Melissa Manzione Photography

2011 Christmas Decor!

2012-01-05T21:54:00.000-05:00

As promised... here's a glimps at our 2011 holiday decor! My favorite piece of decor? Our dining room chair sashes and matching center piece... one of the rooms I somehow forgot to take photos of! Oh well... maybe next year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:34:00.000-05:00

We are celebrating one of our favorite holidays with family and friends today, but I wanted to take a minute to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. At Christmas, I always seem to take time to reflect on our year and all of the great things we've been able to do these past 12 months. We've been more than blessed and we're so excited to see what the next year has in store for us!

Washington, DC Engagement Photographer - Andy and Chrissy : Engagement!

2011-12-23T07:49:00.000-05:00

I had a great time spending my Sunday afternoon with Andy and Chrissy a few weeks ago. We frolicked around DC hitting all of their favorite spots... and a few of my favorite spots! We started in Georgetown, headed to the Lincoln Memorial and finished our afternoon at the Capitol Building.

Andy and Chrissy are pretty much as cute as it gets. This shot was the FOURTH shot out of the camera... talk about naturals!

Congrats Andy and Chrissy!

Old Town, Alexandria Engagement Photographer - Matt and Katie : Engagement

2011-12-21T07:54:00.001-05:00

Matt and I have known each other our whole lives. He is one of my big brother's best friends and has been since we were kids... making him more of a brother to me than a friend. When I first met Katie I knew they had something special. Once they had dated for some time, I knew that Matt had found the one. The simple fact that she could put up with him was a miracle (that brotherly love I have for Matt comes with a little bit of brotherly teasing too).

Matt and Katie's wedding will be one of 4 weddings I get to actually attend next year! As much as I love my job, I'm beyond excited to be a guest and not stress about getting the perfect first dance shot, posing family and hoping I don't trip in the middle of the dance floor (although that is always a stress of mine - guest or vendor) :).

Below are a few of my favorites from our jaunt around Old Town!

Salisbury, Maryland Engagement Photographer - Alex and Megan : Engagement

2011-12-19T08:07:00.003-05:00

Alex and Meg have such a wonderful story. You may remember when I photographed Alex proposing to Meg last December. It was a FREEZING cold day... and I of course got emotional and had frozen tears struggling to stream down my face. Alex and I have known each other since we were little. I'll be the first to say that him and Meg are the perfect pair!

After the proposal, we were walking back to my car and Meg's first question was - "Are you availble next November???" I of course asked her to get the specific date to me as soon as possible as 2011 was booking up quickly!

Fast forward about 6 weeks. Alex and Meg are walking down the aisle! You see, Alex had this wonderful idea to enter him and Meg into a contest put on by a local radio station to win a $40,000 wedding in a week... and they WON! You read that right... they got married a WEEK after they won the contest.

Unfortunately, because they won the wedding and their wedding package included a photographer (and I was in Key West at the time!), I was unable to shoot their wedding.

Alex and Meg didn't get a chance to get engagement photos taken and while they were happy to win the wedding... engagement photos were very important to them. They decided to do them this fall at Salisbury University -- where they met!

Catch up time!

2011-12-18T16:40:00.000-05:00

As usual... this year the holidays have completely consumed my life these past few weeks. The shopping, baking, holiday partying and cooking are really one of my favorite things about this time of year, so I'm definitely not complaining. I couldn't be more excited for Christmas this year... it's our time to relax and celebrate with our closest and most amazing friends and family.

Because of my lack of posting these past few weeks - I promise this week will be FULL of fun posts. Let's call it my little Christmas present to you! Here's a little preview of what's to come:

First up : Alex and Megan's Salisbury University Engagement Session

Next up: Matt and Katie's Old Town Alexandria Engagement Session

... and last but certainly not least: Andy and Chrissy's DC Engagement Session

It'll be a busy and exciting week... stay tuned!

Oh and stay posted for a post about the Manzione family Christmas decor next week!

Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Janel and Brandon : The Wedding

2011-11-23T15:13:00.001-05:00

Brandon and Janel's wedding day was perfect. Janel is detail oriented and didn't miss a single detail for her and Brandon's Ronald Reagan Building wedding. From the elegant centerpieces to the home brewed pumpkin ale they gave to their guests... it was perfect! Not only was it well organized and thought out but it reflected their personalieities in every way possible. Special thanks to my second shooter, Coty Jones! Congratulations Brandon and Janel!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stevensville, MD Engagement Session : Jason and Casey

2011-10-26T07:23:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of shooting my brother and his fiance Casey's engagement session. The best thing about their session was that I really know what will make them laugh! Nicholas and I spend pretty much every weekend with them so this was just another weekend of wine tasting, dinner making, football watching... and we just added an engagement session into the mix! We had a blast walking around the parks around Kent Island; a small island just over the Chesapeake Bay bridge, where Jason and Casey call home.

Love you guys!

FEATURED: Bayside Bride!

2011-10-24T17:45:00.009-04:00

I am so so so excited to announce that my work has been featured (!!!) on the fabulous wedding blog, Bayside Brid e. Bayside Bride is a comprehensive wedding resource & inspiration website for couples getting married in the Annapolis and Chesapeake area! The Bayside Bride girls create amazing DIY ideas and share inspiration from real weddings and engagements. Their mission is to provide local brides with the resources to plan their dream wedding, while also promoting the best wedding vendors and small businesses in the Chesapeake area! They love anything nautical, have a soft spot for bowties & believe Annapolis is the perfect place for a wedding!

I have been lucky enough to be part of this amazing local wedding resource since it's inception and I couldn't be more proud to be featured here. Thanks Bayside Girls!

Hop on over to Bayside Bride and check out Mallori and Tommy's Herrington on the Bay wedding!

Brookside Gardens Engagement Session: Andy and Angela

2011-10-10T21:56:00.004-04:00

This afternoon was absolutely perfect. The temperature hovered just above 80, a little warm for this time of year, but it gave me one last chance to break out the flip flops before putting them away for the winter. I packed up my gear and headed to Brookside Gardens met up with Andy and Ang a for their engagement session.

At our initial meeting, Ang told me she was a little uncomfortable in front of the camera and she was nervous about having photos taken. Well I think we can all agree that she and Andy both absolutely rocked their session today. Ang, you're beautiful and don't you ever tell anyone you're nervous in front of the camera again!

Happy Tuesday!

A recipe: Salsa Chicken

2011-09-29T19:39:00.002-04:00

Back by popular demand... a recipe!

Many of my clients and friends have been begging me to post more of my time saving recipes for all to try... so here we go. This is probably the easiest recipe on the face of the planet. My girlfriend Aliya gave it to me a few years ago and it's been a staple in our house ever since.

If you know me, you know we live in a busy household. Both working two jobs... running in different directions on a daily basis. Needless to say, easy and quick recipes are not only enjoyed in our house, but necessary. This is one of the easiest! recipes! ever!

Ingredients:
4 frozen chicken breast
1 16 oz. jar of salsa (I use hot)

(for real... that's it.)

Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot and cover them with salsa. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred chicken with a fork and place it back in the crock pot on warm for 1 hour.

Seriously. That's all. And it's delicious.

Technically this is a taco recipe... but we usually use burrito tortillas... you know, so we can fit more deliciousness in them. We also usually have the following ingredients with our chicken: avocado, cheese, corn, black beans, lettuce, sour cream.

And here's a little secret. From our house to yours... we heat our tortillas on the stove burner! It's a little secret passed to me by our California family members... and pretty much the only good thing about having an electric stove.

Aaaaand enjoy!

Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Photographer : Pat and Lindsey - Wedding

2011-09-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Lindsey is a classic beauty and Linds and Pat's wedding was classic and timeless in every way. The black tie optional, country club wedding definitely fit their personalities to a T.

Lindsey joked that she wanted her bridesmaids to call her "Princess Catherine" for the day. Linds, you were absolutely stunning and definitely a perfect fit for your prince, Pat. I'm happy to call you not only a client, but a very great friend!

Silver Spring, MD Wedding Photographer - Brian and Colleen : The Wedding

2011-09-09T07:01:00.000-04:00

Colleen and Brian got married during hurricane Irene! When I arrived at Colleen's Mom's house, I expected her to be a ball of stress; worried about the hurricane and the rain and everything that had to do with the weather. I arrived and was pleasantly surprised to find Colleen cool as a cucumber, just hanging out with her bridesmaids. She was determined to marry the man of her dreams and the vicious winds and monsooning rain was NOT going to stop her!

