Single Photo Friday:: Cake

I forgot to post on Friday, and now it's Sunday. I am happily celebrating my birthday all weekend long and thought this photo would be a good fit.

These are not my cupcakes, but ones my nephew decorated for his own birthday back in April. Still, I like the mood they convey - which is one of happiness and fun. And there's something about already blown out candles that create a feeling of moving forward, being ready for what's next.

So, here's to many creative moments in the year ahead!


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Single Photo Friday: Open

My neighborhood is looking festive. Shot on Nikon D3 ISO 6400.

I got a new camera! Well, new to me. It came my way when I wasn't in the market for anything (though visions of camera gear dance in my head on a regular basis). What once belonged to the fabulous photographer and storyteller, Jim Daniels (whom I worked for over 10 years ago and whose work I admire greatly), is now sitting here in my office with me. Check out his site, and get ready to be moved.

Jim passed away earlier this year after battling cancer. His absence is felt throughout the photo community, but especially in the homes of his family members, and throughout parts of the world where he has made an impact with both his photos and general being.

Using a piece of Jim's camera gear carries a decent amount of weight for me. I walked in the cool air last night, cranked the ISO up to 3200, 6400, and even 10,000(!!) and took a few shots of my little neighborhood. It felt amazing! I have been trying to justify the buying of this camera when I am worried about other things I need more, when Christmas is right around the corner, when I'm in the middle of upgrades to our new home, when I already have 2 digital bodies that work fine.

But sometimes FINE isn't good enough. Earlier that day I packed up my first digital camera (the Fuji S5 Pro) and shipped it off to KEH. I felt more relief than anything else. That camera and I were never an ideal fit. It simply couldn't keep up with me.

But Jim's camera (which I think is what it will always be called) is fast and shoots in low light and fits nicely in my hand and by my eye. It can keep up with me AND push me to the next level.

When I got home I stood in front of my house and just stared at it. There were a few festive lights in the windows and I found myself needing to pause and take in the moment. I just used Jim's camera, photographed in the dark, felt alive and grateful and inspired. I stared at the warm glow coming from parts of my house and felt a wave of emotion that let me know I made the right decision - both in moving to this home and in buying Jim's camera.

Being open can really pay off at times.



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Neutral is Not Always Best

This photo cracks me up. I see future teenager mayhem when I look at this.

What images come into your head when you think family photos? Everyone dressed the same standing in a straight line? It doesn't have to be that way. Dressing in neutrals works well for some people, but it may not suit everyone. If your kids are colorful and energetic, perhaps they should be able to show that off to the camera.

I was a little obsessed with Natalie's shoes.

Corinne and Natalie came to me on Halloween weekend, in costumes, ready to laugh and smile. There is no way I could have rejected these outfit choices! They are, quite honestly, some of the best I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. They were both going as butterfly princesses, which is quite a difference from the standard toned-down neutrals intended to blend in to whatever landscape is nearby. Blend in, or perhaps just not stick out too much. You walk down to the beach with 2 little girls wearing wings, tutus, striped socks and sparkly sneakers and there is no blending in. All eyes will be on you, and everyone will want to somehow be part of the fun, even if just for a moment.

Strangers' smiles followed us everywhere we went.

People wanted to talk to us.

Natalie wanted to pet every dog she saw.

Corrine wanted to play and run and jump and climb and and and...

The light was slipping away, the air was getting cooler. I knew I had a limited window of opportunity before the fun drained, the light faded, and the cold air started wearing everyone down. But the other side of family photos is kind of letting things happen and seeing where the pieces come together. Capture them where they play, encourage them to show mom some love, try to get all eyes in the same place, all faces happy. But when girls are wearing butterfly wings and tutus, smiles and laughter come easily.

2 years ago, almost to the day, I photographed this family only Natalie was still a few weeks away from arriving. When I look back at those photos I see the same sparkle and sass in Corinne's eyes and smile. I love how her spirit unfolds in front of the camera. How she is often so aware of the camera, while her sister could care less if it's there.

