WhitakerImagery

IT'S MOVING DAY!!

2010-08-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you follow my blog, I don't want anyone to feel like I have abandoned you. In fact, it is just the opposite! I am making things better:) The blog now has its own custom domain name (www.whitaker-imagery.com) and a new home and look! Click here to go there now and be sure to bookmark our new location:)

PEASE Family/Maternity- Sneak Peek

2010-08-25T05:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this family holds a special place in my heart. And I think my camera has a secret crush on them as well. At this point, I cannot even remember how many times I have photographed them. You can find them here before A was born, a little session featuring A all on his own is here and on top of all that they have been a presence in so many of marketing materials. Yep, I kinda love them <3

In a bit of a surprise, the Pease family learned they would be adding another little girl to this wild and crazy bunch. Just ten days before Baby H's arrival, we set out to capture this amazing family of 5 + 1/2.

Amazingly, this was the first session we had ever done outside for the Pease family and it certainly will not be the last! Gorgeous location, amazing light and some stinkin' adorable single shots of I, L and A.

There are a million silly and sweet shots of I and L where they are really hamming it up, but the serenity and sweetness when they seem lost in the moment is what really melts my heart. Of course, I had to share some of that silliness though....

...silliness that usually means a lot of bribery on my part which meant I could get a few of these. Love it when I ask the kids to sit a certain way and they add their own little touches. This is exactly what great portraits are all about!

About halfway through, we had sent mom to the car to change and A spent a little time hanging out with Dad.

The contrast of Mom's outfit change with the vibrant blue sky was so beautiful, and L snuggling in to complete the composition is just the sweetest thing ever.

Of course, Miss I had to get a smooch in too!

The kids were just itching to be closer to the river down over the hill, and the light was only becoming more amazing. So after a few more shots, we headed closer to the water.

Finally, after the kids soaked in their view, we sent them with Dad back up to the car while Mom and I captured this amazingness.

Pease family, every single one of you are absolutely gorgeous in every way. I am so grateful that I have been able to capture so many special moments in your life, and only look forward to many more. I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek. Good luck with the delivery and I will see you soon for a quick hospital visit and then H's newborn session when you are all settled in back home.

scott + hilarie: THE DETAILS

2010-08-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

After getting our buns on the road at 4am last weekend, Alison and I were so excited to capture so many amazing details of Scott & Hilarie's gorgeous outdoor wedding....and even more psyched to learn that many touches were DIY by talented family and friends. So let's get to it, shall we?

First off, an outdoor wedding is all about: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

A two-hour drive to Eustis, Maine. Yep, this view was worth it!

And what's up with this guy? Well, his job was important: Scare away the Canadian Geese so they didn't "mess" on the chairs. He did such a great job that he was even invited to stay for the ceremony!

And what would a blog about wedding details be without the shoes, bling and a few other little personal touches?

A special gift with some detail of Hilarie's veil custom made by her mom...

...and some gorgeous antique jewelry to pair nicely with her J.Crew gown.

Oh, and some adorable, customized horsehoes for good luck!

Let's see....what else does a wedding need? Ah, yes. Flowers.

Every single arrangement, including the brides bouquet, was handcrafted by uber-talented bridesmaid, Katie T.

Reception details are even more fun! Rather than a traditional wedding cake, Scott & Hilarie opted for a dessert table. The centerpiece? A gorgeous DIY towel cake!

Let's....EAT...

...DRINK...

...AND BE MARRIED...

Wait?! Is that a Llama????

Sure is! And yes, they had their own special role in the gala. Stay tuned for scott + hilarie: SO MUCH MORE <3

BRITNEY- Maternity Session (Sneak Peek)

2010-08-17T05:52:00.000-05:00

Being married to a soldier is most definitely not the way I pictured my life when I was seven, but I could not be more proud to be a soldier's wife. Furthermore, I am often in awe and have the utmost respect for all those who serve....especially women. Here is my secret: I have always wondered what it would be like to be a soldier myself, but I cry when I get yelled at and I don't like running, so I have a fear of basic....even though I really don't know EXACTLY what it's like.

Now that you've got that priceless information, you are thinking so what? What the heck does that have to do with a maternity session? Well, let me just introduce you to Britney. A soldier. A woman.

Apparently, my husband does a bit of behind the scenes work for me and told Brit she HAD to set up an appointment with me when she was closer to her due date. I am so glad she did!

Brit is so sweet and easy going and ....omg, it is so easy to get her to laugh. Lucky for me she was up for pretty much anything, even if it meant pretending she actually craved pickles and ice cream.

I knew Brit had just bought this shirt, and I was all over using it during our session....

...and I probably had her change outfits a million times. Really, the only thing better than dressing up babies is dressing up expecting mommas! And nope, she didn't complain one bit which just meant her images reflected how beautiful she is both inside and out <3

Of course, I couldn't get through this peek without sharing a glimpse of the other "little" girl who will be sharing her home soon. Miss Sissy is the roliest poliest beagle I have ever seen, but I am sure once her baby sister gets moving she will have her work cut out for her:)

Britney, thank you for hanging in there and going along with all my odd requests. And thank you to your mom too....I can totally see where your sweet personality comes from. It was so great to finally meet you, and I know you will be an amazing mom. Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and I will let you know as soon as your full gallery is available. In the meantime, I just have to leave you with another of my favorites:)

KENNEY FAMILY- Sneak Peek

2010-08-15T06:31:00.000-05:00

Somewhere in life Lou became the brother I never had. He is over the top personality most days, but has a way of every now and then surprising me with how grounded his thoughts on the world actually are. And there is no doubt in my mind that his beautiful family has led to keeping him grounded. With two amazing little girls (who without a doubt have inherited their father's energy) and his sweet wife, Rebecca (whom I am happy to call friend) I find myself blessed to have reconnected with all of them again. And, like most families, they were overdue for a family session....so off we went.

Miss L recently turned four. I knew she loved to dress up and she loves bumblebees, so I found her the best of both worlds for the perfect gift. This also meant I certainly would be including them for a little extra fun:)

Silly me forgot my bribes for the girls during their session. And to say getting them to listen was a challenge is a bit of an understatement. As usual though, this doesn't mean I was not prepared to capture every last bit of adorableness that they could dish out.

Since this family is part of my regular life, it was great to capture their family dynamic from a more personal point of view. The personal intimacy of really knowing how a family works tends to make my job a little easier, and I can then share what makes things work for them. All of us have family in one sense or another and it is really your thoughts on family that help you to remember what is important in life.

Through waist deep waters or knee high grass, your family will always be there for you.

Family is built on trust...

...and on how many kisses are blown your way.

Family is built on love...

...and wonder...

..and laughter...

...and bonds that shall never be broken.

The love between two people...

...will create more beautiful people...

...who will only grow and learn to share the love you gave them with the rest of the world.

Thanks for a fun evening Kenney family! I am so grateful to have you in my life and look forward to sharing many more memories in the future. I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and your full gallery will be available soon. In the meantime, I suppose I shall leave Miss V with a shot of her pose request...such silly girls :)

WINSLOW SENIOR: DALTON

2010-08-13T06:54:00.000-05:00

Normally I start my peeks out with some little tidbit of how I came to know and then photograph each of my clients. I write a lengthy paragraph. Fill you in on the details. Hope I don't bore you. Well, this time there is actually an image to accompany it. Yep, that one right there on the left. That gorgeous girl (yes, I am biased) is my oldest stepdaughter whom, despite her melodramatic outbursts, I simply adore. And that boy right there? Yep, her handsome guy.

Dalton.

Winslow Senior.

Class of 2011.

Talking to Dalton's mom prior to the session, the only thoughts she had on location involved a barn. Do you know where there are any good ones? Yep, sure do:) Off to one of my favorite locations we went. The Weber homestead.

Now, Dalton seems comfortable in almost any situation, has this infectious smile and a super outgoing personality. He also has some amazing baby blues. Unfortunately, those baby blues get lost in that smile, so we had to force him to be serious for a few shots...NOT easy.

Favorite!

This is one of hubby's picks. And I have to say I kind of dig it too.

We wrapped up the session among the twisted trunks of some old apple trees under an amazing sky that was created with the sole intention of complementing Dalton's eyes. Really.

This last pose just HAD to be shared. ME: Lay in the grass right there. HIM: Like a mermaid?

Umm....okay:) Dalton, it has been great getting to know you over the past few months. You are a great kid with a personality as big as this planet. You complement Brit so well and I love how the rest of the kiddoes get so excited when they know you guys are coming to visit. Stay as focused on your future as you are on the ice and you will really go places my friend.

Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and your full gallery will be available soon!

PICK-UP LINES

2010-08-12T04:42:00.001-05:00

So, I get this email a week or so ago. She saw these images hanging someplace during a visit to Hilton Head. One canvas a woman. The other a man. They were in a bar. He looking to "pick-up" She. Beautiful bar. A little bit of mystery and ambiance to the images. Diane wanted to recreate these. In a bar. Um, yes please!

The first bar Diane suggested was the Gin Mill in Augusta. Perfect. Would the owner go for it? Would he think we were crazy? Well since said owner is only the friendliest and most outgoing restaurateur and bar owner you will ever meet, Patrick Quigg, yeah no problem at all. See, the Gin Mill is this awesome bar with a cozy jazzy meets the 1940s vibe and was the perfect backdrop for the look we were going for. The Mill is also closed Sunday through Wednesday, but available to rent for private parties. Or seductive photo shoots:)

Now that you've got the low down...here we go. Let's start with the overall layout of the space to give you a general idea of the setting.

I am always up for a challenge and working with the low lighting was definitely a challenge. Pair that with doing everything I could to match the client's vision with the clues she gave me and I really hope I got this close. He. She. In a bar. He wants to take her home.

And while we're at it....did you notice those martinis?! Yep, totally fake and courtesy of Mr Quigg himself. Not only did these clients bring their fun and creativity to the session, but Patrick totally got into helping to make the scene even more real. And speaking of real. Diane also goes by G-G. Yes, that is what her grandchildren call her. Grandchildren! Are you kidding me?

I know. I know. You are all caught up in the suspense. Did the guy get the girl? Well, they flirted for a bit...

...and then....of course He took She home. I love happy endings!

Wait...let's make this ending even happier. How 'bout a little bar detail to leave things extra cheery....

Many thanks to Patrick at The Gin Mill for making this session possible. To Diane for trusting me with her ideas. And to Mark for being such a great guy and playing along. I hope I came close to what you were looking for. There are plenty more images to come in your full gallery soon!

COLBY: Take Two

2010-08-10T06:26:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday morning was reserved for Colby's senior session. And yes, this would be his second as his first was shot early season since he was my first senior rep of the year. And yes, I am happy times a billion that this session was nowhere near as cold as our first! As for picking out a few faves for a blog sneak peek.....nope, not easy.

Colby is a real laid back kinda guy who has not once complained about anything I've asked him to do during a session. So we started out at this really cool shabby barn and shot on almost every exterior wall, because every time you turned a corner there was something new.

One of the things I love most about Colby is his natural smile. So photogenic without trying. And are you kidding me with those eyes?

So on the same property that awesome barn sits on, there are these really funky trees. I have no idea what kind of tree they are, but I just knew we had to play in there a little:)

Oh, and remember how I said Colby never complains? Of course I was going to take advantage of that. This kid is soooo not country, but who can resist Colby of The Corn...

From the old barn, we traveled to our next location. Another barn. This time was inside where we found some AMAZING light.

Now, before I fill you in on where all that yummy light was coming from...how 'bout some feet. You knew it was coming:)

Alright, alright...here's the secret to the light. Colby is not afraid of heights, and I am always up for a challenge. This barn had these built-in ladders positioned at a 180 degree angle. Yes, straight up. The ladders led to these great beams really high up. How high? Well, mom assisted in giving us a little perspective on the height. See Colby's one toe in the upper right? Yep. It was high.

Colby is a wide receiver for Winthrop High School's football team, so we knew we were going to represent. But before leaving the barn, we experimented with some more great light on the first floor of the barn.

We finally made it to the football field and thought (at least I did) it would be fun to watch Colby in action:)

Thanks Colby for being such a great sport about everything. You are a kind and dedicated soul and I know you will certainly go places in this world. Have a great senior year!

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT

2010-08-09T14:47:00.000-05:00

I have been telling my neighbor I was going to do this for sometime now. And looking at this week's schedule and taking advantage of the kiddoes having a sleepover at Memere's, last night was the perfect opportunity. Here's a little story about This and That Farm.

When we were looking to buy this house, Miss M and I wandered across the street where we were greeted by one of the owners of the this and that farm. Becca Heenie. She was a sweet soul and gave M a tiny pumpkin to take away with her. M was three and kept that thing for almost a whole year. Yes, it made the move with us and the neighborly relationship we have with Becca and her husband Clint (whom my children affectionately call 'Old Man') has only blossomed. This great friendship is especially helpful when we need eggs at the last minute.