Colleen and Brian's day was absolutely unforgettable. We even ventured outside for a few photos later in the day! A big thanks to my incredibly dedicated second shooter Laurie Bracewell! You were amazing as always!

I love this shot Laurie captured of the guys checking out the hurricane on the bar TV!

Kevin and Rebecca: Wedding - The Oaks Waterfront Inn Wedding Photographer

2011-09-08T17:07:00.001-04:00

Kevin and Rebecca's waterfront wedding was nothing short of amazing. Every little detail of the day reflected their fun loving and incredibly humble personalities. Kev and Rebecca are both currently residents at University of Maryland Medical Center (Kev) and Children's Hospital (Rebecca) so planning such an elaborate and stunning wedding was certainly no small feat.

Kev and Rebecca - the day was absolutely unforgettable and we cannot WAIT to see you guys when you get back from your Hawaii honeymoon!

Brother Love : Jason and Casey's Engagement Party

2011-09-06T07:11:00.009-04:00

Every day I promise myself that I'm going to start blogging more. Unfortunately life gets in the way and if I have to choose between hanging out with my family and blogging, well family ALWAYS comes first. Which leads me to today's post.

My brother and I haven't always been the best of friends. There were plenty of years while we were growing up that he saw me as a nuisance; that annoying little sister that always wanted to play Legos with him and his friends. When he went off to college, I quickly adjusted to life as an only child. When I headed off to college we started to have a lot more in common.

Enter Casey. Casey is one of the most amazing, dedicated and hard working women I've ever met. She is a doctor by trade and her compassion for people spills over into every aspect of her life. Casey definitely brought my brother and I much closer together and I can honestly say that Jase and Case (as we call them) are my best friends (OK Mom, stop sobbing please). It doesn't matter what we do together, we always have fun. Always.

My brother and Casey have been dating for almost 10 years and we are absolutely THRILLED to officially welcome her into our family in December of next year. Let the wedding planning BEGIN!

Together with Casey's parents, our family threw an engagement party for Jason and Casey a few weeks ago. Mom and I really wanted to use a country theme and I think it turned out great. We didn't start the official detail planning (other than the menu) until about 6 days before the party. Thankfully, Momma is an antique dealer and has all kinds of fun things laying around the farm to make into decor for a country engagement party. Enjoy!

Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Photographer - Pat and Lindsey : Wedding Sneak!

2011-08-13T07:34:00.005-04:00

Lindsey and Pat hold a special place in my heart. They are one of those couples that just make you smile every time you see them. They're happy. So incredibly happy that they make you happy. They were so much fun to work with, and I not only think of them as clients, but friends.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Deitz! I hope you're loving every minute of your Bora Bora honeymoon (jealous)!

Linganore Winecellars Wedding Photographer - Adam and Jill : Wedding Sneak!

2011-08-10T21:00:00.005-04:00

Adam and Jill were married in a beautiful outdoor wedding at Linganore Winecellars in late July. It was the hottest day of the year. And I mean HOT. Heat index of 114 degrees hot. Not even the steam of the hottest day of the year could take away from the excitement these two had on their wedding day. Their love is contageous and absolutely evident in everything they do.

Congratulations Adam and Jill!

North Beach, MD Wedding Photographer: Tommy and Mallori - Wedding Sneak!

2011-06-13T20:58:00.002-04:00

The threat of rain loomed in the background as Tommy and Mallori recited their vows. At one point during the ceremony the officiant looked and Mallori and said "I'm worried about that thunder, are you?" Mallori replied with a quick "not at all". She had her eye on the prize. Mallori knew that if they just went through with the ceremony as planned, everything would be alright.

And she was right. The storm waited 30 more minutes and hit the shoreline as we were walking up the dock after finishing up pictures. The wind billowed around us as we ran to the tent, getting under cover just in time. But the pictures were worth it. That big storm cloud waiting off the shore created the most amazing soft light.

Congratulations Tommy and Mallori! Here's to a lifetime of happiness!

Maryland Wedding Photographer: Amy and Derek - Wedding Sneak!

2011-06-05T14:56:00.003-04:00

Below is a sneak of Amy and Derek's beautiful post-ceremony barn style wedding photos from yesterday afternoon! This barn is located on the farm where Amy grew up! Derek and Amy, you're a sunning couple! Enjoy your honeymoon!!!

Happy Sunday!

Washington, DC Wedding Photographer : Janel and Brandon - Engagement

2011-06-02T06:20:00.000-04:00

When Janel and Brandon decided they wanted to do their engagement session around the monuments in DC I couldn't' have been any more thrilled. The large columns serve as amazing natural reflectors creating to die for lighting!

Congratulations Janel and Brandon! I can't wait to shoot your wedding this fall!

Baltimore Wedding Photographer - Kevin and Rebecca : Engagement

2011-05-30T14:49:00.004-04:00

Rebecca and Kevin's engagement shoot took me to places in Baltimore that I'd never seen before. They met at the University of Maryland Medical School and had all kinds of places they frequented together where they would go on dates or take walks to alleviate the stresses of medical school. They are such an amazing couple and it's rare to find either of them without a smile on their face!

I had a blast Rebecca and Kev. Thanks for showing me the beauty of Baltimore!

Virginia Wedding Photographer - Jocelyn and Ken : Wedding Sneak!

2011-05-22T21:24:00.004-04:00

Here's a quick sneak from Jocelyn and Ken's stunning barn wedding yesterday! Enjoy and stay tuned for more!

Annapolis, MD Wedding Photography - Andy and Courtney : Wedding Sneak!

2011-05-02T06:46:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Nicholas and I had the pleasure of shooting Andy and Courtney's stunning Annapolis wedding. We met Andy and Courtney last year at the dog park close to our neighborhood and immediately hit it off. We soon realized that our houses are right across the street from one another and started planning dinner dates, puppy play dates and wine nights! Their Huskey, Oberon and Miss Molly are great friends!

Courtney and Andy's wedding was absolutely stunning. We started the day in downtown Annapolis and ended at the beautiful Quiet Waters park where their ceremony and reception were held. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Fraser! Thank you for allowing us to capture your day!

Happy Monday!

Virginia Wedding Photographer : Aaron and Brittany - Wedding Part 3

2011-04-16T08:06:00.000-04:00

Love this!
I was a blubbering mess behind my camera during the father daughter dance... and so was everyone else in the room. It was so emotional, and adorable.

Virginia Wedding Photographer : Aaron and Brittany - Wedding Part 2

2011-04-14T07:34:00.001-04:00

Stay tuned for part 3, the reception!

Virginia Wedding Photographer : Aaron and Brittany - Wedding Part 1

2011-04-12T21:14:00.002-04:00

Brittany and Aaron's wedding photos are some of my favorite yet. I absolutely love the emotion they showed not only during their first look, but throughout their entire day. And, it doesn't hurt that I know them personally and absolutely love them as a couple.

Britt and Aaron, we couldn't be happier for you and we wish you a lifetime of laughter and love.

Britt and Aaron opted to do a "first look" which allowed us ample time to wander around the grounds of the hotel and have fun with their photos. I absolutely love first looks. They allow for a special moment between the bride and groom and add time to the photo schedule. It doesn't get much better than that!

Stay tuned for part 2 later this week!

Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Denise and Matt : Day After Session

2011-04-02T18:09:00.005-04:00

Matt and Denise's day after shoot was so much fun. It truly was the fun of wedding photos without the stress of the wedding day. They rented a limo, so we frolicked aroudn the city for about 4 hours!

Virginia Wedding Photographer - Aaron and Brittany : Wedding Sneak!

2011-03-27T15:26:00.003-04:00

Is there anything better in life than a beautiful and happy bride and groom?! Absolutely not. Brittany and Aaron's wedding was not only amazing and beautiful, but very romantic and emotional. I love watching my couples fall even deeper in love on their wedding day. Stay tuned for more from Britt and Aarons amazing day!

Ready. Seeeeet. GO!

2011-03-26T07:23:00.002-04:00

Memory cards are cleared and packed. Lenses are clean and ready. Cameras are rested and ready to go.

Nick and I kick off this year's crazy wedding season with this amazing couples wedding today! We are so excited to shoot Brittany and Aaron's Lynchburg, VA wedding at the Craddock Terry Hotel (an old shoe factory turned botique hotel... PERFECT for Brittany's personality and obsession with shoes!). It's sure to be a fun and beautiful day!

