Get to know Brigitte and Joshua!

The weather outside is frightful, but Brigitte and Joshua were so delightful. I enjoyed Brigitte and Joshua because of their great personalities and sincere chemistry.  I knew that Brigitte was very outgoing and spunky, but at the engagement shoot, that proved to be even more true.  She showed up to the engagement shoot sporting a hot pink peacoat, and Joshua wore a complimenting sweater with a fancy hat.  We started shooting and I knew that they were going to be totally awesome!  As we got to talking, they told me more about their 2011 wedding at Blithewold Mansion in the summer, and got me really excited! The ideas! The ideas! We came up with for photographic locations!! Stay posted :)  Hey Joshua, maybe your wedding pictures will be on the cover of Better Home and Garden!

We also talked about how Brigitte and Joshua met, on an online dating site but the cutest thing about their story is the first time they really met.  Joshua was hungry at work and Brigitte brought him some american chop suey to fill up that tummy! All because of one great long phone call and some home made cooking with love :)

We continued to walk, shoot and laugh around Providence in the cold, but their love really warmed us all up.  When the time came for the shoot to end (our faces where getting red from the cold), we chatted some more before heading out.

I look forward to seeing Brigitte and Joshua again next August!  Best wishes!

Meet Erika and Steven!

Last week, Erika, Steven and I met up and headed down to Goddard Park to do an engagement session!  Of course, I had to ask my favorite question...How did you two meet?  The answer... through Erika's friend!  Her friend was at a childs birthday party when she met Steven.  She knew Erika and Steven would hit it off.   Steven got Erika's number and they chatted on the phone the first time over 3 hours.  After a "blind" date, the rest is history!

Erika ended up telling me that she works as the nutritionist for Dunkin Donuts.  I asked her a question she must get asked all the time; What's the healthiest thing on the menu?  I thought I'd inform all of you that its the breakfast snack wraps. Umm and they are good because of course every am I order one of those with my yummy ice coffee.

They'll be hosting their fabulous 2011 wedding at Kirkbrae Country Club.

Coffee Talk with Julie and Felix

Yesterday I met up with Julie and Felix at Starbucks in downtown Newport.  (Check out my cover image from Newport Magazine from downtown).  Felix being the gentleman he is bought me my fav....Tall skinny latte please!  Yum Yum

Off we went to hit the streets of Newport.  With a quick wardrobe change, smiles, laughs and oh yes one of us stepping on dog poo (not mentioning any names) we had a blast.  We even got a killer shot at sunset, of course we had to rush into our cars to speed off to the other side of the island to catch it but it well well worth it.  Did I mention it was Felix birthday?  Well it was Happy birthday Felix and congrats you two!  You have a year filled with love coming up.  See you on August 26, 2011 at Regatta Place!

"Shots" with Lauren and David

GAMES, GAMES and more GAMES! Where you ask?  Well the arcade in Newport silly!  I met up with Lauren and David in Newport, Rhode Island, which is where they are having their wedding on Janurary 15, 2011 at Oceancliff, for their engagements photos. I knew when they decided to have their pictures taken at the arcade that these two were right up my alley.  Lauren and David of course proved my theory right, and they had me laughing from start to end. After we finished at the arcade, we went to the bar next door and did some shots...  no pun intended :)  Lauren told me that at home, David is her own personal bartender. How convenient is that?

So over a few (I said few) drinks I learned that Lauren and David met at work, both being accountants. I loved the laughs we shared and can not wait till the big Day this upcoming January when they both say "I Do". See you guys then! 

Sonja and Michael

First off I was really excited to phoptograph someone as famous as Kelly Ripa...  Ok it wasn't really her but Sonja resembles her so much that I almost called her fiance Regis ;)

I met up with the lovely couple at the old Fish Company and it was special for them because that is were they first met.  Sara Faella did the hair and make up on Sonja and while she was finishing up, I got hear about how Michael introduced himself to Sonja four years ago.  He had one of his friends walk by and grab her butt, she turned around and yelled at him and Michael came to her defense and "put him in his place".  A pretty creative plan in my opinion but I wonder if that friend is invited to the wedding.

Sonja has high energy and Michael is cool calm and collected and the camera picked up their obvious chemistry!   

Sara Faella even had a little unexpected work applying some bronzer to Michael. Can not wait till June 10, 2011 where the two love bugs will say "I Do" at Squantum Association.

This is a fun couple to work with and we are looking forward to capturing their big day this coming June 10th 2011 at Squantum.

Marissa and Joe

Marissa and Joe invited me over to their house for their engagement shoot a few weeks ago.  Their house sits on beautiful manicured property! To them, this was such a great way to warm up their house as they had only been living there for about a week.  I was so happy that my pictures were one of the ways that I could have welcomed them to their new home.

I asked Marissa and Joe how they originally met, and they told me that they were introduced through their friends, who were a couple, and thats what got them here today. Soon we started the shooting and Marissa and Joe were rocking the camera.  I noticed that Joe was slightly gravitating towards there fire-pit that was in their back yard.  Joe told me about the fire-pit, and how much he loved it, so of course I wanted to take some pictures with them by one of their favorite spots in their yard!

Marissa and Joe loved being in front of the lens, and they truly were owning it! But soon enough, someone had to come along and take away their spotlight! Their dog! She was such a cutie, and you can tell that Marissa and Joe really loved their little new pup who they just recused! Soon, we finished and I was sad to go, but I knew that the shoot had been awesome, and the images would be too.

I can not wait until April 2, 2011 when I get to shoot more of Marissa and Joe at Crystal Lake!

