Leah Stern Photography

So BIG!!

2010-01-10T15:13:00.003-05:00

Vivian, who is now completely famous on my blog, from her 3 month and 8 month sessions, just had her FIRST birthday at the end of December. As she will happily show you by throwing her arms high in the air, she is now so big!

It was definitely absolutely frigid out, so we mostly stayed inside, but I just had to start at the end, with my favorite shot from the session - I love Vivian all bundled up with the happiest grin on her face and the vibrant blue bench in the background - she is such a happy girl!

And as you can see, she's walking all by herself!

For snacktime, Vivian had some tart apples - can you tell how sour they tasted by the look on her face?

No, I have no idea what absolutely fascinating and exciting thing she was pointing at - but definitely it was very amazing.

Such a silly girl - when she changed her clothes, she started doing this funny little scoot across the floor on her knees - I think it amused her.

VROOM!.....Part 2!

2010-01-10T15:01:00.005-05:00

Remember little Evan from last winter? Well, he is still full of energy and does nothing slowly! This December, I had the pleasure of meeting Evan's extended family as well and we had a great time avoiding the cold weather outside and just hanging out in their living room. Evan is such a hoot, he had everyone endlessly entertained!

We did go outside for a couple family pictures, so Evan had to get all bundled up!

I love this shot of Evan and his grandpa!

Happy Holidays!!

2009-12-05T17:33:00.000-05:00

I'm editing like mad right now trying to keep up with all the holiday orders, but I found a bit of time on Sunday to visit my friends Regan & Bill and their beautiful boy, Patrick. I photographed Patrick when he was just a wee wrinkly little guy and it was so fun to see him again, twice as big, with a big smile and ruddy cheeks! So amidst all the hustle, let me take a moment to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

A Beautiful Fall Day

2009-12-05T17:14:00.004-05:00

As I edit these pictures, I see all the snow falling outside the window and press my toes to the radiator to keep them warm. And it's really strange to think that my session with Caris & Evan and their parents was only about a week ago! It was a gorgeous sunny fall day such a short time ago and now the snow is coming down!

Caris & Evan are such cuties - Caris is about three and half and Evan is just seventeen months. Caris was full of smiles and wanted to show me everything - her ballet moves, her best stuffed monkey, how high she could swing and her favorite books. Evan was not sure that my camera and I were really a welcome sight. He definitely eyed me very suspiciously, but we got a few smiles here and there - after all, it's hard to pay attention to the weird camera when there are so many other great things to capture your attention!

I LOVE this picture of Caris giggling and tickling her dad!

Sometimes the really sad faces are just as precious as the happy ones!

Snakes, Snails, Puppy Dog Tails....and lots and lots of giggles!

2009-11-22T12:14:00.003-05:00

When I first met Lucas, at his five month session, he was just getting his first cold. Lucas was the grumpiest little guy that day and we were lucky to get one little dimple the whole day!

But last week, I got to see the real Lucas! This little guy is almost one year old now and he is so full of giggles and smiles!

Abby Cadabby!

2009-11-17T17:57:00.005-05:00

I have been so lucky recently that all of my portrait sessions have been on beautiful sunny days! The fall foliage has been gorgeous and my session with Athena and her parents was no exception. We went out to the Franciscan Monastery in DC on a Monday afternoon, when the gardens were quiet and the sun was shining. Athena had a great time running around, playing "walk, walk, jump" and gathering leaves to make big ears and fairy wings! And when it was time to smile for a family picture, no word got her giggling more than Abby Cadabby!

Little Fellow, Big Personality!

2009-11-14T14:02:00.005-05:00

It was a beautiful day last Saturday - I really miss that weather right now! After all these rainy days and weekends lately, we got lucky and had a gorgeous morning for Pierson's debut on camera!

This little guy is about four months old now and his parents, Peter & Monica, just adore him in every way possible. And for good reason! Pierson is just full of personality and spends all his time smiling, kicking, trying to roll over and talking like nobody's business!

I love this shot! Pierson is wondering why no one is making googly eyes at him, Moxie (that gorgeous Aussie) is trying to be a good girl and sit still for the camera and Peter & Monica are just beaming at each other!

Babies make such crazy expressions and this series is my tribute to those nutty baby faces, which are so entertaining and should never be forgotten!

All tuckered out....

And let's not forget Moxie. She would like me to mention that she is able to perform a wide variety of tricks and is happy to give you her rates anytime you need a doggie model ;P

"Oh Sadie, don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie - place no one above you sweet Sadie!"

2009-11-13T11:27:00.005-05:00

Sweet little Sadie and her parents were such a joy to photograph! This little girl, who just turned one year old last week, is about the cutest, tiniest little person in the world! Sadie is so full of joy and enthusiasm and I hope I'll have the chance to see her again!

A Little Cold, but Plenty of Warmth!

2009-11-03T19:21:00.008-05:00

Laura & Drew planned such a gorgeous wedding in the mountains of western Maryland, anticipating spectacular fall foliage and just enough nip in the air to get everyone excited and ready for hot cider - I couldn't wait! So when the weather turned out very cold (36 degrees!!!) and rainy, we were all a bit disappointed. But Laura & Drew are such warm and cheerful people and their happiness was enough to put a smile on everyone's face!

Laura's groomswoman, Alicia, made this gorgeous necklace for her to wear...

....and her mom made her veil!

I love how it took such a group to fasten the back of Laura's dress!

Gorgeous!

These two are so smitten :)

I love it when couples are willing to troop into fields for some fun shots!

The ceremony was at a charming and warm little church in Oakland, MD

After the ceremony, Laura & Drew climbed a narrow little staircase to ring the church bells. They had a moment to themselves before exiting through the church and the arch of swords!

