Brian & Katie::: MARRIED!

Back in October I got to go along with a good friend and fellow photographer Kim Seidl to the Rose Hill Manor in Leesburg, Virginia for Brian and Katie's wedding. The weather was great, the sky was blue and they both looked fantastic. Special thanks to Kim for letting me tag along. Love ya Kim!

And here's a shout out to all the wonderful vendors:

venue: Rose Hill Manor
catering: RSVP Catering
DJ: Michael Rease
florist: Darla Creekmore
officiant: Rev. Norma Jean Peyton

For more photos, check out:

KIP PIERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
www.kippierson.com

Become a FAN of Kip Pierson Photography on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kip-Pierson-Photography/44089848971

The dress looked simply beautiful on Katie.



The whole wedding party.


Love this shot.




This is her little Dance Fever moment.

If I remember correctly, one of the cupcakes was PUMPKIN! Uh...yeah!



These two kids were cracking me up on the dance floor. Such little hams!


The place was gorgeous!


You know what time it is kids. That's right!
Time for the Slideshow!!!

For more photos, check out:

KIP PIERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
www.kippierson.com

Become a FAN of Kip Pierson Photography on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kip-Pierson-Photography/44089848971

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

This past year I've had the fortune of meeting and working with some extraordinary photographers in the DC area. From weddings to workshops, social gatherings and dinners, we've come to know each other pretty well in a professional and personal way. It was from these friendships (particularly Sarah Hodzic, Mary Kate McKenna and Julia MacInnis) that have brought me to my newest adventure/charity: NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP FOUNDATION. Of all the things I've done in this lifetime, I can say that being apart of this organization ranks right up there with being a guide for disabled athletes in the NYC and Marine Corps Marathons.


Pregnancy and birth are miraculous journeys. This amazing time of life is full of mystery, anticipation, joy, hope, and wonder. Feeling the powerful energy of birth and new life, watching as a new family is born unto each other. These things humble and amaze. These are the things that we celebrate when a baby is born.

But there is another aspect of pregnancy and birth. There is an unexpected place in this journey where some families may find themselves. When a baby dies, a world is turned upside down. There is confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty that cannot be explained. There is sorrow where there should have been joy. During this time, it might be impossible for families to know what they might need in order to heal in the future.

This is the place where the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart. For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of almost 6,000 volunteer photographers in the United States and twenty-five international countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session. The portraits are then professionally retouched and presented to the families on an archival DVD or CD that can be used to print portraits of their cherished baby.

Our entire network of affiliated photographers graciously donates their time and talents to our families and we are proud to be able to offer our services at no cost. And now I'm proud to say that I am one of these photographers for the Washington, DC area.

So ladies, thank you for letting me be a part of this wonderful gift.

If you would like to donate or learn more about this organization, please visit there website: www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

Update: Ryan Fishwild for President?

Yesterday, I received a call from my sister, Lisa, informing me that my nephew Ryan would be on the 5 o'clock news. What? Apparently, FOX 2 News came to his Montessori school yesterday to interview the kids about Tuesdays historical inauguration. In there words:

It can be tough to stay up on current events, especially if you're just 5 years old. FOX 2's Lee Thomas was curious what kids know about our new president, so he went looking for answers at the Ferndale Montessori Center.

Of course as you would suspect, Ryan didn't that much air time and was naturally disappointed even though you can see Ryan trying to get in the shot several times---but the best part was when they asked some toddlers who was the last president. When they responded with George Washington, you can hear (according to my sister) Ryan yell out BUSH! That's Ryan for you. Here's the clip: LOCAL KIDS KNOW ALL ABOUT OBAMA.

UPDATE: FOX 2 NEWS took down the video...sorry.

Who is Ryan Lane Fishwild?

Well, besides being my sister's oldest child, my nephew and my brother's Godson, Ryan Lane Fishwild is by far one of the smartest 4 year-olds around. Now some may say that all family believes their children or nephews are extremely smart, but without bias, I can honestly say, Ryan is beyond smart. Already reading at a 3rd grade level at the age of 4, Ryan's ability to deduce, analysis and of course, manipulate the situation have been prevalent in each and every interaction with him. However, he's still a kid. So, I thought that if I was going to show Ryan's Bloopers/Outakes from our family portrait pictures, I might as well tell you some of these stories or quotes that prove my point. Enjoy.

Ryan's Original 5x7 to be hung up in my parent's Family Room.
What follows are the ones the didn't quite make the cut.

Ryan and Hobbes. Now I just need to draw in a picture of University of Michigan's logo that Ryan can piss on. Speaking of Michigan...story number 1:
At a young age, Ryan quickly learned the all important "GO GREEN, GO WHITE" chant that happens at MSU games. All you had to do was call out "GO GREEN" and he would respond "GO WHITE." But he also understand the in state rivalry with Michigan's Maize and Blue.
Grandpa: "GO GREEN"
Ryan: "GO WHITE" (in a little 2yr. olds voice)
Grandpa: "GO GREEN"
Ryan: "GO WHITE"
Grandpa: "GO BLUE"
Ryan: "...no."


