Erica's Senior Session

Meet Erica: a beautiful college senior graduating with a business degree in May. Beginning this fall she plans to pursue her dreams of going to culinary school and starting her own business. Not only is she incredibly talented but incredibly photogenic (as you will see).

Mother nature decided to throw us one of the windiest days this year, but we didn't let it stop us! :) Regardless of the fact that we nearly froze to death and were dodging in and out of 40 mph gusts - this was an incredible session! Erica's spirit and laugh kept us going as we photographed around my favorite parts of Annapolis! Here are a few images from this morning.

Who knew you could get gorgeous golden light at 11am in December? Such a sweet surprise!

I love this picture! It captures the moment so perfectly.

It's not like we were going to let a few 40 mph wind gusts effect our day! :)

Candice & Nicole's Senior Session

After days of rain, most of the snow melted around Annapolis. It was the perfect way to clean up the streets and bring about some of the historic color and charm that Annapolis is famous for. I met up with two gorgeous girls, Candice and Nicole, for a portrait session around town. It only took a few minutes for the girls to start laughing and the rest was history! I always forget how much I love photographing senior portrait sessions until I get a pair like these two! Here's a sneak peek from their session.

Merry Christmas

I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! I also want to thank all of our servicemen and women who are away from their families this holiday as well as our doctors, nurses, policemen, and firemen who are working around the clock to keep us healthy and safe! I am so grateful to all of you for your support this year! Happy Holidays!

Bryanna's Senior Session

For anyone who has misconceptions about the amount of fun that you'll have on a Senior Session - Bryanna is here to prove you wrong. Between meeting a crazy group of seagulls to having a snowball fight, this was one of the most enjoyable sessions that I've had all year. Bryanna is smart, funny, and absolutely beautiful! She is such a natural in front of the camera and made this session one of a kind.

Downtown Annapolis was decorated for the holidays! :) It made for quite a beautiful backdrop.

We decided to explore and found a cute little pier overlooking the water...

Unfortunately, a group of seagulls thought that we were going to feed them and they started to swarm.

It made for some absolutely adorable candid pictures. :)

And we ended the day with a good old fashioned snowball fight. :) How's that for a senior session!

101 Goals in 1001 Days - UPDATE!

I remember when I started this list all those months ago!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. (Started Febuary 19, 2009)

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

MY START DATE: 2/20/2009

MY END DATE: 11/18/2011

1. Travel to a country outside of the United States.
2. Become comfortably fluent in Spanish.
3. Buy a pair of leather boots. (10/09)

4. Spend a full week with my dad and baby brother.
5. Get published photographically for my portrait work.

6. Attend WPPI in Las Vegas, NV.
7. Get a professional massage

8. Carry my camera everywhere with me for a month.

9. Decide on my college major. (12/09 - Visual Studies)
10. Visit Assateague Island and see the wild horses. (Planned May 2010)

11. Plan a vacation with my best friends in Ocean City. (Planned May 2010)
12. Grow my hair back down past my collarbone. (10/09)

13. Pack a picnic lunch to the beach/park.

14. Photograph a wedding out of state.
15. Shoot in RAW. (2/21)
16. Go on a cruise.
17. Get back into shape/lose 10 pounds.
18. Design my logo and branding. (04/09)
19. Take an actual art class. (09/09 - Digital Design)
20. Ride the metro alone! Ahh!

21. Buy a peacoat. (03/09)

22. Photograph a Senior Prom Party. (05/09)

23. Take my mom out to dinner.
24. Visit New York City again!
25. Keep my nails painted pink for a month.
26. Buy a Fisheye lens.
27. Get dressed up on Halloween. (10/31/09)
28. Get a custom blog!

29. Organize the monster that is my email inbox.

30. Attend a summer concert at Merriweather Post.

31. Design a wedding website. (Expected 01/2010)
32. Photograph a lacrosse tournament. (06/09)

33. Dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean.
34. Buy something from Etsy. (3/1/09)
35. Read a book for fun. (10/09 - Sookie Stackhouse Series)

36. Subscribe to a photography magazine. (08/09 - Photo Pro)

37. Get a new and improved cell phone. (06/09 - Blackberry Storm)

38. Go out to lunch with my friends from high school.

39. Invest in the stock market.

40. Join an interest group.
41. Give up soda for a month.
42. Convince my mom to let me take her pictures.
43. Compile a cookbook with our family recipes.

44. Call my grandparents everyday for a month.

45. Buy a Nikon D700! (11/09 - WOOH!)
46. Keep a 3.8 GPA or above. (Freshman Year 08-09 = 3.97)
47. Pull an all nighter.
48. Get a portrait session done with Huey.
49. Blog every day for 14 days straight. (0/14)
50. Buy an HD video camera. (07/09)
51. Itsy bitsy teeny weeny little polka dot bikini.
52. Go through my closet & donate old clothes.
53. Run 3 miles without getting tired.
54. Write a letter to my senator.
55. Teach someone something new!
55. Discover three ways to reduce my carbon footprint. (0/3)
56. Photograph alongside two of my photography heroes. (Throughout 09)
57. Photograph a wedding at St. Mary's Church in Annapolis, my parish.
58. Visit my old high school.
59. Take a yoga class.
60. Re-read the Twilight series, for the third time.
61. Buy a pair of flip flops other than Reefs.
62. Find a four leaf clover.
63. Treat my boyfriend to a nice restaurant. (10/09 - Fogo de Chao)
64. Get my first credit card and build good credit!
65. Go on a girls' weekend with my best friends.
66. Create my own scrapbook.
67. Purchase a new laptop. (07/09)
68. Add a third buddha statue to my desk collection.
69. Photograph a newborn.
70. Vacation somewhere tropical.
71. Hold my own fabulous contest.
72. Enter a print competition
73. Stay off Facebook for 48 hours.
74. Create a Photobook of all my macro photography. (12/09)
75. Have my work displayed somewhere. (05/09 - Present @ Liu Liu's Salon)
76. Buy a fun umbrella. (Bought 09/09 - Died 10/09)
77. Go to the gun range with my Dad.
78. Ride on a roller coaster.
79. Buy a new camera bag/case to compliment my Shootsac. (11/09)
80. Attend a bridal showcase.
81. Throw someone a surprise birthday party!
82. Wear my cowgirl boots in public. Without being pointed at.
83. Attend another Ravens game.
84. Plan a unique themed fashion shoot (50's, 80's, ect.)
85. Shop (and buy something) at Urban Outfitters. (09/09)
85. Shoot and edit a session in one day. (3/8/09)
86. Photograph a boudoir session.
87. See a Broadway Show.
88. Go from Sole Proprietorship to LLC. (2010)
89. Photograph a fellow photographer. (04/09)
90. Go a whole month without eating out.
91. Sleep in past 10 am.
92. Shop at a consignment store.
93. Write down all of my friends/family members' birthdays.
94. Drive a jet ski.
95. Go sailing in the Chesapeake Bay.
96. Surprise my mom with breakfast in bed.
97. Get my own apartment.
98. Write my grandparents a thank you letter, for everything they do.
99. Do some digging into my family history. Make a family tree.
100. Create a signature photography video.
101. Volunteer for a charity that gives back. (Littlest Heros & Think Pink!)

The Key:
BOLD: Completed.
ITALIC: in progress.

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke