!)

Maggie and Sean chose an Irish theme to celebrate Sean’s family heritage. I love those deep greens! The greens mixed with classic gray and sparkly champagne tones were the perfect touch of elegance for the lovely Half Moone venue.

Even though it was gray and drizzly out, we popped outside as often as we could to take some group shots. The boys were buttoned up and ready to go in style!

These beauties are besties. Together through thick and thin - and wind and rain! I think they look like super models.

A final prayer and embrace, and it was time to head down the aisle.

Between the gorgeous bride, handsome groom, and lovely light reflecting all over the Grand Rotunda, I was swooning all over the place.

Their ceremony was absolutely stunning, but also heartfelt, intimate, and so full of joy.

Soon the announcement was made, and they were officially Mr. & Mrs. Sweeney!

After the I do’s, we headed back outside for some group photos with the bride and groom.

Once the groups were done, I took Maggie and Sean down the the Armed Forces Memorial on the Norfolk waterfront for some bride and groom portraits. Sean is a Navy helicopter pilot, so the memorial was a meaningful spot for some photos of this military couple.

After only a few minutes, the wind and rain picked up and chased us back inside. Look at that storm cloud!

The couple was announced to a roaring crowd at the reception, and the dancing began.

Omar’s Carriage House, local to Norfolk, put on a delicious spread for all of the guests.

And the Tidewater Drive Band were amazing entertainers!! They kept the party rocking all night long and the crowd loved every minute!

Between the tearful toasts and cake cutting, complete with a sword and delicious donuts from the Sugar Shack, we snuck back out to the waterfront for some more bride and groom portraits. This time with umbrellas, just in case!

Then it was back to the party to dance the night away with family and friends! It was an epic night of love and shennanigans!

Congratulations Maggie & Sean! I wish you a life filled with love and sweet memories. XOXOX- Melissa

Stellar Vendor list for this fabulous event: 
Venue: Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center, Lisa Fisher
Brides Hair & Make Up: AOC Salon, Norfolk, Audrey Lane
Bride's Dress: Here & Now Bridal
Groom's Attire: Macy's, Calvin Klein
Event Coordinator: Sarah Hough
Officiant: Pat Sweeney, Uncle
Florals: Norfolk Wholesale Floral
Dessert: Sugar Shack
Custom Rings: Lorak Jewelry, Selden Arcade
Photography: Melissa Bliss Photography
Special thanks to Debbie Lawrence, FocusArtStudio, for shooting with me.

And amazing entertainment by the one an only Tidewater Drive Band!

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If you are in the Hampton Roads, VA area and would like to schedule your unique portrait experience, contact us today: melissablissphotography@gmail.com

Hampton Roads Wedding Photographer

Melissa Bliss Photography – Timelessly Beautiful. Authentically You.

Norfolk Wedding Photographer, Virginia Beach Wedding Photographer, Half Moone Norfolk Wedding, Portsmouth Wedding Photographer, Sandbridge Wedding Photographers, Williamsburg Wedding Photographers

January Head Shot Special - Norfolk Lifestyle Photographer

January Head Shot Special - Norfolk Lifestyle Photographer

To kick off the New Year, I’m offering a limited time special on head shot sessions!

Have you been putting off a new set of professional portraits? Is it time for an updated and polished profile pic?

Why not head into 2020 with a fresh start? Book by January 31st to take advantage of this special offer and check those updated portraits off your to-do list.

Head shot sessions are 20 minutes and include an online proofing gallery, and a download of your 5 favorite images.

These sessions are short and sweet, but offer a nice variety of looks to suit your professional needs. They are perfect for social media profiles, business cards, and website bios.

I make it easy and fun, so that you can relax and feel confident in presenting your best self to the world.

I know not everyone likes to hop in front of the camera (me included!) - it can be nerve-wracking. But, I promise to make it painless. And when you have some beautiful updated photos, you’ll be so glad you did it!

Here are a few tips for having a great head shot session:

1. Communicate clearly the look and style you are going for. It will be helpful for your photographer to know how you plan to use the photos, and if there are any guidelines or size requirements for specific uses.

