A Birds Eye View by A Maine Bird Photographer

I have a new found obsession.
Obsession is a bid negative...let's start over.
I have a new found way of seeking inspiration.  Photography inspiration.
Guaranteed to suck up more time than a morning catching up on Facebook.
It's my bird feeder.
...and I'm not the only one who has become obsessed :)  Catch that reflection?

I "strut like a rooster" sometimes "naked as a jaybird""eagle eyed" sometimes "run around like a chicken with it's head cut off" looking "for something worth crowing about"

:)

I'm sharing some of my favorites.  A friend gave me a great book so I could do my best in identifying them.  I'm new at this, so don't get madder than a wet hen if I misrepresent...A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese)

    Mr and Mrs Northern Cardinal

    Mr and Mrs American Goldfinch

    A blissful pair of tufted titmouse

   Not sure who this is...maybe a house finch?

Chloe and her Birthday Puppies. A Maine English Cream Golden Retriever Mom and Photographer

Chloe's first litter turned two last week!

...and I am happy to say all these beautiful babies are living the good life.

Beckett.  She's the one on the left in the above photo.  Beckett's human Mom, Shari, tells me that Beckett is definitely a very happy well behaved dog.  Sounds like she has everyone wrapped around her "paw" too.  Beckett likes to take over Dad's chair, she likes to watch tv, expecially commercials with dogs in them.  Shari, if you haven't already, you need to let her watch Marmaduke.

Beckett loves to sit in front of the big bay window and people watch.  She loves to play in the snow with Liam, her most favorite young human in the world.  The two of them love to play soccer together too.

Beckett is still not very fond of car rides, and her sixty five pound body pretty much must be lifted up and placed into the vehicle for her to go anywhere...but when it comes to her manners, they are exquisite.  Beckett has never stolen food off the table or countertop and she is always very gentle when receiving treats from human hands.

Thank you Shari for sending this wonderful update on beautiful Beckett.  

If anyone is interested on my earlier blog post of when these pups first went to their forever homes, here is a link. 

Next we have Jaxson.  He's the middle pup in the very top photo of this post...the only male in the whole group.

Jackson's human Mom Penny tells me Jaxson's living quite the life already, going to work with his human Dad everyday and having lots of friends, both two legged and four legged.  Speaking of legs, it appears Jackson likes to sit with his hind legs stretched out straight, not much like a dog at all.

Those Snowypaws, never a shortage of humor.

Jackson likes to lay on his back, and hold a toy in his front paws and play with it.  (his Sister Violet does something similar, she does it with a bone)

Jackson loves to play in the lake, and he loves to retrieve but he's not so great at bringing it back to the person he's playing with...short attention span...squirrel...squirrel...!!  So, the fetching "toy" of choice is usually a stick...and a game of fetch will have many, abandoned sticks.

   

Penny shares that Jaxson is very sweet and affectionate.  (and speaking just like a Grandmother might I add have you ever seen such beautiful dogs?  :)

Thank you Penny for the wonderful update on Jaxson.  Wishing you and your family health and happiness.  

Anyone wishing to read about these beautiful pups and about birthday number one, you can find that here.

Now, for an update on Violet and Mom Chloe.  Violet is the shy little wallflower on the right side of the photo at the top of this blog post.

Violet stopped being shy the moment she got home.

Violet LOVES her canine Mom and all of her human family.

at two, Violet is still very much a puppy and we love that she is keeping her Mother young too.  We have not had any weight issues with Mom since Violet has come home.  Playtime is constant...not to mention, Violet begins each day with a good tail chasing session...every...single...day.

Violet has her human Daddy right where she wants him.  She needs a daily pick-me-up...

and she steals his chair every chance she gets whether he's in it or not.  She loves to watch out the window, and since we have no human neighbors, Violet spends a whole lot of time waiting for something to visit the bird feeder.

neither one, Chloe or Violet like to ride in a vehicle, but we seem to be getting better with that.  Our vet had recommended that we take small rides more often, and so that is what we do.  We try to get in a long walk at a local trail every weekend.  Both Chloe and Violet enjoy it so much, they actually are jumping into the vehicle now, instead of running away :)

Violet is still very much a puppy.  Beautiful. Energetic. Mischievous. Playful. Sweet. Loving. 

Our babies. We love them with all our hearts.  All of them.  Our next steps will be getting all of Violets breeding checks taken care of to see if she will keep her legacy going.  Mamma Chloe has retired.  Job well done Chloe.

Inspiration. A Maine Photographer

Every year, for the past six years I have blogged on February 10.  I have blogged about my sister Carmen.  February 10th is her birthday.

Carmen died in December of 2009, after a long illness.  At that time I was just beginning my photography journey as a professional.  My work has grown so much in six years, that one thing I know with certainty is if I had asked Carmen to allow me to document her journey and bring awareness and knowledge to her struggles, I believe she would have embraced it.  I truly wish she was here today to share with me...her journey...and my journey.  She will always be an inspiration to me.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was going to be posting some photos of people who have brought me inspiration this past year.  I have more to share, so I will continue to do so in the next few posts.  I started this particular blog series in preparation for a photography inspiration retreat I would be attending.  I attended Inspire last year and couldn't wait to do it again.

Inspiration can and does come in all forms.
Last year I met Vy.
She greeted me when I walked into the hotel for the Inspire convention.  A little welcoming committee all on her own.  She invited me to sit on the sofa with her and talk.  Vy is from Vietnam and her English is very good, and although my middle aged ears kept asking her to repeat she never seemed frustrated with me and always repeated whenever asked.  We became friends instantly, and touched base throughout the event.

