A winter wedding, outside. It was a central decision to Meghan + Ian’s wedding planning. Now living in Virginia, they both had years of memories in snowy Vermont and it stood out as the place they would travel to and celebrate. After deconstructing the wedding day they rebuilt it to be something of their own, a intimate weekend with family and friends in a snowy mountain town.

A few years earlier they had crossed paths. Running in the same circles – literally – they missed a few chances to get to know each other until one winter night. Meghan made it clear that it would be a good idea if Ian asked her out, and he took the hint. They planned to meet up on the eve of one of Virginia’s biggest snowstorms two years ago. Not knowing where each other lived, they talked on the phone and toyed with the idea of putting off getting together… until they realized they basically lived around the block. It was too good to be true. Perhaps there were many other times they had passed by on the street.

Both similar and yet so very different, together they found balance and a relationship that worked. Their wedding day was as unique as both of them and it looked like this…

Meghan wanted to add her own touch to her wedding dress and made a velvet sash to tie around the waist. It was crisp and elegant and her whole ensemble was stunning.

Ian and Meghan commissioned rings from Victoria Moore, a jeweler and metalsmith who works with damascus steel, referring to the layers of metal folded and forged together to created the signature pattern you see above. Highlighted with inlays of gold, the rings fit together and are one of a kind.

The vibrant and bold colors contrasted the cold winter day and added such life. Meghan and Ian chose to do a first look which is something I love so much. They had a moment alone to revel in the day and enjoy taking pictures while guests finished getting ready for the wedding.

We ventured throughout Middlebury and braved the cold for scenic images… but it was cold!

I had found the perfect spot to capture mountains without an excess of buildings in the background on the edge of Middlebury’s campus the day before the wedding. I love getting to know a location and often travel to new locations so I do so a day before when possible.

It was time for the ceremony, and if you didn’t believe me this wedding really was outside. In the gazebo on the town green Meghan and Ian gathered surrounded by their 15 guests and exchanged their vows.

Afterward everyone gathered across the green at the Middlebury Community House, a historic home with the intimate feeling Meghan and Ian were looking for. It was decked out for Christmas and allowed everyone in attendance another chance to get together and celebrate before the holidays.

The table was beautifully clothed and accented in fabric designed by Meghan’s cousin. Stockings were sewn and stuffed with goodies hanging off each chair for guests to enjoy. Custom pints bore the logo printed on all materials for the wedding, adding a common thread that tied the day together.

Safe from the winter wind talking, drinking, and laughing commenced. Around a long table everyone sat down to an early Christmas dinner and intimate wedding reception as they shared a family style meal and toasted the relationship before them. Congratulations again M+I and thanks to everyone for inviting us in to document the day!

venue Town Green, Middlebury VT   wedding dress Impression Bridal  veil Etsy : The Red Magnolia   hair Valerie Smith-Hastings   makeup Hannah Zeno   rings Victoria Moore   flowers The Blossom Basket  groom’s attire Highland Outfitters  officiant Zeke Church  paper goods  mygatsby.com  custom pint glasses Etsy : Factory21  reception music Celticladda  catering  Janice Munson

The romance of winter was visible as Meghan and Ian wed on a crisp cold day in Middlebury, Vermont. It was everything you dream of when you start to picture a small winter wedding in a snowy mountain town. With 17 guests in attendance it was an intimate day, shared with an inner circle of family and friends. Being invited to document this occasion was a treat. Matt accompanied me as second shooter and sherpa, carrying bags and prepping lights as I tried to convince him to leave his job and work for me full time. (It hasn’t worked yet) We felt especially honored to be among the small group of guests and provide the images that would be remembered and shared with all those not in attendance. We were welcomed in and I can’t thank everyone enough for their hospitality.

Upon arriving to Middlebury we got acquainted with the locations for the wedding and then went off on a run to scout locations for photos. I always love to get to know a place with a run, and as the sun set the town twinkled with lights and the warm glow of houses which seemed to welcome us in. We soon joined those inside as we headed to the rehearsal dinner and the first official events of the weekend kicked off. The only thing missing was snow. Fortuitously we awoke to a light blanket that had been laid overnight to cover the ground. The temperature had also dropped at least 10 degrees from the day before, but we were prepared for the cold. I’m not sure if Ian could have prepared for wearing a kilt in such weather but he didn’t flinch. After warming up from the outdoor ceremony everyone gathered across the green in the Community House for a reception equivalent to the Christmas dinner you always wish you had with those closest to you. It was a beautiful day, remembered in the warmest light as the memory of a cold day fades with the passing of time.

Each time I head to Vermont I find another reason to return. The small towns nestled between snowy mountains are so inviting and ready for exploration. Just a few miles north of Middlebury we fell in love with Vergennes Laundry, a wood fired bakery and coffee shop that fit our tastes perfectly. More and more I’m drawn to the simple and expertly crafted espresso drinks found only at small establishments like this. Pair that with fresh bread, tarts, and french treats like caneles and it’s almost enough reason to pick up and move or actually start building that wood fired oven we have been talking about. A trip to Vergennes was the perfect treat after a cold day shooting outside. Enough so that I’m ready to plan for next year.