Their friends were kind enough to decorate Laura & Drew's car with "just married" signs and plenty of streamers and glowing stars - it was so cute!

And on to the reception at Wisp Ski Resort in McHenry, MD. Everything was so festive and beautiful!

They had a really great swing band - The Swing Machine out of Fairfax, VA - they were fantastic!

And they really got everyone going!

And by the end of the evening, all that rain became worth the trouble when it turned into snow.

Congratulations guys!

Bright and Early

2009-10-23T12:24:00.007-04:00

When Carrie & Matt decided they'd like to have their engagement session at Tide Point on the harbor in Baltimore, I suggested that perhaps the light would be most beautiful at dawn and we plan for a 7:30am shoot. They happily agreed and at the time, it seemed like such a great plan! And then came the night before, when I was setting my alarm for 5am and thinking "what on earth was I smoking when I thought of this!"

But, once I was fully awake the next morning and watched the sun start to peep above the horizon on the way up to Baltimore, I was glad they'd agreed! It was an absolutely gorgeous morning and after plenty of coffee, we had a great time!

I had a really hard time choosing my favorite shots to put on the blog because there are so many that I love! So here are a bunch :)

We met at Koba Cafe for a cup of coffee - there is definitely no better way to start a session that early in the morning!

And then on to Tide Point, with the sun shining across the bay and the city spread out behind us. Baltimore is really growing on me - every time that I shoot there, my head spins with all the great industrial backgrounds - it really feels like a REAL city!

From there, we hopped over to Fort McHenry, which has so many cool little spots.

Can't wait for the wedding next June at the Baltimore Museum of Industry! Congrats guys!

A "Fishy" Affair

2009-10-20T15:34:00.009-04:00

Pammy & Chris got married a couple weekends ago and I think the National Aquarium in Baltimore may just be one of my new favorite places to shoot! The wedding was a blast and the locations were a dream for any photographer!

Pammy got ready at the InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore, which is just nothing short of gorgeous.

Pammy found these little jeweled letters and had them attached to each bouquet for the name of each bridesmaid.

I love that she wore these fantastic turqouise shoes with her white wedding dress!

Pammy's maid of honor, Katie, looked on as they were putting on the final touches...

Hehe, what can I say about this shot? Words are a little silly to try to add to this!

So, before you see photos of Chris, you have to understand that to say Chris has a quirky sense of humor is such an understatement (more on this later). Chris is a hoot and he definitely has a flair for anything comically unusual.

During the "first look," where Chris and Pammy saw each other for the first time all ready for their wedding, I told Chris to face forward as Pammy came down the stairway behind him. Usually, once the bride reaches her groom, the groom turns and exhibits some sort of happiness and emotion. Chris had a bit of fun with this process in refusing to look at Pammy when she reached his side. She stood there for a few moments and spoke to him while he just stared straight forward. However, even he couldn't help but break into a huge grin when she stepped in front of him and he saw her in her wedding gown.

We had a great time taking pictures around town - first stop was an old carousel right by the harbor, where the attendent was SO nice to shoo all the kids off of the carousel for a few minutes while we grapped some photos.

Next stop was the American Visionary Art Museum. This place is fantastic! I'd never been here before and I highly recommend that if you haven't been, you go immediately!

Everybody makes fun of the jumping pictures, but I gotta admit, they do have a certain something :)

And on to the Aquarium. The lighting is so low and mysterious there - we had GREAT fun with the video light!

As we raced back to the ceremony site, running a few minutes behind, we were walking around and around and around the ramps by the shark tanks and we paused for a quick moment to grab this shot. Pammy and Chris had an audience of very large fishes :)

The ceremony and reception were in the Knott Harbor View Room and the view was amazing!! The ceremony was right at sunset and the lights of Baltimore behind them were seriously magical.

A few details from the reception - gorgeous! Pammy came up with the whole design scheme herself and really could not have done a better job!

See that mischevious grin on Chris' face? Everyone knew what he was going to do. And I don't know if he and Pammy had discussed this part of the cake cutting in advance, but first, she gave him a knowing look, as she gently held out a piece of cake for him to bite.....

....and he responded by very slowly and deliberately smashing cake into Pammy's face. But, it was done with love ;P

And then the party got started!

And a good time was had by all!

Remember how I mentioned earlier that there would be more on Chris' quirky sense of humor later? Well, here it is. It isn't every wedding reception that ends with the groom and groomsmen parading in Frankenstein, pirate and ninja costumes. And to top it off, there was an enormous set of shark jaws for them to pose in - how fitting! Congratulations Pammy & Chris!

Please Help Homeward Trails Animal Rescue to win $50,000!

2009-10-14T10:40:00.003-04:00

Help HT Get $50,000 Through Facebook!!!

Start TODAY with a Simple $10 donation

As some of you know, I volunteer with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, a non-profit group which saves the lives of thousands of homeless animals each year. Two years ago, Homeward Trails was part of the America's Giving Challenge through Facebook and we ended up being awarded more than $15,000. This helped us help a TON of animals!!! We now have this opportunity again. It's very simple and we need a VERY LARGE number of people to participate in order for us to win any amount of money again this time. And it's easy.....

Simply click here to make a daily donation of as little as $10 day.

To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our cause (every person can donate once per day and have it count as a unique donation). We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period.

Last time we rallied around certain days to have the most people donate on a specific day to ensure that we got the $1,000 award. Please help us do this...the first year we won the daily award more than 5 times (for a total of $5,000) and our overall total giving put us in the Top Ten for another $10,000 prize. Whoo hooo! That's a LOT of homeless animals we can help!

