sam + kelly :: engaged! :: university of maryland, college park.

i was absolutely thrilled when kelly wrote to tell me she + sam were engaged — he popped the question just weeks after kristi + jon’s awesome wedding where kelly was a bridesmaid! even more awesome, kelly is kristi’s younger sister — so fun! kelly + kristi (like most sisters) are similar in some ways, but very different in others. they are both gorgeous blondes and totally in love, with incredible, positive energy. however, while kristi + jon are total hams in front of the camera, kelly + sam are much more mellow (dare i say, camera shy?) — in fact, when i went back to look for pics of them at kristi + jon’s wedding i only had one photo of sam from the entire night! it was great to see them again, and i loved getting to know them better during our session.

they met and fell in love a few years ago while attending the university of maryland — they worked together at the performing arts center (which is how they first met) and so we started our session in the theatre. it was very cool to have all access to such a unique spot, and with so much meaning! from there we ran all over campus, chasing the sun and visiting some of their favorite spots — the mall + fountain, the sun dial, jim henson’s statue, the famed bronze testudo, and even a topiary version of the beloved mascot. it was a gorgeous summer evening and i’m so very excited for this fabulous couple!

a huge congrats to kelly + sam — enjoy!

happy birthday gracyn!

baby gracyn is one! i can barely believe it — it seems like not long ago that i met this family for the first time and she was just a little newborn {see gracyn at 4 weeks!} and now she’s running around and eating cupcakes! i can’t imagine a more festive celebration and i absolutely *loved* her fabulous fairy tale 1st birthday party — wow! the party was a visual delight — tissue poms hung from the ceiling, and a carpet of flowers transformed the house into a fairy garden — i was in awe of the amazing etsy-inspired decor from * the polka dot pinwheel * POM LOVE * stay awake * and more. fairy wings + tutus (and dragon costumes for the boys!) were given to all the tiny guests who were enchanted by a fairy caravan puppet show! every detail was perfection — a custom sweets bar with blue + purple toadstool cupcakes, a fairy toadstool cake, and magic pretzel wands – all homemade! bravo to mom’s who truly do it all!

the entire event was orchestrated by the incredibly creative + talented shannon green, an amazing mama who has just gone pro with her planning for little ones — woo! since she got her start planning her own children’s parties {check out kimsey’s super fun cowgirl birthday!} shannon is wonderfully in tune with mom’s and their children. want to know more about sweet pea soirees? follow her on twitter, fan her on facebook or check out her blog!

enjoy!

meg, a child life specialist at children’s hospital, provides support to patients.

children’s national medical center never ceases to amaze me — their stellar team provides exceptional care and service for countless brave little patients that are need medical treatment. along with some of the best doctors in the world, children’s has amazing support staff and specialists that aid in child care. on an average day, 60-80 children have surgical procedures at children’s national medical center. child life specialists are available to provide psychological preparation and emotional support before, during and after procedures. the specialists are outstanding + compassionate people, trained to help children and their families understand and cope with illness, treatment and hospitalization. additionally, child life specialists employ fun therapeutic play with patients that help to de-mystify surgery and make “playing doctor” a true learning experience. watching meg with the patients and their families in the moments leading up to surgery was inspiring — bravo to her and all the amazing people who devote their lives to improving care for sick children!

a lesson in fly fishing on the chesapeake bay with captain russ wilkinson.

one of the many fabulous, photogenic residents of the goodwin house.

a few weeks ago i was given the opportunity to work with the american association of homes and services for the aging — AAHSA — documenting a day in the life at one of their communities. AAHSA has a clear and admirable mission :: healthy, affordable, ethical aging services for america. AAHSA is an association of over 5,500 non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing policies, practices, and research that empowers aging americans to continue to live life to its fullest potential. i was intrigued and excited by the project — spending a day talking with residents, capturing spontaneous portraits, documenting daily activites, and providing a glimpse into life at a local retirement community.

the goodwin house far exceeded all my expectations of a continuing care community — honestly, i wasnt sure what to expect. offering everything from independent residences to assisted living to full-time care, i found the residents to be a diverse and fascinating group of people. i experienced an immediate feeling of comfort, and a true sense of calm and well-being at the goodwin house. the light-filled community areas were decorated beautifully, and residents sat and chatted with each other, poured over the morning paper, enjoyed coffee, and worked on puzzles. outside i met gardeners actively tending to their plots in the community garden — caring for everything from roses to ripe tomatoes in the morning sun.

i was smitten with the incredible art studio where aspiring artists learn and experiment with painting, pottery, mosaic, and various other art forms. additionally,the woodworking studio blew my mind — i was so impressed! of course i loved checking out the library, computer room, chapel, and dance studio. peeking in on a dance class i was thrilled to meet an incredible 90-year-old sky diving enthusiast who shared her experiences with me. exploring the gym + indoor pool i chatted with the “mermaids” who were doing water aerobics and they told me about performing at events throughout the community!