2. Wear something you feel great in! That confidence will shine through in your photos. It is a good idea to bring 2-3 choices in dark and light neutrals or earth tones. Layers work great to vary up your style by mixing and matching jackets or scarves with different tops.

3. Spring for professional hair and make up. You’ll feel much more confident for those closeup shots.

4. Have fun and trust your photographer! I love to chat with my clients and move from location to location - not only does it offer more variety, but they also don’t have time to get bored or nervous.

Contact me for available dates and times, and book your head shot session before January 31st, 2020.

Melissa Bliss Photography – Timelessly Beautiful. Authentically You.

If you would like to find out more about our wedding photography services, contact us today! Serving VA & NC. Available for travel destinations worldwide.

Virginia Wedding Photographer, Destination Wedding Photographer, Williamsburg Wedding Photographer, Norfolk Wedding Photographers, Virginia Beach Wedding Photographers, Sandbridge Wedding Photographer, Portsmouth Wedding Photographers

Mariner's Museum Park Couples Session - VA Wedding Photographer

Mariner's Museum Park Couples Session - VA Wedding Photographer

Today I’m sharing a sweet couples session that was shot on the Noland Trail, at Mariner’s Museum Park in Newport News.

The Pritchett’s are a military couple who, like most military couples, spend more time apart than they’d like. They scheduled a mini session to capture some portraits that celebrate their first year of marriage.

Since they enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors, the Noland Trail was a great choice for our anniversary session.

I enjoyed getting to know this beautiful couple as we wandered the trails along the waterfront. The golden light and reflections off the water offered up a dreamy glow for their images.

Thank you Pritchett’s! I wish you many more happy anniversaries together. - XOXO, Melissa

Melissa Bliss Photography – Timelessly Beautiful. Authentically You.

To find out more about my wedding photography services, contact me today! Serving VA & NC. Also available for travel destinations worldwide.

Thank you so much for visiting! If you enjoyed this post, please share it.

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Norfolk Engagement Photos, Virginia Elopement Photographer, Destination Wedding Photographer, Williamsburg Wedding Photographer, Norfolk Wedding Photographers, Virginia Beach Wedding Photographers, East Coast Wedding Photographer, Portsmouth Wedding Photographers

Norfolk Botanial Garden Wedding Portraits - Norfolk Wedding Photographer

Norfolk Botanial Garden Wedding Portraits - Norfolk Wedding Photographer

Norfolk Botanical Garden Wedding Portraits, Bride & Groom

A few weeks ago I shared some images from Hyosik and Rahee’s sunset beach session. Today, I’m sharing part two of their wedding photos, which were taken during a separate session at the always lovely Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Norfolk Botanical Garden, Renaissance Court Wedding Photography

Norfolk Botanical Garden is beautiful year round, but these portraits were taken in early October. It was actually unseasonably warm and in the 90s that day. You wouldn’t know it from their photos, but we were all melting during our shoot!

We started our bride and groom portraits in the Renaissance Court, which is a beautiful formal garden where many wedding ceremonies are held. Our sunset beach shoot was playful and informal, and the couple wanted something a bit more traditional from our photo session at the garden.

After spending time at Renaissance Court, we made our way to the romantic rose garden as the sun began to set.

Rahee & Hyosik were an absolute joy to photograph. They are truly lovely people inside and out. Having had a very private and intimate wedding ceremony, without photos, they wanted an opportunity to capture some wedding portraits they could use for an album, and share with family and friends, many of whom reside in Korea.

Norfolk Botanical Garden, Rose Garden Bride and Groom Wedding Portraits

The Rose Garden at NBG is absolutely stunning, and I love that it is still so full of color in the fall months! It is a perfect location for wedding portraits.

Following our time in the rose garden, Kyosik and Rahee changed into their traditional Korean wedding hanbok for some final portraits near Baker Hall. I really love these beautiful portraits that celebrate their Korean heritage.

Thank you for visiting! If you would like to see more photography from Norfolk Botanical Garden, pop over to this post. If you enjoyed this post, please share it.

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Melissa Bliss Photography – Timelessly Beautiful. Authentically You.

