Jul
18
I’m on a bit of a stay-close-to-home kick right now. Not for me so much, but for our couples. We’ve had several engagement sessions in which our clients have chosen to do their shoot in and/or around their home, or got back to their roots. I LOVE this!!! It’s so nice to get to know people in their natural environments and we get a great sense of who they are and what they like to do, simply by walking by this cafe or that park.
And so it was with Cleo and Dieter. They had initially thought we should do the session in New York City, as they live right across from the Big Apple. But as the day approached, we realized that their town of Hoboken provided the perfect backdrop for their session. They showed us their favorite spots to walk and bike ride, and the views of Manhattan were the views they could see by stepping out their door. Absolutely perfect!
We started down by the water. You can pretty much see the Empire State Building from anywhere in town. I especially love this photo because their story is central, but there are also two other neighborhood stories and life cycle stories- the dad and his son on the right were fishing (future family) and the couple by the railing is an elderly couple (to me, symbolizing the golden years in Cleo and Dieter’s life together).
Dancing and fooling around. Why not?!
On our walk, we popped onto the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology (Cleo takes a class here for fun). Wow, the views! It must be a great place to go to school.
Hoboken just built this fabulous new park on the water. And there was this beautiful bridge.
We finished our tour at the Hoboken Terminal (Dieter rides his bike through here every day). It has character and charm and few people on a Saturday. It is truly a gem of a spot.
Loving this simple formal portrait.
A quiet moment.
And this one with a bit more drama.
After we were done, we took a cab back to their apartment and enjoyed brunch at one of their neighborhood haunts. I couldn’t get over how great Hoboken was. Having never been there, I had no idea. Seeing the town through their eyes was such fun. And seeing them through a filter of their town helped me get to know Cleo and Dieter even better.
If you would like to see a few more, check out their slideshow.
Jun
25
Hanging out with Amanda and Greg one June afternoon was an absolute blast. They so clearly adore each other and enjoy spending time together. They seem to mesh just so. Both working in PR and Greg consulting and speaking specifically on social media PR, it is very apropos that they first met online. Nope, not on Match or e-Harmony, but on Twitter. How absolutely perfect!
When we met up with them at their home on Long Island, we got to know them better and to see a bit of their life in this beautiful small town.
We started at their home, where they had just finished re-landscaping. Everything looked amazing so we wanted to show off the house as well as the two of them.
Sweet and sexy all at once.
Hanging out inside. The character of their home definitely shines through in this image.
After a quick wardrobe change (Amanda wanted to capture the contrast between nicer clothes and a more casual environment), we walked over to their local park. A great place with evening concerts, weekend festivals and a museum.
Statues.
Loving the dreaminess of the reflection behind them and the steaminess of their moment.
Among the grasses.
Enjoying the flowers.
So Greg’s one request was that we not use props. But then at the end of the shoot, we saw this ice cream truck. It wasn’t planned, but it was so bright colorful and "casual" that it had to be a part of our shoot. And besides, Amanda and I both wanted ice cream. 
Sorry, Greg.
Yummy!
Heat in the background and cool ice cream in the foreground. LOVE!
A truly great day with tons of photos to share. Now we can’t wait for their wedding at the Liberty Hotel! In the meantime, I highly recommend checking out their slideshow for a few more of our faves.
Mar
07
Coming together to celebrate a very special birthday, grandma’s 75th, this family wanted to document the three generations in a beautiful portrait. They were having lunch at the Boston Ritz and we figured it would be the perfect place to meet. Plus we had hoped to go to the Commons or the Public Gardens if the weather cooperated. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate, but fortunately the Ritz did. The staff gave us access to their event spaces so we would have some privacy for the portraits. Window light added the beautiful glow. But all of the warmth definitively comes from this family.
To kick things off, the birthday girl…
Love this one.
Such personality.
Total hams. They had been asking to do this for the whole session and we were thrilled for them to finish it off with their daring feat.
Want more? Check out their slideshow.
Feb
24
The thing about being a photographer is that it is all too easy to miss documenting your own life. And even more challenging to create photos of you with your family. We knew we wanted photos with our Giant Schnauzer Max (we have tons of images of him, and tons of him with each of us, but very few with him and both Dave and I). We also knew we were not alone in needing photos with our beloved canine baby. Amy Hawkes of Click Imagery is a supremely talented photographer in the Boston area, and she has a fabulous furkid, Jaxon. So we proposed a trade.
