Katie Slater Photography

NEW BLOG ALERT! NEW BLOG ALERT!

2010-03-31T20:37:00.002-04:00

Yay! It's been a long time coming but I finally have a new blog home!!! Please go to katieslaterphotography.com/blog for more juicy blog goodness!

And thank you for stopping by here all the time too! Don't forget to update your feeds if you read via a reader!

As always,

xo,

Katie

Hartford City Hall and Society Room Wedding Photos: Katie Slater for Carla Ten Eyck Photography

2010-03-26T08:58:00.003-04:00

What's coming up on the blog this weekend! :) Yay!

Happy Friday!

xo,

Katie

Katie Slater Photography: One Lucky Girl

2010-01-27T15:30:00.004-05:00

That's me. Lucky. I am so blessed to have had the experiences that I had in 2009. Capturing moments from about 33 weddings has made a profound impact on my life, from witnessing life-changing moments in other people's lives to memorizing silly songs that are played religiously at each and every wedding, 2009 was an amazing, crazy, unforgettable year of personal and professional growth.

Carla Ten Eyck, who I worked with for the entirety of 2009, just created her best of video which she posted today on her blog. I am going to repost it here as well because I just feel like I have to share it. The majority of the photos come from the pure awesomeness that is Carla and Mike (a couple of the photos are mine). The reason I am reposting this is that I am beyond thrilled that I am a member of this fabulous team of photographers. I am so incredibly blessed to have their talent, wisdom, and laughter in my life. I am indebted to Carla, she has given me more than just a job, she has been the vehicle for dreams fulfilled, she has been my mentor, my friend, forgiven me, laughed with (and at) me, and really just the most fabulous addition to my little but wonderful life. I am so thankful.

Without further adieu... go check out how awesome Carla and Mike are! Enjoy!

Here's to an awesome 2010!

Thank you Carla!!!

xoxo,

Katie

Happy Family: The Tacchi's

2010-01-07T22:13:00.002-05:00

These guys are such naturals! I could have photographed them for hours but alas, they were part of my Pics in the Park series and we accomplished a ton in just 20 minutes!

So sweet!

Oh my goodness, I could not get over Avonlea's eyes. They are hands down the most amazingly beautiful eyes I have ever, ever, EVER seen. They were gorgeous and I did nothing to enhance them. Check them out.

I think she is a dead ringer for a far cuter, way sweeter, and supremely more feminine Austin Powers...One Meeeellion babies.

Thanks Amber, Justin, and Avonlea! Hope to see you again soon!

xoxo,

Katie

Shoes for Dr. Rob

2010-01-06T12:33:00.006-05:00

*Photo courtesy of Dr. Rob*

Okay, hear me out...

My husband's friend Rob is a doctor stationed in Afghanistan. Rob is also the dad of the cutie pie Fitzwilliam who graced the pages of my blog earlier this winter. In Rob's time in Afghanistan he has uncovered a huge need for the civilians over there. My lowly words will never do this dire situation justice so please read Rob's words as follows (he originally posted this on his Facebook profile:

****

Dear Friends;

Every so often my armor covered heart is still opened by a poignant experience. It does not happen often enough, unfortunately. During the course of medical and surgical training we grow very thick skin and a dark sometimes, sick humor that defends us against the insanity of what we see daily.

Back at home we easily retreat into the comfort of our own lives and leave the misfortune of the sick and injured at the hospital and trauma center. Here in the war zone the misery around us is amplified a thousand fold. When you take a country of dirt, where the people are dirt poor and add an endless war you’ve got the recipe for absolute misery. Many of you have emailed me expressing your concern for me, and well wishes of staying safe and coming home soon. I truly appreciate every word and every connection
to home. I cannot wait until that big bird flies me away to that country we all call home.

Truthfully though, my lifestyle here in Afghanistan is luxurious compared to my poor Afghan patients, even when I was living in a tent. These poor folks muddle through every day just squeaking by. Trying to find something to eat. Worried about reliable shelter as the harsh winter rolls in. Worried about something exploding nearby and killing their parents, their kids or themselves. Worried about some godless terrorist thug shooting them or torturing them because they accepted care at the American Hospital.

A couple days ago I had an experience in clinic that broke through my defenses and brought me a couple tears. I treated a young lady about six weeks ago for shrapnel wounds and fractures of her foot. She was injured with seven female relatives when her mud house became a no man’s land between a sizable force of Taliban and a group of US Army soldiers intent on destroying them. There was a wedding party being held at the house that day. Well, needless to say the house was destroyed and all the women injured and brought to us here at Bagram. We did a lot of surgery on their extremity wounds and the general surgeons saved several lives, although not that of the baby one of them was carrying. One of these patients is a very pretty young woman that I have to guess is about 18 or 19. She came to see me in follow up the other day in clinic. At home she’d be in college perhaps and concerned with making good grades or getting a date with a cute boy. Here she is just concerned with survival and the pain in her foot. She’d had some breakdown of skin over her healing wound and good wound care by her uncle had improved that over the last couple weeks. It’s winter here now and the snow and sleet was coming down that day. After treating her I noticed the shoes she was putting on. I use the term “shoes” lightly. They were a pair of plastic flip flops that were held together in a couple placed with scotch tape. I asked her and her omnipresent male guardian if she had any other shoes for the winter. They said no as all their belongings had been destroyed with their house. I could not help noticing that the guardian’s shoes were a very nice western made hiking shoe, nearly brand new (Merrel I think). So this poor girl had broken plastic flip flops to protect her broken foot from the harsh winter that had historically destroyed invading armies. I decided I had to try to get this woman some shoes. I went all around the hospital, checked with the Chaplin and followed a couple other leads. I had to tell my patient that I could not find any shoes, but I would keep looking while she was waiting for the bus that would take her to the gate later that afternoon. I had just about given up when a young Air Force Chaplin’s Assistant came into my clinic office with a nice, slightly used pair of leather shoes. At first glance I thought them about the right size. I went out into the waiting room, shoes in hand and delivered them to my patient’s uncle. It would have been very forward and perhaps insulting to him if I’d given them directly to his niece. He handed them to her and she put them directly on, a big smile spreading over her face. They seemed to be the perfect size. I felt like the Prince delivering a glass slipper to Cinderella. Imagine her delight to not have to walk through the snow and sleet that afternoon with her flip flops and no socks.

I thought a lot about the whole episode and concluded that I would try to collect some shoes. We routinely spend tens of thousands on medical care and surgical implants for these folks, yet we don’t have shoes for their feet. The problem is most prevalent in the women and the kids.

As we wade deeper into the holiday season I present you an opportunity to do something really simple, something that you can and should feel really good about. Send me some shoes. Send a used but serviceable pair of ladies or kids shoes or boots. Send a new pair of inexpensive but solid shoes, boots or sneakers. Send whatever pair you can. I’ll do my best to match them with the lady or child they would most benefit.

If you’d like to participate - send the shoes to

Dr. Robert Campbell – Orthopaedic/ Shoes
Task Force Med
AE APO 09354

Winning hearts and minds is an overused phrase from our government and military leaders. I hear it over and over and am often unclear as to what it really means. I learned recently that what it means is the look on that young lady’s face when she received a gift of a used pair of serviceable shoes.

I wish you a very merry holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you all sometime in 2010.

Treasure every day in the USA

Maj. Robert Campbell MD
US Army Medical Corps
******

Rob is coming home soon (yippee skippy!) so the push for shoes is currently urgent. He has requested that if you plan to send shoes that he can't do anything with open toes, heels or sandals. Please send some to the address provided above if you get the opportunity!

*photo courtesy of Dr. Rob*

I am definitely guilty of taking our freedoms and bounties for granted, so thank you Rob for opening my eyes and heart a little wider. And thank you for doing what you do. You and your work are a gift.

Off to mail shoes from the Slater's,

Katie

xoxo

A Waveny House Wedding: Whitney and Allen get hitched!

2010-01-05T15:40:00.004-05:00

Hola! Finally a wedding post! After 30 weddings this season with only a handful of them posted, I feel like it is finally time for me to get posting my favorite images from each wedding. On the majority of the weddings I was assisting or second shooting so the blog post was not my first priority. If I am the lead shooter on a wedding I do my best to post images from the big day within a couple of weeks! Anywhoooo, onto the post...

For this lovely, extremely thoughfully detailed wedding I was the second photographer for Mike Romano who took the lead - the whole wedding was shot for the fabulous Carla Ten Eyck Photography. We were also featured on Style Me Pretty for this wedding!! Check it out here: Part I, Part II, and Part III!

Whitney got ready at the pretty, little Harbor House Inn in Greenwich which she chose because of it's vintage feel. All of the getting ready images you'll see were taken there.

Whitney's cute Nina shoes.

I love Whitney's vintage engagement ring. It is so beautiful!!

Notice the pink lace party dress on the end. It was from the 1950's and found a a vintage boutique in New York. Whitney specifically wanted a cute party dress to change into during the reception. Keep you eyes peeled for her dress change!

Yay! All ready! Could she be any cuter??

Heading to the ceremony!

In we go - at this point my heart is usually pounding through my chest. The excitement and anticipation as a bride walks down the aisle is certainly a very palpable emotion! I love it!

Why are we in a window? Well, it was one of the hottest, most humid days and to top it all off it was soaking wet outside because a monsoon had just moved through town! So Allen and Whitney opted to do a couple portraits inside!

We all made our way over to the Waveny House. Thankfully the sky decide to blue up for us!

Just a little taste of the gorgeous details...

There is a beautiful terrace outside at the Waveny House perfect for toasts:

and for dancing!

xo,

Katie

Katie Slater Photography Connecticut Child and Family Portraits: The Krause Family

2009-12-28T23:22:00.003-05:00

Talk about a happy family - these guys are the best!!!

I love this photo.

And my most favorite of all...

Thanks you guys, you are so fun and sweet and wonderful!

xo,

Katie

Katie Slater Photography Modern Massachusetts Child and Family Portraits: The Perillo Family

2009-12-26T15:45:00.004-05:00

'Twas a bitter cold and rainy day when we met with the Perillos on the UMASS campus but we met anyway as they had traveled up from New Jersey for some family time and photos!

Here are a couple of my favorite shots from their day! :)

So sweet and contemplative:

So cunning and cute:

So swift and speedy:

So happy:

So fun:

So chilly:

My favorite:

Thanks Perillo family, you guys are awesome!!!

xo,

Katie

Katie Slater Photography Connecticut Children's Portraits: The cutest little eskimo in the history of the universe.

2009-12-09T13:59:00.004-05:00

Sometimes, while in the midst of bravely slaying my monstrous, fire-breathing to-do list, I just have to stop and post a sweet little photo. Or two.

Like these:

Lots of posts coming soon, including wedding posts. Yay! :)

xo,

Katie

One of the things that I love about photography...

2009-12-02T18:41:00.002-05:00

is that in 50 years this photo will still be meaningful, relevant, and cherished.

A boy and his Grammie. Boy, does he love her...

...and boy, does she love him.

xo,

Katie

Hartford City Hall: Wedding Portraits

2009-11-24T12:07:00.003-05:00

Since Carla Ten Eyck just posted Marissa and Michael's gorgeous Society Room wedding on her blog (click on her name and go have a look see!), I thought it might be time to post two of my favorite wedding photos from this year. I third shot this wedding with Carla and Mike. There are more images to come! But I just wanted to share these first:

Congrats Marissa and Michael!!!!

xo,

Katie

Family Portraits in West Hartford: The Caffyn Family

2009-11-20T11:42:00.003-05:00

I love when two parents are so in love with their baby. I love when they are so in love with each other too. I love these photos...

When I opened this photo I couldn't believe how perfect all of their expressions were - it actually brought tears to my eyes. I know it's a little formal, but I am in love with it.

A moment in the life...

Baby Rachel is like, "I know, I'm loved from the bottom of their hearts."

She is so sweet...

The end...

Lisa and Sean, thanks so much for the opportunity to photograph you guys. It was awesome to witness the beautiful little connection in your family... :)

xo,

Katie

The Marchese Family

2009-11-18T11:52:00.002-05:00

Sisters are different. They heard the sobbing in the darkness.
They lived through all your triumphs, all your favorites,
all your loves and losses. They have no delusions.
They lived with you too long.
And so, when you achieve some victory, friends are delighted -
but sisters hold your hands in silence and shine with happiness.
For they know the cost. - Pam Brown

I love these sisters. I have too many favorites from this shoot I had so much trouble choosing which ones to blog.

This one makes my heart skip a beat. I can just see it huge on a wall, and I love it!

