Mar
23
Today, I heard the wings of swans, sang with a chorus of geese, and saw a wild beaver for the first time.
It is spring. A short paddle on the Charles River made it official.
The true color of the sky.
The swan whose wings hummed.
The concept behind this collection: A time of transition- on the cusp of spring, but still with a hint of winter.
Feb
08
Amy and Phil’s engagement session last spring brought together their passions for each other, for ballroom dance, for MIT, and for the beautiful cities of Cambridge and Boston. On a foggy day (rare for Boston) and with the cherry blossoms showing off their best color, Dave met up with Amy and Phil to capture these portraits for them.
If you would like to see more from Amy and Phil, check out their wedding blog entry 1 and 2, their engagement and wedding slideshows.
Apr
29
Yes, it’s true I am a Wedding Geek. I know a lot about weddings; I follow the trends; I get excited when new things are afoot. Still, I never thought of myself as a true wedding geek. I didn’t drop everything to read about Tom and Katie‘s wedding or the Clinton wedding. I just am not a famous wedding geek. But today was different. Today was about history. Today I woke up at 4am to "attend" Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton. And I am so glad I did.
To be sure, I was not alone in the insanity. Thousands upon thousands of people joined the celebration to varying degrees. And here in the western suburbs of Boston, a few of us ladies met up at SD Events to be a part of this particular wedding.
Tasha Bracken invited us to a very special breakfast. We came in our wedding finery, especially the hats, chatted, gazed, dreamed, laughed, and celebrated.
Oh, and we were joined by ABC News and the Boston Herald who came to document our shindig. (Let me know if you see me on TV. Who knows, I may be famous!)
Special note, the lady to the far left with the notebook is Anna Nieman, a wedding dress designer who creates custom couture gowns. This weekend, she will take this sketch and create a copy of Kate’s stunning McQueen gown. I can’t wait to see it!
Tasha’s color palette for the party was refreshing spring tones- pinks, purples, and greens.
The food was British inspired- tea, scones, and little tea sandwiches- the best of English food to be sure. Oh and there was also coffee, orange juice, and champagne. It was a wedding, after all.
For those who may have forgotten or didn’t own hats, Glam Couture provided a few special accoutrements for the gathering.
Tasha not only created the party for us, she created a table arrangement like what the royals might have at their reception. Fun, flirty yellow and white tulips with white feathers.
Set on a periwinkle blue tablecloth with silver and blue china; crystal goblets, some with silver trim to match. (Table settings provided by Be Our Guest). The whole look was stunning!
What a morning! I can only say with heartfelt sincerity that I wish Will and Kate all the best. They seem to be a truly warm couple with obvious love between them.
If you want to see a few more from this little party, check them out here.
Oct
18
Jackie and William’s premiere was last night and it was so great reliving their wedding with them. They were married a few months ago but they have been so busy we hadn’t had a chance to get together. It was wonderful to catch up and to enjoy a really leisurely afternoon, into evening, viewing all the photos.
You may recall that Jackie and William celebrated their ceremony and reception at a private women’s club in the Back Bay. While we aren’t able to share photos that show a lot of the interior, I picked out a few images that don’t show the space, but give you a sense of the emotion of the evening.
Jackie and William stealing a moment after dinner.
Soon after, they made their way to the ballroom for their first dance as husband and wife.
Then the dancing really got going. They had an intimate wedding, but all of the guests took their turn on the dance floor. The party was raging, with some fabulous 80′s music. And perhaps one of my favorite memories of the evening, the club staff always takes a spin on the dance floor- a special house tradition. And so we figured we would too. We got to party with our bride and groom. Very very fun!
After everyone left for the evening, we spent a couple more hours with Jackie and William doing some night portraits around the city. We started by their very cool vintage Cadillac, outside the club. Loving the feel of the brownstones and the way the car is a character in this image (those are William’s words, but he is so right).
And we met them at the Boston Harbor Hotel, where they would start their honeymoon.
Catching the reflection of the BHH’s Atrium on the waterfront.
And one of my absolute fave’s, in front of the hotel, with the city streaming passed them. A very cinematic capture by Dave.
Jackie and William’s wedding really was an amazing event. So I want to thank all of the people who made it so very special:
Getting ready venue: Boston Harbor Hotel and the club
Ceremony and reception venue: Back Bay private women’s club
Wedding dress: Vera Wang
Groom’s tux: Brooks Brothers
Floral Design: Edison from Madison Floral
DJ: Mike Love
Cinematography: Naomi, Jack, and Lauren from Generations Cinemastories
And so much gratitude to Jackie and William for including us in your beautiful, beautiful day. We are so glad we could capture these photos for you. It has been an absolute joy.
