Jessica Arden Photography

find me elsewhere...

2011-08-07T21:28:00.003-04:00

I haven't been around this blog much, but this is where you can find me:

I have been tweeting here...and tumbling over here.

See you around;)

Blogging Elsewhere Mainly

2011-07-05T14:13:00.003-04:00

Hello, Hello! I am now blogging here instead! I plan to keep this as my personal blog, but for the most part, you can find me at Tamara Lackey Photography!

Sasha & Barry

2010-08-27T17:06:00.016-04:00

Sasha & Barry's wedding was a joy to photograph:) Sasha put a lot of time and craftiness into planning her wedding, which made all the little details that much more fun. She embroidered the table numbers, ordered the bridesmaid gorgeous jewelry from Etsy, as well as the custom cake toppers complete with their dog, Gus! How cute? Following her progress on her blog, Charmingly Domestic, was fun, and being able to see the complete vision was perfection! The reception at Bay 7 was fabulous! I love Durham, and everything that has been doing downtown, especially at American Tobacco. After the wedding the whole party moved down to Tyler's! One of the many things that Sasha and I both agree strongly about, is how freakin' cool Durham is:) Thank you for inviting me to your fabulous wedding!

Sasha's Bridal Portraits

2010-07-31T16:15:00.027-04:00

I can't wait to photograph Sasha's wedding in just 2 weeks! I have been following her wedding planning on her thoroughly enjoyable blog, Charmingly Domestic. Watching her artfully craft her guestbook, make her fabulous invitations, and sew her own table numbers has only made me anticipate her wedding even more...and now it is almost here! It has been fun to watch the progress that she has been making and how much she did on her own:) Very inspiring. Her wedding reception is taking place at the very chic Bay 7 in Durham's American Tobacco district...a venue I have been dying to photograph! We are also going to stop by our high school, Durham School of the Arts, for photos before we head over to the party, another great idea from Sasha...can't wait!

Back in the South

2010-07-30T12:59:00.012-04:00

It seems that all of my blog posts lately have started off with me trying to explain why I have been the worst blogger ever as of late. So I won't bore you with that again, but I can tell you what I have been up too. I am now officially back in NC (whoot, whoot!) and part of the Tamara Lackey Photography team! This blog is not going away, but I will be blogging on Tamara's site much more frequently. You can click here to view my posts on Tamara's blog. It is really nice working in a creative environment surrounded by cool and talented women:) I am really looking forward to building a name for myself as part of her team, but I also wanted to make a quick shout-out to all my clients that believed in me and trusted me even as a young photographer with so much still to learn! I hope that some of you will follow me to my new studio! I will say that I hope that the day never comes that I think that I think that I know it all. It is much more interesting to discover new things on a regular basis than to never be surprised by anything:) So, every blog post needs a photo, so here is a photo from my first session with Tamara Lackey Photography. You may recognize this lovely family from previous posts...thank you for following me to NC!

E & K

2010-06-30T08:48:00.008-04:00

Erin is a friend from the DSA days, and it has been a long time since we have seen each other. Last time I saw Erin we were both fresh out of high school! It is crazy how fast 7 years can fly by, huh? Well, Erin was exactly how I remembered her...hilariously funny and gorgeous all at the same time...and now married to an awesome guy to boot! Thank you so much for including me in your so perfectly North Carolina barbecue and wedding celebration!

Had To Tues | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-06-29T19:01:00.016-04:00

So, this Tuesday what I have to do is explain myself...I mentioned that I started a new job and have been traveling a lot this summer. Not all of my sessions are making it up here, and I have hardly had time to look at my personal images from my trips! So things are busy and awesome and cray-cray:) I am phasing out Jessica Arden Photography and phasing into senior associate photographer for Tamara Lackey! I am also in the meantime living in Frederick and Durham in between trips...I have a suitcase that hasn't been fully unpacked in over a month, that lives in my trunk most of the time:)
Here are some photos of what I have been up to:
My girl, Tenley, you know:)The long awaited and fabulous wedding of Wilmara & Alex! Thank you guys so much for everything!

At Andrew's cousin's wedding...that's my boy;)

Fun with the fam at OBX:

Tenley Recap

2010-06-25T21:03:00.004-04:00

Watching Tenley grow has been such a joy!

Off the Grid

2010-06-18T15:59:00.007-04:00

I have been all over the place lately...Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Illinois in the past 2 weeks! Since my last post I have eaten at Superdawg in Chicago, had a wonderful 80th birthday celebration with my Grandparents and all of their girls, and started working for Tamara Lackey Photography! It has been a whirlwind of fun and there is more to come...I am off to NC again tomorrow and I will be OBX bound by Sunday:) I love this photo of my gorgeous Grandma and her 3 lovely daughters.

I would also like the say that John Scarlata will be sorely missed by many. He was the kind of person you wish you could be more like...inspiring, kind and so funny:) I am so grateful that I was able to know him. Rest in peace.

Had To Tues | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-06-01T14:52:00.002-04:00

This Tuesday there are a lot of things that I just had to do! Laundry, edit, bank, pack for this weekend's trip, etc, but I won't bore you with the rest:) Enjoy 2 favs from this weekend's photo shoots!

Baby Jake | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-29T16:20:00.012-04:00

On Wednesday I got back from an awesome week in NC...I don't think that I sat in front of the computer for more than 20 minutes the whole week! Now that is good and bad...it was a nice vacation but catch up has been hard. It basically made me realize that I do need an iPhone:) I never shared the rest of my photos from my session with the beautiful baby Jake! Mai, Mike and Jake make such a beautiful and happy family:) I love hanging out at their place...they are such nice, interesting people and I could talk wedding planning on Etsy and North Carolina sports teams all day long. I hope you enjoy the photos and your long weekend!

SMJ&M | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-28T10:11:00.010-04:00

I am so thrilled that Shana invited me to photograph her beautiful family. Little Jax, who just came home with Shana and Megan a few months ago, is a beautiful boy with an incredible laugh. There is so much love between Shana, Megan, Jax and Mary, who they lovingly call Granny...you can feel when you are around them. I am in awe of their patience and their coolness:)

Who Reads My Blog?

