NEW WEBSITE AND BLOG! | Annapolis, Baltimore, DC Maryland photographer

www.frecklephotography.com

New website launched! | Maryland photographer

Hello! So, after 4 years in business, I had decided that it was time for a new look. Things have changed so much since I first began my business. I started with a focus on newborn and child photography, then I moved into weddings and special events. As busy as these have kept me over the past 4 years, I am slightly changing directions and moving back into the photojournalism world where I came from. I miss “getting the story” and I wanted to travel more and tell other peoples stories…

So, welcome to the new Freckle Photography, a locally run business with ties to the rest of the world. This year is a big year for me, in just a few days, I am hopping on a plane to travel across the world to India…and I couldn’t be any more excited than I am at this moment. I will be there to build my portfolio and work with a few non-profits for one month. I could go on and on about this trip, but you will have to just read the blog that I will be keeping while I am over there. The blog can be seen and accessed from the new website (www.frecklephotography.com) Then, this spring, I am going to travel to Paris to photograph a wedding. I’m already envisioning shots near the Eiffel Tower and eating yummy bread and cheese in an outdoor cafe.

My goal this year is to expand the business from documentary lifestyle to more documentary/humanitarian work for non-profits and NGO’s as well as some travel photography. This does not mean that I will not be documenting newborns, children and weddings, so please, keep those calls coming to book your personal session! Also, my private photo classes are really taking off and I would love to come to your home to teach you how to use that awesome camera that you bought last year (and are still trying to figure out how all those buttons work).

So, all this being said, welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED Freckle Photography. I’m here, ready to document those moments in life that pass by way too quickly and to give back to organizations that are constantly creating moments for those less fortunate.

New website/blog: www.frecklephotography.com

A BIG thank you goes out to my good friends at Grayhood Design and Humid Design in Philadelphia for designing and creating this awesome new website! Dan at Grayhood designed the new logo and look for the website and Josh and Corey over at Humid made the website happen. Thank you guys!! Check out their other projects they are working on at:
http://grayhood.com/
http://www.humiddesign.com/

It’s good to be the king | Annapolis Maryland children’s phographer

Happy 1st Birthday Angelo!

A very chilly Christmas | Annapolis, Maryland family photographer

They braved the cold, they braved the ice, they braved the snow…

Jessica, the oldest daughter of the Huggins family from Westminster, surprised mom and dad on Christmas with a gift certificate for a family photo shoot…unfortunately the weather had other plans for the day that we had scheduled it…the day after Christmas. The snow came, then the wind…as I spoke to Jessica on the phone, we reluctantly cancelled the shoot and planned on meeting in Annapolis the next day to give it a try. I was so stressed out…how was I going to pull this off….the wind alone was pretty brutal and the streets in downtown Annapolis covered in ice and snow. BUT to my surprise, this family was all for it…maybe not right away as the wind whipped around the State House for our first group shot. Hats had to come off and the looks of “oh my god, I am so cold” had to stop for a brief moment while I clicked away. This family of 7 were troopers and I can’t thank them enough for it! We trekked around downtown for about an hour before making our way into Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers to warm up over some nice steaming cups of hot chocolate and some chill time before heading back out for a few more shots.

Besides the fact that they all toughed it out and remained in good spirits during the entire shoot, I just adored this family. The three boys, Evan, Brandon and CJ, who are all in college (Elon, Duke and American) and Jessica who just graduated and is living and working in Florida and the youngest sibling, Brianna were all a pleasure to be around. Not to mention the fact that they all are beautiful/good-looking. John and Julia (mom and dad), with their calm and cool personalities rounded out the hilarious group. It was really fun getting to know a little bit about them and seeing how they all interacted with each other. Typical brother and sister behaviour was present as I snapped a few shots of the siblings getting goofy with each other.

Thanks Jessica for setting up the shoot for your family. I’m glad that you chose me to photograph your whole family for the first time since Brianna was little and that you will have these photos for a long time…or until we meet again in warmer weather 🙂

Happy New Year Huggins family!

he he he…ha ha ha…ho ho ho| Annapolis family photographer

There was much laughter in the household of my friend Lara and her beautiful growing boys Sean and Alex the other night when I stopped by to do a last-minute Christmas photo shoot with them. It’s always so nice to visit with Lara and her boys, there is always a nice BIG cup of tea, great conversation and laughing involved when I am there…and I am so thankful for that.

