It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since sweet little James made his way into the world (about a month early, just like his older siblings had). It’s been such a privilege to watch this little guy grow. He is the youngest of five siblings in the Largen family, and from the time I did his newborn photos, after he arrived home from the NICU last year, I could tell he was adored.
This family holds an extra special place in my heart. I met Kandace at a mom’s night for moms of children who went to Budding Voices for speech therapy and other therapies. I felt an instant connection with Kandace and have been incredibly grateful that our friendship has continued to grow. Last year, I had the honor and privilege to both witness and document the birth of her second sweet little boy, Amos Lee. I was so happy when she asked to have her family photos documented again this October.
Bella and Natalie have grown so much, it was almost like looking at two completely different girls! But they clearly remembered me, as they shouted “Miss Brittany! Miss Brittany!” multiple times throughout our time together. In fact, Lizz told me that the first thing one of the girls said that morning, as they were rolling around in the bed, was “Do we get to see Miss Brittany today?”
That cool fall weather set in quickly here in Maryland, but no one was complaining on a sunny Sunday with a cool breeze as James William Largen was baptized by the Reverend Dr. Peter M. Antoci, at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Parish in Prince George’s County.
When Jennifer told me she wanted to do family photos on the beach during their stay in Bethany Beach, Delaware this June, I was ecstatic. She’s family, so I was already looking forward to spending some time at the beach with her and watching my boys play with their cousins, but being asked to capture her family photos on the beach was the icing on the cake. Beach photos at sunset, of this fun family of seven plus some grandparents, uncles and their cousins (my boys) thrown into a few was a fun adventure that we spread out over two evenings . . .
It’s been a minute . . . or a lot of minutes, maybe a few months even. 2020 has been a whirlwind, and COVID-19 delayed a few sessions and planned events for me. I’ve really missed being behind the camera to document other families. I don’t even know if I realized how much I missed it until I was documenting a sweet family again. (In case you missed it, Cole’s cake smash was my first session back!)
Father’s Day 2020 is just around the corner. This year has certainly put a strain on small and local businesses, and there are lots of ways to celebrate Dad and keep your dollars local. While people are starting to wander out into the world (hopefully cautiously), many businesses and entrepreneurs will be feeling the effects of the COVID19 pandemic for a long time. Who we buy from now will decide who’s standing later. When we are considering our gifts for those special dads in our lives, let’s think about the small businesses from Annapolis to Baltimore (and the surrounding cities) that we want to see stick around for years to come.
Victory of the People. The name Cole means Victory of the People, of a triumphant people. I cannot help but think how appropriate it is that Cole’s cake smash was the first session I was able to do after the majority of the world spent a few months staying “safe at home,” trying to shelter ourselves and our families from a global pandemic.
Mother’s Day 2020 is fast approaching. With COVID-19 remaining a threat and current social distancing guidelines in place, it’s not possible for most of us to browse our local stores for that perfect Mother’s Day gift. Most of us are already accustomed to shopping online, so it doesn’t mean that finding an amazing Mother’s Day gift isn’t possible. But shopping local and shopping small have become even more important, given how many small businesses have needed to close their doors (if they own a storefront) or had to stop offering their services if they weren’t an essential business. There are still plenty of ways to shop Mother’s Day gifts and support your local Annapolis, Maryland businesses and fellow families.
Photography is a luxury service that many moms would love to have more of. More than once I’ve been told, let me have your business card so I can drop a hint to my husband for a Mother’s Day gift. Many photographers have had to reschedule sessions for now. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get the perfect Mother’s Day gift and support your family photographer . . .
We are safe at home and the front porch pictures have become quite the trend for many reasons. Our houses are the center of our lives and our families, and now so more than ever.
I cannot believe it’s been a year since I drove to the hospital to capture Fresh 48 photos of Penelope and her family. It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time. I am so thrilled that her mama, Cate, booked a multi-session package before she was even born because it has given me much to look forward to over the past year, culminating in a cake smash celebration . . .
When Kandace first asked if I did birth photography, my answer was that I hadn’t but that I was definitely interested in doing it. That was probably almost a year ago.
Fast forward to this summer, Kandace and her first sweet boy, Owen, took a walk to my house (we are very fortunate to live in the same neighborhood), to hang out and enjoy the summer sun, and Kandace surprised me with the news that she was pregnant!
I love having friends that are looking out for me and my small business. I feel incredibly blessed when a stranger posts that they are searching for a photographer, and one of my friends steps in and suggests me. That’s what happened when Katy, who runs Macaroni Kid Pasadena, posted that she was in need of a photographer. My kind friend Tiffany, another small business owner (Budding Voices), recommended me . . .
Jennifer and Jeremy welcomed James William earthside on at 6:38am on November 4th, 2018. His name holds so much meaning, named after two of his grandfathers who passed away within days of each other earlier this year. Family is so important to Jennifer and Jeremy, that James William was exactly the blessing they needed to honor their loved ones and hold them a little closer to their hearts . . .
Kandace has to be one of the sweetest women I know and I feel so blessed to have met her a little over a year ago at a mom’s night out. When we made some time to hang out this summer, I was absolutely delighted when Kandace told me that she was pregnant with her second. And then I was more than honored and elated when she asked if I would consider doing her birth photography . . .
I first heard from Dani in the spring, after she was the highest bidder on the package that I donated as a silent auction item for the Greater Severna Park Mom’s Club annual gala to benefit Sarah’s House. Sarah’s House, established in 1987 through a partnership between Anne Arundel County, Catholic Charities and the U.S. Army, provides shelters, meals and other assistance to families in need in Anne Arundel County. Dani contacted me soon after winning the package, and I was very excited for her as she was about to welcome her third baby girl into their family this past June. She was excited to do fall family photos with her growing family, so we exchanged some messages and had a few phone calls, finally settling on doing a family session in October at Kinder Farm Park in Millersville, Maryland . . .
A year goes by so fast. It feels as if it was just yesterday that Amanda and I were talking about doing Adelyn’s newborn photos. And here we are a year later and Miss Adventure, Miss Personality, the Pilkerton Wild One is smashing her cake and wrapping up her first trip around the sun.
A welcoming into the church community. A cleansing of the soul of original sin. A choice that her parents are making for her for the benefit of her spiritual wellness. On Sunday, September 22nd, 2109, Penelope Jane was baptized and welcomed into the community at St. Mary’s Parish in Annapolis, Maryland.
Mike, Emily and Sam are an outdoor family. They will spend most fall weekends, plus a week long vacation, in their camper at various state parks and campsites. Emily’s dream job would be planning hikes and outdoor adventures for others, and the whole family longs to live somewhere they can be surrounded by more open sky, more green and air so clear that you can see all the stars at night.