Once home, Vy and I became facebook friends, and then I started to see a glimpse of her life as a whole, not just the young photographer I met.

Again, inspiration comes in all ways.

Vy is a young Wife.
Vy is a Mom to a very special little girl named Tamara who has SMA.
Vy has a facebook page Rolling with SMA to educate and share.
Vy started her photography business because she has to be a stay at home Mom.
Vy is always learning how to communicate in English, both spoken and written.
...and if all of this isn't inspiration enough...
Vy is a positive, smiling, energetic bundle of fun!
Vy is fearless!
Pardon my English Vy, but you are a badass!
You, are an inspiration.  :)

Vy and I just reconnected at Inspire 2016 this past week in Newport RI
Vy submitted her work to be critiqued by some amazing photographers.  In her words, she was in the "hot seat"
Vy is a badass...and an inspiration.

The Northern Cardinal long awaited arrival by this Maine Photographer

The northern cardinal.
I have waited two and a half years for a male cardinal to come visit my birdfeeder, which is strategically placed near one of my windows.
I hear him, many times...but he's never visited.
want to hear him?

My wait is over.
This male has been visiting for a couple of weeks now.
He usually visits alone, and stays awhile.
He doesn't seem to mind me.
He inspires me.
I love his visits and I love photographing him.
These photos all taken through a window, with my long lens (70-200) and a monopod.

Inspirational Countdown. A Maine Photographer

In 7 days I will attend Inspire.
I attended last year and blogged about it here.  http://minormomentsphotography.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-sisters-birthday-inspired-cup.html

Last year, to attend Inspire I borrowed money from my son's college fund, the same money I had taken out of my 401K just a few months earlier.  I was convinced that if I found inspiration my business would be busy enough for me to pay back the money I was borrowing.

I was inspired
Still am
...and a few weeks after attending Inspire I picked up a part-time-customer-service-completely-unrelated-to-photography-position so I could pay back the money I borrowed and take some of the creative pressure off my plate.

Yes, a year later and I am still working the part-time-customer-service-completely-unrelated-to-photography job...but it is because of that job that I am able to return to Inspire this year and surround myself with other creative professionals and get inspired!!

I thought it would be fun to share a 7 day countdown with you.

Random photos and moments this past year that brought me inspiration.

Last week I photographed a group of  ladies in my studio.  Private party, hair and makeup artist, some wine...some Rum Chada :) and a bit of a cross between glamour and boudoir.  We were all out of our comfort zone.  The ones in front of the lens...and even I...the one behind the lens.

Again, that is why I am going to Inspire.

So, every single one of those ladies was inspirational to me.

Each and every one.

I am not sharing those inspirational photos with you today.

My family.
Big inspiration.
My husband and my boys.
But for now, this is all I'm sharing for photos.
When I ask..."please...can you please come into my studio and let me test my lights out on you...pretty pretty please?"

I hope you will come back again tomorrow...I will be sharing inspiration right through the week!

A Day in Boston with Friends from a Maine Photographer with Friends

Holy Moly it's been a while since I've written here.

Time to change that.
Out with 2015.
In with the new!

Yesterday I spent the day in Boston with some of my old friends, and some new friends.
All was perfect.
Here's my story, I hope you like it :)






if for any reason you cannot see the video above you may view it at this link
http://video214.com/play/BDduCRhYtc0nlDbbtHgEkg/s/dark

Family Photos. A Subject Near and Dear to my Heart. A Maine Photographer and Mom

I would like to propose a new tradition with the upcoming time change.  Take a family photo!  I would love to do this for you, but I know it's just not possible to photograph everyone, so, might I suggest a family selfie?  You know, time change for us here in New England occurs twice a year, and it is suggested that you change the batteries in your smoke detectors at time change to ensure this gets done on a regular basis.  I propose that you take a family photo at time change...because, time changes everything.

Two years ago one of my friends lost a son.  He was murdered.  There is no easy way to say that.  Those of us who live locally know this story, and it is why I have chosen to do these 15 minute family photo shoots that I do.  I donate my time and the cost of the photo shoot to the Matt Rairdon scholarship otherwise known as Westbrook Strong.

Six years ago I was hired to photograph Matt's family for a 50th wedding anniversary gift to his grandparents.  It was the very first family photo shoot I ever did.

 

I made some mistakes...and for awhile...as a professional...I couldn't look at these photos without seeing what I could have done differently.

 

Now I look at this photo for what it is.  A beautiful memory that will never be repeated.

Even as a professional...I no longer see mistakes.  I see love.

I encourage you to capture your family photos as often as you can, and if you are like many folks, your family may need a little encouragement.

I have chosen this Sunday, November 1st in the Riverton Trolley Park in Portland, to do some 15 minute family photo shoots.  It is "fall back" Sunday, and we benefit with the fall time change by being gifted with a whole extra hour of time.  I cannot think of a better way to spend some of this hour with family making a memory.  The cost is $50.  You will receive a jpeg file of your choice, perfect for Christmas card making and sharing as gifts.  You will have the opportunity to purchase photos at special pricing from this event.  I still have timeslots available for this Sunday morning, please contact me at minormomentsphotography@gmail.com to reserve a slot.

Why 15 minutes?  Because that is all we need, and besides, who can say no to giving 15 minutes of time up for a forever memory?

Also, for those of you with college kids or out of town family, I will do another morning of 15 minute family photo shoots on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Saturday November 28th, at my home.  If you would like to reserve a slot, please email me.  The following photos are samples from last year.  The snow photos were done after Thanksgiving :) Also, for those who would like to do a 15 minute photoshoot on Thanksgiving day, that can be arranged.  The fee is $100, and again, $100% goes to Matt's scholarship.