Madalyn and Thomas' Old Town Alexandria Engagement Session!

I love a couple with ideas.  When a couple knows exactly what they want out of their engagement session it makes my job so much easier!  And Madalyn and Thomas were just that couple who made my life (and their engagement session) so much better! I met Madalyn and Thomas down in Old Town for their engagement session, and got to meet their awesome dog Bentley as well!  For Madalyn and Thomas' initial photos they wanted to be in formal wear (with Thomas in his Army uniform).  They first wanted to create a scene where Madalyn is reading one of Thomas' letters he sent from overseas and then he walks up as if he just arrived back to the US.  I really dug the idea and I thought they did a great job of portraying that kind of incredible glee that occurs when you get to see someone you've missed for so long!  We then took a few photos of them walking around and hanging out with Bentley (who responded very well when I made monkey noises to get him to look at me!).  And, of course, we got some great shots with Thomas' dog tags and also ones he gifted to Madalyn.  I just loved the his and her tags that said "No Matter the Distance" and "No Matter How Far."  Swoon!

After the formal shots, Madalyn and Thomas changed into some casual wear and we kept walking around in Old Town!  We landed in a small park down there where I recently took some proposal shots, and we were able to do a ton of different looks with what they brought!  We used a blanket and pillow, bubbles, a parasol and chalkboards!  So awesome!  Madalyn and Thomas did a fantastic job just hanging out being so in love.  They really needed next to no direction, as they wanted their photos to have a very natural flow to them.  I was incredibly impressed with this couple, not only with their incredible modeling skills, but also with their relationship.  It's so amazing to see a couple so united, especially when they have been apart so much!  They're just awesome.  :)

Thanks so much for a wonderful shoot, Madalyn and Thomas!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Cole Turns Two - An Old Town, Alexandria Family Session!

One of the perks of being a wedding photographer is getting to meet so many great vendors along the way.  I first worked with Anne of Graceful Weddings two years ago (wow, I can't believe it's been two years!).  I've seen she and her sidekick, Anna, at events in 2010, and we just finished one in January of 2011 as well!  They're two of the nicest, most organized women in the industry, and I'm so glad I get to work with them! I knew both women had kids, and Anne recently contacted me to see if I could do portraits of their stinkin' adorable son, Cole!  Cole just turned two over the weekend (happy birthday, buddy!) so Anne and husband, Ben, decided they wanted to document Cole turning the big 2 and also get some family shots in!

We decided to meet on a warm day in Old Town, Alexandria, and just walk around to see what Cole liked.  It turns out that Cole really likes going up brick steps, hiding in wrought iron, going up to doors (of the blue variety) and knocking, and he likes running toward people!  He's a very social little guy, and it completely shows in the photographs.  We circled around some blocks in Old Town, but Cole knew the end result was going to be...ice cream!  As a little birthday celebration, we stopped in at Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream so Cole could eat some delicious strawberry ice cream.  I have to say, watching Cole eat was one of the most adorable things I've ever seen.  Anne and Ben had to help Cole with his giant bowl (he's only two, of course), and I think we got some really great shots of the three of them as well!

I asked Anne last night if she had any thoughts on Cole turning two, and this is what she said:  "Ben and I are so proud of the hilarious and sweet little boy he is becoming!  He was a month early (born on tax day and came home from the NICU on earth day) and he is still in a hurry all the time, to this day, always a step ahead of us.  :)  Oh yeah, and we triple puffy heart love Lisa Boggs!  :D"

So cute!  Thanks to Anne, Ben and Cole for such a fun day in Old Town!  Happy birthday, Cole!  :)

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Dan and Kristen's Old Town Alexandria Proposal

It was only a week ago that I was emailing back and forth with Dan to finalize photography for his proposal to Kristen last Saturday!  We met prior to the big day as well to find the ideal spot for him to pop the question to his girlfriend.  We decided on a small park in Old Town that was between where they normally park their car and then where they were supposed to go to dinner.  It is such a cute park located right by the water, and is actually pretty quiet for the most part in terms of people! Kristen was under the impression they were meeting another couple in Old Town to go to dinner, but Dan had actually planned for the proposal and then for just the two of them to have dinner at the site of their first date: The Chart House.  Dan and I texted back and forth to make sure we were both on track with the schedule and where we needed to be!  I, of course, looked like a super spy with my giant camera and zoom lens, tucked in behind a tree and some bushes.  The few people that actually came down and walked through the park were definitely thrown off by me!  Nevertheless, the timing worked out perfectly and I was able to capture the proposal from my hiding spot and also get some brief portraits in afterward before Dan and Kristen headed off to dinner.  And...if you hadn't guessed it...she said YES!

Many thanks to Dan for his hard work coordinating with me, and to Kristen for allowing a crazy gal like me to photograph their proposal.  You two were great!  It was a wonderful experience, and I hope I get to photograph more proposals in the future!  Enjoy the photos below!

This is next shot is one of my favorites.  I got it as the two were walking away to go to dinner.  It's one of those really special candid moments!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Weekend in Review - Love Is in the Air!

What a great weekend!  I had three beautiful portrait sessions that took me to very different places in the DC area, and they were all spectacular!  Dan and Kristen got engaged in Old Town Alexandria (and I photographed the proposal!); Katie, Jason and Blake explored the Cherry Blossoms in DC; and Katie and Jeff met with me for their engagement photos in Delaplane, VA!  Although exhausted after everything yesterday, I still couldn't wait to review the photos and pick my favorites from the weekend.  Enjoy the photos below and stay tuned for each groups own blog post!

Dan and Kristen just after the proposal:

Katie, Jason and Blake.  Blake's looking at the Cherry Blossom's for the first time!

Katie and Jeff at the gorgeous Three Fox Vineyards:

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa