National Doughnut Day | Washington DC Wedding Photographer

Well dear friends, I am sure you are all recovering after a victorious National Doughnut Day.  I hope that wherever you are in the world you had a taste of this caloric delicacy.  I have been musing today over the best doughnuts America can offer.  I so wanted to include our friends in Europe with their own list but during my childhood the only doughnut I ever ate over the pond was at McDo's.  It was not very memorable.  What was memorable about McDonald's in Europe was that they sold McBeer, also the custom at the cinema and on my school bus (I was 10).  So Europe, today you can celebrate with your bordeaux de canneles, your kolaches, and your ability to appear instantly chic to Americans with one accent-infused sentence.


What makes for the perfect doughnut?  Like a good relationship a doughnut requires solid foundational ingredients, good timing, and the most important element - heat.  Heat is the difference between what you have been having and what you could have.  The first time I ate a hot fresh doughnut (not a counterfeit doughnut) was with my sister Jean at Krispy Kreme.  She told me I would not believe how good these doughnuts were hot off the belt.  I was skeptical to think I had ever missed out.  I could not understand why she had waited in line all night for this particular store to open or why she loved Felicity so much (Jean is not an artist, she was just a college girl full of angst).


We strolled into the store and I saw it.  This Edward Scissorhands-esque machine pressed, fried, and rolled the doughnuts merrily along a metal rack.  We shuffled along in line, my eyes refusing to escape the piercing stare of the eye-like donut holes.  A white clad worker (was this Heaven?) using only a wooden skewer gingerly speared and handed me a doughnut straight off the line.  I felt warmth through the thin tissue paper separating my hand from this sweet mystery.  I took a bite.  My teeth met, confused.  I hardly felt anything.  Where was the battle between the dry cakey thickness and my jaw?  There was no conflict.  I surrendered.


The heat had changed the structure of the doughnut.  What I had known to be a hard, but tasty treat had become supple, full of flavor, and complex.  A light glaze sweetened my lips.  Today as I savor this noble holiday I remember that awakening at Krispy Kreme.  


These images from Lindsay and Jeff's wedding brunch take me right back to that conveyor belt, longing to surrender once again.

Jessica + Candido's Wedding - Miami to Richmond, VA | Washington DC Wedding Photographer

You can imagine my shock as I was reviewing my portfolio and came to a halt with Jessica and Candido's southern destination wedding.  I had that feeling like something was missing; like when you wake up in a panic that you didn't really get to experience the 80's.  With some self-analysis I found deep within my soul that which was missing:  Jessica and Candido's wedding on my blog.  


Jessica and Candido have a very special place in my heart.  They are so warm and loving that you once you meet them you can't really remember a time when you didn't know them.  I love how tender Candido is with Jessica.  I love that one of the qualities Candido was drawn to in Jessica is the way she treats her son with special needs.  I cannot even picture the two of them being in a bad mood - ever.  Do you two even have such a thing?  They are so optimistic and positive to be around.  


When the love birds flew up from Florida for their engagement session, my heart was fluttering with excitement over their wedding.  They told me all about their guests and what their wedding would encompass.  Candido is a gifted graphic designer with a particularly regal vision for their wedding.  I was delighted to see it all unfold...

Jessica and Candido held their wedding and reception at the historic Mankin Manor in Richmond Virginia.

Just a few of the delightful guests in attendance.

Jessica you are devastatingly gorgeous.  Inside and out.  Es la verdad!

Why settle for a guestbook when you can have a guest scroll?  That is probably what Candido asked himself when he made a scroll over four feet long.  I can only imagine that their scroll read "You two are the most amazing individuals ever!" along with similar sentiments of that nature.

Candido probably spent months crafting all of the details by hand.  Jessica really found the manzanilla Dutch wishing tree to be charming.  Guests wrote their wishes on the wooden tags and hung them, adding a personalized touch to the decor. 

Jessica and Candido live in Miami, so they wanted to bring a little sip of Florida to their guests.  What could be more Floridian than avocado, star fruit, guava and mango wine?  The bartender certainly had his hands full!

