Behind the Scenes of a DC Business Portrait Session

DC Business Portrait Session Setup, photo by Tracey Attlee

Walking on the set of a business portrait session in a professional studio for the first time?  Here's what ours looks like.  
In this picture we're getting set up for a Washington DC architect's portrait session in our studio today.  We arrived an hour early to be sure to get everything settled and tested so when the executive arrives we are ready to go.  
We like to shoot with the camera tethered to a laptop in the studio.  That way our business person can see their pictures right away.  It feels a lot more relaxing and pretty soon we're all having fun and the pictures just get better and better.
Thank you Todd A. Smith for assisting with lighting and helping Tracey Attlee Portraits earn recommendations for top location business photos in DC!

Take Time for Art on your Wedding Day!

This intimate moment between newlyweds Kristin and Nick came about in the few minutes after the family and Wedding Party group shots at their Virginia wedding.  The couple invited us to use our imagination on a few shots before the reception and this is one of the results.
Our tip to brides: allow a minimum of 45 minutes for the group photography of both families, yourselves and the wedding party, then add in a few more for art.
Time passes so quickly on your wedding day.  If you organize your time the way these two Army officers did you'll have beautiful memories like these and the best wedding photography in DC to enjoy for a lifetime!
Tracey Attlee of Alexandria, VA has photographed military and civilian weddings for 30 years between DC and her original hometown of Spring Lake, New Jersey and is a recommended wedding photographer in DC private clubs Chevy Chase, Columbia, Congressional, Cosmos, Kenwood, Metropolitan Sulgrave and Virginia's military Ft. Myer, Army Navy Country Club, Ft. Belvoir and the Clubs at Quantico.

Styling in Mom's Wedding Gown

Tracey Attlee (left) photographs Zoya and bride Kristin at Zoya's Atelier, Falls Church, VA--Photo by Todd A. Smith

Talk about a bride to be with a heart full of love.  Family is so sentimentally important to our bride Kristin that she recently announced her decision to wear her mother's wedding gown at her upcoming summer wedding.  In our 30 years behind the lens this is only the second of our brides ever to do this!

What Kristin wisely chose is to have Zoya's Atelier in Falls Church, VA update the gown with modern touches.

Yesterday as we photographed the dress fitting we and Kristin's mother watched spellbound as Zoya transformed the sleeves and skirt and trim of the original gown into a lovely modern version.  

Zoya was formally trained at the Fashion Institute in New York City and has had wedding gown boutiques in London and New York.  It was a privilege to watch her in action.  

Not only did Zoya quickly show and tell how to modernize the dress but she also helped Kristin select a veil, hairpiece and earrings that complemented the proportions of the updated gown.  Then she demonstrated how best Kristin could wear her hair on the wedding day to set off the veil and accessories stylishly.  

What a pleasure to watch an artist transform a rushed young woman from a delayed plane flight into a beautiful, glowing bride to be!

Zoya's Atelier

260 West Broad Street

Falls Church, VA 22046

Tel:  571-775-0469

Tracey Attlee has photographed brides from Virginia to New York for 30 years from her Alexandria, VA headquarters.  She is formerly White House cleared and since 1996 has also served as a private photographer for the Rockefellers.

Best No VA Real Estate Videos

Attlee PhotoVideo of Alexandria, VA provides budget friendly top No VA real estate videos of luxury properties featuring the lens work of award winning architectural videographer/photographer Todd A. Smith www.tasphoto.com
For 16 years we've produced high quality real estate advertising media for clients including Toll Brothers, Bozzuto, Western Development, Lend Lease, Insight Property Group, Akridge, The Breakers Hotel on the Ocean and others throughout VA MD DC NJ.  Our high definition 1080p videos are optimized for your social media marketing.

Call AttleePhotoVideo today to discuss your upcoming real estate video projects:  703-751-1778.  And if you need a new business portrait of yourself, Tracey Attlee has 30 years experience photographing top DC business portraits.

DC Author’s Book Cover Portrait by Tracey Attlee

Just released memoires of retired Foreign Service Officer Christopher Datta.  Cover portraits by Tracey Attlee with lighting by Todd A. Smith.  Cover Design:  Mallory Rock

Congratulations to author Christopher Datta for the release of his new book Guardians of the Grail a memoir of his adventures as a Foreign Service Officer in some of the most dangerous places on earth.  Sometimes humorous, always in brutal truth, this is the story of a life spent serving the United States no matter what the sacrifice.  “A great read,” says Ambassador (Ret.) John Blaney. 

Cover Portraits:  Tracey Attlee with lighting by Todd A. Smith

Cover Design:  Mallory Rock

Former White House photographer and Alexandria, VA portraitist Tracey Attlee is an English major and daughter of an English teacher and high school principal.  Please contact her for your next author's book portrait or speaking engagement business portrait. She has 30 years experience behind the lens and knows how to capture personality in a portrait shoot.  Her office telephone is:  703-751-1778.

Top Full Honors Funeral Videographer Arlington Cemetery

For the past 16 years former White House photographer Tracey Attlee and her husband architectural photographer Todd A. Smith, USMC ret., have teamed together for patriotic coverage of military funerals for our Nation's heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.  This video shows a Full Honors Ceremony for a Navy Captain (Deceased's family intentionally omitted for privacy).
Attlee's fine art military Honors videos feature fine art cinematic angles embellished by her husband's beautiful photography and freshly captured sound from each individual Ceremony.

While other vendors recycle the same tourist footage over and over in the production of their videos, Attlee PhotoVideo is inspired to provide fresh and exclusive video, audio and photos of the sights and sounds of each individual Honors Ceremony.  That commitment to excellence is what makes Attlee's work and artistry so personal and so treasured by her clients.

Brides: When Weather or Distance Block a Meeting

Attlee Weddings and Portraits is all set to do Skype video calls when the weather or your distance away makes it hard to meet with us in the Washington DC region.  What's a blizzard or a few hundred miles when your wedding memories are at stake?  Relax, we've got you covered!

Celebrity Team Donates Mother Daughter Portrait Session with Makeup and Hair to SOME

Former White House photographer Tracey Attlee, the private photographer of the Rockefellers and a DC wedding and portraits expert, teamed with celebrity makeup artist Carl Ray, the personal makeup artist of former First Lady Michelle Obama, and famed DC One80 Salon for a charity glamour portrait session for two this week. 

The charity So Others Might Eat (SOME) is a D.C.-based charity with over 40 years of experience providing the poor and homeless of our nation's capital with access to food, clothing, health care, housing and job training.

The portrait session for two with celebrity makeup and hair was donated by Tracey Attlee, Carl Ray and One80 Salon at this week’s Share the Bounty reception, an annual charity event hosted by the women attorneys of Perkins Coie for their women clients, colleagues and friends in celebration of this season of gratitude and giving.  The evening featured delicious food and wine, a cooking demonstration, great conversation, networking and the charity raffle.

Business Portrait Tip: Let the Lens Guide You

Newly hired DC lawyer's portrait for Brustein Manasevit by Tracey Attlee

If you’re planning an upcoming executive portrait in your DC or VA law firm here is a business head shot tip of reassurance from best No VA corporate head shot photographer Tracey Attlee of Alexandria:  “Since you need to place your hands, feet, body and face in relation to the lens, not in relation to how it feels, it will be a bit strange at first.  But when you look at the proofs you’ll be amazed how subtle changes make such a difference in portrait photography!”

“We photograph interior business portraits with our camera tethered to a laptop.  This gives us instant feedback on how the pose is coming along and how best to tweak our lighting for the face and body shape we are photographing,” says Tracey Attlee.  “Shooting tethered enables us to show our subject their proofs right away.  Then they can see what happens when they make the tiniest tilt of their head or shoulders.  It quickly teaches people to trust our suggestions and then we are on our way to creating an excellent portrait they’ll be proud to display.”