Corinne ready to pose at every chance, Natalie waving to strangers as they walk by with their dogs.

I loved watching the two different personalities come through.

This photo makes me think we should all wear wings every once in awhile.

Telling Mom a secret.

Always ready to pose with mom.

Getting Natalie into the shot took a little more work. She has a pretty strong independent streak, which I love.

These photos would have been totally different had everyone been dressed the same, had the colors been more muted. And the bright color palette suits them and their personality. People always ask me what they should wear for family photo shoots. They see their friends' photos hanging on living room walls and think they should do the same thing, that if they dress like their friends did their family photos will come out as good, or the same. But that is not necessarily the best approach.

I continually laughed at her tutu being in her armpits, and how much she didn't care. :)

First, each photographer has their own style (hopefully) so if you want photos that look like your friends' you could hire who they hired, but realize different personalities mean different images. Whoever you are is going to come through, and you should celebrate it.

But more importantly, hire the photographer whose work speaks to you and who you want to tell your family's story. The story of YOU is important, not to be trusted to the inexperienced, and will come together easier if the person photographing you GETS you, gets your kids. I always tell parents that the photos are for them now, for their kids 20 years from now. Natalie and Corinne will not remember what they were like at this age, but the photos will tell the story.

Best. Shoes. Ever.

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Single Photo Friday:: Dancing Shoes

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I have posted to the blogaroo. But I'm here, on a Friday evening trying to get back into the swing of things.

A week ago today we moved, in the middle of a rain storm. Today I am finally feeling like I can catch my breath. My office is set up in pieces while we work on getting our electrical upgraded, and part of my life is still in boxes. I have spent much of the last two weeks in grubby clothes with my arms in and out of boxes. I am feeling pretty unglamorous at this point.

And yet, this is the photo I want to share on this Single Photo Friday in blogland. A moment from one of this season's weddings, taken right before the bride headed out the door to her wedding ceremony. I love how those feet in those shoes look ready to dance!

And now, I will put my slippers on, get some hot soup off the stove, and sit back with a good book. A perfect way to end a long week.

Happy Friday, everyone!

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The Non-driving Photog Update

What will today's post bring? One never knows. Some days I have a plan, other days I don't. It's just how I live my life. A state of structured flexibility, you could say.

I flip back and forth between focus and fun. I bury my nose in a project, then I step away and do something creative. I edit photos for hours, then I slap on roller blades and spend time cruising around my neighborhood. I whip up a batch of gluten-free granola bars, then I call my insurance company and end up on the phone for 45 minutes figuring out recent errors and how we can fix them. I am a wandering homebody, a lover of the outdoors and time spent on the couch with a good book.

I start my day jolting my brain awake with coffee and new ideas. I sit and write them out. I finish my day reading good books and laughing at funny television shows. I go to bed looking forward to my new morning routine of coffee and and idea writing in the cool air on my back deck. I go to bed wanting sleep but already excited to start the next day. This seems like a whole new outlook for me. I don't remember feeling this alive... ever.

I have a possible explanation, and it lies somewhere between loving what I do and coming off medication I have been on for over 25 years. Is it possible that the last 3 weeks of reducing my epilepsy medicine has had this much of an impact on me? I think it's very possible, I just never imagined this was going to happen. All I knew was that I was so ready to come off this medicine, but I was completely unable to get a sense of what it would do to me or how I would feel. I honestly was happy with the thought of no longer being dependent on a medicine, no longer paying for it, no longer remembering to take it and panicking when I forgot.

Instead I'm 3 weeks into this process and I feel great! Sure, I'm still the photographer who can't drive herself anywhere, but I'm also more focused and alert than I think I have ever been. My energy levels are cranked up a few notches. It's very exciting and bizarre at the same time.

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And here I am, a few days later on day 3 of feeling like a human bobble head. Weeks 1-3 were bordering on awesome, Week 4 has had me very housebound and unable to get much done. I couldn't take charge right now if I had to. So, I won't. I will hope to get through the day without upsetting the balance too much, much like I did all weekend.

