Baltimore Wedding Photographer Kathy Freundel » 443.844.2352

Meet Bridget. She’s the nurturer . . . the protector . . . her mamma’s second set of hands. She’s the eldest of the four Cassell kids, and pure joy.

Zoe is a firecracker who lives in the middle of the party. On our photo shoot day, she got a HUGE splinter deep in her finger. Sweet Zoe let her mom pull that splinter right out, slap on a bandaid, and she was ready to party once again.

Marin is a young lady with vision. And she commits to seeing her vision come to fruition. She knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to get it! Marin’s focus is wrapped in giggles and hugs and pure delight.

And here is the most marriageable bachelor in the entire county!  With three sisters to keep him in line, Trent will be every sweet young thing’s dream.

The purpose of our lifestyle shoot was to capture four generations of this precious family . . . what a legacy of love they’ve created. Check out the Cassell Gallery for a peak into life as a Cassell.

The future of our family traditions. Right there on the rock. And they know by now that Thanksgiving  means spending the day as a family,  complete with silly games, football, skits, recitations and lots and lots of food. It Dolly’s pretzel salad, Dawn’s succulent apps, David’s coffee chocochip cookies, Nancy’s spinach mashed potatoes and Mom’s fresh turkey and stuffing.

So, here’s a little taste of the Freundel Thanksgiving, from the kids’ perspective. I used to LOVE Thanksgiving as a child. I remember being with my siblings and cousins in north Jersey . . . eating too much, conducting interviews with an old reel to reel tape recorder, finding chocolate turkeys in the back of my Gram’s frig . . . and ending the evening watching the Gene Wilder Willie Wonka.

Katie and Dan planned the games this time. We had about 40 friends and family  at our celebration this year, and this game was a super ice breaker. You were given a sticker and had to ask questions to discover your own identity. Then, you had to find your “better half.”

Sam and Michael created these friendly critters to welcome the guests.

The “big kids’” table.

My beautiful 99 year old Gi-Gi with my sweet nephew Jake.

Miss “My eyes are most certainly not bigger than my stomach.”

My gorgeous mom who was and will always be the sculptor of everything good in our family.

Abba and Lils.

My gorgeous sis, Nancy and her Katie.

As usual, the evening ended in sleep over negotiations. We traded two for two. We’re set . . . Carl bought the Crunchberries yesterday

I remember my dad used to buy the Lucky Charms for us.

And here I sit in my warm bed, head spinning from too much dessert, and I’m grateful.

Sweet. Life.

I’m a sucker for beautiful shoes. It’s secretly one of my most favorite parts of shooting a wedding . . . the kicks. And for me, they don’t even have to be Christian Louboutin’s to be beautiful . . . I just love em because they are a reflection of the bride that chooses them.

Just for kicks . . .

From my heart to yours. I am thankful. For friends, for family, for so many rich blessings. Have a grateful day.

p.s. I’m in my Uggs today, how bout you?

Ceresville Mansion Ceremony and Reception

KathyFreundel Photography Photography

Classic DJ’s Carl Brashears

Reid Robinette Officiant

Occasional Flowers Floral Design

Rachel Piet  Hair and Makeup

In ninth grade, she settled it. It was nursing. She carefully boxed her dream of becoming a writer, set it on the bedroom shelf, and began to apply herself to her new dream. After all, her family never failed to dream big, and after graduating from her Vancouver high school, she continued on to Trinity Western in British Columbia, spent time traveling in Asia, South Africa and Europe and eventually landed at the top of the heap at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where that young girl’s dream came to fruition.

He was equally ambitious, wanting to discover a cure for cancer as a young boy in Blue Springs, Missouri. In high school he dreamed of becoming a nuclear physicist and
solving the world’s energy problem by developing viable nuclear fusion technology.  He eventually headed west, to Caltech, where he earned his first degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a master’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis and landed at at Robitics Inc. where he is a robotic manipulation researcher at Motile Robotics Inc. He is concurrently pursuing a PhD from UMaryland in mechanical engineering.

This is what happens when the smart people crash into one another.  It happened in a ballroom dancing class.  There is NOTHING that these two don’t do well. I call it purposeful living. They take nothing for granted. Their spiritual journey, their romance, their personal growth . . . Karen and Chad live full, rich, purposeful lives. I LOVE these guys . . . Renaissance power couple, Karen and Chad Kessons.

Karen and Chad chose to see one another before the ceremony . . . they wanted that  moment to be theirs alone. Look at Chad’s face. He knows she’s coming, but he promised he wouldn’t turn around until she spoke his name. That’s one happy groom. Sweet. Love.

