Take in the little things.

We packed the bikes into the Jeep, already sweating from the August humidity. Somehow, they fit, we slammed the hatch with a sense of conquest and jumped in the front seats, with the top already open. The sun was shining with that awesomely-blinding glare and airless heat. We were headed out for one of our first bike rides of the summer.

Entering the trail was one of the greatest feelings I've felt all summer. It was like the culmination of a season full of feelings. I felt challenged and peaceful and at last felt relief. Relief from the constraints of my office walls, relief from the stresses of a schedule. We both felt free.

The first rock and manmade ramp should have clued me in, that this wouldn't be much of a freedom ride. How did we miss the 'mountain bike trail' sign? We're more the easy-going road riders, not mountain bikers. But, we took each turn, each jump and each tiny wooden bridge with nothing less than a childlike playfulness.

I fell off my bike at least four times. We laughed until we were red in the face. I said "if it weren't for the tears in my eyes from laughing so hard, I might be able to properly peddle this thing" And we roared with laughter again.

Even though the terrain was tough, we didn't miss a single opportunity to stop to take in the little things. Once, after a near-face-plant into a meadow of muddy, chin-high weeds, I pulled my camera off my back and snapped a few frames of the towering cattails.

After the ride, we were drained. Drained from laughing, from riding and from completely living the moment. We lay in the grass next to the gardens and ate peanut butter sandwiches and talked about making life more simple.

Within a week from that day, we reorganized our life, and created a simpler, more fulfilling routine, and it would have never happened had we not stopped to take in the little things.

So, apparently today is not only Friday, but is World Photo Day. So, I captured this, and it's my favorite. Ever.

Portrait Sneak Peeks...

Just to throw something different in the mix.

*I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH WORK I GOT DONE TODAY.
*I'm excited, my first sunset session of the summer, (wow, that's a lot of S's) went well. The light and the temp were perfect!! Many more of those to come I hope!
*Lens flare is cool.

Josh + Shannon May 21st, 2011

They started working at the same place, on the same day, and Shannon says it was fate. Josh is a friend of Justin's family and he's been around for holiday parties and birthday parties for years. When I first met Shannon she was super quiet, but I could tell, from the very moment I saw him interacting with her that they had something that would turn out to be very special for Josh! A few short years later, they are newlyweds and homeowners and they couldn't have been more cute on their wedding day! They both smiled... the entire day. And when a passer-by asked Shannon if she was having fun, I heard her say "best day of our lives..."

Here's to you two!

ITS BACK!

Blogger was down for maintenance, so I wasn't able to post the preview for my latest senior session, Ryan from Manchester High School. I feel like Ryan kinda got ripped off, by not having a proper sneak peek of his images. So, I'm going to give him a couple more!!

Ryan and I ventured out to find a bridge that I wasn't even sure existed anywhere besides my dreams. OK, I lie, I'd been there before but my sense of direction is down there on the list with my less than mediocre math skills, so I wasn't sure if we'd find it. I knew that we'd find something awesome along the way if we didn't. 

Ryan and I work together at a restaurant, and he is super fun. When he asked me to do his seniors I was pretty excited!! I think we had a good time together during the couple of hours in the heat, bright sunshine and in between changing in my dirty, cramped car. Ryan was just glad it had tinted windows!! Oh, and we found the bridge!

Enjoy the preview and check back for the full post soon!!

{my} Family Sessions

She didn't know I was a photographer! So, I had to prove it. My cousins from West Virginia came in for our Easter celebration a few weeks ago and my cousin Angi asked if I had a good camera that I could take some photos for her. I laughed, I felt like being a snob and saying, "I have a couple good cameras and some even nicer lenses" But I swallowed my pride and sent her the link to my website, I figured I'd just let her decide for herself if I was any good. I am not proud, I just love what I do.
I was excited to be able to do this for Ang, she's had good reason in the last year or so, to document some changes and feel good about herself. So I said sure! She brought Chad, and Jase, and in pure Angi style; 12 suitcases of clothes, about 30 pairs of shoes! Jase has quite the debonair grin for being a 7 year old, and his freckles were to die for! And Angi and Chad made it look so easy, they just knew exactly what to do! I thoroughly enjoyed it!! Hope you guys did too!

Before they arrived, Angi said she looked at my website and was so proud that she got tears in her eyes. And, for that I am blessed. I have a great and loving family, and I am so, so very blessed to make a living doing something that I am so completely in love with, and so passionate about! Here is a preview of what we did wondering around the square of Dover! Enjoy!

My favorite shot!!

And one for my other cousin, Danielle.  :-)

Renee + Joe ... Engaged!

I've had the pleasure of photographing some old friends, and families of people for high school. Renee is one of those people. We talking in high school when home-room would allow it. She was an 'A' and I a 'B' so we always stood in line, or were sat alphabetically next to each other! Renee hasn't changed, she always had a laughter and a positive attitude about her, that kept her in the 'smart' classes. She's now met the love of her life in Joe and seeing them together was nothing short of a comical affair. You can just tell, he brings out the best in her. They met through work, and it didn't take long to see they would be more than friends. Renee told me a story of the moment she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Joe, and you'll hear his response when the video/slideshow are posted, but for now here are some favorites from the session...

Fierce, she is!

They think I'm funny, I think I told a joke here...

Rawr...

I think he is smitten!

Happy Friday!!