NEKA & PETER | LOVE SESSION | LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER

Sometimes you meet people and you instantly click! That's exactly what happened with Neka and Peter. We met for the first time in the Los Angeles Arts District and  from that moment I  knew this was not going to be your average session. These two are full of energy.  Neka is a dancer and instructor at SoulCycle. Peter is a musician and surfer. They came ready for adventure, which included sneaking into buildings, creative costume changes and the chicken dance! Along with their contagious energy they brought with them a fierce love. Neka and Peter are so comfortable together. It was as if they melted into one another.You can tell they have been together for years by the way their movements and words complement one another. When they were interacting it was as if everything else fades away. I loved watching Peter soften with Neka in his arms and the loving glances Neka gave to Peter. 

One of the things I love most about being a photographer is that I get to see how different people express their love. I am allowed in to see sweet, loving interactions. I am witness to tender moments between dear ones. It is such an honor to capture different types of love stories and to see the countless different ways love is expressed.

How do you show your love? Quiet whispers, thoughtful gifts, dance parties in the living room? What ever it is go do it! Shower your dear ones with your special kind of love, the love that only you can share. 

WENDY & ERIC | ENGAGEMENT SESSION | VIRGINIA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Wendy and Eric are such a sweet dynamic couple. We met on an overcast day just outside of Washington, DC to shoot their engagement photos. Wendy picked the prefect location, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, it's rolling grounds and diverse scenery made for a fun, explorative adventure as we frolicked through fields, over bridges and under canopies of cherry blossoms. I love that together we share a connection to Washington, DC and Philadelphia, it feels special to be with others who call the same places home. I felt an instant connection with these two the first time we skyped. This feeling only grew during our time together at Meadowlark Gardens. I can't wait to capture their wedding day this fall! 

BOUDOIR SESSION | PHILADELPHIA PHOTOGRAPHER | NATALIE

Natalie is one of the strongest women I know. She's a red belt in Tae Kwon Do, training for her black belt, and spars competitively! She coaches kickboxing and is planning to attend stunt-double school this year. She is one fierce beauty. Her strength is not only skin deep, she is mentally strong. She has faced difficulty head on. She is a loyal friend and incredibly loving sister. It was an honor getting to photograph Nat. She's fiercely confident yet carries herself with a tenderness to those around her. This juxtaposition has come through in thse portraits, telling her story of strength and sweetness.  

CAITLIN AND KEVIN | ROSE BANK WINERY ENGAGEMENT SESSION | NEWTOWN, PA

SNOWY ENGAGEMENT SHOOT | RACHEL & TYLER | BRYN ATHYN, PA

As a kid I loved snow days. It was such a treat to have a whole day set aside just to be outside to play with friends, enjoying sledding, snowball fights and of course hot cocoa. I left Rachel and Tyler's session with the old familiar feeling of a snow day spent adventuring with good friends! These two high-school sweethearts have an energy about them that makes you feel instantly at ease. Listening with kind eyes and always ready with a laugh, they make you feel as if you are the only one in the room. The love between them is evident. They have been together for five years now and the way they interact with one another is telling of this; from the way each takes the other's hand to their playful exchanges, there is a wisdom that shines through. It is clear they know one another, that they have grown together and respect each other deeply. It is an honor to witness this kind of love and a true joy to capture. 

Best Year Ever!

2014 has held 365 incredible days! So many new friends and experiences. A new house, a new puppy and a new business. I'm so grateful for all the adventures this year has offered me. I've experienced incredible amounts of personal, professional and creative growth. I'm touched by all the moments I have been able to capture, for the couples who have opened their doors, welcoming me in to capture their love. I am humbled by my clients who have made it possible to do the work I love. And to the mentors who have helped get me to the place I am today! Here's to 2014, the best year yet! 

Jessica & Geoff | Rustic Mountain Home Wedding | Lafayette, NJ

Jessica and Geoff's wedding was unforgettable to me for many reasons. Firstly, the location. The wedding was held at Geoff's parents' country home, a home that has been passed down for generations and is impeccably decorated with local artwork and historical artifacts. When I first walked in, I thought it was a little museum. The home is set atop a hill nestled in the woods, overlooking rolling hills and farmland. In late fall the view was filled with  brilliant oranges, yellows and reds for miles. This wedding was also special to me because I got to shoot alongside one of the photographers I admire most, Katch Silva. Katch is an incredibly talented artist and just one of the sweetest human beings. She met with me at the start of my photography journey and has been an open source of information, answering any question I may have and providing valuable feedback. It was a true honor to work next to her, to see her in action and to observe her process. Jessica and Geoff themselves also made this day unforgettable,  Jessica in the dress her mom hand sewed for her and Geoff with his silly, shy manner. They were so sweet and genuine. It was clear that their guests love them dearly and support them through thick and thin. I loved getting to know both of them throughout the day and was blown away by their moves on the dance floor. Jessica and Geoff are overall calm and quiet but on the dance floor they are fiery and wild. It was so much fun to capture their energy. One of their guests pulled me aside and said, "At our wedding they never even left the dance floor!" The night ended peacefully as Chinese lanterns floated into the star-filled night sky. Guests sent wishes with each lantern. Katch and I were able to send one up as well! 

It is  such an honor to be a part of a special day. I am always amazed how welcomed I am into couples' circles of friends and family—allowed to enter these groups that have been built over years, welcomed into tender, intimate moments. For one day, I too am part of the inner circle. Then, as second shooter I pack up my gear and go back to being a stranger. It could be heartbreaking or disconcerting, but for me it makes it all the more beautiful. Walking in and out on someone's best day, taking part in this unforgettable event and nothing else in a couples' life: it makes the wedding  more sacred and precious to me. I soak in the details, the interactions between parent and child, the small looks between the bride and groom. Knowing I will never see them again heightens my awareness, and I find my heart is more open at these weddings. I love it for all it is as it unfolds, and then I walk away—a walk away moved and changed with a full heart and my pictures—and that is all I need. 

Old City Engagement Session | Philadelphia, PA | Adraea & Tasha

I love working with Adraea and Tasha, when I first met them there was an instant connection. They are so sweet together and keep one another laughing. They have two of THE best laughs I have ever come across.  Tasha's is a bubbly giggle, while Adraea's is a boisterous and infectious chuckle! Throughout our session I couldn't help but laughing along with them. It was truly a pleasure to work with Adraea and Tasha. These ladies are just wonderful. I cannot wait to capture their wedding day in May!