.10 years and a thank you.

“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies”. -Diane Arbus. Who doesn't like oreos?  Ok maybe not everyone loves oreos like I do, but who doesn't like cookies? brownies? ice cream? sweets of any kind really?   Well my motto is figuratively as well as literally... BRING ON THE COOKIES!  I love being a photographer.  From the time I was 13 and first saw an image magically appear in that darkroom I was hooked.

I never gave much thought into what I was going to actually do with my photo degree from Northeastern University.  I think I hoped I'd take some amazing fine art photo and sell it for millions.  The few times someone would mention wedding photography I would turn up my nose and say "who would want to do that?”  Well turns out I would and I just didn't know it.

When I moved to Texas back in 2007 and found my way to Debbie Brower I really had no idea just how lucky I was.  I knew how to take photos, I was quite good at portraits but I'd never shot a wedding.  I guess Debbie saw some potential because I ended up working as a photographer for Image Forward Photography photographing weddings, engagements, seniors and families.  I learned so much from my time With Debbie and her girls at Imagine Forward-  These girls taught me that wedding photography was actually really fun!!!  They taught me that there was so much more than stuffy boring formals and that working with brides was fun!

Here I am 10 years into running and owning my own wedding photography studio and I could’t be more grateful that I’ve been given this wonderful opportunity.

Here’s to 10 years and hopefully 10 more!

Timber Hill Farm | Gilford, NH

A few months ago I reached out to Mindy of Private Weddings and Events to ask about this new venue, Timber Hill Farm, I kept seeing her post about on social media.  She told me this wonderful family had just opened their farm for weddings and events and that I should come check it out for myself.  Well, if you know me and you saw one photo of this place you'd know I was ready to go that afternoon.  Unfortunately with the crazy schedules that make up the summer months we decided to hold off and plan a trip when they had their new sail tent up and custom wood tables in place just before their big open house in early July.  When I was ready to make the trip I asked Anne Skidmore of Anne Skidmore Photography to come join me for an afternoon of take photos at this beautiful location in Guilford looking across the fields to the lake and then right up to Mt. Washington!!!  Let me tell you we were FAR from disappointed!  This venue is amazing!  In real estate they say "location, location, location" and as far as a wedding venue goes- this has one of the best locations.   I can't wait to shoot here *hint hint brides* and get back up there with a bride and groom to add to all these stunning landscape shots! Thank you Mindy for having Anne and I and thank you to the Howe family for letting us preview your open house and for the wonderful tour of the property!  Enjoy :)

xoxo, Spring

Rediscovering Film

Under the christmas tree in 1997 was a Pentax K1000 with my name on it.  Opening that gift, I literally jumped for joy.  I had spent the previous summer at summer camp in the dark room learning the basics of black and white photography.  I remember just how the cool damp air smelled with a hint of fixer in the air, the first time I saw an image that I created appeared just beneath the surface of the developer.  That was the feeling of pure joy.  With my Pentax in hand I spent all four years of high school playing in the dark room.  As a freshmen I couldn't get into a real photography class but due to my unwavering persistence Mr. Strom allowed a friend of mine and myself to pay the lab fee and spend our after school hours in the lab taking an informal photo class, and from then on I never left. The question every high school kid hears regularly though out their 4 years is "What do you want to study in college"? I personally always hated that question.  I didn't know what I wanted to do.  I had thought about marine biology (like most girls my age the dream of swimming with dolphins was high on the list) but when it came down to it science was interesting but I wasn't passionate about it.  The only thing I could ever say I was truly passionate about was photography.  So at some point along the way I started answer that college question with "Art" or "Photography".  Quite often my answer was met with a surprised look that often reminded me of pity.  I could see it in their eyes "this poor girl is going to spend a fortune to study art and then end up working in a restaurant".  And truth be told, I never figured that I would truly make a living with art - but I didn't care.

Years later I am still in shock that I have a successful business using my degree- who would have thought!  But today everything is digital.  No more darkroom, no more printing my own images by hand or developing my own film.  The magic of photography that won my heart all those years ago is no longer a big part of todays photography world.  So I have decided to take some time in 2014 and dig back into my photography roots and rediscover shooting and developing film.  I'll still be shooting with my digital cameras for weddings and some portrait sessions but I'm going to branch out into film and also build a darkroom at my home where I can develop my own film and print my own images.  No more uploading to a lab, now many of my prints will be hand made with real photographic paper and chemicals!!!

I am BEYOND excited about this change in my business.  Of course I'm not making this a 100% switch but I'm excited to work this into my business as well as work on some personal projects.  It's time to rediscover my love for film and my passion for hands on photography.  So stay tuned as I plan to document the whole process here on my blog and on my Facebook page, from buying film, building my dark room and of course making prints!

XOXO Spring

Photo Credit: Behind The Curtain