“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” – Rumi

It could have snowed November 5, 2011.  It was cold enough to, but it didn’t.  However, the weekend before we had a typical nor’easter at a very non-typical time of year.  Didn’t matter because November 5 was bright and cloudless, albeit cold and feeling like it should in November.  With that being said, I marveled at how Catherine never once said she was freezing as we grabbed the remaining rays of sunlight to document her and Bob’s most special day.  Not only was their day special, as all weddings are, but their chosen location set them apart from any wedding I have ever photographed.

Catherine is a soccer coach, which means her summer and early fall schedule are spent on a soccer field, leaving no time to squeeze in a wedding.  Bob works in construction, and in Maine you have to make hay while the sun shines.  November made sense to them.  So where do two people who are madly in love with each other who are madly in love with books get married?

The library, of course!  What! you say?  Yes, The Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta, Maine to be exact.  It was beautiful.  It was perfect.  It was amazing!  Here’s the lineup: wedding at the local library, reception at the elegant 1812 Farm in Bristol, and a 1967 black and white Camaro . . . need I say more!  Yes, one more thing – Bob & Catherine, you are awesome and I wish you a lifetime of love, fun and fond memories!!  Enjoy your preview!

Catherine, your dress was exquisite and the only thing it needed was you, which made it even more exquisite!

As the ladies spent hours getting ready, the guys did their thing so they could bring the “chariot” to the waterfront for photographs.  Very cool, I think!

They wrote their own vows.  I love that Catherine is “fine tuning” hers in the library.

A few candid shots before the ceremony.  This is the ring bearer and his dad.

The first look for both Catherine and Bob.  Such a precious moment.

Some of the girls from the soccer team.

Catherine, you totally rocked this Camaro!!

I think you two just gave new meaning to a library.  A very romantic location to be wed, indeed!

I love how all the tables at the 1812 Farm were set up with flowers and books as the centerpiece.

Note the Camaro cake behind the big cake.  And guess what the cake top is made from?  Take a closer look below.

For those of you who live in Maine, you should be able to guess right off.

First dance.

Marriage is the golden ring in a chain whose
beginning is a glance and whose ending is Eternity.
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

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

When do you get to be a grown-up? she said.

When you can read & write & lie without laughing, I said

& her eyes got big

& she said she didn’t know it was that hard.  ~Story People

I was looking through photos this morning from six years ago and I noticed how much you have changed. How can six years be so transformative? How did you go from shorter-than-me, always full of questions (yes, you asked more questions than I ever did!) to this young woman who now questions my questions? How are we suddenly standing at the crossroads of preparing you to go off to college in two years when it seems like yesterday you read to me for the first time?

You have a car now. You are driving yourself to work and school and to your friends homes.

And as I watch you pull out of the driveway, driving a car that totally suits your personality,

I wonder about the dreams that lay resting in your heart.

The dreams only you know about,

for they are still so big and unreal

that you dare not wake them up yet.

Even you know it’s too soon.

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

“i wish you could have been there for the sun & the rain & the long, hard hills.

for the sound of a thousand conversations scattered along the road.

for the people laughing & crying & remembering at the end.

but, mainly, i wish you could have been there.”  ~Story People

I have not seen my sister in six years.  She just left today after a sweet five-and-a-half day visit.  She is five years younger than me but we were always connected at the hip until I moved to the East Coast in 1981.  Now we are connected in our hearts.  Oh my, has it really been that long?!  The two of us had grand plans as teenagers.  We were going to live far in the hills in a log cabin.  We would grow everything we ate, sit around in the evenings and spin wool, knit and sew our clothes.  We would marry mountain men and raise our children together.  We would grow old in each others company, have long, grey braids and sit in rocking chairs sipping herbal tea and reminisce.

Maybe some day we will do the last part together.  It is too late to do the rest.  When we do get together it is always the same – the feeling that no time has divided us, almost as though one of us just went out for a few hours and then walked in the door to continue where we left off.

The following photos are of my beautiful sister.  For both of us it brought back so many memories of when we lived at Long Beach in Washington state.  We would photograph each other and play in the ocean.

The next day we went to a local apple orchard to do a few shots .  What a magical place.

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Adorable.  Absolutely and without question!  Need I say more . . .

Her dimpled chin is so cute!  I’m including both color and b&w versions.

That’s it!  Not bad for a 5 minute session!!  If I had more room to work with I could have gotten more, but hey, it was spur of the moment at the parade ~

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

Last year in March I plowed my garden in 70 degree weather.  Twice!  The above picture shows what April 1st looked like.  Before the Nor’easter arrived,  the ground was nearly bare, but it was still very wet and muddy.  No plowing in March this year.  In fact, I may not be able to get a plow through my garden till June.  Such is life in New England!

Boo is not impressed one bit!

Cody doesn’t mind at all.

This is more like it, says Boo, snow with a frozen crust on top to keep me from sinking!  This was the day after the storm.

Boo & Muffin have a unique relationship.  Muffin follows Boo whenever he is in the pasture.  He’s remarkably gentle with him, will even trot right behind him if Boo is walking fast, but the second Boo stops Muffin stops, too, so he doesn’t step on him.  So cut to watch!

Whiskers in the late day sun.

Annabelle on her 16th birthday.  My my how time flies!!!

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

“…if there is any secret to this life i live,

this is it: the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can.

and there is nothing more to it than that…”  ~ Story People

It has been awhile since I have posted anything, but rest assured, I have been busy!  This post will be a combination of two sessions but all from the same family.  I think this was a great idea!   It allowed me to focus on the girls and their horses and then on mom & dad, who have not had photos done of just the two of them for 17 years.  That’s too long, you two!  We’ll have to do something about that!

Justine & Carly are gorgeous young ladies and when you combine them with gorgeous animals, such as horses, well the outcome is poetry in its finest form.  Of course, as you will see, their beauty comes directly from the source of whence it all began.

“Sitting there in your pajamas & all the time in the world

& if I could keep any moment it would be this:

watching you & holding my breath with the wonder of it all.” StoryPeople

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

I’ve been working on so many photo projects that I’m going to simply post a variety of images from everything!  It’s been a great season and I want to thank all of my families, high school seniors and brides and grooms for making these past few months full of fun and simply stunning venues in which to indulge my senses in.  You are all awesome and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Now, just because the summer months are behind us and Autumn is coming full circle, doesn’t mean I put away my camera and quit doing photo sessions.  Are you kidding!  I LOVE taking photographs in the winter!  The light is beyond anything from any other season, so if there are people out there brave enough to have your family or engagement sessions done during the colder months, I’m game!!

Now, onto the pictures!

My two clowns in the pasture that keep me entertained & give me reason to laugh – a lot!

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I carry you with me into the world,
into the smell of rain
& the words that dance between people
& for me, it will always be this way,
walking in the light,
remembering being alive together. – The Story People

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

High School Senior Portrait Special & Contest

1 person – $300

2 people – $450

3 people – $600

4 people – $750

Let’s have some fun with your senior pictures! After all, it’s your last year in high school, and for some, it’s your last year in school with your friends. Here’s my idea:

Bring up to 3 friends along (who are also seniors and need their senior portrait taken) and I will take group pictures as well as individual ones. What I’d like to encourage is creativity. You can design your photo session however you want, as long as it’s clean and legal.

• wear costumes
• have a theme
• include pets
• incorporate your sport
• bring instruments if you’re musicians
• dance
• play!
• (insert your idea here)

Contest: for the individual or group that has the most creative photo session, you will win a 40 page hard bound photo book using the images from your session.

Included in your session:

• high resolution CD of artistically edited images from your photo session which include rights to reprint
• 1-3 hours of my time photographing your session
• up to 3 locations within 10 miles of each other
• unlimited wardrobe changes

Alright Seniors, let’s have some fun!

Schedule your sessions now before I’m all booked up!

I am only doing a limited number of sessions.

Contact: Darlene Terry ~ 563-7464

drt555@yahoo.com

Being able to look at a photograph and suddenly be transported back in time to a moment that only lives once, is an investment well worth its weight in gold.

To view more senior pics, click here!

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

I can’t say no to my daughter when she asks me to take photos of her and her friend.  “Kara is coming over on Sunday so can we do a photo shoot on the Round Pond water front?”  YES!!  Early evening, sunshine, water, boat docks and two young beauties – perfect!  She’s growing up so fast, I want to document as much as she’ll let me.  I’ll edit that pile of other pictures tomorrow!

I love that they can still be inquisitive and not be shy about enjoying the moment.

Oh my, there is a combination of little girl and young woman in this image.  Precious!

I thought this was pretty cool.

I think this is my new favorite one of Annabelle.  I love the color version too, but I really love the black & white.  She’s standing in water.

Some day I’ll put up the color version, but right now I’m in a black & white mood for a few of these images.  I’m finding the darkness under piers make very dramatic backdrops.

This one and the next I was waiting for the girls to come out of the tide pools (they were looking for little crabs) so I sat on the rocks with my long range lens and clicked away.  I love how dramatic the above one looks, and the one below I love the reflections.

Yes, they let the crabs go!

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

Oh my, when love is in the air, everything is beautiful.  I had the pleasure of meeting a very sweet couple in a most gorgeous setting.  On a Sunday morning, along the Coast of Maine, in May with the sun shining and breeze blowing – I don’t think it gets any better than this.  Well, actually it does – I got to photograph Mike & Kira at the very location their upcoming wedding in September is going to take place.  I just love witnessing and documenting love.  This is only just a glimpse of their love, and I simply cannot wait till September!!  Enjoy ~

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

Is there any wonder that I love photographing children?  There is just something about their ability to be in their moment, pure and real, unafraid of expressing themselves.  Ms Francis is a great example.  She became very interested in my camera, especially when I showed her the pictures of herself right after I took them.  She wanted to push the buttons to see more & more.  I’m sure she thought there must be some kind of magic inside that clicking box!  Well, I think there is, too, so I clicked away, continuing our show and tell.  See for yourself ~

