Do you hear that?? {Southern Maine Photographer}

ME EITHER!! (silence) The kids are all off to school (except my little Burgah) and the peaceful days have begun. Don't get me wrong, I loved having them home all summer but without routine, we all go crazy!

First things first......I met with super cute Brianna last night for her senior photos. Who doesn't love a sassy lookin' teen with pink pumps to match her skirt???

She brought lots of dresses.....fun dresses!

Too bad I can't show you all from her session....picking just a few is hard....I loved this close crop of her laying in the grass.....her eyes are amazing!

We happened upon this field...with just a bit of tall grass grown just for ME!

Every job has its hazzard and being a beauty queen doesn't come without some bit of "ick" factor...Brianna pointed out this spider making its web between us. I hope she sees now why I had to have a shot of it....with her in the background.
Nancy (Brianna's mom) I hope you like your sneak peek!!!! It was a pleasure meeting you! Thanks so much for choosing me to photograph your senior! Brianna....you're adorable and sweet, never change!! Best of luck this year!

School is back in session and here's my non-traditional approach to those back to school photos! The neighbor girl was so cute enjoying my quirky way of taking photos she jumped for joy while my kids acted annoyed I was hanging out with them. I took the hint and waved from the front door like I always do.

Trickery.....everyone smiles when you ask them to jump so you don't see the true feelings in this photo....Cameron informed me that he didn't like getting up early and really didn't want to start school. Once there, he'll be happy to see his pals again.

See.....this boy thrives with a routine and even he knows it!
I had some tears from my girl....I almost took the time to share with each one of them how much fun I had with them this summer but when I saw her get emotional, I decided to keep my comments to myself. She was a huge help when it came to my chores during my busy times and I adore watching her grow and mature. I'm so lucky she's mine.....she's a gem!
Here's my big guy....7th grade already!! He's an excellent student and now that girls are bit more interesting, he didn't seem to mind heading off to school this AM.
Now I hear my little girl calling to me from the next room....."Lets go someplace....I wanna get something to eat and go shopping!" A girl after my own heart! She'll start school the end of the month!

Enjoy!

~kel~

UGH!! I owe, I owe, I owe {Southern Maine Photographer}

I owe so many sneak peeks.....I'M SORRY!! This last two weeks before the start of school is always so hard! The honeymoon is totally over for my kids and they are bickering and finding fault in each other like never before. This morning I heard my boys being downright mean to each other! After I gave them the guilt lecture about how name calling reflects on ME (and dad) and their behavior only hurts my heart, I put them right to work!! I got my entire house vacuumed, windows washed and then we tackled the clothing situation for the boys. I always wait until the last weeks before school to shop - they grow so much this time of year I've learned to only purchase a few pairs of pants and wait until the fall because by then they will actually start wearing them and need a whole new size.

So since my last post....my baby turned 4 and had a pretty good day! Here is her "sparkling wedding white dress" and a princess umbrella she's been bugging me for. I spent half the day in the ER with Cameron. A stick to the top of his head created a gash so big it needed four staples. He's better now....I'll take him Friday to have them removed....should be a good time!

I got a last minute call to do photos for this fun couple as the rain was ruining their plans for a backyard ceremony. They were so great to go along with my ideas as I fought so hard with the dim lighting in the hall (I hate flash). I think I got a few keepers for them! Congrats Bonny & Mike...you did such a great job for that last minute shift and big Thanks to Charlene & Dave for calling on me to help them out!

Making use of the available light and lovin' my camera for making this possible!

Let's see...The Dube Family! An awesome family I've come to know through my photography career! I always look forward to sessions with them!! Lisa, thank you for gifting your mom a gift certificate to have this done...it was fun to see you all at once!!

Here's where it all began....aren't they such a good-looking couple!!

Next on my books was William....he's all kinds of SWEET! He's ten months old and was so good natured, he made my job a breeze!

Handsome in this tangerine shirt!!!! Thank you Megan, Sarah and Ben for sharing your little man with me! I hope to see him again on your next visit home to Maine!