I noticed something during their shoot that I am very happy to acknowledge…I’ve been trying too hard to “pose” my subjects when I don’t know them very well. While, I do think that most everybody wants at least one or two posed shots to give to their parents and grandparents, it’s the candid ones that everyone LOVES and ends up using in their holiday card….and just happen to be the ones I enjoy shooting. So…after trying to pose Lara and her boys in front of the nice white fireplace and then again in their dining area of their kitchen (which has great color and art), we moved into her cozy bedroom where the three of them lay down to read a Christmas story and what I captured there was so pure and true to who they are as a family.

I wish that I could walk into every clients house and know who they are so that we could just skip to this part of having fun and documenting their personalities. Maybe I need to start asking more questions before heading out to a photo shoot. Or maybe I just let go a bit and see what happens. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to suggest to a family to do something that you think might be so fun and worth documenting but they might think that it’s the weirdest thing ever…kind of like how I would feel if I had my photo taken at a Sears Portrait Studio…awkward!

Well, either way, it’s nice to be reminded sometimes that letting go and having a bit more fun and creativity in a photo shoot produces shots that they can look at for years and years to come and talk about that moment instead of just saying, “wow, look at how ugly my hair was in 1985!”.

Merry Merry Christmas Lara, Sean and Alex and to all my awesome clients and followers this year. It’s been a very rewarding year! Much love to you all.

Christmas comes to Annapolis | Annapolis, Maryland music photographer

I’d like to take a moment and give a shout out to Annapolis Musicians For Musicians (AMFM). AMFM is a local non-profit that is a supporter of professional musicians in Annapolis. If for some reason an artist cannot work due to illness or other event, AMFM is there to help financially. This week Rams Head On Stage hosted AMFM’s yearly Christmas show, a two day event showcasing local musicians performing Christmas songs. I volunteered to photograph the second night, and am so glad that I did! I have not had the opportunity to make it to one of these shows in all the years that I’ve been living here…what a disgrace! It was a very fun night and I suggest that you plan ahead for next year’s shows since tickets go fast! Here is a selection of photos from the night.

click here to visit their website to purchase a live CD from past events or to make a donation

I am lucky in so many ways | Maryland documentary photographer

This past Friday I had quite an awakening. I hosted a fundraiser for my upcoming trek to India where I will work with a few non-profit organizations and provide them with photographs and hopefully some multimedia pieces that they can use to generate awareness for their causes. The fundraiser was a success in so many ways. I raised enough money for my flight to India, which was my goal and takes some pressure off being able to afford this trip.

I’ve always known that I live in a very supportive community and have so many incredibly supportive friends, but Friday night really humbled me and made me realize that I am one lucky girl. It’s one thing for your friends, family and community to come together and donate money to your cause…whatever it is, but the thing that really made me giddy and extremely confident that I am doing the right thing was that they all came out and showed me that they supported me and my passion. I can’t quite put this feeling into words…I went home that night and just stared at the wall as my eyes welled up with tears, I looked at my boyfriend Ruben (who also had an amazing night playing a most wonderful gig with an old friend) and said, “I can’t believe this is happening”…I am so fortunate to have such great friends and such an aware community that understands that what I am trying to do is not only important to me, but to those that I will help.

I am going on this adventure (hopefully the first of many) to solidify my story-telling skills, to beef-up my photography skills, to become inspired, to learn about another part of the world, to make new friends, to discover more about my individual creative goals and to give love to those who aren’t as lucky as I am. I will come home and use my improved skills to help the non-profits in my own community as I continue to operate my business.

I know that the moment I step off the plane in India that I will be transformed in a way never thought possible.
After my experience on Friday night, I feel like I have a crew of great people behind me every step of the way as I travel through a region that is completely foreign to me. It’s as if they are my little guardian angels that are yelling, ” you go girl” as I walk through the crowded streets and meeting people and telling their stories. I can’t tell you how awesome that makes me feel. I am going to work so much harder, be an great representative for my community and bring back so much love for all those that are my supporters.

So, I thank each and every one of you who came out Friday night and donated, whether it was an item for the silent auction, your time, your money or just love and encouragemet. I also want to thank those old friends and new friends who have made donations online for this trip.

I will be doing regular blog enteries as much as possible during my trip (Jan 26-Feb 26), so if you want to follow along,you can subscribe to get notices or just check in now and then.

Much love to all of you.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr! | Maryland wedding photographer

I shot my last wedding of the season Thanksgiving weekend…it’s a bitter-sweet moment for me. The end of a wedding season means that I have my weekends back…yeah….but it also means the year is coming to a close and that I must move forward to the marketing end of my business and start working on next year’s clients…not the most fun thing to do as a creative person.

