Vienna Photographer - Directions

Can someone please give me directions to the pot o' gold office? Obviously the pot should have been left outside my kitchen window at the end of the rainbow. Someone must have gotten a little lost. I don't mind going to pick it up at all. :)

Centreville Family Photographer - One Month Old

I was so glad that I was able to squeeze this session in at the last minute. This is such a nice family who is totally in love with their precious little boy. We spent the morning taking some great photos around their home in Centreville, VA then waited it out inside so we could take some sweet sleepy shot at home. He was a tough one but we managed to get what we need.

Thanks for spending the morning with me. It was a pleasure meeting you.

I love how he is holding is little ear in the back.

There is nothing sweeter than watching a new dad with his child. Melts my heart every single time.

How gorgeous are they?

Fairfax Virginia Family Photographer - Back to School!

I am sure when you saw the title of this blog that you expected cute little pictures of my little one in her first day of school outfit ready to hit the books. Sadly, no, that will be next week. :) This post is about me. See to some of you I am a photographer of little people. To many others though who knew me before I picked up a camera, I am a singer.

I started singing at a very young age and have always been involved in some sort of production in one way or another for years. Before I had my daughter I was in school full time pursuing that elusive performance degree that I never bothered to get when I was younger. I really loved being in school the energy was great and being constantly pushed out of my comfort zone was something that I became used to. There is nothing like the pressure of being given a song in a language that you have never sung before and told that you will be singing it in front of your peers and instructors for a grade in a weeks time. As a singer, I put my emotions and talent out on the table every I sang. Talk about nerve wracking.

So when I got pregnant that goal was put on hold until my daughter started school of her own and I had time to get back to classes. Well, in the meantime I started this photography thing that has kept me more than busy. But it is time to get back to classes so I can finish what I started. SO does that mean I am giving up photography, NOT A CHANCE! But I will have one more ball to juggle in the air for the next year or so. I'm looking forward to the challenge, more sleepless nights and doing something for myself.

I go to George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Here is George welcoming all who come to study there. Usually he is decorated in some fashion but today he was standing alone.

While I was on my leave a beautiful new wing of the performing arts department was built.

And here is me on my first day of school this semester. (No, not the angry looking soprano with her mouth gaping open, although I probably do look like that most of the time when I am in my lessons.)

McLean VA Family Photographer - Adorable!

I had such a fun session with this family. We had actually canceled the session earlier in the day because of thunderstorms that were moving through the area. I convinced my client to just try it and see if we could get what we needed that afternoon and if we didn't, we would reschedule at a better time.

I hate canceling photo sessions. Once you have a date on the books I will do whatever I can to make sure we can honor that time. I know it takes a lot of hard work to get everything coordinated but on the other hand, I want to make sure that conditions are such that you get the images you are expecting.

During our window that afternoon, everything seemed to click. Little "L" was in a good mood, the light was gorgeous and it wasn't too unbearably hot out.

Thanks for taking a change "T" family. I think it was definitely worth the risk.

How beautiful is this dress? Mom bought it from one of the talented sellers on Etsy.

For this shot I was standing on the edge of the pond about 40 yards away. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Dad put her down on the bridge like this. She stayed there for literally 2.5 seconds but it was so worth it.

22182 Vienna Family Photographer - Canvas

Does this sound familiar? I have a ton of great pictures of my daughter and they are just sitting on my hard drive. I have the best of intentions to do something, anything with them so they can be displayed for others to see. I have made a promise to myself that over the next few months I will start having my photos printed and displayed in my home so I can enjoy them at any time and not just when I am not sitting at my computer.

This canvas is the first of a series I hope to purchase by the end of the year. I have also vowed that I will upgrade the size of my photos for the walls of my home. I look around at my 8x10's and 5x7's and realized that if I was sitting across the room, I couldn't see them like I wanted to. This canvas is 22x26 and I LOVE it! It is one of my favorite pictures of my daughter and now I get to see it several times a day as I walk down our main hallway.

The corners on these are just done so well.

I love this texture. So rich looking.

I especially love that I don't have to worry about framing it. It came out of the box and I hung it on the wall. It took a total of 5 seconds. I didn't have to travel around looking for exactly the right frame. So easy!

Vienna, VA Family Photographer - Sigh!

All the signs are out there. Summer is coming to an end. We have hit some cooler days around here (I hope they stay but I am sure we have a few more scorchers to come) and all the talk in the circle of moms is of school, activities and Halloween costumes.

I LOVE being a stay at home mom. I can't imagine not being home to see all the little ways my daughter changes and grows on a day to day basis. Lately I can see how quickly those changes are coming and I know that when she starts school in two weeks, that she will grow even more quickly in this new stimulating environment. She will do great, I on the other hand, might shed a tear or two.

This week she has done some things that just make me smile and want to hold onto this time before it slips away. She is potty trained, sleeps in a big girl bed without rails and has only fallen out once, knows all her letters and can spell very simple words, and remembers to say her prayers before dinner and before she goes to bed. The only real remainder of babyhood is her precious "lil blanky.

She cannot go in the bathroom without brushing her teeth because they are "germy". She hates to wear her clothes (a direct result of potty training I am sure) and in the mall this week she took off her shirt 8 times and the shoes were off before we got into our first store. And her obsession with lipstick has expanded to 'scara and eyeshadow.

It is always an adventure and I love it! Thanks for making my life complete little one.

Here are some pictures from today. Not sure why she decided today was the day to paint her face with whatever she could find, but it is. I need to do a better job and putting up my mascara and hide the highlighters.

Vienna, VA child photographer - My Own

Any person will tell you that photographing your own child is hard. My child is no exception. Tonight was gorgeous so we went down to the Town Green and took a few pictures. She sure is cute, even if I do say so myself! :) I can't believe my little girl is almost three, where does the time go?

I love you sweet girl!