Michelle + Mike: Engagement Session in Medford Lakes, NJ

Michelle and Mike met in college. He was her cousin's roommate and they spent a lot of time together while her friends went to study abroad. She always thought he was cute, they had a good time together, and she needed a date to a dance. She wasn't looking for a boyfriend at the time but you know how that goes… Turns out Mike had a crush on Michelle all along.

We had their e-session in a place that could have been Plesantville – Medford Lakes, New Jersey, where Mike grew up. If it were any more adorable we would have been given ponies and ice cream upon entering the city limits. Yes, that's how cute it was.

We took some pictures outside of a little chapel named Cathedral of the Woods. I couldn't even make this up.


We strolled across a bridge to a beach overlooking the lake that hosts a canoe carnival every year. I'm told this entails fabulous floats on top of canoes.



I pulled them down to a marshy area with spectacular sunlight.


Walking around some of the little shops, we stopped in front of one of the log cabin storefronts.


We did a quick change and picked up an additional family member: their dog, Bailey! This pup is utterly lovable and can sport a pretty mean mohawk.


Off we went to a big empty field to really frolic around.


I was totally digging Mike's 1971 Jeep (note the awesome hula girl on the windshield).




We finished up over at the country club just as the sun was setting. Michelle and Mike did a fantastic job of color coordinating with the incredible sky that evening.



Michelle, Mike, & Bailey – thank you so much for showing me Medford Lakes. I had a great time with you three and can't wait for the wedding at the Brandywine Manor House in just a few short months!

It is astonishing how little one feels alone when one loves.
~John Bulwer

[Wedding Paper Divas] features Ailene + Jason

Tell me you've heard of Wedding Paper Divas. They provide all sorts of stylish paper goods for your wedding – invites, save the dates, programs, menus, placecards, favors, etc. And they have a fantastic blog featuring some truly inspirational weddings and engagements.

That being said, I leaned today that they're currently featuring Ailene & Jason's gloriously sunlit engagement session on their blog. I'm completely honored to have some of my work up there. Head on over and check it out!

Katie + Justin's engagement session

Ice cream-loving Katie met and fell in love with Justin, a guy from Tennessee with a southern drawl and the patience to wander around New York City all day before popping the question in front of the huge Christmas tree this past winter (he was almost forced to do it earlier at NBC Studios but that's another story altogether). They don't recall their first date or when this relationship became real. They met at school in Tennessee (she's from Delaware) and their friendship eventually morphed into something more.

We all met up the other week at Battery Park in New Castle, Delaware for their e-session. This was a fantastic location with trees, fields, water, paths, fantastic light, and a heavenly breeze.

Helloooo, gorgeous skies!


And hellooooo gorgeous smiles. I actually asked Katie if her family was all dentists because her teeth were perfect and white. (FYI, she attributes this to Crest WhiteStrips.)





I love that the changing leaves pick up the exact amber/orange shade of their clothes.


And it really was awesome to have so many different backdrops within a 1 mile walk.



There were actually a ton of people at the park on that Sunday evening but you'd never know it by looking at these two. There's a world around us, really?!


And with the last moments of sunset we got the pier to ourselves.


I'm totally digging those curved lights and the patterns in the wood. And with a cooler color treatment…


You'll be seeing a lot more of these lovebirds next June for their wedding at Hockessin Memorial Hall. I'm going to be working on her to get an ice cream cake or Rita's buffet going on for it. Stay tuned. Katie & Justin, thanks for the great evening!

All love that has not friendship for its base, is like a mansion built upon sand.
~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

[teaser] Michelle + Mike's Engagement Session

I visited adorable Medford Lakes, NJ the other day for Michelle & Mike's e-session. We had sun, sand, a jeep, a golden retriever, bleachers, and a golf course at our disposal. Yeah, it was good. Stay on the lookout for the full post soon!

My new favorite color: tonight's sky

Maybe you were stuck in traffic. Or maybe you were getting the mail. Or maybe you were walking out of the grocery store. Or maybe, like me, you were out on a run. Either way, I really hope you saw tonight's fantastical, magical sky. Everything was bathed in this warm amber and all of the cooler colors looked supersaturated and dreamlike. I got home and had to get my camera to capture it.

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore

[teaser] Narmada + Bjoern's Wedding

It'll be a few weeks but I wanted to show you all how beautiful Narmada looked on her wedding day. It was at Brantwyn Estate in Wilmington, DE and my very first Buddhist ceremony. Stay tuned for more.

Julia + Matt's Engagement Session

Do you have a zombie contingency plan? No? You'd better get on that asap. Matt and Julia do and they're awesome (and I'm not just saying that to secure a spot for the impending zombie apocalypse).

