caitlin elizabeth photography | surry, virginia portrait photographer

when i first went to will's house i was AMAZED by how many pictures there were of him on the walls/furniture.  

from toddler to high school senior, his childhood was WELL documented. 

but after those quintessential senior portraits (you know the ones i'm talking about: bad haircut, even worse blue background with those grey streak looking things, fake tux...) there weren't any more photos - well, except the one of will and his dad with the deer will shot last fall (15 pointer - GET SOME) but that one doesn't count because it's little.

so on our way home from williamsburg (my weekend was full of mini sessions for william and mary's class of 2012) 

while driving through surry, va i yelled for him to pull over - 

and to go stand in a field so i could snag a few portraits of him.

he's a keeper ;)

don't tell his mama, but i ordered this black and white one in a canvas for her for mother's day ;)

now, i might be slightly biased, but i think he's so good lookin'!

will: caitlin! i'm gonna have ticks all over me!

me: stop complaining - children are easier to photograph than you!

;)

the warthans | family farm photographer

i was in a funk.  i found myself constantly looking at other photographer's work and thinking 'i can take pictures like that - why are THEY so busy and why am i just sitting on my butt?!'  but before i could feel sorry  for myself too long mama reminded me that i had two options: hush up or do something about it.

so i emailed jennifer of warthan farms photography.

the subject line: photo-staking, inspiration-seeking, small-business-owner-newbie (aka caitlin)

i was craving someone to talk with who knew what f-stops were and jennifer's work was awe-inspiring.  my email gushed about how much i loved her images and that i just wanted to meet her - whether that meant carrying her bags or doing her dishes, i craved the physical presence of someone whose photography i admired and whose lips i could lend an ear.

i showed up to her house with a mason jar of flowers and bread-and-butter pickles. a naked MK opened the door and her husband offered me a beer. 

i was smitten.

i can't thank jennifer enough for taking me under her wing that day; showing me photoshop tricks and assuring me that what i felt about photography/life/business was completely normal.  

but that night, in her farmhouse office, i fell in love. 

her family is like none other - they're real. they're inspiring. 

as i was driving down their dirt driveway, tail lights shining on the well-used tricycle in the front yard, i called will to say: i just want to be friends with her in real life.

and friends we are :) i had the HONOR of photographing jennifer and her beautiful family this weekend. 

i am IN LOVE with their love.  and their lives.  and their babies. so getting to photograph them was like a dream come true. 

welcome to the farm :)

meet jennifer and keith - aren't they precious?!

 we had a coca-cola and hershey's kisses picnic :)

sweet avery ruth - i just love this little cutie pie :)

this one might be my favorite as far as light goes :) and i love how a.r. is looking right at me - and the expression on shelby's face!

maggie is smiling!!!!

 LOVE:

daddy and avery ruth time:

i have a thing for gingers.

these folks are the real deal ya'll: 

i WISH i could remember the witty retort keith had when jennifer suggested they get in the kissing booth - he's funny ya'll!

again: inLOVE with their love

 have to get some with the big red barn!

maggie's glasses were so stylish!!

thanks for stoppin by ya'll - show them some love on their facebook photos

hebba | georgetown portrait photographer | washington dc lifestyle photographer

meet hebba.

she's a 20-something young professional trying to make it in the hustle and bustle of DC while retaining her own sense of style and personality - and she's doing just fine ;)  i've known her for two years now (known is really an understatement - we're best friends... the 'finish each other's sentences just giver her a look and she instinctively understands what i'm thinking' best friends)

she took me to the sidestreets of georgetown for her portrait session - knowing that i'm a country girl through and through, she thought the picturesque buildings with their grandeur and charm would melt my heart (even in the big city) and that they did.  

in case you were wondering: NO, she did not walk everywhere in those heels - she oh-so-wisely brought a more sensible pair of boots for hiking up and down the stone sidewalks of the city.  

there are WAY too many pictures for ONE portrait session blogpost, but know that I had to choose from over 300!  

head shot anyone?

oh how i WISH i could turn it on like this girl:

YES:

right about... NOW this frat-tastic looking BRO with a backwards baseball hat and sweatpants gets out of his car and asks:

'are you gonna put that on instagram?'

hebba's response:

back to business

mini outfit/hairstyle change/makeup re-do!  

warning: there are quite a few pictures on this staircase... we just couldn't get enough!  thank you whoever lives here! *i know you were home, i heard you sneeze when i was leaning against your door trying to get the angle i wanted ;)

fun fact: this jacket was only $13.99 at forever 21 - so much win.

so many cute details! from her headband to her bow-tied earrings <3 

thanks for stopping by ya'll - come back any time!