2010-05-19T11:32:00.006-04:00

Every morning when I get up and drink my coffee I check my Google Analytics. I don't quite understand everything just yet, but I am working on it. I like to see how many people are checking out my site and where these people are. A lot of places, I know exactly who it is...pretty sure it is my family checking out my site in Claremore, OK. I am happy to say that my blog has been viewed in 13 countries and 32 states. I feel proud, but I like to see the number grow and expand:) It is uplifting to see that somewhere in Jamaica someone is reading my blog 4 times a month...or maybe it was an accident? So, I don't get a lot of comments...but...who reads this?

And because you always need a photo:

They would be me on the left:)

Had 2 Tues | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-18T15:27:00.016-04:00

Today I want to talk a little bit about following you dreams. This weekend I will be heading to North Carolina. While I am there I will be in Durham attending Lisa's going away party. It feels like just yesterday that she got back from 2 years in Mauritania with the Peace Corps, even though it was last summer. She is now moving to India for her the job of her dreams! Let me tell you a little something about Lisa...she is as passionate about micro economics as I am about photography:) She has been in contact with her dream job since she has been back from the peace corps, and she was just recently offered a position! The lesson to be learned from Lisa's story is that things will happen when they are supposed to. Dream big, pursue those dreams and keep pursuing them! I will miss her like crazy, but I am so proud of her doing what she sets her mind and her heart on. Love you Lisy ♥

Oh Tenley! | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-17T16:23:00.007-04:00

Tenely had many admirers that stopped by to watch our shoot to tell us how adorable she is...yes, we know:) 'Someone better call the cute police!' said Ten's number one fan. Tenley responded by sticking her tongue out and scowling at the strange man who was obliviously smitten:) She is hilarious!

Jake & Isabella

2010-05-17T13:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was lucky to photograph, not one, but two gorgeous newborns:) A sweet baby boy and a beautiful baby girl. I had been waiting to meet Jake for a while and he finally came. Isabella on the other hand, surprised us by coming a few weeks early. Enjoy their sweet little faces:

Ten Again | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-15T20:08:00.007-04:00

I just had to share one of my favorites from my session with Tenley today at the Train Station in Historic Gaithersburg today! More to come:)

Published in the Washington Post! | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-15T18:17:00.011-04:00

Thanks to my super cool neighbors and their awesome baby, Isabella, one of my photos was featured in an article in the style section of the Washington Post!

JP & R | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-14T13:05:00.008-04:00

I know these 2 tiny rock stars from my days at Celebrity Kids. I had been wanting to do a baby rock star shoot and I knew just the boys:)

One of the things that I love about photographing children is that as young and innocent as they are, they also have this way of seeming wise beyond their years. I love to see such an adult expression on the face of a child.

The Money Book

2010-05-12T10:17:00.008-04:00

In going out on my own in the photography biz, it is the money part that scares me the most. How much to charge, how to invest that money, and the T-word...TAXES. The Money Book answered every question I had and many more I didn't know I had to ask. This book isn't just for photographers, no, not at all. It is for anyone who freelances, has clients, gigs, no steady paycheck...but hey, as long as you do it right, it is great to be your own boss:)

Had 2 Tues | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-11T07:54:00.007-04:00

I am happy to announce that gift certificates are now available! A portion of these will be used as auction donations...please contact me for details:
jessicarden@gmail.com

More P & R | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-10T09:22:00.009-04:00

I am really looking forward to photographing this couple's wedding this summer. Pascal and Rachana were naturals:) We were afraid of getting rained out, but the blue sky prevailed!

Love this one...so GQ, Pascal.

Simply stunning.

Photo shoots are so much fun!

And I will end with one of my favorites:

We're Going to Jaxon | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-09T16:42:00.008-04:00

Jaxon did great for his first photo shoot! We had a lot of fun ideas, so by the time we got to the end of our session, he started to let us know he was fed up. Either that or he just really isn't a Redskin's fan. Who knows? Thanks for such a fun session and all the great ideas:) Happy 1st Mother's Day as a mama!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T10:45:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! I am lucky to have a wonderful mother, stepmother and soon to be mother-in-law! Thank you all for everything you do and everything you have done! I love you all!

P & R | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-08T18:02:00.003-04:00

Pascal and Rachana drove all the way to Frederick for our photo shoot today! Thanks guys for going the extra mile:) I had to share just one from our session.

Baby Jaxon | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-07T16:29:00.007-04:00

While looking through these photos of the beautiful baby boy Jaxon, I have had a combination of Paul Simon's Graceland and Johnny Cash's Jackson in my head. I had a great time a this newborn's shoot this morning. More photos to come:)

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-04T09:24:00.014-04:00

This Tuesday I am blogging from the big and beautiful state of Texas. I have been here enjoying some quality time with my Aunt Gwen and Uncle Mike. We have really been living it up:) Pedicures, good food, great music (check out Guy Forsyth!), and most importantly, great company! Yesterday we went to Austin for the day, stopping at the Blue Bell Creamery for ice cream on the way. When I was just a little tiny thing, when my dad attended The University of Texas, we lived there for a little while. We went by Zilker Park and Amy's Ice Cream (yes, we went out for ice cream twice!), a few of the places I loved and remembered. Tomorrow I will be heading back to MD, feeling refreshed and inspired by time with people that I love!

Aubrey | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-05-01T10:09:00.008-04:00

Isn't little Aubrey cute as a button? She was so sweet, sharing cheerios with her puppy Razz and happily hanging out in the rain:) I had a great time using her great-grandmother's 'sleeping chair' as well as some other awesome chairs! Thanks for such a fun photo shoot and for playing outside despite the rain!

