A Manatee Wedding!

Like many couples, Rob and Christina decided on a destination wedding. Unlike many couples, manatees influenced their decision. They decided to have their wedding at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Preserve, mainly for that cute and lumpy mammal - the manatee! I'll admit I did not see the appeal before visiting this preserve, but all the couple's guests, ourselves included, came to adore these gentle slow creatures as we watched them beg for sweet potatoes, roll over for a tummy rub, and nurse their babies underwater. From the greenery, to the quiet walks, to the run-away flower girl (hmmm she looks familiar), we had a blast capturing the day. The wedding location was a huge success, with all the guests having a great time and the couple being surrounded by a place they loved as they joined their lives together.

A Vintage Veil

This weekend we captured a couple who decided to have their wedding in the heart of Annapolis's most beautiful and historic areas. We really enjoyed shooting a wedding in St. Mary's Parish with those amazing vaulted ceilings. And we just loved the cala lilies and vintage inspired short veil. For more images from this wedding, visit our website, www.lifescapesphotoandvideo.com/.

Stephanie and Dimitri - brave couple with an all-kid bridal party!

Rebecca and I met with a newly engaged couple yesterday to discuss shooting their wedding on December 1, 2007. I’m looking forward to shooting at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedraland the Willard Intercontinental in DC, both very beautiful locations!The last wedding I shot at St. Sophia was beautiful, but Stephanie and Dimitri have an exciting difference…The bridal party is about 20 children between 4 and 8 years old! Children can be unpredictable, but Stephanie already has “training” planned out to get them ready.

A Couple With Flair!

Woodrow and Leslie had a beautiful wedding this weekend in Pasadena, MD with a reception at La Fontaine Bleue. This couple really had some pizazz with corset bride and bridesmaids dresses, and some sassy poses to top it off. And all the dancing gave us some fun opportunities to capture the couple as they boogied down. For more images from this special wedding, visit our website www.LifeScapesPhotoandVideo.com.

Horses on the Beach

Brian and some fellow photographers took their annual camping trip to Assateague State Park this past November weekend. The goal was some guy time, photographing some inspiring nature (actual snow on the dunes in November!), and possibly capturing images of the wild horses that roam there. They did eventually spot some of the magnificent animals; although they were too far for good photo ops, the memory of the wild beasts charging along will stay with them forever.

The Weekend Surprise - "An All Plaster Cast"

Rob & Christina - Engagement Shoot - Nov 4, 2007 Rebecca and I had a great time photographing Rob and Christina’s engagement shoot and portions of their Zen inspired wedding shower this past weekend. The groom surprised us all by showing up Saturday morning with a cast on his leg for a broken ankle he had gotten the night before on a rock climbing adventure. Needless to say, we adapted the type of shots we planned to get at the engagement shoot so that the cast was not featured as we captured the couple's interactions. We’ll be flying to Florida in December to shoot their wedding, and we had a great time getting comfortable shooting together and taking advantage of a gorgeous fall morning at a local New Jersey park. The doctors say that the cast might be off in time for the wedding. Let's just hope!

Going the Distance!!

Brian helped organize and participated in a Photography Marathon in and around Annapolis, Baltimore, and Chestertown.  This past couple of weeks has been an intense series of workshops and excursions that he led at Washington College.  This is the second year Brian ran the “Photography Marathon”, an opportunity for budding photographers to learn the basics, some advanced concepts, get their hands on some high end gear, learn to shoot and direct models, and get out for some excellent photography excursions on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  I’ve posted a few samples of my photos while I wait for the student photographers to do their post processing and submit their favorites to me

Zee Broadcast

We had an awesome new opportunity to shoot a production for the Chairman of Zee Broadcast, Mr. Subhash Chandra at the VISARTS Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts in Rockville, MD.  Mr. Chandra was presenting his philanthropic ideas to the top business owners in the DC area.  Mr. Chandra is doing more than his part to bring education to struggling villages around the world.  We were inspired by his presentation as we videotaped, and are pleased that our footage was used to create a production that will air on Zee TV in the upcoming months to promote his positive work.  Good luck, Mr. Chandra, and thank you.  

Polynesian Wedding

Erin and Tony - Oct 13, 2007

Again, Brian had the opportunity to shoot a wedding with fellow Annapolis area photographer, Dave Harcorn. Erin and Tony’s wedding on Saturday was at the beautiful Herrington on the Bay’s Polynesian Bridal Lawn and Paradise Ballroom. What a fun couple, and what a gorgeous day! They had absolutely ideal conditions for their wedding. With abackdrop of the Chesapeake Bay and a beautiful sunset, photos were amazing. For more photos from their day, visit our website.

Boats That Go VROOOM!

US Powerboat Show - After a successful shoot at the sail boat show in Annapolis, and having several photos accepted by iStockPhoto.com, I decided to attend the powerboat show in Annapolis the following week to shoot stock photos.These Annapolis boat shows are different than many others, because the majority of the boats are in the water. They bring in hundreds of boats, ranging from glorified dingies to huge luxury yachts. As they bring them in, they build a network of floating docks which span across the harbor and edge of the anchorage, floating and fixed by anchors and temporary pilings. I was amazed by the price tags on some of these yachts… and the big ones were by appointment only (so I never got to see those up close).

