I was so thrilled to finally see Elizabeth Park during peak rose season for Lillian & Michael’s engagement shoot.  I love this park and found some great areas to shoot including a cool nook in the woods.  Leave it to me to go to a stunning rose garden and to end up in the woods.  I guess it reminds me of my own property where I’ll be doing some fun bridal sessions this Summer.  Lilian and Michael’s adorable daughter Violet came along with Grandma Joan, so we actually had the opportunity of doing a bit of a family session as well.   Violet has the biggest smile and such an easy going personality.  She’s just filled with sunshine and is obviously so doted on by all.  The park was quite busy but we even managed to shoot some HD video for a Fusion piece that I’ll be putting together.  We spent the day running around rose arches, playing hide and seek and basically giggling a lot.  I can’t wait for their September wedding!

I was thrilled to be back at Waveny House to shoot Jesse and Eric’s wedding.  I got married at Waveny house and since it’s in my hometown, I’ve spent a lot of time hanging out there.  Jesse and Eric wanted an elegant venue for their wedding celebration that was all about including family and friends and just plain having fun.  These guys have a tradition of asking random strangers to take photos of them jumping in various parts of the world.  Of course we had to incorporate that theme while they were dressed in wedding attire.   Jesse’s Dad (who with an army of helpers), did all of the decorations and also printed up photographs of Jesse and Eric in all their travels jumping off of cliffs together.  In fact they are headed to the Amalfi Coast where I’m sure they’ll find a suitable launching pad and a trustworthy stranger to capture the moment.   This was truly a family affair and it was so clear that everyone in attendance had a great time.  Jesse’s cousin acted as MC and he and Eric gave a fabulous cameo, a surprise performance remake of the song, “Grow Old With Me” from the movie “The Wedding Singer”.  It was just perfect, everyone laughed and cried.  I love a wedding that really includes a families special touch.  By the way, I think that Jesse totally looks like a Grecian goddess in her gown.

I’ve got a lot to share about soon but I can’t show you just yet.  How’s that for being vague!  We are still renovating and it is going to be completely awesome.  I can’t wait to share those images but we still have quite a bit to do,  including transforming some antique 1900s sconce mirror backs into real working sconces again.  You’ve got to love eBay!  Since my husband works full time and I’m in the middle of wedding season, the finishing details are taking longer than expected and I have to admit that I’m tired of living in a mess.  I actually cleaned off my porch and had a few friends over to celebrate the abundance of peonies that I have this year.  They are my favorite flower and they don’t last long.  In fact I missed them completely during last years wedding season, so this year I’ve been cutting them like crazy before the rain beats them to the ground.  Amidst the chaos of work and renovation projects this picture simply makes me happy.  It feels quiet and somehow makes the mess livable.  I know that it is finite and since I’m a “get it done” kind of gal, I have to remind myself of that to find some tranquility.  I’m shooting a wedding at the venue where we got married tomorrow and I’m excited beyond belief.  I’m hugely nostalgic that way.  I guess that’s how I find myself living in this old house that I grew up in.  So for now I’ll just linger on this simple lone flower and appreciate it’s beauty.