About 3-4 years ago I began to use a digital camera.  I knew nothing about the technical side of photography, but always owned a camera and loved being behind the lens.  I remember that I didn’t have much work at the time that first year I got my Nikon D40, so I decided to make use of all my spare time and teach myself to take pictures the way I envisioned them.

Everyday, early in the morning, I took the dogs out with me to feed the horses.  I brought my camera, too.  It was at that magical hour or two after sunrise that I learned all about light and how it gave meaning and depth to anything I photographed.  I could take the same exact picture three hours later, but it wasn’t the same picture.  At all.  There was no life, no energy, no feeling.

I finally understood why it was said that photographers were always on the lookout for that “perfect light.”  It was necessary to convey emotion.  It was the thread that wove itself around subject and its’ soul.

I have been photographing people primarily for the past three years, but this morning I yearned to go out with my camera.  To be in the golden light as morning was waking up.  Pies were in the oven, my daughter asleep, the animals were enjoying the freshly fallen snow.

I wanted to go back to where I started this journey.  To remember my roots.  To discover how far I have gone and how much more of this amazing life I have yet to discover.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

I had the pleasure of photographing Carrie and her two dog companions, Holly and Derby, in Belfast, Maine yesterday.  They stayed at the sweetest cottage right on the water.  Even the name is quaint – “Daylily Cottage.”  The above photograph was actually taken towards the end of the session, when we were able to get both dogs in the same place at the same time!  Holly, the chocolate lab is only two years old, and very well behaved I might add.  Derby, who I kept calling Bentley for some reason, is seven and, of course, much smaller with less energy.  I thought this was the perfect image to introduce all three of them to you.  Carrie, I had such a great time meeting you and your pooches, and doing my best to capture all the action!  Photographing energetic dogs is very much the same as trying to capture all the moments of toddlers, which I love!

Here, I’ll show you what I mean!  Hope you enjoy your preview!

Carrie, you had this wonderful look of adoration on your face many times yesterday as you were watching Holly play in the water.

For a brief moment, all three in the same frame!

“Look mom, I’m on one leg!”  I think they’re dancing!

A white picket fence wraps around the front yard, which is right above a rocky beach.  Fabulous view!

Derby was quite pooped at the end of our session and moms lap was just the perfect resting place.  Isn’t he the cutest!

And this photo is my favorite from the session.  When I first saw it I actually got a little teary eyed.  The look of contentment and love on both faces is just so perfect.  I can’t wait to finish editing the rest of your photos, Carrie!  Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to create some lasting treasures for you to enjoy, forever . . .

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

There has been a youtube video going around of a cat “playing” with a school of dolphins.  It’s adorable, to say the least.  There is also one of an elephant and a dog, who have become companions for life.  What inspires me most whenever I see animals of different species interacting this way, is it insists that unconditional love and acceptance be present.

My cat, who weighs a mere eleven pounds, could easily be crushed by my miniature horse, Muffin, weighing about 300 pounds.  But instinct is strong in animals and when they have never felt threatened by anything in their life before, they seem to carry no prejudices.  Love and nurturing is a powerful thing.  Animals prove it to me day after day after day.

The picture above is Boo telling Muffin to stop grabbing his tail!  I love the look on Muffin’s face – “who me, I would never grab your tail!”

Quite often Boo will be walking through the pasture with Muffin in tow, and then he’ll just suddenly stop and lay down.  He’ll even roll over onto his back and then Muffin will groom his belly!  At some point I will capture that moment.

“Where you lead

I will follow

anywhere that you tell me to.

If you need

you need me to be with you

I will follow

where you lead.”

~Carol King

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

Light and dark.  Rain and sunshine.  Evening and morning.

Life has a way of creating balance, bringing us full circle to a place of equilibrium .

Sometimes the circle is very large and takes a long time before we find our center again.

It is often a journey of a lifetime.

Or an ebb and flow in both a calm and stormy sea,

spinning us round and round as though we are in a whirlpool.

In the morning, I feel renewed.

I feel at peace and ready for whatever life has in store.

It is a joy to begin each day with my animals.

To walk out my back door into the wet afterglow of yesterdays rain.

To feel the return of spring warmth.

To hear the sound of life emerging from the soil & dancing in the wind.

Life is about balance.

It is something we all must practice at every single day.

Animals are wise teachers.

If we open our eyes and hearts and pay attention to their teachings,

we will see that they are mirroring what it is we are in need of learning.

Focus and balance is what my beautiful cat is teaching me today.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

When I looked out my window this morning and saw this, my first thought was “spring cleaning.”  Maine style!  Four days ago it was just about 70 degrees.  The very next day it was in the 30′s.  We only got about 3 inches of snow last night but the ground was just about bare prior to that and my snow shovel was put away for the year, but not too far away.  When you live in Maine, you have to have a snow shovel handy right into April, and some old timers say it can snow in May.  Oh my, I hope not!

Our power went out, too, so when I could stay under the warm blankets no longer because of purring cats and restless dogs, I got dressed and headed out with them and my camera.  It was actually quite pleasant.  Spring snows can be that way.  In a day or two it will be gone and by this time next month we may start to see the first of the black flies.  Personally, I’ll take snow any day!

So anyway, here is a glimpse of what could possibly be the last snowfall of the season.

Cody peeping through the fence, and I know he’s thinking “are you coming in here too?”

Fella & Muffin

Boo practicing his barn cat skills!  He’s peering down at the hens.  Don’t worry, he has discovered they are bigger than him!

Fell and Cody having a conversation.

Ready, set, chase!

My wild boys!

It’s a good thing they love each other!  According to my critters, spring snow is fun!

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

It isn’t even officially winter yet but it feels like January already!  I hope these past few days aren’t a preview of what’s to come.  I love winter, I truly do, but the extreme wind and cold is hard to take in big doses.  However, regardless of the temperature outside, the light of winter is extraordinary, especially in the morning or late afternoon.  Morning at my house is better than late afternoon because of the way the sun is able to shine in my pasture.  The following images were taken this morning as the sun was still climbing.  Every once in awhile it would peer through the tree branches on one side of the pasture to illuminate the trees on the other side.  I think the effect was quite beautiful.  Enjoy!

Notice the “little Muffin” watching in the background.

I think Sonny just ate some horse poop!

“Anyone wanna play soccer?”

“Hmm, guess not . . .”  Just look at that round, happy belly!

Isn’t that the most kissable nose you ever did see?  And believe me, it gets kissed many times a day!  Ah, morning light!

Time for a game of tag!

I hope your morning was as beautiful as mine was.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits