Newburyport, MA Anniversary Pictures :: Kate + Josh

I've started typing this blog post out a couple of times now and I'm getting frustrated with my words. I guess that's why I'm a photographer and not a writer :)

I've been trying to explain how hilarious Kate is and how much fun I had shooting her and Josh on their 4th wedding anniversary but I can't get the words right, so I'll just give you a little background and then let the pictures speak for themselves.

Taking pictures of friends can be hard
Taking pictures of friends when you only have 17 minutes before you have to be somewhere and they have to leave is harder
Taking pictures of friends in 17 minutes when one of them is a super amazing photographer in her own right is harder still

Oh, before you see the awesomenesscity that is Kate & Josh, I must just mention how I LOVE the color palette going on here - especially with the waterfront setting. I give all of my couples a little document with some suggestions for what to wear on a shoot - Kate didn't get it but she didn't need it as they're rocking out the "clothes that aren't matchy matchy but don't clash" thing perfectly.

And it's probably only to another photographer that I can give direction like "I'm shooting wide open so eyes on the same plane please!"


And then the fun started:


Although actually I'd describe this one as kind of hot:


And more fun:


So technically, I don't think these two pictures really belong together but I really like them. And it's my blog. Check out Legs McElwee! And Josh's green eyes:


I'm thinking Kate was channeling Mary Poppins here. Well, what Mary Poppins might look like if she had a little pixie haircut and an awesome husband:


More on Kate **here**, I second shot for her at an amazing wedding a couple of weeks ago and she'll be returning the favor for one of my lucky couples later this season. And then we're off to a lighting workshop in a few weeks which will definitely start out educational and most likely end with wine and laughing.

Newburyport Wedding Photographer :: Engagement Pictures :: Diana + Jeff

Definition from Wikipedia: A Wingman or Wingwoman is a role that a person may take when a friend needs support with approaching potential partners. A wingman is someone who is on the "inside" and is used to help someone with relationships

Diana had a Wingwoman friend just like that, Danielle. Danielle was happily married and wanted Diana to be the same. It just so happened that Danielle was "on the inside" at dental school with Jeff...

Danielle may have shown Diana a list including photographs of all of her fellow classmates and helpfully pointed out the single guys. She may have also let Diana log in to her facebook page to see a little bit more about Jeff. And finally she may have engineered a double date out to dinner just after Thanksgiving 2008...

Jeff told me that he had a great first impression of Diana, so much so that he introduced her to his parents that night. They've been inseparable pretty much ever since. And next year, they'll get married in Maine and then live happily ever after together.

We met up in Newburyport to take some engagement pictures last weekend. Diana's mother has passed away and so taking pictures in Newburyport where Diana's parents had lived seemed like a nice way to honor her memory.


Newburyport was like a ZOO with Yankee Homecoming so it was a little bit of a challenge to get pictures without the crowds but we managed the next two:




Loved Diana's purple satin shoes. A present from Jeff no less. Ladies, if a man buys you shoes like this, I'd say you have a keeper.


Check out Diana's engagement ring, they went together to pick it out so perhaps you're wondering what Jeff proposed with? OK then, I'll share it with you now. Who doesn't love a good engagement story. Diana & Jeff were at Walden Pond enjoying a picnic that Jeff had picked (a man who not only buys you shoes but can also pack a mean picnic? Definite keeper). Jeff asked Diana to be his wife and presented her with a ring. Diana recognised the ring immediately as it was her late Mother's ring which Jeff had borrowed from her sister until they could go and pick one out this one together:


In an attempt to flee the crowds, we hung out in a little side street with the most beautiful light:




And then we pootled down to the harbor and the band was just starting to warm up for the concert so Jeff and Diana just hung out on the grass:



I LOVE this one. I'd like to tell you that I always bring along my portable wind machine but it was really just a gentle breeze blowing in the air:


Oh and love this last one. That's it from me for a couple of days as I'm haring off to Saratoga Springs for a wedding. Got my hat packed so should be all set



Oh, sorry, you're wondering when Diana and Jeff will be getting married? Can you guess?