To find out more about my wedding photography services, contact me today! Serving VA & NC. Also available for travel destinations worldwide.

Virginia Wedding Photographer, Destination Wedding Photographer, Williamsburg Wedding Photographer, Norfolk Wedding Photographers, Virginia Beach Wedding Photographers, Sandbridge Wedding Photographer, Portsmouth Wedding Photographers

Holiday Photography Gift Certificate Sale!

I am so incredibly grateful for all of the wonderful clients who put their trust in me. 2019 has been another amazing year! As it draws to a close, I am especially thankful for all of the wonderful people I have met through my work, and for the opportunity to support my family by doing something I love so much.

This month, I have passed another MBP anniversary - 7 years since I started this little one-woman show! I look forward to new adventures and continued growth in 2020!

As a special thank you, I am offering a sale on Photography Gift Certificates through December 15th, 2019. These may be purchased online and make a lovely gift.

If you purchase a gift certificate in the amount of $200 or more, I will include an additional $50 credit! But hurry, offer ends soon!

My deepest gratitude for all of your support and encouragement through the years! Thank you!!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!! - XOXO, Melissa

On location Lifestyle Maternity Portrait and Wedding Photographer

Melissa Bliss Photography – Authentic Moments in Beautiful Timeless Photographs

If you are in the Hampton Roads, VA area and would like to schedule your creative photography experience, contact me today!

Norfolk Maternity Photographer, Virginia Beach Maternity Photographer, Suffolk Photographers, Chesapeake Maternity Photographers, Portsmouth Photographers, Williamsburg Maternity Photographers, maternity session, maternity photography

Hampton Roads Creative Lifestyle Photographer

Hampton Roads Creative Lifestyle Photographer

As usual, this fall has proven to be a crazy busy time for weddings and photo sessions. I have been cruising all over Hampton Roads for sessions and ceremonies!

It has been a whirlwind, but I have enjoyed every moment. Since I do not currently have the bandwidth to put together a blog post for each session, I’m piling in several sneak peeks for you today. Don’t worry I will, eventually, give each session it’s due.

There are so many fun shots to share! I know this doesn’t do each session full justice, but I wanted to share at least a few for now. I truly appreciate each and every client that spends time with me! Every session is unique, and I love getting to know my families and couples so that I can capture what is most meaningful for them.

From maternity sessions to first birthdays, and engagements to first anniversaries and beyond, it is always an honor to collect these memories for my clients.

I can squeeze in a couple more appointments before the New Year, and I am currently booking weddings for 2020 & 2021. If you have an important milestone coming up, or you would just like some updated photos with your favorite peeps, I want to hear from you! Let’s chat about how we can create some beautiful images to fill your heart, and your walls!

Melissa Bliss Photography – Timelessly Beautiful. Authentically You.

If you would like to find out more about our wedding photography services, contact us today! Serving VA & NC. Available for travel destinations worldwide.

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Virginia Beach lifestyle photographer, Norfolk lifestyle family photographer, family photo sessions in Hampton Roads, VA including Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News & Williamsburg.

Limited Time Holiday Mini Photo Sessions - Virginia Beach Photographer

Limited Time Holiday Mini Photo Sessions - Virginia Beach Photographer

Many of you have asked, so I've cleared a few spots for holiday minis- yay!! Get 'em while you can! I only have a few appointments available. These sessions are open to couples, individuals, and families (immediate family members only please). Includes a 20 minute session and 8 digital files with a print release.

These photo sessions will be short and sweet. Perfect for a few holiday card photos, or updated portraits. No elaborate props or themes, just focused on you and your loved ones! You are, however, welcome to bring a few of your own props if you choose. 😀

Get in touch for availability & don't delay! These will go quickly!

To secure your appointment for your holiday mini session, contact me today! melissablissphotography@gmail.com, 757-646-7408

Creative Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer in Hampton Roads, VA

Melissa Bliss Photography – Timelessly Beautiful. Authentically You.

Mini Sessions, Holiday Photoshoot, Norfolk Photographer, Virginia Beach Photographer, Suffolk Photographer, Chesapeake Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Sandbridge Photographer, Williamsburg Photographer