Here are the days we are aiming to win the $1,000 Award:

Dates:

STARTING TODAY: Wednesday, October 14th

Friday, October 16th

Sunday, October 18th

Tuesday, October 20th

Friday, October 23rd

Monday, October 26th

Wednesday, October 28th

Friday, October 30th

Tuesday, November 3rd

Thursday, November 5th

Many of you I know have hundreds of friends on Facebook. Asking them to contribute a small amount on these days can make a really, really big difference to a lot of homeless animals. This economy has been really tough with more animals than ever before being left at shelters. And it's bee a rough year for the rescues that help these animals because our demand for them has slowed but the supply of those needing our help has increased. So this could be a really big help to our efforts and will result in the saving of more lives. Please help.

I think we can do it! But it's going to take all of us. Check out the Giving Challenge (www.causes.com), then visit our cause to see how we're doing so far and get involved.

Below are the days again we would like to rally everyone. Please do so and get as many people as you can to help by posting on your facebook wall and any other places you can think of. WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Melissa & John

2009-10-13T18:56:00.009-04:00

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of taking a very scenic trip out to Fort Lewis Lodge in Millboro, VA. It's absolutely gorgeous out there and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful for Melissa & John's wedding!

This sign was not kidding around - the food was amazing!

Meet Melissa - she was so calm and serene and happy the whole day!

Love this shot of Melissa & her mom, right before Melissa put her wedding dress on.

These flowers were magnificent and so fitting for the wedding - I loved how Melissa's bouquet and that her her maid of honor were the same color scheme, but also so unique and different from each other.

Why yes, that is a RED dress that Melissa is wearing! It was fabulous!

Melissa's dad waiting for her to emerge so he can escort her to the ceremony site.

They got married on the top of the mountains! Spectacular!

These two were so cute - they couldn't stop smiling at each other the whole ceremony.

And when the pastor looked aside for a moment, they just burst into full grins :)

Melissa & John did this really neat little sand mixing ceremony - it was so sweet!

And let the wedded bliss begin :)

We took pictures until dusk and the moon was just coming out when we went to the reception.

Love love love this shot!

Drum roll please!

2009-10-13T13:11:00.002-04:00

As some of you know, I've been working very hard for awhile now on a new name and branding for my business. With this will come a new website with vastly improved design, portfolio updates and exciting features! Yay!

So, it's still in the works, but I'm officially announcing that Studio Juno is COMING SOON!

Elizabeth & Ryan

2009-10-11T20:10:00.004-04:00

I have been hearing about Elizabeth & Ryan and how great they are for awhile now - they are the good friends of my friends & clients, Ryan & Katie. Elizabeth & Ryan are getting married on October 17th, right around the corner!! I can't believe it's only 7 days!

I was already booked for their wedding date, but Katie & Ryan gave them an engagement session with me as a gift. So last weekend, we played around at the Jefferson Memorial and got ourselves in trouble with the guards many times - oops! But all ended well and we got some great shots - and I completely agree with our mutual friends - Elizabeth & Ryan are pretty fantastic :) Congrats to these two on their impending marriage!

I was imagining this shot with Elizabeth & Ryan dancing romantically on the steps. So I asked them to go up on the steps and dance. They jumped up and immediately started doing the running man - love it!

And then we found a few nice quiet spots around the outskirts of the memorial (we might've gone over some fences you're not supposed to pass).

Elizabeth has AMAZING blue eyes!!

Katie & Steve

2009-10-09T18:30:00.002-04:00

I love engagement shoots! It's so much fun getting to know a couple when they're engaged and to get an idea of how they are in front of a camera. Katie & Steve were great last weekend and were up for anything. We trooped around Old Town Alexandria, and they were such sports and had so much fun - Steve even commented that it was the best engagement shoot he'd ever been on! ;P

A Sparkling City Wedding

2009-10-06T12:39:00.007-04:00

Ali & Tyler's wedding in September was just spectacular! I have to thank Studio Diana for having me along to shoot with them - it was such a great time shooting with Jenni, as always!

I loved this really cool old mirror in the room - it was so antiquey and interesting....

I have decided that I am in love with the atrium at the Reagan Building! It's such a fabulous space and the way that Ali and Tyler had it decorated - with tangerine and blue everywhere - it looked like a brilliant festival!

This cake was amazing - the layers were a bit crooked, and, along with the bright colors and festive fondant stars, it gave the whole cake an atmosphere of fun and playfulness.

Ali and her dad....

And they danced the night away......

Jessica & Tripp

2009-09-25T16:32:00.006-04:00

Last weekend, I had such a blast photographing Jess & Tripp's wedding at Prospect Bay Country Club. It was such a gorgeous day - the weather was absolutely perfect and the sun shone right down the fairway. They had a sunkissed ceremony and the reception, DJ'ed by Dennis Woo of Creative Deejays, was fantastic - the lights were so colorful and their guests really knew how to have a great time!

The gerbera daisies in the bouquets were such a perfect accent to the sort of day it was.

Gotta love these shoes!

Jess & Tripp didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, but held hands around a solid door. They both got really emotional - it was so cute!

While reciting the vows she wrote, Jess had to just stop right in the middle and ask Tripp if he had a tissue :)

Jess & her mom had a mother/daughter dance and both started crying - it was so sweet!

Congratulations guys!

Help Anastacia the Kitty!

2009-09-16T10:54:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! As many of your know, I am a volunteer for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. I am helping to raise funds for a very sweet kitty named Anastacia. She needs to have an appointment with a specialist to see if there is something wrong with her airway, as she often makes a snoring noise when she breathes. Please consider making a donation to help Anastacia get the vet care she needs! A little bit can go a long way :)

Brand New

2009-09-11T17:32:00.003-04:00

Regan, my best friend from college, had her very first baby about a month ago. Two weeks ago, I went to Seattle for the week and visited Regan, Bill and Patrick, who is brand new to the world. He is so perfect....I will let the pictures speak for themselves....

