You may not know this about me, but in addition to being a photographer I am also a teacher. I feel so lucky to be at a school where the staff is supportive, close, and just plain fun. Last year was my first year at Cave Spring High School and I spent upon hours proctoring a study hall with Kim. We amused ourselves with tales of student ridiculousness and she taught me so much along the way about everything from teacher work schedules to student relationships and more. Over time, we had a nice little rapport going and, like everything else in life, it got suddenly cut off when schools closed due to the pandemic. So, I was so excited when Kim reached out to me about family portraits. I would finally get to meet her husband and those zany kids she was always telling me about!
Read MoreMaternity Portraits // Roanoke, VA
This sweet couple is expecting their first baby (a boy!) and I just loved capturing their excitement. We met near the Blue Ridge Parkway in the late afternoon, and the sunlight glowed warmer with each passing minute. The wind was intense, but these two were great sports about it as we wandered around the fields and the woods. It was a beautiful evening for a photoshoot…
Read MoreDonahue Family // Roanoke, VA
This family photo session was, more than anything, a chance to document the arrival of the Donahue family’s newest member. Tori and Andrew had just welcomed their first baby, Pearce, into the world. At just one month old, he was wonderfully patient with the rest of us as we changed his outfit and had him striking different poses. As long as he could eat, he was up for anything…
Read MoreEmily & Michael // Roanoke Lifestyle Session
Emily and Michael wanted to capture some photos in their sweet Roanoke home that they’ve cultivated for over six years. Living on the fringe of downtown, these two have lovingly styled and designed their home over the years to be personal and yet also wonderfully trendy. I walked in and was instantly impressed by…
Read MoreForsythias // Roanoke, VA
Forsythias are some of the earliest bloomers. Because they are a shrub rather than a small flower, it’s impossible to miss their explosion of yellow at the start of each spring. They are big plants and they have something to say. That unabashed burst of color heralding the coming of warm sun and lilting birdsong makes me smile. It’s the start of my favorite…
Read MoreVaish // Downtown Roanoke Birthday
On Vaish’s birthday last April, we meandered the streets of Roanoke as we waited to meet more friends for a celebratory dinner. The afternoon light was so gorgeous that I knew I had to bring my camera. I grabbed it on my way out the door, talking to Vaish about where we should meet…
Read MoreCherry Blossoms // Roanoke, VA
If there’s one advantage to this insane global pandemic, it’s that more people are spending time outside. Not just outside their home, because there are a lot of places beyond the walls of our homes that we are not supposed to go, but…
Read MoreEliana // Roanoke Senior Portraits
Senior photo shoots always make me nostalgic. The last year of high school is such a huge turning point in life! I remember feeling so many things when I was that age – feeling impatient about what was to come, sad that I could never again relive what I was experiencing. That combination is what makes senior portraits so special. I was lucky to capture…
Read MoreKayla // Roanoke Senior Portraits
When Kayla asked me about doing a double senior portrait session with her friend Eliana (stay tuned for a post with her photos!) at Roanoke’s Explore Park, I was so excited. With the water, woods, and beautiful views I knew it would be a perfect location for a fun and relaxed photo shoot…
Read MoreHeather & Josh // Peaks of Otter Engagement
It was before sunrise, and I had the road to myself as I wound along the mountain-hugging curves. Light started to seep into the sky as the clouds clung low in the hills. Out of sheer compulsion, I pulled over a few times just to get out of the car and breathe in the cool, still air as the heavens warmed from navy to pink. It was probably the most peaceful I’d ever felt on the way to a photography job….
Read MoreMontana Blue
I’d always wanted to visit Montana. No photograph, no film can do its glory justice. I’d write poems about what it would feel like to steep myself in its endless skies and ragged mountain ranges. My Dad would tell me stories of a hunting trip he had out there decades ago, and he would always end the narrative with “…and that’s why they call it Big Sky Country.” Well, this summer I finally got my chance to
Read MoreSylvia and Avi // Taneytown, MD Wedding
I knew that Sylvia and Avi’s wedding would be especially meaningful for me to shoot. We have a special history between us, and I couldn’t wait to see them and their families on their big day. ..
Read MoreMaggie // In-Home Boudoir Session
Boudoir photography is special. It involves a vulnerability that requires a certain type of mutual trust between the photographer and the subject. I was so excited for this boudoir session with Maggie Perrin-Key for three reasons:
Read MoreThe Benkos // Explore Park Maternity Session
I was starting to worry that we wouldn’t be able to meet at all. Frances and Mike are both doctors, so that made scheduling a maternity session tricky enough. On top of that, their baby was due in less than two…
Read MoreStyled Fashion Shoot // Roanoke, VA
Since moving to Roanoke, I’ve somehow fallen deep into the dog walking and sitting business. All it took was one dog walking job, and before I knew it I was walking dogs all over my neighborhood. It was great for my legs and my wallet, but there was another lovely surprise…
Read MoreThe Arbogast Family // Roanoke, VA Family Portraits
This family portrait session was really laid-back and fun! The Arbogast family is based in Roanoke, but one branch of the family - with the family’s first grandbaby! - lives in Texas. That weekend, they’d all come together for…
Read MoreAndrea and Will // Roanoke, VA Wedding
There was much anticipation leading up to Andrea and Will’s September wedding. I liked their easygoing natures from the moment I met them, and I so enjoyed their engagement session on Roanoke mountain. But, as things in Roanoke go, we kept bumping into each other around town…
Read MoreSunrise Hike // McAfee Knob, VA
I’m 25, and I’ll admit it - I’m still afraid of the dark. Especially hiking in the dark. There’s something that makes me uneasy about how the woods are so big, and yet full of endless hiding places for creatures. But despite these fears, I knew I wanted to hike to McAfee Knob to see the sunrise because…
Read MoreArboretum Engagement Session
From tender kisses to full-bodied laughs, these images overflow with signs of how crazy about each other Don and Danae really are.
Read MoreA Taste of Ireland
Our first day in Dublin just happened to be the Women’s Mini Marathon, a race in which over 41,000 women participated. Men ran in the race too, many of them dressed up as women with terrible wigs and hilarious dresses. After the race, the pubs were full with…
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