Cherry Blossom Fun

Early last Thursday morning I met up with this family to have a session down by the Jefferson Memorial with the cherry blossoms. It was a gorgeous, brisk morning when we first started out, but by the time we were wrapping up it had started raining on us. Thanks for hanging in there! We got some really pretty shots with the blooms. Enjoy! --Sally

Cherry Blossom Peak

DC is a beautiful town all year long, and is especially lovely in the fall with the changing colors of the leaves. However, I think these days when the cherry blossom trees are blooming is when this city really shines. The National Mall is in full bloom this weekend. This is a quick picture that I snapped at yesterday's photo session and I'll post more from the session soon. Enjoy the weekend and get out and see those cherry blossoms. They are at their peak right now according to the National Park Service! Happy Friday! --Sally

Easter Greetings and a DC tradition

Easter morning we attended our church Easter service and did the traditional egg hunt, complete with overdoses of chocolate bunnies and eggs, followed by a family dinner. This morning we dressed up again in our Easter finery and attended the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Apparently it is quite the DC event and it was the first year we'd been. It was a fun time. We were blessed to be given the tickets so we didn't have to wait in line for them. We didn't see the President or First Lady, but we did have a most important star sighting: Clifford, the Big Red Dog. My kiddos were very delighted and a little bit starstruck. We left with commemorative wooden eggs, a little more chocolate and other goodies. I hope you had a wonderful holiday too. --Sally

Inspiration | Family Dinners

I am constantly on the hunt for new recipes for family dinners. I love take out and eating out, but my husband always laments about how expensive it is. I'm always trying to be better about planning ahead so I'm not stuck at 5 pm wondering what I can throw together quickly for dinner. This month's Cookie Magazine has an article titled "30 Meals, 30 Days." Hello, inspiration! I've also found a blog through a friend that is written by mom and features many of her family meal plans with recipes. It is called Sweet Peas and Pumpkins and you can find it here.

Client Galleries

Client galleries will be now be online for viewing for two weeks after posting. After two weeks the galleries will be taken down. I'll be sending out reminder email to my clients with current galleries online. Thanks! --Sally

Resource | Capitol Moms

If you are a mom in the DC area a great resource that I just discovered is the Capitol Moms blog by Teia Collier. From the site, "the premier place for moms in the Metro-DC area to get connected to some of the best products and services in the industry...we specialize in custom-matching busy parents with the best goodies to make their lives eaiser." I love it because it has some great information on local shops.

Freshening things up

I don't know if it is the approaching warm weather of spring or just a desire for a little change, but I've been freshening things up around my website. I've got just a few more little tweaks and I hope to be done with all the galleries by the end of the week. I'm really happy with the changes. I'd love to hear what you think. Enjoy! --Sally

Product Feature | Canvas Wraps

This weekend my canvas wrap samples came in. I had been hearing so many positive comments about the company that I am using and I was not disappointed. They are gorgeous and the colors are so rich that these photos just don't do it justice. I will be bringing product samples to my sessions so be sure to ask about them! Prices start at $100 for an 8x10.

Standard wrap with black edge:



Gallery wrap with photo wrapped around the edge of the frame.



The back of the wraps are finished off and ready to hang.

Burnt Cookies

I have a penchant for chocolate chip cookies and I especially like them warm and fresh from the oven. I have my favorite recipe and make it fairly regularly. Today, my youngest decided she would add a little something to the recipe and turn the oven to broil while I wasn't looking. All of a sudden I smelled something burning and checked the oven and found my cookies nice and blackened on top. The aroma is still lingering in my kitchen.

Dedication

A few quick images from a baby dedication I did Sunday. You may recognize this beautiful gal from her birth session I posted last January. I was so honored to be asked to document her dedication ceremony. One of the best parts of having this job is being asked to be a part of so many important family memories and events. Thank you for letting me be a part of your celebrations. Enjoy! --Sally


I just love how she is watching the pastor, absorbing the wisdom he is imparting...
A special blessing just for her...

Real Simple article on professional photography of children

This article from Real Simple's Simply Stated blog features some thoughts on having professional portraits of your children taken periodically throughout their lives. Being a professional photographer myself I take tons of photos of my own kiddos, but I still hire other photographers to document my family through their eyes. They will get an artistic perspective that will be different from the one I see, and it also means that I will be in those photographs too. So many times I hear from moms that they are in so few of their children's photos because they are the ones snapping the photos. Having a family session remedies that. Enjoy the article! --Sally

Six days old

I had a fantastic session today with this newborn and his family. He was so good for his first photo session and he and his big brother really knew how to work the camera! Here are a few favorites from the session. I can't wait to edit the rest of the images. Thanks for a wonderful morning! Enjoy! --Sally

I love babies all bundled up in blankets, they look like baby burritos!

Such a good sleeper.

The proud big brother.

Hanging out.... ;)

Inspiration | Spring

When I am outside it seems that everywhere I look green leaves are emerging from the dirt signaling the first of Spring. These mix of cool and warm days are probably my favorite time of year. The promise of warm weather and the return of green. I love the longer days and look forward to springing forward this weekend. Enjoy! --Sally

Inspiration | Book nook

Since I love seeing how other people create their home spaces I love seeing what Cookie magazine has posted in the Nest section. I love this idea sent in by a reader in Utah. She created a little nook for her little one to do his favorite activity: reading. My eldest is such an avid reader that I'm planning on turning a section of her room into her book nook.

Bald Head Island still lifes

I love the beauty of the beach and ocean. Being a Navy brat it must be in my blood. Too many years of ocean water and sand in my toes. Enjoy! --Sally

Fab Four of Love Affair

Here are a few fun shots of our hostesses/mentors from Love Affair.


Davina connecting with her couple


Kelly showing us some of her lighting tricks.


What happens when 40 photographers like what they see.