McCain-Palin rally in Fairfax

I photographed the rally this morning at a publc park in Fairfax. Over 15,000 people attended the political rally. The press riser was extremely crowded, and the technical crew put up the teleprompter panels after I had already chosen my sight lines. The teleprompter was exactly in line with my viewpoint of the podium. Governor Palin was completely hidden by the teleprompter, so I was unable to get any images of her speech. Fortunately, Senator McCain stood back a little from the podium, so I was able to get images of his speech. Canon 1Ds Mark IIN and Canon 70-200mm IS 2.8L lens and Canon 16-35mm 2.8L lens for the crowd shot.

Broad Run High School advertisement

I placed an advertisement in the Ashburn, Virginia Broad Run High School newspaper...

I've already received several inquiries in to the Ambassador program, and I look forward to introducing the Loudoun County Seniors to this alternative to the mundane school yearbook posing...

Bridal Session at The Oatlands

We had an amazing bridal portrait session with a lovely bride, Emily, three weeks ago (now that her wedding has come and gone - she already had a photographer for her wedding, but wanted us to shoot her bridals - we can post her images). It had rained all day, and we almost had to postpone the shoot; we take our studio lighting and a portable generator on location for the ultimate in lighting quality, and high-voltage electronics don't do well in the rain! But, the clouds held back long enough for us to get in the session, and the late-afternoon lighting was perfect for portraiture!

The session turned out so well that we are using Emily's images in both of our advertisements in the upcoming issue of

Brides of Northern Virginia Magazine!

International Print Competition

Well, after achieving Certified Professional Photographer from the Professional Photographers of America, I have taken the next step and entered my first print competition! The 2008 International Print Competition is July 20-23rd. Check back to see how I did!


Here is my first entry "Sitting Pretty"

"Daddy's Hand"

"Olympic Dreamer"

and lastly, "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To!"

Competition preparation is HARD; it's like sending your children off to school! I have learned so much with the help of Keith and Holly Howe and others on the PPA forum...

Senior Ambassadors

AJW Photo is actively recruiting the Class of 2009 Northern Virginia Seniors for its Senior Ambassador Program. Senior Ambassadors get free Senior Portrait sessions, ability to earn additional photos and albums, and the Ambassador with the most referrals of Senior Portraits wins a 32 Gb iPod Touch (a $500 value!). Email Art@AJWPhoto.com for an application today!

AJW Photo

Wednesday, April 30th

Welcome to my Blog! I am Art Wright, owner of AJW Photo.

Today we learn how much we raised for the Brad Kaminsky Foundation http://www.tbkf.org/index01.htm in their Silent Auction and Golf Tournament at the Landsdowne Resort http://www.lansdowneresort.com/default_.asp in Landsdowne, Virginia. The Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is named in memory of Brad Kaminsky. With this year's addition of $32,000 dollars, the Foundation has passed the quarter of a million dollar mark in money raised for cancer research. "That’s really an amazing thing," Lisa Millar, founder of the foundation, said. "It’s huge." More than 140 golfers came out to the Lansdowne Resort to participate in The Brad Kaminsky Foundation’s sixth annual Heroes of Hope golf tournament Saturday, April 28, to raise money for Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Millar’s brother, Brad Kaminsky, died Feb. 10, 2001, from a brain tumor. Millar started the foundation in his memory and is determined to help find a cure for brain cancer. "I felt I needed to bring a change," she said. "And that change is helping to find a cure for this disease. The most deadly cancer for children and men under the age of 39.