a beautiful pregnant belly.

i met rebekah and her husband at silver lake park in haymarket which, in case you were wondering, i have not gotten sick of shooting there. it's amazing. they were a lot of fun and obviously so in love. there is a beautiful reverent and excited energy around two people that love each other, who are getting close to bringing their baby into the world. i remember that feeling so well, and photographing couples like this make it fresh in my mind again and again... i love that. i can tell they will be great parents - they have this fun lighthearted way of being and they seem so comfortable together. that's the best. i hope to meet the baby when it arrives. PS they aren't finding out the sex until the baby comes... i vote GIRL. what do you think?

you are so beautiful.

boy or girl?

so sweet.

i'll leave you with this last image, i LOVE it...

good luck with everything you guys!

sisters.

i go way back with these girls. rachel and i were bff in fourth grade where we had our favorite teacher of our lifetimes and first learned how to shave our legs. i haven't seen her in years but i had a great time catching up and reminiscing about all of our hilarious childhood memories. sarah is rachel's barely younger sister so lots of memories of our time together include her. it was really cool to see them interacting again, as adults. they still crack each other up and kept me laughing the entire time. i smiled the whole time i edited this shoot, every time a photo would pop up i could hear the behind the scenes commentary that created the smiles. i adore these girls. they did this shoot as a christmas gift for their parents, they are making a calendar out of the photos, which i think is such a cute idea. here are some of my favorites... 

you two are so beautiful.

it was so fun hanging out! :)

the coletta family!

i met this family in old town alexandria. i LOVE that place. this family was so sweet. so in love, so down to earth, and it was all mirrored in their sweet little girl. i loved spending time with them walking around and exploring different parts of old town and dreaming about living there. :) here are some of my favorites... 

they are the cutest couple.

you guys are so sweet, it was so much fun meeting you!

i love charlie!

i met this family when charlie was only 10 weeks old. i can't believe how much he's grown since then. he is SUCH a happy boy! the second i smiled at him he smiled back at me and didn't stop the whole time. i know i said it the first time i met them, but i really adore this family. they are one of those families that i just click with. no awkwardness, no rush, no forced smiles. they just live their life in front of my camera for a brief time and i think we all enjoy it. it was so great getting you see you all again and i can't wait for next time. :)

you guys are the cutest!!

that one on the left had me cracking up...

the last frame i shot that day, which i'm in LOVE with.

xoxo.

acupuncture in NYC.

i had the pleasure of hanging out with susan, who started her own acupuncture business in new york city. she wanted some head shots and photos for her website so we got together to create those. i've always heard amazing things about acupuncture but have never had the guts to try it. after meeting her and chatting with her, (she even stuck a needle in her hand to show me what it's like) i think i'm ready to try it. she specializes in women's health and works with a variety of different women's issues, which i think is awesome. i will let her tell you her story and what she does. :)

"I am a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of traditional Chinese herbology in midtown Manhattan.

Initially I was drawn to studying Traditional Chinese Medicine because as a pre-med student in college also working as a pharmacy technician, I began to realize that "band aid" solutions to health problems (many medications) just didn't make sense for long term health changes. I knew that acupuncture and herbal medicine could make a person feel healthier, more energetic, and overall more balanced, no matter what their issue. Coming from that more balanced place it's much easier for a patient to find the motivation and energy to make the lifestyle changes necessary for lasting health, whether it be with diet, exercise, starting a daily meditation practice, or something else. I think Chinese Medicine (acupuncture and herbs) is so special because the goal is not to have patients rely on me forever (although many do like to come for regular health maintenance acupuncture), but for me to help you to work through the current issue with the tools I have at hand while at the same time teaching you how to prevent it from occurring again.

Although I enjoy treating a wide variety of complaints, I focus on treating women's health including irregular menstrual cycles, menstrual pain, fibroids and endometriosis, as well as infertility. If you've never tried acupuncture or aren't sure if it could help you, feel free to email me and ask. I'll tell you what my experience has been, and if I don't feel I can be helpful, I'll refer you to a therapy which I do believe could help!"

if you live in NYC or you're ever there and want to try it out, here is her contact info:

Susan Wallmeyer Acupuncture

130 E 40th St. Suite 1240

New York, NY 10016

917-575-0293

swallmeyer.acupuncture@gmail.com

chloe & claire: brand new twin babies!

when i first found out ginger was pregnant i was stoked. when i fount out ginger was having twins i was through the roof excited. when i found out i got to photograph not only her beautiful pregnant belly but her twin girls for their whole first year of life... i can't even put my excitement into words. i will go ahead and say spending this time with them makes me want another baby... now. hey jesse ;) here are some of my favorites... 

couldn't you just eat them up?