Alumbra Photography {Susannah and Josue Galan}

Adoption

susannah — Wed, 29 May 2013 13:58:19 +0000

It is hard to believe that I am finally writing this post. After years of dreaming, hoping and waiting, the time has come! Josue and I are adopting!

We’ve known for a long time that we would do that someday, but someday snuck up on us, and with joyful surprise, we are walking down that road now.

If you’ve followed this blog much, you know that Josue is from El Salvador and that it holds a big place in our hearts, so it only seemed natural that we would adopt from there. We have applied and been accepted with an awesome adoption agency, and we are hoping to adopt two little ones from ES over the coming years.

The process is long and incredibly daunting (dealing with USCIS again doesn’t thrill me), but the end result will be so so worth it. There is paperwork to be done (mounds of it), funds to raise, and much preparation that will happen in the coming two years, but for right now we are focusing on taking one step at a time and trusting that God will provide every step of the way.

You can follow the details of our process and learn a bit more about it and about the why over on our adoption blog: www.littlehousebiglove.com .

Here’s to a new season and a new adventure!

(taken on our last visit to El Salvador in December)

Baby Portraits: Chasina’s 3 month session (Alexandria, VA family photographer)

susannah — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:24:47 +0000

We did an in-home 3 month session baby portraits with this sweet baby girl and her family over the winter and I just realized I never shared! Tell me those little hipster flannels aren’t the cutest on this family!

Look at that bow! so much cuteness!\Doesn’t she look just like her daddy in this one below?

Mommy and Me Session: Rachel and Mia

susannah — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:37:24 +0000

I have the pleasure of sharing the studio with this beautiful lady, and in turn, her sweet little miss as well! It has been so sweet to watch Mia grow, and see how much she absolutely delights in her mama! Here are a few of my favorites from our session in the studio recently!

Upcoming Mommy & Me mini sessions are just around the corner! Read more and book your spot here!

Announcing…Mommy & Me mini-sessions {Alexandria Children’s Photographer}

susannah — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:44:03 +0000

I packed up my backpack, grabbed the assignment sheet and shot out the door to head home for the weekend. My little tweenage heart thumped as I thought about what was next…high school? I couldn’t wait to be in the big leagues and the only thing standing between me and the sparkling new high school campus was a few exams and my 8th grade graduation.

I hopped in mom’s white minivan and grabbed a sip of her watered down diet coke. My thirst quenched, I held up the graduation page and announced to her that I needed a set of photographs for my 8th grade graduation board. I would need a family picture, a photograph with my best friend and one with my mom.

That evening we pulled out old boxes of photos and began to sort through them, setting aside our favorites and recounting their stories. We searched and sorted, but we could not find a photo of my mom and me. In fact there were very few photographs that even had her in them! After making a few phone calls my sweet mother was able to get ahold of a photo a neighbor had snapped of the two of us a few years before.

Since that event many many years ago, my mom has been an advocate for mothers everywhere to be in photographs! Too often, especially in today’s digital age, moms are the ones who run around snapping the photos and all to rarely are they in them.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, and a summer full of birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations I decided to host a few mini-session days just for moms and their little ones! Mini-sessions will be hosted at my Old Town studio. Saturday, May 11 we will be hosting a tea and cookies pop-up shop with UpCircle throughout our day of shoots. Get a little something fun from UpCircle that day and receive an extra $50 credit toward your order!

E-mail now to book your slot! susannah @ alumbraphotography . com

Wedding: Tom and Katie {Destination Wedding Photographer}

susannah — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:56:07 +0000

On the most perfectly sunny day in mid-March Katie and Tom said I do on the front steps of a New Orleans southern mansion. It was everything a wedding should be; charming, heartfelt and joyful.

Tom and Katie, it was a joy to celebrate your wedding weekend with you. Your love and commitment is evident; may your marriage be a lifelong adventure as you grow and live life together.

