Kris & Jerrod's Engagement Session

Oh what can I say about Kris & Jerrod?!
Fun loving - Adventurous - Up for anything - Hilarious.. I could go on.

Kris emailed me about her Friday night wedding on the beach - - she's from NH, he's from Baltimore where they now live. They wanted engagement pictures but weren't going to be in town until the week of the wedding.

No Problem!!

p.s. Kris - you're GORGEOUS. And kudos to you for the flowers, they're a great touch :)

We met up Monday night before their wedding and rocked it. I had so much fun meeting them and their friends and family. By the time we parted ways I was so excited for Friday I could barely wait for the week to be over! And with just cause too, their intimate wedding dinner party was a blast - coming soon to a post near you!

Kris & Jerrod are still on their honeymoon, but I got a fun note from Kris' mom after I sent the photos - -
Hi Melissa, This is Kris' mom.... She is on the phone with me and I'm looking through the pictures. She doesn't have internet access at the moment, as she is on cape cod. However, she is saying how much she loves these pics! Wonderful job. What talent you have! Kris is delighted with them. She had a good feeling about your enthusiasm and talent right from the beginning, and is just thrilled! Take care. Kris will contact you when she gets back to civilization. Thanks for all! ~Donna

Upon their return, I got this:
Melissa,
We LOVE the photos! Thanks so much - we had a blast! I can't wait to see the wedding photos - I knew you were going to be awesome. And thanks for stepping up and taking charge on the beach right after the wedding - I was somewhat confused and not getting very much accomplished.
We really appreciated how enthusiastic and flexible you were. Once I booked you, I didn't have to give a second thought to the photography b/c I knew it was handled. For a bride planning a wedding in just 62 days, that was VERY important!
We will definitely recommend you to anyone who will listen to us!
Thanks a million!
Kris & Jerrod

Thank you for your wonderful words!

Melissa & Jack 07.27.2008

Melissa & Jack had their wedding at Castle in the Clouds - a place I visited as a child and fantasized of having my wedding there - so I was more than thrilled when they asked me to be their photographer.

A bridal suite in a castle!

Melissa - you looked STUNNING!

After a week of tumultuous weather, including a tornado right here in NH, Saturday looked like it might come through unscathed, unfortunately as we neared 'show time' the rain came down and Melissa decided to move the ceremony inside for safety's sake. The misty overcastness very much added to the "in the clouds" part of the moniker!

The rain had let up during the ceremony, but after they all lined up, it too was ready to be received. I helped out by holding an umbrella over Melissa & Jack so they could still hug their guests, I even got a few hugs too!

They are such fun loving people - with the formals moved into the library we had to make the best of it but they never once let it get them down, in fact, I think it made them laugh even harder!

Fickle Fickle as we sent the last of the family back down on the trolley the skies parted and back outside we went!

I love details. They're like a glimpse inside the couples mind.

The special dances were ripe with love and emotion - Jack picked up his mom and swung her around the dance floor it was so unexpected and joyous!

SUCH a wonderful day - nothing could get these two down and their friends and family worked that dance floor ALL night long.

Congratulations you two - thanks for having me along to experience a castle wedding!

Benjamin's First Day of School

Yesterday my boy started 3rd grade -

"Third Grade; Just Do It"

I can't figure out how time passes so quickly - it feels like just yesterday was his first day of kindergarten:

But at the same time, he's only 8 - life is so oddly juxtaposed sometimes.

And these were in a potted display on our walk to school - I loved them.

What I want to be when I grow up; by melissakoren

It wasn't until recently as I approached my 30th year, that I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I've been amazingly blessed in the past year and I may well be full speed on the road to those hopes and dreams.

What I'll add to the mix though, is to have a group of colleagues that equal, or better yet, include the amazingness that is this:



Never stop dreaming friends - Never!

The Mac Family Shoot 08.18.2008

Allison wanted to get some family portraits of her, her husband & her brother done for their mom's birthday. Her husbands sister just happened to be up for the weekend and came along for the 'ride' - we met at the beach and knocked these out before sunset.

When I was a freshman in high school I knew senior Allison MacKenzie from chorus and her younger brother Cameron was in my grade - but we never exchanged anything more than pleasantries. Tim MacAulay was a football player in Allison's class - I only knew his name, and she only knew him mostly from homeroom.

Fast forward some-odd years later Tim & Allison meet and fall in love and get married. Then Cameron becomes the bartender at our local watering hole, and Tim & Allison come round visiting him. With in 3 or so months time we all become fast true friends and the rest is history.
Tim & Allison were the attendants in our wedding, Cam a guest. Tim's baby sister Vanessa (who just turned 21 last week) was in Italy studying abroad or she would have been there too -

They are the "Mac" family and we adore them more than words!

