KimSeidlPhotography

new blog new blog!

2008-04-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

i have moved on to fancier surroundings. please visit my spankin' new blog HERE. see you there!!

Greetings from Guatemala!

2008-04-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

Helloo!! just a quick post to catch you all up on my coordinates. i'm lovely guatemala this week to 2nd shoot a wedding! i can't tell you how excited i am. i came here about six years ago, and it was probably the first time i really realized how into photography i was. this is so crazy that i get this chance to return to one of my favorite places on earth to shoot a wedding!!

my apologizes to a few of my couples on the delay. i hit some snags before leaving, one being a catostrophic photoshop meltdown followed by fever, chills, and a sore throat.. let me tell you how much i enjoyed flying like this.. ghh.

but.. all better now, and psyched to be here. I'll be back late on the 10th and will be getting back in touch then. hope everyone's having a great week!!

photo workshop roadtrip model shoot sushi fest

2008-03-26T00:53:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure where to even start with this one. two of my fave friends and wedding photogs MK and Jaime came into town the day after i got back from WPPI for continued workshopping, shooting and some general talk of taking over the world (or at least both coasts). we also ate a heck of alot of sushi.

we started in the desert (of course) and ended in LA with a few model shoots. i had a blast and i was really sad when i dropped them off at the airport today. but, with the modern marvels of planes and the interweb, look for more collaboration and mayhem in the future.

a field of crazy purple flowers that looked soft and fluffy but really were just painful.

the secret lives of flower underbellies at joshua tree

the salton sea needs to be further explored. this place was eerie and super fascinating. there were trailers and burned out homes and businesses next to inhabited residences. the shot below was from a burned out restaurant in bombay beach. the table is semi-set, looking like it's ready for ghost patrons.

abandoned chair out on mud covered salt flats. we almost lost jaime to the muck.

oh-so-rare self portrait inside superburger. they had veggie burgers. i was amazed.

jaime, checking out a cool abandoned trailer.

random shot of Jason Lopez, an actor in LA. we took tons of photos of him (not hard to do my friends) but i think my fave came after we had finished and were just hanging out.

i have hundreds of photos that will probably never see the light of day, but this really was an amazing amazing trip with two amazing ladies. i'm looking forward to more good times and future endeavors together.

Vegas, Baby!

2008-03-18T01:02:00.001-07:00

So Money!

i'm off to vegas for the WPPI convention! please forgive my slow response times for a few days. i don't think there's a square foot in this town free of screaming slot machines and bells and whistles, and for some odd reason it's 40 degrees outside with 30 mph winds.. so phone calls between sessions have been really difficult. i promise to be in touch as soon as i can, and rest assured, i'm learning lots of new things to make your photos even shnazzier!

Cassidy + Sean. Casa de Los Flores, Pauma Valley

2008-03-16T00:00:00.001-07:00

i should be sleeping in preparation for the early flight to the WPPI conference tomorrow.. but i couldn't wait to post these! i had SO much fun today. cassidy and sean are so sweet and obviously awesome together. i'm so so so thankful they invited me to be part of this day. it was so intimate, beautiful and just all around wonderful.

so many amazing photos of her, i had no idea which one to post. she just looked awesome.

sean, thinking he had some private time before the ceremony.. i felt a bit like i was spying, but this was just one of the coolest moments of the day watching him prepare himself before the big moment.

the emotions were running so strong! i almost started crying!

i love this shot. this was not a posed portrait. he was patiently waiting for her to remove her vail and rejoin the cupcake party.

the grounds offered endless places to stroll through and shoot. i could've kept them for hours.

the cutting of the cupcake. my favorite quote of the day, not so much of a quote- but it came from sean who was so emotionally choked up it took him a full minute to say thanks to everyone for coming out.

cassidy and sean- you're a sweet and amazing couple. i wish you guys the best! thanks again for having me!!

Road Trip Report #1 - Home from Loma Linda

2008-03-10T23:37:00.000-07:00

there wasn't a whole lot photo-worthy from the conference, but it was more about the food than anything. for a vegetarian conference, i'm not sure i ate a single vegetable the whole time i was there. every fake-meat company in the book was on hand to satiate every salami, meatball and meat-on-a-stick need i've had for the past 10 years.

the photo story of the month is of course flowers. however, i took some silly advice to drive up in to the mountains (which were snowcapped) to find the blooms. had i thought about that for two seconds i would have seen the error before coming up on the frozen ground. however, it was gorgeous. and it was an amazing day for a drive. i headed up to lake arrowhead, and then back down the other side of the ridge to silverwood lake, which was absolutely incredible.

reason #59 why california rules. 45 minutes, four wheels and you can end up just about anywhere.

there had been a fire up here as well.

cool light through these creepy trees above silverwood lake

lovely silverwood lake. loved these guys just hanging out and fishing.

i pulled over to take this weird model-like looking train.

i shot this through my windshield straight into the sun (photo lesson #1, this is not the best idea), but again, it's just amazing to me how fast the terrain can change. sometimes i just LOVE driving. i popped in the decemberists, and zoomed back to san diego.

in search of flowers

2008-03-05T00:06:00.000-08:00

spring has arrived! the roads along the 5 are on fire! i've never seen anything like it. i grabbed a few unsuspecting friends over the past few days (i think i promised one we were headed to a pool downtown) and scoured the land for flower fields. the weather has been crazy wonderful. i'm also always looking for new places to take couples for photos, so i considered it official serious business.

i hit up a few burn areas where the flowers have just taken over. it's pretty amazing to see this vibrant new growth sprouting up from the destruction.

lake hodges is a great place to see the new life sprouting up from the fires.

kevin in flip flops and swim trunks (i'm not sure he'd have come along had i not promised swimming).

friend and fellow awesome photographer Aaron posing among the flowers. i get so excited when i hang out with other photographers who get as giddy as i do over things like trees that most other people think are dorky.

i've found lots of cool new places. im just sad these flowers aren't going to last. that means i'll just have to get out as much as i can this week to continue my work.

off to Loma Linda!

2008-03-03T18:22:00.001-08:00

and so begins the crazy kim seidl spring 2008 tour of planes , automobiles and.. chickenbuses.

i am super excited to be hitting the road, even if it is just to loma linda (my apologies to those of you who love it and call it home..) i've been wanting to go this conference for nearly a decade now. it's only held every other year, and it was always so danged far away from the east coast where i was a starving student for so many years. vegetarianism is what initially inspired me to go back to school to get my masters in nutrition (didn't know i had brains in addition to my extremely good looks and my kung-fu photography skills now did you?).

much of the pleasure center of my brain is made up of parts that like geeky science things, creativity & problem solving and the desire to make people happy. i love it when the these come together. it may not be an obvious connection, but to me, photography and nutrition have these things in common and make me happy for similar reasons. food is such powerful medicine, and i love helping people make healthy lifestyle changes. i've been so fortunate to be able to do this in the past through working in hospitals, clinics and even help run research studies.

while i'm not sure what kind of nutrition game i have left in me these days, this conference will help me get me back on top of it- even if only for a bit. i'll be catching up with all the latest and greatest nutrition research from speakers that i admire, as well as catching up with old colleagues and friends i haven't seen in awhile. you know that i'm a serious geek when i say i'm more excited to catch a glimpse of the leading vegetarian diet and heart disease researcher than i would be to run into brad pitt.

there may even be a jaunt out to joshua tree to snap some photos of a desert that i'm hoping is in bloom. you wouldn't really think i'd go out there without my camera, would you?

Jodie + Manny. E-session at the Presidio.

2008-02-27T19:57:00.000-08:00

Meet Jodie and Manny! they're both wonderfully sweet and funny. manny has vans. that always wins points in my book. i had an awesome time with you guys and i'm really looking forward to the big day.. it's coming up May 25th!

i couldn't get enough of these doors

check out that dimple! how adorable (i mean manly and handsome) is that??

jodie has some pretty killer eyes.

and, because all the cool kids are doing it these days, thought i'd play with a little texture. the presidio has such a textury feel to it anyway, seemed appropriate.

Allison + JC - Lowes Coronado Bay Resort

2008-02-03T23:44:00.000-08:00

first wedding of 2008!

