Odd happenings at Bombay Hook...

Late Sunday afternoon (magic hour to us photographers) my family & I took a drive around Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge hoping to relax & see some nice wildlife. We go quite often, but I regretfully almost always forget to bring a camera. This time I was fully loaded with my Nikon and boy was I glad! We saw alot of really neat things and I would have been crazy disappointed had I not been able to photograph them.

We saw all the normal creatures...tons of bunnies, herons, & deer, but we also saw things that we almost never see. Swans are something of a rarity at Bombay Hook, but this time there were 2 gorgeous swans who almost seemed to be posing for me. I took many shots of them, but the one that I have attached is so perfect that I think I might have to have a print made for my office. We also saw a pheasant, which I have NEVER seen at Bombay Hook before. He was not close at all, but I did manage to get a decent shot of him. By far the craziest thing that we saw were 3 foxes, which is 2 more than I have ever seen in a single trip. The first fox we saw acted appropriately when he saw our car - he took off. The next two were a different story - they stood RIGHT next to our car - they didn't even flinch or look in the least bit nervous about our proximity at all. The first one was so relaxed that he just laid down and watched us! The 2nd one looked quite young to me...he was adorable with one of his ears flopping over (which I am always a sucker for). Its hard to imagine that they are so used to people that they don't ever try to run from cars anymore, but I guess it must be so.

Anyway, here is the proof...er, I mean the pictures from our a visit. I hope you enjoy them. As always, you can click on a picture to enlarge it, and prints are available.

Happy Fathers Day...

Yesterday was my very favorite kind of day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous & everyones schedule was clear, so my family & I decided to celebrate Fathers Day by hitting the road with no particular place to go.

As so many of our free days go, we headed towards water. Our first stop was Wye Island MD, where we meandered through a path of overgrown Osage Orange trees. The antique trees were gnarled & bent to form a tunnel of sorts. It was a wonderful place for pictures, & once again Mother Nature reminded me why I hate fake backdrops & will probably never have an indoor studio. After about a miles walk, we found ourselves on tiny a secluded beach, just perfect for wading, relaxing, skipping stones & spending time with my 2 favorite people.

After Wye Island, we came back to Dover to watch the Thunderbirds & check out some of our favorite haunts. I would love to blog some more (tons of great pictures from the day including a fox that let me get crazy close to it!!!) but work beckons. I have weddings to edit, albums to design...and this week I have 2 weddings!

I hope your family had as wonderful a day as mine did. Peace.

Hey there little friend!

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Hi! This is my little girl hummingbird who comes to the feeder that hangs only about 1 foot away from the desk where I do all of my work. There are several hummingbirds that fly in & out for a quick bite all day long, but this little girl is my most frequent visitor, and she makes me smile every time I see her. She usually checks in once or twice every 10 minutes, and I can tell her apart from all of the others because she has a cute little black spot on her chest, & because she is so much less flighty then the others are. She doesn't seem to mind that I watch her...its almost like we really are friends.

I hope you enjoy her as much as I do. Happy Summer.

If you are interested in purchasing a print, just let me know!

The British Invasion...

One of the neat things about my job is that I get to meet interesting people & make new friends, and Kevan & Anne's wedding yesterday was certainly no exception. The Delaware Wahligs & the Lee's from across the pond were so much fun & were so gracious, warm & welcoming that by the time I left I felt almost like family.

The day started off as planned in Rehoboth at All Saints with a beautiful, moving wedding ceremony, moved to the Rehoboth Beach Country Club for a lovely lunch (complete with colorful beach towels as guest favors - great idea Anne!), & then transitioned into a cocktail hour/clambake back at the "Old Cottage" in Dewey. I adored the cottage, which was built by Annes Great Grandfathers grandfather pre civil war.

Throughout the nearly 12 hours that I spent with Anne & Kevan, they were so relaxed & so thoroughly happy...the kind of couple that it does a heart good to spend time with. Sadly, Mother Nature put the kibosh on the planned beach bonfire, but "plan B" was wonderful too. A big thumbs up to you all for being so flexible, and a heartfelt thank you for being so nice. I hope you enjoy your pictures and your trip to Paradise. Check back for updates concerning the proofs. Talk soon.

Click on image to enlarge & please feel free to leave a comment!

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Beth, your pictures of the wedding and reception(s) speak volume of your talent! You were personable and fit right in with all the guests. Your personality, talent and professionalism is superior, you made us all feel special! It was an awesome Day and the pictures taken speak volume of the love that was there for Anne and Kevan! P.S. Thanks for taking time to capture some excellent guests shots too...I just placed my order! Best Regards,Beth Elswick

How does your garden grow?

Stephens garden '09 has been in the ground for several weeks now. This year (largely due to the fact that my husband is WONDERFUL!) we have tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, bush green beans, eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini (look for mysteriously placed bags of them on your doorstep in late summer as we desperately try to unload them), cucumber & okra, which Mark insisted on planting despite the gagging noises I made...ew.

