Well today my good friend James called me out to the park to watch the local high school team play ball since his son TJ just made the varsity squad. It was cloudy. Raining. Muddy. JUST PERFECT FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!

Ahh well, I hung out for a couple of hours and enjoyed the people and the game, which we won by the way. Took just a few shots while I was there to share with you, but I had such a good time I plan to go back for next week's game and I'll keep you all posted on the fortunes of our local high school football program...

This interception return put the game on ice!

Here are some sample cards just to give an idea:

Front 5x7 vertical folded card

Inside pages

back

5x7 flat front

back

5x7 folded vertical front

Inside pages

5x7 flat front

back

5x7 folded front

inside pages

back

We also offer different sizes, such as 5x5 flat and folded or even 5x5 trifold which is really nice!

As our first chance to work together we took a trip up to New York and spent the morning in Central Park, which I believe is where it all began for these love birds!

Below are a few photos from their engagement session - cant wait till the wedding date rolls around!!

Nonetheless everyone present handled the cool temps with aplomb and things went smoothly - here are a few favorites from the day...

The ceremony was held in downtown DC at St Dominics which as you can see from the photos below is an incredibly beautiful church, then we spent a little time with Rich and Jillian getting some photos on and around the national mall. It couldnt have been a better day to have a wedding, and in fact we must have crossed paths with at least 4 other couples who were also enjoying their big day!

For those family and friends of the couple who would like to view the rest of the images from the day you can see them here.

I spent much of the day as an impartial observer of these women and men as they trekked across northern Virginia, raising money for the cause each step of the way. I have to say it was very inspiring and I couldnt be more proud of Shari and Natasha!

Also let me mention that despite the name, Dominique's Catering can also be counted on to provide beautiful decorations for your event see below for some samples of their work. Oh, one more thing, when you call Sandra, dont forget to ask about their sweet chocolate fountain!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the lovely Nicole!

...That sounded very dramatic, right?

Photography in general and digital photography in particular continues to enjoy an explosion in interest. It seems everyone has a digital camera now (if not two or more when you count the ubiquitous camera phones) and while most can manage to aim the thing and take a decent snapshot without getting their finger in the image or cutting off uncle Larry's head, many people struggle to cross the bridge between taking snapshots and creating photos.

For instance its pretty commonly known in photography circles that the best light is found in the hour or so after the sun rises and before the sun sets; these times are regularly referred to as the andlsquo;golden hour'. If you're really observant you'll notice there is a different color or andlsquo;warmth' to the light at these times of day and it also tends to be of a andlsquo;softer' intensity compared to the harsh, bright light of the typical midday sun. Another benefit at this time of day is that the angle of the light tends to be much lower and more flattering than when the sun has risen much higher in the sky.

So I know what some of you are thinking "that's all well and good, but I can't be expected to only take photos at the crack of dawn and at sundown!!" and you know what, you are right, and this is true for most of us. I am sure it wouldnt go over too well if I told my wedding couples that I could only do their outdoor ceremony if it was held at 7am or 8pm!

For the many times when shooting early or late is not an option, the next best thing is to use reflected light to augment the direct, harsh overhead sunlight. The good news is that most any white or light colored surface will work to reflect those hard sun rays and create a much softer, more flattering effect on your subject. When it comes to light one thing that is good to understand is that the larger and closer the light source is in relation to the subject, the softer and (usually) more pleasing the light becomes; so as it relates to your subject, the sun is a small and distant light source which causes heavy shadows and harsh highlights, while for instance the side of a light colored building is a large, close light source which reflects the sun's rays onto your subject causing a more pleasing lighting condition!

The trick to making more powerful photos is to learn to recognize the type of light that is available and either use it to your advantage or modify it in some way. So the next time you find yourself outside with your camera in hand, make sure you take note of the light situation you find yourself in, be aware of the angle of the light, where the shadows are falling on your subject and how dark or soft they are. It takes a little practice but eventually you may find that 'seeing' the light becomes almost second nature to you - and you'll definitely notice a difference in your photos.

Look out for the next installment in which we will talk a little bit about equipment and the differences between an SLR camera and a standard point and shoot or compact camera.

The ceremony and reception was held at the Arbor Ballroom in DC, this was my first time at the venue and I thought it was really nice, plenty of space and very classy.

Well here are a few of my favorites from the day, I hope you enjoy!

Adrien tried to play it cool but I caught a glimpse of some nerves creeping in just before Bonita made her appearance lol

Somebody told this guy he looked good and now he has this big head (can anyone out there catch the family resemblance?? hahahaha)

Bonita was movin in that dress, out there showin' em how it's done!

Finally the bridesmaid with these pretty legs is engaged they tell me, so keep an eye out and maybe you'll see her again down the road on these pages...

Anyway I didnt get the chance to travel around and see as much of the place as I would have liked but from what little I did see I can say that Arizona is very beautiful, just like the people who got married last weekend!

The actual wedding took place in the evening at a quaint little historic venue known as the Stillwell House and the whole affair was intimate, classy and fun.

Here's my take on things...

This game was a part of the Upward sports ministry program which is available to churches all across the country.

Here are a few photos from the match...

Their wedding was held at the historic Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington DC and was simply a grand affair from start to finish.

The reception took place at the elegant Omni Shoreham hotel where they spared no expense in creating the perfect atmosphere with the help of magnificent floral arrangements by Convention Floral and the impeccable coordinating efforts of LeKhessa from With This Ring Designs.

As you can no doubt tell, this couple did their homework and know how to put on a wedding to remember!!! But enough of the preamble, here are a few shots from the day that I hope you enjoy:

Seriously though this was one of those smooth weddings where pretty much everything went according to plan; the bride was beautiful and radiant, the groom was sharp as a tack, the food was delicious and everyone had a great time!

Here are some random picks from the day, hope you like!