The Savage Family

One of the best aspects of my job is working with clients again and again over the years and watching how their families grow. I've seen a senior in high school through to her wedding. Engaged couples to parents. I met Mark and Shannon for maternity photos back in January of 2014 and this past fall I had the opportunity to photograph their gorgeous family of FOUR. 

These boys were so well behaved, and while Shannon is outnumbered, she couldn't be in better company. I absolutely adored every image from this session, but here are just some of my favorites! 

The Beatty Family

I love social media. Although my blog sometimes gets a bit dusty, I find myself on Instagram quite often and love meeting and networking with other local photographers. When I'm not watching food videos and makeup tutorials of course... Anywho, one of those photographers Insagram introduced me to was Denise. After years of being official "Instagram Friends", she reached out to book a session for her super adorable, stylish, and devastatingly sweet family. There was a tiny window where the session could happen - one child returned home from France just days before our session, and in just days another was about to set out half way across the globe to India. Oh, and did I mention the entire family was moving to California in days as well?? Go big or go home!

Andrew & Katia

When Andrew and Katia contacted me back in 2011 for our first session together, they explained that Andrew was always taking pictures. He loved photography and they had a million pictures of their sweet girls - but very few pictures of Andrew. Can anyone else relate? I know I can! I often will hand my camera over to my husband and ask him to take a few pictures of me with my kids, to acknowledge I was at Christmas. I was there at Halloween. I was there at the school program. 

So, each time I photograph this sweet, fun family, I make sure to grab lots of pictures of Andrew with his girls. These memories are important for them and this is my favorite session of theirs to date!

Stacy's Trash the Dress Session

To my married friends - do you know where your wedding dress is? Did you have it preserved? My dress currently sits at the top of my son's closet in one of those clear, plastic space saver bags. I can't fit into it anymore, and I've only pulled it out once or twice to show my little girl. While it's out of sight and out of mind, physically getting rid of it or selling it would be hard for me. If I never saw it again though, I'd probably never notice. 

Stacy on the other hand, tried to sell her wedding dress, hoping to pass it on to someone else to use on their wedding day. When that proved unsuccessful, she decided to have some fun with it instead. When I got her email and she pitched her idea, I was ecstatic! I am always looking to try something new and different, and a "trash the dress" session was definitely on my bucket list. 

After a slight moment of hesitation before we began, we went for it! As you can imagine, we drew quite a few stares and at one point, had two crowds gather around us during our session! At first glance all probably assumed we were taking bridals, and we heard literal gasps from park goers when they saw us splatter the paint on her dress. They even came up to us and asked, "Why are you doing that?!" They even shared with us their party cupcakes!

It was a really fun experience. Unique to be sure. The end product was nothing short of art and I'm so grateful to Stacy for this opportunity - and for her being so brave!

The Walton Family - Northern Virginia Photographer

This coming December, little Leila will turn two! That will make it two years since I was able to share in the amazing experience of her birth with her parents. I have loved getting watch Mom and Dad go from holding that tiny baby in the delivery room to running after Leila on the beach. Mom Liese was eager to shoot on the beach in the summer months and once again Leesylvania State Park was the perfect backdrop for our evening session. Sitting on the Potomac River, it's just minutes from both of our homes. Can you believe this is in our backyard? With the unseasonably cool weather we have had in the DC area for the month of August, it was a gorgeous night and here are just some of my favorites from their equally gorgeous session!