Our garden is multi purpose this year. Not only do I anticipate many meals full of lovely organic veggies, but I am anxiously awaiting the wonderful feeling that I get when I watch my smiling little boy munch cherry tomatoes right from the vine. This, in my opinion, is one of lifes most wonderful pleasures. ♥

This year our garden is also going to be used as bait. You see, the last time my sister paid me a summertime visit (from gorgeous Huntington Beach where the average annual temperature seems to be around 73 degrees), we had a heat wave. With temperatures that hovered between 99-104 degrees every single day & humidity levels that felt to be around 4 million, Stephanie SWORE that she would never, EVER step foot in Delaware during the summertime again. Ever. If it hadn't been her love of my homegrown tomatoes (you see where I am going with this, right?!) I don't think she would have found any redeeming outdoor qualities about Delaware at all. So keep your fingers crossed that I can keep the garden watered, weeded & safe from from the bunnies, deer & other various local critters so maybe my sister will come see me.

Hopefully I soon will post a picture of us enjoying our first tomato sandwiches of the season, and with any luck, my sister will be in the picture.

Meghan & Sam

Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking some engagement pictures for Meghan & Sam, who are planning an October wedding. If I know Meghan, the wedding will be beautiful - I can hardly wait to see it! Hope you like the pictures guys! See you soon...

The lovely Trisha...

This lovely lady is Trisha, and these are her senior pictures. Trishie (as her parents call her) is one of those natural beauties that make my job so enjoyable! Keep in touch Trisha, and enjoy college!!

I have to confess that I haven't been so great about updating my blog recently. I have some weddings to blog about, as well as some engagement sessions, family portraits & senior portraits to get busy posting. Stay tuned!

Mary & Lucky...

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting & shooting the wedding of Mary & Lucky. Now, generally I meet the bride & groom long before the wedding, but in the words of Father Smith, this wedding was planned via "remote control", as the lovely couple resides in the Czech Republic & had just flown in a few days before Christmas. With the help of Marys mom & Make My Day Events, they were able to pull off a gorgeous wedding from thousands of miles away.

Lucky & Mary were a super fun couple who even made windy & cold December beach pictures fun. I really enjoyed spending time with them & their families...and the Czech customs were interesting to photograph. I love the idea of the bride & groom feeding each other soup with a hole in the spoon to signify the unity, compassion & hard work that a solid marriage requires! There was alot of love in the room, and I have no doubt that these two will have a very fun & fulfilling life together. Best of luck for a happiness filled future Mary & Lucky! Your proofs will be in soon.

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These photos capture this couple so very well! It was a pleasure working with you and we look forward to many events together in 2009!

~ Leanne and Casey - Make My Day Event Planning www.makemydayevents.net

Eileen & Marty

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The end of November took me back to one of my favorites places to shoot weddings....The Oaks (if you would like to see more of more work at The Oaks, please click on "A Wedding at The Oaks" slideshow found in the upper right hand corner of this page). I always have a fantastic shoot there...the property is so scenically located & the couples that I meet there are always so warm and lovely. Eileen & Marty were certainly no exception, and despite the cold we had a fantastic time shooting their outdoor portraits.

Eileen was the epitome of grace under fire. There were a few hiccups in her day ~ a severe cold front that forced an indoor ceremony, a beloved sister (and bridesmaid) in the hospital with the flu, but somehow Eileen & Marty were still able to relax & enjoy their big day...my hats off to them for being so flexible. Have a wonderful Christmas Eileen & Marty - I can't wait to get started on your panaramic album!

Christmas Magic...

I fear this is the last year that my son will truly believe in Santa Claus...the last year I see wonder in his eyes over those carrot shavings I leave in the front yard that he believes are the result of messy, hungry reindeer. I also worry that I am fooling myself and that LAST year was his last year believing in Santa. In any event, I wish I could extend the magic for him for just a few more years. As cliche as it sounds, kids really do grow up too quickly these days.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you & yours a wonderful Christmas season filled with love & magic.

Carolyn & Christopher

The middle of November found me at the beach again, this time with Carolyn & Christopher & their super fun bridal party. It must be the year for this, but truly - the forecast for 11-15-08 could only be described as dismal...at best. The hourly forecast called for rain, rain & then more rain. The radar was a dark green blob, but somehow - not only did it stop raining for JUST long enough for us to get the beach pictures that Carolyn had been dreaming of but then later during the reception the rain stopped, the clouds parted and we got several sunset shots right before the sun went down & the rain started again! I have never not had a great sunset at The Rehoboth Beach Country Club, and 11-15-08 was no exception. Looks like someone has a guardian angel! Thanks for including me in your special day - it was fun.

