Married: Tim & Carol 06.15.14

Last Labor Day weekend I did a quick engagement shoot with Tim and Carol.  This was really on a whim, a quick favor, nothing more.  I gave them names of Maine-based photographers that I love for their wedding and we continued on drinking a few beers and eating hot dogs.

Fast forward to November, I'm in a hotel room in Nairobi when I get an email from Tim asking me to shoot their wedding.  For numerous reasons I had to think long and hard about it - a wedding is a whole different ballgame compared to some quick engagement photos and to be honest, I wasn't thrilled with said engagement photos (my issues, certainly not theirs!).  I just wasn't particularly inclined to say yes. Then I thought about how lovely they are as people and as a couple and decided that if they really wanted me, I'd never have a better couple to take the wedding plunge.

Best decision ever.

Tim and Carol are the sweetest people.  They trust everyone to do what they do, make decisions and give directions.  All of the pressure I felt was 100% self-imposed as I just couldn't bear the thought of disappointing them.  I had an absolute ball at their wedding and am so glad I said yes.

On a weekend that started out rainy, Sunday afternoon couldn't have been more beautiful.  Point Lookout is my all time favorite wedding venue.  It boasts absolutely spectacular panoramic views of Penobscot Bay along with a full campus of activities and accommodations for both local and visiting guests.  It's a bit of a haul up the coast of Maine but totally worth it.

Tim was in a serious bike accident less than two years ago and the gratitude for his recovery was evident throughout the day, from the (untraditional) traditional Quaker ceremony to the open mic toasts during dinner; there wasn't a dry eye in the room when his dad acknowledged Carol's unwavering commitment during Tim's hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation.  While I've only known Tim and Carol a short time, I could tell how very 'them' their wedding day was.  From baby pictures posted on the bathroom doors to walking down the aisle together to start their ceremony hand in hand, they did it they way they wanted and it was perfect.

Tim and Carol, thank you so so SO much for trusting me with your wedding day.  I couldn't have asked for a better couple to jump this hurdle with and I will always remember how wonderful you were.  I'm so excited for you to be in New England full time and can't wait to see where your lives take you.  I hope your move goes smoothly and you enjoy the photos!

Meet: The Stack Family

Even though it makes me feel a little old, I love thinking about how long I've known the people in my life.  When I think back on my first few experiences at my new middle school, I remember meeting Kate.  She and her bff, Amy, had matching hacky sack key chains on their sneakers (something they both deny, something I remember perfectly) and they were most obviously going to be my friends, if for no other reason than we were all new to school.  That was in 1993 and 21 years later, I'm happy to say we're still friends (though thankfully, no hacky sacks).

Kate and Brian married in 2008, had little Gwen in December of 2012 and are expecting baby boy Stack later this summer.  Gwen is a chit-chatty 2.5 year old, excited to explore and jump and climb.  We had a bit of a rushed afternoon in Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth on an absolutely stunning late spring/early summer day but these three are easy to photograph whether we have an hour or an entire day!

Kate and Brian, thanks so much for letting me spend the afternoon (and evening!) with you guys, I can't wait to meet your newest addition!  xoxo

On The Road Again: Edinburgh

I had planned to spend Memorial Day weekend in Maine, I had a family shoot planned with a high school friend (now scheduled for this weekend, stay tuned!), maybe some boating.  Definitely had some eating planned, mostly just low-key.

While that was more or less my ideal long weekend, when I got the semi-last minute opportunity to travel to Scotland with United Airlines on their inaugural flight from Chicago to Edinburgh, it took me approximately a half second to ditch my weekend plans. We were treated incredibly well on the five day trip, from flying business class both directions to five star hotels and all the food and drink we could handle, it was an amazing introduction to Scotland.

We spent two nights in Edinburgh, half of us at the Balmoral, the other half at the Hotel G&V.  The other two nights were spent at the Gleneagles Resort & Spa, host to the upcoming Ryder Cup.  We visited the Royal Yacht Britannia, learned more than I ever thought I cared to know about Scotch whiskey, went to dinner theater, and saw towering metal horse sculptures.  Let's not forget the falconry, castles, real horses and shooting.  Oh did I mention all the bagpipes?  Because there were bagpipes at every turn, including our walk all the way through terminal B at O'Hare.  I could write pages and pages of all the things we got to do but I'll let the pictures do the talking.  Even though the weather was classic UK (drizzle and 50ish degrees most of the time), we had the best time.

A huge thanks to all the people at United and Visit Scotland for hosting such a great weekend.  Everyone should get on a plane to Scotland immediately!