Family Session: Randi, Chris, and Lilly

On Saturday, I had a wonderful opporutunity to meet Randi and Chris and their adorable (seriously, folks...she's stinking adorable) little girl, Lilly. I was super super excited about this shoot. I love shooting families and especially love to work with kids. I met the family at Sandy Point Bay in Maryland that has a simply gorgeous view of this massive bridge in Maryland which I have never been over. It was so lovely. I love being on the water in Maryland. I feel like I'm in New England there and anywhere that makes me feel a little closer to New England, I am ok with.

I love kids! Really. I do. I love to play with them. I grew up in a Christian school where I knew every elementary kid there was. I still consider myself to be a big kid. When I was single, I would often offer my babysitting services for free just to hang out and play with kids. For some reason, life is just simpler in the mind of a child. It's refreshing. Looking at these pictures of Lilly made me so excited for her young life. I wish I could be a kid again...I mean come on, no school (or if you do have school it's the really easy stuff like adding 3 and 2 together), no politics, play time whenever, you can go out to the grocery store in a tutu and people would think you're just adorable. Can you imagine going to the grocery store as an adult in a tutu? Haha...I'd like to try that someday.

This little girl was so loved and special to her parents.

Kisses from both of them.

Making sure they are kissing each other.

And giving kisses back to them.

And one big Lilly squeeze from both parents is always necessary.

A Mom's hug is the best medicine.

And I mean, who can resist playing with a big red balloon the size of your body on windy day? No one.

I should let you know folks, that Lilly's favorite Princess is Ariel. MINE TOO!!! Brian and I are goind to Disney World in June and I soooooo want to dress up as a Princess one day.

When you were younger, did your dad every throw you up in the air to catch you? My dad would do it in the water with us, but he wouldn't catch us. He'd throw us as far as we could go in the water.

And tickle fights are quite possibly the best way to get your child to smile anytime...anywhere.

Don't you love her pink tights?

Someday, I am going to spend an entire day devoted to just watching Disney Princess movies.

Oh to be a kid again...

Mr. and Mrs. Worsley 2.26.11

On Saturday, February 26, I woke up (early I might add) to get myself ready for a long day of shooting a wedding for Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Worsley. In my morning routine, I checked my email and Facebook. When I opened Facebook, the first thing I saw on my newsfeed was a status by the lovely Miss Sarah Becker (bride-to-be). Her status said this: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." I John 4:10

This was not a status that said "I'M GETTING MARRRRRRIIIIIIEEEEEEEDDDD TODAY!!!!" (much like mine was) :) It was a status about love...not just any love...but God's love. It was a status to give God glory on her wedding day. This is just a glimpse of the kind of woman Sarah is.

Sarah was a joy to photograph on her wedding day. She was calm and excited and eager to be apart of a picture of the bride of Christ. She enjoyed her day along with her fabulous bridesmaids. She enjoyed being with her parents for a while before they gave her away. She enjoyed doing her own makeup. She was gracious and helpful to others on her day. My second shooter, Sarah, from Ampersand Photography (who was such a delight to work with!!) said the same thing about the groomsmen. They were fun and easy to photograph. She had a blast with them. Thanks for helping me Sarah!!!

You should know, Jonathan is from England so there were some different traditions the English had from the American's. For instance, at the end of the ceremony, there was a group picture to be taken of everyone...guests, bridal party, family...everyone who attended or helped in someway with the wedding. You'll see the picture below. And at the reception, instead of giving toasts, speeches were given. I think I loved Jonathan's speech to his wife the best. :) It was a simply fabulous wedding! The ceremony was held at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and the reception venue was St. Fransic Hall...and oh man, I could've shot there all night.

Jonathan and Sarah are a lovely lovely couple. I'm excited to see how their marriage will bring glory to God.

Don't you love her dress?

this is the way every bride should look when putting on her gown.

DC produces a lot of tourists...so it's no question that any time a bride walks around DC, she will get her picture taken. This was a group of tourists by the Capitol. They LOVED Sarah and each of them wanted their picture taken with her. Sarah was so gracious to decline many opportunities.
This field was a bit mudding which made their shoes dirty, but they were willing! Love when a bride and bridesmaid are willing to go a little further for some pictures.

Gosh! I just loved her dress and the way it spun around her. :)

It's what every little girl does when she feels pretty in her dress...why not do it on your wedding day?

The last prayer after they said their vows, I peaked to watch Jonathan. The smile on his face didn't leave. As hard as he tried to not smile so much during prayer, it never left his face.

The group shot.

It was a fabulous day at the end of February! The sun light was perfect and I'm head over heals in love with these shots around the Capitol.

After the Capitol, we were off to St. Francis for some Bride and Groom shots before the reception began.