These lovely ladies and their gentleman friend, don't mind one bit when we come along invading their space to make our next omelet.

Another important note other than the great personalities of the owners of this farm is that everything is organic. Yes. No chemicals. And yes, you can taste the difference in the produce. These are a few goodies that are good an ready now and some that will be available for harvesting in just a few more weeks.

Oh, and you can't make a great meal without some outstanding fresh herbs! How 'bout some oregano?

Did I hear someone needed basil?

If you do stop by, be sure to ask for freshly ground garlic powder too! Becca grinds her own powder and it is simply amazing. And you will be stopping by. Right? Location? 2748 Hallowell Road, Litchfield, Maine. These goodies will NOT disappoint:)

MOMENT OF REFLECTION

2010-08-08T06:25:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I have been a little MIA on the blog for a couple days. But with good reason. No new sessions to blog, but there is a nice full schedule booked in the week ahead, so get ready for a little of everything. What's to come? Oh let's see....a couple senior sessions, a fun session in an amazing bar setting, a wedding, family session and a maternity session. Yep, lots to come. But for this weekend the camera is staying a little quiet.

And here is the reason why.

The sad reality is that summer is coming to an end. The great thing is that the cool and crispness of fall is right around the corner. One more fact: This is the busiest time of my year. This is the time when I put all my organization, leadership and teaching skills to the test. As a volunteer with our local recreation club, I and my amazing co-director direct and the youth cheering program for the club. So in addition to being mom, wife, student and photographer, in the fall I add this huge responsibility into an already busy schedule. Why do I do it? Well, go back and look at that picture again. See that amazing smile on the cute little blonde on the right? Yep, that's my Miss M, two years ago! When I see that smile and the camaraderie she has developed with her friends, it makes everything I do all worth it.

P.S. Yes, cheering is also the event that has consumed my weekend...thus the inspiration for this post. And I could not be more proud of all the girls have learned in just one simple weekend of Youth Cheer Camp.

*Image courtesy of another cheering mom:)

LIFE UNCOMPLICATED

2010-08-04T08:11:00.001-05:00

An agreement was recently made. You shoot me. I shoot you. This of course is photographer talk for "we harp on everyone else about the importance of family photographs, now what are we gonna do about it."

She goes first.

She is none other than my fantastic second shooter and amazing friend, Alison Douglass of Alison Douglass Photography. And in a Douglass family session there will most definitely be a He, and let's throw a couple of offspring in the mix while we are at it. We'll call them G and E.

He makes She laugh.

We are all for being non-traditional, but sometimes it is just nice to squeeze a little tradition in here and there. Speaking in terms of posing of course. But what a great way to introduce G and E.

I am often reminded that G and E are tough cookies to crack. Yes, the children of photographers often offer the least in cooperation when it comes to smiling. Lucky for me G and E promised they would be good for me and only me.

Aaah, the curiosity of a boy...

...and the stunning beauty behind the glistening of a young girl's eyes.

One of my favorite things about this family is that they rarely forget how to keep life simple. They may all have their own crazy schedules with work and sports and doing things for themselves, but they manage to stay grounded and always remember to say "I love you" and give an extra smooch and hug here and there.

Need a head start adding simplicity to your own life? Start with laughter. Find hilarity in the randomest of places.

Admire nature even if it scares the crap out of you. Then get dad to step on it.

Hold hands and live in the moment.

Love each other more.

When She says "wanna make out under that cool tree over there?" Say yes.

And then make her laugh some more.

Be amazed at the little lives you have created...

...and learn from their simple amusements.

Last but not least, walk into every sunset hand in hand.

OUR LITTLE CARNIVORE

2010-08-03T05:26:00.000-05:00

**DISCLAIMER** After reading this post you will either be completely grossed out or rolling on the floor in fits of laughter.

Yesterday was just plan busy-ness for me and the afternoon required quite a bit of running around, so it was up to DH to be on dinner duty. He made a beautiful roast chicken with a honey-apricot glaze that was just delicious, accompanied by spinach and baked potatoes. Now, Miss Isa is usually first to gobble up all her potatoes. Last night she barely touched them. The spinach was devoured first, then all the chicken he had cut and placed on her plate. More spinach. More chicken. And then more chicken until all that was left was a carcass for picking over. We slid the carcass in front of her for picking. She got busy. I grabbed my camera.

Happy Tuesday:)

HENRY FAMILY- Sneak Peek

2010-08-02T11:16:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was originally planned to host our Rec Cheering Camp, but camp was postponed until next weekend and I was lucky enough to have two families take advantage of my last minute openings. Meet my Saturday afternoon.

"Look at her like you love her" = Laura + Art.

Most of my business is through word-of-mouth and really I just love it that way. Laura works with the mom of this year's Winthrop High School senior rep, Colby, and really needed me last minute. Laura and Art have three fantastic children and three even more amazing grandchildren. Their last minute plans for a Sunday family reunion made for the perfect opportunity for family photos on Saturday.

I did mention some incredible grandkids, right?

These kiddoes are not only blessed with a super cute mom and the most photogenic dad ever, but they have a pretty fun aunt and uncle too. Miss M just adores her Aunt Chrissy.

Aunt Chrissy lives in New York City and her siblings think she is quite the city gal. After catching a bit of flack for her color coordination between her sweet grape-purple gown and fuschia heels, it was time for Aunt Chrissy and Uncle Jarrod to have a little fun.

Oh, and I did mention how Miss M just adores her auntie, right? Well, this only meant she loves the shoes too.

All three of the grandchildren were so much fun. Miss M is the middle child. Yep, stuck between two pesky brothers. Meet big brother C who couldn't resist a few shots on the SeaDoo and then the boat.

And of course baby brother L loves the boat too. Get a load of those eyes!!

After leaving the boat, C picked out the next location and L couldn't help but crawl down there and join him. Look over this way, L :)

And before I forget, would this really be a complete session by me without a whole family of feet?

And I bet you are just dying to see who belongs to those little piggies...yeah, the is on my top 10 of favorite family photos:)

Henry family, thanks for a great afternoon by the lake. You guys were great and the crazy and fun energy you have when you are all together is just amazing. I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and your full gallery will be up soon, but in the meantime I will leave you with just a few more shots of the kids:)

OH BABY...ANOTHER NEWBORN SESSION (Baby C Sneak Peek)

2010-08-01T07:35:00.000-05:00

It's seems like all I have been shooting lately are newborns. Crazy! And by no means am I complaining. I love me some sweet, silky baby skin and adorable little personalities. That being said, if you are considering scheduling a newborn session, the best age is between two and three weeks. This is when they are still good and floppy and a little extra feeding can induce the heaviest of sleeps (ideal for positioning your little bundle of joy for that perfect shot). Of course, just because I say two to three weeks is best doesn't mean I can't work with older babies as well. Hey, I am always up for a challenge.

Meet Baby C. Another Red Sox loving baby...or at least he will be when he finally figures out exactly what that means.

He has ten tiny fingers and ten precious toes.

He looks great in my custom made hats.

He hates clothes, but chilled for a bit just for this shot anyway.

He is a roly poly, squirmy, nine week old baby boy with ideas of his own and a mommy he has wrapped around his little finger.

Jen, thanks for inviting me into your home and congratulations on baby C. Enjoy the little moments as they will be gone before you know it!

RIDE FOR A CAUSE

2010-07-30T07:57:00.000-05:00

I recently received an email from DH while he was at work. A few fellow motorcycle-riding soldiers had told him about this great group they were joining and thought he'd enjoy it too. He seemed pretty excited about it, and to be honest it was just perfect for him....and for me too. I love soldiers and all that they put on the line for us every day. I also love bikers. I love that bikers have this rough exterior, but really under all that leather and big beards they are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. So then, what is this group? Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Yes. The best of both worlds. Their mission: Veterans helping Veterans. And that is exactly what we did this past weekend...a benefit ride to help out a fellow veteran, raising awareness for domestic violence and logging nearly ten hours of riding time (my butt was mad at me for a whole day)!

We met up with the rest of the Maine Chapter in Sanford, ME and then joined a combination of other Chapters totaling somewhere near 80 bikes before enduring an 80+ mile scenic ride to Rochester, NH. This was our view for most of the ride. 'Diggah' on the left. 'Hollywood' on the right.

It is a bit disorienting to take pictures while riding, but the views are worth every second. I am commonly asked when I will take the leap and drive my own bike, but honestly I really don't think I am that coordinated...although I do long to know what it is like. Maybe someday, but for now I think I will just sit back and enjoy the view.

Oh, and get a little creative with some shots too:) We were actually moving in this shot, and yeah DH thought I was just a little nuts.

Of course, I couldn't write this post without sharing a bit of the story behind this ride. When DH told me that this ride was for Domestic Violence awareness, there was no way we were not participating. As a survivor of DV, this one really hit home and I had to be a part of it. We rode in memory of the daughter of a veteran. A beautiful daughter and a fabulous mom to a fantastic little boy. Sadly, this girl was the victim of domestic violence and was shot and killed as she took one last stand of bravery and made an attempt to walk away. The coward then turned the gun on himself. Her little boy is now under the courageous and loving care of his grandfather and our fellow veteran.

All money raised from the event went to domestic violence shelters and college funds for the little boy, and we were all more than happy to bring some smiles to this family's faces and raise awareness for a scary and important cause. And even greater than helping a veteran was the new friends we met. 'Diggah' is one of the younger veterans of the group (like DH) and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (also like DH), and his girlfriend 'Hollywood' is one of the sweetest gals I've ever met.

After capturing them, I handed Holly my camera and this was the result. (the black all over our faces is the result of driving through road construction, lol)

Now all that's missing is DH to decide on his own road name...and me to decide on mine! Yep, I qualify to join as an auxiliary member and I can have my own biker road name:) Suggestions???

BIRTHDAY BLUNDERS

2010-07-29T13:41:00.000-05:00

I am not one to dread getting older. In fact, most times I am just happy to have a day that is mine regardless of how many more gray hairs will appear in the next year. So yesterday was my birthday. And yes, I love gifts. Unfortunately, my DH has come up a little short in the gifting department in the past, but I could really tell that he was trying to make up for it this year. And no I am not lying when tell you that when I turned thirty, he gave me a bicycle. I mean really? I turned thirty, not thirteen. So let's get on with what he came up with this year....

My gifts actually started coming two nights before. The first: a gift certificate to Cloud 9 restaurant complete with babysitting services from our fantastic friends, Bek and Lou. The following evening, I got a surprise visit from a great friend (and a co-worker of DH) complete with a bottle of champagne, a carton of orange juice and a hilarious card about how I can't be old since I won't be leaving boob prints in my cake while blowing out candles. Birthday morning started off with breakfast in bed (filet mignon, two eggs over-easy and toast) accompanied by piping hot coffee and a mimosa with another birthday card on the side.

Now, the cards I usually find for DH are a bit silly, cute and funny. The ones he finds for me are usually a bit more heartfelt and pretty. Like this.

So, I am finding the words he found in this card are so sweet and blessed that he thought he could apply them to me...until...I see he has slid another envelope inside the card. The envelope holds a gift certificate for Margo to again work her magic and I am thrilled. But. The. Envelope. Now really, was that necessary?

Of course, I didn't take it to heart. Did I really expect HIM to be all sappy and lovey dovey? No, I certainly know better. He has the capability, but it just comes and goes so quickly that it seems he is more comfortable with his sarcastic self, which is totally okay too. Really though, I couldn't get mad when he explained how upset he was that I couldn't get my hair done ON my birthday 'cause Margo was on vacation and he knows I only let her touch my head. And I really couldn't be angry when he told me about he went the extra step he took; making me an appointment to have a pedicure ON my birthday. Most of the time it is actually DH who does my pedicures, and while this one was pretty and I got out of the house alone for a bit, I had to admit that his are WAY better. I mean, he takes the time to massage and soak and smooth the callouses and paint (yep paint) and this professional pedi was just nowhere near as enjoyable as his.

So it was an eventfully quiet morning that led into a nice, relaxing dinner out complete with fresh oysters and pan-seared scallops. But I most certainly could not end this post without sharing the freakin' adorable daisies my sister Karen left in three vases at my house. Yeah her card was hilarious too as was Lauren's, which literally said Happy Birthday and all that crap. It was the bestest simple birthday ever. There are some days when keeping it simple is the greatest feeling in the world.

BABY G/HURI FAMILY- Sneak Peek

2010-07-26T06:54:00.000-05:00

After seeing her niece's (Baby E) images, Leah didn't waste a second in contacting me to set up her own session as she prepared for the arrival of Baby G. So after giving this beautiful family a couple weeks to settle in and get all cozy with their newest addition (and for G's skin to be a little less peely, lol) we finally got our session in this past Friday. Let's start from the bottom up shall we? There really is nothing better than little piggies.

