Pictures may fade, but what they capture is forever.

When people ask me when I was first interested in photography, I'm never quite sure how to respond. It's only been a year since I've started photographing portraits, but I've always had this love for cameras! When I look at pictures from when my grandparents were children, it reminds me how truly important photography is. Although my great-grandparents died decades ago, when I see this picture of them it feels like they are still here. They are a piece of who I am, from a time long before I was born. I wonder who will be looking at my images a hundred years from now, whose family members will be reminiscing from remaining prints of the generation before. =) Just knowing that I'll be able to keep someone's memory alive is enough for me! 

This is a picture of my great grandparents with my grandmother as a young child.

I currently have three photo sessions on the editing block! One is half way completed and I hope to have them ALL done by Monday! (YAY!) So hold on tight & thanks for being so patient! I love my clients!

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Kelli and Bernie's Engagement Session

Over the weekend I had a fabulous engagement shoot with Kelli and Bernie. They are planning their wedding for this October and decided to have pictures taken in our Nation's Capital! Within a few minutes of starting we were already laughing and through various mishaps during the session I discovered what a fantastic couple these two are! We walked all over D.C. for their engagement portraits and got some beautiful shots in front of the monuments. 

Oh, And did I mention that her ring was gorgeous! 

What's a trip to D.C. without a ride on the carrousel? 

Sunset at the Lincoln Memorial.

Thank you Kelli and Bernie for sharing these special moments with me! I had an amazing time and hope your fingers have finally defrosted, hehe! =) 

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

My 101 Tasks in 1001 Days

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. (Started Febuary 19, 2009)

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

MY START DATE: 2/20/2009

MY END DATE: 11/18/2011

1. Travel to a country outside of the United States.
2. Become comfortably fluent in Spanish.
3. Buy a pair of leather boots. (Comp 10/09)

4. Spend a full week with my dad and baby brother.
5. Get published photographically for my portrait work.

6. Attend WPPI in Las Vegas, NV.
7. Get a professional massage

8. Carry my camera everywhere with me for a month.

9. Decide on my college major. (12/09 - Visual Studies)
10. Visit Assateague Island and see the wild horses. (Planned May 2010)

11. Plan a vacation with my best friends in Ocean City. (Planned May 2010)
12. Grow my hair back down past my collarbone. (10/09)

13. Pack a picnic lunch to the beach/park.

14. Photograph a wedding out of state.
15. Shoot in RAW. (COMP. 2/21)
16. Go on a cruise.
17. Get back into shape/lose 10 pounds.
18. Design my logo and branding.
19. Take an actual art class. (09/09 - Digital Design)
20. Ride the metro alone! Ahh!

21. Buy a peacoat. (03/09)

22. Photograph a Senior Prom Party. (05/09)

23. Take my mom out to dinner.
24. Visit New York City again!
25. Keep my nails painted pink for a month.
26. Buy a Fisheye lens.
27. Get dressed up on Halloween. (10/31/09)
28. Get a custom blog!

29. Organize the monster that is my email inbox.

30. Attend a summer concert at Merriweather Post.

31. Design a wedding website. (Expected 01/2010)
32. Photograph a lacrosse tournament. (06/09)

33. Dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean.
34. Buy something from Etsy. (COMP. 3/1)
35. Read a book for fun. (09/09 - Sookie Stackhouse Series)

36. Subscribe to a photography magazine. (08/09 - Photo Pro)

37. Get a new and improved cell phone.

38. Go out to lunch with my friends from high school.

39. Invest in the stock market.

40. Join an interest group.
41. Give up soda for a month.
42. Convince my mom to let me take her pictures.
43. Compile a cookbook with our family recipes.

44. Call my grandparents everyday for a month.

45. Buy a Nikon D700! (11/09 - WOOH!)
46. Keep a 3.8 GPA or above.
47. Pull an all nighter.
48. Get a portrait session done with Huey.
49. Blog every day for 14 days straight. (0/14)
50. Buy an HD video camera. (07/09)
51. Itsy bitsy teeny weeny little polka dot bikini.
52. Go through my closet & donate old clothes.
53. Run 3 miles without getting tired.
54. Write a letter to my senator.
55. Teach someone something new!
55. Discover three ways to reduce my carbon footprint. (0/3)
56. Photograph alongside two of my photography heroes. (0/2)
57. Photograph a wedding at St. Mary's Church in Annapolis, my parish.
58. Visit my old high school.
59. Take a yoga class.
60. Re-read the Twilight series, for the third time.
61. Buy a pair of flip flops other than Reefs.
62. Find a four leaf clover.
63. Treat my boyfriend to a nice restaurant. (10/09 - Fogo de Chao)
64. Get my first credit card and build good credit!
65. Go on a girls' weekend with my best friends.
66. Create my own scrapbook.
67. Purchase a new laptop. (07/09)
68. Add a third buddha statue to my desk collection.
69. Photograph a newborn.
70. Vacation somewhere tropical.
71. Hold my own fabulous contest.
72. Enter a print competition
73. Stay off Facebook for 48 hours.
74. Create a Photobook of all my macro photography. (12/09)
75. Have my work displayed somewhere. (05/09 - Present @ Liu Liu's Salon)
76. Buy a fun umbrella.
77. Go to the gun range with my Dad.
78. Ride on a roller coaster.
79. Buy a new camera bag/case to compliment my Shootsac. (11/09)
80. Attend a bridal showcase.
81. Throw someone a surprise birthday party!
82. Wear my cowgirl boots in public. Without being pointed at.
83. Attend another Ravens game.
84. Plan a unique themed fashion shoot (50's, 80's, ect.)
85. Shop (and buy something) at Urban Outfitters. (09/09)
85. Shoot and edit a session in one day. (COMP. 3/8)
86. Photograph a boudoir session.
87. See a Broadway Show.
88. Go from Sole Proprietorship to LLC.
89. Photograph a fellow photographer. (04/09)
90. Go a whole month without eating out.
91. Sleep in past 10 am.
92. Shop at a consignment store.
93. Write down all of my friends/family members' birthdays.
94. Drive a jet ski.
95. Go sailing in the Chesapeake Bay.
96. Surprise my mom with breakfast in bed.
97. Get my own apartment.
98. Write my grandparents a thank you letter, for everything they do.
99. Do some digging into my family history. Make a family tree.
100. Create a signature photography video.
101. Volunteer for a charity that gives back. (Littlest Heros & Think Pink!)

The Key:
BOLD: Completed.
ITALIC: in progress.

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Elizabeth's Maternity Session

Elizabeth would win the award for best wife (and best mommy-to-be) when it comes to our photo session! First of all, she scheduled an entire Valentine's Day Getaway Weekend as a surprise for her husband. They drove all the way from West Virginia to my gorgeous hometown of Annapolis and finished their weekend get-away with a fabulous photography session! She is also nine months into her pregnancy and is due in a short time. This didn't stop her from baring the mere 40 degree day for almost two hours as I captured the precious last few weeks of her journey! Her husband was by her side the entire time, always encouraging and making her laugh constantly!

I had such an amazing time with Elizabeth and her husband Alex! So many smiles and even a few "happy" tears make this one of my all time favorite sessions! I'm wishing them the very best of luck as they welcome their very first baby into the world! =) They will make such incredible parents! Thank you both for sharing your lives with me!

Currently, I am still running a fever, still feeling exhausted, & am about to jump back into bed. Hoping to feel better soon! Thank you to everyone for being so patient! Finished editing one session today, three more in the queue. Busy, busy, busy!

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

My Valentine

I am so blessed to have one of the best boyfriends in the entire world! We've been together for three years in April and I couldn't be happier! He is really something special. =) Here is a shot of the two of us before we left for dinner on Valentine's Day! He treated me to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Annapolis and my gosh - the food was amazing! We even split a banana cream pie for desert!