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Beth, Thank you so much for being so fun, accommodating, and professional on our wedding day. The pictures look amazing and I can't wait to see the album put together. Thank you for posting these pictures on your blog too! We will definitely be happy to refer you to friends and family. Love, Carolyn and Chris

Where has the fall gone??

I am happy to report that I have had a very busy fall wedding season & have been inundated with Christmas orders from happy brides who want albums, prints & specialty items. Sadly, my blogging activities have taken a direct hit as a result. I will try to get atleast a little something posted from each of my fall weddings very soon. In the meantime...

Here is a shot from way back in the beginning of November....November 1st to be exact! Michelle & Christopher somehow managed to pick the most amazing Saturday for the fall colors. After their lovely ceremony in downtown Dover, we went straight to Moores Lake with their 2 cute sons (who both reminded me of my own little guy) and had the most colorful photo shoot of the year. I can't wait to design their album, its going to be just gorgeous!

Thanks very much for letting me capture your wedding memories (burning biscuits & all!) Michelle & Chris ~ I had fun sharing the day with you. I will be talking to you very soon as we start to design your album!

Linda & Steve at The Inn at Perry Cabin...

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I am woefully behind on my blog activity. The air is crisp, the weddings are plentiful & I am busy, busy! Its been a lovely fall so far, it is always the time of year I most look forward to.

Linda & Steve were married several weeks ago at The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland. They had a lovely, intimate ceremony with their closest friends & family, and did a magnificent job at making me feel like an honored guest. Linda & Steve were all smiles and we had a blast creating pictures on the *amazing* grounds at the inn. The Inn at Perrry Cabin is where "The Wedding Crashers" was filmed...and with good reason. The inn itself is something special, and the grounds are the prettiest I have seen.

Thanks to Linda & Steve for a wonderful day!

Fonners!!!!

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Heya Fonners! I am in the middle of editing last weeks wedding & have 2 weddings to shoot this week, so it might be a week or 2 until I am able to edit all of the pictures from the other night, but I thought you guys would like a little preview.

Thanks for being so cooperative (some more than others...I wont mention any names - you know who you are!). As always, I had a blast hanging out with you guys...thank you so much for treating Sean and I like your own.

Take care!

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Doug said...

Thanks for saying I was the most cooperative. I really tried my best, just for you. Hugs and kisses, Doug

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Dylan said...

The fonners know how to get it done. Dylan

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Wanda said...

Beth, Thank you so much for putting up with all of us & for your attention to detail. You really know how to capture the feeling of the moment. Wanda

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Kathy said...

The pictures are incredible. I never realized how cute my kids are - you're a miracle worker haha. Thank you so much...Kathy

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Duane said...

Great Website. Needs more Fonners on it. Duane

Krissy & Erik...

First of all, my apologies for the long gap in between blog postings. It has been a super busy summer season...lots of albums to design & weddings to shoot - I just havent had the time to blog every event. I promise this winter when things settle down a bit I will do a better job keeping the blog current.

Anyway...this past weekend found me back at The Oaks shooting the wedding of Krissy & Erik. The forecast all week indicated that it was going to rain on Sunday...and it did. Sadly, there was really no choice but to move the ceremony indoors.

I really have to hand it to Krissy...she remained super calm and did not let the change in plans bring her down in the least. It was a wonderful day filled with love & family, smiles & laughs, horse drawn carriage rides through raindrops...and as you can see, we made lemonaid from lemons when it came to picture time.

Congratulations you guys, enjoy your island honeymoon! I really enjoyed sharing your special day with you.

Megan & Monty...

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Normally it takes me a few days of editing before I am ready to post a few wedding pictures on my blog, but this morning as I was doing a preliminary review of Megan & Monty's wedding, there was one picture that really screamed for immediate attention. This lovely lady is their daughter and served as just about the cutest flower girl I have ever seen (and I have seen some seriously CUTE flower girls). Although I took tons of pictures of her throughout the entire day, this one really sums up her true personality...she is a spitfire, a show stopper, the life of the party. When it was her turn to walk down the aisle, she burst thru the doors and yelled "TA-DA!!!!!!!". She was pretty sure that the whole day was about her.

Oh yeah, and Megan & Monty had a lovely wedding too.

Seriously, it really was a lovely wedding. Megan & Monty were both gorgeous, and I very much enjoyed spending the day with them and their super nice families. I will post a shot of them in a few days.

Have a safe honeymoon guys!

The Counsman Family Reunion!!!!!!

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Thanks so much to the whole Counsman family for making me & mine feel so welcome. It was a pleasure spending the evening & meeting the rest of the family! Hope you enjoy the pictures. (What is that crazy lady in the yellow shirt *doing* in that second picture???!!)

Wanda Says....

Beth, Thank you so much for coming to the Counsman family reunion. You are our honorary Counsman! Wanda