Katie Jordan Photography

Sarah and Jason | Chesapeake Bay Foundation Wedding Photographer | Annapolis, Maryland

2012-01-18T13:18:00.000-05:00

The holiday season got the best of me, and I let my blogging fall to the wayside. I can't believe how many sessions I never posted! Back in October, I shot alongside Peter Bang for Sarah and Jason's wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It was a beautiful Sunday on the beach in Annapolis. We luckily had perfect weather and a beautiful bride and groom! Here are a couple of my favorite images from the day.

Lindsay & Derek | Gainesville, VA Wedding Photographer

2011-11-08T19:17:00.001-05:00

I have been looking forward to this wedding since February. You may remember Lindsay and Derek's engagement session at the National Arboretum. I knew that if we had a blast outside in the middle of winter, their wedding on a gorgeous October day was going to be incredible. And it was. The skies were perfectly blue, Lindsay and Derek were incredibly excited for the day, and we even got to drive around in golf carts!

I have lots of favorites from the day, but here are just a few:

Love the fall colors!

Thanks to Jessica from J. Lindsay Hair Designs for doing such a great job on Lindsay's hair. She looked stunning!

Lindsay's dad was so proud!

Kaitlan and Adam | Washington, DC Engagement Photographer

2011-11-03T09:49:00.000-04:00

Kaitlan is one of those people that lights up the room when she walks in. She always has a big smile and a kind word to share. Her happiness is contagious, and she attracts people to her like a magnet. I love that about her. I met Kaitlan at a JMU alumni event on Capitol Hill. Within seconds of meeting her, I knew that she was fabulous. That is why I was thrilled when she asked me to take engagement pictures of her and Adam.

Adam is a Marine, and went to the Naval Academy (where their wedding will be in May). Due to his career, he's been assigned all over the place, and their relationship has spanned many states. Long distance relationships make you cherish all the time you get to spend together, and I know that Kaitlan and Adam will be thankful when they are both living in South Carolina next year.

Kaitlan and Adam, you two are perfect for each other. Congratulations on your engagement! Your Annapolis wedding is going to be spectacular.

Kristen & Tim | Briar Patch B&B Wedding, Middleburg, Virginia

2011-10-21T22:21:00.000-04:00

Tim and Kristen are two of my all-time favorite people. Brad and I have been friends with Tim longer than anyone else. I met him in fifth grade when we first moved to town. Tim has always been the guy that everyone befriends. He is fun, up for anything, thoughtful, loyal, and an all-around good guy. Having known Tim for such a long time, we knew that Kristen was special when we met her.

Early on in their relationship, we were invited to a party at her house. We had only met her once or twice at that point. We had not met any of her friends, so it was a safe bet that the only other person we'd know was Tim. Low and behold, we showed up and found out that Tim was at the beach and not attending the party. Rather than being awkward, Kristen welcomed us with open arms and took us around to meet every one of her friends. Not once did we feel like outsiders. She has a way of making people feel comfortable, like a life-long friend. It was at that party that I knew I wanted Tim to marry her.

Last month, Tim and Kristen got married at the Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast. It was the perfect day for the perfect couple to tie the knot.

Kristen's dress was amazing. I cannot get over the lace detailing. It suits Kristen well.

I don't think I've ever seen Tim as happy as he was that day.

Catching his first glimpse of Kristen.

[Did you notice Brad there on the left? I shot this wedding solo since Brad was the Best Man. He was thrilled to have that honor.]

She. was. RADIANT.

Kristen may be tired of me saying this, but she and her family look like they are from a TV show. Do you see her mom tucked in right behind the bouquet too? Yea, all of them are gorgeous! Her Dad was beaming all day. Such proud parents!

Tim had a broken foot, but was still able to rock our portrait session.

These two are so in love. In shined through in every shot.

This is one of my favorites.

Tim and Kristen, we love you immensely. We are thrilled to have been with you to celebrate your big day. We look forward to continue celebrating with you until we're all old and gray.

Lindsay & Derek | Stonewall Golf Club - Sneak Peek!