Tracey Attlee is a top location and studio business portrait head shot photographer in Alexandria, VA with over 25 years of experience behind the lens and previous White House clearance.  She hand retouches and finishes business portraits in a week, then delivers the finished work electronically, all ready to use.  (O) 703-751-1778 

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USMC Chef to Six Commandants Now at Pearmund Cellars

Andy Schneider Photo by Tracey Attlee

Andrew P. Schneider of Bristow, VA, USMC retired and current owner of Elegance to Simplicity Caterers, served as an Enlisted Aide and cooked for six Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Now he is serving up his famous home made mac 'n cheese, barbecued ribs and chicken thighs, hot and sweet grilled sausages with freshly sauteed peppers and baked beans seasoned by his secret recipe to weekend patrons of Pearmund Cellars, a winery in Broad Run, VA.  See video:  AndySchneiderPearmund
Among the winery's patrons are retired generals and White House staffers, brides-to-be, children, pets, families and couples who enjoy spending their summer weekends in the shade of the spreading branches and canvas sun shades covering the rolling hills of this manicured winery's property.
Pearmund Cellars is located on 6190 Georgetown Road, Broad Run, VA 20137.
Andy Schneider of Elegance to Simplicity Caterers has 40 years of food service experience.  His company caters weddings, corporate events, parties, memorial repasts, military promotions and retirements throughout the Washington DC area.  For more information call Schneider at 703-618-0442.

Video by Tracey Attlee   www.TraceyAttlee.com

Military Video at Arlington Cemetery by Tracey Attlee

Tracey Attlee recently visited Arlington National Cemetery to shoot a behind the scenes video of the Army's Presidential Salute Battery in 100+ degree July temperatures as they honored a fallen Major General.

With thanks to SSG Bebee and his PSB colleagues here is the link for a good look at the precision and dignity of the U.S. Army Presidental Salute Battery on the Tracey Attlee military Full Honors video at Arlington National Cemetery: https://youtu.be/QFb4PKLy6mU

Should your family need good high quality video and photos of an upcoming Full Honors Ceremony for an Army, Navy, Marine or Coast Guard military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery former White House photographer Tracey Attlee of Alexandria, VA assisted by her husband Todd A. Smith, retired US Marine and professional architectural photographer, have plenty of video and photography experience at Arlington Cemetery and are waiting to take care of you.

Please call Tracey Attlee on her direct office line: 703-751-1778 to discuss your wishes and your loved one's Honors Ceremony date and time.  Tracey and Todd will be your actual video and photo team; they are a patriotic military family.  Both of their fathers were military.  Tracey's father was Navy combat wounded, WWII and her maternal uncle was KIA, WWII.

For these reasons Tracey Attlee and Todd step outside of their regular professional photo and video assignments to work with other military families in need of peace, pride and closure from a dedicated, local photo video team with vast experience covering military funerals in all four seasons at Arlington National Cemetery.

If you would like to see more information about Tracey Attlee video and photography at Arlington National Cemetery military Full Honors Ceremonies please visit her web site https://www.traceyattlee.com/military.html

New Jersey Beach Wedding

Sunset over Manasquan River viewed from Clarks Landing Yacht Club in Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Photo by Tracey Attlee www.TraceyAttlee.com 

For anyone considering a New Jersey beach wedding, perhaps in Spring Lake or Point Pleasant, here is inspiration from our tasteful couple Tara and Nick whose beautiful Memorial Day weekend wedding was held at St. Catharine's Church in Spring Lake followed by a dinner dance reception at Clarks Landing Yacht Club in Point Pleasant.

Tara and Nick included plenty of water views in their oceanside family group and wedding party photographs and treated their reception guests to dinner and dancing by the breathtaking sunset over Manasquan River at dusk.

Tara and Nick's wedding glowed with the careful preparation and advance planning they undertook for more than a year before their wedding.  It showed in the range of pretty details, embellishments, wardrobe, flowers, invitations, thank you cards and engagement shoot locations.

Here is a sneak peek for Tara, Nick and all who dream of a lovely New Jersey beach wedding:

Tara and Nick's New Jersey beach wedding photographed by Tracey Attlee

DC and NoVA Makeover Head Shot Business and Portrait Photos by Tracey Attlee

Tracey Attlee photo by Todd A. Smith

Tracey Attlee is a quality commercial portrait photographer with a spacious studio in Alexandria, VA where she offers makeover head shot business and portrait sessions including hair and makeup by appointment. Attlee's studio is spacious with plenty of parking and it provides her clients with a private hair, makeup and wardrobe area. With finished hair and makeup you’re going to look fabulous so why not bring an extra outfit or two for some casual and formal portraits of yourself after your business portrait? It won’t increase the sitting fee. 

Please call Tracey Attlee at 703-751-1778 for a consultation to discuss the style of portrait you envision, wardrobe and best shoot dates and times for your deadlines. 

Tracey Attlee also offers photography of high level events in Washington, DC, videography and photography of military promotions, retirements, Full Honors ceremonies and weddings. Dynamic, flattering portraits of executives, patriotic videos of military Full Honors funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and beautiful wedding pictures of casual elegance are her trademark. 

Tracey Attlee currently serves corporate clients including The Boeing Company, Toll Brothers and a variety of DC law firms. She has prior White House experience.

Tracey Attlee serves the DC military community with fine art photography and videos of military Full Honors Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, military promotions at the National Archives, military retirements and weddings at the area's military clubs and bases in Virginia and Maryland.

Tracey Attlee is a private photographer for Senator and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller IV and since 1996 has photographed official portraits and weddings for the Rockefellers, their children and other DC notables including Supreme Court Chief Justice and Mrs. John Roberts, George Will and Mari Maseng, John McLaughlin, Judy Woodruff, former NFL Commissioner and Mrs. Paul Tagliabue. 

Tracey Attlee personally hand retouches her clients' finished work to ensure each client looks their very best.

Jersey Engagement Shoot on the Beach

What a treat for us to photograph Tara and Nick as they celebrate their love and summer engagement on the pristine beaches and boardwalks of Spring Lake, New Jersey.

Tara choose a cheerful color, bright yellow, in her stylish off the shoulder dress that set the mood for an early evening photo session on the sea and sand with Tracey Attlee, Attlee Weddings and Portraits.

Tracey Attlee has photographed DC city, country and Jersey beach weddings and engagements between her home town of Spring Lake, NJ and Washington DC for 25 years.  A former White House photographer who resides in Alexandria, VA, Tracey Attlee photographs location business portraits and weddings with her husband professional architectural photographer Todd A. Smith

Behind the Scenes: Presidential Salute Battery Honors a Fallen Army Chaplain

The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Presidential Salute Battery honors the memory of a fallen Chaplain Major General at his Arlington National Cemetery Full Honors Ceremony April 28, 2017, video by Tracey Attlee www.TraceyAttlee.com 

This video is a behind the scenes look at the preparation, precision and dignity exhibited by the Presidential Salute Battery (PSB) at each military memorial service in which they perform at Arlington National Cemetery.  

Guests at military funerals at Arlington Cemetery of course hear the PSB cannons but generally never see them since the Battery is usually located out of sight of the guests elsewhere on the grounds of the Cemetery.

In this video the PSB honors the memory of Chaplain (Major General) Gaylord T. Gunhus, USA, Retired, 20th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army at his Full Military Honors Ceremony Friday, April 28, 2017 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Video produced by Tracey Attlee with thanks to SSG Bebee and the entire Presidential Salute Battery for their help and for their faithful service to our nation. 

Tracey Attlee of Alexandria, VA and her husband, retired US Marine and professional architectural photographer Todd A.Smith www.tasphoto.com, team together to provide fine art videos and high quality photos of Full Honors military funeral ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Both of their fathers were military veterans.