I LOVE fall. It's such a beautiful time in upstate NY. The crisp blue skies, reappearance of apple crisp and pumpkin pies and of course the vibrant colors. My schedule has been packed with fellow fall fans and I'm loaded with gorgeous pictures with perfect fall backdrops. There's plenty more to share but currently I'm loving this picture.
Working with newborns and children so much, I am frequently asked for ideas on everything from what to wear for a photo session to a good place to get funky nursery furniture. I've made a list of "things I love" for my family, friends and clients that I love. All of these links are worth checking out for some adorable clothes, accessories, and furniture for your little ones.
I have the best job. It's true. Every photo session is a new experience. Peeking into people's lives and the bond they share as a family. It's an opportunity for me to connect with new people and capture their spirit to be looked back upon for years to come. Each family is beautifully unique and I always take so much away from every experience. I had so much fun taking pictures with Annemarie, Jeff and their two adorable daughters. Emily is at the stage where she sticks her tongue out at everything...it's so funny and adorable at the same time. Makayla has boundless energy. She's spunky and carefree; just like a 4 year old should be. I had to sneak my shots in between playing with her dollhouse and a few rounds of zingo, which of course she beat me at fair and square! I'm looking forward to a rematch at our next session, and hopefully more fun pictures of this beautiful family.
When I received an email from Theresa months ago, I was so excited. She and her husband Jim were in the process of adopting a baby from Ethiopia and wanted to have someone at the airport to take pictures of a small gathering of friends and family that would be there to welcome them. I knew it would be unlike any other job I've had and was thrilled to be a part of it. I didn't want to miss a second of such a monumental event so I asked Tom to come along too. Neither one of us had any idea what was in store.
When the date finally arrived, we got to the airport early. I pulled a few strings and got to the gate to wait for them while Tom stayed on the other side of security waiting with the small group of friends and family that had already gathered. When Theresa and Jim got off of the plane they were excited to show off their beautiful little angel. They were all smiles and definitely had no idea of the reception awaiting them. None of us did. As we approached the exit we could see rows and rows of friends and family, balloons and banners, it was unreal. When the doors opened there was an explosion of cheers, crying, laughter, and hugs. I wasn't prepared for how hard that would hit me. Overwhelmed by emotion I fought back tears while I tried to catch every smile, every hug, every once in a lifetime moment. This was the beginning for them. After a long road of paperwork and trip around the world...they were finally home together, and their friends and family made sure they had the warmest welcome home ever. It was one of the most beautiful moments I've ever witnessed. 
I will forever remember Luca's excited smile...and the way Jim and Theresa beamed as she carried him around and introduced him to all the people that will be a part of his new life here. Several weeks later and I still get choked up thinking about it. It was amazing; and unforgettable and I am so honored to have been a part of such a monumental event in their lives.
Many thanks to Tomas Flint for coming along and catching some fantastic shots of this incredible day. For more information on BFAS Ethiopian Adoption click here.
A while back Kerry contacted me looking for headshots for a project she's working on. A super talented glass bead artist, she was looking for some pictures of herself at work in her studio for a book she's writing. I of course was jazzed about seeing her in action. She's an artist with a talent I wanted to know more about, and I was going to watch her work her magic! When the day finally came, I was as fascinated as I thought I'd be. Kerry was so cool; she made my job easy! She excitedly welcomed me into the studio, showed me all of her 'gear' and chatted with me while she demonstrated her skills. With a rainbow of glass rods, torch, steady hand, and her incredible talent she whipped up little masterpieces. In between snaps I found myself in awe of the glass, their brilliant colors and her ability to meld them into beautiful, wearable pieces of art. I'm telling you, she is amazingly talented. Don't take my word for it though, check out her site and her blog to get the full impression.
There are so many reasons I love sharing a home with Tom. He doesn't mind doing the dishes. He's not that much of a sore loser when I beat him at Wii bowling and doesn't gloat too much when he wins. He makes me tea in the morning. The list could go a mile long but one thing I'm particluarly grateful for is the music he fills the house with. Guitar in hand and full of passion he'll belt out favorites from Pearl Jam, The Beatles, Jack Johnson, or one of the many beautiful songs he's written. He can make me laugh, warm my heart, or bring me to tears with the sounds and songs he makes. I can't imagine living in a house without music and thanks to Tom I won't ever have to.
Here he is after some songs at home with his much loved guitar.
Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. - Plato
A few weeks back I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with David and his parents Steve and Mary. From the moment I got there David was only interested in one thing, play time. The images I caught were stolen in between bribes of time with his toys...in just one more minute. Thankfully we were able to distract him long enough to catch him being his charismatic self. David has quite a big personality for such a little man. He took over the room...where he sat, how he sat, and who he sat with... it was all up to him. Pictures with mom and dad weren't enough. We HAD to take some with his green dinosaurs too. He is sweet, funny, and clearly knows what he wants. A little man with a mind of his own for sure.
