Jen Dean Photography

portraits to wear

2012-02-28T14:41:00.002-05:00

i ordered a studio sample from the new jewelry company i use, kotori. of course i chose a photo of my own beautiful charlie when she was but a wee peanut and my awesome rob too. i couldn't believe the quality. i truly love this jewelry. i have just ordered two more necklaces. i will be sure to post photos of them when i get them. i am feeling awfully girlie. and so excited to be able to offer these to clients!!

if this is something on your 'want' list be sure to get in touch soon for mothers day orders...or have that man of yours call me. i will find the portrait and get him all hooked up! and for future reference ladies there are also cuff links and key chains for those guys you might want to get something for. check it all out here: kotori website

2012-01-26T13:18:00.003-05:00

the now i lay me down to sleep organization is amazing and so very important. it gives precious memories in the form of photographs to those that have lost a child before they ever leave the hospital. if you have ever known anyone who has lost a newborn baby then you may have some small idea about how important these images will be.

i have a friend who had that unimaginable thing happen to her. i met her several years after the death of her first son who was 3 weeks old. she had a beautiful daughter when i met her and then another son. however every year on the anniversary of his death it opens the wound anew. having my own daughter i can't even fathom what these families endure.

therefore i would like to participate in this years event in the name of garrick and for my friend kim.

i am excited by the fundraiser and hope that we can help raise more than the $44,000 that was raised by all the participating families last year. you can learn more about the details at the charity model foundations website www.charitymodelsearch.orgbasically you sign up to have beautiful fun photographs of your child (ages 0-18) and then i enter one of the photographs into the competition for you. you can then have friends and family (and anyone you meet on the street for that matter!) sign up and vote. each vote costs $1 and the money goes right to the NILMDTS organization. if your child wins there will be a savings bond and gift cards!!

you can email me at jendean@jendeanphoto for more details or to sign up. i sent this out this morning and have already had people sign up...so don't wait! the deadline for entries is march 16, 2012.

see you cute faces soon....i can't wait!! (:

(if you want more of the nitty gritty see the text below the poster image)

jen

jen dean photography is participating in the Charity Model Search to select America’s Cutest Kid and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Is your child America’s Cutest Kid? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! The prizewinners will receive a generous savings bond and gift cards!

Model Search Special:

$49 entrance fee includes a 30-minute model session and one image submitted to the international gallery

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org). The top 25 vote receivers will move on to the final judging round to determine the winners.

Grand prize winner and runners up will be determined from the 25 finalists. The winner and runners up are selected by photography experts.

Call 207-318-0467 now to enter your “Cutest Kid” in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US. For more information, visit http://www.charitymodelsearch.org.

wedding albums...the big scoop

2012-01-24T09:59:00.000-05:00

i think a lot about the wedding album while i am at the wedding capturing all the amazing moments that make each couple's day unique. but i also think about wedding albums at so many other times. like on phone calls to potential clients while discussing how things work with packages etc. or to friends that may pop in and see me either designing one or (if they are lucky) when i have just been shipped a new beautiful album! but inevitably once in awhile i get the raised eyebrow or the "they cost what!?" comment.

i have been meaning to write something for some time about the whole album process and then i ran across robert evans and ryan phillips 411 blog. there was a great article that had all i wanted to say. and seeing how time is short in life i decided to just copy it here. for more tips about all kinds of things wedding related you can go check out the blog he and his friend write here: http://networkedblogs.com/syy9k

January 10, 2012|Selecting Your Photographer|The Business Side|The Real 411

Having recently discussed this subject with a potential client, I thought it would be apropos for me to share my insights with you. A wedding album is a one-of-a-kind memento that most couples desire, but more and more frequently are opting to postpone having made to save on the bottom line of their wedding budgets. When I hear many couple’s reactions to wedding album prices it’s pure shock! Why does it cost so much?? This article will help answer those questions by elaborating on what goes into the album design and production process.

Wedding albums are no simple task to complete; it’s a process that can take twenty or more hours of labor. To begin with, all of the images to be included in the book must be selected by either the couple or the photographer. This typically involves trimming down the number of images from on average 1500 images to 100-200 give or take. Next, the type of book to use must be determined, as there are many to choices out there. Decisions can range from different cover material and colors, to paper types, but quality wedding albums are expensive for a reason. Just as with wedding photographers, you get what you pay for.

A quality album manufacturer must pass on the expenses of a well-made book to the professional photographer, which he must incur before he offers the album to you. Something you may not know is that most albums are only sold to professional photographers and are not available to the consumer. These album manufactures want to do business with professionals who are well versed in how to design and order their products. This is pretty standard throughout the wedding photography industry.

The next part of the equation, and what you are paying your photographer for, is the album design work. This is a very creative yet tedious and complicated process. Not only are we the photographers, we must also be proficient with many aspects of graphic design. Within most wedding albums there are hundreds of pages, templates and computer software to learn and to keep up-to-date. Telling a story with very specific images, orientations and color palettes is complicated. In addition the images must all fit into a visually limiting format in order to fit into the book you chose. This can take many hours, which usually translates into days and even months depending on the timely cooperation of the bride and groom.

Seldom is the design perfect the first time, as there are almost always changes to be made. Based upon the clients’ change requests, adding or removing images, changing the size of the image or position in the album, the book now needs to be reconfigured so the design is cohesive once again. With that comes several more hours of work. Once finalized, prints and pages may need to be ordered. Then, as long as there are no quality control issues with the prints, the album can now be sent off to the album manufacturer.

Album design and creation is a long and labor-intensive process. So, when you think about the packages and the costs of wedding albums, remember that a basic album can cost a minimum of $2000, some more and some less all depending on the amount of images, pages, and the type of book itself. There are countless hours of design work involved, expensive software, and the actual materials of the album. Most photographers do not make oodles of money on wedding albums, when all is said and done. Frankly, many photographers probably lose money, due to the fact that they are not watching the amount of time they put into the album process.

One final thought: There are many photographers who do not offer wedding albums due to the fact that they do not want to be bothered by this tedious process. I personally think it’s a disservice to the client when a photographer does not to finish the job by telling a couple’s story in the form of a wedding album. In most cases, photographers who do not offer wedding albums probably have little experience doing so, which usually translates to little experience photographing weddings.

Your wedding pictures are the one thing you will have left once your wedding day has passed. If your images are left sitting on a hard drive not only do you run the risk of your hard drive failing but a very small percentage of you will ever get around to actually making yourself a book, let alone knowing how or where to start.

I say if you cared enough to hire a professional wedding photographer in the first place, let them design a wedding album for you; make it part of your wedding budget. A wedding album is an extension of the photographer’s eye and creativity, which will become a treasured family keepsake and visual historical record of the beginning of your family.

I smile every time one of my children pulls out one of our three-volume wedding album, and flips through the pages. I remember the first time my oldest daughter first looked at our wedding albums and asked, “Daddy where am I?” It was a priceless moment in my life.

The Real 411: Albums are expensive to produce and even though it seems like the album packages are high-priced and Photographers are making a ton of money on them, it’s not reality. It is a long labor intensive undertaking that requires skill, software and lots of time. If you are worried about budgets, cut the album for now and get your album for your one year anniversay… Making sure you hire the photographer you want, You will always have the opportunity to design a beautiful wedding album later. I can tell you from shooting hundreds of weddings, that it is VERY RARE for a bride to order her album within a year of her wedding date. Offset the cost now if absolutely necessary, but don’t regret not hiring the photographer of your dreams. You will hear us say this a thousand times…You can’t undo bad wedding photography! And since I can’t resist my other favorite quote….