All growed up!

2009-09-11T15:36:00.004-04:00

Remember Vivian, the adorable baby I photographed back in March? Well, her 15 minutes of fame aren't over yet! Vivian is enrolled in the "Baby's First Year" program and here are a few favorites from the second of her 3 photography sessions during her first year in the real world - she's 8 months old now. I can't believe how much she's grown! It's so much fun to see the same babies when they've grown bigger and more capable. Vivian was much more smiley this time and I can't wait to see her again when she's a year old!

Vivian wasn't too pleased at this moment and I think this photograph just shows how much we're all alike - when you're upset, there's nothing like baseball and TV!

This picture of one of Vivian's kitties just cracks me up!

Cynthia & Jon, married!!

2009-09-08T15:01:00.006-04:00

You may remember Cynthia & Jon's engagement shoot from just a little while ago - they went right from engaged to married (on my blog anyways!) when they got hitched a couple weeks ago at the Willard in DC.

The day was hot, but the hotel was so cool and beautiful! I LOVED all the big, bright windows and colorful walls in the room where Cynthia got ready with her mother, sister, friend and sister-in-law to be.

Jon & Cynthia had a moment on the stairs before heading out for some shots around town.

A friend of mine who is new to the photography industry was along for the day, so there were three photographers at once for awhile. But you wouldn't know from the images of these two - they were just so happy and easy-going!

Cynthia got teary walking up the aisle with her parents....

The reception in the Willard Room was absolutely gorgeous! They had uplighting on all the pillars and everything just had this romantic glow to it. It really couldn't have been more beautiful. It really topped the whole scene out when Cynthia and Jon actually sang their first dance song to each other as they sashayed about - they were so happy!

Parting shot of the night - may we all end every day as happy as these two felt at this moment!

An "Elite" Event

2009-08-19T07:36:00.006-04:00

My incredibly radiant friend, Chelsea Benetz, works for a company called Elite Occasions - they make the greatest custom gift bags and baskets for events. Their stuff ranges from adorable to cute to elegant to fabulous!

Chelsea put together this great little event one afternoon a few weeks ago and invited bunches of wedding vendors to come and check out their stuff. She was kind enough to invite me along and I got a few shots of the variety of deliciousness on offer :)

There is nothing like champagne in the afternoon!

Elite Occasions had a bunch of their stuff around and a few of these shots are just some examples of the interesting stuff they can do.

Some of the wedding planners contemplating the options.....

Theresa Luongo Pinelli runs a new bakery called Treet - she makes the most amazingly, tantalizingly delicious cupcakes, brownies, cornbread.....pretty much anything scrumptious that you can imagine, she can do it! Oh, and did I mention that she volunteers with Homeward Trails, my favorite non-profit? Yeah, she is pretty much a superstar!

Doesn't this make you hungry?!

Amanda Shafer, from The Artful Cake, attended with her amazing cakes. I met Amanda at a wedding that I second shot with Studio Mathewes in April. She is so sweet and I cannot say enough about her cakes. I had a piece of the cake at that wedding (by the way, yay to brides and grooms who give cake to their vendors!) and it blew me away! And this is saying a lot because I take my cake very seriously. So Chelsea invited Amanda along to this event and I'm incredibly glad she did because it means I got to eat more of her cake!!

Yes, this is a cake - it looks like a tray of sushi and chopsticks, but it is actually a cake - I think it's so cool when they can make cakes look like this. I think in my next life, I will be a cake maker.

Renaissance Hotel was there with this gorgeous little presentation...

Cynthia & Jon, finally!

2009-08-01T14:54:00.005-04:00

So after many unfortunate scheduling issues, Cynthia & Jon finally had their engagement session last week - and just in the nick of time, since they'll be married folks in just two weeks!

We started out at SOVA for an absolutely delicious cup of joe (and, I admit it, I have a thing for the green walls there!) and then headed over to the Franciscan Monastery. The Monastery is just absolutely gorgeous and there is never a shortage of bright colors, long low golden light in the evening and fantastic architecture.

Cynthia & Jon are so comfortable with themselves and with each other that photographing them is just totally carefree and easy! They're just super easy-going and I imagine that during all the stress of wedding planning, it was really nice for them to just get out and spend some (almost alone) time together. I can't wait for the wedding at the Willard!

2009-07-13T00:18:00.010-04:00

I am normally not big on "themed" weddings, but Crystal & Matt have shown me how great a theme can be when you do it right!

These two (you may remember their engagement session that I blogged in early May) just got hitched last weekend at the most oustanding location - the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay - right near the water! It was a beautiful day for July - slightly overcast with a great breeze off the bay.

Crystal is just absolutely gorgeous. The theme of the wedding was sort of a Hollywood-style vintage glam and it was fabulous! Crystal has amazing clear ivory skin and long, thick dark hair and she chose the most spectacular dress - she looked stunning.

The dress was white, but I love the pink shoes!!

Matt is such a ying to Crystal's yang - he's as cool as a cucumber! It's tough to catch Matt in a full out grin, so when his groomsmen got him laughing, I had to grab it quick!

There are no words for this really - she is absolutely ravishing!

Crystal's grandmother has passed away, so she carried this small photo of her on her bouquet - it was so sweet!

The ceremony was outside, in the pavilion - I loved the great columns!