Sunday Reading :: Week 12

Sunday Reading posts are a little sporadic depending on how crazy busy I am but before the insanity which is August with a wedding every weekend I thought I'd squeeze in another.

I realised earlier that 9 years ago today I was in New York with Paul and he kissed me for the very first time. He'd been living in the US for 2 years and had asked me to fly over from Wales for a vacation. We'd been friends since 1997 but I think this was the first time that both of us were single at the same time. Here's the immigration stamp in my passport from 2001:

I assumed we'd hang out as friends like usual and so was somewhat surprised when after a few days in Newburyport, we flew off to NYC. Paul had all sorts of plans for fancy dinners and front-row opera tickets (with a little help from Gail Case, event planner extraordinare!). Here we are doing the tourist thing in Times Square - this is a photograph of a picture taken on a disposable camera - not bad!

Quick background story to that dress in the picture above... we were out for dinner at Chez Josephine, it's warm, inviting and romantic and a jazz band is playing soft background music. I hadn't figured out contact lenses then so was still somewhat reliant on my glasses but I didn't like wearing them.

About halfway through dinner I excuse myself to go to the bathroom, the restaurant is pretty dark but I figure the restrooms must be towards the back of the restuarant. I have to squeeze past the jazz band and I'm starting to think this is a really tiny restaurant when I see someone coming towards me wearing the same dress as me! Huh - what are the chances that I'm in New York wearing a dress I bought in England and someone else is wearing it too?

We walk towards each other and I do my polite British thing - excuse me, sorry, no sorry, after you - because we're in this tiny space by the band.

And then I realise.

That I really really need to wear my glasses.

I've walked towards a mirror and I'm doing a little dance with myself.

Dinner went well despite my short-sighted issues, we flew back and forth for a while and then the following April I moved here. I'm onto my third passport since then as most of the pages look something like this:

We just opened a bottle of champagne and Paul toasted "to us" and so I'll return the toast by dedicating the Sunday Reading to my husband:

Eskimo Wedding Vow

You are my husband
You are my wife
My feet shall run because of you.
My feet dance because of you.
My eyes see because of you.
My mind thinks because of you.
And I shall love because of you

Wedding Planners and Cakes and Make Up and Stationary and Flowers...

Last night I pootled up to Portsmouth, NH to take advantage of my networking membership of my Kate Parker Wedding which is "the ultimate wedding resource and vendor directory developed and designed by a wedding planner for chic and savvy brides and grooms". Kate had planned a NH get-together hosted by the fabulous Samantha and Whitney of Gus & Ruby Letterpress on Congress St, I got to enjoy Burgers & Fries by the amazing Jessica that were really cupcakes and sugar cookies and chat with local wedding planners, florists, letterpress artists, bespoke paper designers, bakers, website designers.

I'm sure you're reading this with baited breath waiting for the pictures of said cupcakes and delicious stationary. I did take my camera, but then I was too busy chatting to take pictures. Instead, I think I'll just mention a couple of the most interesting and lovely people I met last night:

I only chatted briefly with Kate but she was just as chillaxed in person as when we first spoke on the phone a few weeks back. Kate is a wedding planner extraordinaire and creative mastermind, check out her site **here** . I'm looking forward to getting to know the myKPW network so I can bring you all lots of excellent wedding ideas and recommendations.

Jessica Parrott was the baker behind the Burger & Fries cakes and they were divine. We talked about craisins vs. cranberrys, orange-infused carrot cake and the joys of dessert tables and should you be looking for something spectacular for your guests to end dinner with then check out her blog **here**. Jessica is based in Portland, ME but does travel.