This wedding was pretty special though. I’ve known Lynn and Sean for a while now…though not very well, I’ve always admired the people that they are together and individually. Sean and Lynn are very warm people, always making you feel special when they see you. When Lynn asked me to shoot their wedding, I was very excited because I knew that it would be a blast. Sean & his brother (and best man) Kevin play in The Gecko’s, a much-loved band in Annapolis…which has steel drums that Kevin makes.

The wedding was in Ocean City, MD. The ceremony was a simple catholic ceremony and the reception was held at the beautiful Lighthouse Sound Restaurant which is located on a bay front golf course. After a wonderful ceremony, we hurried over to Lighthouse Sound to get the group photos quickly done…now, I hate to rush any photos, but we had a few major factors working against us. One was the sun…it sets so early in late November that we had to grab the last bits of daylight, two was the little bit of time to sneak in the group shots before the reception officially began and three was THE COLD! I can’t tell you how cold it was…and windy. Luckily I had some hearty subjects who didn’t care one bit about running out of the heated reception area to stand in for a family shot or two. Then it was on to the wedding party. I usually like to spend at least 15-30 minutes with them, but they weren’t having it and neither were my fingers. So we quickly got the group shots finished and some guy only and gal only shots and let them run back in to enjoy their cocktails in the comfort of the heat.
Lynn and Sean…I wasn’t letting them off easy. I HAD to get some nice shots of them by the water as the sun began to set. So, we hopped in a golf cart (with plastic panels..which helped a bit) and went to the closest area to do some portraits. They were troopers…and I was very impressed and pleased how agreeable they were to stand out in the cold…I was starting to lose feeling in my hands so we called it a wrap and headed indoors.

The reception was so cozy as a nice fire blazed away in a large hearth in the center of the room. Outside, two fire pits burned to add even more ambiance to the party. Lynn and Sean were introduced to rounds of applause and whistles. After a yummy dinner, the first dance and speeches took their place in the wedding timeline. The speeches were incredibly moving as both fathers gave their well wishes to the newly wed couple and then Sean’s brother Kevin followed by Lynn’s twin sister Laura brought many in the room to tears. There was love all over that room.

The best part of the evening was when the Gecko’s set up their steel drums and plugged in their guitars and performed for the couple and their most special guests. The room was on fire as the guests sang along to Gecko’s tunes and kids danced around the floor. Next, Lynn’s uncle got his chance in the spotlight as he sang “Glory of Love” with almost all the guests joining in and then following it up with “You are my Sunshine”…which I believe everyone, including me was singing along to.

Lynn and Sean left the party to a tunnel of sparklers and hopped in their limo to start their new life together.

Thank you both for inviting me to join in the fun and document your very special day….you have a most beautiful group of friends and family that all made me feel welcome just like you both always do.
Much love to you both.

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I love Baltimore | Maryland photographer

I’ve been working with this amazing non-profit called Vision Workshops for about 6 years. Vision workshops runs workshops and camps locally (Crossing Borders) and internationally (Photo Camps). I have been lucky to work with several of the local workshops, working with kids at Bates Middle School in Annapolis that have immigrated from El Salvador and Mexico, working with teens in the Drug Court program and now working with Refugee teens in the City of Baltimore.

My good friend and leader of this camp, Piper Watson put together an amazing weekend of shooting and learning for these refugee kids from Iraq, Bhutan, Nepal, and Eritrea who now attend Paterson High School.
We met the kids at Paterson HS last Thursday where we passed out the cameras and went over the weeks agenda. That first day meeting them brought some excitement to this workshop…these kids were eager and ready to shoot.

We started the shooting portion of the workshop this past Saturday. Meeting at Walters Art Museum (they were a big supporter in this workshop as well at The Refugee Youth Project), we spent some time talking about technique and story telling as it related to this weekend’s focus-Baltimore.

Many of these kids have never been downtown to experience Baltimore, so Piper arranged to show them some very interesting and fun sides of this very cool city. We started at the Cross Street Market in Federal Hill. The kids got to have some lunch and then we let them loose to begin the photojournalistic process of telling the story of Baltimore today. It was amazing to me how recpetive this group was to what we were teaching them…shooting at different angles, holding the camera a certain way to keep it stable in low light and talking to the people you are photographing to find out more about their individual stories. I became giddy as I watched them approach complete strangers and ask them if they could take their portrait…not one kid held back and almost everyone they asked said yes. Because of their confidence and wonderful personalies, they ended up starting converstations with many of the stall owners at the market. The coolest moment was when they met a husband and wife who ran the bakery…they asked where the students were from (this particular group was from Ethiopia) and a connection was made. They too were from Africa, but were Indian born and they started an exchange with the students that I could never have imagined. They even sent a box of cookies with the students…so nice! Plus the students made some amazing portraits of the couple at their bakery stall.