2011-10-17T23:13:00.000-04:00

I love this image from Lindsay and Derek's wedding so much that I had to share. Just wait until you see the rest!

Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD Wedding | Juli & Thomas Sneak Peek!

2011-10-14T18:09:00.000-04:00

The weather was not super cooperative today, but we managed to get some fabulous photos of Juli and Thomas in between the rain showers for their lovely Annapolis wedding.

Here are a couple that I just had to share!

What's Coming Up

2011-09-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

Wedding season is in full effect! Things have been crazy around here. We are going through the branding process. Who knew it would be so difficult to pinpoint who I am? I have lived with myself my whole life, yet when it came to figuring out exactly what I wanted and who I am, it took awhile! Luckily, I worked with an amazing designer, Krista Jones, and she helped me come up with a logo that I adore!

In the past week, I had the great opportunity to hang out with a couple fabulous couples. Two of my favorites were....

Kaitlan and Adam

and Kristen and Tim, who may may remember from their engagement shoot.

I can't wait to share more images from their shoots!

Ellie Kate | Crozet, VA Newborn Photographer

2011-07-28T21:38:00.000-04:00

On July 14, the most anticipated baby in my life (since the birth of my sister in 1999) was born. One of my best friend's had her first child on Bastille Day, and I couldn't be more thrilled. The beautiful Ellie Kate arrived at 10:18 a.m. and weighed in at 8 pounds 4.7 ounces. Her mom was in labor for 22 hours, but it was all worth it.

I am absolutely a wedding photographer, but when Tracy asked me to come take pictures of Ellie Kate, I hopped in the car and made the two hour drive to see them. Ellie was the perfect baby. I anticipated lots of crying and fussing, but she couldn't have been a more pleasant model. I may be biased, but I think Gerber needs to take a look into putting Ellie on their jars of baby food!

I love how babies can pull off the giant bow.

Is there anything cuter than a baby yawn!?

Ellie wasn't awake for very long during my visit, but when she was, I made sure to click away and capture those big, beautiful eyes!

I think she's dreaming of being a conductor. I can hear the orchestra.

These next two are my favorites. Her facial expressions crack me up!

Of course, I had to hold her for a while myself. I tried to walk out the door with her and take her home, but Tracy caught me. Oh well, at least I had a fabulous visit!

Mike + Kati | University of Maryland Wedding Photographer

2011-07-26T22:41:00.000-04:00

There is something magical about photographing a wedding. Perhaps it's the fact that I get to spend more time with the bride on her wedding day than anyone else, and we usually haven't known each other all that long. Yet, I am invited into the inner circle of a bride's closest friends and family and become one of them. I am constantly amazed by this. In what other role would you be welcomed with such open arms to follow someone on their most cherished day?

I had the opportunity to shoot with Paul Barrios for Mike and Kati's wedding at the University of Maryland. Paul was easily the most laid back and efficient photographer I've had the honor to work with. He breezed through formal portraits with the ease of a veteran photographer; he allowed me to work the angles of the church and spend time with the gorgeous bride; and he never showed signs of stress even in a situation in which I knew any other photographer would. In other words, he was a dream to work with and I am thrilled that I had the chance to be at this particular wedding.

But the main reason I was so happy was because of how completely Kati and her family embraced me. After only a couple hours, I was ready to be adopted. The family was a constant flow of smiles. You could feel how close they were, and how excited they were for the wedding.

When I arrived and saw the chapel, I was excited too.

The bridesmaid on the left with the red hair is Kati's sister, Lucy. She is also fabulous, and made the day go by smoothly. She was a very prepared maid of honor. She reminded me of Jennifer Lopez in the Wedding Planner as she kept pulling out odds and ends from her bag to solve any wardrobe snafu.

Kati did not stop smiling. Seriously, I need to bottle her happiness. If I could combine her happiness with my little sister's energy and sell it, I'd be a billionaire. So cute.

Oh, and I have to mention her amazing hairdo. It was done by her now sister-in-law, and I was obsessed.

