Saturday, August 27th, 2011
Don’t be like there guys during Hurricane Lili in 2002.
Growing up in Louisiana hurricanes were just something that happened. They were a bit exciting and everyone loved missing a few days of school. Then, there would be the damage tour around town in my Uncle Charlie’s big truck. We knew the areas likely to flood and it was always interesting to see how bad it was that time. I never remember being scared about a hurricane, we were prepared and didn’t live in a flood prone area. And those who chose to build in areas near the water built high up and knew the risks. It was just part of life living in South Louisiana.
I don’t remember many of the storms specifically until I was in college. Hurricane Georges messed-up my first few weeks at college in 1998. I recently found some photos I took of my family camping out in the house during the power outage, my grandmother Granny and Uncle Chris too, and the disaster tour that followed. It wasn’t too bad in our neck of the woods that time, save for a neighbor getting a tree hit and the usual flooding on the Lakefront.
After graduating, while working at the Times-Picayune as a freelance photographer, we had two hurricanes back to back, Hurricanes Isidore and Lili in 2002. (more…)
Monday, August 22nd, 2011
There’s no hiding this belly any more, we are expecting! Baby is going to be an early Christmas present, due to arrive around December 7th. We are waiting to see gender until birth. (I really do love green anyways…) Getting pregnant wasn’t initially part of my plan for 2011, and to be totally honest the first few months, ok, 4.5, kinda sucked. I had a few weddings too near my due date I had to regretfully unbook and I just felt plain awful about that and the morning, no, ALL day sickness. But having your life turned upside down is just part of preparing for a little one’s arrival. Now I’m 6 months (24 weeks) into this whole adventure and things are going well and growing well too! I’m sure December will be here before we know it.
Between now and then, I have 7 weddings! Needless to say, this fall season is going to be lots of fun and will certainly bring some additional challenges. But I am preparing a great team of assistants and second shooters to help with things. Today I bought my official “pregnant photog” wedding outfit, including a support belt and compression stocking! (Luckily, no one will see those parts of the outfit, but they might be the most important! ) I’m use to being incognito and I pride myself on guests commenting to me how they “didn’t notice me” and such. Hopefully my belly won’t give me away too much. :) (Especially if it is moving to the music, as a friend told me her baby did!)
That said, I am no longer accepting weddings for 2011. But please keep the 2012 inquiries coming. I hear babies need lots of stuff. :)
Top photo by Ryan Chatelain (aka, the baby daddy), bottom, self-portraits.
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
I first met Nick when we started the MPS in Digital Photography program at the School of Visual Arts just about 4 years ago. It was an amazing time and I have fond memories of running between classes with Nick to grab a bit to eat, often falafel, before photo illustration or scripting class would begin. By the end of the year, we both had new portfolios and skills, but luckily for Nick, he’d also met Julia and fallen totally in love! It was exciting for me, ( old married woman that I am :), seeing their love blossom. It isn’t often that I get to photograph a wedding where I got to live a bit of the couple’s story, so it was a rare and special pleasure to be there for their official union!
Nick’s family has a home on Fire Island, naturally a fantastic location for a wedding! Aside from Nick, there are two other photographers in his family, his aunt and his grandmother, Lillian Bassman. She is one of my photographic heros, and if you know her work or check this out, you will know why! So naturally I was honored to be chosen to photograph the wedding. The location was truly magical, the food divine and I’m so happy my friend Nick found his Julia!
Ceremony and Reception: Private Home, Fire Island
Catering and Cupcake: Lucullean Catering
Flowers: DIY
Officiant: Family Friend
Dress: Vintage
(more…)
Monday, August 1st, 2011
The following day after their fun beach rehearsal dinner, Caroline and Jack were married at St. John’s of Lattingtown. The reception took place at the Meadow Brook Country Club in Jericho, New York. And I’m so happy that the world didn’t end on May 21st, their wedding day, because that seriously would have put a damper on Caroline and Jack’s celebration! Aside from some rain during and after the ceremony, mother nature was very well behaved and this beautiful Spring wedding went off famously.
I photographed Caroline’s cousin and bridesmaid, Andi’s wedding, on Nantucket last September and I was so thrilled to be asked to photograph her wedding to Jack. It was so nice to see many familiar faces and photograph a group of people who really know how to throw not only beautiful weddings, but very fun ones indeed! Everything from the flowers adorning the tent to the cake invoked Spring. The Mike Herman Band was truly great, keeping everyone dancing the whole time! And a special thanks to my second shooter Jon and my assistant AKA, my husband Ryan, for helping to make sure things ran smoothly on my end.
Ceremony: St. John’s of Lattingtown, Locust Valley, NY
Reception: Meadow Brook Country Club in Jericho, NY
Band: The Mike Herman Band (a Hank Lane band)
Flowers: Petals in Locust Valley
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Cake: Sylvia Weinstock
Bridesmaid Dresses: Thread
Photography: Kristy May Photography
Second Shooter: Jon Lemon
Caroline’s mom and sister sew jewelry onto her delicate veil
(more…)
Monday, August 1st, 2011
Caroline and Jack choose the lovely Piping Rock Beach Club along the Long Island Sound near Lattingtown, New York for their rehearsal dinner in May. It was an overcast evening, otherwise I’m sure we’d have gotten a lovely sunset. The food was beautiful and the speeches were quite entertaining!
I am always thrilled when clients choose to also hire me to photograph their rehearsal dinner or other pre-wedding parties like showers or engagement parties. Why? It gives me another opportunity before the wedding to get to know the families and couple better. I learn who everyone is so come wedding day, I already know who all of the VIPs are. It isn’t totally necessary because I’m pretty good at identifying people on my own, but it is really nice to experience more of the couple’s wedding journey. And there is good food!
Stay tuned for Caroline and Jack’s wedding!
(more…)
Posted in Personal | No Comments »