Allison and JC were married at the marine recruit depot chapel. both were adorably nervous before the ceremony. there's something about a tough marine in uniform weak in the knees over a lovely lady that was incredibly endearing. i caught him wringing his hands behind closed doors at the church. he looked a little like a deer caught in headlights. but when i asked him to tell me the story of how they first met, his face just lit up. they had literally crossed paths on the street and caught each other's eye. he said he knew "i had to go talk to this girl". and so he did. he deployed for Iraq shortly after they started dating. she waited.

so often there isn't enough time set aside for pictures of just the couple, or things run behind and time just runs out. this was a couple after my own heart. they allotted tons of time to run around the fabulous grounds at lowes to find some really great hidden spots and take some fun shots. they were also just so comfortable with each other and being in front of the camera that i mostly just sat back and watched. the way JC looked at her all night made me all melty.

to think these guys normally carry around big guns :)

so so so sweet.

everything was just lovely. it was a beautiful day, the wedding party and guests were wonderful and Lowes Coronado Bay Resort is one heck of a place to throw a party. and thanks to everyone who made it happen so smoothly.

Ceremony: Marine Recruit Depot Chapel
Reception: Lowes Coronado Bay Resort
Wedding Coordinator AND DJ (awesome husband and wife team): The Best Wedding for You
DJ: The Best DJ for You

What a way to kick off 2008! And to Allison and JC, what a way to kick off what will hopefully the best part of the rest of your lives.

Workshop Update!

2008-01-05T09:33:00.001-08:00

I've had a great response so far to the first workshop on Jan 27th. Ii think the seats are filled (i'll know for sure by monday), but I can always take backups. if you wanted to come along but couldn't get in, never fear, because i've opened up a second one on Feb 9th. the price for the workshop will be $100. details will pretty much be the same, but if there are any bumps to iron out from the first workshop, i'll make adjustments as needed and let you know.

just a review of what we'll be covering:

-a tour of your camera and many of it's mystifying settings
-the importance of and relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO and how these three things control all things exposure (or "how to take non-blurry pictures of your kids").
-depth of field
-a little geeky gear talk
-a trip to the park to practice practice practice

what you need:
-a digital SLR
-at least one zoom or two primes
-the knowledge and ability to get your photos onto your computer for viewing

more details are below a few posts ago. you can always email me with questions.

i look forward to hanging out with you guys and talking geeky photo talk!

Patricia + Jim - Maderas Golf Club 12.29.07

2007-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

what a way to close out '07. this couple, their friends and the whole wedding was just so much fun! i'm not sure i've experienced a wedding with so much laughter. this truly was a celebration. if there were nerves, i didn't sense them once. everyone was there to kick back, have a great time and celebrate this super special couple. jim and patricia love to laugh, and this day was an obvious extension of their personalities. and what a lovely place and day to do it.

Location: Maderas Golf Club
Catering: Maderas (and thanks to Susan Khania for the lovely veggies and her day-of coordinating)
Wedding Coordinator: the whole family (and special shout-out to the best man for keeping this puppy on track- huge help!)
Cake: (need to find her card! coming soon)
DJ: Kris with Positive Energy Productions

they arranged a first-sight meeting out on the course. they were so excited. one of my favorite quotes from patricia "tell me if i smile too big!" are you kidding?? she has one of the greatest smiles and she was very liberal with it.

they did this alot. i loved it.

a little private time before the action

maderas is really scenic. it was gorgeous. and the music was provided by friends- really cool and personal.

not hard to see where patricia got her smile. look at her happy dad!

did i mention that they laugh alot? so my favorite quote was delivered by the officiant. apparently our couple got a little slap happy the night before and came up with some funny vows and forwarded them on. they weren't supposed to be used. but, the officiant decided to keep them. when asked to repeat "I promise to make the bed because i get up later than you" came out, I thought patricia was going to laugh herself off the side of the ceremony site. it was hillarious.

told you they did this alot :)

a little mood-lighting experiment under the lamp post

one more example of their sense of humor. every plate came equipped with star viewers. even flat guest got one.

i think i also see where she got her sweetness from

Patricia and Jim, thanks so much for having me be part of your day! have a great time on your honeymoon. i have no doubt the laughter will ever run out between you two.

Photo Workshops!

