A SPECIAL MOTHERS' DAY GIFT - A ROGER HAMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY PORTRAIT SESSION! 

I first met Shahla and Tom when they scheduled their engagement portrait session with me a couple of years ago.  Then we got some great photographs -- the one of Shahla leaping into Tom's arms in a landscape of high grasses still adorns my studio walls.  

For the pregnancy portrait session this weekend, I went on location to the Landsdowne Resort in Leesburg.  Shahla and Tom had an "in" with the coordinator there, so we had free reign (as long as I behaved myself)!  The session was obviously focussed primarily on Shahla, but I also added Tom into the portraits "as needed" (Tom's phrasing).  We planned both outdoor and indoor shots.  Because the weather was rather cold, we alternated settings: a short outdoor session, a long indoor session, a short outdoor session, and a final long indoor session to finish up.  I must say Shahla was a trooper.

The above portrait of Shahla is one of my favorites from the session.  It was captured near the end of our time together.  The natural light was nice at this location, but I supplemented it with a kiss of off-camera strobe.  To me, this portrait speaks of motherhood.  I love Shahla's beautiful smile.  The protective hand gestures around the belly are classical and lovely.  The beautiful artwork complements Shahla's elegant dress, creating a harmonious composition.  

I also love this more intimate portrait below. I'd asked Shahla to lie down on a long leather sofa in one of the Landsdowne Resort's sitting areas back from the main lobby.  I wasn't sure if she'd mind the more intimate pose in a public setting, but she was excited about the idea when I first proposed it. By the time we got there, however, the area was crowded with a party just ten feet away.  Fortunately, it was a baby shower, so the group welcomed Shahla and Tom with a hearty congratulations. This portrait was lit primarily by off-camera strobe because the sitting area was quite dark.  I did drag the shutter to let in some ambient light.  I had to experiment a bit in order to find a placement of the light that I liked given the constraints of the furniture and party all around.  But I think I succeeded.  To me, it looks beautifully lit. I again love Shahla's smile and how her eyes directly engage the viewer.  Her pregnant body is flattered by the soft light and soft pose.  The dark brown leather goes well with her dress to create a harmonious color harmony for a glamorous portrait.

Tom and Shahla's baby--a boy to be named Aurelius--is due in early April.  I cannot wait to meet him!  After that, the family moves to California, where Shahla will begin a prestigious residency in pediatric neurology.

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It's personal!  I love to capture beautiful portraits at life's milestones large and small.  I feel privileged to be able to photograph the various love stories of a family -- from that engagement session, through the wedding, through the pregnancies, through the growth of the children. Family is special.  It deserves special photographs.   

My Northern Virginia wedding photography and portrait photography studio is conveniently located in Ashburn, Virginia, between Dulles International Airport and Leesburg, just north of the Brambleton shopping center.  

Please contact me by email to start planning your portrait session.  I'd be honored to preserve your life's stories!