I think it's Kids Month here

Of course as the holidays roll around, Mom and Dad suddenly realize they need new shots of the kids or they'll catch hell from Grandma on Dec 25th--- so last week I had three families here over the weekend - here are a few (all mixed up) from all 3 shoots!

he will LOVE this when he's about 15 years old...

happy thanksgiving

hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and thanks as always, for checking in here to my blog. It is much appreciated

thats me in the back with the yellow bowtie...

VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography

David duChemin's newest book "Visionmongers" is a very different type of photography book, that I not only think all 'newbies' should read - but so should anyone in the biz (I myself have been in it for almost 20 years) It's a book I wish had been available when I started - a direct, thought provoking and honest appraisal of what the business is REALLY like.

These days, we now have the phenomena of 'weekend warriors' who suddenly fancy themselves 'PRO' (a word you'll hesitate using once reading this) after spending $2000 one equipment, deciding they are 'photographers' and who wonder why they are not booking what they feel they 'should' be after 10 months in business. The process of learning, growing, developing your eye and improving OVER TIME seem to be steps that are often forgotten, ignored and overlooked.

This book is like an honest wake-up call...a supportive, realistic and thought-provoking take on what being a photographer really means.

Buy it . Read it...think.

Collages photographers 'shoot-out' in New Haven

This has been a busy week of what turned out to be a lot of photo-networking (I really hate that expression, but it's the only properly descriptive one I can come up with right now) We had our monthly PUG meeting at Steve Depinos house Wednesday evening, who gave a cool presentation called 'How My Mother Runs My Business', which was a 'repeat' of the talk he recently gave in New Orleans. So we were lucky enough to get a local presentation that did not involve flying or drinking overpriced Hurricanes.

Tuesday (i'm going backwards here) was a fun event in Darien at The Meadowlands put on by the Bosco Bridal group, where I caught up with folks in the industry, got gently reminded by vendors that I owe them photographs, and put back a few mini baskets of Fish & Chips. yummy!

But it all started Monday at the Collages C.L.A.S.S. meeting in New Haven at Anthony DeCarlo and Steve Blazo's studio space in a cool warehouse. When we arrived I felt that they had REALLY gone out of their way to get this all set up for us in advance, with multiple shooting 'stations', lighting all set to go and a gaggle of rotating models that went from location to location. It was a neat way to get to photograph multiple models in a very unique setting.

Anyhow if you haven't tuned out by now- here are some of my results, and I can't wait to see what everyone else came up with (you know, everyone shooting basically the same thing but with WAY different interpretations!)

Meet Stephanie and Robert

a great post from last years wedding in Italy thanks to Traci Romano!

robert norman's time machine, featuring Libby & Mike

Alright, alright---dont give me a hard time. i KNOW this wedding was a month ago and i'm just getting to it now, but i'm trying to catch up, so cut me some slack!

Now Libby and Mike had their reception at her Grandmothers amazing house in Farmington CT, the same place her sister has her wedding & reception about a year ago. So it a little deja vu for me, as i saw many of the same familiar faces. I love that though, as you really feel involved, welcomed and almost part of the family (at least for a few hours)

dont ask why- it looked cool to me in that light---

how's THAT for Gothic New England?

these guys - who were nicknamed 'The Ding-A-Lings', were responsible for ringing the tower bell immediately after the ceremony.

since we did not have any blowing leaves, I suggested the Groomsman lend a helping hand :)

...and of course, boys and their tractors...

check out that little expression and fur coat!

they had prints of themselves as kids, and Libby is ALWAYS smiling so I could hardly ask her to get all hyper-serious for a silly shot, but Mike adapted to to the part quite nicely. This picture still makes me laugh--

The minister was apologizing for the peeling paint, and i said "NO! This is MUCH more interesting than a solid white building!!"

listen, i Know--its' late...people have been drinking and in case you haven't noticed---THERES A HEAD ON THE WALL WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! What ELSE was i supposed to do?

Sakski & Ryan October 24, 2009

....these 2 crazy kids got married several weeks back , and i've been a tad tardy posting with work & my vacation sandwiched in---but better late than never.

The weather was supposed to be horrible that day ( Ryan and I had an expletive filled conversation about the impending conditions that day over the phone several days before), so we had all sorts of alternate plans on what to do.

BUT

The weather RIGHT WHEN WE HAD TO SHOOT OUR FORMALS CLEARED UP LIKE MAGIC. IT WAS AMAZING. Blustery yes, but rain---NADA So we managed to head to the beach where they got engaged and do our stuff---

Now heres a really cool fact - they are having a 2nd ceremony/reception in India - with something like 500 guests and Ryan is arriving in a traditional outfit, on horseback with a sword in hand (!!!). Sadly I will not be there - but was so happy to be able to share this portion of their wedding adventure!

On our way to the beach--it was a tad cold so the guys gave the gals their jackets---so valiant!

You know - the "Rock Band" shot :)

I love me some backlit archways---

make him smile, dammit!!!

not long after this, it starting raining---pouring...again!

we were in quite a rush at this point to get to the reception at the Mystic Marriott ,but I said --"...PLEASE give me like 1 minute to grab this shot." on the way out of the beach back to the cars

best of luck with wedding round 2 you guys - can't wait to see some images from that!!!