The Saint Timothy Annual Auction Gala was a joyful evening of celebration, community, and generosity, held once again at the Barn at Brambleton. This year’s event carried special meaning as the school celebrated its 45th anniversary, bringing together families, friends, and supporters for a night filled with laughter, connection, and lively auction moments.

A Korean doljanchi, or dol, is a traditional birthday celebration that honors a child’s first year of life and features the symbolic doljabi ceremony, where the baby chooses an item that represents their future. As a family photographer, I documented Elena in her beautiful hanbok, the carefully styled dol table, and the unforgettable doljabi moment. If you’re planning a Korean doljanchi and searching for a photographer to capture authentic, timeless images of your child’s first birthday celebration, this post highlights how special and culturally significant this milestone truly is.

Compact cameras are making a comeback and I’m all for it! It’s undeniably wonderful to have an everyday-carry camera you can take with you anywhere, anytime, to capture anything. But with Canon and Sony’s latest “compact camera” releases, it seems apparent that they’ve forgotten what make a compact great in the first place. The irony? Olympus figured this out years ago — and they never stopped getting it right!

When a devoted mom asked me to photograph her daughter’s First Holy Communion, and the entire second grade class, I was deeply honored. But then came the curveball: no photography allowed during the Mass. But with a little creativity (and a lot of teamwork with the teachers and room moms), we created a beautiful pop-up studio that honored the sacredness of the day while still giving families meaningful, faith-filled photos.

When it comes to the sacraments of the Catholic Church, baptism and First Communion are often the most photographed. But what about Confirmation? Despite being the final sacrament of initiation, it often gets far less attention. Let’s explore the reasons Confirmation isn’t photographed as often — and why families should consider capturing this powerful moment!

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of photographing a Confirmation portrait session for a wonderful young woman. Confirmation is such a significant sacrament in the Catholic faith, and it was an honor to be trusted to document this milestone for her and her family. It was a unique experience that combined faith, tradition, and the joy of celebrating this young woman’s life and commitment to her faith.

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of experiencing Saint Timothy’s Annual Auction Gala for the first time. What made the night even more meaningful for me was experiencing it not just through my lens, but as a parent. I saw the same joy, generosity, and faith that drew my family to Saint Timothy’s shining through every smile and interaction. I’m grateful I could capture these moments — both as a photographer and as someone who calls this community home.