Saturday I was so out of whack that I spent most of the day on the couch in and out of sleep. Sunday I made attempts to get things done. I packed up my basement studio (our awesome home has been sold and we are moving), with breaks taken on the couch. Today I sit at the computer unable to focus long enough to do much at all. It's okay that I can't drive right now because I honestly have no desire to even be in a car. Every few minutes there is a different symptom somewhere: loss of balance, tingly hands, overheating, loss of focus, fatigue, chills, head full of cotton. It just kind of keeps looping itself like bad elevator music. The thought of socializing is more than I care to think about for now. I am essentially a drug addict in the middle of a detox.


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Today (October 1) I step out of my foggy mind only to stand at my window and watch fog weave through the trees in my yard. I return again to watch the sky open up and pour down on the same trees. I believe I have made it through the worst part of this medicine removal. I feel better, and yet my life feels like it's in a holding pattern of some sort. I am waiting for the energy of a few weeks ago to return.

Having my life kind of on hold, and yet moving forward at the same time, is a tricky thing to sort out. I am keeping my work load light in the months when I normally do the most, because I just can't stand the thought of possibly coming up short for my clients. The not knowing what to expect, not being able to drive to get simple errands done, the working around other people's schedules, all require a certain amount of patience and flexibility. So, I'm using as much patience to ease through this time and come out the other side ready to move forward in a stronger way. I will be so glad later when I look back at this time, but now I worry about all the opportunities I may be missing.

I share this non-photo part of my life because it is an important piece to who I am. Doing so has caused others to share stories as well that perhaps I never would have heard otherwise. Conversations started and ideas shared that may have helped where answers weren't being given. It has been a comfort but also discouraging to learn how many of us are coasting through medical situations, with many questions going unanswered and getting tips from each other rather than our doctors.

I am mere days away from being done with a 27 year prescription. Monday I will take my final pill, probably cry many joyful tears, then move on. Literally. My house and office are being packed with plans to move in the next few weeks. I don't know what the final weeks of adjusting to no meds will mean, but I do know the new home and office will mean great things for my business and life in general. I am very excited to see how it all plays out!


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Single Photo Friday:: Weather Shift

Matt heads to his wedding ceremony on a rainy day.

I hear there is a hurricane headed our way, and his name is Earl. I don't actually pay too much attention to the weather report so I am not really sure what we are in for. I'm going to confess that I am sitting here hoping for rain and a pretty strong shift in air temperature. This girl is ready for fall weather!

Perhaps the perfect end to a very sunny summer is some much needed rain. I can't remember a better summer, weather-wise, than the one we have had this year. Maybe that's not the case for everyone, but here in Maine things have been sunny and hot. And it's been great, of course. But as a lover of cooler air, and one who doesn't dread winter the way many do, I am beyond happy to see Fall arrive. This is, without a doubt, my most favorite time of year. How about you? Are you as happy to see Fall arrive as I am?

Those of you in Earl's path - stay as dry as possible this Labor Day weekend. Hope everyone enjoys this final weekend of a very excellent summer!

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Single Photo Friday:: Family Fun

I recently hung out at the beach with Mike, Maria, Ryan and Nick. Family photos are one of those things I love doing, especially when I get to see the same family members through the years. Last time we did this Nick was a lot smaller and perhaps not quite as active!

I love seeing what will happen when I tell the kids it's ok for us to do a goofy photo. The above photo is a classic example of how that can unfold.

This time of year is perfect for family photos. So if you are thinking you need them done I encourage you to act sooner rather than later to take advantage of the long summer days, great weather, and amazing light. And to give you plenty of time to use your images as holiday gifts ;-)

 Enjoy the weekend!


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Celebrating Dads

Today would have been my dad's 70th birthday. So, Happy Birthday, Dad! I miss you tons, and especially on this day.

