I’m Stephanie, a wedding + lifestyle photographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Warrenton, Virginia. Whether I’m by the mountains of Colorado or Virginia, my soul feels at home, surrounded by rural living and the raw beauty of nature. I genuinely love what I do, and feel so passionate to share the enthusiasm and joy of these celebrations with you!

DOCUMENTING LOVE'S UNSCRIPTED CHAPTERS FROM COUPLES & FAMILIES IN COLORADO + VIRGINIA

@stephaniemessickphoto

find inspiration

Gallery images

December 15, 2016

Frank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement Photographer

Frank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement Photographer

It’s funny how people walk into your life and come to find out that you might have crossed paths at one point. My sweet industry friend, Elle, introduced me to this fun couple and discovered that we have many connections! One coincidence is the fact that Melanie and her family have been to my family farm before for Fourth of July when I was younger. So funny! Frank and Melanie got stuck in some pretty horrendous traffic the day we met for their engagement portraits, so it gave me some time to chit chat with Melanie’s family. Despite how FREEZING it was outside, I enjoyed hanging out with them and learning about our connections. Come to find out that I rented a house just a few miles away from them! Small world. 🙂

Once Frank and Melanie arrived, we dove into some fun family portraits since they had the lovely Elle photograph their engagement. So sweet and special for her to document this exciting time of their lives!! You’ll see Elle next year in June when I post Frank and Melanie’s wedding blog post. 🙂 She’s a part of the fab wedding party and I just know they are going to be an entertaining bunch! For the meantime, I’m thankful for the short time I was able to spend with Frank, Melanie and their families last week. It gave me great insight into their personalities and care for their families. I mean, why only have one engagement session when you can have two?! Just the same as Melanie thinking, why only have one wedding dress when she can have two? Or why only have one wedding band when she can have five? LOL! Anyways, we walked around Old Town Alexandria the last 45-minutes photographing by colorful walls and by the water.  I will admit, though, as the sun went down, my fingers were starting to struggle to click the shutter! Good thing this was my last session for the year! I need feeling in my fingers before their big day. 😉 Haha!

Frank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement Photographer

FRANK & MELANIE’S LOVE STORY

We actually were friends long before we ever dated, and went to many social gatherings where we both were invited, but never really hung out together. We had a lot of mutual friends, but just never connected. While taking a roommate out one night in Fairfax, Melanie ran into Frank along with another mutual acquaintance she stopped to talk to, one of our groomsmen, Chad Venus, who more or less officially introduced us. Melanie and Frank talked off and on for about six months and attended a few group events before they decided to become a couple in 2012. Since then, they have gone on many adventures together and with their families, growing both as friends and as partners. In 2015, Melanie and Frank were to go on a trip to the Bahamas before his 30th birthday. The night before, Melanie planned a special surprise dinner with Frank’s family, her family, and some of his closest friends (and now our other groomsmen- Julio Alva, Ken Shere and Cameron Hottle) to celebrate with those closest to our hearts before we left. While sitting at the table, Frank stood up and began to thank Melanie for her planning of the event, and Melanie (not realizing what was going on), tried to get Frank to sit down, telling him he didn’t need to thank her. Little did she know… he was proposing. And of course, she said yes!!

Thank you, Frank, Melanie and family, for an enjoyable time together last week! After photographing you, I am so anxious for June to arrive!!! We are going to have the BEST time together!!! Enjoy some of my favorites from last week! CONGRATS!! xoxo!

Frank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement Photographer

Flaunt that lipstick kiss!!! HAHA!

Frank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement PhotographerFrank & Melanie | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement Photographer

CONGRATS!!!! Cannot wait for June!!

Reply...