2007-11-20T19:27:00.001-08:00

with the wedding season suddenly slowing down, i am bored in anticipation of no or few weddings for awhile. all i do is talk about photography (and bore most of my friends), so i thought, hey, why not talk to people who actually want to KNOW about it?

so.. introducing, photo workshops for the new DSLR user!

if you don't know your aperture from your.. um.. shutter speed, this workshop may be for you! it's geared towards the new DLSR user with little experience.

this is my first try at a workshop. i've done plenty of one-on-one tutoring, but it's never been cost effective for anyone and there's so much information that it's hard to get through it and then actually have it stick. plus, with a group, i think it'll be more dynamic and i think more questions will get raised as everyone tries things out together.

here's my plan:

i'm looking at December 8th right now, from about 1 to 4 or so. we'll start off inside, go over some basics, like giving you a tour of your camera, discussing gear in general and then going over the essentials of proper exposure. then we'll head outside and practice what we've learned.

topics to be covered:
-those mysterious buttons on your camera
-focusing and focal points
-shooting modes: aperture priority, shutter priority, that little running guy, etc.
-the definition and relationship of aperture, shutter speed and ISO
-ISO settings
-why you want to know about depth of field and how to control it

because this is my first workshop and there may be a few hiccups, i'll be starting the first one off with an introductory price of $75 per person. the group will be limited to 5.

i've already had a number of people contact me, so if you're interested, let me know soon! i'll hopefully be offering more after the New Year and holiday craziness passes.

in the meantime, happy thanksgiving everyone!

Meet Ruby!

2007-11-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

little ruby is one month old! these are portraits of one happy baby. she's tiny, but she already has quite the funny personality. normally she doesn't take too kindly to being out of mom's arms, but once she woke up in that leaf pile she just giggled away.

Heather + Chris - Estancia Hotel and Spa

2007-09-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

this amazing wedding was a joint jen lacey/kim seidl production, invented specially for this ocassion. i met jen via cell phone a few months ago. she was calling from the food poisoning wing of a DC hospital. she needed someone to take her wedding that day and had been given my number by the fabulous Mary Kate McKenna. ironically (coincidentally?) i was in her home base, san diego, checking the city out. i sadly couldn't help her out that day, but here i am now in san diego ready to heed the call. fortunately this time the call was a happy call, prompted by the need for help with her good friend's wedding.

in a story told by jen, she was with the future groom Chris, the night he met Heather. i don't remember jen using the word 'electric' or anything similar, but apparently there were drinks to be had that particular night and i do remember her saying the words "drunkeness", "drool" and, "that's the girl i'm going to marry".

sometimes when you know, you just know.

Woodend, you've been replaced by Estancia Hotel and Spa as my new favorite place to shoot. it was reeeally hard to take a bad shot in the place. it was just gorgeous. of course it doesn't hurt Heather and Chris are as well!

thanks to Heather, Chris and Jen for inviting me to participate in this amazing day!

i loooooved this dress. she looked amazing in it.

there were flowers EVERYWHERE

my favorite quote of the day. "I, Heather Smith, take you, Chris Frazier, to be my lawfully wedded wife."

heather, originally i was going to provide you with all of the "cake incident" photos for legal purposes, but on further review.. the only clear-cut victim here was the cake.

what can i say?

Brook and Matt - Mt. Woodson Castle, Ramona

2007-08-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

My newest friends in San Diego, Erin and David, also shoot wedidngs (I'd link to their site if they actually had one.. ahem, Erin!). I was excited when they asked if i wanted to join shooting the wedding of some really good friends of thiers, Brook and Matt. The fact that they said the word "castle" sealed the deal. I'm so happy they invited me! It was a gorgeous day and an even more perfect night (but it's California.. I'm beginning to realize I say this alot). Brook and Matt and the whole crew were a ton of fun and I'm really happy I was included in the invent.

The super cool dynamic duo, Erin and David

Brook's dress was perhaps the greatest dress ever. It belonged to her grandmother. It was over 100 years old! The fabric was so delicate, intricate and just lovely.

i could've kept myself occupied with just the kids. there were so many and they were all edible.

chaos in the aisle. brook and matt's son wasn't too excited about his debut. but the ring bearer couldn't wait, taking all the steps in one leap. one of my favorite quotes of the day: (Brook) "I knew we sewed the rings on the pillow for a reason"

my favorite quote of the day. one of brook's little blond neices walked up to her in the middle of the vows, tugged on her dress and asked her, "What are you doing?".