I mean really. Even big sister has some adorable toesies. And see that gorgeous pillow? See what it says? Faith.

That's right. I had a lot of faith that I would eventually win Miss O and her two-year-old self over and end up with some great shots. Leah, I told you everything would work out. Look at those amazing eyes!

Aaahhh...Miss O and those big brown eyes, and the cute little dimples that accompany her grins. But wait, she wasn't the only one grinning. What a smirk Mr G :)

Of course, this was the first newborn session since my recent flea market finds and I was determined to use them. Beginning with Mr G, we started with combining both props.

The needle position on the scale gives you a good idea of exactly how heavy that bowl is, considering Baby G is probably just a little over seven pounds! And I soon realized that the vintage scale is perfect for a little bigger kids too.

Baby G wasn't happy with everything we were forcing him to do and he was sure to let us know it...

...but a few moments of shushing and rocking quieted him down again for a few sweet shots with his big sister.

Huri family, thank you so much for inviting me into your beautiful home, and I look forward to the possibility of many future sessions as O and G continue to be amazing in the coming years. I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and your full gallery will be available soon!

CHELSEY'S MATERNITY SESSION (Sneak Peek)

2010-07-20T05:36:00.000-05:00

I have known Chelsey's mom for a few years now through DH's job, but this was the first time I had met her absolutely gorgeous daughter. And saying that pregnancy is looks good on her is quite simply an understatement. These are a few of my favorites from our session, and I will most certainly be visiting again a bit closer to her due date.

I am not sure who was more excited to shoot this session. Chelsey, her mom or me. When I arrived, she confessed she'd been googling poses all morning, and quickly switched on her computer to show me a few of her favorites. Oh yeah, I love me a creative client who knows exactly what it is she wants. And Chels, I believe this is what you were looking for....?

At just six months along, I had to giggle as Mom mentioned to Chelsey that she was beginning to get that dark pregnancy line on her belly. Chelsey's response: Ugh, I just can't see that far down. Don't worry honey, it's there. See. Wait, it's right there under your fingertips <3

So aside from great personality, natural photogenicness (yes, that's a word, right?) and fun creativity, Chelsey and her fiance are huge Red Sox fans. I mean really. And how could we not work THAT in? Of course, now we have just upped the cuteness factor +a billion.

Chelsey and Rhonda, thank you so much for inviting me to share in such a special time in your lives and I look forward to many more sessions in the future as you welcome the little man into the world. I will be in touch as soon as your full gallery is ready, but in the meantime...really...could you glow anymore?

One last thing, for anyone who is in love with bellies and babies as much as I am, I have just put together a completely customizable program that would make an amazing shower gift for the expecting momma in your life. See brochure below for more information...

ONE MAN'S jUnK...

2010-07-17T05:58:00.000-05:00

It has taken a whole week since our vacation to feel somewhat back in the swing of things. For the kids, they are still on vacation time, which made it a bit harder for my regular work routine to fall back into place. I s'pose that means a bit more catching up here, but what's new. And hey, instead of starting from the beginning, let's just begin this little blog at the end of vacation and work backwards from there. Y'know. Shake things up a bit. Besides, I am way to excited not to share this little adventure first!

The weather was a bit hot and sticky as I loaded my "new" treasures into the car and called DH. Me: I just got this amazing bowl to stick a baby in, and you aren't going to believe what I paid for it! DH: Why.....would you stick a baby...in a bowl? Me: I'm a photographer, duh! Really, I was sure he wouldn't question that one, but at least I had Lee with me and the second she saw me eyeing it she totally saw what my thinker was considering. The amazing part was the second I lifted this extremely heavy, oversized and absolutely beautiful bowl, the vendor says $5 and it's yours. Sold! And yeah, I am so going to put babies in this thing.

This was just the beginning of an amazing "big girl day" that was proving to be exactly what Lee and I both needed, and she was definitely the perfect girl/friend/relative to spend the entire day with. So, feeling all nostalgic and stuff I was really digging some cool vintage items. I had also been searching for things to give my office a bit more appeal; I needed inspiration. My inspiration: just a couple vintage cameras to start a little collection for display in my office. How cool are these?

Both cameras were produced by Kodak. The Brownie on the left was first introduced in 1934 and was on the market until 1942. Original price: $2.50. This box-style camera uses 620 film and produces 6x9cm images."No diaphragm on this simple camera. The aperture, which consists of two holes, is selected by pulling a tab on top of the camera. Another tab to the right of the aperture tab is used to lock the shutter open for long exposures. The framing is done using one of the two reflex viewfinders." (http://vieilalbum.com/Six20BrownieJuniorUS.htm) For the life of me I could not figure out how to open this thing...until I found a manual online. Of course, I don't know any french, but with a little studying of the illustrations and a small amount of elbow grease, I opened it. I was secretly wishing there was film in it. There wasn't. But still, this camera is very cool.

While the Instamatic is still vintage, it is a bit newer than the Brownie. The Kodak Instamatic 404 was produced between 1965 and 1969. Using 126 film and producing 28x28mm images, shutter speeds of 1/40 and 1/60, and an f/8 41mm lens, this camera was original priced at $55.50. I paid $3, and it came complete with it's original hard case!

Now, I had also been on the lookout for other props to use in sessions. More specifically, I really wanted to find a scale I could put a baby on. A vintage one. Found it! And with a bit of flea market haggling skills, I got it for nearly half of what the vendor was asking!!

A perfect day to wrap up an amazing vacation week.

TAMING OF THE TWO

2010-07-04T08:39:00.001-05:00

Oh, the infamous terrible twos....

My baby sister is the proud momma of Mr J. Age two. Terrible two. And I have recently heard her express her frustration with studio pics claiming Now I know why no one ever has professional photos of their two-year olds. Babies, yes. One year, yes. Age three, yes. But never a two-year-old. Of course, being the best big sister ever, I promised I would do my best to work some magic on the heathen that is J. I had my work cut out for me.

You see, J really loves, and is quite attached to his momma. He is also a typical, stubborn and very independent two-year-old boy. But that is where I am always trying to stress to parents that it is still okay to schedule a session. A little bit of bribery and tons of distraction mixed with a handful (or three) of patience...and tada, we actually captured some great shots.....

And if you look closely, the mischievous two-year-old is still in there. See it? Right there in the eyes?

BABY 'E' - Newborn Sneak Peek

2010-07-02T10:34:00.000-05:00

I first met Libby a few years ago when she was attending college with one of my sisters. She has a kind soul and a stinkin' cute personality. Fast forward a few years and she met her stinkin' cute hubby, was the stinkin' cutest preggo bridesmaid in my sister's wedding and just welcomed a stinkin' cute baby girl into the world. Hello baby 'E' <3

Libby and I had planned E's newborn session around a good time for her to be sleepy. E, of course, had bigger things planned and kept those baby blues wide open.

After an additional snack, she finally seemed ready to drift off to dreamland.

It's been awhile since I last shot a newborn session, and it was just so fun to cuddle and play with this little bundle. I even thought for a second, Oh, maybe I should have another. Then the second was over:) I think I will just enjoy loving everyone else's cutie patooties as mine just keep on growing.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention another member of this adorable family- Ginger. Ginger is a rescue pooch and E could not have asked for a better 'guardian'

Now, I had big plans for my favorite pose of the day, making two adorable little hats for E to wear during her session. Silly me understimated the size of her noggin and they didn't actually make it into the shoot, but I had to share a pic anyway while I work on making a bigger version. The beautiful crafty rose was created by mu uber-talented, micxed-media artist cousin, Lee. It is actually a pin, so it will transfer nicely to E's next hat.

And now for my favorite image of the day.

Yes, she had to be totally wiped out for that to work and I would say she most certainly was. Being beautiful is such hard work.

Congratulations Libby and Ian, and welcome to the world E! Your full gallery will be available very soon:)

THEY TOTALLY GET IT

2010-06-30T08:53:00.000-05:00

This is a record breaking FOURTH time this family has made it to the blog, and I couldn't be happier. I simply adore them. The first time I ever met Adam and Amanda was two years ago when I had the pleasure of shooting their wedding. My first and theirs:)

Just one month later, I visited Amanda's parents' home and did a bit of an extended family session. And then another small family session took place just last fall. Not only is it incredible to watch this family grow and to see my work improve, but the understanding this family has about the importance of family portraits is one that more families should have. Sadly, there was no warning of the sudden loss of Amanda's brother not long after the large fall family session. But the fact that recent family portraits existed is just proof that scheduling regular family sessions is extremely important. Whether we like it or not, life is too often too short. So this year, just a day after the anniversary of Larry's passing, the whole family was loaded into the RV and beach bound for another extended family session. Oh, and there is one more thing that this family totally gets....kids will be kids, and having portraits captured does not necessarily mean your kids will sit still or smile or pose....that goes for the "big kids" too.

I think the hardest part about writing this blog was deciding which images to share. Out of over 300 shots, I have only narrowed down to about 250! Even the ones where C wasn't into the lens, I just love.

When I suggested to Amanda that we head to the beach she was thrilled at the idea. Although when we got to the beach I was informed that the whole bunch of them really weren't "beach people." The only time C had ever been to the ocean was when he was a baby, and this was a first for the three other kids. Well, the beachiness certainly suited them well, and at least Amanda is looking forward to a few more beach days this summer.

P.S. If it's your baby's first time at the beach and he decides that sand-tasting is in order, that's totally okay too:)

This day was mostly about having a little (actually a lot) of fun.

But most importantly the day was about love and just being together.

If you have not had family portraits taken in six months to a year, I strongly recommend you schedule something TODAY. No more excuses. Don't wait for blemishes to clear, weight to be lost or children to behave. Portraits are about preserving a memory. A memory of now. Don't wait for the "perfect moment," make the perfect moment come to you. Find a photographer who meshes well with your family's personality. If you have active kids, do not worry. Personally, they are my favorite. Capturing kids being kids with little to no instruction on my part creates perfect memories and results in some beautiful portraits.

SEEING A TREND

2010-06-29T06:34:00.000-05:00

Since my theme lately has been sort of a game of "catch-up," it's not surprising that after yesterday's Father's Day post that a dear friend reminded me I had never posted my Mother's Day reveal. For more information on what this big surprise entailed see here. For the results....just keep reading.

As I have mention before, my mother-in-law is pretty awesome and I am blessed to have her in my life. she is always doing incredible things for everyone else and this year I racked my brain to do something extra special for her. Yeah, there's nothing more powerful than an extra personalized gift to show a mom your gratitude.

She sat herself next to Monica (my accomplice in this project) and got to investigating the treasure she held in her hands. It didn't take more than a minute before my husband jumped up and grabbed some tissues for his momma. Here we go. She cried.

And she cried some more.

It was filled with beautiful images of Monica. It was filled with gratitude. It was filled with love. It contained hand-written notes from hubby and I. It was everything.

Thanks mom for being our everything.

FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND

2010-06-28T07:33:00.000-05:00

So, I know this post seems a little dated, but here's to catching up. This year's father's day was celebrated by spending a fantastic afternoon with all my sisters, our kiddoes and our daddy. There is nothing dad loves more than watching his grandchildren play. and with the incredibly warm forecast, a slip-n-slide was the perfect activity.

Mak and Colby were old pros, and with little fear showed all the other cousins how it's done.

Leah's form consisted of a seated approach, but she was just as happy playing in the water spay and adjusting the slide as needed.

Riley was content with the seated approach as well, while Julian got things a bit backward and decided running up the slide was much more fun.

We really wanted Riley to slide on his belly and he just wasn't having it. Well, Grandpa wasn't having that. Grandpa performs a half jump/half stumble/fall while saying to Riley This is how you do it. Watch Grandpa! before realizing jeans and sneakers don't mesh well with slipping and sliding, and the demonstration was completely unsuccessful.

Here is Grandpa post slide attempt, with wet clothes and realizing that Riley's baby brother is sleeping in his room so there is no option for dry clothes for at least an hour.

Riley's dad decides he needs to take matters into his own hands. And R has no choice but to slide on his belly.

Yeah....he wasn't too happy about it.

While we were busy playing with Grandpa, DH was busy spending the day with his dad at the race track. After dinner, we hurried home to surprise him with this extra special cake we had prepared earlier in the day.

Of course he loved it and it was a perfectly sweet ending to a perfectly sweet day.

THE MORNING AFTER

2010-06-20T08:47:00.000-05:00

Here is what is sure to be the first in a long line of Maine beach-themed blog posts throughout this summer. This particular set is from the morning after my sister's wedding and takes place at the very beach she met her husband while lifeguarding - Ogunquit. Nope, it's not one of those super romantic stories where she saved him from drowning. Quite simply, he was sort of her boss. But really, this morning wasn't about her.Ever since I was little, I have loved the ocean and in my adult life share it with my kids as much as possible.

