Terrapin Park Engagement Session 2009-06-04

Warning to all folks wanting pics at Terrapin Park in the summer... TICKS!!!! And tons of them!!!! Not just your normal tick either but teensy-weensy deer ticks! All three of us were covering with them. We all sacrificed for this shoot for sure. But as long as none of us end up with Lyme's disease, I'd say it was worth it. Great sunset setting for a fabulous photo shoot on the Eastern Shore. Wedding bells are only a little more than a week away. 



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Stephanie and Jason - Annapolis Engagement Photos with Magical Muscle Car! 2009-05-31

When Stephanie asked me to be her wedding photographer, I knew immediately that the pictures were going to be amazing and unique - especially for their engagement session. "Jason has a muscle car and would like to have it in the engagement photos", she says.  I couldn't think of anything else. Immediately, the wheels started turning in my head. All I need is a really cool location and a great sunset and twilight. As usual, my Annapolis delivered on both! I can't thank you guys enough for allowing me the opportunity to capture these amazing images. This was a lengthy photo shoot but the patience paid off!!!! And the two of you could give lessons on how to work the camera. All I had to do was light you, and capture the images. This photo shoot was so much fun. Great weather, fabulous sunset and one amazing vintage Oldsmobile "muscle car". This was a good time. In fact, I had so much fun I blew a 40 amp fuse on my power supply! First time for that EVER! 







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Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Wedding - Kirsten and Matt 2009-05-25

Today's wedding from the double-header weekend was at the famous Chesapeake Bay Beach Club in Stevensville, MD. My first wedding at this venue in 2009...and hands down our favorite venue. Note to all brides considering this location for your wedding and/or reception, the foods is without question, the best around! Erin and Sharon rocked it out as usual and kept everyone (including me) right on schedule. Our bridal party enjoyed some really cool looking cocktails during the after ceremony photo shoot. Very colorful drinks! Check out the pic. I'll bet they tasted as good as they looked too!. 
Kirsten and Matt were a little concerned about the weather because the forecast didn't look so good. Maybe my "no rain" track record has followed me to the Eastern Shore. Wouldn't that be nice. Well, we did it... no rain and the sunset was absolutely spectacular. The Reverend Joel Dan Lehman was our officiant (love him!). Our bridal party wore a mixture of short blue skirts for the gals and slacks and a jacket for the guys. Accessories for the guys were these really cute crab and coral logo neck ties. Nice to see something other than the traditional black tux. I figure if you're getting married on the beach, why not make it a little more casual. The gents looked very dapper. 
And to top it all off, we had a band. Not just any band but "Raggs and the All Stars" from Elan Artists. Bottom line is these folks are top notch. Beyond first class. Our guests danced the night away to the sounds of Glenn Miller and then some more contemporary tunes. Overall a very fantastic day and evening. Everyone danced and had a great time; that's what matters.
Carly, thanks so much for you help. I couldn't have done it without you. A photographer couldn't have a better assistant/shooter...except my wife Jill of course. But if Jill can't be with me then I have it made when Carly is with me. On the way out I ran into my colleague Larry Huffman who taught me something REALLY cool about my new camera. Thanks Larry!!!.. and it was nice having a brew-sky with you afterwards and talk shop. Now, time to relax and get my energy back. Happy Memorial Day everyone.
Seacrest out!!!!
Check out the slide show here.











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Caitlin and Dustin...From the tobacco barn to the church. 2009-05-24

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to capture Caitlin and Dustin's engagement images in the family barn. Great time for me as a photographer. I thought to myself, there's no way we are gonna top those pics... but I spoke too soon! I should have known anyone who is friends with Ashley Riddle is going to have an amazing bridal party who is fun and energetic. Sure enough, I was right on and they were RIGHT ON! Speaking of Ashley (soon to be Mommy) of Up Do's for I Do's... need I say more? Hair and makeup today was e-x-c-e-p-t-i-o-n-a-l! Note to all brides visiting this blog... Hire them (period!) You will look fabulous the entire day without question. Wanna look Hollywood? Wanna be a rock-star? If the answer is yes, you need Up Do's.  


