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!