I also spend Father's Day missing him. If you are visiting my blog for the first time you may not know that my dad passed away a little over 5 years ago from Mantle Cell Lymphoma (a rare, currently incurable cancer). So, June is often a month that challenges me, on a personal level.

However, while there may be moments of missing or feeling kind of sad, there are also great moments of remembering. Hearing or seeing certain things that remind me of him, that often trigger smiles or even laughter. I try to celebrate him in little ways on both these days. So, on this birthday the Weekend Warrior and I will be going to see 3 houses as we have put our adorable and well-loved house on the market. We are looking for a place to help grow my business, and that feels exciting.

I spent Father's Day photographing a family, which felt like the perfect thing to do. The more time passes, the more I am in tune to how important these moments are for a family unit. As a family we all share many amazing and fun memories, but rarely do we get photos to document that. Kids grow fast, time speeds by. Recording these moments is not easy, especially while trying to also be a parent. Luckily, that's where photographers can step in! Telling a piece of the story that is your family, capturing moments you would not be able to get on your own.

So, hanging out with the Aiello family on Father's Day was, for  me, a great way to spend a day that often challenges me. They were willing to go to a place that wouldn't necessarily strike people as the ideal place for photos, and I loved that. They wanted photos done somewhere that meant something to them (more applause!), somewhere they like spending time together.

So, we headed down a trail that opens up to the marsh and hung out together. I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you. Father's Day served up some great light that day and a gorgeous sky, so that was an extra gift.

I love the color of these rocks against the sky.

Brothers throwing rocks into the marsh. 

The goofy brother.

The serious brother.

The parents.

 

The tickle war!

Did I mention I also photographed their wedding back in the early days of my career? Yes, so it's great to work with the same couple 10 years later. Ten years is a long time - how things have changed! Thanks for sharing Father's Day with me Kate, Justin, Mason, and Max!

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The Power of Photos:: Jen & Jeremy

Love this moment of them laughing during their ceremony.

My friend Jeremy called me the other day. I photographed his wedding this fall, but our friendship goes back to our Ithaca College days. He wanted to tell me about his recent visit with his grandmother. She's in a nursing home, and from what I understand, she is mostly unresponsive during their visits. This time was different.

Woot! Officially Married.

How cute are they?

They showed her photos from the wedding, the family event she was unable to attend, and watched her become more alert and responsive. The simple act of looking at photos brought a smile to her face and made her interact more with her family. He told me it was probably the best visit he's had with her.

The hair.

The dress.

The last minute phone calls.

Hair officially approved.

The delicate task of getting everything on the dress done right.

"I thought you would like knowing that," he told me. His voice was charged with happiness and excitement.

And he was right. I did like, DO like, actually LOVE to know those things. These kinds of stories are plentiful, and are always nice to hear. [Read my post below for some more thoughts on how important family photos are.] His grandmother may not have been well enough to go to his wedding, but the the simple act of looking through photos of her loved ones brought her to a place she hadn't been in a long time. This is the power photography has: a power to bring joy and happiness in the most surprising ways at often the simplest of times.

Fun, simple, and pretty table decorations.

Love.

Flip through pages of photographs, and relive old memories or create new ones. Pretty amazing stuff, isn't it? Yeah, I think so, too. I'm so glad he took the time to call me and share this. It's a good reminder for all of us that those albums full of photos don't need to collect dust. Take them out for you, your family, your friends, your new neighbors. Share and laugh in each other's moments, old and new.


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Family History: Priceless

Dad @ Bitliff's, some time in the 90's.

I am fresh off a 3 day Wedding Photo seminar called Mystic5. I'm inspired, motivated and even overwhelmed. I am still decompressing, but my mind has some clear thoughts.

One of my favorite quotes from one of the presenters, the amazing David Williams, is "Put your hand up if you have EVERY picture you want of the ones you love."

