Blog

The official photo blog of J. David Buerk Photography.

Baby Amelia - Newborn Lifestyle Portraits

This past October, Mahsa and Peyman welcomed their baby girl Amelia into the world with much excitement!  You’ll remember seeing their late-Summer Maternity Photos last month at a nearby botanical garden.

Newborns, as you followers know, are not my most common photography focus, but I’ve been knowledgeable about the precious genre for quite some time, having assisted a friend in another market with her newborn business and aiding retouching many of her photos; baby Amelia marks my third newborn photography session of my own, and I’m feeling more confident expanding this area of family photography!

For newborns, you typically want to capture them in the first week or two, when they are still flexible from the womb and peacefully sleepy, which are both key for allowing many of the most desired poses.  Due to scheduling, we missed that early window, and captured Amelia at 25 days old - it’s impressive how quickly babies grow muscles!  Amelia is strong, and was managing to unwrap herself and could somewhat propel herself on our set by her feet if you gave her a hand to push against.

We started with a crocheted baby quilt made and gifted by a relative, and captured other variations, and some loving family care time next.  This was also the day after Mahsa’s birthday, so the family celebrated with cake and tea after Mahsa blew out her candles.

Can’t wait to see how quickly little Amelia grows!

Executive Headshot Portraiture - 2023

In today's digitally driven professional landscape, the significance of maintaining a curated collection of high-quality, publication-ready headshot photographs cannot be overstated for the modern Corporate Executive.

Professional Headshot Portraiture serves as the visual representation of an individual's personal brand, and plays a pivotal role in making a positive first impression across various platforms, including professional publications, websites, and social media platforms like LinkedIn. A selection of well-crafted headshots not only conveys competence and approachability, but also enhances one's professional credibility.

Investing in the skill and experience of a professional photographer is essential to ensure that these portraits effectively capture the individual's unique personality and convey a polished, authentic image. Professionals who leverage the quality of a professional photographer’s work are more likely to present themselves with confidence and professionalism, ultimately contributing to their success in networking, career advancement, and overall professional image.

When planning a headshot portrait session, it’s important to remember one single photo can’t cover all your bases, even as an individual first joining the workplace. While scheduling your portrait session, I consult with you to learn your branding needs, prospective uses, existing portraits and how new ones will compliment or replace them, and discuss with you ways to get the most out of your portrait session.  Based on your needs, I capture and deliver portraits that fit your current requirements, as well as additional crops and variations to fit additional uses, graphic design flexibility, and future-proofing for unforeseen display scenarios.

A comprehensive photoshoot with me will create, or add to your existing, catalogue of variations to select from for different use-case scenarios. A well-rounded portrait library includes multiple options of formal & informal poses, wardrobes, and expressions, and studio-backdropped & environmental locations; consulting with me can cover all of these bases in a single booking.

In 2023 I saw a great uptick in people getting their headshots updated, their portraiture libraries expanded, as well as first-timers capturing their first professional headshots - everyone can tell when you have an iPhone photo, even in “Portrait Mode;” you need the real thing to be taken seriously.

I’m looking forward to capturing and seeing more of you in 2024; click here to start planning and scheduling today.

Latoya & Shawn: Married November 11th, 2023

On Latoya and Shawn’s wedding day, time danced in harmony with their love – a surreal blend of moments that lingered and flew by in a heartbeat. It feels like just a whisper of seasons since Shawn surprised Latoya during a family photo session, yet in reality, a whole year has woven its tale. On a serene Fall day at a country club, nestled not far from the heart of Fairfax, friends and family of Latoya and Shawn converged to witness the couple's union and commemorate the commencement of a new chapter in their lives.

Engaged in shared glances, a symphony of happy smirks adorns both Latoya and Shawn when their minds drift to one another. I sensed their magnetic connection the day Latoya unknowingly spoke of Shawn, just materialized before he materialized for their proposal. That same smirk, perhaps embellished with a dash more sass, graced Shawn's face when Latoya sent over a box of breath mints while Shawn was suiting up for saying “I Do.”

Shawn, a fellow photographer, got to experience being on the other side of the lens; you can catch glimpses of his photography on Instagram @828Visuals.

Amidst the breathtaking canvas of Autumn's final flourish, Latoya and Shawn exchanged vows just before the sun dipped below the horizon. The celebration continued with the dance floor alive with lights and favorite songs. As the night embraced its final moments, the Latoya and Shawn stole away for an intimate last dance, savoring the essence of the day. Loved ones bid them farewell in style, showering them with confetti and streamers, creating a dazzling spectacle as they kissed beneath the moonlight before embarking on their honeymoon.

What a magnificent conclusion to 2023! Wishing you all a Happy New Year – dive into Latoya & Shawn’s wedding pictures to usher in the magic of 2024!

MCO: Concession Marketing Photography for Master ConcessionAir

This past May I partnered with Master ConcessionAir to capture a marketing package of their newest retail and restaurant locations at Orlando International Airport’s new Terminal C.

MCO’s new Terminal C is a vibrant hub serving airlines including JetBlue, Emirates, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Icelandair, among others.  The terminal’s dining options encapsulate the essence of Central Florida through its diverse culinary and retail offerings.  Terminal C caters to a wide range of tastes, highlighting local gems like Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co., Wine Bar George, and Sunshine Diner by Chef Art Smith.  The terminal provides a taste of the region's distinctive flavors with brands like Cask & Larder, Olde Hearth Bread Co., and Orlando Brewing Bar & Bites.

For these locations, I captured a cohesive set of exterior and interior images, as well as menu photography, and stock advertising images with talent on-site.  The entire marketing package was captured in a single shooting day.

While on site, I also captured some headshots of personnel for profile and promotional use.

Kaiser Permanente’s Caton Hill Medical Center: September, 2022

On September 19th, 2022, the Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center opened, replacing the Woodbridge Medical Center with a new 245,000-square foot medical center in Prince William County.  Four days before the first day of service, Kaiser Permanente held a ribbon cutting ceremony with addresses from Kaiser Permanente directors and Prince William County leadership.

The new Kaiser Permanente hub includes 24/7 advanced urgent care, an outpatient surgical facility, a full featured radioimagery center, and 30 specialties including family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, neurology, oncology, behavioral health, cardiology, pain management, ophthalmology, and optometry.  The complex is LEED Silver certified, and is expected to serve ~40,000 patients and ~320,000 visits each year.

I’m sharing some highlights from covering the event and new facility here.

After the ribbon cutting events, groups of guests were taken on guided tours and allowed the opportunity to explore the new medical campus.