I LOVE that “X-man” is so crazy and that Emma is so sweet and mild-mannered…. always makes shooting this family fun! Sheri and Kris, thank you for sharing your beautiful kiddos with me again!

There are lots of reasons to love my job…. really, LOTS!  Now, trust me, it has its fair share of downs and bad days….. ask my husband as he can tell you about my long and random hours and being alone with the girls a lot on weekends.  But, every career choice has its pros and its cons.  Overall, the fact that I can love what I do when I am working is such a HUGE blessing.

I am thinking about how much I love my job today because it was a very special day.  Jenn and Luke got married.  And, eventually, I will blog all about their special day.  But, for now, I will sit in my post-wedding glow (letting my caffeine buzz and adrenaline high drain before I can sleep) and reflect on my day…

Today, when I arrived at the hotel where the girls were getting ready, I could walk in and hug half of the room.  I love these girls… and their parents and sisters and cousins and friends!  Jenn would be the fifth girl in the hotel room whose wedding I had photographed.  Today when I met the boys before the ceremony, not only did I know most of the groomsmen, but there were two special little boys in the bridal party, too.   I have been blessed to be a part of the two ring bearer’s life since I photographed them in their mommy’s bellies.  I took their newborn photos, I took their one year photos and now I got to photograph them spinning, dancing and hugging their way across the Society Room dance floor in their little tuxedos.

Today I got to hang out with friends…. and I still get to call it work!   Now, THAT is a reason to love my job!  

Congrats Luke and Jenn!  Thank you for making me a part of your family.

Helen grabbed a quick shot of me with the girls….. 

How adorable is this little guy?!?!  I LOVE his dark, thick hair – just like his mommy and daddy’s.  I also love the hat and blanket – made by local artisan and Baby Nicholas’ proud Auntie, Dana, of  Hats by Dana.

You know it is going to be a fun engagement session when you start at an awesome Irish Pub in downtown New Haven.  Liz and James really began their relationship at Anna Liffey’s, so it was only suiting to start their engagement session there, too!  I learned all about Liz’s favorite drink, root beer vodka and club soda with some firsthand exposure (thanks for the cocktails, my friends!).  Anyway, I have known Liz for a really loooooooong time so this was an extra special engagement session for me. 

Liz was a part of what I call my old life – when up until around 2002, I was working in a very corporate job in which I performed well, but never enjoyed.  She is a creative spirit herself and I think she really understood my suffering – though we never discussed it in so many words.  She knew that I needed a break from the grind and we would regularly enjoy conversations that had NOTHING to do with our work.  We each weathered through some difficult breakups, life changes and frustrations as we really grew into the people we are today.  It was one of my greatest joys to leave that job and re-gain my creative soul, but it saddened me not to have my daily office visits from my friend Liz.  And, as life got busier and busier, I found we hadn’t seen each other in years.

So, when I got a call from Liz about photographing her wedding, it was exciting in a lot of ways.  Firstly, I couldn’t be more excited for my friend to have finally found “the one.”  I could tell from her description of James that he is the perfect partner for her.  Secondly, it meant a chance to re-connect with someone whose friendship I truly valued and missed.  It was so incredible to watch Liz and James interact together.  James really loves my friend.  And, for that, I really love James!  Of course, James has other qualities (besides merely loving Liz) that make him wonderful, too!  But, that IS my favorite quality!

I can not wait for your wedding!  It is right around the corner!  So, until we convene again for another root beer vodka and club (yes, thanks Liz, for I am now hooked, too), enjoy your engagement photos.  I hope that I was able to really capture the laughter and the joy between you two.  

Sometimes mother knows best…. well, now that I am a mom, I know that VERY OFTEN, mother knows best!!!  :)  And, in the case of Andrea and Brad, Mom WAS right…. mom and an aunt that is!  Brad’s mom and Andrea’s aunt taught together, and did a little matchmaking in the teacher’s lounge!

Congratulations to you Andrea and Brad.  You are such a sweet and fun-loving couple.  Your families are beautiful.  All in all, you guys made this day so much fun for us, too.  Thanks for having us be a part of your wedding! 

 We caught mom a little teary…..  

I love the story behind the jewelry that Andrea wore.  Her grandmother, before she had passed many years earlier, left this note inside of this necklace box, “Elaine for Andy.”  I love that even the ink has bled over the years – but that Grandma just knew what to leave her Granddaughter for her wedding day.  It looked perfect with Andrea’s dress.  And, I bet her Grandmother was smiling from above as she watched her walk down the aisle.  

