The Capture Sweet Moments Blog

Victory of the People. The name Cole means Victory of the People, of a triumphant people. I cannot help but think how appropriate it is that Cole’s cake smash was the first session I was able to do after the majority of the world spent a few months staying “safe at home,” trying to shelter ourselves and our families from a global pandemic.

Mother’s Day 2020 is fast approaching. With COVID-19 remaining a threat and current social distancing guidelines in place, it’s not possible for most of us to browse our local stores for that perfect Mother’s Day gift. Most of us are already accustomed to shopping online, so it doesn’t mean that finding an amazing Mother’s Day gift isn’t possible. But shopping local and shopping small have become even more important, given how many small businesses have needed to close their doors (if they own a storefront) or had to stop offering their services if they weren’t an essential business. There are still plenty of ways to shop Mother’s Day gifts and support your local Annapolis, Maryland businesses and fellow families.

Photography is a luxury service that many moms would love to have more of. More than once I’ve been told, let me have your business card so I can drop a hint to my husband for a Mother’s Day gift. Many photographers have had to reschedule sessions for now. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get the perfect Mother’s Day gift and support your family photographer . . .

We are safe at home and the front porch pictures have become quite the trend for many reasons. Our houses are the center of our lives and our families, and now so more than ever.

I cannot believe it’s been a year since I drove to the hospital to capture Fresh 48 photos of Penelope and her family. It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time. I am so thrilled that her mama, Cate, booked a multi-session package before she was even born because it has given me much to look forward to over the past year, culminating in a cake smash celebration . . .

When Kandace first asked if I did birth photography, my answer was that I hadn’t but that I was definitely interested in doing it. That was probably almost a year ago.

Fast forward to this summer, Kandace and her first sweet boy, Owen, took a walk to my house (we are very fortunate to live in the same neighborhood), to hang out and enjoy the summer sun, and Kandace surprised me with the news that she was pregnant!

I love having friends that are looking out for me and my small business. I feel incredibly blessed when a stranger posts that they are searching for a photographer, and one of my friends steps in and suggests me. That’s what happened when Katy, who runs Macaroni Kid Pasadena, posted that she was in need of a photographer. My kind friend Tiffany, another small business owner (Budding Voices), recommended me . . .

Jennifer and Jeremy welcomed James William earthside on at 6:38am on November 4th, 2018. His name holds so much meaning, named after two of his grandfathers who passed away within days of each other earlier this year. Family is so important to Jennifer and Jeremy, that James William was exactly the blessing they needed to honor their loved ones and hold them a little closer to their hearts . . .

Kandace has to be one of the sweetest women I know and I feel so blessed to have met her a little over a year ago at a mom’s night out. When we made some time to hang out this summer, I was absolutely delighted when Kandace told me that she was pregnant with her second. And then I was more than honored and elated when she asked if I would consider doing her birth photography . . .

I first heard from Dani in the spring, after she was the highest bidder on the package that I donated as a silent auction item for the Greater Severna Park Mom’s Club annual gala to benefit Sarah’s House. Sarah’s House, established in 1987 through a partnership between Anne Arundel County, Catholic Charities and the U.S. Army, provides shelters, meals and other assistance to families in need in Anne Arundel County. Dani contacted me soon after winning the package, and I was very excited for her as she was about to welcome her third baby girl into their family this past June. She was excited to do fall family photos with her growing family, so we exchanged some messages and had a few phone calls, finally settling on doing a family session in October at Kinder Farm Park in Millersville, Maryland . . .