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Red

Not Letting the Details Consume You

Something Borrowed, Something True

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...

Remember the Big Picture

Something Borrowed, Something True

Weddings are almost always viewed as the beginning of a beautiful life with your partner. It's exciting and special, and most of the time our imaginations build a spectacular day full of sparkle. But our imagination rarely takes into account the stress leading up to the day or the cost of that dream wedding. Both stress and money together can lead to a lot of heartbreak throughout the planning process if you aren't well equipped. Tonight's blog is about strategies to remaining sane when you are in the thick of planning. A few of our brides touched on this topic, and I found it fascinating how each couple dealt with things differently. From organizing finances to just remaining calm, the advice in this installment is very unique to the couple that wrote it. I must say, though, one of the common factors across the board is that at the end of the day you are marrying your perfect person. Even if the cake gets dented, or there is an accident which backs up traffic and delays your wedding, you still get to say "I do" and start your new beginning.   April & Corey "Really consider your dream wedding plans. It's so easy to feel pressured to find things that fit your theme, but really think about it because halfway through the planning process that probably won't matter to you anymore. Really all that matters is marrying the person you love."  ...

My Favorite Wedding Photos of 2015

Year in Review

Every photo of Shawn and I is important, but the photos that we cherish and love the most are our wedding photos. We look back on our day and see the family that was present along with the memories that were created. Our love for each other and for the day itself shines in every single image. They are a wonderful representation of who we are and why our marriage is special. Those feelings we have for our photos are what motivates us to be our best possible selves for all of our couples. This past year we were able to photograph 17 amazing couples coming together in marriage. Each wedding was unique to the style of the couple, and every single marriage announcement, I teared up. Shawn and I got to do our first out-of-state wedding in Massachusetts, and because that was such a fabulous experience, we now hope to get more out-of-state nuptials! The best part about this year is that from these weddings, we came out with new friends that we are so excited for and are cheering for every single day. Gathering the images for this post was something that I wish I could do all of the time. Seeing these days unfold again was beautiful. Shawn and I are incredibly grateful for every opportunity that we have been given. We have really grown as partners and photographers so much over 2015. It was no surprise to me that I started tearing up at...

Samantha & Doug

Patapsco Valley Fall Engagement

I'm not sure if it was the bright leaves or the crisp fall air, but Samantha and Doug's engagement session at Patapsco Valley was fantastic! These two are such an adorable pair. Samantha and Doug were constantly laughing and having fun with each other. It was so cute to see them interactj every time I would tell them to look at one another their faces would light up with huge smiles. Shawn and I could easily see that they just enjoy being around one another. One of the many great things about this session was that it was at my favorite park. I know I've talked a lot about Patapsco in the past, so I won't waste too much time, but the amount of stuff that this location has is unmatched by anywhere else. For Samantha and Doug's engagement we got to check out a new spot, the Cascade Falls, and it was insanely beautiful! We definitely had a lot of adventures on this session, especially around the falls. Given that it was a new spot, I wanted to cover every nook and cranny around this area, so we attempted to safely climb a little bit up the side of the waterfall. I say attempt because Samantha and Doug had no problem getting into their spots, but I stumbled and almost rolled off the edge - typical Britney, haha! It's a much funnier story since I didn't fall and break anything :P. I cannot wait to photograph these two sweethearts...

Ali & Matt

Romantic and Chic Country Club Wedding

When Shawn and I first met with Ali and Matt for their summer engagement session, we had a feeling that their wedding was going to be absolutely fabulous. Little did we know that not only was the day going to be beautiful, but that it was going to be filled with so much warmth and love from everyone involved. Ali and Matt were married on a gorgeous fall day at the St. Martin's in-the-Field Episcopal Church, a stunning location in Severna Park that was surrounded by orange and yellow leaf trees. Their family and friends all cheered when they shared their first kiss and gave high fives to the newlyweds as they recessed. The reception at Chartwell Country Club was glowing with flickering candles that created such a beautiful atmosphere. One of the most touching moments during the entire night was Matt's brother's speech; just thinking back to has me tearing up. We all take so much for granted, but not these families. They cherish their time with one another, and it absolutely shows with the amount of care that they have for one another. Shawn and I are so happy that we got to photograph this special day for these two incredible people. Ali and Matt are just amazing and I look forward to seeing where life takes them!   ______________________________________________________________________________ A little Blue Steel to finish off the portraits :P All of the amazing vendors that made this day the best day ever! Ceremony Venue: St. Martin's...

