Engagements | Holly & Tucker

I had the incredible honor of photographing Holly and Tucker last fall for their engagement photos. These two are an amazing pair. It's not easy posing in front of camera, especially if you are suppose to be romantic, but these two did it with ease. There is nothing more perfect then watching a couple come out of their shell in perfect harmony.

I'm so excited for their wedding in April which will be just as harmonious and sweet!

Children | Haley B.

As I was sorting through the images from the past year, I stumbled upon photos from my shoot with Haley! Using the community gazebo as an overhead diffuser and my 480 flash for fill. As you can tell she is a natural and what I loved best is that all these were taken in less then 5 minutes!

After this blog, i'm giddily awaiting warmer weather! In the meantime, I am planning a Coney Island Shoot and an engagement session in the spring (fingers crossed!)

In the meantime, Everyone cuddle up with some warm cocoa and a good book!

Spotlight Sundays: The DIY Bride

Welcome to the inaugural post of Spotlight Sundays! These posts are meant to share something awesome I came across in the past week and want to share. Plus it's an awesome little pick me up when you're at work on Monday morning procrastinating. (I promise I won't tell your boss)

This post is dedicated to the DIY Bride:

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love me some DIY, Martha Stewart, Etsy and anything that gets you down and dirty in creative-ness. With that said, you can imagine my excitement when I came across:

http://www.weddingchicks.com/

Source: Weddingchicks.com

From inspiration posts to printables, these ladies know how to win over a DIY Bride. Within 30 mins of clicking around, I had already designed my wedding. :::True story:::

So when your boss isn't looking , click over and get ready to be inspired!

Happy Sunday!

This love is ours...

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.” {Douglas Adams}

Never in a million years did I think that this is where I was suppose to be. There was a plan for me. High school.College. Job. Marriage.Kids. But I've never been one for plans really, which is why I wasn't surprised that my life has taken the turns it has. There was on surprise I didn't count on. And that was meeting Greg.

At first, I didn't think he liked me. He barely talked, kept minimal eye contact and only responded with few sentences. It felt like I was pulling teeth!He always says I was texting the whole time. In my defense, I was reassuring my sister that I wasn't being kidnapped by a weirdo. Somehow deep down, I had this feeling. The feeling that this would be {my last first date}.

Almost two years later & things haven't changed. He still gives me butterflies and I somehow haven't driven him crazy. It seems like no matter how bad things got, God wouldn't let us break it. He is the surprise I always prayed for.

Now whether or not we make it to the golden years, sitting side by side in rocking chairs on the porch, is up to God. But I know one thing is for sure. I'm grateful for the moments where I can look into his eyes and realize that not only do i have a best friend but I have the love of a man who makes me want to be a better person.

Merry Christmas to the best present! {That I get every single day}

Photo: Seth Roberts Photography

My Boo

So this week is dedicated to my little peanut, My future partner-in-crime, Jah Jah Bean!! (Legal Name: Elijah Andrew)

It has been a wonderful year watching him grow up from looking sightly like E.T. to a walking, talking little tornado with a color coordinated wardrobe. [Thanks to Momma's OCD :::True Story::: ]

As I've spent the last couple of days with him, i cant help but feel grateful for him. He's God's pint size reminder to always laugh, enjoy the small moments and rejoice in the "firsts of life".

To my munch: Titi loves you boo!! <3

Cake: Mericakes by Mary Burn (Culpeper,VA)



Jah Jah Bean says: You must first learn to love yourself...

The Lady in Red

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

― Ira Glass

I had made it. Still tired from the bus ride from D.C., I sat in my chair at WPPI/PhotoPlus Expo anxiously waiting for Jasmine Star. If you have ever asked me about photography or asked me which industry professional I most admire, you already know my “Justin Bieber-esque” awe for Jasmine Star. If you haven’t yet, get ready for me to geek out.

As I sat there, I began to think: how did I get here? Not even a year ago, I had never even given a thought to being a photographer, let alone a wedding photographer. It was only a few months ago, I sat in my bedroom watching Jasmine’s Creative Live & realized that not only she was fabulously dressed, she was REAL & her story was similar to my own.

As she gave her presentation she delivered not only in message but in style. I laughed, I cried, & learned to never give up on my dream! Because at the end of the day, the blood, sweat and tears are worth the sweetness of success.

Afterwards, I had the honor of meeting her and, sweet baby jesus, did I geek out!!!! I’m pretty sure it went something like: HiImABigFan, ImReallySorryButImGoingToTotallyGeekOutRightNow!!! How did she respond? With a Hug. =)

Thank you to Jasmine Star, the woman who never fails to remind me why I took the leap of faith and began my journey to become a Wedding Photographer.

Weddings | Marlo and Clinton

A few weeks ago I had the honor of working alongside the always fabulous Nicole Johnson (Now Mrs. Wingo!) from Photography by Nicole Johnson as a second. The Omni Hotel in Richmond was an awesome location and shooting a gorgeous couple made for a great day.

Here a few of my favorites!