On one lovely afternoon in June, we ventured to Wellesley College‘s beautiful gardens for family photography and then a bite to eat. And here we have a few of our faves from the session.
Amy and Jax, all smiles.
Sweet moment.
Love how Jaxon looks up at Amy. So expectant and attentive.
Amy has a great sense of humor. This one absolutely captures the amusement in her relationship with Jaxon.
More smiles.
Jaxon is a ball dog. And for those of you who have ball dogs, you understand the intensity involved.
Communicating about the ball.
A simple portrait of Amy’s best friend.
Dave was fascinated with Jax’s squirrel like tail. (I imagine this was because Max didn’t have one, but I can’t be sure.)
We left the cover of the trees for the warmth of the grasses. Jaxon has beautiful bright brown eyes.
Another thing about Amy, she’s a competitive runner and triathlete. So she and Jax often enjoy jogging together.
Oh and a super cute High 5 trick.
One last image, I think this is Dave’s favorite from the whole furkid session. So funny and whimsical.
Many thanks to Amy and Jaxon for spending the afternoon with us in Wellesley and being such great models. We love you guys!
Dec
31
In honor of the new year and the new beginnings it brings, here’s a few from Jessica and Alex’s maternity session. We met up with the parents-to-be in the North End and journeyed around some of their favorite stomping grounds, eventually finding our way back home. Since the session, they have had a beautiful healthy baby girl. Congrats to you both and a happy new year to all!
A quick photo of their baby-to-be, aka the bump, and Alex’s favorite football team (no offense to all Pats fans intended). This one was a surprise for Alex and taken before he arrived home from work.
We ran into a surprise summer concert and had to catch a few minutes of it.
On the greenway. This one feels sort of dreamlike to me.
Back home. Relaxing. Yes, Alex is rubbing Jessica’s feet. Much deserved, I think.
Love their space and the modern feeling it offers.
One final image. So pretty.
Want more of Jessica, Alex, and their bump? Check out their slideshow.
Oct
22
A shared history and personalities that fit just so, Junnie and Wing are definitely starting their baby-to-be off on the right foot. Both Junnie and Wing were born in other countries but came to the US as young adults. They found each other at their church and realized they each filled in the others’ gaps, just like matching puzzle pieces. A perfect example- Wing is the artist and graphic designer; Junnie is the financial organizer and accountant. They are the yin to the other’s yang. Their little one is lucky to have such a great balance from the get-go.
We met up with Junnie and Wing to photograph their maternity session on a cool October afternoon. Starting off in Boston‘s beautiful Beacon Hill neighborhood.
And did I mention how adorable these two are? Good genes indeed.
The blue skies were intermittent so Dave made sure to highlight them when we saw them.
Loving this photo of Junnie.
We made our way to the Boston Common for a little greenery and in the hopes of some fall color.
Making a wish…
We found the greenery. Autumn leaves were more elusive.
One of my absolute faves over at the Public Garden. An abstract family portrait.
We had such a great time hanging out with these two. Highly recommend checking out their slideshow cause these two were so sweet and even brought props for their session. Enjoy!
May
09
She’s energetic, sassy and fashionable. He’s cool, calm and collected. His wild side gets its chance to shine when he rides his motorcycle (a beautiful Harley Davidson); her creative juices get flowing when she talks style. They are a perfect match. And they are so fun to be around.
We met up with Donna and Jimmy at a little park in quaint Ashland, Mass. We were amazed at the options in such a small space, but the lake, the budding flowers of early spring, the bridge and waterfall and of course, Donna and Jimmy gave us so much to work with. So here’s a taste of their engagement session.
Want a few more? Check out their slideshow. And check back later this summer for images from their wedding at the Exchange Conference Center in Boston.
Mar
22
After seeing Judy and Burgess’ engagement session, you can see why Dave was so excited to photograph their wedding. They are super fun, love playing with the camera, and totally sweet on each other. So without further ado, a few faves from the first part of the day….
Judy got ready at Blackhawk Country Club, where they would also be celebrating their wedding ceremony and reception.
The boys arrived early enough to take a few portraits. Looks like they had a good time! Love that each one has a different expression- totally get a sense of their personalities.