When Grandma and Grandpa Pierson took Ryan to Sign of the Beefcarver (a Mid-West buffet restaurant) Ryan was looking around at the table behind them and Grandma said, "Young man, turn back around in that seat right now." To which Ryan replied, "I'm not a young man, I'm a little boy."


Every year I get Mark & Lisa a year long subscription to the Detroit Zoo. It's the perfect gift that can be used all year long and the whole family can go. Even the babysitter can take the kids to the zoo with the subscription. But one day when Grandpa and Ryan had just left the new polar bear exhibit and were off to the Penquin House, Grandpa said, "Hey, Ryan let's go in this store and Grandpa will buy you a toy."
Ryan aptly replied, "Grandpa, I have hundreds of toys."
"Well, Grandpa will buy you a T-shirt."
"Grandpa! I have hundreds of T-shirts. Let's go to the Penquin House."
Not even 3 at that point and already he understood the notion of materialism. Simply amazing.


Just this past Tuesday, one day before his Grandpa's Birthday, Grandpa took Ryan out for lunch while he was babysitting him. As they in the booth eating lunch, Ryan turned to Grandpa and said:
"Grandpa, there's a card and a bunch of brownies that Mommy made for you at home."
"Ryan, was that suppose to be a secret?"
"Uh...I was just kidding about the card and brownies."


Ryan's best Richard M. Nixon's impersonation. He may also be the only 4 yr. old who knows who Barrack Obama, John McCain and Brian Williams are. Brian Williams he knows, because after Brian Williams comes on, he gets to watch Superman.


Grammar, Reading and Writing are things that Ryan absolutely loves. For example:
Grandpa: "Look Ryan at the snow globes. They're all alike."
Ryan: "Grandpa, you mean SIMILAR."


XMAS time also brought on a family outing to the bowling alley where the whole family turned out for some bumper lane action. I won the 1st game and Dad beat my cousin Adam in the 2nd game, but the highlight came elsewhere when 4yr. old Ryan beat Adam's 20yr. old girlfriend (Priscilla)...on the same bumper lane! Later that night when Priscilla was leaving, Ryan ran up to her to say goodbye and said:
"Bye Priscilla, I'm sorry I beat you at bowling."


This past year's Halloween also brought some new memorable Ryan moments. Knowing that my MOM brought over the pumpkins that were on the back porch, Grandpa asked:
"Hey Ryan, who brought you those pumpkins?"
After thinking for a moment he pointed at Grandpa and said: "You're Pierson, right?"
Grandpa nodded yes.
"Yeah, you guys did."


Spelling is one of Ryan's favorite things to do, as well as playing with Transformers (check out the tatoo!) Well one day while Lisa (his Mom) was cleaning up the other room she noticed Ryan working hard at his play desk. He then ran up stairs and promptly returned. Once more, Ryan left the table and went upstairs only to come back down shortly after. This happened several more times until Ryan went into the kitchen and asked his perplexed mother,
"Mom...How do you spell Constantinople?"


At XMAS, Ryan asked me out of the blue to teach him how to do a somersault. With a little help from the couch pillows for added protection, Ryan learned quickly, even removing the pillows soon after. When he wanted to show everyone else what he could do, we practiced once more and put the ultimate somersault show together. And when he did a real good somersault, he said:
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe how cool I am right now!"

For more photos, check out:

KIP PIERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
www.kippierson.com

Become a fan of Kip Pierson Photography on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kip-Pierson-Photography/44089848971

Briel "NO, I'm not the pornstar" Banks

It's not often you meet a beautiful young actress...well, maybe if you live in Los Angeles. And it's not often when you meet an attractive, young actress who's a pornstar...well, maybe in Los Angeles. But it's certainly not often when you meet a beautiful, young actress who has the same name as a pornstar...well, maybe not in Los Angeles, but in Washington, DC? Yes.

Meet Briel Banks, formerly Briana Banks. Briel and I met 5 years ago when we got a chance to work together in Ford's Theatre's new production of A Christmas Carol directed by Matt August. As you might guess Briel played Belle while I played the lowly, yet intrinsically important to the story line, Mr. Topper. Years later, our director would tell me that when he realized "Briana Banks" was in the show he wasn't really sure whether she was the "Brianna Banks" or not. He would say, "Maybe, she's retired from the business and is now legitimately acting? She has blond hair, but you can never tell, especially when they don't have all the makeup on and are actually wearing clothes." He would deduce soon enough that Briana was not the pornstar, but it made for hilarious conversation during our photoshoot yesterday. :)

Well, years later Brianna is now Briel, and doing extremely well for herself in the DC Theatre scene. Next up for Briel: She will be playing Laura in Olney Theatre's production of The Glass Menagerie June 3rd to July 5th of this year.

You can see why she's going to play Laura.


It's very easy to take pictures of someone who is naturally beautiful.






She may look like Briana Banks, but I think she looks alot like Michelle Pfeiffer.


Good old outtakes.
(Click on me to enlarge.)


One of my favorite clown shots yet.

I like to call this her Mr. Toad face.:)


Here's an old headshot that supported the "Briana Banks" myth. Apparently, if you put this headshot next to the other Briana Banks, the similarities are striking.

For more photos: click here.