kg.leaf photography - the blog

Best of 2011 | Maryland Fine Art Photographer

2012-01-17T13:05:00.005-05:00

Wow, 2011 just passed us by in a blur, didn't it? Looking back, I had so many wonderful sessions that were memorable for numerous reasons. I met so many wonderful new people, people I would love to work with again. I know this post is a bit late, but better late than never right?

A year in review, kg.leaf photography. My favorites from all of the wonderful sessions I was blessed to have last year!

My lovely daughter turned 9.

The delicious newborn babies I got to meet.

A very special styled session, 1950's modern housewife. Which was a gift to her husband to announce her pregnancy.

The first (and I pray not the last) birth I've been oh so blessed to be a part of.

Destination photographer, Rehoboth Beach.

Two local photographers asked me to capture memories for their families.

The 2nd annual minis benefiting the FRM.

So many beautiful girls.

So many handsome boys.

And many gorgeous families

What a year. I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store for me! Thank you all so much for not only allowing me to be a part of your memories, but for being a part of mine too.

Time Sure Flies | Maryland Fine Art & Baby Photographer

2012-01-10T10:06:00.005-05:00

Over the Christmas holiday, I had a brief visit with my newest niece! You may remember the story of her birth here and her official debut here. She's already 8 months old and growing like a weed! And I think she looks just like her Momma. :)

Her royal chubness!

Doing a mini shoot with a 8 month old inside is just a bit on the challenging side. You can see the elephant I knit her for Christmas in the background as my lame attempt to entertain her for more than 3 seconds!

This outfit was supposed to be her coming home outfit...who knew it would be too big for her AND fit her at such an older age!

It was good to see you again Ms. Jada! I will be seeing you again soon. xoxo

Addition | Maryland Fine Art & Newborn Photographer

2012-01-04T10:45:00.004-05:00

I've been wanting to do a "Best of 2011" post, but with two posts that are technically in 2011 not up yet...it will have to wait! This post is the first of the two.

I just love new babies! They are so soft and squishy and cute and make sweet noises. My good friend Ms E had her little guy right around Thanksgiving of last year. Remember this post? These were actually to announce her pregnancy to her husband, but I couldn't say so at the time. :)

I didn't get my hands on the little guy until he was right around a month old, so we had to do things a bit different than we normally do. I still love the results. Isn't he just amazing?

I love that most of these "props" were things that mom brought. Many of them are handmade by either her or a friend. The cocoon was a handmade gift and the plum blanket was made by her.

She also made this teal blanket! I loved this color combo.

Dad is a Cubs fan, so we did a little setup for him. :)

Had to sneak in one of big brothers, aren't they gorgeous?

I love these boys, and my camera loves them even more. *swoon*

They are so proud of their new baby brother!

Thank you again Mom for letting me spend time with you and your beautiful babies!

Personal Time | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-12-12T11:27:00.004-05:00

As most of you know, I have closed my calendar and am taking some time for myself these next few months. It is essential, recharging for next year is just priceless to me. Plus, I don't want to miss out on this time of year with my beautiful girls. I'm going to try and put up some personal posts these next few months in hopes that you can see who I'm carving out time for, and for myself to prove I haven't completely put down my camera! ;)

My little miss is turning 6 here soon! We had her party on Sunday with school friends, she was so excited! She asked for a rainbow party. So I hopped on Pinterest, found some really cool ideas and went with it. I love how it turned out, and so did she! I admit, I love party planning. I find it so much fun!

We had a rainbow candy table for party favors. After the party the guest would grab their personalized monogram bag (felt bags were purchased on the cheap at a local craft store during a deep discount, felt letters were hand cut by me) and we'd fill a baggie with their favorite candies.

Rainbow cupcakes were really easy to make! Cupcakes and frosting were made from scratch and were Pinterest inspired. The balloons on the right was one of the party games. Each balloon contained a goodie. Guests took turns popping the balloons and collecting the goodies inside. A different spin on a pinata, if you will!

And her favorite part, the monsters. :) Hand knit by me, each guest got to "adopt a monster" to take home as a party favor.

With 2 more birthdays in the next two months....I've got more party planning to do. :) Look for more posts in the future!

Last Session of the Year! | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-11-09T10:41:00.004-05:00

As many of you already know, I have closed my calendar for the remaining of the year and into early next year. This is my time to reflect on all that has happened during the year, re-evaluate what I'm doing and why I'm doing it, and honestly just take a break from the busy factor this adds to my life. It energizes me to get back up on the horse next year and capture your families in amazing ways!

This family is the winner of the contest I held last year with the top 10 images of the year. And this little doll is no stranger to my camera, or to any of you as I'm sure you recognize her!

We decided to have a change of pace for this session, which I love. My last two sessions of the year were different for me, and it was awesome! We headed into downtown Frederick and had a little fun at the end. :)

I love the honesty that this age brings in front of the camera. You can't script this stuff!

And I just love the natural curiosity.

Artist's favorite.

And what did I tell you? We had some fun. This was Ms. K's first ice cream cone! I think she took it quite well :)

Not sure what there is to be mad about when you've got an ice cream cone in your hand....

...but it didn't last long! The little ham.

Thank you again Mom for the fun session! It was great seeing you both again.

A Change in Scenery | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-11-04T17:21:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of meeting this family last year during the FRM minis. When Mom contacted me this year for a session and suggested her backyard, I was thrilled. I love getting out and finding new places to shoot, finding ways to be creative with what's around and just getting a change in scenery!

These kiddos are just as adorable as I remember them.

Aren't they sweet?

They have a shed on their property that made for a stunning spot to shoot in!

Mom and Dad may want to start preparing for when the boys come around for this one!

I can't tell you how much I love it when Mom and Dad request shots by themselves!

Look at that little guy! What a charmer. :)

Thank you again Mom and Dad for having me out to your home! It was great seeing all of you again.

A New Little Pumpkin | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

2011-11-02T10:43:00.005-04:00

I'm still in the Halloween spirit, can't you tell? ;)

Ahhh! This time of year gets so busy for me. For all photographers really. It's one of the reasons I cut my calendar off so early, so that this part of my year can remain manageable for me. This blog post has been a long time coming, I'm sorry for the delay!

I met the parents of this adorable little guy during the FRM minis. I am so blessed to have been able to do his very first pictures as well! He was so sweet and perfect, he even made little noises my oldest daughter did when she was that little, noises I had forgotten about and made my heart ache for the baby she once was.

This little guy was the perfect age for these images. Less than a week old, very sleepy and so well behaved! ;) I know I say this at least once a year - but to anyone that is interested in having newborn images done, the time to contact me regarding pictures is before your due date, not after your baby is born. This way I can ensure I have a spot for you and it gets done in the 2 week window of opportunity for newborns.

On to the images - less talk, more baby pictures!

Look, he smiled!

This yellow quilt was special to them and was made by a family member. I loved the yellow and brown contrast!

And someone please tell me why the boys are always the one getting the amazing lashes?

This blanket was made by his grandmother. I love incorporating special pieces into sessions!

Artist's favorite.

Thank you again so much A & B for the chance to meet your sweet little guy! I hope you enjoy him to the fullest each and every day.

Little Princesses | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-10-28T11:00:00.003-04:00

Finally! The very last mini session blog post! Thank you all for bearing with me on these - things have been crazy around here. I have a few more blog posts of sessions I've had since these minis to put up too, you'll see those soon!

I did these little dolls last year too. They are so fun and sassy! Two very different girls. They remind me so much of my older two. I miss them being this little!

These little guys made an appearance last year too - I thought it was high time they were included with their own portrait! :D

This one is my favorite from the whole session. It was getting really dark, and the street lights had come on. Just look at that sweet and sassy!!

Thank you so much to the B family for your generous donation to the FRM!

Sisters | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-24T11:10:00.003-04:00

These sisters are so sweet! Each of them were amazing to capture on camera in their own way. I really enjoyed working with some older girls again, they are always up for fun things!

Hehe. This little one was such a ham and wanted to always be in on the action! She was constantly doing this with her tongue too, so cute!

Thank you again so much to the B family for your generous donation to the FRM!

Family of 3 | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-19T14:05:00.003-04:00

I love shooting families of 3. The kids are always so in love with having so much time with their parents and it makes for great images! This little cutie was a bit shy at first, but warmed up towards the end. I fell in love with her hair!

Father-daughter images like this melt me!

Isn't she a doll?

Thank you so much to the G family for your generous donation to the FRM!

Kicking Off the Last Day of Minis | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-18T13:12:00.004-04:00

Isn't this family adorable? The kids were great to work with and the parents were easy going - my kind of people! This family was the first family on my last day of minis. By this last day I was really ready to pack it in and finish these up, I was tired. And the minis on this last day ended up being my favorites yet.

Thank you again to the S family for your generous donation to the FRM!

Special | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-17T16:00:00.005-04:00

This family is a blended family with the family in the previous post. They share the oldest daughter. How special is it that they decided to have a mini on the same day (back to back!) so that BOTH families could have all of it's members. It was very special to watch. :)

He's showing me his sweet tattoo :)

Thank you again so much for your generous donation to the FRM!

And Now a Family of Five | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-13T15:19:00.005-04:00

I have been shooting this family since it was just Mom and her little girl....my how things change in the course of just a few short years! Now they're an adorable family of five. :)

I had a really hard time narrowing down these images. I always do with this family, they make my job so easy and anything goes - just what I love!

Remember this guy? He's all grown up now!

I've known this girl since she was a baby. She's always been a beauty!

There are snails all over this location - we found on in a tree! Do you see it?

Thank you so much again for your generous donation to the FRM!

This Little Dude | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-11T16:34:00.003-04:00

I have been shooting this little guy since he was in the womb! ;) I am so blessed to have repeat clients that keep coming back for more year after year. I don't know that all of you realize how much that means to me!

Shy guy. :)

Loves his momma. :) I have one of him last year in this exact same pose!

Thank you so much to the W family for their generous donation to the FRM!

Lovely | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-10-10T12:34:00.005-04:00

A break from the minis for a moment to show off these 3 lovely kiddos! Mom won this session during an auction raising money for a local family whose child has a heart ailment. There were a few things I especially loved about this session...

I loved the light. I'm still drooling!!

I loved this girl's heart for dance and the beautiful art it made.

I loved this girl - she was pretty much a young version of me. Artistic, lover of nature, and a bit on the quirky side :)

I loved that Mom told the kids to pick out their own outfits for this session, she wanted their outfits to reflect who they were as individuals. And they sure went all out, right down to the dino boots and toys of this little guy.

He set them up this way. Such a boy, and so cute :)

I also loved how mom just let us go, she didn't follow us closely, she didn't tell her kids to smile every second of our time together. She just let her kids be who they were. And it really shows in these images.

Thank you Mom for coming out and for sharing your lovely kids with me!

Remember this Giggly Family? | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-06T09:46:00.003-04:00

If you've been following my work for a while, then I'm sure you remember this family! I had a session with them a few years back, and they were the giggliest bunch I've ever had the pleasure of shooting. Time hasn't changed them a bit. :)

In case you're wondering....no, I did not tell them to do any of this! They just love each other!

I'd be proud of my kids acting like this too :)

Kids that love each other and their parents the same way? I honestly don't see this type of affectionate love for each other all that often.

Thank you so much to the B family for your generous donation to the FRM!

Mommy and Me | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-05T20:18:00.004-04:00

I love Mommy-daughter sessions (and Mommy-son sessions!). Mommy and me sessions. I love them. I love the intimacy, I love the love you can feel jumping off the image, I love the way the kids' eyes light up because they have special time alone with one of the most important people in their lives. I am so happy to have done one of these sessions during the minis!

So sassy :)

Thank you so much again Mom for your generous donation to the FRM!

W family | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-10-04T12:49:00.003-04:00

Another mini family, this time with an adorable little girl and her adorable brothers! These kids cracked me up. They wanted nothing more than to find bugs in the grass and explore their world. Reminds me of 2 of my own kiddos :)

Aren't they cute?? :)

Thank you again so much to the W family for their generous donation to the FRM!

Cousins | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-09-30T17:08:00.003-04:00

Back to the minis! Up next are a set of cousins. I've known the youngest boy's mom for years, and I remember celebrating his birth. It's amazing to see how big he's gotten!

The two older boys are brothers. You can tell all 3 are related!

Thank you again so much to both Moms for your generous donation to the FRM!

Expecting | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Maternity Photographer

2011-09-28T11:49:00.003-04:00

Back to the long list of minis! You're going to get blog post overload these next few days. I can't wait to share all of the gorgeous families and their images!

This couple is expecting their first baby, a boy! New life is so exciting, especially for first time parents. I cannot WAIT to meet their little man in a few weeks! ;)

I absolutely adore these next two images, my favorites from the set. She looks so beautiful, and I am in love with the sweetness that they show towards one another.

Thank you so much to both of you for your generous donation to the FRM! I will be seeing you very, very soon - have a wonderful delivery!

Beach Bunny | Rehoboth Beach Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-09-27T11:48:00.004-04:00

Ahh, what an awesome session this was - and what an awesome change of scenery for me! I LOVE shooting somewhere new. It's a refreshing change. I'm sure you all know how the weather this month has been pretty dicey, we were so blessed to have a beautiful day the day of this session. The colors of the scenery couldn't have been more gorgeous.

I got to spend some time beforehand and afterwards with this family, I really enjoyed them! Their sassy little girl was so perfectly at home here, and came right up to me declaring that I needed to come and visit her sleepover club. :) That's a really high compliment in my book!

What a gorgeous family!

Ever the protector :)

Can't forget about the dog - dogs like to have fun too!

Mom really wanted to get some of their "first baby", he's getting up there in years. I very, very quickly fell in love with this dog!

Thank you so much R family for your hospitality and the opportunity to capture these memories for you! And thank you Mom for your suggestions on where my husband and I should eat while staying there - we had so much fun exploring the town!

Tiny and Precious | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Baby Photographer

2011-09-26T11:16:00.004-04:00

This little girl is so tiny and sweet! Mom handed her off to me to fill out the paperwork and I got a few seconds to cuddle a little one again. She's a happy baby girl, especially when she's got Mom with her!

Thank you again Mom for your time and generous donation to the FRM! I hope to see you and your little one again. :)

A Doting Big Brother | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-09-22T15:23:00.005-04:00

Another wonderful "mini" family - this time the focus was on two brothers. This is the first time I've really had the pleasure of shooting such a doting big brother, it was just awesome to see! Heart melting, to say the least!

Total sweetness!

Thank you again so very much for your generous donation to the FRM!

The Big Sisters | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-09-20T14:43:00.004-04:00

Round 2 of mini posts! Just a few short weeks ago, I was at this family's house having a session with their brand new baby brother. Now I had the pleasure of playing with their two little girls too! This age is fun, so much to look at and do. Never a dull moment!

The last time I saw this little one, she was only 5 days old!

I love it when I can sneak in family interactions. I don't think their aunt was expecting that! :)

Thank you so much again for your wonderful donations to the FRM!

3rd Time's a Charm | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-09-14T16:22:00.005-04:00

I'm finally able to start putting up posts with the participants of the Frederick Rescue Mission minis! A brief overview in case you're not familiar - these families made generous donations to the Frederick Rescue Mission and in exchange received a mini session with me! In another attempt at saying thank you, I will be dedicating a blog post to each family who shared their resources with this wonderful organization.

This little cutie and her family are well known on my blog - this is the third time I've had the pleasure of creating art for this family, and I've been doing so since she was a newborn!

Can't you just feel Mom's love in this one?

I love this age, they are so honest in front of the camera.

Thank you so much to this wonderful family for their generous donation to the FRM!

Little Misters | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-09-12T12:21:00.003-04:00

I love repeat clients. It was such a treat to be able to spend some time with this family. Their little boy, who is now 3, was one of my very first newborn babies! We've both grown a lot in these past 3 years. :) Since then, their family has grown to a family of 4 and this was the first time I've met their newest addition.

He's such a proud walker!

I love how little Mister #1 looks in the shot on the right. :)

I love the chaos that is this shot. This really is what it means to have a family with little kids!

And look at how proud Mister #1 is of his little brother!

I learned that Dad likes to fish, so I asked them to bring a pole along so Mister #1 could fish with his dad in the creek. No one expected them to actually catch a fish, and on their first try at that!

Thanks so much again Mom and Dad for this time with you, and the chance to capture your boys! I look forward to watching them grow.

Newness | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

2011-09-08T09:53:00.004-04:00

Everyone loves baby pictures!

It was only about a year and a half ago I was visiting this family for the first time with their 2nd baby, and here I was back again for their 3rd baby and first little boy! He was such a sweetie, only 4 days old. He had the most beautiful room I've ever seen for a boy, and he looked just like his sister did at this age.

I love the sweet details of a baby.

And I love them in hats!

I also love using things I find around a client's house to include in their images for a totally one of a kind shot. This was the rug that was in his room in front of his crib. It was such a gorgeous color!

As I was moving things around, I saw this quilt on the couch. I fell in love instantly and just had to include it in the pictures. As I was setting up, Mom came in and saw it. She told me that her husband's grandmother had made it, and that it was extra special that I was using it. What an awesome bonus!

Thank you so much again Mom and Dad for letting me invade your home so soon after the little guy's birth. He's beautiful.

This Beautiful Family | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-09-06T14:26:00.007-04:00

It's been a while since I've blogged! It's not for lack of things to blog about, but rather that I have TOO many things to blog about, and they're all keeping me very busy! The minis benefitting the FRM are in full swing, and I am up to my eyeballs in work. This blog post is actually a calm spot in the storm for me, and one that I'm excited to share because I absolutely love these images and this family!

This beautiful family traveled 1.5 hours for our session. That just blows my mind, and I'm completely humbled by that! And if that weren't flattering enough, Mom says to me "If I see one more Christmas card with a family sitting on their porch and smiling at the camera I'm going to scream. That's why we chose you." We were a match made in heaven! This Mom really did her research on area photographers.

I went back to my friend's farm (which is still for sale, by the way!) for this session. It couldn't have been more perfect.

Mom said she specifically wanted a shot of her and her husband with each child alone. When they were older, she wanted them to have something special to look back on. Such a sweet idea.

Mom also wanted some shots of her and her husband alone, which I also think is a brilliant idea. How often do we get shots of us alone with our spouse when we have kids?