Melissa & Joe

It's a Christmas in July Wedding

On Friday, Shawn and I photographed Melissa and Joe's "Christmas in July" wedding at The Mansion at Valley Country Club. It may have been a hot July day outside, but as soon as we stepped into the mansion it was a cool December evening. Melissa and Joe's guests were blown away at the attention to detail and many mentioned that all that was missing was snow. One of my absolute favorite details from their wedding was their guest book: their amazing florist (Raise Your Glass Event) set up a full Christmas tree in the foyer outside the ballroom with some red and white Christmas bulbs, markers, and hooks set up along side it. Guests were instructed to take a bulb, write their well wishes for the happy couple on it, and then hang it on the Christmas tree. By the end of the night, all that was needed were Christmas gifts for Melissa and Joe's daughter, Eleanora, to open :P. I am absolutely ecstatic to be sharing some of the wonderful images from their day. It is a wedding that Shawn and I will both remember for a lifetime. Thank you to Joe, Melissa, and Eleanora for allowing us to capture your beautiful day!   ______________________________________________________________________________ Melissa's mother made the cake and the delicious smell filled the entire mansion! So good! After their first dance, Joe and Melissa brought their daughter out to the dance floor :) A nice sweet cake cutting and then.... A second round of...

Meghan & Morgan, Mayo Beach Park

A Superhero Wedding

Meghan and Morgan's wedding was such a fun event! Just like their engagement session, Meghan and Morgan had a lot of fun superhero references that made an appearance throughout the day. They described their wedding style as a "fun, casual, superhero wedding" and they were not kidding! There was an awesome photobooth type station that had a wide array of superhero masks and props, and their guests would put on any props they wanted and then take a quick snap with the provided Polaroid camera. It was such a great idea! I would totally recommend this to anyone who doesn't want a tradition photobooth and instead just wants a quick snap of friends. Eventually the masks made their way to the dance floor where the groom - I mean Captain America - and Iron Man showed off their dance moves :P. This pair is definitely amazing and I cannot wait to see where life and their love takes them! Meghan and Morgan, thank you so much for allowing Shawn and me to capture your day! If your life together is anything like your wedding day, it will be beautiful, silly, and completely epic!   ______________________________________________________________________________   All of the awesome vendors that made this day amazing!  Ceremony & Reception Venue: Mayo Beach Park Caterer: Absolutely Perfect Catering Florist: Mahers Florist Hair & Makeup: Ashley Comegna at Ambition Salon DJ: Stan Greenleaf Bridal Gown: David's Bridal Groom's Tux: Men's Wearhouse ...

Michael & Lisa

Snowy Maryland Engagement

The first snow of the season was taken full advantage of for Lisa and Michael's engagement session! I was so excited for this session. Every time the weather called for snow I would instantly get ready to email Lisa, but unfortunately, Maryland likes to play tricks and change the forecast at the last second :P. Finally, the snow fell and I had the best time photographing this adorable couple! Looking at these two, you can see how well they fit together. They are perfect for one another with Michael being really silly and Lisa always encouraging him with reminders of how much she loves him. They are a couple that you just want to be friends with. Their engagement story from Lisa is so sweet: "We were walking down by the water in Fells Point. Michael stops and pulls me in close and says, 'Isn't this the spot where I asked you to be my girlfriend?' Me, not understanding what was going on, I start questioning him saying that I think we were a little further down the street when it happened. He said, 'No, I think it was right here and this is where I'm going to ask you to be my wife.' Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him :)" I cannot wait to photograph their wedding this May. It's definitely going to be warmer (haha) and filled with an amazing amount of love.   Okay, models. Seriously...

