Garrett ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

Garrett is full of personality and has a love for drama … the theater kind! As you can see his senior session was unique and completely tailored to his vision and style. You can catch Garrett’s amazing acting skills on stage with the Springfield Community Players as well as in Springfield High School productions. If you were ever on the fence about attending one of these events I promise you it well worth you time!! Also, the kid has pretty freaking amazing hair!!!

Kayla - Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

I haven’t known Kayla as long as I have a lot of the other seniors I am photographing this fall … however her spunky energetic personality definitely makes up for lost time. Kayla is one of three senior girls that are eligible for the 12 season athlete award this spring. Kayla has spent countless hours next to Ashley & Julianna over the last few years playing soccer, basketball and softball and I will definitely miss seeing her on the fields & court next year!

Sarah - Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

Other than Ashley, I think I’ve known Sarah the longest of any other senior I have photographed this season! From her days in preschool … and the pretty bad week that involved grape juice spit onto a carpet, swinging from a curtain and broken closet doors …. to today, I have watched her blossom into a mature, confident young woman! Sarah is headed to school to study medicine with the plan of becoming an anesthesiologist. I can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make on our world!

Brady & Collin ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

They may be a bit like Felix & Oscar but Brady & Collin’s friendship is one of those that just doesn’t come around every day. With a friendship as deep as theirs it seemed only sitting to do their senior sessions together …. I had sooooo much fun and I’m pretty sure my cheeks still hurt from all the laughing we did!! I have know them both since they were playing parks & rec baseball and they have both grown into two pretty remarkable young men that I am so happy that I know. Next year life will bring them both in slightly different directions, but if I had to place a bet I wouldn’t hesitate to wager on this life long friendship!

Faith ~ A Sweet River Session

Recently I have had the opportunity to have so many incredible sessions already! I’ve had a blast shooting so many seniors in all sorts of different locations and settings. And I also got the incredible opportunity to have a little change of pace and photograph sweet 3 year old Faith …. down by the river …. with an antique chair …. and amazing hair bows! Oh yeah …. she also serenaded me with a song while playing the ukulele (the girl has some serious mad skills on that!).

Every day I am so grateful for this “little” hobby …. I so often never know what’s around the next corner and just the kind of fun I’m going to have!

Madison ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

If you have ever had the pleasure of watching Maddy on the soccer field you know this girl has some serious wheels! She has the ability to what seems like magically sprint up the field and find the position that she needs to be in.

We headed to the Path of Life Garden in Windsor for her senior session. I have been there a couple times in the past, but not recently and had really forgotten what a special place where you can enjoy nature and reflect. The area provided a great and diverse landscape for Maddy’s photos …. topped off with dinner at Harpoon following the session!


Skylar ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

If it is to be it is up to me ….. this is the mantra of the Springfield wrestling program. I happen to think its a pretty good mantra for all of us. You get out of life what you put into it.

Skylar is one of nine athletes at SHS this graduating year that is on track to become a 12 season athlete. He has dedicated many hours of time that could be spent working or playing onto improving himself as an athlete. He is a member of the football team that is 17 seniors strong this fall. This winter he will continue to wrestle and return to track this spring.

Kaleb ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

Kaleb is another one of those seniors I remember as a little boy from elementary school. I have been lucky enough to photograph him during his sport seasons, as well as capture some family photos and his sister’s senior photos a couple of years ago.

Kaleb is a member of the varsity football and baseball teams and works in logging when he has time (I’m sure this causes his mom just a few extra grey hairs when he leaves for work!). He also took the opportunity to include his dog in his photos!!

I am so happy that I’m a senior portrait photographer and get to spend a little extra time with these kids before they go out and set their mark on the world!

Lucy ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

This class is killing me! It seems like just yesterday they were all little elementary aged kids running around and now suddenly they have all grown up into pretty amazing young adults with a whole lot of promise inside of them!

Lucy is no exception! In fact she spent a few weeks this summer in Tanzania on tour exploring and volunteering in a variety of villages. Lucy has dreams of becoming a journalist and is using her experiences from this journey to pen an article about the area. Lucy also has a passion for dance and cheerleading. This fall you will find her on the football field cheering on our team …. during her session we visited the field to capture her there. Given her graduation year it only seemed fitting to pose her on the 20 yard line!

As a fun little walk down memory lane I’ve included a photo of Lucy from the very first session I had with her way back in the fall of 2012! Looking through that gallery shows me just how much I have grown as a photographer as well.

Good luck on your senior year Lucy! I hope someday I’ll pick up Time Magazine & see something you wrote!

Kija ~ Springfield High School ~ Class of 2020

I got the opportunity to capture another sweet senior from the Springfield High School Class of 2020. We visited one of my favorite local spots to photograph seniors at the North Springfield Dam on a beautiful evening that gave us some pretty fantastic light and a gorgeous view of Mt. Ascutney!

Good luck during your senior year Kija …. have fun & make lots of memories!

