Thursday, November 24, 2011

Sarah and Chris: Renaissance Golf Club, Haverhill

Sarah and Chris were married on a brilliant, unseasonably warm October day. Sarah got ready in the bridal suite of their lovely reception venue, the Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill. There was wonderful energy in the room as Sarah, her sister, and her best friends got ready, and helped Sarah into her gorgeous gown. She looked like she was floating down the aisle of the majestic cathedral in downtown Haverhill where they exchanged vows. And Chris is my favorite kind of groom; he is friendly and good-natured, and always has a funny quip. Sarah has a keen eye for photography, and thus made sure we went into the day with ample time for formals (yeeehaw!) and also offered her creative vision to the photos. To achieve a bit of variety, we first stopped at this lovely little street-lamp lined alley in downtown Haverhill, and then it was back to the lovely rolling fields of the Renaissance for some natural beauty shots. Here's to deep grass, autumn colors, and setting sun loveliness! I have to take a moment to say what a champ Chris was. Remiscent of the engagement session, where Sarah and I kept him trudging through knee deep snow until his ungloved hands were raw, red and numb, once again the odds were against him, as the poor fella was fighting pneumonia! He was drugged up on medicine, burning with fever, and still he did not complain as I dragged them to multiple photo locations, and coached him into pose after pose in the hot sun. Unlike the last time when he was frozen to the core, this time the poor guy was burning with fever! Amazingly, he remained composed and smiling, holding his bride tenderly out in the brambly fields against a golden horizon. Despite being so under the weather, he felt better at the reception, and spent most of the night on the dance floor with his radiant bride wrapped in his arms....I loved to see them throwing their heads back in laughter and snuggling close, some of the sweetest shots of the day were in those moments. From the lovely venue, to the exquisite flowers (each piece a work of art!), to the phenomenal band who threw a rockin' party, it was in every way a fulfilling event to document. Thanks for the honor, S & C.




Simply stunning.








I loved the colors of downtown Haverhill.

And I loved these untamed fields just as much...


Ahhh, wisps of dried Queen Anne's lace against a golden horizon...



Bundled branches and orchids, just dreamy.






And now for their slideshow:

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Three handsome fellas: Stevens Estate, North Andover

It was my third year in a row romping around after these dear little fellas: blue-eyed Aiden, brown-eyed Sean and green-eyed Nate. We met up on a warm October evening and were lucky to have use of the amazing grounds of the Stevens Estate in North Andover, one of the loveliest wedding venues north of Boston, and one of my absolute favorite venues to shoot at. Their parents Kerri and Ryan could not be more awesome, and it is not surprising that they have raised such precious, good-natured little treasures...I know I am gushing on and on, but the proof is in the pudding! Look at these photos, frame upon frame of happy SMILING little guys. Getting little ones to even glance toward the camera can be a challenge! Can you even handle those smiles? These lads are going to steal a lot of hearts when they grow up. I just kept wanting to give each one of them a squeeze over and over upon editing this collection. Take a peek at their melt-your-heart adorableness...




Brown, blue, green...



The boys brought along their much loved animal friends (all of whom have been in attendance the previous two years as well).


Look at those smiles!



What a snazzy couple.





Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Cristin and Brian: Cohasset Wedding

I had the pleasure of traveling to the South Shore for Cristin and Brian's October wedding day. I had with me a rockin' team: my soul-sista and photographer extraordinaire Tara Lynn Sen, as well as upbeat, friendly videographer-turned-photographer, Greg Gingold. Tara went to hang out with the guys while I joined Cristin at her parents' home. Touching, photographable moments were abundant all day: from Cristin applying her makeup in her sunlit pink wall-papered childhood bedroom, to her adorable grandfather holding the door to usher her into his car and chauffer her to the wedding (like he did for her mother), to seeing Crisitin surrounded by her three brothers and Brian's three brothers (you can tell how much the guys ADORE and protect her, so sweet), to the thumb print sign-in tree and the beautiful cake made by Cristin's own mother, to Brian lifting Cristin up into his arms during the first dance. The reception was at Atlantica in Cohasset, and the sun filtered into the room as it set over the harbor. The room was crowded with happy faces and bangin' dance moves, with Cristin and Brian in the middle, encircled in each other's arms. They have the sweetest story; they met when living in the same building, and were friends for so long, everyone else seemed to know they were meant to be before they did. But it soon became apparent, and it is obvious, from watching Brian beam down at his tiny bride, and watching her snuggle so contentedly into his chest, that everyone was right, and they are where they are supposed to be. As we walked out of the reception hall, Brian's brother serenaded the newlyweds with the Bagpipes (my, the many talents of those Monaco & Shields family members!), sending them off into marriage with a bit of pomp and sweet sentiment. I am happy to finally share some of the day's highlights!

Impressively, Cristin did her own makeup.



I love this portrait of the dashing groom by Tara.

what a batch of cuties (all Tara)!

Cristin's adorbale grandfather chauffered her to the ceremony. So sweet!






This was not the result of my direction. Brian is just that sweet.




I handed Tara a tilt shift lens and said "go." First time she picked one up. Girlfriend's got game :)

Delicious light.





Cristin's brother getting air.

Courtest of Tara.

Another fabulously talented brother, Brian's brother serenading guests at the end of the night.

More tilty fabulousness from Tara....

Perhaps my favorite.


If you want to see more, check out their slideshow: