Ramblings of a Photographer

I've moved

2008-12-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

From now on follow my photos and stories at my new location: sarahmccoyphoto.com/blog.

Stop by and say hello :)

Something New

2008-12-22T12:56:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned :)

Giving Back in a Small Way

2008-12-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

This year I've partnered up with GivingIsAwesome to award a deserving family (or couple, or individual) the gift of photographs. This is for all the people who might not have the resources to pay for professional photographs and the people who know of someone who fits that description. So here's the deal...

Connecticut residents can e-mail me at mccoyphoto@gmail.com with a nomination for someone really deserving of a portrait session with me and $500 worth of prints, albums, canvases, etc. The only rules are:

1) You can't nominate yourself

2) You must be sincerely incapable of purchasing my services

If you know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to pay their bills, is making great sacrifices for their kids, or is giving back in extraordinary ways- I want to hear about them. I want to meet them and have an opportunity to share my gift of photography. The people who nominate the winner will also receive a Christmas present of their own- a portrait session with me and $300 credit towards any photo related product.

***To any photographers reading this, visit www.GivingisAwesome.com to join me in providing lasting memories to those who may need a little extra cheer this Christmas.***

Dan and Stephanie

2008-12-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I had the honor of photographing Dan and Stephanie's wedding day down at The Woodwinds in Branford. We had a wonderful December day- chilly but bright. The bridal party were all wonderful and were up for going outside. Thank you guys! And you couldn't have asked for a sweeter bride. Stephanie had a smile on the entire day and was always asking her friends and family what she could do for them. I wish you guys nothing but the best.

P.S.- The woman in purple gets a shout out for performing the original dance to the classic "The Right Stuff" by New Kids on the Block.

WAAAAAAAAY Behind

2008-12-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

One of the best parts about my church is the people. I have made some wonderful friendships with kind, genuine, and loving people. Another added bonus is so many of them have little kids. Over the past few months I've had the privilege to photograph a whole slew of the little kiddos. So much fun!

So here's a catch-up on the last few months :)

DONE!!!!!!

2008-12-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this time of year. Yes, it's Christmas and I get to see lots of family and really reflect on all the blessings in my life. Yes, it's Michael's birthday month which means I can shower him with even more love and presents. Yes, it's time to stop counting calories and enjoy all the wonderful food. All those things are great.

However, this year is EXTRA special because...drumroll please...my semester is over!!!! My last paper is done. My classes finish tonight. I am one semester away from being done and then they'll release me to the school system where I will try to impart all my wisdom on your kids :) Yes, it's a good time in the McCoy household.

Heblers and Company

2008-12-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

A couple months ago I had the absolute pleasure of shooting my friend Leah's family photos. We had a BEAUTIFUL autumn day and her family had me in stitches the entire time.

After seeing the photos, one of Leah's friends called me to photograph she, her brothers, and all of their significant others as a present to their parents. Great. I was really excited to shoot both a family and couples at the same shoot. HOWEVER...it's December and in New England you never know what that'll bring. Last week it was freezing, yesterday it was 55. Unfortunately our portrait day was accompanied by a cold, miserable, rain. It was the kind of day that made you want to stay in your pajamas not go outside for photos :(

Plan B was to meet at one of their houses for indoor portraits. Now this is always a challenge for me to a) light the room properly 2) think on my feet and come up with a good location in a home I've never been before. Plus, I had three different couples that I wanted to have different photos so that's 3x the amount of creativity. After a deep breath and remembering all the helpful portrait advice from Carla last month, I went to work. And, if I do say so myself, the photos aren't too shabby :)

Cutest Baby (Seriously)

2008-11-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

So one of the best things about being a photo-nerd is the community of other photo junkies. A couple years ago I came across the work of Gabe McClintock from Perspective Eye Studios. His work is stunning.

However, that is not what this post is about.

Gabe's best work is undoubtedly Aisha, his adorable 1-year old daughter. Aisha is in the running for the Cutest Kid in Calgary and she needs our help. Please go to http://www.vibemorningshow.com/gallery.html?page=28#thumb and vote for #1401. You can vote once each day and the contest runs until the 20th. So go. Vote. Be Merry :)

The Carla Experience

2008-11-12T12:36:00.001-08:00

Yes, it was quite an experience.