We then took the water taxi from Federal Hill across the harbor to Fells Point where a Christmas festival was going on in the square. Live music, food and craft stands, a balloon artist and lots of neighborhood people all had come together on a very cold day. The kids got right to shooting as they ran around capturing the spirit of this neigbohood, snapping shots of little kids dancing in front of the stage, people selling their wares, and locals in conversation with eachother. They didn’t hold back one bit. It was thriling to watch. Again, they struck up conversations with locals and met some awesome people.

As the sun started to set, I grabbed my group of five students and took them over to the docks where we could have a little lesson on self portraits. I taught them about using the golden light at that hour to make a beautiful photograph and how to show who they were to the rest of the world in a portrait. They did a fantastic job and produced some absolutely beautiful images of themselves….I was bit jealous!

After a very long Saturday, Sunday arrived a bit too fast, but we met the kids at 8:30 to begin the next day of shooting in Baltimore. We started again at The Walters, went over some of the work from the day before and talked about how to make certain photos even better. After the lecture, we were taken into the museum to see the Walter Wick exhibit that is one display until the end of the year. It is such a great exhibit to see…Walter is a model maker, photographer and children’s book author. He created the “I Spy” series of children’s books where kids can pick out objects out of photographs that he creates. The photographs are taken from very intricate models that he makes…it’s quite an intricate process and very cool to see.

After the exhibit, we chowed down on some pizza and then loaded up the bus to head to Hamden for the annual Mayor’s Christmas parade. Now, I don’t know if any of you remember just how cold it was on Sunday…but IT WAS COLD! The group braved the cold though and we took them to the parking lot were the floats, cars, dance troupes, and bands were lining up and getting ready to march down the street.
The students scrambled around taking shots of bands warming up, little girls bouncing up and down in their dance costumes to stay warm, men wearing sequined costumes & animals of all shapes and sizes. Many of the students didn’t understand what the heck a parade was all about or even who the heck Santa was, so it was fun to try to explain our culture to them.

We have two more classroom days with these students to go through images and work on the final presentation, which will be exhibited at The Walters. As I sit here and think of the weekend and these awesome students I am realizing that I learned alot this weekend.

1. We need to approach life the way that these students do….by jumping right in to new experiences. They have overcome so much already in their young lives, yet have an enthusiam unlike many American students who take for granted all of the awesome culture around us and the opportunities that they have in their own backyards.

2. Baltimore is truely a melting pot of people with interesting stories to tell. The city gets such negative press all the time that we forget that it is a great city full of crazy traditions and caring individuals who want to keep the city’s spirit alive.

3. Talk to strangers! We all walk around minding our own business way too much. There needs to be more interaction in this world. We have so much to learn from eachother.

4. Finally…stop complaining 🙂 We pushed the students alot this weekend. They photographed for two pretty long days in the freezing cold. Rarely did they complain. I have alot of colleagues that would have started complaining as soon as they became chilly…and yes, I have been guilty of this. We photographers need to realize just how lucky we are to do what we do and that sometimes, the situations that we are put in are uncomfortable, but we are there at that moment documenting a slice of life and that’s pretty special if you ask me.

Our fearless leader, Piper.

Deck the Halls | Annapolis family photographer

This past Friday I had one of my most fun family photo shoots ever. I didn’t know a thing about this family before I arrived and I was a bit nervous because of how cold the weather had become. They wanted to do half the shoot outdoors in the woods and trails behind their home and the other half as an indoor candid shoot while they decorated for Christmas.
That all changed the moment I walked in the door and met mom and Dad, Lynne & Chip and the girls, Hunter and Hayley, they welcomed me in like I was part of the family.
After bundling up for our walk in the woods, we headed out into the cold. It took awhile to get little Hayley to smile for me, but once I cracked the code, she was all smiles and bubbly the rest of the night.
After roaming around the woods and finding some nice little spots, we decided that we were cold and headed indoors.

As the family got ready to decorate the living room and tree for Christmas, I took advantage of the down time to photograph their very photogenic cat…who eventually got put into a Santa outfit. He was quite the character and quite a poser too!

Then, the decorating began, and little Hayley perked right up and showed me that she wasn’t shy at all. The family was so funny as they donned their Santa hats (yes, I wore one as well) and each took on a job placing lights on the tree, wrapping garland around the branches and hanging the ornaments. Lynne has a tradition where they each decorate a wreath to be hung on the windows of the home. Each one took their wreaths and added there own special touch while I documented the tradition.