Crystal had MANY friends incorporated into her bridal party - she had both bridesmaids and "ceremony hostesses." This shot was taken of her responding to a beautiful poem that one of her ceremony hostesses read aloud.

Apparently, when Crystal & Matt first met, Matt bet Crystal $20 that they would get married. Crystal took that bet, and here she is, paying up!

During the couple portrait time, they were absolutely fabulous! I just have to say - thank you guys! I mean really, how many brides are willing to lay down in a field of yellow flowers, go mini-golfing, climb into a swan shaped paddle boat and then play around on the beach?! It was excellent and we got such fantastic shots!

On to the reception....

Hehe - he looks so badass, gotta love it!

Everyone always talks about stuffing the cake in each other's face, but we all chicken out. Not Matt & Crystal though - they had such a fantastic time with their cake! :)

I love this shot. Crystal has so much enthuasiasm and I think this shot perfectly captures her mood on her wedding day :)

2009-07-03T17:08:00.004-04:00

Last Sunday, I had a great session with the Gensers! The weather has been so cooperative lately and we had another beautiful morning.

Zachary is just about a year old and is just too cute! He's very smiley and flirty and just so much fun to photograph!

So much action goes on around such a little boy.....

Zachary has the longest eyelashes!

2009-07-03T14:13:00.002-04:00

Another beautiful day at the grounds of the National Cathedral! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite places for sunshiney outdoor sessions!

The Davies looked so great in all their yellow and blue and perfectly matched the mood of the weather!

Max is quite a fan of running wherever he goes - he runs just for the fun of running :) At one point, he wanted to show his grandma a flower and he made her run too!

Baby Lauren has THE best smile, and she doesn't hesitate to share it!

Tess is almost 3 and she was a bit camera shy at first, but once I started asking her about her favorite foods (pizza and macaroni & cheese, by the way - very good choices), she couldn't help but give me a few giggles.

2009-06-16T19:27:00.003-04:00

I'm so far behind blogging the weddings I've shot! I was going to just do one post with my five favorite images from each wedding, but I just can't choose. I'm one of those people who can't go to Baskin Robins because 31 flavors is too many to choose from - it will take me 3 hours to reach any kind of decision. I do best with limited options :)

So, here are my fourteen favorite images from Jill & Steve's wedding! They are such a cute couple and high school sweethearts too! They got hitched at the Thomas Birkby House in Manassas, VA in May - such a great venue.

I second shot for Jenni Green of Studio Diana - the weather was perfect and everyone was beautiful!

This is so cute - the bridesmaids were peeking through the bushes at the ceremony before they walked down the aisle.

The reception was a lot of fun - GREAT band! Having a band sure does make the party! Jill & Steve had the Jangling Reinharts - great guys!

I love this shot of one of the groomsmen catching the garter in mid-air

This poor girl! All she did was catch the bouquet and now here she is in the middle of the entire reception with a stranger sliding a garter up her leg. She looks like she doesn't mind too much though :)

Family Ties

2009-06-09T18:50:00.009-04:00

Last Saturday was the first time I've shot a portrait session at the National Cathedral grounds. It's fabulously gorgeous there! After getting rained out twice and having to reschedule, we finally got a sunny morning and the Messners turned out in style :)

Every family has a unique dynamic, but this family - they all just seem to get along wonderfully. We just sort of walked around and hung out and they all just joked and laughed and played and had a great time together - it was really fantastic!

Meet Princess Isabel and Prince William, as dubbed by Isabel herself :)

Isabel was a total hoot! She's only 5, but she is so fantastically entertaining. Perhaps the many faces of Isabel will help explain (please note that this display was entirely unprovoked!):

Little Boys and Their Toys

2009-06-09T13:53:00.005-04:00

Everyone knows how much boys love their toys and little Jacob is no exception! This little guy is such a busy boy - we started our session with a game of chase, moved on to stacking blocks, reading books, running and jumping on pillows and then hanging upside down - phew! After that, we went to the playground and Jacob had a great time putting stones into cups and sliding down the slide.

Jacob's parents are so great with him - they get him giggling and laughing and he has such a great time with them!

I love the look of concentration! Jacob is obviously a really clever little guy and he focuses so intently on things.

This was his favorite game. His dad would hold the floor pillow up on one end and mom would hold Jacob back. Then, she'd let go and he'd race over and knock the pillow down and land on top of it. I have never seen such glee!

The most perfectly gorgeous eyes!

Jacob wasn't so thrilled with this hat, but everyone else thought it was adorable :)

Chelsea & Mike - hitched!

2009-06-06T12:56:00.006-04:00

I recently photographed the wedding of Chelsea & Mike - they are the first couple I've followed from engagment through marriage and I'm so completely thrilled for them! It was really fun for me to get to know them a few months ago, photograph their engagement session and then be there for their wedding day - I think I was almost as excited as they were :)

My best wishes to them both as they enjoy sunny Hawaii (we're all jealous back here in rainy DC!) on their honeymoon this week!

Chelsea was just downright radiant and I've never attended a more laid-back wedding. It was very small - just close family - and everyone seemed to have such a good time and be filled with nothing but joy. It was truly wonderful and I was honored to be there.

The ceremony was at the historic Wakefield Chapel in Annandale, VA. Chelsea has two sisters, one of which is her identical twin. The three of them were so much fun together - they never stopped laughing! Before the ceremony, most brides are nervous and excited at once. Chelsea was just happy and having a great time - no nerves for her!

The reception was a dinner for the family at Restaurant Nora in Dupont Circle. The food was amazing and the private room was so fabulous and unique! Mike is a wine vendor and he brought in all the wine for their reception. I only had a little taste, by my what a taste it was!! I will definitely be going to Mike for advice on wine from now on!