I then had a delightful conversation with Joanne of Joya Beauty in Dover, NH (but she travels EVERYWHERE) about Latisse vs. Eyelash Extensions, the wonders of airbrush make-up, the value of having a licensed aesthetician and much more. I'm going to visit Joya soon and may even have Joanne do a little make over on me...coming soon to a blog near you. Joanne books up insanely fast, she doesn't have a single Saturday left until November I think. So if you're thinking airbrushing for that flawless finish is in your plans then get in touch quickly!

The business cards were flying last night along with the introductions and I got the chance to see some designed and made by Gus & Ruby Letterpress and I am in love. Goodbye my old business cards, your regular paper looks so sad now. Samantha and Whitney specialise in wedding stationary and carry all sorts of artisan designers. I am planning a trip back to Portsmouth to work on some new business cards and notecards with them. And you should go too if you're looking for some beautiful wedding stationary.

So alas, no pictures to share with you from last night. Instead, I will show you the mice shoes I wore. Squeak. Squeak.

Fenway Park Engagement Pictures :: Boston Photographer :: Julie + Steve

A couple of weeks ago I had an email from a bride named Julie explaining that her Florida wedding to Steve had been planned for a while but they'd decided to fly into Boston to do an engagement session INSIDE Fenway Park and asking if I available? Absolutely!!!

So last weekend I met up with Steve and Julie outside of Gate D on Yawkey Way for our 4pm appointment inside Fenway for engagement photographs. While we were waiting to go inside, we snapped a few shots:


I usually shoot engagement pictures with the focus very much on the couple and location secondary but when your location is the home of the Boston Red Sox you give it a little more attention:


Up on the Right Field Roof Deck - remember the "Sox Appeal" dating show anyone? - I think this is where they used to film it:


Although this was the first time I'd met Julie and Steve, all of our previous correspondence had taken place on email, it was easy to see how well suited they are. They're super comfortable together and there was a lot of laughing going on too:


Vintage Red Sox painting make for great backdrops:


Obligatory Red Sox hats:


The Green Monster (more often pronounced Monstah) is the nickname of the thirty-seven foot, two-inch high left field wall in Fenway:


Gotta love being able to lie on top of the dug-out. We weren't allowed to stand which put paid to a few shots I had in mind but I think these two are pretty cute:


Time flies when you're having fun, especially when Fenway Park is your playground. HUGE thanks go to Abby the intern who did a spectacular job of taking us around the park and showing us all the cool spots as well as sharing lots of interesting history with us. If you have a big Red Sox fan in your life why not do a private photo session inside Fenway Park for an amazing anniversary or birthday gift. You can contact the Fenway Events team here:
tel: 617-226-6791 or email: events@redsox.com
And you'll probably need a photographer...www.LeahHaydock.com
One quick last shot outside the park:


But wait, it's not over yet. After a quick wardrobe change in the car we headed over to the Boston Common and Public Gardens for some more pictures:


If pictures came with sound effects, I imagine this picture would say "Bling!"


I think the next four pictures are adorable. How lucky is their Orlando wedding photographer? Julie & Steve - hope you like your preview pictures - it was so lovely to meet you both and I wish you all the best for your wedding and life together!


It would also be remiss of me not to thank Steve's amazing parents. I'll usually recommend that it's just the couple and me for the engagement session as it can be a little awkward having an audience and/or there are the over-enthusiastic parents who want to help with directing the pictures. But Steve's parents were AWESOME! They carried the bag with all the clothing in it, stayed back for all of the pictures, taxi'd us around Boston and were just generally lovely.

NH Wedding Photographer :: Black and White Wedding :: The Wentworth by the Sea

Much as I endeavor to switch on the creative gene for each and every wedding I shoot, I also have to balance this with the expectations of my wedding clients - keeping the pictures fresh but still getting the expected shots of the kiss, the vows, the processional etc.

When I'm second shooting, that all goes out the window...I have it in my personal objectives to photograph at least one wedding each year as a second shooter and so last weekend I showed up at Melissa & Taylor's wedding at the Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, NH as the surprise second shooter.


