Kelly Dodd Interiors: Hunt Valley and Towson Residence

August 26, 2013

Meet Kelly Dodd Interiors. Kelly is an experienced and knowledgeable interior designer who has been designing for over a decade in the Maryland area. This was my first opportunity working with Kelly to photograph her interiors. We started at a Hunt Valley residence photographing a beautiful white kitchen with rich blue accents. One thing that I love about working with designers is watching them stage and creatively place objects, colors, and textures in the perfect place. The designers are skilled and know the right amount of details for each room. Kelly was no different as the kitchen was layered with textures from the drapery, chairs, and tile back splash and blue is accented throughout the kitchen.

When I photograph a space I closely work along the designer. I listen to hear what he or she loves about the space and areas that he or she wants to highlight. Each space usually takes about one to two hours to photograph. Yes, sometime two hours as I move from one angle to another ensuring each detail is photograph and tells a part of the design story. Enjoy this blue and white kitchen by Kelly Dodd!

After photographing the kitchen we traveled to the Towson Residence to photograph a lovely outdoor living space.

When Kelly started working with the homeowners on this project the only thing that existed were their dreams and ideas.

Kelly designed and created the homeowners dreams of a pool and an outdoor living space and made it a reality for them.

The property was beautiful and I understood why the couple loves their new outdoor living space designed by Kelly. ENJOY!

Kelly Dodd Interiors

kellydoddinteriors@comcast.net

410.583.5373

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Summer ending, blueberry scones, and tardiness the first day of school!

August 22, 2013

First, summer has ended. School started today and it is too soon for me! I remember only starting school after Labor Day, never before. I was very tempted to boycott school today but decided that would not be a great example. Myla is going to Pre-K this fall. Making decisions as parents is difficult and I am so thankful for older and wiser friends and parents who help you navigate this parenting thing. We had many conversations of whether or not to send her to kindergarten. I was originally set on sending her to kindergarten. In the end everyone has said you will not regret sending her to Pre-K again. Plus I get another year with her in the home. And I really like that. Plus there will be change in the fall with the little sprout coming and this will be best for our family.

This morning I was woken up early by some kicks (A small side note: I just love feeling the kicks and could stay in bed for hours being amazed that there is a little person growing inside of me!!). Despite wanting to stay in bed, I decided to get up and get ready, make some blueberry scones, pack lunch, and make sure we would be out the door on time. You can find the delicious scone recipe here. Another side note: Not only is Mary a wonderful photographer but a great baker as she served them to me this past month when I visited her in NY. We sat on her porch and chatted about life, children, and photography. The scones were an added bonus. I had two that morning, they are that good!

A lesson learned this morning is that making a new recipe is not the best idea when you need to get out the door on time. I thought I had plenty of time. However it was not just the scones. Curling the hair, a few extra pictures, and forgetting her nap mat as we were driving down the road were also several things that made us only a couple minutes late this morning to Pre-K. Hopefully the blueberry scones given to the teachers will make up for my tardiness! ENJOY!!!

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Seven of Twelve

August 19, 2013

I decided that I was only going to lug my Contax to the Lititz 4th of July parade.

It would be a way would make me practice shooting manually, as well as meet my goal of shooting film for myself.

I am so thankful that I did because the more I shoot film the more I love it!

I love the color, the no editing, and how it makes me slow down and shoot less.

Thanks Aunt Mary for snapping our 7 of 12 for us.  The Lititz parade is a tradition in our family as we sit on the curb

watch the fire trucks drive by, veterans march, and children scurry to gather up the candy thrown.

It was fun to have family and friends join us this year with their children.A candy necklace to wear and eat! I remember having these as a little girl.On the actual 4th of July we go blueberry picking… Myla wanted to wear her dress again.We headed up to Weaver’s to pick and discovered Blue Rays, big, sweet, and delicious kind of blueberries!

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Celebrating a life full of beauty and splendor

August 15, 2013

I arrived to my destination after a five hour drive down to Williamsburg, VA with my camera bag and gear all packed. As I entered the home I was greeted with a bright smile, and warm hug by Amanda Austin of Amanda Austin Interiors who was barefoot at the moment. Music filled the air and the finial installation and details were being placed into every room. When you meet Amanda you will always remember the first time and this was mine. This two day shoot was the beginning of working together to capture her design work that is full of beauty and splendor. Each room is layered with textures, colors, details, and purposeful pieces that represent her clients.

Over the last week my heart has been full of emotions, tears and memories as Amanda Austin took flight to heaven. I want to attempt to express my love for Amanda and the impact she has had on my life over the last two years. I am truly thankful for the friendship and love Amanda gave to me that extended beyond business and photography. Her kindness and warmth was always sincere, and genuine from the first time I met her and it never left her. One gift Amanda possessed was not only seeing beauty everywhere but living out this perspective in her daily life, interactions with others, and her work. Her talent in creating and designing truly changed people’s lives one home at a time.

It was truly an honor to be able to work and photograph Amanda’s design work. I was overwhelmed at times as Amanda appealed for me to be the one to photograph her work. Her support and loyalty were always present. It is always a joy of mine to photograph her work.  My desire to capture the beauty and light created by Amanda that I experienced first hand in each residence challenged me. I wanted to capture a room or detail that would reflect the beauty in an image for others to see and enjoy. Her attention to detail and perfection for each room has cause me to become a better photographer. We often worked long days together that seemed to fly bye too fast. Throughout the day our conversations were marked with sharing dreams, inspiration, God’s hand on our lives, and even tears. Amanda would listen and I would leave inspired to live to the fullest with the talent and gifts God has given me. This was no different then my last time working with Amanda. She greeted me with a bright smile and a warm hug. She challenge me in July to love without holding back. These words that will stay with me and remind me of her ability to love.

I am forever grateful for God placing Amanda in my life. Her death has stung as she will be greatly missed here not only by me but by her family, friends, and colleagues. I am thankful for the influence that Amanda has had in my life and my heart. I have more residences to post and share that Amanda Austin has designed and will continue to work with Amanda Austin Interiors design firm as it will continue on in her name.

Amanda Austin Interiors

1020 S. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

p. 442.759.6177

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Instagrams: July

August 12, 2013

Looking ahead to the month of July I knew it was going to be a full and busy month. We made several treks to Weaver’s Orchard to pick fresh blueberries, celebrated the 4th of July in Lititz, shot two weddings, started washing baby clothes (I still can not believe how small baby sprout will be!), shooting two days with Amanda Austin of Amanda Austin Interiors, celebrated my birthday with my husband at Woodberry Kitchen, discovered a local farm that makes the creamiest ice cream, shot more rolls of film for myself, roadtrip to NC and ended the month picking my favorite fruit, peaches!

I started this monthly post as a way to share my Instagrams and the everyday moments that I capture on my iphone. I am now having a hard time getting the posted by the end of the month. This month I hope to share more personal film work, interior shoots from Amanda Austin Interiors, Lyndon Heath Cabinetry, and Kelly Dodd Interiors, and more of our journey with baby sprout. ENJOY!!!

Watching the Lititz 4th of July parade on main street.Woodberry Kitchen never disappoints…a sweet summer drink for me called “Top Down”, like riding around in your car with the top down.celebrating my birthday with family and my favorite chocolate cake made by Aunt Mary!first load of little onies…it was the first time that we picked sugar plums.Well it only took us 45 minutes to find this place because I typed in the wrong address!

It was worth the trip for the homemade ice cream and you could also pet the baby cows!Love having Lyndon as my second shooter!!North Carolina visiting two families that I love!

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