monnette & duc - a wedding

The day was perfect, after the forecast called for rain, and it didn't.. So much to do as Monnette and Duc merged lives with two faiths into one. A Buddhist Ceremony and a Catholic Ceremony all in one day! I have to say that we were just thrilled to be taking part, in theory, in such rich customs wrapped tightly with eloquent traditions and ceremony. It was colorful, meaningful, rooted in faith and tradition (on both sides), respectful, serious and tied together with a big huge satin bow of love.

Monnette and Duc your day was just perfect and everything a marriage should be about: Love, Joy, Contentment, Commitment and Faith. As you start your journey together may you continue to love each other as much as you have all these years since High School. Thank you for the honor of transforming your day into the memories that will last a lifetime.

As per her usual, Susan of "Simply Elegant Weddings" worked out the fabulous details of each moment of this long day.

First the Buddhist Ceremony where a formal asking for permission for the marriage and presenting the brides family with a roasted pig and decadent gifts is custom.







The gorgeous bridesmaids ready for the day. We all had so much fun!




The beautiful Monnette in a relaxed pose in her first dress.

Bridesmaids having a little fun before the ceremony.




Duc looks mighty relaxed.. ready for a GQ spread.

The groomsmen arrive for the gift presentation portion of the ceremony.

The presentation of the gifts from the grooms family to the brides family.

Duc's father looking right into the camera as the crowd gathered to go to his house for the Buddhist ceremony.

Getting ready details for both ceremonies!

private (or not so) moment between Monnette and Duc during the ceremony.

We were able to sneak away to a secluded spot for their private session before the reception.

Just one of many of my favorites of the day! Limo by ING Limousine.

Come on guys we have a reception to go to!

Look at the details in this stunning dress. White Swan Bridal

On to the reception at Martin's Crosswinds in Bowie Maryland. The florals were designed and displayed beautifully by Da Vinci's Florist in Silver Spring.

First dance......adorable.

Dad's emotions...priceless. Good thing Julie and Seda where there from "Blue Sky Films" providing the live video for the entire day... These moments are really special for all the women out there who have a soft spot in their hearts for their fathers..(and vise versa).

Monnette showing off HER shoes as the guys tried to show off their matching socks.

A wonderful send off to the delightful couple.

and do not forget to click for their slideshow!

Just for the weekend

Friends are hard to come by we all know that.. we love them, we hate them, in touch, out of touch, reaching out, don't want to hear from them, want advise, don't want to hear it, call me, don't bother.. it's a ladies thing..
This weekend we were all the better for it.. we came together and had a ball.. just for a day or two we spoke the unspoken, we reunited after a really long time, we caught up and stared at each other for that remnant of what we remembered last, we laughed till we cried and then just cried.. We were there for each other even though we all have our own kool-aid to stir (smile)..
Guys you are all beautiful and have all morphed into wonderful, strong, meaningful women.. what a blessing, after all these years, we can come together and have such fun just remembering the past. With no desire to re-live the past, we just allowed ourselves to acknowledge that it (the past) existed and that it served it's purpose well ushering us all into the ladies we have become.

and just because a post is better with a slideshow..

Fusion of Love!

When I first heard about this wedding I was excited, curious and fascinated by their love and commitment for each other...they seemed so young. As Monnette and Duc recited their vows this past weekend and set out to live their lives as one forever, I was reminded that there is power in romance, passion and love. This was a fusion of cultures and religions, backgrounds and traditions but most of all it was a fusion of love.

Monnette and Duc thank you so much for allowing Eric and I to document your day. We had a ball shooting your wedding and other ceremonies, meeting your family, learning about your cultures and traditions and hanging out with your cool bridal party.. I can not wait to show you the rest but in the meantime if you can find an internet cafe in St. Lucia, here is a sneak peek of just one until I finish the rest of the editing.. Enjoy your honeymoon!

o.k... one more for the road!

Music Ministry's 3rd Anniversary

It is my pleasure to present the 3rd Annual Music Ministry slideshow. I was honored and tickled at the same time when the phone call came over a month ago asking for my availability for this date. I cannot say enough about how this event touches me personally because I believe gospel music, in particular, touches my soul and always fills my spirit. If you watch others when the music starts you see a transformation of their spirit...some people get filled, stand up, clap their hands, gently rock, some people tap their feet, raise a hand or simply close their eyes and listen... whatever happens on the outside really does not matter, it's the transformation on the inside that is individual, personal, necessary and expected... what ever it is for you it is clear to me, as a person that watches intently and honestly... He is moving in each and everyone of us and it is very clear that we (me & you) "never would have made it" without HIM!!

