Last Saturday at the Bethesda Doubletree Hotel, wearing a Maggie Sottero wedding gown from Mary’s Bridal in Annapolis, Maryland, Katy turns the corner.  She and her father pause a moment beneath parted drapes, and the crowd stands and murmurs.  I turn to look at Matt and see tears come to his eyes.  As Katy walks down the aisle and approaches, a smile  comes to his lips.  Congratulations to this happily wedded couple, currently honeymoon-ing in Jamaica!  Katy, you are beautiful, your wedding was gorgeous, and I wish you and Matt the best life has to offer!  Enjoy this sneak peek into your wedding photography!

Bridal Makeup/Hair: Angie Norman
Wedding Gown: Mary’s Salon
Florist:
Groom’s Attire & Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jo.A. Bank and Alfred Angelo
DJ: Hesson Entertainment
Catering: Bethesda Doubletree Hotel
Wedding Cake: Creative Cakes
Wedding Invitations: MyGatsby.com

Little 5-month old baby Darby got this Pottery Barn Kids basket, all decorated with an embroidered liner, making a great prop for her Easter portrait photography session at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia!

“Look, ma…no hands!!!”

A month or so ago, Frannie and Yaa and her husband came down from New Jersey to visit their twin sisters, Belinda and Linda and their boyfriends.  What a group these sisters are…so much fun!  We had a great time at Brookside Gardens with portraits of each of the girls by themselves, the guys by themselves, the sisters together, each couple, and everyone together.  And…congratulations are in order for Yaa!  She and Lakoa are expecting their first baby!  I can’t wait to meet this special someone next time they’re down from New Jersey!  And, a special thank you goes out to Linda for writing me the awesome review you see below on Yelp!

Makayla had dillied and dallied, but finally made her way into the world at the end of last month.  And pink and cherubic, sweetly smiling, and one eye open for her first professional portraits at just 6 days young, this little newborn baby is just about as precious as they come.  And with her proud, first-time dad’s encouragement, little baby Makayla is already a Cowboys-fan-in-training!  After waiting and waiting, what a pleasure it’s been to finally meet and photograph this little newborn baby and her beautiful family.   Makayla, I have no doubt that one thing you will never want for in life is your family’s enormous expanse of love!  Congratulations to all!

Last month at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland, I met up with Christine and her daughter – 4-year old Daniella – for Christine’s maternity photography session. I had been introduced to a Christine by an old friend who my husband and I had originally met when we all lived in South Sudan many years ago. Christine is Congolese and works for an American non-profit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so I got to practice my slightly-rusty French with her and Daniella. In the US for the last few months of her pregnancy, I’m so glad we had the time to meet and enjoy the gardens.  And like a typical 4-year old, Daniella had the run of the place running and jumping all over.  At the end of our portrait photography session, I asked her, “Do you like the gardens?” …and she answered with a resounding “YES!”

Congratulations, Christine! I am looking forward to meeting Baby in just 1 1/2 more weeks!!

It was at my wedding photography booth at the Stonewall Golf Club bridal show about a month ago that I first met Melaney & Jonathon.  Melaney has got to absolutely be one of the most amazing people I know…and Jonathon one of the most giving and humanitarian…  what a match!!!  Melaney has been horseback riding ever since she was a little girl, and today, she imports and competes international sport horses in hunter jumper competitions.  (WOW!!!  right?)  One day, she could see herself opening up her own barn and teaching young kids how to ride… her musings brought back my own memories of my elementary school years when I too was at a local barn every week riding my favorite horse, Pepper.  I’d love to see Melaney at one of these competitions jumping 4′ fences!  On Melaney & Jon’s wedding day, at least one of Melaney’s horses will be grazing the fields at the country inn where they’ll be wed later this year.   And Jonathon, just as amazing as Melaney, well…saves lives.   As a kid, his house caught on fire, and while they fortunately weren’t home at the time, have the local firestation to thank for saving it.  Years later and all grown up, Jonathon is a volunteer firefighter, giving back to the community what it gave to his family years ago…saving lives.  Like I said…what a match!!!

To celebrate their wedding-to-come, Jon, Melaney & I met up at the Belmont Bay Harbor Marina, where I photographed them enjoying quiet moments together in the grass and in the cool shade of a white gazebo, dancing amidst the trees, and piggyback riding along the marina.  As we were walking back, we ran into some friends who own a boat, and perfect timing, had a few moments to photograph Jon & Melaney on it! Congratulations to Jonathon & Melaney, to be wed later this year!

I’ve always been a fan of creative executive portraits that bring out more of the personality of the company and executives.  At the same time, there is something to be said for the standard corporate headshot on a grey backdrop.  If a consistent “look” is what you’re going for, then this is it.  Below are 47 corporate headshots that I created for a firm in Washington DC.

Our March special for Facebook fans has arrived! Click on the image below to view this month’s extra-special promotion!

One of my 2011 brides has a sister in Delaware.  I first met her and her family last year at the wedding, where she was the proud Matron of Honor, her daughter the flower girl, and her son the ringbearer.  With husband and two beautiful children in tow, we were able to meet up one fine afternoon at Great Falls in Virginia, as they were on their way home after vacationing in the Shenandoah.  And these wonderful family portraits are the result…enjoy!