And this one, distracted me so much yesterday. I know it's a little abstract and strange to post a blurry photo, but it has been so inspiring to me - there is a whole blog post lined up just about what this photo made me think and feel.

To the Marchese family - you guys were so fun to work with!! You have two fantastic, sweet, and beautiful little girls with a very special relationship. Thank you so much for having me over! I hope you like your photos! There are many more to come! :)

xo,

Katie

Update

2009-11-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

After an exhilarating day off yesterday where my boys and I participated in a karate tournament (we did awesome taking home 6 trophies between the 3 of us!!!) I am back to editing today! I have lots of family shoots coming up and will be blogging a bit from each one of them. Here is a little peek of what's next on the docket:

Hope you are having an absolutely awesome weekend! :)

xo,

Katie

My Parents

2009-11-11T22:17:00.004-05:00

These two people are, hands down, the two most influential people in my life. Each has had their own special way of affecting and influencing my life.

My father, one of the hardest working men I know, never slows down. He worked his way up the ladder in corporate America, faced adversity and economic downturn multiple times, but never gave up. His work ethic, business skills, diplomacy, and customer service skills have been a major influence on who I am today. My father has supported us, coached us, and fought for us. He also paid for each one of his kids to go to college, not because he was rich but because he worked really hard and fulfilled a goal he had set for himself - how awesome is that!? In addition to his business acumen and unending support he has shown me, just this year, how to survive. Faced with multiple, serious, and scary medical issues, he has not let anything - any frustration, any set back, any physical change - beat him. He keeps on keeping on, puts on a really brave face, and continues to fight the good fight. I respect and honor the courage he has shown this year more than he will EVER know.

My mom. One of the most loving, compassionate, thoughtful, kind and giving people I know. To my kids, I am not even a quarter of what she is and was to my brothers, sister, and me. And my kids would probably say that too. She was meant to be a mom, and a grammie. She is such a natural caregiver, excelling in taking care of others - and always before herself. She's not just nice, she's wicked funny too. She's the first to drop anything and everything if you need something. Most of all though, she is the world's best listener. We always told her everything - EVERYTHING. I mean EvErYthing! You know why we told her? Because she listened, she wanted to know, and she was very slow to judge us for what we said to her. That is and was my favorite thing about her.

My parents. I would never be who I am today without them. And I am so happy I have them in my life and my children's lives too. (p.s. - they've been married for 37 (or 38?) years too!)

I love you mom and dad!!!

xoxo,

Katie

Renee: Happy 1st Birthday!

2009-11-11T00:26:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how fast time flies! Sweet little Renee is now one! I visited with her and her family a couple weeks ago, here are just a few of my favorite photos from the day.

Love those little one year old teeth, but man is it a drag ( for both babies and tired parents of those babies!) when they are coming in!

Now this is one Grampy who literally oozes with love for his granddaughter, however, I heard he needs to get better at the "holding while crying" routine... :) He is too cute, I couldn't resist posting this one too:

Have a beautiful, wonderful, and super happy year Renee!!!! :)

xo,

Katie

Fitzwilliam: Portrait of a Child

2009-11-02T23:15:00.003-05:00

I can tell just from being with him for two hours that he is insightful, intelligent, thoughtful, kind. And he is no doubt super cute and fun, too! His parents are extremely lucky as they have themselves a wonderful little boy who is going to turn into an amazing young man.

Here are a couple of my favorites. Meet Fitzwilliam:

Cindy, thank you so much for having me over! I had a great time with you and Fitz, he really is an outstanding little boy! And to anyone reading this, please say a little prayer of safe keeping for Rob, Fitzwilliam's daddy, who is currently stationed in Afghanistan and unable to be present for this photo shoot! We are thinking of you Rob!!

xoxo,

Katie

Mindy and Tim: A Wedding - Log Cabin, Holyoke, Massachusetts

2009-10-29T20:14:00.003-04:00

They say it's good luck when it rains on your wedding day. I'd like to believe that to be true because there was a noreaster the day of my wedding. IF the old saying IS true -- Mindy and Tim are going to have all the luck in the world!! Rain or not, their wedding day was still beautiful, and emotional, and heartfelt - full of family, love, and life! Enjoy!

Mindy got ready at her mom and dad's house full of great little antiques and country accents. I loved this little red chair.

The lovely and talented Mrs. Sarah Code-Croll of Growing Tree Photography shot this wedding with me! This photo is hers:

We ran outside quick while it was only sprinkling:

Then it got a little too wet so we ran back inside:

These next two are Sara's photos and I love them to pieces!

We made it to the church!

I always love this exchange! It chokes me up almost every time!

Yay! They did it!

Right after the ceremony we headed straight for the Log Cabin - but unfortunately did not arrive in time to catch any light whatsoever. So all of Mondy and Tim's portraits were done inside or in the dark. Thankfully I carry lots of little backup lighting scenarios just incase this ever happens. We made it work!

We started of inside and did some traditional formal portraits in front of the fireplace capturing exactly what we needed to but then we made our way back outside as there was a little break in the rain...

Then we went back in for one (maybe two) more shots:

And then we danced the night away! This photo makes me giggle every time I see it!

Scenes from an awesome reception:

This was my last photo of the night. Tim and his best bud:

Thanks Mindy and Tim! You and your families were so sweet and awesome to work with!!!

Be good to each other!

xoxo,

Katie

photographs are:

2009-10-21T11:57:00.003-04:00

proof that we loved, we laughed, we cried, we lived.

proof that we were children, wore pigtails, lost and grew teeth, scraped our knees, caught butterflies and fireflies, had sleepovers, and birthday parties at McDonald's.

proof that we loved puppies that turned into aged, sick dogs, cuddled kittens that morphed into fat, grumpy cats.

proof that we wore silly hats, creative halloween costumes, fell for the latest trends, went to proms, got new cars, skated in ice skating shows, earned our orange belts.

proof that we walked in the Grand Canyon, vacationed in Florida, parasailed, flew to Ohio, spent a night in a California vineyard, went to Paris, lived in London.

proof that we wore a big white dress, cried happy tears after putting it on, trembled down an aisle with our parents and back again with our beloved spouse, and celebrated all night with our closest family and friends.

proof that we bore children, happily gained 60 pounds, had big huge crooked bellies and outie belly buttons, had c-sections, recovered, and thankfully, proof that ultimately we lost those 60 pounds too.

proof that our children took their first breath or didn't, that they sported cone shaped heads, and that they filled our hearts with an amazing and unmatched love from the very first moment we met them.

proof to our grandchildren and their children that deep love and happiness existed within their family roots, that their great, great grandmother had red hair, that their great grandfather went bald in his forties.

proof that we were held tight and fiercely loved by people that are no longer with us.

proof that people who we have lost, lived. that they smiled, blew out birthday candles, rode motorcycles, camped, breathed, lived.

proof that we existed.

xoxo,

Katie

What are photos to you? No matter who you are or what kind of photos you take, keep taking them. keep creating proof.

Here are some of my crappy old photos! But I love them dearly! Those moments make up such a huge part of what I am today.

Holiday deadlines are approaching!

2009-10-16T09:15:00.002-04:00

Get your photo session in by November 22nd to have everything you need for the holidays!

xo,

Katie

Happy Family of 7!!

2009-10-15T23:34:00.002-04:00

The B family is a super sweet, loving family with 4 awesome, smart, and thoughtful boys and one special, very, very loved baby girl! Check them out:

And these are the parents!!

And a couple more of the cutest baby girl ever!

Take good care, and stay warm!! It snowed in CT today!

xo,

Katie

One of my favorite pics from this summer...

2009-10-15T09:23:00.002-04:00

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero. ~Marc Brown

Two sets of brothers; all cousins. I am so thankful for all of them. And I swear on all that is good and holy, that we feed these kids.

xo,

Katie

Jaime and Jim: A Wedding

2009-10-13T21:32:00.002-04:00

Jaime and Jim began their marriage under a beautiful tree on the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst in late September. Then they celebrated all night long in The Red Barn also on the campus. Graham and I enjoyed our day with Jaime and Jim and the rest of their fun and loving family and friends!

Some details:

We fought for this shot as the elevator door kept trying to close! Finally, we won!

Jaime starts to get ready with the lovely ladies at Salon 241 in Northampton. I WILL get my haircut with them in the next couple of weeks!! They were awesome!

The bird cage veil is carefully placed:

Graham spent a little time with the guys and got both of these cute shots:

Before we left Hotel Northampton for the ceremony we snagged a couple of shots of the gorgeous and glamorlicious Jaime:

(This happens to be one of my favorite shots of the day)

As the ceremony began Jaime and her Dad had to walk like a mile to where Jim waited ever so patiently for her. Of all the shots I liked this one the best!

Love the moment when the freshly married couple first turns to their guests...

After Graham and I shot family photos we spent a little time with Jaime and Jim.

Here is Graham's angle:

Another favorite of the day:

Graham suggested we take them back under the tree, I love his take:

My take:

We headed back toward the barn after we finished our little photo session:

Let the dancing begin!

And the toasting too! These beautiful little cups (goblets?) had been passed down through generations of married folks on Jim's side of the family, they were a really important detail of the reception.

Hi B.C. Starr!

During the reception I like to make a point of grabbing a scene setter shot. Since handy, dandy Graham had brought along his tripod, he threw his camera on top of it and out we went to shoot! How awesome os this shot that Graham got!!??

And finally, my outdoor, at night portrait:

Jaime and Jim, thank you so much for an awesome day, you guys were wonderful! I wish you all the best in your marriage! :)

xoxo,

Katie

Jaime and Jim: Sneak Peek!

2009-10-02T23:12:00.001-04:00

These two were married under this lovely tree...

I have their huge post coming soon!

xo,

Katie

Just a couple

2009-09-20T21:48:00.002-04:00

I have to start somewhere - this is the first wedding of many that I have yet to post. Here are two of my faves from the day...

This wedding was shot with Carla Ten Eyck in May 2009.

And this! With the rainbows... this was one of the most spectacular American churches I have ever been in. It was St. Mary's in New Haven, CT.

Thanks for looking - however brief! :)

xo,

Katie

Images for a Cure

2009-09-16T21:58:00.003-04:00

Giving back is something I long to do more of. I am always thinking of ways to help people while doing what I love, but the truth of the matter is that I have not been able to find a lot of time to follow through on these ideas that I have. However when I heard about what Images for a Cure is doing, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join in the cause. This past summer alone one of my friends lost her mom-in-law to breast cancer, and the Fat Cyclist whose tender, thoughtful, and hilarious blog I am addicted to, lost his beloved wife to cancer which began in her breast. And I am sure many of you out there have stories you could share with me. I am doing this for Courtney, Casey, Elden and for all of us.

Kristen Weaver, a phenomenal photographer in Florida, recently started Images for a Cure. She states on her website "On October 11, 2009, we will unite our talents to contribute one day of session fees in support of breast cancer research. 100% of all session fees collected on this date will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. We are hopeful, that with your support we will find a cure in our lifetime."

And that's where it stands. I have joined Images for a Cure as a participating photographer. Please help raise money to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® by participating in a photo session with me. 100% of session fees will be donated and as an added bonus all prints and products will be 50% off if you participate. Lastly, I know that financially it is not an easy time to donate money and/or time. But knowing that you have given back, given hope, and given money towards this devastating disease is worth the entire expense. x a million.

So if you are interested in a session (pretty please?!) or even just want to donate a little bit please do so by going here: Donate!. Sessions and donations need to happen on (*) October 11th. *I can schedule them on a different date as well since I will be working most of the 11th.

Sessions can be for families, kids, sisters, friends, couples - you name it!!! :)

Thanks so much for your help!!!!

xo,

Katie

Happy Family: The Smith's

2009-09-09T22:59:00.002-04:00

This session was wicked fun and I'll probably post a little more than what you see today but here are some of my favorite images from the day.

So we started inside. Meet Cookie, Katie and Jack. My little adventurous buds.

Cookie came everywhere with us. I absolutely loved it, and so does Katie.

So when we were in the woods here, the kids started telling me about this BEAR that comes around every so often. I forgot to ask their parents if it was a true story. Needless to say, I am thankful the bear was feeling camera shy.

"Photographers Note**
I am going to go out on a limb and say that every photographer has struggled with how best to pose their clients. Am I right? It's a really hard skill to master but once you have it (so I hear!) directing your clients becomes second nature . When I think of posing I like to think of natural. I don't want to overly pose my clients yet I need to direct them a little bit so there are no dead arms or awkward body positions - yet even still it happens.

