Jonna Michelle Photography
  • Home
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • Why Sligo Creek?
    • FAQs
    • Why prints?
  • Galleries
  • Blog
  • Contact

Maryland Photographer | Favorites from 2015

12/30/2015

0 Comments

 
It's so hard to believe another year has come and gone. I swear, the older I get, the faster the time flies!

I know the New Year is just around the corner and that's fun and exciting, but I love the end of a year, too. It's such a great reminder to slow down (something all of us need to do more often) and really think about the things you're thankful for. 2015 was a fantastic year for me, and the proof is in the photos! From a sports-themed shoot at the University of Maryland to engagement and wedding photographs with Fenton Street Market as a backdrop, I got to do some really cool things and meet some awesome people this year!  I'm so grateful to have such wonderful clients who trust me to photograph some of their most precious moments.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite images from 2015!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Travel | The Grand Canyon

12/23/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
As a combined birthday, Christmas and anniversary gift, I surprised Cliff with a trip to the Grand Canyon. Cliff had never been before and I had only been to the canyon once when I was young. (To be honest, I don't remember much about it). We were both inspired to visit after watching Ken Burns' series on the National Parks.

This wasn't just any trip to the Grand Canyon, though. We took a train to the canyon and back! After doing some research online, I discovered The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, Arizona and was sold right away. An all-inclusive hotel, glass-top train ride and overnight stay at the Grand Canyon? Yes, please!

Cliff and I both love train travel and this was actually our second vacation on an antique train. The only way to describe our experience is to call it Americana at its finest. We loved everything about the vacation. In fact, after it ended, we wanted nothing more than to turn right back around and do it all over again! (If only life worked that way!)

Our itinerary included more than just a train and the canyon, though. We flew into Phoenix and stayed a night there before driving up to Sedona. We spent the day in Sedona, ate some kickass burgers at a little whole-in-the-wall joint and then took a Pink Jeep tour to see ancient cave dwellings. From there, we drove up to Williams to begin our train adventure.

The train car we rode in had a glass top and was originally built in the 1940s. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel acquired it (probably from a scrap yard, if you can believe it!) and restored it to it's original furnishings. During the ride, musicians came through and played traditional American folk music, which I especially loved. Our favorite was Jesse, a banjo player who serenaded us with songs about cowboys, trains and the American West. 

Once we arrived at the Canyon, we were given free reign to explore as we pleased. We did a little hiking, walked along the rim and ate at a pizza parlor before checking into our cabin, which was located a quarter of a mile from the canyon's rim. That evening after the sun set, we walked to the edge of the canyon just to take it all in. Even though we couldn't see much (because it was around 11 at night), it felt like we were standing on the edge of the world.

As awesome as our first day was, our second day at the canyon was even better! That morning it snowed. As stunning as the Grand Canyon is on it's own, it becomes absolutely breathtaking when you add snow to the mix. Even though it was cold (like, really cold) Cliff and I enjoyed a mile-long stroll along the canyon's rim. As corny as it sounds, it felt like we were in the middle of a storybook. It was just the two of us holding hands, surrounded by giant snowflakes, walking along one of the natural wonders of the world. Yeah, it was pretty magical :)

A few additional highlights included:
  • A kid-free train car! We paid extra to ride in a train car for adults only -- and it was awesome. Soon after the train pulled out of the station, our train attendant whipped out the alcohol. Let me tell you, nothing is better than sipping a Peppermint Patty while looking out a train window on a cold winter day.
  • A crowd-free experience. Because we traveled to the canyon on Thanksgiving Day, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. You'll notice very few people in the photos below. That's not because I edited them out--it's because other tourists just weren't there!
  • A Thanksgiving Feast. Even though we were away from friends and family on Thanksgiving, we were able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The cafes and restaurants at the canyon served up roast turkey and all the fixins! It was an unexpected but pleasant surprise!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
p.s. On the way back to Williams, our train got robbed by a gang of outlaws!
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

DC Headshot Photographer | Erika

12/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
One thing I love about photography is how it introduces me to people I wouldn't otherwise meet. That was definitely the case with yoga instructor and writer, Erika.

Erika needed headshots for two new(ish) projects she's working on -- a website and book. Both projects required a unique look, so we met in downtown Washington, D.C. at one of my favorite locations, the National Portrait Gallery. The museum provides a clean, sophisticated backdrop for headshots and the space around it is diverse enough that simply taking a few steps outside museum doors changes the look and feel of photos dramatically. Not only was I able to capture a few different looks for Erika's headshots, but she surprised me by demonstrating some yoga poses right outside museum doors. How cool is that?!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Preview | Grand Canyon

12/1/2015

1 Comment

 
This year, Cliff and I broke our Thanksgiving tradition of celebrating on the East Coast and headed out west to the Grand Canyon. We took a train there (from Williams, AZ) and on the day after Thanksgiving, it snowed. It was pretty magical :)

​It's going to be a little while before I'm ready to share all of our photos from the trip, so I thought I'd post this quick preview. Let me say now, these photos don't do it justice. The canyon is simply magnificent!
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment
    Picture

    Author.

    Hey there! I'm Jonna! I'm a family photographer serving Silver Spring, Maryland and beyond. During the Covid-19 crisis, I'm using my free time to document the lives of friends and neighbors as we live through a pandemic. Learn more.

    Categories

    All
    Behind The Scenes
    Contest
    Couples
    Families
    Home
    Life In The Time Of Coronavirus
    Nebraska
    Personal
    Pets
    Photography Tips
    Preview
    Recipes
    Silver Spring
    Sligo Creek
    Tips For Clients
    Travel

    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

Jonna Huseman | The Sligo Creek Photographer | jonna.michelle@gmail.com
Family photographer | Silver Spring, MD

Text and images ©2018 Jonna Michelle Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Proudly powered by Weebly