It's Vacation Time...

Yes that is right I'm packing up with my wonderful husband and my in-laws and we are crusing for the week, and I am sooooooooooooo excited. I think this is my 7th cruise... so clearly I'm a fan! I am so looking forward to sipping yummy drinks and getting a tan and relaxing. Typically I would panic about getting my work done, but I'm pretty on top of things this time around and am really looking forward to spending some time with my husband (as we really don't get to over the summer) and hanging out with my adorable nieces. I really can't wait!
This weekend was filled with great events, from Kristen and Pauls wedding yesterday to Evan's barmitzvah today. I honestly haven't looked at the photos but am excited to share them with you when I return!
Kristen and Paul, Sandra and I had a fabulous time at your wedding and think everyone else did too. You guys were awesome! I know you are in hawaii so we'll be in touch when you get back but once again... congrats!
For those who are looking to get in touch with me, I'll be back shortly, you can drop me an email or leave me a voice mail and I'll return it asap.
Have a great week!!!!!!!!

Kim & Billy's Wedding

On June 21st Kim and Billy tied the knot. Sandra was the main photographer of this event but I got there just in time for the ceremony which was held at Tunxis Plantation. I had never been there before and it was beautiful. The ceremony was very nice and as soon as that was over we were escorted by golf carts to the greens a little ways away. It was a beautiful setting to get our portraits done. Here are just a few of my favorites from the course. After the portraits we went back to continue the party where they rocked all night long. They had a great wedding with lots of family and friends that were all there to have a good time. Kim and Billy are honeymooning in one of my favorite places... Aruba. I can't wait to hear all about it when you come back. Hope you guys enjoyed!

Tina & Josh's Wedding

On June 21st at 8a.m I showed up at Tina's hotel room at the Saybrook Point Inn and began to capture her day. I expected quite a bit of commotion as she had 9 bridesmaids, but to my surprise it was quiet and calm (there were only 3 of them there at this point :) ) We went down to the spa and got her make up done and then back to the room to round up all the girls and begin to get ready. They couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, the sun was shining and it wasn't too hot. At 10:15 we left Saybrook Point and headed to the church to get her married! A very beautiful and quick ceremony followed by a receiving line and photos at the church, which then brought us back to The Saybrook Point Inn to do the rest of the bridal party photos and of course Tina and Josh's. Despite the 24 person bridal party the photos went smoothly. Tina, Josh and I went down to the docks to capture some more moments, and then they got introduced and danced the day away... There were so many awesome moments that you'll have to see when I'm done with the photos, but I'll share with words right now. Right as the doors opened in the church for Tina to walk down, I always go right to the groom and his expression. Josh, a very sentimental guy, tried to fight off a tear, but couldn't as he saw her getting closer... but that wasn't even the good part, the look on his older brothers face as he looked up at Josh watching his bride walk down the aisle was unforgettable. THEN Tina's mom during their first dance had this look of happiness for her daughter mixed with I can't believe she's getting married emotions (or at least that's what I would imagine it to be!) again it was special, and you'll have to stay tuned for it. John Assunto from A&B Entertainment was the DJ again for this wedding and did a fabulous job getting everyone out there having a great time in turn making my job so much easier. The day flew by and at 5:00 their party had ended and I was off to another wedding, stay tuned for that! Tina and Josh are honeymooning in the Bahamas now and I'm sure totallying enjoying themselves... how could they not be!?!
Speaking of enjoyment... as a reminder I will be enjoying myself on vacation next week, Sunday the 29th to July 6th so if you don't hear from me that is why!

Maureen & Carlo's wedding

On Friday afternoon, June 20th, I headed to The Saybrook Point Inn to photograph Carlo and Maureen's wedding. The weather, perfect, the setting, perfect, the couple, PERFECT. I couldn't have asked for anything better. This was their 2nd marriage and it was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever heard. Both of them have 3 children and they all were in their wedding, in fact they were the wedding. It was so wonderful to see 6 different kids of all kinds of different backgrounds coming together into one family and honestly... they all seemed to really get a long. They range in age from 7-21 and were just a great group of kids. The minster who gave their service told a great story, which was a replica of the brady bunch that was just a perfect fit for this family. Anyway, Liz Sullivan at the Saybrook Point does an amazing job coordinating these weddings and her staff, Joe and Donna were just awesome to work with this weekend, and always. Joe lead us to the end of the docks where we took some photos... and it was just wonderful. John Assunto from A&B entertainment was truly awesome.... as usual. He had everyone up dancing the night away and had them exhausted at the end of the night from a great time. I packed up my gear and headed to bed for another early rise for Tina & Josh's wedding... stay tuned for that.
Carlo and Maureen, hope you had a great time at your wedding and hope you are enjoying a week away without kids!