I loved this shoot because rarely does a family just let me document their traditions…I love doing this because it’s real and these are the memories that they would want to remember…not all the posed shots.

Thank you Lynne, Chip, Hunter and Hayley for being so welcoming and trusting me to be your photographer for the holiday! I had so much fun with you all…I could have stayed all night and kept taking photos. Thanks also for the wonderful glass of wine…I think that was a first and much appreciated 🙂

I’m going to India!

Hi everyone…As many of you already know, I am a photojournalist based in Annapolis, MD. I have an amazing opportunity to travel to India for one month so that I can photograph for a couple of non-profits and give my work to them to use so that they can promote their organization and raise money.

For the first two weeks, I will be traveling with an amazing workshop out of DC called Momenta Workshops (http://momentaworkshops.com/). They are pairing me up with 1-2 non-profits that I will work with over the course of two weeks. During that time, my mentors from Momenta will guide me through the story-telling process, critique my work and teach me new multimedia skills to further enhance my work. One of the small non-profits that I will be working with is a girls ashram. I will be documenting them using still photography as well as sound clips to create a body of work as well as a multimedia presentation. (More details to come about the other non profits I will be helping.)

After the Momenta workshop ends, I will continue to travel through India and work on another personal project as well as some work with another non-profit (still planning, more details to come as I solidify the end of the trip).

Your donation would help offset some of the many costs that I will be paying for out of my own pocket, so every little bit helps. I will be donating all my work back to the 2 non-profits that I will work with while I’m there and will not be making any money back home during that time, so anything you can give to help, is very much appreciated!

Your donation will go toward these expenses:
flight: $1300 (approx)
workshop (includes, food and lodging for 2 weeks) $4500
immunizations/medicine: $1200
two weeks after workshop expenses: $1000+
passport & visa: $300
supplies/camera gear needed: $1000+
So total cost for the whole trip ranges anywhere from $8000-10,000

You ask why the heck am I doing this…well:
I have a love of documentary photography that I’ve been feeding with little projects here & there over the years…but now I am ready to jump right into the world of humanitarian documentary photography and take my career to another level. Momenta workshops is my ticket toward achieving that goal so that I can continue to travel and do more projects like this all over the world (and hopefully make a living doing it!)
I am passionate about using my photography and multimedia work for good so that others can benefit from it and in turn have a better chance at a wonderful life.

When I return, I plan on having an open slide show discussion in Annapolis, MD to share my stories and photos with the community.

Please understand that I am not a non-profit organization, and neither is Momenta…so this donation can not be written off as a non-profit donation.

December 10th from 6-9pm I will be having a fundraiser in downtown Annapolis with great Indian munchies, wine, music, henna and a great silent auction…so if you would like to come support me in that way, I’d love to have you! There have been some awesome donations by local businesses including private yoga, pilates, and massage sessions, hand-crafted jewelry, art supplies, art and much much more. Come join me and have a glass of wine and soak in a bit of Indian culture.

Please email me for any questions or for more information about the fundraiser:
alisonharbaugh@gmail.com

Pretty in Pink | Annapolis, Maryland family photographer

I simply adore this family! This was my fourth shoot with Jenn, Chad, their daughter Lexi and Chad’s kids Sara and Kayla. They are always so much fun and the kids are always so darn cute. It’s been so cool to watch them grow. Last time I photographed this family was for Lexi’s first birthday…now she is walking and giggling and developing quite a personality. Lexi definitely has a mind of her own and seems to have limitless energy to explore the world around her. The twins, Sara and Kayla are growing up to be adorable young ladies. I always enjoy watching how they act around each other. They are getting pretty used to having my camera around so without any prompting, they go into a “pose” and hug each other or hold hands without me ever having to say a word….love it.

We spent a beautiful fall afternoon at Kinder Farm Park in Severna Park. This was my first shoot at this park but it most certainly will not be my last. I love this place! I forgot how great the scenery is here! From beautiful natural backgrounds to fun rustic buildings and farm animals around every corner to entertain the kids, we were kept busy until the sunset.

We spent some time doing a few posed types of shots then moved on to have a bit of fun…petting the rabbits (which Lexi giggled at every time she touched one), visiting the chickens and goats and the most interesting animal there…a GIANT pig…I’ve never seen a pig so large…he wasn’t very pretty. Then we had a little fun swinging and playing at the playground before calling it a night as the park ranger came through and closed the park.

