Woodlawn Alexandria Wedding Photos – Congratulations Katherine and Chris!

The long awaited wedding day finally came!  Beautiful bride Katherine stepped into this gorgeous lace gown at the Alexandrian, then we met her groom, Chris, for a first look outside in Alexandria, VA by the Apothecary, which is the same today as it was in George Washington’s day.  Followed by portraits around Old Town, on the way to meet the wedding party for pictures on the cobblestone street.  What a treat to have 45 minutes in this historic place for gorgeous pictures!
Then off to another location with ties to George Washington, the estate he gifted his granddaughter as her wedding present. Woodlawn is a first class wedding venue in Alexandria and they have really upped the competition and may just be the best place for a wedding in the Washington, DC area.  The historic mansion is a stunning backdrop for pictures and the wedding ceremony.  And the grounds offer beautiful areas for pictures and a lovely formal garden strung with lights for the cocktail hour.  And the permanent tent with a tabby floor, draped ceiling with chandeliers brings in the natural scenery in a comfortable and elegant way.  It’s really the perfect wedding venue!

Katherine and Chris looked at each other in the most adoring way all day.  There is a special bond there and I so love to see a couple that just soaks up their wedding day and feels it all!  Their family and friends couldn’t have been more joyful and supportive too.  So many lovely locations and meaningful moments, as you can see, they ended up with a huge number of photos so they remember it all!

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Bridesmaids seeing Katherine all dressed and having her veil put on.  Love those smiles of love and support! 
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Just after the first look, looks of love!  But they did look at each other like this all day! 
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Both families went to the same WV summer camp each year as the kids were growing up, and have been friends for a many, many years!  
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Woodlawn mansion makes such a dramatic backdrop for wedding pictures! 
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Woodlawn was a gift from George Washington to his granddaughter. If the trees were shorter you could see Mt. Vernon in the distance. 
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The stunning moon arch covered in white flowers was a spectacular backdrop for the wedding ceremony! 
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It was a tad humid and warm, so these ceremony programs as fans were perfect!  
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This garden setting for the cocktail hour was just dreamy! 
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All the invitations and wedding stationary was so beautiful in it’s periwinkle blue and features the most charming drawings of the venues! 
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Woodlawn has created a full service wedding venue with a permanent tent for the reception.  It’s a gorgeous draped tent with chandeliers, a tabby concrete floor which feels so era appropriate (concrete with oyster shells), fans and sides that can be open or closed as the weather dictates.
Here the band is getting set up.  Tables are set with blue and white flowers.   
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The white flower moon arch came in from the ceremony and now frames the cake. 
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How fun!  A choreographed first dance!
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I just love the expressions during the toasts!  Such looks of happiness! 
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And choreography for the father daughter dance too! 
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Cutting the funfetti wedding cake! 
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Twilight with string garden lights is perfection! 
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Lots of dancing fun with this great band! 
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Exiting to well wishes and streamer wands! 
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Getting ready hotel:  Alexandrian
Wedding venue: Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Music: Ceremony and Cocktail hour: DaVinci Strings, Reception Band: Bachelor Boys
Florist: Eight Tree Street
Hair/Makeup: Bombshell Blowouts, Naida Azaz
Planning/Invitations/Day of Coordination: Added Touches by Terry
Photographer: jan michele photography
Videographer: Delta Studio Productions
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Catering: Design Cuisine


e-mail Jan now
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Washington DC Newborn Photographer – Baby Mateo

It took until Mateo was 2.5 weeks old to find a day for his newborn pictures at his Washington, DC home, but oh baby it was worth it!  What a sweet baby boy!  And those cheeks, and back rolls, and long eyelashes!  Babies do not come any cuter!  As his pictures clearly show!  And he’s no little thing at already 11 pounds! His mama is going to be building muscles carrying him around. 🙂
It works best to photograph babies before they are 3 weeks old as after that they are no longer quite as sleepy and curly like newborns anymore, but even though he was approaching that age, he was a champ and slept so well for me!  Even with a compressed timeline.  I was there for 3.5 hours which I know sounds like a long time, but it goes really fast when you’re waiting for a baby to go to sleep and stopping for feedings, plus setting up and cleaning up.   There is no such thing as a quick newborn shoot! 🙂
And fun fact, he was due the day BEFORE Bianca – who was born 3 weeks early, and he was 1.5 weeks late.  So they ended up being photographed 6 weeks apart, she in April and he in June when they were both due in early May.  Babies come exactly when THEY are ready!
Such a joy to capture these early days for this sweet family of three!

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Washington DC Maternity Photographer – Soon to be Family of Four!

Soon to be Family of Four!  I first photographed this beautiful family when Alex was a newborn and then updated pictures when Alex was a toddler.  Such a treat to catch up with them, as they anticipate the arrival of baby boy #2 very soon, for maternity portraits in Washington, DC!  Alex will be the best big brother!  This photo session was also great practice so he knows me and also knows what to expect (like holding still and smiling) when I come to take the newborn baby pictures.  I know it’s a lot of work with little kids, but the more you take pictures, the more they get the hang of it and the easier it gets!

Such a glowing mother-to-be x2 with such a sweet spirit, I’m so glad she will have these pictures from this season of life when they transition from a family of 3 to 4.  It was actually her husband who contacted me this time and made it happen, as he knew how important it was.  Big points for him!  I’m sure he will train his sons to be so thoughtful!  I can’t wait to meet the new addition their family soon! 

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e-mail Jan now
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Ashburn VA Newborn Photographer – Baby Bianca

Baby Bianca was ready for the world 3 weeks early, just look at those squishy chubby cheeks and blond hair!   And photographed at the best time for baby pictures at a week old.  What an adorable newborn sleepy smile she gave while in the tummy pose wearing dusty rose ruffle shorts.  She’s a cutie!   So glad her parents joined in too, I know those first family pictures while she’s a newborn, will be treasured for a lifetime!

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Fairfax County Family Photographer – spring photos

I love keeping up with my clients and their growing families over the years.  The photography relationship with this family started at their friend’s wedding, before their own.  What an honor to be their wedding photographer, their newborn photographer and their family photographer!  It was time for new family pictures and we had a cool spring day that was just perfect.  To let the kids run!  With stops in between for pictures. 🙂 Such a joy to watch these kids grow and to capture that in pictures.

Don’t let another season go by without new pictures of your family! 

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e-mail Jan now
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