Yesterday was such a fun day for me. I had the opportunity to travel north to photograph a good friend of mine, Matt, and his mom Diann, sisters Wendy and Erin, and niece Colleen at the Memorial Union on the University of Maine campus. The siblings came together to surprise mom this weekend for her birthday and thought it would be a perfect opportunity for some family photos since they live all over the country. Here are some teasers of this special shoot. More will be posted soon!
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Several years ago I was asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding. I was so excited, and even more honored when I realized I was asked to be a groomsmaid, that is, a woman who stood on the same side as my best male friend who was getting married. In a way I think being asked to be a groomsmaid was even more special to me because it meant that my good friends didn’t care as much about the traditional gender roles in a wedding as the value they put into their friendships. Since that day, over six years ago, I have seen several couples who chose to include some of their closest friends to stand alongside them on their wedding day, regardless of their gender.
As you plan your big day and think about who you’d like to have by your side as you marry the love of your life, think out of the box and pick whoever it is that means the most to you, male or female. So much goes into wedding planning, but at the end of the day it is truly about who you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with, and who is by your side as you take that vow. Well, and your pictures of course.
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As the new year kicks into high gear, and I have a few months before wedding season officially begins, I find myself excited for a large part of what spring brings me – engagement sessions. I am asked quite frequently if I recommend doing an engagement session, and I always answer with a very enthusiastic YES! Let me tell you why.
1. They let me get to know you. We are going to spend a lot of time together on your wedding day. And we’re going to chat quite a few times before, and quite a few times after. One of the greatest compliments I often receive after a wedding was that the bride and groom felt like they had a friend taking their photos on their wedding day. I attribute much of that to the level of comfort that has already been established through the hour or so we spent together during the engagement session.
2. They help you to relax in front of the camera. When was the last time you had someone follow you around and take your pictures? Unless you are a model, or have been on some reality tv show, my guess is, having the camera around you while you pretend like it isn’t there, is not exactly second nature to you. Engagements help you to loosen up – the first few shots are almost always a bit posy and awkward, but they quickly become candid and relaxed, and when I arrive on the wedding day, you are so much more comfortable with the camera in the room.
3. They are really, really fun. Really. You will laugh. You will be silly. You will probably be asked to dance like an 80′s rockstar for a few minutes to get you to loosen up a bit. When you have fun, you look happy and your personalities and love will shine.
4. They get you excited for the wedding! I can’t tell you how many couples have ended their session saying, “Now it feels real! I am even more excited for the wedding!” Talking about the wedding, and doing something that is a formal part of the wedding “process” gets you pumped up for all the fun you are going to have on the big day!
I cannot wait for the upcoming engagement sessions I have this year, and I am so excited to get to know all of my couples better!
A few months ago, my good friend, and co-worker at the time, Leash, pulled me into her office and told me that she and her partner Jennell had come up with a business idea. Leash and I often talked about our entreprenurial dreams, so I was excited to hear what they had come up with. She sat straight up in her chair, got this excited look on her face, opened up her hands and said………..butter.
I nodded and politely said, “well that sounds interesting.”
I’m such a good friend.
My lack of enthusiasm didn’t stop these two, and Casco Bay Butter was born just a few days later. And it took off. Quickly. They found themselves spending their summer evenings and nights after their day jobs churning away in a church kitchen that they were able to rent, and their weekends selling their butter at the Kennebunk Farmers Market. It was a huge hit. Seacoast Online Newspaper has called them “the newest star on the Kennebunk Farmer’s Market scene” and they are now located in stores around southern Maine, and have a growing online presence and online store. From flavors such as “Lemon Chive” and “Garlic and Herb” to “Truffle Butter” and “Cranberry Orange” their smooth butters are a treat to the gourmet butter market, and your tastebuds. My personal favorite is making a roast chicken with the lemon and the garlic, and then pretty much melting as I take that first bite. I’ve tried a chicken with just normal butter..it just can’t compare!
I’ve taken some product shots for Casco Bay Butter before, when they first started the company. Last week we got together to take photos for something fun (I’ll spill the beans later), and I took advantage of the opportunity to capture these two in action as they made a fresh batch of butter. This was their first night with their new professional churn and they were so excited to take it for it’s first run. I’ve never seen butter being made before and was fascinated by the process and the excitement that was in the church kitchen that night as this batch came together.
The process begins by adding liquid buttermilk into a the churn.
As it churns, the butter and the milk separate (it’s pretty cool!). Once the milk is drained, churning continues until the butter has a nice texture that is thick and smooth.
Then the fun part begins – the flavoring. (Well, the more fun part was the tasting…such a huge perk to my job)
Aren’t they adorable? I love these two.
Lemon Chive | Garlic Herb
Cranberry Orange | Honey
For more information about Casco Bay Butter, and to order product or find them in stores, visit their website. You will not be disappointed!
looking forward to trying some!!
I promised myself no shoots this week. It’s tax time, meaning my week has consisted of receipts and Quickbooks. But when I woke up this morning and looked out my front window at the amazing site that was the fresh fallen snow, I was reminded of a time, not so long ago, when I would sit in my office at my day job and be so very sad that I could not just get up in the morning and go take pictures. So I did. And it was amazing, and I was grinning like a goofy five year old, and I didn’t even notice that I couldn’t feel my legs as I sat in the snow snapping images of this beautiful beautiful snowy morning in Maine.
Here are some of my favorites from my short walk at the Royal River Park in Yarmouth. Summer can come soon (this afternoon would work just fine for me), but I’m pretty happy that I had the chance to be outside this morning.
The vertical shot of trees along the path with the fence is beautiful- the light is amazing and I adore the perspective. Nice work!
(I love Maine- I’m so glad I live here.)
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