Happy Weekend! Stay tuned for a sneak from Brittany and Aaron's wedding weekend!

Hello Gooooorgeous!

2011-03-24T10:25:00.003-04:00

It all started with the iPhone 4. The minute I walked out the door of the Verizon store, I fell in love. About a week later I found myself longing for the iPad2 (who isn't) and then an amazing opportunity came along for me to purchase this beautiful MacBook Air.

It's official folks... I'm a cool photographer with a real MacBook now. And even though it's literally only been in my house and in my possession for 13 minutes, I'm never going back.

Watch out old PC....

Delicious Recipes: Tortelini Florentine

2011-03-22T21:23:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love to cook. But often times I don't have all the time in the world to cook up 3 and 4 course meals every night. Because I love to cook and most of you probably love to cook/eat easy (semi)healthy meals I've decided to start blogging some of my favorite recipes. With pictures of course!

Alright enough of my babbling... tonight's recipe is Tortellini Florentine. I made this recipe up a few weeks ago when we needed something quick and easy for dinner. It was a hit and I've already made it again! I don't usually measure when I cook, so all of the measurements below are estimates. Sorry, I'll try to get better at that!

Ingredients:
Barilla three cheese tortellini (I used the "family size" because we always make extra for lunches)
1/2 bag chopped spinach (frozen or fresh)
One large tomato, chopped
Prepared grilled chicken (we had a few pieces left over from last night)
6 tablespoons Olive Oil
2 garlic cloves
Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
1. Boil water in a large saucepan. Add a pinch of salt.

2. Coat the bottom of a large saucepan with olive oil.

3. Add spinach to pan and heat to simmer.

4. Cut chicken in thin slices.

5. Chop tomato.

6. Add tortellini to the pot of boiling water. Boil for 11 minutes.

7. Add Chopped Tomato to Spinach mixture.

8. Add garlic (either chopped or micro planed) to spinach mixture. (This can be added earlier when the oil begins to heat in the large pan... I just forgot to add it then!)

9. Add the sliced chicken to the spinach mixture.

10. Once tortellini has boiled for 11 minutes, drain in a strainer and add to spinach mixture. Fold the tortellini with the spinach and tomato mixture.

11. Add salt and Parmesan cheese to taste.
12. Serve and enjoy!

Matt and Denise : Day After Sneak!

2011-03-20T21:31:00.003-04:00

Wedding dresses, tuxes, flowers and our nation's breathtaking monuments... these are a few of my favorite things!

I had a great time frolicking around the mall with Denise and Matt today. Here's a sneak of what's to come!

Happy Monday!

Home Sweet Home: Kitchen!

2011-03-17T16:54:00.004-04:00

Sooooo many people have been asking for more photos of our home and I'm finally getting around to fulfilling that request. Thing is, when you move into a house, there are about 23,218,790 things you want to fix/replace/remove before you want to blast the Internet with "HEY look at my cool house!"

I've kind of given up on the fact that everything will someday be complete. Everyone kept telling us that there would always be things we wanted to fix or change about the house and after being here for a little over 10 months they are absolutely right. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE our house... but there's always something that could be just a little better/bigger/prettier.

I really can't take much credit for the kitchen in our house. The old owners did a really great job of updating everything before we purchased the home.

Please excuse the quality of the "before" photos as I pulled from the MLS site a while back to show family and friends the house before we purchased it!

BEFORE:

AFTER:We did change the paint color a little bit. I wasn't crazy about the baby blue walls so I went with something a little more subtle and more grey.

One of my favorite things about our kitchen is the big pantry cabinet next to the refrigerator! PS please don't judge the amount of tuna we have. It was on sale!I learned early on in our marriage that if I always stocked the ingredients for homemade Italian sauce, Hubs would make it whenever I asked. Hence, the ridiculous amount of tomato products on the bottom shelf!

When we first moved in, I wasn't crazy about the tin backsplash. But, I've gotta admit it has really grown on me recently!

My two favorite kitchen appliances :)

The previous owners used this space as a small eating area for their children. They had tall bar stools up to this counter. We've decided to (at least for now) use it as more wine storage and puppy food storage. The blender is also easily accessable becasue in the spring and summer, we love a morning smoothie!

No kitchen is complete without fresh flowers. These came from the farm last weekend! I love spring!!!

Sights of Key West!

2011-02-08T20:48:00.006-05:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to sunny Key West for work. It was certainly a welcomed getaway since the wind chill and snow boots were really starting to get to me. Yes, I'm one of those people with Seasonal affective disorder (self diagnosed, of course). The Key West sunshine warmed me to the core. I came home refreshed and ready to tackle the snow.

Key West is charming little city with character in every corner. I thought I'd share some of the images I snapped during my 4 days there. Enjoy!

Hemmingway's cats... lounging on his bed!

This one's already been ordered from my printer... can't wait to hang it in the house!

Obviously before I got any sun...

Typical Key West... there are wild chickens and roosters EVERYWHERE!

show off...

These will grace the walls of the house very soon... love these old buoys.

You really can't go to Key West without having one of these... mmm.

New Brunswick, NJ Wedding Photographer - Matt and Leigh : Wedding Part 2!

2011-02-07T06:55:00.002-05:00

As soon as the ceremony was over, the snow arrived. Matt and Leigh were so excited to have snow in their wedding photos. And I was excited because snow is my absolute favorite natural reflector! :)

Stay tuned for Part 3 later this week!

New Brunswick, NJ Wedding Photographer - Matt and Leigh : Wedding Part 1!

2011-02-04T07:12:00.000-05:00

Matt and Leigh's wedding was the first of our 2011 weddings and boy did we start off the year on a high note. Matt and Leigh met at Rutgers University and decided to commemorate their meeting by having their ceremony at the Kirkpatrick Chapel on Rutgers campus.

The girls got ready at the beautiful Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Things I love: Coffee

2011-02-03T07:02:00.000-05:00

There's really nothing better than waking up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee.

As I climb out of bed I can smell the delicious aroma while I tumble into the kitchen to grab my favorite mug. Thanks to Hubs, the pot was brewed at 6am this morning when he got up to leave for work. It was set the night before, to preserve those critical minutes in the morning.

At the beginning of this year, I told myself I would take advantage of my mornings. I've been an avid "snooze" button user for my entire life... but recently, I've gotten up early to sit on the couch and actually enjoy my morning. To sit on the couch and slowly sip my coffee and catch up on the morning news... all while the pup lays on my feet keeping them warm.

And now, I love mornings.

We'll see how long this lasts!

A big, HUGE thank you!

2011-01-31T20:47:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all of our amazing couples throughout the past 2.5 years, we have been selected for the 2011 Wedding Wire Brides Choice Award! This means that we are ranked within the top 5% of all wedding professionals nationwide!

Thanks you, thank you THANK YOU to all of the amazing couples that trusted me to capture their wedding day. Each and every one of you have contributed to the amazing growth of this business. I am eternally grateful and completely humbled.

A Year in Review : Weddings

2010-12-27T10:34:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again. When photographers finally get a moment to sit down, relax, and reflect on the year.

This time last year, I had worked with many amazing photographers as a second shooter, and shot 7 of my own weddings. I realized how big of a difference I could make in the lives of others by capturing their most precious moments. I was hooked. I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life and I set goals for myself for 2010. Those goals have all been met, and exceeded. I wanted to shoot 12 weddings... one for every month of the year. In 2010 I shot 12 weddings. Not one in every month... but 12 weddings total. There were busy days, crazy days and insane days.. and a little bit of down time. It has been an amazing year of making new friends, networking and building a business focused on love.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my amazing friends and family... who have supported me throughout the past 12 months and my entire life. For understanding when I can't meet for dinner, or go out for happy hour because I need to spend my time working on client images. Thank you to my amazing husband, who has made more dinners, done more loads of laundry, vacuumed more floors and given our pup many more walks than he ever thought he would. For supporting me and bringing me dinner in my office on my long editing nights. Who is my cheerleader and second shooter all at the same time. I couldn't do this without you. I love you.

It's been an amazing year, and I cannot wait to continue to meet more amazing couples, be inspired by more photographers, and capture more of those once in a lifetime moments. Happy 2011!

The clients we were blessed to work with in 2010 exceeded my every expectation and filled my heart. They welcomed Nicholas and I into their lives and allowed us to capture some of the most intimate and emotional mements of their wedding days. They are awesome. Thank you so much for trusting us and allowing us to capture your weddings.

