Lake Date

I love when things just fall into place and work out. I couldn't have planned today better if I had tried!

 

Danette and her little family are in town from Connecticut visiting her family {I work with her mom who is like my second mom}. Typically whenever Danette comes to town I go to the beach so it was unusual that we would both be in VA at the same time. We had chatted about hanging out while she was here BUT knew it would be hard to squeeze it in. I was thrilled when I got a text last night from her asking about my plans for the day. I told her that we were going to the lake but I could rearrange things since Kimberly had a flexible schedule today too. Kimberly and I planned a lake date today with the three Lennox littles and their summer brother. Danette said they were planning on doing the same thing so it couldn't have worked out more perfectly. We met up at the lake and had a lovely morning!

Grammy doesn't get to see her babies as much as she would love to.  She is enjoying every single moment she has with them while they are in town and I couldn't be happier to have been able to capture just a few of them! Here are a few of our photos from the day!

Danette and I are soul sisters and besties across the miles. Although we don't see each other often each time it is like no time at all has passed. I love how Facebook and a smart phone can keep you so connected {luckily we have unlimited texting because I am certain we would go over each month if not}. Danette is an amazing person with a positive outlook on life. She is smart, nurturing, caring, sympathetic and always has the right things to say. Danette has been my shoulder to cry on more times than once through some really tough times and she has always listened, without judgement and offered encouragement and support. There are so many things that I admire about her but most of all she has followed her dreams and is an amazing mom to two beautiful little babies, G and Ben! She truly is a wonderful person and I am lucky to call her a friend.

Cheri, Kimberly and I work together and have been friends for as long as I've been there. Danette and Kimberly hit it right off because being mommies and reality TV junkies! We had lots to chat about after this weeks Bachelorette drama and the upcoming episode of Big Brother. {Don't judge!} We had a great chill day at the lake and Kimberly and I didn't even have to get in the murky lake water.

The Lennox crew are no strangers to my lens and I wasted no time snapping pictures of their beautiful little faces. I always have a blast hanging out with them and Kimberly truly is one of my closest and dearest friends who I also adore. We always have fun adventures together with her three littles. My heart was melting today when Katy was asking me to push her on the swing, "Mrs. Jones, push me high in the sky, please." Ryan was at his best today with his silly sense of humor and charm. He had us cracking up even if he was being "all boy."He hung out with us at the swings while P played with their summer brother. Ryan is a little tooting machine and sometimes trouble with a capital T! You can see the twinkle in his eyes.

Another great summer day! Feeling blessed to have such great friends and a job that allows me to enjoy summer days stress free! I am so sad to say goodbye to July because the reality that August brings is breaking my heart {Sigh!}. 

The Holmes Family

Today I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing the Holmes Family. Monica and Stuart are celebrating their 2 year wedding anniversary today and Junelle turned 2 months so it was a perfect day for a photo shoot. The weather was gorgeous again {very low humidity and mild summer temps} and we shot in their back yard! I immediately fell in love with their yard and a gorgeous tire swing {I know maybe tire swings aren't typically described as gorgeous but my artist eye loved the look of it}. The lighting couldn't have been more perfect and Junelle was such a trooper and didn't fuss much at all.

There are so many things I love about photography and this short journey has already been amazing. I really love meeting new people and getting to know them during our time together. I always hope to make people feel relaxed and comfortable so they are at their best in front of my lens. I know I've said it before a thousand times but one of my favorite parts of photography is watching families interact with each other. Some of my best captures are the ones that are unposed, unthought out, and a family really being caught in a moment! 

Monica and Stuart were so genuine and such a loving couple. They are adjusting well to parenthood and life with a newborn. Monica is a teacher {we have that in common} and her husband Stuart is a pilot. I loved chatting with them about work, family, photography, pets and their new life as parents to sweet Junelle. Junelle was named after Stuart's grandma and her middle name, Luree is after Monica's aunt. Isn't it a beautiful name, Junelle Luree?! Whether they call her by her full name, June or Junebug she is a doll baby and was a gorgeous little model this morning.

