it's electric!

Testing the fence.  The cows were impressed (and startled).

The Electric Slide is for suckers. 

Stay tuned for more pics from Meghan and Ricks glorious day! 

Let's get this party started!

Just realized I never put a link up here to the first Two House wedding off 2011!  It was oh so beautiful.  A spattering of rain to put a little shine on everything,  happy fun people and a love so strong and sweet...it was an honor to be part of Kate & Brian's day.

So  hop on over  check out our wedding season kick off!

Better than a clown! (nothing against you clowns)

We've all spent that special day with our little guy or girl, stalking them with a video camera, trying to capture that moment...all that 'right now' before it becomes 'remember when.'  And it's a good thing there's footage, because later you realize the 'right now' was lost on you.  From behind the camera we're invisible, absent.  In an effort to make a memory tangible, the actual recollection is watching the candles being blown out on a  LCD screen.  We miss the full experience so we can watch a version of  it later on the computer.

Well put the camera down and join the party! I'm happy to announce that I'm now offering video/short film editing packages for birthdays, events, whatever!  It's the same price as my "standard shoot" photography package, but it's really quite a deal.  The editing is a little bit more intense than your standard still photos, but man!  it's so much fun. Here's a little video I did for a certain little man turning 3.   It's amazing watching it now, a mere few months later.  I see those same kids and they've already changed, grown. Man, it goes by fast.

Bottle a moment to carry with you. You'll be so happy you did.

Vermont Audubon Wildlife Garden : Event

Sunday I took photos at the Together Green Volunteer even at the Vermont Audubon in Huntington.   30 eager volunteers arrived ready to dig up some open lawn and plant a wildlife garden.  It was absolutely amazing how quickly, and cheerfully these guys transformed the space.  Thanks to everyone who made working the event so much fun. Especially to my former client Gwen!  (That's her tying up the teepee). 

Fresh air, mountains, and digging in the dirt...I need more gigs like this. 

The Lillys : Growing Family

A good friend is someone you can call when you need to talk.  Someone who takes your kids for an hour or two so you can get a much needed breather. And someone who will indulge you when you say you have a vision of a maternity bathtub shoot, and enthusiastically collaborates and brainstorms (toothbrushes!) all in the name of fun and creativity.

Carin Lilly is not only a great friend, but as a talented photographer , she is also a trusted sounding board and colleague.  Together Carin and I are Two House Photo, teaming up to capture declarations of love all over Vermont.  We are both mothers to two boys, only she has a sweet little girl brewing in her belly.  I don't know how I've managed to surround myself with so many gorgeous pregnant women, but I must admit it's great for my portfolio.   I could fill it up with Carin and Jess's gorgeous boys, not to mention her sweet bump.  Can't wait for little girl Lilly to arrive on the scene.  Mamarazzi will be in full effect!

Moving Pictures

Not too long ago I started messing with the video function on my camera.  Most DSLRs now have HD video capability, which is pretty cool, though it never really occurred to me to use it too much.  However, just as with the advancement of my still photography, the boys inspired me to get serious and develop more expertise.  I mean, photos of your kids are great, but movies have a quality all their own.  You can hear their little voices, capture those fleeting periods as they master a new skill, watch personalities and relationships in a specific moment in time.  If a photo speaks a 1000 words, a film speaks a million.

The movies started simple, one take, one moment.  Then as I became more familiar with editing and the tools available to me, I started branching out a bit, trying to tell a story.  And I found that I LOVED it.  It's a completely different way to approach a visual subject. And as I added the element of audio, in most cases for me music, editing became an art in and of itself.

After sharing my indulgent home movies with friends I was asked to create my first commercial video.  With social media like Twitter and Facebook, and video sites like YouTube and Vimeo, short films can be a creative and entertaining way to share information.  I jumped at the chance to help my friend Cyndi create a promotional video for her new cloth diaper service, Smarty Pants.  Smarty Pants is not only the brain child of a dear friend, but an idea I can get behind. I hope our little video helps garner support and has the customers lining up!

(I suggest watching at 480p, but you might have to let if buffer for a minute)

If you think your business could benefit from a short film like this, I'd love to hear from you!

Three Sisters (and a little brother) : Family

These are my kind of girls.  The kind that aren't afraid of getting dirty, scaling cliffs and jumping from boulders...in pink cowboy boots.