This past weekend I had a double header, so today you get to have TWO wedding peeks to enjoy!!
More coming soon!
I know this post is coming late, but its worth it!! Cait and Mason are both nurses at MCV and on the morning of their engagement session, I was a little worried. The weather wasn’t looking great, and finding another time that worked for all 3 of us would prove to be tricky. We were all so thankful that it was just cloudy and the session went off without a hitch! Its always special when couples choose to bring their pets with them, and I fell in love with Chewey. He whines, a lot. And while people who are around him more often may find it getting silly after a while, I found it to be endearing. Perhaps that’s all part of his plan! Every time he whined a little bit, I just wanted to cover him in kisses! Future couples reading this, bring your pets with you!! I love it! 
Enjoy some of my favorites!
More of Mason and Cait coming in June!! Excited!
Mark and Ashley are getting married in just a couple weeks! This spring has really been the time for Engagements for my 2013 brides! I love it though. Spring is a wonderful time to do your portraits. Not too hot, and everything is blooming! We headed to the Botanical Gardens in DC just before a big storm hit and had lovely diffused light. Mark has the great talent of getting Ashley to laugh, I loved it!! Enjoy some of my favorites!
You’ll be seeing more of these two very soon!!
Its so hard to go about your usual day when there are tragedies happening left and right drenching our news coverage. And, anniversaries of tragedies as well. Our hearts are heavy. I don’t really have the words to blog my usual highs and lows today. I just want to post a pretty image, and remember that our God is faithful and good.
Lets pray for Boston. And Texas. And all the other countless things that are happening around the world. Lets remember Tech. And Oklahoma City. And all the others, Im sure Im forgetting.
Its that time of year where DC erupts full of lovely pale pink blooms. I LOVE when I get to do Cherry Blossom sessions. This year was a bit of a toss up because the blooms came late! We can blame that on the wacko weather we had the week before. But, they were peeking out just enough for Kevin and Stephanie’s session. I have to say, Sunrise Sessions are my favorite. There is something different about the light in the morning. Its so soft and diffused. Even on Sunny days, the morning light is just more forgiving. We started JUST as the sun was peeking over the horizon… Enjoy some of my favorites!
Definitely one of my favorite sessions ever! Can’t wait for August, its going to be perfect!!
Before Jared and I were married, I worked on an herb farm. Its a local farm, Lavender Fields, and hands down it was one of my favorite jobs. EVER. I learned so much about gardening, and loads of crucial info on growing and sustaining herbs. They can be really picky! The way you are growing them (light, soil, water, etc..) can affect the way they taste, size of leaves, and if the herb will keep producing throughout the season. I was able to work with my hands, get sweaty and dirty, and joke around with co-workers every day. This kind of work isn’t everyones favorite, which I completely understand. For me though, even 5+ years later, its something I crave and wish could be a part of my daily life. Spring always gets me itching to get out in the yard and grow things.
I started some herbs in pots over the weekend and can’t wait to use them all summer long!
We got Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Oregano, and Sweet Banana Pepper. We will probably have to repot, or completely transplant the Rosemary at some point because it grows and grows and grows! For now though, the pot will work just fine. I’ve never grown Banana Peppers before, but I love them so much so I thought I would try! I could eat them plain.
I’ll leave you with two tips for your herbs… I see a lot of people letting their herbs get leggy. Long and tall with the good stuff up towards the top, and nothing growing on the “legs”. This isn’t ideal for herbs. Instead, prune your herbs to create small little bushes. And, lastly, don’t let your herbs flower. Clip the flowers off as soon as you see them. When a plant flowers, that becomes its main goal…spreading its seed and pollenating. By pruning off the flowers, you keep the plants goal and goodness going to the leaves. This tip is specific to herbs where you mainly use the leaves, not for plants like Lavender where you encourage flowers to bloom.
Do you like growing things? Or, do you prefer to get what you need at the market and grocery store? What are you planting this year? Tell me in the comments, I’d love to hear!
I first met Jessica many months ago during a busy lunch hour at Panera. We connected instantly, and I was so happy when I got the confirming email that they were going to book me! I met Brandon for the first time at their session (another important reason to do your engagements with your wedding photographer!!) and seeing the two of them together made so much sense. They laugh so easily together! The day of their session was one of the first warm days we had of the season and I was so thankful. I had been so used to shooting in colder weather I forgot how much water I need to drink during sessions! Thankfully we were doing the session where Jessica and Brandon live and they graciously brought me some water. I drank the whole cup! I was excited to shoot their wedding after meeting Jessica that first day, but I am even MORE excited to shoot their wedding now after spending a couple hours with the two of them together! Its going to be so great! Enjoy some of my favorites!
Ahhhhh!!! Can’t wait for June!!
James and Nancy had a short and sweet ceremony on the Leesburg Courthouse steps last weekend. Their bigger wedding will be later this year out in California. I was so honored to be able to capture this part of James and Nancy’s story. Smaller weddings are very intimate and being there is a very special thing. It’s always an honor to photograph anyone’s wedding, but there is something unique about small weddings. Its like you are a part of the family almost.
Downtown Leesburg is such a cute area, especially near the courthouse. It was a sunny, but very chilly day! Im so glad Nancy was able to stick it out so we could get some portraits!
Congratulations James and Nancy!!
Spring is definitely Engagement Session season! I love getting to spend this time with each of my couples! Each love story is different and each couple brings something new to the table. Nicole and Joe have been so sweet and gracious with me, and I have loved getting to know them better! Richmond is a special place for them and their relationship so it was only fitting that we do their engagements downtown. We had a chilly, but sunny day, which was the perfect break from the gray cloudy days we have been having! Enjoy some of my favorites! 
Joe and Nicole are doing some fun thing with Coke bottles at the wedding, so we definitely had to include them in their engagement! Im so glad Nicole brought it along. These guys are getting married in a couple weeks, so you’ll see them back on here soon! Can’t wait!
Mike and Allison met at their Alma Mater William and Mary and will be getting married there this year in June! I love when my couples choose special places to them to tie the knot. Its so romantic that way! I loved walking around the campus with these two listening to stories about their time there. W&M has such a beautiful campus that even though nothing was really blooming yet, the background is still stunning. Enjoy some of my favorites!
They have never crossed Crim Dell before, read about that legend here, and I am so excited to photograph them walking across together at their wedding in June! 
Mike and Allison met in the room right above them where the window is!
Its really hard to kiss under baseball style hats!
Mike switched to a Duke hat at the very end because he will soon be attending there going for his MBA! 
June cannot come soon enough!!
