Shelly's Back Room

It is time to talk about Cigars.
I am a big fan! This is my one vice. But through the years it has become increasingly harder to find a place to smoke. Recently I made a fantastic discovery. Shelly’s Back Room is now my favorite spot in D.C.
Shelly’s has been around for years, and serves fantastic food. Large comfortable couches and chairs, nice tables to eat at, and flat screen TV’s make it a great place to relax and have a cigar. They have a wide range of cigars for sale, but they are fine if you bring your own.
Tom had some tickets to a Wizards game, so after a smoke and fine meal at Shelly’s we made our way to the Verizon Center.
The Wiz played the Dallas Mavericks and lost of course, but the evening was a success because of my new discovery.
I have to apologize for the quality of the photography, everything was shot on my IPhone.

Lucie Awards

For the 4th year in a row I was honored by the prestigious Lucie Awards. The Lucie’s are an international photography contest equivalent to television Emmy Awards. The contest annually attracts upwards of 50,000 entries. This year I received 7 honorable mentions in the Wedding photography category. These are the winning photos.

Max Hoops

Max’s loves basketball! He is in a local 9 year old league, and he plays on the Lakers. I am not allowed to brag how well he is playing, but just look at the pictures below.
Leading the fast break and finishing strong.
A well place arm helps to go by his man.
Here he hits the jump shot with the defense all over him.
Scanning the floor for the open teammate. (With tongue hanging out.)
Never saw a shot he didn’t like.
Look at those hops! He is a rebounding machine.
Tongue wagging like Michael Jordan.
Very nice technique boxing out his man.

Michelle and Kevin at Keswick

One of the great things about photographing weddings is that each event is so unique. Last month I had a wonderful day with Michelle, Kevin, and their three kids.




This was a classy, intimate affair held at an amazing location. Keswick Hall in Charlottesville is classic old world Virginia at its best.


We got lucky with a spectacular fall day which still held color in the leaves.

Sheri and Tony

Sometimes a love story is so special that the photographs create themselves. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Tony and Sheri. Time is something this couple does not have a lot of.
Tony lives in Italy and Sheri lives in Northern Virginia.
They met in Italy last year, and thanks to Vonage have developed a bond that I can only describe as amazing.
He was visiting a few weeks back and they were having a small wedding for family and friends. They requested that I create some photographs which illustrate their love for each other.
We spent a few hours at Oatlands in Leesburg, VA. It is a beautiful old plantation-type building with many acres of gardens surrounding it. I could not be happier with the photos.

Sheri and Tony love each other so much that my job was made easy. Thanks guys, and lets have Tony move to Virginia soon!

Almost!

I have the best clients in the world! Desiree is singing my praises all over the blog world. I am almost embarrassed. Almost. Thanks D, you are the best!

Desiree and Mike

Desiree and Mike picked the Jefferson Memorial for their engagement shoot.
On the drive over I found out that they both attended Colgate University. My sister, my next door neighbor, his sister, and their Dad also went there. I attended Ithaca College and visited my sister and neighbor a few times, so I am very familiar with the Gate.

Buyer beware! The US Parks Dept. requires a permit to shoot anything at the Jefferson. But the permit limits you as to where you can shoot.

We still made the best of it and got some great images. (Click here to see a slideshow of the day.) D & M were fantastic to work with and they really got lost in the moment. (I think they forgot I was there a few times.)

I also want to thank Desiree for the kind words she wrote about me on the blog dcnearlyweds.

I cant wait to shoot their wedding next summer.