Monday Updates!

Back again after a weekend full of work! Just plain crazy around here. I have so much to show you guys! I know a lot of people are excited to see their photos, and believe me, I'm working night and day around here to get them to you. Quality takes a bit of time (even though I love instagram, real art takes work!). This past week, I shot two weddings and two engagement sessions, did a bit of travel, and a ton of editing, some amazing sneak peeks are below.

Not to be outdone, I also made these Nutella brownies (which promised to change my life), and they sort of did. Brownies with three ingredients? Literally took 5 minutes to put together? And they are definitely a perfect midnight editing snack! Make them! (quick warning, they are not overly sweet).

Check out this shot from my wedding on Friday - Danielle and Brien rocked out a half-rainy day. Because, really, why should you let a little rain stop you!? They are totally awesome. Love this image.

And, check out these bridesmaids! Wellies, check! Umbrellas, check! Walking through the woods at Locust Grove in the rain, check!!! Nice, ladies. You are my kind of women :).

Saturday and Sunday were just ridiculously gorgeous days. Perfect fall weather! We shot Laren and Adam's wedding at Laren's parents house, and it was just wonderful. I couldn't choose which was my favorite, so here are both!

I lucked out with my engagement sessions this week too! No rain! Finally. Love love love this photo from Amanda and Dino's session (at Greig Farm!), and this one from my session with Brooke and Jack in Essex yesterday. 


Tim and I decided to make the rest of yesterday a family fun day, so we toured around Essex and the river area with Sophie (so much to do over there!). Tim took her on the Essex Steam Train and we stopped to take some fall photos too. It was nice to step away from the computer for more than 10 minutes and hang with my little family during this time of year (although this article doesn't really agree with that mindset!). I absolutely am in love with these photos of her...

Sophie also met our Mayor last week. Too funny. I had to go to the Voter Office in Town so I could sign up to vote (good thing I checked to see if I was registered! I thought you were automatically signed up with your license!). Anyway, who was there to help us get our forms...but the Mayor. Pretty neat. So, of course, I had to take a photo of him with Sophie. And, of course, she (remember, a photographer's child) refused to smile and instead stuck out her tongue. Good one for the baby book!

Quick question for everyone before I head out - would you guys be interested in a photo of the month challenge type thing? I don't know if challenge is the right word, but maybe just emailing me different photos you have taken related to a 'theme' each month? I'd love to see what everyone is capturing via iphone, dslr, point and shoot. Anyone willing to participate? Leave me a comment and I'll get it started!

And, a few quick links for you that I thought you guys might like!

• Wedding hashtags are awesome! (great way to collect those instagram pics too!)
• I am dying to check this out. Can someone please go and report back?
• Loving this photo collection. What a great idea. So beautiful. I feel like you don't actually look at other people in public places, you just walk on by. So interesting to look in.
• And, Happy 1st Anniversary today to Kristin + Jeff!  Woo hoo, 1 year down!

Holiday Updates!

Hey everyone!  Sorry for the missed post yesterday, but I figured you all were busy enjoying your last bit of summer, so I saved it for the back-to-school/work Tuesday.  Hopefully you are not dragging too hard :).

Last week I was definitely dragging a little, we were all really sick.  Sophie first - usually, we are not the type to run to the doctor right away, but...her cough was really bad and she is starting school (!) this week, so I wanted to get her immune boosted fast.  So, we took her and she slowly got better and we slowly got worse.  I saved all of the energy that I had (and used a good antibiotic/dayquil/tylenol mix) for an engagement session that I was so excited for - Aaron and Brittany! 

We had planned to meet up in Essex (super cute town) where they will be getting married next month and I just had a blast.  Think dog, boat, awesome dress (Brittany rocked it!), and just gorgeous weather. Check out one of my favorite images (you can see a few more in FB and even more to come soon...):


For the weekend, we left ourselves the weekend work-free :), so we had some time to explore.  We were invited to a party by the lovely Mercedes up in Mystic, so we decided to make an overnight trip out of it and take Sophie to see the seaport and aquarium.  We had a blast - I hadn't been up there really since I was a kid and it was just so fun.  We rented a rowboat in the harbor and walked through town, and just had a blast.  We have taken a bunch of weekend trips this summer and I have been meaning to post some of my non-people photos from each of them, but just haven't had the chance.  This used to be all I shot, before I did weddings, etc. - I used to shoot more landscapes, and street photography and I still love to when I'm not shooting my most favorite mini-subject. 

Here are a few that I liked from the set this weekend...


And another from the end of that engagement shoot the other night in Essex.


And, so, that party I mentioned above.  Seriously awesome.  Just to set this up for you - I love all things detailed, I love pretty napkins, and good food, and coordinating accents, striped straws, pinterest and etsy and all things crafty, DIY and homemade.  Always have, always will. Not everyone shares this and I get that, and thats ok!  I love to make parties and details and food for family and friends and having them enjoy it.  I have been known to make my own vanilla extract, jam, wrapping paper, etc. - and I'm hoping to get on canning my own tomatoes this year.  Ok, so Mercedes is definitely my equal on this hobby, but she just might be a bit crazier than myself :).  I mean, she made her own dining room table - and its amazing.  I'm beyond jealous! 

I took some instagram photos of the party just to show the world her awesomeness.  She should definitely be a wedding/event planner.  Mercedes - just quit your job and do that now!  Her and her husband threw a clambake and it was just wonderful.  We left and drove home wearing lobster-soaked clothes and dreaming of what we could do with chalkboard paint :).  See the proof.
(pretty backyard, yummy lobster, chalkboard paint labeled mason jars, mismatched chairs, awesome food!, drinks, salad appetizers, string lights, soph and the dog :)

And a pic from their photobooth :)


And, I spied some wedding photos in their house!!! Love that.



In other news, did you guys see the wedding I posted on Friday?!  I know a lot of people were out of town, but definitely go check it out (its on FB too, if thats easier).  I'm in love.

Last but definitely not least - Happy 1st Anniversary to Samara and Brian!!!  These guys got married just a few days after the Hurricane last year and it was just the coolest.  This pic reminds me a lot of the wedding because the flower farm that they orginally were going to use got wiped out with the storm, so Samara found a replacement just days before the wedding!  Turned out just gorgeous.  Hope you guys are celebrating tonight!

Wedding: Samara + Brian | Hudson Valley backyard wedding

Wow, what a wedding! Samara and Brian definitely win the award for the 'most wedding effort exerted' :). After looking at the photos below, if I told you that this wedding occured just a few days after Hurricane Irene hit, would you believe me?! With half the wedding guests from out of town and plans for a tented backyard reception, the hurricane couldn't have come at a worse time. But, even after several days of no power, no water, an underwater flower farm and several fallen trees, - these guys pulled it off! With the help of some clutch vendors, a generator, lots of diy details and a super happy couple, the day was amazing - proof is below :).

Sami and Brian - thank you so much for the honor of shooting your big day. We had a blast and hope you had so much fun on your Italian adventure!

Vendors:
Venue: bride + groom's home
Caterer: Eddie Kowalski / Lola's Cafe and Catering
Photographer: Jade + Tim / Uplift Photography
DJ + Ceremony music: Stephanie + Jeff / The DJ Solution
Hair / Makeup: Patricia Luccardi / The Beautiful Bride
Flowers:

So, I pretty much love this next set. These dresses = awesome.




The 'Wedding Village'

Check out all the wedding details!!!

Love these!