Stop Motion! Check this out!

I can't take credit for finding this video on YouTube. I came across it while browsing one of my favorite forums. But really, it is so awesome that I have to share it with you here!

A Mom-Daughter Session

So all of us here in RI know what a horrible spring/early summer we have had. Torrential downpours have been the norm. Sun? What's that? This newest session was a race against the rain. And a keeping our fingers crossed that it will get done thing.



My client was a very gorgeous young woman named Caitlin, who wanted a session with her Mom. It was a gift to her mother. Caitlin told me the day of our photo shoot on July 3rd, that she was doing this because she had no pictures at all of her and her Mother together on her wedding day! Shameful!



Mom, Ellen and her Dad Paul were coming to Bristol from Long Island for the 4th of July weekend. I met Caitlin, along with her husband Matt, and her Mom and Dad at Colt State Park (one of my very favorite places!) and had an awesome session!





As we were leaving the park, drops of rain started hitting the windshield. Driving down 114 I could see the dark storm clouds chasing us home! Funny stuff.

Crystal & Todd Are Expecting!

I got to meet a fantastic new couple the other day. And they were awesome to work with! Not only that, but they were more than willing to try some of the silly things I suggested (not shown here).



Crystal is now 30 weeks pregnant and looking amazingly gorgeous and fit.



I can't wait to meet the new little one!

Best Salad Ever!

So let me preface this by saying I never have nor will I ever be much of a salad aficionado. But since I quit smoking in January I have gained some significant weight and I am hitting the dieting wagon. Yuck! :(

One thing I do love however is cooking, and creating things in the kitchen. So the other day I am digging through the fridge wondering what the heck to have for lunch.



I came up with this! Basically I just threw things together, but the combination was awesome. If you are a "sweet and salty is the best thing ever" type of person you will love this.

So here is the recipe:

Romaine Lettuce
Mandarin Oranges
Dried Cranberries
Almonds
Feta Cheese
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing



Mix all ingredients together. And there you go. The saltiness of the feta cheese plays off of the sweetness of the oranges and cranberries.

Enjoy!

What Friends Are For

Friendship is a sheltering tree. Samuel Coleridge



So I've been feeling a bit unmotivated lately. Alright, maybe a lot unmotivated. I haven't felt like picking up my camera, not even for me, which isn't normal at all.





Maybe it's the dull dingy weather that we've been having all spring... where is the sun!? Maybe it's the financial crunch that has me down.



But I'll tell you what... an email from a friend and a quick message left on my answering machine from that same friend had me feeling a lot better. I even went outside with my camera today determined to find something interesting to photograph.



So this post is dedicated to a wonderful friend that I've known for years. We both have a love of photography in common, and even though we've only met in person once when he came up to RI from PA, we do keep in touch by phone and email periodically. So I just wanted to say Magick Michael, thank you so very much. And I will call you soon!



In the meantime I want to share the link to Magick Michael's blog. It's brand new and he'll be posting some interesting articles I am sure.



So what are friends for? One thing I know for sure they make you feel better.

The Autism Project

Every year I devote myself to one worthy cause and donate my time and any profits made on the sale of those photographs to that cause. And this year (2009) is no different.



This past Saturday I had the pleasure of donating my time to a very worthy cause. The Autism Project had their 7th Annual Imagine and Family Walk Day at Goddard Park in Warwick, RI.



I had been contacted by one of my very lovely previous brides Angel who headed up the Red Team. Two of her four sons have autism. And she is a very devoted member of the Autism Project. She came in #4 in funds raised for the benefit! Congrats Angel, you rock girl!







For those who don't know what autism is here is a small description taken from the Autism Project's What Is Autism page:

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

Autism is one of five disorders coming under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by "severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development," including social interaction and communications skills (DSM-IV-TR). The five disorders under PDD are Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Rett's Disorder, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Each of these disorders has specific diagnostic criteria as outlined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in its Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).





Angel has a web page of her own devoted to her team. Please visit it and make a donation!

Rhode Island Weddings - Bouquet Inspirations

Looking for some floral inspiration? Some of my brides have had the most incredibly gorgeous wedding bouquets. Below, just a few from 2008....