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

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

I adore all my animals equally, but each for very unique reasons.  My cat, Boo, is quite a character as well as very adept at melting hearts.  His personality is beyond wonderful.  I’m afraid one day he will walk right up to a wild animal, rub against them and ask them to be his friend!

Here is my little man doing what cats simply love to do best – grooming themselves in the warm sun.

I just love they way they can bend.  They are little furry pretzels!

All this bathing is so exhausting, I must rest a bit!

Oh my, what’s that I hear?  Most likely a hen, but it could be a mouse . . .

Okay, I’ll indulge you with one cute pose, but then I must get back to looking regal and grown up . . .

. . . like this.

A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.  ~ Ernest Hemingway

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 spent this past weekend, May 21-23, at the Windsor Fairground in Windsor, Maine photographing more children, teenagers and animals than I can even begin to count.  In the course of the three days, I most likely walked as many miles as I drove to get there!  But it was worth it – every mile, every minute and every click of my camera’s shutter button, which most likely exceeded 5,000!  But I’ve whittled the number of images down to about 1,000.  Oh my!!  Hey, there were a lot of kids and a lot of animals and A LOT of events.  I really hope I didn’t leave anyone out.  I am so sorry if I did.  It wasn’t intentional or personal.  How could it be – I didn’t know any of the participants.

The kids, all in 4-H, showed sheep, cattle, alpacas and goats.  They made posters that represented what the Northeast Livestock Expo means to them.  And several teams cooked a meal, incorporating either beef, lamb or goat meat, with potatoes being the common ingredient.   I’m telling you, these looked like very elegant dishes and the smell was mouth watering!

The images below are just a small sampling of what I have edited so far.  I’ll put the rest up in a gallery when they’re all finished.  Just wanted to give you a peek of your weekend, from my point of view.  Stay tuned for the rest – hopefully by next week!

The lighting was quite challenging, but I’m pleased with the results.

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

The first week in March just ended and for those of us living in Maine, I’d have to say we have been fortunate. Granted the last few days of February brought us near hurricane conditions, creating much damage and inconvenience, but having temperatures edging very close to 60 in March is quite a blessing.

So, what did I do this weekend? I cleaned out my garden on Saturday and on Sunday I visited my friend’s farm, hanging out for over an hour talking and taking pictures. The following images are all about joy and the carefree bliss that is so evident in children and animals.

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

This morning’s musings are inspired by this post.

Where do I go when I need to connect? When I need to feel complete and at home? With myself. With my life.

I don’t go far. In the past I have wandered here and there, searching, trying to find that comfy spot on this planet I can feel good about calling home. Well, I arrived 25 years ago. I left a couple of times, but I always came back.

I was born in the Pacific Northwest but I now live in the Northeast. The salty air from the ocean and the scented pines from the forests always soothe my soul. Always stir fond memories.

Fifteen minutes from my home, when I’m in need of ocean sounds and smells, I go here.

But mostly I’m content being in my own back yard with my animals. I’m on vacation year round and it only costs me a barn full of hay and grain, some good dog treats, chicken scratch and a willingness to be.

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

Emotions. Life can be summed up as a series of unending emotions. What I strive to capture in my work as a photographer are the emotions of my subjects. It doesn’t matter if I’m shooting people, animals or plants. Emotion exists.

The following images portray a variety of emotions.

Sadness. Letting go. Adoration. Contemplation. Bliss. Joy.

What stirs your soul?

Post inspired by the Shutter Sisters.

The four images above were taken an hour or two before their beloved horses had to be laid to rest.

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

Winter has become one of my favorite seasons. I know that sounds crazy to a lot of people. Yes, there are plenty of days throughout winter that I dread. Even despise. I can say that about all four of the seasons. What it boils down to is I don’t care for the extremes that each of these seasons can sometimes be possessed by.

What I love so much about winter is it allows me a chance to regroup. To catch up on my life. To initiate change. To slow down and evaluate. To drink in the quiet, still voice of nature.

I am not idle during these months of darker days. I am outside a lot with my animals, watching them play. Enjoying the lack of biting insects and sweltering heat. Winter has a certain charm that for some must be understood to appreciate. It took me many years to come to this place of appreciation. As January creeps deeper into the cave of winter, I follow, knowing there is light on the other side.

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

On December 5th from 10-2 I will be at The Animal House in Damariscotta, Maine photographing animals with Santa!  Children and pet owners are welcome to be included in the photo as well.   No sitting fee and no appointments necessary.  I will be offering several options, which include packages, ala carte and Holiday cards.   The Adoption Clinic Maine Greyhound Placement Service will be there from 11-2 and I will be donating 10% that is generated through the photo sessions that day, so come help support this awesome service!

Here is the list and further down are samples of the card styles.  I used my own animals in the sample styles so you’ll just have to imagine your cat or dog in the image.   Hope to see you there!!

Ala Carte

20 4×8 flat cards w/envelopes – $30

50 4×8 flat cards w/envelopes – $60

100 4×8 flat cards w/envelopes – $90

4×6 prints . . . . . . . . . . $5

5×7 prints . . . . . . . . . . $15

8×10 prints . . . . . . . . . $30

Packages

Package A: $75 ($25 Savings)

20 cards

5 4×6 prints

1 5×7 print

1 8×10 print

Package B: $140 ($60 Savings)

50 cards

10 4×6 prints

2 5×7 prints

2 8×10 prints

Package C: $265 ($105 savings)

100 cards

20 4×6 prints

4 5×7 prints

4 8×10 prints

Package D: $45 ($15 Savings)

20 cards

2 5×7 prints

Package E: $70 ($20 Savings)

50 cards

2 5×7 prints

Package F: $95 ($25 Savings)

100 cards

2 5×7 prints

Package G: $65 ($30 Savings)

10 4×6 prints

1 5×7 print

1 8×10 print

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

As of today I have images for sale!  You can view them HERE I will continue to add images to the gallery as I see fit. Right now there is a wide selection, all photographed in Midcoast Maine. The subjects range from Pemaquid Light House to Seascapes, Lupines to Animals, which include my miniature horse, Muffin. I also have some of geese, winter scenes, sunrises and sunsets.

Here is a little glimpse of what you’ll find in the gallery.

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

. . . that’s what photography is all about – light.  You can take the most simple, everyday subject and turn it into an extraordinary work of art.  It doesn’t matter what I am doing – driving, sitting by a window, feeding the animals, cooking dinner – I am always aware of the way sunlight is affecting my surroundings.  Couple light with freshly fallen snow or dew on the grass or the morning after it has rained and you will see a completely different world.

The following images are the result of capturing the light at just the right moments.

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