What is better than summertime, lemonade, popcorn, peanuts, and the ballpark!? Being DISPLAYED at the ballpark!

That’s right – on the evenings of August 7/8, during Nats home games, I will be a featured artist and will have a large display at Akridge Highwater at Nationals Stadium in DC – if you haven’t heard about Festival Park, it’s an amazing concept:

From the Akridge site:
Georgetown Events in partnership with Stroud Productions is bringing life to the Waterfront District by creating a new experience for
Washington area locals. The Bullpen is a festival park directly across the street from the main entrance to the Washington Nationals Stadium
at the corner of N and Half Streets S.E. Before each game, The Bullpen is a great venue that the entire family can enjoy, whether they are coming
to a Nationals Baseball game or happen to be in the Waterfront District for any other occasion. The Bullpen offers interactive sports games
for children sponsored by Headfirst Camps and Under Armour. Local food vendors include Rocklands, Colonial Kettle Corn and Surfside.
There will be live music for all to enjoy and a beer garden for adults sponsored by Bud Light.

My display theme is “Growing Up DC – Kids Sports and Leisure in the Nation’s Capitol”

Here are the samples I submitted for consideration:

Challenge to friends and clients:
16′x8′ is a large space! I will be shooting some images specifically for this display. Got a kid who loves a sport? Got an original idea for a sports/leisure portrait or action shot? Run it by me – if I like it, I will shoot it for free, and I might select it for display at the Stadium!

It’s not often you get to celebrate a newborn and a birthday at the same session – but this big sister turned two today, and I was able to get both newborn and birthday portraits! Not to mention – I have photographed big sis 4 times now – as a newborn, “barely sitting”, toddling, and today – as a “big girl”!

We WORKED for the sibling shots… I wasn’t sure how they were going to be. The irony is, they are some of my favorite sibling shots ever!
Many thanks to these wonderful clients for letting me document their girls as they grow. Following kids and marking milestones is truly the greatest part of my job!!

As promised, this week I am featuring Hela Spa as the local business of the moment. I am pleased to be working together with Hela on mini-session events and to spread the news about all the great services they offer at their Georgetown and Chevy Chase locations.

I asked Mary Szegda, Senior Massage Therapist, to tell us a bit about the spa and it’s services – and specifically about the Baby Spa menu. Be sure to check out their website for photos of their gorgeous facilities and all the latest on their services and specials!

What services are offered at Hela, in addition to Baby Massage?
Hela began as a medical spa in the heart of Georgetown. We provide medical services (botox, restalyne, laser hair removal, photorejuvenation, deep chemical peels) Esthetic services (facials, waxing) and therapeutic massage.  About a year ago we partnered with the Ted Gibson Salon and opened our new location in Chevy Chase. We now offer full salon services for hair and nails in addition to our spa services.

What about your job do you like most?
I love helping people and being creative.  There are so many ways in which people can improve their lives through bodywork.  Many traditional spas limit their massage menu. Hela allows me the space to truly be innovative and to make cutting edge modalities available to our clients. The Baby Spa is part of that.  It is such a beautiful thing to watch a parent and infant interact during the massage.  Over the course of the class families can work up to 20 minutes of pure face-to-face massage time. It is so beautiful that sometimes I tear up:)

How did you get started?
Hmmm, how did I get started with massage? I’ve always been interested in the mind-body connection and developmental psychology.  Before becoming a full time massage therapist I was a registered dance movement therapist and a licensed professional counselor. I also taught creative movement for children in Montessori Schools and worked as a research assistant at an Infant Development Lab. I kept looking at different pieces of the mind-body puzzle. I began a private bodywork practice in DC while completing a graduate degree in choreography when Hela asked me to join their massage team. That was four years ago. Now  I’m lucky to be the Senior Massage Therapist with a team of seven fantastic therapists.

Where can we find you (website, blog, location)?
www.helaspa.com
http://helaspaandtedgibsonblog.blogspot.com/

Do you have any upcoming events that you would like to share with readers?
I’m really excited about the launch of our Baby Spa menu. It is such an honor to work with expectant and new mothers. The photo session that is happening on June 1 will be so wonderful. I am also excited about the possibility of supporting Flashes of Hope (www.flashesofhope.com).

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t at Hela Spa?
Well, today was my day off… and I went to the spa! There is nothing like getting complimentary spa services as part of your compensation package!! When I’m not getting or receiving massages I like to take yoga and choreograph. Every now and again I perform at small venues. You can also often find me on Skype singing Baby Beluga to my niece Amelie who is almost a year old and lives in Kalamazoo MI.