The Silent Sailors

US Sailboat Show, Annapolis, MD

I’ll be heading out in a few hours to attend the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, one of the most well known sailboat shows in the country. I’ll be shooting for stock for IStockPhoto.com. With so many beautiful sail boats straight out of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, I should get some nice photos. I just hope it’s not so crowded that I have trouble getting shots empty of random show patrons.

A Train to Talk About

Chris & Mark - Brian had a great time today photographing Chris and Mark’s wedding at the Martini Lutheran Church in Baltimore, and reception and the Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport. We are so happy how the images of Chris's train came out! And the reception was one of those weddings where the energy level was high all night, and the reception was ending before we knew it. Congratulations Chris and Mark!

Duanji & David - The Koi Room

This past Sunday, Brian and I photographed Duanjie & David’s wedding at 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church, Va. The building, although oddly named, is a beautifully designed lakeside restaurant with a contemporary and Asian inspired decor. Large coy live in ponds that surround the building, some even living in small ponds inside. Man made waterfalls create a beautiful backdrop for portraits. It was an interesting collection of friends and family, primarily a mix of Chinese, Canadian, and New Zealanders.

The Caveman Attends a Wedding?!

Laura & KeithBrian shot a beautiful wedding on the 15th, with what was likely to have been the most fun reception I’ve seen.  The guests were up and dancing hard all night. Laura and Keith are a fun loving couple who’s friends seems to have had many of the night’s song selections pre-choreographed.  Either that or they were quick to join in and ad-lib along.   The word around the reception was that the Geico Caveman from Geico’s TV commercials was present.  Apparently the couple had relatives who were Geico execs, and the Caveman was either a friend or family member.

Family excursion & studio photography session.

Rebecca and I took the little one to Patapsco Valley State Park for an afternoon of fun, including some photography by the Cascade Falls section of the blue trail.  With the rainfall being light recently, there was more of a trickle than a fall of water, but falls are always a beautiful place to photograph.
Later that night, Rebecca and I shot some photos for our portfolio and for selling on iStockPhoto.com, including some business scenarios and extreme makeup experiments.  Rebecca usually does a great job art directing and with makeup, but we are new to shooting extreme makeup.  We thought it would be good to test it out before bringing in models for a more formal session.

Twin Babies - Twice the Love

What a fun time we had photographing Pam and John’s twin boy and girl! At only 3 weeks old, but arriving 3 weeks early, it was a nice way to celebrate their due date!

Sunset Engagement Shoot

We had a beautiful late afternoon and evening to photograph Mark and Chris's engagement in Quiet Water’s Park, Annapolis, MD. We shot at several locations around the park, taking advantage of the grounds and ideal lighting. We finished the evening with the setting sun and fiery sky for our backdrop. We look forward to their September wedding day when we will get a chance to capture all the great smiles, laughter, and love they have found in each other.

Budding Model

9-1-07
Brian and I were pleased to have met Jen Johnson,a model from Model Mayhem who came to our studio in the evening for a stock photography session. New to modeling, Jen brought a great attitude and look, and took direction well, while still improving easily. We worked with some outfits Jen brought, but also took shots of her in some scrubs.

A Hairy Leg???

Brian had a great time today shooting Charlene and Carl’s wedding! Although is was a hot day, we lucked out that the skies remained clear throughout and well after the wedding and reception, releasing heavy rains and lighting on us later this evening. It was a beautiful ceremony, set on the grass beside the first hole of the Maryland Golf and Country Club in Bel Air. The ponds and mature trees made for a scenic backdrop, surrounded by the rolling hills of the golf course. Charlene and Carl looked like a million bucks! As most know, the traditional bouquet and garter tosses are often followed by the man who caught the garter putting it on the leg of the woman who caught the bouquet. Charlene and Carl are a fun loving couple and played a funny joke on their unsuspecting guests. They had the man who caught the garter wear a blindfold before he put the garter on the woman’s leg. Just before he went to work, Carl traded places with the bridesmaid who caught the bouquet and freaked out his friend who was not expecting Carl’s hairy leg!

Our Favorite - Morningside Wedding

Showed up early to a wedding as usual, and brought my camera along to capture the beautiful grounds. This is my favorite shot. I just had a wonderful time capturing the magic moments through video and photography for Lana and Matt at their beautiful Morningside Inn wedding. The blue-sky was perfect for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour followed by an intimate reception in the hall. Congratulations!

Blue, Green, and Yellow

We just loved shooting this last wedding with Dave Harcorn, fellow photographer.  Dave invited us to join him on a shoot for Warren and Molly, an adorable couple that really had a knack for creating a picturesque wedding with tiny flower girls in big colorful bows and beautiful smiles all around.   The wedding, at Herrington Harbor, was just beautiful, but our favorite part was the fun of getting ready with so many cuties, the bride included!