truth be told, i absolutely fell in love with everyone i met — these self-proclaimed citizens of the world inspired and amazed me with their stories. from the retired professors to the brand new artists, the life-long partners to the newlyweds who recently found love, and the two brothers who escaped from nazi germany to the states years ago and found their way back to each other as neighbors in this community, i was in awe. everyone i met was so happy and full of life — so obviously thriving in such an ideal environment conducive to enabling and embracing individuals of all interests, in all stages of retirement. one man i met was active and healthy, living in one of the apartments, while his wife received full-time care just a few floors above him. in this way he was able to maintain his independence and still live with her, surrounded by a supportive community. i was struck with the same thought over and over — how everyone should have the opportunity to live somewhere like this when they retire, and im truly thankful that organizations like AAHSA are committed to making that possibilty a reality.

with many thanks to the gracious people who let me photograph them, below are just a few of my favorite images from my day at the goodwin house –enjoy!

one-year-old dylan has a scar that symbolizes strength & love, amidst struggle.

just one day after his birth, newborn dylan was diagnosed with congenital heart defect. unable to breathe on his own, he was placed on a ventilator, transferred to another hospital, and underwent angioplasty for his pulmonary valve. for the next three months dylan’s health steadily declined as he faced serious issues, ultimately leading up to open heart surgery. just days following the surgery on his pulmonary artery dylan was doing something he had never done before — smiling. since then, dylan has grown into a happy, healthy, and strong little boy who just celebrated his first birthday — everything his family could ever want for him!

i was honored to be chosen by dylan’s family for a portrait session in collaboration with inspiration through art (formerly the littlest heroes project) — and i absolutely loved meeting all of them! dylan has two amazingly wonderful parents (who are *so* in love and *so* great!) as well as an older sister and brother who simply adore him. dylan was simply delightful — all too happy to oblige for the photo session as long as we let him rub his little feet in the grass! he was super inquisitive and perfectly adorable and i feel very lucky to know him and his story. dylan will need at least one more open heart surgery to replace the deformed pulmonary valve, but hopefully that is many years away! in the meantime, i know this family will be living and loving to the fullest, never taking anything for granted.

enjoy!

earlier this week children’s national medical center hosted a very fun event at united medical center to celebrate the new forthcoming pediatric emergency department — made possible in large part by an amazing $11 million grant from the DC government. the event was a wonderful opportunity to introduce the community to the nurses + staff, and everyone had a great time.

“it’s wise to be well” focused on educating parents through information on children’s health, from identifying flu symptoms and ear infections, to basic injury prevention, healthy eating + exercise practices, as well as free car seat checks! the tents were set up in the hospital parking lot, alongside the community farmers’ market, complete with balloons, awesome music, snacks, great give-a-aways, and face painting for the kids! as always, i had a great time documenting another fabulously fun event for children’s national medical center – enjoy!

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sunset fog — bamfield, vancouver island, BC.

there’s only one road that takes you to the remote village of bamfield, a semi-private, narrow and winding, ultra-steep, gravel logging road. with no cell service. and lots of logging trucks. we made the harrowing 80km journey from port alberni on a sunday afternoon — literally on the edge of our seats the entire trip. however, it wasnt until the return trip on tuesday morning that we passed no less than five hugemongous logging trucks barreling down the slippery gravel road, kicking up dust storms that rendered us unable to proceed for minutes at a time. we quickly learned that logging roads are no joke, but an adventurous way to travel (in an SUV) and in retrospect.

as out of the way as it is, bamfield is a world-renowned fishing destination located on the barkley sound and part of the pacific rim national park. 100 lb halibut and 30 lb salmon are not uncommon in these waters, and the lifelong watermen take out numerous groups of sport fishermen in the summer high-season. we were lucky enough to meet del thompson — one of the kindest, smartest, funniest men i’ve ever met, and the owner of red eye charters. we spent the morning on del’s boat salmon fishing just offshore (the catch of the day was a 28lb chinook!) and the evening touring the harbor and observing the abundant wildlife. scores of sunbathing sea lions, spunky families of river otter, and precocious deer lined the shores, while eagles and herons soared above us.

bamfield was the final stop on an absolutely amazing tour of vancouver island, and for me it was the highlight of the trip. bamfield was exactly the small village experience i hoped to have on the island — both because of  its simple and remote location and the kind and honest people we encountered there. it is exactly the kind of place i would excitedly return to year after year, anxious to see familiar faces, swap stories, and revel in the thrilling simplicity of a day spent on the water.

enjoy!

posing with the catch of the day — a 28lb chinook salmon!

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vancouver island, 2010:

part I :: vancouver island :: telegraph cove.

part II :: vancouver island :: knight inlet.

part III :: vancouver island :: down island to campbell river.

part IV :: vancouver island :: qualicum beach to cathedral grove.

part V :: vancouver island :: tofino + ucluelet.

part VI :: vancouver island :: bamfield.

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