Portland, Maine, winter engagement session

We're working on a design update for this here 'lil blog. After 7 years, I think it's time. :) Once ready, it will feature the voices of all of our photographers who are excited to share their recent work, photography tips, and random little visual nuggets from their personal lives. For now, I'll be sure to alert you when it's someone other than me writing so as to not confuse you.

Image manager and second photographer for the last two years, Denise is now shooting as a principal photographer and has a very full calendar of weddings coming up. Below she recounts a recent engagement session. You can read more about the experience from the bride's perspective today on Love and Lobster here.

Take it away, Denise!

I had prodded this couple about doing an engagement shoot no less than four times when I finally nailed them down on a chilly Sunday afternoon earlier this month.  It wasn’t that they were against the idea. They just had so many other things to do and there would always be time later, right?  I even heard that the groom-to-be, Nick, was hoping to get out of the shoot that day to have a video game marathon with his friend!

How would I know this?  Said friend happens to be my husband, Jon.  And the bride-to-be is my twin sister, Jackie.   I assured Jon that he needed to be unavailable for the afternoon and finally got Nick and Jackie to get in their most stylish cold weather clothing and head to the Old Port.  At this point I felt a little like I was dragging them there and was concerned that it would show in their images.   But, as I looked for my framing and did some test shots I noticed they were getting rather snuggly.  Yes, I had asked them to sit together but I don’t think I had said they needed to be THAT close. 

As I guided them in their poses and moved them into pretty doorways along cobble stoned streets these two had no trouble looking adorable in front of my camera.  They may have been joking about how their feet were freezing or how Jackie’s hair wouldn’t stay out of her face, but in the images I just saw so much love.  At one point I told them I was going to scoot across the street and shoot them from farther away, and would they please do some smooching for these ones?  Well, when I turned around on the opposite sidewalk, they weren’t waiting for me to be ready with my camera.   

As the winter light was quickly fading we hurried over to the Eastern Prom where these two had gotten engaged.  I asked them to stand at the top of the hill, silhouetted against the last remaining light, as I ran to get in position for a wider shot.   Even though I felt like I was racing against time I had a feeling these images would be special.  They turned out to be some of my favorite photos of the day.

It may have taken some prodding to get them here, but I was so glad I did.  Their engagement session gave Nick and Jackie time to just enjoy being together and in love at such a special time in their lives.   I feel lucky to have been the one to capture it for them in images.  As a photographer I ended the session feeling fulfilled, and as a sister I felt so utterly grateful that these two found each other.  

A little silly outside of where they ate the night of the proposal, Fore Street.

Little Will up on skis

Have you met my husband J? If yes, this post won't surprise you. He can rattle off the number of days he's skied (I personally can't remember but it's definitely over a thousand- and on the west coast, he'll be sure to clarify), the details of the best runs like he's telling you what he just ate for breakfast, and one knee surgery to remind him of his passion for this fun winter sport. Me? I started skiing when I was five and much preferred to go straight down rather than waste my time with turns. But once I graduated from college and moved to DC, my skiing days dwindled. I'm sad to say I haven't been since becoming a business owner- something about getting older and adventure sports that seems too risky. Clearly that will be changing in the years ahead as our little guy took his first spin around the house on my family's well-worn children's skis this morning. He loved it! As did we. Skiing before walking? Now that's something to surely note in his baby book.   

Sweet Caroline

Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of.

2008 couple Joanna and Joel are parents to sweet Caroline, and are expecting a little sister to join the family in the spring. One morning while daddy was at work, mommy- the one often behind the camera- had me over to capture their little bond and Caroline's curiosity.

Brothers

Sweet. Smart. Polite. Interesting. I'll be one lucky mama if my son grows up to be as lovely as these two boys. Kudos to you, dear Judy.

Imperfect perfect family portraits

When I was little, we had a family portrait taken every year. I don't recall liking it until I was old enough to understand that outfit changes were actually fun, sometime by the tween years, I'm sure. Before that I had a scowl in every family portrait and it wasn't just from the super bowl cut I was sporting. I definitely didn't want to be told what to do, and honestly, is there any other time in a child's life when the pressure is on to be as adorable as possible on demand? Because in real life, wasn't I always?

Lifestyle portraits lend themselves to capturing real life, in all its unpredictable candid awesomeness. From the attempted formal poses that often illicit the most protest from even the cutest three year olds, to the more relaxed playful "playdate with a camera" posture, you never quite know how it's going to go. And for me, that's what keeps it interesting and always up for the challenge. Thanks Justin, Jess, Nate and John for the invitation. xo

When a formal pose turns into tickling baby brother's toes. And gathering the children together on the arm chair just isn't what one had in mind. Somehow the imperfect portraits always end up perfect anyway.

Little Will turns 1

Something entirely crazy happened earlier this week. My itty bitty baby boy Will turned one. ONE!

"Long days, short months" someone once described a baby's first year and I completely agree. In so many ways I feel like we were literally just rushing to the hospital to meet our little luvbug and in others those painstakingly exhaustive nights seem all too clear (who am I kidding? Will still doesn't sleep!).

In 365 days our little bundle went from just a blob (new moms, have you read Jenny McCarthy's Baby Laughs? Entirely crass, but so much of it hysterically relatable) to a little nearly walking, babbling being who is wide-eyed and curious about his surroundings, delights in spending time with people, new noises, things that go on and off, his dog (especially when she licks his fingers), trying new foods, going for adventures, splashing in water, clapping those adorably chunky little hands and our favorite- snuggles! He's a total mush, and gosh, his kisses (which often result in knocking foreheads when he's extra eager) and the way he can curl his body into mine make all the hard stuff fade into the background. We are head over heels in love and so, so lucky to be blessed with such a special little guy.

When discussing the approaching big numero 1 milestone, there was no question there would be a little shindig. And yes, we know he won't remember his first birthday party. But first birthdays are as much for the parents to celebrate making it through the first year as it as about the child marking the official day, are they not? The night before, J and I shared a bottle of wine as we worked together to poof the tissue paper poms recounting our favorite stories from the pregnancy, the labor & delivery, and Will's first year. We're not entirely sure how we ever considered our life to be full before he was here, but there's no question he has made us both better people, a better couple and taught us more about love than we ever imagined.

Happy Birthday, little bean. We love you more than you know and can't wait to see what's in store for year #2 (perhaps a little more sleep, pretty please?!).

The party invitation by Dwell Studio for Tiny Prints.

Our little off-the-charts birthday king (felt crown by Lori Savage with ribbon back so that he can wear it year after year). Tissue paper poms by Pom Decor. Paper hats from Pinwhirls. Mini pb&j's and other eats by Aurora Provisions. I think tulips might be my favorite flower. After hydrangeas. Or maybe tied. To me they symbolize happiness and fresh beginnings. Vintage paper striped straws from Polka Dot Market. Individual pints of milk (yes, that's blue milk- blueberry!) in glass bottles from Smiling Hill Farm. Growing up, we had a Mickey Mouse Happy Birthday banner we pulled out for every family member's birthday. I bought flag bunting (from Starlit Nest) to start our family's tradition and borrowed my sister's ritual of displaying greeting cards on the mantle, a happy focal point in our house. I hung a print from each month on the refrigerator (naturally where the most important artwork goes, right?). Will's music teacher Matt led Will's little guests in a singalong. Insanely adorable (ie: playlist). Then we went outside... ... to the darling vintage Love Cupcakes trailer in our driveway to pick out a yummy sweet. Back inside Will was about to get a taste of sugar for the first time. Love his reaction! Happy Birthday, little Will!