First, there was Lesley and Rob:

Then Katie and Jared's beautiful Naval Academy Wedding:

Ayla and Travis' intimate Lancaster, PA wedding:

In July, we worked with two amazing couples

Justin and Lish:

Kristin and Bill's Linganore Winery wedding:

And in August, we had the opportunity to work with 3 couples:

Lisa and Josh:

Brent and Allie:

and Sandi and Eli:

In September, we traveled to my hometown to capture Jacqueline and Michael's wedding:

In October, we had the opportunity to work with Brandon and Katherine at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington:

And last, but definitely not least I was blessed to work with Lauren and Justin at their beautiful Annapolis wedding:

It's been nothing short of an amazing year and I simply cannot wait to do it all over again in 2011.

Happy Holidays!

Alexandria, VA Wedding photographer - Lindsey and Pat : Engagement

2010-12-20T21:04:00.005-05:00

I can already tell that Linds and Pat are going to be one of my favorite wedding couples for 2011. They're so much fun and SO easy to get along with. Linds and I have already discovered that we have a ton in common, and she even consulted me on her wedding gown purchase!!! How cool is that! :)

We had a great time roaming around Mt. Vernon for their engagement session! They had been to Mt. Vernon the day of their engagement and wanted to continue their connection to the historic landmark. It really is a fantastic place to shoo and I'm so glad they chose to go back there for their shoot.

Linds and Pat, you are truly a stunning couple, both inside and out. I absolutely positively cannot wait for your wedding next year!

Annapolis, MD Wedding Photographer - Justin and Lauren : The Wedding!

2010-11-30T14:40:00.006-05:00

Justin and Lauren are an absolutely gorgeous couple. Their laughter and love is completely contageous. I knew Justin in college but didn't really get to know Lauren until the wedding planning process. She was THE MOST organized bride I've ever worked with. Every single detail of the day was planned to perfection. Her energy is amazing and her love for life radiates through every cell in her body.

Justin and Lauren, I am SO happy for the two of you. You have nothing but years of love and laughter ahead of you. Congratulations, (for the 28,396th) time.

A big thanks to Laurie for second shooting with me! You're fabulous!

To view their slideshow, click here!

... just after reading a note from her hubby to be...

Love it!

I just so happened to walk into the room as the girls were praying... so glad I could capture this sweet moment...

Seeing his bride for the first time all day!

So excited!

You'll never forget this moment.

Lauren had been talking about this shot all day. And they NAILED it!

love.

Lauren, you are STUNNING.

My favorite!

These two really know how to make an entrance!

LOVE this moment.

Lauren gave the sweetest blessing. It was the blessing her and her family give every night at the dinner table. Love.

This was one of my favorite parts of the day. Laruen's grandparents have been married for 58 years. The whole ballroom stopped as they performed the "jitterbug" in celebration of their love.

LOVE your rings!

I'll close with this one. Lauren shed a few tears at the end of the night... simply because they day had been everything she had ever dreamed of, and more.

Things I Love: Tree shots

2010-11-15T07:45:00.000-05:00

Apparently I've subconsciously chosen a signature image for myself... and it just happens to be tree shots. I love a tall, flowy, green tree with sun glistening through the leaves. Yum.

Annapolis, MD Wedding Photographer - Justin and Lauren : Wedding Sneak!

2010-11-14T15:49:00.003-05:00

Below is a quick glimpse of my images from yesterday's beautiful Annapolis wedding. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Justin Main! You are a beautiful couple... both inside and out! Enjoy your honeymoon!

Many, many more to come... stay tuned!

Washington DC Wedding Photographer - Andrew and Courtney : Engagement Sneak!

2010-11-13T11:27:00.003-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks but I'm happy to say we are shooting our last wedding of 2010 today in Annapolis, MD. As much as I love all things wedding... I'm super excited about a little R&R and family time over the holidays! I still have a few engagement sessions and family sessions to shoot and edit before the new year... so stay tuned for updates!

Here's a mini sneak of my engagement session with Andrew and Courtney last week:

I just loooove the light...

Virginia Wedding Photographer - Brittany and Aaron : Engagement

2010-10-31T17:48:00.003-04:00

Brittany never wanted to get married. When all of our friends were getting engaged and started contemplating venues and colors and gowns she would break out in hives every time we mentioned the word "wedding".

Until she met Aaron... and her whole world changed. Just a few months after they started dating I noticed Brittany's feelings about getting married rapidly changing. She even started talking about getting engaged!!!

I not only had the privilege to shoot their engagement session, but will also be shooting their wedding next March. I am so very excited and happy for you Brittany and Aaron. You are so lucky to have found each other. And my are you a stunning couple...

The view from our shoot locaiton was beyond amazing...

This shot screams Britt and Aaron... their fun loving life shines right through.

Fierce.

I found this tree accidentally on my way to the shoot location. I passed the driveway and had to turn around but spotted this beauty on my detour. Sometimes getting lost pays off :)

Annapolis, MD Portrait Photographer - Reston!

2010-10-27T07:36:00.000-04:00

Little Reston was just adopted by our dear friends. He wasn't excited about getting his picture taken at first... but he warmed up to the camera quickly. Welcome to the family buddy!

Washington, DC Engagement Photographer - Tommy and Mallori : Engagement Sneak

2010-10-25T20:26:00.003-04:00

I can't help but share a few images from my Georgetown engagement session yesterday. Tommy and Mallori are such naturals! Can't wait for their wedding next year!

Happy Monday!

Things I love - Crisp fall leaves

2010-10-19T14:19:00.004-04:00

I love fall. Every little thing about it... the leaves, fall fashion trends, crisp fall air, Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Everything.

In recognition of my favorite season, the first edition of my "things I love" series has to be crisp fall leaves. The leaves here in Annapolis have finally started to change. It makes my drive to and from work, the grocery store, the mall... pretty much everywhere more enjoyable. I just love seeing the reds, yellows and oranges of fall coming to life in the leaves on the trees.

I snapped this image in our back yard yesterday... and have just decided I will be blowing it up for a little diy'd art.

Happy FALL!

Washington, DC Wedding Photographer - Katherine and Brandon : Wedding Sneak!

2010-10-10T19:24:00.006-04:00

Katherine and Brandon had a perfect fall day for their wedding yesterday. Here are a few of my favorite images from the day!

Congratulations Captain and Mrs. Brandon Cook!

Annapolis, MD Portrait Photographer - The Reznik Family!

2010-10-04T07:47:00.001-04:00

More to come from this sweet family's shoot!

Cambridge, MD Wedding Photographer - Michael and Jacqueline : The Wedding

2010-09-28T07:15:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, Nicholas and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Jacqueline and Michael on their big day. Jacqueline and I are old high school friends and she contacted me to ask if I was interested in shooting her and Michael's wedding I was ecstatic! I jumped at the opportunity to not only capture her and Michael's wedding day, but to catch up with an old friend. I love catching up with old friends.

When Jacqueline and Michael's big day finally rolled around I was so incredibly happy for her. It is always so much fun to see an old friend, all grown up and ready to walk down the aisle. Jacqueline was glowing the second I walked in the room and that glow continued throughout the day and night.

Congrats Jacqueline and Michael!

Old Town, Alexandria Family Photographer - Liam James

2010-09-17T08:04:00.001-04:00

I love it when Liam's Momma emails me for a shoot with the little guy. He is 19 months old and I've already had the opportunity to do 4 photo shoots with him! Boy do I loooove return customers.

Liam is ON THE MOVE. He gave me a run for my money and his Momma Rebecca thought it was hysterical that I was exhausted by the end of our shoot.

We started by the waterfront in Old Town then moved to a local park. I love shooting little ones in the park. It really lets them be themselves and brings out their true personality.

See... ON THE MOVE.

peek-a-boo

"sliding down the slide is for sissies"

I love this one. The evil eye!

Annapolis, Maryland Family Photographer - The Twilley Family

2010-09-08T07:51:00.001-04:00

Remember this little guy: Baby Nate

He's now 8 months old, full of personality and an absolute dream baby!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to do a shoot with my beautiful best friend and her amazing little family.

Nothing like an eastern shore boy in a crab basket :)

I love this one...

Such a sweet family

Love you, Twilley Family!

Happy Labor Day!