For the way that I work as a photographer posing only goes for newborns and adults. Energetic, young, antsy, and free spirited kids are another story all together. And I LOVE that!! There are not too many kids in the world, that I have come in contact with, that like to pose. And you know what? I am not really a fan of overly posed kids anyway. I want to capture them just, well, being them. So in the two photos above we were just standing in the woods talking, I ask a lot of questions and I am a really good listener when stories are being told. While I am listening I put my camera to my face and say tiny little commands like "be serious" or "stay right there" or "WAIT! DON'T MOOOOVE A MUSCLE!!!" And that usually catches kids off guard enough for them to just be still for a moment with a natural look on their face. These two pics are totally against posing rules - but that's why I love them. They are real, raw and very straight forward.

You see I don't necessarily want a smile. WHAT!???! Blasphemy you say!!! Kids from like 2 years old to, like, I don't know, 22 years old have these really fakey smiles - some kids know how to fake it better than others. And that's what school photos are for anyway. I want natural, real, dreamy, thoughtful, and sometimes serious facial expressions that mom and dad know best. And if I happen to catch those real, fleeting smiles and big-open-mouthed-belly-laugh smiles - I am TOTALLY psyched! But I don't force it.

So there you have it, right smack dab in the middle of this family post. I just spilled my confusing guts. End note. :)**

So annnnyyyywayyyy - Hi COOKIE!!!!

And then we jumped:

Ahhh dreamy, I so need a photo of me and my kids like this. (For some reason the quality is not converting on the blog and it looks a little weird - kind of pixelated, right? It's totally not pixelated over here on my puter though. Hmmm...)

One big happy family!

One little lovely laying on the earth!

And my fave of Katie from the day!!!!

xo,

Katie

Mindy and Tim: An Engagement

2009-08-26T00:06:00.002-04:00

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

2009-08-21T00:55:00.002-04:00

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

2009-08-19T13:43:00.003-04:00

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.

2009-08-18T23:40:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-08-06T16:44:00.002-04:00

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

boys

2009-08-02T12:08:00.002-04:00

I just opened my journal to write something and this is a haiku that I found, written last year:

you still laugh when I tickle you.
sun kissed freckles, scary dreams.
three, six.

I had written it about my boys - then 3 and 6. It immediately brought tears to my eyes.

Jack:

Charlie (doesn't he look like a little orange creamsicle?):

xoxoxo,

Katie

Spark

2009-07-31T08:53:00.003-04:00

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
~Jack Kerouac

My weeping cherry. I photographed it (almost) everyday it was in bloom This was one of the last photos I took, as the petals were fleeing their buds and flinging themselves freely, madly though the air in front of my house. The light in the back is the sun, burning steady and orange and bright, but still cool in the spring air. It's my favorite time of year when the cherry tree blossoms. And today, though the blossoms have gone and green leaves have taken their place in the tree's heirarchy, I still love that tree. It represents fresh, welcome, and much needed change, warmer air, and longer days. Though the tree looks like it's on it's last old legs, especially in the winter when it is cold and lonely and naked, I love it. It makes me happy. And I trust every year it will come back with it's beautiful little blossoms.

So anyway, just to add more stuff to this random post I thought I'd share the little movie below. I love it.

exactly from mccabe russell on Vimeo.

Life is good, but FULL!

2009-07-29T11:30:00.002-04:00

Regardless of the fact that I have not taken a real shower for about one week (hey, don't judge!!!) because bathroom renovations never turn out like we plan (we have one bathroom), and it's been the hottest weather since last summer, I will not complain. Just because I am busier than busy and have a hard time remembering to breathe, you will not hear me complain. My house is messy, my car is too, but still, I'm not going to complain. Because life is good, life is full, life is happy. I love what I do. I love being a momma to two awesome kids, and I love being a wifey to a super guy. I have so many things coming down the pike and I am super excited to be where I am at this moment in time. No complaints from me!

I hope you are having a joyful summer complete with all of the people and things that you love in life. And if not, I hope you find happiness very soon. Here is what's in store for the blog real soon...

Some weddings:

And some kidlets:

And some families:

I'll share more soon!! :)

xo,

Katie

Ayden is 1!!!

2009-07-24T23:58:00.003-04:00

Hi, how are you blog readers??!!

So, I wanted to let you know that one of my most favorite little clients recently turned one! He was one of the very first babies that I photographed way back when (actually just about one year ago, believe it or not!!) I am so blessed that I was able to watch him turn from a tiny, sweet baby into a walking, talking one year old! Look at how cute he is:

Aaaaanddd, he's walking!

And after the park, we went back to eat cake! :)

Happy birthday Connie! Thank you guys so much for letting me be a part of Ayden's first year. It has been such a pleasure watching him grow into such a handsome little boy!! I look forward to seeing him again soon!! :)

Sir William at 5 Months

2009-07-01T14:48:00.002-04:00

Without further ado please let me introduce you to little William - one of the happiest babies on the block! His bright, twinkly blue eyes, and peaceful happy demeanor make him super special! Take a look!

He is super expressive too!

Outside with mamma!

HAPPY MONKEY!!

Man, look at these eyes! Some kids just have the most amazing inquisitive eyes - Will sure is one of those little guys! (Okay, so all of that just rhymed, and I'm going to leave it that way!!)

One of my many favorites from the day!

The fam!

Thanks Greg, Nora and William! I hope you enjoy your photos )there are many more to come!)! Thanks for being so patient!!! :)

xo,

Katie

June Ten Eyck Tuesday

2009-06-23T22:56:00.002-04:00

Yay! Another post!

So, as a photographer for Carla Ten Eyck I was invited to participate in the June session of Ten Eyck Tuesday, and I wasn't about to pass this opportunity up!

Carla organized several lovely models (Miss Mandie, Miss Emily, and Miss Candice Dowling of Jubilee Events) as well as some amazing vendors for our shoot. You CAN NOT go wrong working with The New Haven Lawn Club for a venue; the UH(!)MAZING Tony and Cat from Datura: A Modern Garden; the equally talented and lovely Jennie Fresa for classic, beautiful hair and make up; and finally, last but not least, the utterly wonderful Beth Chapman and her assistant Alison from The White Dress by the Shore!!!!!! Whew - I think that may have been the longest sentence in history! You must check out these vendors if you are at all interested in a classy venue, beautifully done hair and/or make up, wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and / or FLOWERS!

Let's get to the photos!!!

Yep, a flower shawl. Drool.

Hmmm, what do you think I may have an obsession with?

Could it be the bird cage veil? (Bridal mug shot below...)

Yes, it's the bird cage veil. I covet this beautiful thing. I am currently in the process of convincing my husband to marry me all over again. Just because I want to wear this veil.

Ummm, Candice is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! So 40's glam!!

I love that Mandi climbed right up in the tree after I mentioned the idea. What a girl! I love this shot - though I wish Tony and Cat's flowers had made it into the tree as well!

Look at some of these floral pieces!! Tony and Cat from Datura: A Modern Garden are so creative. There were floral purses, little floral box bouquets, a magical floral fairy wand, and SO much more - these guys are just absolutely the most creative, generous floral designers you will ever meet and work with. Please consider contacting them if you need flowers for an occasion in your life.

Yay! Don't forget to look up Ten Eyck Tuesdays if you think a photography workshop could be in your future!!!

These guys are gettin' BIG!!!

2009-06-23T16:27:00.004-04:00

WOAH!! Major blog hiatus!!!!!! I'm back and have a bunch of new stuff to post like, seriously. A. TON. OF. STUFF. With some health malfunctions from both me and my dear old Dad as well as a very busy spring season, I have neglected the blog. I am sorry. I'll try to be better, but sometimes it's the little things that have to give. So here's to some new blog entries!!!

First up! Mr. Ayden and Miss Ella. They are 10 months old!!!! Ahhh! Time flies! Last time I took photos of the two children together they were about 8 weeks old!! Now they have tons of teeth and are both on the verge of walking! It truly was a bittersweet moment when I saw them. But they are as adorable as ever!!! Take a look:

I'm not sure if anyone will agree with me, but I have to say that getting a photo of two 10-month olds together - is a CHALLENGE!!! While I have a couple more, here is one of the images of the two kids together!

Harkness State Park Wedding with Carla Ten Eyck

2009-05-17T12:18:00.004-04:00

HI!

Here are a couple of highlights from the Harkness State Park wedding that I assisted Carla and Mike on a couple of weeks ago! And Graham was there too! Um, can you say nice? Nice people, nice event, nice vendors!! Everything about this wedding was just so stinkin' nice! We all had a blast!

Congrats Nicole and Matias! And thanks for being so nice (and sweet, and cute, and wonderful, and heartfelt, and... I could go on and on!) :)

Here is Matias practicing his vows prior to the ceremony.

My fave..

Simple and extraordinarily beautiful.

Yep, they were doing the wave...

Yes, it's what you think it is... (luckiest skunk in the universe, look where he lives!)

And yes, she walking straight for it.

Little one, come BACK!

Inside, no one could pull little Joaquin away from his red velvet cupcake.

This girl was the shizzy on the dance floor!! WOOOO doggie!!!!

Good night!!! :)

xo,

Katie

For Matty's Mama (and Daddy, too!)

2009-05-11T22:25:00.004-04:00

So, I showed you a little tiny bit of this little tiny monkey the other day, but I have a couple more photos to show you before I'm done with him. We played outside, we played inside, we even went on an adventure with bug spray! I had tons of fun with you guys, thank you so much for having me over!

Meet Matthew at 14 months!

I think he looks just like mommy in the photo...

Hmmm, maybe I like you.

Maybe not.

Stick was actually my son Jack's first real word. He loved holding them when we were outside working in the yard, maybe Mr. Matty is the same!

To the fields we go. The original field I had in ming was plowed that same day - I was totally bummed but we managed to find another field nearby!

Thank you birdies - I love when you fly into my photos!

And now, let's go back home for a snack!

It doesn't get anymore real than this!

The end!!

Mom

2009-05-11T08:42:00.003-04:00

I often worry that my often inept, mildly crass, and endlessly grumpy but generally well intended mothering skills should just be thrown in the trash instead of at my children. This read makes me feel a bit better: (Happy belated Mother's Day!)
***********

From Anna Quindlen, Newsweek Columnist and Author

All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in disbelief. I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost-adults, two taller than I am, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books I do and have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously, go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food from plate to mouth all by themselves. Like the trick soap I bought for the bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within each, barely discernible except through the unreliable haze of the past. Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now. Penelope Leach., T. Berry Brazelton, Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early-childhood education have all grown obsolete. Along with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages dust would rise like memories. What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the playground taught me, and the well-meaning relations –what they taught me, was th at they couldn't really teach me very much at all.

Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything. One child responds well to positive reinforcement, another can be managed only with a stern voice and a timeout. One child is toilet trained at 3, his sibling at 2. When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the time my last arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research on sudden infant death syndrome. To a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then soothing. Eventually you must learn to trust yourself. Eventually the research will follow. I remember 15 years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful books on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil for an 18-month old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last year he went to China . Next year he goes=2 0to college. He can talk just fine. He can walk, too.

Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe me, mistakes were made. They have all been enshrined in the, "Remember-When- Mom-Did Hall of Fame." The outbursts, the temper tantrums, the bad language, mine, not theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp. The day when the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her geography test, and I responded, "What did you get wrong?". (She insisted I include that.) The time I ordered food at the McDonald's drive-through speaker and then drove away without picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I include that.) I did not allow them to watch the Simpsons for the first two seasons. What was I thinking?

But the biggest mi stake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them, sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night.

I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be. The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense, matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity.

That's what the books never told me. I was bound and determined to learn from the experts. It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.

***************************

And to the woman, my mother, who sacrificed her entire life to raise me and my three siblings, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart. You are what makes me, me. You were always there for me, for all of us. I don't know that I can ever thank you enough. I know that you must question your skills at times too, but doubt not - you are the constant force under our successes, you are the shoulder we all (still) cry on, you are the person who has given me the strength to move forward, follow what I want to follow, and live the way I want to live. More than anything your endless support and gentle ear make us better humans. Mom, I love you and thank you from the depths of my heart. I only hope I can live up to half of what you have been to me. xoxoxo

And Mom, just so you know, I entered you into a contest to win some chocolate the other day. Pretty sure you won't win because what are the chances of that! But I wanted to let you know what I wrote anyway...

