I trust you.

"I trust you".
Those words are some of the most powerful  and meaningful for me to hear when working with a client.

To me it means that they know I am going to photograph something that they will love. That I will capture them expressing their real selves and that they'll look good doing it. It means that they know I value the relationship that we are building during a single photo session or many.That I understand the privilege that it is to be the person that captures these important moments for them to treasure.

I'm not just "taking" a photograph. We are experiencing the session and creating something, together. With each and every client, I strive to earn that trust through my work and my interaction with them.

Twice this last week, I have heard a client say those three words. One was a wedding client, Amy. We had already worked together on their engagement session and created the cutest guest book and prints for them. While we were discussing the final plans for her September 30 wedding day, I  asked for any special photo requests that she and Sean may have for photographs that day. Amy said, "No, I trust that you'll get what we want."

 The other client was Meagan, the mother of Landon. We rolled that baby this way and that, we covered him with a blanket, and at some point, I started explaining why I wanted to do  a certain pose and then I said, "do you need me to tell you why I want to photograph it this way?" and Meagan simply said, "No,I trust you."

Is Landon  adorable, or what? Love that smile and those bright eyes.

Caroline's first year!

Betsy and Rob were one of my first Maryland wedding clients and Caroline, one of my first baby plan participants. What a joy to see Caroline as she transformed. Little hands, little feet, serious looks and coaxed smiles to a large personality and equally large smiles with it. She just beamed as a bathing beauty and a bubble catcher at her one year session and she is definitely the strongest at standing of any one year old I know!
Thank you Betsy and Rob, for inviting me into your life and introducing me to your daughter. Caroline is so precious and loved.

What a great smile!

Tillman' s first year, in Review!

Tosha and Brad were one of the first couples whose rehearsal dinner and wedding I photographed after moving back to Maryland. And what a wedding it was! It felt like everyone there was family. There was a lot of love and laughter. They were so natural with each other and we captured some amazing moments between them. Some of those photographs became the cover and inside spread for the Frederick magazine's wedding issue (see sidebar).

So I was very happy when they called me to photograph their first child, Tillman. I knew he would be something special.
We put Tillman on the Baby's First Year plan and I got to watch him grow physically, and see his changing personality at several different times throughout his first year. One of my favorite images of him is from one of our first sessions. He is sitting in a large leather chair, all relaxed and spread out and the thought that came to my mind was, "he looks like the chairman of the board!" And that's how I've thought of him since. Of course, he's a baby, so he's adorable and fun but there's a serious side to him. There's a little man in there! Tillman has a wonderful future before him and a lot of love around him. Thank you so much toTosha and Brad for the privilege of getting to know him and to document a small part of this amazing boy's life.

The chairman of the board. :)

I just love this smile!

How cute is this?

From our final session. I thought it was such a great image of mother and son.

A video of Tillman's first year. How fast it goes!

Welcome to Caroline!

It all started with Betsy and Rob.
They were the first couple that I began this blog with two years ago. They were the couple that graciously had their engagement session videoed so that I could post it on my website where it still remains. I was so honored that they contacted me about photographing the new addition their family, Caroline. It really makes me happy to continue to follow their lives as they change in new and wonderful ways.

When I became a photojournalist, in my 20's, it was because I wanted to tell stories, in images, that mattered to people and that made a difference. The subjects were different then, but my goal is still the same, to capture important images, that have meaning. Images that reflect relationships and a moment in time, though fleeting.With one glance at these images, they will recall the magic, the love they felt for each other and this time in their lives. And hopefully, one day, they will be cherished by Caroline, who will not keep these days in her memory but in her heart.

Thank you so much for allowing me the privilege to see your lives together begin anew in the blessing of your baby.