Sunday, November 21, 2010

Crimson & Clover

Fall is HERE!!!

I've spent some time shooting randomly, having a pause in the madness that was my spring/summer weekends where I was shooting constantly. I'm opening up a few more weekends in the coming month to finish up any Fall sessions and begin on Christmas/Winter pictures for family's holidays cards.

As I may have mentioned in a previous post - I was in the process of researching a new camera bag with which to tote my beloved camera around with me, but not be so big and, well, camera-bag-y. I had found one on etsy that I was very excited to purchase until a friend of mine sent me the link to these charming purse like bags!

I found the one in which I had been long waiting for:

The Clover, which is not only large enough to fit my camera body and a few lens's, but also my macbook pro for any sort of emergency uploads, or just the fact that carrying a laptop bag + camera + all gear is overwhelming when trucking it a few blocks (during the winter months when my fingers are cold) to the visual arts center for my studio lighting classes. The sheer convenience of it is is awesome, not to mention it's so cute!


They don't ship till the end of December, so i'll have to pre-order. But maaaan.... I'm IN LOVE with this bag.

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I found my sister and I had an aligned schedule one Sunday afternoon during which we took a drive to down town Norfolk and the surrounding Freemason area. I got a few shots that are bursting with fall colors and bright blue skies. Warm red brick and loose wavy curls. I hope to shoot a few more sessions with her during the upcoming months.












Be on the lookout for more changing of the seasons!
Until then. :)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Memory Lane

I wanted to get these pictures posted before mid October rolled around so they could still be considered engagement pictures and not I-was-too-lazy/busy-to-post-these-before-they-got-married pictures. 

My best friend, Kelsey Essmann is to be wed to Mr. Jared Bethune this October 23rd. This will be a day that I know will have very fond memories attached to it. I've known Kelsey since the beginning of High school, and Jared only a few short years less than that. It's been so exciting watching Kelsey and Jared fall in love and I have been fortunate enough to use my blooming desire to shoot pictures of this journey as it progressed. It goes all the way back to their 1 year (ish) anniversary when we took a walk through the same neighborhood where Jared asked Kelsey to be his girlfriend.

Circa May 14th, 2007
- Our First Shoot -


Since that time, we've shared many a session together and I've fondly referred to them as my "photographic guinea pigs" ... But! With time came practice, and practice hopefully will lead to something that resembles perfection. Here are a few pictures from over the years (new photos from our latest shoot at the bottom!!) - a tribute to the journey that has made up so much of my photographic experience (believe it or not) & a testimony to Kelsey and Jared's true & time-withstanding love. :)

Love to you both & many congratulations!



Mini Shoot - July 26th, 2008

October 26th, 2008
Oct.26.09
(I just realized that I took this exactly 2 years & 3 days away from their wedding date.)


April 23, 2009

May 2nd, 2009


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July 21st, 2010:












Until Next Time...

(New jams ; Over the Ocean's Paper House.)




Saturday, September 25, 2010

Pine Cones

I have been blessed recently being called to shoot families, children, and engagements. I finally got my chance to shoot a semi-woodsy family session in a little area by the locks in Chesapeake. Pine cones were everywhere and held the attention of the little ones. They even had their puppy join in! Peyton begged to know "how many pictures, Danielle!?" & Gavin was quite the little man, running after his big sister and giving Lulu hugs. I had such a good time shooting their pictures. Before we ended the session, we headed over to a park nearby with swings and slides - this gave me lots of ideas for some up-coming "under-10" sessions. Keep a look out!

















I miss being 5 and running around outside without a care in the world....

Until next time!

Saturday News

I keep finding that the more I get caught up on projects, the faster the void gets filled with something new. I believe it is God's way of telling me that I am to always be active because my heart resides where there are things to do.

Reference points such as:
-boxes in my apt still needing to be unpacked from when I moved in from... ohhhh.. MAY.
-new business cards with an actual WEBSITE (vs the current blog) listed on them.
-the website to put ON my new biz cards (!!) ... this one is definitely exciting.
-a new camera bag waiting in a shopping cart on amazon, just to be replaced by these beautiful bags which are both feminine, modern and functional; found on etsy this morning! The wait is over! I shall be purchasing one upon my return home from my weekend trip to the rural Ephrata, PA to spend time with Jeremy's family & see the biggest street fair on the East Coast!
(guess who forgot her camera... )
(probably because she didn't have a sweet bag to carry it in...)








                                                              (thank you, XcessRize!!)

-completing my visual arts degree. Acquiring this new job has put a stunt in that growth.
-BLOGGING. This one constantly excites and depresses me because I rarely have the time to really hunch over my keyboard and post things of visual worth. It's a work in progress.

I've got many-a-project to work on in the upcoming months. I would like to work on some out of focus images that can be blown up and mounted in matte and frame to be hung in people's homes. It's the subject matter that has me stumped. I did some with Jared and Kelsey in their latest session and I'd like to do more for some personalized gifts for the holidays. Hmm.. so much to do!

My best friend is getting married in 28 days and I'm really really looking forward to her finally being able to start this new season of life.  It will definitely be an awesome wedding. Can't wait.


Well, here's to many new fall adventures (of which I hope to post here in photographic form.)

Cheers to a beautiful Saturday!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Cobble-stones

Keeping with Nate and Kelly's rustic theme, we went for a stroll through the Freemason section of Norfolk, on the border of Ghent and downtown. We were graced with a gorgeous day. Very little humidity (a godsend, truly) and clear blue skies. We enjoyed climbing up onto ivy covered stairways, and strolling amidst the old victorian styled houses. A beautiful location at 4 in the afternoon.. just as the sun was realizing it was time to visit China... and Nate & Kelly fit in so well with that beauty.

Thank you all for your patience with me as I've transitioned from one job to another and am slowly getting into a more real routine now that this semester has begun. I wish the weekends were like 4 days longer just so I could take pictures of all you beautiful people.

I have an itch to edit tonight, so if I can wrap up a few other projects - you may see two posts in ONE evening. Ambitious, yes. But, I'm realizing, on a more personal level, ambition is definitely a key to any sort of success. :)

And with that random deep thought; Here's Nate & Kelly!