Valentine's Day Print Sale!
My favorite holiday is fast approaching: Valentine's Day! Help spread the love by ordering a print or canvas wrap for someone special in your life! Save 30% on these items from your client gallery when you use the promo code: "VDAY2017". The offer is valid until February 15th!
2016: A Year in Review
Happy New Year to everyone! 2016 was a great year for Fiander Foto! I was able to photograph a few weddings, engagements, bridal portraits, family portraits, events, maternity, newborns, and a live birth! I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to my clients. Many thanks for letting me capture those special moments in your life – it was a blast! Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year!
Bridal Expo at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel in Bermuda
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!
I’ll be at the Orchid Spa Bridal Expo today at the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda! If you’re looking for a wedding photographer to capture your whole wedding day, be sure to stop by my “Fiander Foto” booth! If you book your 2016 wedding by the end of today, you’ll receive a free one-hour engagement shoot or a 10% discount on any "Wedding Day" Photo Package, which includes ten hours of coverage! There will also be a raffle for a free engagement session; come on down!
Wedding: Kaitlyn & James - Washington DC
Happy Anniversary to Kaitlyn & James! I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding in the fall of 2012! What made their wedding unique was that these two were - and still are - in the U.S. Army. With the help of their siblings and friends, they had planned their wedding while they were both deployed in Afghanistan! Given that they were overseas, Kaitlyn and James had never seen their chosen venue, taste-tested their menu, or met their vendors. Although, none of that mattered to these two; they were too excited to get married and their wedding day went off without a hitch! The morning of the wedding was very relaxed for the bride and groom: coffee (with a touch of Baileys added to it), hair, make-up, and an old fashion shave for James and his groomsmen, a quick "insignia polish", and finally, stepping into the white gown for the First Look.
Love Bugs: Chris & Katie - Anniversary
Just before Christmas of last year, my husband, Jim, and I drove down 95 South to Richmond, Virginia and linked up with our dear friends, Chris and Katie. These two love bugs had recently moved from Arlington to Richmond, and we wanted to check out their new city. It had been years since I was last in Richmond, although this was Jim's first RVA experience. Aside from attending a Carbon Leaf concert at The National that weekend, our schedule was wide open to explore the area, which is exactly what we did! At this time, Chris and Katie were renting a gorgeous apartment in The Fan; the historic and artistic hub of Richmond some might say. We walked through their neighborhood - passed the hipsters in the park, inched our way towards the downtown area, squeezed in a walk along the James River, and even caught a glimpse of the boat parade. Fast forward to the present day: these two have purchased a house and are coming up on another wedding anniversary! Cheers to many more happy years together as they continue to explore Richmond and everything that lies ahead!
2016 Weddings: Book Now & Save 10%!
'Tis the season! (The Engagement Season that is...) If you recently pledged your love to your sweetheart and have decided to spend the rest of your lives together... Congrats! Now the fun begins: Wedding Planning! If you're looking for a photographer for your 2016 wedding, look no further! Book by October 3rd and receive 10% off any one Wedding Photo Package! This promotion is also posted on "100 Layer Cake" - for all you "cake" fans out there!
To officially reserve a date, a bit of paperwork is required: a signed contract and a paid deposit. To learn more about Melanie's Fiander Foto Wedding Packages, click "here"! The "Hooked" and the "Wedding Day" packages are both available at 10% off until the 3rd of October! Offer cannot be combined with other discounts. Travel is included for Bermuda, the Washington D.C. area, and New York City. Destination locations are welcome! The early bird gets the worm! Be sure to snag this great offer this week to save! E-mail Melanie for details: info@fianderfoto.com.
Celebrating Marriage Equality
The morning of June 26th almost started out like most of my Friday mornings: coffee, blueberries, e-mail, and NPR. This particular Friday was a little different because I was also packing to catch a 2pm flight back home to Washington D.C. from Bermuda. Half-way through my cup of coffee, an article caught my eye on NPR's website: "Supreme Court Declares Same-Sex Marriage Legal In All 50 States", written by Bill Chappell. Excitement and slight disbelief both set in as I began to rapidly read through the article. Unfortunately - like most mornings - time had slipped away from me and I was unable to finish reading Chappell's article before my friend Michi arrived at my doorstep to bring me to the airport.
We have watched as one State after another legalized (or signed bills against): "domestic partnerships", "civil unions", and "same-sex marriages". The first state to legalize same-sex marriage was Massachusetts on May 17th, 2004, eight days after I had graduated from Lynchburg College. Up next - and skipping California's mishap with Prop 8 - Connecticut legalized same-sex marriage on October 10, 2008. The following year, three states did the same: Iowa on April 3rd, Vermont on April 7th, and New Hampshire on June 3rd. On March 3rd, 2010, same-sex marriage became legal in Washington D.C. Ten days later, two of my "uncles" - long time family friends - Bruce and Don were finally married after being together for 35 years. Lucky me, I had the honor of photographing their wedding and being a witness to one of the first same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia.
In more recent years, a glorious domino effect occurred as one state after another (and a handful of Native American Tribes) continued to recognize and legalize same-sex marriage. In 2011, the State of New York and the Suquamish Tribe in the State of Washington legalized it. In 2012, the rest of Washington State passed a bill to support marriage equality along with Maryland and Maine. In 2013, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians also chose to recognize same-sex marriage; the state of Michigan following not long behind. Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota, the Santa Ysabel Tribe in California, the State of California, New Mexico, the State of New Jersey, Hawaii, and Illinois - all legalized same-sex marriage. (2013 was a big year!) On October 6th, 2014, the States of Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Utah struck down same-sex marriage bans; stating it was unconstitutional. Colorado and Nevada joined the "marriage equality" train a few days later on the 7th and 8th of October; West Virginia on 9th; North Carolina on 10th; Alaska on 12th; Idaho on 15th; Arizona and Wyoming on 17th of October. During the month of November, Kansas, South Carolina, and Montana nullified their state's bans against marriage equality. Florida and Alabama legalized same-sex marriage in January of 2015...
I thought about all of those facts during my two and half hour flight to Washington D.C. Upon exiting the baggage claim at DCA, my friend Amanda picked me up and I said, "Did you see that article on NPR this morning? The one claiming that marriage equality is legal in all 50 States?" Her reply, "Yes! The Supreme Court passed it today! Everyone is downtown celebrating!" There ya have it: Marriage Equality passed on June 26th, 2015. I'm still in a bit of shock that this dream has finally come true. Perhaps fate intervened a bit so I could also celebrate the news in my hometown just hours after the Supreme Court ruling had passed on Marriage Equality.
After being a member of Straight For Equality for 5 years, an ALLY for 15 years, and a supporter of LGBT rights for as long as I can remember, it seems like a fog has finally been lifted... As we commemorate Independence Day, I'm proud to celebrate one more freedom that has been given to our LGBT community: the right to marry whom you love, regardless of their gender - as now granted by the Constitution. A special "shout out" to Uncle Bruce and Uncle Don, who are currently traveling through Iceland at the moment; happily retired and still happily married...
Sprecial Spring Sale: 10% OFF Weddings & Engagement Photos
Offer Ends May 10th!
Interested in booking a Wedding or Engagement Shoot for 2015? Be sure to get in on the goods with "Fiander Foto's: Spring Special Sale"! For a limited time only, book a Wedding or Engagement Photo Package with Melanie Fiander of Fiander Foto for 10% off! Limited offers available! Book now to save! Pick from the following choices of photo shoots:
Wedding · Engagement · Bridal Portraits · Trash the Dress
E-mail Melanie at Fiander Foto for bookings: info@fianderfoto.com