No one raised their hands.
And every time I read it I literally get tears in my eyes. I think of my father. On Feb 2 it will be 5 years since he passed away from Mantle Cell Lymphoma. His death is still a very painful thing for me, and it certainly seems hard to believe I've been carrying this pain around for 5 years. But I remember that scramble to find photos of our family to share. That was my task. Logical, considering I'm a photographer. It was painful for me to realize how long it had been since he and I had been in a photo together. I found one from my wedding, the end of the night (we never did the father/daughter dance, sadly), on the dance floor we leaned in and smiled, my lips were bright red from the ring pop I had been eating. It wasn't a great shot of either of us. And, it was 5 years old.

The last photo I took of my father was on Thanksgiving 2004. He was sick, but we didn't really know why yet. He sat on the floor leaning against the couch, because it was the only place he could get comfortable. My nephew had climbed up on the couch behind him and was rubbing has hand across the top of my father's head. He said something and my brother started laughing. I took the picture. My brother said "He just said your head is square!"

We all laughed. We have always teased my father about his square head. I have been accused of having one as well. No surprise there, since I look like him.

It's not a great photo, but it's the last one I took of him so I remember that moment.

The point is our families are part of our history, and photos help us keep track of that history. People really are losing sight of how important it is to record and keep these moments. Looking through a photo album is such an amazing and simple experience that gives people a lot of joy, yet we are starting to forget what that feels like. But our families and our stories are on those pages, and should not to be taken lightly. People need to remember what that feels like, and need to remember the value of images. Imagine if you are just starting your family, and you never take a single image off your hard drive. What would you do if your computer crashed and it was all lost? You could lose valuable family history. Your kids will grow up and never have those images of their childhood. Or worse, something could happen to you and your child may not be able to find a photo of the two of you together. Imagine how that would break their heart.

And technology is a fickle thing. What works today, may not tomorrow. Your DVD of images may not read or work on a computer in 5, 10 years. Again, family history lost. I am no longer allowing my business to operate as it has for the last year. I am restructuring what I offer and what I do. One of those items being that I can't, in good conscience, photograph families without getting albums made. Walking away with just a CD is not enough. Your family needs to be honored.

And, yes, photography is an investment. But so is your family, your health, your happiness. All of these things matter. Everyone wants to find the cheapest & quickest way to do everything, but where does that get you? Usually, having to pay for the same thing all over again, either because something broke or you weren't happy with the quality. How many vacuum cleaners have you bought/ will you buy? My mother spent good money on a Kirby and used it for almost 40 years. She would have spent ten times the amount if she just kept buying the cheapest and first vacuum she found.

I'm a firm believer in what may seem expensive today, will be priceless tomorrow. If my family had photos taken by someone like me back when I was a kid, you would not able to pry that album out of my hands today.

And luckily for all of us, the painful Sears Portrait is not the standard these days. Photographers are doing amazing things that will tell YOUR story, and leave your mark in the family history.

It's a new year, a new decade. Maybe a good time for all of us to remember the value of quality and hard work. And to record our family history.


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Holiday Warmth

This year's wrapping scheme: recycled brown bags with accents of orange and turquoise.

Step aside, Martha Stewart. There's a new craft queen in town!

I get into Christmas. Every year has a color scheme with fun bows and crafty accents. My family will come over tomorrow and we will eat, laugh, and enjoy our day together. Sweet Potato Cranberry soup is simmering on the stove, and cornbread (both gluten-free) is cooling as I write this. My sink has backed up and The Weekend Warrior is tearing things apart and trying to get everything in working order. Things are somewhat hectic, and yet the air is filled with yummy smells and happiness that can mean only one thing: Christmas is almost here!

My mantle. Books are placed by the chimney with care.

Home.

No matter where you live, what you believe, or how you celebrate, I hope you all have a holiday season filled with love, laughter, creativity, and inspiration!

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Witness to Happiness

This is what content looks like, in case you haven't seen it in awhile. The highlight of his whole trip, hands down, making all the work to get there totally worth it.