One more thing! I do what I do because I love it.. Let's be clear, my gift/talent is a gift from God! I want to say thank you for allowing me to use my gift to magnify HIM!... but flowers made it oh so sweet, on this day. You guys knocked me off my feet presenting me with such an awesome bouquet... I almost dropped my camera I was so surprised!! THANK YOU!!!

enough said from me.. click here for the Slideshow

Dancing in His Glory!

Once again, the Liturgical Dancers of Fort Washington Baptist Church in Fort Washington Maryland, celebrated their 3rd Annual Anniversary with demonstrations of dance with faith, commitment, praise, movement and the love of God. They are led by the uncompromising and ever faithful Beverly Carter.

It has once again been my absolute pleasure to document this very special day in these women and children of God's lives. Watching their faces and witnessing their movement seems to take you away, if not but for a moment, to reflect on how they are allowing themselves to be used by God.
Their special guests for the day, "Anointed Vessels" from Ebenezer Baptist Church,danced as well with complete conviction and dedication. Such beautiful women of God!

Enjoy their slideshow!


The FWBC Liturgical Dancers working it out!

Hats and Fans...taking you back!

Beverly receiving her flowers

Nikki, You HAVE Arrived

Being invited to do the photography for Eric's first cousin's graduation celebration was a no brainier. After working out the little details like what to do with the kids (smile), I was in the car with my sisters and brother in law in route down to Portsmouth Virginia with one thing in mind... to make this a beautifully captured event for the guest of honor and host Nikki Reid..

She arrived late, pulling up with to the venue with a slow but steady glide. She opened the door of the car and the 4 of us started making jokes about how she was doing all late and all... It did not take long for her to mutter, while fighting back tears, that she had just left her husband Norris in the hospital. We stopped dead in our laughing, joking, ridiculing tracks and took deep breaths.. waiting to hear the details, finding out that he was stable, up and talking was a great relief. All the while, we were trying to figure out how in the world we were going to get her to concentrate on the affair that she and her friends had worked months to put together. The four of us knew that this would not be easy!

We listened to details while we made her apply makeup and put her clothes on knowing that the guests would be arriving soon.. daylight was leaving.. we had to get her outside and take her pictures.. she had worked so hard for this day to commemorate how far she had come and how hard she had worked to finish school. YEARS in the making, she never gave up, she kept going.. against all odds and finally made it. "Nikki had arrived". She has stories to tell, about her past and about her present... life "ain't been no crystal stair" but she strives to be the best she can be, walking with faith and conviction that only the best will do!

We got her outside and my sisters and brother in-law got to work. They made Nikki laugh telling stories about relatives and had her in stitches trying not to close her eyes as she smiled. Her smile is contagious. The hard work was trying to get a serious look out of her after the infectious laughter rolled in...

Later, as the guests arrived, she made a grand entrance down the red staircase and rested while her family and friends saluted her with words of wisdom, reflection, advice and love...

"When I think of you I just think"LOVE" her cousin smiled.... she wiped away tears.

Good food, dancing ("the purculator?) and fellowship followed and then time to say goodbye...

"Bitter sweet", she said as she wanted to remember her late father because she knew he would be so proud. She paid tribute to him by ordering and wearing a spectacular ice blue tailored suit from the place suit maker he frequented.."Michael Menswear"in Military Circle. The Swarovski Crystal bracelet and the gorgeous ring?.. presents from her husband..

"Go ahead..", he encouraged her to leave him, "you have worked hard, I'll be o.k.", he told her as he convinced her to leave the hospital..

Life is funny sometimes but one thing is clear. We have nothing to do with the greater path just how we choose to walk down it...

Nikki..You go girl.. you smile, continue to do good for the people you serve and your reward will be great. You are a rock and we all can only learn from you, how to keep going when everything seems too hard. You have incredible friends that wanted you to have it all on this day and planned with and without you to make this occasion as special as you are. Good friends are hard to find. Treasure them..

I will ask for prayer from all my faithful blog readers for your husband "Norris Reid" as he walks a path to recovery.

Aunt Carol? You and Uncle Percy have done well. I have no words to go further but to say that Nikki is so special and I have learned a lot from her over the past few months.. Stay strong and.... Eric and I Love you!!


Click here to see Nikki's slideshow!

A Surprise 75th Birthday Celebration!

The week was rainy but that day was perfect.. sun shining, temperature moderate, no rain in sight and not a cloud in the sky. As if the day was tailor made for a very special person that was due for one of the biggest surprises of his life.

