Julia’s Blogfest

Hey everyone!  I’m so excited to share news that my new, groovy and fresh website has officially been launched TODAY!  I think I am most excited to debut my sweet husband’s music than I am to showcase my own work — I don’t feel worthy of it!    It’s like a movie score but no surprise there as that’s what he does when he writes music.  So please enjoy and let me know what you think AND if you find misspellings or mistakes on my own stuff.

I appreicate your support and interest in my work!

Thanks,

Julia

CLICK HERE TO GO SEE MY WEBSITE and LISTEN to Jack’s music!

Several years ago I shot my first “Santa’s Breakfast” at my son’s preschool (and consequently did it for the next 5 years) and met a lovely mother who assisted me that day with the kids sitting on Santa’s lap and all the fun logistics of doing that crazy, yet sweet, event for the school.  She and I chatted a bit about photography and I came to find out she is an avid amateur like I once was. Sadly, she moved at the end of that year and we have corresponded a bit over those years and more recently, thru facebook!  Tanya is now living in Seattle with her husband and 3 kiddos and came back to Alexandria last month to visit friends.  She hired me to take pix of her and the children (unfortunatley, her hubby didn’t come) and we had such a great time.  They were so easy and sweet.  It was a perfect summer morning and we did this at Woodlawn Plantation – another great historic spot I go to on occasion around here.

I had to get smooches with each of the kids with their mama!

I had a hard time picking blog images from this session.  I honestly just cracked up with so many of them.  This is truly my favorite age to photograph — around 6 months.  I love all my kids and sessions because each brings it’s different challenges and rewards and excitment but truly I think 6 months is the best — baby=sitting up, happy and not yet crawling.  LESS work for the photographer!  Look at this cute family!  I could eat them up and this little Ethan was such a happy chub!

How cute is this expression? 

How can you not make a *KISS* sound when you see this?  Baby Ethan is in his glory with mama and dada!

I remember when driving away from Jessica & Mike’s wedding the Sunday morning after shooting it, I kept smiling and saying to myself, “How’d I get so lucky?”  I really believe that when you have found your calling and can earn a living doing it, it’s that much more powerful, exciting and fulfilling.  To have worked in a totally different industry years ago and having left feeling unsatisfied, stymied and bored, I am that much more grateful for what I have now.

This adorable pair got married at Rocky Gap Resort in Rocky Gap, MD in June.  They put me up in the hotel as it was a good 2+ hour drive and I had an awesome view of the lake and mountains.  I had a blast and also want to thank my friend and colleague, Natalie Franke, a rising star in portrait & wedding photography out of Annapolis, Maryland who 2nd shot for me and who is going to PENN this fall as a sophomore….yes, in college and a pro photographer!

We had an absolutely glorious day.  The weather was crazy — it was pouring when I left Alexandria, then cleared up and then starting pouring when I got up there again.  But by the ceremony it was perfect, windy, but perfect.  Then during the reception later, it poured again for about 10 minutes.  Crazy weather coming over the mountain I guess.

Jes and Mike were so kind to me even CHECKING on me during the reception!  That’s crazy!  They wanted to make sure I was okay and had eaten and rested.  Isn’t that precious?  Again, I’m so lucky.

Natalie did a great job with the guys before the ceremony.  Totally a fun group.

[and the outtake with the wind -- this happened MANY times -- look at everyone cracking up!]

Just having fun with spinny camera and dancing….

Can’t believe it’s mid-summer!  We had a great July 4th celebration!  We always do our own little fireworks fun here at home with the boys for a good 45 minutes.  Some fun ones from eh-hem, South Carolina, this time too.