Tasha & Claire · Family Session

There are certain days that you know, while they are happening, that you will never forget; this was one of those magical days. The first session we planned was unfortunately rained out; but soon after, we got together and spent an afternoon making friends and memories. During the latter half or our session we made a quick Starbucks stop, neither of us could resist a caffeinated pick-me-up and getting hot drinks together was an activity Claire and Tasha loved. The pair of them looked flawless and you could feel their bond as they held hands down the sidewalk; wrapped up in the warmth and energy of that perfect, milky grey autumn afternoon. Despite the clouds, the memories we captured that day truly show Claire and Tasha's inner sunshine. 

Olivers · Fort Belvoir Family Session

The only thing more beautiful than the light streaming through the late autumn trees was the lovely Oliver Family.  From the quiet strength of their father, Ramsey to the joyous and simple kindness of their daughter Micaela the day was a joy to be a part of from start to finish.  It is on days like this that I feel so fortunate to do this work.  I wanted to capture the essence of each member of this unique family from the loving and easy going sensibility of Melissa to the authentic playfulness of Copeland and I think I was successful in bringing out their genuine selves.  There was a magical quality to the entire day and I hope in addition to capturing the happiness of this wonderful family, we also created memories that would last forever.

NYC 2015

Last year I went to LA during my birthday and this year I went to NYC for a few days right before it. I think I'll have to make this traveling thing for my birthday a tradition. If you have the ability to travel anywhere that isn't home, you should take it. Experiencing a different way of life in a new place is so exciting and can really teach you a lot about people and the world we live in. This wasn't my first time to New York, but it was the first time I could explore a bit on my own. I met up with some family that were enjoying a mother-daughter trip with a couple of their friends and loved getting to visit them and the Big Apple with them. We went to places like the MET, SoHo, Little Italy and saw Aladdin and Lion King. It was amazing and I am so blessed to have been a part of their adventure for a couple days. Here are some pictures from the trip!


























A few from 2k14

It is so hard to pick my favorite images from my 2014 shoots last year because...
1. That's a lot of pictures to look through and...
2. Each image evokes a memory from one of these special days or moments.
So, instead I decided to just pick those that stick out to me. I feel connected to each one of the photos I take because each one is a deliberate composition and I get to remember the unique story within that picture. Yes, sometimes I snap an action shot at just the right time, but I am usually trying to document a personality or story by showing its simplistic beauty, quirky moments, and emotional depth. I think I tried to pick images based on composition, color, movement, and emotion. Here are some from the beginning to the end of my shoots from 2014!

Portraits



















Weddings












Treat Yo' Self

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful that I can be home with family and spend time those that I love. It is so important to set aside time for your family and friends, but also time for yourself. About a week ago I was asked, "What do you do for you?" and I could name things I've done before and enjoyed, but nothing that I regularly made time for. I'm sure many people also have the difficulty of stuffing relaxation time somewhere in their busy schedule and I think this needs to change. To function as an individual we can't just work all day every day. We have to put some time aside to meditate, or travel, or just sit and breathe. We have to be thankful for the simple fact that we are living and learn not to take what we have for granted. A challenge for myself is to get caught up in what has to be done, but focus on the here and now for at least an hour next week doing something that I enjoy. Earlier this week I set aside time for a short hiking adventure into the deciduous forests of the east coast. Here is some of what I saw along the way.




















RAINN & Tori Amos


While shooting an event for RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) I never thought I would leave feeling as inspired as I did. It was completely overwhelming. Tori Amos was the guest of honor and has been a spokesperson for RAINN from when it began in 1994. Towards the end of the event, sponsors, guests, and other attendees could come up and greet her. There was so much emotion behind the eyes of each person who walked up to get their moment with the celebrity. I'm talking tears, hugs, gifts, stories...it was amazing. What was even more amazing was how Tori had influenced each of those individuals lives and even though a line of at least 100+ people were waiting to see her she gave them all the same attention and listened to each person. ACTUALLY LISTENED to what they were saying whether it was how her music helped them through a specific time in their life, how they were affected by the organization, or how thankful they were for her support. Her passion to help others get through the struggles and difficulties of what she overcame was phenomenal and so amazing to witness. Thanks, RAINN for doing such a wonderful job setting up the event at the beautiful Anderson House.











Going the Distance

"There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars." –Jack Kerouac

I love exploring new places and meeting new people. Earlier this summer I visited friends and family while driving from Texas to Virginia. Here are some shots from my journey :)

New Orleans, Louisiana





 Dunedin, Florida






Greenville, South Carolina




Charlotte, North Carolina





Love from the West Coast

You might have seen my first trip to the west coast as I documented here. That was when I went to Seattle with a friend for a wedding. This year I went to LA for a whole week! I stayed with my friend's sister and had such an amazing time. The weather is simply gorgeous and there are so many fun places to visit! Needless to say, after spending a wonderful birthday week in the sun I had to return to my beloved Virginia...where it snowed the next day.
Hiking up to the Griffith Observatory where you can see the Hollywood sign.


 Headed over the LACMA and the Brea Tar Pits

 With my phone - a little house made of film strips. So awesome.
 From the phone...
 And I leave you with this cutie and his little cat hammock :)