Michele and Sean

On one sunny, but chilly afternoon, I departed for Roger Williams Park with my gear in the backseat and my tunes blasting. I stepped out of my car to see Michele and Sean, and I instantly knew that this shoot was going to be amazing.  The weather had been bad all week but today god cleared the skies ;) We started walking around the entire park and snapping images every single chance we got. Within just a few shots, I could feel their smiles coming naturally and their giggles became constant.  My A.D.D. kicked in and I was putting them in every little nook and cranny, including a carosel.

The shutter was snapping like crazy, but since we were traveling throughout the entire park, we had a little bit of down time to talk.  Michele told me about how she originally met Sean...  Sean is a West Warwick police officer but at that time he was security guard at the hospital she worked at. Michele told me that back then (with a giggle) he used to check her out.  Michele said that Sean was too "scrawny for her" ;) Years later, Sean was a bouncer at the Harborside, and Michele, just wanting to have a fun night out with the girls, had her ID checked by Sean, who had grown since their last meeting. On this fateful night, it was Michele who was checking Sean out :) .

Michele and Sean are just a fun-loving couple who in my opinion, are absolutely perfect for each other. We got to talking about their wedding on April 2nd, 2011 at the Biltmore Hotel, and I'm already sure that it's going to be a hit!  I know that the next time we meet face to lens, I will be honored to capture one of the greatest days in their lives.

Sarah and Brian

Sarah and Brian originally met in high school. Brian knew Sarah's brother, and one day got to talking and realized they had a lot in common. One thing led to another and in almost no time at all, they started dating. They became "that" couple, the high school sweethearts, went to prom together and grow up into adults together. Sara and Brian fortunately kept their relationship going all through high school, and on one fateful day on a beach in maine, Brian popped the question, and as you've already guessed, Sarah said yes! Their immense love for each became visible as we got into shooting. We cracked jokes and giggled, they reminisced on past memories as we captured images worth one million words!
Take a look for yourself! Oh and yes we made the best of a windy, cold, stormy November day.

Could you tell that it was very cold, windy and rainy? It was a real test of how true love and a great photographer can overcome any situation! Im really looking forward to May 21st, 2011 when I get to photograph Sarah and Brians wedding at Kirkbrae Country Club! 

Jenalee and Jarad

Now before I tell you more about Jenalee and Jarad, I'd like to tell you why this engagement shoot is really different from the rest. For Jenalee and Jarad's engagement shoot, we traveled to the 9 most important places to them, and it ended up being such an adventure! So I have considered this engagement shoot to be, "The Nine Wonders of Jenalee and Jarad".

We started at their first home together, which they still currently reside in. This was the also place where Jarad asked Jenalee to take his hand in marriage. Although they always say, "save the best for last", Jenalee and Jarad saved the best for first. Their first home is the most important place to both of them. The second place for our adventure was Lippitt Memorial Park, where Jenalee and Jarad told me that they love to spend their mornings and attend the farmers market.

The third spot we encountered was Andreas Restaurant. They informed me that Andreas is special to them because whenever their is need for celebrations (or just nights they would like to go out), they almost always head for Andreas. Yes of course we stopped had one of those big sangria happy drinks Andreas Restaurant serves. The fourth place on the list was Avon Cinema. Jarad told me that Avon was just one of his favorite places to go with Jenalee. The fifth place we traveled to was Prospect Terrace Park. When traveling home from Thayer street, they love to stop at this park, and Jarad told me he loves to watch Jenalee look out over the skyline.

The sixth place we headed to was the Providence Athenaeum. They told me that even though they are new members, they will always continue to love it and it holds a special place in their hearts. The seventh area we went to was Waterplace park. During Waterfire, Jenalee and Jarad love wonder and stop underneath the bridges. The eighth spot we traveled to was the Providence Train Station. To Jarad, this is a place of comfort because once he pulls in, he knows he's home.  The last place we encountered on the adventure was Capriccio's. Jenalee and Jarad were meeting their parents there, and we figured we might as well throw it into the bunch. I was sad to let Jenalee and Jarad head for dinner at Capriccio's, but I was so ready to go home and see the images!

UPDATE

What a treat it was to come into my office one morning and see that Jarad and Jenalee had sent me these flowers made by Twigs as a Thank You for spending the day with them while capturing both of them in their favorite spots.  

I am beyond excited to see Jenalee and Jarad again on July 30th, 2011 to watch them exchange vows!

Fall in love with Dorothy and Carl!

When I first met Dorothy and Carl, I knew two things. That they had an immense love for each other and life, and that they should have been models! By the end of almost all of my shoots, my couples are pretty comfortable in front of the camera, but Dorothy and Carl were a whole different story, they were literally asking, "We're already done?"

Dorothy and Carl will be exchanging vows on September 4th, 2011 at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol, RI. They met in high school and one day fate intervened, and here they are now!

The celebration will under a tent at the Farm.  I always especially enjoy tented weddings because its a blank canvas for the couple to design, incorporating their own personal twists which really shows their personality.

We all headed out to Mount Hope Farm on a beautiful afternoon for their engagement photos. It was extremely convenient for them because they live right down the street! Dorothy and Carl told me about how they spend a lot of their days together at Mount Hope Farm, just hanging out in the summer, and snowmobiling in the winter. That was one of their reasons for choosing it for their reception site, it was almost like a second home for them. They really did know their way around there, as we rode around in Carl's golf cart yippeee! We searched for cute areas and just shot, shot, shot!

I wish Dorothy and Carl the best until I see them on September 4th next year.