Monica and Stuart will be celebrating their anniversary tonight sans baby by going out to dinner (a true delight for new parents)! They had already exchanged gifts and Stuart wasted no time in busting out Monica's present, a new camera! Yes, you read that right he got out HER camera, the gift he gave to her :)! Since he is gone for days at a time with work she wanted to be able to capture every moment so daddy wouldn't miss things while he was away. Stuart was really interested in learning how to use the camera in manuel mode so he experienced Jones Photog 101! I gave him a quick lesson in ISO, aperture, shutter speed and all things photography haha. Mommy is going to put it on P and snap away! 

Sandy and Sophie joined us for some shots. Stuart and Monica rescued these two beautiful ladies in April, when Monica was 7 months pregnant! They were dropped off at the shelter together and Stuart couldn't separate them so of course he thought it would be a great idea to adopt two dogs. Monica wasn't so sure about the idea at first considering they would soon have a newborn and two dogs. They have fallen in love with the dogs and already have funny stories to share like how they race downstairs at night to fight over a chair {when there is a perfectly good love seat too}. The girls had huge separation anxiety at first and insisted on being together at all times even though Monica tried walking them separately, ya know that whole pregnant thing? Sandy is a bit sneaky and made off with a blanket and chalk board during our shoot. She also is enjoys opening packages, like daddy's anniversary present that was delivered while they weren't home. {OOPS!} 

It was such a great morning meeting this wonderful couple, their beautiful baby girl and their fur babies. I've had such a hard time picking favorite for Facebook and my blog and as I keep going back to 200+ images this one stuck out. I am laughing OUT loud at her expression. Google image search "tough baby" and I think you have her true love! If you were captioning this photo what would it say?! I say, "You want a piece of ME?"

ENJOY the slide show!

Lennox Family Slide Show

Lennox Family Photo Shoot- I hope you enjoy the images :)! 

Lennox Family

 The Lennox's are one of my favorite families to hang out with during the summer! Kimberly and I work together and became friends way back when I started {7 years ago, wow has it been that long?}. We always have fun adventures and today was no different, well except we made John tag along! We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather this morning for the Lennox family photo shoot!

Kimberly married her true love, John and their family became complete with Patrick (8), Ryan (6) and Katy (2). She often says they have two boys and a little rose <3. You may have read about this lovely family here or here.

I know I have said it before but part of why I love photography is being able to watch people and families interact with each other and capture moments. I adored watching the Lennox crew play together at the park this morning.

Kimberly and John are amazing parents and balance each other so well. John is protective and Kimberly would call him a tad OCD {we have that in common} while she is laid back and takes everything in stride. They make a great team to these three littles.

Patrick is the oldest. He must always be first. He is a rule follower at school, smart, funny, sweet, and sometimes just a little bit stinky!

Ryan and Patrick are best friends. They play together and always have so much fun but they also know how to push each other's buttons and that they do sometimes.

Ryan is the middle. He is charming, witty, hilarious, and sometimes just a little bit sneaky! Ryan's sole purpose in life is to be a big brother. He loves Katy like nothing I've ever seen before {not that P doesn't but it's different}.

Katy is the baby! She is the one that completed the Lennox family <3. She is adorable, silly, and sometimes just a little bit naughty.

We had a great morning at the park and I cannot wait to share the slide show with you! There are so many awesome pictures I had such a hard time picking favorites for Facebook and this post! Thank you Kimberly and John for giving me the opportunity to capture your gorgeous family. 

Happy 1 Year Anniversary!

It is July 28, 2013 which means that today we've been married for exactly one year. This year sure went fast and was full of memories. We've spent lazy days in bed, taken lots of long weekends at the beach, visited Florida and Vegas, celebrated birthdays, holidays and our first Christmas married in our home, laughed until we couldn't breath, watched way too many YouTube videos together, cooked delicious dinners, snuggled, played with the puppies, fought {but just a little}, and loved!  When I think back to this exact day a year ago, I couldn't have imaged a more amazing weekend {OK, there were a few bumps!}. We had the "paparazzi, Suhail and Sarosh following us around all weekend and beautiful images that we will cherish for years to come.

