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  • About me

    I am Monique Dolbin and I have a passion for capturing beautiful, natural images for my clients. I enjoy working with everyone from young professionals, couples, families, to children. I am located in the DC area (Arlington VA to be exact), but I also spend a great deal of time in Central Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, York, and New Cumberland). If the images in my blog and my shooting style resonate with you, I hope that we'll be able to work together soon!

Cyrus and Sara – Georgetown Engagement session

Posted in: Couples

I was introduced to Cyrus and Sara through Sara’s sister, Saman. I knew if Sara was anything like her sister that they would be a joy to work with (and of course I was right)! A few weeks before the engagement session, we met up in Georgetown to get to know each other and come up with a plan for the shoot. We all got along very well and I especially loved exchanging travel stories as Cyrus and Sara fellow world travelers. Hearing about their recent trip to Vietnam even got me hooked with the travel bug!

We started out the shoot in Georgetown by walking the streets to a few of my favorite locations I pass on my way to work. After that, we went to a national park (that shall remain unnamed) north of DC where we explored an azalea garden before we had a minor run in with park police. Luckily, we were pretty much finished with the shoot by the time they showed up. I will certainly never forget the e-session as it’s not every day you get threatened to be arrested! hehe Sara told me that it was quite fitting for them as they like to push the limits when it comes to exploring new places.

I wish Cyrus and Sara nothing but the best at their upcoming wedding in January in Costa Rica! Below are some of my favorites from our session… Enjoy!

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Headshots – Kara – Washington, DC

Posted in: Portraits

Sometimes I’m so amazed by the power of social networks. Kara and I worked together a few years ago but we were able to keep in touch through the magic of Facebook. Luckily, I was at the top of her mind when she needed some new headshots that reflect her amazing personality.

Kara has a very successful real estate business and is licensed in DC, MD, and VA. You can even check her out on her own YouTube channel. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to her if you’re looking to take the leap into homeownership in the DMV!

We decided the streets of Georgetown would be a great place to get lots of different looks. It is hands down one of my favorite places in DC to shoot! We were able to create some great images while having some fun. Be sure to like the post or my Facebook page if you love the images too!:)

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Rooftop Photo Shoot – Etta – Washington, DC

Posted in: Personal | Portraits

Etta, my former DC nightlife partner-in-crime (before she selfishly left us all to head to sunnier locations), was in town visiting DC to celebrate her birthday. What better way to celebrate a birthday than to do a rooftop photo shoot with yours truly!?! We really were just having a ball messing around and were able to get some amazing pictures of Etta who is beautiful on the inside and out.

If you enjoy the the pictures, please be sure to ‘like’ Life in Focus Photography on Facebook to see all my newest images and posts!

I got about 1,000 pictures of Etta and that iPhone! This first one was my favorite one!:)

Shout out to OnOne Software’s help with the next images. Love them!

Sometimes models need a bit of liquid courage. Thanks to Dan for hosting us on his rooftop, providing the booze and being an overall excellent male model. (If only we could have talked him into the lederhosen….)

No better way to get Etta smiling than to let her dance!

After a few jokes that the prior pictures were borderline engagement session worthy, we had Dan ‘propose’ over a glass of Vodka. (He sure knows the way to Etta’s heart! hehe) Julia, who was there for the fun as well, stood in as Dan’s current girlfriend in order to add a touch of drama to the scene.:)

Huge thank you again to the lovely Julia and Dan for a fantastic Saturday afternoon in honor of our birthday girl.:)

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April 16, 2012 - 8:53 pm

Saman Saba - LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! You are sooo talented Monique and you are sooo beautiful Etta and you are sooo studly Dan!! <3

Frank and Sofia – The Proposal – Washington, DC

Posted in: Couples | Portraits

Last night was a magical night. It was a perfect spring night that was already special from the start as it was my beautiful friend, Sofia’s birthday. Every day I discover something more that I love about my profession. Last night I realized what an honor it is to be there to capture the most important moments in my clients and friends’ lives. Frank and Sofia hold a special place in my heart as I’m dear friends with both of them and I’ve had the honor of  watching (and photographing) their journey together.

Anyway, enough about me. Let me reintroduce to you the two lovebirds, Frank and Sofia:

The night for them began with a mouthwatering meal from Fogo de Chao. After they were done with dinner, Frank suggested a walk down Pennsylvania Ave towards the Navy Memorial. When they arrived the began exploring the globe that is engraved into the ground together. They made stops at sites they’d love to travel to together or had a special meaning to them.

Oh and this next image wasn’t posed, they are seriously this cute ALL of the time!

After walking all around the globe, the finally settled on Hawaii as a place that they’d love to go on a romantic getaway. It was at this moment that Frank looked deep into Sofia’s eyes and got on his knee.

After a very touching moment and a few cheers from the crowd (no one could contain themselves), SHE SAID YESSS!! And so did Frank!:)

This next picture is one of my favorites as I was taking pictures of them just a few feet away and they were so in their own world that they didn’t even spot me until this very moment.

I couldn’t resist getting a couple pictures of the soon to be Mr & Mrs before they ran off to celebrate, tell family, and of course update their Facebook status to share the good news with the world!

Congratulations Frank and Sofia! Words cannot describe how very happy and excited I am for the two of you!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of your lives and inviting me to capture such important moments. I love you two like family!  …oh and I can’t forget how much I love this guy too!

Also, special thanks to my friend Julia for coming along for our “secret mission of loveeee” to help me get set up and hidden, to bounce families out of the way in the memorial, ensure I don’t get arrested for creeping around with a camera near federal buildings, and witnessing love in action. I can’t wait to tear up as I see you walking down the aisle in exactly a month!

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April 6, 2012 - 12:59 pm

Ashley Harper - AMAZING pictures – huge congratulations to Sofia!!! a beautiful person inside and out who deserves all the happiness in the world. so great!

April 9, 2012 - 8:26 pm

Rosemary Senitza - Sofia, your Papa sent these to me. He and your Grandma are so excited–and so am I. Love the pictures. Take care of yourself and that little one. Hope to see you sometime in AZ!! Love and best wishes to all the family. Please tell your mom hi for me.

Dan and Sarah – Cherry Blossoms and Old Town Alexandria

Posted in: Couples

The day I met Dan, I knew we’d be friends. Even though we both went to Dickinson College, we met a few years later in DC when we both were working for the same company. On his first day we quickly discovered some eerie similarities… We had the same major in college, studied abroad in Spain, love the best team in baseball (THE Yankees, obviously), drove the same car, liked the same kind of wine, and the list went on and on. Of course the more time I hung out with Dan, the more time I got to know his amazing girlfriend, Sarah. Other than the fact she’s a diehard Red Sox fan, she’s perfect for Dan. It has been a joy seeing their relationship grow and mature over the past few years. I couldn’t have been more excited to hear the great news that she said yes!

For their engagement session we wanted to capture the beauty of springtime in DC, the cherry blossoms. Also, since Dan used to live in Alexandria, we decided to head to Old Town to get some urban shots. Below are some of my favorites of Dan and Sarah. Be sure to ‘Like’ the post and my Facebook page if you like the photos!


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