Had 2 Catch Up Wednesday | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-04-28T10:48:00.013-04:00

So this late addition of Had to Tuesday is going to feature 5 things I thoroughly enjoyed this week:

1. Zac Posen for Target
Yes, I was the only person in Frederick that went early Sunday morning the day it was released:) Thank goodness I didn't have to fight anyone for my size. I got a gold bathing suit, yes, it is gold and a one-piece and I love it! Also this adorable blazer:
2. The library
I have always loved the library. I could go on and on about all of the wonderful things it offers. Free books, movies, music, magazines and in downtown Frederick, 2 hours of free parking as an added bonus! This odd mix is what I picked up yesterday:
3. Netflix watch instantly on your Wii!
I just ordered my disc and it rocks! If you haven't done this yet, do it now.

4. My Polaroid camera Lesley bought me for $5 at a garage sale with film still in it!

5. My new point and shoot!
I gotta have something to bring when my big camera isn't coming along:)
Heading to Texas tomorrow! Can't wait to tell you about my travels:)

The Kerr Family | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-04-26T05:41:00.010-04:00

It was a windy day in DC when we met for our shoot, but despite the cold, Sophia and Keller were in good spirits! We spent a lot of time collecting dandelions, or help the national mall de-weed, as well as staying snuggled in mom and dad's arms to stay warm. I am looking forward to seeing The Kerr family again at a wedding this July.
Thanks for another awesome shoot!

I love this mother, daughter moment...so sweet.

Keller-Man, all grown up:)

Helping garden.

I love the look on Keller's face...there was no getting that stick out of his hands after this point.

Awwww:)

Kareem & Amina | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-04-22T16:49:00.007-04:00

I had a great time photographing Kareem and Amina last weekend. Kareem is such a sweet and helpful big brother and Amina is a beautiful and happy baby, and boy, does that kid crawl fast! I think that she is trying as hard as she can to keep up with her big bro:) If you know my style, you know that I have a bit of an obsession with gorgeous eyelashes...If they gave out trophies for the most long and full lashes, Kareem would take first prize. He is gonna be a heart breaker, for sure. And he isn't the only one mom and dad have to worry about. Amina's sweet face is going to melt hearts! Thanks for such a fun session!

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-04-20T11:44:00.015-04:00

I missed a week, but, as promised, I am back! So, this week I had to tell you about the super, awesome surprise visit Amy and I had to Oklahoma for my Daddy's birthday! It was Lesley's fantastic idea and we managed to keep it secret throughout all of our planning, even though it was really hard not to spill the beans. After a failed attempt at hiding in the trunk of the van, Amy and I ended up jumping out from behind the couch! My Daddy was so surprised! Our trip included a birthday party cook-out, an 80's prom, a trip to Braum's, disc golf, books and runs, and most importantly, lots of time with my family:) Some of my favorites are below, but more can be seen on my personal facebook page. Enjoy!

April's youngest, Thomas:)
Check out the awesome shirt Quinn is rockin'.

The Birthday Boy!

Delila looking like April's mini me.

Amy, being glamorous as usual.

Mmmmm...meat:)

Sweet!

I love this one...Papa and Thomas checking each other out.

Hey Les!

Foxy Knoxy

I love my Daddy!

Grandma with Baby Cash.

Kristen and Caylee being cute...can you say that 10 times fast?

Oh Caylee, you are so pretty:)

Hey pretty ladies:)

Tenley | Gaithersburg, MD

2010-04-19T18:54:00.012-04:00

I have been looking forward to this session with Tenley all month because we were finally able to get outside! I have photographed her many times, but always either in a studio or in her house. This time we ventured outside, and Tenley seemed to really enjoy herself:) She loved the grass and wanted to eat it of course. She also started doing this cute thing where she pats herself as if to say 'it's me!' I have already expressed to you what a cool kid Tenley is, and she always proves me right!

More Lauren | Frederick, MD

2010-04-18T22:49:00.005-04:00

Happy Monday everyone:) I hope that these photos bring a little light and joy to the beginning of your work week! Lauren was so much fun work with...she was game for any of my silly ideas and had some crazy ones herself. I hope you are enjoying the new and improved larger photos...any photographers want to know how to make them this big on blogger, just drop me a line and I will tell you how!

Bigger Photos!?!

2010-04-18T21:10:00.004-04:00

I just figured out how to make my photos BIG. What do you think?

Plush Wedding & Events | Las Vegas, NV

2010-04-18T09:59:00.011-04:00

I have been quite the slacker on the blog this past week, but I will say that it feels good to be busy:) I missed my third Had to Tues on the blog...not so hot. I will be coming back in full swing next week. I have a lot stories and photos I want to share.

Today I want to send a shout out to my girls at Plush Wedding and Events, Las Vegas! My friend Emily moved to Vegas recently and has just opened her own event planning business with her two friends Lacey and Kaila. Emily contacted me asking if she could use some of my photos for the launch of their site. Of course I said yes! Emily is absolutely awesome:) She is from a little town in North Carolina and always seemed liked she belonged in a glamorous place like Vegas! She is such an inspiration to go make your dream happen.
Check out their site and if you are thinking about getting married in Vegas, Em is your girl.

Lauren's Bridal Session | Frederick, Maryland

2010-04-08T14:17:00.012-04:00

Lauren kindly agreed to model for me today....thank you, Lauren! The weather was perfect, the trees were in full bloom and the pollen was an inch thick on my car! We both made it through the shoot despite our allergies:) Bananagrams was the inspiration for this shot. There will be more coming soon!

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-04-06T12:37:00.009-04:00

Today is the second Had To Tuesday, and so far I am keeping up:) Today is easy because I definitely have a few things that I had to do today!
The first is wish Lesley a Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Les! I love you!

