Back to my roots...

When I first started photography (way back in 7th grade- geez, that makes me feel old), I didn't start off photographing people. Rarely did I photography people, and if I did it was weird, emo photography... because, you know, that's what you do in 7th grade. I would go around and photograph anything I saw; street lights, plants, rocks, different textures in the sidewalk, candid shots of people in New York City, anything that caught my eye.

So lately I've been "going back to my roots" you can say and photographing those things again, taking time to remember what sparked my love for photography.

Here are some photographs that I've taken in the fast few months.
All of these photographs are available as prints and canvases. If you purchase one, your print or canvas will be hand signed by me. For more information, feel free to email me! They make for great Christmas presents... :)

Wedding Wednesday : For Brides and Grooms

A little late tonight, but better late that never!

I absolutely love, love, LOVE Etsy. If there's something I need or am looking for, I always go straight to Etsy to see what I can find first. Etsy has a great section on their site dedicated just for weddings. Whether you're planning your wedding around a tight budget or if you're looking for something that will stand out, Etsy is the place for you!

Recently I was scanning through the wedding section on Etsy (come on, I'm a 20 year old girl, what else would I do in my free time?) and I came across this... personalized finger print wedding bands. Let me repeat- personalized finger print wedding bands!

If you are confused as to what I mean, be confused no more!



I think my heart literally stopped when I saw this. This is possibly one of the most romantic and most unique wedding bands I have ever seen. Can you imagine, having your love's finger print with you for the rest of your life? Literally having a part of them with you wherever you go. No two finger prints are a like, so you truly do have a one of a kind wedding band that no one else in the world would have.

Maybe it's just me, but a simple gesture like this just make my heart turn into a puddle of love goo (don't worry, that's a good thing). So if you're looking for a wedding band that will stand out, put this ring into consideration!

To find out more about these fingerprint wedding rings, visit Chris Parry's Etsy's shop.

Headshots : WATERFORDrama's Spotlight Cabaret

Last weekend WATERFORDrama put on a very special production... The very first ever Spotlight Cabaret. It was a night just like any other old fashion cabaret; both classic and contemporary Broadway songs, dancing, laughter, tears, and of course delicious dessert. I went to one of the nights and it was AMAZING- not to mention my brother's solo made me bawl my eyes out (go to Youtube and look up the song "If I Sing". You will crying instantly).

Congratulations and a big BRAVO! to the cast of Spotlight Cabaret... Yet again, WATERFORDrama continued the magic and put on another perfect show.

Here are the headshots I took of the cast a few days before they opened- they clean up well, don't they? ;)

Kevin

(Sorry this is my brother and I have to do this... Awwwwwwwwwww!)

Kalie


Josh (aka Harpo)


Mike


Josh (aka JK)


CJ


Ally


Kim


Sam


Kelli


Lexi


Nathaniel


Weston

Thanful Thursday : Veterans Day

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the ...councils of the nations"
- President Wilson, 1919

Today I would like to thank all of the men and women, past, present, and future, who serve our country. Every day they risk their lives so we can continue to live in a country with all the freedoms we have; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and so many other basic rights that we take for granted every day. Without these amazing men and women, our country would not be the home we know and love today.

My grandfather was a solider in World War II. He joined the military at age 17 (he lied about his age on his application) and was shipped all around the world to fight the war. When I was little, he bought a globe and place gold star stickers on every country and city he went to; Japan, Italy, Germany, England, and so many more. He even use to have an old Nazi helmet that he brought home with him, but he gave it away to someone during a yard sale we had once.



This is the famous Normandy Landings (D-Day) photograph. My grandfather was one of the boys that opened up the gates to the boats, risking his life to help others to the shore. This photograph will always remind me of my grandfather and the life taking risks he took to help defend our country.

I cannot describe how thankful I am for our armed forces. Without them, we would be nothing. I love you, I pray for you, and I can never thank you enough.

Happy Veterans Day, everyone.

Wedding Wednesday : For Brides and Grooms

Welcome to a new part of the blog... Wedding Wednesday! Each Wednesday I will post entries for brides and even groom to find inspiration for their weddings; from inspiration boards, to fun article, DIY (do it yourself) project, and so much more! If you're planning a wedding be sure to check back each Wednesday- you never know what you'll find!

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I always ask couples for their "must have shots" list about a month before their wedding. These shots are usually the photographs couples end up picking for albums and prints. But there's always a couple that has no idea what to put down when I ask this question- and trust me, it's okay! It can be overwhelming to think about what exactly you want to have photographed the day of your wedding.

Before I headed to bed last night I checked my email one last time and found an email from The Knot. For those who don't know, The Knot is a magazine and an amazing online resource for planning your wedding. You do have to register for an account to view most of the articles on their website, but registration is FREE!

So when I saw the title of the email, "50 Must-Have Wedding Photos!" you KNOW I immediately opened the email! The email lead me to this article on the website:


(Click HERE to go to the article!)