So, the morning after the wedding before our hotel checkout, and after continental breakfast, a short stroll to the beach was in order. Off we went with cousin Charlie and his little guy 'T' in tow.

Of course, I wandered toward the water before everyone else, but soon made T join me in getting our toes a little wet.

Mak and Hannah searched for shells...

...and then I taught T how to chase the seagulls.

He got a little carried away....

...and then his dad had to chase him.

T loves the ocean too and had a little father/son moment while Charlie took him to dip his toes again...

...but still kept his eyes on the seagull.

A beautiful morning after a beautiful wedding the evening before. And it ended with this super sweet moment between cousins.

FOUR-WHEELIN' FUN: Good Times at the Weber Farm

2010-06-14T15:14:00.001-05:00

To go hand in hand...or blog in blog, if you will....with our Steinhauer Family session, I just had to share a bit of the raucous that was commencing behind the scenes. Chris' brother, Uncle Eric, couldn't resist getting out the four-wheelers and showing his nieces and nephews what having fun was really about. All this commotion made it a little harder to wrangle the kids in when I needed them, but it certainly did help to keep smiles going and contribute to the laid back approach I love.

Speaking of wrangling, once A got a bit of confidence in going faster, he was determined to avoid posing for any picture.

And before this post goes on any further, I just have to introduce the Weber boys. I can only imagine the stories these two boys will tell of their childhood on this beautiful farm later in life. And yes, little A.W. actually does smile, but his pouty faces are just as cute!

See, told you he smiles....and brother J's smile is one that rarely leaves his face:)

I am really not sure who was having more fun on the four wheelers, the little kids or the big ones....but at least they were all really good at sharing, even if it did take a game of let's see how many we can fit onto one.

But then there were others like A and Z that made sharing a debatable topic, which of course left Z a little bored.

Of course, Uncle Eric is the biggest kid of them all and really wanted to show the kids a thing or two. Thing #1...

and thing #2 (notice how J made the responsible decision of dismounting prior to this run).

I think my favorite part of this day was the way A.W.'s blonde hair stood on end as the ATV landed....oh, that and his infectious giggle.

Being Maine and all it wasn't long before the mosquitoes grew thick and supper was calling, which meant just one thing.....it was time for one last ride.

CATCHING UP (Steinhauer Sneak Peek)

2010-06-11T06:23:00.004-05:00

Ok, so two weddings in two weeks and loads of homework makes for a bit of blog-slacking on my part. Of course, that also means I have tons to share! So let's just jump right in with a fun family session...well, I had fun anyway :)

I have known Lynn for quite a few years now and she mentioned that when she came up for a visit from Pennsylvania with my godmother that she would really like to have a family session done. Unfortunately, the afternoon of the session her darling children weren't quite up for it. Good thing for her I can be pretty persuasive. And while we did end up with more individual shots than group ones, I think the kids finally decided that a session with me is not as bad as they originally thought. I think.

Anyway, let's just start with Miss H....yes, it was like a game of hide and seek in Lee's ginormous farmhouse to find her. She did NOT want to be photographed and was in bed sulking about it....sooo, I jumped on the bed and started shooting. Miss H was a little shocked that I really didn't care whether she smiled or not, let alone whether she left the confines of her warm blankets.

My cousin Chris and his wife, Lee, are Miss H's aunt and uncle and moved to Maine a few months ago after buying a fantastic home complete with wallpaper that could be referred to using a variety of obscenities and some paint choices that leave something to be desired. Well, there is one bedroom with a hideous vibrant blue paint. My favorite room. You see, that color is gorgeous to photograph and is exactly what I had in mind for Miss H. Lucky for me, Lee is an artist and totally gets my quirks so she has mentioned the possibility of leaving at least one wall in that room the circus blue that I love <3

Now, not only is Miss H the youngest of her siblings, she is also the only girl. Older brother Z was the most willing to pose out of everyone, and really doesn't he look like a prime candidate to star in a tween Disney channel show :)

The oldest of the Steinhauer kids, Mr A, holds a special place in my heart. Really, I love all of them but I had a special bond with A in his toddler years. It is so hard to believe that he is now a teenager, and in true teenage boy style it took a little convincing to get some shots in. First I had to pry him off one of the four wheelers, so we settled for a few candids before “the boring part.”

For teenage boys, the pain associated with being photographed can be the equated to that of a root canal. It took a silly story about how A used to affectionately refer to me as “Webbie” during marathon sessions of hide-and-seek when he was two-years-old that always resulted in my scaring the crap out of him (which he loved); and here is the one and only smile of the afternoon.

This session would not have been complete without playing in the barn a bit. And remember Miss H who didn’t want any part in this? Oh yeah, she hammed it up all on her own when she found a tire swing hanging from one of the beams in the barn.

The lofts in this barn are simply incredible and to my surprise, mom was willing to actually climb up for a fun perspective with the kids. Yep, it was climbing down that was a little more terrifying for her, but she put on her brave face and did it like an old pro!

Remember earlier when I mentioned the Steinhauers would be visiting with my godmother? Well, here she is with A. I lived with her in Maryland for about a year and still consider her one of my favorite people in all the world. A really thinks his MomMom is pretty great too<3

Of course, like most siblings, these three kiddoes don’t always get along and I am sure for mom it sometimes feels like they never get along. But really, who are we kidding? They really do love each other and I am sure any boy who ever tries do date H is gonna have to get through her big brothers first.

I made a conscious decision to end this post with the one woman who holds this family together.

Lynn, you are an incredible strong and beautiful woman and have some pretty amazing kids. Though their personalities may be stubborn at times, it is no doubt only a result of your teaching them to never settle for anything less than they deserve. As you all prepare for the next step in your journey through this life, remember that no matter the distance between all of us you will always be in our hearts and on your minds.

*For some amazing images of Chris and Lee’s gorgeous homestead, click here. And for a journey into the mixed media art and thoughts of the incredibly talented Lee, visit her blog here.*

J's Beach Portrait Sneak Peek

2010-06-04T05:55:00.000-05:00

This adorable face belongs to my sweet nephew. He and his momma (my youngest sister) are on a little vacation from their home in North Carolina and last week's incredible weather made for a great excuse for some beach portraits. We'll call this Part One of J's Two-year portrait session.

Now having one son of my own with his own plans for filling up the days of his life, I know just how independent a two-year-old boy can be. Luckily for J's momma, I am totally cool with letting a kid be a kid and working around their quirks and independence to capture some great shots. Some might seem silly at the time, but when they make it out of the camera we usually have some really great thoughts. That being said, here are a few things I learned about Mr J...

Number one is quite obvious. He really really loves his momma <3

Second. He has loads of treasures and is always searching for where he put them:)

Third. He would rather bury is head in the sand any day than actually look at the camera.

Yes, J certainly has his own ideas about how things are actually going to happen. I can't say I blame him though. Really. What could be more fun than sharing fistfuls of sand with your auntie?

And after all the "sand sharing" a rest is quite welcomed.....even if it is against your own will.

The reality of being made to take a short break is that you really didn't know you needed it and you are thankful for it in the end.

After more running around and a small amount of bribery, J did manage a couple smiles just for me. Well, maybe his mom too as she played leap frog over me as the freezing cold water lapped at our ankles. Yep, he thought it was hilarious.

As we wrapped up our session and J took his momma's hand, I had just a couple thoughts of my own for him...

J, you are an incredible kid and your smile is just contagious. May your heart and independence open many doors for you. Happy 2nd Birthday, Buddy!

No More Wansers

2010-06-02T14:45:00.000-05:00

So, that's it. Daddy's four little girls are all married. He's probably relieved he just doesn't have to get up and dance again, but then that is the last of the family name. Lauren's wedding in Ogunquit, Maine this past Friday was absolutely beautiful. So was the weather. Also, I learned to things about my sister. 1- She is a silent bridezilla and 2- She is a crybaby.

Seriously, she cried over the littlest thing, which of course made the rest of us cry too. Well, I could've just been crying over the 150 chair covers that she made us steam and then tie bows on to get her reception at the Coastal House just perfect.

Actually, I was more than happy to help and in true Lauren style she found a way to add a little fun to an otherwise daunting task. You see a good bride should become one with her reception decor.

The seat covers were not our only task of the day. Lauren also had a little child labor in mind. Luckily, Leah didn't seem to mind helping tie ribbons onto the programs.

I guess a famous blue box could really get a girl to do just about anything. And that is just what Leah found waiting for her at the rehearsal dinner in Perkin's Cove at Barnacle Billy's.

Lauren was kind to the "big girls" too. And we all got this cute little bracelets fantastically modeled here by bridesmaid Boriana. (This was her first American wedding and she was just a bit culture shocked, which was good for plenty of laughs)

The dinner, drinks and conversation at Barnacle Billy's were just lovely and so was my dinner :)

After dinner, us three already married sisters headed to the hotel with Leah for some bonding time before Lauren's big day. Being the best big sister I am, I gave Karen a pedicure simultaneously losing my phone into the bucket of pedicure water.....sniff :( That meant only one thing. I did not hesitate as Lauren poured mimosas at Washington Square salon the next morning.

I am pretty sure the stylists loved every second of our presence. Well, possibly with the exception of Meg who "really really just wanted something simple." In the end, the only person who really needed great hair was Lauren, and she got exactly that.

Lauren's entire day ran smoothly and ahead of or on schedule (no doubt due to her humble-bridezillaness) and after hair it was time to get dressed. We all headed over to Lauren's room at the Puffin Inn, greeted by Lauren's friends/owners (a couple really sweet guys) and more mimosas!

Since Leah's mom banned her from champagne for the day, she was first in her dress.And that lucky girl wore it again the very next day. Nothing like getting some use out of an adorable dress.

And speaking of dresses, the beading and detail on Laur's dress was absolutely amazing.

Since I was in the bridal party most of the rest of the shots of the wedding are from Artie picking up my camera. So I will leave you with just this one. Congratulations Lauren and Mike and here's to many many years of happiness!

Cumberland County YMCA Triathlon & Duathlon

2010-05-26T05:59:00.001-05:00

Swim.

Bike.

Run.

That's what was happening with nearly 300 athletes at the Casco Bay YMCA's first ever triathlon this past weekend. And yep, they could not have asked for better weather. Or a greater group of people...volunteers and athletes alike. As the race progressed, two things were abundantly clear: 1) There were definitely far more female athletes than male and 2) nearly every single athlete was beyond excited to be participating and even smiled or struck a pose as the camera lenses were fixed on them.

Photographer Sharyn Peavey and I had both agreed to donate our time to capture the event for the Y. And yes, even though this was a volunteer effort I was still a little nervous about shooting with Sharyn. I get that way with new people sometimes. Feeling like I won't stack up. So, I stalked her site and blog a little to get to know her work. She is simply amazing, so that didn't help any. But really, the second I met Sharyn with little Lucia strapped to her back....ok, she is freaking adorable and sweet as can be. And Lucia. Can a four year old really be that content throughout four hours of mommy doing her thing? Well, this one can.

Alright, back to the ahletes...can we just say, how inspirational? I love swimming, but I absolutely despise running. Not to mention the old adage about never forgetting how to ride a bike....well I am not really sure how great my balance on two wheels is these days. So, I think my part in a triathlon will have to stick to the behind the scenes work. Although, these two girls sure made their day look like fun. Competing as duathletes (meaning they did run, bike, run) #4 Nora Gross and #14 Ashley Stone started this race together....

...and they ended it together. They finished strong. They finished with smiles.

Another important aspect of this race was the crowd support. Volunteers lined the race route cheering the athletes on, as family and friends set up lawn chairs and held up homemade signs to show their support as well. This little guy's sign had to be my favorite:)

For most competitors, this was their first triathlon. And while some completed the duathlon portion and others created teams to form a relay, the important things was that they crossed that finish line.

A finish line where volunteers were waiting to adorn the athletes with a commemorative medal and offer an icy cold water bottle for replenishment.

And to finish the race off, everyone cheered as first time triathlete, Angela Wheaton crossed the finish line. Angela had volunteered to be the last place finisher to ensure that no one was left out on the course. So really, last place isn't a bad thing after all and it definitely had a few inspired volunteers asking: How do I get that job?

BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

2010-05-23T18:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked an incredibly busy but totally fun day for me. And I am not ashamed to admit that as soon as I tucked Miss Isa in at 8pm, I tucked myself in too. Most of the first half of my day was spent in Freeport shooting a triathlon, but more to come on that in tomorrow's blog. This post is all about one of my favorite (they are all my favorite, really) nephews turning the big T W O. Oh, and yes he shared this party with his cousin Bella who had just turned three just because he is really that great at sharing....well, not really but he does have his moments.