Mike wrote Kati a letter for her to read before the ceremony. Let me just say... he did good.

Look at how she's touching the paper in the shot on the right. You can see her love pouring through her fingers.

The veil is on, and the excitement built even further...

I have a special soft spot in my heart at weddings for the father and bride. This father-daughter combo exemplified that weakness for me. They had a bond beyond words. She was just as excited to see her father in her dress as she was to get married. And had planned exactly what he'd say to her on this day for years.

He stopped her at the top of the aisle to tell her everything he'd been saving to tell her.

The expression on her face tells you it was good...

Three seconds later, she flipped from tears to laughs.

I loved the architectural details of the chapel.

Seriously, I love this family!

My blog posts usually don't have this many black and whites, but there was something about this day that called for it.

They're married!

As everyone was collecting their stuff to move to portraits, I captured this shot of the most adorable little ring bearer and his parents.

How amazing is this campus!?

Got to love a bride in Aviators.

Thanks to Kati, Mike, the families, and especially Paul for letting me be a part of this day. I am blessed to have to been there to witness the love you all share.

To see more shots from this wedding and read Paul's take on the day, you can see his blog post about it here.

University of Maryland Wedding Photographer - Mike and Kati Sneak Peek

2011-06-30T22:58:00.003-04:00

Katy and John - Naval Museum, Washington, DC Wedding Photographer

2011-06-15T09:28:00.002-04:00

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining Jenny Bosak of Jenny Anne Photography for a special Armed Forces Day wedding. I have a special affinity for the Navy and was thrilled to be a part of the day.

When I asked John how he met Katy, he told me they met "at Barnes & Noble by way of our church." They had seen each other in church many times, but never spoken. Then one day, John saw her at the book store and decided it was time for them to meet. Katy and John had an immediate connection and quickly knew that they would spend their lives together.

I absolutely adore lace wedding gowns. Katy's was extra elegant.

All of their details were beyond classy. I was slightly obsessed with her bouquet.

While Jenny took portraits of Katy and her bridesmaids, I got to hang out with the groomsmen. Honestly, they were the easiest group to photograph. They were up for anything I wanted to do; they mastered every look I described on the first try; and despite the fact that most of the groomsmen came from all over the country and had never met one another until that week, you would have thought they were the best of friends.

I love this one of John and the guys. So relaxed and fun.

After the ceremony, a horse and carriage were outside the church doors ready to wisk Katy and John off to the ceremony.

Meet Chloe. Love her feather.

Yay, they're married!

Katy grew up in a naval household. Her father and brother-in-law are both career military men, and it was important for Katy to honor the military on her big day. She chose to do so by having her wedding on Armed Forces Day and have the reception at the Naval Museum at Navy Yard.

We pulled up to the location and found this beauty:

And we got to use it for portraits!!!

Let me just say that a naval ship is not meant for a woman in high heels and a lace train. The gripping on the deck, while great for making sure sailors have a sure footing at sea, was constantly threatening to rip up Katy's gown. She took it in stride and was able to navigate that ship better than any other bride could have managed.

While we took portraits on the ship, the guests got to sip on cold pea soup in the open yard overlooking the water. How cute are these little cups!?

Still obsessed with the bouquet...

I had never been to the museum before, and I was a little skeptical about having a reception there. However, boy was I wrong. It was PERFECT. Plus, the skylights throughout the building provided amazing light that made taking pictures a dream.

Congratulations, Katy and John! And a big THANK YOU to Jenny Bosak for asking me to shoot with her. She is such a blast to spend the day with!

Katy and John Sneak Peek {Washington, DC Wedding Photographer}

2011-05-23T22:07:00.000-04:00

Saturday, I had the privilege of shooting with the fabulous Jenny Bosak of Jenny B Photography. The wedding took place at the Museum of the U.S. Navy in Washington, DC and came complete with a battleship! What a perfect wedding to take place on Armed Forces Day. Here's a sneak peek from on board the ship!

Cirque du Soleil - Ka

2011-05-10T22:39:00.001-04:00

Happy birthday, Abigail!

