The Cherry Blossoms may have come and gone, but the fresh, bright and bubbly joy of between Kimberly and Cory I’m thinking is going to be around for quite some time. Their sweet and loving spirit wasn’t dashed one bit despite the freezing temperatures at sunrise as we shot around the Tidal Basin. They were just so delightful. Genuine cheerfulness is a real blessing to behold. May that always be their strength in marriage!
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I just love maternity sessions. It’s just so amazing to watch the development from belly to baby and seeing the couple’s focus noticeably shift to their child, especially when it’s their firstborn.
For anyone who knows Kat and Thad, there’s no need to explain just how wanted their little baby boy is. Baby figgy, as he was affectionately called while he was still in utero and the size of a fig, I’m predicting will be quite the thinker. I just loved his expressions, even at only 12 days old! (See the last image and tell me what you think.)
Many blessings for a long and happy life, little Xavier! Well done mom and dad!
awww! Congratulations to Kat and Thad! Precious, beautiful pictures that tell a precious, beautiful story! sweet. Good work, Renata!
Amazing, REN!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Julia! And so glad you love them Dr. Kat! 🙂
Not a whole lot about February 19 was ordinary. The day Julia and Michael tied the knot, DC was experiencing severe (and I really mean severe) winds, that had enough force to completely knock over the National Christmas Tree on the White House Ellipse!
Needless to say, the pre-wedding photos outside were scratched for mercy’s sake on all involved. Luckily for us, St Joseph’s was free before the wedding for some portraits. And what a gorgeous church! We all could have been forgiven for thinking we were in heaven looking up at that intense blue ceiling and rainbow of colors streaming in through the stained glass windows. Just love that gothic style!
Julia got ready, very conveniently, next door at Madonna House. She wore a stunning, re-tailored vintage 1960’s wedding gown worn by her mother. It was quite a moving sight to see her mother button her up. The charm of that dress and how it elegantly flowed on the dance floor was simply delightful. The phrase, “they just don’t make them like that any more” truly applies here.
Forgot to count in the end how many priests there were dotted all around the altar. Perhaps I was a bit distracted by the presence of the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wuerl. I mean, how many couples have a cardinal at their wedding? Not to mention that he personally delivered an Apostolic Blessing on their marriage along with rosaries blessed by the Pope. Not too shabby!
When the very reverent and beautiful afternoon Nuptial Mass was over, the couple drove off in their unmistakable “big yellow truck” for a few quick photos on the grounds of the Franciscan Monastery before the reception. The sun was setting for the night, and while the light was pretty, the wind chill was not. But it was a perfect time for the bride to put on yet another vintage piece, her maternal grandmother’s wool cape. She looked beautiful. With Michael in his topcoat, dancing with and dipping his bride, you could easily think this couple stepped out of an era long gone by.
A true “band of friends” played great tunes after dinner that everyone could swing to. Julia and Michael had their guests in awe of their super classy dancing and spinning, complete with a charming curtsy by the bride after each dance to her beloved new husband.
And all those pennies…? Well of course there’s a story there too. Julia collects pennies, you could say, religiously. While dating, Michael would find himself dropping pennies just so she could find them and make her day. [How sweet is that?!] Pennies were also part of a path that led to a ring, and a question, followed by a big, Yes! So it was only fitting to share the experience of finding pennies scattered all over the guest’s tables at the reception. It was a lovely way to share in the spirit of finding the small blessings that add up in everyday life.
This was certainly an extra ordinary wedding day, for a delightfully down to earth couple.
Cheers to the newlyweds!
Beautiful pics, Renata! You really captured their day. Wish you had been in business nine years ago when we were married 🙂 And yes, the dress is gorgeous.
Thanks, Zoe! You know, one of these days, when hopefully we both get some spare time again, I can go through your photos and see what we can do.
Beautiful, Renata. And congratulations to the wonderful couple.
Lovely! What a joyous event!
Great job Renata. Nice to be a part of such a nice day with so many friends!
Thanks, everyone! And great to see you there Bob!
Yay, Renata!! You outdid yourself AGAIN!! How do you do it?! I love the way you captured our day in these photos! It was truly a blessed event – you were a huge part of that. 🙂 THANK YOU!
Thank you, Julia! So glad you are enjoying the images! It was and honor to photograph and share your day with you! Blessings for a long and happy life together!
Wonderful!! Congrats to Julia and Michael on your new adventure! Terrfic wedding. Loads of fun.
These photos are beautiful, Renata! They capture the joy and beauty of an amazing couple and the sacred and special events of the day!