"One word: sacrifice. It really sums up the life of my mother. Most mothers, really. But for this one mother, who means the world to me , I recognize and respect the sacrifices that she has made to make us (her 4 children) happy, to make us healthy, and to make us whole. She was never happy first, we were. She was never full first, we were. She was never warm first, we were. We never ate the black toast, she did. We always got what we needed, she most likely didn't. I am not even sure, that to this day, in her 59th year of life, she understands the greatness of what she has given to her four children. She gave up anything she ever wanted to ensure our happiness. She plowed through sicknesses to make us better people, take us to a friend's house, or cuddle us as we fell asleep. As a mother now myself, I CONSTANTLY struggle at the amount of sacrifice I have to make. And a lot of times I don't make those sacrifices. I am not even half of what my mother is (but I do have aspirations!). She is something else, a truly remarkable human who found her life's calling within the eyes of her children and grandchildren. Not behind a camera, or deep within corporate America. But through us, her kids. And for that, and her seemingly countless sacrifices, she deserves the chocolate. As chocolate is her great love, and probably the only thing she would ever, ever be selfish about. And it would be a super gift to give her after all she has done for me. "

Itty Bitty Preview

2009-05-08T23:48:00.002-04:00

As I'm chugging along on my edits for Sir Matthew's photos (I'm almost done guys, I swear!!) - I came across this little ditty. Looks to me like he's saying, "Hey world, I'm Matthew and I'm one, check out my super handsome, little white teeth!" Or, maybe, he was just coming after my camera as he chased me through the dining room. I'm not sure. But whatever he was thinking, this little munchkin is coming up next!

Family.

2009-05-01T23:05:00.007-04:00

What an awesome family this is! All of these little humans (all cousins) that I am featuring come from a pair of brothers from one family who married a pair of sisters from another family coupled with the sister of the brothers! Got that!? I can only imagine that the simplicity of their relationships makes for much easier holiday scheduling!!! I am so jealous!

All of these little guys are adorable funny, sweet, and a blast to be around! I consider myself lucky I got to spend time with them!

Beginning with my absolute favorite of the day!

Enter: crazy couch in woods...

Little individual beauties...

with beautiful eyes! What is it with the gorgeous reflective eyes lately? So beautiful...

Sisters.

And two crazy cute little monkeys.

The power of daddy and his little girl.
Have a great weekend!!

And a gaggle of girlie cousins to top it all off!

xo,

Katie

weekend

2009-04-25T22:00:00.001-04:00

a mix of frogs, kids, and shopping. my weekend. how about this for a sneak peek? cute, huh?

hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

xo, katie

Miss Renee

2009-04-23T20:16:00.002-04:00

Love abounds for little Miss Renee! She is one lucky little cookie with the biggest, most reflective, and beautiful blue eyes going! She is such a sweet little girl...check her out!

Nothing like a little Momma love!

Now, Renee is the first grandchild for the grandparents on her Dad's side and ummm, it shows! I am not sure I have ever, EVER seen such a strong and beautiful connection between a grampy and his granddaughter as I saw in these two. Renee lit up when she saw her gram and gramp and to hear them talk about her! Boy, oh boy, she is one lucky little peanut! Check out this little connection that I am talking about!

Here is Renee in Gram's antique wicker chair. At this point in our day she had had enough of me and my camera and was just as chill as could be.

A formal little photo...

Just chillin! See daddy's reflection in her eyes?

At the very end of our session she started making the cutest little faces. Renee, you are too cute! I hope I get to see you again soon!

Slideshow to come once I figure out FTPing on my new computer!!! :)

Girl Invasion

2009-04-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

Having two boys and having always wanted a girl, I absolutely adore my little girlie neighbors. First of all they are as sweet as pumpkin pie and iced tea from South Carolina; second of all they like the same colors that I do; and third of all, they have lovely wisps of long golden hair that whip around their pretty little heads while they skip and hop through my backyard.

For a momma with two Star Wars-loving, short haired boys (whom she loves with all of her heart and soul and then anything else leftover) little girlie neighbors are such a sweet breath of fresh (much needed) Spring air!

Here are some photos that comprised about 5 minutes of my afternoon on Wednesday...

This next photo's pose was designed courtesy of my natural little model. She had so many moves for me.

xo,

Katie

Head Shots & Cute Kids in CT

2009-04-16T20:42:00.003-04:00

So what started off with some traditional head shots for a new job ended in what you could call some of the cutest, funniest kids in CT! Take a look!

Here's Dad in just a couple shots...

And here is a cutie little 4 month old. This little man , only at 4 months old was basically sitting up all by his onesies. He is a strong little dude!!!

ROLLS!

And this post wouldn't be complete without little miss. Check her out!

I have a thing for half faces lately... not too sure why. I pretty much adore this photo with all my heart.

Thanks for having me guys!!! Looking forward to this weekend! :)

xo,
Katie

Note to Spring

2009-04-14T17:22:00.004-04:00

Dear Spring,

I have missed you.
You warm my soul.
You make me happy.
You are yellow, and green, and pink. And Blue. My favorites.
I am watching you as your little buds are starting to blossom into leaves, and flowers.
I love that you allow me to go jacketless.
I can open my sunroof when you are around, until you rain into my car - then I don't like you as much, but I get over it.
You are good because I can launch my maniacal, winter-crazed children into your warm, backyard arms.
You lovingly let my dog lay golden in your suns' rays. Then she gets fleas. And I am bummed that you are here. But again, I get over it.
You make my birds sing. And my heart.
I spy on the new life happening in my tiny, ancient birdhouses. I love this.
I have vowed to take more photos of you this year. And I will save them for next winter when I will surely miss for you again.
Thank you for coming back.
I have missed you.
I hope you like these photos.
I love you Spring.

Warmly,

Katie

I had to include this last photo even though it's pretty crappy. As far as I know this is a tadpole egg sac. We found this on a little jaunt through Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT. It was taken through the water, hence the cloudiness. You see, me and tadpoles, we have a thing. We're buds. Always have been, always will be. They are my favorite little slimy things in this entire universe. Especially when they start to get little legs. I think they are wonderful and the fact that we spotted this little egg sac this year warmed my heart more than anyone will ever know. Someday I'll tell you the story, or just go ask my mom. She'll tell you the story.

xo,

Katie

Jaime & Chris: Wedding at Saybrook Point Inn

2009-04-08T11:30:00.003-04:00

On Saturday April 4th, I assisted the super brilliant photography team of Carla Ten Eyck and Mike Romano for a gorgeous wedding at the Saybrook Point Inn in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. What a beautiful venue! Check it:

Jaime has a quiet moment right before she has her hair done

Pretty little detail

I dare you to tell me what is special about this image - apart from the fact that I took a ring shot with an iron dog...

The girls getting ready

Carla and Mike both got some amazing shots of Jaime and her fantastic expressions while she was getting ready, but I couldn't resist posting this moment - so fun!

Look at this cutie munchkin catching a little nap before the ceremony began. Oh and the best part about him (aside from his beautiful red hair that I absolutely love!) - his name was Charlie!!!

Jaime's brother walked her down the aisle. I just love Jaime's expression here:

Signed, sealed, and delivered!

Possibly one of my favorite photos of all times...

Now, one of the best parts about working with Carla is watching her get ideas and then execute upon them. She gets these visions of locations where she would like to photograph the bride and groom and their bridal party. Carla had in her head that this following wall would be a perfect spot for some fun photos. Despite a little bit of friendly ribbing and questioning from some of the involved party, there was a unanimous consensus at the end of the night that these were indeed some super shots. I am not going to post the large group shots since those were all orchestrated by Mrs. Ten Eyck (go to Carla and Mike's blog for those) - but I did shoot in tight so I got a couple of things that were a little different. Here goes...

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These girls were rockin' OUT!!!!

And another wall - since it was too windy to go to the actual beach - Carla made do and found a substitute instead!

And finally it was time to head inside to get some dancing on!

Jaime and Chris - thanks so much for having me, I wish you both the very, very best!!!

Carla and Mike - thank you both for a super fun day! :)

Chris

2009-03-31T16:57:00.003-04:00

They thought he was a Marine (turns out he was Army). They said he was structured, disciplined, edgy, and mean (turns out he happens to be one of the nicest, most giving guys I know). We were all nervous; we cleaned a little harder, gave better customer service, and even stood a little straighter. We were preparing for the worst. We were afraid we were about to inherit one of the meanest manager's out there. Turns out the best part of my life was about to start...

I knew he was going to be there that night that I went into work, maybe it was a Monday, but I can't really remember now. I worked there part time, was in a relationship, and was really struggling with what I was going to do next in my life. Little did I know that I was rapidly traveling down a road that had a hairpin turn so sharp it was going to alter my life. When I walked around the corner towards the bar in that restaurant in Glastonbury, CT there it was - the rest of my life, staring me right in the face. The most profound memory from that first night that I met him was the feeling of comfort that resonated deep in my soul. From the first time I looked at his face, into his eyes I felt comfort. I felt like I was home. I KNEW I was home. On the drive home from work that night, I imagined myself married to him. While I may not have consciously realized what I was doing; something in me knew that I was going to marry this man. That I had found him.

The funny thing is, is that we were both born in Springfield, Massachusetts and lived there at the same time. We went to the same library, same parks, and same stores. I often wonder how many times we may have passed each other en route to a destination about town. I love to think that we may have brushed arms, touched the same books, or even been in the grocery store at the same time. He with his long hair and freckles and me with my bony knees and pony tails. He with his friends and me trailing behind my mom.

Fast forward a bunch of years and here we are today. I am still home. I am still comfortable, safe and secure, and still madly in love with my very best friend in the whole entire universe. Yet, I am so much richer than I was on that day when we met. I don't mean that in the monetary sense. I mean that in the heart and soul sense. I have a wealth of love not only from him, but from the family that we have created together. Our sons and all of the little animals that are a part of our family as well. I am such a lucky girl. I have someone who listens to me, who cares for me, who encourages me, who looks over my shoulder, and who tells me and shows me that he loves me every day. He deals with my distaste for cooking, he puts up with the fact that cleaning isn't usually my number one priority, and he tries to make do with my inability to organize pretty much anything. But even still, he loves me. And I know it. How great is that!!

Chris. My Chris. I love him with all of my heart and soul. xoxoxo. Happy anniversary honey!!

Black & White: A Family Shoot

2009-03-13T11:06:00.002-04:00

I'm not exactly sure what has gotten in to me. Fist of all I don't post in like three years and second of all I create an all black & white blog post? Huh? So not like me, but it is what it is!

I tagged along with Carla during this family shoot and had a super fun time as we got to know this cute little family. Everything about them is so dang cool, from the kids names: Gus, Sophie, and Alice to the tiniest little story-telling details on every wall and in every room. These guys were so awesome; when I grow up, I wanna be just like them.

Here we go!

Mr. Gus and his amazing coconut!

Sisters: Sophie & Alice!

My newest little friend (she liked to hold my hand!) - isn't she beautiful!

A quiet moment with Gus.

This is the amazing Sophie and boy, does she exude some quiet confidence. She has some majorly great things in store for her, I just know it!

So cute!

And my new little friend gave me some amazing moments to photograph. She just stuck by my side the whole day and loved up my camera.

My favorite little gem of the day...

Thanks for reading! :)

xo,

Katie

Gorgeous Wedding at Tower Ridge with Carla Ten Eyck & Erik Maziarz

2009-02-25T18:43:00.001-05:00

Sheer joy. Pure happiness. Super funocity (that's not a word , is it?). These are the first words that come to mind when I think of describing my experience at Kevin & Kerri's wedding on Saturday at Tower Ridge Country Club in Simsbury. My extreme good luck ended in spending an awesome Saturday with some of the most fun, fabulous, and sincere people. But I would be remiss if I did not tell you how my luck began. I only served as an assistant on this wedding, the first wedding where I assisted the uber-fabulous, super talented, and amazingly artistic Carla Ten Eyck. Have you checked out her website yet? Click on her name if you haven't. I also have to give Mr. Maziarz a shout out - he was shooting with Carla that day and oh my Lord, is he awesome too! Woo!

I recently started working with Carla and her studio team. I do office "stuff" and a little shooting here and there. And boy does that make me count my lucky stars. I am so humbled to be working amongst such amazing talent. I couldn't be happier if I tried.

While being an assistant I do get to shoot a little too. (Dang, I am so thankful for that!!!!) And while I know that I don't have near the awesomeness ("there is no charge for the awesomeness" - what movie??) that Carla and her team have, I am going to share a couple of my favorite images that came from my camera that day. Enjoy! :)

Kerri's dress was so pretty

Kevin's mom brought a special little piece of lace

Loved the muted colors of Kerri's bouquet, they looked gorgeous against her dress

See?