My niece Tanika....I still can't believe I'm taking her senior photos!!! We had fun...I got to catch up with her mom and see a side to her silly little sister I didn't know existed!! (she's not as shy as she pretends to be in the company of her extended family).

I hope you like them Tanika! Happy Senior Year to you!!

I sign off listening to only my children working together to make a lunch big enough for them all to enjoy. I made them shut the TV off so they could concentrate on the task at hand without disruption. I'm proud of how they've turned the day around!! This afternoon (after Marleigh wakes from her nap - yes, she still naps) we will take a trip to town to replace those outgrown clothes for the boys.

Two nights ago, I snapped these of them in my back yard...if your on my Christmas card list, do me a favor and forget you saw these...I might have to use one for my card! Im not sure why blogger is making all my photos so fuzzy looking....I can assure they are not!

If you've made it this far, thanks for taking the time!!! I apologize for the delay but blogging takes time and that's something I'm lacking in lately!

Enjoy!!!
~kel~

Senior Season/Celebrating the Birth of a Princess: {Southern Maine Photographer}

It's not too late to book your senior session! I still have a few spots available! As we get into the school year, I know more will be calling so if you need me, don't wait!


Last night Emily, her mom Beth and I tip-toed our way through the raindrops! The stormy skies made for amazing photos and I got her a huge variety of great shots to choose from. Here are my faves....

We left one beach and before heading home I suggested we check out the lighting at another just down the road. Gads.....we never expected THIS!!!! I asked Emily to throw on a colorful shirt and look what it did to the skies!!!! Seriously though, she returned from changing in to this pink and the skies were like this - I did NOT edit this photo, nor did I add that stream of rainbow connecting the sky to the water! It was an amazing site! It looked like a water spout just sitting on top of the water like that....as the clouds parted a bit, we followed the rainbow back through and over the tops of homes. Just a gorgeous night to be out!
Emily and Beth, (and my twin Heather who encouraged them to call me) I had a GREAT time chatting the night away with you! I'm excited about the session and hope you like the preview! Thanks so much for choosing me!!


MARLEIGH'S DAY:

Four years ago today, I labored to deliver one of the most beautiful people I know!! Today she flits around in a sparkly white dress (a "wedding dress" she calls it) with new plastic high heels and cardboard tiaras for her sister and cousin to wear. She crawled into my bed yesterday morning asking "Mom, is today my birthday" and I watched her deflate as I told her she'd have to wait one more day. This morning, she climbed quietly into my bed and as I waited in silence for her to ask me again, I looked over and saw her looking up to the ceiling and smiling a big goofy grin. I said "Happy Birthday"....she turned to me still smiling and replied "thank you". Her gaze returned to the ceiling...her smile got bigger and her expression change to relief.....it was here, FINALLY, her day!! I asked: what kind of cake are you wanting today.....(usually we order in advance but this week has been a whirlwind so I'll impose on the nice ladies at the bakery to make something on short order). In one long breath she said: "I'd like Hannah Montana, the kind with her hair is straight down...vanilla with white frosting, I already picked it out, they have it at Walmart, its got pink and some colored sprinkles too......" I asked about ice cream next...."vanilla".... I said: "that's a lot of vanilla...vanilla cake, vanilla frosting, vanilla ice cream". She replied: "oh yah, chocolate ice cream, I can put vanilla cake on my plate over here, and chocolate ice cream on on my cake over there...it will be perfect!

She started at 100 MPH and hasn't stopped yet! We are off to Meemie's to celebrate!!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!! You've brought me a happiness I never expected! I love you!

Enjoy!
~kel~

A beautiful family: {Southern Maine Photographer}

Mike and Amy have four kids...like me!! I was anxious to photograph them all!! The last time Amy hired me, I only photographed the kids and to me, family portraits are so important!! The days are changing so fast here. Their evening was more cool and the night fell much quicker than just a week ago. I love how that last bit of sun is so golden.

