You are a bad ass!

Jen and I go WAY back. Like even before I had braces. We were in school musicals and sang in the chorus together. We lost touch for about 20 years and then one day out of the blue, she reached out to me. She told me that she was doing IVF treatments and found out that she was pregnant! Jen didn’t want to wait until she found a partner in order to have a child. When she told me this, I was SO DAMN PROUD of her. I mean, what is more bad ass than intentionally becoming a single mother?! Both my mother and hers were single moms. So we both fully understand the struggle.

Jen wanted me to have creative control. I didn’t want to go too far off the deep end, so during our session, we did some ethereal feeling maternity photos. You know, flowy dress, flowers. She looked absolutely gorgeous and glowing. But the other plan we had was to showcase her strength and the rocky road she traveled to get here. We brought along props like a laundry basket, clothesline, baby clothes to hang. She wore overalls and a red bandana (and invoked her inner Rosie the Riveter). She saved some of the empty vials, pill containers and syringes from her IVF treatments. And we captured those, holding them in her hands. This is the first time I ever shot a feministic maternity session. AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH. During our session, she opened up what had occurred in the last 20 years and so did I. She is truly an inspiration! I’m so excited to see the mother that she is becoming now. Strong women raise strong women. Baby Hazel is a very lucky girl!

Photo sessions together are not just about the photos. It’s about the whole experience. I like to connect with my clients. Whether it’s an old friend or a brand new face. I want your photos to feel like you. I want to draw your personality out and really show it in your photos. I’m here to tell YOUR story. Whatever that may be.

Do it your way!

I received an email in my inbox from this cute couple about one month before their wedding date. They decided to have an impromptu micro-wedding in Charlestown, MD. They were expecting their first child and they wanted something small, intimate and unique. When they had mentioned that they wanted to do some photos with Wade’s old truck, I was even more excited! The day began with first look photos on the beach, onto a small ceremony overlooking the water, surrounded by trees and hydrangea bushes where ducks crashed the event and Wade and his dad cracked open a beer to toast. There were no chairs. No decorations. No music. Just the true beauty and simplicity of the location. We then climbed onto some rocks and walked along the waters edge, snapping photos as they held hands and Wade told dirty jokes to make Kelli smile. We drove to an open field where I captured Kelli and Wade in and around his old Chevy C10. The sticker on the window read “Shiny Paint Causes Stress”. They showed me their matching foot tattoos, ran through the field together barefoot and had some steamy moments inside the truck. Afterwards, they met with family to have dinner at a restaurant where the locals frequented. I truly appreciate the authenticity and personality of weddings such as this.

Weddings should always be about the couple. Whether you’re into the idea of having a large, elaborate soiree or the having something small and personal. Do what YOUR heart tells you to do. You also spend A LOT of time with your photographer on your wedding day. Always hire a photographer that you connect with and trust to tell your story.