Memories of Our Youth: John & Nancy

It feels like yesterday that I graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park. Time sure does fly. I think back to the days of camping outside of Cole Field House overnight for tickets to my beloved Maryland Terrapin basketball games, to meeting friends for lunch at the Stamp Student Union, to pulling all-nighters at the Hornbake Library to prep for those dreaded final examinations. It seems strange, but I miss those days so much!

When Nancy and John asked me to photograph them at College Park, it afforded me the opportunity to see the campus again with all the changes that have happened over the course of the last 10 to 15 years. Even more refreshing was seeing Nancy & John's son, Ethan, running through the campus greens without a fear in the world. You can already imagine him with a backpack all set and ready to go to class. Being a former alum, I doubt Nancy will let Ethan go anywhere else except College Park. At least I hope!

You can never doubt a woman's love for her son, but even more impressive was John's talent at the infamous game of peek-a-boo. From behind your hands, to a column, a bush, or even a camera, it never seems to get old when you need to get a child to smile and this case was no different.

Looking for a portrait photographer in the Washington DC Area? I know --shameless plug, but I have to do it...

Engagement: Curtis & Kristy

The season has finally shifted from the winter to the spring. As much as I love the snow, we got a LITTLE too much of it this season. I'm happy to welcome in the spring season. I debated whether I'd rather have a ton of snow or a ton of allergic reactions to the pollen in the air during the spring season. My consensus? I'll deal with the allergies!

It had been a while since I saw Kristy, but she's still the same fun girl that I had always known. One thing is always constant with her... the smile. Curtis, on the other hand, was a mystery man to me until we finally met for their engagement shoot. We started off in Accokeek (MD), then made our way through Landover, and ended in Old Town Alexandria. It was during this time that I got to know Curtis a little better. For starters, he's a volunteer fireman, who is proud to serve and protect. It's not a job I could handle, but it's one that I truly respect. This was the first time I had ever visited a fire station, so it was awesome to see the fire truck that I could only see and touch as a toy growing up as a kid!

More importantly, I was able to see the connection he has with Kristy. Together, they're a fun and engaging couple, which made my job very easy. Curtis and Kristy talked about their strong family ties and how those family ties brought them to the location of their wedding. As the wedding plans have started to take shape, I continue to get excited about photographing the day.

Looking for a wedding photographer in the Washington DC Area? I know --shameless plug, but I have to do it...

Announcement | Website Launch!! www.jameswoophotography.com

It's been a little while, but I have finally launched my website, James Woo Photography! I will still be maintaining this blog and promise to post more often! Please visit the website! I can also be found on Facebook, so become a fan if you can! Thanks for stopping by! More posts to come...

Wedding: Will You Be My Valentine?

With the trend now moving towards locking down 09/09/09 and 10/10/10 weddings, it's easy to forget about some of the more traditional dates to have a wedding. I had the opportunity to photograph Matt & Rebecca's wedding in Washington DC on Valentine's Day weekend this year at the Carnegie Institution for Science courtesy of Roland Cesar Photography. The venue provided some really nice angles to take pictures from above and below. The overall setting was a very intimate one, but it didn't stop the attendees from letting loose on the dance floor throughout the night.

Who Loves Cupcakes?

I recently met up with Bill & Kara. I was forewarned that their children, Billy & Bobby, would be a unique set of brothers to photograph. When I finally met them, she wasn't kidding. Both of them have a crazy amount of energy and both are die-hard Boston Red Sox fans, even sporting the gear to prove it. How does a photographer get these kids to smile? I had zero problems with that, as they were able to cheese it up anytime they saw my camera. There were a handful of times that I had to egg them on to say, "I hate the Yankees!!!" It worked!

Our day ended at Georgetown Cupcakes, as it was Bill & Kara's bait to have the boys take pictures with me. The day was a success and look forward to our next session in July. Looking for a photographer in the Washington DC Area?