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Ceremony: Ceresville Mansion Terrace

Reception:  Ceresville Mansion Ballroom

DJ:  Absolute Entertainment

Photography:  Kathy Freundel Photography

Officiant:  Reid Robinette

A wedding in the gorgeous Ceresville Mansion decorated for Christmas is pretty close to perfection. Here’s a quick Sunday night Sneak Peak from Karen + Chad’s wedding. I can’t even find words to express it . . .it’s still floating around in my heart.  And I’m humming Stevie’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Can’t wait to tell you all about it later this week.

So we must dream.
We must not be dreamers of the night.
Dreamers that sleep through inspiration.
Let us be dreamers of the Day. Dreamers of action
And vision.
Of reconciliation and peace.
So dae.
To dream.
So dae.
To reach.
So dae.
To arrive . . .
At a place.
That place is here.
That place is now.
We have arrived.

Upon His Back He Carries Them:  The Prempeh Play

Carl Freundel

The strength of many lies in unity.

“There is an African saying, so dae, that means “to dream.” I have a hope that with this performance we can right a wrong. The wrong resides in the fact that history has largely overlooked this man, Prempeh, and the heroic choices he made to preserve life. How can the world not know of this great man from Ghana, known as Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I? In a world weary for peace, for examples of personal sacrifice and putting the needs of others above their own, you would think we would be parading this great man’s life as an example of legendary vision, courage, and victory.”

You know who wrote all the words you’ve read in this post? One man. My man.

Carl continually humbles me with the words that flow from his hand.  And when the script is put to words and action, it’s pure magic. Several years ago Carl was commissioned by the Smithsonian to write a play about this great Ghanian leader. James Brown-Orleans played the part of Sunsum and later left D.C. to enjoy a successful run in The Lion King on Broadway.

Carl staged the play again this fall, with the very talented Ke’an Black as Sunsum and Duke Ellington School for the Arts graduate, Nailah Gosnon as Bogya.  Bill Hauserman’s set boasted a “tree of life” that was twenty feet across and a stage full of dirt. Wild!  James Fasching crafted a full sized Adinkra cloth which replicates one held by the Museum of African History in Washington D.C. It was an incredibly powerful production and it’s message of self sacrifice and peace really hit home considering our current global state.

The play will run through Saturday night at CCBC Catonsville. 8 pm both nights.  It’s live theatre. It’s an experience that requires audience investment, interaction and the return is precious.

And the icing on the cake? James drove down today to watch the show with us He headed back right after the show to sing “The Circle of Life” tonight at 8.

Carl, your gift is from God. And I am excited to watch Him continually use you to speak life giving words . . . words of peace . . . words of love. You amaze and humble me with your artist’s heart.

I am so blessed to be your wife.

We’re going on three weeks now, livin’ with the sheriff. Those duds weren’t made for daily wear, is all I’m gonna say.

But I know the look. I’ve had the look. In fact, I  lived the look  just the other day.

Learned my newly hired superstar accountant has left his practice for, well, let’s say performance issues. Drat. Need that like a snake in my boot.

So, here it is, reader. I want someone local. Someone that is accustomed to working with creative professionals. Someone proactive and rockstar good. Any ideas??

Hurricane Ida blew over for a visit, but it didn’t stop us. We were going to hear amazing pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet play some Gerswhin with the BSO.

The BSO opens rehearsal to the public.  To me, that’s  even better than the concert,  because you get that “behind the scenes look” at unbelievably talented artists, followed by a Q & A.

Pianist Jean-Yves  entered the Thursday morning rehearsal, dressed in Ed Hardy bling, Diet Coke in hand, and the show began. What joy it must be to hear the music inside and have it  flow through your fingertips, without an obvious thought to the mechanics. Such a gift from God.

Marin Alsop was all business. She ran that rehearsal and did brush ups in a way that was so professional and respectful. Every bit the artsit. And boy,  Rhapsody in Blue . . . you know the clarinet solo that starts with a glissando/ slide? Can you hear it in your head???  It was bliss.

I want my kids to see that each gifted musician up there was once a kid who struggled through the self-discipline of practicing an instrument when they would rather be outside playing baseball. And that all of those incredibly talented musicians are just normal people who made a choice each day. All shapes. All sizes. One thing in common. They weren’t afraid to dream.

Did I mention that these open rehearsal are free? Along with admission to the BMA. And the Walter’s Art Gallery!

All free. And with a family of ten, we are always looking for affordable opportunities to expose our kids to all the possibilities. Sweet. deal.