Love the light here and overexposure here. It was so ethereal to me and complemented Kerri's happiness so well.

SUCH a happy (and beautiful!!!) bride!

Holy SMOKES!!!

Here's a quiet moment just before Kerri and Kevin's first look.

Right after their first look Kerri and Kevin sat down and she read a heartfelt letter to him. It was such a sweet moment.

The sacred moment!!!

So glad I was a part of your super fun and beautiful celebration guys! Thank you!

Boys

2009-02-24T17:51:00.004-05:00

Boys. My boys. My two, not-so-little-anymore, little boys. My WHOLE life is about boys. Boy clothes, boy toys, boy smells, boy language - you name it - boys.

When I was a teenager my mom may have told me, more than once, that my whole life was about boys, but that was different. Really different. Back then I just wanted boys to like me, I wanted them to think I was cute, and funny, and creative, and HOT. But it was hard to get them to like a tall, stringy, big-eyed girl whose ears stuck out a little too far, whose eye makeup spoke a little too loud, whose cheeks glowed a little too red, whose body was far from curvaceous, and whose gangly awkwardness got in the way of even walking down a school corridor in a normal, far-from-hot, fashion.

I guess today we could say not much has changed. Though I wear less eye makeup my ears still stick out a little too far, my cheeks are still red, and I never found those womanly curves I had been looking for. BUT my life is still about boys and trying to get them to like me. While I don't doubt for a minute that my boys love me, I am extremely confident in the knowledge that they do not like my camera. And when I have my camera pointed in their direction, they surely do not like me. Oh well, such is life. With boys.

For this round of camera + boys I told them we were going on a photo adventure. Adventure is a boy word, right? Well, to my kids, adventure means constant running, jumping, exploring, etc. it does not mean standing still, turning towards me, looking at my lens, etc. But they braved a freezing cold, windy winter day. For me. I won't tell you about all the whining I heard though, because then you might think my boys are kinda girlie or something. ;) Trust me, as a girl, I have done my fair share of whining. And no - they didn't learn it from me. Or did they?

Um, holy sunset, Batman.

Yup, he's in midair.

yeah, not my photo op outfit of choice, but DANG, it was cold!

Yup, that's a little tiny boogie. Thanks for noticing! :)

And just because I think this is a pretty photo...

xo,

Katie

In Celebration of Winter!

2009-02-19T21:34:00.005-05:00

Winter kills me - seriously. It's a drag!!! Yes, yes, it is beautiful don't get me wrong. I try really hard to appreciate what winter has to offer (insert sarcasm here) like bare trees, burningly cold air, flu, dirty snow, black ice, wool, and icicles, hooooray for icicles! Oh, and Christmas, I pretty much think Christmas is okay! However, I so want to be outside running my fingers through the warm dirt, planting tomatoes, swinging at the park, swimming in our little pool, sitting on the beach - anything but holed up like I have been for the past 4 months. I've kind of reached my limit with winter and I'd like it to skedaddle. And quickly. Very quickly.

Another thing about winter that I don't like so much is that it is tough to be outside taking super cute photos. So in honor of winter I am offering a little Winter Blues special to warm up your life (okay, mine too!). How about a CD of edited high-resolution images (with printing rights) and a two hour session for $100? If it sounds good, email me at kcslater@gmail.com to set up a time. These can be photos of anything and anyone. You and your honey, your kids, your dog, etc. I am open to hearing fun ideas too! This is a very limited offer though so contact me by February 28th...or ELSE! :)

And of course no post about celebration would be complete without a photo...here is our dear friend Renee whose energy, spunk, and giggles we are so happy to have in our life. Happy Birthday!!!

Two hours in the life of Slater. WARNING: Incredibly Uninteresting. Serious.

2009-02-11T17:13:00.003-05:00

Wanna see what happened here in Slaterville today? Come on, I know you do!!!! I took my camera along on our errands today. Here goes...

First stop, (oops not really an errand) my favorite fast food stop, Taco Bell!!! Yeah baby!!! Don't judge!

Oh, what's my little Charliepants eating? A taco!!!!! The taco doesn't fall far from the tree! He sure has his momma's love of mexican.

Beware this next photo is incredibly interesting. Thank you Taco Bell for the following wetnap and breath mint - which Charlie immediately stole and ate.

On to Tarjay (the most upscale retail establishment in all of Enfield! Serious!) where we run into a guy feeding seagulls from the window of his car. Awesome.

Tarjay's aftermath, though perhaps this photo would have been more effective if I had taken a photo of my empty wallet. :/

We let the dog out...

We let the dog in... (love my little Annie Blue and her one blue eye!)

Charlie had a popsicle.

Jack came home from school.

I got Jack a popsicle too, and then proceeded to leave the freezer door open for about 10 minutes. Don't you totally love my ghetto freezer and it's accompanying mess? I don't.

Jack crackin' up at one of my super funny jokes. ;)

Jack and I making faces in front of the camera for a couple minutes. Does Tarjay carry Botox? Would anyone like to give me some Botox? PLEASE?

And that concludes story hour folks. Love ya all!

Payin' it forward - Robin Dini style!

2009-02-08T11:35:00.006-05:00

A little while back, right before Christmas (ok, a long while back?) Robin Dini, a fabulously fun CT photographer, wrote the following:

"So, as a fellow photographer, my gift to Connecticut photographers out there, if they so choose to accept, is a family portrait session courtesy of me. This could be a day in the life session, a quick session with the family, or just you and your spouse on a walk for an hour or so. Basically, I want to hang out with you guys, chat it up, and give you some fun pictures of YOU in them! It could be so fun!"

Well, I jumped on the bandwagon as fast as I possibly could and emailed Robin right away. You see, despite the fact that I take photos of other people and their families, the last time someone (my husband's super but non-photographer friend) took a photo of my family together was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2006 and with my old point and shoot camera. Ummm, it's 2009 already. Hello, three years have quickly passed and I realized I had no up-to-date photos of me and my favorite boys. So, when Robin emailed me back to say I was one of the first people to contact her, I was soo excited! We set up a date, got dressed and ready to roll, and then smiled pretty for the camera.

Click HERE to take a look at the rest of our photos. Go on and give Robin a little comment love while you are at it!

I love the gift that Robin has given us. For when the time comes for me to look back on my life, I know from the bottom of my heart that the thing that will matter most to me is the time I spent with my family, the people I love most in life. For Robin to give us the gift of a photograph that captures just a moment of our time together, is absolutely priceless. And for that I am forever grateful. Thank you Robin for your gift of time and photography, I am so happy to have these photos of my family. SO. Incredibly. Happy. Thank you.

So, now it's my turn. For any CT photographer out there who is interested in capturing a moment of your or your family's life, I am paying it forward. It's my turn to take some photos of you. If you are interested please email me. We'll spend some time together and then I'll edit and give you the photos from your session on a CD. I will only ask for one thing in return - that YOU pay it forward too! So if you are interested, email me! Can't wait to hear from you!! :)

The Foley Family!

2009-01-30T13:55:00.002-05:00

Holy smokes have I had trouble writing this blog post. I have rewritten it about a million times!! Long story short, I moved from Franklin, Massachusetts to Hebron, Connecticut after my freshman year of high school thus losing track of so many of my early friends and the people I grew up with. Thanks to the beauty of Facebook I have reconnected with a lot of people that I grew up with and for that, I am beyond thankful. What is even more fabulous than the magic of Facebook, is knowing that the people I was friends with way back when are happy, fulfilled, and more beautiful than ever. Thank you Erin (and Paul) for inviting me back into your life if even for a short while. Your girls are so sweet and gorgeous and I am so happy that you have a wonderful life!! :) It was SO awesome to see you again!!! Thank you.

Enjoy the photos!

Though not the typical family portrait, I have to say it is one of my favorites ever!!! I love the reality of the moment!

Here's something a little different, what do you think?

Let the slide show begin!!!! :)

Happiness continued...

2009-01-13T22:53:00.002-05:00

OH MY GOSH!! Where has the time gone! I started photographing Ayden when he was about 6 weeks old...now he is 6 months old! Man does time ever fly when you are having fun!!! :)

Ayden was such a happy little clam on Saturday, and we got lots of smiles from him even when we ventured out into the cold! These darn New England winters make it a little impossible to take advantage of our beautiful outdoor surroundings - especially with the little ones! Oh spring, I so look forward to your arrival!

On with the photos...

The connections in this family are so beautiful and strong...

This guy can not resist his feet - with shoes or without. I love that he is being so pensive here while looking down at his feet.

Happy slide showing!!! Thanks so much, I can't wait to see you guys again soon! :)

Stay tuned for more of this scrumptious happiness!

2009-01-12T09:55:00.002-05:00

Goodbye and Thank You 2008 sniff

2009-01-08T22:33:00.006-05:00

My recent goal, with the start of the new year, has been to write out my 2008 accomplishments and at the same time, define the things I would like to accomplish in 2009. It is always hard for me to put into words my goals and desires, I can see them in my mind, I definitely have vision, but actually stating them and then publishing them on my blog allows me to fail. And that is pretty dang scary. (Listen, I already showed you something terrible this week, so cut me some slack! See bad photos below.) So I have not yet decided if I am actually going to let you guys read everything, but I am going to write about what I think were my most important accomplishments of 2008.

The winner of Katie Slater’s MOST important accomplishment of 2008 (not to demean or offend my small 2008 accomplishments) is…drum roll…… (okay, here it goes, don’t judge me as I am sure I am going to sound a wee bit crazy to some of you out there.) …

This year I finally allowed myself to listen to my voice. MY voice. That quiet call in my heart.

Is this cheese overload? Do you think I am totally crazy yet? No? Okay. Good. I’ll keep going…2008 was the year that I finally let myself turn in the direction that I had wanted to go, and I did it with conviction. I didn’t let anyone's voice get in my way. For me, it was a first.

So here’s the rundown of my accomplishments…
1. Listened to my voice.
2. Committed myself to going to the Grand Canyon. (Something I have felt pulled to do for years.)
3. Actually went on the trip with the Sierra Club, and survived! (Blog post coming about this, I swear!)
4. Gained a new sense of self and most importantly a sense of confidence and empowerment that I had NEVER experienced before. Truly amazing.
5. Decided that I needed to have a DSLR and bought one. (Thanks Chris! xo xo)
6. Reached out to friends, made myself really vulnerable – but received positive response.
7. Started (and continued) a blog.
8. Reached out further and didn’t fail.
9. Found a true passion.
10.Went kayaking.
11. Learned a sh*tload of stuff.
12. Reconnected with old and very special friends, made new friends.
13. Felt really, really happy.

As for info on the Grand Canyon trip, it truly changed my life, but I owe the experience an entire blog post so I won’t say much now. But here’s what I can say: looking back, I know why I had to go to the GC. It was in the canyon, drinking water infested with dead mosquito larvae; backpacking further than I ever have before; living 90 miles away from any sort of civilization for 8 days; living disconnected from my family, my children, and friends; stepping out of my comfort zone; and climbing up those last incredibly steep steps that I found an inner strength, listened to my own voice (again!), and breathed life into a completely undiscovered sense of self and confidence. For that reason alone, it was a most amazing year.

So I want to encourage you, my friends, if you are not already listening to your voice please go do what you have to do to find your voice, listen to it, and act upon it. Find the courage to take a scary step. Get out of your own way, because truly, YOU are the only person holding you back.

If I can do it, you can too. I have faith in your inner strength and courage. I know it's there. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And lastly, as a goodbye to my 2008, I must express a deep, heartfelt, and tear-inducing gratitude to my clients, friends (old and new), hubby-hubster, and family. Thank you for your support, encouragement, feedback, patience, love, honesty, and most of all, time. I know that I am not really anyone special, or famous, or wonderfully talented but you all make me feel that way, and for that I am forever grateful and indebted. Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.

Sometimes I like mistakes the best.

2009-01-07T22:52:00.001-05:00

Here is my Charch, in a bath full of bubbles with bubbles all over his face, in two extremely overexposed photographs. I really like them, but they were a complete and utter mistake. But, I'm not sure they were a complete failure. Let's put it this way, if I had properly exposed them, I would be exposing you to the very grim fact that my ancient tub is (over)due for a scrub.

Please forgive me dear blog readers...sometimes I like mistakes the best.

Sorry if this has been eye torture for you.

:)

xo,

Katie

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend.

