I love photography, and the never ending learning curve of the art. To me there is magic in a captured memory. Sharing this magic with you is my heart and passion.
I'm an artist and a photographer located in Montgomery Village, MD specializing in children and their families. I am a wife to my wonderful husband of 8 years and mother to three. My blog is where I post my more recent work as well as any exciting news or deals that I'm having. Be sure to check back often. Oh, and if you want to make my day, leave me a comment.... I would love to hear from you. Thanks!
I’ve known and loved Melanie for three years now. You may remember meeting her HERE. She’s a stunning girl, with a beautiful soul, and she’s a ranked swimmer. She always has a joyous and curious spirit, and is not afraid to share her heart with you. Melanie has been a mentee, a babysitter, and yes, even a friend who’s lent an ear. With her, her soul is ageless and her generosity knows no end. Love you my OAR sistah!
Meet Alex. This little guy was 364 days old when I got to shoot him and his family. Alex is well loved… his parents were always smooching him. Later some extended family came for an extended family portrait, and their joy in seeing him was just tangible. He was so smilie and so happy-go-lucky. Happy Birthday Alex! Thank you for a fun evening L family!
Cindy: Such an adorable family and cute little guy! I love all the variety you got!
Jac L.: what a cute guy! I love that last one - great color and cute expression!
lisa lucky: So so sweet! They will treasure those forever!
Krissy Allori: What a little cutie! I am loving those big dark brown eyes.
staci: he is a CUTIE! that second one is such a fun family portrait.
Jessica: What a cutie!! Adorable captures!!
Julie: he is just adorable!! What a happy looking family too! Lovely!
Christie Adams Photography: what a happy baby- adorable!!!
Katherine: Beautiful photos of a beautiful family! I love them all!
PamN: This age can be a challenge, but you made it look easy!
Salina J: Such a beautiful family, these are great! Love the bright colors.
rebekah: what a cute little guy! great captures!
Katie Lou: He is a doll! Great work!
Julie Wagoner: What a cutie...love his expressions!
Tori Piercy: Gorgeous family!! That little boy is too cute! Great pictures!
Amanda: You can just feel the love with this family. I love that last shot. What a darling little boy.
It doesn’t seem like it was too long ago that this little guy… was well… little. And, oh boy… he was mine, all mine. These last 5 and a half years, he’s been my buddy, my rascal, my tester of patience and wills. But he was all mine. I tried my best in teaching him right from wrong. That “To Have a Friend, You Need To Be a Friend.” To listen and obey. I hope he’s ready.
Because, he’s not “all mine” anymore. Now his teacher, Mrs. H will have him for 35 hours or so a week.
My first baby started Kindergarten. Amidst my tears, he climbed that bus, and he had a great day. Seth is growing up, and I hope and pray that he’s ready for this world.
Heather M: I have another week until I release my oldest child, my only daughter, the love of my life to the arms of Kindergarten too. Congrats Seth!!!
Suzanne Ellis: with his Darth Vader lunch box he can't go wrong. He question is - Is the world ready for him? Blessings!
Gen: He looked so cute & more than ready to go! Each day that you send him off gets easier, I promise!
Hello, my name is Andrea and I love color.
There I said it. I’m obsessed with color. I like color and lots of it.
So I decided to try something new. So I present to you: A session preview done entirely in black and whites.
Crazy, I know.
As a side note, the above family is the Blair family, of Blair Blanks Photography based in Baltimore. She had just had her third child and wanted some help capturing all three of her kids together, and then of herself and her new daughter. It was such an honor to help her, and so much fun!
Jac L.: what a sweet family! And your conversions are great!
Mindy U: These black and whites are gorgeous! Fab work Andrea! Nice and creative compositions without it being overdone, like!!
Gen: So sweet! I have to tell you, I cannot wait to see ours!
Kimberly: Oh...those first two with big brother...are just priceless. Beautiful work!
Jaidean Baker: These are gorgeous! I just love those first two with big brother!
gini: love them!
Jessica: Gorgeous...absolutely adore these!!!
Elissa: Beautiful photos of a beautiful family! We love color, too. Maybe we should start a support group. :)
Beira: Love your black & whites! These are stunning.
Jhari: All your B&W photos are perfect. But I love colored shots from you. The life is there :)
Leanne: Adorable. What an awesome family, memories that will be treasured forever.