Last week I had the pleasure of being 1 of 3 students at Carla Ten Eyck's Tuesday workshop. It was my first ever time being at a workshop and, let me say, I'm hooked. It was such a kick in the pants, get back to basics, wonderful time of shooting, editing, and understanding what truly makes a good image. Not to mention the ladies in the class were fabulous and Carla's cooking is top notch :)

All in all, it was a wonderful day!

However, during the shoot we got busted by the po-po for being at a train yard we had permission to be at. One of our subject's, Jack, is a train engineer. It made me giggle to hear him say to the cop, "This is my office" when the cop told him we were all trespassing. No worries though, we made it out without too much of a hassle and headed over to the UConn law campus.

The day was wonderful for me to shoot without having to think about all the other things going on in my life. It was great to look for light, wait for moments, and create great photos. But, more than anything, it was an awesome time to connect with local photographers who share my passion for photography. I walked out of the experience feeling challenged, motivated, and with a new group of friends. Without further ado, my favorites from the day...

More Melanie

2008-11-12T05:22:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been soooo long since I last posted. Life has gotten crazier than usual and I've seem to have forgotten about keeping you posted. Sorry.

This past weekend Michael and I took off to PA to visit friends and his family. It was so great seeing a bunch of my college friends that I only get to see like once or twice a year now. Plus I caught up with Betsy and Dan on Saturday afternoon. Betsy is one of my husband's closest friends and she's getting married next August :) I'm going to be shooting their wedding and I couldn't be more pumped!

Late Saturday night I hopped the train from Philly to Slatington to stay with my in-laws. This trip included the end of my shoot with Melanie for her senior pictures. I posted some from the summer awhile back but here's some more in case you didn't get enough :)

Happy Anniversary

2008-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Two years.

Two years ago I was getting my hair done and praying the skies wouldn't open up. Two years ago I was freezing my butt off as I mistakenly thought my adreneline would keep me warm. Two years ago I got married.

A lot has changed since October 22, 2006. We've lived in three different places. We've started our Master's degrees. We've gone from best friends to, I don't know, but something more than best friends. In two years I've learned about and loved Michael more than I've ever thought possible.

So here's to you Mr. McCoy (even though you'll never get this shout out because you don't read my blog). Even though I may roll my eyes, I love how you rank every movie you see. I love how you take an hour to answer a question because you give everything (and I mean everything) serious thought. I love how you greet me when I walk the door and how the only thing you want in life is to be with me.

I love you.

Mike + Julia :: 10.04.08

2008-10-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

It was a fantastic day. The weather = perfect. The couple = totally smitten.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of assisting Mary and Justin Marantz at Mike and Julia's wedding. When I'm photographing a wedding usually it's me in charge, making sure we have all the shots and stressing about the details. At this wedding though, it was all about the details.

Big thanks goes out to the Marantz's. To Mike and Julia, you guys are totally cute and obviously meant for one another. It was a pleasure to be a part of your day.

New Blog (not for me)

2008-09-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

This coming Saturday I'll be helping out some new photo friends at a wedding down in New Haven. I'm PUMPED to spend the day and learn from them (plus going to weddings are such a blast)! Today they just launched their new blog which I just wanted to give a shout out to:

www.justinandmaryblog.com

Visit it.

Great stuff.

Joe + Mary :: 09.13.08

2008-09-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

Beautiful location and no rain :)

Joe and Mary have been dating "forever" and yesterday they tied the knot! It was my first time down at Jonathan Edwards Winery and let me tell you...wow! The grounds are amazing and the staff is so nice. Mary and Joe were awesome. They had a whole wine theme to match the location and their budding interest in the drink :) Soon they'll be off to their honeymoon in Napa Valley. Before you go, I hope you enjoy a sneak peek at some of my favorite shots from yesterday.

The McCoy's do Germany- 2008

2008-09-11T12:03:00.001-07:00

I've finally finished editing our vacation photos and made a slideshow of my favorite 76 images. If you'd like to see where we went and what we did, go here.

Here's one for your enjoyment :)

Vacation Photos

2008-09-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of editing the 1200 photos I took in Germany down to a more manageable number. I'm at 281.

Expect a post with some of those 281 soon :)

Mike + Amy :: 8.30.08

2008-09-03T10:29:00.001-07:00

What a wedding! Natalie and I photographed Amy's sister's wedding last year and, since then, have been looking forward to this wedding. The day had everything including iffy wedding predictions that ended up being completely wrong, an antique carousel, a brick-oven pizzeria on wheels, and plenty of wonderful photo spots!

Amy and Mike, I wish you the very best and have a wonderful honeymoon in St. Martaan!

Baby Fest Continued

2008-08-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Stewart Clayton was born on August 14 (the same day as his dad). Michael and I got to meet him quickly before vacation but today we got to spend some quality time with him during his first portrait session :)

Here are a couple of my favorites. You may recognize Big Sister Rosie. She's a regular subject on my blog :)

Back in the USA

2008-08-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

We are back from a WONDERFUL vacation in Germany. The sights were great, the time people were jovial and welcoming, and the time with Michael was even better. Having one week to forget about everything and enjoy each other's company was simply wonderful.

I'll be getting back into the swing of things tomorrow (after a good night's sleep). But, I leave you with one photo from our vacation. More to come soon :)

Baby Fest 2008

2008-08-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday kicked off what promises to be a month of babies :) In the morning I photographed Julian. I had set this appointment up with Julian's mom months in advance. I was supposed to photograph him when he was 1 or 2 weeks old. Well, apparently Julian didn't understand the plans and decided to come about 6 weeks early! So instead of 2-week old portraits we had 2-month old portraits. It worked out perfectly though. He's just starting to pick up his head and is really good at being cute :)

Later that day I went to the hospital to meet Nathaniel Hendrick. He is the newest son to our pastor and his wife. Already Baby Nate looks like his dad :) With three boys under the age of 3 the family could use all the prayers in the world.

Next up for a baby are our close friends Jesse and Kim. Then two more to follow in the coming weeks. Gotta love all the babies :)

The joys of homeownership

2008-08-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, I took the plunge today. I mowed my first lawn. Michael has been away all day and the yard was looking like a jungle so I took it upon myself to do the job. Mostly I just wanted to see what mowing the lawn was like.

It's nothing to write home about.

Too much to write...

2008-08-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

I just wanted to give a quick update seeing that I haven't posted much recently. Things are going well with the McCoy's. We are settling into our new home. I would say about half the rooms are unpacked, half the rooms aren't, and all of the rooms are filthy :)

Michael just finished his final summer class and I have 2 weeks to go. I'll start my internship at Manchester High School in the fall while Michael will continue with his grad classes. All of this nonsense looks to be over in the spring of 2009 (for me) and spring of 2010 (for Michael).

A group of CT photographers that I just hooked up with last month went on their annual retreat last week. While I wasn't able to go, one of the exercises they did inspired me. They each were asked to write a list of 101 goals to tackle in the next 1001 days. So I'm doing the same. Here are some of my goals:

#23- Back-up every image on my computer. (To all my clients, don't worry, you're stuff is all backed up. It's my personal photos that aren't :))

#47- See 3 new major league ballparks (My lifetime goal is to see them all. So far I have 7 down)

#98- Go one month without telling a lie.

#99- Do it again!

So wish me luck as I start tomorrow with cook dinner every night for my husband for an entire week!

I hope you are all doing well. Drop me a line anytime :) I leave you with a pic of the new McCoy home.

Melanie

2008-07-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law was up from Pennsylvania last week. We had a great time painting, blueberry picking, quilting, and eating a lot of cheeseburgers! On Friday Michael and I took her up to Boston for her to tour Boston University. I was very impressed with the campus and I hope she considers it. Although that's easier for me to say considering I don't have to pick up the $40k price tag!

While she was here I took some senior portraits of her. Even though I've known Melanie for over 6 years I don't think I've ever taken a photo of her! She's so comfortable in front of the camera and has become a truly beautiful woman.

Out and About with Mike and Ashley

2008-07-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be shooting Ashley and Mike's wedding next summer but we went out last week to take some engagement photos. These 2 are so cute! Mike can always make Ashley laugh and they're impossible to keep their hands off each other :)

Thanks guys for a fun afternoon and good luck on planning the rest of your wedding!

