Kathryn & Dan's Wedding :: Philadelphia Wedding Photographer

Woo hoo... Kathryn and Dan's wedding blog post!!  Given all the speeches and toasts revolving around the love and friendship of Kathryn and Dan, this day was a long time coming.  Although it rained and rained and rained, the day was filled with beauty and life and I couldn't be happier that I was able to be a part of it all.   

Kathryn and her bridesmaids jewelry was done by Isabelle Vuong Mitchell and I seriously recommend her for all your handmade jewelry needs.  

I was absolutely giddy hanging out with Dan waiting for Kathryn to come out for their first look.  Just look at that smile on his face!!

Kathryn and Dan are totally HOT and do a mean tiger face as well.  

It is a tough job being a completely adorable flower girl. 

Thanks to Joel for taking these shots of the blue deliciousness at the reception.  

It was such a fun night and I am really looking forward to the day after session.  

Happy Monday!

I hope you all are enjoying your long weekend!

Paulina & Meameno

Paulina & Meameno are the two girls that Namibian Dreams worked so hard to get to the states as their first goal of this organization.  Even though the girls spent the entire day at the Philadelphia Zoo they still had enough energy to ham it up for my camera.  

I love Meameno's expressive eyes and Paulina's vivacious smile.  

sneaky peak

I will be blogging many upon many photos from Kathryn and Dan's wedding but I couldn't help but post this one.  The bride is all ready to go waiting for her groom (to show up with umbrellas) and I couldn't help but snap this image of her gown all sprawled out behind her and the light catching the details of her dress.  

Namibian Dreams

Alright... so I am very behind on my blog posts.  Dan & Kathryn were just married this past weekend and although those images will have to wait a bit, I thought I would post about their joint organization: Namibian Dreams.  Dan and Kathryn spent all of 2008 in Namibia working as volunteers for World Teach.  During their time in Omungwelume they got to know so many wonderful people, especially two extraordinary girls: Paulina and Meameno!  Upon their return home to Philadelphia Kathryn and Dan knew they wanted to continuing working with the community in Omungwelume and came up Namibian Dreams.  My writing could never do their intentions justice so please check out namibiandreams.org and read for yourself how wonderful this organization is!!!  

Check out Namibian Dreams on facebook!! 

is it fall yet?

Don't get me wrong, I love the summertime- the watermelon, the sunshine and longer days, italian ices and water ices, the ice cream man (i do love my desserts), the beach, and our tomatoes and eggplants growing in our back patio garden. However... I love love love scarves and am really looking forward to fall so I can start wearing them again. Some girls love purses and shoes but for me- it's all about scarves! I once went on a trip and had to limit myself to bringing only 4 (it was really hard).

4th of July part II

The sun went down the fireworks started and the sparklers came out.  

I just really like this shot of my dad watching the fireworks (even though it kind of looks like he can see me out of the corner of his eye).

sparkler light magic

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!!  

4th of July

Since the "ode to my brother Jeff" was a text only post I am going to bombard my blog with photos from this past weekend's 4th of July party.  

The birthday guy!

I know it's blurry but I just love her excitement over winning tug o' war

The girls win!!!

So many photogenic dogs at the party.  I was joking around that I should have brought my cats. 

In my family there are so many summer birthdays, but this group right here is just us July babies.  

more photos coming soon... sparklers and light magic!!!

Happy Birthday Jeff

I am ashamed to admit that it took me far to long to realize a simple fact:  My brother Jeff is amazing and despite the typical 'older brother teasing little sister' memories I have, my brother Jeff was amazing back then too.  On the surface of my childhood memories I can recall the names my brother bestowed upon me.  And there was also something said about me having "more rolls than a bakery".... Oh brothers can be so cruel.  He teased me constantly, never let me win at Nerf basketball, and would too often scare me with bugs (especially those huge locusts that came out in the summer).  There were many fun moments and a few inside jokes from old cartoons we watched together but I think the majority of my memories with Jeff consisted of all the teasing and brother like torture.  

However, this past year I came to this huge, HUGE realization- my brother has, in one way or another, always been there for me.  He took babysitting his sister (who is 9 years younger) to epic heights- taking me to see Follow that Bird, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, etc, bringing me to the public pool or the beach during the summer and making me laugh with his impersonations of our parents.  I remember walking into our house on my birthday (I think it was my 9th) and my brother decorated the entire kitchen with hand-written birthday signs.  When I was in college he sent me a package with a video of me dancing to Paula Abdul and Sir Mix-a-lot (although I'm sure he meant to embarrass me more than make me smile).  At my wedding he wrote a speech that left my guests crying from laughing so hard and finished it off with one of our inside jokes.  

Jeff was there for me back then whether it was keeping me company or driving me around everywhere.  Even though I am sure he hated all my requests I don't think he ever said "no" to me once.  Now I have this older brother who respects me, is there to listen to me and give brotherly advice when needed and is just an all around awesome guy.  

So, today is my brother's birthday and I feel there is no better day to let him know that I appreciate the memories he has given me.  Happy Birthday Jeff!!! I love you and I just love cheese... really I do.  

A perfect Saturday morning...

for running through the grass, enjoying the sunshine, and family portraits!

James Family

I had such a fun time with the James Family at Valley Forge.  We found a great place to play in the grass, catch butterflies and ladybugs, explore log cabins and pose like George Washington.  

Joel captured this adorable moment...

while I was hanging out with this hysterical kid.  

Thank you guys for letting me spend the morning with you- Joel and I had a great time.  Next session you can wear all white and pose like the couple from Juno.  

My parents

I love my parents- it's absolutely no lie.  It's frightening how much I am like both of them.  I don't have my father's humor or my mother's sassiness but I find moments where I am saying something my father would say or dancing like my mother.  I don't like when too much time passes and I don't get to see them so I was really excited when they came down for a weekend- I almost didn't let them leave.  Before they headed back home I was able to grab some shots of the two them.  

it really doesn't take much for my dad to make my mom laugh

my mother is the most confident woman I know and I am so grateful 

I am so glad I got this shot since I was laughing so hard while taking it.  40 years of marriage and they still are having fun.