Telling stories of love, life, and relationships around the globe.
Here is the link to today’s article so everyone can read it – so exciting! They did, however, forget to include that I travel throughout MD, DC, VA, and beyond!
Here it is: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=79359
I have fantastic news! The Frederick News Post is writing an article about Hough Photography in the ‘Slice of Life’ category and it will be printed this Thursday! The reporter came out to our house yesterday to interview me about moving back to Middletown after growing up here, our house renovations, and the Grand Opening of the studio on September 27th (there’s a plug — so BE THERE!). I will post a link to the article this Thursday so be on the lookout and let me know what you think! Yay for Hough Photography – the Middletown location - coming alive! It’s a dream come true! 
Me at work … taken by my wonderful and talented husband, Jason!
Tonight, I was fortunate enough to take part in a wonderful evening with the Givre family in Baltimore, Maryland. I met them at their house for some family portraits followed by Melech’s Bar Mitzvah at the Jewish Community Center. Sheva, Melech’s mom, had thought through everything – the set up was gorgeous and the ambiance was perfect. I feel honored to have been part of such a momentous occasion.
Yesterday afternoon, I met up with Jessica and Greg at Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia for their engagement session. What a fun shoot! We started out at a fountain near the hotel then continued on down the street to find interesting nooks along the way. Jessica and Greg will be getting married at Hotel Monaco next summer and I can’t wait! They are a couple that are so excited about life and their love, that their emotions are easily picked up by the camera – it makes my job easy!
Look at her beautiful engagement ring!
Right before this, I checked Jessica’s heels to see if they looked sturdy enough to withstand a jump on uneven ground… thank goodness they were good ones!
What a gentleman
I asked Greg to lean over to kiss Jessica and told him that it was the guy’s job to always do the work and Jessica said “that represents our entire relationship!” haha
Can’t wait for the wedding!!!
I spent today with Karen and Aaron at Ski Liberty in Farfield, Pennsylvania (only about 40 minutes from our new house in Maryland and I found out tubing there only costs $15 for the rental and a 2 hour block of time – you know what I’ll be doing this winter!!).
Anyway, it was one of those days that had it’s share of weather ups and downs. We shot some group photos outside before the ceremony and just as we were finishing, along came the rain! The ceremony had been planned for outside so we went on a rain delay then finally moved the ceremony to inside. My favorite part was the loud grumbling of thunder as soon as Karen and Aaron exchanged rings – nature’s approval!
And just in time, the sun came out full force following the ceremony so the entire wedding group filed out to the deck and watched Karen and Aaron released butterflies into the world.
Congratulations, Karen and Aaron! Have a safe trip home the next two days!
The cake – made by my friend, Amanda, owner of The Artful Cake LLC!
Pending rain storm…
The kids!
Warming up a butterfly so it could fly…
Illuminating the summer sky
Wow! What an event! Jason and I were lucky enough to share in Niki and Phill’s wedding today in Northern Virginia. I believe I first met this couple at Niki’s mom’s retirement party in the spring of 2007. Merrie Kay and I taught together down in Prince William County. I remember from the first time Merrie Kay and I really talked about Niki and Phill, she was telling me they had a theory that since he had just bought her diamond earrings or a necklace, maybe he was working his way down to her finger. Right then, I could tell that if Niki and Phill got engaged, it was exactly what Merrie Kay was hoping for!
This past fall, I met up with Niki and Phill for their engagement pictures at Mary Washington’s campus in Fredericksburg. We had a great afternoon, looking around campus, and even discovering one lonely Mary Washington COLLEGE sign that had somehow made it through the transition from college to university. A proud moment – only understood by a Mary Wash grad.
Niki and Phill’s love for each other is special – there’s no doubt about that. Both were filled with jitters of excitement early in the day but along with the jitters, I felt a sense of calm from both of them – showing me and everyone around the love this day had to bring.
The pre-wedding festivities, ceremony, and reception were all memorable. The family and friends of the couple are pillars of support and love for Niki and Phill as they begin this new chapter in their lives. It was a night that will never be forgotten and will always bring memories back – often with a laugh, sometimes even with a tear.
Congratulations Niki and Phill – ENJOY HAWAII!!
“Pain for beauty” … but everyone survived!
He’s GQ and he knows it…
What a beautiful bride!
So in love…
Wiping away a tear … Niki’s parents said they weren’t giving her away so much as agreeing to share her.
The proud family!
Where did summer go? It always seems that my absolute favorite time of the year goes by so quickly, I sometimes wish I could just sit outside bored so time will go slower but I guess that defeats the purpose!
That said, I am so excited about what we’ve accomplished this summer! I’ve met with lots of incredible people through my business and taken part in so many wonderful days full of love, each of them enriching my own life. I’ve designed my future studio and while it’s still in the vision stage, it’s slowly becoming a reality that I know will be life-changing!
Since the move, we’ve redone one bedroom, taken down wallpaper in three huge rooms, had a contractor come out to slate us for upping the number of windows on the east side of our house, and begun plaster work on the walls. While I’m sitting here, I’m looking around at bare walls complete with the cracks and repairs of an old house but somehow it seems like a blank canvas, full of possibilities! I have been taking pictures of the transformation but WILL NOT post destruction pictures … until I have reconstruction pictures to go along with it.
Next week, I officially start my new part time job at Lucy School - a visual arts, kinesthetic school for kids ranging from 3 years old – 8 years old in Middletown, Maryland. I am so excited to be a part of this school! I will be teaching a couple of days a week and spending a couple afternoons a week piloting a year long program for Lucy School graduates (3rd and 4th graders). Check back for details and pictures as I begin training!
Jason has been hard at work on the house but in his spare time, has been becoming a brewmaster and brewing different kinds of beer (I’m especially excited about one he made just for me – a blueberry wheat). We’re hosting a chili cook-off at our new house Labor Day weekend so we’re combining it with a beer tasting of all of Jason’s and my dad’s recent brews. Should be a fun!
One of Jason’s bottles…
I have a wedding double-header this weekend so be sure to check back for the stories! They are both going to be incredible days! Can’t wait!
On Monday, I picked up my nephew and took him down to South Mountain Creamery to see the cows, chickens, and John Deere equipment (his favorite). South Mountain Creamery is about 4 miles down the road from our house so it was fun to just drive down and spend an hour. They even still deliver milk in glass jugs door to door – fresh from the farm!
We had a great time and Elijah succeeded in chasing every chicken under one truck!
Telling the calf to “GET UP!”
Deciding which chicken to chase first…
His John Deere game face.
On Saturday, I met up with Jackie and Damon to photograph their wedding in Northern Virginia at Fort Belvoir. As soon as I got there, I could tell the excitement was high because all the girls were running around doing last minute touches. Jackie and Damon were supported by a great group of siblings, cousins, and friends that made up their wedding party – it was fantastic to watch such strong emotions throughout the ceremony.
Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Officer’s Club on base and the staff making the transformation from ceremony site to beautifully decorated reception ballroom was amazing! It was a beautiful afternoon and a great evening. Here are some of my favorite shots:
Cutest baby ever – wide awake with Mommy…
…and fast asleep with Daddy!
The whole group post-reception.
This morning I drove down to Filene’s to participate in the annual Running of the Brides. For years, I’ve heard stories about it so I had to see it first hand. INSANITY but so much fun! All the girls there had well planned out team outfits, posters, size signs, clipped dress images, etc. It was awesome to see so many excited women (and men – I talked to one “Father of the Bride” who said, “I was only invited because I have the money…”).
Here are some pics I took -
