Just a reminder that if you want to see my most recent work (and even some behind the scenes photos/video of my photo life) come follow me on on Instagram. I update daily with all sorts of fun images and I’m @deblindsey. Can’t wait to see you there!!
It’s almost summer and wedding and wedding engagement portrait season is upon us. Taking advantage of a gorgeous sunny day recently in Old Town Alexandria, it was such a pleasure to spend time with J+C for their engagement portrait session. It’s always exciting for me to find new and different (at least for me!) spots throughout the city. For instance, I knew about the Wilkes Tunnel was there but in all my photography in Old Town, I had never done any photos there. I’m so glad we did this time! And kudos to whoever painted that garage door at the Torpedo Factory. That was a late in the day find. I am really looking forward to their Carnegie Institution for Science wedding in October this year!
Family portraits are the next logical step in the photographic journey of a couple and it’s so fun to for me to watch a family grow and flourish. So I thought it was time for a roundup of some of the family photo sessions I’ve done recently. As a mother of two older teenagers, I know how fleeting it is when the kids are small and how important it is to get everyone in the photo. Most of my family photos don’t include me–except for the ones where we hired a photographer to get that elusive holiday card photo.
Although I primarily consider myself a wedding photographer I think a more accurate statement would be that I love photographing people. And food, but that’s a different blog post!
I appreciate the posed family photos that I do and why they’re important, but my absolute favorite images are those that happen in the off moments. The photo of George and his dad just below is a prime example. Capturing the relationships and the lifestyle makes for the memorable photos!
Back to the Provincetown, Massachusetts wedding of Nick + Brendan, this time to focus on their romantic post-ceremony portrait session on the main street of town and on the beach and then onto their very fun reception.
The late day sun provided just the right lighting for a quick stop on Commercial Street amongst the weekend tourists and then we made our way to the beach for some alone time before joining cocktails at The Crown and Anchor. As disco balls glittered overhead, the couple and their wedding party danced their way into the dinner reception. They were followed by such sweet and emotional speeches by the fathers of the grooms and more tears flowed as the best men, women and siblings gave their toasts during dinner.
Then the dancing began. After about 16 years of being a wedding photographer, I feel like I’ve seen just about everything. Then Brendan’s family hit the dance floor waving napkins to the song “It’s Raining Men.” It’s a family tradition that started several weddings ago (it’s a big family!!) and it’s like being inside a whirlwind. And it made for some great photos. I really loved the available light images with the white blur. Another highlight from the dance floor was Brendan’s “Proud Mary” dance off. I hope someone captured that on video. It’s one of those instances where still photos couldn’t quite capture the energy but I had fun trying!!
I was so honored to document the day for Nick and Brendan and to photograph and explore new locations with such a wonderful couple. Check out some of my other favorite fall weddings!
Wedding and reception The Crown and Anchor
Flowers The New Provincetown Florist
Cake Far Land Provisions
Rings Nijiko Designs
Signage New Columbia Sign Company
It is a good day as a DC wedding photographer to have a sunny 70 degree day in early November. Add in an early Sunday ceremony with a beautiful location like the St. Francis Monastery (one of Washington’s hidden gems!) and plenty of time to take some wedding day portraits while it was still light out. Did I mention it was peak weekend for fall foliage? J+J hit the jackpot and as their photographer I was doing my happy dance. Sunlight, love and color are some of my favorite things!
I just love fall weddings!! I can’t wait to share more of J+J’s wedding with you and with the happy couple. For now, check out some of my other recent DC area weddings. I’m off to edit the rest of their wedding!
It is such a treat for me to spend time with this adorable (and growing) family. I met them last year when H was pregnant and they wanted some family photos with their young daughter and then again once their baby boy was born. They are so completely willing to let me document their interaction with each other and some of my favorite photos from the first session were the three of them jumping on the bed. We recreated that (sort of) again this time including baby A. Such natural photos of them playing, blowing bubbles, playing airplane and on the floor with Legos are so much fun for me to shoot and for them, they get a nice slice of their life with their young family.
I just love catching up with my former brides and grooms as their families grow. Gracie was a willing and smiley subject for a beautiful morning photo session at her grandparent’s house in Great Falls. She lives with her parents in Paris so I’ve already put in my request for a Parisian photo shoot…
A little mid-week love from my recent engagement session with Chu + David. Lovely late August blooms at the park and three wardrobe changes made for some very cute photos. Looking forward to their wedding coming up in just a few weeks.
I was so honored to be part of Lena’s Thanksgiving bat mitzvah weekend. It was a beautiful three part affair including a minyan service on Thanksgiving, family and close friends for Shabbat dinner and an adorable party on Saturday night at the Bethesda Hyatt. The celebration started with the service where Lena read from the Torah. Usually that’s not allowed to be photographed at a conservative temple but since it was a Thursday I was allowed in. It was just family there and yes, it was early on Thanksgiving morning but it made for some wonderful moments. It was a gorgeous sunny day and after the service we went outside to have do some portraits. It was such a blast to have a willing subject. Mitzvahs are tricky in that 13 can be a tough age for kids to be comfortable a) being the center of attention and b) being natural in front of the camera. Lena was a natural. She knew how to pose and how she wanted to look in the photos. And she loved the portrait process! We did sessions in each of the four dresses she wore over the long weekend–each one sweeter than the next. Friday night dinner was held at home–again just close friends a family. The highlight for me was the lighting of the Shabbat candles with Lena and her mom Aliza, a dear friend of mine. And finally, the party Saturday night. I love doing mitzvahs at the Bethesda Hyatt and not just because you can park right next to the ballroom (such a bonus for schlepping equipment in). It feels like you’ve got the whole place to yourself and Aliza and Lena did a fabulous job turning the ballroom in to a bright pink and orange chic yet girly space. The party was great fun and a particular shout out to NYX Events for their great DJs…and not just because I’m using them for my son’s bar mitzvah in November. OK, maybe I’ve got a bias but they really do a great job including both the kids and the parents in the fun!
Service: Ohr Kodesh Congregation 301.589.3880
Party: Bethesda Hyatt 301.657.1234
Flowers: Edge Flowers 301.330.5232
DJ: NYX Events 301.984.0500
I had the pleasure of photographing Katie’s bat mitzvah at the end of 2012 (yes, that’s where the belated posting part comes in…) We met for a portrait session at her synagogue Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg, Maryland and even though it was a chilly November afternoon Katie was a trooper outside in her adorable polka dot dress and fabulous heels. Her personality came shining through in those portraits and when I saw her next at her party surrounded by her friends and family. The party at the Washingtonian Center Marriott in Gaithersburg had a Shrek theme, lots of crazy dancing and emotional candle lighting a crazy Hora where the whole family went up on chairs.
Stay tuned for Lena’s bat mitzvah post (Belated Part Two) coming on Tuesday!
