Cassi and Steve are Married! | Maryland and Virginia Wedding Photographer

I am so blessed to have been a part of this beautiful, fun, and elegant wedding! Cassi and Steve were married on Saturday afternoon in my lovely hometown of Cumberland, and they had a spectacular day with a bright blue sky and picturesque puffy white clouds. Steve and Cassi are English and History professors, and their Victorian-themed wedding fit their personalities perfectly. I just LOVED all of the Victorian details, from the long coattails that the groom and his men wore, to the bride's gloves and the delicate rose color of the bridesmaids dresses, to the vintage centerpieces at the reception.

Want to know the best part about this wedding, though? This adorable couple's absolute dedication to each other and the beauty of marriage. It's so clear that they are completely in love with each other, and so happy to be married!

Congrats, Cassi and Steve, and enjoy your honeymoon!

The Cali Family | Expecting | Leesburg, VA Maternity Photographer

I met the Calis in Leesburg for a family maternity session this past weekend, and I could not have asked for yummier light, better weather, or a more natural and serene expecting momma! I can't believe it's been a little over a year since I met this fun family for Nora's first birthday cake smash, and boy, has Nora grown so much in the past year. Now that she's walking, she kept us running after geese and looking for monkeys in the trees. I just love spending time with them, and seeing how natural they are with each other in front of the camera is incredibly heartwarming. Annika radiates with a calm, expectant beauty, and it's clear to see that they all can't wait to meet the newest addition to their family. I'm so glad to have helped the Calis document their last few months as a family of three!

Delicious Dessert Photography for Wandering Zorba Bakery | Northern Virginia Photographer

I'm so excited to finally be able to share this great collaboration with everyone! I have been drooling -- literally -- over these dessert photos for a while, but had to wait a tick to officially share with y'all. A while back, I had the opportunity to work with Wandering Zorba Bakery to photograph their desserts as they worked to launch their company. John and his mom, Elvira, run Wandering Zorba as a "sweet" food cart in Northern Virginia. They focus on baking traditional Greek desserts using the family recipes that Elvira herself brought stateside as a young woman from Greece. In addition to using their own family recipes, John and Elvira use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. 

A great plus of doing a food shoot is that when it's over, there are lots of yummy things to try...and try I did! From the deliciously flaky and nutty baklava to the luscious revani with just a hint of lemon, my taste buds were not disappointed. Trust me, their website and its tantalizing descriptions of each dessert will have your mouth watering in no time, and soon you'll be itching for your own taste of the Wandering Zorba's delightful desserts. If you're in the Northern Virginia area, I strongly urge you to check them out at your local farmer's market. You won't be disappointed!

Note: Wandering Zorba is on Twitter here, and Facebook here. Follow them for cart location updates and specials!

The Williams Family | Cherry Blossom Session | Virginia Family Photographer

I had so much fun with the Williams family this weekend! We had perfect weather on Saturday morning for a session with the cherry blossoms, and really lucked out that the rain on Thursday and Friday didn't bring the blooms down with it. To top it off, their story is fascinating. They're an incredible family that has roots all over the place and had some amazing experiences. They were a pleasure to hang with -- even the littlest Williams spent the entire session with an adorable smile on her face!

Williams family, I wish you all the best on your next big, globetrotting adventure!

Dawn and Jeff's Cherry Blossom Engagement Session | Virginia Portrait Photographer

This time of year in DC is my favorite time of year (I'm sure it's quite obvious by now!). Add in a sunrise engagement session this morning and, well, I'm like a kid in a candy store. This morning's session with Dawn and Jeff was so fun! Although Dawn and Jeff now live in Boston, I met them on the National Mall because they wanted to document their engagement in the city where they met nearly five years ago. As we moved from the Mall to the Tidal Basin, I knew there was something special about this couple. The way that Jeff knew exactly how to bring out Dawn's goofy side was just amazing, and as we chatted about how they met and their wedding plans, their love for each other was obvious. I wish them all the best in Boston and beyond!

