Photo contest!

I shot this photo of my friends' wedding last fall in Maine. So beautiful, right? I love the moon glinting in the ocean, and the warm lights. It just exudes a happy, fun time to me.

The couple entered the photo into a contest held by the tent company to win $1,000 to start their newly wed life. They are in second place, behind a, let's say, less artistic photograph, just because that couple shared it with everyone everywhere.

Well, two can play at that game!

All you have to do is click this link, which will take you to the contest Facebook page, and "like" the photo. Simple!

I've shared it twice on my own Facebook and my Flickr. My last resort is lovely blog readers! I truly did snap that photo and am not associated with the tent company in any way. I'm just siked my photo is in a contest!

So please, do me a favor and help my fantastic newly wed friends win some dollars!
THANK YOU! :) <3

BK wedding sneak peeks

I couldn't not share these photos I took during our friends Becky and Korey's wedding in Cape Neddick, Maine. These two (both individuals and photographs) happen to be some of my absolute favorites. Both jumped out at me from the mass of thumbnails on my computer. 

The first really embodies who Korey and Becky are as a couple - strong. It's a bold yet simple photograph, also speaking to their personalities. 

The second is Korey getting ready in the next room over from Becky. He was in the room alone at the moment, preparing, when I poked in and snapped this. I like how it exudes quiet. He wasn't rushing around franticly. Rather, he was simply adjusting his clothes in the mirror, softly, deep in thought of marrying his best friend. 

If I didn't have to work tomorrow at 9 a.m., I would keep going through the TWO 4 gig memory cards of photos I snapped that day, but unfortunately, I do.  But believe me, I will be back to sorting these babies as soon as I get home!

Nolan Wedding

I had the honor of photographing the wedding of mine and Sean's good friends Becky and Korey Nolan this past weekend! The beautiful ceremony took place in Cape Neddick, Maine, at an amazing, 1900s cottage directly on the ocean.

These two are so perfect for one another and I had the best time photographing them. Above is my favorite shot, seconded by one of them holding their surf boards. Bad ass, right?

Weekend of wonder

My weekend pretty much began yesterday evening when we attended the Jack's Mannequin concert in Connecticut with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Fantastic! (I'm in the dress!) Today was spent compiling and prepping fellow editor/reporter NENPA (New England Newspaper & Press Association) contest submissions with my coworker and good friend, Aimee. Tomorrow, Sean and I are headed off to Maine - our friends Becky and Korey are getting married and I'm photographing the wedding! I can't wait! They're getting married at a BEAUTIFUL home on the water and we'll be staying in an adorable bed and breakfast furnished with tons of antiques! WOO!

I apologize for the (s)lack of updates and replies back lately! I promise I will get caught up on Monday! Enjoy your weekends!!

Check out a video I shot of Jack's Mannequin playing "Television" off of their latest album, People and Things! It's SO GOOD with the orchestra! The violins! ::swoon::

Marie and Bjorn's wedding

Marie and Bjorn had the most relaxed wedding I've ever attended. It was completely perfect for their personalities and couldn't have better represented them as a couple.

Marie and I met in college. Before knowing each other existed, she inadvertently was the mastermind behind Sean and I meeting - also at college. Haha! Through her friendship with Sean, she and I got to know each other well and we just clicked.

Marie is genuinely kind, very intelligent and completely caring - but don't let her friendly appearance fool you - if you piss her off ... get.out.of.her.way! Haha :) She and I spent a lot of time together during college and worked together on the same newspaper. Her feisty spirit is contagious. We share a smiliar love for antiques, thrifting and dogs - she volunteers at a dog rescue in Plymouth and devotes much of her time fighting for dogs lives. 

The minute I met Bjorn, he had me in stiches. I'm laughing within seconds of being in his presence and I am amazed at how well he and Marie's personalities blend. Bjorn is super creative and talented in both music and design. His obvious admiration for Marie is heartwarming.

Marie and Bjorn were married in the backyard of their new home in Plymouth, Ma. Upon our arrival, Sean and I found Bjorn walking around outside in front of a beautiful, giant white tent. For someone who has always appeared to me as beyond calm 24/7, it was cute to see Bjorn just a liiiittle nervous.

This above photo was obviously not taken by me (far right!) but it captures one of my favorite moments from the wedding - ANY wedding. Sean and I were joined by friends and were talking to Bjorn before the ceremony. Marie was getting dressed and ready in their bedroom, which is just a few feet away from where we were standing. The curtains were drawn, but all of a sudden, she poked her head through them and wrapped them around her so only her face was showing - so as not to show Bjorn her dress - and gave him a heads up of where she was at time-wise, or something like that. This photo was captured right as he began walking over to her and they had their window conversation. Too cute!