Stacia Shaw: these are beautiful...I am a color girl too, so I get how hard it can be to show things in b&w!!
Rosemary: Gorgeous! What great images for this family!
susie L: Fantastic job! What precious memories - love the ones with big brother and of Blair holding the baby! What a beautiful family!
Salina J: Gorgeous. I love the black and whites, they are perfect. What an amazingly beautiful family.
Kelly Ridgell: I think these are just so so pretty. Perfect showcasing the families love for the new member!
rebekah: beautiful beautiful!!!! i be they adore these!
Vickie: Even though I absolutely love your color work...your black and whites are stunning! These are such beautiful images. I especially love the sibling shot. It's just perfect!
Amanda: I so hope that they order an album...truly. These are magic.
Lisa Little: Love these!! Your b&w conversions are perfect and these images are so gorgeous!
Blair Blanks: You know how much I love these! Gotta get a BIG canvas of the one of all three! I can't thank you enough!
Jennifer Weddington: LOVE these, they are simply beautiful!!
Tina Richards: Absolutely beautiful!!
It’s that time of year… where summer is winding down, and in our case, very first backpacks are being bought. It’s also the annual tradition of heading to the county fair for the afternoon and evening. Lucas was so excited.. he was finally big enough to ride rides this year! All by himself on a few of them too! I love the colorful light in the background of this… I also love that look on Lucky’s face. He’s biting his lip, trying to suppress a smile.
Happy last few days of summer!
Warning… Photo Overload! Like I mentioned before… I took over 400 photos, so how do you narrow it down to just a few for the blog?!?! I’ll try my best….
We had an AWESOME time in Avon, which is near Hatteras Lighthouse. Very laid back and relaxing…. here are some of my snaps and seascapes (taken with a rented Nikkor 14-24mm 2.8)
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2
please be respectful and don’t take my unwatermarked photos… my children do bite.
lisa lucky: gorgeous andrea! can't wait to meet you all!
Keela: AMAZING photos, Andrea! Wow!!!
Danna: looks like the most wonderful holiday ever! My ABSOLUTE fave is the 2nd to last! It made me smile.
Kelly: AMAZING !!!!! Gorgeous photos and family <3
Ramona: Gosh, what gorgeous pics you have, my favorites are your kids in the sunset, genesis, 3 kids walking on beach
Conni: WOW, WOW, WOW!! Love the one of you and your husband in th sunset!! and the last one of the kids on the beach!! Any chance you would come to Canada??
Heather M: These are amazing as ever Andrea! Your landscapes are to die for!!!
Jhari: So lovely!!!
Tiffany Burke: Oh so amazing!!! Love the wide shots!
Gen: Beautiful! You guys are going to be so missed in September! Let us know if you change your mind & decide to come over Labor Day ;)
Stacia: gorgeous photos and kids!
Cristi: Once again I am so jealous at those fantastic photos! Wow
Lindsay Banner: Andrea...these are absolutely too die for gorgeous!! Every single one of them!! Looks like you guys had a blast!!
Emily Heizer Photography: Sky is just beautiful there at the beach! And I LOVE baby girl in the red bikini with the chubby tummy. I wish I looked that cute with all my chubbers hangin' out. She me and should have a little pow wow as to how she pulls that off! She's a genius!
sun, sand, surf, and each other. This is just one snap out of the 410 I took last week. Be certain this will be printed HUGE on canvas somewhere in my house. I’m totally in love with it. More to come….
Melissa: GORGEOUS! This is one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen. Love it!
Gen: It turned out perfectly! Can't wait to hear about your week in blissdom ;)
Kelly: This is absolutely breath-taking!! You are so talented...
Angyla: That is amazing! What a treasure!
Claire: Oh my gosh. I LOVE it. How the heck did you take that? Beautiful.
Mandy: I would love to know how you were able to get this! Did you use a remote, or did you coach someone else to push the button? What kind of settings did you use? I am still learning and would love some pointers. We head to the beach in one month!
Ramona: this is totally gorgeous, great work
admin: Thank you everyone! Mandy, I used the self timer on a tripod. Everyone was in place, except for me. We were really only about 10 feet from the camera, so I hit the button and dashed into place. I exposed for the sky. Silhouettes work really well 10 min before or after the sun sets or rises. F/2.8, ISO 250, at 14mm. HTH!