Wedding Wednesday: The Importance of Engagement Photos | Virginia Wedding Photographer

Today's Wedding Wednesday post focuses on why I think engagement photos matter -- from personal experience. It's a good one!

It may come as a surprise to you that I, as a photographer who loves making and looking at beautiful  images of people in love, did not have an engagement session with my husband before we got married. Shocker, I know! It just did not seem like a big deal to leave out that step while we were planning our wedding -- in fact, it seemed like it would be more of a hassle to schedule yet another appointment during those already hectic months. We had already sent our save-the-dates as a simple postcard before we booked our photographer, and we thought, "What's the point of more pictures together? We'll have plenty from our wedding day."

Well, my friends, we could not have been more wrong. As I look back over that time, I realize that we could have easily scheduled a one-hour session in our 1 year + 4 months-long engagement.

Yes, we have beautiful images from our wedding day, and we will cherish them forever. We are obviously happy; it's clear from the giddy school-girl grins plastered to our faces in every. Single. Image. Yet those images are not completely us. There are various reasons for this, but perhaps the most obvious one is that despite our grins, our faces wear a mixed bag of emotions: joy, relief that the hard part (ceremony) is over, and even some nerves about being the one in front of the camera instead of behind it!

When I look back, I realize that  by not prioritizing and scheduling an engagement session, we missed out on a wonderful opportunity to document our joy and excitement during that year before the wedding. Just the pure, unadulterated joy and anticipation of the wonderful and awesome things that our life together has in store for us. We missed the opportunity to capture us, as we are in real life: relaxed, easygoing, and totally over the moon for each other.

In case you need any more convincing, here are a few additional reasons for booking an engagement session:

• It gives you some images to show off before the wedding on your save-the-dates. I hear that's all the rage these days!
• It will boost your confidence before your wedding day. Seriously. You'll realize that you ARE photogenic and beautiful, and that you look great together!
• It gives you and your photographer time to bond and get used to each other. This is important. It will make everything easier for everyone on your big day!
• Even if you don't use the same photographer for your wedding day and engagement session, an engagement session still gives you practice time in front of the camera. This is also important, as it helps both you and your fiance feel comfortable as a couple at the center of attention. Well, at least your photographer's attention.
• It helps you work out kinks like makeup and hair details in a situation with far less pressure and time constraints than your wedding day.
• It lets you show off your personalities a little more than your wedding portraits. I'm talking to you, couple with the his and hers RGIII jerseys!

And so, young brides, if you are wavering about scheduling an engagement session, here's my advice: just book it already. You won't regret it!

Weekend Round Up: Cherry Blossom Mini-Sessions (Round One)! | Virginia Portrait Photographer

Whew, this weekend was busy! Spring has finally made its debut in DC, and you won't see many people complaining. The cherry blossoms in DC are quite possibly the most beautiful feature of early spring in these parts; the one week where they are in full force is absolutely heavenly. I highly recommend checking them out this week if you haven't yet!

This weekend also marked the first weekend of my Cherry Blossom Mini-Sessions. Here's a sneak peek into the fun we had around the Tidal Basin and the National Mall. There are plenty more to come later this week and into the weekend, so stay tuned for updates!

Are you interested in a Cherry Blossom Mini-Session? This week is the peak week, so schedule yours today before you miss out on this year's blossoms!

Erica and Bryan's DC Engagement Session | Virginia Portrait Photographer

I'm so excited to finally reveal the wonderful couple and amazing engagement story that won my holiday engagement contest! If you missed the announcement, you can find more on that here.

I had a great time reveling in the wonderful spring weather downtown yesterday with Erica and Bryan. Although we were a bit too early to catch the Cherry trees in their full-on glory, we soaked up some sun on the National Mall and watched a beautiful sunset from the Lincoln Memorial. I absolutely loved my time with these guys. They were so relaxed and natural in front of the camera, goofy with each other, and so obviously in love! It was such a pleasure to finally meet the adorable couple from the story below, and I wish them all the best in their future life as Mr. and Mrs. Castleberry!

And so without further ado...here is their adorable story, as told by Erica!

My fiance Bryan and I have had a whirlwind romance. We met through a mutual friend when I lived in Destin, FL. He's originally from that area but moved here to NOVA for work. I am originally from Wisconsin, born and raised and thats where all of my family currently resides. 

I desperately wanted my kids first Christmas to be a big one, one that I remember from when I was a kid. So we hauled the babies and my fiance's two kids from a previous relationship (yes we are the brady bunch lol) from Alexandria to Wisconsin. On Christmas Eve, after all the kids went to bed (our 4 plus my niece and nephew) we all had to finish wrapping presents. Needless to say I was a little annoyed because my brother and fiance kept going outside and here my sister in law and I were stuck wrapping presents.

Finally, my fiance called me outside and I got a little snappy because I was tired and crabby and just wanted all that darn wrapping done. He told me to get my coat on and come look at this weird tree stump thing. I was completely clueless, and gave him "the look" lol.

The night before it snowed just enough to cover the grass. It melted a little throughout the day. Bryan lead me outside and said look. Looking.. looking.. and finally I see written in the snow "Will you be Mrs. Castleberry" and I turn around and he's on one knee with a flashlight on the box with my engagement ring in it!

I start to cry and ask if it's a prank. He laughed a little and I went to him said "YES" really loud and gave him a big hug and kiss. Definitely a moment I will always remember. :)

Wedding Wednesday: Let's Get Trendy | Virginia Wedding Photographer

The height of wedding planning season is upon us, and many of you are in the throes of planning your summer or fall weddings. In an effort to help y'all find that "something" to make your wedding really special and unique, I thought I would center today's post around the trends shaping up for 2013 weddings, from attire to decor to atmosphere!

Elegance & The Roaring Twenties

In 2012 we saw an abundance of vintage lace dresses and pretty, ornate details -- and I don't think this is going away in 2013. An emerging trend for 2013 is a throwback to the "Roaring Twenties", where romantic lace, delicate beading, and and soft colors dominated. The popularity of shows like Downton Abbey (the beautiful dresses of the Crawley ladies!) and upcoming movies like The Great Gatsby will only further highlight the elegant, gilded atmosphere of this time period. Look for even more throwback details this year, like beaded headbands, delicate veils, or crystal elements around the room to showcase this particular vintage trend.

Small Scale and Intimate

A few years ago, weddings were huge and quite extravagant -- an excuse to invite practically everyone you knew to your big day and party with you. I'm not saying they're not huge or extravagant now (there will always be someone who knows a lot of people!), but I do think that there is a trend towards smaller, more intimate gatherings over huge ballroom affairs.

As I pointed out above, though, smaller and more intimate does not mean skimping on everything. If anything, rich fabrics, opulent details, and elegant atmospheres are staging a comeback! It rather seems that couples are looking for ways to make their day more special, and as a result, are opting to invite only close friends and family who will truly cherish participating in the event.

Carefully Handmade

In the past few years, the biggest trend around has been DIY, and websites like Pinterest only continue to add fuel to that fire! Couples often want something that truly showcases their personality at their wedding - which often requires putting your artsy hat on and making it yourself.

Now, I know when you hear "DIY" or "handmade" your mind associates "budget" and "crafty"...but let me tell you: DIY and handmade can be beautiful! The key to making DIY look great is all in the details, and the care and time put into making it (hence my "carefully handmade" section title above, with emphasis on the "carefully").

In the past few months, I have seen the trend move from "do-it-yourself-to-save-some-money" to "do-it-yourself-to-make-a-lasting-family-keepsake". Couples are putting their own spin on everything, from incorporating custom artwork into their invitations to creating beautiful centerpieces that later become keepsakes in their home.

Fun and Quirky

At this point, I should just have a whole new category labeled "unique"! But in all seriousness, couples in 2013 are looking for personal touches to add to their celebrations that differentiate their day - and that entertain their guests! This fun and quirky element also goes somewhat hand in hand with the carefully handmade trend I just mentioned.

For quite some time now, weddings have been drifting far from the more serious, black tie affairs of old towards fun parties with lots of quirky elements. Things like photo booths with mustache props, latenight munchies and milkshake buffet bars, bridal parties wearing personalized Chucks, and scavenger hunt table cards are popping up everywhere!

Liam's Newborn Session | Virginia Portrait Photographer

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend and the Monday Blues aren't getting you too down. But if they are... here's a yummy newborn session that will cheer you right up!

I had the pleasure of photographing my friend's perfect new little guy, Liam, a few week ago. He is such an adorably small person with the best button nose! I had so much fun with him, though the session was a little stressful for him at the end (I think all the fun stuff just wore him out). His mom had the cutest little hats for Liam to wear, made by a friend of hers just for Liam. I especially loved the little elephant hat. Liam's nursery theme is elephants, and the hat just fits right in! Here's a little peek into our day together:

Wedding Wednesday: It's All In (Capturing) The Details | Virginia Wedding Photographer

If big-picture ideas and overarching themes are two great cake flavors, the details are the frosting that glues them together. As a bride you've spent hours poring over ALL the details, from color schemes to flower arrangements to cake flavors to seating card displays. You've invested months of your precious free time into making each and every detail of your wedding picture-perfect, and while some guests may not notice all of these details, your photographer definitely will! We know how hard you worked making 400 of those tiny and oh-so-cute toothpick drink flags, or painstakingly inscribing that heartfelt thank-you note on each and every guest's favor, and it's our job to capture these details for your eternal memory.

Details! They take a lot of planning, and we're here to help capture them beautifully.

Yet photographers are human, too. In the hustle and bustle of the big day, we won't always capture EVERY detail - no matter how hard we try, that's just how it is.

But this is where you can step in to save your own day! There are other ways to make sure the wonderful details of your wedding are preserved by you and your guests (in addition to the details we manage to snag as photographers). And the beauty of multiple methods is multiple perspectives. You'll get 100 versions of your day to remember, not just two or three!

Photo Booth 
A photo booth is a great way to capture the funny, silly, and quirky sides of your guests! With fun props, photo booths can instantly set a "party" atmosphere during your cocktail hour or reception. Another plus with renting a photo booth is that your guests can have memories from your night as well! Consider using a photo booth to create favors from the night for your guests, and save a copy of the images for an fun-filled guest book.

Check with your photographer if you're interested in a photo booth - most provide some version of one these days, although what they offer varies by photographer. If your photographer doesn't offer a photo booth, renting one is also easy-peasy!

Disposable Cameras
Disposable cameras are a classic wedding staple. They're fun for your guests - and fun for you! You can even customize them with your names, wedding date, and colors to coordinate with the rest of your wedding decor. While you won't get top-notch images from the cameras you set at each table, you'll get boatloads of memories and a little something from each of your guest's perspectives. You can order customizable disposable cameras through sites like The Knot and Etsy.

Smartphone Apps
Let's get real, y'all; it's the 21st century. Everyone and their grandmother has a smartphone, which means all of your guests (including your grandmother) already have a camera. Your guests are snapping images left and right with the camera in their phone and blissfully instagramming the night away. Instead of giving them another camera to worry about, why not make it easier for them to share the photos they're already taking at your wedding?

The best smartphone app I've seen for just this purpose is called Wedding Party. It's a nifty app that lets you create a private and collaborative album for you wedding, where your guests can upload their mobile images throughout the wedding. All you need to do is create the album and give your guests instructions to download the app (it's free!). The best part about this is that everyone has access to view and contribute to the album when they download the app, so you get hundreds of the candid and fun images to remember - and so do your guests!

