I read online that today is Photography Day, so it must be true. To celebrate, I've selected some of my favorite images from every month this year. To say that 2014 has been good to me would be a severe understatement. 

As a photographer, I witness thousands of moments through a thumbnail-sized hole in my camera. So whether or not today is a real holiday, it's nice to take opportunities like this to step back, see the bigger picture and try to grasp how infinitely blessed I've been. 

Summer weekends carry a lot of potential, and this one lived up to that expectation. With Tyler in from Radford and two (free) front-row seats to the Salem Red Sox game in my pocket, Friday night was off to a good start. Add in a Saturday-morning photo adventure at the Roanoke Farmers Market, some afternoon DIY projects and an evening spent with family, and suddenly a perfect weekend had unfolded. 

If it can't be fall yet, then I'll certainly take a couple days like this. Enjoy!    

Like film, vinyl records are something to be celebrated. So in honor of all the static, pops and dusty memories that play along with them, I've pulled a couple of photos from my collection.

The first, as you might recognize, is a digital image from my photo essay, "Portrait of My Father." A few Christmases before my dad passed away, we gave him an all-in-one record player (photos two and three). He was ecstatic because he thought my mom had gotten rid of all his old vinyls. His favorite was The Who.

The fourth is from my most recent roll of film. Last month, I spent a weekend in Harrisonburg with my friend and college housemate Kristina. Though I'd lived in Harrisonburg for four years, I never took a look in this downtown record store. It's definitely one to check out if you're in the area.

Film gets me every time. The colors, the grain. Remembering which moments I decided to freeze forever. Having to hope for the best, but prepare for dark or damaged images (mostly because I used expired film this time). 

For this roll, I focused a lot on portraits and experimenting with different light sources. I'm in love with each result, but I'm starting to think that all my images are portraits. Let me explain.

For me, portraits are intimate and involve trust and love between the subject and me. Whether I'm shooting a face, a cup of coffee or a landscape, I subconsciously take this "portrait mentality" with me. I take photos of what I love, things that carry with them more memories than could ever fit in an 8-by-10.

This time around, it's Tyler's piercing eyes and warm heart. Amelia's sleepy, shy frown. Caleb's, well, Caleb faces. His sweet and simple summer day. The faces of four generations of strong, beautiful women. One of my best friends in the town that keeps our favorite stories and funniest jokes. And yes, a cup of coffee.