Survivor Saturday w/ Lynette Franklin - Maryland Portrait Photographer

Hey everyone!!! It's Saturday and today I am featuring this bright light known as Lynette Franklin!  She was so grateful for the is opportunity to tell her story and to help others.  During our session it was emotional for Lynette and this was part of her healing process and her moving forward in life.  Most time people that have cancer get stuck and these sessions are to remind them of their beauty and to help them see that IT ISN'T OVER, but a fresh start!  Everyone meet Lynette...

October 15, 2013 At the age of 38 I sat in my car and read a medical report which confirmed my biggest fear…I HAD BREAST CANCER.

On that day my life changed forever. Mentally, physically and emotionally I had to prepare myself for the battle of my life. Things that mattered previously no longer mattered and things that never mattered now mattered the most. I had no choice but to regroup. I had to keep praying, trusting and believing as I had always done before.

At this time I was a solider in the United States Army. I was hundreds of miles away form my family and friends. The ones whom loved me the most and would pray the hardest for me were the furthest away from me. During the emotional journey I was blessed with prayer warriors. They would pray for me when I was too weak to pray for myself.

I was blessed with women, ‘sistas’ near and far who encouraged me, inspired me and prayed with me and for me. I endured chemotherapy, radiation, a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. This journey tested me on every level.

However, through my heartache, hurt and scars I am thankful and forever grateful for this part of my journey. It made me dig deep and prove to myself what I was truly made of. God has used me to create awareness, promote self-examination and encourage each other spirits.

Again, I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to tell my story. It is my hope that through the pain, tears, and emotional roller coaster I am able to inspire, encourage and motivate someone else who may have to go through such a life changing experience.

Holiday Family Sessions - Maryland Photographer

If you didn't have time to get your family holiday session in before the end of 2016....there is still time!  Now that we have snow on the ground here in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area, there are some great locations to get your family photos taken.

I met this amazing and adorable family and we went out on a chilly morning to capture these few portraits off of the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  The kiddos as you can see are absolutely to cute for words and were real troopers in the cold weather.  They came ready to have the camera capture some fun moments and awesome hugs between brother and sister.

Survivor Saturday w/ Erica Campbell - Maryland Photographer

Hi everyone!  I had the pleasure of connecting with Ms. Erica Campbell for an amazing survivor photo shoot last weekend.  We had an amazing time and she came ready to get her photos taken!  I am so glad we were able to link up and I could provide this service to her!  Please read Erica's story and help her raise awareness of blood cancers.

Erica was diagnosed with potentially fatal Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma on March 28, 2013. Her journey to survive her battle with cancer was very trying but after overcoming her obstacles, Erica is very passionate about inspiring people to have the d’zire to survive any challenges that they may face in their lives. Erica’s fight to survive lymphoma had its highs and its lows, however she didn’t give up even when at times her battle seemed like it wasn’t getting any easier. Through her unwavering faith and trust in God as well as exuding a positive attitude, she knew she could get through it all. Erica is working to build her nonprofit foundation “Dzire2Survive” with a mission to improve the quality of life of patients and their families touched by the lymphoma disease, by providing education and up to date information. Erica wants to inspire patients with peer to peer comfort to help them continue to fight and overcome their battle with blood cancers. Erica is an ambassador with “The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society” and “The Lymphoma Research Foundation” where her story is featured this month on their Adolescent and Young Adult stories of hope page (https://www.lymphoma.org) with a host of other features such as the Houston Style Magazine, Cancer Today Magazine, CURE Magazine and LRF lymphoma awareness campaign videos (Erase Lymphoma, Impacting Lives-Youtube) sharing her amazing life changing survival story. She has raised over $5K in funds and cancer awareness over the last three years with her team “Dzire2Survive” and impacted so many lives at the Light the Night Walk with LLS and the Lymphoma 5k Walk with LRF.

In September 2015, Erica launched her “Dzire2Survive Inspirational Journal” line. She created these journals to give individuals like herself an outlet to write about life changing events. Her journals will help inspire one to not only write about their journey, but to also show their artistic side by drawing or using photos as one of their many memories. As a survivor of cancer, Erica has a very inspirational journey that she enjoys sharing with others and in her personal Dzire2Survive journal, so she wanted to create something special for others as well. In Erica’s spare time she loves to sing, shop, workout, travel and most of all spend time with her family and close friends. She loves the Lord and through Him, she enjoys helping others affected by cancer by sharing her empowering story. Erica’s motto that she lives by and share with other survivors is, “Never give up on your fight and continue to survive with your beautiful smile…Dzire2Survive”.

If you know a survivor in the DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia area please have them contact me to help them share their story and get the photo session of their life!

Chrisitian M. - Maryland Newborn Photographer

Anyone that photographs newborns knows that ever session is different.  For some reason lately my last three little boys have given me a run for my money and little Christian was no different.  Usually I swaddle and they sleep but he was not here for it!  He was awake the entire session!  We still managed to get some great photos with his sister and brother and is Grandmother.  Another loving family in the books and I am glad they are enjoying their images.