Cider Hill 08.17.2008

Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, MA is one of our favorite places. It's where we 'officially' got engaged, and we go down at least 3 or 4 times a year for veggies or apple picking, and ALWAYS donuts!

I only brought my camera with my new 50mm 1.4 prime lens just for some fun practice with it. Sadly, we were only there for a few minutes, as I had to get back and edit edit edit, but we visited with the goats and chickens and got some good stuffs to eat - only I ate the donuts before I remember to take a picture of them. Hehe.

North Conway 08.08.2008

When I was 7, I had a friend forced upon me. My grandmother & her mother worked together and were great friends. We wee girls were the same age, we had similar interests in reading, piano & singing, and wasn't it just the cutest thing that her name was Alissa - oh the similarities. Including the fact that neither of us wanted to admit that we liked each other - no one wants their friends chosen for them! We hated each other when we were together and missed each other when we were apart.

Through the years we sussed it out and through thick or thin, we're there for each other. Round about middle school my grandparents and I started to vacation with Lis and her family in North Conway at their time share, some of the best memories of that time in my life were hanging around the NC being Lis^2. I hadn't been back since the summer after Freshman year in high school though (14 years ago!)

It just so happened she had an extra bed & I didn't have a wedding the weekend she was going up this year - the stars aligned in our favor and on 08.08.08 we were back in the NC again!

Despite forecasted rain, rain & more rain, we actually had quite a bit of sun! And I got to play with my new Shootsac!

Espresso - the nectar of the gods. SO TRUE.

Mostly I used my point and shoot, this was after all my weekend "off", but I couldn't resist breaking out the big guns and taking a few minutes to photograph her nieces & their best friends who'd already started the great tradition of family/friend vacations.

Miss Emily - 3 years old, Lis' niece. Firecracker, Ginger, and all around individual unique spirit.

The other miss Emily - 3 years old and so so reserved. Shy, demure, lovely and sweet.

Lillian - 7, The other Miss Emily's older sister. Her mannerisms & personality remind me SO much of me when I was a little girl - right down to the french braids and whispy's.

And then there is Killian - 7, Lis' other niece. If I had even 1/100th of this girls energy I would be more caught up on my blogs & housework!

I'm going to have to find a picture of Lis & I when we were this age - but as far as the story goes, it's a little surreal. Melissa, Alissa - Lillian, Killian - age 7 BFF's!

I had such a great time on my mini-vacation, we hope to make it a more regular thing now that we're grownups and can drive ourselves around :)

Rachel's Bridal Shower 07.19.2008

Rachel is graced with amazing friends and family - when I first met with her and her mom, her mom asked if I would take pictures at the shower also, and I was happy to. Little did I know what a gorgeous affair it would turn out to be! Every detail was stunning, including the favors. Her sister, a bartender in Vegas::Baby:: made a bar menu using photos of Rachel & Michael (some from their engagement shoot) and special drinks like "Love Potion #9". They were an absolute hit and everyone raved about the books & the drinks!

I got a bit out of control with my fascination with the Martini glasses - I've always always loved these in the stores and to see them all lined up like this, well, I got a little carried away!

Kim (Rachel's mum) has the most amazing garden - I couldn't help but snap some flower shots! The sky was intense also - and the air thick with humidity - which ultimately lent itself to a heck of a thunderstorm, but we were all safe and dry in the tent!

The food spread was AMAZING. Kim told me it was part of my job to eat, so I made sure to load up a plate (ok, twice) and enjoy!

Two of Rachel's bridesmaids are pregnant! All of them are Gorgeous.

Present time! (And also when the rain started to come down)

Great food, Great desserts, Great drinks, Great times! Then all the girls went out to the mini house that was built for Rachel when she was a little girl for a group shot :)

"Melissa your photos are amazing, I can't tell you how pleased we are!! I have given out your website to all the other teachers and everyone is raving about your work. I will be calling you soon to finalize an order. Thank you so much!!" ~ Kim

Rachel & Kim - thank you for opening your home to me and including me in such wonderful festivities! I can't wait for the wedding in September!

Kim sent me a note in the mail too - "Your work has allowed the family to have memories that will never fade.  Thank you, Kim" 

I'm certain it doesn't get much better than that. 

Rachel also wanted a few shots done for her memories - of the Wentworth where they got engaged, and where we did the engagement shoot - and also of the Colony where the reception will be. She also loved the idea of having their names written in the sand on the coast, so I gathered up my things and headed off on an adventure.

Rachel ended up ordering 4 of the beach shots as matted 12x18's they looked SO AMAZING all matted and ready for shipping - I hope they look as good framed in their new house!

"Hi Melissa, I received the pictures today they are beautiful!!!!" ~Rachel