Washington DC Jefferson and FDR Memorial Engagement Shoot

Liza and Bradley are getting married in Michigan in December.  They met in high school back in the Detroit area and went their separate ways once they graduated and went to college. As fate would have it, they both landed jobs in the Washington, DC area and through the magic of social media they got re-acquainted a couple of years ago here in DC.  

We had a beautiful and windy spring day this past April and we met at the Jefferson Memorial and walked down along the Tidal Basin to the FDR Memorial just strolling along stopping to take some photographs.  Liza and Bradley were a lot of fun photograph ... it was a great way to spend a Thursday morning.

Posted by Washington, DC Engagement Photographer - Len Spoden

Animal Assisted Therapy for Children

I had the opportunity to meet and photograph Michelle who owns an Animal Assisted Therapy company in Herndon, VA.  She is a graduate of a local university and they wanted to feature her in their alumni magazine. The company's mission is to help people achieve their rehabilitation and therapy goals through the use of animals.  They work with people of all ages, but specialize in working with children who are affected by intellectual, emotional or physical challenges. 

It was a beautiful Spring evening at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, VA.  I photographed Michelle playing with her German Shepard dogs.

Executive Portrait / Headshots

Professional executive portraits / headshots are constantly in demand.  I try to give my clients a lot of different styles to choose from.  I am finding that more of my clients are going are selecting  environmental photographs or studio photographs with some different styling.  Here are a few that I have taken in the last few weeks.

Posted by Vienna, VA Photographer - Len Spoden

New York City - Apple Store - Central Park

I was in New York visiting a client and my daughter and I stopped by the Apple Store across from Central Park by the Plaza Hotel.  I had my little Canon S100 Point and Shoot camera with me and I looked up and saw this magnificient site. 

Photoshop World - Washington, DC

I attended Photoshop World for the first time this past week.  It was held in Washington, DC for the first time, and so I decided to check it out.  I went mainly for the photography sessions.  It was great listening and watching some of the best photographers in the world such as Dave Black, Cliff Mautner, Jay Maisel, and Joe McNally.  Most attendees were carrying these huge camera bags loaded with their professional DSLR cameras.  I was a bit lazy and only took my Canon S100 point and shoot camera which can fit in my pant pocket.  Here are a few photos from my three days at the conference.

Gymnast Hollie Vise:

Photographer Joe McNally

Model in Westcott Booth

IDEA Trainer Institute - Alexandria, VA

IDEA Personal Trainer Institute is a diverse and cutting-edge educational program / conference exclusively for personal trainers. They held it this year at the Hilton in Alexandria, VA.  This is the third IDEA conference that I have photographed, and there is never a dull moment. 

There are a number of classroom setting sessions, but the majority of the sessions are very interactive and are lead by some of the top training instructors in the world such as Todd Durkin who trains professional athletes like Aaron Rogers (QB of the Green Bay Packers) and Drew Brees (QB of the New Orleans Saints).  We also setup a little studio onsite and bring in some of the attendees to demonstrate various exercises and routines.

Kirsten Powers - Political Commentator / Columnist

Kirsten Powers is a columnist for The Daily Beast. She is in the process of updating her website and wanted some new portraits for the website and for other business purposes.  She didn't want a studio shot, so I went to her apartment and we setup a mini studio in her apartment and apartment building lobby area.  It was a cloudy, rainy day so our outside options were limited.  She had a great balcony view but it was off limits because of the rain.  

The fun of being a photographer is having to make great photographs in less than optimal conditions. Fortunately, Kirsten is a very good looking woman, so that was going to make my job much eaiser, but the enviroment was going to be a bit more challenging.  We had a great time, and we produced some great images of Kirsten.

Executive Portraits - On Location and in Studio

Professional, unique Executive Portraits / Head-shots can significantly raise the professionalism of a client's website.  Photographs of executives that look like they were taken photograph a point and shoot camera, or dated pictures that look like they were taken a decade ago, can reflect poorly on a company. 

Clients are looking for fresh and clean style, quite often in a location setting, to set themselves apart.  The following photographs were taken over the last month.  Some of the photos were taken outside the client's office building, in a "borrowed" law office, inside the client's office, and some in my studio. 

Posted by Virginia and Washington, DC Portrait Photographer - Len Spoden

Cherry Blossom Engagement Photographs - Washington, DC

Alexa and Brian, like many couples, love to have their engagement photographs taken around the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC.  It is always pot luck in terms of when the cherry blossoms will bloom and how long they will last.  With the warm winter that we have had in Washington, DC, they came out very early this year.  We planned to start around 7AM at the Tidal Basin to beat the crowds and to take advantage of the beautiful morning light.  When I came out of the Smithsonian Metro station I saw a big bolt of lightning and huge thunder.  So we went to George Washington University where they met and took a few pictures at Law School.  When we came out the rain had stopped and we headed over to the Tidal Basin.

It was a bit cloudy, but the cherry blossoms were in peak bloom and the rain had kept much of the crowds away!

Posted by Washington, DC Photographer - Len Spoden

Sister - Sister Family Photography in Georgetown

Two twin sisters who go to college in the Washington, DC area thought it would be fun to have their photographs taken in and around the Georgetown area.  We spent about 90 minutes walking around Georgetown.  The sisters were a lot of fun and we got some great photos. 

Cliff and Dolly - Hay Adams Wedding - Washington, DC

Cliff and Dolly recently got married at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC.  I met Cliff a few years ago at Westwood Country Club.  We have played golf a few times together, and I see him in the gym a few times every week.  I decided to stop photographing weddings in 2012, but Cliff asked that I take on one more and I am glad I did.  It was a beautiful March day in Washington, DC outside the White House and the ceremony and reception were wonderful.  Cliff and Dolly are a wonderful couple and it was an honor to be at their wedding.

Professional Headshot Portrait Photography

One of the largest set of requests I get is to do a head-shot or portrait photograph of an executive or business person.  With so much social media and web sites visibility, professionals want and need professional looking photographs that project who they are.  

I have learned over the years that it is not the lighting or camera that makes a good portrait.  The key is to get the person who you are photographing comfortable, talking, and just being themselves in front of the camera.

I also try to give my clients a lot of variety ... not just the typical head and shoulders portrait.  Peter was starting a new business and needed a set of photographs that he could use for his website and other marketing materials.  As you can see, he has a lot of great photos to choose from that fits the medium that he is using.

Reston Hyatt Hotel Holiday Party Event Photography

One of my clients decided to hold their Holiday Party in January to avoid all the conflicts and cost of trying to put on the same event in December when everyone else is trying to hold their party.  I photographed the event which was at the Hyatt Hotel in Reston, VA.  

They did a great job organizing the event.  The food was great, they gave away great prizes, the DJ kept the dance floor going, and to top it off they had a casino night which was a big hit.  

Posted by Reston VA Photographer - Len Spoden

My Daughter (My Model) Photo Shoot

My daughter, Amanda, was home for holiday break from the University of Virginia.  I was looking to practice some different lighting setups and I thought what better way to do it than to get some beautiful pictures of my daughter while I am working/practicing. 

All the photos were shot in our home and in the woods outside our house.  It was one of those Indian Summer days where the temperature got to 60 degrees.

Posted by VA Photographer - Len Spoden

McLean VA Hilton Hotel Holiday Party

ASCE held their annual holiday party at the McLean VA Hilton Hotel.  Over 200 employees and their guests enjoyed a great evening of good food, good drinks, good dancing, good friends and most of all good cheer.  Awards were given out for years of service, and a raffle was held with the grand prize being an Apple Ipad II!