I am pretty sure not a single guest was bored at any moment during this fest. There was a ton of delicious food, good friends, great conversation and an intense game of bean bag toss. Colby's dad was a little wrapped up in great conversation...

...so he took it upon himself to get some tips from some other guys on proper beanbag form.

And then he went and showed the Crosby girls how its done.

Speaking of food. The party prince and princess were treated to their own individual cakes.

This party was all Aunt Diane's fabulous idea...

...and really Julian thinks she is just the coolest Mommy ever. (yeah, i kinda think so too)

After stuffing ourselves with cake, a little calorie burning was on the agenda. Hannah and Mak chased Bella...

...while Julian was, well he was just being J.

Finally it was time for the best part...presents! Bella was totally into it, while J would be content with just one small gift for hours. So while we're on the subject of gifts, did you notice the fantastic Red Sox jersey the birthday boy was wearing? Well, his Daddy is overseas right now and sent him this perfect present.

Good times were had by all and we ended the day with a bit of bubble magic. Who doesn't love bubbles? And I just love J's face in this pic :)

Happy Birthdays J and Bella! You are two of the cutest kids ever. Love, Aunt Deb <3

FARAG FAMILY SNEAK PEEK

2010-05-18T14:40:00.000-05:00

I can't even begin to think how long I have known this family. Really I have known Angela and Shehab since before they were even married, or dating for that matter. And yep, this was the first time I have ever photographed them and well, they are just so fricken cute that I certainly hope it will not be the last!

This family session started out with a little confusion about where we were going to shoot, but I am really kind of glad it did and we ended up where Angela had pictured in her mind. Viles Arboretum in the spring is simply gorgeous and the perfect backdrop for almost any session.

For anyone who knows my life, you know my plate is generally pretty full. Well, Angela is a very busy momma herself with her two charming little boys, working and attending nursing school. (By the way, she has this amazingly super-sweet and outgoing personality and is going to make one of the best nurses ever!) Oh yeah, and she is a pretty great wife to Shehab too, but we'll get to him in a minute. First you have to get an eyeful of these adorable boys!

Oh, and these boys really love their mom to pieces......okay, they kinda think their dad is cool too:)

Now, Cam and Ethan were pretty good sports about doing what was asked of them. Ethan is the younger of the two boys which means his patience meter runs a little lower than his big brother's, but that just led to a little more silliness and personality in a few frames....

...although it also meant that he might be missing in a couple shots, but Cam was there to flash his heart melting smile anyway.

Of course, it takes a whole lot of patience and love to raise two handsome and active boys. And when I say love, I mean can't you just feel it?

Well, Shehab was certainly feeling something...

As we wandered through the nature trails just after this series, Shehab and Angela walked side by side as the boys ran up ahead. Shehab muttered something just barely audible to make Angela giggle before she turned to him with a warning: Be careful what you say. Deb blogs about this stuff. Oh, Angela you are just the cutest!

Oh yeah, and just when they thought the kissing was done. ME: Boys, could you sit in these flowers right her while Mom and Dad sit on that bench? Ethan: No, I don't want to see them kissing anymore. *Sigh*

This certainly was quite a few images for a Sneak Peek, but there were so many I just love and had to share. And yes, I will leave you with just one more to make you feel all warm and fuzzy:)

P.S. I'm pretty sure Ethan's tongue was out in this one too!

THE URBAN SERIES: Jason & Cassandra

2010-05-17T04:29:00.000-05:00

I am so lucky to have met Cassie almost a year ago, when she contacted me to help out with our youth cheerleaders. After all, in a few short years those same girls will be heading to the high school to work with Coach Cassie and they ought be trained right ;) The thing I didn't know then, is that both Cassie and Jason would turn out to be pretty great friends too. So when Jason finally got down on one knee this past December, I couldn't wait to get some engagement shots captured!

When I ran the idea of posing for our first ever Creeps and Peeps gathering, Cassie was all over it. Jason took a little convincing, but like any good man we got him to cave fairly easily.

How stinkin' cute are these two? As if, Jason really needed us to beg...after all, what's better than snuggling up with the love of your life in some random alley in Lewiston, Maine?

JUST FOR GIGGLES

2010-05-11T07:39:00.000-05:00

It never fails. Every single day one of our kiddoes makes me laugh. Lately Miss Isa has really been stepping up and doing her share. As long as I am folding laundry, I can always count on her to grab one of her brother's clean pair of underwear and turn it into a "fancy" new hat. I know it's a little out of focus, but I just love that face!

And her pigtails just fit so perfect through the leg holes:)

Just a little adjustment....and....

...oh, that is much better <3

Hope everyone enjoyed a little giggle in their day today:) There certainly is not much downtime in this household, and now you all know why!

OH, THE URBANITY...

2010-05-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

I never saw this one coming. Never knew these kinds of people existed. Never thought this would be so much fun. It all started with a chance meeting at Justin & Mary's Spread the Love workshop and an ambitious Alison to make it all happen. Just a few short weekends ago, the pieces all came together (along with great new photographer friends) and we formed our own little group. Destined for creepy streets and alleyways, our little entourage of photographers, models, a stylist and most of our spouses embarked on a new adventure. We all had the same goals in mind. To shoot. To laugh. To learn. To love. This will be the first post in a series of posts from this event. These images are the magic behind the portraits. This is behind the scenes candid.

Our journey of course started off with a bit of laughter as Tiffany, volunteer model AND budding photographer, had absolutely no hesitation changing into her wedding dress in the middle of the street.

And, of course her close-up couldn't come soon enough

One of my most favorite things about this event was that Alison encouraged spouses to come along. Some jumped in to model, while others were really good at carrying bags. But really, I think they just wanted to be there with the rest of us:)

Oh, and did I mention we had our own stylist too! Yes, yes we did. Complete with baby bump, the lovely Mrs Hilary Robertson trudged along through the streets with us and set up her impromptu "beauty shop" when necessary.

And speaking of lovely, I am so happy that Brandi & Ryan of Ryan Moore Photography were able to join us. This is one of my favorite candids. That Brandi is so stinkin' cute!

...and she even makes Ryan just a little bit adorable.

I have to say an extra special thank you to Alison of Alison Douglass Photography for arranging this whole thing. To new friends Liz and Paul of Windy Hill Photography for making me laugh. To our models Cassie, Jason, Tiffany and Kristin. To our stylist, Hilary. And to our spouses. A great time was shared with even greater times to be had!

HUMBLE PIE

2010-05-07T08:02:00.001-05:00

After my last post, yesterdays events and memories had me eating a delicious slice of humble pie. And yes, it was welcomed with open arms. Too easy we fall into the trap of that gray monster inside ourselves. That rotten beast who feeds on our doubts and makes us question our self-worth. Yesterday made me open my eyes and be more appreciative for all that I have in this world and all I want to become for myself and for my family. Yesterday I joined my husband in a special remembrance of a man I never met. A man who gave me something I am forever grateful for and too often take for granted.

Staff Sergeant David Veverka served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with my husband. While in country, Veverka and my husband lived not only as soldiers and friends, but also as roommates. On May 6, 2006 SSG Veverka along with SSG Dale Kelly were killed when the vehicle they were riding in on a routine convoy mission came in contact with an improvised explosive device (IED). The thought that this could easily have been my own husband is humbling to say the least.

Yesterday marked the 4th Anniversary of this tragedy, and yesterday we hugged a little longer and prayed a little harder. I am thankful for each and every soldier who has given their life to defend our freedom. Yesterday we remembered Dave and joined a few friends and soldiers in saying a prayer to St Michael and laying a wreath at Dave's memorial at the University of Maine.

Staff Sergeant David Veverka was an inspirational student and wildlife ecology major at the university while serving as a member of the Maine Army National Guard. After returning to the states in 2007, fellow soldiers of the Mountain Company planted an oak tree at the university in his honor. Each year a memorial wreath is placed at the tree and Dave's memory goes unforgotten. As an even greater honor, David is buried at Arlington National Cemetary.

Yesterday was a day to remember. Today is a another day to give thanks for the lives and freedoms we are all so privileged to have thanks to every soldier who puts or has put his or her life on the line.

And one final thought. Live everyday with no regrets. Do not ever hesitate to tell someone how you feel about them. My husband tells tales of Dave in small random stories and it makes my eyes well with tears every single time. I think the thing that has stuck with me the most is that Dave told my husband of his plans to propose to his girlfriend when they returned home. To this day, it breaks my heart to think that girl may have never known of Dave's plan and the place she held in his heart.

LE FUNK

2010-05-05T04:08:00.000-05:00

So, yeah I know ....I've been a blogging slacker. Truth is I do have lots to blog about, but have just been in this little funk. Do you ever have those days (ahem, weeks?) when you question your self-worth? Moments when you wonder if you'll ever stack up and you forget that just the way you are is perfectly fine, and then you remember it's just fine but you want to be more than just fine, you strive for being extraordinary. Yeah, I found that place again. It is not a fun place, but it certainly has its way of sneaking in there when you are least expecting it.

I know this sounds like a completely different girl compared to my UN-ordinary post a few short weeks ago. There is just this nagging feeling like there is something just out of reach in my little world that I need to have, but will never reach. I am constantly questioning myself....Am I the best mom/wife I can be? Are my children happy? Is my husband happy? Should I do more housework? Is photography really the thing for me? Do my clients really like me? Is my pricing structure what it should be? Am I really happy with my branding? Or will my client base ever really grow to the place I want it to be? Are the kickboxing classes and P90X workouts really worth it ('cause really I am busting my arse and not seeing results)? Am I doing enough? Am I worth it? This is Le Funk.

I really don't know why it came about or where it came from. We have been having some amazing weather lately and I have taken advantage of sneaking a little Vitamin D here and there, and on top of that just had a fantastic weekend. So really what is up with this somber mood of mine? Wherever it came from it can just go right back there. Oh, and one more question. I know there has to be someone else out there in internet-land that sometimes falls into this little funk....what do you do to climb your way back out?

AN OLD WIVE'S TALE

2010-05-01T05:42:00.001-05:00

I am one of those superstitious kinda girls. I believe that stepping on a crack will break my mothers back. The number thirteen is bad luck. If you kill a spider, it will rain. If the cows are laying down, it will rain. And I believe my mother-in-law has some sort of super powers. Yes, I will explain. And it's pretty simply really. Mom is almost as superstitious as me and is queen of Old Wive's Tales.

On the last Sunday of every month, my mother-in-law and her sisters all get together for an afternoon of kicking back and spending time together. Recently they started asking more of us gals to join in (daughters, daughters-in-law, granddaughters, etc). Even more recent the family is expecting another bundle of joy to grace us in November as cousin Hilary is expecting her first! This is where the Old Wive's Tale comes into the story:)

Yes, it's the Needle Trick! When I was pregnant with my son, Mom held a needle by a thread over my open palm and we all held our breath as we waited for the needle to swing in circles for a girl or back and forth for a boy. It started with a small circle (my miscarriage before Makayla), then stopped before performing a large circle (Makayla), then stopped again before swinging back and forth (Colby). Amazing. Last weekend, we just knew we had to try it out on Hilary!

The results? Well, Mom has only ever been wrong once....and according to her and her superpowers there will be a bouncing baby boy to be thankful for this November <3

A FAMILY AFFAIR

2010-04-29T06:31:00.000-05:00

If you read yesterday's post, you sorta already know what you're in for today. Cousins.Classmates. Sorta Cousins. Yes, my senior reps this year are all connected in one way or another. They love each other....in one way or another. And they all had to have some combination of pics with one another. How fun :)

So, here's how this works...Winthrop Class of 2011 = Colby

Gardiner Class of 2011 = Michael

Colby + Michael = Cousins. And Colby Michael is my own son's name, but that doesn't really have anything to do with anything, just a very cool coincidence.

Gardiner Class of 2011 also = Ashley

Ashley + Colby = Sorta Cousins. Born just a few weeks apart, Colby's mom is Ashley's godmother and these two have been together since they wore diapers.

So now you know the rest of the story :)

IT'S A GIRL! Senior Rep- Ashley

2010-04-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

I am not gonna lie. I was a bit overwhelmed with my male reps at first. Yes, of course I love Colby and Michael, but had been so accustomed to working with girls that it was almost a shock to my system. Oh, and did I ever mention these boys are kind of quiet. Well, meet Ashley.

And no, I don't think the lack of shyness here is a girl thing. It is just an Ashley thing. And once I finally figured out that this wasn't the first time I had ever met Ash (another story for another time), I remembered how much I had loved her personality. Ashley is a very laid back girl with loads and loads of personality seeping from her pores. And she is just lovely.

Oh, did I mention she is lovely?

I mean really...she makes my job easy :)

Really, choosing a few faves for the blog was not an easy task by any means!