The Burns family will be out of town and away from the internet until Monday the 16th. I’ll be playing catch up with email and blogging when I return to Maryland next week. Those of you who have emailed about holiday sessions – thank you!!! I’ll be getting in touch with you with scheduling options soon - promise! :) Love, me
I recently saw on facebook, a photographer friend post some fun photos of her son in rainboots and a cape. I just *had* to get Lucas in a similar getup.
we both had fun with this, lol!
Alisha Shaw: That is adorable!!! He is so cute!! Great lighting!
Angelina S: LOL! Too CUTE!!
Andree: First, I have to say, I LOVE that he's wearing superhero underwear! That just goes without saying, right? But, WHEN did he get a short haircut?! Love your weekly pics!
Nicole: haha, that's great!
Jac L.: Love it! I think even my son (who hates my camera) would go for that!
Emily Heizer Photography: HA! Now THAT is what I call a SUPER HERO!!!
I often have clients ask me… “what should we wear?” My answer is always, “something coordinated, but not too matchy-matchy.” In an effort to help you, as a client, and as a reader, I’d like to share some tips in how to dress for your Custom Portrait Session. I’ll be using my own clothes, that I have purchased for portrait purposes to help illustrate my advice.
I often tell clients and friends to find a nice bright patterned piece of clothing and put that on one person in the group. Then you pull the colors from that pattern and dress everyone else around it. I, personally, like a blend of brights and neutrals. The following two photos represent two family-type outfits with a boy and a girl. Now, I’m also *that mom* who matches her two boys. So I have no problem with doubling up on the boy’s outfit, or possibly in your case, the girl’s outfit.
This top collection is perfect for a more natural-type setting of tall grass. The colors are what you might find in nature. The second collection is more suited for an urban-type setting. I know for a fact that there will be some All Star Converse shoes with that collection. ;)
One pattern, the colors pulled from it for everyone else. Please feel free to get funky with accessories and shoes.
The next two photos show just samples of sibling session possibilities. The first is more winter, the second more summer. The first would be great with a third child in chocolate brown. The second, I think that a third child can match and duplicate the polo or dress again.
Now I’m going to show you the above principles/ tips in practice with my own family photos from last year. One pattern, the colors pulled from it for everyone else, a blend of brights and neutrals.
Coordinated, but not too matchy-matchy.
Now where do I find these clothes? Everywhere, I shop around. But I have the best luck at Gap, Old Navy, Gymboree, CrewCuts, and Anthropologie.
Hopefully this helps you. I’d love to hear if it does. :)
Lori Robison: These are awesome tips Andrea! I too have the hardest time putting outfits together. Nice to see some inspiration!
Sara: Great examples! Love this post.
Lan: Love these selections...now if I could only have you as my personal shopper.
Cyndee: Fantastic advice, Andrea!!!
Kate: Thank you so much!! Andrea. I have clients ask this question all the time. I too am not a matchy matchy person more coordinating. But the one pattern piece is a GREAT tip!!
Anya Coleman: Love it!
misty Jones: This is so great Andrea! I am really loving that "urban" outfit! I want! :)
Kelly Mendoza: I love this! What a great idea and your family is GORGEOUS!
Jen Graber: This is great Andrea! Thank you for sharing.
Angelina S: I LOVE your ideas for how to coordinate without everyone matching! This looks fabulous!
Nancy: Can you share where that cute brown dress is from in the first example set? Thanks :)
Andrea: Thanks everyone! Nancy, it came from Belk. :)
Hayley: Here's my question...how in the world do you keep your daughter still while you fix her hair? My 20 month old starts running at the site of a brush, thus we end up with lumpy ponytails!
Hayley: Here's my question...how in the world do you keep your daughter still while you fix her hair? My 20 month old starts running at the site of a brush, thus we end up with lumpy ponytails!
Jen Mahoney: Oooh, what a stunning girl! And from what you've said, she possesses a heart of gold too, which of course is the most important thing. I adore all of the variety you've captured here!
Kari Hentzelt: They're all so gorgeous, but that last photo, of her in her element, is my favourite. Good work, Andrea!
Kimberly Marie: These are all wonderful! Love the locations. She is a stunning girl and you captured her so very well- I LOVE the last one :)