If you would like to see more from Jackie and William, definitely check out their engagement session and their sneak peek.
Jun
25
There are so many ways for love stories to happen. Sometimes couples meet in high school, sometimes through work or through friends, sometimes online. One of my favorites is definitively a chance meeting which through time and space would seem improbable. Somehow the stars align and the two who were meant to be together meet. Mary and Jason’s is one such story. They met when Mary was in England. An American girl meets an Englishman. They fall in love and manage being long-distance. Then at last they get married and begin their life together.
Mary started the day at a close friend’s home; she got ready there and even did a few portraits with her favorite ladies. We’ll start off with this image by Brian Lee who joined me for the day. What a great moment he captured!
Checking in with her friends….
With mom.
With the girls.
We all headed over to the church. Jason was all ready to go and looked very dashing. He’s a Brit so that seemed a given.
And he was very happy to see his bride join him at the end of the aisle.
The guests from across the pond enjoying the ceremony.
The church is so beautiful- it has great architectural details with a modern craftsman flair.
After the ceremony, we took a few portraits around the church.
Then we headed over to Santana Row.
And the Hotel Valencia. Jo and I photographed a wedding at the hotel a few years ago but didn’t get nearly enough time to enjoy all that it has to offer. I was so excited when Mary said she wanted to go there for photos. There are so many opportunities for great images.
Brian knew about this fabulous wall around the corner from the hotel. We were lucky enough to catch a lady who was moving in upstairs. She had this great black leather couch and was happy to lend it to us for a few shots. The red wall, the lanterns, the black leather couch and our stunning couple- can’t imagine anything better. Teamwork made this one!
This super sweet portrait by Brian.
Off to the reception at Maggiano’s. The cake was really beautiful. Loved the sculputural quality of it, and I think the silhouette definitely captures that element.
Have a I mentioned how much fun everyone had on the dance floor? Mary and her ladies took the party to high gear. This one by Brian.
Old, young and everyone in between knew how to kick it up on the dance floor. Love the movement!
Weddings have so much energy and the nature of the energy changes from moment to moment. Mary and Jason took this opportunity during a slow song to hold on tight and enjoy being Mr. and Mrs.
Congrats Mary and Jason! I can’t express what a joy it was to photograph you and your families. (We have known Mary’s side since Krista and Andy‘s wedding a few years back and are so glad we can continue to be a part of these wonderful celebrations.) A million thank you’s!
Special thanks to all those who made their day incredible:
Getting ready venue: friend’s home
Ceremony site: St. Andrew’s Church
Reception venue: Maggiano’s
Wedding cake: Cake Expressions
Floral Design: The Wild Geranium
DJ: Joel Nelson Productions
Invitations: David’s Bridal
Hair and make-up: Nirvana Salon, Los Gatos
Gown designer: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew
Groom and groomen’s tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
Much gratitude to Brian Lee for tagging along on this fabulous wedding. It was such fun working with you.
If you want to see more from Mary and Jason’s wonderful day, check out their slideshow.
Jun
15
Two of the most warm and caring individuals, Dara and Keith are the epitome of kindness and love for each other and their families. It was a joy watching them connect with everyone at their wedding. When we spoke to discuss the details, they highlighted so many people they wanted to capture photographs of (like Dara’s uncle) and moments they knew they were going to cherish (like Keith’s brother crying during the ceremony). Here’s just a taste of their beautiful day.
Dara got ready in the bridal suite at the Log Cabin in western Mass. She was surrounded by her dearest friends and closest family members. Two of her bridesmaids helped her tie the corsette laces of her wedding dress.
A moment to check out the dress and all of her personal details. Dara’s classic beauty and softness shine in this image.
Meanwhile the boys were all set so they took some time to enjoy the stunning mountain views.
Just before Dara walked down the aisle, the flower girl and ringbearer prepared to lead the way.
Keith was terrified that he was going to cry during the ceremony. Apparently he is known for this, having cried during his brother’s wedding. He was trying desparately to keep it together in preparation for Dara to walk down the aisle.
On the arm of her father.
Arriving to her groom.
Check out this amazing, stunning, spectacular, gorgeous, out of this world mountain view. And the temperature was perfect. An idyllic scene, no?
The gentle breeze caught Dara’s veil and the light made it glow during their vows. So pretty.
I absolutely love this image of Dara’s mom and dad during the ceremony. You can feel the love they have for each other and for Dara and Keith just by looking at their faces and body language.
Just as Dara and Keith started their departure after their kiss and being pronounced man and wife, their ringbearer realized he was on the wrong side of the aisle. For a young man, what other solution is there, really, but to dash across to the correct side? Too funny.