These zombie-hating lovebirds met at the University of Delaware. He played rugby for the men's team; she played rugby for the women's team. He hollered at her from the sidelines at games and she fell for him. They are two utterly hilarious people. Matt is good at being fussy and cracking jokes and Julia is good at rolling her eyes at Matt. They play off of each other so well. They're partners in crime. They laugh. A lot. And it's magical.

Their e-session had been rescheduled so many times due to the weather that I'm almost amazed it happened at all. We finally met last week in Manayunk to wander around for the pictures.



We definitely wanted to get the bridge in the background. Unless you looked for it, you'd never know there was a cute little path right behind Main Street that runs along the river.


And some great abandoned train tracks.


Then we made our way over to Pretzel Park which is right next to St. John the Baptist Church where they'll be getting married next April.





And because they're really just big kids (especially Matt), we had to play on the swings.


Like I said, partners in crime…


We were really excited about shooting under the train along Cresson St. The whole look of it is so neat with the cobblestone street and teal-painted metal.




As a couple and individually, they're just fabulous people. It can be nothing short of a great session with so much laughter.


I cannot wait for their wedding next year at the Old Mill in Media, PA. I don't want you to get too anxious, but I got a pretty good tip off that they're going to have the most amazing, incredible, awesome cake ever. Ever! And it'll be quite the party too. 2011, hurry up!

Thanks, Matt & Julia, I love you both to pieces!

"But I don't care darling, because I love you, and you've got to let me eat your brains."
~The Return of the Living Dead

[teaser] Katie + Justin's engagement session

I went a little south yesterday to Battery Park in New Castle, Delaware to photograph the e-session of Katie & Justin. The place was awesome for pictures and these two were naturals! I can't wait to show you the rest!

[teaser] Julia + Matt's engagement session

I LOVE Matt & Julia! Love them. Despite this, they'll have to wait to see the rest of their pictures from our e-session in Manayunk yesterday. Sorry, lovelies!

[what to wear] family sessions

Stumped, huh? How on earth do you reconcile all of those personalities into pleasing pictures? Well, it's not so hard.

Sometime in the 90s it was decided that people should all wear white shirts and jeans or khakis for family pictures. Set yourself free from that idea right now! You don't want to dress all in the same exact outfit and look like the Von Trapp family or a soccer team. You're each unique individuals so wouldn't you want that to come out in your pictures? You want to go for complimentary, not mirror, looks.

Here are some tips:

* Take the location and season into account. That sundress may be cute as can be but it's just not going to cut it 50 degree weather.


* Dress in similar styles. Everyone should be going for casual or preppy or trendy or fancy.



* Choose a three or four colors and make combinations. You can have fluidity without being carbon copies (here we have brown, yellow, and white with a sprinkling of pink).


* If you want to be a little matchier, pick one color and go for shades within that color. I think this combination is perfect for a barefoot beach session!


* Beware words, logos, loud colors and patterns that might distract from the truly important aspect of the pictures: you! The human eye will locate familiar words in pictures and put them together, taking away from the true subject. Solid colors and subtle patterns are great.
Exception: Words on shirts can work if the word totally fits. A little girl with a pout, hands on hips, and a shirt that reads "drama queen" can be priceless! You might want to bring another shirt too though.

* Be aware from head to toe. Yes, your shoes will be in the pictures so avoid the super-scuffed up ones.  Babies (or even big kids and parents) that are barefoot are fabulous too!

* Accessorize! Think scarves, headbands, jewelry, belts, and hats but keep everything fairly low key and in line with the look you're going for.


* Sparkles, sequins, or especially shimmery makeup may cause glare so use them sparingly, if at all.

* Wear something you can sit, walk, run, lay down, jump, kick, and play in.

* Pets can make great additions too but please only include them if they are well behaved off leash.

* If you're self-conscious at all about your cleavage, arms, or legs, cover them up.

* You don't need to spring for an updo, but it might be a good idea to get those roots re-colored.

* Themed sessions can be awesome. Use your imagination to come up with creative props or activities. A countryside tea party with antique dolls and teddy bears or a vintage picnic with a page boy cap and old books or a backyard birthday party with dozens of balloons and a cake. And I'd love do a shoot in a field with an old fainting couch and a little girl in a big, frilly tutu. Let's make it happen!

A note on toys:
Let me know if you're bringing them and please keep them hidden at first. We want some pictures with eyes to the camera, not focused on the toy. Also, make sure it's a toy that you'll be happy seeing in your picture in 10 years – a favorite blanket or a teddy bear is great, something with a lot of neon colors and buttons… maybe not.

In the end, be true to yourself. If you or your kids are not comfortable, it will be obvious in your pictures. If these suggestions don't feel like you, break all the rules and show up in something that is completely, and totally you.

“A sly rogue is often in good dress.”
~Irish Saying