Dave and Erica's Wedding

2008-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

I spent my fourth of July with Dave, Erica, and their friends and family. This sweet couple tied the knot at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT. I'm in the process of going through the heaps of photos from the day, but here's a sneak peek of some of my favorites :)

Beach House

2008-07-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Our friends Rob and Ali invited a bunch of friends from church down to Rob's parents' beach house last Saturday. While the weather was a little chilly and overcast, we had a wonderful day relaxing on the beach and catching up with friends. I took the opportunity to take a ton of photos of all the kids. Follow the link to the slideshow :)

Aaron and Krista got married

2008-07-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday's wedding was something else. Krista and Aaron had a beach wedding and the weather just held out. In fact, just as dinner was about to begin the sun was setting over the Long Island Sound. We ran outside for a few more portraits while the lighting was perfect.

Thanks so much to Autumn who shot with me and Luan, a rockin' assistant.

Aaron and Krista, I hope you're enjoying Block Island!

Maxwell Charles

2008-06-23T20:38:00.001-07:00

Baby portraiture, to me, is some of the most challenging but rewarding photography. Today was no exception. I went to the home of Ben and Julie today to photograph their son Max. I photographed Ben and Julie's wedding last year and I'll be photographing Julie's sister's wedding later this summer. I love when I get to revisit couples and see how they're doing. Clearly Ben and Julie are doing just fine. Their son was born 11 days ago. He hardly cries, only gets up once during the night, and is such a cutie!

Here are some shots from today.

Adam and Laura's Wedding

2008-06-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

Wow. That's all I can say.

That's not true :) I can say a lot more.

Laura and I were friends in elementary school. We lost touch after awhile and was pleasantly surprised when she called me last year about shooting her wedding. It was such a great day. Despite initial forecasts the weather was gorgeous. Plus the love between Adam and Laura just radiated off of them. Just from seeing them together for that one day it is apparent they are perfect for one another.

Yesterday was full of love, kisses, and a few tears. It was one of those weddings where everything clicked and beautiful moments were captured.

Thank you so much to Natalie for coming up from Philly (yet again) to help me out!

First Wedding of 2008

2008-06-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Melissa and Brad are high school sweethearts. They got married in the middle of a heat-wave last weekend. Despite the 100+ temperatures, it was a wonderful day full of obvious love and plenty of laughs. It was my first wedding of the year and all I can say is...it's good to be back :)

Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Nashville

2008-06-06T21:55:00.001-07:00

Michael and went down to Nashville last weekend for a whirl-wind vacation. We were there for 3 days and tried to see as much of the city as possible. We drank a lot of sweet tea, saw lots of live music (although not as much as we would've liked), and toured the Jack Daniel's distillery and Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole Opry). Michael's cousin's daughter (who's actually our age) moved down there a couple years ago with her husband. We stayed with them and their adorable son Isaiah, and their dog Elliot for the weekend. Now back at home summer is in full swing. Temperatures are in the 90s and wedding season begins tomorrow :)

More posts to come.

RHAM Softball

2008-05-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

I photographed the RHAM Softball team earlier this week in the pouring rain. They're headed to the state tournament next week led by their phenomenal pitcher (and hitter) Molly Rathbun. It's always fun to cover their games and remember when I was on that same team...

Glastonbury Carpet

2008-05-11T19:43:00.001-07:00

Just a few shots from a local baseball game.

Notre Dame Baseball

2008-05-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

Growing up my brother and his best friend AJ were inseparable. They played sports year round together. AJ is now the starting centerfielder for the University of Notre Dame. He's having a tremendous season (batting .375 currently!). Last weekend his team came to CT to take on UConn. Here are some photos of the games on Friday and Saturday. AJ is the one in the top few shots :)

Shea Stadium

2008-04-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday a group of 12 of us made our way down to Queens to watch the Mets take on the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mets lost and the weather was mediocre but we still had a great time. Plus, I get to cross off one more ballpark in my quest to see them all in my lifetime. Only 22 more to go!

Anyways, here are some photos of our trip.

Philly visit

2008-03-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

Michael and I went down to Philly on Friday to visit with friends. It was Amy's birthday so a bunch of us girls went out to dinner and a movie while the boys did their thing. It was so nice to see everyone! Amy is one of those friends who you can pick up a conversation up whenever, no matter how long it's been since you last talked. I really appreciate her friendship and it was nice to celebrate with her.

