Cats Available for Adoption This Week from A Maine Pet Photographer

Here are a few of the beauties I photographed this week at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.

 8 year old Bella

Bianca

8 year old Jerome

4 year old Josie

 14 year old Julius II

3 year old Leah

                                                 Molly

                                                             
                                  6 year old Mouser

2 year old Nala

11 year old Spirit

                             5 year old Sprinkles

                             

                               12 year old Stella

1 year old Sweet Pea

Paws in the Park 2014 A Maine Photographer Having a Tail Wagging Good Time

Give me a beautiful sunshine filled day and surround me with beautiful dogs having the time of their lives, and for me it doesn't get much better than this.
This annual fundraising event for the Animal Refuge League is one of my all time favorites to photograph.  Eye candy for any dog photographer.  I have been volunteering my time and talents for the Animal Refuge League photographing the cats for over four years now.  I love the challenge of photographing the cats on a weekly basis, but it doesn't even compare to being out in the sunshine photographing dogs of all sizes!  Here is a small selection of my favorites.  You can see all the photos on my business facebook page here Minor Moments Facebook Page or you can purchase photos here http://pictage.com/1630857   

Recognize someone?  Please share with them :)

Ground Zero Through the Eyes of a Maine Photographer

Two years ago I visited ground zero in New York City.
On today's 911 anniversary I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from that visit.

Our visit to ground zero, truly a humbling experience.
I've also included an all inclusive slideshow of our family weekend visit to New York City.
If it's not on your bucket list yet, I highly recommend it.

My all inclusive 24 hour family get-a-way to New York City slideshow

Senior Portrait Time. A Maine Photographer

I interrupt this beautiful summer day to remind those of you that this applies too, that Senior Portrait season is happening now!  Most schools require the photos be turned in some time between September and October. I am happy to do that for you.  Book your session with me today and I am happy to submit your choices to the yearbook for you.  BAM another item off your plate :)
My packages are on my website here http://www.minormomentsphotography.com/Pages/HighSchoolSeniorPortraits.aspx
I am doing my best to make this as easy for the parents as possible.
Local Westbrook locations are $99 for the photoshoot and yearbook submissions.  I do that for you!
Outside Westbrook locations are $150
We get it done in under one hour.
 
I've included a little video below.  It's not just Senior portraits.  It's a little something I had put together for my friends who had kids graduation from Westbrook this 2014 season.  Photos I took this past year...BUT there are some of my sample Senior Portraits included...many many good times :)

So, call me!

http://video214.com/play/rNvDsW1DPGSy4ttoDqv33Q/s/dark

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 :)