Angela and Phillip recently got engaged, and we wandered around Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Federal Hill together for some fun in the chilly weather.

It may not look that cold in the pictures, but that's because these two were very brave, removing their coats for a few key shots, and humoring me as I directed them.

These sweethearts have been dating for years, and it's plain to see that they have the affection and friendship to show for it.

Here they stand proudly at the prow!

And the romance of a kiss...

I wish them both happiness and warmth that lasts through the seasons!

When I was in college, I spent a summer as a "freelance childcare provider" so that I could work the hours I wanted to, save all my money, and take a class from the Maine Photographic Workshops. I wanted to get better at photography, and I figured that my college wasn't the only place where I could learn.

So after three month's worth of changing diapers, managing naptimes, cycling from job to job and playing outdoors, I wrote one of the largest checks I'd ever written, and took the bus up to Rockport, Maine.

It was an inspiring week. I had a blast, and learned the joys of color slide film. I came away with a few gems, one of which was this piece of paper--a list of things to photograph when you've lost your inspiration or direction:

In case you can't read what it says, here is the list...

1. make a photograph about something that is happening around you
2. choose a simple subject and play with your depth of field -- what makes the photograph more exciting?
3. make a photograph about texture
4. make a photograph about shapes
5. make a photograph about patterns
6. make a photograph that "balances"
7. make a photograph that doesn't "balance"
8. make a photograph that stops motion
9. make a photograph about motion
10. make a photograph about a gesture
11. make a photograph about an emotion
12. make a photograph of a memory
13. make a photograph about perspective
14. make a photograph about how you feel

This list is a starting point, a place to get your creative juices flowing, something to keep you moving when you're feeling stuck. I've used it on many occasions when I'm sitting at home all sad that I'm not taking photographs, or feeling creatively listless. I hope that all you photographic enthusiasts find it as helpful as I have over the years, so pass it on to others if you think it's helpful!

At St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Zak and Heather held a jazz-infused ceremony, remembering their ancestors, and enjoying their friends and family from near and far.

Heather had a gardenia in her hair. When I asked her why she chose that flower, she said, "Because of Billie Holiday." As the pastor gave his sermon, their hands found each other.

It was chilly out, but Zak and Heather "jumped" at the chance to wander outside and catch some fresh air (hardy har har, forgive the pun).

As you can see, Zak has that expressive streak that all good performers need (he belongs to The Swingin' Swamis).

They were so cozy, even in the freezing weather.

Zak and Heather opted to have their reception at John J. Jeffries, which is attached to the Lancaster Arts Hotel, an elegant space, which they had decked out with a glowing tree for the season.

Zak and Heather glowed even more, though. What a joy to photograph in the dead cold of winter!

When staying at my grandparents' house in Texas, I took in some of the balmier winter weather, and sat in their backyard garden. Even before they moved to Texas, they kept a beautiful vegetable and flower garden--their pride and joy. We ate from their Needham tomato vines, and drank in the impatients blossoms sipping lemonade in the humid New England summers. Things haven't changed much, except now they have a lemon tree!

Family memorabilia is something I've always been fond of, but loathe to spend a lot of time creating. I've never been one for the scrapbooking movement, composing pages and carefully arranging special papers and whatnot. Instead, I pepper my albums (if any) with photographs, (obviously) and my hand-written notes.

This album chronicles my daughter's first year of life. I gave myself the parameter of "first year," so that the album would have a clear narrative and an ending. After one year Ruth is no less a member of the family than she was before, but I felt comfortable folding in her photos to the general family album. This also leaves me with a do-able goal for each child as he or she comes along.

I guess I felt like sharing this on my studio blog because it shows that there's so much more to photography than something you see on the screen. Photographs become the things that your children and your children's children use to learn about themselves and their history. I loved looking at photographs of my parents when they were young; it made them so much more interesting and human.

I made sure to save a few keepsakes, but didn't overthink it.

I gladly wrote out the birth story, and spent a little extra time making it special.

The rest of the book is made up of cards given to us, as well as a photo of her from each month--something simple that I think I can easily repeat with the next kid.

I hope one day to hand this over to Ruth when she gets older as a keepsake. It probably took me just a few hours of my time, and it's so much fun to look through again and again. For me, the album was a lesson in how a little simple planning (document the first year, mostly using photos) can make something lasting and beautiful.

Early one Saturday morning, I met Ian and Jenna, two cute little ones. Their family was taking pictures for the ubiquitous holiday Christmas card, but we had a little extra time to do a few "outtakes".

Ian proudly paraded outside on his scooter, wearing a bright and fetching hat.

Indoors, he made his affection for a certain stuffed toy reindeer quite apparent.

Jenna, his younger sister, also loved up the stuffed reindeer.

And squealed her delight!

As you might have guessed, with the holidays bearing down upon us, things have slowed down here around the studio, photographically speaking. A combined blessing-curse, of course, as I am enjoying time with my kin and beloved friends, but I have fewer photographs to work on and share with you all.

While things wind down, I am rediscovering the joy of bringing out my camera more often for the beautiful mundane. At a small party in our apartment this Saturday, I also discovered what a delightfully creative medium decorating Christmas cookies can be!

We started out with some traditional shapes -- stars, trees, snowmen, and the like -- but soon became bored, and whipped out a few x-acto knives in order to cut our own shapes out of the dough. Multi-colored frosting added even more variables, and we ended up with quite an assortment of the quirky and macabre:

Clockwise from top left: a pizza cookie, a man in the moon, a bra, a banana & some trapezoids; a color wheel, some eggs and toast, and an Obama cookie.

While in the process of making the cookies, I noticed that my spatula's pattern cast an interesting silhouette on the snowmen shapes:

Probably the only snowmen on planet earth that registers a skeleton.

On a Sunday afternoon, the Kesslers had me over for a little while to photograph some of their family moments. Their three little girls were simply beautiful. The youngest, only a babe, cooed and laughed at her older siblings before succumbing to her nap. Liza was especially funny--I told her to jump up from the couch and run-run-run in place to get out some of her fidgets.

After the babe was fast asleep, we all ventured outside for some good old-fashioned playtime.

Daddy gave Ava a smooch.

Liza went swinging!

And Ava did some climbing.

Then the girls went inside to have a tea party with marshmallows for "soup".

The baby slept soundly away...

The girls finished their "tea" and then I crept away. What a fun family to be around!

I am so fortunate to have family that is willing to visit me on a regular basis. Our parents get along well with each other, and my brothers treat Stephen as a long-lost sibling.

We partook in eggnog...

...delicious stuffing, turkey, and a wide variety of homemade desserts cooked by my sister-in-law, Megan.

Of course, Ruthie looked absolutely charming, laughing at danger while she stood on a rocking chair.

We opened presents...

...enjoyed each others' company...

...and snapped a quick family photo before the light disappeared beyond the horizon.

A Merry Christmas to you all. tags: children, family, portrait,