Oh my goodness, Dezarae, you are beautiful, and to have you surrounded in this awesome summer light in a field just amplifies your beauty!  Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to come out to create your high school senior photos.  I know having this done wasn’t the highlight of your summer, but I hope you will be pleased with what I’ve done so far!  Ya know, Dezarae, you really ought to do this more often – you are very photogenic!

More to come, but I promised Mom not to overwhelm her with too many choices!!

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

There is nothing more precious than new life.  It is miraculous that something as tiny as two cells can eventually become a beautiful, vibrant living being.  I am sure the siblings of this precious baby are simply in awe.  They watched their mother transform over the months, watched her belly move in a way they have never seen before, and then suddenly, one day emerges this child – their little brother.  Their eyes were glued to him, especially “big sister!”

Thank you for inviting me to capture these first sacred moments of the life of your son.  What a treasure of memories!!  Enjoy your preview!!

Love the flurry of activity here among the ever content baby.  I’m telling you, he is very happy!

. . . and then there were five.

Oh my goodness, the love here is so sweet!

This is why I love my job . . .

No words here between these three, just a lot of “awe”

We did manage to pull big brother away from the computer long enough for a quick photo!

And here is grandma.  Now I see where the beauty is coming from!

Some daddy love ~

I adore this picture!

And to end, we must all appreciate these sweet, kissable cheeks!  A well fed baba!

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

I had some time between clients today so I took out my new camera – a Nikon D300s – and took some pictures of the beautiful apple blossoms and magnolia blooms.  I am so in love with this camera I don’t know how I’m ever going to want to use my D90, even as a back up!  But I will and it will be fine, but wow,  this new one is amazing!!  Check it out and see for yourself!

The first three images were taken before the sun was fully out.  The rest of the pictures were taken late morning.

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

Sometimes it’s just plain impossible to do a little preview of images from a family photo session that was loads of fun AND has endless gorgeous pictures to choose from!  I still can not get over how beautiful this family was, both their personalities and their sweet faces.  My drive home after this shoot made me realize just how much I love what I do.  It truly is an on-location photographers dream to venture to places I would otherwise never even know exist.  Thank you so much for entrusting me with the job of creating keepsakes that I’m sure you will love for years to come.  I hope you enjoy this little peak!

This was one amazing dog!!  I want one just like him!

This family was totally up to utilizing all the natural props scattered throughout their property.

Being the Libra that I am, making decisions is not my greatest asset.  Deciding between the above light and airy picture and the more bold picture below is simply going to have to be the decisions of the parents!  I give up – I love them both!!

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

I am continually awed by how light can either make or break a photograph. Yes, I have gone out with my camera on a cloudy day and the images captured were beautiful. They even glowed with a particular light found only on cloudy days.

What I love, however, is the sunlight that exists towards the end of the day or the first couple of hours after sunrise. “The golden hours.” The magic of light.

The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.  ~Vladimir Nabokov

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.  ~Aaron Rose

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

I found a wonderful blog last week – Shutter Sisters.

It is a beautiful blog, so full of inspiration and ideas. It has already helped me to focus on the important things in my life. I’m starting to feel more grounded. More connected to the journey of my life, and to the journeys of those around me.

I have been introduced to an idea that really intrigues me. And excites me.

One little word. Choose one word to be your guiding light, your mantra, your focus for the year. Read all about it here, at Ali Edwards blog.

My word for 2010 is Soar. I have been thinking about words all week. Trying them on. Seeing how they fit. Exchanging one for another. I felt like I was clothes shopping! Finally, soar is the word that fit me best.

For me it signifies freedom. Release. Beyond. Heights. Unlimited. Extraordinary.

My one little word is a doorway into infinite possibilities. Even though it is a “lofty” word, I feel grounded in its implications.

Please join me in 2010. What word inspires you? Where would you like to focus your energies this year? I’d love to know. Lets share our stories.

“People who soar are those who refuse to sit back, sigh and wish things would change.  They neither complain of their lot nor passively dream of some distant ship coming in.  Rather, they visualize in their minds that they are not quitters; they will not allow life’s circumstances to push them down and hold them under”  – Author Unknown

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

I’ve been busy with a few last minute High School Senior Portrait sessions.  Thankfully the weather has been fabulous, allowing us to get outdoors to take advantage of the late summer light.  This one was photographed at a beautiful location in Damariscotta, Maine called the DRA – Damariscotta River Association.  Thank you, Max, for letting me take your photographs.  I hope you enjoy them!!

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