Cats. A Maine Photographer

I haven't blog about Cats lately, so I thought it might me a good time.
Since I have become a photographer, and a small business owner, I do try and stick to a few golden unwritten rules that I've learned over these few years.

Try and support the little guys when possible and find a way to give back to the community.

I've been photographing the cats at the local shelter for three and a half years now.  Every Monday, 52 weeks a year...and if I can't make it in on a Monday, then I go in on another day.  This is my way of giving back to the community...and yes, I do enjoy it too!

...But...every once in a while...usually when I am swamped to my eyeballs with "paying" work...it's easy to start second guessing my good deeds...and even occasionally feel a bit unappreciated...and once my husband starts feeling a bit neglected he too usually chimes in with a "something needs to give" and the unspoken words often times leaves me playing a mental tennis match in my head...can I continue to give my time so freely week after week?  So far the silent answer bounced back at me is always "Yes"!

I need to admit out loud here that I too benefit from my work photographing the cats.  It's weekly practice.  It's unspoken opportunity to learn.  It's meeting new people and getting my business exposure...and I must also add...for me...kinda like therapy.  I can photograph cats till the cows come home and they never give me negative attitude.

So now I must add, that recently I was going through one of those unappreciated phases.  Not uncommon when one does something week after week, month after month, year after year...it sort of becomes a given, an expectation.  I believed I had become just that...an expectation.

Then, I received a housewarming gift from the shelter.  A cat clock.  One I had admired in one of the offices.  I think it is very appropriate.  It is a gift, but it's a great reminder of what I give to the shelter week after week.  Time.

I appreciated the gift...but more so...the words on the card that accompanied the gift.
"Joanne,
Thank you for your love and commitment to our animals.  Your photography has saved hundreds of cats lives.  We could not do this without you!  Congratulations on your new home.  We hope this gift will always remind you of our love for you!"

I'm keeping that card forever...and I will read it whenever I am feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated...and I will always see the gift of TIME when I look at my Kitty clock!

 

and some real cats too, and lastly a link to a slideshow I made from this past weekends Paws in the Park annual fundraiser...another one of my time and talent donations. :)

A Maine Wedding Stephanie and Joe

Good Monday morning!  I can't think of a better way to start a new week then to share with you a celebration from the weekend.
Joe and Stephanie were married this weekend.  Everything seemed to go off without a hitch!  There was one minor issue of the church and town losing power...but the timing was good...and this didn't effect us all much...except for the drive out of town and the fact that none of the street lights were working ...and I was following the bride and groom...who were high on wedded bliss...buzzing effortlessly through dark traffic lights at busy intersections...that short drive out of town...let's just say "a little tense" for me.

Enough of that, I've put together a 7 minute slide show that I believe highlights their perfect day.  I've received their blessing to share it with everyone while they are off celebrating and honeymooning!  I've also added a few photos of some of my favorite moments.  A few explanations to go along with the photos.

I discovered Stephanie and I are a bit alike in more than a few ways...one being we both seem to work best under a bit of a deadline.  Let me sum it up...and for those of you who have planned your own wedding...well...you may feel a heightened level of stress just reading this.  Less than two months before this wedding Joe and Stephanie purchased a big dream house.  (I might add I did do a walk through of this house when I myself was in search of my dream house.)  During our communications, Stephanie would tell me they put an offer on a house...then a few days later I would here the house is off...then the house is on again...then...no...we didn't get the house...then two weeks goes by and I get an apology for lack of communication...and...we got the house!

...again...we have much in common here.  Many of you know it took my husband and I 10 months, 5 offers, 3 under contracts, 2 mortgage companies, and yes...finally we found our one perfect dream house...and until three nights ago we were still sleeping in our pop-up due to lack of time and funds to settle in.

Oh...and along with Stephanie and Joe moving into their new house just one week before the wedding, Stephanie made the whoopee pies for the main dessert of the wedding.  Busy busy girl...and all was beautiful.  Congratulations Stephanie and Joe on your new beginnings and may God continue to bless you and your beautiful families in the years to come!

One of Stephanie's visions, photos on her new porch!

Scene stealer Bride's niece

 St John the Baptist Catholic church in Brunswick

 Beautiful friend's and family!

 Wolfe's Neck Farm outside Freeport Maine

One of my favorite parts of the reception, both Dad's comparing notes on Joe and Stephanie.  Consensus was they both scored big becoming a couple!

 ...and here's that slide show link I promised.
if you see a photo below, please click on it.  If you don't, then here's a link
http://video214.com/play/PiqT2ZpJ8Gj0muTy4aV0ew/s/dark


  

A German Shepard Named Loki. A Maine Photographer

A few weeks back I photographed an 11 month old German Shepard named Loki.  Loki was one of my lucky Dog Wash Etc portrait winners...but I'm the lucky one!!  You see Loki was having a play date with one of his cousins, a 3 year old doberman named Maverick.  Out of all the dog portraits I have taken, I had not yet photographed a German Shepard or a doberman.  Both of these dogs were incredibly mellow, well behaved and gorgeous!

Today I contacted Loki's owner to let her know I would be putting photos up on my blog.  She shared some pretty scary info on an illness Loki has been battling.  She felt because I photograph a lot of dogs I could spread the word.  I'm so happy to do this for her, and for all of us dog owners, and I'm so grateful Loki is ok.  Here is what she told me.
" Loki is recovering from a very serious bout of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Erlichiosis, both caused by tick bites.   It was quite scary and we thought we might lose him but they finally figured out what it was, thank God.  He's lost a bit of weight so it's good you got pictures when you did. I know you deal with a lot of dogs and their owners, so people need to realize that while it's important to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease, they don't prevent this type.  According to our Vet, the coast of Maine is is a hot spot for this type of tick and lots of dogs are getting sick.  I'm just passing this info along to everyone."

So let's keep a good eye on our pets health and thank you to Loki's owner for sharing.  Now, enjoy these photos of beautiful Loki and Maverick.

Gus and Shannon's Wedding. A Maine Photographer

Thank you to all who have requested I get back to blogging.  Let it be known I did not go on vacation this summer...although...my family did buy a house...and that is totally better than being on vacation...because it's kinda like a big long ongoing vacation.  Driving somewhere new, sleeping somewhere new, having a pantry for food, having a new refrigerator, having a garage, having a big kitchen, having a photography studio!!  Say what?  Yup, lots and lots going on here at Minor Moments Photography.  Many of you have asked me to share a bit more about the house...and I promise I will soon.  I do want to play catch up on lots of the photos I've taken for clients first, but I promise to share more on the house and studio soon.  To summarize, going without Internet and phones for a 12 day period, during a very busy time of year for me has put a bit of a crunch on my workflow, and I promise to share more on the house as I work my way through my backlog :)  So, for the next few months I will be playing catch up...big time!  So please come back here often.

August 3rd I photographed Gus and Shannon's wedding at Assumption College in Worcester MA.  What's a Maine photographer doing photographing a wedding in Massachusetts?  Doing what I love to do that's what.  As a photographer, I can think of no greater compliment than being asked to capture the very special events and moments of a wedding...and when that compliment comes to me in the form of a referral from a former bride...well lets just say it doesn't get much sweeter than that.  Three summers ago I photographed Cory and Niki's wedding (you can see a blog post here Cory and Niki).  I was referred to Niki by my BFF Jill, (Aunt Jill to Niki)...and Niki referred me to her little brother Gus...and that's how I ended up in Massachusetts...and I hope to return next year for Shannon's "little brother"'s wedding too...but this is getting complicated so I'll refocus to Gus and Shannon for now.  I also want to add that my BFF Jill's daughter Cady, (you can view Cady's senior portrait link here Cady's Senior Pictures) who just left for Georgia entering her first year of college and plans to study photography, stepped in as my sidekick and helped me capture some great moments.  Thank you Cady!  You are so much fun I can't wait to work with you again someday!
   

If you follow my blog you know I love to tell my stories in the form of "video's" or slideshows.  So below are a few of my favorite photos from the wedding, and I've included a low resolution slideshow to tell the story the best way I can.

Recap:  Thank you to BFF Jill for introducing me to your extended family!  Thank you to Niki for the little bro referral.  Thank you to Cady for being my sidekick...and a BIG thank you to Gus and Shannon for letting me share and capture your very special and beautiful and very fun day!  On a side note and a testimony to this very special couple, their wedding party of family and friends was an absolute joy to work with!

Niki and daughter Scarlet 

Oh boy...a purple wedding for Joanne to photograph!

Shannon and Mom

Niki and Cory

Great shot captured by sidekick Cady

 Beautiful Assumption College Church

Bride Shannon choreographed this shot herself, she had a vision...absolutely beautiful!

BFF Jill and family

Mini cheeseburger sliders brought out toward end of reception...awesome!

                           (I rocking my "boot camp" arms!!)

Sidekick Cady

...and slideshow link!

http://video214.com/play/9ITMlij0796842ivkDNpKQ/s/dark

and if you want more Gus and Shannon, and why wouldn't you?...you can view their engagement photos here