Julia Elaine: newborn

Over the summer, my friends Ben and Michele welcomed a baby girl, Julia Elaine. What a little cuddle-bear! She looks so much like her daddy to me, and it is just so sweet to see Ben as a father. He scoops her up, and handles her with such ease and tenderness--like he's done this all his life. It is so sweet to see. Julia is now about six months old, but I wanted to make sure to post a few photos captured when she was brand new!


Baby blue eyes.

Proud Mama...

This is a little out of focus, but one of my favorites!

Of course, I had to have some fun and bundle her all up for a couple shots.

Ava and Tyler: newborn

Over the summer, my dear friends Gretchen and Ann welcomed twins, a boy and a girl. Of course, I couldn't wait to meet the little dears, so I went over to take some photos when they were just a few weeks old. Of course, since it was the thick of my wedding season, I haven't featured them here yet--and they are now six months old! I will soon post their three month session, but for now, take a peek at Tyler and Ava when they were brand new...


I couldn't resist swaddling them in pink and blue...

Proud (and exhausted) parents.



Big brother Cole.

Cole, a bit shell-shocked by how much life had changed in the last few weeks.


Tyler, a bit exhausted from so much modeling.


Ann and Ava on the left, Gretchen and Tyler on the right.

Very Merry

Merry Christmas, a day late! In the last month and a half, I repeatedly tried and failed to capture a photo of my children for my Christmas card. Though she smiles and poses adorably when Matt takes out his ipone, whenever Maeve sees my giant lens coming at her, she yells, "No!" and runs the other way. So I finally gave up and made a card using individual shots of the girls. Of course, the very next day after dropping my cards in the mail, with the girls dressed for Christmas day, I plopped them down in front of the tree for a quick shot, and Maeve smiled sweetly, saying "cheeeeese" and mugging for the camera. So I figured I'd feature it here, the shot I thought was unattainable, and send out wishes for a very happy holiday season!

Baby Cassandra: newborn

I have only blogged weddings all season, and now that I am soon to enter my "winter lull" (just one more wedding on New Year's day!), I would like to go back and post some of my portrait sessions from the last few months. I have had the opportunity to photograph some lovely little ones and families, and I will try to get a few of them up here. First is sweet baby Cassie, born to our neighbors in August. As the first girl born into a family with two boys, Cassie was a welcome addition, and she is just adored by her parents and proud big brothers Daniel and Jesse (according to Viola, the cute "neighbor-boys" next door). Cassie was plump and angelic just a week after her birth--and with those round cheeks and beautiful head of fluffy black hair, she couldn't have been more photogenic!


She seemed too alert and curious to be just days old!


Cassie and her two big brothers...

Amanda and Scott: the Stevens Estate, North Andover

I am so excited to finally post this wedding! Amanda and Scott's day was last in a very long stretch of weddings, so they have had to wait awhile for this unveiling! The wedding was exquisite, and Amanda and Scott such a terrific pair, I knew even a year ago that it was going to be a good one. Amanda is one of those gals who I connected with instantly. Spend five minutes with her, and you know she is a creator. Her artisitic vision came through in every detail of the day: the unique handmade stationary, the classy, not matchy but fabulously coorinated styles worn by the entire wedding party, the just married sign embellished with maps of significant locations in their lives, the necklace her parents had custom-made for her, the inclusion of customs from her mother's native Hawaii, and of course, the flowers. Amanda is a floral designer, so I knew her flowers would be incredible. I loved how her girls each carried a bouquet featuring a different flower, one with orchids, one with dalias, etc. There were spraying branches of berries, sweet calla posies for the mothers, and Amanda's adorable nephew carried a ring artichoke! The ceremony took place at St. Michaels in Noth Andover, and the reception at the elegant Stevens Estate, a favorite of mine because of the beautiful setting, the many brick out-buildings, and the intrigue of the beautiful manor with it's grand rooms, lovely archicture, and abundant period detail...We finished up with family and wedding party formals as the sun was just firey embers through the trees. And the reception was full of tears and emotion, laughter, and of course, hot moves on the dance floor! It was a splendid day, and despite a sprained ankle from my wedding the day before, I (and my wonderful assitant shooter Antonette) had an absolute blast. And sweet Amanda even let me take home one of the centerpieces, so I had a bouquet of orchids, dalias, and hygdrangea on my desk for full a week, a fragrant reminder of Amanda and Scott's 10-10-10 union (don't they have the best anniversary ever?). Enough ado, on to some photos...



Amanda's parents sweetly looking on...


Glamorous girl...







We caught the golden evening light, much to my pleasure.





One of Amanda's precious nephews.

"I've had the Time of my Life" from Dirty Dancing: best last dance song EVER.




And of course, the slideshow at last!

Nicole and Karl: Willowdale Estate

It was back to one of my absolute favorite venues, the Willowdale Estate on another glistening October day for the wedding celebration of Nicole and Karl. With her rich dark hair and miles-long legs, Nicole was absolutely stunning in her lace gown. There is something so sweet and natural about her--and my lens loves her! But so do I--she and Karl are genuine and down to earth, and such good sports when presented with my crazy ideas (like stopping at random, perhaps slightly unsightly points along route one for their engagement shoot, including an attempt at "Karl's Sausages"). But it was ALL class and elegance on their wedding day. Nicole got ready in Willowdale's beautiful bridal suite, her entourage of gorgeous bridesmaids, her mother, mother-in-law, and both grandmothers by her side. Nicole and Karl first saw each other in the back patio, and then we made use of Willowdale's amazing grounds for family, wedding party and portraits of the two of them (chasing the "good light," I was hunkered low to the ground to avoid the parking lot full of cars, and catch the low streaming light through the trees and Nicole's veil). Then I got to hop in the limo with the bride, her father, and her girls (such an honor!) to head to the Blessed Sacrament Church in Saugus for the ceremony. And then it was back to Willowdale for a rowdy celebration lead by Nicole's charismatic cousin, D.J. Joshua Wiseman, who was absolutely fantastic! He has such energy and magnitism and I recommend him whole-heartedly--brides take note! I loved that Nicole's grandparents were out on the dance floor until the last minute--a sweet testament to the enduring love story that for Nicole and Karl is just beginning.


Being beautified from both sides.


Nicole's maid of honor had these crazy-gorgeous amber eyes.

Haha, if you look close, you can see me in this action shot!



Nicole's bouquet looks the most like my own wedding bouquet of any I have seen--so of course I absolutely loved it!








D.J. Josh lead them in a "newlywed game" (see left) and then held a hilarious dance contest (see right).