Colleen + Ryan

May . 14 . 2012 9:26 pm Posted in: Weddings

I think my favorite aspect of my job is getting to know my couples (okay, ONE of my favorite..) But seriously, it’s SO cool. You get to see them wearing so many different hats, in so many different states of mind. There’s the initial ‘engagement session self’ where you can’t help but feel vulnerable and fumble in front of a new stranger.  Then there’s the frantic/nervous/excited self in the moments before the ceremony. And alas, the fun and free dance machine self at the reception. At the end of it all, I truly feel like I made new friends. I saw them through the ups and downs and in-betweens and hey, we might as well move in together.

Colleen was a stunning bride, as you can clearly see above. I can tell you that the glow you are seeing was actually HER, not just the fancy film I used for the Hasselblad… she was radiating and so excited to be starting this new journey with her soul mate. Watching Ryan and Colleen expose their love in front of everyone they knew and adored was amazing. Congrats guys!

Colleen’s mother gave her a music box as a wedding gift… full of cards with sweet memories inside. Seeing this gesture, and then witnessing Colleen withRyan’s daughter (now her new daughter!) melted my heart. I LOVE first looks! :] Look at that proud groom.I thought this was the most creative version of a guestbook… guests use an ink pad and place their fingerprint on a tree and sign their name… SO cool!

 

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May 16, 2012 - 1:23 am

George - Just beautiful.

Lethe + Kevin

May . 10 . 2012 12:05 am Posted in: Engagements

Lethe and Kevin grew up in different area codes, have different backgrounds, and grew up with different traditions. But these differences couldn’t hold them apart once fate stepped in. They met in college (JMU whoop whoop!) and were immediately united in love. Meeting them in person for the first was such a treat; their calm and comfortable love was so uplifting. It was great to be around them!

My favorite aspect of engagement sessions is seeing how love unfolds in front of the lens. It’s always just a little uncomfortable in the beginning. There’s the silly laugh and the “which way should I look?” question of desperation. But love doesn’t lie. And it can’t be suppressed. It shows through no matter what.

We had the best time strolling through one of Arlington’s gorgeous neighborhoods, and my amazing Susan came to meet and help out. The four of us even made a new friend in a neighbor, who invited us to snap a few shots in his gorgeous backyard garden!  I shot a few with the Hasselblad, using Portra 400 and also my ever-amazing Canon 5d mark ii. Enjoy!
Lethe and Kevin picked up a few traditional saris on their visit to India a few months back. If you know me and color, you know I love it.. in large doses. They were gorgeous!

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Back to Basics

Apr . 17 . 2012 5:57 pm Posted in: Adventures

HO WOW! You guys. I can’t say enough good things about this camera. The Hasselblad is an instrument of genius. The way it works is simple. It’s completely manuel and I have to light meter the subject and everything. It’s totally old school. Yet TOTALLY perfect exactly the way it is. It makes me wonder how digital photography ever thought they could mess with this amazingness! I mean, weren’t they intimidated?! Anyways, I still loooove my Canon. But the fun and the colors and the deliberateness with working with film is just way too much fun. It’s truly making me fall back in love with photography… and is keeping me motivated to CREATE!

I played around with Susan, a new up-and-coming photographer and my second shooter for a couple weddings comin’ up! Watch out ;]

And now for my bff Krystal… her gorgeousness permeates through the lens. She is a natural Marilyn :]

 

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April 17, 2012 - 7:05 pm

tom - These are very nice but at 10K-30K for a digital back the 36Mp Nikon D800 is looking pretty good! (don’t forget you’ll need a new computer and a new 10TB drive!! How big where the scans?

mmm Hasselblad!

Apr . 15 . 2012 2:17 pm Posted in: Adventures

I borrowed a neighbors Hasselblad (the neighbor just so happened to be one of DC’s finest photographers, Matt Mendelsohn!) and I am falling in love with photography all over again. Everything about the camera is manual and recorded on 120 film. I used Kodak B&W 400 and Kodak Portra 160. The lens is Carl Zeiss f/2.8 and SO sharp and incredible. I got my lovely girlfrands to be my beautiful models for the day :]

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April 15, 2012 - 9:42 pm

Ashley Goodwin - THESE ARE SICK! See, medium format is where it’s at! I’m saving up for one! Did you shoot the film at the speed it was rated at (Im curious because the exposures are on point!).
I hope you didn’t give that Hasselblad back girlfriend! :)

Carly + Andrew

Apr . 11 . 2012 4:21 pm Posted in: Engagements

 

Carly and Andrew first met at a company Christmas party.  She was wearing a red dress and caught his eye immediately. When she walked in with her friend she had brought as a date, Andrew was seated with one open seat on each side.  So in an effort to be a perfect gentleman, he joked with some of his co-workers that he was going to stay right where he was so that Carly and her date would have to sit with Andrew between the two of them.  Ultimately, he moved, but they began getting to know each other and telling stories during dinner.  As the night went on, he got a chance to talk to Carly and get to know her better.  The chemistry was instant.

They felt a connection early on, but as he drove home from the Christmas party he wondered whether anything would develop since we lived three hours apart.  Over the next week or so they spent most of the evenings talking on the phone and continuing to find out more about each other, which led to weekend visits. Soon, it only felt natural when they were around each other. He was eventually moved to Charlottesville, and they were able to spend everyday together. Doors opened, and fate stepped in.

Carly inspires him to be a better person, and Andrew pushes Carly to live in the moment. And the rest is history!

Had the best time this past weekend with Carly and Andrew in Charlottesville… they even took me to Monticello! Hope you love these two lovebirds as much as I did :]

 

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