I can’t thank you guys enough for how beautiful you made me feel and look…XXXOOO!!!

Thanks to the stylings of the fabulous Miss Dana Barotne, she really brought it home for me- I am totally rocking that Aveda Juneberry lipgloss!! Thanks Dana!!

The only scheduled class, so to speak was when Mary & Justin sat us all down and we wrote what we struggle with in the five areas of life: personal; family; spiritual; business and financial. We then did the same for what our goals are in those five areas.

The rest of the time was spent coming up with 101 goals to achieve in 1001 days. My list includes personal things like #48. ‘put curtains up in the entrance’ to #60. ‘Get fitted properly for a bra’ to Business related items like #53. ‘Learn a new function on my D3′ to #75. ‘Add Maternity section to my website’

to much loftier goals like #98. ‘Shoot U2 in concert’ and #58. ‘Learn how to make tamales’

I encourage everyone to do this, not just photographers! Make yourself a DOER and LESS of a TALKER!!

Check back in a few days, we are all supposed to pick one goal from our list that we have accomplished and blog it!!! I’ll be checking on everyone so get ON IT!!!

Miss Julia from Salty Grapes in Guilford is just one of the most genuine and lovely people I have met in a long time… she just lights up a room when she is in it!

Mr. Justin Marantz is one hot ticket!

Miss Mary was reading this book called ‘Skinny Bitch’ out loud to us on the dock, and I was cracking UP! It’s basically a book about what certain foods do to your body so that you can make educated decisions about eating but told in a let’s just call in ‘honest as hell’ slant!!

Nikki Nicole loves herself some fishing! One of my goals (#37) is to go fishing with Miss Nikki!

Amanda Harris Herzberger and the other man in her life, Strider

Jacob Bergmeier of NoDo Photography in NY, is such a HAM! I tried to be so sneaky but this guy had some serious C 10ike radar on and every time I came with in a 50mm lens of him he was ON, all flexing and stuff!

Travis Flynn of Travis Flynn Photography in Milford TENNESSE! Just kidding, in CT- he sounds like he is from down SOUF with his crazy southern lilt.

Could Amanda be cuter? I am sure she is laughing at some dig on me as innocent as she looks, that girl will keep you in LINE!

Mr. Strider, looking all regal

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Christy Murray (my fellow Mafia member!!!) was taking it all in- the sunset and the photographers!

Tina Parsadanov, also a Mafia alum, laughing it up- or just clearly uncomfortable with em shooting her! But she can make a MEAN peach martini….

Dave & Jo of Allegro Photography- the narrator and townsfolk respectively…

Miss Eileen Broderick of Eileen Broderick Photography (the INFORMER!) having an intense conversation with Mrs. Mary Marantz!

Miss Joy Moody of soon to be Philly fame striking a pose for Krystal Prue of Studio Foto and Mr. Justin Marantz. How crazy do those two look with their one eyed willy eye!!

Ummm…. I wanna look this hot when I shoot! Go Mary!

The Marantz’s did a mentoring session with miss Val McCormick and asked Paul & Krystal of to model… they are SO CUTE!!!! I loved these two I shot of them on the dock.

I love you!!!

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So Amanda was super smart and started the day off with a yoga session with the most amazing instructor, Heidi. It was so peaced out and a great way to just mellow out and focus on what lies ahead….So during our session Heidi asks us to just be present and focus on Amanda and how much you love her and Jeff and well, that is IT! I am a mess, and can’t open my eyes (bc for this you are sitting outside listening to her voice and the wind and it’s beautiful and great and your eyes are closed so you’re not self conscious or anything) It was overwhelming but in a really good way

Here Amanda and her girls have a nice relaxing lunch on the lawn before they start the whole ‘getting ready’ hoopla
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So since I am a guest I am not the official photographer of the wedding but that certainly does not stop me from shooting! I can’t help myself!! But I am ever respectful of Daria and Andy’s job and am trying to stay out their way. So I coordinate with Amanda to come over before so I can rock some details. Finding a spot for the dress was fun… this window was great and gave me the light I was craving for it

Now. Her SHOES were SO freaking awesome. And PINK! And SPARKLY!! So I will spare you all and only post one in this grouping but they are going to have a post of their own I shot SO MANY variations!! But the pink and green went so well with the whole preppy thing that was going on so I put that shot here, to coordinate!

After yoga, Justin Mary and I hung out on the beach and I found this awesome stone in the shape of a heart! Amanda has a cool collection of these stones with their white stripes that I think are so pretty… so of course I thought it would be really nice for her ring shot! I shot it on top of her Mom’s coffee table, it is so rich and textured and natural
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Now Amanda and her friends have had these shoes for years, there is a whole ‘Sisterhood of the traveling pants’ kind of thing going on with them where I believe they would trade them around and give them to the girl in the group who needed to be cheered up the most, please ladies correct me if this is wrong! So Amanda swore she was going to wear these for her wedding but decided to buy a newer version of them for the day!

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Her bridesmaids were just hanging out by this barn…! Yes they were! AMAZING!!!

Here they are watching Amanda and Jeff arrive from their ‘first look’ session with Daria and Andy

How excited is she?????