We grabbed a cool shot of Brad waiting for the wedding.  The church had new wood flooring.  And, though it was a little slick with the rain on our shoes, it was a perfect reflective surface to play with! 

Lovin’ those new floors! 

The transportation ROCKED for Andrea and Brad’s wedding!  Dattco has an “Executive Bus” that the couple used to transport the bridal party while they traveled via a stunning Bentley – also from Dattco.  Love this shot in the backseat of the Bentley! 

And off to City Hall – when it JUST stopped raining!  Ran into another photographer friend, Miss Carla, who (after I scared the pants off of her!) warned me about how hot and Shhhhhweaty it was inside of City Hall so we opted to take our formal photos outside – and rushing rushing rushing because we were SURE it was going to rain again.  And, it DIDN’T!  Yay Mother Nature!   But, because the couple loved the inside of City Hall, we snuck in for a few quick shots….. and it was REALLY SHHHHHHWEATY! Thanks for the heads up dear friend!

 LOVE the blue shoes and the groom’s socks! 

But it was worth the shhhhhhweat! 

And then off to the Pond House……

Brad’s mom came up with the idea of a groom’s cake made of Oreo cookies since that was Brad’s favorite treat as a kid!  It was served with glasses of milk at the end of the evening.  This is a shot of it that Colleen nabbed while Andrea and Brad were introduced.

And I love these shots from their toasts…. 

 ESPECIALLY this one.  There is something so loving about his hand on her back with the softness of the lighting.

 They had a friend DJ… note the Big Money bling and striped hat!!!  We shall call him 007 – and say, he helped put on quite a party!  Way to go 007!

 And, then we HAD to head outside at the end of the night with some of the sparklers that Andrea and Brad had for their guests.  The pics came out awesome with the heavy and moist air hanging around to leave a mist in the air.  Did I mention that it was still shhhhhhweaty outside?!??!  :)  

 And we HAD to finish with a heart, of course.  Yes, cheesy, but, in this case, I am ok with it!  This is the kind of cheese that I love! 

Flowers by Flowers ‘N Such in Granby

Reception at The Pond House in West Hartford, CT

Today was the first day since Irene hit New England that we have had all of our services and utilities at the studio.   The power is on.  The network is back up and running.   Our phones finally work again!  And, despite the fact that we are now desperately behind in our post workflow, it was one of the first days that I just really don’t care!  I can care tomorrow…. and I will.  But, today was reserved for my family.  After all, today was supposed to happen days ago as we waited for the schools to get their power back.  We have all been waiting anxiously for our first daughter’s first day of kindergarten. 

I knew that I would cry.  She knew that I would cry.  In fact, we have been talking about how I was going to cry for weeks – I didn’t want to scare her so I had her prepared for mommy’s “happy tears” that she has seen before.  As the bus rolled up, my eyes welled, my hands shook as I kissed the palms of her hands (if you have ever read The Kissing Hand, you know why….) and off she stepped into that big yellow bus and into the rest of her life.  And, as it drove away, it was as if I could hear the cheers of the crowd as she threw her cap at high school graduation, as if I could see a quick glimpse into the future of Bob walking her down the aisle….. Really, I was overwhelmed with a visual reminder of just how quickly life with these little people goes by!

So I spent the rest of the day wearing sunglasses and trying to occupy my mind.  Her little sister would not take her nap because she was worried she would miss Big Sister’s homecoming.  So, hours later, we walked to the bus stop to greet our little Kindergartner.  She stopped to humor mommy with a photo before she bounded off the bus and into my arms.  Little sister SQEEZED her and said, “I mist-ed you.”  And, off we walked home.  I was swinging my camera and took a random “grab shot” at our shadows and have a new favorite family portrait….. one that marks a new era and the daily arrival of that yellow bus.  I assume that as some point, I will stop crying when I see it pull up?!?!?

To my little K – You are full of life and energy and laughter.  You are probably the most passionate child I have ever met!  You have an amazing future in front of you and I am proud to be your mommy.  Life has never been boring since your arrival.  I love you with all of my heart – and “til the stars turn into popcorn.”  

 My mom had sent some photos of me from my first day of school back in 1979!  So, once K saw them, she specifically wanted to take a photo in a tree like her mommy did on her first day of Kindergarten.  How cute is she?!?!? And, hey Mom, that dress you sent me off to school in was pretty darn short!!!!!!!!!

 And it is about right…… now……. that I start to break down!

 Now going to pick up Big Sister from the bus stop….

 And she is home…. and my eyes well again….. 

 And my new favorite family portrait……