The weekend started with our Friday night photo shoot. Saturday morning I woke up early to be pampered and primped by Molly at Glimmer Weddings. The wedding was unbelievably beautiful and everything I could have dreamed of with every detail being PERFECT! The flowers that Nana did were stunning and the colors just popped. Being surrounded by the people who love us most in my favorite place in the world as we celebrated our special day truly meant everything to us. We enjoyed most of the day relaxing at Nana and Papa's inside and on the back deck. Nana and Lynn, my mother-in-law made yummy little appetizers and we had a beautiful little cake. A perfect OBX sunset on the Sound was how we finished up our evening before heading to our beach escape. Sunday morning we woke up early for one last shoot on the beach at sunrise. It truly was everything I could have hoped for and more. I married my best friend, an amazing man and husband who has taught me so much about love and life. I have never felt so loved, taken care of and protected in my life and everyday our love grows and becomes stronger. Roger is a wonderful man who I love having by my side in good times and in hardship. He supports and encourages me in all that I do and has given me strength and confidence to pursue my photography business which I am forever thankful for because it has brought me so much happiness. I am the luckiest woman in the world and I live a blessed life. To document our one year anniversary we had a mini photo shoot in our yard with the tripod and wireless shutter remote. Here are a few of my favorites!

Our love story is a whirlwind romance and for those of you who know it may agree that we were truly meant to be together and were brought together by God. This song captures us perfectly! Here's to many more years together filled with small moments and big milestones. Happy Anniversary to the man I wasn't even going to give my number to, my knight in shining armor and Prince Charming himself, Roger!

<3 I couldn't be happier or ask for a better man to share my life with! Thank you for being persistent and determined on April 30, 2011 our fateful meeting date and for sticking around even when I was not the easiest person to love! 

Annandale 40th Class Reunion

I had a great time at the Annandale High School 40th Class Reunion on Friday night. It was awesome to see old friends reconnect, reminisce about the past and share stories of their present lives. Friday night was hosted by the Vickery's and fun was had by all.

BYOB Painting Class

A few months ago I became obsessed with Groupon and Living Social! I guess there is just something about a good deal and I am always looking for fun things to do with friends during the summer months.   While Katie and I were comparing iCals to schedule some summer fun we hopped on the Groupon app to check out the deals. Katie had done a Living Social Sippin' and Painting class and loved it so I wanted to find something similar. I was so happy when I found a BYOB painting class that I accidentally purchased 3 vouchers before even looking at any info (and it posted to Facebook immediately)! We might have been working when that happened :) and I got an FB notification email .2 seconds later from my husband saying, "Oh did she?" LOL! The more the merrier so I invited Christine to come along with us for a girls night out.

Each class has a theme and they are offered on Wednesday nights, Friday nights, and Saturday afternoons and nights. We found a date that worked and registered for the River Bend class {we weren't in love with the theme but the date worked and we knew it would be fun}.

FR Design was a little tricky to find because there isn't a huge sign in front of the studio but it was a great space! Fran, the owner welcomed us at the door with excitement. A large party with a breast cancer survivor had asked Fran if she would mind changing the theme to something with a little splash of pink. Since Fran is also a breast cancer survivor she offered a few choices for the group! We decided on a gorgeous landscape with a pink sky and pretty flowers! Looking at the painting I thought, "There is NO WAY that I will be able to paint anything that even resembles that." but our instructor Ahmed and his helper Lauren were amazing.

Ahmed explained and modeled each step and they circulated around the room to help, NOT "fix" anyone's painting! It was amazing to watch the layers build and the painting slowly come together. There are about 15 ladies and not one picture looked the same! Everyone did an awesome job.

The instructors were awesome and Ahmed had a great sense of humor. At one point I was a little concerned with my horizon line and he said, "Oh great, I guess we will just get you a new canvas. There is no way to fix that. We must start over." Haha! He took turns complimenting each painting as well as cracking jokes at our painting skills.

Lauren also offered words of encouragement and was willing to help anyone who needed it.

We had an absolute blast and cannot wait to sign up for our next class! What do you think of our paintings?

We are planning to do the Light House theme on Saturday, August 17th from 6-9! Please let me know if you would like to join us. Fran is willing to give us the Groupon rate by purchasing through her :)!