Alysha Yoder Photography
Capturing Moments. Making Memories.
A Taste of Ghent
Posted on December 2, 2016
Sooooo… this post has been a LONG time coming. Between travel, weddings, holidays, and all around no free-time I have just not had the time to write this post. I’m sitting in front of a large fireplace in Denver at this very moment and thinking about how blessed I am! My sister is interviewing for different residency programs all over the US and I’m so, so, proud of her (and my brother too) and when she asked me come down to Denver during one of her interviews I jumped at the opportunity. It also helps that it coincides with both of our birthdays, so after interview’s we’re going to hit the town and celebrate (and we’re always open to great places to visit, eat, or enjoy here).
It’s crazy how quickly life happens. 4 years ago, we were celebrating our birthday’s again, this time in New Orleans, as she interviewed for medical school and now here we are. On graduation’s door and here I am again, being able to enjoy this exciting moment in my sibling’s life and I couldn’t be more proud. I’m glad all of my siblings share my travel bug. None of us stayed close to home while studying, much to my mother’s dismay, though we visit regularly. We’re all always learning, traveling, and growing in our professions. This leads me to my wonderful learning and travel experience to Ghent, NY with the lovely team of the Made in Ghent farm, and our teacher’s Michael Piazza and Kevin Masse.
From the moment you pull up to the lovely Made in Ghent farm, you’re greeted by farm dog, Bumble, and the farm owner’s, Richard and Mimi. Warmth and homeyness emits from this place like you wouldn’t believe. It’s like a little slice of paradise complete with wildflower fields, chickens, and Mimi’s fresh made sour dough bread (that I’m still dreaming about). They have a wonderful set up kitchen/store that is the first building you pull up to. Here, Mimi and team make TONS of farm fresh food, from jams and ice cream to pork rillettes and breads. It’s also the perfect setting for classes, with cooking books lining the walls, kitchen props, tables, and chairs. A breeze blows through the open space with a pond in the back to gaze at as you sip coffee and snack on homemade yogurt and granola. I was in foodie, photographer, traveler heaven.
Through corporate photography day job, I had signed up for the “How to Create Magazine Quality Food Photographs’ 2-day course. We learned photography and styling from Michael Piazza and social media and networking expert Kevin Masse. In between lectures, Mimi and team cooked us up spectacular meals (that still make my mouth water thinking about them) and we were also free to wander the farm and take photos of all the livestock, wildlife, and meal prep. Our group was small and filled with everything from food stylists, to lawyers, to bloggers. It was such a great plethora of people passionate about food and photography. These are my people! You know the ones?! The people who get you…. when you start talking in depth about how beautiful pastries look when lighted correctly and who get excited about shooting food tablescapes. Those people. My people.
We started the day off with tons of delicious breakfast, meeting and greeting everyone and literally breaking bread (sourdough, yes!). Michael led us up to the main house, i.e. natural light photographer’s dream. Seen in photos above, I swear half of it was windows, with a stunning open kitchen (with a blue-tiled back splash I was obsessed with), HUGE farm table, beautiful prep and sitting area, and a garage loaded with food props for us. We started with basics, natural lighting, and learned Michael’s favorite food photography techniques.
Isn’t that backsplash dreamy?
Experimenting with different light setups.
Another bomb-diggity meal done by Mimi and crew.
Wandering the farm post-lecture.
After a day of lecturing. We took a break. We wandered the farm, conversed with each other and waited for the feast that Mimi and her team were making. Everything was sourced from less then 10 miles away from the farm. How awesome and local is that?! Here we got to shoot tablescapes, from prep to sit down. The best part? We got to eat it after we photographed it all. Probably my favorite photographic part of the whole workshop. I mean, this was the food spread and location of dreams.
Mimi cutting all the yummy chicken straight from their backyard!
Dreamy right? And ohhh sooo delicious! We all left full of inspiration and satisfied bellies! Day two was just as exciting! If you wanted, you could come early and get photos of some of the farm-hands helping out on the farm as well as take a walk with Richard into the produce and wildflower fields (which then are sold as bouquets in the shop)! Of course I was there bright and early! It was such a perfect day for it too! With tons of photo ops!
Jen, our ‘chicken whisper’ and catcher for photos (thanks Jen!)
Richard, leading the tour and posing for us in the long grass.
Bumble in all her glory, exploring with us!
The group experimenting with reflectors in the woods.
Robyn, Michael’s trusty assistant who helped with EVERYTHING throughout the day.
Cornish Meg, who regularly helped with all the food prep, arranging the flowers picked from our walk.
After the walk and breakfast, we headed back up to the house. Michael focused more on helping with styling and telling a story for this lesson. We photographed galettes from start to finish while learning how to show the story of food being made.
Following Michael’s lesson, Kevin Masse arrived to give us his lecture on social media. How to use it successfully, what you can do to improve yours photos, and how to get more followers. All very interesting and I learned a TON! Especially with Instagram, I was a bit clueless when it came to all things hashtag and @. Kevin helps tons of brands with their social media presences and it was so great learning from someone with some much experience in this. It’s what I seriously lack in.