Sara & Marc's Wedding

On June 14th... one of my crazy weekends this summer, I had the opportunity to help Sandra photograph Sara & Marc's wedding at Choate. I had a prior engagement so I joined Sandra after the ceremony to capture the reception fun. But you know me I had to sneak a few "formals" just because... these were some of my favorites. Aren't they a cute couple? They had a great party, friends and family were up for dancing and having a great time. I have a quick slide show to share, but Sandra has most of the "good stuff" which I'm still working on retouching... so stay tuned for that :) Later tonight or tomorrow I will share a few more photos from this past weekends events :) I am trying my best to get everything done before we go away, or at least a few photos up to help cure some of your anxiety. I'll post more soon. Congrats again Sara & Marc, hope you had a great honeymoon!

Josh's Barmitzvah

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to photograph Josh's barmitzvah. I shot his sister Elana's batmitzvah 2 years ago and had a great time, this was no different. It's amazing how quickly kids grow up, which makes me sound old, but really look at difference in 2 years! What a great looking family! The event took place at the Saybrook Point Innwhere friends and family gathered together and had an awesome time. To see more of Josh's day click here.

Kristine & Chris Engagement Pics...

On Friday I met Kristine and Chris at one of my most favorite places in CT... Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford. It was, as my dad would say, "a glorious day" and I was so excited to be at this fabulous location where the photo options are endless and the clients are up for just about anything. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot I said aloud, it doesn't seem like I'm in CT anymore. I just can't describe what it is that makes me LOVE this place so much but I really just do, it's just awesome, and if you haven't ever been, I highly suggest you go, but plan on spending some time, because well it's just that good!
Anyway, so you want to see some of their pictures huh? Here are just a few of my favorites and of course the slide show they were so cute just very into each other and I loved capturing their personalities together. They are getting married October 25th at the Gerson Fox Room at Marquee I am very excited to see the room, it seems fabulous!
I have been super busy these past few days trying to get this past weekend events done before the upcoming weekend. I have done pretty good so far, as tomorrow I will post Josh's barmitzvah. On Saturday night Sandra shot Sara & Marc's wedding and I joined in for the reception and it was a blast! You'll see photos soon!
This coming up weekend is a big weekend for me and I'm super looking forward to it because 12 of the 18 working hours will be spent with my FAVORITE dj and friend John Assunto . We are working together on Friday night and then first thing saturday morning at the Saybrook Point Inn.
So still noisy around here during the days with the construction going on, but it is finally coming a long. It's crazy all the inspecitions you have to have, it's almost like you need an inspection for the inspection it's nuts! So of course this is taking a bit longer than we thought or hoped for but it will definitely be worth it in the long run... I hope!
Check back tomorrow for a few more updates!

A walk in the park

Last weekend I went to Boothe Memorial Park and photographed 3 beautiful girls. We got there first thing in the morning which was great or the heat would have been brutal! I have photographed Maddie several times and it's crazy to see how quickly they grow. Bridget , her mom is awesome, she works so hard thinking of things to bring or do to get her daughter to take such adorable photos :) After Maddie's shoot her friend Carmen came with her baby sister. They were so adorable dressed in their matching outfits and looking so cute! One of my favorites is her listening to the shell and her expression when she heard the ocean in it!

Keeping up

I haven't left the computer almost at all the last few days as I am trying to get all my portraits and other wedding stuff done before the "big" weekend comes. This weekend kicks off the busy wedding season starting with Kristine's engagement shoot on Friday, a bar mitzvah on Saturday morning and a wedding on Saturday night. I'm looking forward to all of it and just wanted to be able to get everything to everyone as quickly as I can :)
Last night I finished Ellen's photos of her son and her niece. I shot Ellen's wedding in April of 2006. Since then she has an ADORABLE son who is full of energy and smiles, and her niece who is a bit younger but also so cute with her chipmunk cheeks and sweet character. I went to Ellen's parents house last weekend to photograph the kids and the family and just as the last time I was there the yard was beautifully landscaped and everything was perfect, I could shoot anywhere and have a perfect background which was awesome :) Check out their slide show to see how cute they are for yourselves!
Back to work on one more which I will hopefully post before I head off to my final track meet of the season!

The "other" love of my life...