2009-01-02T13:09:00.002-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I write these words. This morning my parents and sister said goodbye to their beloved Molly Dog. Despite years of medical issues (Addison's Disease, hip dysplasia, severe arthritis, etc.) Molly was peppy, spirited, and bright and brought much love to my family. She served as a consistent, dependable companion to my sister, brother, Mom, and Dad through some challenging life experiences; was a loyal guard dog protecting her home from anyone who dared to knock or ring the doorbell; she ensured my mom never talked on the phone for too long; loved Cheez-Its, Goldfish, and anything else that fell on the floor; and she always made sure Max and Annie knew who was boss. My kids and my nephews have never known my parents house without Molly, she has been there since they were born and they will sorely miss her.

Molly, you were such a good girl, you'll be missed terribly but there is nothing better than knowing that you are no longer suffering and that your soul is in peace.

Closing Shop on 2008 Session Pricing!

2008-12-28T18:41:00.003-05:00

I really hate talking money. So I am going to make this quick. Really quick.

Please email me (see email address to the right of the page) before January 1st, 2009 (that means by December 31st) to inquire about booking a session with 2008 session and print prices.

Your session can be booked for a 2009 date but beginning January 1, I will be raising my prices. All of you who know me know that I am concerned with being able to offer photography to EVERYONE. That means I do my best to keep everything reasonable and affordable.

As always, email me with any questions you may have! Thanks so much! :)

xo, Katie

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T11:07:00.004-05:00

Yay! This week, these days are finally here! I feel like a kid in a candy store! I can't wait to give the gifts I have picked out for the people that I love! I often dread the weeks leading up to Christmas - the crowded stores, overplayed Christmas music, and fake trees but don't get me wrong, I love Christmas! I love feeling, seeing, and trying to saddle the excitement of my children, I love the passion my husband has for all music Christmas, and I love the energy that surrounds us during the holidays!

So, my friends, let there be CHRISTMAS! I wish you the happiest of days, peace in your homes, and joy in your hearts! Merry Christmas!!! xo, Katie

Broken Record

2008-12-22T09:23:00.003-05:00

Like a broken record stuck at the same note...this photo continues to pop up into my mind. I'm not sure what it is but there is something about it, I just LOVE it. It's not the typical photo to love. But then again, I am not the kind of girl who loves typical. So there, that's it, it's an atypical photo...my kind of photo. That's why I love it.

Happy Monday!!

xo, Katie

Snow

2008-12-19T17:53:00.003-05:00

As I sit here, fighting what seems awfully similar to the flu, here is what is going on in my backyard...

Have a great weekend!

xo,

Katie

Weekend Preview Slide Show Added

2008-12-15T09:49:00.008-05:00

This weekend marked the last of my scheduled 2008 photo sessions. These past 3 months or so have been an incredibly amazing time in my life and while I am sad to finish up with my scheduled sessions, I am, never-the-less, very happy. Happy to spend some quality time with my children, husband and family over the holidays; happy to be going in to a new year with some fresh ideas, exciting projects, and fantastic clients; and incredibly happy that this year has been the exact turning point that I had been searching for. I can only imagine what next year will bring!

So anyway enough about me!! Helloooooo!!!! Here are a couple of the photos we took over the weekend with another post and slide show to follow in a couple more days...

Enjoy!!! :)

Taking a Pregnant Pause Gentle viewers proceed with caution

2008-12-12T17:47:00.005-05:00

My super beautiful, ripely pregnant photography partner-in-crime Andrea, allowed me to photograph her baby mama goodness today. While I would love to be able to post many of the photos I am only posting several of the coolest ones.

**PLEASE READ** If you are not comfortable viewing artistic representations of a partially nude pregnant woman, please do not scroll down any further. While you will not be assaulted by any obvious body parts, several of the photos do reveal a bit more than my typical blog posts. For those of you who will not be offended at the imagery below...enjoy the simple, classic, and not-often-enough displayed beauty of a woman pregnant with her first child.

Congrats Ken and Andrea - you are in for the bumpiest, most fun, fast, amazing, and scariest ride of your life! You are going to love being parents!

Buckle up...this ride's about to begin... :)

Have a fabulous weekend, y'all!!!!

xo,

Katie

Teeth

2008-12-09T11:55:00.020-05:00

I am so thankful that I can not remember the feeling of my teeth breaking through the tender skin of my gums. Obviously, it is something that we all go through, but during the days that those pesky teeth are making their debut appearance, life is a bowl of rotten, mushy cherries. Unfortunately, on the day when I went to photograph this little guy and his family, he was experiencing some major teething pain. FORTUNATELY though, he was such a merry trooper and despite waking up a slew of times during the night, he (and his parents!) put on happy hats and pulled off some pretty great shots!

Our photo shoot was truly an adventure. This family lives in a gorgeous part of Massachusetts where there are fields, mountains, and barns galore. It truly is a completely beautiful area. After spending some time inside we decided to take our minds off of our teeth by venturing outside and changing up the scenery a bit. We found a great barn with a field in the back, and then we went and fed the horses across the street. Let's get to the photos...

Thank you C, M & W for sharing your day! I hope you enjoy your photos and slide show (don't forget to turn the sound up!)! xo, Katie

This makes my heart smile...

2008-12-07T19:40:00.003-05:00

So does this, my lovely mom with our newest family member Cian...

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

xo,

Katie

The Story of a Wedding

2008-12-05T10:39:00.004-05:00

This post captures a tiny piece of the photographic story of the last wedding I shot this year. I served as second shooter to Andrea Walpurgis of Shades of Images (thank you Andrea!!), and it was only my third wedding. Ever. This was the wedding that cemented in my mind the fact that I DO want to shoot weddings for a living. But at this point I can only hope and dream that I will. So if you want to help me out by hiring me, or referring me -- I promise I'll love you forever and I'll work my tail off for you... and I sincerely mean it. From the bottom of my heart...

So without further ado, these guys were an absolute blast! They were happy, fun, excited, passionate, and creative - all the things I completely love about people. The wedding took place at Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, Massachusetts - what a gorgeous place to get married!!! I posted a few images from their wedding at the end of October, but here are a few more... Enjoy!!!

Getting ready...

The details in Katie's dress were so beautiful...

Last minute touches...

Cutie pie flower girl...

Taking off after sealing the deal...

Love the excitement here...

First Dance...

Happy accident...

Katie and her dad danced to Guns N' Roses "Sweet Child"...

Helllloooo sassy...

And finally, their dogs are such a huge part of their lives that they included them in their wedding ceremony...

Kate & Jesse - I can only hope for your marriage to be as fun, beautiful, and passionate as your wedding was! It was wonderful to meet you both!

xo,

Katie

The Lemire Family Slide Show Added!

2008-11-25T20:40:00.005-05:00

What an awesome family this is! I had so much fun taking their photos on a chilly November day in Massachusetts!! Here are a couple of my favorite photos from the day with a slide show at the end... Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Planning their roll down the hill at the end of the photo shoot... (which we never got to, sorry kids!)

Perfect little profile!

Do you think we were having fun??!!

I love this tire swing photo...it's so innocent and fun...

How cute is he??!! I have a very soft spot in my heart for red hair, my little Charlie has it too!

Take a look at this photo...check out this piece of ice...their daddy pulled it out of the pond and we captured some awesome photos of the kids behind it!

This was my favorite photo of the day...awesome light, awesome location! I absolutely love it!

Here is the slide show guys! Enjoy!

Thanks so much for inviting me to photograph your beautiful family, I really had a great time! I'll be posting your slide show shortly!!

xo,

Katie

3 Little Girls

2008-11-23T15:51:00.008-05:00

I'm not sure that words can ever adequately express how much I love photography. It's not the physical action of figuring out how best to position myself or my camera, it's not interacting with children or adults while I take photos, while I love both of those aspects of the job, it's capturing the little spirit within each person that I like the best.

On this particular photo shoot with three amazingly beautiful girls, one thing that stands out most in my mind is the following. One of the little girls asked if she thought that my son (her friend) would think the outfit she was wearing was beautiful. I answered, "Why yes, of course, he would think it was beautiful." And that was the end of the conversation. But later, as I sat back and thought about what she said, I wish I had given her a different answer. I wish I had said something like, "The outfit doesn't make you beautiful, you are beautiful because of who you are inside." These girls, and this family, are not only beautiful on the outside, but the are gorgeous on the inside too! They are fun, thoughtful, and kind and have been an absolute joy to get to know. I am honored to have taken their photos!

Here are some of their photos...

The girls together!

Enjoy your slide show guys!! :)

Carla TenEyck and the TenEyck Tuesday Experience!

2008-11-19T22:41:00.011-05:00

CARLA is...
Authentic, empowering others to be their true selves.
Funny, letting others feel at ease.
Intelligent, encouraging others to learn.
Compassionate, causing others to feel cared for.
Open, allowing us to be free.
*****
I've been looking for the right words. It's been hard to put my thoughts and feelings into words which translate effectively. I feel pretty good about what I captured above so I am going to leave it at that.

So here's the story. The abridged version. After being afflicted by a minor obsession, make that MAJOR obsession with the fact that I really wanted to pursue photography as a career earlier this year, I began to feverishly search for blogs and websites that illustrated the style and feel of the visions in my head. There are so many wonderful people and photographers out there, many have earned a bookmark on my computer, but one that stood out to me was Carla TenEyck. I loved her style, her honesty, her humor, her ability to draw me in by images and words. I was aware that she liked to mentor others by some of the posts I read on her blog, but I was too scared to reach out. But finally one day I just had to.

(***People, time to take your heads out of the sand and move towards your dreams, your goals, no matter how old they or you are. Go accomplish something and feel proud of yourself. You'll be surprised at how great it makes you feel.***)

So after I emailed her an initial email, I was prepared to never hear from her again. But, no joke, she emailed me back that night. After some back and forth exchanges, an awesomely gracious face-to-face meeting that I am so thankful for, and some serious money wrangling with my husband, I decided I was going to take part in Ten Eyck Tuesday! Yeah!!!! Okay, here's where we finally get to the meat of the story.

So, this particular Ten Eyck Tuesday took place on November 4th, Election Day. It was a super experience. Carla shared some mad skills and knowledge with us, introduced us to our models, hello Mr. & Mrs. Jack & Val McCormick (photographer extraordinaire and gorgeous woman to boot!), and then away we went to a train yard in Hartford where Mr. Jack works! So cool!

Ummm, at this point in the story my hands begin to shake and I am nervous! Folks, I am with the Nikki Nicole and the Sarah McCoy, both established photographers in their own right. To top it off I am photographing a photographer, and Carla is standing behind me! Ahhh! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

ANY WHO...so my hands are shaking, I move the gorgeous Val and Jack in between two trains, climb up one of the trains, and start snapping away...I am not getting what I want with light but here were some of the images I did manage to snag.

I love the way she has her hand in his pocket, pulling him closer...oooh, baby!!

This train may or may not have been running at the time...

Val had unfortunately hurt one of the toes on her foot so she was uncomfortable walking around a lot. In these shots I just asked them to stand still. Carla was perplexed by what I was trying to capture, but I liked the outcome. Even though they are standing there together, the photo reflects loneliness to me...

Ummm, hello bird, I didn't even see you when I was taking these photos...

This was taken at UCONN Law School in Hartford, though you would never be able to tell since I textured it up.

And what is a photo shoot of a beautiful woman without a shoe shot? Well, incomplete of course. But since Val had hurt her toe she wasn't able to wear hot, sexy shoes so I had to improvise....what do you think?? ;)

In conclusion, I am so happy I took part in Ten Eyck Tuesdays! Not only did I gain experience, I met some awesome people and really discovered where my weaknesses are. This, above all else, is the most important thing to me. I firmly believe that in order for us to grow in the right directions, we need to identify, understand, and eventually overcome our weaknesses. I truly appreciated figuring out some of what I need to work on, and am so excited to move forward! Thanks so much Carla!! ;)

Olivia at 4 Months!!

2008-11-17T17:29:00.004-05:00

Well, I just think Olivia is one of the happiest little people on the face of this earth! Every time I meet up with her she has so many sweet smiles, talks a mile a minute, and is generally in a super mood! (I definitely couldn't say that for either of my kids!)

As I mentioned in a previous post, Olivia has just hit the 4 month mark! Take a look at how beautiful she is!

For this first photo, Olivia's dad, Carmen, just plopped her in my little basket...here's one of the photos we got from that! Happy as a clam...

At 4 months, babies haven't yet mastered the whole sitting up trick and they tend to be teething, so you never really know what you are going to get for photographs. I just like to go with the flow and take cues from the child so as not to stress them out or make them too uptight. So that being said, I generally do not spend much, if any, time on posing. It just doesn't usually work and I want to capture the natural essence of them as they want to be. Olivia is a natural and we work well together as she needs no posing cues at all. In fact, she taught me a thing or two! As she was having 'tummy time' Olivia all of a sudden clasped her little (wet from teething) hands and smiled like an angel. I swear, I had nothing to do with this following pose...how beautiful is this child!!!?

