I'm taking a little break from blogging weddings this week to share a unique family session I had the wonderful opportunity of photographing. When a friend of mine (who also happens to be a wedding photographer) asked me to photograph her family's trip to the Polar Express in Portland, Maine, I was so excited! I've never had the opportunity to experience such a ride and I'm very glad she chose me to document this special Christmas occasion.

As for the back story, Cassandra and I met through a local photography group and have photographed a couple weddings together. Being in Portland brought back memories of our last experience photographing a wedding together — one which we'll likely not soon forget (but that story is for another day).

The Polar Express train ride departed from the Ocean Gateway in Portland, Maine. The lobby was decorated in Polar Express decor and I watched as all of the families that were to ride the train arrived. The kids wore their pajamas as to mimic the movie. It was also very nice that the train conductor stopped to take pictures with all of the kids.

The train soon arrived and we all got on board. The conductor went around to all of the train cars and punched the tickets of all of the children. Next, the chefs arrived and served hot chocolate and cookies while the music from the movie's soundtrack played in the background. The chefs read the entire Polar Express book while holding up the books so the kids could look at the pictures. The train then came to a stop and when we looked out the windows, we saw houses lit up for Christmas and Santa's sleigh. Santa came onto the train and greeted all of the kids. They were so excited!

The first gift of Christmas was announced and all the kids got a shiny silver bell (which only they could hear, of course). I am very glad I got to photograph this wonderful occasion. A big congratulations to Cassandra and Derek on their Engagement!

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I had the fortunate opportunity to photograph alongside Amy Foy of Soul Child Photography. When we met to discuss the details of the day, I knew this wedding would be one to remember. The ceremony and reception took place at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine. It is truly one of the most beautiful, immaculate wedding venues I have worked at to date. Pineland Farms is a 5000 acre farm currently working as a business campus and a recreational and educational facility. It's also a perfect place to get married — as the breathtaking rural landscapes, floral gardens, and apple orchards are sure to make any wedding both scenic and memorable.

Amanda and Peter's wedding took place on August 15th, 2015. Photographing the guys getting ready was so much fun. The men gathered around a laptop and watched YouTube videos on how to tie a bow tie. Specifically, they watched a Bill Nye the Science guy video!

When I arrived at Pineland Farms, dark clouds were rolling in and it began to rain quite heavily. The ceremony was about to start and no one quite knew what to do. When the time came, we grabbed our rain gear and headed out for the apple orchard, where the ceremony would take place. The miniature apple orchard was splendid, and I soon forgot about the rain. Everyone gathered in carrying umbrellas and sat in rows of white chairs that lined the apple trees on each side. There were moments when the rain subsided during the ceremony. Nevertheless, the ceremony went on and couldn't have been more perfect.

The couple's portraits took place in a nearby flower garden. Quite simply, it was one of the most beautiful settings for wedding portraits I've seen. Amanda and Peter soon greeted their wedding guests at the reception and enjoyed all the usual wedding-day festivities. From the cake cutting to the last dance, the wedding reception was a wonderful celebration that included the couple's closest family and friends. It is my  hope that I have another opportunity to work with the talented Amy Foy and that I will photograph many more beautiful weddings at Pineland Farms.

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On November 1st, Emily and Tom had a beautiful coastal engagement session in York, Maine. It was the perfect day with perfect light and the weather felt like a warm September day. We began at York Harbor's Wiggly Bridge, strolled along the coastline and out to the docks and finally, we finished up the session at Long Sands Beach.

I asked Emily to describe their relationship in more detail:

How did you two meet?

Tom and I met on Match! Tom had moved to New Jersey for work and decided to try match as a way to meet new people. After a few emails we exchanged phone numbers and talked for a few weeks before we met up in Morristown, NJ where we were living. We hung out twice and then stopped talking for a bit (to be honest I thought Tom was too short hah) after about another month we started talking again and things clicked perfectly. Within 6 months we were living together and then about a year into our relationship we moved to York, where Tom grew up.

Tom's mom had told him before he moved that she knew he would find a girl to marry when he moved to NJ... and she was right :)

What did you do on your first date?

Our first date was at Elysian Cafe in Hoboken, NJ. Tom was living in Hoboken at the time and I had agreed to go there after work to meet up for dinner. As I was parking, Tom was walking home from the train and we bumped into each other. What started as maybe just a friendly dinner turned into a long night of talking and laughing and realizing we had something special starting to grow. 

When and where did your engagement take place? Please describe the proposal.

Our engagement took place at our home in York, Saturday Sept 19th. The night before Tom had asked me if I wanted to wake up early to take a motorcycle ride and watch the sunrise. Thinking this might be coming, I woke up early, got ready and away we went on the bike to Long Sands Beach where we did watch the sunrise.... and then we went home! I was thinking that the proposal wasn't going to happen but Tom insisted we go out to breakfast. On the way out the door, Tom asked me to sit on the steps where we talked about our house and how our love has made it feel like a home and Tom popped the question, to which of course I said Yes!

