Dandelion Wishes®

I don’t often share personal postings to my blog but this article touched my heart and really made me aware of a great need.  I really had NO idea of this kind of need…don’t ever hear anything about this from the news media.  We need to though!  The article is in the current issue of the Warrenton Lifestyle which is a local full color magazine that serves as a guide to living and shopping in and around the town of Warreton, Virginia and surrounding Fauquier County.  I always enjoy reading through it when I have a few minutes – a rarity but I do try! 

Anyway, when I read this article about a mom and the needs of her son and his battalion, I felt compelled to do something.  These are basic, really basic necessities that are needed here folks.  And, I for one am willing to give something up in order to get these soldiers what they need.  Maybe just give up a Starbucks treat or two this week and buy some boxers or socks or beef jerky instead?  If you are not local, why not help out with postage?  Whatever you can do, I know the soldiers pictured in this article and many others would be forever greatful.  Please just take a moment to read below…respond in whatever way you can.  All the contact info is at the bottom.  God bless you!

I hope everybody had a wonderful July 4th celebration!  We just got back last weekend from being at the beach for a week for our family vacation.  I promise to share some images from the trip soon!  

For the fourth year in a row, my family and I celebrated independence day by going to the awesome fireworks display at Great Meadows in The Plains, Virginia.  It is only a very short drive from Warrenton, VA.  They always have the very best pyrotechnic display in this area!  I look forward every year to trying to capture just a bit of this grand display…so here is this year’s best from where I parked ~ it was the perfect summer night to take in such an incredible fireworks production!  Can’t wait til next year!     

This one is my kids favorite shots… they both think it looks like a palm tree!  I swear it looks like the fireworks shot right out of the middle of the cars in the field but what really happened was my tripod broke and my camera would ever-so-slowly creep downwards and so it made it look like the fireworks were shooting out from the cars – totally weird!

Last year I joined a local camera club in Warrenton, VA and have really enjoyed making some new friends there!  This month our club was asked to provide a selection of their work to be displayed outside the conference rooms at the Fauquier Hosptial.  Each photographer was allowed to bring three framed images or portraits.  I had a hard time deciding on which three to bring from the studio  ~  below are my final selections.  Do you recognize your little one there?? 

As you can see, my choices were of my favorite little subjects…newborn portraits and baby portraits.  If you are expecting, please visit both our Maternity~Pregnancy and Newborn~Baby pages of our website for more information on these very special sessions.    

There are many other beautiful and diverse images of nature, travel and human interest on display – very much worth popping by to see!  If you are in the Warrenton area, I would encourage you to stop by and take a peek.  Our work will be on display through mid March.  You can find the display by going in the main entrance and following the signs to the Conference rooms.

Happy New Year to you all!!  A big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by Dharma & Leopold’s Children’s Chic Boutique in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia to enter their Christmas drawing!  The drawing prize included BOTH a free outfit from the boutique brand Le Top and a complimentary mini portrait session w/free 8×10 of choice from Dandelion Wishes Photography!  

So, (drum roll please!) and a  BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the lucky winner ~  Stacie G. of The Plains, Virginia!

I had the priviledge of working with a wonderful local business to come up with a theme and design for their December Christmas & holiday advertising.  It certainly helped that they brought the most adorable little models into the studio for their ad session…including a furry one named “Lulu”, too! 

This darling and upscale boutique is located right on Main Street in Old Town Warrenton and has the most amazing clothing and creative toys you will find!  The children looked completely adorable in their holiday outfits – available for purchase at the boutique.  If you are still looking for that special outfit for family Christmas parties or special holiday portraits, then a stop into Dharma & Leopold’s Children’s Chic Boutique is a must!

My family and I, as I am sure most of you did as well, celebrated the finish to our July 4th by watching fireworks.  We took the kids to Great Meadows in The Plains, VA just north of Warrenton for their Famous Fourth celebration and as soon as we got there and unpacked our picnic dinner…it started to rain!  And rain it did!  The heavens opened up and it just poured!!  There we sat, huddled under our SUV’s lift-gate and umbrellas eating KFC!  Had it not been for the company of some great friends, I think we would have called it a day!  But we made the best of the situation and I am so glad we did.  After a couple hours, the rain ceased just in time for the best fireworks display. 

So, here are a few of my photos of the awesome fireworks display…courtesy of Great Meadows, The Plains, Virginia…

 AND, the Grand Finale!! 

God bless you and your family as you finish out your holiday weekend!

This past weekend was a lovely one!  Saturday brought us temps in the 60’s and it was a welcome change.  We had a special project we were working on for the studio…more on that to come in a few days! 

I am always excited to see the first of the Spring flowers pop their little heads up and this weekend brought us our first cheery little ones…I guess we were not the only ones appreciative of the warmer weather!  Stay tuned for more exciting studio news!