Skip to content
Chantal Lavine Photography
  • Home
  • About
  • Portraits
  • Weddings
  • Details
  • Journal
  • Inquire

A GUY AND A GIRL AND A LITTLE POLKA DOT DRESS

engaged-couple-kisses-at-lincoln-memorial

Her laugh. His smile. And that darling polka dotted dress. Are you kidding me? They had me at hello.

No, really. See the second photo down on the left? That was a TEST SHOT. These two made my job easy. And it’s not because they are gorgeous (which — side note — they obviously are); it’s because they are so palpably head over heels for each other. Excited by the prospect of forever together. Invigorated by the very presence of their affianced. On this bright, refreshing autumn day, everything paled in comparison to their glow. I stood behind my camera in awe of their connection. What a true honor to capture it. xo

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_3

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_2

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_4

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_5

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_1

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_6

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_7

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_8

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_9

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_10

Blog_Engaged_Nicole-Nick_11

 

 

Post navigation

Previous: ONE
Next: GABRIELLE IN THE CLOUDS
Parents, don’t stress!​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
I know you want the portrait of everyone smiling at the camera—you know, the one grandma wants for her mantle—but I promise you what you’ll cherish most are the images like these that really show your family’s personality. The in-between moments. The giggles and snuggles, even the pouts. They’re what make you YOU. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
When you look back through your memories months and years later, it’ll be the emotion-filled frames that get you every time. So, yes, we’ll be sure to snap a few cheeses for the camera, the requisite holiday card. But the rest of the time, just breathe in your babies, relax, and let the magic unfold around you. Because don’t worry…it will ✨.
I FINALLY GOT OVER MY FEAR OF SELF PORTRAITS.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
I own a tripod. Maybe two? I even have a remote trigger. But I have this little problem.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
I am both a creative AND a perfectionist.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
It causes paralysis. A yearning to document my sweet little family, and also a heavy set of expectations that everything turn out just so.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
BUT THEN I REALIZED. I’m letting so much sweetness slip away that someday I’ll wish I had preserved. My littles are not so little anymore. They wear tees with weird characters and wild print on them and laugh in my face when I suggest pants without a drawstring waist. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
But they’re my heart. And their beautiful faces are all I want and need to fill every frame I create. It doesn’t matter if we’ve planned the perfect outfits or found the best location or even if I’ve hired someone else to photograph us. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
So, I pulled out the tripod today. I didn’t always nail focus. In some frames my kid made a super silly face. In some frames I don’t love how I look. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
And yet my heart couldn’t feel more full. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Get in front of the camera, mamas. Don't wait for the perfect circumstances. Your kids will treasure the photographs in which you show up with them, in all your imperfection.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
And you know what? You will, too.
a precious / precocious tangle​​​​​​​​
of limbs + curls + dimples ​​​​​​​​
to melt your heart ​​​​​​​​
(you’re welcome)
I did, in fact, promise you more tutus in my feed, I did, in fact, promise you more tutus in my feed, and I never go back on my word where sparkle is concerned 😉. You’re welcome. And happy Friday! xo
Copyright © 2022 Chantal Lavine Photography
Portrait Photographer Serving Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia
to top