The second thing that I just had to do today is celebrate! My Duke Blue Devil's (yes, they are mine) are 2010 NCAA National Champs!!!!! That game last night had me on the edge of my seat, and even sometimes on the edge of the coffee table and also standing, jumping a screaming! What an awesome game with an even more awesome result. Let me take a moment to say that Butler played freaking fantastic as well and it is incredible what they did this year in the tournament. I am going to miss our seniors, Lance Thomas, Brian Zoubek and especially Jon Scheyer:( I cried a little when Coach K talked about how much he loved his team and how it was they're last night together. But what a way to end the season! I love my Blue Devils! Gotta represent!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T13:14:00.012-04:00

It was an absolutely gorgeous Easter day! I sat out in the sun maybe a little longer than I realized, because my should are HOT! I have been slathering them with plenty of aloe...but I should have been slathering the sunscreen instead:(
This morning when I woke up, I was drinking my coffee and checking my e-mail, I saw that my mom had sent me some scans of photos of our family celebrating Easter! I love when she sends me scans of old photos! I am sure that it is no surprise that I love looking through photos; my baby photos, your baby photos, my parents and grand parents photos, even old photos of people I don't even know that I see at antique shops, you name it. I really like to examine what you can see in the background. What was the present that Christmas, what appliances did or didn't exist. That VW Van in these photos couldn't have been ours...we had a VW Bug in the same color though. My favorite thing about these images is I can read my mom's writing on the side of the album. It says 'Easter/April 2 1988

Amy-words Balloon' I love those details.

I AM ENGAGED!

2010-04-02T11:47:00.014-04:00

So, I am engaged! It still sounds crazy to me. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! I love Andrew so much, and I can't imagine life without him!

Here's the story...Andrew and I had been looking forward to the weather turning warm and had been planning to go hiking at Gambrill State Park. As we were driving up the mountain to get to the trail heads, Andrew just kept driving. 'You missed it' I said. 'There's one at the top too, don't worry' Andrew responded. Little did I know that he had a plan this whole time. He took me up to a beautiful overlook, you can literally see all of Frederick from there...that is when he got down on one knee. I gotta admit that I kinda thought he was playing a joke on me (because that is his way) until I saw the box! Right as he pulled out the box, Murphy decided to lunge after a squirrel or leaf or something and nearly knocked the ring right out of Andrew's hands! If you know me, you know that I definitely cried, and of course I said yes! He even asked both my fathers for their blessing. Andrew, I love you.
My birthstone:) He really knows me!
I love this photo of us so much...it is the first photo I have of us. The photo credit here goes to Ariel! Thanks Ariel!
To top things off, this is what it looks like outside:
I am so grateful.

Malina | Gaithersburg, Maryland

2010-03-31T10:12:00.001-04:00

So, I have some very exciting news that I am going to share, but I have decided to save it until tomorrow. If we are friends on Facebook, then you probably already know...I am going to tell the beautiful story, but you have to wait until tomorrow.
Meet little Malina, with those thick lashes and all that beautiful hair, dad is going to have to watch out for this one! I have been photographing this little one since she was just a few months old. She has changed a lot, but she was born with those lashes:)

This kid loves Elmo, I mean she really loves Elmo!

Strike a pose Malina!

The lashes I told you about. I wasn't lying, they are seriously gorgeous.

Not really a hat girl, I guess:)

Elmo is her first love, but bubbles are a close second.

I think this one is my favorite from the day...I just love that look in her eyes.

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

2010-03-29T23:08:00.001-04:00

So, this is the beginning on a new era...I have a blog, yeah, and I keep up with my shoots on here for sure, but I would like to make the effort to blog about more than that. Today is the first of many Tuesday posts...Tuesday's will now be known as 'Had To Tuesday.' I would like for you to hold me to this...I might need some help:) This week, the thing that I had to have, couldn't live without, were these gorgeous Design Aglow CD case templates. I have been giving my client these awesome CD cases from WHCC, and the templates just stepped it up a notch and I love it! Take a look at my first batch of cases:

The DeStefano Family | Oakton, Virginia

2010-03-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

Mai and Mike totally ready for the arrival of baby Jake. Walls are painted, crib is assembled, and his nursery is fully decorated in a monkey theme:) All it needs is a little, tiny baby and it will be complete. In case I haven't mentioned this before, I love love. These two are crazy about each other and are about to start a family of their own. It is such a wonderful and beautiful thing to see.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Isabella | Frederick, Maryland

2010-03-23T18:21:00.000-04:00

Isabella just started walking yesterday! I thought that she was going to start in the middle of our photo shoot last weekend, but she decided to wait a few more days:) You may recognize this little cutie from an earlier post on my blog. Isabella is by far the happiest kid I have ever met. She smiles non stop, dances to country music, and is all around awesome. Isabella and her parents Brian and Jess live right next door so I get to see a lot of her. We often meet up on our back porches and say hey. She always grins and lets out little shrieks of joy whenever she sees Murphy. On April Fool's day, Isabella will be 1! Happy Early Birthday Bella!
If she could smile any bigger, she would:)
I loooove this one!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

The Goldberg Family | Boyds, Maryland

2010-03-23T10:08:00.000-04:00

In honor of little Brooke's upcoming 1st birthday, the Goldberg family invited me over for a photo shoot. The day was perfect; hot and sunny:) Perfect weather for photos and for playing duck, duck goose on the trampoline!

Look at the scowl...adorable.

Nick, what a ham?!

I love this shot because it looks so old fashioned to me...this could be a photo of her Grandmother at age 1.

This photo reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

What a stud!

Doesn't Nick's room rock?

Little Angel:)

Tenley | Gaithersburg, MD

2010-03-21T16:52:00.001-04:00

Dear Tenley,

Please keep thinking that I am as cool and funny as you think I am right now. Please keep giggling when I make you sit naked in a basket on the dining room table:) You are such a sweet baby! Will you be my BFF?
-jessi

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T19:27:00.000-04:00

Andrew and I joke about what Murphy's voice would sound like...Andrew says he would talk like Mayor Quimby because he's from New England, and I think he talks like a baby. But deep down Murphy is really an Irishman:)

Sophia & Noah | Clarksburg, Maryland

2010-03-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

Twins...a boy and a girl. I think that this is the perfect combo that everything little girl dreams of having. One of each, always there to look out for the other...not two girls or 2 boys, so less hair pulling later on:) Two sets of tiny hands, tiny feet, tiny noses and lips. Twice as much to love.
Lucy, the little guard dog.