Jenn and Chad thanks again for choosing me to document your lovely family. It’s always so nice to see you guys! Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Crisp November wedding | Maryland wedding photographer

A few weekends ago, my trusty second shooter Arianne and I photographed a beautiful wedding in Severna Park for Rebekah and Ed. I didn’t know much about this couple going into the big day because they lived in Boston and couldn’t quite rush home to chat with me about the wedding day plans. I first found out about the couple through her very wonderful mother. I met with her at the family home in Arnold…just down the street from my house and she filled me in on what Bekah and Ed were looking for. It’s hard to envision the day without personally meeting the bride & groom and seeing what their personalities are like, so I was happy when just about a month ago, I got to finally meet Bekah on a very rainy day. I was immeadiately impressed by her by the fact that she rode her bike and got all muddy in the rain to come meet me at a local coffee shop. I knew then that I did NOT have a bridezilla on my hands.

Actually, she was so far from a bridezilla and Ed was as sweet and kind as can be that the whole day seemed pretty easy. That’s saying alot because I was pretty crazed about this wedding when I realized that daylight savings time was the night before and I was losing a whole hour of sun! Yikes! Somehow though, Arianne and I pulled it off and got all the immeadiate family shots that they requested and even a giant group photo of the whole party outside of the church while I stood on a very tall ladder…did I mention that I am afraid of heights!?

The ceremony was very touching, with one of the best wedding “sermons” I’ve ever heard, a beautiful duet sung by her friend and her sister and a very giddy Bekah whose smile radiated during the entire ceremony. The church was filled with family and friends and you could feel the love in the room.

The reception, which was held at the Chartwell Country Club in Severna Park, was a very nice change from alot of the weddings that I’ve shot this season. Most of the receptions turn into a big party with lots of crazy dancing all night long. Not that Bekah and Ed’s reception wasn’t a party atmosphere, but the level of sophistication that they took it to was a pleasant contrast. Smooth moves were all over the dance floor as husbands twirled around the floor with their wives. It’s so nice to see couples of all ages embraceing the love that was felt that night between Bekah and Ed and joining in on all the fun. Another fun little added bonus to the reception was a photo station that Arianne and I set up near the dance floor. Bekah’s Dad provided a trunk full of hilarious costume accessories and all the guests dug right in and showed their goofy side for the camera.

Bekah and Ed, thank you so much for having us be a part of your very special day, it was so wonderful to watch the two of you together dancing the first dance as husband and wife. You two make a beautiful couple! Congrats and good luck in your new home in Tennessee!

Baby Winston|baby photographer Washington DC

I made the hour trip early the other morning to Alexandria to meet Joy, Hung and there 6 week old baby boy Winston. First of all…how cute is that name!? He looked like a Winston the moment I met him. As I quietly walked into their apartment I was greeted with the cutest sleeping baby curled up in his crib in the living room. I NEVER get that lucky to walk in while the baby is still asleep…we always try to plan around nap time, but it never seems to work out. A sleeping baby is a wonderful subject! A few minutes later, after I had just about ever angle I could get of him, he opened his eyes and looked right at me. Snap, snap, snap, I shot a few more shots with him looking right at me with a look of “who the heck are you and why is this big object pointing at my face” Then the tears came…I’d cry to if I woke up to a camera in my face!

After a changing we continued onto the rest of the shoot in the nursery. Then it was time to feed and be changed again, and then back to the shoot. Winston was a perfect little subject. He has such a wise look to his face and I enjoyed capturing his many facial expressions. I was also very impressed with his balancing ability as we sat him upright in a big oversized chair with his little bear friend. He looked like a little budda sitting there with his baby belly sticking out…too cute!

Joy and Hung, you are very lucky to have little Winston in your life…he’s a keeper! Thanks for inviting me into your home to photograph the little man at this most adorable stage of his life! Hope to see him again for his first birthday!

