Ghosts and Gravestones

Imagine...
* 100 lbs of dry ice
* being locked inside an ancient 17th century graveyard until midnight
* along with 11 actors dressed as if they were just raised from the dead

it was quite the experience.

My buddy Michael was contracted through trolley tours of Boston and he invited me along for the Ghosts and Gravestones assignment.

I was busy with dollies, lights, coffins and not burning my flip flop donned toes with dry ice, so I only got a few shots on the Trolley and at the burial ground before the sun went down.... but just wait till you see the REAL ones ;)

I loved this group! There is something magical about actors...something about the way they transform a story from simple words to a multi sensory experience. A few gave me a demo of their presentation and I was so intrigued.... I LOVE STORIES. If anyone ever want to go on the tour, let me know... They granted me and my guests free admission anytime I want ;)

Copps Hill Burial Ground in the North End...

:)

Maine-ly Gwyneth

This weekend offered the MOST BEAUTIFUL weather so I hopped on up to New Hampshire for a little outdoor adventure. Long walks, lakes, sleeping in the grass, the woods, ice cream cones... essentially its been pure heaven.
My heart sings in nature...squeals is probably more like it actually. I've contemplated forgoing the idea of buying a home and simply buying a plot of land with a tent. You think I could run a photo-biz from a tent?

hmmm....

Anyway, to top it all off, I did a fun shoot today in York, Maine. I had the opportunity to visit this area of Maine last fall and fell in love with it. It is what sparked the desire to move East....yup.... I LOVE NEW ENGLAND! I truly believe that moving here is by far one of the best decisions I have ever made.

ok, enough rambling...

This is Gwyn... Gwyn is most definitely a supah-star :)

And, Maine light? seriously?!... it rocks my face off!

Have a fabulous Holiday everyone! :)

"This is abundant life..."

It's been one of those days...
...one of those days where you are overwhelmed with the beauty, abundance, and joy in life.
It's the little things that make me smile... make me relish the simplicity in life.
I often find the greatest joy in the simplest forms and I couldn't help but share...

1. I headed up to New Hampshire this weekend for a little outdoor adventure, and on the train ride up, there were deer running along side the train. I just watched in awe at the grandeur of it all.

2. Then the gorgeous sunset that you cant really describe with words... so I wont even try. But, coming over the hill and seeing its illuminary majesty made me literally stop in my tracks.

3. The Lilac bush outside my house blossomed and now fills a vase in my living room and releases a frangrance that makes me pause every time I walk through. There is just something about the smell of fresh lilacs...

4. Witnessing a feeble elderly gentleman amatively grab his wife and kiss her with the passion of a young newlywed... oh man, now THAT was beautiful.

4. Aaaaand, a new favorite song. (la la la....and I'm gonna celebrate being alive... la la la)

Thats all, no pictures today (but I have a fun shoot in Portsmouth this weekend, so stay tuned), I just wanted to share a little bit of this amazingly incredible life that I am so blessed to be a part of. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend my friends and don't forget to relish the beauty in the simple things!

:)

Film Shoot

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being the still photographer on the set of a short film in downtown Boston.
The film is a documentary style film and part of it was interviewing 4-6 year olds about life.
It was interesting to see the behind the scenes workings of a film... but the best part was stifling the laughter that was elicited as a result of the kids' answers.

Here are a few behind the scenes shots...

This was the best part.... the kiddos.

Check out some of their answers to "What is Love?"...

Love is just love - Michael, 6yrs
Love is your heart, thats why you have it. -Jonathan, 6
Hugging and Kissing. -Connor, 6
Love is giving flowers. -Meredith 5
Love is caring for people and giving them respect. -Caroline 6

One little girl (6yrs old) was going on and on about politics... she was talking about John McCain and Hilary CliFFton. haha.

Thanks, Bobby, for hiring me on...I had a FANTASTIC time!

Love is... | may

"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller


May is my all time FAVORITE month, so this month's 'Love is...' is more than just a charity, it's something I am thoroughly excited about. So excited, in fact, that I have officially signed on to be a part of the founding team. I even get a cool title like "Senior Coordinator" or something crazy like that. Ooooh, PHancy schmancy! :)

Originally created last year by Justin and Mary Marantz to benefit Habitat for Humanity, we are now joining forces to take it to the next level. Currently obtaining our official non-profit status, we are going full force with this project.... extending far beyond the the borders of one charity alone, as an avenue to allow photographers the opportunity to use their gifts/talents/abilities to give back to a greater cause.

So, allow me to introduce you to The Portrait House...


My grandpa once told me the analogy of a magnifying glass... he said that when you move it around, it will do it's job of magnifying and thats great, that's what it is supposed to do. BUT it's only when you hold it still in one place that it serves as a conduit to the rays of the sun and starts a fire. It's then that it reaches beyond function and has IMPACT!
That is our passion as an initiative... Taking a diffused group of people who all want to do good and realizing how infinitely powerful we can be when we harness that power for good. From there, the sky is the limit.

