A young girl in a white dress and veil stands with her eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer, perfectly capturing the essence of first holy communion portrait photography. The serene and elegant setting within an ornate archway enhances the sense of a religious or ceremonial occasion.

Portraiture

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March 31, 2024

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First holy communion portrait photography at duke chapel

A little bit of a change of speed for this Easter Sunday blog post. I’m actually shooting a wedding today, but didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to share a recent portrait session I did for a friend of mine, Laura. I’ve known Laura for over ten years back when she ran weddings and events at the Washington Duke Inn. She’s always been a great supporter of my work, so I was really pleased when she reached out to ask me to photograph her daughter Aubrey’s portraits to mark her First Holy Communion.

So, we met up one evening at Duke Chapel and shot for a while before heading over to Duke Gardens. Aubrey was a bundle of fun and I really had a great time photographing her around Duke Chapel and Duke Gardens. The golden hour light was truly beautiful to work with and we worked with it to make some lovely photographs.

Here are just a few of my faves from Aubrey’s session. Happy Easter, all!

A young girl in a white lace dress and veil sits on stone steps, her hands clasped in prayer during her first holy communion. The ornate doors behind her enhance the portrait's solemn, serene atmosphere.
Close-up of a person in first holy communion portrait photography, holding a rosary with both hands in prayer. The rosary, featuring beads and a crucifix, complements the white garment adorned with intricate detailing.
A young girl, captured in a first holy communion portrait, stands outdoors in a white lace dress with a veil. Eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer, sunlight softly illuminates her serene glow. A rosary hangs around her hands, complementing the intricate beadwork of her attire.
A bride in a white gown and veil stands on steps leading to an ornate, large wooden door of a stone building with arched detailing. Like a first holy communion portrait, she faces the door, her hands holding her dress, evoking a sense of anticipation and grandeur.
A young girl dressed in a white gown and veil stands with eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer, embodying the essence of a first holy communion portrait. Soft light filters through, creating patterns on her dress and casting her shadow on a nearby wall.
A young girl smiles while wearing a white lace dress and a translucent veil, embodying the essence of first holy communion portrait photography, set against a blurred natural background.
A young girl in an ornate white dress and veil clasps her hands in prayer, embodying a serene moment captured in first holy communion portrait photography. Her eyes are closed, with a delicate tiara gracing her head in the softly lit room.
A young girl joyfully dances barefoot in a garden, her flowing lace dress reminiscent of first holy communion portrait photography. She has a bright smile, her arms gracefully extended. The black and white image captures the innocence framed by blurred lush greenery.
A young girl in a white dress and veil stands with hands clasped in prayer, capturing the essence of first holy communion portrait photography. She's near a stone church with arched windows, while white tulips blossom in the foreground.
A bride in a white dress and veil dances gracefully in a dimly lit, gothic-style stone corridor with pointed arches and decorative windows, evoking the serene elegance of first holy communion portrait photography.
A young girl in a white dress and veil smiles while clasping her hands together in front of a stone building. Bathed in sunlight, the scene captures the essence of first holy communion portrait photography, with her joy radiating as she dresses for this special occasion.
A bride in a white gown and veil stands under a stone archway, reading a book. Sunlight casts a gentle shadow, reminiscent of first holy communion portrait photography, highlighting the intricate lace details of her dress and the architectural elements around her.
A young girl in a white dress and veil poses gracefully for a first holy communion portrait amidst a soft, blurred background of lush greenery and dappled sunlight.
A young girl in a white dress and veil stands with her eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer, perfectly capturing the essence of first holy communion portrait photography. The serene and elegant setting within an ornate archway enhances the sense of a religious or ceremonial occasion.
A girl in a white dress twirls on a grassy path surrounded by blooming trees, capturing the essence of first holy communion portrait photography. Her bare feet and the dress's movement emphasize a sense of freedom and joy, set against a backdrop filled with soft pink blossoms.
A young girl in a white lace dress and veil holds a rosary, capturing the essence of first holy communion portrait photography. She stands with her hands in prayer, the softly blurred background highlighting her serene expression. The image is in black and white.
A young girl in a white dress and veil smiles joyfully, captured outdoors among blooming trees with purple flowers. The sunlight creates a warm, soft glow in this first holy communion portrait, epitomizing the essence of serene photography.
In a sunlit garden filled with roses, a young girl in a white lace dress and veil epitomizes the beauty of first holy communion portrait photography. Her hands are gently clasped, and the sunlight casts a warm glow around her.
A young girl in a white, lace-embroidered dress with cap sleeves and a pearl headband smiles broadly while posing outdoors against a soft-focus background of trees, capturing the essence of first holy communion portrait photography.
A young girl in a white lace communion dress and veil stands with hands clasped in prayer for her first holy communion portrait. She is framed by a stone archway with ornate columns, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere.
A young girl in a white dress and veil stands on a stone path, holding an object. Her shadow stretches dramatically in front of her, cast by strong sunlight, creating a striking contrast with the dark background—a beautiful moment of first holy communion portrait photography.
A bride in a white dress and veil walks down a stone hallway with arched ceilings, reminiscent of first holy communion portrait photography, holding up her gown as she moves forward. The setting is a dimly lit, gothic-style architectural passage.

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