Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard Wedding | Amanda and Jeff

Uncategorized  //  30th July 2015

When I look through these photos from Amanda and Jeff’s Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard Wedding in Rhode Island, I can hear Amanda laughing! ;) Amanda has THE BEST laugh that is so contagious, it literally lights up the room! I can still hear it so clearly because Jeff has this AMAZING way of bringing it out in her! Jeff has this AMAZING way of bringing it out in everyone! ;)

As you can imagine, Amanda and Jeff’s wedding was not only beautiful, it was FUN! Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard is absolutely gorgeous and provided the best atmosphere to just hang out and celebrate Amanda and Jeff’s love! Amanda and Jeff were surrounded by such a great group of family and friends (many of which we have been looking forward to seeing again since Laura and Tom’s wedding!) What a treat! We literally could have hung out with them all night! (Well, we kind of did… we did find ourselves on the dance floor by the end of the evening! ;) ).

It doesn’t get much better than celebrating love with a couple who lights up the room with their fun energy and AMAZING laughs! Amanda and Jeff, thank you for the opportunity to be there on your beautiful wedding day to capture the memories that we know you will celebrate for many many many years ahead! We will be celebrating right there with you!!! We are so excited for you as you begin this next chapter of your lives together! Congratulations!

Huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make Amanda and Jeff’s day so special! (I know Amanda and Jeff’s family’s played a HUGE roll in going the extra mile to put extra special personal touches on their day! They are definitely surrounded by one big AMAZING family!

Ceremony Venue: St. John the Baptist Church | Officiant: Father Dave Blanchfield | Reception Venue: Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard | Caterer: Russell Morin Fine Catering (extra shout out to Ben! He took extra good care of everyone all night and it certainly did not go unnoticed! ;) ) | DJ/Band: The Shine Band | Bride’s Attire: Fatima’s Bridal | Photos: Liz and Ryan

The AMAZING Life Escape is back! Join us!

Uncategorized  //  22nd July 2014

We are SO EXCITED to share that this year’s AMAZING Life Escape will take place in Maine on November 7-10th! We all need an escape every once in awhile and we want you to join us! All of the details… including the super great price for this 4-day 3-night getaway can be found over at www.amazinglifetogether.com! Can’t wait for you to join us in Maine!

Here are just a few comments from our friends who joined us last year! Seriously… you should join us! ;)

The Oaks Waterfront Inn Wedding – Molly and Joe

Love, Stories Documented, Uncategorized, Wedding  //  27th March 2014

Anticipation and excitement are two perfect ways to describe our emotions on the way to Molly and Joe’s wedding at The Oaks Waterfront Inn on Saturday. To be completely honest, I always feel the butterflies before a wedding… especially the first wedding of the year! It is as if I feel like I am going to forget how to photograph a wedding! haha. After 5 years, I am pretty sure we can be confident that is not going to happen! ;)

This is how it normally works… We walk into the bridal suite and all of the butterflies disappear. Sometimes it takes a few minutes longer than others… haha. But Saturday, it happened immediately. I am not kidding, we walked into the bridal suite and it was like walking into a place of zen. It was quiet, the girls all had their hair and makeup done and they had their feet propped up enjoying every single moment! Ohh my goodness, that is exactly how it should always be! ;) Just soaking it all in!

Starting our wedding season off with Molly and Joe’s wedding at the Oaks was like a dream come true! Molly and Joe are so laid back and so incredibly sweet! Molly and Joe… our hearts are so happy for you! We are honored to have been there to photograph your special day! Can’t wait to see you when you get back from Morocco! ;)

Huge huge huge thanks to the fabulous Caitlin for joining us on Saturday to lend a hand. She was my right hand girl and I could not have done it without her there by my side!… carrying my bag, surprising me with a starburst when I was craving a sweet, and sharing her beautiful smile with us and all of the guests the whole day! She is AMAZING and we are so grateful for her!!

Thank you to all who helped make Molly and Joe’s wedding so special!

