Connor's First Birthday!

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing Connor's first birthday party. It was so much fun! I've actually been photographing Connor all year, and it was really fitting to end our sessions with a party! I've loved watching this little guy grow all year.

Tara did such a wonderful job with Connor's party. The theme was The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and all of the details were just adorable! Tara even read the story and had the little guests dressed up like caterpillars. I loved it! The whole party was so sweet, and I'm glad that I was invited to capture it...



The cupcakes formed a caterpillar! So adorable.









Happy Birthday, Connor! You're such a sweetheart, and I can't wait to see you continue to grow!

VA Gold Cup | 2010

If you're from Warrenton, you know that Gold Cup is a pretty big deal. We definitely live in horse country, and Gold Cup is steeped in tradition. It's the oldest Steeple Chase event in the country, and people come from all over the state of Virginia to celebrate. So... when I was asked to take some photos this past weekend for the Gold Cup Association, I was thrilled! I actually got to go out on the field, and I made it through the whole event without getting trampled by a horse! It was successful on so many levels.

I came away from the day with so many fun photos, and I wanted to share a handful that caught my eye. If you've never been to Gold Cup, you're missing out on quite an experience! I can't wait to go back next year...


I heart Sitewhirks.

tammy + marc | virginia wedding photographer

Last Friday, I had the great pleasure of photographing Tammy and Marc's wedding reception at the Rock Hill Plantation House. I had such a blast! Tammy and Marc were actually married the week before with a private ceremony in Hawaii. They decided early on that they still wanted a reception with family and friends, so one week later (after much traveling!) they put their wedding clothes back on and invited everyone to celebrate with them! I love how they tied in their Hawaiian beach wedding with all the decorations. The evening was just perfect!








After Tammy and Marc were announced into the party, they stood in the front and watched along as their actual wedding video played for the guests to enjoy.


such a sweet first dance...

... that turned into a really fun routine!


Tammy and Marc: Congratulations! I had such a wonderful time at your reception, and I wish you both the best.

the flying circus | balloon festival

This past weekend, Tim, Maggie, and I headed into Bealton for The Flying Circus' annual Balloon Fest. We had such a great time! Our brother-in-law Scott invited us along (his father has been organizing the event for over thirty years) and I can't wait to go again next time! Maggie had a blast. She loved looking at all the beautiful balloons, and Tim and I were happy to let her run loose! It was a really fun weekend...

This girl is ready for some balloons!

On Friday night, we went to watch the balloons launch at sunset. I love these next two images of Tim and Maggie!


We went back on Saturday morning to see them all launch again!

This last image is my favorite. If you look closely, you can see the moon in the top left-hand corner. Love it!

Photography Workshop.

Over the past couple of years (and especially since Maggie has been born) I've gotten a great deal of questions about how to take better pictures. Mostly, I'm approached my other moms who want to take better pictures of their kids, but people from all walks of life have had questions to ask. I've realized that a few tips (like choosing the right lighting, camera, etc.) can really help the amateur photographer! So, needless to say, I was excited when my church contacted me about leading a workshop this March for people who'd like to take better pictures.

I'm a little nervous about sharing in front of a group of adults, but hopefully my teaching skills will come back to me! You can read about the seminar here. The day will be divided into two parts: The first will focus on composition and interacting with your subjects, and the second part will go into a little more detail about the functions of your camera. (You CAN shoot manually!)

Do you have a question that you think I should answer? Feel free to leave it in the comments section. If I continue to receive questions from other moms, I may start featuring the answers on my blog as well.

And because posts on this blog are MUCH more interesting with photos, here are a few of Maggie and Brandon at the park this past weekend. Happy Monday!

Caroline's First Birthday!

On Sunday, I was so happy to capture some images of Caroline celebrating her first birthday. What a cutie! She is such a sweet baby and so hilarious to watch. Her expressions are just perfect! Here are a few of my favorites...

This series makes me laugh... See what I mean about her expressions?!

Best Friends Forever.


Cake time! I love these next two so much. She just looks so sweet in both of them!


Hmm... Should I have any more?

Happy Birthday, Caroline!