7:00 on Sunday | Frederick, Maryland Portrait Photographer

So, this post is late for good reason. After a whirlwind trip to Massachusetts and back to Maryland in two days, I’ve been playing a bit of catch up.

So this is who all the fuss is about in my famiy–and rightfully so! Meet Luke Christopher, my adorable new nephew. He is such a snuggler! I think Luke really enjoyed his newborn portrait session with Aunt Crissie on Sunday; he was a cooperative subject and slept for hours afterward.

This image was captured right around 7:00 p.m.. Pictured is my wonderful brother-in-law Steve, enjoying some lounge time with Luke. I love the perspective captured here; Steve is a former college basketball player who is juuuuuusst a few inches taller than me, you’d say. Luke is holding his own right now at 22.5 inches. I’m thinking he may be taller than Dad one day…maybe.

Lots of love to Molly and Steve for welcoming me into their home during this amazing (and tiring!) new chapter in their lives. Love to both of you…so happy I’m Luke’s Aunt!

Lauren, Brunswick High School :: Frederick, Maryland Portrait Photographer

Four years ago, this gorgeous girl sat in my 5th grade classroom, bright-eyed and eager to learn. She was a teacher’s dream–positive attitude, a friend to everyone, contageous smile, driven to learn, and has amazing parents, to boot. Fast forward, and you’re looking at that same terrific smile, albeit a little older now. Lauren enters her Freshman year at Brunswick High this fall and wanted to celebrate this milestone in her life with some fun portraits.

7:00 on Sunday | Frederick, Maryland Family Photographer

Father’s Day began with lots of love for Daddy this morning–more like a 2-kid attack on Dad, but thankfully, he was able to fight back with some tickling!

Hoping your Father’s Day was filled with many smiles, much laughter, and sweet memories.

This is What Courage Looks Like | Frederick, Maryland Family Photographer

Carrie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia in September 2008, after months of what she described to me as constant fatigue. On a typical weekday morning, she collapsed in her driveway before leaving to take her children to school and herself to work. Tests were run, scans were taken, and the Legge family’s life was forever changed. She was rushed to Johns Hopkins for immediate treatment.

Carrie remained at Johns Hopkins for chemo treatments and a bone marrow transplant for six months, returning home to her husband and children in March 2009. Carrie and family are now celebrating 100% remission of her illness.

It’s no wonder why this amazing family was nominated for a portrait session during my “Giving is Awesome” campaign. The Legge family shares a tightly-knit bond that is secured by their faith in God and their deep love for one another. They are a shining example of courage; four gorgeous children who missed their mom tremendously while she underwent treatment, a father balancing his time between his children and his wife, and a mother fighting to return home to her family.

Our session was filled with tons of laughter and smiles; the kids even brought a soccer ball, football, and baseball to throw around in-between shots. I didn’t even have to encourage them to get closer to one another while I shot family photographs. One courageous family, closer than ever.

Sweet Elaina | Fairfax, Virginia Newborn Photographer

This was an incredibly special session for me this morning! Baby Elaina is the daughter of a dear friend of mine from college, someone whom I haven’t seen in (calculating….) nine years! How amazing to share this new chapter of her life together! She and I met on the secluded fifth floor of our dorm freshmen year…a very special place for the fifty women who lived there. You see, the elevator only traveled to the fourth floor of the building and access to the fifth floor could only be found by locating two top-secret staircases. Needless to say, my parents were thrilled to learn this on move-in day!

This session was an absolute dream, I must confess. Elaina literally slept the entire time I was at the C. house today. We made sure to keep the house temperature within swamp conditions, so she slept quite comfortably in the nude while I posed her. I was a sweaty mess, but it was definitely worth the sweet images here, don’t you think?

And check out big sister, Natalie! She’s gorgeous and an amazing big sister, to boot! All my love to the C. family for inviting me to capture this special time in your family’s life.

7:00 on Sunday | Frederick, Maryland Children’s Photographer

Everyone has their morning rituals. Mine used to include sleeping-in on the weekends, reading the newspaper, lazily watching HGTV from the comfort of my bed, and feasting on breakfast during it all. With kids, our mornings have changed a bit you would say. “I have to go potty”, crib-shaking, happy-squealing wake-up calls is the new normal and we cherish it all.

Our daughter loves greeting her baby brother in the mornings, from the opening of his bedroom door, to the “Good Morning!” song she sings to him, followed by a shared playtime in the crib. She brings in a basket of toys, a handful of books, or even a stuffed animal for them to play with…and I just sit back and watch, thanking my lucky stars that I’m their Mom.

Lucky | Frederick, Maryland Children’s Photographer

Sessions like this one make me melt–three sisters, two hours, lots of love and even a little nit-picking at one another. Real life, documented.

I had the pleasure of teaching the oldest when she was only in the 5th grade; she begins her second year of high school this fall and before I know it, I’ll be watching her walk the stage to accept her diploma. I’m lucky to know these sisters and love witnessing their growth and the undeniable bond that they share.

Amazing family. Gorgeous girls. Beautiful day. Lucky me!

Thank you to the K family for inviting me to capture these sweet memories for you once again!

And the winner is… | Frederick, Maryland Portrait Photographer

My kids wore their finest for this big event, folks. My son sporting his tie shirt, and my daughter thoughtfully chose her fairy wings, tutu, purple high heels, and construction hat.

My daughter stirred the entries like a soup and quickly picked one out…

Warmest congratulations to…

James and Danelle Sergent!!! I believe they are on a vacation right now, so I do hope they see this while they’re enjoying time away.

James and Danelle went through two years of infertility combined with failed IVF treatments. After this struggle, they were thrilled to welcome a baby boy into their hearts and home through adoption. Two months after he was born, the birth mother requested him back. Along this painful journey, James and Danelle discovered they were pregnant–without fertility treatments–and due this September. I look forward to helping them celebrate this incredibly special time in their lives!

My thanks to each contestant and the number of friends and family who helped them in this contest! I am offering a $100 print credit to ALL of the other contestants if they choose to book a session before the end of the year.

An early Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful Dads…especially to my favorite one–my amazing husband, Ken.

Energy! :: Frederick, Maryland Children’s Photographer

I imagine this family’s house is filled with tons of energy–two adorable boys running around, making up games together, and laughing hysterically until it hurts! They were tons of fun to photograph downtown over the weekend, despite a little rain during the session. We even ended the session atop a Frederick City fire company’s engine! Lots of love to the R. family for inviting me to capture these memories for you.