Sunday I spent the day with the Vaughn/Do family. The day began with Fiori waking me up with her cooing. She let me pick her up and cuddle with her for another hour in bed before getting up for good. It was the best! We just hung out and talked most of the day which was awesome. With Beth in North Carolina our time together has significantly decreased so days like Saturday are really special. Plus her parents are great. I enjoy visiting with them as much as anyone else in the house and as a result Michael and I left PA an hour and a half later than planned. We got home around midnight and promptly crashed. It was a whirlwind weekend and I have to do some major catch-up on homework, but the sacrifices are worth it :)

Jared & Karen's Album

2008-02-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

Starting this year I am going to be carrying a new line of wedding albums in addition to Asuka Books. The books will have heavier pages (about 1/8 inch thick) and have beautiful leather covers. I'm totally stoked about them! In preparation for the addition I just ordered a sample album from Jared and Karen's wedding this past summer. They were TOTALLY not your typical bride and groom. She got her dress from J. Crew and instead of wedding cake they had peach and blueberry cobbler. Their wedding day was something else though. The weather was perfect and you couldn't take the smiles off of their faces!

So here is the album I've laid out to show my potential clients...

Click here to see the entire album

Here is a sample page:

Mark & Joanie's Album

2008-02-05T15:17:00.001-08:00

I have been unusually productive this week and finished Mark and Joanie's wedding album in record time. Not that it's a race or anything :) Their wedding was last September. It was such a beautiful day and they're such a fun couple, it was a fun wedding to relive. I hope they like their album!

Click here to see the entire album

Here is a sample page from the book

Cruise Vacation

2008-02-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

After a week-long family cruise I'm back in CT. We arrived back home just in time to see the Patriots disappoint in the Super Bowl. But enough of that, let me recap the wonderful vacation. Last Saturday my entire mom's side of the family descended on Florida to leave on an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Freedom of the Seas (Royal Caribbean's largest boat). The trip started off rocky. We arrived in Miami early but for one reason or another had to sit on the plane at the airport for an hour. After gathering our luggage the 9 of us then had to wait an additional hour because the hotel we were staying at only had 1 shuttle and it was a 30-minute drive to the hotel. OK, two hours isn't the end of the world but seeing that it was the end of a long day of traveling and Max, my 1-year old cousin, was about ready to flip out, it put everyone in a sour mood. However, after burgers and drinks at Chili's everyone had recovered.

On Sunday we took another shuttle to the pier and on the way saw a stakeout. There were 2 policemen with their guns drawn surrounding a gun shop in Miami. I had never seen anything like that. Pretty freaky.

For the next week my family and I had a great time exploring the boat and seeing San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. They had a wave pool onboard which my cousin, her husband, Michael, and my brother all tried. Jeff was clearly the best while Andy and Michael could only stand for a fraction of a second. Michael did karaeoke one night. He sang Back in the USSR and rocked the house! I had fun doing a lot of the trivia competitions, exercising, and hanging out with my family. When we got to St. Thomas eight of us went to Magen's Bay. It could be the best beach I've ever been to (see the photos below). The water was crystal clear and there were absolutely no rocks on the bottom. Unfortunately we only had 2 hours there before heading back to the boat. In St. Maarten my mom, aunt, counsin Alex, Michael, and I went on the tree-top zip line excursion. It was amazing! You had to navigate your way through 32 obstacles and zip lines while 20-feet up in the air. Some of the obstacles weren't so easy (such as walking across moving logs suspended from a cable) but zipping through the trees made it all worth it. There are some photos of the place here: http://4funstmartin.com/.

Now we're back in Connecticut with two months of winter to look forward to. I start my classes this week and Michael has to catch up from missing last week. It promises to be an eventful semester as Michael wraps up his prerequistes and hopes to begin grad school this summer. Thankfully we will be able to remember back to last week and all the fun we had!