Fall in love | Engagement Photographer Annapolis

Fall is my favorite time of year, time to wear my favorite clothes, jeans, boots, t-shirts and little scarves, time to watch the leaves change into some of my favorite colors, time slow down a bit and get ready for winter. Saturday was one of those days…I met Jackie and Steve, a very cool couple from Columbia, MD at Quiet Waters Park. The park was vibrating with brilliant reds, yellows and oranges as I drove around for a bit before deciding where to park and meet up with the couple. I was a bit overwhelmed. Every direction I turned was pure beauty and I wanted to show it all in my photos…but I was not doing a nature shoot, I was there for an engagement shoot and I had to focus. Jackie and Steve arrived with their very playful golden/lab mix puppy in tow (by non other than their best man). We did the typical shots near the bridge and gazebo and then quickly moved along so that I could capture something a bit different from the typical Quiet Waters shoot. What I loved so much about Jackie and Steve were the goofy moments that they had between each other…goofy might not be the right word, but it was a very cool thing to witness as they picked on eachother in a very loving way like two kids on a playground flirting for the first time. I hope they never lose that playfulness. I have so many great photos of Jackie or Steve laughing and smiling as the other gives them a sly little look…it was nice to have this element present and to keep the mood a bit lighter than some engagement shoots can tend to get. We stuck around the park until sunset…which was beautiful as I snapped some quick silhouettes before we headed out.
Thanks Jackie and Steve for being great sports! I’m looking forward to your wedding next year!

Fairy hunting | Annapolis, MD family and child photographer

Months ago, I took a great yoga class from my friend Lara Bontempo…in my class was Sheila, a funny, beautiful woman who I loved chatting with before and after class. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting her beautiful family and photographing them around Annapolis. Sheila, her husband Patrick and their very beautiful daughters Mallory and Emerson met me at 49 West Coffee to start our little photo journey. As I might have mentioned before, I don’t like to plan out my shoot too much so I wander from place to place, usually discovering new and interesting places and scenes. This day we started with a bit of an urban feel as we wound around the neighborhood just off West Street. We had one of the most beautiful days this fall, so I was happy searching for the warm colors of fall hidden within the side streets of Annapolis. We found some sweet spots, threw some bright red leaves, laughed and got a bit goofy. Then we took a mini break and headed down to one of my favorite spots, Amos Garrett Park in Murray Hill. It was here the shoot became a bit more candid as the kids ran around and blew bubbles & looked for fish. Just as I was ready to call it a day and put away my camera, I heard Mallory and Emerson talk about looking for fairies. I couldn’t leave yet! I had to help them find fairies! Actually, I put on my long lens, stood back and grabbed some of my favorite shots of the day…the kids just being kids. I even got some nice shots of Sheila and Patrick before I left. This was a perfect shoot! The kids were so much fun. Mallory, in my opinion has a future as a fashion model…those looks could kill! Emerson was our comic relief for the day…she said the cutest things as she sat in a tree (her fairy house) speaking very quietly.
Thanks Sheila and Patrick for a wonderful morning! I had a blast with you and your kids! Enjoy your photos!!

wedding in paradise | destination wedding photographer

I have just returned from one of the best weddings I’ve ever shot. Not to downplay all of the other fabulous weddings this year, but this one took me on a journey to Mexico! Not only was the location steller, but the nice long weekend I got to spend with the bride and grooms’ friends and family at an all-inclusive resort near Cancun really added icing to the cake.

Getting there was a bit of a long ordeal thanks to Hurricane Paula hanging out over Cuba, but after a 6 hour delay at BWI airport, I finally made my way to Mexico.
Upon arrival, I was greeted in the lobby with a cool towel and a glass of champagne. I was smitten.

I’ve known the bride & groom, Dana and Doug for about 5 years. I met them before they were even a couple, so to see their relationship come to this moment before their awesome friends and family was really an added bonus.

The day before the wedding, Dana, Doug and I had some fun running around the beautiful resort for an engagement-style shoot. With so many amazing spots that looked like they were just set up for a photo shoot, I was a bit overwhelmed, but loved every minute of it.

On Saturday, the big wedding day, the weather was absolutely perfect, nice and overcast, perfect for photos! Most people pray for sun on their wedding day, but we photographers love a cloudy day!

Dana looked absolutely fabulous as she slipped into her silk gown that looked like it was sculpted for her body. After mom and the bridesmaids buttoned the many buttons that adorned the back of her dress, it was time to see Doug for the first look.
Dana and Doug’s room, which overlooked the water and beach, had a rooftop deck, so I had Dana wait on the deck looking out over the water and then called for Doug to come up and surprise her. As usual, the first look is my favorite moment of the entire day….the moment when the groom finally sees the dress and the woman he is about to marry…it gives me goosebumps every time.

The ceremony took place near the beach in a marble-like “gazebo” surrounded by fountains…very classy! The white stone of the structure framed the ceremony beautifully. About 60 friends and family watched as Dana and Doug became husband and wife.

After a very cool cocktail hour, complete with a mariachi band, the guests made their way down a path to the reception terrace. Blue lighted fabric columns, white fabric draped down from another gazebo and native palms flanking the dance floor kept the look simple and classy. After speeches by the best man, maid of honor and Dana’s father, it was easy to see that this group of friends and family that assembled in Mexico to celebrate with Dana and Doug were top-notch. Once the dancing began and the tequilla shots started to flow (thanks to Edgar, a resort employee who happened to show up everywhere we were with shots of tequilla in hand) there was no turning back…it was going to one heck of a party…and it was!

