First birthdays are always special occasions.  I obviously know this because I just went through it…

I was so excited to hear from this sweet family when they contacted me about first year photos for their daughter Maya. Their love of photos was apparent and made me super excited to work with them.  They knew that their extended family would be in the city and wanted some casual family portraits around the tidal basin.

So many people and a tiny little one always makes for an interesting session, but I loved the classic DC setting and everyone joined in together to make it super fun.  This family is no stranger to DC.  Many of you will recognize the wonderfully talented Amber Karson of Amber Karson Events.

I am super excited to do Maya’s official one year session this weekend and see this wonderful family again.

Happy weekend everyone!!

xo,

Brittany

I love these two.  I love them and I love their love.  I can’t wait for their little one to arrive and I can’t wait to share more of their little love story.

This photo was from yesterday afternoon…

Enjoy.

xo,

Brittany

Meet tiny tiny tiny Colin.  The smallest baby I had photographed to date was a 5 pound little love.  Colin however had that little one by over (or rather under) a quarter of a pound.

His parents contacted me on a Sunday that they had a new little one who was two weeks old.  They were quite surprised by his arrival and were curious how quickly I was able to get there for photos.  I was so excited to meet this little one and my assistant Nikki and I were able to join them in there Georgetown home the Wednesday of that week. Those first few weeks are so precious and you could just see how in awe they were that this little guy was actually here.  I don’t think Miss Edy was prepared…she found her way into quite a few photos, but she took it all in stride.

I must say, for arriving a month early, this family was super relaxed and I loved capturing their wonder of this little man.  I am certain there is nothing like a baby…a tiny baby… that can make the world stop for just a few minutes and stare in amazement.

Welcome to the world Colin!  Here’s to many more amazing moments where you will make the world stop.

xo,

Brittany

It seems that almost every house I go into seems to have a little pup around.  And I don’t know if dogs just like me or they are just excited to get attention since their new little brother or sister seems to be consuming it all, but they seem to flock to me.  I don’t mind since I am quite used to the giant lab and little cairn in my own house, but sometimes it just cracks me up how they know someone new is in the house.  This little one… Edy (pronounced Eee-dee) was a show stealer.  Her little brother will be on the blog shortly, but just for a minute, I thought I would give her her own little place in the limelight.

Lots of love Edy doggy!

xo,

Brittany

It’s a rainy Monday.   It comes in complete contrast to the past weekend.  Warm, relaxing, sunny…

This past weekend was not just Mother’s Day, but it was also Adalynn’s actual birthday on Saturday.  We spent the entire weekend outside on our porch with good food and lots of family.

Sunday we went to a gorgeous peony garden near our house. I shot one of my first maternity photo sessions here.  It always blooms around mother’s day and to me it is just heaven.

I wanted to just enjoy it and take it in, so I demanded we grab some polaroid film before we go.  I just love how genuine polaroid photos are.  They capture the moment and it take the pressure off me as a photographer of going home and loading photos and making them perfect.  They are what they are and they make my heart happy.

Of course I couldn’t resist taking some “real” photos too…they also make my heart happy.  Thanks to my hubby for taking some of these sweet photos and for making my first mother’s day extra special!

Happy Monday.

xo,

Brittany

My sweet sweet baby girl turns one tomorrow. Hard to imagine a year ago today, I was in in the hospital in labor and we still didn’t know if she was a boy or girl.  It seemed like it took forever for her to arrive.  So much anticipation, wondering, waiting… And then all of a sudden it was like she had always been here.

Miss Adalynn Elizabeth,

You have  turned our world upside down…Made us happier than we could ever know and given me the best role of my life….mom.

Thank you.

xo,

Your momma

Happy Mother’s Day weekend everyone and Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter:)

I introduced you to Nikki before the blogging drought of 2012 occurred for me.  For those that don’t remember, Nikki is my super sweet assistant and she has literally been my right hand for the past two months.  It seems since Nikki came around I have been insanely busy with work, being mom and just life in general.  She has seriously been the biggest blessing.  Nikki is patient and kind and also enjoys cupcakes…which has made traveling around the DC area for shoots pretty fun.  I feel so fortunate to have her in my life.

Getting in the mood for Mother’s day I thought I would share this little gender reveal we did for her mom. If you can’t tell, she was quite excited.  It is so amazing to know three generations of beautiful women who are so full of joy and grace and I feel lucky to be able to share in this joy with them.