Ashley, it was great meeting you...again! Never had I thought it would be to shoot your senior pics, but I am so glad it is. Super-excited to have you as one of my 2011 Senior Reps! Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and I will let you know as soon as your promo kit is ready.

*Fun trivia* This year's reps have become a bit of a family affair. Colby and Michael are cousins. Colby and Ashley are also sorta cousins (sometimes the sorta kind is the best kind!) More on those connections in tomorrow's blog post...complete with pics of course!

SENIOR REP- MICHAEL

2010-04-27T04:58:00.001-05:00

After having to reschedule due to horrible weather, it was finally Michael's turn in front of my lens this past weekend. And well, yep...he rocked it! For some reason it cracks me up just a little when my reps step in front of the camera for the first time. I don't like to give a lot of direction since letting them be themselves kind of brings out their personality, and really that's how you leave a legacy. There are usually a couple forced smiles and fidgetiness (that's a word, right?) the first couple frames and then they realize 'hey, this isn't all that bad' and the rest is history.

Of course, I am not saying that I like seeing people uncomfortable. It is the transition from unsure to 'yeah, I'm a superstar' that I just love. The most amazing thing of all is that to an outsider, you would never know which portrait from the session was actually from the unsure stage of their session. This is especially true for Michael.

Oh yeah....those eyes! Mike's kind of a quiet guy. But those gorgeous eyes...they tell stories :)

Now, that we are nearing the end of this sneak peek I have to say that I am so thankful for some great Senior reps this year.

Michael, thanks for a great morning roaming through some random alleyways and not thinking (or at least saying out loud) I was crazy for choosing that location. You rocked this session! Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and I will let you know as soon as your promo kit is ready.

WALKING WITH A PURPOSE

2010-04-26T07:28:00.000-05:00

Never would I have imagined when I first met Kami that we would share a lifelong bond. A bond created by Multiple Sclerosis. Kami's mom. My dad. I was eleven when my Dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, twelve when I participated in my first MS Walk and even younger when I first met Kami. This year my stepdaughter, Hannah, is twelve. This year she participated in her first MS Walk. So did a bunch of other amazing friends.

The weather turned out to be absolutely amazing and so were the moods of all of our kiddoes, making for an even more amazing morning!

At the end of the walk, everyone was welcomed back to the "starting line" by being greeted with particpant certificates, medals and lunch as well as the opportunity to add to the Wall of Hope. Here is Makayla's sweet little addition...

I want to again thank each and everyone of you who came out to show your support and walk with our team. It really meant so much to Kami and myself to see everyone keeping Cathy's memory alive and joining in the fight to help make my dad's life more comfortable.

CUTIE PATOOTIES (T&C Sneak Peek)

2010-04-24T06:17:00.000-05:00

I first met Miss T during baptism classes for both her and my oldest daughter, so when T's mom contacted me to capture a few First Communion shots I was super-excited and also suggested that we do some fun portraits of both T and her sister at the same time. We started off with the communion portion of our session with every intent to enter a church and take advantage of some gorgeous stained glass windows. Who knew that churches that are supposed to be safe havens and welcome everyone lock their doors :( So, yep it was freezing outside, but we managed to pry T's sweater from here and capture a few before taking shelter in a nearby friend's beautiful home.

That's where we got this shot....

After a quick clothing change, we played inside for a few more minutes before heading out to brave the chilly winds again...

Not only are Miss T and Miss C super cute and full of energy, but these girls have the most beautiful skin tone ever.

I mean c'mon, really? Can you girls be any cuter?

Thanks so much for spending the afternoon with me ladies, you were definitely a bundle of fun!{{HUGS}}

TIPS FOR BEING A PRINCESS

2010-04-23T05:09:00.000-05:00

To be perfectly honest, I am not much of a princess. That being said, often times in this life I have felt stepped on. Walked upon. Perhaps unleashing my inner princess (I know she's in there somewhere) might put an end to that. Thanks to Miss O as she turned 3 years old this past weekend, I now have tips on how to be a princess.

Sometimes being a princess requires patience...

...and after you've expressed said patience, it is okay to give that boy a piece of your mind. Especially when he is opening YOUR gifts.

Being a princess also means it's perfectly okay to keep wanting and wishing for more...

...but the most important thing about being a princess is the knowledge that glass slippers aren't all they're cracked up to be and doing your own thing is really the only way to go :) Happy 3rd Birthday Princess O!!

LOVING THE SNEAKINESS

2010-04-21T05:53:00.001-05:00

I have been working on a few different and very special projects to be completed in time for Mother's Day. They are pretty much top secret, but thought I could share just a little sneak peek into the one for my own mother-in-law. And for those of you who know her, you will NOT spill the beans.....right?! For those who do not know this wonderful woman, here is a little secret: She is AMAZING! She is one of the most dedicated mothers and grandmothers I have ever met. She is always willing to do for everyone else before ever taking a moment (or even think about taking a moment) for herself. She is not only proud momma to her two adult sons, but she also has an adult special needs daughter as well who she just adores.
There have been a million times that I have suggested I capture some shots of Monica and the timing is just never right. Just a couple weekends ago, I finally got my chance. Mom and Dad were headed out for the afternoon and asked if I would hang out with Moni for a bit. Enter sneakiness! I loaded my gear in the car and left it there until they were out of sight. When the coast was clear, the gear was unloaded and the shooting began. Miss Monica was a star and loved every minute of it, but the session was only part of my plan.

You see, Dad is always real good about purchasing cards, flowers and small gifts on Monica's behalf in honor of Mom for Mother's Day but I got it in my head that something even more unexpected should happen this year. This year mom will be receiving this great storyboard as a framed 11x14 print as well as an 8x8 coffee table book featuring images from Monica's session as well as this amazing little story by an unknown author:

By the time the Lord made woman,

He was into his sixth day of working overtime.

An angel appeared and said,

"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?

She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,

have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable

and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,

have a lap that can hold four children at one time,

have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart

-and she will do everything

with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements.

"Only two hands!? No way!

And that's just on the standard model?

That's too much work for one day.

Wait until tomorrow to finish."

But I won't," the Lord protested.

"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.

She already heals herself when she is sick

AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.

"But you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed,

"but I have also made her tough.

You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied,

"Not only will she be able to think,

she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something,

and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.

"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.

I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak,"

the Lord corrected,

"that's a tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,

her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,

her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed.

"You are a genius, Lord.

You thought of everything!

Woman is truly amazing."

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness,

love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideals.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However, If There Is One Flaw In Women,

It Is That They Forget Their Worth.

GUEST BLOGGER: You Want Me to What?

2010-04-17T20:05:00.002-05:00

Boudoir sessions are often some of my favorite sessions to shoot, yet the least shared with the public due to their private nature. In order to spread the word and reassure women who might be considering their own session, I plan to feature guest bloggers from time to time. The image included in this guest blog has been preapproved for posting by the blogger herself. So without further ado.....here are the kind words of my guest blogger:

Nervousness, fear and throw in a little bit of awkwardness-that was about all I was feeling when I bared all for risque photos, a surprise for my always giving, never (ok, rarely) complaining husband who would lay down his life for me and our family. Now, add in Deb, the most laid back, at ease photographer I have ever come across. Either that or I was just hypersensitive to all emotions and personalities surrounding me while standing in front of a space heater in nothing but my unmentionables, but I'm pretty sure it's just who Deb is!

With just a few "relax!"es and a firm "loosen up" here or there, I was at ease (for the most part anyway) with just a few clicks of the camera. With each outfit change (and when I say outfit, I mean overly priced lingerie), the nerves tried to sneak their way back into the moment. Each little nerve sneak attack, however, was surmounted with Deb's reassurance and her fascinating photography skills. The pictures were more than I had expected (cliche, I know, but so true!).

I recently surprised my husband with the book of photos. He was floored by the beauty and class of the pictures, he smiled at the "silly" ones, and his mouth was caught agape at the rather seductive ones. Deb was truly able to capture a variety of moods and emotions and was miraculously able to use her laid back demeanor and camera lens to get past the nerves and straight to the sensuality, all without judgment.
Thanks for everything Deb! You truly made me feel comfortable, the pictures are wonderful, and my husband more than approves your work!

GOOD FRIENDS, GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-04-14T05:50:00.001-05:00

Many times in life we meet people and things just click. We know right away that they are great friends and we are ever so blessed to have them in our lives. Often times we say things like...I wish I had known you all of your life. Here is a recent excerpt from an also recent Facebook status by Alison: You know that saying that what ever you put out to the world comes back 10 fold? I wasn't a nice kid. I was mouthy and sarcastic. In conversation, Alison has also touched upon the "mean girl approach" she took on in high school to keep everyone from really knowing her.

Dear Alison, I am glad I didn't know you all your life. I love you to pieces and am blessed to have met you as you shed that mean girl persona. Great friends may seem few in this life, but when our guard is down it is amazing how many more can sneak their way in. <3 Deb

I love how this little series shows her serious side and then just breaks into complete silliness..

Monday afternoon I met Alison for her lunch break to go exploring the alleyways of Lewiston. This is her playground if you will, and being the sweet and outgoing person she is she was more than happy to share some of her favorite locations. Since exploring portrait photography, I have often encountered other photographers who are quite competitive and not always kind. Not Alison, she is always willing to share her own experiences and eager to lend an ear and learn from mine.

And one of my favorite things about Alison is that she thinks I am funny (I think). I shot the images in this collage while she was super busy shooting me....yes, I am hilarious:)

I am super-excited about our first photographer shoot out next month in these same alleyways. Of course, the beautiful Miss Alison conjured up this idea so what better place than her very own playground to get out and shoot. Thanks Ali for just being you!!

AND THE WINNER IS.....

2010-04-13T06:12:00.001-05:00

I was so happy to read all the comments of how I inspired each of you...what a great compliment! And the goals everyone made for themselves to live their own Un-Ordinary were unique and definitely doable, so I hope we have all started in that direction:)

Originally, when I decided to turn this post into a contest, I thought...okay, I am going to offer a general gift that would fit anyone who entered and won. But after reading the individuality in each comment, I decided that the prize would need to be more specific to helping the winner be successful in following their path to their Un-Ordinary. To be fair to all entrants, all names were placed on small slips of paper and placed in a paper bag.

The Colbster did the honors, reached in and made the selection. So, without further ado....the winner is...*drum roll*...Nikki Pease!

Here is Nikki's comment:
I guess I should have left something I am going to start to do "un-ordinary" I thought about it and it is going to have to be, one on one time with my father! it may not seem "un-ordinary" cause I see him everyday...haha but when we are all together we are always doing for the kids, he help me pick and drop them off to school, he makes us dinner ALL the time, he will drop everything if I need him without even wanting a single Thank you from anyone, and I want to take time for something he loves like fishing,or looking for rocks,or going with him antiquing looking for useless things he thinks are going to be worth millions! Just because time goes so fast and I will not have these times with him forever and I do not want to take him for granted EVER! So not sure if this is what you mean? but this is something new I am going to do and make time for! :)

Nicole, In order to help you achieve your goals of spending more time with just you and your dad I am offering you a free mini-session featuring just you and your dad. From this session, you will then receive a photo book designed by me entitled Why A Girl Needs Her Daddy featuring images from your mini-session. This would make a great gift for father's day (or for just because!) so we don't actually have to tell Dad about the book part. Contact me to schedule your mini Daddy-Daughter session soon, so the book arrives faster:)

Congratulations Nikki, and to everyone who entered a great big thank you!! If there is anything I can do to help any of you make those steps toward your Un-Ordinary, just let me know!

AS PHOTOGENIC AS THEY COME (Spencer's Sneak Peek)

2010-04-12T08:28:00.002-05:00

Meet Spencer. Spencer is hilarious. Spencer is a fabulous kid. Spencer is creative. Spencer is outgoing. Spencer loves his DS. Spencer loves baseball. Spencer loves the camera. The camera loves Spencer <3

I am pretty sure we had more silly moments than serious ones, but then...that's Spencer. Enter silly moment #1...

Prior to our session I sent Spencer a little questionnaire. When Spencer grows up he wants to be an Ice Cream Truck Driver. Here he is explaining to me that he will give free ice cream to everyone he knows, but if he doesn't know you your ice cream will cost one thousand dollars! Yay....I now qualify for free ice cream ;)

Through tons of silly moments, we were able to sneak in some more subdued poses...

This session was all about fun which really captured Spencer's true spirit, so it was only natural that I capture him with one of his favorite things.....the DS!

And after some gentle prodding (and waiting patiently until he at least captured 97 out of the 100 coins he was working for on Mario Bros) we moved onto baseball. And since I love baseball too, that is how I will leave you with this post. Thanks for such a great afternoon Spencer (and Mom!). Hope you guys enjoyed your sneak peek...these were just a smidgen of my favorites....it was so hard to choose! I will let you know as soon as your full gallery is ready:)

MISSED ONE!