Brook looked so amazing in that dress.

erin and david were sent a photo from brook's parents' wedding with the couple in a VW and a sign reading "Honk if U Can Dig It". the wedding party was enlisted to make an identical sign to recreate the photo and surprise her parents. granted, the car was a bit updated, but it was a really cool, fun idea.

"don't stop kissing 'til i say so!". it was a long exposure. there were several of them. i think their lips got sore, but they were super troopers.

Tracy and Craig - Engagement Session on Coronado

2007-08-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tracy and Craig's big day will be next September '08. I got a chance to meet the lovely couple on Coronado. We hit a few grassy knolls and the beach!

As far as modeling goes, I have to say they were naturals. They didn't need any prompting to smooch or giggle. I get the feeling they do that alot anyway!

Congrats you two!

Jinhee, James and... Isaiah!

2007-07-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

Meet jinhee, james and the soon-to-be-introduced isaiah. this is a super special couple. i'm not sure i can even tell you why. all i know is that from the second i met them, i wanted to give them both a big hug. their smiles are huge, constant and sincere and there's also this calmness and serenity that i just wouldn't expect from a couple that's to have their first child jump onto the scene at any second. and really, it could've been any second. she was actually due the day we went down to the beach to play.

i just got word that the little guy has actually arrived! he was just a few days late ("stubborn like his parents", they said, which i think is funny because stubborn is not a word i would use to describe the two most huggable people ever).

welcome isaiah, and congrats to jinhee and james- you're parents!!

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

i am so happy and so lucky to have old friends already in place in san diego. it's never easy starting over in a new city, but this time, i'm finding i don't have to. my fantabulous friend becky married since i last saw her in san francisco (and is also now pregnant!), and she and her husband moved down to encinitas. i've had a really great time catching up with her and getting to know her hubby ian.

over the 4th of july, despite being pregnant and all, becky did what she did best which was play hostess. she laid out a pretty amazing spread. i was quite partial to the guacamole and grilled vegan sausages. i met some of her oldest friends and also her family. let me just say, they all had some really cute kids.

i'm a sopranos freak. i also haven't seen the final episodes yet (c'mon netflix!!), and due to some serious evasion tactics, i've managed to miss the spoilers. amazing, right? at one point they all decided to discuss the finer points of the last episodes and i bolted away to hang with the kiddies.

(i think i'd skip the watermellon and nibble those cheeks if i could.)

Rebecca and Michael - Paradise Point

2007-06-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

what a gorgeous day! but then again, it's san diego. i have to keep reminding myself that the temperature is not going to soar up to 95 at any given moment. still, every day, especially every day I get to shoot outside, i'm grateful for the magnificant weather.

this was my third outdoor wedding in san diego, shot as 2nd for kristie, of Photography by Kristie, who had travelled in from phoenix. it was really cool working with her. actually, it's been really interesting working with a few different photographers now to really get to see people's different styles. working as 2nd always carries the benefits of low stress. i get to shoot and soak everything in without all of the extra added pressure.

rebecca and michael are a truly fun couple. they and all of the their friends had great senses of humor and the guys were cracking me up before the wedding. stress levels seemed low or non existent- they'd already been together for years. but, the years hadn't diminished the affection that was evident between the two.

they also turned out to be quite adventurous. as soon as the reception ended we raced out to sunset cliffs for a "trash the dress" session. i was SO excited to really hit the beach for the first time. but i should've cued in when kristie changed into shorts and flipflops- this city girl just thought, "what's the big deal with getting a little sand in your shoes"? well, guess what.. there's this thing called a tide and it came crashing in not too long after we hit the sand. some of those waves looked a heck of lot higher than my head. all i could think of was my poor east-coast camera and how it probably never imagined itself being subjected to sand, salt and periodic drownings. one good dousing and i climbed up onto the steps and shot from dry ground. our happy couple was oblivious to it all. we snapped away. despite my non-beach-appropriate attire, it was really fun and i can't wait until i have the chance to do it again!

mental note to self. the ocean is not like a lake. bring flip flops, shorts, a towel and a plastic bag for gear next time.