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” -Benjamin Franklin-RP & RE

if you are still reading this all the way to the end then i thank you. i hope now you have a much better education on albums and what the process involves at all levels. (:

all my best,
jen

remembrance

2011-11-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

the other day a bride from this summer got in touch with me to say that her mother in law had suddenly passed away a few days previously. it is in these moments that i know why i do what i do. i knew that i had taken some beautiful portraits of mom at the wedding a few months ago. i was able to get prints to them for the funeral service that week. the family was so grateful. i was grateful. to be able to give them something to hold onto. i could give them the happiness of that day and their mother to hold onto and pass on. go give someone you love a hug and be glad they are there. tomorrow they might not be.

9.4.11 french's point for amy & kartik

2011-11-07T16:13:00.000-05:00

a wedding day at french's point in stockton springs, maine, is really one of the most beautiful places in maine to choose for a wedding. i was very excited to get to be a part of the day and capture all the beautiful pieces of the day there. i did this wedding for russell caron photography and am so glad that i was given the opportunity to work at french's point and with amy and kartik.

amy and kartik were no exception to that beauty. they are truly beautiful people. i got to spend a little bit of time with them at their engagement session and so felt their connection to each other then. they are so sweetly in love. it is truly why i adore my job.

both amy and kartik work in the medical field. she is a nurse and he is a surgeon. while i was taking photos of her getting her hair done, amy did inform me that she was really excited that she knew how to do a tracheotomy and really wanted to try one so if it happened that i needed one she was ready. i told her while i was comforted to know she could help me, since it was her wedding day and all i would hope for a calm day. and frankly i found the idea of a tracheotomy a tad terrifying. i think she tried consoling me. (: but the best part it was she was serious. on her wedding day she would have dropped everything to help me out and i doubt she would have been a bit flustered by it at all. amy was just so calm the entire wedding day. i think that must be why she is such a good nurse. (something frankly i would be terrible at!)

jessika from french's point is just amazing as are all her staff. i cannot say enough about how wonderful they were to work with. i have worked for over 12 years as a wedding photographer and have to say they are some of the kindest and most attentive (without being overbearing!!) people i have ever worked with. thank you again jessika for making the day so fabulous in every way.

8.20.11 rangely maine, heidi & louie

2011-09-06T16:47:00.000-04:00

heidi and louie were married in rangely maine on maine street. it was a perfect maine location for the meeting of french and american family and friends. the day was sunny and clear. there were lawn games during the cocktail hour, families, children, baby ducks, and lots of french and english mingled with laughter.

i love getting to know my couples and these two were no exception. i had met heidi and her mom before the big day and loved them. but i didn't get to meet louie until the wedding day. he was so charming and funny that i can see why all day he was always surrounded by people. i didn't see him alone for a moment. (:

i look forward to seeing them on the trips to visit the states since they are now back home in canada. may you have many years of happiness and laughter together heidi and louie! cheers.

evy girl, children's portraits maine

2011-08-02T13:23:00.002-04:00

i know evy's parents because i took their wedding photos. i know her extended family well because i just had the privilege of being the wedding photographer for her aunt and uncle as well. i feel so lucky to get to stay a part of the lives of the families i get to know as they grow.

and, of course, meeting the sweet wee ones is such fun! (:

i love love this photo

the blue elephant catering & events

2011-07-25T10:07:00.003-04:00

when you are planning your wedding it is a challenge to find vendors one at a time. of course, you want to make sure you have the best of everything. you want to know that you are getting a quality product or service. you also want to know that you are going to get the best people who are reliable and honest.

to this end there were a few vendors who got together and formed a vendor group. it is a group of vendors that was formed by invitation only by people that had worked with each other and knew each other well. that way when we recommend someone to a bride and groom we know that it is not just a "referral", but an actual "recommendation" of a personal friend, of someone we know and trust.

this group can be researched further on the maine wedding buzz blog page. you can see all the current members and get their contact information there.

but one at a time i am going to be highlighting the vendors here. this was you can meet them through me.

i love the folks at blue elephant catering. they are thoughtful and thorough and fausto has an unabashed obsession for some tv soap (i have never seen) that he is always bringing up and that cracks me up. i love that they are always laughing at something and ready to have fun, but are completely professional at an event, and make great, beautiful food. i think that was a really long badly written sentence. my poor (writer) husband would be pained i am sure. (:

so here is a video introducing who they are, done by soft shell productions, nora mccormack. she will be highlighted soon.

Blue Elephant Catering & Events from Softshell Productions on Vimeo.

share our strength's taste of the nation maine event

2011-07-18T16:23:00.003-04:00

every year the taste of the nation fundraiser event is held in about 40 cities across the u.s. and canada. the goal is to wipe out childhood hunger. they have raised over $75 million to that end. you should go to the taste of the nation web site and read more about what they do. and donate. it's simply that important.

it is not only a great cause and but a really fun event to be a part of. here are some of the photos i took at the recent event in south portland.

pavillion provided by: leavitt and paris

just some of the great local restaurants represented were:

back bay grill
david's and david's 388
hugo's
lily bitro
grace
fore street
555
front room, grill room, corner room
bar lola

larry matthews of the back bay grill

harding lee smith of the front room

sam hayward of fore street

david tourin of david's

6.25.11 inn at mill falls wedding

2011-07-11T13:14:00.009-04:00

ali and nate are one of those couples that are not only sweet and kind themselves, but surrounded by happiness and love from family and friends. i felt honored to be a part of that.

this was also one of those weddings that flowed smoothly and was simply wonderful because of the people involved. you can see the joy on everyone's face. and considering a recent loss in the family it is all the more poignant.

life is short. may we all be reminded of what life is about and enjoy every moment.

beautiful location: the inn at mill falls, church landing

fabulous band: grippo funk band

Vitoria Mansion Allagash Ale Premiere Fundraiser

2011-07-07T16:01:00.006-04:00

on june 24th at the victoria mansion on danforth st. in downtown portland, maine there was an event to release the allgash brewing company 'victoria ale'. one dollar from every bottle will be donated to the victoria mansion preservation and education programs. the mansion was contructed in 1858 and has been open to the public as a non-profit museum since 1940.

the event was catered by the blue elephant catering. and if you haven't had their cuban sandwich, well, you really need to. they have a cafe' in saco so get yourself there!

the music was by the fab pete kilpatrick band!

i had a great time and loved what this was all about...drinking beer while supporting a good cause, not much better than that!

schuer/surdoval family portraits

2011-06-20T20:16:00.004-04:00

i have known this beautiful family for the last several years and done photographs of them when their first grandchild arrived. here is another beautiful baby boy and more family portraits of the love they share. so sweet.

i love that you can see his family reflected in his eyes. so neat.

baby in a basket

2011-05-15T19:24:00.002-04:00

mom came to pick up some of her maternity photos and i took just a few quick shots of the new little man in the studio. he is super sweet. he kept trying to push himself right out of the basket! so strong already. (:

walk on the beach

2011-04-21T15:35:00.002-04:00

we spent some time in kennebunkport at a beautiful big house courtesy of my god-parents. during our walk on a rainy afternoon and i took a few photos. i love spending time with my family and never get tired of capturing the mood of the day.

charlie had just spent a week away from me (since i was at the neipp photography conference in cape cod, ma) and needed a lot of extra time with me. i felt lucky to get to go learn more at the conference and guilty that she had such a hard time without me. such is the emotions of being a parent.

babies in tutu's...are irresistable.