I just wanted to share with you my adorable puppy, Maisey. She truly is the love of my life, so much that way too often I tell Mike that if anything ever happened to her I would feel bad for him having to deal with me. How could I not love her to pieces, she is just adorable and SUCH a wonderful dog. Because both Mike and I work the weekends of the summer Maisey hangs out a lot at her sister Zoe's which she loves to play with, or at Grammy and Grandpy's house, who is always looking to have her visit, can't imagine how they will be when there are "real" grand kids!
Back to work just wanted to share :)

A Mother and Her Daughter

A few weeks back I took a trip to Colchester to visit a former bride, and friend, Alison and her mom Noreen. Alison and I met a few months before her wedding and hit it off really well, she is such a sweet girl and so easy to work with that when she asked me if I could photograph her and her mom I jumped to it. Alison and Matt got married last September and had an awesome wedding, however shortly after, Alison lost her uncle and her father all within a two week period. Talk about heart breaking. So she and her mom realized how important it was to have photos of themselves and have memories to pass down to some day, another generation :)
So I drive about an hour to their lake house in Colchester and arrive on this beautiful sunny day to this little house in the "middle of no where" and it is the most beautiful, peaceful, calming, relaxing, awesome place you could be to just chill out. The site itself was perfect, their house was literally on the water, with a cute little dock and paddle boat in back. As I took their photos I said to them over and over how lucky they were and how awesome this place was and how neat they could have this little get away for the two of them whenever they wanted it. Needless to say I had a great time catching up with Alison and listening to her new job career in hopes to be come a wedding planner, so for all of you who are looking for a coordinator let me know and I'll get you her info. And for the rest of you moms and daughters or mom's and son's for that matter, there is no time like the present to capture those family photos!

O-l-i-v-i-a

OK a little slightly embarrassing yet at this stage in my life funny story about this cute little girl. Her daddy, and my older sister dated in um, maybe 7th or 8th grade, which put me at 4th or 5th grade and of course I used to get on the phone with them and be the embarrassing little sister that I was (yes was) always so good at being, and my most vivid memory is singing Rod Stewart, rhythm of my heart (or something like that) to him, and it wasn't just once, don't remember WHY I think it was every time they were on the phone... sad. When I saw them last weekend I chuckled thinking about it... I didn't however re-share the story with him.... ANYWAY, he and his wife Heather married a few years back and now have this adorable little girl and a beautiful house. It was awesome to finally meet Olivia! Here is the slide show.
Now, on the home front...I had a slightly stressful afternoon picking out a bathroom vanity, granite etc, what I thought would be a fun and easy job wasn't at all, I in fact was miserable! I went to a speciality place (as directed to do so by my contractor) and I can't even say poor service, it was so bad the r couldn't be included it was just poo service! Even more agitated, we finally left and went to home depot where I had found something I liked, and yes of course they tried to talk me out of it, so I left there too, hungry and in a bad mood. My poor Mike, I walked in the door and he couldn't do anything but pretend like he didn't see me, I just walked in and said, "hi, I'm in a bad mood, and I'm hungry." that was his cue to steer clear! Anyway, so tonight we went to the kitchen cabinet place down the street and found to be exactly what we were looking for! So nothing is bought yet, BUT I think we have a cherry vanity with a brown/tan (yes that is the official name) granite. It looked HOT together, now lets hope we can get the tile and everything else to make it awesome!
I guess it's time for bed, that 4:30 gym comes early if I'm not in bed at this hour!
Have a great weekend!

What??????????????!!!!!

I apologize for any of you that have called today and I haven't answered the phone... it is so noisy over here with this construction that I just can't stand out in the rain any more, I will return your calls soon! So yes construction is in full effect, today we are framing out the bathroom, yesterday was the closets, so we are in good shape, of course to me everything seems small but I'm hoping when it's done it will look big... time will tell. I'll update with more photos when I can get up there without being in the way!
I just posted Alison's photos and slide show. I love photographing this girl, she is SO adorable and very good for me. We even grabbed a few family shots that were super cute too.
And then there is always a favorite of mommy and daughter...
Nothing else super exciting around here, I'm pumped that it's going to be a nice weekend, and I have very little planned, I hope to lay out and enjoy my last "free" Saturday until August! Now don't feel too bad for me I have 2 vacations booked between now and then too so I will have a free Saturday just not home or not working :) In case I haven't mentioned my in-laws are taking us on a cruise this summer, and it's coming up quickly.... in fact, last night Mike and I registered online so we are all set, I'm so excited I could start packing, but I know he would kill me if I had my suitcase ready and left out or better yet piles of clothes laying on the bench, so I'll just plan in my head until it's a little closer :)
Saturday is my niece's 4th birthday party! We are celebrating with the family on Friday and then her actual party is on Saturday, and it might be the only birthday party of hers that I make because of work so I'm excited to go and watch all the kids run around and have a good time.
Well I might try and sneak out of the craziness here, so have a great day!