Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

Blog

  • Sam’s Bar Mitzvah

    Jessica invited me to shoot Sam’s Bar Mitzvah with her earlier this month, and it was a really special treat for me since I had never been to one before. And the reception was especially fun in that it almost felt sort of like one of the spectacular parties on MTV’s Sweet 16, with a huge room decked-out in rollerblade and soccer-related decorations, a DJ and dance crew to keep the party going on the dance floor all night long, and TONS of friends in attendance. The big difference from the MTV show though is that Sam and his friends are totally genuinely nice, really well-behaved kids. I had worked with Jessica at Sam’s aunt and uncle’s wedding this summer, so it was neat to see the family again. Sam is such a cool kid, and he totally shined during the rehearsal before the ceremony.

    His family was so proud.

    And he was so very deserving of such a fun reception.

    Chris and his crew from Unique Dreams did an amazing job of keeping the dance floor full of energy. As a side note for this next image, I have never seen so many people doing “the sprinkler” in one room.

    They did some really creative games as well as some traditional ones. How low can you go?

    I seriously wanted to put my camera down and join in on the fun! Okay, maybe not for the limbo, but definitely for the dancing. It was such a fun day. Mazel Tov to Sam!

  • Lisa & Dan

    Lisa and Dan are the super adorable couple that I got to spend time with yesterday. They just recently celebrated their one-year anniversary and wanted to have some updated portraits done. So we hung out for a little while on a really perfect fall day at the park. And when I say we hung out “for a little while,” I mean I tried my hardest to get Dan through this painlessly and quickly so he could get to go back home and enjoy Football Sunday. He was such a good sport, and was all smiles – how could he not be? Lisa is so cute and funny (and obviously gorgeous), and he clearly adores her.







    Lisa and Dan: Thanks so much for spending the afternoon with me yesterday! I had a great time getting to know you, and I hope you enjoy these!

  • Casey & Lawson

    Of all my friends, Casey holds the record for the one I’ve known and kept in touch with the longest. She and I met and hit it off right away in Texas when we were in middle school. Our friendship was solidly formed over a common inclination for getting the giggles, a mutual love for a certain boy band, and gossip about pretty much anything found in Bop magazine. And even though we’ve both moved all over the place since then, we’ve remained dear friends. We even ended up living in the same state together again when she moved out here to Virginia. Alas, she’s moving again, but before she left she was able to visit last night with her baby Lawson, who makes me understand what it means to want to just squeeze and pinch someone’s little face all the live-long day. He also makes me realize what an insane amount of energy it takes to keep up with a 12 month-old. I have been dying to get him in front of my camera for months now, and finally had the chance, and whew! He wore me out. I slept so well last night! Casey explained to me what a challenge it is to photograph Lawson, and I admit to thinking gosh…he’s little and only started walking just recently, how fast can he be?

    Yeah. He’s fast.

    I chased and chased, and managed to snap a few shots when he’d topple over, or find something that held his interest for ten seconds. Meet Lawson and Casey (who looks amazing):



    Lawson is such a typical boy…it only took him a few minutes to get into the dirt and bark:

    This pause in action lasted, oh, about 30 seconds: 

    That’s not a Photoshop trick, my friends, those are Lawson’s true baby blues:

    I think Casey was keeping his interest for this one…

    And then I managed to make a few interesting animal noises to catch his interest in this one. I usually like to let the kiddos do their own thing and I just work around them, but I can be pretty entertaining, too I think. I have no shame whatsoever in making a complete fool out of myself to get a shot. (Yeah, there was some droolage going on in this next one…it’s hard work getting new teeth!)


    Oh that face! Those cheeks!

    Casey, I’m going to miss you! I hope we get to visit each other often, and I already can’t wait to photograph your little munchkin again. Best of luck to you with the move and everything, and I know we’ll talk soon. Love to you both!

