It's that time of year again! The holidays are upon us! I hope by now everyone's belly is sufficiently full of turkey. Cliff and I celebrated Thanksgiving -- my favorite holiday -- with friends and friends of friends. Among those in attendance was a family from Hungary. It was their first American Thanksgiving, and I'm so glad Cliff and I were able to help them experience the tradition.

After our feast, I prepared for my first LDS wedding! Kathryn and JR were sealed (married) in a ceremony at Washington's Mormon Temple the day after Thanksgiving. I can't think of a better to way to start the holiday season than by spending it with two people who love each other! Being around these two is always a delight! Even though I've never before photographed a Mormon wedding, their friends and family didn't bat an eye. Everyone made me feel so loved and welcome!

If Kathryn and JR look familiar, its because they've been on my blog before! In lieu of engagement photos, they chose to have their first look and couples portraits a week before their wedding! You can see a preview of that shoot here. 

Over the next few weeks, I'll be featuring Kathryn and JR extensively on my blog. Be on the look out for more photos from their first look and even more photos from their wedding day and reception. For now, enjoy this preview from their beautiful Temple wedding!

p.s. Don't forget to vote for Kathryn and JR and other wonderful families in the canvas contest! Voters must like the Jonna Michelle Photography Facebook Page and a photo in the Canvas Contest album in order for their votes to count.

For me, one of the most stressful part of the holidays is finding unique gifts that my loved ones actually like. The internet... doesn't help. Have you ever been to one of those "unique gift" websites? I dunno about your family, but my husband is not interested in a plaid canvas throw pillow and the last thing my parents want is an arcade spinner lazy susan. (Yes, that actually exists).

Here in my own little corner of the internet, I thought I'd offer gift ideas that people actually want. There's a definite theme here: None of these things are traditional material items. I believe "experience" gifts are so much more special than mass-produced trinkets...

1. Overnight Say at a B&B or Boutique Hotel
This is something I've gifted to my parents a few times, and it's always gone over very well. After all, who doesn't love a weekend getaway? Need help finding the perfect location? Check out Bedandbreakfast.com! If you're in or near Nebraska (or even if you're not!), you can't go wrong with an overnight stay at Lied Lodge. Here in Maryland, I'm hugely fond of the many gorgeous B&Bs in Ellicot City, Annapolis and Cumberland!

​2. Theater Tickets
If you've got loved ones who love the arts, this is a no-brainer! Here in the DMV area, we are so lucky to have so many amazing live-performance venues, like the Kennedy Center, The Warner Theater and Wolftrap. If a rock concert is more your loved one's style, check out The Black Cat, the 9:30 Club or The Fillmore. If you're looking for something a little more intimate, you can't go wrong with Round House Theater here in Silver Spring or Metro Stage in Alexandria, VA.

3. Date Night Package
A gift certificate to a restaurant and movie tickets are classic gifts that never go out of style. If you want to make this gift extra classic, look no further than Silver Spring's AFI, which regularly shows movies from Hollywood's golden era. Need a local restaurant recommendation? Silver Spring has so many great options, including but not limited to All Set, The Classics, Paccis, Cubanos or Mrs. K's. Want to earn extra brownie points? Chip in to babysit if you're gifting this to loved ones with littles.

4. Jar of Memories
I made this for Cliff years ago when I was a poor college student and to this day, he still talks about how much this gift meant to him. On individual pieces of construction paper, I wrote down hundreds of memories that I cherished from our time together, then tied them up with a string, and collected them in a giant glass jar. Cliff had a new memory to open each day for about a year. The best part? It cost only the price of the jar, crafting materials and my time. Plaza Art has all the crafting supplies you need. And if you want to get extra fancy, enlist help/support/inspiration from the Unofficial Handlettering Society of Silver Spring!

5. Massage or Spa Day
This is for that special someone who's overworked, possibly underpaid and loves being pampered. And with so many options (think manicures, yoga classes, 30-minute chair massages, 2-hour long hot stone massages, facials or day-long spa extravaganzas) there's an option for every budget! Need a recommendation? Some of my favorite area spas include Kibana, Third Space Wellness and Blue Heron Wellness.