Monique & Tom, Old Town Alexandria

2007-05-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Monique and Tom have been together for almost 15 years and i think their relationship just got sweeter with time. i don't think i've seen so many cute glances, little touches and sneaky kisses pass between a couple during their wedding day as did between these two. they were giggling like two kids that had just met.

the ceremony was held outside at the Campagna Center in old town Alexandria. as a blessing to the photographers, the clouds rolled in just enough to create some fantastic light. the ceremony ended, everyone went inside and then it just hailed and hailed! it was hard to hear it over the drink chatter and reggae coming from the dance floor. everyone really seemed to have a blast.

no "good luck" needed for this couple- look at them! behold the cuteness! i just know they're going to have a happy life together. and what a way to kick it off.. they're headed to thailand!

Jenny & Rich - Woodend, MD

2007-05-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

yay! back to woodend! this is the first time i've had the chance to shoot at a venue a 2nd time. it makes things sooo much easier and fun, because you can look back at older shots and do some creative planning. this was also my first double-header weekend, and oye, was i feeling it. it didn't help that the first of the double header involved an actual header resulting in torn tendons in the ol' ankle and four hours of icky sleep. reason number 1001 MK rocks- she got up early (even though the day already started at 8am when we were out til 2am shooting the night before..) and picked up an ankle brace for me. combined with these sexy little numbers and strong cup of coffee, i was good to go.

jennifer and rich are a special couple for many reasons. they're two of the most intelligent people i've ever met. they were also just easy-going and sweet- they made for a really unique and perfect pair. i wish i remember exactly how it was put at the ceremony, but someone had said something to the effect that they had never met another couple so much on the same page with each other. their conversations are free flowing and never ending, ranging from silly to politics without skipping a beat. they were so comfortable with each other, they really were two halves of the same whole.

no wedding or couple can really be summed up in a single word (though always seem to try), but classy and comfortable certainly come to mind. the whole wedding day was just that.. a classy, tasteful yet a fun and comfortable affair shared with family and good friends. i wish them the best of everything.

Julie & Mitch

2007-05-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

this was a truly DC wedding! don't get me wrong, virginia and maryland are beautiful too, but i get really excited when i get shoot closer to home- especially when i get to see the 'everyday' from a totally different perspective and get to go inside places i probably would not amble to on my own. it's even better when it's via party bus and there's no "where do i park?" logistics and with a couple as great as julie and mitch.

the day started for me getting ready with the boys at the Capitol Hill Suites, in you guessed it, Capitol Hill. right across the street was St. Joseph's Church. you can't get more convenient than that. after some good natured horsing around and a few heinies to calm the nerves, the boys walked across the street to await the lovely Julie. the church was pretty and the ceremony was quite touching.

after the ceremony we jumped on the party bus and headed around the Mall. that was cooooool. i wanna go again! the weather was a bit iffy, but it held out and we got some great shots in front of the capitol and around the WWII memorial. julie also gets a special award for being a trooper and doing some serious walking in her fancy shoes for photo purposes. way to sacrifice the body for art!

the reception was held as the DAR Constitution Hall. amazing! i haven't been in anything quite so exquisite and just so very DC. it was a lovely place for a reception and views were incredible.

i believe this was what was going through my mind when i stepped out of the reception hall and caught sight of the washington monument and had a ... let's call it.. "let's make this wedding about me" moment. first, let me say, we pride ourselves in really trying to blend into the background. but, as apparently it can happen.. i fell in front of about 150 people in the middle of a giant rotunda. let me tell you what kind of sound it makes when someone carrying two giant cameras wipes out on a marble floor in an acoustically favorable environment. i couldn't have screamed "hey, everyone look at me!" any more efficiently had tried. i prayed to the calgon gods, but nope, nuthin.

the rest of evening was spectacular. they hired a band and there was plenty of dancing. the little red headed cuties came out and put on quite a show on the dance floor. all in all, "gorgeous" would be the word I would use to describe the entire day.

Robin & Chris

2007-05-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

what a beautiful day for a beutiful couple in my new favorite place to shoot in DC!

robin and chris couldn't have picked a better spot. the grass was green and the trees thick and lush at Woodend. in typical dc form, the 40 degree weather finally gave way to summer heat overnight, but the shade provided by the trees was lovely. it was SO nice to be outside. the summer season has officially begun.

everything was really top notch and the day really flowed smoothly. the girls were all gorgeous, and i loved the green dresses (i'm going to be wearing the same bridesmaid dress in my mom's wedding in a few weeks!) and the orange flowers were the perfect accent. and the cake! well, i always like the cake.

and a note to you brides and wedding planners out there. photographers love bubbles. especially this one. i've been bubble-free for far too long. bring 'em on!

Denise and Jeff - Mt. Vernon, VA

2007-05-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

lovely. everything about this day was absolutely lovely. denise was gorgeous and jeff absolutely handsome. they made a very striking couple. the ceremony was very sweet, and ended with our newlyweds covered by petals tossed by friends and family. after the celebration outside, a '52 bentley (complete with a gray poupon wielding driver) rolled up to greet and whisk them away to Mt. Vernon.

The Mt. Vernon Inn was quite the place hold a reception. to say it's an historic locale is a bit of an understatement. i hadn't been there since i was 7 on a school field trip. every room was beautifully restored and maintained. numerous paintings adorned the walls. the main hall gave way to a large patio out back, and denise's dad kicked off the evening outside playing his harmonica. little did we know he was a professional musician who once played in the Rascals. how cool is that??

dancing and celebrating dominated the rest of the evening. i'm not sure there was a single person sitting. everyone seemed to have a really great time.

up next for our newlyweds.. mexico! i hope you two have a wonderful time and many great years to come.

Laura and Jonathan - DC Arts Club

2007-04-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

i live and work in dc and am sadly finding out how little i really know and appreciate what's around me. fortunately, there are really cool couples like laura and jonathan who know what's what who can take me places.

they picked the DC Arts Club and it was amazing. it is housed in a grand old victorian with plenty of rooms and winding hallways to get lost in. but fear not, because there's art on every wall to keep you entertained. the interior was incredible, with all original woodwork, crown moulding, hardwood floors and great windows with a view. the room where laura got ready may have been my favorite to date. threatening rain chased us inside, but from a photographer's standpoint, i was actually quite pleased. the colors were rich and the tighter quarters gave the ceremony a really cozy, personal feel.

they hired a great band to play the reception and a dance instructor to teach everyone the ballroom basics. whether the guests got the steps down or not, it was alot of fun. actually, it was quite entertaining to follow those that didn't.

overall, it was just really well done and great event. elegant, stylish yet down to earth. very much like our newlyweds. best wishes to both of you!

Jamie & Joshua - Mountain Branch, MD

2007-04-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

spring has sprung. with the change in seasons the outdoor weddings have begun! i was really excited to be able to shoot this as 2nd with James, from BePhotography out of baltimore. we'd been trying to get together for a few months, but schedules just didn't allow until today. and what a day it was! winter lasted waaaay too long this year (ok, every year as far as i'm concerned), but it took a nice turn just in time.

i started off the day with jamie and her entourage. the girls were all great friends and it was obvious the fun hadn't just started that morning, but was more of a continuation of a celebration that had started a day or two before. they laughed and chatted away as they helped jamie into her lovely dress. once ready to go, there was a white stretch limo outside waiting.

the ceremony and reception were held at Mountain Branch Golf Club just outside of baltimore, overlooking trees and green as far as the eye could see. i can't tell you how nice it was to be outside! the sun started to dip down as the ceremony took place giving everything a nice glow. and even while we were outside with the sky as the limit, the ceremony had a small, intimate feel to it. really, it could have been underwater and joshua would not have noticed- he couldn't take his eyes off of jamie the entire time.

jamie and joshua were announced to the tune of rocky, and hit the dance floor with boxing gloves. it set the pace for a really fun evening. there was more laughter at this celebration than i can recall at any other event. and man, these folks could dance! the floor was packed. and it stayed packed untill the final bell when joshua carried jamie out over his shoulder and they finally turned out the lights. safe to say everyone had a blast, and it was quite a way to kick off the next stage of this obviously smokin' relationship.

Hello World

2006-10-29T10:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! since all i seem to talk about is photography these days, i figured a needed a space for it.

so, welcome to my test post (lovely, isn't it?). i don't think there's any way i'll be able to blog back to the beginning, but from here on out.. i'm gonna try to keep up.