2011-03-15T14:14:00.006-04:00

what else do you need to say? they are ridiculously cute. the it hurts kinda cute. and these girls were super easy...well, except for my own daughter who is the three year old. she was tricky, but you would never know from the photos how hard i worked to get them! (:

sweet light photographers gives out a big check! (:

2011-03-15T14:11:00.002-04:00

so we want to send out at a big thank you to all the women who participated in our fundraiser. the whole process far exceeded our expectations in every way. we cannot wait to do this again next year!!

we chose our recipient and handed over the $1600 check to the family crisis center. we couldn't be more thrilled to give such a wonderful and well known institution these funds that will help women in crisis. the institution has been around for over 30 years and still very much in need.

we also want to thank again all those that volunteered their time to help us with this fundraiser:

ken murphy of murphy empire for all the design work for our promotional materials. his work is amazing. http://www.kennethtmurphy.com/

julia irace of andrea's bridal for the couture and props. breathtaking. http://andreasbridal.net/

the women of bei capelli for the hours of 'make over's' they gave to the women. you can see their beautiful work in any of our photos. http://www.beicapelli.com/

here is the press release that was sent out.

Lois Galgay Reckitt, Director of Family Crisis Services received $1600 from Nadra Edgerley and Jen Dean of Sweet Light Photographers and Nadra Photography. The funds were raised from an event in January entitled “I <3 (heart) Sweet Tarts” - intimate portraits for women. A total of 32 women of all ages, shapes and sizes participated in the 2 day event. The idea was created to help empower women, celebrate their femininity and appreciate the bodies that they have at this moment in their lives.

Nadra Edgerley owner of Nadra Photography and Sweet Light Photographers, holds several fund raisers through out the year. While considering organizations to donate the funds to, Kat Powers, a Sweet Light employee suggested the Family Crisis Services. Powers lost her step daughter Kelley Newcomb of Portland to domestic violence in 1995. Perhaps, if other women like Kelley had more self confidence in themselves, they would be less likely to fall prey in an unhealthy relationship. It is our wish that this donation may assist others like Kelley Newcomb.

Family Crisis Services provide programs that focus on individual advocacy and safety for battered women and their children. They work for and encourage institutional change to assign responsibility for battering to the perpetrators. They also work to change cultural values which perpetuate and support the abuse of women through community education.

Inspired by the stories of the women who participated in these intimate portrait sessions, Jen Dean photographer at Sweet Light Photographers has been motivated to hold a public forum entitled, "Confidence is Sexy: An Intimate Discussion." She looks forward to sharing fine-art prints and a slide-show of her own and Nadra's work, as well as the stories from the women behind these sessions. These images and stories show the beauty of all feminine sensuality, not just that of certain narrow stereotypes. The discussion will focus on these stories, as well as looking at past and present views of female body-image and sexuality, and how these views might be shifted in a positive direction for our daughters and granddaughters. Jen is passionate about using photography and dialogue to create more confident and powerful generations of women. Dates and times to be announced soon on our blog..

You can view a feature done by WCSH-6 by going to the blog section at www.nadraphotography.com.

hanging out with the beautiful girl

2011-02-23T20:39:00.004-05:00

i am making an effort to finally get back to blogging after many many months of sickness and now playing catch up with all the work i came back to. i love blogging and have truly missed it. i have learned a lot over the last 6 months. not that these weren't things i didn't know. but sometimes we need a reminder.

take nothing for granted. especially your health.
enjoy every minute cause you never know...
and relax. or you may be forced to.
here are some photos of the most important thing in the world.

charlie.

boudoir fundraiser...jan 8th & 15th 2011

2010-12-14T15:26:00.004-05:00

i am now working with sweet light photographers. you can see me and the new website here:
www.mysweetlight.com

more details to come about that soon. in the meantime...

i would like to give you a little back story on why this idea is so important to me. i have worked with several women who talked about the confidence it gave them to decide to take intimate portraits for their partner. at first they were hesitant and shy, but the more they planned for it and then on the day of the shoot, and finally when i showed them the results….they have all thanked me multiple times for the gift of confidence that they gained.

most women have body issues. as a grown up i have finally learned to be at peace with my body (well, mostly). but i think it is important to feel beautiful. here is our version of giving that to others. i hope you are able to join us. -jen

when: Jan 8th & 15th from 9am - 5 pm

where: studio location in scarborough, maine

phone: (207) 885-9300

Details: 25 minute shoot. All hair and make-up done by Bei Capelli included. Please call to hear more details and reserve your spot.

sponsors:
bei capelli
andrea's bridal
murphy empire

becca & aaron, 10-3-10

2010-11-05T15:24:00.015-04:00

i met becca on facebook through my sister in law. i love meeting people through people that i know. it feels so much more intimate right from the start. she told me all about her plans for her wedding including many many handmade items. ideas that i thought were just amazing. like paper flower arrangements made from recycled bridal magazines, hand cut paper mobiles that hung from the ceiling at the reception, right down to her gorgeous hand sewn gown created by someone she knew. yvonne at kimera design also made all the beautiful bridesmaids dresses, all the dress sashes, and the men's ties.

i love everything about the way she planned this wedding as it is the way i try and do things; thinking outside the box as it were. it made me happy and the execution was so very beautiful. not to mention that the bride & groom and all of their friends were just so happy. (and great dancers too!) as always i was honored to have been invited to record this amazing event.

location: portland company complex
catering: aurora provisions
cakes: aurora provisions
flowers: bride
dress: yvonne of kimera design

seeing each other for the first time.

autumn apple

2010-09-28T12:19:00.004-04:00

apple picking has quickly become a fall tradition for me after i went for the first time a few years ago with my husbands family. but i have to admit it became really great after we had our daughter. i just love how this year was a totally different experience then last year in what she discovered and what we talked about. here is just one sweet shot from the day that sums up what i felt it was all about.

thank you randall orchard. they don't have a website, but here is there contact information in case you want to go.
Randall Orchards
Box 145-1 Randall Rd
Standish, ME 04084
Cumberland County
Phone: (207) 642-3500

marie's senior photos september 2010

2010-09-28T12:11:00.003-04:00

hard to believe i have know this beautiful teen since she was just a peanut and now she is taller then me! though i admit that isn't too tough. i am so flattered that she called me to take her senior photos.

i love this one in particular

bridgette & dan, sept 4th, 2010, inn by the sea

2010-09-12T17:33:00.013-04:00

bridgette and dan's day was much anticipated as was the hurricane, earl, that was to show up on the same day. the ceremony was to be on cresent beach in cape elizabeth so, of course, we were just wondering if we would even set foot on the sand.

not only did they get married on the beach, but it was a glorious day! bright sun and bright blue skies to match with perfect puffy clouds. the two of them were so in love they had big tears during the ceremony. so sweet they were. i do love love!

there was a beautiful tented reception and dinner after which we went back out to the ocean and sunset view for a few more shots.

location & dinner: inn by the sea

flowers: fluer de lis (fabulous as usual!!)

congratulations on your new life together bridgette and dan!!

baby belly for sara

2010-08-22T09:49:00.002-04:00

and here are some more friends of mine! sara and chris have been anxiously awaiting arrival of baby boy...they have less then 2 weeks to go! they really wanted photos of the baby showing the beautiful beach we have here in maine. here they are...

family portraits at pine point beach...again

2010-08-22T09:44:00.002-04:00

there is nothing better then this job except when you get to add personal friends. i was so excited when this family i know signed up for our 'day at the beach shoot' (see earlier posts about this fundraiser i did with nadra from nadra photography). they are such a sweet and happy family. we always love meeting them at the playground and hanging out. here are some of my favorites from the day together...