Thank you, Nina! Really looking forward to your wedding now!
Renata,
The pictures are beautiful!! Often pictures can be deceiving to how it “really was” at an event, but I must say having been there, the pictures are to the “T” of how the day was…simply elegant! Thank you for making my dear friend’s day so wonderful and capturing it all! It was a pleasure meeting you and working with you as well 🙂 God Bless!
Thank you Misty, your evaluation means a lot! I try really hard to beautifully capture the day as it “really was.” So great meeting you too! And thank you for using the gift registry!
Renata, your work is exquisite! I am so very grateful that my beautiful daughter-in-law, Julia, and Michael know you and that you were able to be their wedding photographer. It was a most charming and wonderful day. I hope you enjoyed it too!
Thank you so much, Antoinette! I *loved* the wedding! And it was so wonderful to meet you after working on the stamps!
One of my favorite places to visit is Mount Vernon. I tend to love historical things anyway and the home and gardens of George Washington have always been intriguing to me.
On a recent trip during the 12 days of Christmas, which is still celebrated there from Dec 25th to Epiphany, (because once upon a time we all knew when Christmas was, and thankfully they like to be historically accurate), I decided to photograph the property with a vintage feel.
Part of me would still love to live in the Little House on the Prairie days, (with indoor plumbing and central heating/cooling of course). When I was little, I use to have a long prairie skirt that my mother made me and that I loved to wear, imaging myself living in a cabin surrounded by lots of fields that I could explore and play in.
So here are my images of Mount Vernon in winter. Hope they transport you too back in time. I highly recommend a visit there if you’ve never been. Enjoy!
Lovely pictures, Renata! They capture the place in winter time.
Was that a camel up there?
Thanks, Zoe! And yes, Pete, George liked camels and other exotic animals. Records show that at some point he brought a camel to his estate. These days they bring out a camel during Christmas time. They also had this year the turkey that the president pardoned.
What an eye for beauty! Praise the Lord.
I’ve participated in the March for Life every year since I moved to the area in 1997. It always inspires me seeing the diversity of people from all over the country and of all ages. I always leave thinking, “Wow, that was a lot bigger than last year!”
The pro life movement is definitely young and gaining momentum. It seems logical that eventually there will be more pro-lifers since pro-choicers aren’t that keen on reproducing, hence their fixation on the legal system making it very hard for women to keep their babies, by preventing crisis pregnancy centers and adoption agencies from being able to function fully. After all, the abortion industry is a huge money maker, and crisis pregnancy centers are completely free. With no shortage of couples wanting to adopt, I just don’t get it. I was shocked to hear recently that 41% of pregnancies in New York end in abortion. Even if you buy into the argument, what happened to the “rare” part of the safe and legal mantra?
In any case, before I get really sad and discouraged here, I wanted to share the signs of hope that flood DC every year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, even if the media continues to ignore or misrepresent our numbers.
Visit my gallery to see for yourself this year’s images from March for Life including the Vigil Mass at the Shrine.
Thank you to all the marchers!
As always, Renata, you’ve managed to capture and convey the spirit of the event in your beautiful pictures. I can’t wait to see the photos from March for Life 2012!
Renata , I hope you were at the March for Life 2012 . I want ed to send pictures to friends as there is always no mention in the news so I ended up using your pictures from 2011 . thank you so very much for your beautiful pictures and your commentary.
Beautiful shots, Renata! I’ve seen several engagement photo shoots recently that tried for this kind of quality, but…uh, fell short. 😉 You really did a lovely job. And congrats to the couple!
Thanks a lot, Margaret! Doing this at the cherry blossoms in DC definitely has it’s extra challenges with timing, getting the pretty light, blossoms at their pinkest and most delicate stage, and *no* people! It can either look like you are in your own personal fairly tale land or a zoo! The on top of that, having such a particularly cute and affectionate couple and that’s willing to brave sub zero temps, makes it magical! At the risk of sounding cheesy even (maybe not to Cory though), Kim’s smile was the warm sunshine that got us all through the cold. It was so fun to photograph them in such an iconic place!
Renata, these are absolutely STUNNING! Your creativity and artistic talent is a real gift and we are blessed to work with you. Thank you for your kind words. You are so beautiful.
Thank you, Kim! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!! You both are so precious!
Renata, your eye and talent for capturing the spirit of your subjects and the beauty of their surrounding never ceases to amaze me – it is magic what you do!
Wow, thanks Christina! I’m so humbled by that! Thank you for sharing it. I’m just so happy that what I love to do can also be a gift to people.