Every woman wants her husband to look at her like this. :)

Thank you so much for your time and travel R family! I am so glad to have been able to capture your memories for you.

tap tap is this thing on? | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-08-22T08:45:00.004-04:00

Long time, no blog! It's been a very busy summer, mainly with me spending absolutely every second I can soaking up my kiddos before they have to go back to school in less than a week *sniff*. But, as I mentioned on my fanpage last week, I have announcement to make - and that's what I'm here for today!

The minis benefiting the Frederick Rescue Mission are back! This is your chance to be a part of something amazing, and be rewarded for it. Last year everyone that participated was so generous, donating more money, food and clothing than I thought we'd get - you amazed me! This is a shot my husband got last year after we packed my van, with ALL of the seats folded down into the floor, of all of your donations. Awesome, right?

You all completely blessed the Mission, and I too was blessed just being a part of this. I can't wait to do it again!

In case you're wondering what the Frederick Rescue Mission is, here's a brief overview according to my contact there.

"The Mission is the largest provider of meals to Frederick's homeless and low-income men, women, and children, serving breakfast and lunch 365 days a year to anyone in need. We're currently serving about 250 - 300 people each day through these meals. In addition, the Mission provides families and individuals with food boxes that help to provide groceries for about a week. The Mission is a free source of clothing and furniture to anyone who has a need, as well as many basic necessities such as hygiene products, blankets, children's toys, backpack supplies, and showers. Lastly, the Mission is home to Beacon House--Frederick's largest transitional shelter for men overcoming life-damaging addictions and homelessness. Men in Beacon House participate in a year-long Changed Life Recovery Program and are restored to their families and communities as upstanding men in the community who have a passion to follow Jesus."

Details: In exchange for a donation of a check in the amount of your choice or food to the Frederick Rescue Mission, you will get one FREE mini session and a FREE 5x7. The types of donations the Mission is in need of are -

Financial. If you choose to donate a check, you choose the amount you would like to give.

Food. The Mission is in need of non-perishable food items for their grocery boxes and for their kitchen. They have specified the following as ongoing needs: Clothes hangers, Plastic dinnerware (forks, plates, cups, etc.), Napkins, Toilet paper, Paper towels, Pancake syrup, Coffee, creamer, sugar.

Gently Used Clothing. While this donation is not what I am requesting in exchange for the mini session, if you have winter clothing (they are preparing for the cold months ahead), coats, blankets or towels that you would like to see go back into our community for those in need, they will get put to great use!

Mini dates are:

Thursday, Sept 1

Sunday, Sept 4

Thursday, Sept 8

Sunday, Sept 11

**Minis will be from 5-6:30, in half hour time slots.

Are you interested?

Fine Print: Session spaces are limited. Minis are 30 minutes long in a predetermined location, and for up to 5 people per party. A signed model release will be required to participate. You will receive 10-15 proofs in an online gallery 1 week after your session date. One (1) free 5x7 image from your session is your gift, and must be ordered by October 1. Due to the nature of these sessions, I will not be focusing on each child individually but rather on the interactions among the participants.

If you would like to participate in this very special event, please email me at tanya@kgleafphotography.com or on facebook to schedule your mini. As I said, the spaces are limited and once they're gone, they're gone! I hope to see many of you out there in a combined effort to support this very worthy cause!

3 Little Lovlies | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-07-11T10:15:00.007-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of shooting another fabulous local photographer and her girls. Some of you may recognize Chrissi from Eyes of a Child Photography and her 3 lovely ladies! Chrissi is on an extended break right now with work, which makes this the perfect time to get her in front of the camera!

Look at those lashes. *swoon*. I don't know what it is lately, but I have had tons of little clients with amazing lashes leaving me wondering - why I wasn't blessed in this department?

I love this age. They are so honest in front of the camera!

Thanks again for a really beautiful evening ladies! I'm anxious to see you girls again. :)

Totally Inspired | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-07-05T10:04:00.003-04:00

I recently had the pleasure and honor of having a session with another local photographer - Susan from Pretty Petal Studio. I am always so flattered when another photographer asks me to capture their family. Susan had some specific ideas in mind on creating more of a stylized session (it was her idea to use the gauzy canopy!), and I just so happened to have the perfect location to shoot at.

Isn't she gorgeous?

I have never met a little boy so in love with his harmonica!

My friend is the owner of this spectacular property. She even has horses, and we were able to spend some time with them!

This little one is SUCH a ham! He also clearly adores his big brother.

Even Ms. Butters the dog came out to greet us during our brief stay.

Thank you so much again Susan for such a fun and inspirational evening! And thank you again to my dear friend that owns this property, which is for sale by the way. You can look up her property on the TTR Sotheby's website if there happens to be anyone out there interested in a gorgeous, historical home and property in Ijamsville. If only I could buy it - I'd never have to leave home for a session again!

An evening full of beauty | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Family Photographer

2011-06-14T14:02:00.004-04:00

What a sweet session this was! We met at one of my favorite locations, which didn't disappoint. Everyone looked beautiful and gave me just what I needed - including the dog! When does that happen?

It was a beautiful evening full of beautiful light, just perfect for the mood of this session.

Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that I continually get such beautiful clients!

See? What did I tell you about this dog? Best behaved dog ever!

Thank you again so much, M family. It was great to meet all of you! You have a gorgeous family, and are truly blessed.

Jada | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

2011-05-31T10:24:00.004-04:00

It's amazing how quickly newborns change. Older kids change from month to month, week to week. But newborns, they change day to day and even hour to hour. Little baby Jada had already changed so much when I came back for her newborn session, and I had photographed her birth only 4 short days earlier. It's amazing, how much they change right before your eyes.

Introducing Ms. Jada! A beauty, if I do say so myself! Though I'm a bit biased, seeing as this is my brand new niece. Oh, and in case you're wondering what the definition of "bitterness" is - that would be forgetting all of the spectacular hats you knit and crochet especially for this session at home....5 hours away. Though I do realize it could have been worse. I could have forgotten my camera.

This little girl, she was so stubborn! Very, very feisty for all of 4 days old! She gave me a run that day.

Mom saved the day with the headbands she had!

Congratulations again to you both, Mom and Dad! Love you two.

A Birth Story | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Birth Photographer

2011-05-23T11:24:00.005-04:00

Before I start, I have two disclaimers. 1) this post is long, and 2) if you do not like to see images of what my husband calls "goopy babies" or a bit of extra skin, this post is not for you. There are no images of straight on shots, but they may be graphic for some.

Now on to the fun stuff! I was honored to have been asked to document this birth. Not only is that amazing in itself, but this also so happens to be my brother and his wife's first child, and my new niece! What an emotional event this was.

I had made the decision after talking to Mom that I would leave in the morning on May 9th to make the 5 hour drive to where they lived to be there in time for the birth. However, I got a call at 2 that morning saying she was in labor and at the hospital. I left at 7 AM to try and make it - she was already 7 cm dilated at that point and I did not have high hopes that I would be there in time. Praise God, I made it and didn't miss a single moment of amazing capture time! So here we are, a birth story.

What a view, huh?

Sunshine Ladies | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Baby Photographer

2011-05-18T13:37:00.005-04:00

I love it when I have people that are just naturally relaxed in front of the camera, like these two ladies! Now, little Miss DID have her moment of "please Mommy don't leave me with the crazy lady and her camera!", but it all worked out beautifully. And I have the pictures to prove it. :)

Oh so serious! If only I could get the older kids to look at me like this.

Mom asked specifically for a breastfeeding picture. I'm so glad - I find them beautiful.

Thanks again for coming out to this location for this shoot, I think the results were well worth it!

Return of the Diva | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Child Photographer

2011-04-26T11:01:00.005-04:00

This little miss was one of my very first clients ever! It's been about 3 years, and if there's one thing I love about being a photographer - it's being asked to come back into someone's life and see them again. It may not seem like it, but on this end - it's incredibly meaningful. I am blessed.

Ms. N is one sassy little girl! She has so much spunk and energy. And she's gorgeous!

I mean, just look at this girl - she's made for the camera.

And we're back to being 7 again :)

Ms. N turned 7 recently!

The further along in my career I go, the more and more I realize how much I enjoy capturing the emotion and the love of a family.

Thank you so much Mom and Ms. N! It was great to see you both again.

25+ comments by the end of the week will earn Mom a free print! Leave some love :)

Little Gia | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

2011-03-28T10:21:00.004-04:00

I loved this little doll! A squishy, cuddly, perfect baby girl who was so good to me. And a long awaited birth, as the parents are dear friends of my husband and I. Fun fact - my husband actually married them! (no, he's not a minister) It's only fitting that a beautiful ceremony that was so meaningful has a meaningful session with this beautiful little girl!

She was such a dream to photograph. She let me play and pose her (though she is QUITE stubborn!). I'm going to go ahead and remind everyone that the sooner I can get your newborn session in, the better it is going to be! There will be less awake time and many more of those fun, bendy poses we all love so much. Little Gia was only 5 days old when I was invited to come over to play. :) It really does make quite a difference!

Mom had bought this adorable headband, it worked perfectly!

Such an in love family!

Congratulations again, D & S, we are so very happy for you!

The Modern Housewife | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-03-21T10:51:00.004-04:00

This was a special project for me, and a really fun one! My dear friend asked me to take some special pictures of her posing as "the modern housewife" - but what that would have meant back in the 50's or so! Such a fun opportunity, one so out of the norm and a nice chance to just play with my camera. Vintage setting calls for vintage processing, you'll notice this isn't what my normal pictures look like. Vintage she wants, vintage she gets.

