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Anna Filly Photography

Anna Filly Photography

Roanoke, Virginia Wedding Photographer specializing in timeless wedding, engagement and lifestyle photos.

Beginning Hillcrest Kitchen

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Anna in the kitchen-Anna in the Kitchen-0085

When the recipes, and the sweet treats started popping up all over Anna Filly Photography, I’m sure you might have been a little confused.  It started as a random thought on a random day. Nothing sparkly or flashy. Just the idea of “what if…” mixed with the insecurity of “it’ll never work” held together by the faith of “you’ll never know unless you try!”  That’s how most things begin in my life.  To my very core, I am a dreamer.  A dreamer who has always loved all things culinary.  

Culinary arts was always a dream I fantasized about.  It started with my sweet momma.  Watching her create in the kitchen and wanting to be just like her, I developed a love for baking.  I shared that love with my Great Aunt Martha one summer when we visited her in Arkansas.  “ I want to see your creations,” She encouraged.  “Culinary runs in the family, you know.”  With a smile, she handed me a little recipe card that held one of her most prized possessions – the ingredients and measurements for the most perfect buttercream icing.  She had owned her own catering business for years.

That’s where my first camera came into play.  It was a little point and shoot.  I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew that I wanted to share it.  Between taking photos for my Great Aunt Martha, and giving away samples of my food to my friends at school, I was convinced I had found my calling in life.

I remember being in high school & attending a job fair.  We were instructed to pick three different careers and got thirty minutes to experience each one.  I selected an Interior Decorator, FBI Agent, and, of course, a Culinary Chef.  I waited anxiously for my thirty minutes with the Chef.  When the time came, my classmates and I crammed into our culinary class and were instructed to put aprons on.  “Nothing that I say will matter,” the Chef explained, “Unless you experience it first,”.  I was so captivated that day.  I knew then, without a doubt that I’d go to Culinary School and began researching the most perfect ones.

Before I knew it, my four years in high school were almost over.  It was time to meet with advisors, counselors and choose a path for college.  It was then, that I learned that the culinary institute I had longed to attend was well over $40,000 a year & had minimal scholarship opportunities. Feeling defeated, I let my bundle of dreams go as if they were a bunch of helium inflated balloons.  I couldn’t afford culinary school.   Owning a bakery, creating culinary masterpieces in an industrial kitchen, experimenting with colors, flavors & textures… It all seemed to be too high in the sky for me.  

I think right about here, it’s important for me to say something.  You do not need a degree to be passionate.  If you really want to do something in life- do it.  Some of the most influential people in history never got a degree certifying them to do what they did- they just did it.  

I wish someone had whispered that over me 1,0000 times when I was younger.  

Years passed by and though my dreams of pursuing culinary arts with passionate vigor fizzled out a little bit, my love for them did not.  Instead, it grew.  It grew from a love of baking, to a desire to discover all types of culinary.  From breakfast to dinner and everything in between, I just began doing it.  From creating, came a love for watching what the creation did.  I learned very quickly that food brings people together.  Especially if it’s well made and prepared.  I came to find that I enjoyed the art of togetherness MORE than I even enjoyed the creating in culinary.  

Now here I am, in a house I call my own, on Hillcrest.  I bake and cook and host and eat.  But I didn’t want it to end there.  I wanted others to experience what JOY my years of discovery have taught me.  From brining chicken breast to creaming butter with sugar, I have learned so much that has allowed me to better cherish those I love most, and bring them together.

Sometimes we don’t even realize our dreams are coming true, right before our very eyes.

Xo

AnnaFilly

 

PS We now have a Culinary INSTAGRAM account– yeppppp!  We’re featuring recipes there too!  Make sure to follow for the latest !  @Hillcrest_Kitchen

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Anna Filly, baking, cooking, culinary, culinary institute, hillcrest, instagram, kitchen, mobile

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More about Anna

Hi there! I’m Anna Filly, a Wedding & Portrait photographer in the sweet, deep South. I love hosting dinner parties, sparkling water, & magnifying love through the art of photography. I have a slight obsession with fresh cut flowers, ice cream is my guilty pleasure & crinkling nose laughter is my muse. Grab something sweet & browse the site! I’m so glad you’re here.

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This girl is officially on maternity leave ! ✌🏻 🤍
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I have had SO much fun photographing my clients, traveling & doing what I love during my 3rd trimester of pregnancy. My body has been pushed to the limit with 8-12 hour wedding days with my sweet little “plus one” safely housed in my belly. But y’all— I did it !! 
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For the next few months I’ll be taking time to focus on my family of five (!!!🥰!!!) and rest. I’ll still be checking emails, & supporting my brides, but my email & response time will be slower than normal. 
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Soon & very soon we will be meeting out sweet little girl & I cannot wait to introduce you to her. 🤩
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Be on the lookout for mini session dates later this Summer !!!!
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Xoxo

(& yes I did wear the same two amazing dresses all month, thank you very much 🥰)
About last night.... ⭐️🤍👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏻‍♂️
 
To say yesterday was incredible would be an understatement.  Allison and Justin's wedding day was full of wonderful people, beautiful details and so much LOVE.  I cried on and off the whole time (and lets not even bring up the fact that I'm almost 37 weeks pregnant) ;) !  I am so honored to have photographed such a beautiful day filled with such wonderful people!!
 
A special thanks to the amazing wedding vendors that I had the joy of serving alongside!! 
 
Wedding Coordinator | @harmonyweddingsnc
Ceremony Venue | @thebradfordnc
Reception Venue | @thebradfordnc
Florals | @colorfieldsfarm
Photography | Anna Filly Photography
Video Team | @wrinkledblanketmedia
Hair + Makeup | @madebeautifulbridal
Dress | @belvieubridal
Wedding Cake | @cateringworks
Catering | @cateringworks
DJ | @iamdjharlem
Invitations | @truly.engaging
Rentals | @ce_rental_raleigh
Happy wedding day to this beautiful couple ! May y Happy wedding day to this beautiful couple ! May your marriage be even more beautiful than your wedding day !!! #AnnaFillyBrides #AnnaFillyPhotography #theBradfordNC
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( Diana, you are radiant!!)
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But the rain didn’t steal their joy ! If anything , the cloud cover made for creamy skin tones and vibrant colors that truly showcased their precious personalities!! I cannot wait for their wedding next May !! 

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And yes, this room doubles as our guest room. 🫶🏻
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And no, guests won’t have to sleep with a baby in their room. 😉
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Unless, of course, my mother in love is reading this. Then, of course you can have the baby in your room. 🥰

#rainbowbaby #nurserydecor #riflepaperco #babygirl #babyafterloss #targetstyle #worththewait #gardennursery
Absolutely in awe of last night's engagement sessi Absolutely in awe of last night's engagement session. 🏔☀️🌸
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Rachel + Dustin adventured with me through the mountain's of Pembroke, Virginia.  The light was magical and their personalities were so tender and joyful-- the whole evening was a nature-filled dream!  These two are so special and I cannot WAIT to photograph them again in October!!
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The quickest trip to Alabama resulted in the sweet The quickest trip to Alabama resulted in the sweetest day in Montgomery capturing Katie & Jonathan 🤍
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So grateful for the vendors & friends who made this day such a success !
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** and a HUGE shoutout to @ellen.talbot for the magic she brought as my second shooter ! #33weekspregnant 🥰🤪

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