Wow! What a birthday celebration. It was complete with over 250 guests, a sit down dinner, an ice sculpture, and a program complete with touching tributes, stories, gifts, memories, honor and praise. A special tribute from the beautifully, talented Vickie Winans and a musical selection of another kind from the Ballou High School Marching Band. It was hard to compose myself during both performances because of the electricity in the room. After Vickie's performance of "King Jesus" I caught myself shouting, a squeal, out loud. I had to chuckle and look around to see if anyone heard my sudden outburst (smile); then off I went to capture the rest of the program complete with memories and love (the slideshow), stories of kindness and compassion (the shoes), friendship (the classmates from Bates High School), the musical connection (the marching band), gifts (the high school jacket and the commemorative brick). Good food, family, fellowship, friends and fun.
As I listened to the family and friends on the red carpet being interviewed what struck me was the love, respect and honor that each person reflected and the reverence they ushered to a man whom they know... loves God, preaches the word and brings people to Christ... over and over the accolades where memorable and encouraging, heartwarming and true.... I could not wait to finally meet him... and thus the time came when the room was hushed to silence and the crowd waited with heavy anticipation.

Two years in the making, by the mastermind Regi, the surprise of a lifetime was about to unfold.. the doors swung open and there he was, the guest of honor, Bishop Francis S. Myles, Sr. Pastor and Prelate of the House of Prayer Church of God, Inc.... I could go on for days about the details but I will let the pictures tell the story that only time prohibits me from finishing.
I'd be remiss if I failed to mention "Team Regi" so aptly named by one of the team's fearless leaders. This event will go down in many minds as the one that was above the rest and you all did such a spectacular job working together with the goal of making the day special for Bishop Myles.
Regi, thank you for trusting and allowing me the opportunity to capture this very special day for Bishop Myles. Eric and I were so honored to be apart of his 75th Birthday Celebration and left uplifted and filled with joy after being a part of this incredible day!


Click Here to see the slideshow!

monnette + duc

The circumstances of the first encounter are clear...maybe.... He was standing out side of a classroom and she walked by. He asked a friend who she was and was given her name.
As he tells the story, she giggles and shakes her head "no" that he had it all wrong.. There was one thing she was truly able to commit to remembering. Upon seeing him one day Monnette got so flustered she fell.. That's right.. she saw him, tripped and fell on the floor.... "He did not even help me get up, he just left me laying there" she exclaimed... we all broke into laughter because High School memories do that to you!!

It's been a few years since they graced the halls of Bladensburg High School but one thing is clear. Their love for each other is apparent, genuine, pure and simple, kind, respectful and true and they are quite perfect for each other... He looks at her and she smiles, he touches her and she smiles and she does the same for him.

We had a lot of fun shooting this session and I can not wait to shoot their wedding in July!

Click here to see their slideshow

shondrea + eric - a wedding

*On a crisp, mildly chilly, dreary but beautiful day in Baltimore.. a most spectacular event was to take place. That would be the blessed union between Shondrea Howard and Eric Reeves.. to be man and wife from that day to eternity.

As Eric and I drove to Baltimore.. I silently prayed for the drizzle that was falling on the windshield to just go away.. and then I remembered that rain on a wedding day is supposed to be good luck.. or so they told me way back when Eric and I got married..

Anyway..I was excited for Shondrea and Eric.. While meeting them months earlier they seemed like such a balanced couple.. she is confidently quiet, soft spoken but knows exactly what she wants and he balances that with reserved yet strong consideration that is willing to oblige albeit with a lot of careful thought. You can tell he suits her and her him.... a union that will last a lifetime!
And their Smiles!! Infectious, beautiful, complementary and sure to radiate any room... (you did not know smiles could do all of that.. did you?)

Shondrea and Eric... thanks so much for allowing Eric and I to be there and capture your wedding day.. although the weather was a bit grey that day, no one would ever remember for the spectacular intimate affair you hosted for your very special family and friends.. we were so honored to be a part of it all..

Vendor Corner:
*Flawless make-up by Tahisha Murray "Ty" of "Defining Beauty"
*Gorgeous floral arrangements by Claudette Chambers of "Enchanted Unicorn-Florist
*A beautiful Maggie Sottero dress from a very special boutique "Francesca's Bridal" of Baltimore.. Shondrea could not say enough great things about her new friend "Britt" (aka Brittany) and Francesca's Bridal.. you see Shondrea had been to several different bridal shops in the area but found a special place in this shop, as they treated her like a queen from the moment she stepped in the boutique.. They even sent "Britt", as Shondrea nicknamed her, to lace up her dress on the wedding day.. When I walked in the hotel room Britt was busing herself with helping everyone with adjustments to straps and sashes with needle and thread.. I asked her when she was getting ready.. you know.. the last bridesmaid to get dressed when I was informed she was there just to make sure the dress was laced up properly. I had to chuckle to myself.... Brit did not leave until Shondrea was safely in the limo.. Now that is service..!!

Click here to see Shondrea + Eric's slideshow