Making Strides for Breast Cancer A Maine Photographer

It's been six years since my breast cancer diagnosis. Pretty easy years health wise...but this year wasn't without concern. I had my usual annual mammogram, but then received a phone call to come back and "re-take" it...which set the ball in motion for another call to have an ultrasound...which then let to an aspiration...in the end all was good...for me. However, this day, the "Making Strides" day, always seems to get me counting my blessings. I have fought this fight...and may have to again someday...and so many are fighting it today. So this blog post is in honor of us all...fighting the fight! God Bless!

Paws in the Park 2012 via a Maine Photographer

Yesterday was the Paws in the Park walk, which is an annual major fundraiser for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.

I spent the day there, at Payson Park in Portland, capturing all sorts of doggy expressions.  I have a wonderful collection of expressions to share with you in the 4 minute slideshow below.

if viewing from a small screen, go ahead and click the link...if viewing from a larger screen, click the arrow in the photo, and you will have a larger easier viewing experience!
http://video214.com/play/B9P406LbTQVJFLzsrw9MkQ/s/dark

I Sold my Soul to the Westbrook Soccer Boosters

Yes it's true, a few weeks ago I sold my soul to the Westbrook Soccer Boosters.  I said YES, I will take team photos of all four teams, YES I will take photos of all the seniors, YES I will take lots and lots of action shots of all the teams.

Remember when I wrote that blog post about one of my favorite movies YES MAN with Jim Carrey...I tried to look for the link to that post...but I can't find it...and to be honest I'm trying to just quickly blog this so you don't all think I've gone into hiding or something...but let me just say...I loved that movie...it was a bit far fetched...but the message was clear...the more you give...the more you get!  It's about time for me to watch it again...cause sometimes it's so easy to forget why I say yes.

So, here's the scoop.  A few weeks ago I told you how I was going to be teaching a class called Photography 101 at the local community center.  Yes that I am doing.  I also told you I would recap each class here on my blog, so you could participate a bit even if you couldn't join me in class.

What I didn't tell you was that I had sold my soul to the Westbrook Boosters...and that really I wasn't going to have time for much of anything else.

I'm happy to say that as of today, I have completed my project for the boosters, and I'm ready to resume spinning the other plates I currently have in the air....
...so that means you...Amanda, Victoria, Kathy, Cady, Milo, ...and all of the students in my class...and oh ya...my husband...hello everyone...you now have my full attention!

Here is a peek...(ssssssshhhhhhhhhh...it's still a secret)...at some of the photos I took for the WHS soccer program.  Don't tell anyone...it hasn't gone to print yet...so I can't even say it's hot off the press...I can only say...Hallelujah...it's done!  (and for this year...so am I)...  :)

OK...so half an hour later I still can't get this blog post to accept the photo format I'm trying to post...
so I took all of the photos out...except for one...and I'm going to try again...

OK...another half hour has passed...and I still can't get this post to work...I keep getting errors...I guess I can't give you that peek after all...I will try and scan some of the photos later this week...for now...I must get back to spinning those other plates!

To purchase 2012 WHS soccer photos please visit http://pictage.com/1306390

Cady's Senior Portraits. Maine Photographer

A few years ago one of my best friends from college asked me to do her daughter's high school senior photos.  A day like that is one in a million!  I get to spend a day with a great friend, get to know her daughter, reminisce about old times and capture memories forever!  It doesn't get much better than this...(until weddings and babies...)

Anyhow, last week I got to do this again.  My post college BFF brought her high school senior daughter, Cady, to Maine, to hang out together for the day and do her senior portraits.  Cady looks just like her mom did...all those years ago when we first started hanging out together.  Crazy...how quickly time marches by...and yes next year I will be blogging about my own son...and how can it possibly be time for his senior photos...but...that blog post can wait another year!

This wasn't just a normal photo shoot...it was a great visit with two of my favorite people!  An awesome day in itself...great friends, great weather, beautiful views, and of course a great lunch too!  We started out at Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, we also made a quick trip to the Spring Point lighthouse.  After we left Spring Point we had an awesome conversation and lunch at $3 Dollar Dewey's and then walked up to the Asylum for some fine urban graffiti shots. 

Within a few days of our photo shoot Cady got word that she has been excepted into the college of her dreams, to study both photography and equestrianism.  Congratulations Cady, may you have a great high school senior year, and thank you for allowing me to capture this milestone memory for you!

Here are some random sights throughout our day, and I've added a quick slideshow of some of my favorites from Cady's senior photo shoot.

you can view the slideshow below...or if you do not see one, please click on the link below. 
http://video214.com/play/EXNCyY7wzpJ8KlXNt4XKOg/s/dark

  

ARLGP Live and Silent Auction. Maine Photographer

If you are a regular reader to my blog you already know that I photograph the cats every week at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.  I only photograph cats that are new to the center, and each week I photograph between 15 to 30 cats.  That is a lot of cats!  After two years of doing this, I still find it hard to wrap my head around that number...the volume of cats looking for a home each and every week. 

Last year I was asked to photograph the annual auction, a major fundraiser for the ARLGP.  Of course I said yes!  (I love photographing cats...but...I like photographing people too!)  I was delighted to attend this very classy event, held at the Portland Country Club.  It was fun to see many of the staff and volunteers dressed up...something not seen when working with the animals!  So this year, I can't remember if I was asked to attend...or if I did the asking...but it was an event I didn't want to miss.

I don't know what the final numbers were, but the auctions, both silent and live were a definite success.  I've put together a 3 minute slide show to share the atmosphere of this great event.
I hope to photograph it again in 2013...and of course...I hope to see you there too!
Link to slideshow below.

http://video214.com/play/fw0DdN8ZYJ0YvolV4sjHcg/s/dark

Digital Photography 101

I want to let you all know I'm teaching a BASIC digital photography class here in my home town at the Westbrook Community Center.  It will be on Wednesday night, 6:30-8, beginning September 19th.  If you are local, here's the link to sign up.
http://www.westbrookcommunitycenter.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29253

For those of you who are not local, I'm giving myself the challenge to update my blog once a week with the the material I am covering in class.  It's a six week class, so look forward to six blog posts in the weeks to come.

These are the goals for the class.  Do you want to take better pictures with your digital camera?
That's it!  I'll cover aperture, shutter, depth of field, focus, ISO, image quality, size/resolution, histograms, white balance and composition. The emphasis of the class is on basic concepts geared towards the novice.  You don't need a 1" binder or a number 2 pencil!  Just bring your camera, and your camera manual (I know...you need to find it first...you have time, the first class is on Wednesday September 19th).  I can't wait to see you!

Jake and Victoria Kennebunkport Wedding Maine Wedding Photographer

I love photographing weddings...that is not a secret.  It's a highly packed emotional day...always in a good way...and I love being smack in the middle of it! 

Two weeks ago I photographed Jake and Victoria's Kennebunkport wedding.  They invited me to the rehearsal on the eve of their wedding...in case I wanted to check out the sky...where the sun would be at that time...where the chairs would be...etc etc.  I did go to check out all those things...but I was completely distracted by the two little people who would be playing a part in the ceremony.  They captured my heart right from the get go...and to be honest...from that point on I really didn't care where the sun was...I was enjoying another story...a "minor moment" I hadn't expected...and a blessing of a perk...all in a days work!

Thank you Victoria and Jacob for the beautiful moments...and for allowing me to capture them for you!
Here are a few photos from rehearsal eve...and I've included a slide show of the wedding too!

If you don't see the slideshow below, just click on this link.  http://video214.com/play/jjuYCFsVOdHcKRYtMV2zww/s/dark