2011-04-26T22:19:00.002-04:00

Twelve years ago, I became a sister. I was fourteen years old and in the ninth grade. It was a Monday morning around 2am when my mom came into my room to tell me she was going to have the baby. She asked if I wanted to come to the hospital or go to school that day... Let me preface this by saying that I am not a morning person... I chose school because there was no way I was going to wake up at 2am. As first period was ending, an announcement came over the speaker calling me to the main office. The secretary at the desk handed me the phone. "I'm so sorry, dear" she said. My mom was on the other end. She promptly told me that the secretary informed her that students could not simply receive phone calls from the office, so my mother informed her that she was my mom, was in the hospital, and needed to speak with me. That explained the apology from the secretary.

My mom and stepdad had opted not to know the gender of their baby until she arrived. Low and behold, they had a beautiful baby girl... Abigail Eleanor Kennedy. If that's not the fanciest, born to be an important historical figure name, I don't know what is. I ran around school all day telling everyone about my new baby sister. Even today, all my friends from high school remember Abigail as a baby. She was quite the hot commodity. No one else had a sibling so young. She served as my main subject for my photography class sophomore year, and today she still loves to have her picture taken.

Twelve years later, Abigail is the most energetic, intelligent, and caring person I know. She speaks Spanish and she uses words that I didn't know until I had to study for the SATs... and she's only in the sixth grade. She also knows the words to every Taylor Swift song. And on August 3, you will find us at the Verizon Center, rocking out to Taylor with every other twelve year old in the DC area.

Happy birthday, Abigail!

Biz Clarity with Jeff Jochum

2011-04-15T17:12:00.001-04:00

What have I been doing this month?! I am shocked that it's taken me so long to post.

Last month, I spent two days with Jeff Jochum (business guru) and twenty other local photographers to hash out all our photography goals and get our businesses on track. Jeff was the perfect person to lead us through this business bootcamp. He forced us to sit down and figure out exactly who we are as people so we could then determine what we wanted our message to be. This was HARD. I asked my husband and my friends to tell me words that described me... good, bad and otherwise. It took me awhile to wade through the fluff words that could really describe a ton of women to the ones that get to my core. Eventually, I figured out who I am. How odd does that sound? At 26, am I really just getting to know myself? Yes and no. : )

Jeff helped me shape that description of myself into a targeted business plan. He kept reminding me that my goal was to be the arrow, not the target. The only business people that truly succeed are those that are focused. I already knew that my focus was wedding photography, but I didn't realize that wasn't focused enough. Now, I am happy to say that I've chosen a path. I am choosing to dedicate myself to estate and winery weddings. Phew. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders! I know this is the right decision for me. Just saying it makes me smile. I have a direction!

Thank you, Jeff, for helping me find my way.

Walk Through a Wedding - Charlotte, NC

2011-03-29T09:37:00.000-04:00

Weddings have an incredible ability to speed up time. The day always seems to fly by faster than any other. Timelines and schedules are rarely strictly followed and there is no time to spare when capturing the details of the day. That's why I was so grateful to spend a day last week with Justin & Mary at their Walk Through a Wedding workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Justin & Mary are incredible wedding photographers with a style that evokes sentiments of the 1940s. They have this old Hollywood feel to their images that I just adore. They are also big into helping other photographers in the industry. Walk Through a Wedding gave me (and the other 20 photographers) a chance to slow down the wedding day and analyze each part of the day. We honed our skills and were forced to be creative with our shooting angles since we were shooting alongside so many other people once.

We photographed the long dress, but ultimately our stylists decided that a short dress would be best for our theme. I am glad that they did because I love short wedding dresses. My grandmother had one and I have been obsessed with her wedding photos my whole life.

[Side note: My grandmother had her wedding shot by her cousin, Eddie Adams. Eddie Adams was an incredible Pulitzer prize winning photographer that received over 500 awards. He'd never shot a wedding before my grandmother's, and it may have been the only one he ever did. And I am pretty sure he did it for FREE.]