6. Sports experience
I'm not a huge sports fan, but many of the people who I love are. More than once I've gifted tickets to football games, basketball games and baseball games. There's also the option to make your loved one more than just a spectator with a gift certificate to a round of golf, go-karting, rock climbing, horseback riding, white water rafting, zip lining... the list is almost endless! If you want to give an extra unique experience, check out Go Adventures for gift certificates in caving, tree climbing or wilderness skills!

7. Family Photos
This one makes me smile, and not just for the obvious reasons. A family or engagement photo session is such a precious gift because, when photos are printed, they can become cherished family heirlooms. If you want to gift something as unique and meaningful as family photos, look no further! I'm happy to help!

Bonus Tip: If you are interested in giving physical items for gifts, go with hand-crafted goods made by local vendors. Doing so means you're giving something that can only be found in this region! Below are some of my favorite makers and artisans in the DMV area that offer high-quality, unique, hand-made items:

These two! I just LOVE them! Kathryn and JR are absolutely adorable together! They're getting married next weekend at Washington, DC's Mormon Temple, but chose to do their first look and wedding portraits a week early. (More on why that's such a fantastic idea in my next blog post!) If they can make it through yesterday's photo session, I'm pretty sure they can make it through anything!

Temperatures in this area have been pretty mild... until yesterday. (Of course.) Kathryn and JR endured a storm front that caused temperatures to drop significantly and brought whipping winds that downed leaves, tree branches and, by the end of the session, Kathryn's hair. The photos might look peaceful, but trust me, it felt like chaos! These two were troopers, though, and pushed right on through!

I can't wait to share more from their wedding and their portrait session. Until then, here's a sneak peek featuring one of the coolest couples I know!

​A lot of people in my community know me as a photographer, but I’m actually a writer by trade. I majored in journalism and have made a career out of putting words on paper. (Or, in this case, on a digital representation of paper). Writing is how I best express myself. It’s how I digest information and work out feelings and emotions.

If there’s ever a time to work out how I’m feeling—it’s now. So many times over the last week, I’ve felt despaired, depressed, hopeless and lost. While so many of my friends have expressed anger and rage over the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, I’ve felt confused and numb. 

I’ve seen social media statuses, read group texts and have been involved in personal conversations detailing the actions like-minded individuals opposed to Trump are doing to resist or make their voices heard. Some of the most popular actions include donating to organizations that are likely to be attacked by Trump’s Administration, like Planned Parenthood or Every Town for Gun Safety, or joining a protest.

Those are all great options. I already donate to the organizations listed above – and a few more – and will likely join a protest at some point. But for now, I’m still working on figuring out my emotions. That numb depressed thing I mentioned earlier? Yeah…It’s real.

As things have evolved – and as I have evolved – over the last week, I realized one of the most important things I can do for myself, for my community and for my country is to become as educated as possible on what is going on, and to not feed into the culture of misinformation and misrepresentation of facts that have plagued so much of the political discourse in our country. 

Truth be told, this is a hard pill to swallow. I’m guilty of sharing items on social media that I haven’t read. More than that, I’ve come to realize that there is a lot about our country's political system, history, and politics in general that I don’t actually know. Information has been available, but I, for some reason or another, haven’t sought out clear, precise answers. I’ve either ignored the situation, relied on what others have told me, or just gone along with what I’ve always believed to be “true” without actually doing research.

Therefore, I’ve made these pledges to myself (and by default, to friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers and those who follow me on social media):
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• I will not share articles or information on social media channels that I haven’t fully read. 

• As painful as it is, I will stay abreast of news developments related to Trump, his transition and his future Administration, and will rely on a wide variety of reliable news sources for this information.

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• I will do my best to rely on my training as a journalist to vet articles, look up definitions I don’t understand, and corroborate what I read and hear from multiple sources to make sure I fully understand what I am reading/researching and ensure I am in the best position to engage politically.

I’ve decided to put all of this in writing for a few reasons. 

1. Accountability is important. As a citizen of the United States, if I’m to hold my elected leaders accountable, I need to be accountable.
2. I want to lead by example. 
3. I want people to know that they can trust me.
4. I do not want to be ashamed of what I don’t know. Sharing this will help me own my own insecurities and, hopefully, inspire others to ask questions and not feel bad for thinking they should know something they don’t.

Every year I look forward to family photo sessions that take place during fall. They're just so much fun -- and working with the Kingsland Family was no exception! They chose to have their photos taken at McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda.

