Bridal shower – Another Opportunity for Family Portraits

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Courtney and Terence

Friends and family gathered in a local hotel for a bridal shower for Courtney in honor of her upcoming wedding.  I was the photographer for the occasion.    Not far from where the shower took place was a beautiful setting with great lighting, a beautiful red couch, and nice texture on the walls and floor – the perfect spot for family portraits.

I seized the opportunity to take more formal pictures of the bride-to-be, her mother, aunt, the bridesmaids and flower girls while the shower was going on.   Towards the end of the shower the soon-to-be groom and the fathers arrived and I was able to get pictures of the complete immediate family.

A good day – not only photographing the shower I had a chance to do some nice impromptu family portraits.  Wonderful couple, great family!  Wishing Courtney and Terence many years of happiness!

engaged couple casual

Courtney and Terence

engaged couple with parents sit for family portrait

Courtney and Terence with parents

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Courtney with bridesmaids and flower girls

Daughter-mother-aunt-portrait

Courtney with mother and aunt

mother and daughter portrait

Courtney and mother

future bride and mother-in-law to be

Courtney and future mother-in-law

mother and daugther portrait black and white

Courtney and mother



Lonnie Dawkins

Maryland Portrait and Wedding Photographer

Woman in blue with flowers

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Woman in blue with flowers

Wondering what she is thinking about. Is she happy or sad? What’s on her mind? Has she been stood up or is she early and waiting for something.

This is what I like about still photography. It tells you just enough. It doesn’t tell you what happened just before or right after. The viewer can make up their own mind.

Maryland Portrait Photographer

Let her works praise her – Mary McLeod Bethune Statue – Lincoln Park, Washington, DC

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Let her works praise her - Mary McLeod Bethune Statue - Lincoln Park, Washington, DC

I have been fascinated by the works of Mary McLeod Bethune since I first read about her in high school.  When I went to college in the 70s and we had a chance to name the building that housed our Black Student Union, it was Mary McLeod Bethune’s name that I pushed to have placed on the location.  She had done so much for education.

I visited the statue not long ago on a beautiful afternoon and took a photo.  The inscription on the statue, “Let her works praise her” was more than appropriate.

The words come from her “Legacy: My Last Will and Testament,” published in Ebony Magazine in 1955. Go to the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site to obtain a copy and take a tour of the first national headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.

Lonnie Dawkins

Maryland Portrait Photographer

Nameless: Unknown boy standing still framed by unknown foot traffic

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Nameless: Unknown boy standing still framed by unknown foot traffic

At a festival while sitting on the curb I lowered my camera to see what I would capture. The result was this young boy standing still at a booth framed by foot traffic. You don’t have any idea what the people look like, where they are going, or what the boy is seeing or thinking.

Elmo Slippers and toy airplane today

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Young African American boy with Elmo Slippers and toy airplane playing in chair

Today he is wearing Elmo slippers playing with a toy airplane. Before long he won’t believe that he ever wore those slippers and will be craving expensive sneakers and car keys instead. How time flies.

Lonnie Dawkins on Facebook

Sleepy Head

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image of young African american boy asleep in bed in pajamas with sunlight.

Everyday things like sleeping can make a nice portrait. Earlier in the day he was dressed in new pants, vest, and bow tie for Easter. I didn’t get to take his picture dressed up but I’m happy I got this one. I’ll get the dressy one another time.

Lonnie Dawkins

Maryland Portrait Photographer

Scurlock Photographers of Washington DC were National Treasures -Interview with Annie King Phillips

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Annie King Phillips reflects on her memories of classmate George Scurlock, son of photographer Addison Scurlock.  The Scurlocks captured Washington, DC in pictures during the early part of the 20th Century.

Ms. Phillips, a renown collage artist talked about photography and the Scurlock family.  Addison Scurlock and J.P. Ball are my favorite photographers and it was wonderful to hear first hand about Surlock’s work from someone who lived during that period.  Ms. Phillips is now 93 years old and lives in Illinois.

Collage Artist Annie King Phillips

Lonnie Dawkins photography website