kristi & matt

2010-08-14T08:05:00.006-04:00

july 17th, 2010
these two picked a perfect day and beautiful locations. downtown outside the eastland park hotel proved to be a lot of fun for taking photos of the guys. i love the cathedral where they were married. it is an amazing portland landmark. after the ceremony we went to spring point light in south portland to do some shots and it was gorgeous blue skies for us!

matt's work has to do with trains and he was really interested in doing some photos with trains in some way. so i went before the wedding and scouted out a spot where we could sneak into a train yard discreetly. it turned out to be a lot of fun and i am so glad they were up for something really different.

back at the eastland ballroom was dinner and dancing. the room was beautiful and they did a great job with everything, but especially the flambe' dessert which is a great 'show'.

thank you to kristi and matt for making the day so great. you were both so sweet, laid back, up for whatever i asked you to do, and a lot of fun to be around!

wednesdays with charlie

2010-08-14T07:52:00.003-04:00

for the last few weeks i have had to go into work on wednesdays so missed my time with charlie. summer is just a really busy time of year here in maine, which is a good thing! but i was glad to get to connect with charlie this wednesday. she has been asking to go back to the farm , smiling hill farm, since we went the first time a few months ago so that's where we went. she really loves the pigs and thus we spent a lot of time with them. and i loved the alpacas with the haircut that made charlie say "mama they don't have any eyes!".

after nap time my god parents came with their 1969 ford torrino convertible. we decided we could drive down to jet video to get an ice cream and that would be safe. it was a lot of fun to ride in a car with no lid!

family portraits at pine point beach

2010-08-11T12:59:00.002-04:00

i photographed bethany's wedding and her daughters first birthday party. i just love being a continued part of my bride and grooms lives. i love meeting their children and getting to know them and just catching up. so i was excited to see bethany again and do some more photos of her, fiona, and then baby on the way in september. life is grand!
and i can't get over the photos of fiona and her doll. i think they are some of my favorite photos in a long time...

Old Port Love

2010-08-11T12:49:00.004-04:00

amy & jarrod were married right downtown in the 'old port' of portland. the ceremony was in the moon garden of the ferry terminal. a beautiful spot no matter the weather, though we had hoped for a sunny day i love the umbrellas and what they add to the mood of any photo. then they were off to ri-ra, one of our local irish pubs that amy & jarrod have long loved, for a real party! they danced the night away and were a lot of fun to be with and photograph.

i don't usually include these kinds of shots, but just love the enthusiasm and the cake pieces falling.

owens family portraits

2010-08-05T20:52:00.004-04:00

another great family session on the beach. mom is from maine but they all live in virginia now and come back for vacations and to visit family when they can. i am so glad that i met them and was able to capture these adorable kids while they were here.

SO cute!

torres family

2010-08-05T20:45:00.002-04:00

i was the photographer for jason and liza's wedding and was so excited to see them again and meet their daughter! they live out of state so i don't get to see them that often. i remember when the little blond here was about 3 years old as the flower girl at the wedding. time flies by so quickly.

robicheaw family

2010-08-05T20:39:00.004-04:00

this beautiful family was one of the ones that signed up for our 'day at the beach' fundraiser sessions as well. i asked her daughter to dance and just love what happened. and the wee boy was so sweet and happy the entire time. (:

smith family photos

2010-08-05T20:27:00.002-04:00

nadra photography hosted a fundraiser she calls 'day at the beach' every year at least once and sometimes twice. this year the funds went to the maine cancer foundation. most all of us know someone who has personally experienced the effects of cancer so this money will go to further cancer research right here in maine.

the smith family wanted to do some traditional family shots and then some fun stuff as well. i did photos of everyone in groups for a little more formal photos (not stuffy though) and then playing together. we decided to change it up and not do it on the beach. here are a couple of my favorites.

with the grandparents...who don't look like grandparents!

misty & aidan, stone circle love

2010-08-03T20:04:00.006-04:00

misty has been a close friend of mine for 17 years. aidan is a friend of my husband's of twelve years. misty and aidan met at our wedding five years ago and have been together ever since. they decided to have just us and the officiants at their ceremony since they are both private people.

they chose a personally symbolic location for the ceremony and the stone circle, along with their bowl of fire, water, stone, and fauna, was just that. the amazing beauty of the quarry pond and surrounding land where we all stayed added to the peaceful atmosphere. if you get the chance to stay at the light heart retreat you too can experience this outstandingly beautiful place.

i don't usually take many landscape photos since i feel it is not where my strength lies, but these were irresistible.

the night before the ceremony.

seeing each other for the first time right before the ceremony...

look carefully...

entrance to the stone circle.

kayla & jeremy, scarborough maine

2010-07-29T21:22:00.003-04:00

kayla and jeremy both were just such kind and gentle souls. they were so sweet. with each other and to me. it was a joy to be around them. i met kayla not too long before her wedding, and am so glad that it worked out to be with her that day. you can see why i was so lucky in her smile....

samoset resort summer splendor

2010-07-20T19:50:00.002-04:00

i met selena and dominic last year and did there engagement photos downtown on a beautiful cold day last winter. they are such a sweet and kind couple. i loved being with them. they were so gracious on their wedding day as well. they both have a lot of family and therefore a lot of love filled the day.

the samoset resort was wonderful to work with. i don't usually mention wedding coordinators in my posts, but 'will' was the most wonderful, helpful, attentive (to us as well as to selena and dominic) coordinator i have worked with in a long time. kudos to him!

having an ocean backdrop and then a bit of wind, just the right amount to set selena's veil sailing, was a joy for a photographer. that and having a set of people as beautiful as these two, well, wow. lucky me. cheers to many years of happiness my friends.

this is hands down my favorite photo from the day. it makes my heart melt.

black point inn romance

2010-07-08T20:21:00.001-04:00

so while this may take a bit of text i really need to share the story about how this bride and groom met...dominic was on the way to europe with his family when he was 15 yrs old. while sitting in the airport waiting for a delayed flight he spotted a really pretty girl. so with his new camera he snuck a photo of her and then asked his mom if he should go talk to her. well, long story short they talked for a long time and exchanged contact information.

after many long phone calls and years of writing and planning they both lived up to all their promises by getting into the same college and starting a life together. there were many toasts from friends and family at the wedding talking about how they never believed that at 15 either of them could have been right about meeting the 'one', but here they are 9 years later. you just never know about life. i am so lucky to be a wedding photographer and get to see these snippets of life and love. thank you dom and julie for letting me share your love.

i need say no more i believe the photos show the rest of the story about how in love they are....

they saw each other for the first time before the ceremony at this spot on the ocean

of course they have the photo that was taken when she was 15...

beautiful family

2010-07-08T10:34:00.003-04:00

i have known this family for years and knew these children when they were born. it is so amazing to me to watch children grow up. the whole process is something i find just beautiful and, of course, always a lot of fun. here are some of my favs from a the family shoot i did with them recently.