Big Bro, and my little helper for the day! Thanks Eli:) Raaahhhrrr!

Baby Noah

Sweet Sophia

Katelin & Mikey | Durham, North Carolina

2010-03-14T11:04:00.001-04:00

I was thrilled when Katelin and Mikey were totally down to pretend to be engaged for me! As you can see, they are outrageously cute in many ways...in love, stylish, bike riders:) What more could you ask for? These two have known each other for a long time...back to the DSA days again...but their love is new in that can't keep their hands off each other kind of way. They laugh a lot, and it is super contagious. They make you want to ride bikes and paint your nails to match your bike too. It was another beautiful NC day, perfect photo shoot weather! Thanks again y'all!
Oh, Kiki, you are so pretty:)

This is the contagious laughter I was talking about...see what I mean:)
I love the way she is looking at him. Isn't love pretty?
Sweet:)
I love Durham so much.
This is what I call an adorable bad idea.
Check out Katelin's nails;)

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Casey | Durham, North Carolina

2010-03-13T17:03:00.000-05:00

When I was is high school at Durham School of the Arts, hanging out in the darkroom in the basement under the gym, there was another Jessi singing in the choir room across campus. Now fast forward 7 years and well, I am kinda doing the same thing except now I am photoshopping in the basement and Jessi is married and has a gorgeous baby boy, Casey. I like to use the word baby loosely, because as you can see, Casey is a boy on the move, not so much a baby. Until they can form full sentences and tell me that they are grown, they are still babies in my book.

This kid has places to go and people to see...look at the determination in his eyes.

We call that baby swagger.
Snack time:)

A baby after my own heart...born a Duke fan!

Berta & Seth | Durham, North Carolina

2010-03-11T23:16:00.000-05:00

Berta and Seth were some much fun to shoot...photograph that is. They were totally down with my ideas and just complete naturals. The day was so gorgeous, our only problem during the shoot was that every once in a while we would have to wait a minute, and chat amongst ourselves a little while a family walked through our shot with their kids, dog, picnic, etc. I love those first hot days of the Spring when everyone just pours out of their homes, tired of be cooped up and cold. It was one of those kind of days and it was perfect! Enjoy the photos! I am trying animoto for the first time! Let me know what you think!
Berta is a pastry chef...doesn't this girl look like she would make a mean dessert. So sweet:)
I love this photo...work it girl.
So handsome...and a great sport!
I kinda have an obsession with lashes...I freaking love shots like this.
Gorgeous as usual!
Is she not adorable or what? Shake it girl!
One word: hot
Enjoy the video!

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Durham, NC Sessions

2010-03-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

I love when I have photo shoots that leave me bursting at the seams with excitement...I honestly dreamt about looking through my photos from these Durham photo sessions before I had even had the chance. Thank you a million times to my super cool friends that were more than happy to pretend to be engaged, just for me:) These are just a little taste of the fun we had. I can't wait to show you some more...I gotta get to work!

carolina on my mind...

2010-03-04T18:42:00.000-05:00

I am looking forward to a long weekend at a place that I will forever call home...Durham, NC:) I will be taking part in 4 photo shoots, a family reunion, a girls reunion, and the last Duke game of the season! Well, the last one is a bit of an exaggeration, because I will just watching the senior night game and not actually participating in it. So, because of all that, I probably will be gone for a while, and then back with a lot of fun photos!

Every post needs a photo... as a photographer I believe strongly in that. So, I took some self portraits, because I felt like it had been a while. I have never really done a lot of self portraits that much, but I do love taking photos of all sorts, so sometimes, every once in a while, I take photos of myself...or make other people take photos of me.
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
These photos are by Andrew Kurz:These are by me: 'I am silly, but what I really wanna be is sexy' -that is the title of this one

Aiden & Addison

2010-03-02T14:43:00.000-05:00

Aiden and Addison are two awesome little kids...I bet they get it from their cool parents:) I have been photographing these kids for a while now...you may have seen a newborn Aiden resting in his daddy's hands on my blog before. One of the coolest things about my job is being able to watch tiny babies grow into little people, watching families grow and a expand. It is such a honor to be able to be a part of that. I am so grateful that I get to do what I love:)

This shot is similar to one of Addison at the same age!
I love the look on Addison's face...she knows she's up to no good.What a cute girl with a cute room:)
I think this is my favorite of Addi.
Are they not the cutest family or what?
Little guy has just 2 teeth that just started to poke through...more are on the way though.
That is one cute butt!
How sweet...smiling up at dad.
A is for Aiden!
Love the wallpaper! I gotta get some for my house!
Thanks guys for such a fun shoot!

Wilmara & Alex Engagement Annoucement

2010-03-01T20:05:00.000-05:00

I love the story of how Alex proposed to Wilmara. He brought the scrapbook to our engagement session last summer and it is just as cool as you would imagine. It is a beautiful vibrant pink, Wilmara's favorite color and also the color of her gorgeous engagement ring, and probably weighs 20 pounds. He had to compile it in secret and hide it in the back of a closet so that Wilmara wouldn't find it. He managed to keep this up for 3 months before he proposed! How freakin' sweet! I can't wait to photograph their wedding this summer!

Jack

2010-02-27T17:34:00.000-05:00

Shrunken Daddy...that is Jack's nickname. And he really is a little man, isn't he?

This kid loves toes... a lot. I think you will see what I mean in a minute:)

mmmm...toes

This was such a hilarious moment...they can torture him with this photo later in life.

Gotta love a baby in a bucket. Classic.

Jack was such a great baby...did you notice how many different ensembles this kid rocked? And now for a nap. I love how he matches his glow worm.

More Katerina

2010-02-26T17:26:00.001-05:00

Little Katerina is so beautiful with those deep eyes that just draw you in. She has 2 older brothers and seems content being the baby of the family. She is in no hurry to walk or sprout anymore teeth. Good:) Stay an adorable little baby for as long as you can!