Here we are outside. I love being outside with my clients, I love the light and I love that we are free to do as we please. If I had my druthers I'd be outside all of the time. However, Winter in New England does not generally permit this, especially with babies, so I always have backup options should the need arise!

One last photo before the slide show, I just love the angle on this one!

Carmen & Melissa, thanks so much for having me again! I love working with you guys and I am so happy we have become friends as well! See you soon! xo, Katie

Enjoy the slide show!

Olivia - Sneak Peek!!

2008-11-13T12:52:00.007-05:00

Remember Olivia at 6 weeks old? She was absolutely adorable with a shock of dark brown hair and the most beautiful eyes. Well here she is again, the smiliest baby on the block is now four months old, my goodness does time ever fly! I will be doing a longer photo post on Olivia in the upcoming week but I had to throw a couple of my favorites up for right now, because I just think they are so darn cute! Olivia was one of the first babies I ever professionally photographed, so there will always be a special place in my heart for her.

How cute is she!!!

I just love this photo below, the focus is a wee bit off but I absolutely adore the way the photo illustrates her beautiful blue eyes and chubby cheeks! I just had to post it...

Hope you are all well! xo, Katie

Over...

2008-11-11T15:19:00.005-05:00

...whelmed. Today, I am overwhelmed. With the amount of work on my to-do list, it is no wonder. But it's not my work that has me feeling the way I do. It's not the fact that I have to clean the entire house AGAIN for a really fun party coming up this weekend. It's not the fact that my aunt had surgery (yesterday) to remove a spinal tumor and it has turned out benign. It is not the amount of policing I do with my kids to make sure their brains are not rotting away by watching too much television, or playing video games for too long. These things have not overwhelmed me.

Today, I am overwhelmed by one of the most simple things in the entire world. Kindness. It is the amount of kindness, the small things that people do, that have really hit me today. The past couple of days have been interesting around my neck of the woods. And today, maybe everything is coming to a head, but I am really feeling it. Overwhelmed with emotion, with love, and with kindness. In a world of constantly scary news, talk of present and future crises, and the powerful effect that this 24/7 media has on our entire nation's mental health: it is so nice to feel good old- fashioned love and kindness. To top it off tonight we are attending a benefit dinner for my husband's old boss who was in a very serious, debilitating car accident last winter. Let's see if I can hold it together for the event!! :) Wish me luck.

There is no gift better than kindness.
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I am planning on blogging about my Ten Eyck Tuesday experience, and I should have done it already. It will come -- shortly, I promise! :)

Baby Cian is Here! Update

2008-11-06T13:49:00.007-05:00

Cian (pronounced key-in) actually entered the world on Friday, October 31st! Welcome to my new nephew and to the newest member of the family, we are so happy you are here safe, sound, and healthy. Cian weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds, 9 ounces and was 22 inches in length. Cian, a week early, set the record for the largest grandchild in our family!! Imagine if he had gone full term?

J & P - we are so happy for you! Please let us know when we can take A & C!! We are dying to help out in some way!! :)

Hope you enjoy the following photos of Cian - he was just about 28 hours old...

And on the way home from hospital we couldn't get over the color of the sunset. I think this is a good sign Cian: as the saying goes...pink at night...sailor's delight!

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Here is Cian at one week and two days...

Just Because: Emma & Nate

2008-11-02T19:28:00.005-05:00

Before I begin this post: a quick congratulations are in order for my brother and sister-in-law on the birth of their new baby boy! I am so happy to have another nephew! A special post on Cian with pictures coming later this week!!

This weekend I met up with Emma and Nate to take some photos in the park! We met at Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts and thankfully the weather was gorgeous (you never know what Mother Nature is going to bring this time of year in New England) - but we had some warm sunshine and a super time!

Below are a couple of my favorite photos and a slide show - thanks everyone for such a great time! I had so much fun with you all! :)

First up: Emma

Look at these eyes, I LOVE this photo!!!

In this next photo Emma had just recovered from a fall, thanks to the HUGE Christmas lights (and the invisible cables that hold them down) that are erected throughout Forest Park each winter. I am so sorry you fell Emma! I hope you are doing okay!!! The one good thing that came out of the fall is this photo...

Here's Nate!

Nate and Mommy:

Nate and Daddy:

I hope you enjoy your slide show guys!!

Weekend Wedding Sneak Peek!!!

2008-10-27T00:30:00.003-04:00

Absolutely super wedding this weekend...but not a lot of time to post at the moment...here are a couple of photos from the beautiful day. More to come later this week!

Hope you are doing well! xo, Katie

Thursday Thoughts, #2 ~ Friday Edition

2008-10-23T14:49:00.011-04:00

I can't believe it's Thursday (ummm...Katie, it's Friday now...) already, this week has flown by... In the midst of a very lousy, long-lasting cold it hasn't been the best week ever. Sorry VH1. But there are good things on the horizon still!

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My sister-in-law is due with her third son any day now! Yay! I am going to have another nephew! I am very excited to meet this new addition to the family! Good luck with the birth Jen - I am thinking about you!

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Last weekend I reconnected with yet another old friend. Courtney and I go way back - as far back as 15 years old I think. Despite the fact that we have been out of touch for at least 8 years (WOW, time flies) we were back to chatting like to old days. I had a super time with her and I am so glad we are back in touch. The best part about the whole visit was the way our kids got along together. Her eldest daughter and my eldest son, 5 and 7 respectively, immediately connected, and the moment Ashlyn mentioned Picachu (Pokemon), Jack was hooked. The two were like little peas in a pod chatting away about all of the important things in their lives. I loved watching them and can't wait to get them back together again! Thanks for the good times Courtney, and for refreshing my terrible, TERRIBLE memory! I can't wait until Vinopalooza! ;)

Here are some of the kids at Pumpkintown USA in East Hampton, CT:

Ashlyn:

Charlie: (Sorry buddy, I cut your ear off...)

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I am second shooting another wedding this coming weekend! Let's hope for warm weather and no rain!! Photos of the event to come!

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I have been really working on my website this week, I am getting really excited about it! It'll still be a couple of weeks until launch but once it's done, it'll be a huge weight off of my shoulders!

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I CAN NOT WAIT until this election is over with. Not that I want to bring up politics or anything but I really dislike the negative energy that comes with politics and elections. Are you ready to vote?

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I am still working on my other posts - and I will get them up, eventually... Stay tuned - Grand Canyon, Maternity, Baby, Bother & Sister, and Charlie does Conan...I feel like a rerun.

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In closing, I must offer my most sincere condolences to the Moon family in PA. A loss like you have suffered must be one of the hardest kind. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you work through this very difficult time in your lives. I am so happy that you all had a chance to be together for one last time last weekend. May you be comforted by your sweet memories. Please know that my family and I are thinking of you all...xo

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You may recall an early post on my blog about my Auntie Fran...she learned that she will be going through a very difficult and painful surgery on November 4th. If any of you out there pray, please add her to your list, she needs all the prayers she can get! Thanks!

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Off to tame the monkeys... xo, Katie

Fall in New England

2008-10-19T22:31:00.004-04:00

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus

For me, the quote above is a great, fresh way to look at fall. I am just not the kind of person who relishes crisp fall days, the changing leaves, the brilliant colors, drunken bees, and the cool colors in the air - quite honestly, fall to me has always been a sign of winter. That's pretty pessimistic, right? Sorry. It's not that I can't and don't enjoy the fall, I actually do more and more each year but fall to me just means impending winter. And winter in New England can be long and cold, and is always very dark...is anyone with me on this or do you all love the fall? I'd love to know... :)

So in an effort to capitalize on one of the most beautiful times of the year - yes, I do think fall is gorgeous - we took our boys apple picking, they picked out pumpkins with old and new friends, and my husband even purchased us a canoe!! (Cross that off my life list!)

Here are some of the photos from our weekend:

Children of the corn...

He may or may not have stolen that apple... shhhhh, don't tell.

Just keeping it real...

I have a thing for white pumpkins...

Brothers under an orchard canopy...

Hope YOU are enjoying the fall!!! xo, Katie

Kate & Kyle: Just Because

2008-10-17T16:47:00.009-04:00

Okay, so I have been a terrible blogger this week. So sorry. But today I have some photographs and a slide show detailing the beautiful morning I spent photographing Kate and Kyle in Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts. I know I said it before but I have to say it again - this Kyle is so darn cute! I loved working on these pictures and I hope you enjoy the slide show below.

Here are some of my favorite shots, thoughts I must say I had so many favorites...
A little flare... we love flare!!

Kyle mentioned that the following photos and poses were dedicated to one of his favorite young ladies...this had to have been one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time. Not only does this child ham it up but he can already charm his way in and out of a situation like nobody's business. Check out the following photos...

Toward the end Kyle was completely done with me... he decided he had had enough, I don't blame him!

Kate, you are so beautiful and Kyle, I hope you like the Bumblebee pictures we took!

Enjoy the weekend ahead! xo, Katie

Weekend Sneak Peek!

2008-10-13T23:04:00.006-04:00

Yay, I am finally able to post something from this weekend! Whew, I have been a busy bee! This weekend I had a lovely wedding in the Berkshires and a super photo session with a fantastic mom and her gorgeous, no GORGEOUS son. I'll be posting more on them but I thought I would give you a peek into what went on during my beautiful New England weekend! Man, was the weather simply perfect! I hope you are all well! :) xo, Katie
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First - the wedding...

Then Kyle - How about this guy for the newest GAP model!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

Thursday Thoughts & Random, Incredibly Uninformative Information

2008-10-09T09:49:00.011-04:00

Okay, it's been a crazy week which explains my lack of posting...I'm going to try something new this week and maybe make it a regular "column" on my blog...we'll see, I'm kind of a commitment-phobe but maybe this will work for me. In Thursday thoughts I will share quotes, other people's inspiring blog posts, and just random thoughts and photos from my life. Let's get this ride started.... woo hoo!

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This week, my internal mantra has been "Safe is Risky." When I said that out loud to my husband he disagreed and went off on a tangent about how safe is safe, yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, it comes from the book The Purple Cow, by Seth Godin. I have been reading this intermittently between working my daily deadlines, not cleaning my house or doing laundry, and being a mommy to my darling, yet psycho monkeys. Anyway, that small sentence, safe is risky, has stuck with me and here's why I think it works for me. Safe is comfortable, warm, and easy. Risky is cold, frightening, and potentially dangerous. But who has ever gotten anywhere by staying warm and cozy on their couch? I've decided that by spending my life holed up in my safe cocoon of happiness (or unhappiness), that I may not ever do what it is that I really want to do. So I've decided to take my head out of...the sand, and take one or even two small risks a day. So far, so good I'm happy to report!! I've got some exciting things on the horizon! :) Yay!

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Random tidbit of mildly disturbing news: Yesterday, while my sons and I were riding bikes around our neighborhood, I watched my eldest son accidentally hit a dog. Yes folks, he hit a dog while riding his bike. Not hard I must say. THANK GOD! But none-the-less it scared the daylights out of him and he hopped right off of his bike and ran after the dog to make sure it was okay. The dog was totally fine, but Jack's heart was bruised and he cried when we got home...I'm not sure who I felt worse for, the dog, or Jack. If this is any indication of the type of driver he is going to be as he gets older, I'm already afraid. Here's an odd photo of Jack getting his daily dose of fruit. He really is a great kid with a warm and sensitive heart who would truly be devastated if he had hurt that dog. Jeesh, he wigs out when we suck a bug up in our Bug Vaccuum (Golly gosh, I love the Bug Vaccuum!)...

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I absolutely hate bees!! I have this intensely strong fear of them and I'm really not too sure why. This is the time of year when bees in New England are drunk flying and acting very strange and of course one landed on my leg yesterday. I freaked and Charlie, my youngest, managed to save me from the bee! My little hero!

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In other news you most likely do not care to know...Chris and I were cleaning out some pots in the backyard (Okay, I confess, Chris was doing the cleaning, as I have a severe allergic reaction to anything remotely close to cleaning. I kid, I kid. No I don't. Yes, I do. No, I don't.) Here's what Chris found...amazing, huh????? I have a gazillion photos of these little mice, I just couldn't get enough...

It was so cute, but that momma mouse was so worried, we covered her back up and put the whole hanging pot out in the backyard near the woods. Ahhh, new life. So beautiful to me!

