Back in October I had the great honor of photographing the wedding of two of the kindest, warmest souls I’ve encountered in a long, long time. I’m desperately behind on blogging (and well…lots of other things too) as a result of several unexpected and wonderful things which have occurred in my life since their wedding (of which I will fill you all in on later…), yet Laura and Scott remained patient and always, always gracious in the weeks following their amazing day. And what a fabulous day it was! The forecast promised thunderstorms….but just as the celebrations got underway, the clouds parted and the skies were aglow with stunning color and dramatic light! My incredible partner, Jacie Lee Almira, was once again my trusty and artsy sidekick, and I am thankful to her for lending us her fantastic talent and super fun personality to this day! Thank you for all you do for me, Jacie! Woodlawn Farm Bed and Breakfast provided a gorgeous location (contact Jim Grube for all the details) and the classic, rustic touches gave a warm and cozy feel to the entire event. Laura and Scott were surrounded by their closest friends and family, which made this first day of the rest of their lives absolutely perfect. And as a special surprise for Scott, a Scottish bagpiper came to entertain everyone just as the reception began! Laura and Scott, thank you so much for inviting me to document your wedding….it truly was an honor for me and I am beyond grateful to have worked with and for you both. Enjoy these beautiful images of your wedding…. Congratulations, you two!
This session is one of my absolute favorites and naturally I had a hard time narrowing down my choices for this post! These kids are so adorable…and so sweet. And their Mama is stunning! We met down in southern Maryland near Breton Bay for a fun and relaxing afternoon family shoot… Beautiful location and gorgeous subjects! We were worried about the weather but it turned out to be a fabulous day on the bay. Thank you so much for inviting me down for this charming southern session! Enjoy this little peek into our day!
She was quiet comfort… She was crazy joy… She loved with every cell in her warm little body. Two weeks ago we helped my sweet Alberta slip into a peaceful sleep one last time. I miss my girl. She gave us nearly fourteen years of pure happiness and her absence is truly palpable. I am so thankful that I have fantastic memories of her… What a blessing she was to all of us. Thank you, Alberta, for giving us your sweet heart the way that only man’s best friend can do. We will see you again someday… I promise.
I had a BLAST photographing this fabulous (and gorgeous!) family on their farm a few weeks ago! SO excited as we tooled all around their land in a Jeep-style ATV so we could get some beautiful hunting shots of the dad and his boys…. Then ending up near the water where we hopped into a little motor boat to get even more shots there. This is definitely a family that knows how to have fun together! In just the few hours I spent with them, it was clear that they were not the type to sit still for very long. And I love that! This is a time in their lives that they wanted to remember through photographs… a visual journal of what is most important to them each and every day – Family, fun, and living life to the fullest. The children were so very polite and well-mannered, confident and smart, witty and kind… Clearly these parents have taught their four children well. And without doubt, there is a whole lotta love between and among them all! Enjoy some of my favorite shots of this beautiful family!
So… I want to tell you about this family, but adequate words are failing me right now. I think it’s because they are such an amazing group of good, good people… I admire them for all the value they hold for their family…and their shining example leaves me speechless. They have a love that is rare…so very deep…and I look at them, observe how they interact with each other, and can’t help but wish that everyone could meet them and get to know them like I do. They are selfless givers. They would do anything to make certain that each day is a happy and healthy one, not just for each other, but for all those fortunate beings who surround them. A little over a year ago these wonderful people moved into a house just down the street from ours, and their presence has made all of our lives richer. Thank you for blessing our lives with your kindness, grace, and friendship. Photographing you all was an incredible honor for me — thank you for trusting me with lasting images of your family. You have a place deep in our hearts…and we are grateful to call you our friends.
Saturday, February 5, 2011 Posted in Babies, Children, Engagements, Families, High School Seniors, Portraits, Uncategorized, Weddings, Workshops
So last September I hosted a workshop for Tara Staton, an incredible photographer, instructor, mentor, and friend. It was one of the most phenomenal experiences I’ve ever had! To organize and prepare for Tara’s workshop, I canvassed this great city of ours with ardent fervor and a powerful determination to leave no stone unturned regarding locations, permits, lodging, facilities, transportation, and entertainment! I also have the fortune of knowing lots of wonderful and gorgeous locals who I (and with the help of attendee Stacey Bahr – thank you, Stacey! And friend, Jennifer Burns – thank you, Jennifer!) recruited as willing and enthusiastic models, and all of the workshop attendees were truly thrilled to have them as their subjects. We had the opportunity to work with families, children, couples, and high school seniors. This was my first time shooting seniors, and I had a BLAST! I can’t wait to photograph more of them! And aahhh…the attendees! What a fabulous group of gals! It was such a blessing to meet these ladies and learn with them. We got to know each other very well and forged great friendships that will last, for sure. I also spent lots of time talking with the National Park Service as well as the super-nice folks at the Capitol Police Headquarters to learn all I would need to know for shooting in the city, and who had jurisdiction over which sections of DC — I had to make sure that we were following all the rules, obeying all the laws, and that we were obtaining all the necessary permits for our locations. For nearly four days we gathered at the vacation rental I lined up in the city for lodging and class time, and then we traveled with Dave Hinton from DTT Transportation (definitely look him up next time you travel to and within the city — Dave is fantastic!) to various and diverse locations for hands-on shooting practice with our models. Not only did I learn more about photography and how to create spectacular images, but I also learned so much about myself and what I am capable of accomplishing. I also discovered more amazing things about Washington DC…and I feel like I know that city (almost) like the back of my hand. What a triumph for me – personally and professionally! I want to thank Tara for her kindness and for sharing her experiences, knowledge, and skill with me and all the attendees. And to the attendees – I am so fortunate to have met you, and I look forward to staying in touch! It was a workshop that I will always look back on fondly. Here are some of my favorite images from those four days — have a look at these shots of our exquisite models!
Tags: La Plata Children's Photographer, La Plata Family Photographer, La Plata Portrait Photographer, Maryland Children's Photographer, Maryland Engagement Photographer, Maryland Family Photographer, Maryland Newborn Photographer, maryland portrait photographer, Maryland Wedding Photographer, Southern Maryland Children's Photographer, Southern Maryland Family Photographer, Southern Maryland Portrait Photographer, Southern Maryland Wedding Photographer, Virginia Children's Photographer, Virginia Engagement Photographer, Virginia Family Photographer, Virginia Portrait Photographer, Virginia Wedding Photographer
Ahhh….family. Once again I had the pleasure of photographing this dynamic collection of spirited people. Aunts, uncles, moms, dads, cousins, sisters, brothers…. This family is a delight to be around and I loved every moment working with them! So kind…. They truly understand that all of their distinct personalities, characters, and talents combined with the love they have for each other genuinely encourage such intense and powerful bonds to last a lifetime. All of them together…it’s a sight to see! Beautiful inside and out! As always, I have so many favorites to share. Please have a look and leave a comment…and to the family here, I hope you love these golden images as much as I do! Thank you for having me around to capture the love! and p.s. – The day wouldn’t have been complete without a tractor ride at the end…see the joy on those sweet little faces??!!!
I am so excited to post these photos of Christos and Valerie’s wedding! First off however, I want to thank my awesome second shooter Jacie Lee Almira for her amazing talent and skill! Jacie, you ROCK — I had a great time working with you! Thank you for all your hard work!
Now… I adore details and Valerie spared no expense getting everything just perfect, from table decorations right down to her Badgley Mischkas. Her florist was Sue Chamberlain and you absolutely MUST see her work! Sue’s creations are incredible — not only are they artistic and dreamy arrangements, but the flowers themselves were perfectly fresh and simply lovely. And Valerie…. Valerie was so stunning…completely breathtaking! Chris made the most handsome groom, and his friendly demeanor totally added to his charm. This wonderful couple was married at St. Katharine’s Greek Orthodox church in Falls Church, Virginia. What an incredible place of brilliant color! After the beautiful ceremony we stopped along the water for a quick bridal party session, then made our way to the reception at Indigo Landing in Alexandria, Virginia — a place with real character, excellent food and service, and a fun atmosphere. The following are just a few of my favorites from Chris and Valerie’s first day of their new life together…. Valerie and Chris, thank you for choosing me to be your wedding photographer! I am honored. Congratulations, you two!