The light here was amazing…. Daria and Andy got some great stuff I am sure, I can’t wait to check out their shots!

madras + seersucker dress in the back? Yeah. LOVLEY!!!!

Amanda’s Dad and her brother John were standing by each other and they had their hands in the same exact position! It reminded me of a photo I took of my little brother Derek and my Dad and they had their hands in the same position and it was so interesting for me to see family resemblances in hands! So this shot just called my name!!

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Right before the ceremony Amanda was so pumped! She kept checking the window to see who else was arriving so she could get the show on the road and marry that Jeff! Which just gave me some nice opportunities to shoot, so I took ‘em!

And here comes Mrs. Marantz! All crying and stuff!

See? Pretty pretty PRETTY! Nice light! Beautiful bride! Wedding anticipation!

And this….. uhhhhh!!!! This is the shot that just gets me right THERE. I am choked up just writing this!

This is the two in the one-two punch out hay maker of emotion for me… seeing Amanda walking out into the bright light with her Dad, into the future with Jeff, into what lies ahead…

seersucker MADNESS!!! Add a yellow lab? And you have some preppy craziness going on

I loved these french doors and tried to utilize them in every way possible

While scoping out the scene during the getting ready shoot I loved the view from this window and ran as fast as my little feet could hustle me up the stairs! Out of breath for sure, but man, I love this shot where you can see George reading and see the vista behind the ceremony… their property is so beautiful!

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I didn’t get too much of Amanda and Jeff during their ceremony, I was trying to stay on the perimeter and out of Daria and Andy’s way, but I love this little moment between them!

So while on the perimeter I walked down the hill on the side and got super low and shot the whole scene, it is pretty!

Miss Amanda wiping away her tears of happiness!!

And those shadows were pretty boss so I tried to rock them in the coming down the aisle shot and try something new!

Now this pictures gets me all choked up too! How is THIS for making friends in the industry? Here is my main kick a$$ shooter Mike, The Marantz’s who are rocking stuff left and right and our new BFF Daria Bishop! Photographers UNITE

Justin took Amanda’s boquet and went all Grace Ormonde on me! In his SEERSUCKER SUIT! Yeah, that’s right.

This was during their first dance! I actually shot the majority of their first dance as all feet shots because they were so animated…

I love these next few shots of them during their first dance as well…


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Daria pulled them out so we could utilize the incredible sunset… it was like the papparazzi was there! Me, Mike, Justin, Mary and Daria were ALL shooting! I love what I got, with her little feet peeking out

And then Mike and I decided to play and I shot some of him and his adorable wife Kim and he shot me and my nutty husband Dave (Daria and Mike got some crazy good shots of him tearing up the dance floor which I can’t wait to see again!!)

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And Justin and Mary cuddling into the wee hours of the morning…

Check out MIKE’s blog and Justin and Mary’s! I know they are going to post some crazy cool stuff too!

Stay tuned for the slide show!

And on a little aside here, who would have thought that I would have met such an incredible life long friend from going to a photography networking meeting???? Yay PUG!!

I have broken this post up into FOUR: the rehearsal, the wedding images with stories the wedding slide show and of course the photo booth madness slide show!!

What’s this event without Strider? It isn’t! He was so in his element out here in the rolling hills of Vermont… a little out of sorts by all of the activity surrounding his mommy & daddy but he was chill, as always!

Now Miss Amanda was a MESS, in the best possible way… she had her heart out there every moment and was taking it all in. For those of you who have not yet been married, let’s just say that it is an emotional day! So she took in what she could, and then cried it out! Took more in, cried more out! My heart was in a knot watching my little Amanda experience all of this love and support… it was so touching and was the tear trigger for yours truly!

George (Amanda’s Dad) Sharon (Jeff’s Mom) and Kitty (Amanda’s Mom) taking in the scene… I love watching the parents, because this is a big day for them too

Excuse me while I take a break to shoot a j crew ad!

I love Jeff! He is so witty in his really-deep-voice-rocket-scientist-kind-of-way! He is so good for Amanda and she is so good for him, I am looking forward to seeing them SO MUCH when they get back from their mini-moon!!

Amanda and her Dad are very close- every time she went near him she cried! And so did I! I just love the look on his face as they are walking down th aisle

Reed was playing the trumpet for the ceremony- he was great!

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Poor Strider was laid OUT from all of the activity! Here the bridal party gathers in a circle to all take a turn to bless the rings – they literally pass them around the entire circle and each person holds them for a moment and then passes them on. It’s a really beautiful part of the ceremony!

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A little ‘rehearsal’ cuddling

Did I mention that Strider was laid out?

Amanda’s Mom Kitty and the man of the hour, the point person extraordinaire, WILL!! He was the go to guy for so much, and was so helpful and awesome

The future Mrs. Herzberger, looking all serious!

download The Fugitive movie Amanda and George going off for a stroll, and Strider doesn’t want to be left behind!

So going from the rehearsal to the dinner I got LOST, like grade A ,I have NO IDEA where the HECK I am kind of lost! But isn’t this pretty!!! (thank you John for guiding me back!)