The ruffles at the bottom of the dress were whimsical and lovely.

Leslie was our gorgeous bride for the day. Don't you just LOVE that veil?!

This quiet moment may have been my favorite shot of the day.

Killer blue eyes and dark hair?! Jealous? I am.

The theme for the day was American Honey, which led to the most adorable details. This could be easily replicated and many of the details could be DIY.

How could you have an American Honey wedding and not have a honey comb!?

Almond wings for the bees and ribbons on the wrapper = Cutest. Cupcakes. Ever.

Matt and Leslie have the cutest story and I have to share it. They met online, by accident. When social media was first getting started, Matt was reaching out to childhood friends and he contacted Leslie. Only this was not the Leslie he knew from high school that he thought he was contacting. The way Matt wrote to her made Leslie think that she must know him and not remember, so she politely corresponded back. This went back and forth for awhile before they both realized they hadn't met, but the connection was made and they continued to write, then meet, then fall in love. It reminds me a little of You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks!

These two were the best models! I can't believe they'd never done this before!

And here we all are taking shots of the bridal party after Mary showed us her tips for getting natural reactions in formal portraits. There I am, in the center, with a big smile!

It was a LONG day, but I was so pumped up when we left around midnight that I couldn't sleep for awhile. I can't wait to take all the tips and skills I learned and apply them to my 2011 weddings. It's going to be a rockin' year!

Our Family

2011-03-28T11:25:00.000-04:00

After two weeks with Fred and Betsy, I've already forgotten what life was like before them.

Thanks to my mom for taking our first ever Jordan family photo!

Sneak Peek - Leslie and Matt

2011-03-24T22:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had the best day with Justin and Mary at their stylized wedding shoot in Charlotte, NC. Here is a quick peek at what I'm working on.

Fred and Betsy: Welcome to the Family

2011-03-15T21:35:00.000-04:00

This weekend, our family doubled in size.

We adopted two miniature dachshunds from the Dachshund Rescue of North America. Betsy and Fred were a bonded pair, meaning you had to adopt them together. They had been together since they were puppies. After having them for only a couple days, I have seen how their mannerisms fit with each other.

Betsy is the shy one. She is our sweetheart. Once she bonds with you, she will follow you everywhere. Betsy is a true lap dog, thrilled to be with you on the couch or wherever she can get you to sit with her. At 15 pounds, she is almost twice as big as Fred. Though she is a year younger, she is the mature one. Fred jumps all over her and can be spastic at times, but Betsy takes it in stride and never gets upset with his antics.

She has a beautiful black coat with chocolate highlights that only show up in the right sunlight.

Fred is the show dog. He can stand on his hind legs and dance around or beg for much longer than you'd think possible. He is our Fred Astaire with his graceful prance. Fred weighs only 8 pounds, but is strong enough to pull you over if you're holding his leash. He is determined to be in the forefront. We carry the dogs up and down stairs due to the propensity for dachshunds to have back problems. If I carry Betsy down the stairs first, Fred will not let you take him down right away. It's his protest to let you know that he should have been first. Similarly, he expects to be harnessed first, fed first, and greeted first. So high maintenance!

My favorite thing about Fred is that he is so small and has such a short coat that he HAS to wear a sweater or coat when it's cold outside. I mean... adorable. He could not be cuter!

Luckily, these two have been very well trained. There haven't been any accidents while we're away and they are excellent eaters. We are thrilled to have them as part of our family and can't wait to grow with them over the years!

The Sights of Las Vegas

2011-03-09T22:38:00.001-05:00

Our first trip to Las Vegas, for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference, was a whirlwind. We got so many great suggestions as to where to go, what to see, what restaurants to try that we simply couldn't fit it all in!

We stayed at the MGM Grand because they were the host for our conference. Thank goodness we decided to stay there. It took me ten minutes to walk from my room to the convention center, and I am a fast walker! I can't imagine having to get there from the other hotels.

