details = treasures.

just a few of the beautiful images from a recent (very private) wedding at oxon hill manor. i loved all the indian details, especially the way the cake design complemented the henna on the bride’s hands and of course the ring shot with the elephant placeholder! it was a gorgeous wedding which perfectly incorporated both the bride and the groom’s religions + cultures. she even had a sari + a white wedding gown - both of which were unbelievably beautiful!

i especially enjoyed talking with the groom’s family, since i will be traveling to india in january + february of next year! i’m so excited and just in the beginning planning stages now, but will fill in the details very soon! what i know for certain is that i will be around for inauguration (taking place just steps from my house!) and returning back in time to start my wedding season on march 1. 2009 is going to be another busy, exciting year, and i can’t think of a better way to kick it off than with a trip exploring india!

me, being me.

above: me entertaining the bridesmaids at ashlee + paul’s fantabulous wedding. sweet action shots captured by the amazing and talented shelby leigh!

coming soon: rin-rin + jon at the woodend sanctuary.

rin-rin + jon had a gorgeous afternoon wedding last weekend…i captured this moment at the very end of the day, right after we did one last photo of them underneath the colorful chinese lanterns. after a quick portrait, i headed back inside, but turned back to find them still close together, their bodies locked, dancing alone in the tent, swaying to music that spilled softly from inside the house. the guests were saying their goodbyes, the staff was clearing tables and stacking chairs, but all rin + jon saw was each other.

they continued to dance just like that until the end of the song…it was the intimate and romantic dance of two people who had just joined their lives together. i feel honored to have witnessed it happening, and grateful to have captured the feeling of that moment.

more from this spectacular celebration soon!

sweet november.

ashlee + paul kicked off sweet november (my busiest month of the year!) with their fabulous annapolis wedding! i loved ashlee from the moment i met her last spring when, after a series of emails + phone calls, we met while she was in town one weekend taking care of wedding business. she hugged me (i’m big on handshakes, and *huge* on hugs!) and said “i feel like i know you from reading your blog!” anyone who knows how much *love* and attention i give my blog knows how happy that made me, and the rest of the afternoon i chatted with her + her mom as we checked out the church, met with her coordinator at the classy loews hotel, and discussed her vision for her wedding day.

fast forward to the first day of november, when i see ashlee again, getting ready in her hotel room. surrounded by her *amazing* bridesmaids (these girls were the BEST!) i watched her prepare to marry “the man of her dreams”, as her dad said later that night during his toast. dressed in her amazing gown and adorned with her grandmother’s brooch, ashlee looked phenomenal. we boarded the trolley and the girls sang along to the classic wedding tune “going to the chapel…”

the church ceremony was simply gorgeous, everyone’s attention focused on the stunning couple set against a wall of stained glass. afterwards we did a few quick sunset portraits by the water and boarded the trolley for the reception! we arrived at the hotel as the cocktail hour was in full swing, and the celebration escalated throughout the night! every photo from the reception involves smiling, laughing and serious dancing, and i know everyone had the time of their life! a huge shout out to the incredible dan huynh from chris laich music - who kept the dance floor rockin’ and the party going well after i left! 

and to ashlee + paul: congratulations you beautiful newlyweds! i am *so* happy for you both and i had an amazing time at your wedding! i wish you a wonderful, fun, fantastic life together! 

enjoy!

ashlee’s grandmother’s brooch.

the dance floor is officially open…


the girls performed the entire dance to thriller!

the single best bouquet toss ever. EVER.

the only thing i like more than the cake cutting is cigar time!

* * *

i also want to give a huge thank you to the fabulous shelby leigh who shot with me at this wedding! she’s a brilliant photographer based in annapolis and i was thrilled to have her work with me! check out her amazing photos from the day here!

coming soon: zeba + ted!

this was totally zeba’s idea - how fun! their wedding was amazing and not just because the men wore kilts - love me some scotsmen! more to come…

coming soon: ashlee + paul!

as you may have noticed there has been some serious blog activity this week as i get caught up on editing all my recent sessions! next up: the spectacular wedding of ashlee + paul! after tomorrow i’ll have 4 more fabulous weddings to blog, so stay tuned!

here’s to love!

