It was a cold day in March but Leah and Christian were game for anything… and I mean anything. They tromped through messy woods, they climbed rocks, they fought the wind - but I would like to think we all can agree the shots from our session were completely worth all the effort. Their wedding in Baltimore is going to be so fun and beautiful, I cannot wait to see them again this fall for the big day!
It’s been months since this wedding but looking through the photos to select which ones to post today brought back every single emotion I felt that day, as JD and I photographed this incredibly special couple and BLAST of a wedding. Derek and Katie (and Derek’s entire family!) are so special to me - I’ve known them for the past eight or so years, when they first contacted me to photograph Derek’s high school senior photos (and then his two siblings, Robert and Michael when they each graduated). I was honored to photograph their proposal and then their engagement session was my last session before everything shut down, in March of 2020. Getting to finally celebrate with them this past May was just… amazing. Perfect. Wonderful. After such a crazy 2020 for everyone, getting to finally, FINALLY be reunited for such a special occasion was the perfect medicine towards healing after a long, hard year.
I hope you enjoy this (small) peek into their day - I’ll just leave you with a few of the lyrics from their first dance, which I think just truly sum up everything I feel about Derek and Katie, weddings and love <3
To love to kiss to sweetly hold
For the dancing and the dreaming
Through all the sorrows and delights
I'll keep your love beside me
I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With ne're a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you will marry me
If you will marry me
-For the Dancing and the Dreaming
Makeup and Hair Stylist: Best Face Artists
Wedding Dress Purchased At: Ava Laurenne Bride
Florist: Blue Herron Farm
Caterer: Smokin Willy
Desserts: The Lemonade Bakery
DJ/Band: Black Tie Entertainment- Eddy Bobby
You want to know how bad I am at blogging? The beautiful couple in these engagement photos just celebrated their two year anniversary. Yeaaaah I’m not bad at blogging AT ALL.
But the reason this is my first blog entry in several months is because I’ve wanted to post some of the shots from this session for (literally) years. This has been one of my favorite engagement sessions to date, which is why it’s lived on my laptop since 2018. I think the logic was if it was on my laptop, surely one of the times I was traveling or had downtime and my laptop with me I would blog… ah, hope springs eternal.
But here I am, coming in better late than never! This session was one of my first forays as I switched up my editing style, and I love how the winter light adapts so beautifully to moodier tones <3 So congrats to Dani and Martin, may it not take me two more years to blog about your actual wedding day!
Where to begin… ever since I first traveled to Iceland, I (like every other photographer in the world) fell in LOVE. Like, cannot stop thinking about it, saving every penny to go back, don’t ever want to leave LOVE with that country. So of course, my number one goal in life became to photograph a wedding couple in Iceland and while it took a couple years, I am so thrilled to say last year my dream came true.
Sarah and Tyler are such a special couple. We photographed their wedding in November 2018 (yeah… that’s another blog post that one day will arrive…) and when I found out they were headed to Iceland and Paris for their anniversary trip, I knew this was my chance. They graciously allowed me to crash their anniversary and photograph them in the bitter cold of Iceland without a single complaint - and allowed me to capture the images I am sharing below. I cannot thank them enough for giving me this amazing opportunity!
Are you interested in a destination session? We would love to chat with you!! Feel free to reach out using the contact form on our site to dream up the perfect shoot for you!
Sometimes a couple walks up to your session and all you can do is try to act normal, while your inside photographer is doing a can-can, complete with high kicks because THIS COUPLE looks so rad and are so cute, you just know this session is going to be amazing from start to finish.
Brittany and Juan were that couple, if you couldn’t tell.
But even more than how ridiculously, ridiculously good looking they both were (can you say, model baby?) - it was how awesome they were that made this session so fun. We were laughing the whole time, and even kept emailing after, wondering why we hadn’t all gotten together sooner!!
Any day now, their little girl will be entering this world, and I am so thankful I got to be a part of this chapter in Brittany and Juan’s life. All the best to them as they begin this new journey as parents - and guys, JD and I here for ready to hang out as soon as you’re ready!!
Virginia is such a beautiful state - and especially Northern Virginia! Having lived here my entire life, I feel like I can truly speak to the awesomeness of this area. You have urban areas like Arlington (and let's not forget we're only a stone's throw from D.C.), true suburbs like Ashburn and Sterling (holla, 703!) and then beautiful rolling mountains and vineyards out west in Purcellville and beyond. Seriously, so much variety - which gives clients a TON of options when it comes to picking a location for their photo session! So today, I wanted to share some of my favorite locations I share with my clients, when we begin planning our sessions.
Morven Park - Of course I am going to list this first on my list - it's a very special place to my heart, because this is where JD and I got married! What I love about Morven Park is that if you want a location that gives you the most bang for your buck - this is it. It's got everything: manicured gardens, brick walls, a historical home, magnolia trees and a beautiful iron gate - look no further than Morven if you want a classic and outdoor session!
Things to know: Morven Park requires a reservation and has a permit fee for all photography, unless you're a member - which I am!
Oatlands Plantation - Oatlands is a stunning location, and I have been lucky to photograph a couple weddings there! I also love using their location for portraits, as there are so many beautiful locations to explore. Fountains, gorgeous gardens, giant trees, hidden nooks and crannies - it's so fun to shoot here, I always discover a "new" favorite spot at Oatlands!
Things to know: Oatlands Plantation requires a reservation and has a permit fee for all photography.
Red Rocks Park - Red Rocks is definitely a go to in the Leesburg area - look at all these fun walls!! I love the variety of stone textures, and this location works well for seniors, engagements or family portraits! There's also a super adorable covered bridge in the same area - we can usually hit both locations up for your session for additional variety!
The Barn at One Loudoun - One Loudoun is such a vibrant area - perfect if you want a more "urban" feel without going too far into the city, but it also has some gorgeous walking paths and a cute red barn back behind the development!
Claude Moore Park - Claude Moore is one of my favorite places to shoot at - it has beautiful open spaces but also buildings to provide shade. I love the variety of buildings here - from worn brown and grey barns to white wooden walls, it's a great background for any session!
As soon as Caroline said she wanted her session to feel like Taylor Swift’s 1989 personified, I knew we were going to be shooting her session in New York City, where she is attending college this fall. And wow, it was amazing. I brought my husband and she brought her friend Kat, and we would’ve made Tay Tay proud!
As soon as I met Taniesha and heard her talk about her fiance, Nicholas, I knew I had to be the one to shoot their intimate ceremony at Oatlands in Leesburg. Their love story – how they met, took a break and then ultimately realized that they were meant to be together – really resounded with the romantic in me.