What modern housewife doesn't enjoy her wine? ;)

Ah, the story of a modern housewife's life!

Ah, thank you so much ladies....this was such a blast!

Up and coming posts: newborn session and an announcement!

Winners Announced! | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-03-11T09:46:00.003-05:00

It's here, the day the winners are announced! Yay!!

I want to take a second and say thank you to everyone that voted and left comments! I am so excited to see how people's friends and families pulled together in an effort to win this contest, and am humbled by all of the beautiful comments. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for making this contest a success!

There were over 600 votes in this contest, wow!! And with just a hair under 30% of the vote, the winner is image #9!

Congratulations Tricia and Desi, you won the $300 gift certificate! I'm looking forward to a session with you and your beautiful daughter this year. :)

The second part of the contest was one winner for a $150 gift certificate to kg.leaf photography, based on the comments left on the blog post. And the winner, chosen by random.org:

Congratulations Debbie Butcher! I will contact both winners shortly!

Thank you again everyone!! I really enjoyed this and look forward to doing something similar next year!

Little Mister | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

2011-03-07T10:02:00.005-05:00

Ah, I love newborns. These sessions are always so vastly different, you just never know what you're going to get! You may remember my session with Mom's little girl I did last year (here and again here), and you may also remember my comment that she didn't want to sleep for me. Well guess what? Her little brother is following in her footsteps haha! I spent 3.5 hours with them, and he was awake for 3 of them! But that didn't stop me from getting some really precious shots. Such a sweet little guy!

He needed a break to eat during our session, all that modeling was making him hungry! I love this shot, it's so real.

Little guy decided he was done sleeping and needed to know what was going on around him! I love the sweetness of the first shot, and just look at his eyes in the second!

And finally, modeling the hat I made him. I can't help it, I find it adorable!

Thanks so much Mom for spending part of your birthday with me to allow me to capture some precious moments for you! Hugs and kisses to you and the rest of the family.

Contest Time! | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-02-24T10:19:00.007-05:00

I told you one was coming! I figure what better way to kick off my calendar being opened back up than a contest. :) Last year I did a "year in review post", and I really enjoyed that. It's really hard to narrow down choices, and I made it even harder on myself this year by picking only 10 client images. These are some of my favorite images from 2010.

This is a two part contest. So here's the deal! Part one -we're going to have a voting period where you, your friends and your family get to vote for an image. The image with the most votes wins, and that family will receive a $300 gift certificate to kg.leaf photography! Exciting stuff!!

Details:

-only one vote per person

-gift certificate is good for a new session in 2011 and expires 9/30/11 (session must take place before this date)

-gift certificate is non-transferrable

Voting ends March 10th, so spread the word to your family and friends and beg them for their vote! It's what I would do. ;)

I even have a little something extra for all of you for part 2 of the contest. Leave a comment on this post to enter to win a $150 gift certificate to kg.leaf photography! Same rules as above apply - one comment per person and the non-transferable certificate is good towards a new session this year and expires 9/30/11. Anyone can enter this part of the contest, even those of you with an image above! Please, just be sure to leave your full name somewhere in the comment so I know who to contact as the winner! I will be announcing the winner both on my fan page and also here on my blog. Be sure to check back sometime on the 11th for the details!

Hop to it! Your votes do count, and the two week period will be gone before you know it.

Follow the link to vote:
What is your favorite kg.leaf photography image from 2010?

My girl, newly 9 | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-02-10T13:48:00.004-05:00

*sniff* Babies grow up so fast, don't they? It's hard to believe my first baby turned 9 a few short weeks ago. Seems like just yesterday I had her, and she needed me for every little thing! Amazing how those "annoyances" quickly become sweet when you look back once they're gone.

It was such a pretty overcast day this day - I was inspired as soon as I headed out. We didn't stay long because though the temperature hasn't been in the low 20's lately, it's still cold! Though, funny how 40 degrees can feel like a heat wave this time of year. ;)

Here are a few of my favorites. You can tell she wasn't really interested - most kids of photographers I know usually aren't. Probably just one more reason we tend not to take many pictures of our kids. This year though, one of my resolutions is to make sure that I do. They grow too fast for that.

She got cold and used my scarf :)

I got more cooperation out of the pretty things I saw. I love seemingly dead plants that really come alive in their winter surroundings.

I've got one more birthday girl coming up in the next few weeks, then I can sit back for a bit! Expect some of her soon, as well as a few newborns I'm waiting on. Yay!!

These are a few of my favorite things | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-25T10:21:00.007-05:00

Some things just make me happy. Color. Textures. Yarn.

Knitting (this is new for me!).

Crochet.

Being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Marrying two passions.

I'm sure you've heard of the horrible floods in Australia by now. A wonderful crocheter that I follow, Sarah London, has come up with a brilliant idea. She has asked for donations of granny squares, and she has dedicated this year to stitching together all of them into blankets for the victims of the floods. How amazing is that? I can crochet my little heart out AND get to show Jesus' love at the same time.

Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

That's an action of love.

Do any of you know how to crochet? If so and you'd like to participate, please head to Sarah's blog and get more information! There are already 278 people sharing this love for their fellow man.

My Style, Example #5 - Intensity and the Eyes | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-19T13:57:00.004-05:00

Ok, last post on examples. :) I'm sure I could find more to say, but I think these are by far the most important.

I have a love for capturing deep, intense looks.

The eyes really are the window to the soul. I love close ups not as much for a smile as I do for the amazing intense feeling of starring deep into someone's eyes in an image.

Don't get me wrong, I love smiles (real ones though!)! But the eyes - they really drive me. There is nothing like looking deep into someone's eyes and seeing a piece of their soul, or seeing a bit of who they are in that moment.

And obviously, I have a deep love for black and white. :)

So here we are. These are the 5 things that you can expect from me as an artist. If you love images like this, I'd love to work with you. If you are looking for something a bit more traditional, or if you're thinking you love my work but want very specific things in your images (like your child looking at the camera and smiling or a nice shot of your entire family smiling at the camera), I will gladly suggest some other photographers in the area that would be a better match for you. I want to make sure we see eye to eye on what my work is about so that we are all happy in the end.

I'm looking forward to a brand new year of beautiful, soul moving images with you!

My Style, Example #4 - Beyond the Face | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-18T11:10:00.004-05:00

Ok, I don't want this to get too long and drawn out - but I have two more examples to share with you. And while at first glance, these next two sort of seem to contradict each other, they actually go hand in hand at the same time.

I love to capture things beyond your child's face. Rather than having them look at the camera and smile, I prefer to instead capture who they are.

The image above is one of my most cherished images of my daughter. In a sense, it could be anyone's daughter. My husband didn't even know which daughter it was when I showed it to him - he actually guessed wrong. The image isn't about what she looks like as much it is about what she loved at that very moment. It's about the essence of childhood at it's most innocent. It's what I'm going to look back on and feel something every time I see it.

It's about capturing a child's spirit.

Or again, the essence of a relationship.

Or those tiny little details you'll soon wish you could remember so clearly.

I want you to look at an image and be able to actually view the feeling of the moment.

If you haven't noticed by now - I am totally driven by feelings in my work. In my mind, what's the point of an image if you don't feel a soul-stiring when you view it? When you watch home movies of your kids, you tend to get teary eyed because, aside from the size they once were, you think of their personalities and quirks that they no longer have or do. Shouldn't you get something similar from an image? I'd like to think yes. That's the point of art. It needs to spark something in your soul!

Last example tomorrow, but both of these posts are so worth it.

My Style, Example #3 - Just BE | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-13T12:00:00.004-05:00

Another passion - your family just being, not posed.

Here's a secret...I don't want to tell you what to do when you're with me. I know many of you look to me for direction, and for the most part I'm pretty vague with it. It's because I'd rather plop you in a spot and have you act like you do when you're at home with your kids, playing with no one else around.

I want to see you sing the song you made up about your child while their face is alive because they know it's just for them.

I want to see you play the game your kids beg you to play with them every night before bed.

Because during these moments, that is when you see - *I* see - your family at it's truest, most beautiful moment.

It's not about looking at the camera and smiling perfectly.

It's about a love so strong you can feel it radiating from the image.

To me, this is the essence of a family shot. When I look back on my family pictures, I want to see the love we had for one another, not a "perfect" replica of what we looked like at the time. Images that make me remember how I felt about my kids being little or that show me how much we love one another. Because that's real. That's honest, pure emotion. And that's beautiful.

My Style, Example #2 - "Undesirable" Additions | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-12T09:21:00.004-05:00

Another example of my passion in my work is capturing your child doing things considered "inappropriate" for a portrait. However, these are also things you will miss about them when they are grown.

I realize Grandma may not like little Joey's fingers in his mouth. But he won't do it forever. When he's grown and you only have memories of the child he once was, you will look back fondly on things like this. You won't think "ugh, he has his fingers in his mouth. It ruins a perfectly good picture." Rather, you will probably think "oh my gosh, I remember when he used to do this! He looks so sweet an innocent here, I miss him being little."

And the pacifier?

In just a few short years, she will be far past this stage of her life. Will you remember how her chubby little fingers would grab and hold her beloved paci? It may seem mundane now, or even a nuisance, because it is your current way of life. But there is something special about being able to look back and have a picture of these precious moments. These are things that will stir memories, and with them bring all of your feelings towards your child when they were little.

