Gravelly Point Fall Family Portraits

The expansive greenery and waterfront at Gravelly Point in Arlington, Virginia, provides a picturesque backdrop for portrait photography with its stunning views of the iconic Washington, D.C., skyline.  The proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport adds a unique and dynamic element to the shots, capturing the energy and movement of planes taking off and landing against the cityscape.

Take a moment to enjoy some recent family portraits I captured this past fall for this family’s Christmas cards, and a small set of senior portraits for their graduating avgeek soon heading off to college.

Baby Amelia - Newborn Lifestyle Portraits

This past October, Mahsa and Peyman welcomed their baby girl Amelia into the world with much excitement!  You’ll remember seeing their late-Summer Maternity Photos last month at a nearby botanical garden.

Newborns, as you followers know, are not my most common photography focus, but I’ve been knowledgeable about the precious genre for quite some time, having assisted a friend in another market with her newborn business and aiding retouching many of her photos; baby Amelia marks my third newborn photography session of my own, and I’m feeling more confident expanding this area of family photography!

For newborns, you typically want to capture them in the first week or two, when they are still flexible from the womb and peacefully sleepy, which are both key for allowing many of the most desired poses.  Due to scheduling, we missed that early window, and captured Amelia at 25 days old - it’s impressive how quickly babies grow muscles!  Amelia is strong, and was managing to unwrap herself and could somewhat propel herself on our set by her feet if you gave her a hand to push against.

We started with a crocheted baby quilt made and gifted by a relative, and captured other variations, and some loving family care time next.  This was also the day after Mahsa’s birthday, so the family celebrated with cake and tea after Mahsa blew out her candles.

Can’t wait to see how quickly little Amelia grows!

Executive Headshot Portraiture - 2023

In today's digitally driven professional landscape, the significance of maintaining a curated collection of high-quality, publication-ready headshot photographs cannot be overstated for the modern Corporate Executive.

Professional Headshot Portraiture serves as the visual representation of an individual's personal brand, and plays a pivotal role in making a positive first impression across various platforms, including professional publications, websites, and social media platforms like LinkedIn. A selection of well-crafted headshots not only conveys competence and approachability, but also enhances one's professional credibility.

Investing in the skill and experience of a professional photographer is essential to ensure that these portraits effectively capture the individual's unique personality and convey a polished, authentic image. Professionals who leverage the quality of a professional photographer’s work are more likely to present themselves with confidence and professionalism, ultimately contributing to their success in networking, career advancement, and overall professional image.

When planning a headshot portrait session, it’s important to remember one single photo can’t cover all your bases, even as an individual first joining the workplace. While scheduling your portrait session, I consult with you to learn your branding needs, prospective uses, existing portraits and how new ones will compliment or replace them, and discuss with you ways to get the most out of your portrait session.  Based on your needs, I capture and deliver portraits that fit your current requirements, as well as additional crops and variations to fit additional uses, graphic design flexibility, and future-proofing for unforeseen display scenarios.

A comprehensive photoshoot with me will create, or add to your existing, catalogue of variations to select from for different use-case scenarios. A well-rounded portrait library includes multiple options of formal & informal poses, wardrobes, and expressions, and studio-backdropped & environmental locations; consulting with me can cover all of these bases in a single booking.

In 2023 I saw a great uptick in people getting their headshots updated, their portraiture libraries expanded, as well as first-timers capturing their first professional headshots - everyone can tell when you have an iPhone photo, even in “Portrait Mode;” you need the real thing to be taken seriously.

I’m looking forward to capturing and seeing more of you in 2024; click here to start planning and scheduling today.

Latoya & Shawn: Married November 11th, 2023

On Latoya and Shawn’s wedding day, time danced in harmony with their love – a surreal blend of moments that lingered and flew by in a heartbeat. It feels like just a whisper of seasons since Shawn surprised Latoya during a family photo session, yet in reality, a whole year has woven its tale. On a serene Fall day at a country club, nestled not far from the heart of Fairfax, friends and family of Latoya and Shawn converged to witness the couple's union and commemorate the commencement of a new chapter in their lives.

Engaged in shared glances, a symphony of happy smirks adorns both Latoya and Shawn when their minds drift to one another. I sensed their magnetic connection the day Latoya unknowingly spoke of Shawn, just materialized before he materialized for their proposal. That same smirk, perhaps embellished with a dash more sass, graced Shawn's face when Latoya sent over a box of breath mints while Shawn was suiting up for saying “I Do.”

Shawn, a fellow photographer, got to experience being on the other side of the lens; you can catch glimpses of his photography on Instagram @828Visuals.

Amidst the breathtaking canvas of Autumn's final flourish, Latoya and Shawn exchanged vows just before the sun dipped below the horizon. The celebration continued with the dance floor alive with lights and favorite songs. As the night embraced its final moments, the Latoya and Shawn stole away for an intimate last dance, savoring the essence of the day. Loved ones bid them farewell in style, showering them with confetti and streamers, creating a dazzling spectacle as they kissed beneath the moonlight before embarking on their honeymoon.

What a magnificent conclusion to 2023! Wishing you all a Happy New Year – dive into Latoya & Shawn’s wedding pictures to usher in the magic of 2024!

Sandstone Care: Chantilly, VA Detox Center

Starting off 2023, Sandstone Care opened its latest treatment center in Virginia, the Virginia Detox Center in Chantilly.

The Virginia Detox Center is a medical detox and inpatient treatment facility serving Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, providing care for young adults and adults to overcome substance use, addiction, and co-occurring mental health conditions.  Patients are provided 24/7 medical supervision, daily residential programming and therapy sessions, and forming a pathway to discharge from intake.  The center also provides support for those in transitional living communities, Partial Hospitalization, and Intensive Outpatient Programs.

I captured marketing and promotional images of the new facility for Sandstone Care, which has been widely utilized on their website, social media, and facility directory listings.

NOTE: All individuals pictured are paid talent and are not actual patients.