Our lovely bride Caitlin was spectacular and her dress was this flowing silk gorgeous material that my lens absolutely loved the whole day. The way she moved in that thing could be the definition of grace in the dictionary. Our couple said their nuptials at St. Andrew by the BayCatholic Church in Arnold, MD. Flat out the best lit church sanctuary in Anne Arundel County hands down! Then off to the Chartwell Country Club for cocktails and reception. Yale Moyer really knows how to do her stuff. Great gal! Thanks for all your help Yale. We love you guys. The venue can't get any prettier... rolling green grass golf course hills, rippling brooks, a stone bridge and golf cart transport. A photographers dream venue. Chris Riddle of Beat 2 Beat DJ's attended as a guest with his lovely wife Ashley Riddle but Dan manned up the helm and rocked the house like a true pro. Great party, great friends and family. Jill and I had a blast and for the first time in a while, I don't feel exhausted. I'm actually able to blog the same day as the wedding. Cool! Enjoy the pics (I couldn't decide my favorites from the slide show so I added many this time. 
Click here for the slideshow (By the lovely Jill Thompson)









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Blue Angels ripping up the sky blue! 2009-05-21

The end of May marks for us the beginning of summer and what an exciting time it is for sure! Wedding season kicking off full steam ahead and of course our very own air show pretty much right in our back yard!!! I love Annapolis more than anything. From the historical downtown buildings, the sailboats and the Blue Angels. Yesterday's air show was really interesting. The Blue's choreography was much different from previous years. We didn't know which way to look and just when we thought the show was over, there they were setting up for another awesome formation. It is such a blessing living this close to the Naval Academy. In fact, we get two show each year. The day before the official air show over the Severn River, the Angles perform a practice show that sometimes surpasses the real one! On the practice day we decided to watch from home. They flew so low over our neighborhood with smoke on, the cloud literally went right over over our home and you could smell the JP5 or whatever that smoke smell is. It's sweet!!!! Pardon the noise though, but it's the sound of FREEDOM!!!! 
Go Navy and Marines!!!! Thank you for your service to our country.
Check out all the pics in my online gallery. 




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Spring weather on a January wedding day! 2012-01-09

The weather was unusually warm Saturday for Anya and Evan’s wedding day – and very welcome! Last year this time we were freezing if I recall correctly … and shoveling some snow. If I’m outside in January without a coat that is just awesome. First wedding of the new year at none other than my favorite location, the United States Naval Academy. Awesome group of folks too! Anya looked amazing and if I could,  I’d give a shout out to their hair and makeup artists… whoever it was “insert name here”… they did a fabulous job. Anya’s bouquet was entirely handmade by her new mother in law using a combination of family heirloom and gift brooches from her girls. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen – amazing! Special thanks and shout out to Holly Greve at the Loews Annapolis Hotel. The ballroom was jaw dropping awesome! Completely transformed four walls and a ceiling into a winter wonderland with white draped walls, blue lights everywhere, and a white dance floor. There were various flower centerpieces on each table some as high as 12 ft tall and a floral piece over-hanging the head table which was so impressive. Still need to find out about all the amazing people who designed the reception room; it was spectacular. The band Millennium rocked and performed like mad. I tried to include pics below to show you guys how awesome an event this was. Great to be working in January and looking forward to some downtime. Time for a winter vacation! (holy cow it’s snowing now. .. )

*Brooch wedding bouquet designed by Phyllis Beard

Link to the slide show from the wedding.

Link to register on Pictage to see all the wedding pics.

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Naval Academy Wedding – One week till Christmas!!! 2011-12-19

One week to go before Christmas and we find ourselves celebrating Brenna and Brett’s pre-holiday wedding at the Naval Academy. Absolutely great bride and groom! Brenna and her girls looked f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s… partly due to the expertise and impeccable makeup and up do’s from none other than UpDo’sForIDo’s. The weather was sunny, blue skies… but chilly! A small breeze that really cut the cold right through whatever we were wearing but everyone was a champ during our afternoon shoot on the grounds of the yard. The Officer’s Club was transformed into a wedding wonderland thanks to the coordinated efforts of Michele Adamo from Michele Damon Events and Maggie Rogers, Catering Executive at the Naval Academy. From a photographers viewpoint, the real-time image of the room was astounding! Every detail that was painstakingly crafted was perfectly lit using strategically placed pinlights. The linens, floral arrangements, cake table, the head table… everything looked as if it came right out of high-end wedding magazine. This was a real treat for my eyes and lenses. All I can say is Bravo-Zulu to everyone involved! And to top everything off.. Brian Robey from Beat2Beat Dj’s was on hand with awesome sounds all syncopated to colorful lighting on the dance floor. And.. I didn’t get to see them until I left for the night… but on the way out the door parked right out front of the O’Club was none other than my favorite trolley company from Discover Annapolis Tours. One more wedding to go for the year.. New Year’s Eve… but I can’t think of a better way to close out a great year doing what we absolutely love to do; I am very thankful! Merry Christmas everyone and much love.

Click to view Jill’s amazing slide show.

Click to register on Pictage to see all wedding images.

 

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New Years Eve Wedding – KC and Eric 2012-01-02

What a shebang! HOLY MOLY! Wrapping up 2011 with a New Years Eve celebration with KC and Eric at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront hotel in downtown Annapolis.  We started off the day at a beautiful historic home – 112 Duke of Gloucester Street where KC and her girls prepared for the big day with hair and makeup by Kate and Michelle from About Faces Salon and Spa and donning a beautiful wedding gown. Accessories… red-hot shoes and Ray Ban sunglasses and beautiful bouquets by Contessa Flowers. I knew this was going to be a cool crowd when I saw the shades! The bridal party all met up at Mahan Hall on the grounds of an unusually quiet Naval Academy for a quick first site and fun shots at the sea wall.

Fireworks Annapolis Bride and Groom

The ceremony was to be held in the foyer at the Marriott outside the ballroom (I couldn’t get it out of my head all day that we weren’t shooting in the chapel).  I kept thinking.. how are they going to transform this foyer into a wedding aisle? I was shocked! It looked amazing! Then on far side of the ballroom guests could see a sign that read “The Hangar Club” with a cool airplane logo on a huge red curtain. This was the entrance to an evening of magic, color, sound, and excitement. Staged Right Productions literally transformed the back deck of the Marriott into a hip club adorned with colored lights, white carpet, leather furniture… Oh my Gaw! It was really amazing. HUGE shout out and credit to Raquel Shutt of Wedding Savvy for having put on one of the most amazing weddings I’ve ever seen… truly! The night ended with the 10-9-8-7…. countdown to 2012 and colorful fireworks show overlooking the Annapolis harbor. We had the best seats in the house! I was like.. hey! Look at all those people standing around waiting for the new year. Ha! This was the party of parties downtown for sure. What a fantastic way to close out the year. Congrats to KC and Eric on their wedding and much luck as they continue on with their military careers. Happy New Year!

Link to slide show

Link to Pictage

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Christine and Jeff’s Naval Academy Wedding 2011-11-21

Awesome fall wedding day! Saturday we found ourselves at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland with Christine and Jeff. Christine and her girls were all dolled up at the Annapolis Waterfront Marriott by Angela and her assistant from Behind the Veil before heading to the yard. We had the first ceremony of the day in the chapel which was nice; didn’t have to navigate a mass of people in transition. A few family portraits and a brief stop by the sea wall overlooking the Severn and Bay and we were off.. back to the Marriott for a banging reception with DJ Frank Young at the microphone. Sarah Campbell-Angers from Intrigue Design and Décor transformed the room with a unique assortment of cobalt blue and yellow flowers, bottles and linens. Jason Canaan from Quality Entertainment supplied some great up-lights which tied everything together visually. Christine and Jeff were a fabulous couple to work with and Jill and I wish them the very best. Off to Paris! I’m so jealous.

Link to slide show

Link to register on Pictage

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An Annapolis Fall Wedding – Eileen and Chris 2011-11-14

Saturday was gorgeous! Jill and I got to the Governor Calvert House nice and early and dropped off our equipment (thanks Michelle!).. grabbed a cub of java on Maryland Avenue and continued on to 238 King George Street to photograph our bride Eileen and her girls. 238 is an awesome rental property and I give them 5 stars! Love this house. Great location inside and out for magnificent photography. Matt Grubbs from Discover Annapolis Tours showed up (early as usual… good man) to pickup up the gang. Jill and I jumped on board; final destination – St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Duke of Gloucester Street for the ceremony and formals. Chris, his best man, and the gents were waiting anxiously for the main event. We jumped outside to grab a few shots of the entourage all decked out in dashing wedding attire. Then the moment came… there she was, at the end of aisle, ready to take the first step toward the rest of her life… dad in arm. Gorgeous ceremony followed by a perfectly lit Mary Garden for the formals. Then off to the trolley once again for a quick ride around town to some scenic locations on Spa Creek overlooking the historic and iconic Annapolis evening skyline. What a great group of folks to work with too! Afterward Matt dropped us off one last time for a quick walk and photos up to the Governor Calvert House where Michelle Vellon (what a great gal) already had the cocktail hour rolling; family and friends were well into the beginnings of what promised to be a fantastic evening of celebration. I was excited to see my favorite band of all time…. Second Nature.. a Washington Talent band, gearing up to play some amazing music. This band is the best; no question. Impeccable musicianship, creativity, vocals…. it doesn’t end. I could talk about them for the rest of this blog. Trust me, they are one of the best in my ears. I was seriously thinking of asking for autographs after the reception! Overall, this was a great wedding day, great bride and groom and great venue. I love my job! No… it’s not a job… I love my profession.

Link to Jill’s amazing slide show

Link to register on Pictage

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