Julia’s Blogfest

So for the first time I went to Brookside Gardens in MD for this engagement session.  I have shot at so many venues but never here and b/c I live in Alexandria I tend to do most of my engagement session around here or DC.  But Johanna asked me to go there as it had significance to her in that her grandmother spent many days visiting there and even has her name inscribed on one of the benches in the park.  So despite the trek on a busy spring Saturday afternoon in DC traffic, it was well worth the trek.  The grounds are amazing and we had a fabulous day.

These two sweeties are getting married in October 2009 at the Willow Tree Inn.  Another new venue for me.  The best part of my job is seeing all the places around town.

Four years ago today, my wonderful and energetic father in law passed away after a 9 month quiet battle with stage IV melanoma.  He was an avid sailor, tennis player and golfer and too much sun caught up with him.  I had known “grandpa Alan” since I was 15, when I met Jack.  I adored him and was crushed by his passing b/c my own father passed in 1997.  I struggled a bit with his passing b/c it ticked me off  that neither of my boys would have a grandfather anymore but we do our best to talk about my dad and Jack’s dad and their life lessons so they know what kinds of little people and little men they should be.  Thankfully, Jack’s moms’ husband, Pappy, has a constant presence in their life today.  So while they don’t have biological grandfathers, they do have one which loves and adores them to no end and continues to teach them more life lessons along the way.

PS – WEAR SUNSCREEN!

Here are a couple photos of Alan.  He rests at the Naval Academy cemetery overlooking the Severn River.  One heck of a place to be put to rest.  Amazing.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Here’s another fabulous couple of mine.   If you’ll remember them from the late Fall, here is Jennifer & Taylor’s engagement session — they are a gorgeous couple and so relaxed and easy to be around.  Their wedding day was no exception.  We started at Jennifer’s house in the late morning, then headed to the church in Burke before going to The Waterford in Springfield for their afternoon luncheon reception.  Everything ran smoothly, the families were amazing to be around and this couple is  truly remarkable with their work for the needy and disadvantaged.  During the ceremony, Taylor’s brother and Jennifer’s sister sang “The Prayer”  together that just had everyone in tears.  What a tribute!

I also want to give shout-out to my 2nd AMAZING shooter-friends that day, Ingrid Kaslik and Beth Kubovcik who shot along with me and made the day fly by!

Jennifer wore these fabulous Birkenstocks with her dress.  It was so her.

Taylor talking to Jennifer’s sister prior to the ceremony.

Jennifer with her 2 sisters, bridesmaids.

The groom’s brother (best man) and dad.

Jennifer and her dad.

They had a ‘Broom Jump‘ which represented the unification of their diverse families and has roots in Western African tradition.  Jennifer’s sister read a passage about what it signified and upon completion Jennifer and Taylor jumped over it together as they move forward with their lives and commitment together.

Meet Casey and Joe!  They are tying the knot this August at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church followed by their reception at the Westfield Marriott.  They are one of my few summer weddings.  I am trying to lay low this summer since kids are home but that doesn’t always work out that way but it’s my goal and I’ve done pretty well thus far with booking that way.  I  am proud to say that Casey found me thru Facebook!  She said she saw some photos I had posted last fall and I assumed she was a guest of one of my brides but she said she knew someone who was a guest at one of the weddings I shot.  So a bit more removed.  I was blown away by the legs Facebook has and this is proof how powerful it is for business owners who understand viral marketing.  I’m delighted to be their photographer and have Kari and Brain King to thank as it was their photos that she saw.  I have had an amazing number of brides that either have graduated from JMU and/or are teachers.  Casey is one of my teachers (Kindergarten) who also went to JMU too (I think, Casey correct me if I’m wrong!) while Joe is a government contractor.  I love that they are going to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon!  I don’t hear of that often and would love to see it myself!

(for some reason, my blog images are ‘cooler’ than the actual images and I can’t figure out how to fix this in case you are wondering!)

Kelly and Katie tied the knot April 18th at Holy Trinity in Georgetown followed by a beautiful reception atop the 16th floor of the Sheraton National in Arlington at sunset.  What a gorgeous couple and a joy to work with.

The groom’s mom and sister….

How cute is this moment?

I so LOVE an outgoing wedding party….

and the following shots were taken by my FAB 2nd shooter of the day, Kip Pierson — who ran the Boston Marathon 2 days later (his best time yet!) and is also a professional actor and did his ‘one man show’ at Ford’s theater the morning of the wedding.  Nothing like working with another type A!