2010-04-11T06:22:00.001-05:00

Ok, so remember a couple posts back how I said I would blog EVERY DAY?! Well, yep I missed yesterday, so I will do my best to get two up here today:) And perhaps another step into a life Un-ordinary should be "rolling with the punches." It's okay if you forget a couple things here and there just as long as you don't forget them forever:)

Yesterday was quite a busy day for us here, but not in the no-play-all-work kind of busy (although DH did have a drill weekend, so he had to miss out on much of the fun). The morning was spent wrangling four kids and two extras out of bed, fed, dressed and plans were made for who was coming who was going and where they were all going. When we got our numbers organized, those still with me piled in the car to visit some of DH's side of the family for a Suprise Retirement/Birthday Party for Uncle Jay. Jay was definitely surprised to say the least, but the sweetest part of the day was listening to all the fun the cousins had playing together. And I say listening 'cause for the most part, they were all in separate areas of the house and we didn't see much of them, yet their shriek thrills of laughter spilled over the loft areas of JD & Kelly's gorgeous home and threatened to drown out any adult conversation. There is nothing better than the sound of a child's laughter and its abilities to bring you to the memories of your own childhood is simply amazing.

I AM MARGO-LICIOUS (a continuance of my Life Un-Ordinary)

2010-04-09T05:13:00.002-05:00

I am so totally psyched about all the comments that have been coming in telling me how you all are making steps toward your own Un-Ordinary! And truly, I am amazed by how many have told me what an inspiration I am for them....that is a great feeling! So thank YOU, and I hope as you take these steps and continue to set new goals that you share the message with everyone you know<3

Alright, Alright, what is this "Margolicious" business? In order to tell you that story, I need to fill you in on goals 3 and 4 of my Un-Ordinary Life. Here goes...

3- I will take at least one hour per day to do something for just me. Believe it or not, this has not been this hard for me. By scheduling in time at the gym or kickboxing class or a long walk with a good friend sometime after a nice dinner with my husband and kids, I get that "me time." And sometimes, on rare occasion, that me time involves a little extra special....like yesterday. Enter Margo.

4- I will learn to let things go and throw all caution to the wind. Just because we have the ability to control things does NOT mean we should. And this is how yesterday I became Margolicious. With all the small steps to big changes being made, I had the perfect idea to accomplish steps 3 and 4 at the same time. Now, I am totally the t-shirt and jeans kinda girl. I love to dress up, but most of the time don't really have a "dress me up and take me out" moment to actually dress for. When I do, I go into panic mode 'cause all I own are t-shirts and jeans, gym clothes and cozy pajamas. So, I thought...what can I do to dress me up a little without going crazy and buying a whole new wardrobe? Oooohhhh, I know....let's start with the hair! This is something that no matter what I wear, it WILL be a huge change. And a big change was what I was after. I called up Margo and my instructions were simple, vague and most people would think I was insane. Margo thought I was fun...'cause well, I am:)

Here are my dull locks as I arrived at the salon. And yes, they were all mushed into a messy bun when I arrived!

My instructions: 1. Cut and Color Please 2. Color is to be her choice (Ruby Red, Platinum Blonde, Lime Green...anything) 3. Cut is also her choice 4. (most important rule) She is not allowed to tell me what she is doing until her work is complete. (remember how I said just because you can control things in your life doesn't mean you should?) Those 4 simple rules are how yesterday I became Margolicious.

Margo took my rules very seriously and a whole day to plan out her strategy. As I sat in her magical chair she took great pride in her secret by hiding the bowls of color from me and even turning my chair away from any mirrors while she was cutting away.

Drum Roll please....this is the before and after....

Side and back detail..

And some detail of the AMAZING copper and red foiled highlights!!! L.O.V.E. them<3

Was this scary? YEP! Did it hurt? NOPE! Am I satisfied with the result? COMPLETELY! I would highly recommend this challenge to ANYONE. Seriously, go see Margo. Become her fan on Facebook (tell her I sent you and get $1 off your cut and $5 off your color). Become Margolicious. The best way to truly be Margolicious is to give little to no instruction, throw all caution to the wind and trust her talents to work her magic. Margo took my entire lifestyle and personality into account when she planned for my challenge. She didn't go with blondes because she knows I am crazy busy and would have trouble with the upkeep. She knew I go to the gym and kickboxing class, so she left me with the ability to pull my hair back when necessary. She knew I am kind of low-maintenance, so she gave me a cut that takes little to no effort to style. Thanks Margo....you totally rock!!

THE WABBIT REVISITED (Easter Sunday Part 2)

2010-04-08T14:00:00.001-05:00

So just to complement yesterday's Easter post, I had a few more pictures that I just had to share. This is how our holiday came to an end....

There was one more egg hunt....

...my mom came with some beautiful flowers in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other, while my mother-in-law came with tulips for me, goodies for my hubby and bags of Easter gifts for the kids...

Lastly, we quickly learned that Isa loves sugar....

I mean she really, REALLY LOVES it <3

THE EASTER WABBIT COMETH- Part 1

2010-04-07T21:52:00.001-05:00

**Disclaimer: This particular blog post is very image heavy and much of the contents may not be suitable for the sappiest of hearts or the sweetest of tooths (ahem, teeth but tooths just sounded so much cuter!) The children contained in the following images may or not be just as sweet as the candy filling their baskets.*

I am the girl who wants every holiday to last forever. The mom who believes that since it is a holiday there will be no children fighting, whining, crying or screaming. The wife who looks to her husband to make all this actually happen. I am the girl who wants every holiday to be just perfect, but I am NOT the girl who will throw a hissy fit if a holiday does not live up to Martha Stewart standards and the kids experience the meltiest of meltdowns. So, this Easter I musta just got a lucky one. This year (without any planning) we began our Easter celebration a whole week early!

Kicking things off was a spontaneous text message invite from our good friend Kathryn. Yep, Kathryn loves Easter clearance sales and seeing happy kiddoes, so off we went to hunt among the 4,000 eggs scattered in her yard.......yes, you read that right 4,000!!

Isa got plenty of help from her big sister and quickly learned which eggs had money in them just by the sound of their shake. She kept the money and threw the candy filled eggs back. I have smart kids:)

Even better than spontaneous egg hunts are spur of the moment visits from some of your best friends. What makes your best friends or best friends? Well, how 'bout their innate ability to make you laugh till you pee just a little. Sorry for this Rod, but this is what happens when you steal my kids' candy.....you end up in my blog:)

Can anyone seriously tell me this picture did not just make them giggle even a little?

So the next most important thing was our traditional egg coloring. This year we went for two kits. One served as an incredible variety set complete with glitter, glue and other funky jewels. The other...create your own egg monsters (the eggs with "hair" are our monsters)

This is one of Hannah's favorite things to do. And again, she even made time to help out her little brother. Yep, she is a fabulous big sister.

This was the first Isa really got to experience egg coloring and well.....she put the egg in the dye, she stirred it, she took it out, she squeezed it, she cracked it, I peeled it, she ate it. Awesome.

Colby was (of course) the first one up and very excited to find the dining room table filled with goodies. I mean filled

Two favorites for this boy were the infamous whoopie cushion and Gator Golf (he had been asking since forever!) It took a little whoopie cushion instruction from me, but he soon planned for his first victim...Daddy.

Gator Golf was so exciting even Charlie couldn't stand it!

And Isa's greatest newfound love...PEEPS!

Now that you've experienced sweetness overload....part 2 (just a teensy bit shorter than part 1) of the Easter extravaganza will grace the blog tomorrow. And even more exciting, another step is being toward an UN-ordinary life! This one is so huge, that there might just have to be two posts in one day!! You will just have to check back soon to discover the secret:)

NEW BEGINNINGS: LIVING LIFE UN-ORDINARY

2010-04-06T13:25:00.001-05:00

One of the biggest messages I took away from Justin & Mary's Spread the Love Tour was to live a life Un-ordinary. Well, what the heck does that mean? It's simple really. All you have to do is slow down just a teensy bit. Stop, (and I know, cliche) and smell the roses. Living a life un-ordinary will be different for everyone, but is something that everyone just has to try. For my un-ordinary life, incredible steps have already been taken and by posting this blog I am putting it out there for everyone to hold me accountable. Consider this post an outline of sorts. A plan. A layout of changes being made and goals to be accomplished. Okay, okay here are a couple baby steps made and goals set so far....

1. I am going to Steal Time. Too many times in this life we put things off until tomorrow (or the next day, or the day after that, or the day after that....you get the picture). The thing with putting things off is that those things often cause disappointment for the people we most love. We often work long hours (even us SAHMs) and don't make as much time for our partners or our children. If this is you, stop right now! Stealing time was the hardest step for me to figure out, but after just one week of "figuring it out" I love my new plan! Now of course, this may not work for everyone but amazingly enough 4am has become my saving grace. I am able to wake up before my entire family, work for 3 hours and be ready to feed, entertain and clean up after the kiddoes when they are ready to take on their day. After lunchtime comes nap time which means more work time for me without taking anything away from my little bundles of joy. By scheduling work around my sleeping babes, I am able to be much more productive, be a better mommy to my kids and a better wife to my husband since I have been so productive during the day and have more time for him in the evenings. Besides doesn't feeling like you accomplished something during the day make you feel just awesome at the end of the day?

2. I am going to Blog EVERYday! If you have been following this blog at all, you will know that this is a HUGE change for me. Before my un-ordinary life, I blogged mostly when I had a Sneak Peek from a session to post. Ugh, what did that look like? All business, no play and little personality....BOOORING! So here it is, I am setting a goal. Making a commitment. I will blog everyday. I want my clients, friends, family to know me.....really know me. I believe that by sharing even the most seemingly mundane minutae of my everyday ongoings will truly reveal who I am as a person and what you can expect from me as a photographer.

3. I will be leaving my Lovemark. Ummmm.....what's a lovemark? My lovemark is part of my brand (another lesson learned from J&M!) My lovemarks are little tokens of appreciation for my family, friends and most definitely my clients...and who doesn't love presents?! I really wanted to try this concept out when I was asked to shoot Chizzle Wizzle Ball 2010 and my husband totally jumped on board and helped put these cute baskets of goodies together. Each basket contained chapsticks, gum, and a scratch card and each tag was personalized with a little handwritten note to each couple (or single).....they LOVED 'em! What a great feeling to have added a little extra to an already great evening. So there, now you have been warned. WhitakerImagery is developing lovemarks and if you aren't careful you just might be branded:)

There are my first three and here is my challenge to YOU......live a life UN-ordinary! I mean really..really do it. And as part of this challenge, I am throwing down the gauntlet. Leave a comment with at least one way you will begin your UN-ordinary Life starting right now (you must be specific....I am going to make time for my family will not work. I need to know how you will do it; exact changes you will make). On April 12th, I will randomly select a winner among the qualifying comments to win something special from me! One, two, three.......GOOOOOO!!!

SENIOR REP- COLBY

2010-03-30T05:11:00.000-05:00

For some Juniors planning for Senior pics can fall by the wayside. In true teenage fashion things get put off and put off and then suddenly there is a mad scramble to make their deadline. In order to help a few members of the Class of 2011 feel a little more organized this year, I recently announced my Senior Rep program. Not only would my seniors get their session free, but they would actually have two sessions....one very early in the season to show off to all their friends and act as my "three-dimensional marketing material" and one later in the season to add to their modeling experience:) Not only do they get these two sessions free, but they receive a free full resolution DVD from their first session, plus a $10 print credit for every additional senior who books from their referral. Oh, and did I mention that if Colby (or any of my other Senior Reps) refers you, you also get $10 off your own session. What isn't there to love about all that?! And bonus....if you are a member of the Class of 2011, I still have two openings left for Senior Reps! Still a little unsure of what you'd experience in your rep session(s). Well, meet Colby...

This kid is smart (well, at least his mom is...jk Colby, but I am sure many of your talents have been inherited by your awesome mom). Colby loves winter and loves to ski, so it totally made sense for us to schedule his rep session and schedule it early. Of course for this shoot, early not only meant early in the season, but early in the morning. March in Maine didn't bring much in the way of snow, so we pointed our cars north and drove a couple hours....Rangeley bound, because let's face it I think it's one of the most beautiful parts of this state and Colby loves to ski. Win Win.

Before we actually got to the mountain, we stopped to explore at a scenic rest area. It was "closed for the season" but a little hike over icy snowbanks wasn't gonna stop us. So after waking Colby from his co-piloting car ride slumber, we buttoned up our jackets to brave the frigid cold.

It didn't take too long for everyone to wake up, and by the time we actually got to the mountain if you weren't already awake the even colder temps and incredible winds were bound to do the trick. Colby was a trooper through all of it, and it was easy to see that Winter is his favorite season....he never even came close to donning the pale skin and rosy red nose that most of us get when subjected to wind chill factors.

Colby you were so great to work with and I am really looking forward to our next (warmer) session. Thanks for being brave enough to be my first senior rep! I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and your full gallery will be up soon!

CHIZZLE WIZZLE BALL 2010 - Sneak Peek

2010-03-29T14:51:00.000-05:00

What girl doesn't love having her hair, makeup and nails done and then topping it all off with a fancy dress to spend a fun night out with her besties? Last Fall I shot Blaire's senior pics and her mom asked me back to join in some fun "pre-ball" prep.....of course, I was more than happy to help out! What I didn't expect was how stinkin' cute the girls were and totally sweet on top of it. Blaire's mom told me this group has been together since forever and it was easy to see why.

Post hair (well, Tori was almost done with hair) and pre-dress..

...and post dress, hair and makeup getting silly:)

Of course, the boys were a little apprehensive of my lens at first, but it didn't take them too long to get in the spirit

It was really nice seeing all the moms and dads oohing and aahing at their "little ones'" transformations, and these were just a couple of my favorite 'mom and kid shots'

Thanks to all of you for having me! You all looked incredible and I hope you had a great night. There are loads more pics to come, and I will let you know as soon as the full gallery is up <3

FULL- of life, of love, of each other

2010-03-25T07:28:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's schedule was packed full...but full of fun things to accomplish. Not only was it full in the sense that the morning brought a portrait session with a couple handsome little boys, but the afternoon and evening was to spent meeting Justin & Mary and experiencing their Spread the Love 2010 workshop. Baby J and big brother, JD, had left me feeling full of love with their silly grins and rambunctious personalities and then the lessons learned, advice given,generosity offered, laughter shared and tears shed with J&M left emotion spilling over the edges. So really, the only one word to sum up yesterday is FULL, and that is in every possible positive sense of the word.

Now that I have rambled enough, on with the sneak peek. T is a friend of my baby seester and has been home visiting Maine from Hawaii for a few weeks now. After shooting at least a half dozen sessions of her BFF's kiddoes, she just had to have me shoot her kiddoes as well. We scheduled and rescheduled a few times as Nonnie really really wanted to share in the fun with her grandbabies and life has its little way of toying with your schedule. Finally, not only was Nonnie finally able to make it into the photos, but Poppa made a quick little trip home from work to join in the fun.

How could he possibly miss sharing in the fun with these two little faces anyway?

And of course, Hawaii is a long way away to be able to spoil your grandchildren as much as you truly want to, so of course Nonnie had to make up for lost time.

Thank you so much Nonnie and T for filling up my morning with fun, love and laughter. <3 Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and I will let you know as soon as your full gallery is uploaded!

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID

2010-03-04T19:14:00.003-06:00

C never ceases to amazes me with the things that he thinks will make his life complete, and the latest came after watching myself and two of his sisters get new prescriptions and eyeglasses. Now he just HAD to have them too. Well, since his dad and I are pretty much blind without glasses, I figured it wouldn't hurt to make him an appointment. Boy was he disappointed when it turns out his vision is naturally near perfect (although I am pretty sure I heard Daddy's credit card breathe a sigh of relief). While we went a short round with a small meltdown that was quickly cured with Transformer stickers, I was just grateful that I had decided to bring my camera along with me.

Waiting for the doctor to call us in, Miss I made herself comfy with a good book. Yes, it is in fact upside down which is just right in her little world.

C never missed a beat when he was asked to read the letters, he had everyone quite fooled when he started reading A....P..... (We soon switched to shapes and will be working on actually learning our letters and numbers before next year)

Well, miss I thought the big chair and little black paddle looked like a lot of fun, so she climbed right up with her big brother to see what all the fuss was about. Now I know every mom thinks their kids are the cutest, but I really don't think there is any argument here.

I mean, seriously...does it get any cuter than this?

LITTLE MIRACLES (Baby A's Sneak Peek)

2010-03-02T13:42:00.002-06:00

The truth is there are many of us who are addicted to Facebook, myself included. What a great way to be in on the gossip without actually having to get out of your pajamas, and how easy is it to "hang out" with all of your friends at once no matter how far away you might be? This lead to a perfect opportunity to promote my business, and I am grateful for all the positive support I have received since starting my fan page. Recently, I noticed my fan base nearing the 200 mark and decided "we need to have a contest"....my 200th fan would win a free session. Yep, it didn't take more than a day before I found her and she definitely didn't waste her time scheduling her free session.

On Sunday, I got to spend a little time with the lovely Miss Kim and her little miracle (Baby A). I say miracle because despite the appearance of a roly poly six month old, he was actually born three months early and weighed not much more than two pounds! This little guy is definitely a fighter and truly has a mind of his own. Mom was sure he was going to be in the greatest mood since he had slept in and had a full belly. Well, he had is own plan in mind but we still managed to sneak a few smiles here and there.

Baby A has a full arsenal of crazy expressions which had me kicking myself for not having some really cute hats on hand. The closest thing we had to work with was this cute little snowsuit complete with bear ears on the hood. He wasn't quite sure where I was going with it, but Miss Kim agreed to it and mom has final say.

Did I mention Baby A had plans of his own? Well, nothing is better than a big brother who can really get you giggling...only, on this day even the brother magic wasn't working.

We didn't fight with the little guy too much. After all, he did enough fighting just to make it this far, so I was happy to get a few great shots and let him rule the roost again. New life is always a miracle, but in some cases the smallest miracles are often the biggest success.

NEW BABIES & OLD FRIENDS

2010-03-01T17:45:00.003-06:00

There is something so amazing about catching up with old friends, and Saturday's session just happened to have that little extra bonus. Jamie and I have shared some great times: late night closing shifts at a Walmart photo lab, hanging out at the town beach with my kiddoes, singin' a little Karaoke out on the town, heck this girl is the reason my license plate says "LITLD"...she gave me the nickname. When she asked me to come capture some shots of her almost six month old, I jumped at the chance...especially since I had only seen her once since she was pregnant with her first little angel.

Jamie was helping Baby S' big sister with her princess attire when our session began, so we spent a few quiet minutes alone while he got used to me and my camera. Yeah, he really wasn't quite sure what to think of me, but he managed to look beyond adorable anyway.

And not before too long, he was ready to show off his head holding skills.

While this session was all about Baby S, his big sister (Miss J) managed to sneak her princessy self in front of the lens. And like a true princess, poses would be performed on her terms only.

These two kiddoes will definitely be keeping Mom and Dad on their toes for many years to come, but with silliness like this to fill your days the tough times will be a piece of cake.

BABY M

2010-02-11T10:37:00.006-06:00

Well, with five kiddoes between DH and I, it is pretty obvious were fond of them...even if they eventually grow into monsters. The reality is that that is what those sweet little round things do. They grow and grow and grow, so I jump at every chance I get to snuggle with a yet-to-be-monster.
Two weeks ago, a friend asked if I could do her a favor and watch two of her boys for an hour...um, one of them is a baby...of course I will! Maybe I should have given her the disclaimer that her infant will be a)snuggled excessively, b)undressed and c)subject to a photo session. Mom has seen the results, and in hindsight, I don't think she is unhappy with the results. How cute is this kiddo?!

Unfortunately, I just learned this morning that Baby M was admitted to Maine Med last night with RSV :( Poor punkin'! Please send positive thoughts, vibes and prayers his way for a speedy recovery!

LIFE HAPPENS

2010-02-08T10:43:00.005-06:00

It isn't a rare moment when I am reminded that I clearly do not blog often enough, and really there isn't a good excuse for it. Sure I have lots to say and a million images I want to share with the world, but the reality of it all is that life has this funny way of getting in the way. As with most families, schedules get busy and formerly important tasks get pushed to the back of the line. In all honesty, I silently made a new year's resolution to blog every day of 2010.....guess, I should have made that one out loud, then maybe it actually would have happened:) Looking back, I realize that whether i have recently published a blog or not, the memories are still the same......and with these five little faces making life happen, who can't understand why I often slack in the blogging department? And while we are on the subject of my five perfect excuses...today is a special day of celebration. Our only little man is four years old today!

Now, my little C-man is often all for being subject to photo sessions, however, unless they involve a green screen and his superhero costumes with the soft and puffy muscles, it is difficult to get him to actually look at the camera. This can make for a bit of frustration, yet the faces....oh the many, many faces of this boy....(insert melting heart here) <3

BABY ABRAM

2009-11-19T21:02:00.008-06:00

The first time I ever photographed this little man, he was still a fetus. Yep, that's right...a tiny little bun still cookin' in his beautiful mama's womb. Speaking of his mama, she certainly has her work cut out for her. Not only is Abe the handsome new devil on the block, but he has two very silly and very gorgeous big sisters. I feel so honored to have had to photograph all of them for so long now. The girls have this great spunkiness that just makes their sessions so much fun....no doubt it has rubbed off on their baby brother.

These were a few of my favorites that I just couldn't wait to share!

BUTLER FAMILY SNEAK PEEK

2009-10-15T06:24:00.004-05:00

I have been photographing this family for more than a year now, and was so excited to meet the newest addition during their family session this past week. The C-man has his work cut out for him as his new baby brother is on the fast track to outgrowing him in no time. Little "E" is one moose of a baby and was a little cranky during the session, but that didn't deter us from getting a few great shots. You would never know that just a few months ago "C" wasn't looking forward to sharing mommy and daddy with a little brother, and I even got him to smile this time! Quite an accomplishment compared to past sessions.

Adam and Amanda, thanks so much for asking me to photograph your beautiful family again. You guys are always great to work with and I enjoy every second of it. Enjoy your sneak peek and your full gallery will be available very soon!

WINCHENBACH WEDDING

2009-10-12T12:11:00.007-05:00

I have found that shooting weddings can be stressful and demanding but when once you learn to throw all caution to the wind and have a little fun, you end up with some great shots. These images are from Tiffany and Michael's beautiful September wedding. Tiffany and I have known each other for a few years now and I am honored to know such an amazing woman. This couple has overcome so many challenges already and their love just emanates when they are in each other's presence.

Here are a few more reasons to be so happy in love....their beautiful little girls!

Not sure this kid could be any cuter!!

This is one of my favorite's from the series of "prep" images. I just love how happy everyone is in this picture.

And a favorite from the reception...really digging the expression on the bride's niece's face as the couple cuts the cake!

Tiffany and Michael, thank you guys so much for inviting me to be a part of your special day. You are both amazing people and are so deserving of each other. Many happiness to the both of you for many many years to come!

Blaire Senior Shoot

2009-10-11T05:52:00.002-05:00

Blaire's mom contacted me through a friend I have known since I was five, and I am so glad she did! This girl was so incredibly sweet and great to work with. Blaire, I am so pleased to have met you and I know you will go far in this world. Here are a few of my favorites from our session and I will let you know when your full gallery is ready :)

I think this one has got to be my absolute favorite of the day!

COBB FAMILY SNEAK PEEK

2009-09-24T10:35:00.004-05:00

The day after their TTD session, I was invited to visit o this great family again and meet little Lorenzo for the first time. What a great little man! He has a personality that anyone could fall in love with not to mntion an out of control infatuation with trains and tractors :0) Thanks for scheduling this session you guys, and I hope you had as much fun as I did. Here is your sneak peek with some of my favorites and I will let you know as soon as your full gallery is ready!

TRASH THE DRESS

2009-09-21T14:09:00.005-05:00

I have known Suzanne since we were little girls and ran into her again a month ago at a wedding I was shooting. After seeing my wedding shots, she expressed to me how jealous she was of the new bride's pictures and really wished I had done her own wedding. That's when I suggested she try out a "trash the dress" session. Amazingly, there was no convincing required...she was all for it. The day of her session I had a million ideas floating around my head and I was more than pleased to receive at least three or four calls from Suzanne throwing in her own wild ideas!! Thanks a million for a great afternoon, Justin and Suzanne! I know Justin thought we were absolutely insane, but he was such a great guy for playing along and trying everything we asked of him (even if it was September in Maine and involved jumping in an icy cold lake) Enjoy your sneak peek and there are many many more to come <3 href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EgaCKaAsBKI/SrfUk_Flv8I/AAAAAAAAAI8/I5mixo6ryQI/s1600-h/_DSC0242.jpg">

LATEST SENIOR SHOOT

2009-09-19T08:06:00.004-05:00

Last week,one of my absolute favorite people to hang with asked me to shoot her daughter's senior pictures....did she really HAVE to ask? Of course I was more than happy, and not just because this girl is absolutely gorgeous. I could have thrown he in a swamp and she'd still be beautiful. Kasey is so laid back and easy going that our session was almost too easy, now I'm left with the hard part of narrowing all those shots down into something that isn't too overwhelming. Anyway, here is a sneak peek...hope you ladies love them and I will let you know when your full gallery is ready :)