Ahh….where do I start with this post? Normally I begin by telling you about the people in my photos — about their families, their characters, where our session was, why they chose to have images created, all about their lives… But I feel like this time, I need to begin by writing about my own life in a way– as a military wife. To me, the military life has proven to be tough and wonderful, and everything in between. On the one hand, we military folks get to have experiences, real and deep experiences, in parts of the world we may not otherwise have had the opportunity to even see. We get to meet amazing people and form solid, long-lasting friendships based on genuine kindness, a sense of community, and a common understanding of the kind of small world we are all experiencing together. We adapt easily. We are grateful. We are strong. We believe in honesty and integrity. We are part of an incredible, complex, and unique group of dynamic and patriotic citizens who truly love and care about this phenomenal country of ours. We work together and for each other, selflessly and compassionately. And we are proud to be a part of it all. On the other hand, we also experience heartbreak in every way possible. Each time we pack up our lives and move ourselves to some new town, we are leaving family, friends, and local communities we have come to love. We get left behind when friends leave us after receiving their orders. We, including our children, have to start over constantly….learn about new places…make new friends….miss our families. Then we have to deal with the deployment of those we love so dearly. Each moment without them is agonizing, filled with worry, fear, and a quiet emptiness. And the ultimate — the loss of our beloved who are in harm’s way. We have all been affected in one way or another by such loss, and the grief, at times, seems endless and unbearable. The sacrifice is immeasurable. Still, we are proud to be a part of the United States military, with all of it’s highs and lows. It’s a life more fulfilling than we could have ever imagined. It’s our life.
This family…this fantastic family…is one of the greatest examples of strength, perseverance, loyalty and love that only comes from somewhere deep in the purest of hearts. I met Paola when we first moved to Maryland and the moment we began talking, I knew that this was one gal who could take about anything that came her way. And I was right. Paola’s husband Todd has been deployed to the Middle East multiple times since I first met her, and she has endured those long months without him…clearly missing him and wanting him home, but also, with tremendous strength, holding her head (and her heart) high with the hope that Todd would once again be near enough for her to touch. She also knew she had to be that pillar of strength for her three girls, making their day-to-day lives as normal as possible while at the same time gently reminding them that even though their daddy was far away, his love was always close by. When it came time for Todd to return home, Paola asked me if I would photograph this long-awaited reunion at the airport. I was honored to be asked to document such a moment as this and immediately and enthusiastically agreed! I simply understood what was behind this moment in their lives and was just about as excited as they all were when the day came for Todd to come home! Bright and early one morning, we met at the airport and I could literally feel the anticipation pouring from this beautiful bunch of girls! We walked the long halls to Arrivals, checked Todd’s flight status, and waited… So instead of more words….just have a look at the moment they all laid eyes on each other — once again. And please, please remember to thank our military men and women for their selfless service to our country. Don’t ever forget that we exist in this great country because of these remarkable people who put their very lives on the line for all of us, every – single – day. Welcome home, Todd.
Photographing these two was such a blast! I couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day or a more stunning couple! Frank and Jamie were absolutely adorable to observe — sooooo in love. Both are big sports fanatics which couldn’t be more fitting because they themselves make an awesome team. We met at the National Harbor — a super-cool (relatively new!) place with great restaurants, shopping, and activities galore. I am excited for this couple and their new life together! In April they will fly off to the islands for a destination wedding and I just know they are going to have a beautiful celebration. Frank and Jamie, I wish you all the best in your adventures together! You are truly fabulous people who have so much to offer each other. Congratulations, you two!
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