Congratulations guys!!

“...If you can make a girl laugh - you can make her do anything...”

2009-06-05T17:11:00.005-04:00

In offering up this quote by Madonna, I don't want to suggest that Terrence can make Leah do anything - though maybe he can for all I know - but he sure does make her laugh!

Last Saturday, I walked around downtown DC with Terrence & Leah, enjoying the sunshine. I don't meet too many with the same name as myself, but who wouldn't be happy to share their name with this gorgeous woman!

We started at Poste, a great bar and restuarant in Hotel Monaco. The building is an old post office that has been converted to a hotel, hence the restaurant's name. Terrence & Leah have such an easy, carefree vibe between them and both just seem so content to be together - I found myself laughing along with them as I photographed!

Shoes so fabulous, they make you wonder who they belong to......

This is my favorite shot in a long time :)

When the grass has grown taller than the Capitol, you know it's time to mow....hehe....

A Shining Light

2009-06-04T13:20:00.004-04:00

The name Helene means "shining light" and that's just exactly what this little 6 month old girl is! I had the great pleasure of spending the morning with Helene and her parents recently and I haven't met a more smiley baby. When I walked in the front door and said, "Hello Helene, it's so nice to meet you," Helene replied with a great big, sunny grin!

After a little while indoors, exploring all of Helene's really great toys and getting a change of clothes for her, we headed to Stanton Park. We were a bit surprised to find some sort of bike race for small children when we got there - about 100 little kids zooming around in circles on their bikes and scooters!! But we were able to find a semi-quiet spot and have a little more playtime.

Helene was really fascinated by the grass - she had some fun trying to pull it all out of the ground :)

It's tough work being an adorable baby....very tiring you know!

Wine & Wags!

2009-06-01T12:59:00.002-04:00

As many of you may know, I volunteer with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue to help save the lives of homeless dogs and cats. Please consider coming out to this great event!

This Sunday, June 7th, join Homeward Trails Animal Rescue at Grand Cru Restaurant and Wine Bar for a casual, fun evening, a glass of wine and live music on the patio!

A $15 donation to Homeward Trails includes a free glass of wine or beer. 10% of wine and food sales goes directly to Homeward Trails. The patio space faces into a courtyard, so bring your dogs for some fun canine competitions!

What: A relaxing summer evening, live music, a free drink (with your $15 donation) and some goofy games for the dogs!

When: 4-9pm, Sunday, June 7th

Where: Grand Cru Restaurant & Wine Bar
In the courtyard behind Vapianos
4401 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203

Why: To help save homeless animals!

Baby's got the blues

2009-05-20T14:22:00.005-04:00

Every baby session, the big question that the parents and I always worry about is "will he be fussy or happy that day?" It's always hard to know with babies, whether they'll be in a good mood at the particular time that you schedule your session. And not only if they'll be in a good mood, but if we'll have good weather too! So many variables!

But, as Lucas proved last week, you don't have to be in a great mood to have great photos! Lucas had the beginnings of his first cold, and at five months, that's a big deal! So this little boy was not too keen on giggling for the camera. Of course, it always helps to have amazing parents like Jenn and Chris, who are willing to make funny faces and chewing noises for hours, just to get that little smile and those precious dimples, to show for a few moments. And when they do - WOW! Lucas is such a cutie - he really brings sunshine into a room, even when he has tears on his cheeks.

I love the single tear on his cheek in this photo. It reminds me a little of wet grass after a storm, with the sun peeking through the clouds. Okay, maybe that was a little cheesy, but look at the photo! How can you not be cheesy when you see that?!

Meet Bernie, the gentle giant. He's so adorable. He just wants to lick Lucas all over!

And here are those famous dimples!

And They're Off!

2009-05-13T18:50:00.009-04:00

May 2nd was the day of horse racing. Of course there was the Kentucky Derby - but for those of us who are geographically challenged when it comes to events in the midwest, we settle for the Virginia Gold Cup.

Now, you may know that the Gold Cup is a famous steeplechase (you know, where horses race around over jumps). What you may or may not realize is that it's also the very best excuse, at this time of year, to flaunt skimpy dresses, enormous hats, plaid shorts and to drink your A@@ off!!

My friend Tim recently started working for a company called The Local Life. The Local Life is a network of local, online, city guides. Each city-specific group is run by a local manager, who knows the ins and outs and great events and happenings of that area! Great concept! Tim just helped to launch The Bethesda Life, The Alexandria Life and The Arlington Life. The launch party was at, you guessed it, the Gold Cup!

Check out the hats!

Got a kick out of this sign!

As the day wore on, the Local Life tent got more and more crowded. Everyone kept packing in, saying that the Local Life tent was the best tent at the whole race! People were leaving their college alum tents to come to ours!

The cigars were quite a hit!

There's nothing quite like covering an event where there's an open bar for 6 hours straight. People had such a great time - by the end, there was a whole section of folks in chairs who couldn't walk!

As the drinking games revved up....

...the competition got fierce!

I love this shot! You just have to wonder what the heck is going on!

Yes, that's my husband - the tall one who is laughing hysterically while trying not to appear as uncomfortable as he feels :)

He looks so Bob Dylan!

Here are a couple chowing down on the stolen pork - yes, you read that right - they stole the pork from the tent next door.

Oh, I almost forgot - there were horses too! ;P

The heat is on!

2009-05-06T07:46:00.009-04:00

Last Monday, Crystal and Matt and I bummed around Georgetown for some great engagement shots. Georgetown is such a great place for photos - there are so many cool little spots everywhere! The weather was SO hot, something like 97 degrees, which seems hard to believe given the cold dreariness of the last several days. But we had a great time basking in the sunshine and then collapsing in the shade.