LiLa

2010-02-26T14:11:00.000-05:00

So, I had to share this video because I love it so much:) When you put Eli and JLa together you get LiLa and also awesomeness! They are both Durhamites like myself and this video is full of my old hangouts:) If you have ever enjoyed the music on my website and wondered who it was, the answer is JLa. Enjoy the video!

Katerina

2010-02-22T20:46:00.000-05:00

Little Katerina is growing up! I have been photographing her since she was just a month old...she is now almost 1! There are more to come of this little cutie, but I just wanted to post this adorable smile:) Gotta love those little teeth.

More Eason

2010-02-17T15:09:00.001-05:00

Meet Eason, Tenley's adorable cousin. He is one handsome little guy. Eason is about 4 months older than little Tenley, and it is their parents dream that they will grow up and attend Indiana University together:) Little E rocked many looks for the shoot, and started off representing IU. Enjoy the images!

The Bokeh Pot Feature

2010-02-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

I am currently being featured on the super cool blog, The Bokeh Pot! This blog rocks for many reasons...it is a great place for photographers to see what their peers are doing, gain a little insight into how and why they do what they do. Also, it was started by a fellow ASU grad, Crystal Genes! If you have a sec, take a look at my feature and let me know what you think.

More Tenley

2010-02-15T10:56:00.000-05:00

Tenley is just as cool as her name:) She's got cool clothes, cool parents...she is definitely going to be the cool kid in class someday. But right now she is a super cool baby! She has just started make lots of little noises and can sit up on her own...for a minute at least. She has a great personality and great big blue eyes! Thanks for an awesome shoot! I am looking forward to our shoot next month:)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T08:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's to everyone! Andrew and I have plans involving margaritas and bowling, so it's gonna be a good day! Love you, AK:)

Tenley & Eason

2010-02-13T18:47:00.000-05:00

I had a lovely photo shoot today with two beautiful babies...Tenley and her cousin Eason. I wanted to share a few favorites from the day right away...more coming soon!

Duke vs. UNC

2010-02-10T16:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I am snowed in again, but at least I have my favorite match up of the season...Duke vs. UNC! Tonight at 9pm! Go Devils!

Another Big Snow!

2010-02-07T14:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked the biggest snow storm I have ever been in! About 2 feet of snow everywhere, with drifts and piles of snow well over my head. With basketball on TV and a pork roast in the slow cooker, we happily survived it! Andrew shoveled snow for hours and we can now see our front stairs and Murphy loved it! Digging and poncing through it like a little arctic fox:)

After the Storm

2010-02-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

Despite Saturday's snow storm, leaving my car on the side of the road and having to be rescued by my wonderful boyfriend, I managed to make it to my Sunday shoot. I was able to photograph some my favorite friends from Celebrity Kids. Those beautiful outfits that you see are in celebration of Vietnamese New Year! Enjoy the images:)

My favorite from the day

What a handsome little guy

I think that Dad is gonna like this one

Happy Birthday Amy

2010-01-23T13:32:00.000-05:00

I spent this past week in my hometown of Durham, NC and was able to celebrate my little sister's 23rd birthday! She likes to be the baby of the family, but she is becoming a responsible and beautiful young woman:) She is also a great model...I have been making her model for me for quite some time now. Happy Birthday Ames!

Mama and Ames...2 of my most favorite ladies!

Penny, Amy's sweet puppy

Thanks for a great week in NC!

Baby Mackenzie

2010-01-17T14:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of photographing a beautiful baby girl! Just over a month old, and she was smiling and modeling already! What a sweet girl. Below are some of my favorites:) Enjoy!

I love this one...so sweet and serene

Little hands...

I love how dad is sympathizing with Mackenzie's cries!

Perfect little angel!

Why hello there:)

A portrait of the whole family!

DeShawn & Hosam

2010-01-14T13:21:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of second shooting with my friend and talented photographer Emily Abril. DeShawn & Hosam are so nice, so in love and hilarious! Below are a few of my favorites from the day!

Aunt Jan

2010-01-11T22:50:00.000-05:00

While I was in Oklahoma visiting my family, my Aunt Jan and I had a fun little photo shoot! It was crazy cold the whole time I was there, but Jan worked it like a pro! You would never know by the looks of her that it was 19 degrees outside:) Jan was full of fun ideas...she even brought along a yo-yo...she was a yo-yo champion and the age of 9 and she has still has the skills to show off to this day! Enjoy the photos! I love you Jan!

Jake & Adam

2010-01-10T20:09:00.000-05:00

Right before I left to go spend a wonderful week with my family in OK (photos to come!), had the pleasure of photographing these adorable brothers. I love to watch the dynamics of siblings...I always compare it to me and my sister. I am definitely the Jake, the all knowing older sibling...half bossy and half protective. I had a blast with these boys! Enjoy the photos!

DC Engagement Session

2010-01-02T22:26:00.000-05:00

I had a great time at my photo shoot with Lawrence and his 2 beautiful girls...I always love it when it is the husband to be that contacts me for photos:) We met at the National Gallery of Art, where they had their first date. Thank you guys for such a great time and congrats to you two lovebirds!

Christmas at the Kurz's

2009-12-25T17:40:00.000-05:00

I have been enjoying at lovely Christmas with Andrew's family in New London, CT...lots of good food and good company:) And adorable Christmas PJs!

Snow Day!

2009-12-19T15:58:00.000-05:00

Looking out my window right now, there is more than a foot of snow! It started snowing late last night and it just hasn't stopped. I have Murphy, Andrew and a Duke game on TV so I really couldn't ask for more:) I also had time to made some of my favorite Christmas cookies!
Mexican Wedding Cakes
2 sticks softened butter
2 cups flour
4 tbsp sugar
1 cup ground pecans
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325
Mix butter, flour and sugar well
add vanilla and pecans
roll into small balls and bake for 18-20 min
Roll in powdered sugar when almost cool
Enjoy!

