So excited to start what I hope will be my regular blog format – Meet the Clients Q&A. After you check out their session, check out the suggested links to my clients’ favorite charities and local businesses!

Meet the Clients – The Strollo Family:

How did you hear about me: Through our friends, Karina Lynch and Dave Bohley

What is your job and/or favorite hobby: We love being outdoors – running/walking in the park, playing tennis, swimming, etc.

Tell me one funny/interesting/unusual thing about yourself or your family: Together, our parents have 90 years of marriage under their belt (my parents will celebrate their 48th anniversary in June while Mike’s parents will celebrate their 42nd anniversary in August).  We think this is a wonderful example of love and commitment that we hope to follow.

Do you have a favorite charity or public service organization you would like me to link to? And tell me why you support it? Turning the Page (turningthepage.org) – because it’s DC-based, promotes literacy/education in the public-school system (we’re both proponents of a quality public education).

Do you have a local business you would like me to link to? Biagio Chocolate (www.biagiochocolate.com) is a place we love (of course, we don’t go as often now that we live in the burbs).
Describe an average day in your life: Well, now it involves feeding, burping, changing diapers, bathing, and only occasionally, sleeping!

Tell me what you hope your portraits will mean to you in 20 years: It’s hard to imagine now, but because our daughter grows so quickly, there will come a time that it’s difficult to remember her being so small and us being so young.  We want to keep the memories of our beautiful little girl as fresh as the crisp photograph on the next page of the photo album.

Meet the Clients – The Larosa Family

How did you hear about me: I was presented a gift certificate for a newborn/family photo session with R.David Photography from my best friend Jennifer at my baby shower.  I thought it was such a neat gift and after my session last Friday, I now know why…the photos turned out stunning.

What is your job and/or favorite hobby:  I work with the TV Show “America’s Most Wanted” and hear the worst of the worst stories.  But once in a while positive things happen too…so it makes it a very rewarding job.  I’ve assisted the host, John Walsh for over 11 years…he is one great man and thankfully giving me some time off to raise my new son, Dean.

Do you have a favorite charity or public service organization you would like me to link to? And tell me why you support it?  My favorite non-profit is the non-profit that my boss John Walsh and his wife, Reve co-founded after the abduction and murder of their 6-year old son Adam…The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.ncmec.org).  NCMEC is a 501C3 charity with an A+ rating…they do amazing work for children and their families.

Describe an average day in your life:  Hmmmm….an average day in my life….that has changed dramatically since the birth of my son on February 6.  It use to be get up and go to work and see what the day brought my way….sometimes normal office work, other days in the studio getting a show done, and finally the best days walking the halls of Congress with my boss to get some legislation passed for victim’s, children and their families…no one does it like John Walsh…he is the man when it comes to making things happen.

BUT for the past month….my days and nights have merged together and all that is important is feeding, changing and loving my new little man, Dean.  Oh and let’s not forget feeding, walking and playing with my puppy, COLE (an 18 month old black lab).   I am surrounded by all boys in my house and wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Tell me what you hope your portraits will mean to you in 20 years: In 20 plus years from now I will look back on my portraits of Dean, Cole, Derrick (my husband) and myself and probably cry.   I know…no matter how great we treat Cole (my puppy) he won’t be around in 20 years and I already am freaking out about that.  He was my first love and after watching “Marley and Me” I am not looking forward to the end.  As for my Dean…I will show all his friends how cute he was and remember his cute sounds, baby breath and how many times he has pee peed on me and Derrick (and guests).  As for my husband and I….I will think…time for botox and ohhhhhh I remember those days! In all honesty I look forward to the future and hope and pray it brings health and happiness for my family and friends.

After lots of email planning, I was so happy to finally meet this family for our session. I am loving the images I have proofed so far, but with a family as gorgeous as this one, it’s hard to go wrong.

Here is a quick preview:

My friend Wendy is my go-to girl for all things cool. So leave it to her to send me the coolest family session ever!  This bunch was so much fun, I was sad for it to end! Happy travels to the boys heading back to California – hope you are all together again soon! Here is a preview of this super fun session.

Thanks to my out-of-town friend Caitlin for this great referral…
We had a nice (if somewhat WARM) stroll through the garden for this session – it was a little close to bedtime, and very hot – but the girls did great in the end, and we got some great shots. Thanks for coming out and braving the heat! I think we were all just glad that at least it wasn’t raining again!
Here’s a preview of the session:

That was the subject of much speculation leading up to this session – LOCATION!  After going back and forth several times on possibilities and pros and cons, we ended up at the park closest to home. Funny how that happens. And, as usual, this location pulled through with flying colors. Add in a great looking family and you get a beautiful session. Here is a quick preview. Thanks for being so wonderful to work with! Your gallery is coming soon.

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!

So… not surprised when Mom mentioned she used to be a model…

But the WHOLE FAMILY looked like supermodels! It was one of those sessions where I really wished I had put on a little makeup, ha! Seriously, it was a gorgeoous family, gorgeous weather, gorgeous setting kind of session, and I am really loving proofing this gallery.

Thanks for coming out to Middleburg, guys – and your gallery is in process!

- RD

Finally!
It’s been a long time coming, but here it is…the new blog. I know, I know. It’s kind of sad losing the old one. So it will stay live for a while longer, until this one grows on us.  
You can always link back to it by clicking here:  R. David Original Photography Old Blog.
Now to get on with the new stuff… always moving forward!