April & Corey

Sunrise in the City Engagement

I met with April and Corey in October to go over some of the details of their August wedding. In just one meeting I could tell that they were one of the loveliest couples I've had the pleasure of meeting. They had a few places planned out for a shoot, and the two that we decided to go to were Federal Hill and Patterson Park. I had shot at Federal Hill a couple times, but I hadn't ever had a session at Patterson Park, so I was pretty thrilled. We started just before sunrise at Federal Hill and this was the morning to be out in Baltimore. The clouds were amazing, and it stayed dark long enough that the lights of the city lit up the background. Don't even get me started about the color of the sky: it was perfect! Since we were out so early, there was barely any traffic and no crowds, so we had the location to ourselves. We stayed at Federal Hill for about an hour and took full advantage of the city overlook and the beautiful fall colored trees. Our next location was Patterson Park, which was easy to get to at 7:30 am. This park was wonderful for a morning session. The only people that were out were joggers and dog walkers - people that speed out of frame quickly and people with adorable puppies. April had looked up some facts about the park, so as we walked she talked about some...

Meghan & Morgan

A Fun and Fall Engagement

Meghan and Morgan's engagement session ended up being one of the windiest days in November, which wasn't any problem for us since it just made these two cuddle closer together :P. It was such a beautiful day: the trees still had all of their colorful fall leaves on their branches and there wasn't a cloud in sight to block the setting sun. Even though it was chilly, it really had no effect on the greatness of the day. When I met with Meghan and Morgan back in August they mentioned that they wanted to do a comic book picnic. I was immediately on board and counting down the days until their session. I love having little scenes during engagement sessions, since it gives an extra pop to the already adorable happenings and I love when couples express themselves in super cute ways! I've seen vintage books, full picnic setups with food, and records sprawled on blankets, but I had never seen a comic book setup. It was really unique and something that just pushed this session to a whole new level. I am so excited for their May wedding. I can only imagine how personalized and how wonderful it is going to be!   ______________________________________________________________________________ ...

Mary & Justin

A Beautiful Wedding at Saint Jane Francis

Maryland is where it is at for Mary and Justin, who you might recognize from their engagement session in the fall. I had been looking forward to their wedding because of Mary's description of the MD theme. Everything from their cake colors to the design on Mary's nails reflected their love for Maryland. I loved seeing the tiny details and big picture come together for their wedding day. I never realized how much of a designer's dream the Maryland flag is - it can be transformed into so many different things that no one would ever think of! When I first arrived at Mary's house, I was surprised to see how calm she was! Nothing stressed her out, and even their cake topper disappearing only made Mary shrug and go "Oh well." I think her very zen-like appearance was due to her knowing she was marrying the man of her dreams and that a missing cake topper wasn't going to change that. In fifty years she isn't even going to remember the things that were missing, so she felt no need to stress. I was definitely envious of her calm nature! Another thing I was envious of? Mary and Justin's reception: it was totally awesome! After a beautiful ceremony and some hilarious portraits of the bridal party, it was off to a reception that is now on my "Top Five Favorite Receptions" list. Mary and Justin made their grand entrance by breaking through a banner with their...

Ashley & Justin

Historic Couples Session in Savage Mill

Fall was still hanging on in the beginning of December! For Ashley and Justin's session, we went out to Savage Mill. I had never had a shoot out there, and when we arrived, I was amazed at all of the fun and cute places. It is seriously a little bit of everything, all rolled into a dollop of a town. I had a plan to start by the bridge, just so they could get comfy with the camera. But they didn't need any warming up, and slipped into the model behavior right off the bat. I've been so lucky with my couples; they all seem to be well versed with posing :P! I actually have a lot of outtakes from this shoot since they were both adorable goof-balls with one another! When we finished with the Mill part, we started wandering around the little river area that went under the bridge. It is a very cool area, and a lot of my favorite shots came from this stretch of river. There were no distractions of cars or people. Just Ashley and Justin being close and lovey :). It's easy to see the love that these two have for one another, and I'm really looking forward to sharing these images!   ______________________________________________________________________________ ...