Crystal and Matt have this great story. They grew up in the same neighborhood, but never knew each other until a few years ago, when they met working at the same place. They hit it off and the rest is history! Congratulations to them both and can't wait for their wedding on the shore in July!

Matt and Crystal are really cute together. Crystal is super outgoing and loves to laugh and Matt is a little more reserved and not as outwardly expressive. But it's clear how much he adores her and how much her sense of humor brings him out.

Loved the shots we took down on the docks by the river!

This shot cracks me up - these are their "mean faces."

After walking around for an hour in the hot sun, a little shade was so welcome. I love the tenderness with which Matt gazes at Crystal.

Van Ness - the happening place!

2009-05-04T17:44:00.010-04:00

Who knew that you could find such great little places walking around Van Ness in DC?! A couple weekends ago, I got the chance to take some shots of TJ & Jason in their "hood" ;P I don't think they were too accustomed to having someone poke a camera in their face in public and take hundreds of photographs of them, but they got used to it!

We started out in this little bar down the road on Connecticut Ave. It was sort of like one of those restaurants where you get a tray and they have every kind of cuisine imaginable, all in different little cases and you go through the line. So weren't we surprised to find this fun little bar in there, with these great bright green walls! You know how I love green walls!

Jason & TJ are really cute together. They make each other laugh constantly - it just seems perfectly natural and effortless for them to be together, which makes it such a joy to be around them.

So then we walked around town for a bit.

We tried to take photos in Pier One - could've been great advertising for them, right? But no, they'd have none of it. This was my one covert photograph I got before they kicked us out. Big jerks!

This was Jason's performance of the photograph that would show what their relationship is really like - hehe, what a wiseguy! ;P

Last, we went into their place and got some great kitty portraits! Jason & TJ foster cats for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. To learn more about fostering, click here.

The first four kitties belong to Jason and TJ. The orange boys are Garfield and Granger

This ravishing beauty is Phoenix

Phoebe, like any beautiful female who knows how gorgeous she is, is feisty and doesn't take any poppycock from anyone! In this picture though, she is fooling you with her "I'm a perfect lady" face ;P

And last, but certainly not least, are the two foster kitties!

Sundrop is such a dear - she's sweet and gentle and friendly with everyone. She's not a very big kitty and has such stunning markings! If you're interested in adopting Sundrop, click here.

Little Sox is just about the cutest girl ever! She's at that perfect age, about 6 months, and is full of energy, personality, affection and curiosity. Sox has amazing multi-colored eyes - they are so cool! If you're interested in adopting Sox, click here.

Vanessa and Kevin - a gorgeous April wedding!

2009-05-04T17:07:00.008-04:00

It was a gorgeous day for a wedding - sunny and warm with a breeze! Kevin and Vanessa's wedding was every bit as beautiful as the weather. I shot with Kelsey Thompson of kthompson photography and had the chance to enjoy scenic rural Maryland along the way!

Vanessa and her bridesmaids got ready at one of the bridesmaids' homes in rural MD. On the drive there, Kelsey and I saw some fabulous photo opps! If you're up for a shoot in front of vintage tractors and antique barns, with a few shots of the open plains, let us know!

Vanessa is gorgeous! There is no other way to put it - she just has this fantastically beautiful skin and long eyelashes and thick black hair - see for yourself!

Her sister, Pammy, had to button about a gazillion buttons on the back of Vanessa's elegant Lazaro gown - but she was a trooper!

Vanessa and Kevin were so sweet with each other during the ceremony.

Afterwards, they stole one quiet, beautiful moment outside the church before their family and friends came out to congratulate them.

Vanessa's dad is so happy!

The reception was at Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, MD. It was my first time shooting there and I loved it! The event coordinator there is such a great guy and the mansion and grounds are just amazing.

I loved these centerpieces - they're so romantic and whimsical!

The speech Vanessa's father gave was wonderful and so touching!

One thing about this family - they know how to dance! Seriously - by the end of the night, I wanted nothing but to run home and sign up for dance lessons. I don't know the names of the dances they danced all night, but they were impressive! The father/daughter dance was not your traditional sweet and slow dance - they rocked that floor!

Okay, this is possibly my favorite cake cutting series ever.

The bouquet toss might be a little cheesy, but it never fails to amuse :)

Parting shot of the night!

Bershaun and David 4/17/2009

2009-04-29T14:44:00.007-04:00

Last Friday, I had the chance to shoot the most gorgeous wedding with Justine Ungaro of Studio Diana. The bride, Bershaun, and her groom, David, had their ceremony on the roof of the Hay Adams right across from Lafayette Park with an amazing view of the White House!

Bershaun is truly gorgeous and looked so glamourous in this fantastic gown! Her smile just radiated joy all day long.

Once they were all ready to go, we buzzed around town in nothing less than a gold Bentley and grabbed a few shots of the happy couple.

The ceremony site was beautifully decorated. They created flowering trees that arched over the aisle - it was spectacular!

Bershaun and David's vows were written to each other in the form of a letter and then they each read to each other. It was so touching, I think just about every last guest was tearing up!

After the ceremony, we headed to Lafayette park for a few more shots of the wedding party.

Bershaun and her entourage!

The reception was just around the corner at the DC Chamber of Commerce. The wedding design was by Preston Bailey and the centerpieces were simply indescribable!

Halfway through the reception, Bershaun changed into, yes, her second wedding dress. This one was very vintage and sultry and no less gorgeous than the first!

Fooling Around!

2009-04-24T16:10:00.006-04:00

Samuel Butler once said, "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. "

Nothing is quite like taking your dogs out to a big park on a warm, sunny day in spring and watching them frolic without any sort of restraint. You just sort of start to forget everything that worries you day to day!