What are some activities or hobbies that you love doing together?

Tom and I enjoy spending time together at home and with our dog Ralph. In the summer we enjoy taking Ralph to the beach, riding the motorcycle together, and trying new dinners at home. Friday nights we enjoy a dinner and a drink out. Emily enjoys going out for a run while Tom plays ice hockey throughout the year. This summer we played together on a co-ed softball team. We also like to ride our bikes together and even got a basket for our dog Ralph to come along. Recently we have been enjoying some home projects.

Also Tom and I travel a lot together, we have taken vacations to Key West, Nashville, Jamaica and also travel to  Florida and New Jersey often to visit my family. So we have gotten very good at making the most of long car rides and often never even turn on the radio, instead we take the time to talk, read to each other, and just enjoy some time alone. 

Is there anything else special or meaningful about your relationship that you'd like to share?

Tom and I are both the 3rd out of 4 children and share a bond having come from large and close knit families. We both would agree that we put our families first and look forward to our marriage as the foundation to build a family of our own. 

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Sara and Jeremiah envisioned a beautiful fall engagement session in their hometown of Portsmouth, NH. Shortly after booking me to photograph their September 30th, 2016 wedding, the couple started planning their engagement session and the idea arose to incorporate their date in the images by writing on pumpkins. It is such a cute idea to use for "save the date" cards to mail out to family and friends.

On October 23rd, I arrived in Portsmouth, NH to photograph Sara and Jeremiah for their engagement session. We met up at Prescott Park as the sun was setting. There were many beautiful locations in the area that made for some wonderful photos. We walked downtown and created images with more of an urban atmosphere, then we went to the property surrounding Strawbery Banke Museum. I absolutely love this location. The property is a historic village, celebrating heritages, cultures, communities and history that took place from the late 17th to the mid-20th century. The historic site not only capsules the houses from that time period, it also holds beautiful gardens, many of which have beautiful arbors and other architecture.

As the evening came to an end, Sara and Jeremiah went out to the docks that overlook the Piscataqua River. I photographed them during the last minutes of daylight. It was a spectacular view and a beautiful evening that will be remembered through these photographs.

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An interesting tidbit: Strawbery Bank was the location that I first used an SLR camera (yes, that's film!) back in 1998 on a job shadow in eighth grade for the Portsmouth Press Herald. This location has special meaning to me, as I also grew up visiting this area from Maine with my family.

I'm a Maine wedding photographer traveling throughout New England capturing love stories through timeless illustrative photography.

Are you recently engaged? Ask about a complimentary Engagement session, which is included in my Elegance and Luxury wedding photography collections.

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Diana and Curt were married on October 11th, 2015 on the beautiful residence of the Groom's parents' in Alna, Maine. The autumn leaves were in full peak, which made for a scenic backdrop for their ceremony and reception. When I arrived at the property the day of the wedding, I saw just how much thought was put into their special day. A reception tent was up in the large field of the property and the tables were decorated with potted plants, candles, and homemade jams for wedding favors. A fall color theme perfectly fit their scenic location.

Inside, Diana, her mother, maid of honor and flower girl were getting ready for the wedding. As I began photographing the details, I was amazed by the beautiful items that the bride had made herself. She had made a shall and a belt, as well as crocheted her wedding bouquet. Diana choose a stunning maroon dress, which I loved because this dress represented her independent, unique personality.

The guests gathered around the house and mingled as the ceremony was about to begin. The couple exchanged vows on the rooftop, overlooking all of their family and friends. Their vows were heartfelt, unique and humorous! I loved how they made the ceremony lighthearted and fun because that truly represented who they are. Once pronounced husband and wife, the family and wedding party made their way to a beautiful open area by an apple tree for their wedding formal portraits.

Everyone cheered as Diana and Curt greeted their guests at the reception tent and everyone enjoyed a home cooked buffet. Out on the field, the children had a lot of fun playing with a giant ball. Many guests also enjoyed playing volleyball. As the sun was setting, I took Diana and Curt over to a beautiful location by some trees to get a few more bride and groom portraits. The sun setting through the trees created a gorgeous sun flare!

When it came time to cut the cake, the couple was presented with a sword. It was hilarious to watch them cut the cake with it. Everyone was laughing as they each licked frosting off of the sword! As the night went on, the groom and many other wedding guests played a game of laser tag while people inside the tent were dancing and having a great time. The bride and groom shared a few dances together and were joined by lots of family and friends. All in all, it was a beautiful wedding, with unique touches that beautifully represented the couple's unique and fun loving personalities.

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