Sue & Joel

A Charming Wedding at Historic London Town & Gardens

On October 27th, I traveled to Historic London Town & Gardens in Edgewater, Maryland for Sue and Joel's beautiful wedding. I had been looking forward to their fall wedding ever since their summer engagement session in July. When you think of the ideal weather for a wedding, this day was it. It wasn't unbearably hot, it wasn't freezing, it was just flawless! Sue had her daughters and son involved with the wedding and I feel like they helped a great deal with keeping everything Sue envisioned for the day in smooth working order. The best part about the wedding was that Sue and Joel were going to be sailing off into the sunset at the conclusion of the evening and had Joel's sailboat waiting at the venue's pier. Unfortunately, they had a funny memory from their sailing moment, since the boat had become stuck in the sand due to the tide going out. They enlisted all of their friends and family to help, and even Sue got up on the side of the boat to try to rock the boat out of the sand. Though it wasn't what they had in mind, Sue and Joel were in good spirits about it all and ended up getting some good time together on the boat, with a bottle of champagne, as they waited for the tow boat to come. Sue and Joel, thank you so much for letting me share your special day. You both are fantastic! _________________________________________ _________________________________________ A few...

Glenn and Leah

Perfectly Rustic Barn Engagement

Since Glenn and Leah are getting married this Saturday (AHHH :D) I figured it was FINALLY time to buckle down and post their engagement session. They already had the location picked out, a gorgeous farm where they actually keep their horse, Doc. It was such a beautiful place and obviously the perfect location since they are getting married in a barn soon :P! I had so much fun with their session, they are pretty much the funniest couple ever, and they go together so well. I'm so glad that they allowed me into their world and that I get to photograph their wedding in a matter of days. Ahhhhh! Excitement!       The way Glenn looks at Leah is pretty much the cutest thing ever!   Looking at their pictures makes me SOOOO much more excited for the wedding. I was already excited, but now I'm on a whole new level :P ...

A Day in the Life

A Homemade Valentine for My Love

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!!! Even though everyone makes a big deal out of it being a romantic, Ineedaboyfriendorgirlfriendtoenjoyit, day I've always thought of it as kind of a day to celebrate with anyone. It's never been a hated day in my eyes, I mean, I get candy from my step-dad, my mom tells me she loves me (she does that all the time, but it's a "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, I LOVE YOU thing) it's just a good day to either spend it with family or a significant other. Maybe I'm the only one that looks at it that way, but I guess my parents never made me feel like it was a day that HAD to be spent with a boyfriend, heck, before I had boyfriends they would take me and my step-sister out to dinner with them. So, YEAH, moral of this story is - you don't need to blacklist this day just because you don't get taken out to a fancy dinner with a girlfriend or boyfriend, your family can help make the day just as happy :).  ANYWAY, last month I tried to make my own stamps, I was very happy with the results! I know I just got done saying how YOU DON'T NEED NO MAN, but I do have one and he does make me very happy, so my motivation to...

A Day in the Life

A Christmas Thor-y

This Christmas was pretty cool. I received a lot of great camera stuff from my mom and step-dad and even got a Kinect from them too! What was more fun than the things I got was the fact that the previous night I had spent the whole day with parents and, since I usually stay next door at my grandma's house, I spent the night in my old room. It was a lot of fun getting to wake up on Christmas, go into my parent's room, and bug them at 7:30am, instead of having to call them, and then walk over, and blah blah blah boring stuff! Unfortunately, my mom wouldn't wake up, so I had to sit for 30 minutes with my dog, Thor, by the Christmas tree. I started thinking how his health and spunk haven't been what they use to be and that he's already 10 years old. I decided right there that I would show how Thor's Christmas went, it was a fun little project for the morning and helped past the time while my mom and step-dad slept (but seriously? Who sleeps on Christmas?).   Thor waiting patiently (much better than me) FINALLY! Mom woke up! Ready for presentssssssss   Hahaha   Wasting nooo time (he also stole a lot of his Busy Bones behind our backs)   After chowing on his treats, it was time for breakfast. But Thor's begging got him kicked out of the kitchen :P Thanking Mom for his...