Beach Portraits for Nichols Family

2010-07-08T10:14:00.002-04:00

for the last few years nadra (of nadra photography) has done a fundraiser for various charities by offering mini-portrait sessions at the beach aptly called 'day at the beach'. this year the fundraiser was for the maine cancer foundation.

i will be posting photos from these sessions as i finish them. we were rained out on the original date so we had to reschedule all the sessions for week nights for several weeks in a row.

here is one session that i just finished editing. adorable girls; all!

wednesdays with charlie

2010-06-11T08:45:00.004-04:00

i have a new summer schedule that includes wednesdays home with my charlie. i feel so lucky to get to spend more time with her. if i had my way it would be more days with her then work, but alas...

so since i am always taking photos of her anyway, i decided to share our wednesday adventures together here. i am constantly looking for new ways to see things and searching for the perfect light...what better way than with a two year old? (:

today the laundry proved very entertaining.

someone stops over for a visit. who could it be?...

cousin owen!

peek-a-boo owen.

wedding at maple hill farm, auburn

2010-06-04T16:27:00.005-04:00

kim & garrett had an amazing wedding that was not only simply beautiful, but also had these sweet elements that you don't often see at weddings anymore. like garrett wore a top hat and morning jacket. it was fab. they also had a horse drawn carriage take them from the church on a nice long walk around a lake and over to the reception at the groom's family farm.

there was an amazing farm house, draft horses, rescue horses, dogs, and some baby chicks inside the back door that i stumbled upon. all of this against a beautiful landscape. the bridesmaids and groomsmen played wiffle ball with the kids on the lawn and everyone just enjoyed each others company whether chatting on the lawn or tearing up the dance floor. it was a truly lovely occasion. and of course, kimberly was stunning.

this shot took some time as the horse decided that her dress was a bit intimidating.

i couldn't resist including this shot. there were many animals that were part of the day and i am a sucker for all animals. (:

the view across the street from the farm.

beautiful girl

2010-06-04T15:14:00.005-04:00

my motivation for shooting women's bodies is not simply about making them "look sexy"(don't get me wrong i think that looking sexy has it's place too!), but more about giving them confidence to see themselves as beautiful no matter what age, shape or size. often i shoot with girls who are size 8-14 not 0-4. i love that. most often the women that have come to me are not ones that would normally choose to do this type of shoot and are surprised that they are brave enough to be doing it!

our society sends a lot of messages about beauty. i will not spend the time here to go on the rant that i could, if you live in america and are a woman then you already know all about these issues and how hard it is to fight them. i am an average size girl myself and have fought my whole life to be happy with my body. most girls do the same.

when i became a photographer my passion was really about showing everyone that they were beautiful. everyone. this is simply an extension of that.

and by the way, one of the best parts of these shoots that i have discovered is that when the photos are for the significant other in your life they ALWAYS LOVE them! they think you are gorgeous, i promise. (:

super monday was really super (:

2010-05-20T19:22:00.008-04:00

so the ppa (professional photographers of america for those of you that aren't in the photo world 24/7. by the way if you are a photographer, even if you don't think you are a professional yet, you should join this fabulous and extremely helpful organization) offers classes for photographers from other professional photographers. one of the educational classes they offer is always in may on a monday and named-you guessed it-"super monday".

nadra edgerley whom i also work with now, taught this years super monday class, in maine. i have to say that not only did i learn a lot from nadra, but got to connect with some other really great photographers.

every class i have attended i have taken home something really important either in the learning or in just making me all fired up about trying something new. i love sharing photography with others and talking about why you do it. what motivates you. (although i have recently learned that i am much better at writing how i feel for instance in a blog where it is safe for me never to see your face then actually saying it in person, but that is yet another story altogether) so ok, maybe i love hearing all those things from other people even more then sharing them myself, but i digress...

there was just such happiness at these images i took as i tried some poses i have been thinking about and then seeing what everyone else saw through their lenses with the same models. the whole process was very inspiring. and i love to be inspired. it just took me a long time to get to the point here.

AND...about those models. ok, so first off they were a high school couple! that made me feel strange and older then i like to believe i am. and they were ridiculously adorable. and i mean ridiculous. like i could hardly stand it. they were so in love (check out the photos to see what i mean!) and kind to each other and us. and they stood in the sun forever and didn't complain and i can't thank them enough AND i really hope that zach will come work with us because who wouldn't like more positive energy around like his. ok, i know, enough, i will stop now.

oh, except that if you want to see all the photos from the day you should go to nadra's photography blog to see them as she will have some from all of us soon! now i have pressured her to get them posted. (: sorry nadra.

a big thank you to spoil me rotten for the amazing dress we borrowed and to the men's warehouse for the tux. these kids look fab!

sunday mornings

2010-05-19T15:52:00.003-04:00

if there was a day of the week that i wish could go on forever it would be sundays. especially in the summer when i work so many saturdays (and sundays too) it is nice when i have those sundays to connect with my rob and charlie. as any parent knows after you have a child, sleeping in is one of the biggest luxuries in life. sundays are nice for that.

one of the reasons i love sleeping in and hanging out in bed is my memories of when i was a little girl and would sleep over at my grandparents. i would always run in and jump in bed with them in the morning. we would then hang out for a long time playing, talking, and being goofy. it is such a happy memory for me.

a few sundays ago the memories came flooding back when i was sitting with rob and charlie on our bed. she was jumping and laughing and playing the drums on rob's back and it all came back...funny how even though your life may change so drastically so much can stay the same.

jan, actress headshots and my view of the artist life...

2010-05-14T13:10:00.004-04:00

jan has been working in the theater for some time now. she decided that she was done with her day job and wanted to be an actress full time. so she left her job and is living her dream instead. i love that she has chosen to do this. it takes such courage to make this kind of jump. in a society where money seems to matter so much, it is a real leap of faith to try and make a living being an artist.

i know this myself. all artists share this commonality. there are many of us that have worked several jobs while trying to make a living with our art. in the end, i think, it doesn't matter if you 'make it' only that you have the heart to try. because that is the truest form of living and i can do nothing less than that.

here are the photos of jan that i connect to. i think they show her beauty-i mean look at that porcelain skin!- and her intensely beautiful inside as well.

my intense little girl

2010-04-13T15:43:00.001-04:00

i love this child more than my being can bear most days. if you are a parent you know this feeling. i could never quite understand it before having charlie.

she is a very intense person. passionate about everything. i love that about her. she wants to wear pink and dresses everyday. then she wants to be naked. here is the best of both. (:

bauman resources, prevail in business workshop

2010-04-07T10:31:00.000-04:00

just want to give a shout out to jared bauman for his fabulous business workshop called "prevail in business". we spent the day talking about all those pieces of running a business that most photographers dread. if you are a photographer looking to expand your business and use your time more wisely there is a wealth of knowledge to be had from jared.

it was really nice to get actual numbers to work with. and the details were all discussed...in group discussions. it had a nice warm group vibe as we all shared our knowledge together as well.

i recommend him highly as a resource for your business. and he is just a nice guy. genuine and sincere in his wish to get your business to grow. thank you jared and i look froward to seeing you again soon!

shootstyle workshop, ogunquit, maine

2010-04-07T10:11:00.000-04:00

so i went to this fabulous shootstyle workshop led by michelle turner, an amazing wedding photographer friend. check out the shootstyle site as they are a wonderful group of photographers that have a lot of knowledge to share. michelle was just great too, very open and sincere and just a lot of fun. not to mention her work rocks! i was very excited to get to spend time learning from her.

first off we heard from michelle about her posing styles and then we all went out with our models and took photos in various locations.

we had crazy high winds and it was very cold on the beach. we were all bundled up as photographers, but the poor models were freezing...they toughed it out and allowed us to get some great shots. a big thanks to everyone that was a part of this great day!!

here are a few of my favorites from that afternoon...

dominique & alissa, intimate home wedding incape elizabeth, maine

2010-03-19T12:41:00.000-04:00

when i met alissa to talk about the how she met dominique she told me an amazing story which i will try and put in a nutshell here. it starts with a song that she was obsessed with, the disappearance of the song for several years and the subsequent finding again. there is a man involved in some way that she becomes friends with online who says that she simply must meet his friend who animated the video for the song. she married the talented and sweet animator of the video.

life is funny like that. you never know when something that touches you deeply, like music, may lead to your meeting the love of your life. that's what makes love so wonderful. it is always out there just waiting to happen...

i was so honored to be part of their day. it was an intimate seaside wedding in the home she grew up in with all small group of friends and family. everyone was so happy. it was just lovely to watch.

and i love that they put down a dance floor in the dining room and danced all night...

alissa saw this all over france she said. i think it is so sweet and i love it.

fun ideas for a different take on the ordinary...

