The government shutdown kept our original plan for a National Mall engagement session from happening -- but I think it was a blessing in disguise because Georgetown at sunset is so romantic. It's a perfect spot for an adorable couple to snuggle and smooch and run into the middle of traffic for their engagement photos. And with a stop at my very favorite place, Baked + Wired, for a cupcake tasting... I don't think anything could beat it.

Katie is the unbelievably gorgeous cousin of my best friend who I was lucky enough to meet a few years ago when we moved to DC. A ridiculous amount of dinners at Lauriol Plaza and a bunch of Yacht Rock concerts later and I feel lucky to know her as a friend. She is as sweet as she is beautiful and no one deserves a life full of love and happiness more.

I met Jeff  when Katie brought him on their third date to a 70s cover-band concert we were all attending and introduced us. Poor thing handled all of us asking him a million questions (probably slightly slurred questions, at that) and prying into what he thought of our dear cousin/friend. Luckily, we didn't scare him off because he is a gem himself.

Thank you guys so much for trusting me to step away from my usual under-five crowd of photography subjects to photograph your special moments!! Cheers to the happy (and gorgeous) couple! We are all very excited for you!

My friend, Mandie, is that person. The kind of person who makes everyone laugh and then is also the one with the laugh you can hear across the room. Her joy is infectious. She is the one who always makes you feel like you're the most special person in the room. The kind of person who touches your arm when she talks to you and asks you questions until she understands. The one who cries fifteen times in a day because she feels all the good in the world and in people. She is the one who makes every effort to be there for anyone - truly, anyone - who needs her.

Mandie is that person who donates money to those in need while trying to figure out how to afford things for her own family. Mandie is that person who works all day and then stays up until 3am because she is making another one of her amazing cakes -- for a party given to a child with cancer or a hospital fundraiser.

Why? Why does she do it? Because she believes in it. She believes in giving. Mandie is simply the good in the world. She is the kind of person who gives her all to others -- for absolutely no other reason than to simply give.

This weekend, Mandie, owner of Got What It Cakes, will be honored in our hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina for all of her amazing volunteer and charity work. Leading up to this award ceremony, she is raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in hopes that she can use this opportunity to give back, yet again. I want nothing more than for her to be named the STANDOUT Charlottean.

So, I am raffling off a PB&J minisession to those who donate just $5 to her campaign!

Follow this link HERE and make a minimum $5 donation to enter the raffle. $5 is all it takes but feel free to donate as much as you like! Then, leave a comment on this blog stating that you donated and you'll be entered to win!

The Details:

1. This raffle is open to absolutely everyone but the minisession must take place in Fairfax County, VA sometime in the year 2013 so keep that in mind if you're not in driving distance! :) And if you're far away, hey, it's only $5! Feel free to enter for the sheer good of it!!

2. Minisessions are for up to 4 people, last 20 minutes and come with 5 full resolution digital images of your choosing from a private online gallery. The perfect session for the holidays!

3. In order to leave a comment without signing in to a google account, you may select "anonymous" -- but you must leave your name and an email address in your comment so I can enter you and also, contact you, should you win!

4. I will make sure that the randomly selected winner did actually make a donation, so no cheater-pants, please!

5. If you have already purchased a minisession from me, you can still enter! I will return my fee to you if you are the winner!! :)

6. This giveaway ends on Thursday October 10th at 11:59pm! The ceremony is on Saturday, so let's do this NOW!!!

7. Don't forget to like mine and Mandie's Facebook Pages! It has nothing to do with the giveaway, we just really like having new friends!

Good luck everyone!!! Let's make it happen!!

AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, I ESPECIALLY LOVE TWO THINGS: LIGHT AND EMOTION.

THIS NEWBORN SESSION WAS AN INCREDIBLE MIX OF BOTH OF THOSE GLORIOUS THINGS AS THE LOW LIGHT ON A RAINY DAY PLAYED SO DRAMATICALLY INTO THIS FAMILY'S SPECIAL MOMENT OF WELCOMING THEIR DAUGHTER INTO THEIR LIVES.

AFTER HAVING MY TWO BOYS, I LOVED THOSE COUPLE OF DAYS IN MY HOSPITAL ROOM. OK. OK. HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 AND I'M MENTALLY BLOCKING OUT THE PART WHERE I SHARED A ROOM AND HAD TO WALK PAST A STRANGER'S LARGE, VISITING FAMILY JUST TO USE THE BATHROOM. I MIGHT HAVE CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO WENT HOME TO GRAB A FEW THINGS IN TEARS BEGGING HIM TO COME GET ME BEFORE I WAS MOVED TO A PRIVATE SUITE AN HOUR LATER... :) BUT SERIOUSLY, WITH ENOUGH IGNORING OF MINOR DETAILS, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I LOVED IT: THE TEENY-TINY BRACELETS, THE BLUE & PINK STRIPED BLANKETS AND HATS, ALL THOSE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THERE TO HELP ME AND THIS AMAZING NEW PERSON TO LOVE. THE HOSPITAL STAY IS THE FIRST STOP IN A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES WITH YOUR NEW BABY. IT IS HARD. BUT IT IS SPECIAL.

AND IT MAKES FOR BEAUTIFUL NEWBORN IMAGES.

CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE GUY. HE WAS BORN ON A WEDNESDAY WEIGHING ELEVEN AND A HALF POUNDS - READY TO TAKE ON HIS TWO BIG BROTHERS - AND TO STEAL HIS MAMA'S HEART.

I am never really sure how to control my excitement when I am hired to photograph little girls. Don't get me wrong, I just adore little boys. I have two of my own. Three, if my husband counts {which he kind of does}. But bows and ruffles and twirling - who doesn't melt for that?

I photographed these two GORGEOUS sisters to capture their September birthdays. I'm still swooning.

WELCOME TO MY LITTLE PIECE OF THE INTERNET HERE AT PB&J. I'M REALLY GLAD YOU'RE VISITING ME!

I'M A BORN-AND-RAISED NORTH CAROLINA GIRL WITH NO SOUTHERN ACCENT MAKING NORTHERN VIRGINIA MY HOME. I LOVE COFFEE IN THE MORNING, STREAMING NETFLIX IN THE EVENING AND PINKBERRY FROZEN YOGURT WHENEVER I CAN GET IT!

MY HOME IS FULL OF BOYS, ONE IS 9, ONE IS 3, ONE IS FURRY AND FOUR-LEGGED AND ONE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE WITH ME TEN YEARS AGO AND MAKES MY HEART SWOON, EVEN STILL.

I AM IN LOVE WITH MY JOB BECAUSE I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY. I TREASURE IMAGES OF MY FAMILY SO I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF CAPTURING THOSE PRICELESS, BUT FLEETING, MOMENTS IN LIFE FOR OTHERS. WHETHER IT BE AN ENGAGEMENT, A BUMP, A BIRTH, A BABY, A BIRTHDAY, OR ALL THE ENERGY OF CHILDHOOD, I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THOSE MOMENTS FOREVER IN A PHOTOGRAPH. I REALLY AND TRULY FIND MY LIFE'S JOY IN LAYING BELLY-DOWN IN TALL GRASS AND ACTING LIKE A COMPLETE FOOL TO GET LAUGHS SO THAT I CAN CAPTURE "THE SHOT". I LOVE FINDING THAT VERY SPECIAL SPARK OF YOUR GENUINE LOVE THROUGH MY LENS AND BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE IT FOR YOU - FOREVER - INSIDE MY FRAME.

PEANUT BUTTER & JENNY PHOTOGRAPHY IS COLORFUL, NATURAL & BEAUTIFULLY YOU.