  • One Year

    One year ago today, I was incredibly lucky enough to marry my very best friend. While he knows I love him dearly, I know I don’t tell him thank you enough, so I thought I’d shout it to the world (or at least my little blog world) here for the things that I’m so very grateful. Chris, thank you for…

    …letting me talk on and on, even when you’re so tired and ready to go to sleep, or when you’re watching the game.
    …actually listening.
    …always being up for any of my crazy ideas, and for not making me feel like they’re so crazy.
    …being so supportive and encouraging. I love how you cheer me on in everything that I do, and whether or not I succeed, it just feels good knowing that you’re behind me 100%.
    …making me laugh so hard! You’re hilarious, and this is one of my favorite things about you.
    …restocking the Diet Coke in the fridge when I forget.
    …watching TV shows and movies with me that I know are probably pretty unbearable for dudes.
    …being so quiet on the mornings that you get up before me (okay, all mornings) so that I can keep sleeping.
    …(speaking of sleeping) helping me to locate a fan on our trips and vacations because I need the white noise to sleep.
    …holding onto me when I walk in heels along tricky terrain like ice and cobblestones because you know I’m so clumsy.
    …leaving post-it notes for me of things that I need/want to remember.
    …carrying heavy stuff. I love when you greet me after a shoot to help me get my gear upstairs.
    …properly disposing of the six-legged and the dreaded eight-legged creatures that find their way into the house (and knowing that “proper” means not just in the trash…it means FLUSH).
    …taking such good care of me. I know I’m a bit of a princess sometimes, but just know that the wonderful little things you do for me don’t go unnoticed.

    What some of you may not know is that Chris and I have actually been together for a little over ten years! So for fun, I dug up a picture of us (badly scanned from a print) from early on in our relationship. I think this was taken in 1999. I love you (so much), Chris! Happy anniversary.

  • A Week on Oahu

    A Week on Oahu

    And now for just a few fun/personal Hawaii pictures! Since Chris and I were out in Hawaii specifically to shoot a wedding, I was feeling a little over-cautious about things and didn’t want to put myself in any situation where I might not be 100% for the Big Day. Meaning, I didn’t want to get sunburned, sick, sore, stung, kidnapped, lost, etc., so Chris and I just hung out around Waikiki most of the time relaxing and taking it easy. Which was totally nice and not a bad time at all. We had been to Oahu a few years ago and did a lot of the must-see stuff, so we didn’t feel like we were missing out. And both of us really needed some time just to rest. (That said, I don’t have a ton of super exciting look-what-we-did-all-over-the-island photos. I have those from our first trip.)

    We ended up staying at the Sheraton Waikiki right on Waikiki beach, where we stayed the last time we were in Hawaii. I especially love their pool right off of the beach with the amazing view, so it was an easy decision to book there.

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    I say “ended up” because we were originally booked at the Aqua Palms, which I selected because it was the closest hotel to the military hotel, Hale Koa, where Jenn and Stephen (the bride and groom) were staying. However, when we checked into the Aqua Palms and went to our room, I discovered that it was a room above the street that was a little noisier than I could handle. To be fair, I’m a super light sleeper, and very sensitive to noise. No other rooms were available, and I never fell asleep that night! So in my exhausted state, I blearily hopped onto the Internet kiosk in the lobby and booked a room at the Sheraton for the remainder of the week. (I have to mention though, that the staff at Aqua Palms were really sweet and very accommodating for the night we were there. And it’s a good value for a hotel right in the heart of Waikiki.)

    The vacation gods were smiling upon us as we checked into the Sheraton, because they upgraded us two levels to a luxury suite! Check out the amazing ocean view from our lanai, looking right at Diamondhead:

    03_hawaii_2008_blogAnd this was our view further to the right:

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    06_hawaii_2008_blogWe took this cute trolley around the city when things were beyond walking distance. $2 each way…can’t beat it.

    07_hawaii_2008_blogWaikiki is pretty touristy, but is kept really clean and manicured, and still has a good bit of lush tropical flora amongst the high-rises.

    08_hawaii_2008_blogAnd two last random photos – a self-portrait on our lanai, and our fresh flower leis. Jenn and Stephen gave one to everyone in attendance at their wedding!

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    So, all-in-all the trip was a nice mix of resting and working, and really…how can you really call a wedding in Hawaii “work?”