A special thank you to a special friend Tracy Brown

I have a lot to be thankful for.  One of the many things I am thankful for are friends.  Friends of mine are a very special kind of person. Allow me to explain.

I am not easy to be friends with.  Not because I'm not a nice person or even loving for that matter.  In fact, I'm a very loving person,  maybe even to a fault.  I have a special place in my heart for many of the people I have met and clients I have worked with.  Some of them have come to seem more like family than someone I met through the photography business.  It can be a challenge to be friends with me because I run all the aspects of a small business and it's just me.  I have little time with my family, let alone my friends.  I don't answer calls once in a while.  I silence my phone and miss an important text.  I forget to do something because I'm so focused on work.  Being friends with me requires confidence, trust, understanding, independence, patience and persistence.  Some qualities that most days I struggle to have within myself.

There are many facets behind running your own business that happen behind the scene.  Often photographers are viewed as someone who simply takes pictures.  Big deal, right? The aspects that often are not considered are the accounting, consultations, marketing, continuing education, showcases, editing, album design, social networking and even delivery driver.  Some days I don't know if I should return the over 25-30 emails we receive daily or the phone calls.  It's often a decision of which fire to put out first.  I know I could not survive, let alone thrive in this industry without the grace and mercy of my savior Jesus Christ.  I give him all the glory and know that without divine intervention, none of this would be possible.

I am thankful for people he sends, and today I am saying a special thank you to Tracy Brown.  Tracy has been working with me as a second photographer for a few years now.  She's amazing and I feel confident in her as a photographer, a professional and as a friend.  She has dealt with a lot and given a lot to be a part of this business and to be my friend.  She calls me, emails me, texts me and even talks me down from panic once in a blue moon.  If she calls and doesn't hear from me for days, I can rest assured that she will still be there for me when I need her.  She has done everything, from taking over shoots when I am over booked, to watching my daughter when I'm in a crunch.  What I love about Tracy is she will do just about anything for her friends and she does it with sincerity.  Tracy has really been there for me. A few times I have needed a last minute babysitter for a photo shoot.  I go to the photo shoot, return late, and she's there making craft projects with my daughter.  She takes me from a sense of rushing around to a sense of thankfulness.  She has been my right hand and sometimes my left.  So today, I wanted to recognize her personally and publicly. Thank you Tracy, for being a co-worker and a confidant.  Thank you for all you do and who you are.  I am blessed by knowing you.



She never likes how she looks in photos so I hope she forgives me for posting one.  Knowing her, she will.  That or she'll take one of my backside when I'm fixing a wedding dress and leave it in the wedding pictures for me to cringe at.  Love ya Tracy!

P.S.  I made it small and black and white.  What more could a friend ask for! (wink wink)

Catherine and Jason, D.C. Engagement Photographer

Making the connection - Love and respect.  An engagment shoot in D.C.

When Catherine and Jason told me they wanted to have their engagement pictures taken in Washington D.C., I was delighted at the opportunity.  I was so excited I didn't worry about the details.  I knew they'd come together but I just had to say yes!

Okay, I've said yes so now it was down to getting it done. I rarely venture into D.C.  I love the memorials, the museums, the sites and shops but the driving and parking, not so much.  As my daughter would say, "No thank you." 

My first plan of action was to find a driver.  Fortunately, I have the most amazing father who just so happens to know that area like the back of his hand.  For a tank of gas, a hot meal and a grateful daughter he will do just about anything.

Second plan of action, figure out how I'm going to get these gigantic memorials into an image without completely losing the subjects.  So I rented a wide angle lens from borrowlens.com.  The 16-35 2.8 Canon L-series. 

And last, get the permit.  That's right a permit. Who knew?  Fortunately I did some research and was advised in the nick of time that I better get a permit or the park police would boot us out.  Just a word of advice, if you are doing any professional photography in the Washington D.C. area, I highly recommend the permit.  Here's the link to apply National Park Service.  It's a $50 application fee and a $50 land use fee.  I will not complain because the client covered the charge, but seriously?  When we were approached by the park police I was relieved.  At least it was worth it.  He was ready to give us 'the speech' and get us out of there. It brought me joy to pull the 10 page document out of my camera bag. Below is one of my favorite shots.  There are many but I just love this one at the Reflecting Pool.

After I got over my initial excitement a familiar feeling started to wash over me. Reverence and a little bit of sadness.  Certainly not anything that interfered with the job at hand, but you can't help feeling the presence of soldiers who gave their lives for us, for our freedom, for our country.  It's the ultimate sacrifice.  These men and women laid down their lives for us.  I get choked up when I think about it.  It's overwhelming the sense you have when you are at the memorial sites.  I had to shut down a part of me and almost pretend as if I wasn't in the midst of someone who died for me.  I tried looking through my camera lens as much as possible. I found comfort in looking through the viewfinder. I could make the bigness of it all a lot smaller. I could see Catherine and Jason clearer and all the stars and names smaller.  Here we are at the National WWII Memorial.  Each star represents 100 soldiers that died in the war.

Later I talked with my father who is a retired officer.  I told him I had difficulty making a connection between celebration and reverence, conveying a sense of romance and patriotism.  He put it so perfectly for me and I will never forget what he said.  He said, "When you think of them, all the soldiers that died for us, what do you think they died for?  They died so we could love, so we could live, and be happy. Do you know how happy they would be to see Catherine and Jason living a life of freedom, a life of new love?"  That's when I made the connection.  Washington D.C. is love. They loved us and future generations.  I'd like to think some may see down from heaven and smile that their sacrifice was for great purpose and great joy.

Something that was new for all of us was Jason's uniform. He graduated the first week of November!  We were unsure if there were any rules about things you are not allowed to do in uniform.  Was he allowed to sit down in it on the ground?  I never thought about these things until that moment.  I wish I had looked that up too.  Everyone was staring at him.  Catherine and I will say because he's a handsome man but that uniform attracts serious attention, especially wearing it in D.C.  People were taking his photo like he was a tourist attraction. I guess it will get him accustomed to all the attention they will get on the wedding day which is coming up on December 29, 2010!  Look how cute they are together.

I think the Capital was one of my favorite spots.  The sky was so blue and it was gorgeous.  I wanted them to have fun, loving images that captured the excitement of the new life they are starting together.

After finishing up at the memorials we headed to park for some relaxed and casual shots.  I loved these too.

I could not have picked anyone else who I would have rather spent this time with.  Catherine and Jason are very much in love.  They are headed into sharing their lives together as husband and wife and I am once again honored to be a part of this special time.  I am so blessed and thankful.  My cup runneth over.

Jessica, Fredericksburg VA Bridal Photographer

Jessica and hope.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica and shooting her bridal portraits. 

Do you ever have those days you just feel like someone is looking down and smiling on you?  That's what yesterday was for me.  If I am being honest, I have been so overstressed these days.  Life is a balancing act and sometimes my balance is way off.  Dare I say that I work too much?  Shhhh... don't tell anyone. I don't want the work to stop.  I just want to balance it better. So anyway, when I met up with Jessica yesterday I gave myself that talk. "Relax, calm down and see the beauty around you."  Oddly enough, the talk worked.  Something came over me and I was very relaxed.

Jessica arrived at Belmont finishing off her happy meal which seemed so appropriate for her.  She's like a cute, happy kid on the inside.  We talked for a minute or two before her sister arrived to help us with the big event. 

As we got started Jessica told me she's not photogenic.  Excuse me?!  I tried to hold off on looking completely surprised at that statement but my eyebrow did that thing that I can't seem to control, where it just raises all on its own. I think what she was trying to say is she's uncomfortable in front of the camera.  I completely sympathize with this situation, most of us do. I myself choose to hide behind it verses pose in front of it.  Hopefully a look at these portraits and she will change her mind.