I adore this image of Jessica and Candido with their best friends, having the most joyous celebration.  Every occasion in Jessica and Candido's presence is a celebration of love, joy and passion for life.  Jessica and Candido it was an honor to photograph your wedding!     

Best Doggone Dogs in the East

I promised myself I wouldn't do this - blog about my dog.  Well, I'm not.  Because now I have two DOGS.  So I'm blogging about my dogs!  A loop hole for certain, but I can't help myself.  I am thrilled to announce the addition of Gojira into the pack.  

Gojira, Japanese for Godzilla, was found freezing in a city mailbox.  He used to crawl his frail body onto cars to warm himself on the engines.  He grew up fast and hard on the unforgiving streets.  Christopher to the rescue!  My husband drove all the way to North Carolina to adopt him from a terrifying Pet Smart.  Christopher told me that there was a troupe of pit bull puppies "playing" by trying to rip out one another's throats.  


Gojira is pure gentleman, and exudes a quiet dignity.  I love knowing that he has maxed out at 27 pounds.  He will always be my baby.  Burglekutt on the other hand will also always be my baby, but at 90 pounds he's tipping the fragile scale of babyhood!  Cradling him isn't as easy as when he was a lightweight of 30 pounds.    


Watching Gojira and Burglekutt meet for the first time was precious.  At first there was this little dance they did; sniffing and pecking at each other's faces.  Then it was pure showdown.  Burglekutt vs Gojira.  With the advantage of weight in Burglekutt's corner and speed as Gojira's ally, the two did nothing but wrestle and talk trash for their first 24 hours together.  What a match!  We saw a whole other side to our darling Burglekutt.  He started using language we had never heard before, and began acting out.  Like this perfectly-timed photo bomb...

  

Burglekutt has no problem being the center of attention.  In fact, he prefers it.  He loves to be in front of my camera.  He loves to be directed and understands the artistic process.  Gojira is still working out his insecurity with the mis-colored taupe eyebrow over his left eye.  It gives him a strangely human quality.  Almost like he is second-guessing us, or mainly Burglekutt.  

How can you not love this face?  Aside from my Father and deceased Grandmother who I am sure is shaking her head disapprovingly at this post, Burglekutt melts the hearts of everyone he lays eyes on.  He brings out the best in everyone.  He is not an elitist.  He loves and accepts all.  It has been such a sweet experience to see a different side of people we know.  It's like a special compartment opens up in them when they interact with this boy.  Dogs reach a part of our vulnerable little hearts that few things can.  Dogs will always love you.  Dogs will always be happy to see you!  People go crazy over him at Pet Smart.  I feel like Angelina Jolie, or rather Angelina Jolie's assistant when I take him in for gentleman school.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend and Memorial Day.  If you catch yourself feeling a little down, you can always stop by and gaze into Burglekutt's sweet eyes; and remember that Burglekutt loves you!         

Shabby Apple Designer Shoot | Washington DC Wedding Photographer

When Project Runway knocks, you answer.  Unless of course you are Sarah.  After the past two seasons of Project Runway Sarah has been plagued with calls from producers begging her to be on the show.  So why on earth would she say no?  When you have a skill set as valuable as Sarah's, it's pretty hard to replace yourself for two months.  Never mind that Sarah already has a pretty fabulous job as a designer with the powerhouse online women's apparel shop Shabby Apple.  


I shot Sarah wearing her very own latest profusion of designs.  As one who likes to be cute and covered I wanted to buy it all.  Especially one of her patterned dresses, but alas it sold out and was a limited run.  My wardrobe is still recovering.  As for Sarah's muscle man?  You may recognize Josh from their newlywed shoot.  

Sarah and Josh are a mega-talented couple.  Josh is not only a trained fighter, but an artist as well!  He always keeps this notebook on him for sketching.  I joked with Josh that he could combine his gifts and psyche his opponents out by drawing ugly pictures of them.  I think he'll just stick to beating them up.

I love the patterns Sarah selects.  I would wear all of this!