Their actual wedding photographer was Kate McElwee who is my new photography BFF - we bonded over a love of cheese, dogs and high heels after meeting on a photography forum - and have spent many a happy hour in photography stores and bars...and we're both British which led to much speculation from the wedding guests that I was Kate's sister - just with worse hair.

Anyway, I digress, Kate & I recently decided to "trade" a wedding each i.e. second shoot for each other to try out some mad new skillz and so last weekend was my turn. Kate's clients weren't expecting a second shooter so my pictures were really just gravy on top of Kate's divine gourmet dinner of wedding picture loveliness (go **here** to check out Kate's real coverage of the whole wedding). I have wanted to document a whole wedding with black and white photographs for the longest time and so I now present to you some of my favorite black and white gravy pictures:

Well, actually I'll start with a cupcake:

And straight to the ceremony, hello stunning bride:


As the primary photographer, you have to pretty much map out your locations for the ceremony like a well-choreographed routine for example, towards the end of the ceremony you make your way to the back to capture the kiss and then the newlyweds coming down the aisle for the processional. But as a second shooter you can stay to one side to photograph what may have been the most awesome "the kiss" I have ever seen, involving fist-bumps, chest-bumps and other brilliantness:


Happy groom during the first dance:


How cute are these little bird cupcakes, also liking shooting from behind during the cake cutting:


Whilst the guests enjoyed cupcakes and chocolate dipped strawberries, it was off to a rather spectacular old bridge on the Wentworth property. As Amy, the banquet captain, needed to accompany us and there were only two seats in each golf cart I got to hang off the back of one cart. I shot randomly from the hip as we drove figuring at least one shot would come out:


In love with this bridge:


And the dramatic skies:


I'll end with this reflection in the water:

If you haven't visited Kate's site - what are you waiting for? I'm in the UK for a week of vacation at the moment so this blog post is coming to you from a coffee shop with wifi as my parents have somehow locked up their own wifi. Apologies in advance for my slow responses to email this week. I'll be back on the grid next week with a stunning engagement session inside Fenway Park which you don't want to miss. Toodle pip!

Boston Engagement Photographer :: Boston Common + Waterfront :: Stephanie + Tim

The beep-beep-beep of the alarm clock is painful at 6am on a Saturday morning. You get out of bed, shower and dress to drive into Boston. You're still kind of sleepy so you stop for a bucket of diet coke. Breakfast of champions.

And it's totally worth it when you get to take engagement pictures on Boston Common while the light is still low in the sky, the temperature is still below 90 degrees and almost everyone else is still tucked up in their beds.

Of course it's easy to take great pictures when your subjects look like Stephanie and Tim:


Stephanie and Tim met at work and gradually formed a friendship. They'd hang out, play volleyball together and then there was this one time they went out for dinner together...


Each year they'd go to New York City at Christmas. Last Christmas, the weather was terrible - rainy and cold - and the huge Christmas tree was deserted by the usual crowds. The puddles were too deep for him to kneel but Tim still asked Stephanie to be his wife. Stephanie said yes.


There are so many locations in Boston for engagement pictures. You can be amongst trees and flowers one minute and then right in the middle of the city with just a short walk:


The best kind of kiss is a squished-nose kiss :)


With an outfit this awesome, I wanted to take a couple of pictures of Stephanie looking fabulous:


And then I got these two pictures. No direction, they're just looking at each other and cracking up:


Interesting architecture in the city:


Then we stopped in at Quincy Market. Who knew it was such an issue to try and buy ice-cream before 10am at Quincy Market...


Here's a last shot down by the Waterfront & the Boston Harbor Hotel. The sky was amazing all day - a little overcast with lots of rolling crowds:


Stephanie & Tim - thank you for getting up at 5am to be camera ready and for being so fun. Really looking forward to being your Wedding Photographer in September at Hillview Country Club in North Reading - especially the riding on the trolleys part!