A Walk of Inspiration. A Maine Photographer

It's no secret it has been a long cold winter...and to be completely honest...as I sit here on this last day of April I am still in double layers.  When I found out that a group of fellow photographers were taking a "photo walk" for creative inspiration I jumped on the opportunity to join them.  We walked the Marginal Way path along the edges of Ogunquit beach.  Creative thinking is all about stepping outside the box...sort of speak.  When you are walking with a group of talented photographers, some you know, some you don't...some who's work you admire...some who's work you've never seen before...either way, it's exciting to see the end results of others work, because what you end up seeing is many different unique photos, all taken in the same place but through the eyes of different creatives.

When going on a search for inspiration like this, it's great to give a little thought to what you might want to get out of it.  For me, mostly it was getting to know some of these women I have so much in common with, yet don't know anything about.  Yes, these are the very women I compete with to bring money into my bank account, but more importantly, these are the women I respect and want to learn from.  It is a delicate balance, but we all have something to offer, and we all, every single one of us has a fun side that enjoys going on a creative walk and having no one to please but ourselves :)

I will share some words about my photos.
The seagulls.
There was a time in my life where it appeared, and yes I have friends that will vouch for this, if a seagull was going to fly over me, he would eventually also poop on me.  Fortunately, this hasn't happened to me for quite some time.  There was a child feeding the seagulls on the pathway as we began our inspirational walk.  I'm always fascinated with these crazy birds.  Terrified too.  Gratefully, for me anyway, these photos were taken without incident.

Summer Break Through the Lens of a Point and Shoot. A Maine Photographer

So I write to you once again.
This week my blog focus is just catching up on the personal stuff.

It's been a few months, more than I like to admit, that I have been experiencing arm and shoulder pain.
Our insurance deductible is very high and this does cause me to pause before I seek medical attention.
Last June, 2013 one of my boys was hit in the face with a disc golf frisbee.  Insurance didn't cover a dime of the emergency room visit or the followups...and yes...14 months later I have finally paid off this bill.

Fast forward to Spring 2014.  My routine physical brings me news of additional requirements on my own preventive care.  An additional mammo...$$$...then an ultrasound...$$$...I'm happy to report that these tests have left me with a clean bill of health for the immediate future...but the bills are just beginning to roll in.  I finally had to admit that my shoulder issues were not getting better and that I was going to need to get some medical attention.  It was becoming quite evident that I couldn't do my work, the work I do everyday and love so much...because just lifting my 10 pound camera to my eye was causing me extreme pain and discomfort.   I did seek some help and I am getting better everyday.  This past week my other son Nick was diagnosed with Lyme disease. This was caught extremely early so gratefully he should make a full recovery.  I'm not really sure how much of a dent our family is making on that high deductible but I'm guessing by the time Joshua has his wisdom teeth pulled in November we may start to benefit?

So, one of the things I'm doing for myself to help heal my shoulder is to limit the use of my heavy camera equipment to paid work.  All personal family time photos I have been using a small Nikon "point and shoot" that weighs less than a pound.  I know many of you out there have great camera phones...but I am not one of them.  I have a "Love Hate" relationship with my point and shoot...I love that it is light and I can take it with me everywhere...but I hate that it doesn't give me the results I am looking for. Just like anything else that is worth the effort, getting to know my point and shoot is taking time...and I seem to delete more photos than I keep...but heck...most of these are just for fun.  Capturing a moment in time.  Good times :)

First up... a Friday night beach gathering of our boot camp group.  Minor Moments Captured...on a point and shoot :)

Lanie & Donald. A Maine Photographer doing what she does Best in Salem MA

This past Saturday I had the greatest pleasure to photograph the wedding of Lanie and Donald in Salem Massachusetts.  What an incredibly fun day it was!  I came home exhausted and content, and even 24 hours later I was still smiling.  These two NEVER stopped smiling...not for a moment, and the love and respect they have for their families and for each other shines through in everything they do.  Two very beautiful people blessed to have found each other and so very excited to begin their lives together as husband and wife.
AND I get to join them for a day and capture all of these once in a lifetime memories...and what FUN it was!  ...and...Saturday's weather...how about that!  I first met with Lanie and Donald for an engagement shoot on March 5th, and it was a balmy 18 degrees in the Old Port that day.  Lanie had lost her wallet the previous evening, we had a fresh wintry mix of ice and snow on the ground and in the morning chaos of canceling credit cards she was not really feeling much like doing a photo shoot.  We kept our morning coffee date and talked non stop about their wedding plans.  Kudos to Lanie and Donald...with all that had been going on that morning they agreed to a walk in the brisk temperatures for a few photos.

