First of all… a BIG thank you to LaTricia for filling in while I was in DC.  She stepped right up and covered some shoots that had to be done that weekend, and she did a FABULOUS job.

I am really looking forward to Lauren and Blake’s wedding in October and really did want to finally meet Blake… but he’s in the military, and as you know, murphy’s law struck and the one weekend he was able to get away, was the one weekend I was out of town.

Anyway, these two survived a HOT June summer morning and rocked this engagement session!

Click here to see all of the images from their session.  Password is 15080.

When Jen asked if I would like to go back to Washington DC to second shoot a wedding with her, I jumped on the opportunity!  First of all… it is so much fun to second shoot - and second of all, I love Washington DC!  And third of all, my sister lives there.  Fourth of all, OK, you get the point.  I was thrilled.  My sister is actually getting ready to move back to AZ after being in DC for 5 years.  I am thrilled to have her close and so glad I got the opportunity to visit one more time before she moves back here.  I have been to DC several times and done the normal tourist stuff… so this trip was going to be a little different.  It was Jen’s first time, so Anne and I definitely wanted her to have a taste of DC, but of course, with a local and two photographers, our trip was probably just a little different than your average tourist.

Don’t get me wrong… we saw the important sites:

This next shot is probably one of the best moments of the trip… We had spent the day walking around everywhere… Eastern Market, the Capitol, the Mall, all the Smithsonian’s, the Monuments, etc…  We finally got dinner about 9:30 at night.  By the time we are done, my sister decides she will just drop us off in front of a park in front of the White House.  She so kindly waits in the car as Jen and I walk through this dark park trying to find our way to the White House.  Seriously?  Isn’t this thing MASSIVE and guarded and pretty hard to miss?  Well, we end up finding it pretty much pitch black.  Oh yeah… it is 11:10pm right now, and apparently the lights go off at 11pm.  Hello!!!  All we want is a picture of the WHITE HOUSE!  You really don’t think we can go all the way to DC and not get this shot.  So there we are… rigging a makeshift tripod (because apparently a tripod on the White House sidewalk is a security hazard)… We are using whatever loose piece of clothing, jewelry, and pocket lint we could find to prop up the cameras on this fence.  So here we are… both of us practically laying on the ground trying to get everything lined up properly… when we see cockroaches start crawling all over the wall!  Yeah, you can picture it… 2 girls, late at night… dark.  We screamed.  And jumped.  And laughed.  But no, we weren’t the only ones.  Apparently we put on quite the show for the White House police guys that had nothing better to do but just laugh at us.  I’m so glad that we were there to break up the monotony of a very long night for them.

So, after enlisting their service and putting our tax dollars to GOOD use, we had them use their flashlights to keep a lookout for cockroaches as we got the cameras set up.  30 second exposure later, we got the shot we wanted… and a great story.  I highly recommend visiting the White House after 11pm.  There are NO crowds if you don’t count the army of cockroaches set to defend 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

And yes, this is a landmark to be visited… I think we spent more time here than any other site.  Ahhh, love.

This was pretty much what you saw traveling with us that weekend.  But for some reason, I really don’t think we stood out too much.

Jen and I were in love with the doors of Georgetown and DC.  One day, I would love a house with a red door, but I am also really liking that blue door on the red brick.  Oh, the colors of the East.  It is truly a photographer’s dream.  There wasn’t a spot I couldn’t use for portraits!  But hey… we have brown in AZ!  Why am I complaining?  I mean, we’ve got stucco!   AND gravel!  Oh the beauty!

US Botanical Gardens.  Free.  Free to walk in and have this lush green colorful background for your viewing and shooting pleasure.  No, not jealous.  I have cacti!  And we have color and flowers… we have lantana!

Eastern Market… mmmm… so many delicious rows of yummy fruits and veggies.  Lots and lots of handmade goodies and jewelry.

We had fun!

My gorgeous sister, Anne…. and me.

And of course, we had to stop and shoot some portraits.  The landscape photography is interesting, but really not quite my thing.  I don’t think I have the patience or skills to get the great, interesting, and different images.  I really do enjoy portraits… so Jen - thanks for being the model.  I know you are going to hate me for posting these, but you look great here!

And of course… what else do you do when you are on the Supreme Court steps?

Thanks Jen for inviting me… what a great trip! And a big thank you, Anne… for playing host and tour guide for us!  We really enjoyed visiting with you and taking advantage of your taxi service and time!