Washington, DC Baby Portraits, Beatrice @ 7 Months

I recently reconnected with Kari and Jonathan. We met two-and-a-half years ago when they called me to photograph their first daughter Awnya at six months old. And then again when she turned one. This time they invited me back to photograph the newest addition to their family, Beatrice.  They have always been wonderful to be around. They relax and pretty much act as if I’m not even there. I did ask them to move around here and there and occasionally interjected some ideas and direction. But for the most part they set the scene for real natural moments to unfold.

I loved watching Awnya crawl on her dad (aka, living jungle gym) and watching the family interact. Last time I saw her she was one, so at three she’s like a totally different person.  It was pretty cool. And meeting Beatrice and seeing her in the mix was fascinating. She’s a thinker and has quite a little personality. She also had a lot of energy but after bottle of milk she started to fade and was ready for a nap. Jonathan sat down with her for another bottle and it was sweet watching her drift to sleep.

It was a great lifestyle family session and I can’t wait to see them again. You can look back at our past two sessions below. And I couldn’t help but sneak in a few pictures of Carter (the wonder dog). He’s a very important part of the family.

Awnya at Six Months
Awnya at One Year

DAR Wedding, Brianna + Augie

Since the first time I met Brianna and Augie I knew they were easygoing.  But as I got to know them better when we spent time together during an engagement session (or as I sometimes like to call it, “a laid back, fun, portrait outing”) they turned out to be a lot of fun too.  Check and check.  Easygoing, AND fun.  They had no trouble being themselves with me in front of the camera.  Though, at most times, I don’t think they were even paying that much attention to me - which is just the way I like it.  The engagement session is a great ice breaker/warm up for the wedding day.  I got to know them better and they had a chance to get used to me being around - and instead focus on each other.  This is how I explain it to almost everyone I work with, when you trust me and forget I’m there, the pictures will be much more honest, intimate and compelling.

Fast forward to the wedding.  With this awesome trust already in place I was able to easily blend in to the background and focus on the little moments - the ones that make for the best pictures.  Sometimes the moments flow, and other times they come a bit slower and you need to be patient.  It is no accident though when everything comes together.  Sometimes there is a sprinkling of luck, which I will take any day of the week, but most of the time I rely on experience and anticipation.  Brianna and Augie planned an amazing wedding, stayed cool and had a lot of fun and kept me on my toes the enitre day.  They also did a fantastic job of forgetting that I was even there.