Wedding Wednesday: Fitting Photography into the Picture | Virginia Wedding Photographer

Two weeks ago, I introduced my Wedding Wednesday series and talked about one of the first and most important things you should do when you're planning your wedding, setting your budget. (If you missed that post, you can check it out here!) This week, I'm writing about something a little closer to my heart: some tips for selecting your photographer!

As you can imagine, selecting your photographer (or any of your main vendors, for that matter) takes time and research.  With that in mind, here are some tips for fitting your photographer into the picture!

Yep, that's me in action at my sister's wedding, where I did double duty as the photographer and a bridesmaid. (Taken by the Seven Springs resort photographer.)

Brush up on your style.

What's your photographic style? It's OK if you have no idea -- most people don't. During the first leg of your research, ask friends or family for photographer recommendations, or do an online search for wedding photographers in your area. As you look through the portfolios, ask yourself a few questions. Do you like a more vintage feel in your photos, or are crisp, classic black-and-whites more your style? Do you like the quirky, colorful images? Can you feel the emotions coming through in the images? These are all important factors in determining the style you want for your photos, and you'll want to go with a photographer who produces well-lit, high quality photos that go with your style.

Personality is important.

The relationship that you develop with your photographer is one of the most crucial relationships you'll develop during the wedding planning process, and because it's such a personal, intimate occasion, you want the best person for YOU on that day. While there are plenty of extremely talented wedding photographers out there, only a handful of them will be the right fit for your wedding. As you chat with your potential photographers, it's important for that mutual chemistry to be there. Think of these conversations as a first date! Do you click right away? If not, move on! 

Don't be afraid to ask questions!

Communication with your photographer is key in getting the coverage that you want. Your questions will most often come when you're discussing the packages each photographer offers. Often times photographers can put together custom packages, so if you really like a photographer and her style, but aren't seeing something you want in her packages, go ahead and ask for it! Don't be afraid to ask other questions as well: How many images will we get? How many hours will you be there for this fee, or does the fee cover an assistant or second shooter? How long will it take to deliver our proofs? These things are all important in assuring that you don't get any big surprises on the day of -- or a few months after -- your wedding. 

A picture is worth a thousand words, and fantastic wedding pictures are worth the price tag. 

Yep, that's right: spending money on a good photographer is well worth the splurge. Your photographer's job is to capture the essence of your day and produce a product that you'll cherish for the rest of your life, not just snap some pics and call it a day. We take pride in what we do, and the average wedding photographer spends anywhere from 20 to 40+ hours on your images after the wedding putting together the best images to convey the story line that you worked so hard to plan. There is nothing like being able to look back on your photos 10 years from now and instantly relive that special day, and that often comes with the price tag of a talented photographer. 

And finally, vision under pressure. 

A good photographer will pick up on subtle cues throughout the day, and won't need much direction at all. A great photographer will also be there with an "emergency kit" to make sure the little things that pop up (like stray hairs or torn stockings) don't derail you. An amazing photographer will be able to make suggestions on the fly if something just isn't working, or even suggest ideas for images that you had not previously thought of!  It's our job to capture you at your best, and we will work with your coordinator to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that you look your best, happiest self on one of the happiest days of your life. 

And the Winner Is...

Last week, I announced my holiday engagement feature contest, and I was blown away by all of your responses and stories. I just LOVED reading about how excited and surprised everyone was (well, at least the half of you that did not know your better half was going to propose!). It's just another reason that I love the holidays!

So, on to what you all are dying to hear: the winners! It was tough to pick just one, but I had to. The lucky couple is...

Erica and Bryan! Their Christmas Eve story was so sweet, and I was a sucker for the picture they included to go along with it.  Congratulations to Erica and Bryan, and stay on the lookout for their special feature in the next few months!

Wedding Wednesdays Are Beginning! | Virginia Wedding Photographer

Good morning, and welcome to Wedding Wednesday's first post!