Big Brother Big Sister Holiday Party

2009-12-17T21:36:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Big Brother Big Sister of Frederick's holiday party:) It was a lovely time...there were games and face painting, pin the nose on Rudolph...Santa even stopped by to deliver presents. The looks on those children's faces when they saw Santa walk to through the door was such a beautiful thing to see. Sheer joy:) Take a look at some of the beautiful children I met this weekend. Thank you Big Brother Big Sister for such a fun party!

Kevin

2009-12-13T18:32:00.001-05:00

In loving memory of Kevin Cook

Sunday Funday!

2009-12-03T16:29:00.000-05:00

So it thought that I would follow that horribly cheesy title up with a quote from Reed, because hilarious kids are just one of the many reasons why I love what I do:) I asked him who he was inviting to his birthday party and he said, 'the kids from my class, except the messy ones that get marker on their nose when the smell them.' Gotta love it!
Thank you to both of the families that invited to their house last weekend!

Reed also told me that he wanted the be a rock star when he grew up:)

Those gorgeous eyes...what a doll!

King of the world!

What a sweet family

This little set here is probably my favorite from the day

Another adorable group!
Cutie:)Cutie number two!

First Glance...

2009-11-29T19:06:00.001-05:00

Today I was able to hang out with 2 super fun families! Here is just a little look into some of the fun we had! More this week:)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Frederick, MD

2009-11-19T19:31:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about being a photographer is showing others things that they may not see...in themselves and in others. I have been trying to find a way to use my photography to help others and show them those things that they may just pass by. Tonight was my first night to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Frederick. I photographed a group of kids involved in a after school mentoring program. The kids were fun, like kids are! One of the kids asked, "why is she taking pictures? Is she a spy?' In hindsight i should have just said yes. They probably would have thought I was cool:) I am looking forward to doing it again and getting to know these little ones a bit better:)

More Shew Family | Family Portraits Frederick, MD

2009-11-19T11:14:00.000-05:00

The Shew family was so much fun! They were open to all of my crazy ideas...including balancing their baby on this perfectly placed concrete 'chair.'

Kammi gave me a lot of these looks:)

And some of these as well...check out those little teeth! Just two so far:)

I love those sweet moments...

This one might be my favorite

What a sweet family!

Something about dad's ears was absolutely fascinating
I love that little grin:D

Thanks you guys for such a fun shoot!

The Shew Family | Frederick, MD Family Portraits

2009-11-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

Today I met the Shew family at Baker park for a fun little photo shoot:) Nicole and Matt are fellow FABnet members...Matt is actually the pres of it all! They are also Shew-sical Entertainment. They have two adorable little girls, Alyvia and Kamryn. We had a blast rolling in the leaves, sharing our love of pizza, and giving each other fist bumps:D These are just a few of my favorite from the session. I will post more tomorrow so check back in!

Frederick Area Bridal Network...

2009-11-17T23:01:00.000-05:00

...or FABnet for short! About 2 months ago I stopped in the organized bride to see if I could drop of a few of my cards...it is an awesome store full of adorable things to look at...invitations, stationary, party favors, etc. I love to stop in from time to time to get inspiration from all of the beautiful little accessories:) While I was there the owner, Tara, kindly invited me to the the upcoming FABnet meet and greet. I was so thrilled to be invited and get to know some of the local vendors in the same field as me! One of the highlights of the get together was a raffle. I had my eye on a carrot cake made by Cindy of Cinful Cuisine, but alas, I did not win. Just when I thought that it was all over, they drew for the grand prize... a free FABnet membership! I was so excited to see my silver business card being drawn from the bowl. Thank you so much! I am so excited to be a part of the club! Check out my profile and the rest of the FABnet site!

Camping at the Cove

2009-11-16T22:38:00.000-05:00

This weekend Andrew and Murphy and I took a little break from civilization and went to Gore, VA to camp out at the cove....I had been obsessively checking the weather, hoping that last week's rain would stop long enough for us to get outside. Even the ride there was cloudy and overcast...but by the time we set up camp, the sun was out and shining brightly! There is something so soothing (and much needed) about turning off your cell phone a sleeping under the stars. thank you Andrew for taking me despite the weather reports that i basically ignored:) this was our first camping trip with Murphy, and he was perfect, as usual! he snuggled in our tent with us and ate a hamburger that i dropped. i wouldn't let him have a s'more though:( I gotta draw the line somewhere!

More Bella

2009-11-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

My neighbors, Brian and Jess have the most adorable little girl! She is so sweet and smiley...she keeps them constantly amused by all of her cute faces and noises. She was born on April Fool's Day...maybe that's why she's so cool;)

She is rockin' those shades!

I love that toothless smile:)This is one of my favorites...so full of love
She loved the grass... a lot!

Her room matches her eyes!

Isabella

2009-11-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

This is just a little sneak peek from my session with my neighbor's beautiful baby girl:) There will be more tomorrow! Check out those incredible eyes!

Published in the Durham, NC Herald

2009-11-06T16:32:00.000-05:00

I received a letter in the mail today with this newspaper clipping from the Durham Herald-Sun ...I love seeing my photos in print!

My Other Half

2009-11-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

I like to say that I am a photographer in my life, all the time...weddings are wonderful special days in people lives and I love to capture those wonderful and fleeting moments of joy. I also love to photograph new life, happy families, wild toddlers, etc. And that is how I spent my days and Celebrity Kids Portrait Studio! I am one of 3 photographers that work there... there is me, Maya and Earl. We have fun hanging out and photographing adorable little people that say the most hilarious things! Check out a few of my favorite photographs below:

Autumn again...

2009-10-22T23:29:00.000-04:00

Its birthday season again...there are pumpkins on porches and football games on TV...Andrew and I are both about to be 25, Knox is 9, and Murphy is almost 2! it is crazy how time flies by so quickly:)

My sweet boys:)
I love Murph's rock star tail! Kick ass!

Trash That Dress! from Jessica Arden Photography at Frederick, MD 21701

2009-10-14T19:49:00.001-04:00

Trash That Dress! from Jessica Arden Photography at Frederick, MD 21701

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New Albums

2009-10-14T16:02:00.000-04:00

So I just got my first album from Finao and I love it!!! I can't wait to show my clients! Albums and guest books are add-ons to any package. Take a look:

Heather & Graham

2009-10-05T22:07:00.000-04:00

It was such a privilege to document Heather and Graham's wedding day! These two have the most beautiful kind of love:) It is so obviously unconditional...soulmates. I have known Graham since we both started 6th grade at DSA...(ever since we were both Knights;) and he has always been such a nice and kind-hearted guy....totally unaware of how all the girls had a crushes on him! And Heather is so nice and selfless...her main concern for the day was that everyone was happy and having a good time:)... and such a natural beauty....they are perfect for each other.

The were married at the Barn at Valhalla...a beautiful venue in Chapel Hill, NC. For a day that had originally called for rain it turned out to be absolutely gorgeous. I was the second shooter and the main photographer was my bff, Jeyhoun, who I have known since we were 9 years old. It was great to work with someone I have known for so long to capture this special day for one of our friends. Lovely:) Enjoy some of my favorites from the day!Heather's Grandmother made her beautiful dress and grew the orchids in her bouquet among other things!

Awww Graham! So cute!
Newlyweds!

Brett & Luke

2009-09-29T22:06:00.000-04:00

Brett and Luke are just magnetic. As soon as you meet them, you just want to be around them...they are so fun and hilarious and freaking awesome dancers! Their happiness rubs off on you, it spreads through the room:D I had the honor of photographing their wedding this past weekend and the Wauregan Hotel in Norwich, CT.

Take a look at some of my favorite from their wedding day:

I love that they got ready together!
They are so in love:)Luke and his maid of honor
Hotness!I love this moment between Brett and his brother...so sweet even when they think no one is watching That cake! Flawless! And delicious!We were able to swing by the laundromat for a few photo...thank you guys:)Andrew, my handsome second shooter, and his brother in law, Zach that introduced me to the grooms!Brett's bro sure can dance!Hey party animals!! Whoot! Whoot!Okay, so if i haven't expressed how much I love these guys, I think this sums it up!

Emily's Bridal Session

2009-09-16T12:04:00.000-04:00

So, my friend Emily and I have been talking about doing this shoot for a while now! She is married...been married, but due to a tragic series of events, Emily has hardly any photos from her wedding:( So we decided to do something about it! I had quite a few places I wanted to go, and Emily showed me so awesome spots I would have never discovered on my own...thanks Em! I love exploring and finding new beautiful places to photograph...we even saw a llama hanging out with some goats:)

Because she is sweet!

This is one of the places Emily showed me:) Love it!What a bad ass!I love how the wall matches her eyes...stunning:)

Emily Sneak Peek

2009-09-14T20:36:00.000-04:00

I had to post just one of my favorite's from Emily's bridal shoot today...more to come!

The Little Things

2009-09-09T06:46:00.000-04:00

In all the hustle of the everyday grind, I would like to remind you to not walk too quickly past the little details. Slow down for a minute and soak in the things that make you happy...that make you thankful for everything that you have.
Like Murphy's wet nose.
The rose bush that continuously blooms without any help from me.
Cool evenings at the end of summer...perfect for sitting on the porch.

New Tattoo

2009-09-07T15:16:00.000-04:00

I hope that everyone is enjoying their labor day:) Taking it easy, resting and relaxing. Me and my boys, AK and Murphy, went on a hike this morning and they are now both passed out on the couch together...so sweet:)

I have been debating on posting this pic of my new tat, but i think photographers have to put themselves in front of the camera once in a while...remember what our clients feel like. This photo was taken by my friend and talented photographer Maya. Enjoy your vaca!

Rachel & Brett

2009-09-02T22:31:00.001-04:00

I had a ball at Rachel and Brett's GA wedding at Stone Mountain State Park....the weather and the scenery were perfect, and I was surrounded by one of the things I miss most about the south...good old fashioned southern hospitality! That's right!
I know Rachel from waaayyyy back in the day....like DMC and N'Sync kind of way back....all the way to middle school:) It was a wonderful experience to see her all grown up and such a calm, collected and stunning bride.

Lily was one of the adorable flower girl...she wants to get her make up done too.

The girls looked awesome and were so fun to hang with! I love that they got to pick their own dress! Great idea!

Those eyes! Work it girl!Is she not the fiercest bride you have ever seen?Awww...Leigh, the bride's baby sis, kept getting choked up. So cute:)OMG! Breathtaking:) Rachel, you rock my world!How precious (and well behaved) are these little ones?Rachel and her hilarious daddy, Cotten!

I too got a little teary eyed at Pawpaw's sweet words...

The beautiful mother of the bride! Hey Nancy!The location was fabulous! Stone Mountain State Park rocks! Haha! Get it?

I love this shot;) Brett and Rachel made all of the fans/puzzles! How cute?!

WhhhoooooHoooo!

These two really know how to break it down! For real!

Thanks for such an awesome experience y'all!!!

Advertising on Wedding Chicks

2009-08-20T15:12:00.000-04:00

I am now advertising with The Wedding Chicks!
If you have never checked out their blog, it is adorable! Everything on there is so fun to look at:D You can find me in Maryland and North Carolina.

Jennifer & Matthew: Wanyesville, NC Wedding

2009-08-13T12:13:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed a wonderful vacation to the mountains of NC this past weekend. Not only was I able to photograph Jennifer and Matthew's wedding in the beautiful little town of Wanyesville, NC....but I was also able to hang out with some of my best friends:) Always an added bonus!

Check out some of my favorite images from the day.

I stumbled upon the gym after a door locked behind me while exploring...the guys liked it too.
About to get married! Trying not to let anyone see her!
Grandparents....just celebrated 56 years together...so sweet
Dad's first look!

Don't they look like movie stars? I love it!Doing my job! LOL

So in love:D"she always plays the spoons....always."
I was laughing so hard I cried!
They let me take a tree. I thought that was a beautiful idea. And the chocolate cake...to die for!
Their anniversary is 8/8!
Love the bubbles! Good luck you two! And thank you for everything!