This also goes for your daughter's most prized stuffed hippo.

And your son's rainboots he would wear to bed if you let him.

I want the point of my work with you family to be about capturing memories for you, capturing moments that will be outgrown and that will bring back a rush of nostalgia when you look at the image again.

So please, let your kids make faces.

Let them be silly and cover their faces.

Let them be themselves and allow their true personalities to shine during our time together.

These are things you will want to grab onto quickly, because they are fleeting. These images are about your child's personality and quirks, about things that they will grow out of before you're ready - whether you realize it or not.

Post #3 coming tomorrow. :)

My Style, Example #1 - The Sun | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-11T11:14:00.005-05:00

I'm actually excited to reveal these next few posts to all of you! Most likely because the images that I will put together with these posts are a piece of my heart, and what drives me, inspires me, and pushes me to keep going. Sounds cheesy, I know - but there is truth in being inspired by art.

So, the sun. No surprises there! Capturing sunlight (and people IN sunlight) is and always will be my first love.

I love the sun. I love how it bathes people in a beautiful, flattering way.

I love the amazing rim of light you see around people's shoulders.

Or the way it makes hair and other objects literally glow.

I love the weird circle and spots it puts on an image when shot in just the right way (sun flare).

I love capturing my subjects with a hazy, light feel.

You can actually feel warmth when you look at these. They are intended to be light. They are intended to be hazy. The point is not the fine details of a face as much as it is the amazing beauty that is seen when a subject is just surrounded in light.

And it gives an ethereal, angelic feel to an image.

If you schedule a shoot with me, you can pretty much guarantee that I will strive to get images like this (no promises, after all - I cannot control Mother Nature!). I find images like these beautiful, soulful and oozing with feeling. The images will be light. The images will not have as sharp of detail as others that I take. This is the intention, and this is what I am working towards and it is not a mistake. I am looking for clients that understand this, and want this in their images.

So there you have it, my first example of how I define my work! I will be back tomorrow with example #2.

The time has come | Maryland Fine Art & Lifestyle Photographer

2011-01-10T10:14:00.006-05:00

Hello friends! It's been a while, hasn't it? With the new year came new resolutions and that meant perfect timing for my business changes. I mentioned this late last year - I'm ready to move forward with them and make it known! I'm going to apologize in advance on the wordiness of this post.

These past few months have been about deep thought and going back to my roots, so to speak. My photography changed in 2010. In both good and not so good ways. The good was that I found my style, my true love and passion, what drives me in my work. The bad - I began to lose sight of that at the persistence of others. I only have myself to blame.

The truth of the matter is - I am more an artist than I am photographer. In my mind, a photographer sets out to capture "THE" image people say they want of their family. You know the one - everyone sitting in flattering ways, smiles so genuine, all eyes right at the camera. Hair is perfect, no one's fingers are in their mouth, all faces right at the camera. THE shot. What I've come to realize is, life is not reflected in that moment. When I look back on pictures of my family in 15 years, what will I connect with? My perfect family portrait or the one of my little girl fast asleep with the thumb she no longer sucks in her mouth? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying a desire for THE portrait is wrong. It's not. But it's not me. I want to actually feel the moment in time that I've been blessed enough to be a part of and capture. I've always said nothing can replace the family snapshots. It's because when you look back at your little girl at 4 and see her messy pigtails and cradling her lovie or your 6 year old boy with chocolate cookie crumbs all over his face with big doe eyes that make you wish he were 6 again - you remember how much that moment in time meant to you. That, my friends, is what I want to do. That is what the art of photography is all about to me. And it's because of this I say that if you want to capture THE picture of your family or your child - I am not the person you want to hire. There are many good photographers in this area that will do that for you. But I am no longer that person.

So what does that mean? It means that if you want honest, soulful images of your child/baby/family/etc., I am your girl. My heart longs to capture the very essence of the subjects I have in front of my camera that day.

So this is where I'm at folks. I don't want to be your family photographer. I want to be the person you hire because you want images that are ART. I realize my passion is not shared by everyone, and that's ok. I want you to hire me because you want me to create artwork of your family, images that stir up feelings. If this is something you'd like - let's talk. I would love to capture your family the way *I* see them.

The best way to go about this is to give you examples, both with words and visually, of what my work is about and what you can expect from me if you hire me. But I feel this would be better done broken up into different posts, as there are a handful of things I want to talk about. And this post is terribly long already, I don't want to bore you. :) But, I cannot post without at least one image.

My youngest, celebrating her 5th birthday. Our pit bull puppy Ms. Maya shares a birthday with her, and turned 1 on the same day. Happy birthday to my girls!

And a cupcake study I did - so much fun!

I'll be back tomorrow for post #1 with examples of where my work is going from here.

Silver & Shiny - Maryland Photographer

2010-12-22T11:43:00.004-05:00

This week was a bit of a challenge for me - silver AND shiny. I don't have much of either in my house. Thankfully Christmas decorations saved me, still - not an easy task without a macro to play with. The picture is supposed to be majority of the color. That just couldn't happen with the lens I use. Ah well. Maybe next week will be more up my alley! Enjoy.

Purple - Maryland Photographer

2010-12-13T14:54:00.003-05:00

Continuing on with last week's idea of a color/texture a week - this week is purple, any texture.

Are any of you playing along? I'd love to see what you came up with for brown!

I'm really enjoying this project. :)

Brown | Maryland Photographer

2010-12-06T11:28:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I plan on doing a lot of personal projects in the coming weeks to try and bring myself back to where I want to be as an artist. I stumbled across a suggestion by another photographer and just went with it. Every week she is going to be challenging herself with a color/texture and shooting what she sees as she goes about her every day life. I decided to play along.

This week's subject was "brown", any texture. I bundled up the girls and we went on a walk around our neighborhood. Exercise and photography - doesn't get much better than that! The amazing thing about this is that it doesn't require a lot of thought, or a lot of time. It just requires you to be aware of your surroundings and take some time to see what you might normally pass right by. This is something that I do anyway, but to someone that hasn't trained their eye in this way it could pose a bit of a challenge - though a very, very fun one!

So - my BROWN project.

I'll be posting a new challenge next week. In the meantime, enjoy your week and your surroundings! :)

'tis the season for personal projects | Maryland Lifestyle Photographer

2010-12-03T14:34:00.005-05:00

My sessions for the year are done. My calendar is closed, until March at the earliest. This is what I call "me" time, a time for me to shed the stress of the past few months, focus on my family and the meaning of the season, and in the business sense - get back to my roots.

For the next few months I plan on keeping this blog updated as I can, but you will see personal projects that will help you get a better sense of the direction I'm going as an artist, and hopefully you'll enjoy what you see. My goal is to get to a place that I am creating art that I love, and in turn is something that you love too. Many of you may know that I plan on making some changes in my business next year. I am still finalizing information on that, and will post an in depth blog post about it soon.

In the meantime, here is just one of the personal projects I wanted to do. I had it in my head that I wanted to show the beauty of a woman, but it turned into something else. Funny, because it's so me. Moody, a bit abstract, and glimpse into my soul so to speak.

You saw her yesterday - my very best friend needs no introductions. She's a regular here. :)

It means "strength"

Thanks again C for being an ever-willing model to all of my artistic whims!

last session of the year | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-12-02T12:05:00.004-05:00

This is it, my last session of the year. I'm ready for a much needed break. Expect to see some personal projects in the near future, as soon as I can catch my breath and get some motivation!

If you visit my blog often, you know these girls. Some of my very favorites. :) I love them to pieces!

Isn't she something? Mom sure has her hands full with this one!

I'm telling you...once this one gets used to the camera, I get something out of her that just knocks me to the floor.

Thanks again C for the fun time, I can't wait to do it again soon!

Last but not least... | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-11-15T11:23:00.003-05:00

This is my final session from the 2 weeks of minis benefitting the Frederick Rescue Mission. Phew! It was a lot of work, but worth it. I feel great about all that was donated - your food/clothing donations took up the entire back of my van, with all of the seats down! Wow!

On to the last family in the spotlight...

Thank you again M family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission! And thank you EVERYONE - it was an amazing experience that I would love to do again in the future sometime. God bless!

Light and family | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-11-15T11:14:00.002-05:00

Light and family - those are the two beautiful things from this session! It doesn't get much better than that.

Look at those eyes!

Thank you again B family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission!

2 sweet littles | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-11-11T16:01:00.003-05:00

I loved this session. I loved the light, I loved the giggles, I loved the subjects. I also probably loved it because they reminded me so much of my little girls at this age. Their ages close together, one so sweet and the other sweet with a little dash of devil tossed in, their interactions with each other and they way they love each other. All so much a memory of my older two. I miss that.

Gah I love this shot.

And if this isn't just the sweetest thing!

Thank you so much B family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission!

Cousins! | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-11-09T11:13:00.003-05:00

I've photographed these kids so often this past year - I LOVE that! I love knowing their quirks and personalities, and I loved watching them grow these last few months.

My camera loves this boy.

Thank you so much J & M for your time and generous donations to the Frederick Rescue Mission! I can't wait to see you guys again soon. :)

light | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-11-08T13:30:00.003-05:00

I love the light from this session. Light like this makes me happy.

