DC, Virginia, and Maryland Wedding Photography Blog- Rebecca Watkins

Current Favorites

becca — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:13 +0000

Here’s another quick post with some of my current favorites. Everything from a brand new photography toy I bought myself to my flying puppy.

*Avery- I’m not sure if I have formally introduced everyone to the sweetest (and craziest) puppy of mine. I brought home Avery back in January, and she has been my little shadow ever since. She may have a few screws loose (she thinks she can fly off of things on a regular basis) and she IS the biggest bed hog ever, but I love her.

*STANLY CUP PLAYOFFS!- I have been catching every single second of hockey I can since it’s playoff season. If I’m not at a game, I’m probably enjoying a Guinness while yelling at the TV at my second home, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon. Even though the Caps are now knocked out of the playoffs, I’ll still watch to see anyone but the New York Rangers win.

*The super easy to use Lastolite Ezybox- Two of my good photographer friends, Moshe Zusman and Noah Hayes, introduced me to this pretty cool light modifier. Unlike many other soft boxes, this is quick and easy to open up and use with your speed light (or Q flash in Moshe’s case). Even though I have JUST started using it myself, I can already tell you it’s going to really be a big part of my shooting style from here on out.

Camera: 50mm f/2.8 ISO320 1/80sec
Key light: Nikon SB-900 at 1/8 power to the upper right w/the Lastolite Ezybox 24″
Rim/backlight: SB-900 at 1/2 power directly behind. Bare bulb.
You can see Jackie and Dan’s engagement session here.

-Becca

Lacrosse

becca — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:00:27 +0000

At one time in my life, I lived for lacrosse. It was what I looked forward to EACH and every single day. Lacrosse season was honestly THE most wonderful time of the year (Christmas was always in second). I loved the game, and I loved the competition. The team became an extension of my family. The field was where I could escape. It was the place where I could just leave the stresses of studying for that ONE exam from hell. There were no boy issues. It was just the team, the coach, the game, and I. Nothing else.
I knew that one day, my days of playing would come to an end. But I knew that lacrosse would forever be a part of my life.

I am now an assistant coach at Shenandoah University. I just finished my first season with the team, and I couldn’t be happier with how it went. I get to share my passion for the game with some very talented young women. Sure, there is a lot of commuting between home and practice, and an incredible amount of time on the bus. But in my eyes, it is all completely worth it.

I’m already looking forward to Fall Ball and the spring season, especially since we’re in a new conference with tougher competition and new rivals. The ODAC won’t know what hit them.

You can follow the team on facebook, twitter, and the website.
-Becca

Dan and Jackie- A Manassas Battlefield Engagement Session

becca — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:11 +0000

If you’ve never been to Elizabethtown College (aka E-Town), it’s a SMALL school. There are under 2,500 undergrads. Yes, it’s THAT SMALL. It is actually SMALLER than my high school! With a school that size you pretty much know everyone.
During my Freshmen year, I met Dan. We had some classes together, and we seemed to hang out with the same hooligans.
Sometime during Dan’s college experience, he met Jackie. For a while, they would find “reasons” to spend time together. They’d go to the library and attempt to work on things for class, but nothing ever seemed to get accomplished. After a lot of awkward moments, they FINALLY started dating. Then last September, Dan proposed to Jackie on the beach in Ocean City, NJ.
Dan and Jackie decided they wanted to travel to the Virginia area for their engagement shoot. Dan, Jackie, my Voice Activated Lightstand (Rich Kessler), and I went into Old Town Manassas and then to Manassas Battlefield. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. We seemed to luck out with the thunder storms, and it only rained while we were driving between locations.
Jackie and Dan- I CANNOT WAIT for your wedding this September! It’s going to be great spending the day with the two of you!
And a HUGE thank you to Rich for helping me navigate and rocking the lights!

-Becca

Current Favorites

becca — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:05:04 +0000

I am sick this week and have absolutely no voice. Luckily today, there is nothing I need to do that requires one. So while my photos export and get backed up, I’ve decided to do another post about some of my current favorites.

