little chameleon

this was one of the last warm sunny afternoons we had back at the beginning of october. 

my little friend here had fun chasing the squirrels, talking to the duckies and taking charge of the public garden in the warm sun. his mommy is quite the fashionista herself so it didn't phase me one bit when she whipped out the gel and gave my friend a mohawk. don't we all wish we could completely change our look, like a chameleon, and look as great as he does either way? he went from classic french little tot to punk skater dude. he is adorable beyond words!!  and i love watching him change from year to year! Thanks R & R! 

summer fun

every photographer wants to shoot a fun family who is very laid back with really well behaved children who have napped, had their snack/dinner in a picturesque setting on a warm, somewhat overcast, night at 6:30pm sharp on cape cod. is that too much to ask? when all things align it can be a magical thing.

not only were my subjects (and dear friends xo) picture perfect but the setting where we shot was a photographers dream. their yard is simply beautiful. after some fun backyard time exploring, we ventured to my favorite spot on the cape, dowses and long beach. we had a ball!

thanks for a great night guys- you were a joy to shoot!

sisters

watching the dynamics between siblings, whether they are laughing or fighting, is always entertaining.
i am super close with my sister, we live and breathe the same everything, so when i sisters who love to play, laugh, dance and sing together-  it makes me remember how much i LIVED for my older sister when we were little girls (even though she couldn't stand her pesky little sis always bugging her.)

this past summer, i shot these little beauties who were a ball.... beyond fun to watch let alone keep up with ..... they gave me a little show and then it was ice cream time.  thanks little ladies for a really fun afternoon.

my muse

for the past few years, i have shot my little friend here every fall. she is vivacious, energetic, smart and loves to give me a good workout. she is my buddy and my muse. i look forward to shooting her every year because i know it'll be an adventure! thanks for the great shoots, S. 

i love seeing you grow into the magicial little person you are! 

My Friend Emily......

my dear friend, emily whittemore, is an amazing boston based artist and sculptor who makes these incredibly beautiful miniature porcelain cakes by hand. to see her finger tips twirl a piece of clay into a delicate little flower petal is pretty amazing and the end result is unreal! these little cakes are often purchased as wedding gifts from guests who want to give something that is original and quite personal to remember the day.

i always struggle with wedding gifts and bug my husband.... should we give money? should we get them that great vase on their registry? who doesn't like to give an original gift?? i think this, by far, is something a couple would look at in  20 years and really appreciate the hand crafted talent and thoughtfulness of the gift. never mind the fact that i would want to pass this down to my daughter for her to cherish.

originally from richmond, emily moved to nyc to work for famed floral and event designer, preston bailey. if anyone is attending a wedding, baby shower, anniversary party where there will be a fabulous cake and you need a cool gift, call em- she'll replicate it with such intricate detail. emily also makes adorable teas sets for little girls (and boys:-) for cute birthday or holiday gifts.

emily whittemore's website is under construction right now because she just a beautiful baby girl, lucy, four months ago but you can reach her at 804-229-5102 or etwhitt@gmail.com

here is sample of her work.......and her adorable little baby lucy!

cutie pie!

my first maternity shoot- baby steps............

i never shoot maternity portraits - as a photographer, i try to put myself in my subjects shoes and being naked in front of someone i don't know makes me feel really uncomfortable.....and then as a mom who has been pregnant three times now, i really wouldn't want to record of the fattest time in my life - really uncomfortable!

i know, i know- pregnancy is supposed to be beautiful, you should embrace how you look, you're making another human being but i just haven't seen any photos i like of pregnant women. demi moore maybe, but who looks like her? giselle? she is an alien! if anyone knows of any great photogs out there that don't shoot pregnant women swaddled in a white sheet on a bed while holding their breasts... let me know. i think i would look contrived, corny and again, uncomfortable even looking at them.
i commend the women who have had it done and who are pleased with the images. kuddos to you!

seeing as though this was foreign territory to me professionally and personally, i was intrigued and thought i would/should give it a shot. i have six great girlfriends due within two months of each other this winter.  i asked to shoot my good friend, E, this summer while she was five months pregnant. she seriously could be a j crew or ralph lauren model and her husband is a tall drink of water himself. they are really laid back, fun people that spend most of their time on the cape. they love their 1st baby, hobie, their king charles cavalier, and they wanted photos to reflect who they are during this exciting time in their life (without being all naked:-)  this was my first attempt......i'm taking baby steps here so look for improvements.

thank you, jim and e! you guys are going to be the best parents any baby could hope for and i cannot wait to shoot baby j!
xxoo

lucky me!

from the day she was born she was a sweet, engaging cutie pie to shoot. she is funniest baby girl i know  and loves to ham it up for the camera ....it's hard to believe she hasn't even celebrated her first birthday yet! my dear friend interior designer, cara marinella, (her husband introduced my husband and i) is the gorgeous and talented mom in this pic below.

as i mentioned before, i am obsessed with interior design and thankfully i have my girlfriend to keep me in check. she is my sounding board and approves everything i buy for my home. whether it's from brimfield, ebay or the design center, i need her approval (i have made many mistakes in the past that i have had to live with for years!!)

her style is fresh, clean, cozy, classic meets modern meets vintage....um, it's very hard to describe and i am not doing her justice ..... she likes to get to know you,  your taste & style and then takes the ball and runs with it. my home has never felt "more us" than ever before and i breathe a sign of relief when i walk through the door. it's warm and very much reflects who our family is. i think it's so important to love your surroundings and feel a sense of peace and serenity in your home. she is currently working on her website but she can be reach at info@caramarinelladesign.com for more information on consultations/info. she'll have a photographer for life because baby g is the BEST!!! and i know i'll always have my sounding board- sounds like a win win for me!