This baby girl had many people in suspense as she made her entrance into the world.  After a very long labor for mom, Arabella Grace arrived on December 5, 2009.  After the holidays I was able to photograph Miss Arabella. With every client I always ask them what is the one image they want to leave the shoot with and for John & Julie it was no different.  All they wanted is to have some of the adorable expressions that they find Arabella making but never seem to be able to capture.  So, we made that our goal.   I think it was Arabella’s as well because I was way to interesting for her to lay any other way then her back.  She just wanted to show us her beautiful face:)  Enjoy her first pics!

John & Julie - I hope that I captured all the sides of Arabella for you:)  She is beautiful and an absolute joy.

♥ Heather

My fav serious one of the whole shoot

Fav smiley shot….

Or maybe it is this one???  I just can’t decide….

Fav family shot….

Seriously how cute is this one???

Julie (mom), who loves all things vintage and shabby sheek,  wanted to remember what Arabella’s little feet so we captured this old school pic.

Daddy and his little girl…

While Arabella was sleeping we grabbed a few of just mom and dad….

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  I hope that everyone is warm and with good company:)  Most people should have gotten this by now, so here is the front of our card from this year.  The shoot was total last minute and I just had a friend snap some pics.  Next year though I want to be the client:)  Something to look forward to in 2010.  Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Last weekend the greater DC area, well the whole Eastern seaboard really, got hammered with snow.  We ended up getting 17.5″ at my house in Northern VA!!!  This area is not used to this much snow and certainly is not prepared for it.  It started on friday night and continued until 6am on Sunday.  So, on Saturday morning my husband and I took our new puppy out into the snow.  She LOVES it!!!  It is so fun to watch her jump around in the snow.

When we first met her she was 4.5 weeks old…

Well, we got her at 7.5 weeks old and she has grown so much since then!

In our side yard…

Bella playing fetch in the snow (there was about 12″ here)

So much fun!

So this post is all about Austin & Andrea.  I could photograph them all day long!   It is always amazing to me how God can bring two people together, who are so different, but it makes so much sense.  Andrea is so warm, inviting, stylish, a vegetarian for 17+ years, and is super organized.  Austin is a chill man who loves to play in his band, a goof ball, and a total carnivore.  Together though, they complement each other so well and watching them together just makes me smile:)

So, I give you a collection of Austin & Andrea…

Due to opting for a “first look” we had plenty of time to get some shots of them as a couple before we lost daylight.  This was very important due to their late October wedding day.

I LOVE everything about this image.

What I love most about this picture is that it was a total candid moment.  While I was shooting Austin I saw Andrea out of the corner of my eye and with a quick turn I captured this with Andrea not even knowing.  I love it!

Here are a couple of ring shots that I saved for this post.  I couldn’t decide between the two of them, so help me decide.  Which one do you like best?

Now back for a few more shots of Andrea because she is so breathtaking!

It was amazing you guys!

Merry Christmas all!  Just a note to let you know that I will be spending time with family and friends from now until the new year.  I will check email periodically, so if it takes me a little longer to reply that is why:)  I hope and pray that everyone has a blessed Christmas!

♥ Heather

Where to start…..this wedding was amazing!  I knew when we shot their engagement shoot that their wedding was going to nothing short of perfection and it did not disappoint.  I had a very hard time choosing the pics to blog from this wedding, so we are doing it in two posts.  The first post will have the shots from the day and post two will be all about Austin & Andrea!

Austin & Andrea - I had such a blast capturing your big day.  You guys are two awesome people:)  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to document the first milestone in your new family.  Hope you enjoy reliving your day.

♥ Heather

The beautiful Andrea…

She had her dress made just for her.  It turned out gorgeous!

For any brides planning their wedding right now;  get ready near some gorgeous windows.  Gorgeous windows = gorgeous light = gorgeous pictures:)

Before we left the hotel we got a few photos in the room…doesn’t she look radiant?

Andrea & Austin opted for a “first look”.  It allowed us to get some great pics of them as a couple.  As a photographer and former bride I can not recommend enough doing a first look.  You are allowed the opportunity to have still experience that “first look” moment but in private and then…we get awesome pics! Check out part 2 for some amazing pics of the bride and groom.

Until…then we continue with the “first look”…

As a note, none of these pics are posed.  I place the groom in a pretty area and then have his bride come up behind him.  Sometimes the best pics of the bride and groom are from this time.  The emotions are almost tangible.

I couldn’t decide which one I liked best, what do you think?

The guys…

It had been raining a ton the week leading up to the wedding and even rained 2-3 times during that day.  It ended up so perfect though.  About 30 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to start the rain let up, the clouds parted and blue shown through.  It was an awesome moment to see; grey on either side and a light blue right where the bride & groom were about to wed.  God was smiling down on them:)

Probably one of my favorite pic sof the day.  Hands commute so much…

First pic as husband & wife;)

The bridal party…

The centerpieces were so chic and rustic.

From their first dance…

Check back tomorrow for the photos of the bride & groom.  There are some good ones:)

A few weeks ago I met Troy & Mary @ the World War II memorial for a last minute Christmas shoot.  This was my last shoot of the year and it was a great one (well, once we found parking!).  We couldn’t have picked a better day for it though.  It was a rare November day @ 70 degrees.

Troy & Mary - I had a blast getting to know you guys and capturing years of love.  Enjoy the pics:)

♥ Heather

Well, it is getting late and deadlines are getting closer, so on to the pics!

I love the sweet nature of this one!

So many years of marriage wisdom here…

As we wrapped up the shoot and I was headed back to my car, I shot this image.  What a great way to end 2009!

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of documenting the Stine family.  David & Taryn are the lead pastors of DC Metro church where my husband I are actively involved.  Each year we seem to push their shoot out as late as possible so it is always a tad chilly :)  This year was much nicer though!  We headed out to Mt. Vernon in hopes of getting some Potomac views.  Well, I think we accomplished our goal (well, as much as you can with a 3 & almost 2 year old:))

David & Taryn - It was a blast!  It is an honor serving beside of you.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

♥ Heather

This is how most shoots with two little boys end up:)

How sweet is this?  I mean come on….seriously one of my favs!

This speaks so much joy to me…..

Fav family shot…

Of course we had to do a few shots of just mom & dad as well!

I had the pleasure of shooting “E” nice and early on a chilly morning a couple weeks ago.  She had also seen my shots around Eastern Market from Andrea & Austin’s shoot and wanted something similar for herself.  As she and I were talking she was telling me how much junk everyone was giving her for having her pics done without a “reason”.  Let me be the first to say, no matter where you are in life you should never have to have a “reason” to get your pics done.  Celebrate life and document it!!  So, that being said we embraced life and had a great time finding nooks and crannies all over the Eastern Market.

“E” is known for her big toothy grin, so when we saw this we couldn’t resist!

Smokin

“E” works in the crime field, so I thought this pic was appropriate

I am always amazed how put together this couple is.  Every time I see them they are perfectly coordinated and classic. Well, then they had a baby and yes, he is the most stylish baby as well :-)  A few weeks ago we went out to take a few 6 month pictures of their little one Deacon.  While we were at it we got several cute family ones as well.

Matt & Amber - It was an honor to photograph you guys.  I hope that you enjoy the pics and that I captured Deacon well

♥ Heather

The same garage from Andrea & Austin’s engagement shoot….

A father will make a total goof out of himself for the joy of his child

Gotta love a random cool green door!  Great find Amber!

My fav family shot…

Seriously???  You guys are smokin