I'll admit I was a little nervous to do this photo shoot.

I had done some family sessions before, but never with so many kids, and never with kids this old. I couldn't imagine that children aged 11, 9, and 6, would enjoy having their picture taken for an hour and a half.

I'm not a big fan of awkwardly posed shots and the fake smiles that go with them. I much prefer laughter and genuine happiness.

How would I keep them laughing and smiling?

Well, in this case, my worries were unfounded. The Morrison family were more than just happy to be there, they were happy to be there with each other.

We met at Piney Run Park in Caroll County at just the right time of year. Due to weather, we had had to postpone the session to the 21st, and let me tell you, it worked out perfectly.

One of the amazing things about living in Maryland are our glorious falls, and on Sunday, mother nature was showing off.

With such a fun and happy family, and such a gorgeous backdrop, it was really hard to go wrong. Every member of the family gave me their all for the entire time. There was no whining or complaining at all. We had such a good time, and I think it's clear in the photos.

Looking forward to getting these up!

I have always loved weddings. What could be better than a big party celebrating the happiness of two people in love?

I think what I'm discovering about weddings as a photographer is just how different they can be. I'm not talking about the obvious things like color theme or the material of the wedding dress. I'm talking about the subtle differences that truly represent the couple and their relationship. A bride could wear the same exact dress and pick the same exact colors and eat the same exact cake as another wedding, and hers would still be unique.

It's my job to capture those unique parts and make sure they shine.

Rachel and Mark's wedding was unlike any wedding I'd been to, and I loved it. Their ceremony was held in the chapel at Fort Meade. I had never been on base before and I was pleasantly surprised. It's beautiful there! The chapel was a wonderful setting- I couldn't stop taking pictures of the beautiful stained glass.

The reception took place at the Wayside Inn in Ellicott city. It's an adorable, historic building tucked away into a corner of Howard County. With only 36 people in attendance, including the bride, groom, and me, Rachel and Mark had an small, intimate celebration with their family and closest friends.

The calm atmosphere that a small wedding lends allowed for everyone to have a wonderful time. I could barely get pictures of all the smiles I saw around me.

Every moment of the day made it clear just how in love Rachel and Mark are and how happy the people in their lives are for them.

It was truly a joyous day, and I know their future married life holds many more days like it.

Part two of my double header last weekend took place on Sunday morning.

Originally, Liz and Kyle were going to have their engagement shoot on the beach. We managed to line up a weekend this summer where we both happened to be in Ocean City, and we were all set to go.

Unfortunately, Kyle broke his leg literally days before we were supposed to meet up. 

If you aren't already aware, a broken leg, sand, and a photographer bossing you around, do not mix well. We were forced to cancel the shoot and were unable to find another weekend where we all were in Ocean City at the same time.

Ok, enough of the sad stuff.

We decided to push the shoot until September and Liz and Kyle chose Brookside Gardens as their location, which is a lovely jewel of a park right in the heart of Wheaton, MD.

This is one of the things I love about being a photographer- I am constantly being introduced to these wonderful places that would otherwise have stayed hidden from me.

It is such a peaceful and serene place. In fact, so serene, there were a number of people meditating there when we arrived. We were careful not to disturb them!

It was a perfect, blue-sky, September morning. We wandered around the garden, stopping every few minutes to snap a couple shots. With Kyle's leg just about fully healed, he was able to participate fully and (hopefully!) without any pain.

It wasn't difficult to capture the love of these two in such a beautiful place. They were so calm and happy, it made my job easy! I am so glad we finally had the chance to meet up. I wish them the best for their destination wedding in Florida in the spring and for many years after!

Last weekend, I participated in my first double header. A photo shoot on both Saturday and Sunday. It was a first for me. Good thing I absolutely love doing this!

Almost a year ago, I did a photo shoot with one of my best friends, Abby, and her awesome dog, Jack. We were taking pictures as a surprise Christmas gift for her husband Jeff.  Now, 10 months later, I had the pleasure of taking her maternity photos.

It truly is incredible what can happen in a year!

By the time we reach the anniversary of our photo shoot last year, Abby and Jeff will have a one-month-old.

Like I said- incredible.

Abby and Jeff will be welcoming Noah Matthew sometime in late October/early November. A few weeks ago, I realized how quickly that date was approaching and we scheduled a day to get some pictures in.

I truly hope that when I have children one day, I carry myself as well as Abby does. She was absolutely stunning in every photo. Both Abby and Jeff are so excited to meet Noah, and it was wonderful getting to capture pure happiness like that on camera. It certainly made me even more excited to meet him!

I am so happy for my friends Jeff and Abby as they start this new chapter in their lives and hope to capture, and be a part of, many more exciting moments over the years.