Mindy and Tim: An Engagement

Mindy and Tim are getting married in October, so we got together for a quick, relaxed and down-home engagement session before their big day! We just drove around our neighborhood and stopped at any place that caught our eyes. Thanks guys for just rolling with the punches and being adventurous! I had an awesome time, and I hope you did too!



Um, how pretty is Mindy? I can't wait for her wedding!


















Did you know black cows are the ones we eat? That's what Tim says...






The end!


Thanks guys, I can't wait for October!! :)

xo,

Katie

Emily and Nick: A Wedding

Can I just say I won the lottery!! When Sara Code-Kroll from Growing Tree Photography asked me to second shoot a wedding with her (she captures and creates such awesome, emotional, and really pure imagery - go take a look!), I was excited - but when I saw who, what, and where I would be shooting I was uberly (is that a word?) excited! Take a look!









Um, really? Yes, really.


Oh - um really? Yes, really. Again. (Emily is just about to see her hubby-to-be for their first look! Thank you seagull.)


Sara expertly orchestrated all of the bridal party shots prior to the ceremony while we were out on a lovely jetty in Branford. Sara took the girls and I had the guys.




We all headed over to the ceremony.
Right before her walk down the aisle:


Isn't this the moment that every girl dreams of? I absolutely love her face here:




We ducked out for a few bouquet shots while at the New Haven Country Club (a stellar venue, with amazingly thoughtful and fun staff - by the way!!!) This was the shot I set up - Sara had some beautiful ones too!



Thank you Sara!!!!! I had a blast with you! I can't wait to shoot together again! Congrats Emily and Nick!!

xo,

Katie

The Nuccio Family

What an awesome family this is! Awesome parents, awesome little ones, and just super people all around. Back in July they welcomed their second baby! Take a look at this cute little family:



This is CJ - at 9 days old!




Olivia loves my camera - see? She is trying to hug it!






Outfit change and time for Katie's chair!


And wow, don't they look thrilled to be in Katie's chair?!


I refuse to sit in that chair!






Little CJ was totally pooped so we took him inside.




And here's our last attempt at getting the siblings together in one shot! And it worked! Yay!

The world is so much bigger than me.

Confession time: there are times in my life that I take pity on myself. Far too much pity than what I remotely deserve. I realize often that I get caught up in that pity and don't pay attention to the outer world as much as I should. However, because I realize this, I am extremely vigilant of these self-righteous feelings of obnoxiously-uncalled-for self pity that I get and do my best to reach outside of my own little world to attain a better sense of perspective, gratitude, and respect for the life that I have been given and for the choices that I have made.

Let's face it - we all have crappy things that happen to us. Everyday. Some of us have REALLY crappy things that happen. And some of those people with the really crappy shit are the most inspiring, beautiful, wise, and generous people that I have ever known. I am astounded at their strength, fortitude, wisdom, love, romance, and life that these people breathe into their daily "crap." And I humbly accept the fact that I will never be so beautiful, inspiring, or wise as these people. But that doesn't stop me from reading about them.

A little back story: I read blogs. No, wait, I LOVE to read blogs. I love to read blogs written by people who are PRESENT and caring and thoughtful about and within their lives. They are real, they are forgiving, yet honest about their own weaknesses, and they make me want to be a better person. The blogs that I read are like the little Reader's Digests of my days. (Reader's Digest (whom just declared bankruptcy) is my favorite magazine, by the way.)

So now that you know that I read blogs, and you know that I sometimes feel a little too much self pity for my own good I am going to share a couple of the blogs that I read and that I totally love. Each one of these blogs is written by a different writer. Each is about a different subject for the most part. But each affect me in a profound and yet, despite their differences, very similar way. The best part of every one of these blogs is the presence of the writer. The simple observations they make of their lives. The way they think and process and honor their feelings in words. In every blog I love to read, I am most struck by the way the writer is so present in their life. Even when they have to wade through the "crap."

Here is a small portion of the blogs I love to read, in no particular order:

The Fat Cyclist

NieNie Dialogues

Flotsam Blog

Pacing the Panic Room

Maggie Doyne's Blog

So here's my point: when you feel like your own little world is too much, reach out. The world is so much bigger than you. And me.

In closing, I must say one thing. I am extremely thankful to the powers that be that my dad is finally off of his feeding tube. I know it was painful (mentally and physically) for him to be on it. And despite the multiple challenges that he has faced this year, I am incredibly proud of him for enduring them, every day. Challenges are just that, no fun and just plain difficult. Good job dad! I have been rooting for you! We all have!

Here's a tiny taste of what's coming up next:


xo,

Katie

The DiSalvo Wedding!

Yay! A couple weeks back, mixed in a ton of days filled with rain, we had a little gem of a day - and it just so happened that it was the day that Sarah and Michael got married! Here are some of the shots from the day...

Joanne Vandal of Picture Perfect USA was my partner in crime that day and I am super glad she came along! Here are a couple little details first:

The flowers were super colorful and masterfully done!







the ladies in waiting...






Did I mention I liked the flowers?


It's ceremony time - I love this little look from Sarah's cute, 92 year old Gram - you'll see her again shortly...


Do you know what time it was when you walked down the aisle?


Sarah kept shooting these cute little looks over to her new hubby - it was totally sweet!


Their church St. Adalbert's in Enfield is super pretty inside...


I have a little thing for silhouette's in churches especially when they are in front of the stained glass.


Yay! Married!


Did I tell you how cute the flower girl and ring bearer were??!!










While Joann was setting up her shots I grabbed hold of that bouquet for one more photo:


Grammie sure knew how to shake her groove thang!!








The end! Thanks you so much to Sarah, Michael and their families for an awesome day!!! :)

xo,

Katie