i was so excited to meet up with katie + bob for their engagement session! it’s been months since we first met and i am really looking forward to their fabulous spring wedding next year…katie is a breath of fresh air and bob is so sweet - they are truly beautiful people inside and out and i’m so happy they found me! i really had a great time hanging out with them last weekend. we walked around logan circle (my fave neighborhood!) strolled along national mall, and ended the session in one of my new favorite spots…chatting about their wedding, honeymoon plans and life in general :) they were such a pleasure to be around and so easy to photograph - i can’t wait for their wedding, i know it’s going to be wonderful! at the end, they wanted to have a little fun with their football jerseys, and despite supporting opposing teams, these two are one perfect couple. i mean, if their love can transcend a superbowl rivalry, they can survive anything, right? so regardless of whether you cheer for the giants or the pats, i’m sure you will be a huge fan of katie + bob! :)

enjoy!

catching myself.

this week i am working furiously trying to get caught up…the past few weeks have been totally jam packed and i’m doing everything (including drinking lots of coffee - a drastic measure i assure you!) to get all of the thousands of fabulous photos edited, blogged, and to my clients as fast as possible! i have 2 more engagements and 3 weddings to blog, as well as a few fun images from the wieblab i attended last month.

while editing lori + jamel’s *awesome* engagement session i came across this hilarious photo of us at eastern market last weekend! more proof that regardless of how crazy busy things get i really do have so much fun, and feel so very lucky that i have such amazing clients!

so, as i continue to work day + night until i clear my lightroom catalogue (is that even possible??), fighting technical failures, my cranky, full hard drive (sorry mac!) carpal tunnel, and fatigue, i just have to remember to catch myself before i get discouraged, and remember that i really do have the most rewarding job in the whole world.

afternoon delight.

danielle + dan are engaged to be married - woohoo! i had a great time meeting up with these two on a very warm halloween afternoon. we started the session on their boat, which was docked in georgetown’s harbor, where they love spending time. from there we traversed the neighborhood and got some amazing shots…danielle + dan are very easy going, super cute, and very fun to be around. i laughed the whole time and looking back through these photos remember just how great i think they are! i’m so glad they chose me to document their engagement and even if i can’t be with them in key west, i’m so excited for their wedding! i just know they are going to have a fabulously fun life together!

enjoy!

making progress.

jessica + holly are getting married this weekend - woohoo! i had the pleasure of meeting these ladies back in april when they were searching for the perfect photographer to document their wedding, and we did an awesomely fun mini-shoot for their save-the-dates! now that the big day is almost here, we got together again (this time in dc!) for a real engagement session…we started at the sculpture garden (one of their favorite places) and made our way across the city, stopping in dupont circle where they had their first date, breezing by starbucks (holly’s fave) and even taking a break for brownies + coffee. we ended up on U street for a final shot underneath one of the iconic obama posters labeled PROGRESS. this was the sunday before the election, before president elect obama was the next leader of the country. the girls sat down underneath the poster and i can’t quite explain what a huge impact this photo, and this moment had on me.

i don’t believe in getting too political, but i do believe in a lot of things, and in light of current events there are a few things i’d like to share with everyone, and with jessica + holly in particular, in regard to my very strong and very specific beliefs on life + love. i have traveled all over this world and witnessed life, love and freedom in very different ways. i feel honored to document life and am extremely passionate about the world and it’s people. that said, i believe in people, and i believe in that which is good.

i believe in the right of every individual to live freely and openly according to their own destiny. i believe that this right is not contingent on race, religion, gender, or sexual preference.

i believe in absolute and lasting equality and opportunity for all people.

i believe in an idealized american dream and that being american means, above all else, tolerance, hope and true, enduring progress.

i believe that our country is making progress, even if it’s not fast enough and even if it’s not perfect.  

i believe in love. 

i am hopeful, i am excited, and i am proud to live in a country where most people believe in these very principles, however i am disturbed by those who do not.

i am thrilled to live in a time where we are finally starting to treat each other the right way. i anxiously await the day when respect is mandated and where prejudice will fade into the pages of history. 

until that day, i am thankful for the opportunities i have, the people i have met along the way, and the lessons i have learned. my heart is filled with pride and hope for president-elect barack obama, who represents hope and progress for so many people, in so many ways. 

so, in spite of all that is still wrong with the world, i dedicate this post to progress for that which is right. to the election of the first black president of the united states, and to the marriage of two beautiful, wonderful women who represent all that is right with love.

jessica + holly: thank you for inspiring me. thank you for sharing your love, your lives, and your story with me.