Tommy!

I had such a good time photographing Tommy who is nearly six months old. This is a great age because it's usually full of smiles and Tommy delivered. But I have to say, it "took a village" to elicit these great expressions. Mom, Dad and both grandparents used their best laughing, squeaking, and zerbert sounds to keep little laughs coming. There was even some singing of Tom Jones! Who knew a six-month old would dig that! Thanks for all your hard work.

It's photo sessions like these that reinforce to me what I've known as soon as I took that first photo. Taking photos is not just clicking the shutter. It's creating an atmosphere, an experience, a relationship with your subjects and then capturing the feelings and expressions within that experience.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and one of my favorite images to take are very close photos that highlight the sparkle and personality from the eyes.
The expression on Tommy's face here between his parents is priceless.

Thanks again, I enjoyed myself.

Peyton Turns One!

I absolutely loved this photo session! I had the opportunity to photograph Peyton and the many changes of his first year through the "Baby's First Year" plan which includes four sessions from several weeks to the first birthday. I really enjoyed documenting the changes of his life, from sleepy baby up to a boy bursting with personality and smiles. It was amazing to see how much he had changed each time. For his first birthday photos, we did a variety of images including some outdoor shots walking with Mommy and Daddy, playing with some puppies and my favorite, demolishing a birthday cake.

What's so fun about these is Peyton is tentative at first and looks to Mom as if to say, "Can I touch it?"


Then he starts getting into the eating and smashing bit a bit more.....
Now, he is really happy with himself and all the good cake he has in and on himself.
After the party is over! Don't you just feel like that sometimes? I can't believe I ate the whole thing. Although he didn't eat anywhere near the whole thing! It makes me smile each time I look at these. Thanks to Peyton's family for letting me get to know the family and for choosing to work with me to capture those precious first year changes and memories.

Kaya is Six!

I had a really fun!! photo session with Kaya in honor of her birthday.
Knowing it would be cold, her Mom and I discussed outfit options and location that would make a successful shoot. Her outfit was amazing but most important, it was warm, I felt like we were having a mini fashion shoot!
Earlier in the year, I had photographed her sister near Loy's Station covered bridge, using the natural landscape and water to create images that evoked her sister's personality. Knowing we wouldn't have any natural flora, we decided to go urban with Kaya's photos. And there is no better place than downtown Frederick. Not only did about two city blocks provide an ample variety of backgrounds, but constantly moving kept Kaya from getting bored and kept the smiles coming. We were so excited to find some jazzy purple doors ( Kaya's favorite color). We played peek-a-boo, "honked" her braids and invented little games to keep her smiling. She did a fantastic job.

The Wedding of Gretchen and Brandon

Brandon and Gretchen's wedding was the first wedding I had photographed in my hometown of Thurmont and at the beautiful and rustic Thorpewood lodge on the top of the mountain. I got to see some old friends from high school that I hadn't seen in years. I really enjoyed working around people and places I knew.

But the real moment to remember for me is seeing Gretchen, who was determined to have photos in the snow, standing outside with a strapless gown on in a temperature of about 18 degrees with the wind chill factor. She and Brandon were not even shivering! But I did have to tell them not to breath as the steam from their breath was obscuring some of their faces! They did an amazing job!
Thanks to Gretchen and Brandon and their families for inviting me to capture it all.

The Wedding of Beth and Paul

Beth and Paul's wedding was memorable for so many things. Some of which they will be laughing about in years to come... like how the rain was running through their reception tent and had no electricity and how they were calling to find a new reception site, right before Beth was to walk down the aisle. Or like how the new reception building, on the same grounds as the tent, did not comfortably fit all their guests. So literally, cheek to cheek and elbow to elbow, we moved and danced around each other. But what was also memorable was the love and joy that no rain,sleet and snow event could dampen. What will be memorable to me was how everyone shared their space and their love blending families and memories in one amazingly tender and happy night.
Congratulations Beth and Paul!

The Wedding of Nancy and Steve

Nancy and Steve's wedding was on a brisk but beautifully sunny day at Ceresville Mansion. I was unsure how guests and couple alike were going to fare when my breath turned into puffs of steam as I photographed the early morning details of the day. But all the guests were prepared with coats and gloves and Nancy was a trooper by not shivering in her strapless gown.
This wedding was a luxury for me in that they decided to do all their portraits and group photos before the ceremony. I really appreciated the extra time and Nancy and Steve enjoyed the entirety of their cocktail hour.
This was also the first time I had photographed at Ceresville during the morning and the light was beautiful! We had just enough foliage that the colors with the light spilling through the leaves made an appealing backdrop for the group photos.
I always have fun at the receptions, listening to the music and tapping my feet, and this reception was no exception. The music had an international flair and ranged from bee-bop to latin tunes to elegant waltz music as well as pop. And boy, can Steve dance! and he loves doing it.
A lovely couple and a lovely day. Thank you for the priviledge of capturing your wedding memories!

The Wedding of Shannon and Matt

This wedding was special to me because I felt like I really got to know Shannon and Matt. They had booked with me the earliest of all my 2009 couples. We took their engagement photos in the freezing cold in DC. with Harley their dog, in tow, and wrapped in a pink blanket between takes. With those photos, we created my first photo guestbook,. which they used at the wedding.

Then they came to my part of the world, with Harley,of course, to have holiday photos taken. I was there to witness the purchase of their first Christmas tree as a couple.
We saw or emailed each other periodically throughout the year, so by the time the wedding arrived, I felt like they were good friends of mine getting married.

This was also a special wedding because it was the first one I had some video captured and incorporated it into the slideshow. I love video! It brings a whole new dimension to the level of storytelling of the day.

I have to give a special shout out to Ceresville Mansion. It had been raining most of the day and it looked like there was no chance that Matt and Shannon would have their wedding outdoors at the pergola. Fifteen minutes before the scheduled wedding time, their coordinator announced that it hadn't been raining for a bit and they were very rapidly setting up for the outdoor wedding. I think Shannon could have kissed him! The ceremony weather was rain-free and we had about fifteen minutes of photographing after the ceremony before the rain came down again. I was so impressed with the staff and their quick turnaround to make this couples day complete. Kudos Ceresville!

Shannon and Matt, I wish you all the best and hope to know you for years to come!
Thank you for the priviledge of photographing your wedding.