2010-02-22T11:52:00.000-05:00

so you are unique, planning a wedding, and want to show it eh? i have been meeting with brides more and more who want to do things a bit off the beaten path. whether it be motivated by a sense of style or a sense of dedication to help the environment there are so many great ideas floating about the internet. so here are a few ideas that i have run across that i thought were worth sharing.

one is a great site that was given to me by my dear planning, preparing, and craft making bride-to-be amy. she says she got some great tips from the off beat bride
the offbeat bride apparently comes in book form as well. cool.

then there is the queen of diy ms martha. the girl does know how to make pretty. here is a stunning flower...made of paper: paper flowers

and these are truly amazing. i think i might just have to have a few arrangements around the house. i will start making them as soon as i am done blogging. (: paper flowers take two

here is a great tutorial on how to make your own ribbon pearl necklace: pearl necklace

and then there is my favorite thing ever. the birdcage veil. i just adore them. here is deanne in one that she made herself. wow.

but before the photos...not to leave you in the dark about how you might actually make a veil so spectacular here is a tutorial for making a birdcage veil yourself. easy as pie.

once in awhile this cross-processed look just works. i think it does here.

www.jendeanphoto.com

wedding entrance DANCE

2010-02-10T14:01:00.000-05:00

so these folks just made my whole week. apparently lots of people around the world (over 42 million according to the you tube view tracker) have already seen this. what i want to know is what fabulous couple will be the next ones to dance their way to the alter while i document it!?

in case you haven't seen this...here is the video:

one more photo...

2010-02-10T11:01:00.000-05:00

spencer & corinne

2010-02-02T15:58:00.000-05:00

spencer & corinne were married on a very cold january day, but the freezing temperature was irrelevant as they exchanged vows in the warmth of their love and the family and friends who gathered to celebrate this day. they are such a sweet and fun couple. corinne loves 80's music (like me!) and showed her appreciation of good music all night! here are a few of my favorites from the day...

they held the ceremony and reception at the portland company complex.
the catering was expertly done by evelyn of catering by evelyn

it was about 7 degrees in this old store room...i was moving so fast to get them back into the heated reception room. they were real troopers though!

the marriott inn where corinne got ready had these great red walls...i loved them!

...and this staircase lighting was lovely.

i love these dust motes floating in the light...maybe there are some "whos" in there.

couldn't resist this harsh light and shadow detail.

the pretty and the pirate

2010-01-29T19:48:00.000-05:00

yup having a kid is the best thing ever. no matter what has happened in your day she makes it all ok. so much fun this child!

fleur de lis

2010-01-22T15:17:00.000-05:00

today i got to go and feast my eyes on flowers. it's always a nice change of pace when karen calls and i get to go take photos of her beautiful arrangements for her fab little shop in south portland called fleur de lis.
so here are a couple close ups that i loved. it was so very cold today that these flowers made everything better. sometimes it's the little things, you know.

digital photography school, metering

2010-01-12T15:29:00.000-05:00

i have been meaning to post some 'tips' for those of you that want to be better photographers. let's say you have a new dslr camera and you want to take your photography to the next level. now you have a camera that does all kinds of cool stuff and you are not sure how to make that cool stuff happen.

have no fear! with a little help and lots of practice (i won't lie...it IS all about practice) you can improve your skills. and you WILL improve your photography with practice and some tutorials to help you along! so here is a site that you can join. it has lots of tips and tricks for beginners. the site is really useful and you can use it to look up photography questions.

it is called digital photography school and here is an article about the different metering modes that all dslr cameras have. it is really important to know what these settings do to change your photos. I will reprint some of the article here, but for the full article with photos please click the above link (the word article, in blue) that will take you to the digital photography school site.

Metering Modes Explained

A Guest Post by Laura Charon from Beyond Megapixels.

On today’s digital cameras, users have the ability to choose and adjust the metering mode, or how the camera measures the brightness of the subject. Metering settings work by assessing the amount of light available for a photograph, and then adjusting the exposure accordingly. Sometimes, however, the camera isn’t intuitive enough to get the exposure right when using Program, Shutter Priority, or Aperture Priority modes. Fortunately, the photographer has the ability to make manual adjustments to the metering mode used by the camera. (Refer to your individual owner’s manual to learn how to change the settings on your camera.)

Evaluative Metering (on Canon cameras), or Evaluative/Matrix Metering (on Nikon cameras) – This is the “default” setting on most cameras. The camera sets the metering automatically to suit the scene and subject of the photograph. The entire scene within the camera’s viewfinder is utilized to assess the appropriate metering. This is the mode to use when you’re not sure which mode the scene will require.
Canon Digital Rebel XTi, 50mm f/1.4 lens, RAW file format, SOOC - Exposure: 1/30, ISO 200, Shot in Program Mode, Evaluative Metering

Partial Metering (on Canon cameras), or Spot Metering (on Nikon cameras) – This type of metering is helpful for photographing back-lit subjects. The metering is weighted according to the very center of the shot – a very small area of the frame. Use this mode when you have a very specific area of the photograph that you wish the exposure to be based upon.

Center-Weighted Average Metering (on Canon cameras), or Center-Weighted Metering (on Nikon cameras) – This metering setting gives priority to the center portion of the photograph, but also takes the surrounding portions of the shot into consideration. Basically, this is somewhere in between Evaluative and Partial Metering. Use this setting when the subject is in the center of the photograph and exposed correctly, so that the subject is not affected by the exposure of the background.

dom & selena engagement session

2010-01-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

holy adorable couple batman! have i mentioned lately that i love my job? (:

we started at arabica...one of my favorite coffee shops. thank you for letting us hang out and take over your shop.

these two were so cute and such troopers...we were out in the old port on a day when it was 25 degrees, but felt colder to me! they were all love and happiness despite the cold. i can't wait to see them all dressed up on the wedding day.

bridesmaid dress fitting

2010-01-06T12:18:00.000-05:00

i really just love this photograph and what is happening in it. that is her son in the background. sometimes everything about a photo just comes together in a split second and that is what happened here.

christmas for charlie

2010-01-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

because what parent can resist bragging? here she is...she had a great christmas, but i think ours was even better cause we got to watch her enjoy it. some of these shots were taken over christmas vacation and i just love them.

super snowmen

2009-12-21T17:02:00.000-05:00

my dear friend pat knittel showed me an article last year in a craft magazine called cloth, paper, scissors about these snowmen made from recycled bottles and other random materials. pat started gathering materials and planning over this past year so that she could make her own snowmen this winter. the snowmen in the magazine were neat, but i have to say these are amazing. pat definitely took it up a notch!

the process of building a snowman happens on her dining room table. when you come to her home she simply insists that you sit down and make one. you can make a snow man, or woman, or child, or butler, or diva, or whatever springs to mind. i have to admit when she first invited me to make one i felt a little like i was in middle school. i wasn't really a "craft maker" type person. i think i was a bit intimidated. well, anyway, i sat down and had so much fun that i have gone back twice more and took my camera this last visit so that i could show everyone what an amazing process this has turned into.

and that's the thing...it IS a process. you sit down and RELAX. (imagine that...during the holidays) pat told me the other day that she noticed that most people start to hum or sing. you find your self chatting or sitting quietly, but truly just enjoying the process instead of the product. i was back in middle school, but it was really great. thank you pat.

