O'Brien’s Irish Pub

Julianna’s best friend Amanda was about to open her restaurant O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Warrenton, Virginia. As a surprise gift, she called me to show up and document the evening…

There was traditional music, great food and lots of loved ones joining in to share this special event…

The beer and whiskey was flowing!

Authentic Irish snacks are for sale…

Amanda’s family was there to support and kick off the grand opening…

and here is Juliana and her family…What a great friend!

Amanda’s dream was coming true. I am thrilled to have been there to document this special evening. If you are in the Warrenton Area, check out O’Brien’s for a cold beer, great food in a relaxed Irish setting.

Robinson Senior Photos

Next up, we have beautiful Julia!

This is actually the fourth time I have had the pleasure of photographing this high school senior! Time really flies doesn’t it?

For Julia’s session, we chose The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite locations for senior sessions. It has great colors and textures and the sun sets in just the right spot this time of year…

Julia shares the same birth country as my own daughter, South Korea. She is driven, focused and knows what she wants out of life…

When mom shows up to your shoot with flowers! I know what it is like to be the mom of a senior so I felt this…So sweet!

Julia plans to enter the US Military after graduation! I am wishing her all the success and happiness she deserves. I had the best time with her documenting her senior year here in Northern Virginia before she leaves for training. To say I am proud is an understatement. Go Julia…The world needs more young women like you.

Alexandria Senior Pictures

WOW! The Class of 2021 Senior season has been off to a fabulous start and it’s been so great to hear about graduations happening…Live and in person!

First up, we have the beautiful Evie…

Evie requested a natural backdrop for her photographs at a place she’s enjoyed over the years called Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia.

Since it was the very start of spring, we met at 5:30. We made our way around the birdwatchers and nature photographers and took advantage of the dappled light. There is even a beautiful walkway over the water…

“We had a great afternoon and we are so pleased with the pictures! It was a pleasure meeting and working with you.”

— Meredith

This talented senior was confident and relaxed and such a joy to work with. I am wishing her all the best as she wraps up her time at West Potomac High School and heads off to college this fall.

Fairfax School Photos

Yes, Covid took a lot from us but guess what? It did NOT take away our children’s school photographs!

For the 2020- 2021 school year, I had the absolute pleasure of offering school portraits! These images are more of a fine art style which eliminates any distracting backgrounds or props…

Aren’t these preschoolers adorable? I strive to create images that document true personality!

Here’s how we did it…

1. Photo sessions were broken up into 3 days which allowed me to photograph without large groups waiting for their turn.

2. We photographed the students outdoors. Yes, all of these images are natural lighting only!

3. While photographing, I am always masked and I use zoom lenses. I am also fully vaccinated.

4. After our session, ordering photographs was completely contactless. No images were delivered to the school…Parents get their images shipped directly to their home.

5. Privacy is extremely important to me so galleries are delivered in a password protected site provided directly from the school itself.

Fine art school portraits are a natural way to let your child shine. It was so much fun to create these images and give some normality to parents in these challenging times.

If you, or a school you know of would like to offer fine art school portraits feel free to reach out and we will make it happen!

What 2020 Gave

Many photographers will tell you the same thing…We think in light and shape and there’s always a picture being made in our heads. It never stops. The year is coming to a close and I know most of us are pretty happy about it.

2020 took so much away from us and dealt us a hand of fear, of disappointment and uncertainty. We watched as lives were transformed, businesses were devastated, seniors couldn’t properly graduate. Close friends of mine became ill. Another friend lost her husband, the father of their 2 teenage children. I watched as my 14 year old pushed groceries through my parent’s screen door during lock down. So much of it sucked.

But…

In the middle of the chaos, there was some good. This Canon of mine, along with the iPhone have allowed me to hang on to some things actually worth looking back on…

1. This moment here…Not open for political debate. This is just me documenting my 12 yr old Asian daughter, watching a woman of African American and Asian descent about to become the Vice President Elect of The United States. History in the making and an image I absolutley had to create…Period, end of story. Shot on Canon 5D Mark III, 35mm 1.4 lens.

2. We said good bye to the toys. Being home allowed us to have the time to clean and reorganize some of our space. Talk about bitter sweet…I cried at least 5 time during this process. The memories that came flooding back…seriously it was hard. The toys piled up here were being donated to a local toy library so at least we knew they were going to have a second life. Shot on Canon 5D Mark III 24-70 mm 2.8 lens.

3. The Beach…With everyone online for work and school, and only essential businesses open, we were able to escape to The Outer Banks in both Spring and Summer. What a gift this truly was. These were shot on a Canon 5D Mark III 35mm 1.4.

The best camera is the one you have with you. This was shot with my iPhone.

Another iPhone image…This was the very first day of synchronous online learning for my high school sophomore. 8:10 AM, unknown territory for most schools and incredibly strange to be so far from the classroom. At least the light was nice.

4. Time to Help…As we began another school year remotely this September, I was able to assist my daughter if she needed help or motivation, nothing crazy I mean I was never good at Math, but if she needed a snack or wanted to share an idea with me, I was there when normally she would be gone for 7 hours out of the day. How great is that?! This was the 2020 First Day of School image shot on Canon 5D Mark III.

The above 2 images are what recess at home looked like…Canon 5D Mark III 35 mm 1.4 lens

5. Extra time with my College kid…Having my son home early was for sure the greatest gift of all. He was home to decorate the tree with us and every time I looked up to see him there, it made me happy. This letting our kids go thing is hard! The transition sadness has come in waves over the last year. I am thrilled he was able to attend school on campus for at least some time, but man is it good to have him back! This is again Canon 5D Mark III 35 mm 1.4 lens.

While I am very happy to see 2020 about to exit, I am truly grateful for the moments she gave to me. I am grateful for the time out of the car and not shuffling my daughter to gymnastics practice all week. I am grateful for the extra sleep. I am grateful for the time with my husband where we started to work out together and then both fell off the wagon. I am grateful for technology and it’s ability to connect us when we are craving social interaction. I am grateful for the families who reached out to me to preserve their memories, making this my busiest year yet in this photography journey. Here’s hoping 2021 is gentle and kind and brings you all the health and happiness you deserve.

Alexandria Family Session

It was a big move from the city to the burbs for this beautiful family of three! Home is the place where your dreams start, where your love and hope lives…How lucky am I to have the opportunity to document this amazing and exciting time.

Little P lead us all around the house so we could get images to tell their story…

Even the outtakes make it to the gallery!

Leaving this session restored my faith in 2020…I am wishing this family all the memories, all the laughs and all the best as they start this new journey together.