Venue: The Oaks Waterfront Inn | Stationery & All things paper!: Allison Barnhill Designs | Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist: Serendipity Salon and Spa | Florist: Seasonal Flowers | Ceremony Music: Chris Dunn, Classical Guitar | Syrian Desserts: Fattal’s Syrian Bakery | Band: The Real Geniuses | Transportation: Blackwater Pedal and Paddle | Bride’s Attire: Elizabeth Fillmore | Groom & Groomsmen’s Attire: Brooks Brothers (suit) Thomas Pink (shirt) | Bridesmaid’s Attire: J. Crew | Wedding Bands: Fattal’s Jewelry

 

There is no wrong way to live your life | J&M What’s Next Tour L.A.

Dream Big, Dreaming, Uncategorized  //  9th January 2013

We sat on comfy couches in a small circle.  If only we could have gotten the fireplace to work…

Yesterday was the first tour stop for Justin & Mary’s What’s Next Tour.  During a portion of Mary’s talk the AMAZING attendees were asked what their Big Next was and then to break out into smaller focus groups.  Liz and I had the honor to lead a group on rebranding.  Having just recently rebranded the discussion was right up our alley! :)

When we originally started our business the brand we created was focused on what we saw everyone else doing.  We named it Elizabeth Ryan Photography because Ryan Elizabeth didn’t sound as prestigious to us.  We created a website whose main colors where black, gray, and white (in those orders) because all the other photography sites we say were those colors.  Our brand quickly became what we thought it should be based on what everyone else was doing.  It didn’t take us long to realize that we had made a mistake.  By the time everyone started thinking Liz’s last name was actually Ryan instead of Bower we knew it was time to rebrand.

We shared this story with our group and chatted further about creating a brand that builds up the business you want to run and the life you want to live.

One of the first things we are often asked is to think about what our ideal client looks like.  But we are not often asked to think about what our ideal brand and business looks like.  If you are in the process of creating a business, or even at a crossroads of life, stop for a moment and think about what you want it to look like, not what everyone else wants it to be.  What do you love? What is your style? What is your Big Next?

As we chatted with our group the following thought popped into my mind. Just like the Reese’s commercials – “There is no wrong way to eat a Reese’s,” there is also no wrong way to run a business.  And for that matter, there is no wrong way to live your life.

Make it what you want it to be!  Make it yours!

Thanks to the AMAZING new friends we made last night in LA.  We wish you all much luck and success in the rebranding process.  And if you are still looking for a little extra help, be sure to check out the fabulous ladies at Making Brands Happen!

New Album Option! | The Couture Storybook Album

Stories Documented, Uncategorized  //  13th September 2012

When this baby came in the mail, we literally jumped up and down. I ripped the box open and couldn’t wait to see the final product. We had been looking for an additional album option for quite some time. All the way back in March, we found ourselves searching the WPPI trade show floor for a beautifully classic album that would become an heirloom to tell the stories we photograph.

We found ourselves at the Couture Album booth multiple times throughout the conference. Each time our mouths dropped at the gorgeous options that were available. We loved the fact that every album was unique. We loved the fact that every album had over 150+ sides. And we loved the fact that every album was a piece of art. We could picture our clients placing these albums on their coffee tables and pulling them out regularly to relive their amazing memories with their family and friends!

With the launch of Liz and Ryan, we are focusing more and more on storytelling through our photography. It has become so clear to us that weddings are so much more than just a couple hour event in one day. Weddings are truly a lifetime in the making and often involve a multiple day celebration! To tell the entire story we created a collection in our wedding offerings that involves multiple day coverage! In the collection we’ve included a Couture Storybook Album because we feel these albums are the best way to keep all of the memories in one place! Beginning with 75 pages, these albums can hold over 150 images in a clean, crisp layout!

Here is a video sharing this beautiful album that made us jump up and down. The album holds Laura and Colin’s memories from their engagement session in DC, Laura’s dress fitting in Barcelona, Spain, and their wedding day in DC from earlier this year. Enjoy!