 So, before I share my favorite photos from their day, I have two things to share...well my photos share what I am feeling, and my goal is that you will feel it too, however there are two particular things that Donald said on Saturday that I am taking the liberty and creative license to share with all of you.

Lanie and Donald had decided to do their formal photos before the ceremony so that they could fully participate in the awesome reception party they had planned for their guest...yes including a Mardi Gras parade to escort everyone from the church to the reception at the Capt's Waterfront Bar and Grill.  I suggested we do a "first look" before starting the portraits to add a little fun to this very special day.  Our spectacular backdrop (The Friendship) was perfection...but it is what Donald said right after his first look that had me seeing blue birds fluttering about...he said
 "you...look like...an ANGEL"

Gulp. :) (that's me gulping...) ( OMG how sweet!)

The second thing he said just kept me grinning all day long as I continued to photographed him., he said his smile would look like "The Joker" by the end of the day...and I have to agree 100%

Here is the sneak peek I sent to Lanie and Donald, who are currently enjoying this gorgeous weather and each other on their honeymoon.  They approved my sharing it with all of you!  What's not to approve...this was one very FUN day!

On a personal note.  The engagement shoot and sneak peek are two of the very special benefits of hiring Minor Moments Photography :)

A very special thank you to Cady Voyer for side kicking with me and capturing many of these once in a lifetime memories, and a very special thank you to Pam and Scott, sister and brother-in-law to Lanie, for the most wonderful referral :)

  To view the FUN click this link or the photo below :)
   

A Maine Wedding Tony and Briana

Followers forgive me please for it has been over a month since my last post.

OK, now that my confession is over, please help me congratulate Tony and Briana on their recent wedding celebration.  For me, this celebration represented the last wedding of my 2013 season, and it was a great ending to a very busy season.

Tony and Briana were married at the Italian Heritage center right here in Portland.  I have been blessed with some wonderfully laid back brides and grooms in my wedding photography career and Tony and Briana were the very definition of laid back.    There festivities included a few before ceremony photos, a very quick ceremony and a beautiful reception.

Because this post began with my confession about my lack of posting, I have no desire to delay it any longer, so without further ado, let me introduce the beautiful couple, Mr and Mrs Anthony Grasruck.

(if you can't see the video above, you can view it at this link)
http://video214.com/play/LYMh1JE9tO297jdTyAir5Q/s/dark

Matt and Chrissy. A Sugarloaf Maine Wedding. A Maine Wedding Photographer.

If I had to tell you something about myself that you didn't already know, I could tell you without hesitation that October is my favorite month of the year and has been for as long as I can remember.  I can also say that I wanted an October wedding, but I also wanted a tropical honeymoon and the ever cautious Joanne wouldn't think of booking a honeymoon during monsoon season...so I opted for an April wedding.  And...I've never really given it a second thought.  Until this year...when Chrissy asked me to photograph her October wedding to be held at Sugarloaf mountain.  Hell yes!  Granted, it was her wedding, and I suppose just maybe she was more excited about it than I...but deep in my belly it was the October wedding I never had.  Oh what a gorgeous October wedding it was!  Beautiful from beginning to end.

I love to tell my stories with music and photos.  If you love weddings, and October in Maine, take 6 minutes to enjoy the view from Sugarloaf.  Congratulations to Matthew and Christine, and as always my special thanks to them for letting me share in their very special October day.

and just incase you don't see a slideshow above and you just see a big white space, you can view the show by clicking on this link.  http://video214.com/play/UWDWZngNCvhHCcklEKqGsw/s/dark

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