Waiting on new sample material has to be the most exciting and nerve-racking experience. I recently got in my brand new sample album, and it just feels like a new chapter in product satisfaction. My previous sample album was incredibly outdated. I had graphics and borders, and the image placements were a little wonky. Getting this update was something I have been waiting for. Through updating my website and my pricing for 2017, I just knew I needed to boost the quality in my products to match what is coming very soon, and I'm so happy with the results. Before I dive in, I want to give everyone a little glimpse into the life of Britney. I'm not the only one that loves getting packages in the mail; we all know the feeling. The delivery truck arrives, the person finds your package in their truck, they come up to your door to drop off the large box. Meanwhile, you're peeking around the corner until they're gone because it's 3 pm and you're still in pyjamas. When you finally retrieve the goods, you run back into hiding- I mean - the house and begin unboxing. With my sample album, it was like unwrapping gold. The quality is magnificent, the design hits all my simplicity love buttons, and the smell is on point (yes, I'm a weirdo that smells her books). The Album Stats For my updated sample album I used RedTree Albums (thanks for the referral, Marlayna!). They're a fabulous...

This is the time of year when a lot of our couples are planning their engagement sessions. Whether they are dreaming of a "lost in the wood" session or high fashion city shoot, timing means everything. For Shawn and I, breaching this subject is a point of contention. We are both night owls, so whenever the thought of early morning comes up, we both kind of shudder. However, we recognize the beauty in small crowds and fabulous light. Our couples, though, don't always know of those benefits as well as we do. It means so much to me through chatting with our couples that we are able to provide them with loads of session information. One of the biggest things we cover before an engagement session is the timing for a session. So what better way to benefit everyone than through a blog? There are pretty images below, so everyone stick around until the end :P. What is proper timing? One of the first things I want to touch on is the best hours of the day to be out. We have found that for sunrise sessions, we want to be shooting 30 minutes after the sun has risen. For sunset, we like to give ourselves 2 hours before the sun has fully fallen. These times are typically called the "golden / magic / perfect hour," but I just like to say "ohhhhh, mah gawsh! Best!". Here's a cute little info graphic I've created...

This has been the hardest blog to write. Not because of a lack of words, but because I could talk about Kristin and Andrew for days. I have been so excited for their wedding since we first met on Google Hangouts two Decembers ago. As I expected, their day was absolutely gorgeous. The weather was on point and their location at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia is a total stunner. My favorite detail has to be the history of Old Post Chapel where Kristin and Andrew had their ceremony. About 44 years ago, Kristin's parents had their wedding in this chapel and her sister had her wedding there just a few years ago. That little sentimental fact still has me smiling, since it's little personal things that highlight the couple and makes each wedding unique. I know I mentioned it in their spotlight post, but I don't mind reiterating that these two are the greatest. Shawn and I were well aware that we were going to have fun with these two. What we didn't know was we would leave their day with an immense feeling of friendship. They care so much about the people in their lives, and that extended to us on Saturday. Their sweet and genuine personalities left us feeling so incredibly happy. The simple act of gathering the photos for this blog post filled me with so much joy. Especially when I think about the A+ dolphin sounds Kristin would make to keep Andrew laughing during portraits...

Engaged, married, and jewelry loving friends, this post is for you! Have you ever been going about your day, catch a glimpse of the ring on your hand, and instantly feel a surge of happiness? This happens to me a lot. I'll be working on something really intense and then the sparkle from my engagement ring will draw my attention. It makes me pause what I'm doing, and think of every happy moment related to my ring. Like many people, my engagement ring is very important to me. It's not only perfect, but it also has a special story behind it. During the creation process, Shawn actually got a diamond from my mom. She is a jewelry junkie who lives for the JTV (Jewelry Television). However, the diamond that Shawn asked for was from a ring that my dad had given my mom many moons ago. The value of my ring is priceless to me. Not only are the memories of our life tied to it, but the lives of my parents are also included. My dad may not have been able to walk me down the aisle, but having this ring on my finger made me feel like he was right there with me and my step dad. The importance of sharing the story is because it taught me the value behind every ring. We get the chance to photograph so many stories and I am always giddy when it comes time for engagement ring photos. Every couple...

Is it seriously time to start writing a new number on everything? I feel like 2016 flew by, and I'm not really sure I'm ready for the new year. I mean, I guess it doesn't really matter if I'm ready, because it's here. The time cannot go backwards, so it's time for me to think about my 2017 goals. I'm not really a fan of making resolutions. They terrify me and I feel they are counterproductive. You set a resolution once for the entire year. When the countdown hits zero, you either succeed or you don't. Even if you came close, you still feel the crushing defeat which is very demoralizing. Any deviations are just "excuses" for not accomplishing your predefined resolution. Basically, a resolution motivates by guilt and the negative feelings associated with anything short of success. That's not a healthy mindset when trying to grow and improve, since it's harder to take big risks when you have the fear of failure. Instead, I prefer to set goals for myself, which are similar but different than resolutions. Goals aren't all or nothing. You can come close to completing your goals, and still feel accomplished. They can adapt to any changes in lifestyle or priorities without having to feel like you failed and started over. Also, I feel like it's much easier to exceed your goals but keep going without putting your work down and feeling like you're done. Goals are just a nicer concept that - given the...