Now Mrs. Mary Marantz was a nice addition to the emotional pie! How cute is she?

Mr. Andy Bishop the other half of Daria Bishop photography

! He is so great and was so much fun to shoot next to!

Yes it is!!! Mrs. Daria Bishop!!! FINALLY we get to meet! She is SO freaking hilarious and funny to watch in action, her commentary was cracking me UP! Not to mention that she and Andy are such incredible photographers, it was great watching another photog team tear it up!

During an emotional toast

Now Mary does this thing when she is going to cry where she fans her face, like a true southern belle!! It doesn’t stop her from crying but it sure looks cute when she does it!!!

Amanda’s brother John is an artist and did a painting for Jeff & Amanda as a gift it was beautiful

And what a beautiful night!

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Tomorrow I will be hosting a Portrait House PHundraiser at my studio (24 Lorraine Street Hartford) to raise money for us to officially attain non-profit status! The money we are raising will go towards paying for the attorney so that we can do that!

THIS IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST PHOTOGRAPHERS!

It starts at 7:00- it’s cupcakes and cocktails- and we are asking for a $20 donation at the door. We are also going to have an awesome PHoto booth- it’s $1 a shot!

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There will be some fun door prizes as well…. including a PRIVATE MENTORING SESSION with yours truly! Maybe I’ll get Mike to throw in a back rub or something too… I know he has a big fan base!

Give me a shout if you need directions or anything!

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Jackie getting the bird’s eye view of the meeting

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There are never enough pictures of me and my girl Krystal because she and I are always the ones shooting!

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If you make a funny face Mike will shoot it and I will post it, so check yourselves!

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Me, Paul, Pam and Mike

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The lovely Jane of Iris Photography hung until late night since we live right around the corner from each other!

Last night marked a year ago that I hosted my first PUG meeting, so what better way to commemorate that then to host it again? We had almost FORTY photographers in attendance, which is killer- not to mention a whole gaggle of newbies!

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In early November the power of our CT PUG group was tested- by a hurricane. One of our PUG members, Richard Esposito, got stuck traveling in the Bahamas a week longer than he had planned on staying and couldn’t get back in time for a wedding he had. What a nightmare, not only for the photographer but his clients, who had already established a great relationship with him. Krystal of Studio Foto and I were able to cover at the Norwich Inn & Spa for RE and had a great time doing it. For one, we both really love shooting and were excited to shoot together. Krystal is one of those photographers who just gets lost in her shoots, she loves it so much! So we were happy to know that we were really helping out our friend, RE. It’s just good photographer Karma to be there to help out a colleague! The funniest part is that RE eventually made it to the very end of the reception! So as a current client or potential client reading this, know that there is power and security in our networking group, our awesome CT PUG!! A big thanks to Cindy & George for being so wonderful to work with under such unusual circumstances!

Punisher: War Zone movie download Secret Diary of a Call Girl movie I couldn’t run this afternoon, my legs were way too sore! But I am up for a run for tomorrow, my goal being a 35 minute run. I learned while training with my friend Renee that it is not about how far you run but for how long. It’s a hard concept to embrace but once I became a ‘runner’ I started to get it. Just saying I ran for an hour was wonderful- it didn’t matter that it was a 5 mile run, but that I ran for an entire HOUR. I still can’t believe I did that, and only once. I was running with my sister Tere. We were just chatting the whole time and going all around my neighborhood and Elizabeth Park and just lost track of how far we went- just a ‘can you go another block?’ ‘Sure!’ It was killer, and yes I burst into tears when she said that we had gone an hour. It just had seemed like such an insurmountable goal when I first started- I mean- I couldn’t even make it to the end of my block when I first started running! Now I run, listen to music and kind of space out a bit only to snap out of it and realize, wow, I am all the way over HERE? Then if I’m tired I’m bummed that I now hove to get my lazy butt all the way back home!

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That being said I am really excited about the 5K

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, am greatful that I am not doing it alone and thankful that there may in fact be at least one person there to cheer us on! Bob 2.0 in the HOUSE!!

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So Steve DePino is not only a terrific photographer but has quickly grown to become one of my dearest friends these past few months. One of the reasons I love this guy so much is not only for his totally ridiculous humor but because he is learning to really value the importance of networking and lending a professional helping hand, as we are all learning this. In the not-too-distant past we all used to hoard our ‘secrets’ whatever the hell those are, really! Now, we have this incredible open network of photographers in Connecticut! Case in point: Steve was asked to do a seminar for up and coming photographers in Vienna in April. Very cool! What a wonderful opportunity to show people what’s what and impart everything you have learned. I am so excited and proud of Steve!!

oh but it gets better!

He has asked me to join him in running the seminar with him!! I am SO excited (can you tell?) In the olden days Steve may have taken this opportunity and kept it close to himself and not shared. Not only is Steve NOT doing that but he is giving me, another photographer, an opportunity to shine as well as he knows how much I enjoy talking about photography and teaching others. We’ve already got our tickets and are both super excited to share in this amazing experience together! Thanks SO much Steve for this incredible opportunity!

Had to do a little add-on for my selfish and totally unfunny boy, Jeff Reilly

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