2010-09-07T08:03:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend. We took the weekend to completely disconnect from reality and relax...

and smile...

all weekend long :)

Whitehall Manor Wedding Photographer - Eli and Sandy : The Wedding

2010-08-30T07:12:00.002-04:00

Sandy and Eli's wedding brought together the traditions of Sandy's Portuguese heritage and Eli's Jewish heritage. It was a true representation of their personalities and style.

Whitehall Manor was the perfect setting for their big day. The estate, which was built in 1810 is comprised of a manor house, old barns, towering trees and rolling hills full of beautiful fields. It was once used as a resort for "city folk" from Alexandria and Washington, DC to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The reception room, which was added to the house 1890 after a fire engulfed part of the house, is an absolutely stunning room with large windows that allow natural light to fill the room the moment the sun comes up.

The ceremony was set up in the yard... under the age old trees, creating absolutely stunning lighting.

Sandy wore her mother's beautiful gown...

I loooooved Sandy's bouquet.

happiness...

Congratulations Sandy and Eli! Enjoy your honeymoon!!!

Whitehall Manor Wedding Photographer

WEBSITE LAUNCH!

2010-08-26T10:59:00.008-04:00

I've been working for MONTHS on a brand spankin' new website and I'm absolutely thrilled to launch it this morning. Many thanks to the support team at ShowIt Sites for being at my beck and call even to answer the simplist of questions!

And without further adieu, I present you with... my new website!

Click here to view: http://www.melissa-manzione.com/

I also need to thank my amazing husband... who has been absolutely perfect over these past two years of business building. Hubs, thank you for the cleaning, laundry, dinner making, and support you've given me over the past two years; and for putting up with my "I'll be up in 5 minutes"... which always seems to really take 35 minutes. Thank you, thank you, thank you... you make this possible!

Baltimore Maryland Wedding Photographer - Brent and Allie : The Wedding

2010-08-23T22:55:00.008-04:00

Brent and Allie's beautiful wedding absolutely took my breath away. The all day excitement Allie posessed was absolutely adorable and completely evident in the images below. Brent and Allie have been together since high school. On their first date, a mere eight years ago, they showed up wearing the same exact striped Polo shirt... if that's not a sign that it's meant to be, I don't know what is.

To view their slideshow click here!

Allie, I need these shoes.

See what I mean... the excitement... was awesome. "Eeeee I'm getting maaaarrieddd!"

Allie, you are stunning.

The gorgeous ladies!

Pure happiness.

love.

A Maryland wedding is not complete without a Bride and Groom performance of "the crab"!

Brent and Allie, you are absolutely stunning. I am so happy we were able to capture your amazing day... and make two new friends at the same time. Enjoy your honeymoon!!!

Baltimore, MD Wedding Photographer

Lancaster, PA Wedding Photographer - Travis and Ayla : Wedding

2010-08-14T07:24:00.001-04:00

Travis and Ayla's intimate Lancaster wedding was tons of fun! They are amazingly photogentic and super comfortable in front of the camera. Their love for each other is completely contagious.

To view their slideshow click here.

Columbia, Maryland Newborn Photographer - Sweet Baby Carter : Newborn

2010-08-12T23:36:00.004-04:00

Just look at his sweet little eyes!

Columbia, MD Newborn Photographer

Josh and Lisa : The Wedding

2010-08-09T21:58:00.005-04:00

Josh and Lisa were wed this past weekend at the amazing Perona Farms in northern New Jersey. They opted to do a "First Look" or as Josh called it "The Big Reveal"... and that it was. I absolutely love it when my couples opt for a first look. It truly allows me to capture their emotions and reactions when they see each other for the first time on the biggest day of their life. A few of the fist look photos are in the below set of my favorite images from the day.

Josh and Lisa, thank you so much for allowing Nicholas and I to capture your big day. Enjoy every second of your honeymoon!

To view their slideshow click here!

THIS is exactly why I love First Looks. The emotion we were able to capture between Lisa and Josh was awesome.

I love processional shots. True emotion.

A father-daughter dance with attitude. Loved it.

Perona Farms Wedding Photographer

Happy Birthday, Molly!

2010-08-03T17:21:00.002-04:00

Little Miss turned 1 year old today! I'll let her tell you all about our photo shoot...

"You're completely humiliating me"

"Are you serious with this hat?"

"You better not post this on your blog for the whole world to see... I have a REPUTATION, woman!"

"I cannot wait until you two have kids, so you stop doing crap like this to me"

"I can't even look at you anymore"

Happy Birthday little Miss! Happy Tuesday!

The Fisher Familiy : Alexandria, VA Portrait Photography

2010-07-27T07:43:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned in their sneak, the Fisher family lives in Washington state and contacted me to capture their family while they were vacationing in Washington, DC. It's certainly clear in their images that they're a fun loving family!

Enjoy!

At the very end of the shoot, Tammi's family joined us for a few shots. Her Dad went to UNC, so they all wore their UNC apparel!

Annapolis, Maryland Wedding Photographer - Justin and Elisha : Wedding Sneak!

2010-07-25T09:25:00.003-04:00

Justin and Elisha's big day was blazing hot. I'm talking heat index of 107 degrees. But I am happy to say that it didn't stop these two (or any of their guests for that matter) from having the time of their lives. The party lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

Justin and Elisha's wedding was held at the beautiful Phillip Merrill building right on the Chesapeake beautiful bay. The beautiful sandy beach, sea grasses and amazingly crafted building set the perfect scene for their ceremony and reception.

Justin and Lish, you guys are an amazing couple and I hope you enjoy every second of your honeymoon!! You both deserve nothing but the best and your future is brighter than you can imagine!

A few of my favorite images from their day are below! Enjoy!

To view more images from their big day click here!

I loved Lish's bouquet. Amazing.

These two really know how to make an enterance!

The father daughter dance gets me every time...

A special thanks to Laurie of Laurie Bracewell Photography for second shooting with me!

Annapolis, MD Wedding Photographer

Sandy and Eli : Engagement Sneak

2010-07-21T07:01:00.005-04:00

As I'm sure you can imagine, wedding season is in full swing! I got a break from the every day routine of work, edit, sleep and met up with Sandy and Eli last night for an engagement session in Eastern Market in DC! I absolutely LOVE Eastern Market and I'm quite jealous that Sandy and Eli live in the heart of the area.

Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot:

Kristin and Bill : Wedding Sneak!

2010-07-11T11:34:00.006-04:00

I'm going to apologize in advance for the length of this sneak. But, once you see the images, you'll totally understand why I couldn't wait to share so many of these with you.

I woke up yesterday and looked out the window and it was raining... not just raining, but pouring. Immediately my thoughts shifted to Kristin, who I knew would be totally calm, cool and collected sitting in her hotel room just knowing the rain would stop. I, on the other hand was freaking out. I was so excited about Kristin and Bill's winery wedding I couldn't sleep the night before (a rarity for me). A beautiful bride and groom, stunning details and an amazing venue were all sure to yield one of our best weddings yet. But, it was raining.

We quickly packed the car, and headed to Baltimore to meet up with Bill and his groomsmen at the hotel. I dropped Nick off to take photos of Bill and his groomsmen and headed to Linganore to meet up with the Kristin and her bridesmaids at the Vineyard. As soon as got on the highway the clouds started to clear... the rain stopped and by the time I got to the vineyard the sky was spotty blue. I immediately got giddy and as excited as ever for Kristin and Bill's big day.

Well, friends... I was right. The beautiful Bride and Groom, the stunning details and amazing venue did not disappoint. In fact, they overwhelmingly exceeded my expectations. The images speak for themselves. Kristin and Bill, enjoy your amazing honeymoon. The two of you posses one of the truest loves I've ever witnessed. We left wanting to be best friend with both of you! :)

Kristin was one of the happiest brides I've ever worked with. And her smile... it's just contagious!

Unmistakable happiness. Love it!

The bridal party's commitment to their friends was amazingly evident!

Kristin's amazing taste and class were embodied throughout the reception room.

Kristin always wanted a fairytale wedding... and she got just that. Complete with a prince, and a perfect first dance.

The sunset at Linganore was to die for. I just love the light.

Linganore Wine Cellers, Wedding Photographer

Home Sweet Home : Dining Room!

2010-07-10T07:37:00.000-04:00

Next up... dining room!

When we were house hunting, one of the things we knew we wanted in our new home was a formal living room. I wanted somewhere we could host a nice big dinner party. The first time we saw this dining room, I fell in love! The light that pours into the room is awesome...and I couldn't wait to pick up my paint roller to jazz up the walls!