"Well this is all very lovely," you say. "But what," you ask, "is Wedding Wednesday?"

Wedding Wednesday was born out of one of my 2013 New Year's resolutions. We all have those, right? Just because I was an English major and miss writing all the time, this year, I resolved to spice it up and blog more about things wholly unrelated to your sessions with me. 

I know, it's awesome! I'll just give you guys a moment to let that glorious news sink in. ;)

In all seriousness though, weddings are complicated events to plan. And let's face it: unless you plan weddings for other people for a living, it's not something you know a whole lot about until you're thrown in, all at once. So I thought I'd lend a helping hand to all you brides out there who are, like I was, clueless about how to plan the most awesome party EVER for your 200 closest friends and family.

Thus, the idea for Wedding Wednesday was born. This post right here is the first entry in a series of blog entries I plan to keep up throughout the year. Every other Wednesday, I will be  publishing a post dedicated to all things wedding. This inaugural post for Wedding Wednesday is about the very first thing you should do once you've said "yes" -- besides telling everyone, of course!

First things first: set your budget.

Before you even THINK about anything else wedding, set a budget. And no, you can not "ballpark" the budget. Sit down with your future partner for life, your parents, his parents, and anyone else who could possibly be contributing funding to your epic party, and hash out the numbers until you get something you're all comfortable with. Then write down the agreed-upon amount and put it somewhere central, where everyone can see it. Google Drive is a great place for a central spreadsheet / planner with controlled access, and you can also use apps like DropBox to share your budget spreadsheet with those who need it.

Yes, I know that budgeting is not the most fun part of planning a wedding. But trust me, the rest of your planning will be much more fun (and much less painful) if you set this first! Here are some tips and pointers to consider while setting your budget:

• Categorize Expenses
• How much do you want to spend on the photographer and videographer? What about your venue, or your dress and his tux? It's helpful to break down your total amount into budget categories such as food and drink, venue, entertainment, and photography.
• Determine where your priorities are
• Once you have your expenses categorized, you can decide what percentage of the total budget each category will get based on how important each category is to you. If your guests' entertainment is more important to you than the flower arrangements, reallocate that extra money from your decorating budget: hire great DJ and have an open bar instead!
• Don't forget to include taxes and service fees in your budget
• Vendors, like your caterer, typically include service charges, taxes, and other fees in their total cost, but they are not always listed obviously in price quotes. Be sure to include a little cushion in your budget allocations for fees like this.
• DIY is cool
• Taking on the design and creation for some aspects of your wedding, like homemade invitations, is not only a great way to ensure that you stick to your budget -- it's also a great way to inject your own creativity and personality into your wedding.  And some good news if you're not one of those "creative" types: Pinterest has a plethora of great DIY ideas and tutorials that are super easy to follow! 



• The most striking part of these decorations above, the beautiful white "birch" trees, were DIY. They were made from branches that fell during Hurricane Sandy, trimmed, and spray painted white. In fact, nearly all of the decorating in this gorgeous room was DIY. Neat, huh?
• Expect the unexpected
• It's also wise to set aside some of your budget for unexpected expenses -- there are ALWAYS unexpected expenses, and they add up quickly!

Do you have any other tips you'd like to share with me, or would you like to write a guest Wedding Wednesday post? Feel free to share them with me at info@rachaeldeanphotography.com!

Dagen Turns One! | Virginia Portrait and Event Photographer

What's a better way to start 2013 than with a birthday party? And that's exactly what I got to do this weekend with one of my very favorite little guys. I can't believe that the handsome fella below, Dagen, is already one -- it seems like just yesterday that I was swooning over his newborn gooey-ness! He was such a smiley little guy a year ago, and that did not change this weekend. He was all smiles and laughs as he got to celebrate turning 1 with his parents and friends. He had lots of yummy food, chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel frosting (decorated with circus animals!), and of course, lots of friends to play with in his circus tent. We even got to sneak in some time outside for a quickie family session to commemorate the day!