This post is all about babies – and not only that, but a couple of the cutest babies Capitol Hill has to offer!  In preparation for an upcoming exhibit of photos of ‘kids on the hill,’ I recently photographed these two adorable girls.  Lindsey is about 6 months and came to my studio bright and early one more for a little giggling and hat-wearing.  The hat with the little ears was made by SugarB Baby – check it out!

And sweet little Ava was only 6 days old in these photos!  She was so precious I could hardly stand it!!  Newborns are so fascinating.  They do so little and yet you can’t help but just stand and watch and ooh and ahh at every little movement and expression.

My eyes about dropped right out of my head when I saw Max, Tess & Lauren for their family portrait session recently.  I cannot even believe how much they’ve grown since last year’s session!  Especially little Lauren – she is just such a little lady now!  We had a great time on a sunshine-filled day at the new Southwest Waterfront Park in DC.  This first series of shots was so much fun.  Max told me very frankly, after his sisters couldn’t reach the ceiling, that he would be able to because he’s almost six!  Apparently, that is the age that you become incredibly tall and able to do anything you want.

I couldn’t help but laugh at Tess’s pigtails flying in the air as she chased after Max.

Lauren kept her dad very busy this day – running to and fro, to and fro.

Okay, this next one just cracks me up every time I look at it.  We were trying to take a family shot, towards the end of the session.  Max and Tess had just finished a fun session of some sort of Superman game.  So they were feeling a bit silly.  And Lauren had had about enough of all these picture shenanigans and was doing her best not to be in the photo.  Rob (dad) had been such a trooper chasing Lauren around and trying to get her to smile and laugh.  And after a bit, he just gave up and sat down.  And I love everything that this picture embodies – the chaos and silliness and fun and exhaustion that is a family.

And in the end, it all worked out – everyone sat in the green grass and smiled for the camera.  Ahhh, happy endings.

I love the whole process of getting to know my clients over a series of conversations and meetings leading up to their wedding day.  So that when the day finally comes, I feel so happy for them!  Engagement sessions are really great because I get to spend some time with these folks and not only discover how they photograph best, but also learn a little more about what makes them happy.  Fausta + Sean’s engagement session in DC was a ton of fun and they were just a hoot to spend the afternoon with!  Their wedding was at the new Westin in Dulles, VA and everything was gorgeous.  Fausta’s bridesmaids were so much fun while they got ready and I was incredibly impressed by how gorgeous this new hotel is – there was no lack of beautiful spots for photos!

Dana and I were drooling over the colors in Fausta & Sean’s wedding.  This jeweled shade of purple was downright delicious (and by the way, I adored this feathered hairpiece)!  We decided that it was “aubergine.”  I know, we are dorks – but the good kind, I hope.

There was so much emotion in this ceremony!  No lack of happy tears from anyone!

Thank you Dana for this great shot of Sean tearing up during his vows – I love a groom that cries a little!

Oh so beautiful!!  And the stargazer lillies in the centerpieces made every table smell like heaven!

Some fun moments from the reception…

A high-five between the only two bachelors in the whole room…..yes, seriously!

Love this shot of Fausta & Sean dancing…..and for the record, I really have no idea what is going on with the guy on the floor in the corner – haha!

When I first met with Amy & Matt several months ago, they told me all about their wedding plans.  They were so silly and fun and their wedding sounded like it would be such a blast – I couldn’t help but leave the meeting crossing my fingers that they’d pick me to shoot their wedding.  And I’m so glad they did!  Between Amy’s custom vintage dress, her fun and goofy expressions, the drum-line that escorted her to the wedding ceremony and the fabulous party that followed, I didn’t have a chance to stop laughing!

Amy & Matt’s ceremony was at Meridian Hill Park.  They got ready and had their reception at the beautiful and unique Josephine Butler Mansion just across the street.  And a huge thanks to Dana, who second shot with me and got some great shots of Matt and his guys getting ready!

Amy & Matt had their pictures before their ceremony, so they had a “first look,” where they got to see each other all ready to get hitched and have a few moments to themselves.  They were so cute – these two have such a perfect yin-yang going on – Amy is so goofy and fun and Matt is so sweet and sincere.  And Amy was so cute trying to hold back her tears!

And then it was time!  Matt went ahead with all of the guests.  And then the drum-line escorted Amy with her bridesmaids to the wedding ceremony.  These girls had such a blast dancing all the way down the park with everyone watching!

Thanks to Dana for these next couple shots – that girl rocks all the little details!

And the party continued all the way back up the park to the mansion.  This wedding was one huge celebration and everyone in the park got to share in the joy!

The Junkyard Saints were absolutely amazing and they kept that dance floor packed all night!

I don’t know the whole history here, but towards the end of the party, Amy’s friends decided that Amy and her brother needed to have a “dance-off.”  These two were fantastic – it was no-holds-barred and everyone in the room laughed so hard they cried!  It started with the competitors taking their corners….

….things got crazy pretty fast….

…and ended with a tribute to the winner!

Love this parting shot of Amy and Matt hamming it up in front of Josephine Butler.  Congrats you guys!  Have an awesome time in Brazil!!

One of the things I love most about portrait photography is getting to watch little babies turn into little kids.  It’s so much fun to see how they change every few months between their sessions.  And each time I see them, they’re so much the same and so very different than the time before!  Lucas had his third portrait session recently.  I met Lucas when he was just 5 months old and then got to spend some more time with him when he was about one year and just taking his first steps.  Well, now Lucas is running around everywhere and not looking back!  This little guy is so much fun – it’s a blast to spend the morning watching him explore everything, stick whatever he can find in his mouth and try to open and close every door in the world.  We had some beautiful weather for his session and enjoyed every minute!

Love the Frager’s t-shirt – Capitol Hill represent!!