I first met Carissa and Cory in March in Arizona, and when their wedding day finally came in June, I could barely contain my excitement. I have been so lucky this year with weather and weddings, and this day was no different. Bright blue skies and puffy clouds surrounded the Lucerne Inn, nestled in between the Lucerne Lake and its surrounding hills. This was my very first wedding at the Lucerne, although I have stayed there as a guest a few times at weddings I have personally attended and it is easy to see why Carissa picked this pristine place to hold one of the most important days of her life.

The slight overcast day gave way, and the sun peeked through, giving the sky a gorgeous painted look. Perfection.

the wedding party was a wonderful mix of interconnected friends…and not only were they completely supportive of Carissa and Cory, they were also completely fun. if you need proof, check their socks!

{carissa.and.cory}

I didn’t get a chance to taste the cake (although I did have dinner, and it was AMAZING…those who know wedding food truly appreciate a well catered event), but it was so lovely, that I probably have 10 photographs of just the cake.

so many touching moments in this set…i was tearing up through all of the traditional dances.

there are so many great reception shots, that its hard to choose. everyone was up and dancing and having a great time into the very early hours the next day. receptions are truly my favorite thing to photograph….there is usually so much hustle through the day…some (or a lot) of stress, and time restraints, but when the formal stuff is done, you can see everyone relax and just celebrate the day. and Carissa and Cory are definitely a couple to celebrate.

daily mantra:

he’s not perfect. you aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. but if he can make you laugh at least once,

causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect more than he can give.

don’t analyze. smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. love hard when there is love to be had.

because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you….bob.marley

nothing in the world is sweeter than a summer night in Maine. a yellow-red magic marker sky, air heavy as if it is carrying pockets of water, and staying out past your bedtime because your parents are on the back deck talking and having a good time too…you just might be lucky enough that they forget all together and you and your dirty feet will get to crawl into the clean, crisp, line-hung sheets smelling like the sun and tall grass you played in all day. that is how i felt going out to shoot this session with Ava and Ben…an incredibly hot evening, with a light breeze for intermittent relief…but also one filled with adventure and fun, and where all things found are amazing and new.

i always try to tell clients about the BEST time to shoot during the day. this twilight time is by fair the best and provides a softness and a rich depth of color. however, i know that not all kiddos are up for an evening session. some little ones are just in better spirits in the morning. if your kids can make it into the later part of the day though, it does produce amazing warm photographs.

it is always a treat for me to photograph kids this time of year in the heat of the stressful (but wonderful just the same) wedding season. and there is something so special about little boys. i would have to say that although i love all little ones, my favorite age to photograph is between 8 months and 24 months. children are so full of the most natural expression, and uninhibited genuine spirit during that time frame, and this little man was just the same…shy and sweet at first, and then adventurous.

i had not been to this spot since i was a little girl when my mom and i would take picnics on the weekends and play for what seemed like hours. so, this was like an adventure for me too. Vesper Hill or Children’s Chapel reminds me of the book, The Secret Garden….it is such an oasis. although dedicated to children in the 1960′s, the outdoor chapel is used for weddings and events, and even an outdoor service on Sundays, but mostly, it is just there for people to enjoy (and its free!!).

i was reading through some old books while attempting to reduce my own clutter last week.

i failed miserably. (shock)

it wasn’t a complete waste of time though, because i found this great little Sark snippet with the page eared down. it still had the library stamp in the back from 2006. i remember that i had loved it so much, that i held onto it for almost a year, accumulated about $50 in overdue charges, and then i finally just called and paid for the book (and the fines). oy. i am the same way with those Red Box movies.

:HOW TO REALLY LOVE A CHILD:

be there. say yes as often as you can. let them bang on pots and pans. if they are crabby, put them in water. read books out loud with joy. go find elephants and kiss them. encourage silly. remember how small they really are. search out the positive. keep the gleam in your eye. go see a movie in your pajamas. teach feelings. realize how important it is to be a child. plan to build a rocketship. stop yelling. express your love. a lot.

children are miraculous

:SARK:

From Sark’s Creative Companion

is there really anything better than a wedding on the water? i always love traveling back home to photograph weddings….it is like stepping back into a warm hug. and when i met Keely and Noah, i knew instantly that our partnership was right, and our vision and love for the coast was the same.

brides always worry when it rains, but honestly, a little rain, drizzle, fog, or just an overcast day is the perfect combination for stunning, color-rich photographs. after a week of just pure downpours, we were lucky enough for just a gray, slightly wet day, and Camden was bustling for the Memorial Day weekend. the stunning arrangements below were truly unique creation by Hoboken Gardens in Rockport, Maine….

the ceremony took place at the Camden Amphitheater….a beautiful location overlooking Camden Harbor. i loved how Noah and Keely added tradition to their very personal ceremony with the Chuppah (or Hoopah), a Jewish tradition where the couple gets married under a canopy covered by fabric, and representative of the couples home that they will build together.

the reception was held at a stunning, rehabbed church very close to the ceremony site. as a little girl, i actually remember it as an old gas station….but High Mountain Hall has certainly come far since those days. a couple (or photographer) could not ask for a better location…every detail was meticulously handled and i felt like i was inside an Anthropology Magazine.

this was my first time every photographing a Hora (a traditional Jewish dance), and my fear that they would fall only lasted a second and it was easy to get wrapped up into the spirit and fun.

Keely.and.Noah

daily.mantra: i don’t want to live. i want to love first, and then live incidentally… zelda.fitzgerald