Jessica was nothing but pleasant the entire time I worked with her, from the first email to the moment we wrapped up the shoot.  The reason I felt like someone was smiling down on me is this.  Going into this shoot I already knew Jessica had booked a wedding photographer.  She won her bridal session from a drawing I held at a bridal fair.  I went into this knowing that I was giving the session time, the Belmont location fee and the editing time free of charge.  There was no hope of booking the wedding, yet somehow I walked away feeling like the winner, like I had just been given a gift.  I think we are bombarded in life with all the bad things.  We see it on the news, read on the Internet, and are even reminded of it on fictional crime shows (they had to get the show idea from somewhere).  I really start to wonder what's going on?  Why is there so much bad around us?  Then God smiles on me and sends me into people's lives like Jessica.  She shines with all the good things we hope for.  Patience, loving kindness, gratitude, gentleness and good morals.  Some of the things she said surprised me in a good way.  I walked away being given hope.  What a beautiful gift!  Hope has no price tag.  It's intangible and to give it to someone takes a gift in itself.  So I thank Jessica for giving me evidence that there is hope for the good out there.  There are people striving to make life a little better, to have a pleasant impact on those around them and to give gifts bigger than you can wrap a bow around.  So as you look at the rest of the photos you will see the beauty on the outside while I am thankful for the beauty on the inside.

I sign out being thankful; for my job, my family, the clients He sends me, for Jessica and for assurance that there is good out there!  What a beautiful day!

Ellie, Fredericksburg VA Senior Portrait Photographer

Adventures in babysitting!

Have you ever seen that movie?  I guess I'm dating myself talking about movies like Adventures in babysitting from 1987!  It's a perfect theme to this senior portrait session though.  Not referring to my client of course, but to the fact my daughter tagged along on the shoot.  Here's a photo my daughter took of me as we waited for Ellie.

I used to work for a corporation, yuck!  That's right; beige cubical, headset and answering phones.  Yes, most of us have been there.  Even though this is a time in my career that I wasn't fulfilling my dreams, I can still say that there were a lot of good things about it.  For example, this is how I ended up being selected to capture Ellie's senior portraits.  I met her dad T.J. through my job at the time. Even though he's a Steelers fan, he was a fun co-worker to complain about the job with.  When T.J. asked me about shooting his daughter's senior portraits, of course the answer was, "YES!"  Then of course he turned me over to his wife because selecting shoes and outfits is definitely not his thing.  I loved talking with Ellie's mom, Gabrielle. She's really into photography which is the perfect match for me.  We went over the details and did what it takes to have a successful portrait session. 

So here comes the babysitting part. We are less than a twelve hours from the shoot when my babysitter gets very ill.  I felt bad for the her and of course didn't want to share whatever she had.  I contacted Gabrielle and asked if she wanted to reschedule because I was unable to find a trusted friend to watch my daughter.  Gabrielle, being a mom to a young child herself, offered to allow my five year old to tag along.  Hum, this was something I was going to have to think about.  Should I say yes?  How am I going to be artistic when I hear, "Mommy, why is the sky blue?"  How can I make this work, I thought.  Gabrielle and Ellie were clearly excited and ready to get this done.  That's when I concocted my plan.  Give my daughter a camera and tell her she's my assistant.  Little girls love thinking they are in charge of something.  In fact, I think girls of any age enjoy thinking they are in charge of something.

Here's a photo my daughter took of me working with Ellie.  Yes, it's out of focus.  She's five!  Clearly a photojournalist.

After a few shots she was hooked on being the assistant. Off we went, five year old in tow. 

Ellie was the real superstar, I mean for a teenager to agree to have a mini paparazzi was the definition of easy going.  That or she was secretly texting her friends some things I'd rather be oblivious to. 

Let's get to the shots of Ellie from my perspective.

These boots were smokin'.  When Ellie put this outfit on, that's when she really came out of her shell.  Dressing true to your personal style is key in getting the best photos.

Some of my favorites

  

Gabrielle scouted out my website before the shoot and saw a location she really liked and definately wanted some images captured at.  It's the downtown train station.  It's one of my standard spots but when we arrived it was blocked off with construction tape. "Do not enter!"  We all looked at each other, then I look at Ellie. She's standing there in her dress. That's when I remembered myself at her age.  If you told me no, it meant I just might want to do it anyway. What does a good photographer do when a clients favorite spot has been roped off?  She jumps the fence!  "Are you game," I asked her?  That's when she replied like any other teenager, "yeah."  She hikes up her dress and jumps with me.  You have to love a free spirit! 

