Welcome, Lucy!

I had not set up my home studio in quite a while, but in February I was suddenly had a very good reason to do so: we got a new puppy! Her name is Lucy, she's an English Springer Spaniel, and we got her at 8 weeks old. I took these photos the following weekend, when she was 9 weeks old.

I wasn't sure how well she would do, but I think I caught her at a good time - she was pretty chill for most of the photo shoot, and fairly pliable with being posed. She even gave me an excuse to use a fun springtime backdrop that I have.

Miss Natalie - dance shoot | Dance Photographer

Back in February, I was hired for a second dance portrait shoot. We had to reschedule a couple of times due to weather, and even had to move the shoot from outdoors (which we were hoping to be able to do), to indoors. Luckily, I thought of just the right place to do this kind of shoot...and the location did not let us down! I absolutely love the mix of glass, marble, steel, and light to shoot this beautiful young dancer.

Miss Lauren - dance portraits | Dance Photographer

A couple of months ago I was commissioned to take some dance portraits of one of the Interns at the LSoB. Miss Lauren, as our kids call her, has helped out in classes for both of my kids, and is such a beautiful and talented young lady. I was very excited when she reached out to me to take some posed dance portraits for auditions she had coming up. Lauren and her mother came to my home to pose in my studio, and we ran through the poses she needed. This first one couldn't be use for her audition photos, but I really liked it, enough to show it here!

Welcome to the world, Baby L!

About a month after our sunset maternity shoot, baby L entered the world! I photographed him around one week old, and he was a fantastic little subject...who did not want to miss a thing during his shoot. Look at those bright eyes!

The G family | Maternity Photographer

I was so excited for this maternity shoot, since the dad-to-be is a coworker of mine! He and his wife are lovely, and a lot of fun! They brought a few ideas and props to the shoot, and I had some ideas of my own - together, it made for a very fun sunset maternity session.

Little Miss E turns 1 | Child and Family Photographer

After photographing this beautiful little one as a newborn, at 6 months, and 9 months, it was finally time for her 1 year photo shoot!

The Extended K Family | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

During the first weekend in May, I was scheduled to shoot my largest family session ever: 10 adults and 3 kids, spanning 3 generations! This shoot was so much fun. I had gotten to know one of the couples here through my daughter's dance class, and was so happy when they asked for me to do this special family photo shoot. When you have 5 siblings plus spouses, children, and grandparents, it makes for a boisterous, fun group! We all met up at their house at Lake Anna in Virginia, and took photos around the property. It was a stunning location, and the family was a ton of fun!

Little Miss E: 9 month portraits

It's very important that I get this little cutie's 9 month photos up here, as I just shot her 1 year photos last weekend! I've previously shot Miss E for her newborn photos, as well as at 6 months (we skipped 3 months because that's a very difficult age to get good photos of a baby). At the very beginning of May we scheduled (a bit after 9 months, to be true, but sometimes that's how schedules work), and I was very excited to have this shoot be a bit different than the previous two. First, we shot outside (the other two were indoor portraits), and second we shot at a brand new location that I had never used before, hidden away in Leesburg! I absolutely love this location, and can't wait to do another photo session here.

Welcome to the world, Baby R! | Newborn Photographer

I'm so happy when I have a friend who has a baby, and even happier when I get asked to take some photos of the new baby and parents. Again I was able to visit one of my very good friends in the hospital when she gave birth in May, and she and I were fortunate to get a couple of hours in the hospital room just the two of us (and the new baby of course!). We don't get that often, so it was a really nice time, capped off with some photos of the little one and her mom. I've never really taken photos in the light that we had (a single light from above and behind the hospital bed), and it was definitely a bit of a challenge, but I loved capturing mom and baby in the first day of baby's life.

Rising Stars Interns | Dance Photographer

In January, I had the opportunity to photograph a large number of dancers at my children's dance school. Through a series of unforeseen circumstances, the photographer who had been hired to do the action photography on stage ended up leaving during the dress rehearsal, so I was asked to step in at the last minute. I wasn't fully prepared, but did have my favorite lenses on me, and so I think I was able to capture the dancers as requested! I don't really want to post the photos I took of the little ones here, so instead I will focus on the high school age Interns, who dance with the little kids on stage. In addition to helping out the young ones, they also do their own opening and closing number. These girls are beautiful dancers and very sweet with the little kids, so I was glad to have the opportunity to get to capture them dancing!

A birthday photo shoot | Leesburg VA Child Photographer

Last month my son turned 5. On that day, we actually scheduled our very own family photo shoot! This photographer has to get her own photos taken too, right? As much as I love photographing my little ones, I can't exactly be in those photos!

When we arrived for our shoot, the previous family was running a bit late, so we had some time to kill. In order to entertain my kids, and to get some shots of them while they were looking their best, I did my own quick photoshoot with them.

 

Miss A: Senior Portraits | Portrait Photographer

Last fall I did a senior portrait shoot of a colleague's daughter. She's absolutely lovely; a beautiful girl both inside and out! I had already posted her "sneak peek" album on Facebook, and so I wasn't in a huge hurry to get these photos up here on the blog...but since just this past week I attended her graduation party, and on Wednesday she officially graduated from high school, I thought I would finally put up a few of my favorites. Best of luck to this lovely lady as she heads off to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall!

Little Miss E: 6 month portraits

As I am about to take 9 month photos of this little beauty tomorrow, let me get her 6 month photos up here! I gave these to mom and dad well over a month ago, but have not had time to get them up here. No time like the present.

Miss E is seriously a cutie. I've previously shot her newborn photos, which were a mix of lifestyle (in her nursery) and posed photos. I don't often shoot lifestyle, but it was a lot of fun to do, and she was such a good baby throughout!

For her 6 month, we did posed shots in my studio area. Once again, she was so good throughout. I didn't get a lot of smiles, but she was very attentive and alert, and had no problem with any outfit her mom put her into. If only every baby was like this!

A Frozen photo shoot | Child Photographer, Leesburg VA

One cold, dreary weekend in January I set up my new backdrop and let my daughter wear her new Elsa hat (with braid), along with her Elsa dress. The result: a Frozen-inspired photo shoot of my beautiful girl! Not on that, but it was an excuse to play with my two prime lenses (50mm f/1.4, and 85mm f/1.8). This photo in particular was my favorite.

R & C Engagement Shoot | Outer Banks Photographer

Over Thanksgiving, I had the pleasure of doing an engagement shoot for my cousin and her fiance while we were all together at the Outer Banks, NC. We found a wide variety of beautiful settings, including venturing down to the very cold beach for some lovely near-sunset photos. I'm so happy for the two of them, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding later this year!

Little Miss S: Newborn Portraits

Because this little one spent New Year's Eve at my house tonight, and she's no longer quite so little (5 months already!), AND because what's cuter to share on New Year's Day than an adorable newborn...here are my photos of the adorable Little Miss S!

My extended family: holiday portraits | Outer Banks Portrait Photographer

I don't often post photos here that I'm in (as instead I'm normally the one behind the camera!), but this was a rather unique family photo shoot that I wanted to showcase...my family!

We all met at the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving last month, and as we so rarely all have the chance to be together, I thought it would be nice to do a big family shoot. In addition to the group photo above, I also took photos of the different components that makeup our family. And despite it being a bit chilly, the overcast skies actually provided us with a very nice background!

The P family: Christmas card photos

Last month I took photos of my former housemate from college and her beautiful family, for use on their Christmas cards this year. We met at the Point of Rocks train station in Maryland, just on the other side of the Potomac, and took photos throughout the park there. After warning me that her kids may not cooperate, it turned out that they were perfectly delightful! They were all so much fun to work with, and we captured some really great moments.

Little Miss E: Newborn photos

During the last week of July, a good friend of mine here in Leesburg gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! Not only did I get a chance to visit with them in the hospital, but a few days later after mom and baby had returned home, I went to their house for a newborn photo shoot of the beautiful girl. This is the third shoot I've done with this family, and I'm so happy that they continue to ask me to photograph their life! Especially with this adorable new addition.

We started off with some "lifestyle" photos in her nursery.

State Arboretum of Virginia | Nature Photography

On Saturday I did a photo shoot at a new location: the State Arboretum of Virginia. The shoot went really well, partially because of the amazing location. The setting was stunning, and on my way out I encountered these beauties who were good enough to pose for me!