Empire Reindeer Christmas Club Charity Gala!

2009-12-17T16:16:00.000-05:00

this was THE event to attend, more than because I say so. it was a fundraiser for the toys for tots foundation and succeeded in raising over $10,000 in cash! what better cause could there be this time of year (though i am sure there are many other good causes as well, i know, i know!) than giving children a gift to open on christmas day who would not normally have one!! this makes me so happy!!
so ken murphy is the genius behind the event. he is also a truly amazing designer. don't take my word for it check him out here: murphy empire . i am in awe of his work.
ok, so he and a bunch of other great folks got together and created this wonderful event at the portland yacht club, a beautiful location for a beautiful cause. there was the really fab band called eastwave radio that you should check out if you haven't heard yet. they played a wide array of genres of music over the course of the night and made it great fun! and, of course, i would like to thank the marines who came to represent the toys for tots program and those who serve us every day. and lastly here is the link to the site for the party empire reindeer christmas club.
here are a few of my favorites from the night. i think like they give you a nice feel for the evening. please come next year as it only promises to be bigger and better!

i truly love this image and the feeling it conveys. if i had to pick one image from the night it would be this one.

the one on the far right is ken murphy!

wouldn't you love to know what he just heard!

kevin & jenny's october wedding

2009-12-09T12:42:00.001-05:00

i have been remiss in my blogging lately. i have been distracted by creating wedding albums! apologies to all.
so here are my favorites from a wedding in october. kevin and jenny were a real delight and i am so lucky that i met them. working with them was a breeze since they were just SO in love and happy. they gave me plenty of time to take photos in between the ceremony and reception so we went to several locations and had great fun!! the whole group was just happy, ready to party, and up for anything. i love going to downtown portland to shoot as i always find something new. jenny picked out a couple of these spots ahead of time...she has a good eye.
thanks again to both of you for having me capture your day...what a beautiful one it was.

the reception was at the portland club. a really lovely place in downtown portland. the fabulous food was beautifully presented by black tie catering. the floral arrangements were done by flora . fauna and all i can say is "wow". and a special thanks to my friend and fellow photographer michael berube' of good photos.com for all his help that day. i was so lucky to have him help and give me such great ideas too!

i love reflection shots. this one is particularly fun...

this little car with the just married sign drove by as we were walking across the street. i just love what happened in the split second moment.

new nola baby

2009-12-09T12:37:00.000-05:00

...here is nola! she is a tiny tiny girl. leaving the hospital under 6 lbs. and oh so sweet. more photos of nola and big brother lucas coming soon...

family portraits

2009-11-20T15:39:00.000-05:00

this beautiful irish family allowed me to capture them recently.take a look at how lovely they are...

i love this photo and the connection here...

i can never resist this shot...

holiday card designs!

2009-11-18T13:05:00.000-05:00

good news...it's not too late to place an order for holiday cards! here are the designs that i currently offer. please email me with any questions at all. all you need to do is let me know the number above the card that you would like to see. you can then email me your image choice and i will put together a sample for you! some of the colors and the text is changeable too...
1. 2.

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9. 10.

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13. 14.

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20. these are the choices for the inside spreads

8 hours old

2009-11-05T12:02:00.000-05:00

owen is here. a beautiful, quiet new baby. he only peeped while i was there and mom & dad say that is all he has done so far. they have no idea what his cry sounds like. nice way to enter the world if you ask me.

autum color

2009-10-31T14:04:00.001-04:00

we walk through evergreen cemetery, which is right near our home, several times a week. the fall is particularly spectacular there. i thought i would share a couple shots of the amazing foliage and charlie's wee hands holding a leaf which she clutched for several hours after...

amy & jarod

2009-10-20T15:28:00.000-04:00

here are the latest engagement photos from good ol' downtown portland. that's one thing i love about this city...it may be small, but it is so visually interesting. i always find great backdrops. and as i always say "it never hurts to have beautiful people to photograph"! amy & jarod are just toooo cute. sorry guys. you are. can't wait till the wedding! they have the best spot on the water...right in the middle of downtown and the reception will be at rira the irish pub. such a great idea. and a thank you to vignola (amy says they have the best pizza in town) for letting us use your window seats for some photos!

the life is good signs were there idea. nice job!

hate to admit it, but this was amy's idea too. i LOVE reflection shots, but hadn't thought of this. i think it looks really lovely.

hoodie cuteness

2009-10-20T15:21:00.000-04:00

i couldn't resist putting up this shot of my nephew in his new knit hoodie. love the knit stuff aunt bonnie!! he stopped in for a visit and i grabbed this quick shot (he NEVER stops moving!) as i am simply enchanted by the roundness of his face and those big blues! stiff competition for cuteness in this family. (:

tena & scott, little sebago lake, maine

2009-10-15T16:20:00.000-04:00

when i met tena and scott i knew they would be a lot of fun to work with. they did not disappoint! they were both really into the outdoors, skiing, and their dogs...all these themes were there on the wedding day. there were the mason jar margaritas for the arriving guests and then there was the kansas theme that kept popping up. i adore those shoes!!

tena attended to every detail and it showed. they had amazing bright sun, a beautiful lake backdrop, and romantic sunset for the wedding day. they were surrounded by lots of family and friends and the day was perfect. here are a few of my favorite shots...

cape cod with charlie

2009-10-07T19:34:00.001-04:00

while we were in the cape i took the opportunity to take a few photos of my own family. here are some shots of charlie chatting and singing while on a skateboard ramp she spied in the yard of the skyfield bed and breakfast . the bed & breakfast had miniature horses, sheep, peacocks, chickens and an african gray parrot. charlie loved it! and so did we...

i adore the stance she has taken here...she is so excited and ready to run...she's revving up!

cape cod, mother & son

2009-10-07T16:46:00.000-04:00

i always get to work with great people. a previous client tells a friend of theirs and then they call...thank you emily for passing on my name to susanne. i actually remember meeting susanne at emily's wedding a few years ago. how time flies! anyway, susanne really wanted photos of her two sons on this little beach called 'loop beach' near her parents condo in the cape. so she called...here are the photos that we were able to take of one son since the other was very sick that day. poor thing. we plan on doing a second shoot soon to get the whole family!

can't help myself. wee feet are so great!

and the difference in the size of our hands...another thing to not be forgotten.

i love this sweet gesture that we often see. a mother's hand on her baby's back while he snuggles in close.

jeff & margot, rainy-day-cape-sprague-love!

2009-10-01T16:12:00.000-04:00

jeff and margot have to be two of the most loved and in love people i have ever met. the wedding was to take place outside at sprague farm, in cape elizabeth, maine. however that day it poured rain. it didn't matter. the love from the two of them and all their friends was simply amazing. it made the world feel like such a wonderful place to live in. dramatic yes, but so very true. i think you can see it in the photos...just look at them looking at each other. i love LOVE.

the tent was magical. the arrangements were overflowing with color and vibrance. they were done by little river flower farm. the food was as elegant as the atmosphere provided by the kitchen chicks . the party got started with the toughcats and they were so much fun! then the pace was kept up by the chicken slacks-strange name-great band, great fun!

thank you margot and jeff for giving me the honor to capture your day....

lucas is two!

