With each wedding I am challenged to reconsider how I document love. This is not to reinvent the wheel, but to approach each wedding personally and with a specific interest to document the love shared between two people.

This requires work…

and practice.

Helping two people become comfortable in front of the camera and letting them know it’s okay to show emotion is an acquired skill. I would like to feel like I have mastered it, but I learn more with each couple I photograph. I have found it goes beyond asking couples to exchange a simple kiss as I did when I was first starting out, and capturing the kiss that naturally occurs when you are close and can’t imagine not being together. It means adding in unexpected elements that invite people to have fun and enjoy the process. It means distilling the images down to the essentials and teaching people to embrace those first few awkward minutes when they are not used to the spotlight. Most of all, it’s about reminding people that in the midst of whatever schedules, timelines, and conflicts of the day they are in love.

Dan and Alaina were married yesterday and it was a beautiful whirlwind.

Right on the water, with mountains in the background and a sky that stretched for miles, they said I do. They had found their best friend and decided to spend their lives together. Bright blues complimented the natural colors of the summer as lush pink peonies and other blooms added softness. Guests watched as they were married lakefront and then dined on delicate dishes so they had energy to dance their hearts out. It was everything a wedding should be and so fun to document. Michelle and Zack I’m glad you found each other and thanks again for inviting me to document your day.

I discovered my new favorite way to hang and photograph a dress – tied up with ribbons! It was a simple solution when a hanger wouldn’t work and I can’t wait to try it again.

While I was photographing the girls, Wes – who second shot the wedding with me – documented what the boys were up to. Look at those custom chucks to match the wedding colors! nice. The scene at the Sagamore was stunning and the wedding party exited the resort and walked down the very long flight of stairs to the waterfront ceremony.

Nothing is better at a summer wedding than a glass of lemonade and a paper straw before things get started. Michelle and Zack had the mason jars custom printed and the blue and white paper straws matched perfectly. Groomsmen handed out glasses as everyone arrived and it was impossible to not feel welcomed. Since I also had Rachel assisting at the wedding, she captured a third angle of the party processing for the ceremony, and I can’t get over how great the view is.

I love this image of them walking off the pier, passing the kids fishing. Maybe because it’s so opposite of a typical wedding image, and yet it’s so true. Michelle’s dress was gorgeous, but I particularly loved the back and the ruching that made it fall so beautifully.

the reception was filled with flowers and garden accents like the birdhouse table numbers and watering can place cards. A candy bar was filled with pinks, purples and blue and enjoyed by all throughout the night.

their cake was one of my all time favorites. Not only did it look beautiful – the flowers and bird cake toppers are simple but stunning – it tasted amazing! There were raspberries in between the layers as you can see below.

So many fun guests and this little baby was so photogenic. Maybe it’s the sound the camera makes but kids seem to be drawn to it. On the right is an image during the cake cutting – I think it’s fun to see all of the guests getting their own shot, while of course getting my own as well :)

cute kids were not hard to find! While this ring shot is the last image, there are so many more you need to look through. Head to my proofing site for the full gallery and don’t forget to stay updated through my facebook page and leave a comment or two for the world to see.

We were hooked on fresh eggs and the thought of raising chickens quickly sounded like the right thing to do. We didn’t need much convincing and after moving back to New York from Virginia we had the country lifestyle to do so. Of course, I think we would have decided to have chickens even if we didn’t live in the country, but having a large backyard certainly helped. In a lot of ways, it sounded much more feasible than the other idea Matt had been tossing around for the past two years : hydroponic tilapia. Much more set up and work and above all I would rather have a pet chicken than a pet fish.

So after a cold hard winter we began planning to get our chicks in the spring, 4 chicks to be exact. Selecting breeds came down to what was available and in the end we landed a blue-laced red wyandotte, a white leghorn, a barred plymouth rock and a silver cuckoo maran (they lay chocolate colored eggs!) We ordered our chicks with a friend so that they could have a better trip through the US Postal Service and a better chance of surviving. Just over a week ago they all arrived safe and sound and we took them home nervous and excited, standing in wonder at the adventure we were about to embark on.

They have a few weeks inside before heading out to their permanent home which means our dogs are quite excited. I think they have a good chance of being friends (or getting along) although for the first few days they couldn’t help but freak out and want to be near the chicks every second of the day. The chicks are safe and sound in a separate room from the dogs and we’re busy keeping each of them happy and trying to contain the farm from overtaking the whole house.

Sometime in the fall the chickens will start laying eggs, which is what we are most looking forward to. Until then we’ll continue to watch them grow and see their personalities develop individually and as a group… and of course we have to name them.

As a track athlete, Corrie was frequently in the gym, training and lifting and staying in shape. She knew the regulars in the gym and became one of them. One of those regulars was Brendan, a reserved upperclassman who often saw but rarely spoke to. She nicknamed him “gym boy” and talked with her friends about the guy she couldn’t stop thinking about. It didn’t take long before they went on their first date since Brendan had clearly been noticing Corrie the whole time. She programed him into her phone as “gym boy” and has kept it like that till this day.

