“Come into the woods, for here is rest.” – John Muir

Aaron and I spent a week last month hiking through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was a time to slow down, to conquer mountains both in front of me and in my mind. Up there in the pine forests atop Mt. LeConte, I found the place that inspires me. This is where my journey as a photographer started.

When Aaron and I got married, we created a goal to visit all 59 national parks (and any and all national park sites as well – there are 417). We make an effort to get to at least one national park a year. I have such a deep love of the national parks and the conservation and preservation of our nation’s natural beauty. In a time when technology and the immediacy of our world can seem too much, these places remind us to slow down, breathe, and take in the goodness of the world around us.

That’s why this year, I am offering special sessions to benefit the parks. These sessions will be on the weekend of National Public Lands Day, September 22. Below are the details:

• Book a session September 22 or 23
• Session location: Manassas Battlefield Park
• Family photos and/or pet photos
• Price: $200
• 25% of session fee goes toward the National Park Foundation

These sessions must be booked prior to the weekend of the 22nd. If you are interested in taking part in this special deal, please click here to sign up.

My mom and my husband are weather nuts – they check the weather at least a few times a day, they have multiple radar apps and TV stations with weather breakdowns that they watch religiously. I used to think they were nuts… until my first full summer as a photography business began.

Last Saturday, the rains were ridiculous. And I was going nuts. I was going to be photographing Sam and Amber at Brookside Gardens and man, did I want everything to go perfect – or at least not flood. Parts of Maryland were completely destroyed by flood waters. But the part of Maryland where I was photographing Sam and Amber’s engagement photos? Someone upstairs musta’ set up an umbrella right over the gardens. I’m gonna go ahead and assume that’s a sign. Because these two have an insane chemistry that can definitely weather any storm.

Three boys, one little girl, a gorgeous border collie, perfectly coordinated outfits, and some big smiles. The Cowan family brought their A-game to their session at Fort McNair the other weekend. Thunderstorms threatened an otherwise perfect day, but we were able to capture just enough fun before they rolled in.

It was a gorgeous day at Fort McNair last Saturday when I met up with Kelly and her pup, Finley, for their pet session. I had been to the area, but had never been to Fort McNair – it is beautiful! Right on the Potomac and right next to the new soccer stadium.

Kelly and Finley are two peas. They were so much fun to hang out with, and I’m so glad they introduced me to a part of the city I never knew existed.