Ashley ~ Springfield High School Class of 2020

Almost 18 years ago I sat in bed in a hospital room and held the tiny human who had made me a mother that late afternoon. I was patiently waiting for President George Bush to finish addressing the nation on the 1 month anniversary of 9/11 so that I could tune into the Friends episode. This was the episode where Rachel finally tells Ross she’s pregnant …. during labor my biggest goal was to deliver in time to watch this!

I remember during my pregnancy calculating out what year my baby would graduate from high school. 2020 seemed so far off in the distance … and so futuristic … would we be living life like the Jetsons by then? And now, here we are. In just a couple of days she will start her final year of high school. While the journey hasn’t always been easy, it certainly has gone by fast. I am incredibly proud of all that she has accomplished and of the person that she is becoming.

Ashley is planning to obtain her LNA this school year through the tech center’s health services program, and attend college in the fall to obtain her BSN.

(Warning: I had an incredibly hard time choosing just a few for the Blog …. believe me, this IS just a few! We had a fun couple of days shooting at the town pool, as well as a trip to Manchester, NH to capture a more urban feel)

Lorelei ~ Barn Girl Dancer .... or Dancing Barn Girl

Either way she is growing up way too fast, but into a lovely young lady!

I took Lorelei’s first dance photos SIX years ago! Its crazy just how fast time passes by! We were both just starting out back then …. Lorelei learning cartwheels and dance moves … me still trying to figure out my camera!

Lorelei has added to her list of talents with adding horseback riding to it! She has an incredibly sweet horse and they share such a beautiful bond. I feel quite privileged to have witnessed it! She is still a dancer & gymnast however! Once our horse photo session was complete we did a quick change & captured some of her costumes too!

I can’t wait to see her continue to blossom into an incredibly awesome human!

As a fun little added bonus, the first image is Lorelei 6 years & 1 week younger than she was in the rest!

Ethan ~ Springfield, VT High School ~ Class of 2020

Oh Ethan, where has the time gone? Ethan was my first senior of the class of 2020. This is the first class that I have known the vast majority of them since they were little 5 year olds walking hand in hand with their moms or dads down the halls on their very first day of kindergarten. I subsequently met all the parents as the tears began to flow after we left our babies off in the classrooms. And in what feels like not much more than a blink of an eye, they are about to start their senior years. They have all had their own adventures, struggles and successes and I’m fairly certain this class will be remembered by the school district fondly. (Remember 8th Grade Graduation when they honored retiring teacher, Mr. Green, by each student handing him a golf ball while receiving their diploma?)

Ethan is ready to go into the world and leave his mark! He will certainly be remembered for his sense of humor and providing some of great entertaining moments of Apple Blossom Cotillion (have you ever seen another boy that can kick that well?!)

Congratulations Ethan!



Kelly & Laura's Adoption

What makes a family? Does your family consist of a group of close knit friends … or a couple of furry four legged creates …. or a single person who is the love of your life …. or a small herd of five children? No matter what your family looks like or the steps that it took to get you there …. there are other families with such big hearts they take in children that need a family to call their own.

A few weeks ago I had the great honor to watch the final steps of this process as Laura & Kelly formally welcomed two new faces to their home. All it took was a few pen strokes and the long & exhausting process was finally complete …. those two sweet little boys finally shared not only their home but their last name.

I’ll also give a big shout out to the Honorable Fred Glover, Probate Court Judge and the rest of the staff. No one batted an eye lash as the boys were just boys and explored ever corner of the Courtroom throughout the hearing …. they sat back and watched and let those boys bring a little extra bit of joy to their day!

Ben & Erika

The Blue Bonnets of Texas united with the Vermont Red Clover during Ben & Erika’s special day snuggled in the rolling green hills of southern Vermont this past June. They are such a sweet couple that are so incredibly in love and surrounded by friends and family that love them both just as much. From start to finish their day ran like a well oiled machine (Erika is the youngest of four so there is a lot of wedding planning experience in the family) with every detail well accounted for like lots of food & snacks around for the wedding party so they didn’t starve before they finally got to the reception! Ben & Erika treated their wedding party to a private cocktail time between the ceremony and the reception, with a quick trip to Trout River Brewery …. which also provided a great location for an extra photo op! And as well run as the day was, it never felt robotic or anything other than relaxed and stuffed with love ….. well, and lots of fun, because let me tell you while Team Vermont provided the gorgeous lush location for the wedding, Team Texas totally brought their dancing shoes and tore up the reception!

I do want to give a shout out to Boccaccio’s Salon. If you have never been there to experience what I would like to call the wedding circus, it is certainly a site to behold. The place can get pretty crazy but the end result of an entire wedding party with beautiful hair & make up is pretty spectacular …. Lori, Amanda, Jaime & Daryl certainly worked their butts off and everyone was done beautifully and on time!

Once again I feel so incredibly blessed to be included in such an important day and to be able to witness such an incredibly amazing day!