This is what we started with:

Thanks to an amazing group of friends and family, we painted the room the weekend after we settled on the house. A couple of weeks later the crown molding and chair rail were installed (thanks Pam and B)!!! We are absolutely THRILLED with the result. It just really dresses up the room room and makes it more formal!

Without further adieu... I present you with... the dining room!

My brother bought this light fixture at an auction (for $10) thinking him and his girlfriend Casey could use it in their new house. It didn't look great with their other light fixtures, so we scored it, for free! Thankfully, Nick's Dad happens to have a ton of electrical knowledge and was able to hang it for us! Thanks guys :)

I tell you, I would have no furniture in my house if it wasn't for auctions. I bought our new (used) dining room table at an auction for $30. Nope, I didn't type that wrong... it was really $30... including 2 leaves! I love, love, LOVE it. (thanks Momma, for teaching me how to bargain hunt at a very young age)! After I purchased the table, I was concerned about how I would find chairs that would match the table...

then I found these! IKEA... amazing. The covers are white, BUT they come off very easily and are machine washable! Molly (our shedding black pup) vs. white dining chairs... stay tuned...

I scored this table runner at the Homegoods down the street from our house... it brings the room together nicely, I think...

I love having candles on the dining table. I burn them almost every night... even if we're having pizza. I just love the feeling of a semi-candle lit dinner :)

This photo and wine rack were both from our old house. The wine rack was a yard sale steal ($10)!

This is one of my favorite decor items in our house... the corks are all bottles of vino Hubs and I have consumed (with friends and family of course) over the course of our relationship. Some of them even have little notes on them in permanent marker "first night in new house".

Well that's it folks... two rooms down... too many to count left to blog. We're off to Kristin and Bill's winery wedding this afternoon! Stay tuned!

Key to my heart

2010-06-30T07:03:00.000-04:00

I've found a new place to store my house key on my morning walks with the little one...

She's so responsible and is absolutely loving our new neighborhood!

And the new house....

She's just so...

comfortable here...

The Fisher Family : Sneak!

2010-06-28T07:37:00.001-04:00

I met up with the Fisher family yesterday morning for a shoot in the BLAZING heat in Old Town, Alexandria. The kids were such troopers, walking all over town in the 95 degree heat. Thankfully, we were able to stop for some ice cream to cool off a bit! Stay tuned for more from their awesome shoot!

Happy Monday!

Home Sweet Home : Guest Room

2010-06-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ok friends, we're doing this one room at a time! I've gotten numerous comments, messages, phone calls, texts, etc. for photos of our new home... so here we go!

I'm reluctant to start posting because there are still lots of things we want to change about the house, but lets be serious... these things are going to take YEARS to complete.

So, we'll start with the guest room:

Here's the before:

The below photos are from our inspection walk through... I, of course, took pictuers of every single nook and cranny of the house so I could start planning our move. How type-A of me!

(very very cute... but since we're sans kiddies and we thought the pink was a little much for guests we decided to re-paint)

And the after:

I know, you're jealous of the multi-color bladed ceiling fan...

Of course, there are still a few things I would like to do to the room... replace the ceiling fan being number 1 on that list... and I NEED to hang some photos on the walls. I just ordered an awesome canvas for this room!

I like to fancy myself a bargain decor shopper and most of the things in this room have been re-purposed! The furniture (dresser and night stand) is from our old master bedroom (I spray painted it ivory), the mattress/boxspring/bedframe is being indefinitely borrowed from my brother (thanks J!) and we already had all the bed linens. The only newly purchased items in this room are the accent pillows, white branches, curtains and the basket on the dresser. I would estimate we spent a total of $120 on this room... including the wall paint!

Of course, when I add the canvas and the new ceiling fan the total cost will increase... but not by much!

I hope you enjoyed the first "home sweet home" post... stay tuned for more!

Naval Academy Wedding Photographer - Jared and Katie : Wedding

2010-06-25T07:48:00.002-04:00

The first time I stepped into the chapel at the naval academy my eyes shot right up to the rotunda. Light poured into the tall glass windows like orange juice in my glass on a Sunday morning. I moved closer to the center of the church for a better look. Wow… this place is ridiculous I thought. I visited the chapel that day to get a feel for the lighting at the same exact time as the ceremony was set to start on Jared and Katie’s big day. I left feeling rejuvenated and ecstatic to be shooting a wedding in such a prestigious church!

When Katie and Jared’s wedding day rolled around a few weeks later, the lighting in the chapel was just as amazing as I had remembered it. And the love; adding love to the chapel made it even more magical. Not only Katie and Jared’s love, but the love of both of their huge families and many friends.

The morning of Katie and Jared’s wedding got off to a rocky start for me. We walked out the door with our equipment strapped to our backs to find that our car had been broken into the night before. Not just broken into, but SMASHED. The windows were smashed and it was obviously not safe for the road. Thankfully, my lifesaver, Laurie of Laurie Bracewell Photography had planned to shoot with us that day. She was there, ready to take the reins. Laurie totally stepped up to the plate and took over Nicholas’ assigned duties for the day while he stayed behind to call the police and the insurance company to remedy our car situation. Laurie totally ROCKED it. Thank you Laurie, for being my ultimate lifesaver that day… I’m so sure God sent you to me that warm April morning!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the day. Again, big thanks to Laurie for all of her help that day… not only behind the camera, but keeping me calm and sane on the car ride to Annapolis! The day quickly turned from bad to good thanks to Katie and Jared and their amazing families and friends!

To view a slideshow if their images click HERE!

Travis and Ayla : Wedding Sneak!

2010-06-23T07:13:00.002-04:00

I can’t really explain the flow of emotions that came over me on Travis and Ayla’s big day last weekend in Lancaster, PA. The love that they shared for each other was so incredibly evident that I couldn’t help but be overcome with emotion multiple times during their day. I cry at every wedding. There, I said it. I’m a hopeless romantic. It’s usually when the Bride and her Daddy are walking down the aisle, or when the groom catches the first glance of his beautiful bride, or when the Bride and her Daddy dance… I’m not sure why. Most of the time I have only known the couple for a few short months, but there’s something about the magic of these moments that gets me every time. Thankfully, I am always able to hide my tears behind my fabulous camera.

For some reason Travis and Ayla’s day moved me. Like, seriously moved me. I must have cried 6 or 7 times. Their love beams from their faces and resonates from their voices. It’s contagious. And it is so evident in the images below.

Travis and Ayla, you are an absolutely amazing couple that I’m so glad I can now call my friends. I hope you two lovebirds are enjoying Italy!

I think this might be my all time favorite first dance shot. You can just see the emotion. LOVE.

... and we're back!

2010-06-22T21:52:00.005-04:00

Hi long lost friends! I'm not even going to apologize this time.

Life has been a little bit nutty for the past month or so. Nicholas and I purchased our first home, painted the entire place (with the help of wonderful friends of course) and are now completely settled in and loving it!

Along with moving, comes a lovely battle with internet providers :) My darling husband called every internet provider in the surrounding area for price quotes, then for weeks hoped they would battle it out for our business. Welp, turns out they're all about the same... and there we were, all moved into our beautiful new home... with no internet.

We finally made a decision and called the company to come out for an install appointment. Turns out you have to schedule these so called install appointments weeks in advance these days. Who knew? So again, there we were, in our beautiful new home, sans internet. Then the glorious day rolled around... the day our internet would be installed. The technician came, and left. Still no internet.

After spending about a week on the phone with the nameless internet provider they finally decided to come back to the house to do a little troubleshooting. Thank goodness they did. Apparently the internet wire outside of our house had been cut! Good times.

Thanks for hanging in there if you're still reading... and please excuse my rant. Friends, we are finally up and running with this glorious series of tubes you folks call the internet!

Stay tuned... many posts coming soon! :)

Oh, and here's a picture of my pretty little lady during our walk the other day!

Ashton : Newborn

2010-05-11T20:57:00.003-04:00

Baby Ashton is a sweet little man! You may remember his parents from my maternity shoot with them a few short months ago. Ashton is a lucky little guy!

Enjoy!

Don't you just love the color of their dining room/kitchen?

Owen : Kids!

2010-04-29T20:55:00.002-04:00

You saw a sneak of little Owen's photos a few weeks ago... but there were a few more that I just had to share!

What a cutie!

Happy Thursday!