My absolute favorites.

Thank you so much F family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission!

And the bigger Ms K! | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-11-05T10:44:00.004-04:00

And here's the other half of the equation that I was talking about earlier. Ms. K! It's funny, these two babies remind me so much of my best friend's little girl and my own. They were two days apart and truly night and day. One tiny (hers) and one sumo sized (mine). As Ms. L and Ms. K were held side by side - I got a flashback of the picture I have of a similar moment. :)

I love this family. I am so blessed to know them! You may remember that I did Ms. K's newborn pictures - total sweetness, right? She's getting big so fast!

Thank you so much R family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission! It was SO good seeing you and getting the chance to squeeze Ms. K again!

Tiny Ms L | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-11-03T11:12:00.002-04:00

This day I had the pleasure of shooting two babies, both 4 months old, of totally and completely different sizes. Normal, I know - but funny to see them side by side! Ms. L is so petite and just the sweetest little thing. This was the day of many mishaps, and our original location was being smoked out by a neighboring farmer burning brush. We had to improvise!

Thank you again Mom for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission!

I can laugh about it now! | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-11-02T11:30:00.003-04:00

I really enjoyed meeting these two! Mom, I really enjoyed talking to you and getting to know you. And I can't help but laugh over a few of the mishaps we had, like finding out the hard way that one of the bags of food had a hole in it and the kind of creepy farmer near our location! Here's your little guy in all his adorableness. :)

Thank you again Mom for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission! And a happy belated birthday to Mr. E!

Happy | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-11-01T11:50:00.004-04:00

I love this family! The girls are gorgeous and everyone is always so happy. That makes my heart smile! Add in the fact that mom is a longtime friend of mine, and that means that no matter when they're in front of my lens we have a great time.

I do realize that most of these are in b/w....but if you only understood how beautiful b/w is on these girls, you'd understand how hard it is to do anything but!

I can't tell you how many times I wish shots that I've taken of a client were shots of my own family. It happens so often, I put so much of my heart into my work. This is one of those shots. One I want big over MY fireplace.

Thank you so much for your time and generous donation! I can't wait to meet your next little addition. :)

Little Princesses | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-10-29T11:13:00.005-04:00

These two little girls are so cute! Beautiful light and cute girls equals great images. :)

I love this one.

Thank you again W family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission!

Boys boys boys! | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-10-28T12:02:00.004-04:00

I tell you what, I had so many families with boys during these sessions. I think I took pictures of more boys during these 2 weeks than I have in the past two years combined! It was fun seeing how different they are from girls. Being a girl mom myself, I had to pull out some new tricks to make it interesting for them. I'm always fascinated how God created boys and girls so differently. And in a beautiful way - it makes us all so special and unique!

These boys are gorgeous. And the little one? Such a ham and THE sweetest boy I've met. He said something during their session that his mom corrected him on and he looked up at her with these big liquid eyes and said in the most sincere voice you've ever heard "I'm sorry Mommy." And he waited for her approval. Talk about a heart-melting moment! My heart is tightening just thinking about it!

It never fails. The things brothers do to each other always crack me up.

Thank you so much W family for your time and generous donation to the Frederick Rescue Mission! It was such a pleasure meeting you.

Time with friends | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-10-27T11:09:00.002-04:00

I love it when I get to have some time to do a session for friends. I get a different view into their world as a family. When I walked away from this one, I smiled at witnessing just how much Mom adores Dad, and just how much Mr. I adores both of his parents. Especially when they're hugging and kissing. :)

This one cracks me up.

Thank you so much P family for your generosity towards the Frederick Rescue Mission, I had a great time with you guys!

Handsome! | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-10-26T13:58:00.003-04:00

I have been photographing this family since Mom was pregnant with this adorable little guy. I love watching their family grow! It's always such a blessing to me to be involved with families this way. I end up making friends with my clients. I love that.

He's one adorable little 18 month old if I do say so myself!

aww, still reminds you of a baby here. I love shots like this when they're starting to get bigger.

Thank you so much W family for your time and your generous donations for the Frederick Rescue Mission!

Something different | Maryland Lifestyle Photographer

2010-10-25T10:30:00.003-04:00

It's not very often I get asked to do individual pictures of an adult, but I always enjoy it. It's a nice break from the running around and crazy antics that typically make up a session with kids. They're done in half the time, and I always get some awesome adult conversation out if it!

This was a mini benefiting the Frederick Rescue Mission, enjoy!

I love the light in her hair on this left one.

Thank you so much for your interest and generosity Angie! It was so nice meeting you.

Big, beautiful family | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-10-21T15:03:00.006-04:00

I admit, I was a bit intimidated by the size of this family. But the moment they start having fun, it was contagious! These kids were so sweet and so full of life and love and laughter. Everything a big family is supposed to be about!

Mom - I. Love. Your. Family!

Look at this little ham! Stealing the show. There's always one haha. :)

My camera LOVES this girl.

I love shooting engaged couples, because of the love oozing from them. Obviously this couple is well past the engagment stage, but when two people who have been through the trials of life and still come out looking at each other this way - it melts my heart.

Thank you B family for such a fun evening and for your generosity towards the Frederick Rescue Mission!

Rainy days can't stop us! | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-10-19T11:06:00.003-04:00

It was disappointing to wake up the morning of this session and see pouring rain. But towards the middle of the day, the clouds broke and the rain stopped, and one of the FRM mini participants wanted to move forward with their shoot! I'm so glad she did because I got some great ones of her little guy.

All of a sudden, the clouds rolled in and it started to pour - again! We ran for shelter, and I'm so thankful there is a great little COVERED spot nearby. :)

Look at that handsome little devil!

And those eyes!

Thank you K & Mr. B for your time and generous donations to the Frederick Rescue Mission!! It was great to meet you and I enjoyed time our time together!

Family time | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-10-18T10:18:00.004-04:00

The last group from the first day of minis benefiting the FRM. Aren't they adorable? Sometimes when I tell a family to just play together, they don't always know where to start. This family jumped right in. You can tell this is something they do on a regular basis!

These crack me up. You can tell the youngest is quite the little ham! And the shot on the right was so much fun. The kids got really into it!

Thank you so much P family for your time and your generosity towards the FRM!

Watching them grow | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-10-16T10:38:00.006-04:00

Another FRM mini from this past Sunday - an adorable family of 3!

I am so blessed to be able to watch my clients' families as they grow! Do you remember this little one? Look at this darling little doll she's grown to be!

She was fascinated with using her tongue! It really cracked me up. :)

Oh how I love this one.

Thank you so much A & S for your generous and giving hearts! I appreciate your willingness to help a special cause!

First of the minis! | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-10-15T11:05:00.005-04:00

I had planned on blogging my favorites from each day of minis, but I realized how long of a post that would be and besides - each of these families are so special they deserve their own post. Each post you see in the coming weeks from these minis is a post about amazing people. People that had a desire to help those in need in Frederick County, and chose to do something about it!

First up we have an adorable 4 month old little man and his very lovely Mom! I love shoots like this, special bonding time with a child and their parent. And I adore shoots with babies this age, there's just something special about a little one this age. They're full of personality and can't run away yet. :)

Such a serious little face!

Thank you again Lisa for your giving heart. I appreciate your willingness to help those in need!

Best of both worlds | Maryland Photographer

2010-10-05T10:07:00.005-04:00

It's that time again - the holidays are coming at us full force and will be here before we know it! It's also time for holiday mini sessions, and this year I'm going to do things a little differently. I have always wanted to find a way to marry my love of photography with a way to give back, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As I was trying to figure out a way I could do this, I checked out the Frederick Rescue Mission's website. They have some amazing programs that assist people right here in Frederick County. They house homeless with life damaging dependencies. They serve an average of 300 meals daily to the hungry. They accept new and gently used clothing/household items for those in need. Pretty amazing stuff if you ask me!

Times are tough, for everyone. But I know how blessed I am. I have a warm bed and roof over my head. I have food on my table. I have 3 healthy daughters that don't know the pain and suffering that others do, and a husband that cherishes me. I am profoundly rich in all that matters. If I can help ease the burden of others in my area, if even just a little, then I will be loving them as I have been loved - by my family and by God.

So here's the deal. I want to see an outpouring of love on the Frederick Rescue Mission! If you have ever wanted to get involved, now's the time! I am offering a free mini session and a free 5x7 for anyone that will donate a bag of non perishable food or a check in the amount of your choice to the Frederick Rescue Mission. The sky's the limit here - donate what you feel called or lead to donate! Every can you give feeds a hungry mouth. Every cent you give helps others break the cycle of addiction and learn a better way of life.

Details:

-Contact me to schedule a mini session between now and Oct 22nd. I want to do as many of these as I can because every donation counts!

-Bring a bag (or more!) of food or a check made out to the Frederick Rescue Mission to your session. I will donate what I have received once all of the mini sessions have been completed. Please note that you will need to bring these items to me and not directly to the Frederick Rescue Mission to be eligible for the session.

-You will have a 30 minute session with up to 5 people at one of 3 locations (see below for examples). These sessions are open to all types of group dynamics - cousins, best friends, immediate family...it's all a good option! Please also note that we will not be breaking everyone up into individual groups from there, the session will about the dynamic of the group you've brought along.

