Looking Ahead: 2016.

Along with my regular family, child, and senior portrait sessions, here are a few special sessions I'll be offering on a limited basis this spring:

* SNOWY senior portrait sessions - if you are interested, contact me ASAP because this would be based on having some snowy weekends in January or February. (Or March? It could happen.)

* Maternity! I have two early 2016 maternity sessions available for February-April. If you're expecting during that time, give me a call.

* Finally, it's been too long since I've done an adoption homecoming. If you know someone in Northern VA who is bringing home their baby via adoption in early 2016, contact me.

Taken for a friend's adoption and originally posted on my personal blog.

October is Important.

As many of you know, I have a four year old daughter with Down syndrome.  In honor of October's Down Syndrome Awareness Month, enjoy these images of some beauties with Down syndrome.  These images are my daughter and three of her best friends.  If you or anyone in your family has special needs that require accommodations for your photo session, just let me know.  In my non-photography time, I'm also a special education teacher.

Commercial shot with Ellie, Charlie, and Lu.

From my personal files - baby Audrey.

Ellie in Puerto Rico 2014 from my personal blog.

Welcoming Lu home with big sister.

A birthday celebration.

This girl has come so far.

About half of kids born with Down syndrome also have heart defects. This is from a heart defect awareness post.

Changing the Face of Beauty: Crazy Kukla Boutique

Have you heard of Changing the Face of Beauty?

Their goal is inclusive advertising, or encouraging companies to use models who reflect the real world, including people with disabilities.

The Crazy Kukla Boutique is one of the participating companies, committed to using differently-abled models.

It was my pleasure to provide a photo shoot for The Crazy Kukla.  Our three models, all with disabilities were hot and tired but they were troopers.

Full disclosure: One of the models is my four year old.  Ellie has Down syndrome and was also born with a heart defect, and is wearing a beautiful dress that shows off her zipper!  She was also the model who followed directions the least.

The other two models are two of Ellie's best friends.  Their parents started their family by adopting Charlotte and Louisa, both of whom have Down syndrome.  I've had the joy of photographing their first two adoptions and I cannot wait to photograph their next homecoming.  You can read more of their story here.

Three more sessions available before Fall, and booking for October 26 and beyond at the current rates for a few more weeks.  Prices go up if you book after Labor Day, so plan now for holiday cards, senior photos, fall leaves.... and baby bumps!  Limited maternity sessions coming in October!

Changed Lives.

These are two of my favorite girls.

Charlotte and Louisa are sisters.  They were both adopted from Eastern Europe and they both have Down syndrome.  They are also two of Ellie's best friends.

It's been my pleasure to photograph two adoption homecomings so far, and to watch these girls grow with the love of a mama and papa.

Sweet Lu (pictured above) has some big changes soon, though!  Her parents are adding TWO more little girls to the family.

You can learn more about their third adoption journey here.

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you for letting me capture your moments with your kids!

Happy Mother's Day to the mamas out there, including some of these mamas who let me use their kids to build my portfolio.

Home with her mama - adoption announcement photo.

9 months and adorable.

Mama and little sister.

ONE!

And one of my favorite photos I've ever taken.... it's grainy.  The quality isn't what I could produce now.  But big sister united with little sister after mama gets home, completing their adoption.... priceless.