It was wonderful walking around the gardens talking with this family and just catching up. Mom Emily and I used to work together, but this was my first time meeting her husband and her two beautiful children. ​

Prior to this session, I'd never been to McCrillis Gardens before. I can tell you right now that I'm definitely going back! I LOVE this location! It's so quaint and quiet, and the grounds are perfect for photos!

They're also perfect for capturing the imagination, and that's exactly what little Evelyn did! She found a gazebo there, declared it a castle and waited for a princess to come. There was a dragon and dancing, too! Oh, and if you're wondering about that princess, she was there all along. Turns out Evelyn was the princess, but she was in disguise :)

(Dancing in the castle)

It's been a turbulent few days. Some of us are hurting. Some of us are scared. And some of us just don't know how to feel or what to think. 

Our country is divided, which makes the future feel uncertain.

Photos wont change that. Only people can. But I'm hoping these photos offer a reprieve, even if temporary, from intense emotions and give everyone space where they can take a deep breath, feel comfortable to let their guard down, and just live in the moment.

That's what Sligo Creek does for me. No matter how many times I walk around in the Parkway, I'm always awed by the beauty I find there. It's a place of peace and solace, which so many of us seem to be searching for these days.

​Enjoy.

It's the season of giving -- and you know what the means. My favorite holiday is just around the corner! This year, to celebrate Thanksgiving and say thanks to my amazing clients, I'm holding a canvas contest!

I got this idea from fellow photographer Katie Nesbitt, and I love it for so many reasons. First, I can't stress the importance of printing your photographs. Second, I love canvases! Cliff and I use them in our own home and I can't wait to gift a client with one!

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
 
To vote for your favorite family, like the Jonna Michelle Photography Facebook page and then like the family’s picture in the 2016 Canvas Contest album. You can vote for as many people as you’d like. SHARE your entry to encourage your friends and family to vote for you! You must like both the JMP Facebook page and the picture in the Canvas Giveaway album for a vote to count!

The family with the most votes by Saturday, December 10 will win an 16 x 20 gallery wrapped canvas! I will announce the winner Sunday, December 11.
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In no particular order, here are this year’s entries:

Ahhh, falling back. This is one of my favorite weekend of the year. That extra hour is such a gift! I know a lot of people dread the short days, but for me they're the perfect reminder that winter is just around the corner. This is the season to slow down, be thankful and just live in the moment. I love it!

As for the rest of the weekend, it was pretty great. I helped my friend Nate celebrate his birthday. Nate is another creative based here in Silver Spring and his contributions to our community cannot be overlooked. He heads the podcast Movie Nightcap and is about to release a radio drama! You can listen to an interview all about his project here.

Cliff and I attended the annual dance performance of our good friend K. She is a performer and choreographer with Full Circle Dance Company in Baltimore. We look forward to their shows every year! They're inspiring, thought provoking and are the perfect reason to get together! If your'e into modern art and dance, or just want to try something new, I highly recommend checking them out!

And of course my weekend wouldn't have been complete without a photo session! Isn't the Kingsland Family just adorable? Mom Emily and I used to work together, but this was my first time meeting her husband and children. I can't wait to share more from their fall-themed session soon!

Finally, a reminder that my BIG ANNOUNCEMENT is just around the corner!! Make sure you check back this Thursday for details! 

Every photo and every session has a story behind it -- and I especially love the stories behind Alison and Drew's photos. They chose to have their engagement session at Rock Creek Park because of how special the park is to them. When they first started dating, Alison and Drew met here often. This is the place where their love blossomed!

Originally, we were supposed to meet in September for photos, but the weather was so unseasonably warm that we rescheduled. And you know what? I'm so glad we did! The weather last Sunday was perfect for this session--temperatures were in the 80s, there was low humidity, and that sun!! I had a lot of fun using techniques that only work in this type of super sunny environment.

In addition to capturing some gorgeous photos, it was awesome just getting to spend time with Alison and Drew. I have so much respect for these two. Like Cliff and me, they're both transplants to this area and moved to DC to pursue meaningful careers. Drew spent eight years in the Navy and Alison works for an organization that focuses on fighting climate change and preserving the environment. It's always a treat to spend time around people who are not only passionate about each other, but about all aspects of their lives.

Most of all, I'm just genuinely excited for these two. They'll be tying the knot next year in Annapolis and I wish them the very best as they enter this great new chapter in life!