ARLINGTON WEDDING: JENA & KENAN

I really loved everything about this wedding. Jena and Kenan are so laid back and didn't seemed stressed out at all on their wedding day. Jena had planned everything so well, I had plenty of time to get all the photos I wanted of the dress and her shoes, time for a first look (with just the two of them) before the ceremony, lots of portraits with Arlington and Georgetown skylines behind them, shots of the reception dining room, and even chat with some of the guests (including good friends Gary and Sterling)—all before the ceremony started. I also loved the venue. Hotel Palomar is a super classy hotel in Arlington and the ceremony was on the 4th floor patio overlooking Georgetown across the Potomac river. Boris and the staff at the hotel turned their restaurant into a great reception area and served up a fantastic dinner.

Other things I loved:
1. Jena's style: The blue shoes, the vintage wedding dress that belonged to her mother, her bold necklace, and simple elegance.
2. The Tiffany & Co. engagement ring. Classic.
3. Their family and friends: Everyone was sooooo nice.
4. The schedule: Ceremony - Dinner - Cake - Open Bar and Mingle. So simple, yet delightful.
5. Engagement photos and childhood photos on iPad slideshows.
6. Overcast day for soft light on outdoor portraits

So good...

ANNIVERSARY SESSION: RYAN & HEATHER

OK, I realize there's a lot of photos in this post. Too many? Is anyone having trouble loading the page? I try to be selective in what I'm posting to the blog, but there were just so many good images in this set that I had to include all my favorites. Last year, Ryan, Heather and I did a post-wedding shoot out in 100 million degree weather—which turned out great. This year, as they talked about doing a first anniversary session, we did a little more planning and waited for good weather. Heather pitched the idea of styling it with flowers, food and other props that set the scene. And did an amazing job! Right?! Heather is now doing some style consulting for my clients, so if you need help coming up with ideas for what to wear or what to bring to an engagement or anniversary shoot, let me know and I'll put you in touch.

We shot out at the Monocacy Aqueduct in a pretty rural part of Maryland. It's a pretty neat spot with grassy fields right next to the Potomac and a bike trail running through. Turns out the Confederate soldiers tried to blow up the aqueduct twice during the Civil War but it just wouldn't crumble.

Not only are both Ryan and Heather really really ridiculously good looking but they are a lot of fun too. We had a super time playing around out at the aqueduct, eating Heather's food, riding bikes, and playing with their new puppy, Ava. I'm already looking forward to their second anniversary!