When children grow so quickly there is almost an urgency to getting pictures done. Each birthday brings with it new discoveries and milestones and before you know it they are going to school and teaching you things you didn’t know. I tend to get ahead of myself, however, so let’s slow down and enjoy Abbey at the age of two. While her parents started the adoption process well before she was born, it wasn’t until recently that they were able to bring her home with them. Although baby pictures were no longer an option I was excited about the prospect of a family / portrait session and creating images they could always look back on from this time in their lives. I was conveniently already in Michigan for a wedding so arranging something back in my home town was not a problem. I met with Abbey and her family on an early evening when the light is soft and reminds you why summer should never end.

Since we wanted to get a mix of family and individual images I started with everyone together and asked them to have fun and play. Abbey loves to be swung and lifted high into the air so it was easy to document their interaction.

We also got out some bubbles and just had fun on the gorgeous late summer evening. While it takes a little while to get used to, I think natural interaction leads to better images and adds variety and life. As I edited the images I also realized that it was a change of pace to photograph a child who is untrained in the art of “smiling at the camera” aka. scrunching their face or becoming shy upon it’s sight. The result is a more honest portrait of Abbey and her interactions with me.

she’s just adorable. We ended the session on the boardwalk and once again had some fun playing around… I love the last set of images and the great reaction Abbey has!

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.

There are times when you just know, and that is the case with Wes + Rachel. I have not only had the pleasure of photographing them, but they have accompanied me for a few weddings this summer to second shoot. When we planned their session we made it a priority to incorporate an activity and make it more of a date. I always recommend thinking about photos in that way since it gives you a context to plan within. You no longer show up just to take pictures, but you show up to go to a waterfall and then go canoeing… and that’s just what we did. Love is wonderful to document, and I hope you enjoy this session that took place practically in my backyard.

standing up in a canoe while floating down a river was not easy – but they were up for the challenge. In fact, they didn’t tip at all but they did lose a paddle that Wes quickly rescued.

every session should be this fun. congrats again w+r!

this is what summer is all about: playing outside, running around, getting wet, having fun… and add going fishing with gummy worms to that list. more to come!

Don’t stand still girls – run around your parents! Not the traditional shot but I think a welcome change from the usual.

It’s snowing outside and it’s March. I can’t believe right after all the snow melted there is already a fresh blanket that won’t go away. However, I’m trying to make the best of the situation and remind myself how beautiful winter can be. I thought I would do the same for you, and share images from a collaborative inspiration shoot. I worked with Maura and her team at Sas Sa Fras Flowers who used the inspiration of jewels and ice to create an elegant winter wedding scene at Warner Castle in Rochester, New York. We were also helped out by Ryan, stylist and owner at Salon Raven, Moire’s Millinery who provided incredibly unique handcrafted headpieces, and Bella Carta Studio who created custom paper goods.

I hope you enjoy these bold and sparkly images and perhaps it will give some inspiration to those of you planning weddings for next winter. It really creates a beautiful backdrop for bold colors and texture and I look forward to photographing more scenes like these once I have a few months in the sun! Once again I had a great time collaborating on this project and thanks to everyone who assisted in making it a reality.

One of my favorite things was this “ice cake” that held the place cards for guests – blocks of ice were stacked to form the layers and base.

It’s a classic long distance love story. She’s Canadian, he’s American. After meeting at university and falling in love, they got engaged. Of course, when you live in different countries is not quite as easy to just plan a wedding. There are long distance phone calls, visas, paperwork… and worst of all waiting. Not just waiting to find out when you might get your visa so you can plan your wedding, but waiting for that visa so you can get into the country and visit your fiance!

It’s going to be worth the wait. Until then, there was even more reason to plan a fabulous engagement session that took place in Highland Park in Rochester, New York. The session was a collaboration that combined the talents of several people including Ryan of Salon Raven and Maura and her team at Sas Sa Fras Flowers. Now, I was thrilled to work with Devin and Shannon and I’m sure they would have rocked the photos no matter what, but I know the extra details and planning gave them the extra edge that made these images so much fun. The culmination of everyone’s efforts resulted in a bold engagement session that made winter inviting.

Seriously you guys look so good together. Everyone’s jealous of Shannon’s red hair, right? That Anthropologie dress is perfect, love the ruffles – I know it took us a while to decide on what combination to wear but that was the right choice! Oh and that gorgeous necklace? It’s J. Crew.

Sas Sa Fras how are you guys so amazing? You create the most gorgeous bouquets and arrangements

We didn’t have to travel far at all to use a variety of locations… and the light was absolutely perfect illuminating the trees and leaves in the background. Thanks to the “golden hour,” as Meg would call it, right before sunset.

Adorable. It probably looks warmer than it actually was, and I have to hand it to Devin + Shannon for braving the temps. We incorporated a little tea party as part of the shoot and it helped them warm up a bit as well! The gorgeous tea set is actually from Matt’s (my husband) grandma and you would not have recognized it a day earlier because of all the polishing we did. Love that about silver – no matter how tarnished it can be gorgeous again.

quick! someone start talking in a British accent.

hooray for love! and for fun photos + people + talented artists + friends who lend you dresses/sweaters/necklaces + soft light before sunset + winter + being able to celebrate life and all things in it. Devin + Shannon, thank you for being some of the easiest people on earth to photograph. Is it you? Is it me? I think it’s us together. Either way you guys are so in love and it totally showed.