-Susannah and Josue

Katie and Tom chose to have a First Look and see each other before the ceremony. It allowed them a sweet time together on their wedding day to stop and take it all in. In their case it was extra special because they chose to do their first look in the same spot that Tom proposed to Katie in City Park.I love these two.Most fun father and daughter dance I have ever seen! These two tore it up!At the end of the night Tom and his groomsmen (and former bandmates) took the stage for a perfect Grande Finale!

Location: Benachi House and Gardens

Caterer: Michael’s Catering

Florist: Carrolton Flower Market

Baker: Shake Sugary

Band: The Replacements

Dress: mother’s dress altered by Ruth’s Bridal

Hair and Make-up: Salon M - Cat Vo

Bridal Session: Katie {Destination Wedding Photographer}

susannah — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:24:58 +0000

Just two weeks ago Josue and I had the joy of traveling to New Orleans to photograph the wedding weekend of this beautiful bride, Katie and her beau, Tom. Katie and her entourage of helpers met us at City Park in New Orleans at the break of dawn for her bridal session. We enjoyed a beautiful morning photographing, chasing away ducks, and eating beignets. Here are a few favorites from her bridal session!

Absolute favorite. Frame it and put it on the wall.

Home Design Seminar {Old Town Alexandria, VA}

susannah — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:35:40 +0000

Next week we are going to host a free home design seminar in Old Town and we would LOVE to have you! Spring is just around the corner and we are excited to help you give your home a fresh new look! Come and learn a bit from the professionals about home decor, floral design, and of course, decorating your home with photographs. We will also have a super special that night of family portrait sessions that you won’t want to miss.

A percentage of all the services purchased at the event (from Alumbra Photography, Lee Interiors and Sweet Root Village) will be donated to the Campagna Center; a local education charity that we support.

Here are the details:

Feel free to bring a friend and enjoy an evening out on us! See you Thursday!

Baby Portraits: Rebeca 19 month portraits {Alexandria Children’s Photographer}

susannah — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:48:25 +0000

Rebeca experienced her first snow and January and I got to document it! She was so adorable trying to figure out the fluffy white stuff!

after that we went inside for a few minutes of playtime and photographing!

The Campagna Center: New Neighbors {Alexandria, VA Portrait Photographer}

susannah — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:39:35 +0000

I am so excited to share a bit about a charity that is doing some incredible work, right in Alexandria! The Campagna Center has their headquarters in Old Town and is working in amazing ways to strengthen the community through their different programs. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a morning photographing their New Neighbors Classes…ESL classes of all levels. The teachers are all volunteers, and they even provide free childcare for their students. The classes are a beautiful example of collaboration and inter-cultural communication…people from every ethnicity, age group, country and cultural background you can imagine attend these classes and learn side by side.

I can’t say enough good things about what a neat program it is and how excited I am to be involved so I’ll just share a few photographs!

El Salvador 2012

susannah — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:05:43 +0000

Very early on in our relationship, Josue and I decided that we would alternate holidays. Having family in two different countries (both far from where we live), meant that trying to split holidays wasn’t going to work. I wasn’t about to spend my Christmas day flying internationally. It has been one of the best things we have done as a couple. It means that the time we spend with our families comes in big chunks…weeks at a time. Every time, we soak it up as much as possible, and every time 2 weeks still flies by.

Christmas 2012 was our year to be in El Salvador. Being there for the holidays is a totally different experience than being in Kentucky. Warm weather, beach trips, fresh coconuts and fruit baskets aren’t things I generally associate with Christmas…at least not until recently. Last Christmas was no different. There were lots of pupusas eaten, games played (I’m quickly converting them all to game lovers), beach trips made and fireworks watched. And of course, the obligatory family photo session!

This is my adorable niece Rebeca. You’ll be seeing lots of her.

bathtime is seriously the cutest.This is Papa Tobal. We love him so much…time with his is full of wisdom and laughter.I really want an aloe plant. Mama Luisa (aka grandma) tried seriously to convince me to take one home. hidden in my pants.ceviche. there is nothing like it.we went river swimming and it was perfect.