This Saturday, Shawn and I spent the day with an amazing couple at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis. It was one of the few days in May that wasn't plagued with rain, so we were able to get outside and really explore the park for Alyssa and Ryan's engagement session. Unfortunately for us, everyone else seemed to have the same idea, so we had to be extra diligent in finding interesting spots that weren't crowded with photographers. The thing that I love about Quiet Waters, though, is that around every corner is something new. There's gardens by the Blue Heron Center, fields by the amphitheater, and tons of trails. Add in how adorable of a pair Alyssa and Ryan are, and the crowded park wasn't an issue at all. My absolute favorite part about every single engagement session is getting to know the couple better over the course of shooting. We end up spending over an hour together, and typically there is a shared adventure mixed in there somewhere. For Alyssa and Ryan's session, there was the discovery that the road to the waterfront area was completely closed. I'm not a rebel in even the tamest sense of the word, so while it would have been easy to just hop over the barriers and try to make our way down the torn up road, Alyssa and Ryan were more than happy to go and explore an open hiking trail nearby. They were total troopers, and it definitely paid off, since...

In April, my friend Alexis (who some may remember) asked me about photographing her and her girlfriend, Lili. Unfortunately, we were all extra busy in April and May, but luckily in June we all were able to get together at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis. Quiet Waters has to be one of my favorite spots, since it's so pretty and there are ALWAYS lots of places to shoot at; it seems like new places pop up each time :P. No matter how many times I photograph there, the people I am with always give the area a different kind of energy, which is my favorite part of the photo-taking. Lili and Alexis are so goofy, and filled with so much happiness and love. Even though this was just the second time I was meeting Lili (the first being at Leah and Glenn's wedding), I felt like we had been friends for such a long time - it was a wonderful time and I'm looking forward to sharing their images! :D   So perfect, right? Oh my goodness! :D ...

A few weeks ago Shawn and I went down to our hometown of Pasadena, Maryland for Marielle and Don's wedding. Admittedly we only live 30 minutes away from the 'Dena - but hey - it's still fun to see all the familiar sites, haha! Marielle and Don were married at the beautiful Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Their fantastic reception took place at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis. I always enjoy being able to do sessions here, because it has a little bit of everything for portraits. The Blue Heron Center was the perfect spot for this classic wedding, and it was filled with lovely details. The guests had an amazing time celebrating these two newlyweds, and the party seemed to be going constantly. At the end of the night, Marielle and Don's guests all formed a huge circle around these two and sent them off with great cheers and applause! :D Congratulations, Marielle and Don!   ______________________________________________________________________________ The getting ready was much less stressful for the guys :P   The fantastic vendors that made this day absolutely amazing! Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of the Chesapeake Reception Venue: Blue Heron Center Florist: Cedar Hill Florist Hair: Vanity Salon at Angies - stylist: Amber Caterer: Absolutely Perfect Catering Cake: Patti Kake DJ:  Mix Masters Entertainment Dress & Designer: Bridal Boutique - Allure Suit: Men's Wearhouse - Vera Wang ...

When you think of a wedding planning check list, what are some of the first things on your list? On my list there are: floral inspiration, venues, hair and make-up wizardry, dress designs, a whole ton of other things that - when put together - create a magical day for two very special people. When Shawn and I were organizing our day, every time I felt like all the important things were covered, someone would mention lighting, or our vows, or the guestbook and I immediately would realize that I had no idea. It wasn't until I started looking at resources like WeddingWire and utilizing Google Sheets for our guest list that details started fitting into place, and the nightmares of having a wedding missing something important went from once a week to once a month :P. I know Shawn and I weren't the only ones that have dealt with a check list that is more list than checked, but in the thick of it can be hard to stay positive and not feel overwhelmed. Seeing the way that some of our couples dealt with the anxiety of their details really showed me that there are some great ways to conquer the bridal fears. From Pinterest to dealing with late RSVPs, these couples kept themselves in fantastic order and can truly help others throughout the entire process.   Jen & Brock  "Definitely follow the local wedding blogs for inspiration, especially early on. We discovered...

There are some session locations that feel straight out of a movie. Becca and Cassin's engagement happens to be one of those! Not only did they choose a sentimental location (Cassin's and his mom moved to Sherwood when Cassin was in high school), but they also picked one that is so friggin' gorgeous! Sherwood Forest is a community unlike any other. It's kind of like stepping back in time. There's summer living cabins, camp activities, their own postal service. It's truly idyllic. So knowing that this is also where Becca and Cassin are getting married, we did a [secret] little happy dance :P. Something important about Becca and Cassin: they are extremely easy-going. They were a little nervous before we started the session, but, man, their total relaxed nature made it easy to jump in and feel comfortable. They had fun with the poses, with each other, and NEVER showed those nerves. I kind of also attribute the lack of nerves to the golf cart ride chats between spots. We all got to know each other as individuals a bit better, which naturally will create a very comfy environment.  We cannot wait until September when we get to see these two again and celebrate their wedding. It's going to be a gorgeous day. I maybe, kind of, a little bit was freaking out when we got to peek through the windows of the ceremony and reception space. SO PRETTY! I have small problem containing my "too much" gene...