Congratulations Dana and Doug! Thank you for choosing me to document your most awesome weekend!

Two families join | Philadelphia wedding photographer

It’s 11am on Thursday and I am sitting in BWI airport waiting on the status of my flight which should have left 30 minutes ago for Cancun where I am shooting a wedding on Saturday. We just found out that the flight has been delayed up to 6 hours because of Hurricane Paula…which is now over Cuba. So, instead of boring myself to death as I wait for the update, I thought I would blog about an awesome wedding I shot last weekend in Philadelphia.

I had been looking forward to this wedding for almost a year since I first met bride Jen and groom John in Annapolis to discuss their wedding. When I asked Jen how she picked me, the very cool connection that we all had made this wedding a bit closer to my heart then most. Jen went to the same college I did (Philadelphia University) and John graduated from The US Naval Academy, where I worked for my first two years in Annapolis as a sports photographer.

The wedding was originally planned to take place in Annapolis…but after much deliberation and reality sinking in, Jen quickly changed the location to Philadelphia and I was estatic! Jen has two kids and John has three and they all live in New Jersey, so Philly seemed a much more logical choice then lugging the whole family down to Annapolis for the wedding. The best part of the location change was the incredible venue that they acquired…The Philadelphia Seaport Museum!

I adore Philadelphia. I actually consider it my home more than anywhere else on the planet. The 5 years that I lived there really shaped the person I am today and the city has so much to offer. I go up to visit the city and all my friends any chance I can get.

The day of the wedding was a gorgeous fall Saturday, the sun shone brightly and the breeze was gentle. Jen was stunning in her simple, yet elegant gown and John looked handsome in his very cool orange tie. The 3 girls and 2 boys (their children) made up their wedding party and I have to say they were the best looking wedding party I’ve ever photographed! I was blown away by how well-behaved all of them were and how adorable they looked all dressed up in their fall colors. Kudos to the parents on that one!

The ceremony took place on a concrete terrace overlooking the Delaware River with the Ben Franklin Bridge on our left and the Walt Whitman on our right, the view was spectacular! One very funny moment that I can’t fail to mention because I have a great set of photos documenting the moment was Jen’s youngest kiddo, Andrew, was not a fan of the grown-up looking suit and tie that he had to wear. He walked down the aisle looking as if life were ending as he dragged his feet and wore a perfect frown. We all got quite the chuckle out of it.

The reception is where the fun really started to happen. Jen and John have an amazing group of friends and family who were not the least bit shy to jump onto the dance floor right away. Most of the time, the couple is too preoccupied with their guests to enjoy dancing the night away. Not true with Jon and Jen…they rocked it all night long thanks to the awesome tunes provided by Cutting Edge Djs! I had a blast photographing this reception and was contantly smiling at all the fun and hilarity that was happening thorughout the reception….so much that my cheeks hurt the rest of the night!

Jen and John…thank you for choosing me to be a part of your special day! It was definitely one of my favorite weddings I’ve photographed. You both were so kind and laid back that it made everything go so smoothly and without and stress.
Also a giant shoutout to the kids Dalton, Payton, Reilly Andrew and Julia…you guys were so much fun to be around and looked amazing! Enjoy the photos!

A day at the park | Philadelphia child photographer

Center Stage Baltimore| Maryland music photographer

Last night I flew home from Mexico after a wedding I shot and a much needed vacation from reality. The moment I landed, I was picked up by my friend Becca and taken to Center Stage in Baltimore for the Stoop Story Telling series where our boyfriends, Ruben and Joey (also known as Swampcandy) were opening the show with their 1920’s style Delta Blues. I got there just in time to hear them play and snapped off some photos because the venue was so cool. After they finished playing, the story telling series began. This was my first time at one of these events, I’ve been intrigued by them before but never went so I was glad Ruben was playing which forced me to go. The theme of the night was “hauntings” and 8 invited guests were asked to tell their 7 minute story on stage as well as 3 audience members who told 3 minute stories. The stories were awesome. I was sucked in immeaditaly as each presenter had their own style and pulled you into their world for 7 minutes at a time. I’ve never been able to focus during a show, my mind is always racing and I get antsy just sitting in my seat. Not this show…it keeps your attention and you will laugh, cry and be awed by what some people have experienced. I cannot wait until the next one! Everyone should go to check out this awesome event!