I felt like playing around with the processing for a more vintage look. So fun! 

I had the most amazing maternity session yesterday as well! But unfortunately, I'm feeling quite sick today & so behind on editing! I'll be blogging about that amazing sesh later this week as I catch up on all my work!

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Kira & Cameron's Session

There is such a chemistry between Kira and Cameron, that you are immediately drawn in from the moment you meet them! Cameron is a Towson Senior majoring in Marketing and Kira is a Freshman majoring in Special Education. They met at an on campus Christian Organization at the beginning of this year and have been completely inseparable since! We had such a great time and I know that this is a Valentine's gift that will never be forgotten!

Kira defied the cold weather with a gorgeous sleeveless top! I loved it!

As soon as we got a break it was time to warm up! Kira was freezing!

With a 6'4 boyfriend - Kira needed the famous jumping shot!

(Super Large for Life Size Effect)

The docks made for the perfect photographing spot!

Smiling! =) Probably the only posed shot of the entire day!

A little sun and some blue skies!

And what is a trip to Annapolis without visiting the capital!?

We found this amazing patch of wheat grass & took total advantage!

Thank you so much for letting me capture your memories today! I can't wait to keep in touch with the both of you and hopefully see you up at Towson sometime this year!

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Published in "The B" Newspaper!

I submitted one of my pictures from The Love Project into a heart themed photo contest in the Baltimore Sun's paper known as "The B". I was really excited to hear that I was a finalist, and even more excited that I won! My picture is printed in today's issue of the B! Thank you so much to everyone that voted! =) You all are the best! 

The Voting Process:

Here is a shot of today's issue!

Yay! Off to shoot a fabulous couple session this afternoon in Annapolis! Check back for more pictures later! 

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Caroline and Daniel's Session

Today I met one of the cutest couples, Caroline and Daniel. Caroline is an aspiring architect and Daniel does everything from working at Johns Hopkins to volunteering as a paramedic. They have been together for over two years and wanted to celebrate Valentine's day with a romantic photo shoot. They were such a blast to photograph and didn't think twice when I asked them to dance in a field of beach reeds. Haha! I really love my clients that are willing to do all the crazy things I come up with and just laugh off the funny moments. They were no exception & I'm really happy to have met them!

I really enjoy photographing people in love! The chemistry and compassion between two people can be so candidly beautiful. Thank you Caroline & Daniel!

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Dan Breuer Photo Shoot

On Friday afternoon I ventured up to Baltimore, Maryland to photograph a sponsored roller blader, Daniel Breuer. Following me on the shoot was my good friend and aspiring photographer Jennifer Sykes as well as my boyfriend Huey with a video camera. Our friend Shannon came along as well to help Dan with his gear and give an added eye to the shoot. Roller blading is so much more intense of a sport than I even imagined. I could never grind down a rail or jump off of a flight of stairs for fun! Normally when those things occur its because I've lost my balance! Haha! I guess that explains why I am always behind the camera!

Some photos from the shoot:

Jennifer & I after the long day of photography!

Friday gave me the opportunity to try something completely new and test out my photography skills! I had such a great time that I might consider trying more new things this year! You'll just have to stay tuned to find out.

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

From Clients to Friends

One thing I absolutely love about photography is the people that it has introduced me to over the past year! When one of my former clients, Emily, asked me to shoot a few pictures of her and her cousins - how could I say no! When all the girls arrived I couldn't believe how gorgeous they all were! Each so different and unique - I love photographing such fun & fabulous people!

This post is a tribute to all of the clients that I now call my friends! =) I'm hoping to meet back up with Emily soon for some sushi at our favorite little restaurant. I'll keep you posted!

I have a really fun photo session planned for tomorrow in Baltimore! Check back for another entry soon! =)

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke