Katie & Mike - sneak peek!

Here's one of our favorite images from the engagement session we shot yesterday.  Look how happy and in love these two are...it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)  More to come...

The countdown to my 1st dress fitting begins...

  Ok, I have 6 days until my first dress fitting (yikes).  The one I chose isn't very forgiving, so I've decided to start a new regimen (at the recommendation of Factor)...no sugar, yes fiber, lots of push ups...and I should be golden.  Let's see if I can keep it up until October!

<< Here are the bridesmaid dresses we ordered - ruched bobinette over satin.  I think they're going to coordinate pretty well with the groomsmen in natural-colored barongs and black slacks... yep, gettin' excited now...

Momma V is 65 today!!

65 years ago today, my mom was born in a province of the Philippines called Iloilo.  It was during World War II when the Japanese occupied the Philippines.  For a short time as a toddler, she was a POW along with her mother who was pregnant at the time.  The only reason they were released from prison is because her mother had to give birth to her brother (my uncle) at the hospital.  My mom endured a tough early childhood due to the war, but I think those experiences helped shape her into the wonderful, kind-hearted, and loving mother she is today.  She raised four kids all by herself with no complaints!  She is the strongest and smartest woman I know...AND the best Lola (grandmother) to my 5 (soon to be 6) nephews.  I can't wait for this weekend...the whole family is going to celebrate with a huge feast - steamed crabs, fresh corn on the cob, and pancit (Filipino stir-fried noodles)...YUM!!  Happy Birthday, Mom!!!  See you in a few days!

Look at my white boy up there, sticking out like a sore thumb..how cute is that? hehe :)

Happy 4 years, boo!

Here's the very first picture we ever took together...it was at Idlewild in NYC on July 19th, 2003.  We owe everything to David Factor for hookin' it up.  Love ya, Factor!

 

Here's Drew & Factor then and now...good friends til the end...awww  

86 days and counting...

Our wedding website is live!  Now our guests can go there to get additional info for the big day.  The site's design and colors match our invitations...I'll post some pictures of those once I get them in the mail - hopefully in the next week or so!  Check out the site at www.drew-maria.com.  We're thinking of offering custom wedding websites like this for other engaged couples starting next year :)

 

 

 

P.S. The second tab in the above screenshot is Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminal's Lifeline site...I am a HUGE Ben Harper fan.  Check out the site here and listen to the song that plays automatically.  I've had it playing all night...it's my new fav.  Ben is a genius.   

Erin's Bridal Shower

I went to my good friend Erin's bridal shower this weekend...it was a blast.  Juliette (one of Erin's longtime friends) and Kelly (Erin's sister) hosted, and it couldn't have been any more perfect.   It was at Juliette's beautiful home in Towson.  The food was delicious, everyone looked like they were having a great time... Oh, and the house...the house was just breathtaking.  It's straight out of a magazine...  Juliette, if you're reading this, you have impeccable taste!! :)   The day started out with some cocktails and good eatin'...then on to the presents and picture taking.  It was cool to see old friends and meet some new ones.  Erin has such a wonderful family...they were all so nice.  Now I can't wait for her bachelorette party in 3 weeks!!  We're going to get crrrazy in Georgetown.  Everything is a surprise for Erin, except for the location...but I'm pretty sure she will LOVE what's planned :)  Love ya, Er! ** Click here to view Erin's bridal shower slideshow with music** 

Opening presents


Her yummy cake from Just Cakes in Bethesda

The favors
 

The girls
 

Erin and Juliette
 

 She's going to kill me for posting this, but I just had to...it's so darn cute :)
 

The happy couple
 

 Erin and her sister, Kelly
 

Three generations...Erin with her mom and grandma :)
 

Juliette was one of our first official clients...and this was the first time I had been to her house since her family's photoshoot last fall, so I was very honored and excited to see that several of the portraits we took were framed in her house!!  That is what makes all of this work worth it...to see that our clients and friends have lasting memories and are proud to show them off...it's an awesome feeling.  I can't wait to photograph their family again in the fall. 

I just had to take a picture of one of the 11x14's Juliette had framed...and next to that is Juliette showing Kristi the coffee table book we made for her :) 
   

The Evens

Hey guys, Drew here...this is my 1^st blog entry…so here I go…..  Last week I saw The Evens (Ian MacKaye, formerly of Fugazi --my favorite band-- and Amy Farina, formerly of The Warmers).  They played at Fort Reno, a park located in Tenleytown in D.C.  (note to self…….bring bug spray….the mosquitoes like Polish skin)  Over the past 40 years, bi-weekly summer concerts have been held there.  I started seeing shows there in the mid 80's...as many of you know, music is very important to me.  The shows are free, the bands play for free, and the people who run the shows are volunteers.  On several occasions, I've jumped on stage with the bands to take pictures.  It's very laidback.  This was my second time seeing the Evens, and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first time.  It was definitely worth the price of admission.  Oh, I also got to take a picture with the lead singer of Valient Thorr (another great band).  Thanks to Charlie for spotting him and taking the pic.  I would've posted it here, but my eyes are closed.....what else is new.

   

openField photography

Last week, we had the pleasure of being photographed by the incredibly talented Lauren Chapman of openField photography.  We really wanted some edgy and fun engagement photos...so when I read on her blog that she was coming to Virginia, I emailed her right away and was able to score a lifestyle engagement session for us while she was here!  She chose Leesburg, VA for the location...and I am so glad she did!!  This town has so much character...brightly colored buildings, cool textures...it was SO us!  Lauren did an amazing job of putting us at ease (which wasn't an easy task because let me tell you, we were stiff as boards in the beginning :)  Her mom came along to assist, since her husband Robbie wasn't able to make it...and we had so much fun hanging out with these two...just talking and laughing like we've known each other for a long time.  For those that know me, you know that I hate 98% of pictures that I'm in...but, as expected, Lauren was able to capture us in a way that I LOVE.  Here are some of the pics she took (you can check out the rest on her blog!)