Their backyard in which the wedding was held is beautiful. The tables under the tent were adorned with glass jars of flowers and were arranged around a dance floor. Marie came out of the house escorted by her father and joined Bjorn and their friend on the floor. Their friend obtained a one-day license to marry them, which I thought was special. As expected, Marie and Bjorn laughed during the vows, which made the tearful moments even more touching.

Soon after, the dance floor filled up and we ate the most delicious vegetarian food - watermelon in couscous! Brilliant! Apparently, BBQ was a condition of Bjorn's marriage to the veg Marie, and there was plenty of it to go around. I couldn't believe the copious amounts of tasty food surrounding us! The wedding cake, pictured above, was HOMEMADE by Marie's cousin - crazy, right? As were some milky-way cupcakes. An abundance of deserts filled a table and everyone was welcome to them at any time.

What I really loved the most about the wedding was just how relaxed everything felt. A big deal wasn't made out of saying the vows and guests were eating deserts before the wedding cake was officially cut. Little kids were shooting Nerf rockets into trees and across the dance floor while the father/daughter and mother/son dances took place.

The entire day was really great and I hope to emulate their wedding when/if-ever mine comes around! Congratulations, you too! We love you. <3

A western wedding

Doris and Tim were married June 4, 2011 in Iowa.
I've known them only as a couple and was introduced to them near the end of my freshman year in college in 2005 when meeting Sean's family for the first time. I fell in love with them instantly.
Carefree and completely in love, they exude happiness from every pore. We were all waiting for when the time came for Tim to propose. I was the first one he told about his plan in 2010 and I helped him with a few things behind the scenes. Including keeping the secret quiet from Sean and forgetting to bring the engagement ring from my home in Western Mass to theirs in Plymouth. Oops. I was honored to be asked to photograph their wedding.

Doris, Tim, Renee and her boyfriend Chris drove down to Iowa a week before the wedding to set things up. Myself, Sean and his family flew down June 2. Kay, Doris' best friend, drove down with her fiancee and the wedding dress. Everyone made it safely. Doris finally breathed a sigh of relief when Kay appeared with the dress.
Somehow, Sean and I weren't informed we needed to rent hotel rooms during our stay. Tim's Grandma and Grandpa graciously let us stay in their beautiful home (complete with gorgeous antiques - I was in love) for the first night. Later on, we bunked with Doris and Renee and then finally Renee and Chris in a beautiful lodge.
Sean and I helped Tim run errands the day prior to the wedding (Iowa has Super Targets! Woa) and he showed us around his hometown as best he could. His family was so gracious and nearly every meal we ate was home cooked.

The wedding itself was lovely, with a few mishaps mostly involving breaking glass, that are funny to look back on now. It couldn't have been more perfect for a pairing that is so perfect for one another.
Influenced by the Mid West, everyone wore cowboy boots, including the bride and groom. The reception was held in another beautiful location which looked like a log cabin, complete with stuffed bear, moose and deer heads adorning the walls. I don't think it could have screamed "Tim" more, who, by the way, let Doris take full reins of the theme, decorations and planning. He kept saying, "Whatever Doris wants" and "If Doris is happy, I'm happy." Honestly, Tim could have gotten married in a mud puddle if Doris wanted and would have been just as peachy.

During the wedding ceremony, Doris cried the instant she began walking down the isle with her Dad. And while we all joked about who would cry first (everyone suggested Doris, including herself) it was hard to keep a dry eye. Amidst her tears as she walked down the isle, Doris was beaming. When saying her vows, slipping the ring on Tim's finger or listening to the pastor, tears streamed down her face but she looked so in love, and so completely complete. Tim just smiled the widest smile I've ever seen literally the entire time. I think he gave his cheeks a workout that day. Every time I looked at him, which was all the time through my camera, he was smiling. It was contagious.
Truthfully, I shed a happy tear when I caught Doris mouthing "I love you" to Tim on the alter. The entire ceremony, and day, was beautiful.

I promised Tim I would keep these babies embargoed until he and Doris returned from their two-week honey moon. They returned early this morning, and while that means I can technically post them (can you tell I'm a journalist?) I will still keep the majority under wraps with only three complete dress shots. I can't wait to show them to The Duquettes (I love saying that now!) next weekend, so hopefully these babies will not only tide them over, but myself as well.