Amy, its always a pleasure spending time with you and your family! I hope you like these!

Thank you for having me as your family photographer.....your confidence in my work means the world to me!

Today we are playing tourists with Jean's aunt and uncle visiting from California. I look forward to dragging the kids around and taking their photos as if we are the ones from out of state! Sometimes, its nice to just sit back and appreciate the good things around!

Enjoy!
~kel~

Its a Family Affair!!: {Southern Maine Photographer}

Meet Christine and Paige, they are both seniors and sisters by marriage! We also discovered that we are distantly related through that marriage tree with cousins in common....so neat! We had a great time getting shots for Paige, who wanted an urban feel to her photos on the way to Christine's goal....the Maine coast.

I know they are anxiously waiting to see these so I'll keep my text to a minimum.

They warned me that they don't photograph well!!! :)~

Paige has a unique style and made this awesome dress herself! The print is clock faces so when I noticed the one on the church, I had to make it work.
Thanks for a good time girls you were so flexible and fun to work with!


Last night I had a much anticipated session with Emily. I've been chatting with her mom, Nancy, on the phone the last few weeks and our conversations were getting so comfortable, I felt anxious to meet the whole family. They were awesome....

We're having weather threats from the hurricane and just as they showed up, the pounding rain was easing up and since the skies were slightly threatening, we decided to start with some studio shots. Emily is a beauty and capturing that wasn't difficult at all.

We discussed photographing the family at the beach. Since they were all coming along to bring Em to her session, I told Nancy to plan on a family shot...why not, I'm there, they're there, lets do it! We stopped along the way...I've never photographed a family on the RR tracks....I was so excited....doesn't hurt that they are all so pretty too!!!! I think the fog rolling down the tracks behind them is so cool :)

Ahh.....Emily again, the surf was unpredictable but chasing it was fun and I love how she's got a bit of a laugh going on in this one...shows her dimples and smiling eyes really well!

Here's one of the family beach shots....I loved it....(NANCY, are you crying? A girl after my own heart, she's emotional about her family and I can totally relate to that!)

Nancy, you have a REALLY great family.......it was my pleasure to spend the evening with you all!!!

Enjoy!
~kel~

The warm days in Maine: {Southern Maine Photographer}

Kari & Josh...what can I tell you about them? See her smile.....its ALWAYS THERE! We met for the first time when I met them for this session. She popped out of the car and her smile was so sweet.....her energy was excited and I couldn't help but think how adorable she was! Then Josh...a quiet guy at first.....poor thing, he reminded me so much of my own brother, I felt comfortable with him the minute we met and I poured my sangine personality ALL over him! He got used to me pretty quickly.....we ended our session just chatting and I'm REALLY looking forward to their wedding day next month even more than before!


They are Sox fans....(incase you couldn't tell by his tatoo I had to find a way to show in a photograph)...its the only team they agree on though! Because of that, their wedding will have a bit of a Red Sox flavor to it....I'm anxiously waiting to see the details Kari has put together!

I wanted one of her showing off her ring....see how fun she's going to be on her wedding day....that SMILE!!
Josh and Kari, I can't wait until your day gets here! Thanks for choosing ME!!

Lately the heat in Maine has been extreme....I'm not complaining because after all that rain, its so good to see the sun! Its a little tough with sessions when the weather is so hot and uncomfortable but Sherry and Heather had a plan to cool the kids off after their session and they asked me to tag along for some candids at a local ice cream shop!

See how great they did!!

It's not teasing if they really dont KNOW what they're missing!!!Cody just loves it when we have a session...he's got a serious look that I adore....and he knows it!!

Doesn't this cone in a cup just make you want one NOW!!!! This photo screams SUMMER and I love it!!

A*M*A*Z*I*N*G blue eyes.......I snapped several in this series....he's just so cute!

Sherry & Heather, thank you so much for putting your trust in me to capture your family!! I enjoy my time with you and hope to do it again soon!!!

Enjoy!
~kel~