We followed Kevin’s lesson up with a photo session for ourselves to use what we had learned an implement it. Shooting galettes in different lightings and environments. Also, the spread that Mimi had left out for us.
With sadness, we all had to say goodbye to each other. But we left with lifelong friends, great experiences, and tons of food photography knowledge! I couldn’t have asked for a more creative retreat! I can’t wait to visit Ghent again and stop by Richard and Mimi’s shop, of course to get some of that sour dough and I would highly recommend anyone in the area do the same!
**Special thanks to the wonderful team that put this together and made the experience so great! To find out more info about the teachers or Made in Ghent Farm I’ve listed their links below!
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com 
www.alyshayoderphoto.com
(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
(i) www.instagram.com/ayoderphoto/
Jodi and Mary’s Wedding – 9.10.16
Posted on October 12, 2016
It’s not too often that you get two wonderful people coming together to celebrate their love while also almost making everything for their big day! You want to talk about DIY, these two nailed just about every part of that! From signs, to their ring box, and even cupcake toppers, these two made it all! Not to mention, they picked just about the most perfect day, and such a beautiful location to get married.
A backyard wedding, right on the shore line of Deep Creek Lake, MD. Sun streaming, friend’s laughing, and brides smiling. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day. As opposed to getting walked down the aisle by their fathers, these bride’s opted for ‘first looks’ with their dads. As they ascended down the stairs, each of their father’s beamed. Hugs, kisses, and tears were all exchanged before the ceremony began.
The bridal party were all decked out in blue dresses with lovely sunflower accent bouquets. Walking down the aisle, the brides rocked custom Converses that said ‘2gether’ and ‘4ever.’ How fantastic is that?! There was a wonderful moment when Jodi was waiting for Mary as she walked down the aisle, and as she looked up and saw her bride, the love shining in both their eyes was beautiful.
There were a lot of unique wedding traditions during their ceremony. Jodi’s mom did a beautiful Polish wedding blessing as guests passed around their rings to bless the couple and think positive thoughts of love for their marriage. The bride’s each wrote their own vows and as they read them to each other, guests looked on with tears of happiness in many of their eyes. Rings and a kiss were exchanged before these two lovely brides walked down the aisle for the first time as a married couple.
Speeches, dinner, and dances followed the ceremony with lots of hugs and laughs exchanged between. People loved the s’more bar and camp fire as kids spent time swimming in the lake and walking along the shore. As the sun began to set, these brides stunned in an evening photo session. Jodi even changed into a fantastic tuxedo t-shirt. Isn’t that just awesome sauce? As I was packing up to leave, I left with hugs, congrats, and a smile on my face. This is how Mary and Jodi’s whole day was, and I can’t imagine that any of their guests left without joy in their heart. What an honor it was to photograph these two and their wedding day. There aren’t too many couples who genuinely light up the place when they’re together. These two brides lit up the whole wedding and this was clear to everyone in attendance. I hope that this joy is obvious in the photos below, and you can see the love these two have for each other. So without further ado, Mary and Jodi’s wedding:
Vendors:
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com www.alyshayoderphoto.com
(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
Venue: Over the Rainbow in Deep Creek Lake, MD
Cupcakes: Mountain Flour Bakery
Cake: Kelly the Cake Lady
DJ: 1st Dance DJs
Flowers: Farmhouse Fete
Caterer: Archie’s BarbeQue
Ashley & Jonathon’s Wedding – 8.26.16
Posted on September 25, 2016
It’s not too often that I get lucky enough to shoot courthouse weddings. I know they are on the rise, but they’re usually 10 minutes, just the couple, and people don’t bring a photog. Thankfully, this was not the case with Ashley and Jonathon’s wedding. These two brought their families and friends, and then we got to go to the fire company where Jonathon works and shoot their couple session with FIRETRUCKS! I know, freaking firetrucks! I’m pretty sure I was just as excited about this as the couple!
We all met up at the courthouse and waited while a hearing finished up. Family and friends slowly streamed in and hugs, kisses, and smiles were exchanged by all. Who says you can’t have a fun wedding if it’s at a courthouse?? These two knew how to make this a special and intimate ceremony! The presiding judge, Judge Masland, was wonderful! Leading a quick and lovely ceremony he posed for photos, joked with the little kids, and made sure the couple had everything before we left for the firehouse!
I mean seriously, could it get any more fantastical then a couple session at a firehouse? The guys working were great too, helping turn on lights, and holding cords. Not only could you tell that these two were surrounded on their wedding day by friends and family that loved them, but also by Jonathon’s coworkers at the firehouse. These two lovebirds had so many fun ideas too, and their love and affection for each other hopefully shines through in the photos. Congrats to Ashley and Jonathon and many, many more years to come! Now check out this lovely courthouse wedding!
Special Thanks To:
The Cumberland County Courthouse Staff and Judge Masland
The Citizens Fire Company of Mount Holly Springs and Staff
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com
www.alyshayoderphoto.com (e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
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