-You will receive 10-15 images in an online gallery and receive 1 free 5x7 of your choice from your session. You can purchase additional prints at a la carte or package pricing.

Location #1

Location #2

Location #3

As mentioned, I want to do as many of these as I can, the more I do the more the Frederick Rescue Mission gets! The sooner you contact me to schedule, the better your chance of getting your choice of time/day. The dates I have available for these sessions are limited, and can fill fast.

Please spread the word - this is your chance to help a very worthy cause and get some great memories also! God bless!

My lovely 3 | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-09-28T11:12:00.003-04:00

It's no secret that I love spending time with my girls. This time of year is great, it allows us to have some outdoor time as a family, and weather cool enough so that no one complains about how hot it is. After this summer, that's really important!

We headed up to Sugarloaf Mountain one day to just soak in the loveliness around us. I used to come here as a kid, and every time I go back I realize how much I miss it. This time I brought my camera to capture some time with the girls just as they are. It's something I'm determined to do more of. As a photographer, you don't always get enough pictures of your own kids, and snapshots are a rarity. I broke that trend this day. :)

Our trip, through my eyes. Or should I say, my view through the viewfinder!

I was loving all of the scenery, it just gave me inspiration to shoot something new!

Can you believe all of those ferns? Heaven.

On the way back down, somebody had had enough. I know you see more of her in this whole post - that's because she was the only one that wanted to put up with me taking pictures of all the little details!

I hope you don't mind a personal post for a change. I'd like to put more up as I start to push myself to take everyday pictures of my girls.

On another note - I've got something VERY special in the works....I am giddy to announce it but want to wait until I have a few loose ends tied up first. Stay tuned, this one's going to be different from anything else I've done! :)

My favorite little guy | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-09-21T14:27:00.003-04:00

Meet my favorite little guy, Javin. He also happens to be my nephew! Javin is 3. He loves cars, trains, Toy Story and cake (haha). Javin has autism.

I'm sure a number of you love someone affected by autism. You know the struggles, you know the challenges, and you know the rewards. We are so thankful for Javin and his view on the world! God creates us all with unique roles to fill, and it's amazing to me that even those with additional challenges in their life have roles just like everyone else. They are not "less". They are not "mistakes". In His eyes, they are perfectly whole.

Those of you who are familiar with autism know what a challenge it can be to get eye contact. Javin and I had a connection going on this session. And to thank me, he gave me amazing eye contact! One of my favorite gifts. :)

The many faces of Javin!

He was so interested in the statue people! His head placement there on the right? His idea. :)

Want to know what happens when a child throws a fit on a shoot? We improvise! And in this case, get some of the best shots of the entire shoot. Rolling around on the ground in a tantrum = great backdrop for face shots! In his defense....I would have thought the canal was a great place to try and swim when I was 3 too.

Thanks for a fun evening, Mr. J!

If you would like to learn more about autism, or if you love someone with autism and would like a really amazing resource, check out www.autismspeaks.org.

Time with friends | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-09-09T15:17:00.002-04:00

Recently a fellow photographer and friend came into town, and I was lucky enough to squeeze into her busy schedule while she was here! She suggested a gorgeous location, which I can't wait to go back to, and the girls had a blast exploring the grounds.

In typical fashion for my kids, they were totally enthralled with the miniature horses they had. Especially Ms. L!

They had these pears growing (and falling!) from the trees around the grounds. I love taking pictures of fruit!

A very, very rare shot of me in FRONT of the camera this time, courtesy of Melanie from Melanie Reyes Photography. Being in front of the camera is not necessarily my idea of fun, it's actually quite unnerving. It gave me a peek into what my clients have to deal with! But I'm so very glad to have this picture. Thank you Melanie!

Metal prints | Maryland Photographer

2010-09-07T15:26:00.005-04:00

Did you know that kg.leaf photography offers metal prints, similar to canvases? They are STUNNING.

Made of brushed aluminum, these 1" deep metal prints take on a box shape, similar to a canvas.

These prints come ready to hang with hanging hardware as a piece of the finished product.

They come in 4 sizes and are perfect for those of you looking for a modern take on artwork! Contact me if you'd like to purchase one of these gorgeous pieces.

**Edited to add: If you'd like to purchase one of these pieces, please note that I am only able to do this for clients of mine using work I've done, or will be doing in the future. Thank you!

Grand finale! | Maryland Wedding Photographer

2010-09-02T09:30:00.002-04:00

Last installment of the wedding - phew! I'm not used to posts this big! But there were so many I enjoyed, it was really hard to narrow it down.

Melanie from Melanie Reyes Photography doin' her thing!!

After surviving the heat, we ran inside to soak up the fun!

Thank you again to Melanie, and to Kristin and Christopher for having me along for your special day! Congrats to you both, may God bless your future together!

The ceremony | Frederick, Maryland Wedding Photographer

2010-08-31T09:51:00.007-04:00

Part two of the wedding I did, thank you for being patient! These take a lot longer to edit than a normal session.

As you can see, Kristin looked absolutely radiant on her wedding day, as every bride should! And Christopher looked very handsome in his Navy whites. The ceremony went beautifully, and the joy on their faces was so amazing to witness. I love weddings. :)

This necklace was special to her, it belonged to another family member.

Personal favorite. She was so nervous before the ceremony, but all of that melted away once she was with her beloved. :)

While everyone else is getting started with the festivities, the minister stays behind to fill out the marriage license. I love this shot.

Part 3 coming soon!

Him & Her - Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-08-27T09:41:00.004-04:00

Aren't these two adorable? They made my job easy. A mini session with them was fast, easy and awesome!

First up - her.

Next up - him. You know how some kids are just complete naturals in front of the camera? That's this guy. :)

I love this closed-eyed grin! Personal favorite.

Thank you for letting me spend some time with you, A family!

Mini sessions are still happening, contact me soon to grab one before time runs out!

Are you ready for it? | Frederick, Maryland Wedding Photographer

2010-08-25T10:19:00.005-04:00

Did you catch that? Yep, you read it right - wedding photographer! I had the opportunity to 2nd shoot a wedding recently with the wonderful Melanie Reyes from Melanie Reyes Photography. When she contacted me to ask about shooting the wedding with her, I was thrilled. What a way to jump into this side of the business! Up until now, I've been unsure as to whether or not I'd be interested in shooting weddings or not. I have to tell you, it's not what I thought. It's a whole lot more fun! I'm excited about having more opportunities to shoot weddings in the future.

Ok, so enough talking - on to pictures! I have a ton from the day so I'm going to break this up into 3 posts. Otherwise, you'd probably have a few choice words for me. ;) Melanie went over to shoot the guys preparing for the big day, so this first part is all about the bride getting ready before heading to the church. I love the details!

Her dress was gorgeous!

Personal favorite

Thank you again Melanie and also Kristin for letting me come along and share this special day! Part two to follow soon... :)

Preparing for the big day... Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-08-23T10:59:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it's time for school! And this year, each of my babies will be there. That makes this Mommy just a bit sad. I'm going to miss them while they're gone, but the up side is I now have plenty of time to edit uninterrupted without having to figure out what to have them do or deprive myself of sleep.

I took them out for a few minutes the other day, I wanted to soak up the last bit of summertime with them.

Ms. K, always so photogenic even if she doesn't really enjoy being the subject of my camera.

Ms. L. A bit of a tougher subject, but when I get her - I get her good.

And finally Ms. A. Not as easy to capture anymore as she's more aware of the camera. But we make it work!

I'm excited to take them out for their (bribed) official school session. Coming up - a session, a new product, a few shots from a get together with a fellow photographer and a very VERY special announcement! Just a bit excited about this one. :)

A few minutes was all I needed - Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-08-19T10:15:00.004-04:00

Just a few minutes, that's all I really needed to capture the beauty these two lovely sisters have!

Big Ms. A - pure beauty and is willing to do just about anything when it comes to being in front of my camera.

Little Ms. A is equally beautiful and the spunk of this duo ;)

If I could keep these girls in my pocket, I would. They are so adorable!

Sweet and Sassy - Roanoke | Virginia Child Photographer

2010-08-16T10:37:00.004-04:00

While I was on vacation, I had the opportunity to take out someone very special to me for a session. My beautiful cousin and her gorgeous daughter! She wanted to have a special moment with just her and her daughter. I found this amazing location that I was giddy to shoot at.

Little miss was VERY happy about the cupcake session!

We were there for about 20 minutes before we were shut down - the land owner came across us and wasn't too happy we were there! I had no idea we were on private property, oops! Thankfully we have plenty of family around and can shoot in their backyard :)

Not too sure about my change in lenses...

But happy again in 10 seconds flat!

Especially when feathers are to be found :)

It was so much fun spending this time with you ladies! Can't wait to see you both again soon.

Back to School mini sessions! Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-08-12T11:12:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that it's just about time for school? It feels like this summer just flew by. Back to school means new clothes, classrooms and experiences. It also means school pictures! I don't know about you, but I have little enthusiasm for the in school pictures they take in school. Boring backgrounds and forced smiles in the same pose year after year just don't do it for me. Why not try something new this year - book a mini session and have beautiful images that show your child's true personality!

Back to School mini session - $350

- 45 minute session in one location

-10 images in an online viewing gallery

-your choice of the following:

Package A

(3) 8x10

(4) 5x7

(3) wallets

brag book with all 10 images from your session

Package B

3 digital images with rights to print

Each package also gives you 15% off anything additional you'd like to purchase a la carte!

