Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia is rich in colonial history and provides a multitude of photo opportunities. Colonial Williamsburg was originally built in 1699 and has a long history of restoration. The history of Colonial Williamsburg is brought to life by historians, historical reenactments and architects. It’s a great place to visit if you love history and want to learn more about one of the early settlements of the United States. Colonial Williamsburg is fun for all ages, and has surrounding attractions like Busch Gardens to make it a family-fun vacation destination.
I have been going to Colonial Williamsburg since I was about 6 years old, and have always enjoyed taking pictures throughout the historical area. This particular trip in October of 2020 was rainy and foggy for much of the trip, but I honestly loved the vibe I got from the pictures I took. The rain and fog made the Fall colors stand out even more than if it had been sunny, and the pictures have a dark, moody aesthetic to them.
A few of my favorite places to stop at in the historic area are the Millinery Shop, the Governors Palace & gardens, the Cabinet Maker and the Tin & Blacksmith shops. Also, going for a ride in one of the horse drawn carriages is a must. Just outside of the historic area are some really great shops and restaurants; Aromas World is a great local coffee shop. The College of William and Mary is also just outside of the historic area, so its a great opportunity to walk the grounds and explore this historic college.
I hope you enjoy the pictures below!
F family photo session
The F family reached out to me about getting a family session done last year, and even though we had to re-schedule a couple of times, the session turned out amazing. We went to one of my favorite places, Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, MD and I told them to just have a good time, laugh with each other and love on each other during their shoot and I truly loved the shots I got for them!
C family photo session
Back in the Fall I was able to do a family session for the C family. I had a great time walking around Tydings Park in Havre de Grace, MD with them, discussing what shots they were looking to get and figuring out where to take them. We made sure to incorporate the famous lighthouse as well as get some shots by the picturesque river. It was a lot of fun watching this family of six love on each other during the shoot!
Favorite places to shoot series (part 2)
I’m back to share with you another one of my favorite places to shoot! This time I want to introduce you to Fells Point. Fells Point is located just outside Baltimore City. The town was established in 1763, has cobblestone streets, water views to die for, and local shops and restaurants. I love the rich architecture throughout the small town and the picturesque street and water views. In Fells Point you’ll never be lacking for a unique photograph opportunity! Enjoy some pictures i’ve taken shared below, and make sure to plan your own trip to experience Fells Point! Some of my favorite shops to frequent include Daily Grind (where you’ll find the best coffee), Fells Point Surf (the cutest clothing and accessories!) and the Visitor Center!
J & D November wedding
I had the privilege of shooting a beautiful, family filled, love filled wedding this month. And I wanted to share it with you all! Jessica and David are currently stationed in Washington state (he’s in the Navy) but they held their wedding at Celebrations on the Bay in Pasadena, MD. It was cold and windy outside, but full of love and warmth inside. Enjoy some of my favorite shots from their special day!
Favorite places to shoot series (part 1)
As a photographer i’m always on the lookout for new places to get pictures. Whether i’m scoping out a place for clients or simply looking for new and interesting places to get shots of architecture, landscape, etc. going to new places is always an adventure. I wanted to start sharing different places I love to shoot and tell you why I love shooting there! I’ll share with you why I love the place, great places to get some unique shots, and more! So let’s get to it with the first place!
This place is a new one I just discovered but it’s already got a hold on me and i’m itching to get back there to check it out! Cylburn Arboretum is located in Baltimore City, MD and is 200 acres of gardens, grounds, hiking trails, and more. It’s completely free to go there and it’s also dog friendly! They also hold events there throughout the year but otherwise it’s a wide open space perfect for getting some fresh air, snapping some pics, having a picnic and more! So let’s talk deets on getting some great pictures, shall we?
The Cylburn Mansion on the grounds is an obvious choice for a backdrop! It’s a gorgeous old building with amazing architecture, textures, and design. The mansion is great for standalone shots OR to use as a background for clients!
In addition to the mansion, the grounds are beautiful and spaces. There are multiple garden areas, open fields, benches, even a mini bamboo forest. The landscape is perfect for getting all different types of looks into one session, which is just incredible. The grounds are a little gold mine, that’s for sure.
When going to a new place to potentially shoot or recommend for session locations, I like to work my way around slowly. Start by scoping out any buildings and shooting some shots of those at different angles. Then move onto to the landscaping, etc. Work in small pieces and paying attention to details can really pay off! Cylburn has so much potential and i’m really excited to get back there and discover even more about it!
35 years of marriage
This past June my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. They met at Lancaster Bible College in the Fall of 1981 and started dating in 1982. June 30, 1984 they tied the knot! They asked me to take some pictures for them and it turned into an anniversary photoshoot. We headed to Fells Point in Baltimore, MD and spent a Saturday morning walking around the town and capturing some memories for them. I enjoyed shooting them as they walked and talked, and made each other laugh almost every step of the way. Seriously, they laughed at each other the ENTIRE TIME. And when I told them to give each other a kiss for a picture, my mom made a face as she kissed my dad! I asked her what that was about and she said it was because his mustache was sweaty! I just shook my head at her and we laughed. So enjoy these pictures of them as they celebrate 35 years of sweaty kisses and making each other laugh.
A & J Engagement Shoot
Hey y’al! Hope your day is going amazing! I wanted to pop in here today to share with you all the very first engagement session i’ve ever done! When my best friend got engaged back in 2013, she wasn’t going to get any engagement pictures done in order to save more money. I offered to gift her and her fiancé an engagement shoot and they happily accepted. When trying to decide where to take the pictures, I put Hampton Mansion on the table; since neither of them had been there before, they trusted my vision for their pictures and off we went!
For those of you who do not know, Hampton National Historic Site (also known simply as Hampton Mansion) is an old plantation located in Towson, MD. The grounds are free and open to the public and absolutely gorgeous for taking photo’s! The main house’s architecture is breathtaking, inside and out, and the grounds and outbuildings are mostly original structures from the 1700-1800’s. All of this combined makes this photographers heart flutter and want to take ALL the pictures there! Needless to say, we had a blast walking around (even though it was probably the coldest day in January!) and it was a great time of learning for this young and new photographer. I hope you enjoy their pictures that i’ve shared below!
C&J pregnancy announcement
When my friends told me they were pregnant and wanted me to shoot a pregnancy announcement for them, I was over the moon! I had so much fun shooting these parents-to-be and giving them pictures to cherish and share with their family and friends as they celebrate the new little life that is on its way!
Christmas Memories
Last December I had the pleasure of capturing some Christmas memories for the A Family! They were wonderful to work with and have the absolute cutest little girl! I loved being able to capture memories for them in the comfort of their home; ones they will be able to treasure for years to come. Baby K was the best baby, full of smiles and laughs!
I hope to work with the A Family again in the future!
M Fitness and lifestyle
A few weeks ago I went to a fitness conference out in Indianapolis, Indiana. I went with a big group of people and was able to do mini sessions with a handful of them! M has become a good friend and I was SO excited to do a session with her! Girlfriend is serious model material and shooting her was a true joy! After receiving the pictures I took for her, M posted this blurb online, along with this picture :
"I've been staring at this picture all day. Trying to get the right words. But i'm still speechless. For years i've seen my coach and others on my team have photoshoots, and they always looked like so much fun. I've never had a photo shoot before. I hate when others take my photo (it's always at an unflattering angle). So I was super nervous about the shoot because i'm not where I want to be in regards to my goals and sometimes my confidence in myself isn't that great. But...I am in love with every single one of pictures. This one is by far my favorite. It captures me. The self love is radiating. The confidence is pouring off of me. It's so crazy to think about how much the inner me has transformed. The old me would have picked this picture apart. The new me, well the new me can't wait to print this out and frame it..."
I feel SO honored to have gifted this awesome girl with pictures that make her feel beautiful and strong and confident in herself. I hope you enjoy some more pictures from her session!! Follow her on IG @fatgirlsguidetohealthy
