As the wife of a Marine and after working on a Marine Corp base for many years I’ve been to many promotion ceremonies. My last year working on the base I actually photographed a few for co-workers too! So when Jennifer contacted me about photographing her promotion to Colonel at the Army Navy Club in Washington DC I was honored. I have a deep respect for those that choose to live a military life, I’m proud to have worked beside them and very proud to be married to one. Jennifer’s promotion was a little different then the ones I’ve been to before because she wanted her friends and family to truly CELEBRATE with her! She also had the funniest speech I’ve ever heard at these ceremonies and she used an iPad to keep her on track! You know how I love the iPad ;). I very much enjoyed hearing about Jennifer’s accomplishments in her Army career and hearing one of her first commanding officers talk about how she had a plan for her career from the start! He just needed to keep up with her! I think her career plan is rolling right along as she was promoted to Colonel Buckner in the United States Army. Congrats Jennifer that is an amazing accomplishment and I know you will serve your country proud!
Adorable cupcakes!!
Jennifer’s Mom and best friend helped put on her new rank!
Such an awesome gift, love that they included the Twitter birds since Jen loves to Tweet!
Melissa Arlena is an award winning lifestyle newborn photographer in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia who has earned her Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in maternity, newborn and family photography. Her natural and simple work has been featured in magazines and online blogs worldwide. She has been named Best Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA in 2023.