*NEW SHOES- I feel like this is EVERY girl’s favorite thing ever. I’ve desperately needed new running shoes, and these bad boys definitely fit my personality.

*Cooking- I’ve discovered that I love cooking in the last few months. I’m constantly trying out new things in the kitchen, and Pinterest always seems to have interesting recipes that are begging me to try. My current favorite thing to make? Guacamole.

*Being by the water- I don’t know what it is about the ocean. Every time I’m near it, I feel at home, and I can’t get enough. Maybe it is my Portuguese ancestry talking to me? Possibly.

*VSCOFilm- I started out only doing film photography. I would spend hours upon hours in the darkroom. Sometime in 2006, I started going all digital. A part of me really misses the look and feel of film. Visual Supply Company’s film presets have finally brought that feel back into my photography, and I’m in love. If you take ton’s of iPhone photos and want that same film look, check out Visual Supply Company’s VSCOCam.

*Photo from Kerri and Jake’s Avalon New Jersey Wedding. Blog post can be seen here. Edited with VSCOFilm’s presets for Lightroom 4.

*iPhone photo edited with VSCOCam.

-Becca

Bridal shoot with Goli and Annalee’s

becca — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:51:37 +0000

At the end of last month, I was able to team up with Bridal Hair and Makeup by Goli and Annalee’s for a small bridal shoot. Goli did an amazing job with Lyndsay’s hair and makeup. Annalee’s provided the gorgeous dresses and accessories that you see in these photos.

Model: Lyndsay Rinard
MUA/Hair: Bridal Hair and Makeup by Goli
Dresses: Annalee’s Prom, Bridal, & Special Occasions

Kerri and Jake- An Avalon, New Jersey Wedding

becca — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:28:52 +0000

I am warning you. This may possibly be the LONGEST blog post ever. Why? I think it’s because 1) this was my FIRST wedding of 2012 2)there were SO many great images 3) Jake and Kerri are two amazing people that I’ve known for many years.
Kerri and I actually met through a mutual friend, and later, we were in the same Girl Scout troop. The thing I have always remembered about Kerri is her big heart and great sense of humor. Jake? I’ve known him since the beginning of high school. We took most of our photo classes together and were always bumping into each other in the dark room. He seemed to always know he was going to be a photographer. It was who he was destined to be. After high school, he studied advertising photography at RIT, and he is now a photography coordinator at Cycling Sports Group in Connecticut.
Oddly enough Jake and Kerri knew each other in high school, but only started dating after senior year. Jake was at RIT, and Kerri was studying at JMU. That is an 8 hour drive. One way. They made it work though.
After all of those years of traveling back and forth, they are living in Connecticut together. AND NOW THEY’RE MARRIED!
Their wedding was in the gorgeous beach town of Avalon, NJ. Their ceremony was at Maris Stella right in town. The reception was held at the beautiful Avalon Yacht Club (Kerri always knew she was going to have her reception there).

I can’t thank Kyle LaFerriere enough for being the dashing second shooter that he was. You can see his blog post here.

See more photos:

Church – Maris Stella
Venue – Avalon Yacht Club – http://www.avalonyachtclub.com/
Videography – Martin’s Accent Video – http://martinsvideo.com/
Wedding Planner – Caitlin Boshnack, Just Be The Bride – www.JustBeTheBride.com
Florist – A Garden Party – http://www.agardenpartyllc.com/
DJ – Steve & Co – http://www.steveandcompany.com/
Great American Trolley Company - http://www.gatrolley.com/

Christine and Ben- An Oxon Hill, MD Wedding

becca — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:08:37 +0000

Some things are just meant to be; Ben and Christine first met when their mothers sang together in a church choir. During the ensuing 14 or 15 years, they saw each other from time to time, but it took a trip to Hershey Park in 2005 for them to really get to know each other and connect. I guess it should be no surprise that one of their favorite things to do is go to amusement parks. Christine says, they are kind of nerdy watching jeopardy, the discovery channel and football, but she also says they like to explore places they have never been.
On August 13, they were married at beautiful Oxon Hill Manor. Family and faith play a major role in their lives, and it was apparent as Christine’s father made a last minute adjustment to her veil and in the solemn exchange of the wedding vows. Their wedding in the garden at the manor was absolutely gorgeous.