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

“They came to sit & dangle their feet off the edge of the world & after awhile they forgot everything but the good & true things they would do someday.” Brian Andreas, “True Things”

“Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.” Brian Andreas

“He kept a piece of algae behind his ear to remind him of his roots. A million years ago every place was a little place by the sea, he would say & my mind would go blank & I would swim through the day without a care in the world & it all seemed so familiar that I knew I would go back someday to my own little place by the sea.” Story People

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

Often, I write all day long with white ink on white paper, late into the night, until it is all I can do to feel the letters curving to earth from the tip of the pen & then, I fall asleep. Dreaming of running, or maybe driving in a car the color of water & I wake the next day remembering nothing & I gather the stack of paper & a pen of black on the desk in front of me & the words begin to dance over the page like long legged insects across a still lake & the words in white whisper behind & underneath the new day. If there is any secret to this life I live, this is it: the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can. & there is nothing more to it than that.

~ Story People

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

I’ve been going through some pictures that I didn’t even edit yet and I completely forgot about these!  The good news is I’ve learned new techniques and have different tools for editing so the results are usually better.  I’m sure if I weed through all of my 962,000,000 images, I’ll find more that need tweaking.  No, I really don’t know if I have that many pictures, but most days it sure does feel like it.

These pictures were taken just minutes after I met Beth & Mike.  We were visiting the location of their wedding on Pemaquid Point.  I remember it being very overcast and a bit foggy, but those are good conditions for photographs.  Beth’s father was also there.  He chauffeured them in his antique Volkswagen Bug.  What a beautiful ride!

I just love the love between these two.  It has been nearly 8 months since I photographed their wedding.  I can’t get over how quickly time flies!

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

Well, my daughter Annabelle turned 15 on the 3rd.  We went to the mall – she wanted to hang out with some friends – and then on the way home I took some fun photos of her and her friend Mary.  For the most part they came up with all the fun & silly things to do during their session.  We all had a blast!  Hard not to with warm temperatures along the coast of Maine, especially in April.

To be young and having a good time being silly.

I guess they can’t read!

Taking time out for a quick “sword” fight!

And a little “kung fu”

Some tree hugging.

And airplane flying.

And rock throwing.

Good to know 15 year olds still like to play.  How about you?  What did you do when you were 15?

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

Some families are just plain silly, especially when they all convene into one spot for a late afternoon BBQ in the middle of September.  I have known the Ineson’s and Stackhouse’s f.o.r.e.v.e.r it seems, so it was a lot of fun to capture their giggles on this gorgeous day last month.  Hopefully they will treasure these memories for years to come.

As I said – SILLY!

Daughter-Father love & sillies.

Mother-Daughter bliss.

So sweet!

Aww, Piggy love!

More piggy love!

A different kind of love . . . and he could have been a pro, too!

“Oh really!” she’s thinking.

“Let’s see who’s tallest!”

. . . or silliest!

Love the sweetness caught here.

Lovely ladies.

. . . and silly ladies, too, of course!

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

The Round Pond 4th of July Parade is most likely by far the most well attended parade in Maine.  “Anything goes” seems to be the flavor of the parade.  It’s usually quite political, but with no elections on the horizon, there was no evidence of that this year.  A lot of local businesses tastefully and patriotically marching through the street, proudly showing all the many thousands of onlookers who they are.  The colors and costumes and floats and, of course, the children were all fabulous!

If anyone knows any of these people, could you please contact them and let them know about the pictures.  I am having a special on portrait sessions for any of the people I happened to photograph during the Round Pond parade (as well as those I photographed at the Pirate Rendezvous.)  They will get  25% off any portrait session package.  Offer good through July 31, 2009.

Editors Note: I am extending the 25% off any portrait session package to EVERYONE!

To see all of the photographs from the parade, click HERE

To see the rest of the pictures from the parade click  HERE!

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

Damariscotta, Maine just had the most amazing event this past Saturday, June 13th.  It was the second annual “Pirate Rendezvous.” The entire town was completely packed, featuring the Mystic Pirates of Damariscotta, who came in two pirate ships and took over the town at high noon.

Nearly every child that attended was dressed up in pirate attire, wielding plastic swords, wearing head bands and eye patches.  Some had a hook at the end of their arm, mimicking Captain Hook, others were having mock sword fights and some were having their faces painted.

There were musicians, reenactors, story tellers, book signings, and games.  After the pirate ships anchored and came ashore, pirates and children alike took over the town.  It was an exhausting day but so much fun!  Despite all the rain we’ve been having, this particular day was sunny and warm!

Here are just a few pictures I took.  If you want to see the rest (all 150 of them) I have two galleries – one all color and the other all black and white and sepia.  I personally think the black & white & sepia are much more dramatic.  Take a look  HERE.

To see more images click here for the Black and White Photos.

Or here for the Color Photos.

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