Azzah : Anytime

2010-04-20T07:23:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, Azzah and I met up in beautiful Old Town, Alexandria for an anytime shoot. She was so laid back and natural as soon as we stepped foot in Founders Park. We had a blast frolicking through the streets of Old Town looking for fun colored buildings and water views. She giggled the entire shoot, which makes me think she'd be a fabulous model :)

Below are some of my favorites from the day:

Thanks for spending the day with me Azzah. You're the cutest!

Naval Academy Wedding Photographer - Katie and Jared : Wedding Sneak

2010-04-11T17:28:00.005-04:00

Katie and Jared's Naval Academy wedding blew me away!!! The lighting in the chapel is to die for. Many thanks to Laurie Bracewell for second shooting. You're the best Laurie!!!

Congratulations LT and Mrs. Jakubowski! Enjoy your honeymoon!

Annapolis, MD ~ Naval Academy Photographer

Owen : Kids!

2010-04-08T19:47:00.003-04:00

You may remember sweet little Owen and his Mom and Dad from their shoot last year! Well, Owen is a whole year older now and a resident of the Sunshine state! Owen and his family were visiting for a few days and decided to do another shoot in beautiful Old Town, Alexandria. Have I ever told you how much I loooove repeat customers???

Here's a little sneak of our Old Town photoshoot:

A glimpse...

2010-04-06T07:03:00.000-04:00

into my Easter weekend...

I played teacher...

screamed at the top of my lungs...

smiled until my cheeks hurt...

laughed and giggled the days away...

and snuggled...

until i could snuggle no more

these little boys make my world a better place.

Happy Monday :)

Rob and Lesley : Wedding

2010-03-31T07:35:00.000-04:00

The church was full of love and worship... and when the congregation started to sing "I Stand Amazed" I totally lost it. It's a good thing I had my camera to hide behind. Their guests would have thought I was NUTS! While I stood there in the balcony of the church with tears streaming down my face I looked down at Rob... and there he was, wiping the tears from his cheeks. Thank goodness I wasn't the only one so incredibly moved by that moment.

That song has become one of my favorite editing songs. I put it on repeat for a few hours and edit the night away. It reminds me of their day, and the happiness it brought to them and the friends and family surrounding them singing the words of the song in unison.

Rob and Lesley's day was full of love and laughter. The laughs. That's what I remember the most. I love it when I laugh so hard with my couples it hurts my cheeks. That feeling you get after you've been smiling in pictures for hours. That's how I felt when I left their reception. I love it when my groom can make my bride laugh at the drop of a hat. It makes my job so much easier, because I'm capturing real happiness... not posed happiness.

Lesley and Rob, Congratulations! Your life together will be full of all of the things your wedding day encompassed... family, love and laughs.

To view their slide show click here.

This was one of my favorite parts of the day... we were walking to the back of the church in search of perfect lighting and the bridesmaids started to belt "gooooin to the chapel and we're goooona get maaaried"

Lesley, you're absolutely stunning.

True emotion...

And again... true emotion. Love.

I love a couple with a sense of humor!

Azzah : Anytime Sneak

2010-03-28T22:11:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of shooting Azzah yesterday afternoon in Old Town, Alexandria. It was such a great photo day... gloomy skies always allow for the most awesome lighting! Azzah is such a natural model... she giggled at everything I said (because clearly, I'm hilarious). Here's a little glimpse into our day:

Happy Monday! More to come!

Living Life...

2010-03-18T21:55:00.007-04:00

Usually I would apologize for not blogging in a couple of weeks... but I think we all understand that sometimes life gets in the way of our lovely blogs. Truth is, there's a lot going on in our lives right now and we're living and loving every minute.

While I'm over here living, I'll give you a little sneak of whats to come!

Behind the scenes... J* Workshop

I know, I know... it's been a few weeks, but I've finally found the time to sit down, look through my photos and read all of my notes from the workshop. Seriously, I wrote down every word that came out of J*'s mouth. When I was leaving beautiful Orange County, I had a million different things running through my head. All I wanted to do was sit down, and think. Just sit by myself and think about everything I had learned.

and finally, I found a little bit of time to do just that. think.

...I learned a lot about the big, bad wedding photography business, and I learned a lot about myself. I learned that God gave me this gift for a reason... and no matter how hard this business is and how stressful it can be, I need to take what has been given to me and use it to capture love. I learned countless things about myself that I never knew before through my interaction with 19 other fabulous photographers from all over the country. It was an absolutely amazing experience that I'll never forget. Fellow photogs, if you ever get the opportunity to attend one of J*'s workshop, DO IT... you will not be disappointed.

More photos to come from the workshop, the workshop shoot-out and Lesley and Rob's wedding!

J*, being ridiculously fabulous

...but for now, I'm just going to keep on living.

Lesley and Rob : Wedding Sneak!

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Lesley and Rob's wedding went off without a hitch yesterday! More on their big day and their awesome relationship to come! A few of my favorites from the wedding are below!

Lesley and Rob met on a church rafting trip so their relationship's foundation is faith. I thought this was the perfect spot for her dress shot!

I absolutely love this shot. It's from their last dance of the night. You can just SEE the love.

Happy Monday!

Kristy : Anytime

2010-02-27T09:17:00.003-05:00

Kristy and I met for the first time at the main beach in Laguna Beach, CA. What a way to start a friendship! Her bubbly personality and Georgia accent are pretty hard not to love.

Not only is Kristy a great person, but her photography is fabulous! And Kristy, I don't care what you say... you're an all around beautiful, fun and fantastic person! With a personality like yours, its going to be hard for brides and grooms to say no!

I present to you, Kristy of Kristy Dickerson Photography.

I wanted to STEAL this palm tree and take it home with me. I just love it.

I'm off to a wedding in Tysons Corner, VA! Stay tuned for more on the J* workshop and a sneak peek from today's wedding!

Carrie and Dane - Anytime

2010-02-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

Carey and Dane are an amazing couple. They're completely natural and fabulous... seriously mid-shoot I stopped and asked if either of them had modeling experience... they're that good. Not only are they fabulous, but the California sunshine totally changed my life. Its warmer, brighter, and amazingly more brilliant than the sun here on the east coast. I know, I know... it's the same sun, but just trust me on this one. It's better. After this shoot, I considered moving to California for a minute... then I realized I would miss my awesome fam too much.

Thank you Carey and Dane, for working with me. You're awesome, times ten.

Isn't Carey the cutest??

rawr. love this.

The "in betweens" are my favorite part of a shoot. Not the moment I pose my clients for, but the moments in between... this image is an example of the perfect in between.

Carey, you're fabulous.

LOVE.

Laurie - Anytime

2010-02-24T07:46:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I met Laurie Bracewell of Laurie Bracewell Photography while I was in Orange County, CA last week for the J* workshop. Laurie and I were ecstatic when we found out we were both from Northern Virginia!

I cannot wait to continue my friendship with Laurie and see what amazing things she does with her business! Big things lie ahead!

I just looove the yummy light coming from behind her

Check out her website!

Anytime Sneaks

2010-02-23T07:49:00.004-05:00

While in the OC last week, I met numerous amaaazing photographers. Their experience levels ran the gambit from just picking up the camera to aperture, shutterspeed and iso veterans.

The day before the Workshop, I met up with Laurie and Kristy in Laguna Beach for a day at the beach, and an anytime shoot. The warm California sun kissed the sky and made my camera do things I've never seen it do before. It was fabulous, and these beautiful ladies were SO wonderful to work with!

Here is a sneak of my two favorites from the shoot... more to come!

Kristy

Laurie

Happy Tuesday!

Inspiration

2010-02-17T15:35:00.006-05:00

Right this very minute, there are so many things running through my head. Inspiration, excitement, love and happiness. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the coveted Jasmine* photography workshop with 19 other fabulous photographers. I knew it was going to be an amazing experience, but Jasmine seriously ROCKED IT OUT. She's candid, sincere and just all around fabulous.

She opened her heart and her mind and every photographer in the room left completely inspired and ready to change the industry with Jasmine's tips and enthusiasm. Not only were we all able to learn a tremendous amount from Jasmine and JD, but we learned from each other.

I'm heart and mind are full of excitement and new ideas and I cannot WAIT to get home to put everything I learned back into my business. Jasmine and the workshop attendees opened my mind and made me realize exactly what I want my business to be.

