In 2015, I hiked over 800 on the Appalachian Trail. While that didn’t technically make me a thru-hiker, for those two and a half months I lived just like one. It helped that I spent my days with them - people who had started in Georgia and were making their way up to Maine. My section had begun in West Virginia, so I missed out on the entire southern half of the trail. When thru-hikers would reminisce about their early days on the trail, they would often wax lyrical about the famed Smokies…
Read MoreGrace // In-Home Maternity Session
I’ve never been pregnant myself, and I do know many people can feel in the third trimester like they are just done and ready to have their baby. They’re hot. They can’t sleep. Their back aches. They’re anxious to finally meet the little one. Fair enough! But to me, late pregnancy, seems like it can also be a magical time…
Read MoreJen // Headshots
After taking a step back from her impressive career in public relations, Jen is starting a career coaching business and needed some images to include on her website to help her put her best face forward. Last month, I met her at her home to capture some headshots. Using streamlined backdrops from…
Read MoreCarol & Erron // Salem Wedding
Carol and Erron are one of countless couples who had to change their original wedding plans due to the coronavirus pandemic. They went through the awful process of postponement. When they day FINALLY came, they stayed true to their vision with keeping the celebration in Carol’s hometown of Salem, Virginia - everything was just on a much, much smaller scale. They were married at the Salem Presbyterian Church and then celebrated afterwards at the Salem Museum. Even with…
Read MoreArden + Michael // Farm Maternity Session
Arden and Michael aren’t your average couple. They own a small business, Great Day Gardens, where they grow flowers and vegetables and also bake fresh breads and pastries. It takes a special pair of people to be able to work together all day (outside in all kinds of weather, to boot) without tiring of…
Read MoreAlex // Senior Portraits
For his senior portrait session, Alex decided on Mill Mountain. It’s a great setting for a photoshoot because it offers so much variety in a small area, and it’s just minutes away from downtown Roanoke. We met there on a warm September afternoon. Alex, a talented guy both in the classroom and on the golf course, brought a laid-back attitude and thoughtful presence to the shoot..
Read MoreEmma // Senior Portraits
Emma’s was accompanied in her senior portrait session by sweet grass, warm sun, and - most excitingly - her beloved horse, KC. I had worked with dogs and cats before, but never a horse, so I was absolutely thrilled to do this session. Emma and KC made for a lovely pair and they absolutely crushed it. Emma’s light blond hair and fair skin contrasted beautifully with…
Read MoreMichaela & Colby // Vintage Wedding
Amidst the chaos and unknown of the COVID-19, Michaela and Colby were still determined to finally get married. Like many couples, the pandemic foiled their original plans of having their wedding at a venue with over one hundred guests. Instead, they decided to stick with their wedding date and move their nuptials to their favorite local…
Read MoreEmory Family // Roanoke, VA
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 MoreElla // Maine Senior Portraits
When we were brainstorming locations for her senior photos, I listed out a few of my ideas in the Portland area. I was thinking of some woodsy spots, some beachy stretches. Then, I suggested “What about Mackworth Island?” Something about it felt special. I could tell she felt the same. “Let’s do it,” she said.
Read MoreLacey & Stephen // Roanoke, VA
If you grew up with pets, then you probably know what it’s like to lose one. Lacey and Stephen, a sweet, newly engaged couple, had just received the unfortunate news that their sweet old pup Buddy has a terminal illness. They were also just gearing up to move out of the Roanoke apartment complex they’d inhabited for over six years. When Lacey contacted me to do a sort of “family” photoshoot with her, Stephen, and their pets to capture them together at home while Buddy is still alive, I jumped at the opportunity…
Read MoreKehoe Family // Explore Park, VA
On a beautiful spring evening, I met the Kehoe family at Explore Park just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Chauncey and Nick arrived with their two little girls, Penelope and Lucille, and Chauncey’s parents as well. They were immediately friendly, upbeat, and ready to do some exploring. I knew we would have a great time…
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 MoreTinker Cliffs // Troutville, VA
I don’t know about you, but this pandemic has exacerbated the wanderlust that I usually end up feeling this time of year. Most summers I travel someplace completely new to me, and obviously this has not been possible to do. It seems everyone else is feeling the itch, too. And so, we go outside.
Read MoreCarol & Erron // Salem, VA Engagement
Carol and Erron (how cool is that spelling!) are an adorably sweet pair of humans. Before they hired me to photograph their wedding, we “met” via FaceTime, peppering each other with questions and telling tales. Their humor is quirky. They both devote themselves to helping others in their jobs, what with Carol being a Unitarian minister and Erron teaching adult education. Their love for each other is so evident, so delightfully shining on their faces. I fell in love with them on that call.
Read MoreKristin & Holli // Mountaintop Wedding, VA
There’s nothing more quintessential southwestern Virginia than mountain views, and Kristin and Holli’s wedding was full of them. Their venue, Silver Hearth Lodge, sits atop Bent Mountain and looks out across the Roanoke valley. Tucked away in the woods at the top of a mountain, these two tied the knot on a cool autumn day.
Read MoreMorela & Derek // Boones Mill, VA Wedding
Stories like Morela and Derek’s just strengthen my belief in fate – the idea that just some things are meant to happen. They met one night in Miami while they were each out with their friends, and here they were getting married. It’s proof that you just never know what each day has in store. Little did these two know that on that night they’d meet their future spouse. The more time I spent around them during the wedding day, the more obvious it was that…
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 MoreThe Dead Zone // Pocahontas County, WV
It’s ironic to me that we call places with no cell service “dead zones.” Oftentimes, these places are rural or wild areas far away from blocks upon blocks of concrete, steel, and consumerism. If it’s a place full of nature, how can we call that place “dead” when in fact, more species can thrive there than in any city? If it’s a rural neighborhood, could we consider the fact that existing with less might make more room for life?
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