And at the end there were bubbles – have I mentioned that I love bubbles?
What an all out great day! Definitely check back soon for more from Dara and Keith’s spring wedding.
Jun
09
We often say that engagement sessions are like double-dates, except we have cameras. After all, there’s a lot of laughter, we go to beautiful places, and we generally have fun. Our e-session with Maren and Steve was no exception, plus their session included dinner and dancing to boot.
We started off in the North End, for a really beautiful and quaint bit of Boston. We were lucky enough to enjoy near-perfect weather. So we wandered and strolled and found some quiet nooks and a few more public spots for a wide variety of surroundings.
Monday was a great night for the shoot as it also happens to be the night that many restauranteurs take a break. We had the doorway to this little Italian restaurant all to ourselves.
At the edge of the North End, you also get a unique view of Boston.
We then took the Charlestown Ferry across the river at sunset. The light was beautiful, the wind cool, and the views amazing. I am so glad Dave suggested this- what a great way to enjoy the water and the cities on both sides.
Once in Charlestown, we walked along the pier and captured a few images of Maren and Steve enjoying the scenery, the breeze and each other.
Among the boats.
We took a break as the dusk turned to night and enjoyed a meal at a favorite Tavern overlooking the water. Then ventured out for a few more on the pier.
As promised, there was dancing.
It was so hard to choose which ones to share. These two can not take a bad photo. Definitely check out their slideshow for more photos.
We can’t wait for their wedding at the Glen Manor House near Newport.
Jun
05
I am so excited to be sharing a sneak preview of images from Jackie and William’s amazing wedding at a private club in the Back Bay. I am limited by what I can show you at the request of the club management and their members, but I am able to share a few snippets from William’s getting ready, the portraits along Commonwealth Ave and a few details. So I hope you enjoy.
Dave started the day with William at the Boston Harbor Hotel, where he was getting ready. This view from William’s room would totally put anyone in the right frame of mind- peaceful, serene, stunning.
William was very excited about the tux he had custom-made by Brooks Brothers for the occasion. It seems only fitting that he receive artful photos of his attire.
A final check….
The effort and choices he made were impeccable. He looked so dashing.
William made his way to the club in a Rolls Royce, arriving in high style.
Meanwhile, Jackie was at the club getting ready. She chose a Vera Wang gown; the fabric flowed beautifully and totally showed off her figure. Plus the texture and shape was a perfect match for the cherry blossoms, which she used throughout to decorate.
After they saw each other for the first time (a truly emotional and beautiful experience), we popped outside for some photos around the Back Bay. Comm Ave is surrounded by gorgeous brownstones and a tree lined pedestrian way, so finding locations was no challenge. Plus we still had the Rolls Royce to play with.
Such a gentleman…
And a few little bits from the ceremony. The groom’s vows…
The embrace.
And a post ceremony portrait of their gorgeous puppy, who also played the roll of ring bearer. He was so cute walking down the aisle, and looked so handsome with his bowtie.
More to share soon, but if you want more now, and I wouldn’t blame you, definitely check out Jackie and William’s engagement session in Princeton and their love story by Generations Cinemastories.
May
28
Who says rain is a bad thing? A little rain, or actually a lot of rain in this case, truly a full-on downpour, was nothing short of perfect for our engagement session with Christina and Vincent.
We had a great time dodging puddles and Christina and Vincent were adorable cuddling up in doorways. Besides it actually is perfect that a little weather reared its head as Vincent is a weather afficionado, a storm tracker, if you will. So the day ended as it should with a show of Mother Nature’s wonderous ways and the four of us laughing a lot.
Of course, the rain also helped clear out the extra people who normally hang out in Beacon Hill. We had some of the busiest streets all to ourselves.
Still, we weren’t upset that we started off the portrait session with lovely weather and beautiful light. We had free reign and no umbrella for the first bit. So here are a few faves from the earlier part of the session.
Christina and Vincent live in St. Louis and weren’t exactly sure where they wanted to do their session. When we came up with the idea of Beacon Hill, it seemed a great fit. Quintessential Boston and beautiful buildings, a nice match for Christina as she is from the Boston area and works as an architect.
Total sweetness. Check out his smile as he kisses her.
And the cool factor.
And tons more sweetness.
This one makes me giggle.
I still can’t believe how quickly those clouds turned the sky to black. What an adventure! And such fun. Many thanks to Christina and Vincent for weathering the storm with us. Can’t wait for your wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel this summer.
If you would like to see more from Christina and Vincent’s e-session, definitely check out their slideshow.
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.
