Forget -Me -Not Mondays!

Sometimes photographers get known for one specific picture they take. Like for example do you know who Steve McCurry is? Probably not! But I'm sure you know his picture "Afghan Girl" 1985.

Often photographers will be known for one picture. I would be surprised to meet someone who hadn't seen the above picture. But very little people know of his more recent work... as or more beautiful than his famous Afghan Girl. Check these out:

Wow! Amazing. I love that green and red one. Amazing!

So you're probably wondering what this little soap box has to do with me and my Forget-Me-Knot Monday post? Well, I have my own "McCurry" picture. Not nearly as good as his Afghan Girl picture, but it's that one picture that everyone remembers, comments on and loves. I'm sure you remember it if you've seen my work

Not unlike McCurry, I took this shot very early on my my career, back in 2005 if I remember.  I had (hallelujah!) a bride that was willing to lay in the leaves. I set up the bride and groom and I stood above them and shot from overhead. After a few shots I said, I want to get higher. A groomsmen brought me a chair and I shot from a few feet higher. After 5 or 6 unsatisfying shots... I exclaimed, "I want to be HIGHER!!.... like way up ...." and as I looked up to the sky above I saw a tree branch about 15 feet up. I exclaimed ... "up there!!!" pointing to the branch.  A grromsman let me climb on his shoulder, and I shimmied out to the edge of the branch.. and BAM! there's my McCurry picture!

I've done similar things for other shots, stood on rickity fences, climbed on the roof of golf carts, I even recently fell backwards into a swamp trying to get a shot! When I have an image in my mind, I do almost anything to get it! Thankfully now that I have an intern I can have her spot me as I balance on perilous beams and climb on various unsafe things!  But hey- that's why you hire me right? I get the shot! :)

I'm a little tried of seeing my leaf picture... since I've been seeing it for 6 years... but I guess I can't complain... that one shot alone has branded me in the mind of many brides-to-be and booked me more gigs than I probably realize! 

And by the way, like McCurry I'm still producing new and fresh work. I have some AMAZINGLY exciting artistic weddings booked for 2012... so if you want to keep up with my latest work click on the FB button above to keep updated with my latest work and postings!

Have a great Monday!

Too-da-loo

Forget -Me -Not Mondays!

Hi lovelies!

Hope you're having an awesome day off from work today on Labor Day. Yay for sleeping in (unless you're like me with a toddler who wakes you up at 7am every day) and taking a day to breathe and relax. This is a very photo journalistic shot from the wedding album I'm working on. I love shooting next to windows and having that natural light stream in from the side. Have a great day

! 

Forget -Me -Not Mondays!

Weh! What a week! If you're reading this from the D.C area... you don't need me to fill you in on what has happened in the past week.... but in case you are from out of state; let me fill you in. Earthquake, hurricane, and two days without power. Weh. What a week! Our prayers go out to all who were hit hard with this week's hurricane and especially those still without power.

Thankfully we just got power back late last night just in time for this week's Forget-Me-Not Monday post. This week's pic was from a wedding a few years back of the lovely Ally Smith. This was back in the day when we lived in the Bluegrass state and I LOVED shooting this beautifully classic summer wedding. There were these stone ruins that just oozed romantic fairytale pictures and we shot until the mother of the bride came on a golf cart and ripped us away :) 

PS. If you're into decorating Ally has the COOLEST blog ever. Check it out here

Forget -Me -Not Mondays!

What a beautiful summer day. Today I wrapped up my sesh  with Dan & Melissa. Can I just say they are the cuttest, most photogenic, most fun couple ever!  I swear I have THE best clients in the DC area... I love you all so much! We had to do our session in two parts because we got rained out. I hope to post a preview of the two-part session later this week- but until then here's just a little something to salt the oats!

Forget -Me -Not Mondays!

Happy 4th of July! Hope you're having a great one today, enjoying time with loved ones, and remembering all those who fought and sacrificed for our independence. I'm sneaking away for a minute to post my Forget -Me -Not  Monday for this week. Yesterday I shot a lovely engagement session that I will post in due time! I integrated these lovely wild sunflowers (not really sure what they are actually) and they always seem to brighten the shoot. It reminded me of this engagement sesh below that I did about a year ago. Hope it brings a smile to your not-back-to work (hopefully) Monday!  Michelle xoxoxo

Forget-Me-Not Mondays!

So the other day I was sorting through my archives looking for a specific wedding and I was brought back through a treasury of happy memories and beautiful photos from weddings and other jobs I've done over the past 5 or 6 years. I thought what a shame that these lovely images are not being shared with all my fellow photography lovers! So I decided to begin "Forget-Me- Not" Mondays in which I will share a shot from a past event and a little blurb about the picture and the event. So tune in every Monday for your weekly dose of Forget-Me- Not ... pictures that are just too sweet to be sitting in storage!

Oh... and thanks mom for the great title... when your mom had a career as a University English professor you know you can count on her to come up with something good!

So for this week's Forget-Me-Not picture a picture from the beloved Megan Wakes... errr.... Megan Wells. This was  SUCH  a fun wedding. When you go to a wedding for an art teacher.., you know you're in for a show! This was a fun wedding (1 or 2 years ago) and there are SO many pictures that I could share. This one in particular makes me laugh anytime I run across it. I love the look on the Groom's face and also the expression of his brother to the right. I love when I get a bridal party with lots of enthusiasm. Hope this shot brings a smile to your back-to-work Monday!