The article was a simple gallery of the writer's 50 top must have photographs that you should have taken at your wedding. And I have to say, I 110% agree with all the shots they picked! When it comes to wedding photography you want the photographs to be able to tell the story of the day, from the beginning when the bride is getting ready with all her bridesmaids, to the ceremony, to the quiet moments the couple has together, to when the party gets going, to the end of the night when the newlyweds are leaving alone together.

I highly recommend this article to not only my brides and grooms, but to any couple that will soon be married! There are so many ideas from this article that both the bride and the groom (cause lets face it, the guys aren't always thrilled to have their pictures taken) will love and want to try! And don't forget to sign up for an account on The Knot, or else you won't be able to read the article.

Thankful Thursday : The Daily Love

Every morning when I wake up, I immediately check my email on my iPhone. Yes, I am one of the iPhone junkies that keeps it right next to my bed. I check it mainly to see if I have any messages from Justin (which I ususally don't, but a girl can dream! ;] ) and to read my morning email from The Daily Love.

Now you're probably asking, "What the heck is The Daily Love?"

Well, here is what their website says about them...

"The Daily Love is your daily dose of wisdom and positive energy with style!"

And that's exactly what it is! It's a daily email full of words of wisdom, quotes of inspiration, and motivation to help you through the day. For me, it's a great reminder that every day is a new start, and whatever troubles I had the day before don't matter.

My favorite part of the email are the Affirmations. I carry those affirmations without me through the day, both literally (thanks to my iPhone!) and figuratively. Whenever I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed, all I have to do is look at my phone and reread those affirmations.

This is one of the affirmations from today's email, and I am completely digging it today:

I can't see air, yet, it is as real as the Sun. I can't see my dreams in real life just yet but they are as real as the Sun.

I highly recommend The Daily Love! It's not another email that will clog up your inbox, but an email that will help you get through each day. If you want to sign up for The Daily Love or learn more information about their daily email, click here!

I am so thankful I found The Daily Love. I truly believe it has helped me to become a better person.



*** You should also check out TDL's new clothing line Self Approved. They have some awesome shirts! And 2% of the cost goes straight to The Trevor Project, the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ youth. ***

Autumn Wedding Inspiration Board

I've been wanting to make an Inspiration Board for a long time now. So today, I finally sat myself down in front of the computer and forced myself to make one. And it was a blast! I can't tell you how many times I went "Ohhh that's cute- LOOK AT THAT! I love that! No wait, that is PERFECT!" It's like I just designed my own wedding... In two hours. ;)

Without further ado... I introduce to you... A Wedding of Thanks.

I've always loved November. It's that time of year when the holiday's officially begin; Thanksgiving is on the way, kids start thinking about what they want to ask Santa for Christmas, and the hot apple cider is broken out. So when else would a perfect time for a wedding be? A time to remember the years it took to build this relationship, to thank all the family and friends who have supported you, and to cuddle up together and keep warm.



(1) You can call it a dress rehearsal for Thanksgiving. Dinner is complete with sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, biscuits, gravy,and, of course, turkey.
(2) A perfect piece for the bride and all her bridesmaids to wear. It's festive and gorgeous. I found the necklace from {Sparkle Peach} shop on Etsy.
(3) Simple, elegant, flowy... The perfect autumn wedding gown from JCrew.
(4) Another fantastic Etsy find! Ring Bearer pillows always make me wicked nervous... So why not a Ring Bearer Box? From Jennifer Raichman's Etsy shop.
(5) Another casual yet sophisticated look, this time for the groom, from JCrew.
(6) Location, location, location! A breathtaking autumn scene, straight out of a movie. Every bride's (and photographer's!) dream.
(7) Cups of hot apple cider to keep guests warm during the ceremony.
(8) Bouquets and flowers to capture the colors of autumn.
(9) To decorate the reception site, pumpkins with the newlywed's initials carved into them!
(10) What's a Thanksgiving meal without pie? Pumpkin pie, to be exact.
(11) The colors that inspired this board, pumpkin orange and gold.

Rock the Vote

Today is November 2, 2010. It's a day that could change history. A day that could change our country for the better. It's a day where everything this country stands for goes into full effect. Today is Election Day.

So what should you do today? Vote. Whether you've been following the campaign, totally confused, or don't really care. Take 15 minutes to Google your local candidates. It's 15 minutes that could change this country.

Vote for what you believe in, not what others tell you to believe in. Vote for your rights. Vote for your family. Vote for your loved ones. Whatever the reason for you to vote... Do it.

If you don't know where you can go cast your vote in town, visit http://pollingplaces.raiseyourvote.com/. All you have to do is enter your street address and zipcode, and BOOM! That's the place can go vote. :)

If you're not convinced... Maybe these guys can help out.

"You can't complain if you didn't vote."