Julia’s Blogfest

So this was a very unusual session for me but equally fun.  Here’s why.   I was asked by another photographers studio, a couple days before this happened, if I could do this session for Betsy + Alan as a gift for them from Betsy’s “boss”.  I happened to be FREE and so I offered up my services.  Betsy is a graphic designer for the fabulous Sarah Petty Photography of out Springfield, Illinois (a photographer for whom I hold in very high esteem) and Sarah wanted to give them a little wedding gift by having someone do a session for them locally.  Betsy lives in Texas and her fiance Alan, lives, and is stationed with the Marines in FL.  But they got married in Virgina.  Got all that?  Good.  I’m not even sure how long Betsy and Alan were engaged by they decided to do a quick Justice of the Peace ceremony?  wedding?  event?  [you get the idea] on Friday, Nov 13th.  I offered to be with them at the exchanging of vows but they decided to wait another day and come up to Alexandria where, ironically, Alan’s uncle lives.  So we did the session in Old Town and I want to wish them the very best LIFE together!  I’m so glad my calendar was open to do this.  [And I apologize for taking so long to post these Betsy and Alan!!!]

Me having fun with a little self-portrait action……

For the first time ever, I had a client that wanted uber-LARGE artwork for her home from a session I did this summer.  Not large as in 11×14 which most people think is ‘large’.  Because it’s not when one is decorating a wall.   It’s something I try to educate my clients about – (REPEAT:  8×10 and 11×14 is NOT large).  Rather, I am talking about a 30×50 framed print as well as a 20×30 matted and framed print which ends up being almost as big as the 30×50.  I was so excited, yet nervous to take on this challenge.  To ensure the success of this project order, I went to my clients house to help measure the space and figure out how big to really go – we also looked at the proper mouldings — style , color and thickness.  My sample 20×30 which I lend to my clients to see  how it would look in a space wasn’t even close.  I was floored.  What made the difference was seeing my sample in that space; that it really wasn’t big enough.  And then measuring it myself to figure out how big to go.  That’s how we settled on the 30×50.  I assumed my lab would be able to do this but surprisingly, they couldn’t!  So I had to find a new lab for this order.  Part of the problem was that I needed the images mounted on a strong substrate due to sheer size. As you’ll see below, the 30×50 has no mat and no glass (but is sprayed to protect it from dust and the elements).  So after some phone calls and working with a lab as well as my framing company, the orders went through!  Then a couple weeks later, HUGE boxes arrived at my house — one from the lab, one from the framing company.  I was so nervous that I didn’t open them for another 10 days.  The box size was daunting……I needed help!  My hubby was the one who finally said to me, “so are you ever going to open those boxes”?  It took some prodding to attack it.  So unlike me!

So after one mishap with the first version of the 30×50 (it was ever so slightly digitally stretched), they reprinted, resent and I reopened another large box.  And thanks to my sweet husband who helped put it all together, they looked stunning!  Next month I will go to their house to photograph these on their walls.  But here they are.

I loved this session!  It was with friends of mine thru the community here and we had a gorgeous fall day and their girls were sassy and spunky and wore great colors (thanks mom!) and all around just fun.  They won me thru St. Aidan’s silent auction a year ago and we finally got the session done!  They were one of my reschedules because of rain (seems every session this fall was!) so this amazing day made up for that!

Bob (dad) is a very popular DJ for events and weddings in the region.  I have worked with him once and LOVED his energy and professionalism.  Bob Artman DJs.

Bevin and Mike had a gorgeous fall day on October 3.  They got married at Mike’s alma mater, Loyola College in Baltimore in their gorgeous Gothic inspired Chapel.  It reminded me so, so much of my prep school, The Mercersburg Academys‘ Chapel built around the turn of the Century.  It’s one of my favorite architectural designs.  Their reception was at the Intercontinental Harbour Court Hotel in Inner Harbour.  So many elements of their wedding were thought out with such detail.  It really made for a fun day of shooting.  Not only did they do a traditional wedding cake but for their dessert service, they hired a company called Parfections who made AMAZING truffles.  I had to try a couple and one of them had hot peppers mixed within.  I loved it. Finally, they had LIVE music!  A rarity these days!  I was so excited and that dance floor was non-stop!  NIGHTLIFE via Bialek’s Music was the band and they were phenomenal.

Kudos and props to my always-reliable buddy, Jill Myers of Jill Myers Photography who helped me that day.

Rachel, these kids mom,  is my 3rd or 4th or nth cousin.  I have no idea but our grandmothers in the Philippines were cousins so we’re somewhat related!  My kids keep asking me how they are related to Rachel’s kids and I’m just lost.  But suffice it to say, we’re related somehow!  Rachel’s husband is American so they are ‘muts’ like me!  Believe it or not, he’s living in Bangladesh and working for the US Army for 2 or 3 years while they stay here.  Talk about a hardship!  They are my heroes!