The clouds were playing with the light, letting bits in here and there. The hills look luminous in this photo. Can you believe this amazing view from the ceremony site?
While waiting for the ceremony to begin, we always enjoy taking photos of the guests.
Then the fun began. Everyone was pretty excited to see Judy as she walked down the aisle.
Watching during the ceremony.
Judy listening to Burgess’ vows.
Putting the ring on. Sometimes this can present challenges.
No problems with the kiss, however.
Celebrating!!!!
The ring in question….
I just have to close with a couple of their portraits. So sweet together!
Lots more from the day and their details still to come, but if you need more right now, check out their engagement session story and PicFlick.
Dec
04
And laughter and tears, pretty much all at the same time, and it certainly made for a great day. Joy and beauty enveloped Sarah and Bryan for their wedding at Stern Grove in San Francisco, California. Jo and I are captivated by Stern Grove on it’s own- it is a place of nature (the redwoods are stunning) and music (each year hosting the Stern Grove Festival). Now I add "love" to the list, as Stern Grove was the back drop to this amazing wedding.
I started the day with Sarah and her girls at the Clubhouse.
Sarah walked down the aisle with her mom and dad on each arm, and tears of joy in her eyes.
This image says it all. Sarah’s dad gave Bryan a warm welcome into the family, before the ceremony even got underway.
Check out their ceremony site. So beautiful among the trees.
Watching.
Under the chuppah, sealed with a kiss.
Then they took a few moments for their portraits and to enjoy their newlywed status.
Let the party begin. Friends and family got things started with some music.
Sarah and Bryan kicked off the dancing with their first dance.
Did I mentioned laughter? Because there was tons of it. I am still laughing over the toast by Sarah’s cousin in which she explained the origins of the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass. Her explanation was one I had not heard before, and it had everyone reeling from laughter.
More dancing followed dinner.
Shosh and Jon, who introduced us to Sarah and Bryan, took a spin on the dancefloor.
The guests definitely enjoyed themselves.
And for that matter so did Sarah.
Thank you so much, Sarah and Bryan, for inviting me to be a part of your wedding day. I had such a great time working with you and am thrilled to share the rest of your photos with you. But first, a little PicFlick….
For more of Sarah and Bryan, check out their slideshow.
Jul
29
I know it has been a great day when I have finished shooting two amazing engagement sessions with two absolutely fabulous couples and each one is completely different. First up is our wonderful duo Angie and Mike. Angie and Mike found us through their colleagues and friends, Hilary and Scott (who happen to be celebrating their anniversary today- Happy Anniversary!). But this was our first chance to meet Angie and Mike in person, having communicated via phone and email prior, and we were so excited.
Both Angie and Mike came to San Francisco from other parts of the country and now they can’t imagine living anywhere else. San Francisco can do that to you. They live between Dolores Park and the Castro and absolutely love the Mission, so of course, we stayed close to home during this truly San Francisco shoot. They brought us to some of their favorite haunts. We even took a few in and around their house, their first home together.
Our first stop, the top of the hill at Dolores Park. It never ceases to amaze me the varied views one can get of this city with so many hills.
As we wandered through the park, we came across a grove of palm trees. The light was soft and inviting so we stayed for a bit.
You can start to get a sense of how absolutely sweet Angie and Mike are together. I love their smiles in the next two.
Mike found Java Supreme first, but introduced Angie to the cafe soon after. It had been a while since they had been back. They know the owner by name and were excited to share the news of their engagement with him. We sat down and chatted for a few minutes while they each had a drink. I popped outside to capture this image.
What would a shoot in the mission be without the murals? Angie and Mike brought us to the Mission Pool for this bright and colorful one.
A little street life …
on the way to this mural of San Francisco through time…
Special note, the shoes=very, very cool!
We went back to their place to try to capture a few with their kittens, one of whom cooperated for a couple of seconds, and then saw these great books. Insta-photo props!
What a great morning we had! Huge thank you’s to Angie and Mike for taking us on a great tour of your ‘hood and for showing Dave the Man Cave of his dreams. I am still hearing about how awesome the Transformer Collection is- who knew?! Can’t wait to see you guys again in a couple of months. Your bonfire & burritos on Ocean Beach "rehearsal dinner" and your wedding at the Fort Mason Officer’s Club are going to be amazingly fun.
Want to see more? Check out their slideshow.