Pamela & Mike

2007-11-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

What a year its been for me. After graduating with a degree in photojournalism in 2004, it didn't take long for friends and family to start asking me to shoot their weddings. Competent with a camera and gear, I obliged and found that I really enjoyed this type of photography. Last year was my first shooting weddings professionally. I did about a half dozen weddings to supplement my income from my newspaper job. This year I doubled my bookings and worked really hard to get to a new level with my photography. Overall I think I made great strides, but with every wedding there are things I wish I would have done differently.

Last Saturday was my final wedding for 2007. Kudos to the bride and groom for braving the weather for portraits outside. We were getting the remnants of Hurricane Noel so the winds were something else. It was also November in New England so the weather wasn't exactly warm. I feel like I ended on a good note with some things to carry forth for next year.

I'd love to hear feedback from you all.

From now on, it'll probably be random photos of portraits and my life :)

Lara & Josh's Wedding

2007-11-01T05:26:00.001-07:00

Wow. I can't believe it's been a month since I last updated this. Sorry about that! After a crazy summer and early fall of weddings, October was pretty calm. I shot Josh and Lara's Wedding last Saturday. It Poured (with a capital P) the entire day. It was the first time I wasn't able to take any shots outside. We made it work though. Josh and Lara didn't let Mother Nature dampened their spirits and it turned out to be a great day.

Congratulations you two! I hope you're having an awesome time in Hawaii.

Brian & Cristina

2007-10-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of shooting Brian and Cristina's wedding last Saturday. It was a blast! The bride (as you'll see below) had a smile plastered on her face the entire day. The groom wasn't into getting his picture taken as much as I wanted, but few are :) Nevertheless, I had a great time and I think they'll be happy with the results!

Nash Wedding

2007-09-23T17:26:00.001-07:00

Natalie and I shot our last wedding together for 2007 yesterday :( I can't tell you how nice it has been to shoot together. She is one of the only people I know who I can talk to about PhotoShop actions and lighting with for hours. Literally hours. It's probably a good thing that she's so far away because if she was in Connecticut I'd never get anything done!

The wedding yesterday was a real blast (except for the bride and groom's Rolls Royce breaking down and then having to make their grand entrance to their wedding in Nat's Toyota Matrix). Julie and Ben are a case where opposites attract perfectly. The day was lovely and both the bride and groom seemed to be walking on clouds the entire day.

Rosie @ Elizabeth Park

2007-09-17T19:40:00.001-07:00

Rosemary turned 1! This past weekend mom, dad, daughter, and I packed up and traveled to Hartford for a photo session. She was in such a great mood and the lighting was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better shoot.

TAG?!?!

2007-09-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

Yes...I've been tagged. This is something that's been going around blogs and requires the person to write 8 things about themselves. So, here we go.

1) I speak Norwegian. It's not something that comes in handy very often but I can hold a conversation if need be.

2) I still have a baby tooth. Both my brother and I were born without adult teeth in 2 places in our mouths. In one of my spots, my baby tooth fell out and I now have a space without a tooth. In the other spot my baby tooth is holding on!

3) When I went off to college I steered away from drinking and the like and, for the first time in my life, considered what I believed in. I became a Christian later that fall.

4) I hate Windows and proclaim the wonders of Macs to anyone who'll listen.

5) I am currently pursuing my master's degree in School Counseling from UMass but sometimes I wonder if I should make photography my full time career.

6) I graduated from RHAM High School in Hebron, CT. While there I lettered in basketball, soccer, and softball. I continue to play in a women's softball league but it isn't the same as before...

7) My best friends are a set of twins. They are also the only 2 people I keep in touch with from my high school. One works as a Special Education teacher in Bolton, CT and the other is a Graphic Designer in Glastonbury, CT.

8) Michael and I went on a couple dates in October of 2002 before I decided that I wasn't interested in him. Then he gave me an incredibly sweet Christmas gift (homemade banana bread, sheet music to my favorite song because he knew I was taking piano lessons the next semester, and a CD that I had been wanting). When I got home for Christmas break I called to thank him and within a week we had exchanged I love yous and knew we'd someday get married. We tied the knot last fall :)

Mark & Joanie

2007-09-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

Well, my big stretch is done! Five weddings in five weekends. Joanie and Mark got married yesterday at St. Clement's Castle in Portland. It's one of my favorite venues. The grounds are amazing and the help there is also really, well, helpful. Plus, the food they serve is to die for! It was such a great day. Joanie and Mark met at a punk rock club and their style came through from our very first meeting. I tried to do a few different things this wedding and I think they worked. Let me know what you think!