[Side Note: I am working my way through BBC's list of 100 books everyone should read, and right now I am working my way through the Chronicles of Narnia series. This lion out front of the MGM Grand makes me think of Aslan.]

Not the coolest hotel on the outside, but still pretty sweet.

Excalibur was pretty close to us. We never walked through the hotel, but I had to grab a shot of it while we were on our way back to the MGM.

This was the entrance to the Monte Carlo hotel. This is my kind of entrance. When Bill Gates builds me a house, I am going to have something similar to this when you drive up.

Looks even cooler when I change the lighting settings on my camera...

Everybody told us the Venetian was a must-see. I will admit, it did not disappoint.

I look this lobby. I kept having to stop Brad in each hallway because I wanted to take a picture of the ceiling. Mind you, he knew they looked cool, but he just couldn't understand my obsession with ceilings. I think it's that so many people ignore the ceiling when decorating their homes, but in Vegas, they are a focal point. I like it.

Except for the palm trees, I probably could have convinced a few folks that I went to Paris and New York recently.

I am sure you are all tired of reading about this Vegas trip by now. Yes, I realize I have made lots of posts about it! I just can't believe how many pictures we took.

Our Neon Boneyard Adventure

2011-03-03T09:41:00.001-05:00

In Las Vegas, there is the Strip and then there is Downtown. The hotels along the Strip are enormous and are constantly reinventing themselves to be bigger and better and more attractive to tourists and gamblers. When you fly toward the airport, all you can see for a long time is utter darkness. Then, as you get a big closer, a massive city of lights appears out of no where... all shining from the Strip. It's what you think of when you think of Las Vegas. Then there is Downtown. It has vintage 1950s styled motels combined with a canopied walkway on Fremont Street all lit with glittering lights. It is beautiful, and becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists. However, the attraction that brought us there was the Neon Museum and Boneyard.

When neon signs are replaced in Las Vegas, the old sign is sent to the boneyard. The former neon sign junk yard has been turned into a museum for the public to tour. It also is a fabulous place for a photo shoot. I contacted Lacy of More Than an Image Photography out of Houston, TX to be our photographer. She was also attending the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference.

We met Lacy and Stephanie (love second shooters!) and headed for Downtown. Here's the thing: Downtown Las Vegas has TWO Fremont Streets. What is that about? Needless to say, we got LOST. We drove all over the place, stopping at gas stations to ask for directions, driving up and down the same roads multiple times, and somehow drained three cell phones trying to use GPS. We did finally arrive (late) and scrambled to use the remaining time at the boneyard as efficiently as possible. You have to schedule a time slot with the museum in order to shoot there. They are closed on Sundays, which is why that's when we scheduled the shoot. You get the whole place to yourselves!

In the end, it all turned out fabulously! Lacy and Stephanie were a dream to work with, and we are so excited to have amazing pictures of us from our trip.

Flying High

2011-02-25T13:58:00.000-05:00

Since we've been married, Brad and I have had the good fortune to travel to many destinations. I have rubbed off on Brad and transferred my affinity for travel. My big problem is that I don't know how to take a trip without packing in as much as possible into our schedule. After this last trip, Brad has decided to take over the planning of our next trip. I have been told it will be to a beach where I will be forced to relax and read and swim and lay.

The one thing I wanted to do while we were in Las Vegas was take a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and a must see when you're that close! Driving there and back would have taken up the whole day, so the helicopter was the perfect transportation to get us there and back in a timely manner. Plus, we were able to have lunch at a spot in the canyon that is inaccessible without a helicopter.

Ready to take off...

This was our cute spot for lunch. It looks like we're right on the river, but it's actually about 500 feet below us!

Our ride.

Thanks to the Canadian girl on our flight that took our picture! It looks a little like we are superimposed on the background, but I like it anyway!

Love the views!

The dude in the front seat right next to the glass was wearing a white shirt, which proved rather annoying for my pictures. You can make out his outline in some of them. Ugh. We had assigned seats to have the best possible weight distribution. We should have risked it and sat people based on appropriate clothing for light reflection. Tip: wear dark colors if you're trying to reduce window glare.