A chance to see San Francisco is worth it anyway, and now I get to be one of those people who walks around saying "San Francisco is such a great city!" since I have finally seen it. Pieces of it, at least. This photo will remain one of my favorite moments, and a reminder of what I love about photography: that chance to witness people's happiness over and over.

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Summer Fish

Summer Love.

That's all. Nothing deep and meaningful to say. Just love this moment of my nephew's in his first summer of finally falling in love with the water. Do you remember feeling the same way?


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Sunday Morning Silliness: Part of the Sunday Morning Series

Max, via my new Lightroom Presets

The Easter Bunny made a few stops this weekend. My nephew got a bunch of things to make him happy, mostly all centered around his love for animals. Between bites of food, I snapped some shots of him. This one is my fave.

"Look at this, Juju!" Max would say to me, plopping a plastic owl into my hand.
"That is so cool!" I would say back.
"I know, and I have another one too, only in a different color!" His sentences always seem to end in exclamation points.

Hopped up on sugar I went home and started to install some new Lightroom Presets that a fellow photog shared with me. After figuring out that little technical piece I started playing around and before long my behavior was not that different than my 6 year old nephew when he was playing with all his new toys. Transforming image after image had me giggly and inspired and excited.

Hours later, in front of my computer I could be heard "WOW! Look at that! That is SO cool!"

My favorites were the ones that made a sort of vintage or washed look, which is somehow also a bit edgy and definitely fun. I thought about how this one little discovery could bring me so much joy, creating a stronger bond to my software, another reason to love my craft. I find these kinds of moments to be so crucial. Reasons to laugh and jump around and feel excited about what you do and how much you love it. Reasons to feel like a kid again.

Time Flies: My Year in Photos

2009 is here, and I am, in some ways, still trying to catch my breath from 2008. It was the year of re-connections and creative inspiration. There were a few risks, some adventures, lots of laughs, and many improvements. And on December 31 I punched out for the last time, leaving the place I have worked for the last four years. I am officially on my own. Self-employed. Unemployed. However you want to look at it.

It feels pretty good. So I spent New Year's digging through the photos of the past year, seeing where I've been and how far I've come. Here are some of my favorite moments....

New Year's Day, 2008. I photographed the Annual Lobster Dip, a fundraiser for Maine's Special Olympics. Crazy people jump into the Atlantic Ocean to support a good cause.

The weekend warrior started making animals out of scrap metal. I took a portrait of his latest, the pig.

The WW and I in a garage in Purcelville, VA. We bought an El Camino on EBay, and took a little road trip to fetch it.

This is my nephew, Max, on Easter. It's amazing how young he looks in this photo.

Tom Brady's love child is born in Portland, Maine. I'm kidding. This is Charlie Ellis, and he's pretty darn cute.

Hanging out with friends and therefore lots of kids is common for me. I'm a sucker for a swing set and always love photos of people swinging, no matter what age they are.

In the spring some college friends reunited in Ithaca, NY. First order of business: hit HotTruck. I saw this as a good opportunity to add to my collection of Ben Photos, and the shiny head in the Hot Truck light was irresistible, photographically speaking. Oh, and our friend Jeremy got engaged the next night. Woohoo!

I hung out on a rooftop with the band memebers of The Lomax. Later we hung out in an elevator and a woodworking workshop. It was cool. They are cool.

Just a family portrait I like. They each have their own personality.

A fun wedding shot. Can't remember what was so funny. I have to assume it was me.

Another photo from a wedding. I like it when I can get artsy while shooting weddings.

The El Camino was a hero driving up the East Coast in snow storms. It spent the summer resting and recovering in our driveway. The Weekend Warrior has a mistress.

These crazy bunch of New Yorkers left the city and spent some time in Maine. We all watch Dana as she decides what she thinks about this ocean thing. The next frame showed her running away from them laughing.

Max started Kindergarten. I of course showed up with my camera.

In September I took an awesome workshop on how to shoot film stills. This is Ryan. He was a very good photographic subject.