A Vacation, a Baby, and a Wedding Part 1, by a Maine Photographer

Part 1????

I can't possibly blog about my vacation when all I want to blog about is the wedding I photographed on Saturday.

As I have mentioned before, as a photographer, there really is no greater compliment of my talent than to be hired by a friend.  And that happened to me twice last week!!

(and we shall cover that in Part II)

Today is all about the wedding!  Trish and John's wedding.

I am not even sure if I knew Trish prior to attending her late husbands funeral.

If I knew her at all, it was just by name.

Her youngest son Patrick was in my sons Cub Scout den.

I listened the Priest as he talked about Trish.  

How very strong she was and how she already had the courage it would take to carry on.

I too was a Mom of two young boys.

I couldn't even imagine putting one foot in front of the other, if I were suddenly in her shoes.

Patrick stayed in our Cub Scout den, and as the years flew by I got to know Trish too.  

I have always admired her strength.

I love her sense of humor.

Over the years I have photographed Trish and her boys on several occasions...even muttering "meow" once or twice...(again, keep in mind the sense of humor please)

and Trish even indulged me by making a blindfolded cameo appearance in my "Minor Shades of Blush" video promoting one of my other product lines.

...and so it was ever so wonderful to have Trish ask me to photograph her very special day with John.

YES of course I would love to photograph YOUR WEDDING!!!!

What a very fun day.  I got to know John, and meet his family, and meet the siblings of my friend whom all seem to share her fabulous wicked sense of humor.
oh, and John has it too!

If you know my work at all, you know I like to share it with music.  Some of you may find my music selection a little strange, but if you are part of this family, you will probably enjoy it...or at least understand my choice.  And again, if the music annoys you, please feel free to mute it.

I have said it before, and shall say it again.

A second chance at Love...doesn't get any sweeter!

I have embedded the slideshow below, but if for some reason it doesn't appear, you may view with this link.
http://video214.com/play/D2R0It4gy4OTtTjLJA7MAA/s/dark

Joanne the Patient Maine Photographer

pa·tience

ˈpāSHəns/

noun

1. 1.

   the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

   "you can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross"

   synonyms:

   forbearance, tolerance, restraint, self-restraint, stoicism; More

In the past 8 days I have photographed over 50 cats that are available for adoption at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.

Because there are cats, cats and more CATS available, I was asked to come in an additional day to take photos.  I agreed, but asked to have a sidekick to help me so I could get in and out quickly.  Having someone to help me allows me to hold my camera with two hands and let someone else be responsible for trying to get the kitty's attention and also ensure that the cat doesn't escape while I'm trying to capture that perfect photo for the website.  The perfect photo that will help someone fall in love and connect with an animal waiting for a home.

Patience was the word described by my sidekick, for the job we were doing.

Patience

...and yes...more patience.

I do not believe that word is currently in my resume.

I do believe I will add it.

Patience.  It is what I do.  It is what I have.  It is a virtue :)

Minor Moments Patient Photography.

Bring it on!

Here is just a small selection of the beautiful cats waiting for someone to fall in love with them.

 Annie

Blue

Camp

Dianna

Evie

Holly

Jack

Lilly

Quentin

Reese

Smokey

Valerie

Walter

every once in a while I find a dog...this is Ziggy

Abby

Babs

Clementine

Marco and Polo

Minoux

Mopsy

Onyx

Parsley

Tiny

Whisper

Willow

Macey

Molly

Nicky

Simba

Smokey

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

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