These sessions are available for school-aged children (pre-K through high school). Please note that due to the time constraints of these sessions, each session will allow for no more than 2 children (breaking down to 5 images per child).

If you'd like to schedule your mini session, contact me today at tanya@kgleafphotography.com! These sessions will be available through September 10th.

Lovable him, round 2 - Frederick | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-08-10T10:10:00.005-04:00

Remember him? How could you forget those adorable blue eyes? We had a second session that was mainly inside this time to try and beat the heat! Mr. K is all smiles, and we got tons of those this time around. :) I think he just may be the happiest baby on the planet!

Just look at this adorable room! I fell in love the moment I saw it.

Those eyes....he's going to be a lady killer one day!

It was hysterical, it was like all that smiling wore him down and he just passed out! We tried to wake him up and he didn't want to budge! So, might as well make lemonade and take advantage of what you're given, right? ;)

Trying to get him to budge - not happening!

personal favorite

We gave him a few more minutes and he finally let us wake him from his cat nap. He's very observant when he first wakes!

Thank you again M family for allowing me to come in to your home and rearrange your house!

If you can get 25 different people to comment on this post by Thursday night, you'll get a free 5x7 of your choice! Happy commenting!

Vacation! Frederick | Maryland Photographer

2010-08-06T11:31:00.004-04:00

As many of you know, I recently got back from vacation. We head down to Smith Mountain Lake every year, and always have so much fun! I rented a few lenses while away this time, and that just made it even more enjoyable. :)

As promised, some shots from my vacation. I had fun with the lenses a few days while there, so bear with the long post!

Most days while we were there, we spent time actually on the water. My aunt has a hummingbird feeder that is highly coveted by the birds. I had never seen so many hummingbirds in one spot and I never knew that they made noises!

Maya, our 7 month old Pit Bull puppy! She's such a sweet girl, but oh so naughty. ;)

We had a family get together on the lake one night, and I snuck off with a few people for mini shoots for fun!

My sister and her boyfriend.

An out of town cousin was there too!

My adorable sister in law.

Add my other sister to the mix, and you've got a crazy group of girls.

Grabbed one of my sisters to do an impromptu family shot of my family for a change. I set up the camera for her, and she snapped away. Seeing as I'm never in front of the camera, I'm so thankful to have these!

While vacation was great, it's good to be home. :)

Little Miss Sunshine - Frederick | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-08-02T11:41:00.009-04:00

I love watching families grow! You may remember Mom from her maternity shoot a few months ago. Meet her adorable little girl!

Already sassy :)

It's so obvious how in love with her Mom and Dad are!

She was so serious! It really made me laugh how intent she was about everything. It's like I could just see her little mind working on processing everything around her. That is, until Dad got a hold of her. Somebody's got him wrapped around her little finger already!

personal favorite

Enjoy her Mom and Dad, time goes by way too fast!

Ok Mom and Dad, if you can get 25 different people to comment on this blog post by Wednesday evening, you'll get a free 5x7 of your choice! Happy commenting!

Spirit of Summer - Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-07-22T11:20:00.003-04:00

I can't remember the last time I got out my camera for myself or my kids. They don't particularly care for it anymore, and I haven't been inspired to get them out there. But one night while we were on vacation, the girls were out playing in the yard on the swings. The most amazing light was completely surrounding them. My heart leapt at the chance to catch them as themselves, bathed in light, God's gorgeous paintings.

And the talkers in the bunch, Ms. L herself and her cousin.

Coming up - mother/daughter session, and some fun random vacation shots!

lovable him - Frederick | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-07-01T11:50:00.003-04:00

This little guy was so sweet! I've been getting interest in 3 month old sessions lately. The more I do them, the more I realize how much I love them. They're so easygoing and not yet on the move, and that makes for beautiful pictures!

It was HOT this day, so little guy was a bit cranky about the weather - not that I blame him. But he did wonderfully! And he has the sweetest little baby laugh you've ever heard. Melts my heart!

There were so many that I loved from this session, it was hard for me to choose what to put up. So I just went with it and posted more :)

personal favorite #1

So unlike any other baby I've ever met, this little guy found it hilarious when you took off his clothes. Just look at that happy face!

and what happy baby doesn't blow bubbles?

personal favorite #2

If this blog post gets comments from 25 different people by Saturday evening, the M family will get a free 5x7 of their choice! :)

It's Wednesday! - Frederick | Maryland Baby Photographer

2010-06-30T10:44:00.004-04:00

It's Wednesday and that means this little guy will have his moment in the sun here on my blog very soon! This one was so funny I just had to share today, kind of how I feel at the moment. Smiling through the insanity of life right now!

Sleeping Beauty - Frederick | Maryland Newborn Photographer

2010-06-23T11:21:00.004-04:00

This little angel was nearly 3 weeks old when we had our session, much older than I hope for when I do a session. But she was so good to me! And the fact that she was born early helped a lot. :) When she did cry, she had the most adorable little chin quiver that just melts your heart! Thank you D & T for choosing me to capture your adorable little girl!

(note - if you are pregnant and interested in a newborn shoot, the best time to book is now! It is best if babies are under 10 days old when we have your shoot)

just look at that little grin!

personal favorite

and look at those adorable hand dimples!

It was so cute, she was getting a bit tired of the posing towards the end, but the second we put her in this basket with the fluffy soft fabric, she snuggled right down and didn't budge the entire time!

Congrats to you both D & T, she's adorable!

If you can get 25 different people to comment on this blog post by Friday evening, you'll get a free 5x7 of your choice!

x2 - Frederick | Maryland Newborn Photographer

2010-06-04T12:53:00.004-04:00

Twins! How fun is that? These little girls were so sweet and teeny tiny. It's so hard to believe we all started out this small. It amazes me every time. They made me work a bit, but it's so easy to forgive them when they're so little :)

Meet the newest additions to a very dear family to me, Sydney and Reagan!

Mom wanted a few individual pictures of the girls. They only let me do a few, they both wanted to be near each other!

Ms. Sydney

Little Reagan

Not so easy to tell them apart, even when you think you've got it down!

Congratulations Mom! They are beautiful.

If you can get 25 different people to comment on this blog post by Sunday evening, you'll get a 5x7 of your choice on me!

Fun-filled family! - Frederick | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-06-01T10:49:00.004-04:00

I first met this family at the church we attend. The husband/father began a men's ministry, the Waterboyz, which has since become HUGE in this area. His daughter, Jodi, began a similar ministry for women - the Waterlilyz. I attend Jodi's table/bible study on Monday nights and thoroughly enjoy having that God time.

So being in the spirit of the ministries, we did a mini family session with everyone in their ministry shirts!

The two original founders wearing their tshirts!

And of course, we can't leave out Mom. :)

What Jodi really had wanted was to get some shots in with her twin sister. We did that along with their other sister, and you can just feel the energy that these 3 share!

Personal favorite

Jodi, if you can get 25 different people to comment on this blog post by the end of the day Thursday, you will get your choice of a 5x7 on me!

Feeling the love :) - Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-05-07T11:12:00.005-04:00

I love it when I am able to get a family together for a session where the love is obvious, and when I look at their images after their session is done - I can still feel the love that I saw when we were shooting! I can feel it with these two sisters, butI can feel it even more when you throw their little brother into the mix.

We had some GORGEOUS light that evening. If all of my sessions had light like this I'd be a happy camper!

The two book worms. :) Girls after my own heart!

Remember him? The way these girls dote on their brother is just beyond adorable.

Ok Mom! If you can get 25 different people to comment on this post before Sunday evening, I'll give you a free 5x7 of your choice! Happy Mother's Day! :)

Coming Soon - Frederick | Maryland Child Photographer

2010-05-06T10:30:00.004-04:00

Two adorable sisters with a gorgeously lit evening.

Enjoy your sneak peek mom!

How Lucky Am I?? - Frederick | Maryland Family Photographer

2010-04-30T09:16:00.004-04:00

Seriously? How lucky? To be able to shoot this adorable little girl and her Mom in a Mommy and Me session. Mom is a photographer in my area, which makes it even MORE special to me! An honor I can't really describe. Some of you may recognize her as the one and only Ms. Sandy Wagerman from Lucky Ladybug Photography...and even more of you may recognize her absolutely precious little girl, since she is Mom's muse. :)

I had SUCH a difficult time narrowing down this session to share here, so it'll be a bit longer than normal I think. But well worth the look!

How fitting for a photographer and her daughter to be looking at their own precious family memories taken by Sandy over the years. Maddy LOVES to look at pictures, so she could have stayed like this for hours.

Just look at that face!!

Being a photographer's child, Maddy had her own ideas on how she wanted the session to go. Which made for BEAUTIFUL pictures!

Personal favorite #1

This was such a magical spot....I am dying to do an engagement session here. *hint hint hint, all you lovebirds out there*

Personal favorite #2

Ok, this one cracks me up. She is contemplating that Peanut M&M like her life depends on it, and the wall behind her is speaking to her loud and clear. haha!

Modeling the hat I made her

Thank you SO much Sandy, for this day with the two of you, it's one I will treasure for a long time to come! It was an honor capturing your family memories for you!

Now, my gift to you - if you can get 25 different people to comment on this post before Sunday evening, I'll give you a free 5x7 of your choice!