I'm lucky these are in focus at all. Truth be told, I like to think I'm a rebel but my idea of a wild adventure still allows me to come home to my own bed at night.

Gabrielle and Ellie thank you for a fun shoot but most of all the Adventures in Babysitting!

Angie & Josh, Front Royal VA Wedding Photographer

Angie and Josh's Wedding, Bowling Green Country Club, Front Royal VA

This wedding has meaning to me.  It was a personal victory to photograph Angie and Josh's wedding on a few levels.  First, Angie is a portrait photographer.  She has been the head manager at a portrait studio for more years than I can remember.  She is gifted and certainly has an eye for photography, understands posing, composition and most importantly that each client is different and requires different aspects of your talent and professionalism.  Second, she knows a lot of photographers and to be selected as "the one" was an honor! The third reason is personal and I didn't even share it with her.  I think she knows but I wasn't going to bring it up.  Thank you Angie. 

I've bored you by getting too vague but sometimes it has to be done.  Let's get to the nitty gritty of this amazing wedding.

The wedding and reception were held at Bowling Green Country Club in Front Royal, Virginia. This place has lighting every wedding photographer prays for.  Lighting that makes me giddy!  I know, it's corny but if you dabble in photography even a little, you know this is paramount to a good image.  You'll see what I mean here in a moment.

Here are some of the detail shots

And a shot of Angie before the ceremony

There's a moment, when the bride is ready and she looks around knowing she's ready, seeing that her friends and family are too.  This is it, she thinks.  That's when I ask for the shot?  Which one?  Where I ask the bride's mother to look face to face with her daughter and right into her eyes. I tell them both, "I just want a shot of you two looking at each other," knowing I'm plotting for a moment they need and a moment I want. Neither has realized that they haven't even soaked it all in.  I know the moment is powerful and evokes tears of love and joy.  I can see into the future of looking in my own daughter's eyes on her wedding day.  I imagine a mother feels like she sees her precious little girl all grown up.  Maybe in those seconds she sees her at birth, then at age five, then as her rebelious teenager and the final image, her beautiful daughter as a bride.  She begins to cry.  They both begin to cry. They both think of how they love the other, how beautiful each of them are.  They are lost, even if only for a second, into a bond and a moment that is moving.  Here's that image.

And then they get after me for making them cry.  I know it was worth it and nothing a good laugh and a little face powder can't fix.

Let's get on to the tall handsome prince Josh.  Did I mention that Josh is tall?

Josh with his mom.



A few ceremony shots

A few portraits from their bride and groom session...

The reception was beautiful.  Here's that light I was referring to.  Windows galore!  Loved it.

The first dance.  The chandeliers made a beautiful back drop.

The toast

Typically I wouldn't run on and on and on and on.  Oh wait, this is the toast and that's what tends to happen.  It didn't happen on this day at all.  I'm not just being nice either.  It's true.  I have to give credit to Angie's sister who did a great toast.  I loved it.  Perfect actually. Heart felt, funny and obviously touching as you can see here . It wouldn't be fair to leave that out as I go into my award for my favorite speech of all time.

The longest speech I think I've ever been privy to witnessing was about 45 mins.  If I had a photo of myself crying, I'd insert it here. You heard me right, 45 minutes.  So as toast time approaches you can imagine my fear.  I think silently, please don't pull out a stack of 8x10 papers.....typed!  That definitely didn't happen on this night.  This guy rocked it, had me laughing, and was a classic that I will NEVER forget.  Why can't they all be this good?  The grooms brother gets up and says only a few words.  "If you guys have trouble.... don't call me. I'm busy."  Now I'm not good at retelling jokes so that may sound bad, but trust me the delivery was perfect.  You know he obviously didn't mean it. It was good, great and if I had a trophy for best wedding toast, I'd definitely give it to him.  Here are Josh and Angie when he said it.

And the man of the hour

The cake

And off they went on the big journey we know as marriage.  To love someone and to have that person love you back is a gift and a gift I'm happy they both have been given.  Thank you Josh and Angie for a wonderful day.  I wish you a long and happy life together.