A huge congratulations, from the SVB Photo team, to MA Allen for being featured on Rue Daily. It is amazing to see the complete transformation Allen created, from neutral simplicity into a colorful home full of the client’s personality. You can feel the joy that emanates from the client’s face as she sits on her couch soaking in the visuals of her beautifully designed home.
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house beautiful : ma allen's amazing girls room
We are so excited to share this project that we had the honor of working on with the fabulous MA Allen! You can find her beautiful room featured in the Most Amazing Kids Spaces in the June issue of House Beautiful.
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wall street journal : woodruff's cafe & pie shop
Come travel back in time with me as I take you behind the scenes of the Stacey Van Berkel Photography and Wall Street Journal shoot of Woodruff’s Cafe and Pie Shop.
For this “sweet” shoot, Stacey and I drove to a quaint corner of Monroe, Virginia where we arrived at Woodruff’s pleasant cottage-like cafe and pie shop. It was my first day as Stacey’s intern and I had the joy of time-traveling with her to such a warm and welcoming world filled with the wafting smell of tasty pies.
“It reminds me of days gone by when people talked and took time to sit down together,” Stacey said.
Woodruff’s originally opened as a grocery store sixty years ago, but was later reopened as a cafe and pie shop by the Woodruff’s youngest daughter, Angela, in 1998. It’s a family effort as Angela, her older twin sisters, Darnelle and Darnette and their mother, Mama Woodruff, all work together. The trio have some lovely pie recipes to share.
“These ladies are the sweetest in the whole world,” Stacey said.
There was no denying that the Woodruff family is as sweet as all the pies they bake. Their warm hospitality and laughter create a homey environment for their loyal customers, who enjoy returning time after time.
“Going to Woodruff’s is like visiting your aunties and grandmother - it really is - they make you feel like family,” Stacey said.
Toward the end of the day, Stacey brought the women outside to shoot their portrait. As the four lined up to pose, one of the twins took Mama Woodruff’s 102-year-old hands into her own.
“Your hands are full of memories,” Stacey said as she focused in to photograph the two women’s hands.
Mama Woodruff let out a burst of laughter that prompted Stacey to capture the joy with rapid clicks coming from her camera. This moment was the perfect cherry on top to end a memorable first day as a SVB intern.
Before you travel back in time, indulge yourself in the Wall Street Journal’s article of Woodruff’s Cafe and Pie Shop. Then let us know in the comments what you think of their scrumptious pies!
Taryn Azimov
SVB Intern 2019
fashionable farmers I goats
Who doesn't love a baby goat, especially one named Mathilda with pale blue eyes who likes to cuddle? Join us for another romp around Matt Tuttle's farm . . .
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artisan : blythe leonard leather
A visit to Blythe Leonard’s custom leather goods studio in Thomasville, NC.
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fashionable farmers IV
Come along to see our creative shoot with lambs and our Fashionable Farmers!
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april flower cover
So excited to have styled and photographed the April cover of Our State Magazine!
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surprise valentine's luncheon for my mum
One time when I was cross country skiing at my parent's property in Nova Scotia, I had a wild idea come into my head. I thought it would be fun to surprise my Mum for her Valentine's Birthday because I am never ever there on her birthday. Then the ideas started to flow . . .
Read Morefashionable farmers I part iii
I have always had this silly fantasy of letting my vizsla Simon Henry loose in a fancy restaurant just to see what would happen. I guess the next best thing is letting a herd of goats partake of a feast in a field with beautiful people.
Read Morefashionable farmers I part II
Just another chilly morning on the farm with our stylish couple . . . we are excited to share Part II of our Fashionable Farmer series shot at Matt Tuttle's farm in Stoneville, NC.
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happy fall I fashionable farmers
What do you get when you have a team of creatives, freezing cold weather on a farm in North Carolina some chickens and a donkey named Eeyore? Well, a take on American Gothic - of course!
Read Moreil borro I italy
A few springs ago, I jetted off to Italy to shoot at the Il Borro estate in Tuscany. That sounds so amazing and it really was a dream come true!. Il Borro is a beautiful medieval village that dates back to 1254, by conservative estimates, and was the home to many prominent families over the centuries.
Read MoreLupins I Nova Scotia
Do you know what happens in June in the Maritime Provinces? The lupins, pink, white and purple, burst into glorious bloom on every roadway, ditch and path. In a way I took them for granted when I was growing up in Nova Scotia, but now when I go home, I marvel at the beauty of these renegade wildflowers.
Read Moreour state I cake & all things yummy
On this shoot for Our State Magazine, we really stumbled upon a new treat! The local business Cake & All Things Yummy, nestled in Kernersville, North Carolina, is really as sweet as it sounds.
Read Morea healthy lifestyle
Balancing a healthy lifestyle with a career, family, a social life and, of course, personal time, is challenging! I lead a fast-paced life, so I've found that to be especially true, even more so when I'm on the go on location. Riding my horse has always been my happy place and a way for me to unwind and get exercise in that I enjoy.
Read Moregarden & gun I summer
We are always thrilled when Garden & Gun magazine calls with an assignment. We adore working with their creative team and who doesn't like to shoot in beautiful Charleston?
Read Morenew in the print shop | cherry blossoms
We are thrilled to introduce a new set of blossom prints in our fine art print shop! This cherry blossom series has a special place in my heart, too. I made these photos on a trip to New York with my mom at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. We had such a fun day exploring the city and showing her my old stomping grounds, and we could hardly believe our eyes when we stumbled upon this scene. Is there any other flower that is a harbinger of spring more than cherry blossoms? I think not!
Read Moreour state I may cover
Summer is almost here and this month's issue of Our State Magazine includes Stacey's image as the cover!
Read Moreour state | the kimpton cardinal hotel
Nestled about 45 minutes west of our studio here in Greensboro, North Carolina, sits the beautiful Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in downtown Winston-Salem. It is a luxurious retreat filled with stunning art deco details and decor from local artists and artisans, but perhaps what is most remarkable about this newly-renovated boutique hotel is the building's origin story.
Read Morecarton house | beauty of movement
I have a passion for 19th century British history and literature, which was the focus of my undergraduate education. I gravitate towards the romantic literature of the Victorian era when I’m searching for inspiration or have some downtime to myself. So I guess it makes sense that this love of history and beauty has begun to seep into my work.
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