Rebecca and Mark have the sweetest, cutest dogs - Mesa and Jenie. We set out early last week for an afternoon at Shirlington dog park and had a blast! Mesa is a gorgeous standard poodle who clearly doesn't know her breeding - she likes nothing better than to trapse through the muddy water! Jenie is a gentle soul - she led a very rough life until recently, living outside at a rural kennel where she was given little attention of any sort for most of her life. Now she's come a long way and knows how much she's loved, thanks to Mark & Rebecca & Homeward Trails!

Don't be fooled! It took many tries to get everyone to sit still and smile at once :)

The crazy antics of Miss Mesa! This is a dog who knows how to enjoy herself!

I love the way dogs loll their big tongues out when they're having a good time!

Mesa doesn't joke around about her ball chasing:

I love this shot - Jenie looks like she's a dog who's on her way to better days!

And then we went down to the creek, which reminds me of another, very true, quote by Ambrose Bierce: "The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog!"

Jenie is not such a huge fan of the water - she prefers to sit and watch, like the lady she is.

Chelsea & Mike

2009-04-14T19:20:00.011-04:00

Engagement shoots are the best! You get to take some adorable couple out on a beautiful sunny day, frolic around town, provoking them to make out on every corner and in front of every colorful building and watch them make each other laugh.

Chelsea & Mike were certainly quite a blast - they were up for anything! First, they show up dressed to the nines - with Cheslea in these insanely high sexy heels! Cicely of Procopio Photography and I did the shoot together - we had a great time working with each other - we have such different styles. I'm not normally one to pose my couples on top of each other on the ground in the middle of a busy pedestrian area, but that's exactly what Cicely did and we got some super fabulous shots!

Thanks to Chelsea & Mike for being up for anything, full of humor and fun and for putting up with Cicely and I for the afternoon!

So, this is a really tacky comment, but I have to make it: couples in love really remind me of sunshine and warmth and so I just love trying to capture that sentiment!

Take a look at this shot for Cicely's super-glam posing skills!

Mike really wanted to do some shots where he could twirl Chelsea in the air and carry her around - they're so cute together!

Believe it or not, this pose, they just struck on their own - steamy, isn't it?!

Stay tuned for Chelsea & Mike's wedding photos! It's coming up so soon - May 23rd!

Laura & Drew

2009-04-06T19:48:00.008-04:00

The first engagement session of the season was last week and it couldn't have been more beautiful! Laura & Drew are getting married in October in western Maryland. They wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous cherry blossoms, so we started downtown last Tuesday. We first had a quick drink at The Source and then meandered about town.

Laura & Drew are possibly the cutest couple ever! They are one of those couples who just seem so perfectly harmonious together. They make each other laugh endlessly - after an evening with them, I can't imagine either of them without the other!

Love this shot!

Ok, so technically, these aren't cherry blossoms, they're magnolias, but really, who's keeping track when they're this gorgeous!

They're so delighted with each other! You can't help but smile!

Thanks to the blackout in DC last Tuesday, we couldn't make it to our second location just outside DC because traffic was horrible and we ran out of light. So we rescheduled "scene II" for that Friday. After a very dreary and rain-drenched Friday, we rescheduled again for Saturday, and it couldn't have been a more gorgeous day!

Laura & Drew had a picnic in front of the Netherlands Carillon. In case you don't know what that is - it's that big bell tower beside Iwo Jima - yes, it has a name - who knew?!

It really was a sun-kissed day!

Thanks guys! Can't wait for the wedding!

Open for business!!

2009-04-01T19:29:00.004-04:00

I spent some time today up in Bethesda at the brand spanking new STUDIO 301 with the incredibly charming owners, Donna & Kristen ;P It was a fun-filled afternoon of chatting with Comcast guys, meeting the neighborhood business owners and assembling furniture. But their studio looks fantastic and is sure to be such a success! Congrats guys!!

Relaxing for a moment after assembling a funky desk

I am so in love with the color of their wall that I wish I could drink it! Isn't it delicious!? Reminds me of limes, new grass and greenteanis :)

Vivian, 3 months

2009-03-30T14:30:00.005-04:00

Babies are so much fun to photograph - they're always so colorful and bright and full of wonder. As the weather is finally warming up and a little color is coming back into the trees and plants, there's really nothing more fun than getting out there to enjoy it with a sweet, beautiful little girl like Vivian!

Vivian just turned 3 months on March 27th. After a very dreary Saturday, her parents and I had a great time in the sunshine on Sunday watching Vivian wonder at everything she laid her eyes on. She's so curious and interested in all the shapes and textures and you can just see her little mind working hard to understand her environment.

It always takes a bit of creativity to encourage a tiny baby to smile, but if you're not shy about making foolish noises and waving your arms around, you're sure to succeed ;P

Vivian's parents, Emily & Dave, live in a super condo with fabulous colors and textures on the wall - we just had to take advantage!

I just love this shot of Vivian concentrating on lifting herself up - all of her tiny parts are so perfect!

When we got to the park, Vivian had grown a little sleepy, so Emily got super creative in entertaining her and helping her to "fly" in the treeline really delighted her!

On the way home - it's been a lot of hard work and a long day for this little girl, but luckily she has Dad's shoulder to sleep on :)

Arjun, 8 months

2009-03-28T18:38:00.004-04:00

Arjun just turned 8 months old on Tuesday afternoon and I took his pictures on Wednesday. He's a very busy little guy who is in a big hurry to grow up and get to walking! His parents adore every little piece of him - it was such a blast to spend the afternoon with them and catch those perfect little moments.