Jasmine and JD, thank you for absolutely EVERYTHING. You are an inspiration. Not only in your business and your photography, but in your relationship. The love you have for each other just permeates the air. You ROCK!

{Photos coming soon... I don't have my laptop with me!}

Where's Melissa?

2010-02-14T18:28:00.004-05:00

Remember that game? I loooved Where's Waldo... it was up there with Where in the world is Carmen San Diego at our house!

Yes yes yessss, I know. I've been the worlds worst blogger recently.

Truth is, I've been traveling... from Orlando to Mexico to California (tomorrow!)... with a little blizzardy Washington DC in wedged in between. It's been a busy month to say the least. As soon as I touch down I feel like I'm on my way back up again!

I have many many manyyyy updates to share with all of you. And some really exciting business announcements too! Stay tuneddd!

Thanks for your patience ;)

All you need is love

2010-02-14T18:18:00.008-05:00

I've mentioned this before, but Hubs and I are big celebraters. We love celebrating. This year for his birthday I put a candle in every single meal he ate and made him listen to my fabulous solo rendition of "happy birthday".

We're not HUGE Valentine's day fans... because we celebrate each other every day. We have made it a tradition to stay in, watch movies and cook a delicious dinner every V-day. As a matter of fact, Hubs is upstairs right this very minute making surf and turf... lobster tails and filet mignon. YUM. I'd better get upstairs :)

** edited to add**
This was too pretty to not share...

and this was too cute not to share...

******

I'll leave you with my annual Valentines day photo. This is my wonderful friend Steph and her husband JT, who happens to be deployed right now. Steph, you're an amazing woman and I'm so proud of you for being so incredibly strong. I love you!

This photo was taken at my very FIRST engagement shoot, ever.

Russell and Andrea : Wedding

2010-01-18T11:43:00.006-05:00

I've known Russell and Andrea for quite some time now. The love they share for each other is obvious and thriving. Always growing and improving... like any healthy relationship should.

When Andrea contacted me to shoot their wedding I was thrilled. I was nervous. Lets be serious, I was terrified. You see, I had only shot one wedding solo when Andrea contacted me... but she knew. She knew I would grow and thrive as a photographer in the 10 months before her wedding. My relationship with photography grew and thrived, just like her relationship with Russell. Looking back, I have grown. Yes, photography and I have had a love/hate relationship at times... but love has always prevailed. Its amazing to look at my old work and my current work and point out the differences. It keeps me going... and that is exactly what I do when I'm having a bad day, or I feel like I'm stuck.

Thank you Russell and Andrea, for putting your faith in me and my photography. If it weren't for clients like you I would be nowhere.

To view their slideshow click here.

Thanks to Lauren Killip of Starlite Makeup for doing a fabulous job on Andrea's makeup!

Congratulations you two, love birds!

Dear Baby Nate,

2010-01-10T20:56:00.011-05:00

Dear Baby Nate,

First of all, let me welcome you to the world. I waited so long for you, and I'm so happy you've finally arrived. And what perfect timing! You waited until I got home for the holidays to make your appearance. You obviously don't have your father's sense of timing, because that man can't be on time for ANYTHING. I'm so glad you like being early!

You're one lucky little boy Baby Nate. Your Mommy and Daddy, aunts and uncles and grandparents are some of the most loving people in this world. You are truly blessed little man! Your Momma and I go way back... like waaaay back. Back to when we were YOUR age! We were inseparable little girls, spending afternoons hanging out after school and weekends throwing sand at each other at the beach. We were so inseparable we started to look alike! We would be asked over and over if we were twins... well, because we obviously dressed in the same clothes and had the same awesome bob haircut. Inseparable.

I remember when your Mommy and Daddy met. I remember her telling me over and over again that they were "just friends". I would say to her "Ang, you tell him you love him... friends don't do that". She would say back "I love you! I love you, I love you! see... friends say they love each other all the time!" Lemme tell ya, she's a stubborn one little Nate.

I remember the day your Mommy and Daddy got engaged, the day they said "I do"... and the day they found out they were going to bring your cute little self into this world. I was sooo excited... because I knew what awesome parents they would be.

Well baby Nate, I was right. They're proving to be absolutely wonderful parents... letting me come over and snuggle with you all I want... and letting me experiment new poses with you and play with my new camera. You're one lucky little boy Baby Nate. And you're so very loved. Don't ever forget it.

Love,

Aunt Lis

PS... sorry I interrupted your nap time today...

Well, hello love.

2010-01-07T21:30:00.002-05:00

I thought I loved you then...

2010-01-03T19:25:00.001-05:00

Standing at the alter, seconds away from uttering the words "I do" I thought to myself... I've never loved any one person so much, and never felt so incredibly loved. Its amazing how much love can grow. My heart is bigger and completely overflowing because of you. I am a better person because of you.

One year ago, today I married the man of my dreams. He exceeds my expectations every single day, and consistently surprises me with his whit and charm. One year ago today, I became a wife.

I'll leave you with our favorite song of the moment (and the song Hubs JUST played for me while we were eating dinner).

Brad Paisley - Then

I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you. You had me mesmerized.
And three weeks later in the front porch light, taking forty five minutes to kiss goodnight.
I hadn’t told you yet, but I thought I loved you then.

Now you’re my whole life, now you’re my whole world. And I just can’t believe, the way I feel about you girl.
Like a river meets the sea, stronger than it’s ever been. We’ve come so far since that day.
And I thought I loved you then.

I remember, taking you back to right where I first met you. You were so surprised.
There people around but I didn’t care. I got down on one knee right there.
And once again, I thought I loved you then.

Now you’re my whole life, now you’re my whole world. And I just can’t believe, the way I feel about you girl.
Like a river meets the sea, stronger than it’s ever been. We’ve come so far since that day.
And I thought I loved you then.

I can just see you, with a baby on the way. I can just see you, when your hair is turning grey.
What I can’t see is how I’m ever going to love you more. But I’ve said that before.

Now you’re my whole life, now you’re my whole world. And I just can’t believe the way I feel about you girl.
We’ll look back someday, at this moment that we’re in and I’ll look at you and say, “And I thought I loved you then.”
And I thought I loved you then.

Happy Anniversary Babe! It's been an amazing year and I can't wait for the next 100 we have together!

Merry Christmas, Love Molly

2009-12-25T08:00:00.003-05:00

the best present, ever.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-24T15:47:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Nick, Molly and I would like to wish you the best of holidays, and we hope you are blessed with peace, love and happiness in the new year!

We've had an unbelievable year... from getting married, to being blessed with a greatly expanding business, to graduating and passing the BAR, to adopting our beautiful little pup; and we are so glad you were here to experience it all with us. We appreciate you following us in our lives, our business and our love.

Love,
The Manziones

A big thanks to my fabulous sister Denise for taking our "family" pictures!

Snowed IN!

2009-12-19T12:21:00.003-05:00

Today will be spent drinking hot cocoa, watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents! Have a fabulous weekend!

Bill and Kristin : Engagement!

2009-12-17T21:30:00.004-05:00

Bill and Kristin were such a great couple to work with. Not only are they gorgeous, but they're so naturally in love it makes me want to squeeeze them! They certainly made my job easy! I'm so excited to shoot their wedding next year!

Here are a few of my favorites from their shoot:

Happiness.

Isn't she stunning!?!

This very well could be my all time favorite engagement photo. That tree is just awesome.

Happy Thursday!

No Explanation Necessary

2009-12-15T19:04:00.004-05:00

Yes, they are all full... and yes, I would like all of them to be complete by Christmas.

Stan and Carol : Anytime Sneak!

2009-12-14T20:45:00.003-05:00

Stan and Carol celebrated their 30th anniversary this past year. As their anniversary gift, their daughter gave them a photo shoot with moi! Since Stan is a native Washingtonian (which is quite rare!), they decided to do their shoot in front of two of the most prestegious buildings in America; The Supreme Court and the Capitol.

Here are a few of my favorites from their shoot! More to come!

Justin and Elisha : Engagement

2009-12-13T19:07:00.003-05:00

I had a great time with Justin and Elisha in Georgetown. We were blessed with an absolutely unheard of 70 degree day for their engagement shoot.

Georgetown is such a great shooting location. It offers many different backgrounds and old historic buildings... along with fun little nooks and crannies.

A few of my favorites from my shoot with Justin and Elisha are below:

I told Lish to do her fierce face... I'm pretty sure Tyra would be proud!

Congrats guys! Looking forward to your big day next year!