Julia’s Blogfest

First of all I have to congratulate myself on this inaugural post to my new blog! (I’m hugging myself for you). I feel like breathing a breath of fresh air here as I felt constricted by my old blog. Yes, it was cluttered a bit but I didn’t have many options. This blog template was designed for photographers and what appealed to me most was the LARGENESS of the images when displayed! So there is it! I am still tweaking it so you may see some changes as it evolves.

So meet the Henry kids. They live in NYC and were down in VA visiting family last week. Larry and I go back to 7th grade! That trumps my husband whom I met in 10th grade if you can believe that! Larry was my ‘boyfriend’ in 7th grade and we have had some good laughs about this b/c what is a boyfriend or girlfriend in 7th grade? Well, probably different in 1980 than it is in 2008! It was impossible for me to be a good girlfriend as my dad was not an easy dad to share this kind of thing with so I had to be stealth! I talked on the phone with Larry and that’s it!!! Never met him anywhere to hang out (yes, how boring!) but wait — I think we did go to one dance in 7th grade? But really, how sad of me. So fast forward to 2006 — we reconnected via a website that had been set up for our high school 20th reunion …email changed everything! So after 18 months of fun correspondence and about 24 years since we had seen each other, we finally got to hang out last Friday — did the shoot then off to get some grub! His kids are amazing. They are all aspiring actors — no surprise there as dad is in theatre and pretty animated himself — and so I had a ball shooting them. Can you not tell this was a crazy session?

UPDATE: Okay, I was tired last night when I posted this. Donna & Gil are getting married at the Inn at Brookeville in Brookeville, MD!!! I just booked a wedding at Glenview for this summer and was mixing them up! But no worries as my contract was correct!!

After nearly having to scratch this engagement session due to an almost 90 minute delay b/c of a horrible accident on the beltway, Donna and Gil made it to Old Town from Rockville, MD for our session last week. Thankfully, it was in Old Town where I was able to grab dinner and kill some time waiting for them. These two love birds are tying the knot in early June at the fabulous Glenview Mansion — that’ll be my first time there and I am thrilled to add a new venue to my list as it’s a gorgeous one at that. Gil and Donna met on Match.com and they are not my only couple to meet thru this means so for all you singletons out there, there is hope! This type of dating service wasn’t even around (or maybe it was but it certainly wasn’t as huge as it is now) before I got married (almost 13 years ago) so I’m fascinated with the concept. Aren’t they cute?

I’ve been tagged!

This cracks me up b/c I feel too old compared to my loyal blogger friends and colleagues to be doing this. But Vicky, event planner extraordinaire from Event Accomplished, tagged me for this particular funny one.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I’m actually ‘dating’ myself by disclosing these funny tunes and I could have picked a million funnier ones that are borderline “cheesefest” but do I change the channel when the song is on? nahhhhhhhhhhh.

1. Tragedy, Bee Gees. Who doesn’t feel like grooving in a goofy way when they hear the Bee Gees?

2. Dream On, Aerosmith. It makes me laugh b/c he’s so earnest when he sings.

3. Telephone Line, ELO. I’m not even sure why — maybe it’s the Dooo-whap lyrics…but I’m a kid of the 70s and 80s.

4. Violet, Hole. If I were a rocker in another life, I’d have to pick Courtney Love b/c of her crazy way on the stage. It’s pure, raw entertainment.

5. Dim all the Lights, Donna Summer. Reminds me of ice skating with my girly and pretend boyfriends in 6th grade.

So there you have it my friends, consider yourself tagged…..Sarah Hodzic, Jessica del Vecchio, Erin Rexroth Sally Brewer, Rashmi Pappu, Mandi White, and Liz Vance.

This was an unusual wedding for me. Dani and Matt tied the knot at Kentlands Mansion on March 29th and had their party/reception at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town on April 19th. In-between those lucky dogs spent more than 2 weeks in South Africa for their honeymoon! Clearly one of the more exciting and exotic honeymooners I know!

The vendors Dani and Matt used were:

Kentlands Mansion (Ceremony + Dinner)
Torpedo Factory (Reception only)
The Black Tie Band
Windows Catering
Fiore Floral
Video Express

Dani was a superstar on the dance floor and I was cracking up taking photos of her with her friends cutting up the floor with the band! Her mom surprised her with a song too. It was a great touch!

I DO for Brides magazine contacted Kentlands Mansion about showcasing one of their weddings in an upcoming issue and Kentlands has asked Dani and Matt if they would want to show their images!! We don’t know yet if it will be selected but our fingers are crossed!

It’s not very often that I talk about the charity I’m partnered with, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. For one, it’s pretty personal, but more importantly, what can I say? It scares some folks off to hear about it and for others, they just can’t listen for very long without getting upset so I talk about it in abbreviated terms or not at all. And frankly, I want to — I want to raise awareness of this amazing charity and also to acknowledge all the families who have lost babies — that’s it real, frequent and shouldn’t be ignored.

On Friday, last week, I got a letter from one of my November ’07 families from Fairfax Hospital. It was a “Thank You” card along with a typed letter, a check (which I didn’t and can’t accept) and a Remembrance card using one of my photos for their son, Christian. I was shaking when I opened it. Not really sure why but partially worry for this family in terms of their mental health and maybe what they thought of my photos (knowing they would mention it), etc. The card (seeing how my image was used) nearly brought me to tears but the letter written by Bridget, the mom, did bring me to tears. I talked to her at length on Monday about it — about her experience, how she was doing, about my experience, why I do this, about God’s work for us — and we talked for a good 45 minutes about so much. I really feel I have gained a friend in her now. She told me I could share her letter since I am always trying to recruit more photographers for this great cause, and know some are curious about what this charity is all about to begin with. This letter just confirms why I am doing this and will, no question, keep me going even stronger than before.

Plus, I thought it would be helpful to share a mother’s perspective on it — it’s rare that I hear from any of my families. Here goes…

Dear Julia,

First I would like to apologize for taking so long to write this note to you. My little boy was stillborn on November 7, 2007. You came up to Fairfax Hospital to take pictures of us. Thank you so much! I can’t put into words the deep gratitude I feel for what you did for me. Of all the people who helped me through that horrible ordeal, what you did helped me the most. I really can’t thank you enough. You gave me a gift that I will always treasure. It must have been difficult to start your day by going on an unexpected trip to the hospital that morning. Thank you so much for saying YES and coming. I know it isn’t easy to be with people who are feeling so much pain. I’m sure it takes a toll on you too. I want you to know that what you did for me and what you gave me is priceless. The pictures and the slideshow have helped my grieving process so much. There is so much I feel that I can’t explain or put into words. Just know that you did so much more than just take a few pictures. Those pictures are the only physical things I have left of Christian. I can’t imagine trying to get through this without them. My husband and I and the nurses took pictures of him, but they aren’t anything like the ones you took. I used one of the pictures you took of Christian’s hands to make a remembrance card, which I sent to my family and friends. Making that card helped my grieving process and I couldn’t have done it without that beautiful picture you took. I’ve included one of those cards as I thought you might like to see it.

My family and I are doing well. I hope someday we will have another precious little baby. If we do, it would be an honor if you would take a family picture of us. Thank you so much for all that you did.

Sincerely,

Bridget

This is the photo they used and the scripture they had on the card.