Vendor Credits:

Hair & Make Up - Boccaccio’s Salon

Ceremony - St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Post Ceremony Photos & Drinks - Trout River Brewery

Reception - Roundhouse at Jackson Gore at Okemo Mountain

Flowers - Marielle Floral Art

Cake & Sweets - The Bearse Bakery

DJ - Super Sounds Entertainment

Frank & Nikki

I find it such an honor when a couple hires me to shoot their wedding. It is a time to capture the expanding and intertwining of families and record the day for generations to come. Frank & Nikki were no different. Nikki made the most spectacular wedding entrance ever by arriving by fire truck (I needed to hop a ride myself to make it to the ceremony …. which has Chase more than a little bit jealous) … it was such a great personal touch to the event …. and made a pretty awesome prop for photos too! They also added a very personal touch by hosting the ceremony at the family orchard & sugar house in Putney!

Vendors for the event:

Ceremony: Harlows Sugar House, Putney, VT

Reception: Club VT, Putney, VT

Flowers: Janelle Haskell/Mariella Floral Art

Cake/Cupcakes: Katelyn Leslie & Joanna Este (friends of the couple, you need these kind of friends in your life … trust me!)

Stagner Family

Over Memorial Day weekend I had the incredible opportunity to capture one of my favorite families. The oldest daughter, Madee, had left for the Navy in November and was home for a couple weeks before being deployed to Sicily, Italy. Good luck Madee, I hope you have an AMAZING time!

Carrie & Jean Carlo

One of my favorite things about my bigger weddings is seeing how many people I have seen before at a wedding …. I call them threads. Even though I live in a not so big town in Vermont, I still get a little note of happiness when I see a guest from another wedding. Nothing was more true for Carrie & Jean Carlo’s wedding last month. You see, just a few years earlier (although I’m pretty sure it felt like merely months) I had the incredible opportunity of shooting Carrie’s sister Emily’s wedding. I was incredibly honored to be asked back into this family for another marriage ….. their family is so full of love and genuine happiness that after an 8 hour day I felt more refreshed and rejuvenated than most night’s sleep seem to give. I also had a blast watching these guests dance (they can dance for real!) …. and was treated to a demonstration that Bohemian Rhapsody can in fact be a dance song!

Here are a few of my favorite shots throughout the day (we had a jolly fellow join us for a shot of the wedding party!). Carrie honored her mother by wearing her veil, and a grandfather who was unable to make the trip from Europe by having his tau tied into her bouquet. The ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Springfield, VT with the reception following at the VFW. We also made a side trip to the Hartness House for some extra photos because the weather wasn’t particularly cooperative. Woodbury Florist provided the gorgeous flowers with Shaw’s baking the wedding cake.

Ocean Adventures 2018

About this time last year I looked at my calendar and realized I was lucky enough to already have three trips to the ocean booked for 2018. At the same time I was searching for inspiration for a photography project for 2018. It seemed to be the perfect solution ….. for the year I would go to the ocean at least once a month. We don’t sit still well and are often in Manchester so I made the commitment to just do it …. and I completed the project.

There is no question that I love the healing powers of the ocean … no matter the time of year. I find it just as healing and peaceful to stand on snow covered sand and listen to the rhythm of the waves, the cries of the gulls overhead as to stand there in barefeet in the August heat joined by the squeals of children playing in the surf (in all fairness you won’t find me complaining that February’s photos were taken in Amelia Island, Florida). It is a place to find peace and healing.

At no point did I feel overwhelmed by the commitment to make it to the ocean once a month …. even during the craziness of fall carving out that one day each month to ensure I completed the mission never felt like work, it was a gift I gave myself to take time and just breathe in the salt filled air and clear my head. I think that is the biggest lesson I learned this year, to take the time and carve out some space to just be. The second biggest lesson would be, no matter the weather pack extra clothing for Chase …. because he just can’t help walking to the edge and playing in the surf!!!!

I leave you with one of my favorite poem’s about the draw of the sea (the first line is almost always rolling about in my head), as well as one of my favorite shots from each visit.

Sea Fever by John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; 

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

Can you still hear the bells?

Last weekend we bundled up Chase in his PJ’s and headed to the North Pole for a visit with Santa on the Hartford, VT Polar Express. This fundraiser for the Rotary Club of White River has quickly become a holiday tradition with Chase and is nothing short of a magical experience. Chase is a big fan of trains so even without all the holiday trimmings, this day is pretty amazing for him anyway. From the moment you board your train car all decked out for the holidays you are quickly transported into Chris Van Allsburg’s delightful story of a boy on the verge on belief in Santa …. The Polar Express.

Shortly after the train got moving a conductor stops by to make sure everyone has their tickets and punches them much to the delight of the children (what kid doesn’t love the magic of a hole punch and the flying confetti?!). We are then treated to the perfectly warmed hot chocolate and some of the most delicious sugar cookies I have ever encountered!

Before we know it, we have arrived in the North Pole where Santa Claus boards the train and delivers each child the first gift of Christmas. The happy squeals of children as Santa enters the train car help serve as a reminder of the magic this season really holds.

After a round of Christmas carols and delivery of the coveted peppermint candies Chase looks forward to each year, we arrive back at the Hartford train station with a little extra belief in our hearts.

Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see. - The Polar Express