Do you know of any other great cultural opportunities??

His Dad looked at him with an intensity that belied his lighthearted laughing only moments earlier. Hours before he would say “I do” on a beautiful November day, the silence was palpable. We all stood in the bedroom, groomsmen putting on finishing touches and looked at Colin and his dad.

“Remember. Don’t lock your knees.”

Seems that Colin has a history of hitting the deck when the stakes are high. A couple of big concerts in high school and BOOM, he was out. I’m happy to report that the only lightheaded behavior on this day was fully functioning.

We met in my studio last spring. April and Colin were so excited to be marrying at Historic Savage Mill, an former cotton mill that boasts an truss bridge known as The Bollman (c. 1869). April, Colin and her parents sat in my studio and excitedly showed me lots of great photos that they had taken of the venue.  I could tell that photography was of real value to all of them.

Can I tell you, it is so much fun to shoot a wedding when bridal is couple is down for just about anything. April and Colin were that couple. So much fun. So in love.

Reason #1 that everybody wins when Tim comes to shoot a wedding with me.  He goes to the inner chambers in guy-ville.

April had some pretty hot kicks. We were shooting those shoes all day long.

A little pre-ceremony run through for Mr. I Got the Ring.

Reason #2 I’m grateful for Tim. Hidin’ the bride, pre-ceremony. Fifteen minutes to ceremony and wait till you see the cool shots he got of the groomsmen.

April was ultra fun during a pre-ceremony session. So relaxed, so full of of laughter and anticipation. So chill. It’s the Pre-K teacher in her.

Meanwhile.

And the guests arrived. Right through the shops at Savage Mill. So while your wedding is happening there are voyeur shoppers vicariously joining in the celebration. Pretty cool.

Reason #3 for a second shooter.  This is Tim’ shot of Colin and April.

Same moment, my shot. It’s so much fun to look back through the day and see two different perspectives. It’s a win-win-win.

Okay, so I’m getting to reason #4. Watch the bottom right corner of the frame. Do you see him???

BAM! There it is. Reason #5. Father of three. Multi- tasker extraordinaire. the gear, the flowers, Mr. I Got the Ring . . . and he smiles.

I’ll just say it. You can’t go back an capture more images of your wedding day. Go for the second shooter. It matters.

Okay. Back to the party.

I’m not the only one that loved the shoes.

You know that look.

And the clean up.

April and Colin, your love for one another is tender, intimate and a blessing to witness. I am so grateful that you allowed me to share in your day and opened your lives to me.  You are on the beach in Hawaii right now, but when you see these images, I hope all the joy, laughter and tears of the day flood back. You guys ROCK and so did your wedding day.

I led Ned to the tent. Ned led Nell to the tent. Nell led Dan to the tent. Dan led Ellen to the tent. Ellen led Bill to the tent. Bill led Ted to the tent.Ted led Al to the tent. Al led Nan to the tent. Nan led Nat to the tent. Crash! (c. 1965)

There she stood. That brunette with the Crystal Gayle doo, whom my sister and I argued about.

“I’m that one . . . you’re the one with braids, ’cause her name’s Nan,” I would argue.

It was the late 60′s and this was the first book that I remember reading by myself. So when I discovered this little gem in all its yellow glory perched on the children’s book shelf, well, needless to say I grabbed it, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and put it in my pile of treasure finds.

At least once a year  we take “provisions trips”. At the Amish wholesalers we buy Oatmeal by the trash bag full (and it’s only a couple of dollars for a huge bag of Old Fashioned rolled oats!) and store it through the winter in a big five gallon bucket in our larder. But the real reason for going is so that we have an excuse to pop over to the “Re-Uz-It” in Ephrata to search the shelves and shelves of library discard books from all the school districts in the area. It’s such a fun treasure hunt. Each of us has a couple of authors that we search for . . .and it’s always changing. We fill up boxes of books and are happy as clams to read our treasures all the way home. The D’aulaire’s, Gene Stratton Porter, Maugerite d’Angeli, Horation Alger, Rosemary Sutcliffe George MacDonald and of course Munro Leaf . . . . these have become dear family friends over the years.

But this one was the find of all finds. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but I wanted Lily to enjoy it as I did at her age. She plodded through the text, sounding out all the names . . .  when she got to the end, she wanted to know . . .

“what are all the kids doing in that tent? And where’s the mommy and daddy?”

What can I say? It was the late 60′s . . .

Is it just me or do you also remember the first time you LOVED a book??? What was it?