The Fair is Back

2007-09-08T13:44:00.001-07:00

Michael and I visited the Hebron Harvest Fair last Thursday. I was doing double-duty, covering it for the newspaper as well as enjoying a night out. This is the first year I got to watch the demolition derby. Honestly, I think I enjoyed watching the reactions in the crowds more than the event itself. I won a blue ribbon in the photo contest. We saw baby pigs. And, I was informed by a 4-year old that cows are the smartest animal. Overall we had a really good time.

Whitney & Jake

2007-09-05T09:28:00.001-07:00

Nick & Susan

2007-09-05T07:01:00.001-07:00

Back from vacation and, therefore, back to work. Nick and Susan's wedding was on August 25. It was a hot, humid day making formals quite a production. Overall this was my most difficult wedding to date. I hadn't met the bride or groom prior to the wedding day (the bride's parents basically planned everything. The venue was right along a highway with only a small lawn in the back for formals. And, inside the reception hall had some very harsh lighting. I did the best I could but, still, I don't feel like this is my best work. At least the bride and groom are happy.

Back from vacation

2007-09-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

Michael and I just got back from a week-long vacation in New Hampshire. It was so nice to be able to sleep in (every day until 9 :)) Then get up, go to the beach, and not worry about a thing all week. I didn't even take my laptop and I barely got cell phone service. It was great :) It was a bit of a family reunion as my family was joined by my aunt, her boyfriend, my cousin and her family, and my grandmother. My little cousin is quite the cutie. I've restrained myself from posting all of the 200+ shots I took of him over the week. It was tough though.

Karen and Jared

2007-08-21T15:07:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday Natalie and I headed to Hartford for Jared and Karen's wedding. The day was outstanding. Clear blue skies but not too hot, and a fun couple. The bride even brought her own towel because she wanted to lay in the grass :) My kind of lady. I'm in the process of going through the 2500 photos we shot but these are a few that caught my eye.

Fiori Sofia

2007-08-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

My friend Elizabeth had a baby girl! Fiori Sofia was born at 2:05 am on August 18. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Both mom and baby came home from the hospital today. Except for a little trouble nursing, both are doing well. Elizabeth's husband, Trong, is currently deployed and won't return until February. Pray for the family during this difficult time apart.

An Unexpected Blessing

2007-08-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

This month Michael and I found ourselves in a tight financial spot thanks to the endless car dilemmas that have piled up. Then yesterday I went to my parents house and found a card addressed to Michael and I. It was a wedding check that my great-aunt had initially misplaced and just mailed out. Just when we needed a little extra cash, God provided. I know I shouldn't be surprised at that but the way he works just amazes me. Who would have thought 10 months after our wedding we would still be getting gifts? It truly was perfect timing :)

Susan and Keith got married

2007-08-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

For the last month we've had nothing but gorgeous HOT days. On Friday I had a wedding down by the shore and was really looking forward to shooting on the grounds. Come Wedding Day the skies opened up and it POURED virtually the entire day. We escaped for a view shots outside but not many. Here are some shots, as always, comments are appreciated.

Update

2007-08-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

Deep breath...this is where it's going to start to get busy. This year has been relatively do-able. I've shot 3 weddings (all spaced over a month apart). But, I'm shooting 7 weddings in the next 8 weekends. It's going to be crazy! Pray for me as I try to balance the workload, my regular job, school, and being a wife.

Along with this crazy schedule, is my schedule for next year. I am so thankful that I've been able to find all the work I want/need. I've had so many requests for weddings next year, that I'll be completely booked by the end of the month. What a blessing to be able to prepare that far in advance!

Fuller Wedding

2007-07-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend Nat and I had the honor of shooting the wedding of Mary Carmen and Robert. What a day! They had so much love for one another and we had a wonderful time capturing all the moments of their Big Day.

As always, comments are appreciated.

Day One

2007-07-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I have no idea what this blog will become nor who it will reach. But, I wanted to create a venue for me to share my latest photos and to share, with you all, what I think is worthy of sharing.

I hope you check back frequently as I plan to update as often as I can :)