Girlz in the Hood

Okay. So I'm the lame-o who is just getting around to posting these days after everyone else.

Last Thursday night I had the pleasure of meeting up with three of my fabulous photo friends--Robin, Carla and Julia--for dinner and a little shoot-out. Dinner was a blast. At least for us. I'm not so sure the people who were seated near our table would agree, as they had to try to block out the constant eruptions of laughter from our corner--along with the occasional snorts of Ms. Robin Dini. I think we may be banned from that particular restaurant--oops.

After dinner and about an hour in the parking lot trying to coordinate who would drive and how to get all of our bodies and gear into one car, we headed out for Hubbard Park. As you may have read on Carla's blog, getting to the park was quite an adventure. Why none of us thought to take pictures of our route, I just don't know. I can tell you about the dive joints we drove past but it's just not the same as actually seeing them!

When we finally got to the park we all climbed out of the car and grumbled about how much we didn't feel like taking pictures! What a bunch of babies. Finally we decided we had to at least document that we were there. And once we started shooting the laughs came back and we had a grand time!


I love this shot of robin in her funky hat just taking it all in:





Robin being Robin. Pure delight!



Oh, Julia. Sweet Julia. If you've ever met Julia then you know this is what she looks like pretty much whenever she isn't sleeping. Who knows--she probably giggles in her sleep too!









A rare moment when Carla wasn't actively talking or laughing. I think she looks HOT!







And back to our regularly scheduled programming:



Thanks, Ladies! Can't wait for the next time!

A Little Slice of Heaven

This time last week I was hanging out lakeside with a great bunch of folks from the CT PUG, or Pictage User Group. A bunch of photographers coming together to talk shop and just relax and have some fun.

We were hosted by the lovely and gracious Amanda Harris Herzberger of Orchard Cove Photography. Her family's lovely lakehouse:



The "backyard"



Amanda gets pensive by the water:



Nikki Nicole from Nikki Nicole Photography chills with Strider:



Strider. Seriously the best dog I've ever met! What a good boy!



This next photo is the epitome of what I wish for in life. To wake up every morning and glide around the lake in a kayak...Serenity.



Exhibit A:



That's Mr. Justin Marantz, one half of the amazing husband and wife team of Justin Marantz Photography showing us how it's done.

This is how photographers "relax" by the water:



Here's what they're shooting:



That's Jo from Allegro Photography reenacting an Australian commercial.

My girl, Julia, from Salty Grapes. She lights up a room with that smile:



Joy Moody shares her shot of Justin with Jacob Bergmeier of NoDo Photography:



Last but not least:



I thought I'd take many more pictures over the course of 2 days than I did but that's because I was so busy working on our Retreat "Assignment." On the first day we came together to do some serious thinking and soul-searching. Mary Marantz led this portion of the workshop and boy is she good at making you think!

We started off by writing the following categories on a page in our notebooks: Personal, Family, Financial, Spiritual and Business. Then we identified the things in each area of our lives that we felt were obstacles or struggles. On the next page we wrote these same categories and listed our goals for each. We followed up by writing at the top of a page "The Good Life for Me..." And then we just wrote--sort of stream of consciousness--whatever that means to us. The Good Life.

It was very moving for me. And a lot of it boils down to finding time. Feeling like I "owe" every minute of my life to someone or some task. I recognized how very important it is for me to have time to be by myself and not feel guilty or pulled in a million directions by my ever-growing "To-Do" list. And, of course, time to be with my family and forget about email and editing and washing the kitchen floor!

Then we had one more task. 101 in 1001. And while it sounds kind of cute and perky, it was damn hard to do in those 2 days! We made a list of 101 things we want to accomplish in the next 1001 days. That works out to be just over 2 1/2 years, I think. I couldn't believe how hard this was! I had to escape the group and head down to the dock to get started since I cannot concentrate around other people. There ended up being a few of us down there and every 15 minutes or so someone would break the silence to ask for ideas or share their own.

Here are a few things on my 101 List:

Have someone else photograph me with my son, Finn. I am in almost no photos with Finn since he was born! Partly because I am always the one with camera and partly because I hate myself in pictures. But I know that someday Finn will appreciate having photos of himself with his Mommy so I just have to suck it up and get it done!

Learn to play the mandolin.

Take a pottery class. (One of my oldest dreams was to live in Vermont and have an artist's studio where I would do pottery and have a darkroom. This is pre-digital, of course.)

Take Finn to the movies.

Hang a chin up bar in the basement! (Weird, I know. But I love doing pull ups. At least I used to. I am afraid I might only be able to lift myself an inch right now, but I could work myself up to a handful or more. At least I hope I could!)

Of course there are many more. We are supposed to complete and blog about at least one thing on our list by today. I did do something on my list and am going to see if I can figure how to blog this the way I want to. Stay tuned...

Good Times.

I have the very good fortune of having not only the BEST in-laws I could have ever wished for--but the BEST in-laws who also happen to live on the Cape! (Bonus!) So we always have an awesome place to visit and to celebrate the 4th of July. We also have some other relatives and friends down there, so it always makes for a great time. Finn has a blast playing with his cousins and exploring at the beach.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend:

This is our niece, Claire. You will be seeing lots more of her in a future post as she spent an entire afternoon posing for me. It's nice to have such beautiful models!



Colton was a good sport. I don't think he was terribly excited to pose for me, but he cooperated!





Check out this cutie-pie!





Her big brother, Eli:





Ainslee, enjoying some alone time:



Lila, always laughing! (Really--she is always laughing!)



Bubbles!



Jack watches the runners at the Fourth of July Road Race:



Nathaniel at the Road Race:

























Speaking of the road race, Claire came in SECOND!! We are all so proud of her. Running 5 miles is something I cannot even imagine, let alone actually earning a trophy for it. I would more likely earn a series of chest compressions, but that's just me!

























Jack checks out Claire's prize:

The Hillstead Museum

I am very excited to be shooting a wedding later this month at the beautiful Hillstead Museum in Farmington. I have heard for years about this place and have always meant to visit, but somehow time has always gotten away from me and I never managed to visit. Until this past week.

Marianne and Aaron will be getting married here later this month and I was anxious to check out the scenery ahead of time. It is breathtaking! I can't wait to shoot their wedding here. There are so many gorgeous views...

Where the Wild Things Are

Finn and I spent the day at Flamig Farm this weekend. Such a great place! It was nice to go on field trip for a change of scenery.

Finn had a blast. But he hates having his picture taken, so for the few nice shots I snuck of him I have about 100 grumpy ones of him telling me, "No more pictures!" Poor guy.