Join with us as we venture into the world of helping to make others lives a little easier. Our first project involves raising $50,000 building a house with Habitat. Friends of PH have already been working hard and started chipping away at our goal!
For more information on how you can get involved, shoot us an email ... shyla@theportraithouse.org

Look, we even have cool shirts...!
When I received my customized shirt, My brother and Tyler helped me do a fun photoshoot... (ingredients: one soft box, one bare bulb as rim, two road flares, a little rain, and three crazy photographers.)

and if you want a good laugh... here's an outtake from the shoot ;)

Toire wa doko desu ka?

Back in January, I shot The Bachelors from Project Everlasting for their new promo materials and such. Soon after, I was contacted by a publisher in Japan who would be writing a book on their endeavors about the possibility of using my images. So I recieved an email yesterday that it is finally finished and here is the magazine write up ....
Can anyone read Japanese?
Not quite sure how the boys will feel being surrounded by pink doilies, but whatever ;)

Here are a few more shots used in their campaign for The Bachelor Pad. These guys make me laugh so much!



(ps) I googled Japanese phrases, I think the title (Toire wa doko desu ka?) says "where is the Toilet?". See, you learn something by visiting my blog. Those are essential phrases to learn in the event you need to use the ladies (or men's) room in Japan.

Taren & Brian | engaged

A few weeks back, I joined Justin and Mary at the Make-a-Wish Gala and it was there I met Taren. Taren and Brian hired the Marantzes to shoot their wedding long before the gala and neither knew they would run into eachother there.... small world! Anyway, Taren and I totally hit it off and talked long after the event was over, so when Justin and Mary invited me to shoot their engagement session this weekend, I was thrilled.
Its always fun to watch how other people shoot and communicate with their subjects. I learn something new everyday.

So, my friends, Taren and Brian....

Thanks Justin and Mary! Now, get dressed and lets go shoot! ;)

Abigail | pt. deux

After our shenanigans at the equestrian center (jumping fences, backing the minivan into the stables while blasting music, and using an empty stall to set up our make-up station) I thought we were done for the day.... but NO! Abby pulled out this vintage dress and I stuck flowers in her hair (shoulda added silver bracelets on her wrists ;) [bonus points if you can figure out that reference] and we played around with the last few moments of daylight.

THIS was my favorite shot in this dress. She looks so 'Little house on the Prairie-eque". and yes, I used to watch that ALL the time as a kid. :)

[ps] if any of you out there in blog-land can help me figure out why all these images look flat and lifeless in Firefox Browser but fine in Safari, Ill give you a cookie! I even tried the sRGB color space thing but it I just cant figure it out!

Random Fun-ness....

If you know me, I am the Queen of 20 questions. I will ask a barrage of inquiries aimed at getting to know the most about someone as possible. I am so enamored with the stories of peoples lives and finding out who they really are.

A few days ago, I was asked the following question and thought it was so great that found myself asking the same question to everyone I know. Its quite interesting to see what people say.
Bear with my cheesiness, humor me, and allow me a glimpse into who you are :)

OK, here goes...

It's the movie of your life... ending credits. What car are you driving, what's on the horizon and what song is playing?


To get us going, here is what I said...
What car am I driving?: lifted open air jeep, covered in mud.


What's on the horizon? sunrise over the mountains.


Song playing: 'Blessed' by Brett Dennen


what would the ending credits of the movie of your life look like? :)

Abigail | senior-model-photographer

I am easily excited, easily amused and easily pleased. I dont know why really,...Its just how I roll. But there are a some things in life that bring my heart immeasurable joy... joy to the point that I sometimes feel like my heart may explode.
Shoots like this (and the previous post as well) are incidents that elicit that joy, that passion and that excitement. Perhaps its the foreplay of styling the clothes, playing hairstylist, and acting as make-up artist that lay the foundation for an amazing time shooting? Or perhaps its just an inexplainable chemistry between, me, the camera and the model? Whatever causes that spark, though, I feel like it has a way of igniting my heart and translating into an inexpressible feeling that I cannot release... so i jump... and dance... and squeal.....
It’s quite hilarious but it’s real.

This shoot was no exception. I danced and squealed quite a bit. 6 hours of shooting and 3,000 images later I have to split this into two separate posts because I just had so much fun and I I am unable to narrow it down to fit in one post :)

So this is Abigail Smith, she is a photographer out of Oklahoma who is following in the child prodigy footsteps of the likes of Sarah Barlow and Joshua Smith. At 18 she is running a successful photography business and rockin’ the mid-west. She recently graduated HighSchool but did not have senior pictures taken so we remedied that.

Meet the amazing Abigail....