HUGE thank you to Heather for everything that you do! I don’t know what shooting weddings would be like without her anymore! Lol.

Bakery: Cakes Plus
Floral Design: Susan Wenger from SW Floral Design
Caterer: Royal Affairs Catering
DJ: DZ Entertainment
Venue: Oxon Hill Manor
Video: Jurgen Tabaku

-Becca

Brian Beavers of Beavers Design- Headshots

becca — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:00:51 +0000

Not too long ago, I met up with Brian of Beavers Design while he was in town from Miami for a mini shoot. Brian is the freelance graphic designer and we worked on some head shots and photos for his design business. You have already seen some of Brian’s work; he designed my logos and business cards. Needless to say I love his work.

He also has a side project called “Project Galvanize”.
The purpose of PG is to explore the creative mind’s inner-workings and how many different types of creative individuals in a multitude of professions keep their work fresh and vibrant. Brian chronicles his interviews with writers, dancers, artists and others on the Project Galvanize blog site. No matter what field that the interviewee comes from, they at one point or another, have experienced a period of blandness, or suffered from a lack of creative drive. It is his hope that others can learn from these individuals and to demonstrate that even some of their favorite creatives suffer from a lack of creativity from time-to-time.

Brian has been my go to guy for design questions and designs. He never seems to be at a loss for creative ideas.

-Becca

Brittany and Brendon- An Annapolis, MD Engagement

becca — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:41:57 +0000

Annapolis, MD is a photographer’s dream location! When Chesapeake Bay natives, Brittany and Brendon, won my Summer 2011 Engagement Contest, it was the obvious spot for their engagement shoot.

Even though Brittany and Brendon attended to school with each other and lived on the same island in Maryland, they never met. After graduating from high school, Brittany attended college online and led the Christian rock band, Beyond The Veil (BTV), with her sisters. Brendon left Maryland for Indiana to attend college at Purdue and graduated earlier this year with a degree in astronautical engineering (yeah, he really is a rocket scientist). In 2008, BTV released a Christmas single and after hearing it, Brendon wanted to know more about her. Unfortunately, she was already in a relationship; however, after that relationship closed its doors, she thought of Brendon. She struck up a conversation and they were both intrigued. Despite thinking that they had too much on their schedules to get into a relationship, after an all night talk on the phone, they were in love.

Despite the distance and some rough patches as a couple, their relationship has only grown stronger.

Come on, how can you not appreciate a love story like that?

I had SO much fun photographing this couple, they were up for anything and everything! Brittany, with her performing background, was a natural and definitely knew how to work the camera. And Brendon, he may be a rocket scientist, but he is anything but stiff or serious.

-Becca

Pure Joy Events’ Sew Seven Party- A Vintage Sewing Party

becca — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:17:11 +0000

How incredible would it be to have a mom that planned parties for a living? Well, Miss Caitlyn is lucky enough to have a mom that does exactly that. Christine of Pure Joy Events has done it again and I was fortunate to have been asked to photograph one of the most creative 7th birthday parties ever.

The theme was a “Vintage Sewing Birthday Party” and the kids had a ball doing sewing crafts and munching on creative sewing-themed treats. Christine found a vintage sewing machine to be the center piece of the entire party and spared no detail decorating it to perfection.

You can see Pure Joy Events Blog post here. You can also see a tutorial of the cake pops here.
This party was a huge success and has been featured in a number of places, including:
-Amy Atlas’ Sweet Designs Blog
-The DIY hoop design also on the Sweet Designs Blog
-6 Bitter Sweets Blog
-The blog of Celebrations at Home
-The Honor Roll on Making it Lovely

I can’t wait for more of another Pure Joy Events party!

-Becca