Natalie and I moved to New Haven, CT only a few months ago. We are still trying to get the knack of things here: where to go, what to see, what to do. So after a failed attempt at playing at a pumpkin patch in October(they had no pumpkins! $$^%^&) we decided to take a drive through some Connecticut backroads. With the fall leaves at their peak, I have to admit, I was totally taken. The oranges from the trees were just bursting off the leaves and we even saw 7 wild turkeys. And yes, I did make gobbling noises at them only to have them run away. I guess I’m one big, malformed, loser turkey to them.

Before turning back to go home, we parked at one overlook of some trees and I took a few photographs. I’m pretty sure when I have kids they won’t recognize me without a lens in front of my face. Ah well.

The second photograph I totally heart because it’s the *exact* face Natalie makes *every* time she laughs.

I love fall. It’s one of my favorite seasons because it’s not too hot or too cold, the leaves are turning lovely colors, and it feels like the perfect season to sit down and have a latte outside while reading the New York Times.

So for Yarrow and Jen’s engagement session, we headed out to Butler’s Orchard in Germantown, MD. I had been to the farm once before, stuffing my face with caramel apples and getting super excited for the hay ride. I knew it was a great place to enjoy the fall day and get great engagement shots.

Gaby and Pietro were one of my first clients when I started my wedding photography business and so I was super excited to learn they had just had a baby. So a family portrait session was in order.  Gianluca is only 4 months old but he’s a big, healthy boy. He was all smiles, enjoying the many stuffed animals Natalie and I were tempting him with to look at the camera. He didn’t cry once. And even more exciting, shortly after we shot this family portraits, Gaby learned she’s pregnant with their second child! Mazel Tov! We already are planning maternity shots when she gets to be farther along.

I kept posting mini posts of Desaray and Lauren’s Wedding so it’s time to finish! After a Quaker wedding ceremony(which I got to sit down and enjoy because they don’t allow photographs which quickly went downhill to me crying on a bench in the back after an hour of people standing up and pouring their heart out) and stop at the Dupont fountain, we headed back to Alexandria, Virginia for the reception. Hot dogs, burgers, and beer made everyone feel relaxed and ready to have a good time. Ace of Cakes whipped up their amazing cake with political buttons all over it. I couldn’t believe Desaray and Lauren had designed it!

I found Desaray’s birdcage veil laying around and had to capture it because I was so impressed she made it herself!

Jessica and Doug had their wedding at the Howard County Conservatory. Full of amazing plants, fields of grass up to your thighs, goats, chickens and even an example of how to start your own compost pile(yay!), this place was perfect for Jessica and Doug. Not only did they use native plants as their centerpieces, which meant no dead flowers the next day but plants they could watch grow and flourish in their garden, they even used seating cards that were made from paper that contained seeds. On the cards, it instructed their guests to plant their seating cards to watch wildflowers grow! I loved it!

Doug really had the guest stand up and take notice because they played a bunch of 90′s rap and what did Doug do? He decided to take the mic and rap along! He even went to the balcony and had a few ladies dance around him.