2009-09-29T14:05:00.000-04:00

here are some shots from the latest photo shoot at ft. williams with one of my favorite families! emily and shawn were a bride and groom from one of my weddings a few years ago and they have become close friends. just how i like it! they live about a ten minute walk from my house. in fact this morning we went to feed the ducks together....but, i digress. emily is pregnant with a little girl! yah!! and lucas just turned two a few months ago. so here are some of my favs (though it was hard to choose). they are just all so cute! look how beautiful miss pregnant em is!

i love that i caught lucas walking by and looking lovingly at mama...

something about this moment i am just in love with....

and this long shadow of lucas is wonderful.

he's just got a great smile.

stunning as always!

there is nothing better then the feeling captured here. it makes me smile every time i look at it.

kim & garrett, engagement shots

2009-09-25T15:43:00.000-04:00

kim & garrett are getting married next may. the wedding will be in auburn, maine with the reception being outside at his parents home. i love weddings at the family home. it just makes the day that much more special...to be surrounded by all that is personal and close to the family is comforting. i am hoping their 3 dogs will be there as well. the told me they started with a little one, added a spaniel, and then adopted a dobermen. small, medium, and large! i can't wait for the wedding. until then....

kim's bridal-trash the dress day

2009-09-24T16:04:00.000-04:00

i wanted to go out and play with my camera and sunlight and flash. try some new things and relearn some old tricks. just shoot. essential work to any photographer. my dear friend kim agreed to get all fancy for me. i did her hair and make-up myself (not too shabby huh?) and we headed out on a sunny afternoon. not though without first stopping at subway since we were starving, but needed to be quick. i know, it's all there was nearby though! that stop has been quite funny to us since the shoot..."beautiful bride stops at subway for pre-wedding sandwich"...."jared has taught her to watch her figure"...ok enough.

we went to the new train station in portland, maine and then drove behind it to a bunch of buildings and the bay. there was all kinds of business' back there from a taxi cab company to the building we used as our backdrop which was 'barnstormers ', where they make flooring from re-sawn vintage lumber. very cool! john, the owner, came out and chatted with us. he wondered if we were a couple of students from the maine college of art . nope just a crazy wedding photographer looking for a cool spot and some nice light. we found both.

well thanks for your patience and the laughs kim. you were great just like i knew you would be!

ps i am so excited to have figured out the way to get large photos on my blog...it only took me half a day! sigh. oh well. they look much more they way i want them to! yah for photos!

then downtown near the porthole restaurant, and the comedy connection, for the great shock of color that is on the walls outside. it's one of my favorite spots to add some color and have some fun!

this is SO kim...

took awhile to get her to laugh out loud. she was so nervous. not that i blame her, i don't like my photo taken either!

jim & connie's ocean side wedding, boothbay harbor, maine

2009-09-23T16:11:00.000-04:00

jim & connie had an amazingly beautiful day to renew their love and vows. the sun was big on the ocean that day and big in their hearts. they were a perfectly sweet and kind couple that i loved spending the day with. we spent time at his parents home in boothbay harbor getting ready and then everyone returned after the ceremony for a break before dinner so that we could get those great beach shots! yah for the rocky maine coast! the ceremony was at 'our lady queen of peace' right downtown. so perfectly picturesque. and her father was able to be the officiant for the ceremony. such a wonderfully family oriented day. the couple decided they wanted to arrive at 'the chowder house' in style so we went by boat...of course! i loved that they just sat back and enjoyed the ride, talking to each other and waving to other folks out on the water. they were so relaxed. they had a good old fashioned maine lobster bake to finish off the night and blueberry pies to complete the experience. a wonderful maine themed day. cheers to many years of happiness! -jen

kim & jeremy's diamond cove wedding

2009-09-09T13:08:00.000-04:00

kim & jeremy were married on great diamond island in diamond cove on a beautiful day. it rained for about 10 minutes then there was nothing but blue skies and a lot of fog! it made for a mystical and lovely occasion. everyone enjoyed from the wee ones to the old including 'jeter' their black lab. (it was a tough blow to all the sox fans there.) kim planned every detail meticulously and it showed. thank you for having me capture your wonderful day! (to open any photo larger simply click on it-be sure to just hit the 'back' button or you will close window)

trash the dress shoot, james & deanne

2009-08-27T14:17:00.000-04:00

james & deanne requested that we get to take some really fun shots that we didn't get to do on the wedding day...we had a lot of fun up in winslow at this old school house/church that had the entire roof collapse inside the building. and then after we were all really over heated they got to jump in the lake. life is good.

sofie

2009-07-27T13:44:00.000-04:00

so here is an amazingly beautiful peanut! we had a great time trying to get her to smile and not eat the grass. and we only had to reschedule once which is great considering how rainy it continues to be here in maine. (:

james & deanne

2009-07-21T16:40:00.001-04:00

though all we have seen here in maine has been loads of rain it did stop for the wedding last weekend! yah for everyone! james and deanne are just all about having fun, well that and looking good doing it!! i love deanne's beautiful vintage look and i had a great time taking photos of the two of them goofing off and dancing till their feet were sore! thank you both for having me be a part of your day. congratulations again.

6.27.09 Wedding in the Sun

2009-07-01T09:38:00.000-04:00

after weeks of rain, seemingly endless rain, the sky opened on saturday and the sun shown down upon this beautiful union. chris and joy are so kind and considerate. the day was about enjoying the company of all their family and friends and celebrating their love. i thank you for giving me the honor of capturing these moments of yours.

serious girl

2009-06-23T17:02:00.000-04:00

a trip to take some formal photos with my 16 month old daughter proved somewhat tricky. she tends to get very serious when she is a new space. she just watches and checks things out. there was only a hint of smiles when we chased her all over the place...running and taking photos is a tad difficult! but there were a few sweet ones that i have included here and the sky was gorgeous over the water.

2009-06-23T16:38:00.000-04:00

another beautiful boudoir shot...lovely back and lovely light.

beautiful couple at ft. williams

2009-06-11T12:36:00.000-04:00

wow. what a great couple these two are. you can see it from the photos without me having to say much, but let me just add that they both said they were not photogenic. (ha!) i asked them to just look at and talk to each other....voila'!....beautiful! we had a great time and i can not wait till the wedding!!

hot pink

2009-06-09T20:23:00.001-04:00

what can you say about this photo?!....lots i guess. not many i can post from this shoot. sorry folks. but i just had to share this one. gorgeous huh? one to show the grand kids many years from now. wow, grammie was a hottie!

sassy portrait

2009-06-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

here is a lovely portrait from a recent shoot that i just had to share. she was such a great model!

memorial day at camp

2009-05-29T11:59:00.000-04:00

those of us who live in maine are often heard talking about how much we appreciate the nice weather when it finally is here. i think the extra months of winter make us especially appreciative of the rest of the year. here we are at 'camp' welcoming the start of the summer. rob and i were married here so it is very special for us to get to come now and bring our daughter, charlie, to this beautiful place. she loves her extended family....which is quickly growing with babies everywhere!! here are the new arrivals and a rare photo of me with the gang.

baby beautiful

2009-05-22T20:46:00.000-04:00

tonight i met this little guy. he was as extremely happy as he was beautiful! oh to be lucky parents of a wonderful baby...i know all about that too!

2009-05-22T12:10:00.000-04:00

mmmm. running. i finally understand all those times when i was little and heard grown ups saying "i wish i had that much energy"!

2009-05-20T12:52:00.000-04:00

we went for a walk after the rain the other day. i love the crab apple tree in our front yard.

2009-05-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

i just read this article.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/05/18/ensler.congo/index.html
i hope that you will read it too. be careful. it is brutal. but it is so very important. i read it thinking of my amazingly gorgeous daughter. and thought of the amazingly gorgeous women that the article told the stories of. how can we stop this? i want to find a way to speak out. please join me. we are so lucky to live in the U.S.
it gives us the opportunity to do more then be hopeless and helpless.