Darcy & Billy

What a lovely couple, setting, and day!  First, let's talk about a yiddish word: bashert.  Ba-whaaaaat?  Bah-sh-ehrt.  In yiddish, it means "meant to be" or "fate" and I totally believe it was bashert for me to photograph Darcy & Billy's wedding.  After they found my company and contacted me, we spent quite a while on the phone, since they were planning a long-distance wedding.  I appreciate long-distance weddings since I had one myself and planned most of mine from Germany, which I told them.  We talked a bit more and ended up discovering that we all went to the same college!  So, a BIG shout-out to Emerson College in Boston, MA.  Anyone who is considering a career in a communications field should seriously consider Emerson.  But I digress.

Darcy & Billy were pure joy on the day of their wedding.  Neither appeared to be nervous and Darcy pulled off a wedding straight out of a magazine.  With a beautiful white tent, some bright pops of color, and the most adorable book centerpieces I've ever seen, the wedding was a smash hit.

Let's start with a photo of Darcy getting ready and the gentle touch of a mother's hand...

The Cole Twins Graduate!

Congratulations to the Cole Twins on their graduation!  The end of high school can be a tad bitter-sweet, but these two told me it was just sweet!  They were both very happy to be moving on to the next chapter of their lives and it shows in the pictures as they just beam with pride and excitement!

One thing that struck me during this shoot was how much love these two have for each other.  You can see the incredible bond that has stood the test of the teenage years!

As you can tell, this is a very photogenic girl!  She is a great example for all graduates.  Some of my graduate clients ask me what to wear and I have three main pieces of advice: 1) Be comfortable!  If you subscribe to the "beauty is pain" motto, you will most likely be in pain during the shoot.  2) Make sure it's flattering and appropriate.  Your mother, grandmother, aunt, etc. will want one of these photos.  If you are wearing an outfit that is too tight, showing a bit too much, or your pants are sagging, they may not be quite so happy with the result.  And, much like how a wedding is for the guests as much as it's for the couple, Senior Photos are for the family as much as they are for the graduate.  3) Have fun!  These pictures might be for other people, but they are about you!  So, let's have some fun with your photos.  I've had seniors jump into water fountains, play in the grass, and bring pets.  Let me know what suits you best and that's what we'll do!

Voight Family

I just adore this family!  I first met the kids in the fall.  A friend of their mom's arranged for a special secret photo shoot of the three kids together as a present for the mom.  What a sweet gift!  Back in the fall, we got some great shots, even with one recovering from recent surgery!

The next time I saw them, it was with the whole family - all five of them.  Mom and Dad were just as awesome as the kids - relaxed and enjoyed the shoot.  It was great to meet the parents because the kids were so awesome the first time I met them, I was curious to meet their fun folks! 

We were lucky and got a great day with mild temperatures and full sun (just the way I like it)!  We selected Quarton Lake for the family shoot, since it provides a beautiful backdrop, but also a very relaxed setting.

5 Years Old - Portrait Session

I will never be able to explain why it is easier to photograph someone else's child, but photographing my own daughter is difficult.  Maybe it's because she knows how to press my buttons.  Maybe it's because I know what shot I want, not what shot I'm going to get.  Or maybe it's just that we're so similar and stubborn.

If photographing large groups at weddings is like herding cats, then this is just one cat.  One small, cute, insistent cat.  My cat.

I loved the hat and glasses and so did she.  We had a lot of fun playing with props.  A lot of clients ask me about props and I certainly encourage them when the enhance the photo and don't distract from the actual subject - the person!

Props don't always have to be baseball bats and varsity jackets, but they certainly can be. Sometimes, it's fun to bring something sentimental (a baby blanket made by a family member) and sometimes props are just pure fun!

We found a dandelion and it was huge!  She had a wonderful time, playing with it, waving it around, and then trying to blow the pieces onto my camera.

If you book a session in a location with tall grass, be sure to dress all participants in long pants and long sleeves.  We don't want little buggies ruining the shoot!

I just love rain boots!  In my mind, they go with everything and they are a fun fashion statement.  Plus, you can buy them a little big and let the kiddo grow into them ;)  Gotta love a good bargain!

This is one of my favorite shots from the day.  First, I love her belly button.  A funny thing to love about my kid, I know, but she has the best belly button.  It's neither an innie or an outie.  Second, I love that she looks like an explorer, which is exactly what she was doing in the wide open land.  From where she was standing, she could see the lake and probably some animals and looking at this picture makes me wonder what she was thinking.

Uh oh.  We're starting to pout...someone just found out that it's almost time to go home.  She spent quite a bit of time not cooperating, so I threatened to take us home.  She didn't like that.  Daddy tried his best to help and she tried her best to stay mad.  This is her I'm-mad-I-swear-and-you-can't-make-me-smile look.

 Crying and telling me not to take her picture while she's throwing a fit.  But, as most people know, I like to capture it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  That's life.  So, as I chased her around, snapping away, she screamed that I should stop taking pictures.  Then, she stood still and gave me this devil stare.  Uh oh.  Time to take a break and give the kiddo a hug.

All in all, we got some great pictures, had an awesome picnic dinner, and enjoyed our time together.  We didn't budget nearly enough time to drive there (in traffic) and spend time playing, but we'll remember that for next year.  Maybe by the time she's 18, we'll have this down pat ;)