For the first time in weeks I have actually had a day or two of down time from photo work and finally had time to go through pics from our CA road trip last month! It was absolutely the best trip we have ever taken. Some of you guys have already seen the fun video (I apologize in advance for the sea lion bit) but I also want to post a few pics from the trip! Hopefully this will be enough of a tease that you will want to become my Facebook friend to see the full albums up there! Just click on a thumbnail to enlarge it.

Since I hardly ever do any writing on my blog I just wanted to say something about my incredible (and incredibly handsome) husband Graham. Graham and I met briefly the summer before my freshman year of college and started dating September of my freshman year at JMU. The background story of what was going on in Graham’s life at the time and how God steered him (against his will even) right to me is pretty amazing to say the least. Graham actually hated his freshman year at JMU and had gotten accepted to transfer to Burkley School of Music with basically a full ride. Anyone who knows my husband knows that this would have been perfect for him! Well, needless to say, he could not understand why God did not give him any peace about going – we met at the very beginning of his sophomore year after (praise God) he decided that he would go back and give it one more try even though he didn’t have a single reason to….yet.

Graham and I have been together almost 6 years and married 3 years in October. On that fateful car ride home from Charlottesville in December of 2006, Graham lovingly and patiently listened to me as I told him about my desire to finally “go for it” and pursue a career in photography. He encouraged me wholeheartedly from day one and even made the personal investment of buying me my first “pro” digital camera body and lens ( yea – we might have had to eat rice and beans for a month or two).

Since then he has patiently listened to what probably amounts to literally thousands of hours of my excitement and frustration, joy and hatred, confidence and doubt, failures and triumphs in my endeavor to do what I love and do it well. He is quick to encourage, patient with my doubts and skepticism about my skill and willing to do whatever it takes to help me pursue my dream.

Not only has he been acting as my personal accountant ( Something that arose out of another one of those conversations where I say that I just can’t do this) but he has also willingly been my model so that I could practice the day before shoots that I was nervous about. It was out of one of those that these two images were created.

Anyway, you have been through it all with me and it is only the beginning. Thank you Graham.

This is the third time that I have had the opportunity to photograph this sweet couple…You might remember their engagement pictures! Anna and Robby tied the knot two weeks ago at Bellmount Vineyards here in VA. The day was so special and a true privilege to photograph – from the traditional tea ceremony between the bride and groom and their parents before the wedding, to the THREE dress changes (again a tradition) for Anna at the vineyard reception!! It was so refreshing to watch such a tender and emotional day unfold and to see the love of the family that celebrated with them.

Coming soon!  Today I am finishing up shots from an awesome engagement shoot yesterday with Annie and Rick.  They were such an awesome and sweet couple and were up for trying some really fun things during their shoot.  Can you tell I love them – It is taking everything in me not to post every one of them right here!!

Alison and Peter are friends of mine who were just married two weeks ago in Harrisonburg. I thought that I would do something a little different with their set and show you a few of my favorites from their day in black and white as well as a few in color – For some reason artistically I tend to prefer color – but I thought that this wedding lended itself to some fun black & whites. Enjoy and congrats Alison and Peter!

Lucy and Jack are two of the coolest people that I have ever met. Lucy is a talented rider and has been riding horses since before she can remember! (First of all it takes everything in me just to walk up to a horse let alone get on one!) and Jack is definitely all boy! He loves his dog and he loves exploring and playing in the lake on his family’s farm. Between riding on their four-wheeler across the family’s farm or climbing through an electrical fence (Lucy made me do it!) haha – my job really is an easy one when I get to hang out with people like these two! Here is a sneak peak at a few of my favorite pictures from their shoot!

Yet again I am getting to reap the benefit of the baby boom that took place among all our friends last year! This time last year I had the chance to do a ton of newborn pictures and here we are, one year later and I am getting the privilege of photographing all these sweet little ones as they all turn one! This is not the first time that I have photographed this sweet girl and her family…actually, it is not even the second time…by now it is actually probably the third or fourth time that I have gotten to photograph these guys. Reagan of course was the feature of this shoot as she just celebrated her first birthday and is starting to get a hold of the whole walking thing. Here are a few images from her shoot!

These three adorable little ones belong to a good friend Beth. We met up one afternoon last week for a fun photo shoot with the twins who recently celebrated their first birthday and their big sister Isabella. As you can see they are absolutely beautiful kids and I have been blessed with the pleasure of watching them grow over the past few years! Here are just a few from their shoot.

April and Cody are getting married this September in Chesapeake, VA and I get the privilege not only to photograph their engagement portraits but also their wedding! April and I actually go way back to college (ok, maybe not so “way back” ) when her and I used to sing in a group together at JMU. It was nice to get to reconnect and be reminded of why I love her so much – she is always 100% herself and full of laughter! They were so sweet together and brought along their “family” (i.e two dogs Jake and Jill) for the photo shoot. Check back for her wedding pics in Sept! Here are a few from their engagement shoot.