This baby is soooo anticipated and while I know Nikki and her husband and her entire family can’t wait… I can’t wait either!

So much love Nikki…so much love!

xo,

Brittany

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a special place in my heart for every child I photograph.  But anyone who knows me also knows I have a special little place in my heart for this little guy.  Mr. All-American…previously known as Mr. Skinny Jeans…previously known as the “cute kid with glasses” was one of my very first clients and boy am I glad.  I feel soooo lucky to have watched him grow.

When I first met Aiden and his  giant personality, he was running me around Frederick showing me just what photographing kids was all about.  This included toy cars, buzz lightyear, chasing ducks.  Last year, I was pregnant and greatly enjoyed our jam session in his skinny jeans at a a local park. I thought for sure, this would be the year when Aiden just might not think it was as cool to have your picture taken, but boy was I wrong.  His personality and his sweetness had not faded one bit.  He is still all boy and all personality and might I add he is just steal-your-heart classic American kid cute.  My favorite part of the session was when he asked if I could be in a picture with him so he could remember me forever…melt. I just adore him.

And you know what is even more exciting than seeing Aiden again?!?  You will never believe it….but there are two more Aidens on the way!!  Yes…sweet Aiden’s momma is pregnant with twin boys and I couldn’t be more excited for their family.  Her maternity session will be hitting the blog soon.  Can’t wait to share.  Until then, enjoy my favorite little guy.

xo,

Brittany

Can you believe it?  My little glasses man, turned skinny jeans, turned just too big… I love watching this little guy grow each year!

Can’t wait to share the rest of his session and the other exciting things he has going on in his little life:)

xo,

Brittany

Today I definitely had one of those moments… I mean one of those moments…the ones that steal your breath away, melt your heart, make you want to cry and then they make you take a really good hard look at yourself.  The ones that come when you least expect it…when you think you have already seen what you need to see and then hit you out of nowhere.

It started when my daughter was in the bath. She adores bath time.  She also adores dancing.  She can’t get enough of it.  So we often turn on the tunes and dance and sing our hearts out.  She is 11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days old (Can you tell I I don’t want to admit she is getting big) and she is quite the dancer, the singer, the rocker.  I often worry about her little spirit getting the best of her dancing in the bath. I worry she will slip and fall as all mothers do, but tonight… I just let it go. I let myself sit there tonight for a really long time and danced along.  And when she was pruney and rubbing her eyes with soapy water, I danced her into her room.  And then it happened… If my heart wasn’t glad enough, I turned on her night time music. On came the song that was sung at her dad and I’s wedding…and the sweetest tiniest little voice started singing along. My sweet little girl…singing her little heart out the best as she could in the softest little voice to a song that already brings tears to my eyes.  It stopped me in my tracks, made me sweep her up and cuddle her with happy tears until she was safely into dreamland. And that moment left me full and feeling blessed even if today wasn’t perfect.

This post is long overdue. I haven’t blogged in a while.  I have been struggling for the perfect words and photos to get me back on my blogging game.  For someone who has a 11 month, 3 week and 4 day old… has had a photographer’s dream of clients for the first part of the year and who LOVES to write…lack of material has not been the problem.  I keep meaning to sit down and tell everyone all of the exciting things, but I keep letting perfection be my reason to not put myself, my work…just me…out there.

Anyone who knows me knows I like things in boxes.  I like schedules, organization, a clean house and things to be predictable.  Funny thing is…perfection in life is just not the point. Sure we have a schedule…I have binders full of organization.  My house is often a mess and as you see…I just let my blog slide for about way too long. But being a mom makes you really think about perfection.  My schedule is different every day because I am blessed to be at home with my sweet baby.  My organization…it’s organized…but there is always room for improvement.  My house is…at a minimum…three days a week…filled with family and friends…and the sink is full of dishes, but that means people we loved were here. Nothing is ever perfect in its little box, nor will it ever be.

Moments like today happen more often than not on imperfect days. That’s life and if you are so busy searching for everything to be perfect, the more you will miss. The more imperfections you are ok with having, the more joy you will have.   I plan to get back to writing and posting.  I DO have exciting things around the bend and I can’t wait for you to see and to share.  I apologize for the gap, but I won’t promise perfection. I will promise more photos and more stories of new beginnings, sweet moments and love:)

xo, Brittany

These photos are from January.  In an attempt for a new profile picture taken by my sweet patient husband, we stumbled into a perfectly imperfect “photo session”. The family ones were done by self-timer;) Enjoy.  xoxo