We spent a long weekend in Ocean City, Maryland with the fam over spring break. We played on the boardwalk, hunted for seashells and rode a "big bike" (the 4 person car bikes) that the kids were obsessed with! We also visited Assateague Island to see the wild ponies. It was a little chilly but we had a blast!
Read MoreWe got about a foot of snow this week! It snowed for 2 and a half days and it was glorious! There was plenty of sledding and snowman building and snow mountain climbing. Danny tried to ski, but the snow was too thick and fluffy. We built ramps and had snow ball fights. River helped us shovel and chase an enthusiastic puppy around. Fun was had by all, I only took my big camera out for a little spin, I tried to be present and have fun with the kids while I was out there. Here's a peak at one of our snow days!
Read MoreMy Son has had a camera in his face since the day he was born. His Mommy & Daddy are photographers so Im not surprised he would one day want a camera of his own, I just wasn't expecting it at 2 years old. It's actually pretty difficult to take pictures of him these days because he is usually begging for my camera the moment I take it out of the case. So I found an old camera I used during my college days, its got the technology of the original iphone so I wouldn't be super bummed if he smashed it to bits. But it's still special to me because I earned my photography degree with that camera and now Im teaching my son with it. We have been practicing the last couple months, he loves to take pictures of our puppy, he tells his dad and myself "cheese!" and we have to smile before he clicks the shutter, which we find adorable. His favorite thing though, is to go outside and take photos of leaves and rocks and trees and well nature. Heres our latest little adventure with some of River's photography too!
Read MoreStarting 2018 off with a breathtakingly gorgeous January Wedding. These love birds got married January 6, 2018 in Leesburg, Virginia. Mary & Matt braved the 7 degree blistering cold with crazy powerful winds left over from the "bomb cyclone" that hit the east coast. They were married at the Church of Our Savior, Oatlands in a beautiful touching ceremony guided by Matt's father Steve Clevenger who is a Pastor. The Reception was held at Buchanan Hall in Upperville, Virginia.
Read MoreIntroducing our newest addition! A little girl English Bulldog named Osha! Her name means "bear" in Native American which was our last bulldog's nickname whom we lost in August.
It took 5 sessions to shoot these. Sometimes she just wasn't in the mood ya know? Shooting a puppy is a lot like shooting a newborn human baby. She needed to be well feed, burped and pottied before settling down in the studio. I had the space heater going to make it nice and toasty, the heating pad to encourage her to lay down and get cozy and sometimes it took a little time on a warm familiar lap to send her to dreamland.
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Marie & Zach got engaged last year and are planning their wedding for next year. These love birds were so much fun, nothing beats young love. Congratulations again guys! May your life together be blessed with years of happiness! Thank you for sharing this sunset with me!
Read MoreOh my gosh where do I even begin with this perfect family!! This is Jackie, my bestest friend on this planet, her loving husband and absolutely adorable children. Ive been dying to shoot them for years, but we both were busy having babies and toddlers and you know how life and schedules with kids go.
Read MoreAmanda & Stephen were married September 29, 2017 at Lake Ritchie Pavilion in Bealeton, Virginia.
It was truly an honor and a pleasure to shoot their special day. This couple is the most authentic, hilarious, honest and genuinely loving couple Ive ever met. They were married in a beautiful ceremony overlooking Lake Ritchie with their two adorable children. Stephen presented both of them with gifts, a locket necklace with their pictures inside for her and a pocket watch for him. After their touching ceremony they laughed and danced the night away with family and friends lakeside. We absolutely loved creating these images together with Amanda & Stephen. We had a blast with their super fun bridal party! It was a privilege to see such pure love and warmth surrounding this amazing family! Cheers to Amanda & Steven, may your years be filled with happiness as you grow old together. Congratulations on your new life together!
Read MoreWe took 3 toddlers, ages 2, 3, & 4 to Ocean City, Maryland for a long weekend and we didn't end up in a mental institution, although that sounded more relaxing then wrangling these sand covered monkeys. It was of course exhausting but we had a blast and I think the kids fell in love with the beach too!
Take me back!!
Read MoreFall is booking up fast and Im always looking for new locations to shoot. So, this weekend we jumped in the car and scouted out some local farms and I think we have a winner folks, Mackintosh Fruit Farm in Berryville VA! River loved running around here, he was a little grumpy at first since we woke him from his sweet car nap but he soon found his happy place-outside and eating! He did fall and get a minor boo boo, probably because he will only wear his snow boots _eyeroll_ but it was easily fixed with momma kisses and he was back up and running in no time! This place is magical and I cant wait to bring some of my families here for apple picking and sunset sessions!!!
Read MoreLoved spending this beautiful evening in the gardens with Caroline, James & their pup Layla! They are expecting their first little boy! I am so excited for this gorgeous family!! Congrats again you guys! He's almost here!
Read MoreThis is my gorgeous sister, Katherine, and her sweet family. Her kids are 3 & 4 years old and were ANGELS during our sunset session. Keeping them busy with tasks like running around in circles, racing each other, telling secrets, spinning and tickling mom and dad made for a successful toddler shoot! They were so exhausted when I asked them to sit on the blanket to have their picture taken as a family group, they were ready to lay down and take a nap! They had a blast exploring a new place, which gave me more time to spend shooting my sister and her husband ALONE. I might be a little biased, but this might be my favorite shoot so far!
Read MoreCongratulations Bailey!
Graduating high school is such a monumental moment, finishing 14 years of education is a huge accomplishment! Bailey is an amazing student earning a Senior Award for Recognition of Excellence in the field of Agricultural Science & was recently featured in the local newspaper for his involvement in his schools welding and metal fabrication program!
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He's here! Meet Brantley Ryker, 11 days old and 6.9 lbs of sweetness. After planning for a natural birth, it seemed Brantley had other plans and despite several attempts to reposition him, he stayed breech and forced Momma to give birth via c-section.
This little boy was all sleepy smiles for his debut photoshoot! Of course we had to get him up on dad's motocross bike, don't worry, mom was there behind the bike safely holding him the entire time and was later photoshopped out. Brantley is wearing dad's jersey #41 which has been the Callihan racing number for 3 generations and time will only tell if Brantley will carry on the family racing tradition!
Read MoreThese fingerprints on my windows drive me CRAZY! I refuse to clean them off, they serve as a reminder that he wont always be this little, he wont always have his sticky hands on everything in this house. One day he will be gone, this house will be still, the quietness will be deafening and what fun will that be?? Im desperately clinging to each moment we are in this season of life, he is going like a weed and with every new word or skill he learns I know I am one day closer to giving this little boy to the world.
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