On a warm sunny day I shot Brendan and Corrie’s engagement photos in Letchworth State Park and had a great time getting to know them as a couple. They were pro’s from the start and I can’t wait for their August wedding. Besides Letchworth’s natural beauty I feel like it looks different every time I photograph there. Of course, there is so much space you don’t have to be in the same place twice. Since Corrie is a painter and art teacher we planned to incorporate some painting in the session for an active and personal element. Brendan got a mini painting lesson and I think for the first time together they shared a canvas and enjoyed the outdoors while making art. Thanks to both of you guys for being up for an adventure at Letchworth and I hope you enjoy all of the images!

It’s only fitting that today – with the temperatures plummeting and snow surrounding us – I share a perfectly wintry engagement session. You may need to get that hot chocolate you’ve been dreaming about (if you’re like me) before you delve into this post since there is plenty of ice and snow. Tim and Kim decided on Letchworth State Park for the location of their photos and I always agree since you know how I love the park. In fact, it’s probably my most frequented location to shoot at – and my sister in Michigan would probably say it’s the place where dreams come true… anything can happen… and I agree.

It was early January and the falls had plenty of time to build up a good base of ice on everything surrounding them. The landscape was transformed and winter had set in. Tim and Kim were up for the adventure of the outdoors and came down from Rochester to meet me at the park. They had plenty of time to prepare for the session although there is only so much you can do to get ready for your debut in front of the camera. I assured them that jumping in to the pictures would be the best way to go, and in no time they were laughing, having fun, and being themselves. Letting your guard down is probably one of the hardest things to do when your picture is being taken. Stepping back from an automatic smile and letting your personality show can only happen with trust. I’m so grateful for clients that trust me like Tim + Kim and let me into their lives…

It’s not winter without a little sledding. Really you’re never too old for that.

I love the pop of color from Kim’s scarf, so bright and vivid. It was cold out, but when you have someone to keep you warm it’s a lot more fun.

Last up: Snowball fight!

Okay just one shot each. No hard feelings. I can imagine with the right couple this could get deadly. Thankfully it didn’t with Kim + Tim, I’d hate to be caught in the crossfire. :)

Kim and Tim you make winter look fun. It was great to meet up with you guys and I can’t wait to photograph your wedding – which will be fabulously sunny and warm and the perfect contrast to these photos. Enjoy!

Proposals seem to take one of two forms. They are either expertly planned and romantic endeavors that leave others imagining being in those shoes… or they are a chain of events gone wrong, an unexpected surprise that takes happens early out of nerves or later due to foiled plans. While Katie and Chris might have had the latter, they are certainly not alone (I fall in to the second category as well) and they have perhaps a more entertaining tale of proposal.

Letchworth is a favorite location of mine to photograph at, and when Katie and Chris contacted me to shoot a winter engagement session we quickly settled on the location. It was snowy but thankfully not freezing and we ventured out into the winter landscape and this is what I captured:

If Chris and Katie are anything, they are fun. It’s only right that their engagement pictures show that, don’t you think?

I photographed a delightful engagement session yesterday at Letchworth State Park. I can’t wait to post the rest but here’s a little preview for now!

It’s not every day that you fall in love, but when you find someone you love keep falling for them each day. That’s what makes love grow and change and get stronger, something that certainly couldn’t happen without time. Jon and Julie have been married for several years and I photographed them to document the point in their relationship they are at now, and have some fun shooting an “anniversary session” where they dusted off their wedding clothes and put a new twist on them. So, there’s two parts to this session and I’m starting with the casual country shots complete with haybales, quilts, and of course the open fields that surround where I live.

I love them! the pictures and the people. stay tuned for part two debuting tomorrow!

It was several weeks ago that I photographed the Cool family and I can’t believe how much has changed since then. The leaves have changed, temperatures have dropped, and we are officially out of summer and on our way through fall. This family of five lives nearby so I took them to one of my favorite spots for their session and as you can see it was a gorgeous day. I love shooting in the area where I live since I know all of the good places (and am always finding more) and the country is (of course) full of open spaces. Family photos are not always the easiest to arrange but when you’re outside having fun it makes them so much better. How do you like my version of a family portrait in shadows, above?

Their three boys have loads of personality and I while we took some individual images of them these are my top choices of each:

looking good boys! one my personal favorites below…

oh summer, I can’t wait to see you again.

There’s nothing like a wedding around a holiday. They combine for a great weekend and getaway for family and friends and this weekend was no exception. Yesterday Chris and Beth were married back in my hometown in Michigan and had beautiful church wedding followed by a fun at home reception. It was an event celebrated by many and I think they had the largest wedding I’ve ever photographed… was it 350 guests? It was also the first wedding in which I was able to photograph my sister playing the piano, and since Beth and her family have been friends for some years my parents were also in attendance and helped with the set up and grilling having pulled off my sister’s at home reception a few years ago. Everything came together beautifully and I’m so happy for Chris and Beth and look forward to sharing more of their wedding day soon. It’s time to go enjoy the 4th of July with my family here in Michigan – I see ladderball and lawn games in my future!