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In my blog lineup and in no particular order: the life changing Grand Canyon trip I took this year, the photography superstars in my life, a gorgeous maternity photo shoot, a new baby, a brother and a sister, this upcoming weekends wedding, and a Charlie-does-Conan video...stay tuned!

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Off to watch my DVR'd Survivor...yes, I still watch that show and it remains a favorite. Does anyone else still watch it? Nothing like a little brainless TV watching with my hubby. Ahhh...

(Re)Connection

2008-10-05T20:18:00.010-04:00

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world" ~ Lois Wyse

There is much to say about being connected to others. But in the tidal wave of life's experiences, friendships (connections) can so easily get lost within the sea of time gone by. I LOVE the positive and renewing effects of what it is like to reconnect with people. Just this weekend, I was lucky enough to get together with an old friend, a good friend, a really solid and super fun person. She carried so much light into my life years ago, and I am so happy to have her back!

When we got together this weekend, it was like no time had passed. We chatted just like we did 5 years ago...and it's weird, the only thing that has really changed between us is that we both had a child! (Not that that is any small feat!) I was really happy to see Taryn again but I was totally excited to meet her baby for the first time. Happy as a clam that little girl is! And so full of life and light, just like her mom! Here are some of the photographs I captured of Taylor this weekend.

Taryn, I am so glad we have reconnected, it was so great to see you (you look fabulous!) and talk with you, and I am really looking forward to getting together again soon! :) xo, Katie

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I absolutely adore this first picture: when I was post processing it, I just felt like she was saying something to me...like I could see something inside of her... (is that weird?). I guess it just speaks to me...in a really cute way!

If there is someone out there that you need to reconnect with - now is the time to do it...I dare you! xo, Katie

I'm going to let you in on a secret...

2008-10-02T19:42:00.009-04:00

Okay, so let's begin, if you know anything about me it's really not that much of a secret, but to the world at large most people don't really understand my fascination. With what, with whom am I fascinated you ask?

With number 58, with JP, with the little tiger, Jonathan Papelbon. I know...no one really understands why (especially my husband and my brothers) but I know I'm not the only one who likes him!!! Come on people, his Facebook fan page has more than 2,000 fans! Basically, what this comes down to, is that I've got a thing for any guy who can/will/does dance in public, just ask my husband...

This summer Chris and I took our boys to their first Red Sox game. We got free tickets and did our best to give them away but then we realized it might just be a great time to take the kids to see Jonnie P., I mean the Red Sox...

All was going well (thank God for gigantic red foam fingers and cotton candy)...but it was a pretty bad (read: boring) game so the kids started getting a little antsy (thank you, cotton candy). We decided we would leave as we had no chance of winning (see scoreboard below) and we still had to drive home to CT. As we got up to leave I received the worst news ever...Papelbon was walking to the mound and I was LEAVING! AHHH! Total bummer... Thank God that I had my zoom lens...I stuck around for as long as I could but they finally had to drag me away....kicking and screaming...

Here are some pics of the event...please don't judge the quality of these, there was no retouching going on... :)

Fantastic score as you can see (thankfully we kicked some Angel butt the other night...)

Dude with shiny head, please move out of my ever lovin' way...(sorry shiny headed folks, I love you but not in the way of my little tiger)

Ahh, Papelbaby...

The three most important boys in my life...sorry, Papelbaby

Gorgeous night at Fenway Park in Boston...

And finally, in honor of the Red Sox in the playoffs, (and my childhood fascination with Dirty Dancing...shhh, that's a secret) here's a little video that I could watch all day...

Passion - Do you follow yours?

2008-09-30T19:25:00.008-04:00

For the past, oh, say 10 years or so, since I graduated from college with an Art History degree (hello?), I have had this vivid, nagging feeling inside that, professionally, I was not doing what I was supposed to be doing. That I was on the wrong road, moving in the wrong direction, somehow the yellow brick road that I had built for myself was not heading toward home, it was heading towards the very, very wrong Oz.

Why do we, as humans, try to move against our grain? Why was I trying to go down a path that didn't fit? Have you ever had a day when you were wearing clothes that were too tight, too small, and very uncomfortable? That's what the feeling was like, but on my soul. It was tight, and I was squished into something that didn't fit right.

It takes courage to turn yourself in a different direction. I applaud anyone who has the strength and fortitude of soul to do so. I think my yellow brick road, actually I would prefer it to be a pink brick road, is pointing toward the right direction now. I wish I had started sooner, but I don't live my life to regret the past. I live only to build on the experiences I have had (positive and negative) leveraging them to help me be the best me that I can be now, and in the future.

Recently, as I was reading a blog post of Jesh de Rox (an amazing photographer / artist / person - go check him out if you haven't already), the following words stuck out in my mind... Jesh wrote, "life's too short to do things you'd rather not be doing. if you're not happy where you are, change. you'll be glad you did." He's right. Change.

So here's my question to you...are you following your passion, are you doing what you were meant to do? Do you love what you do? Even if it's on the side and your not making money...are you still fulfilling yourself? Are you where you feel like you are supposed to be? Or are you not?

If nothing else, at this point in my life, I hope to give my kids the courage to follow their passion, to chase their dreams, to live the life that they were meant to live. I don't want them walking around in something that doesn't fit right. I want them to be fulfilled and happy. And from the deepest part of my heart, I hope I can be the role model they need to understand that fulfilling their dreams is not just a possibility, but a reality.

Go fulfill your dreams.

xo, Katie

Babies, Babies, and More Babies!!! Slideshow Added!

2008-09-25T13:16:00.013-04:00

Yesterday morning I visited my little friend Ayden (whom you may recall from an earlier post) and his best girl friend, Ella. Though due only a day apart, these two were actually born a couple of weeks apart and are constantly mistaken as twins!

Throughout our visit, Ella talked Ayden's ear off while he listened intently - she is training him well; however, he has been known to drift off even when he should be listening...hmmm, I guess that practice starts at a young age. :) These two are so cute and I was so lucky to have photographed them, they even cooperated during my signature arm shot! Stay tuned for some pics of the two of them together toward the end of the week as well another post including some more pics from last weeks wedding!

Check these two out...can you tell who is who?

All tuckered out...

Gorgeous Ella...

Look at that eye!!

Ode to...

2008-09-17T15:12:00.006-04:00

My love.

I know that I am not the best writer in the world, there are so many others that are simply fabulous, so eloquently and elegantly styled, and simply amazing word harmonizers. Yet writing is something that is fun for me, and as I continue to wing it through this journey that I am on, I am occasionally inspired by an event, a moment, a person, a sound...

One recent event / sound / tirelessly long-winded moment that occurred was courtesy of my dear, dear husband. He IS inspiring in many ways - his charm, his enthusiastic optimism, his work ethic, his intelligence, his commitment to his health - yet on this night I was inspired not by the things I just mentioned but by a sound that rakes it's long fingernails slowly, loudly, painfully down the chalkboard of my mind.

Due to this inspiration, no matter how infuriating, I penned him a lovely haiku (no, it does not follow traditional haiku rules in 5/7/5, but hey, it's 17 syllables!). It reads:

My Love, Your Rhythmic Thunder
While You Sleep,
Is My Nightly Lullaby.

I love you baby, just please let me fall asleep first?! :)

(For anyone wondering what I am referencing - it's my husband's snoring.)

Baby Olivia

2008-09-16T16:44:00.009-04:00

I must start this post by saying that this little cherub of a baby was / is the smile-iest (Okay, I know this is probably not a word!) baby I have ever met. With two kids of my own, who I couldn't get to smile until at least eight weeks each, I was so excited to see Olivia smiling at me! Yay, someone likes camera lady! (Side note: I don't think I have included a smiley picture on the post though...silly me!)

Olivia - You are one lucky baby! Mommy and daddy love you to a million pieces and I am positive that they will never let a day go by when they won't let you know that. Just wait until you see what they have in store for you!

C and M - Thanks so much for allowing me in to capture Olivia in all her baby beauty, she is simply lovely! Have a look for yourselves...

Take a look...

2008-09-14T16:04:00.016-04:00

Yesterday, I had a super opportunity to second shoot a beautiful wedding at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts with my friend Andrea Walpurgis of Shades of Images. Here are a couple of images I took of the gorgeous bride and groom...More to come later this week!

Life is what you make it

2008-09-10T21:54:00.010-04:00

A long time ago, she said to me "life is what you make it" - I've always remembered that even though she doesn't. Every once in a while, that day and what she she to me comes back, as vivid and bright as when she originally said it. I take it to heart, probably more today than ever before, but it really made a difference in my life whether she knows it or not. I'll always appreciate it, always remember it, and always hold it close to my heart as it has helped make me who I am today.

Today, more than ever, my Auntie Fran needs prayers. So if you pray, say a little (or big) one for her. If you send positive thoughts, send one her way. And if you need a little help in your own life, just remember that life is what you make it...

I love you Auntie Fran, whether you know it or not I am constantly thinking about you, praying for you, and sending positive thoughts your way. It's hard to be in the dark, but we are with you, every step of the way. Always in my thoughts...xo

Baby Phoebe

2008-09-04T18:55:00.008-04:00

Dear Phoebe, Welcome to the world baby girl. In all of your life experiences may you feel joy, love, and peace. May the good and the bad make you stronger, more full of life, and more aware of the world's wonders. May you always find what you are looking for and may even the smallest of your dreams come true.

You have been blessed by two wonderful, intelligent, fun, kind, warm, and doting parents and a wide network of caring friends and family members. You are a very lucky baby. It was an honor to photograph you when you were just two weeks old, I am so thankful I had the opportunity to do so. Here you are in all of your radiant glory...

Sleepy Babe...

And with your beautiful (but tired) Mommy....

And lastly...

From what I hear today Phoebe, you have grown quite a bit - I can't wait to see you soon!

[S]Cool

2008-09-02T15:50:00.010-04:00

Going back to school, oh - the disdain I had for doing so. I could always tell the time was approaching when the endless summer nights of tag, hide and seek, and catching fireflies seemed to get shorter and shorter only because it was getting darker and darker, earlier and earlier. Got all that? I also knew it was time to go back when my mom would take me clothes shopping (for some reason I always liked that part of going back to school). I loved wearing my new fall and winter clothes even though the first few weeks of school the temperatures were still in the the 80's and 90's and I would sweat my butt off in my favorite new wool sweater and corduroy pants. I would still wear the clothes, I really didn't care.

For the past couple of years of my life, I have completely loved the going back to school days. Let's be honest, after a full summer of two energetic, tireless children and daily deadlines, the call of crisp mornings, and darker evenings is utterly refreshing. The sound of the practicing school bus. The incessant ringing of cash registers as they add up the expense of sending children to school in decent attire. These things don't bother me a bit. To me, these sounds equal freedom, time, and a bit of breathing room.

Don't get me wrong, I can talk a big game. After the school bus drives away carrying the precious cargo that I once physically held within the confines of my own body - my heart pinches, HARD. I blink back tears and breathe shallowly until I remember that 'F' word I like so much, Freedom. Then I run in the house and dance my little happy dance and spend some quality time with my other son who starts school next week. That'll be another post entirely...

This morning I watched my eldest son climb the stairs of the school bus to begin the next step of his journey through public elementary school. My heart pinched, my eyes watered, and my breathing increased to a rapid staccato rhythm. Good luck baby, I wish you the best in second grade, I love you with all of my heart and soul, forever and ever...Try hard, and always be the best you that you can...

My Boy...

My Favorite Picture of the Morning

P.S. - The day was a success, he came home happy and tired! And with no homework! Woohoo!

Happy Belated Birthday Dad

2008-08-31T10:30:00.009-04:00

As a result of all of your hard work, sacrifices, accomplishments, and lessons, you have helped me (and all of your kids) to be stronger, made us want to reach higher, taught us how to work hard, and lent clarity to our understanding of what it means to make sacrifices for our families. This has made me a better person, mother, and wife. Thank you.

I am sorry I missed your birthday this year, it was not my intention at all.

I just want you to know that I love you, I thank you, I am proud of you, and I am so glad you are my Dad. xo

Dumbfounded

2008-08-29T14:18:00.005-04:00

It turns out I really don't have anything to say...after all of this time. It's just that there is this constant burning inside of my body (no, not a bladder infection silly), a burning desire to pursue my photographic obsession, my ability to create things, and my need to work with human life...new life, burgeoning life, life in love...do you get the picture? Hahaha, no pun intended.

I am currently working on my website, filling it with my need to create but wishing I had a huge portfolio to incorporate into it. I need to take more photographs of people in love, please let me know if I can create some for you! See you around...