The geology minor in me gets excited by geomorphology. Yep, that was a class I took in college. In another geology class, our textbook had a comic that involved the Grand Canyon and erosion, but Brad assures me that I am the only one that finds it humorous.

The tour was amazing. Too bad we could have flown around all day!

Photobooth Love

2011-02-24T16:22:00.000-05:00

During our trip to Las Vegas, we let time slip away from us and didn't have a chance to explore the various hotels until the last day. We were exhausted and on sensory overload. Since we were flying out that evening, we had checked out of our room and given the bell desk our luggage... all except the things we didn't want to risk. Brad graciously lugged around ALL the camera gear up and down the strip through each hotel. What a lot of walking! Even though I could tell that Brad was ready to get to dinner and give his back a needed rest, as we were walking out of the Palazzo, he suggested we take pictures in the photobooth at First Food & Bar restaurant. I ADORE photobooths. Seriously. They are my favorite. AND this one only cost $1! That is unheard of. What can you really get for $1 these days!?

Ha. Clearly I wasn't ready in the first shot.

What's Coming Up?

2011-02-23T23:25:00.001-05:00

Today we came home from our weeklong trip to the west coast. It's taken us all day to recover from the red eye flight and jet lag! We had an incredible time taking in the sights and seeing shows, but the real reason we went to Las Vegas was for WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) annual conference. We got to hear from some of the top photographers in the world and our heads are brimming with new marketing, shooting, and life advice. I can't wait to share with you what we did!

For now, here is a sneak peek of the fabulousness to come...

There were phenomenal landscapes with an extra special tour;

Amazing shows in the City of Entertainment;

Elaborate hotels and things to see on the Strip;

And opportunities to meet and hang out with some of my favorite photographers.

Lots to come from our trip to Las Vegas!

Derek + Lindsay: National Arboretum Engagement

2011-02-11T12:13:00.003-05:00

As business majors, the most daunting class at James Madison University was COB 300. Students were put in groups and throughout the semester had to work together to create a business. They came up with a product or service, put together a business plan, worked on marketing, and ended the semester with a realistic outlook on the business world. The class could easily take over your life for that semester and, needless to say, your group members could make or break you. By the time Junior year rolled around, all business majors had heard the stories of COB 300. So, on the first day of class, everyone was anxious to know who they'd have to spend immense amounts of time with that semester. As luck would have it, Derek and Lindsay were assigned to the same group. They instantly had an attraction toward one another, but it wasn't until their friendship had developed for a year that they started dating.

Fast forward several years, and these two were back at JMU for Homecoming. Bright and early they walked the campus, reminiscing about the place that first brought them together. Before most of the campus was stirring, Derek took Lindsay to the quad and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. Giddy about their new lives together, they headed off to the tailgate parties ready to share their big news and celebrate with the people that had been with them since the beginning.

Last weekend, Brad and I had the good fortune to spend our morning with Lindsay and Derek at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC to capture their engagement. It was on accident that we found this fabulous location. Lindsay meant to ask me to meet them at the Botanical Gardens, but said arboretum because that word is so ingrained in us from JMU (which has a fabulous arboretum of its own). Long story short, we discovered the National Arboretum and couldn't have been more pleased with the selection.

Really, who wouldn't love this?!

These two made our job EASY. Seriously, Lindsay... you rock my world.

This is them, just having fun, making each other laugh.

I can't tell you how much I love this shot of Lindsay.

I am definitely go back here in the spring. There were SO many awesome locations to shoot.

Of course we had to incorporate the JMU paraphernalia. It's where they met and where they got engaged, and now it's documented in their engagement session.

Big thanks to Brad for making our makeshift shade creator with my coat when it was impossible to find a shady location!

These columns are from the U.S. Capitol. No. Big. Deal.

Oh the fabulousness of it all. Love it!

Derek and Lindsay, thank you for braving the February cold, waking up bright and early, and indulging me and my requests for shots and angles. You rocked it, and I cannot wait for your wedding in October!