2008 PUG photographers retreat

This past Monday & Tuesday about 28 photographers from across this great state that we call Connecticut and some folks from MA, NJ and NY converged on Amanda Harris Herzberger's family lake house in the Berkshires for our second annual PUG retreat!! It was very relaxing and motivating and I left with a renewed sense of direction and purpose with my business.

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

I told you that book was GOOD

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.

michele + brian wedding at the garrison NY

When I first met with Michele & Brian and they told me about this place, the Garrison in NY, they talked about the view and how beautiful it was. I checked it out online and though, 'yeah it is pretty' but when Mike and I got there this past Saturday we were just so excited with how much prettier it is in person! Not to mention that the placement of the ballroom and ceremony site couldn't be any better with where the sun sets! It's just beautiful- and the people who work there were SO nice and a pleasure to work with!

Yeah...Michele must really like me, and like shoes because she got some super soft, super buttery, super delicious Manolo's. Mike and I had fun shooting these!!



Their wedding colors were pink and yellow...!



One of Michele's bridesmaids also is a makeup artist, she did a terrific job on Michele!

Michele has the bluest eyes, they are so beautiful!

Her maid of honor looked so cute in her rollers, I couldn't stop sneaking shots which kept making her jump out of her skin! It was hilarious since I love scaring people! just not usually with my camera... :)

Michele and Brian decided to see each other before the ceremony so since it was so hot and bright we shot inside an empty room that was filled with soft indirect light. I placed them right in front of the doors and just played around with my exposure. I wanted to create some nice blown out graphic stuff

They were originally standing in between two doors which cut smack into their profile line and kind of ruined the shot I had in my head so we opened the doors and I got low and it totally cleaned up the background-

This one is my favorite shot of them for a few reasons- one because I just love the light, I love how tender and natural they are with each other (they just kind of melt into each other!) and then that this could have been shot anywhere. It's not dependent on the location to make or break it- it's also not the light that does it either- it was super bright almost high noon conditions but this softness was created in camera by how I chose to expose the frame.
The point of my technical rambling? You can create your favorite shots ANYWHERE! Just stop, take a breath and make it happen!

This one is one of favorites as well, for the same reasons as the one above!

We are really loving the bridal party facing away from us shots (yes we get them facing us!)

And then I saw these... the ladies had a fun time creating their shadows for this one!

This little cutie, one of the twin flower girls who I could NOT stop shooting just freaked out when she saw a butterfly and shouted 'BUTTERFLIES' and then hightailed it to where they were! This is pretty much how I feel in my head a lot.

Do you see what I mean??

Michele's grandmother was so cute and emotional when she saw them coming down the aisle

I love how peaceful Brian looks as he watches Michele

The light + these two?

What a beautiful spot!


yeah....so super pretty I was almost coming out of my SKIN

Right after family shots the sun was just perfect



Their cake was so simple and pretty and white

I love their first dance shot



Make sure you check out Mike's shots HERE!!

SERIOUSLY!

You think you've seen me freak out on a shoot? Heard me hootin' and hollerin' over the light and how awesome it is? How everything is just 'OH MY GAWD!!!!' And then more yellin' and stuff...?

Well....you should have SEEN me last NIGHT!! OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!!!!

Dave and I decided to do a family date night (we normally go on a just a mommy & daddy date night every Friday) to check out the sunflower fields at the Buttonwood Farm in Griswold. I have been looking forward to this for over a year, when the Marantz's did a shoot there. But I just missed it and they cut down all of the flowers. And so I waited!

Then all week it rained! BOO!! And so I waited again! And then with Friday's promise of sun I was internally freaking out all day, looking forward to it and even threatened to leave Daddy-O in the DUST if he came home even a minute past when I said I needed him there... that's how anxious I was to see this!

You know how there are those few things in life that you hold so highly in your brain as things you want to see with your own eyes? The crystal blue waters of a tropical island; works of art by artists like Picasso or DaVinci? Well, vast rolling fields of sunflowers pretty much tops the list for me!

Then add an old stone wall!

and warm delicious golden buttery light??????

Then add my FAMILY to the mix??

Man I am going into cardiac palpitation CITY just thinking about it again!!

Yeah. So it's supposed to be beautiful today but shyte tomorrow so GO ON and GO, check it out for yourself- they are selling bouquets of sunflowers for only $5, all proceeds are going to the Make A Wish Foundation- they have hay rides for only $5 same deal, for Make A Wish.

And then they have homemade ice cream!!! The coconut was incredible!!

I am going back on Sunday, scrapping all other plans and shooting - rain or shine- how cool would these be in the rain??

I am in CONNECTICUT

mayor mike's update!

Last night was such a blast, I want to thank everyone who came out to support not only me but all of the new nine that are currently hanging on the wall! It was a great crowd of people and I had so much fun with my family and friends... so thanks everyone!

So I brought my camera because I SWORE I was going to document it this year but Miss Amanda Harris Herzberger stripped me of my D3 and did the honors! Which was kind of nice for me to just focus on the people's reactions as they saw themselves being unveiled... ends up I couldn't really see but Amanda did a great job of catching them for me, so thanks honey!!!

There were people asking where they can buy more copies of their prints- follow this link and sign up, they should all be up by Friday from the past four years!

http://www.pictage.com/514474


Here are some highlights from the night!

My right hand gal Robin Dini and the illustrious Robert Norman, MD... pre-unveiling

Miss Krystyle double fisting it with not one but TWO Canons!

Mike has stepped over to the Canon dark side, momentarily.... it's OK he had some cocktails, he made a mistake. He is forgiven! ;)

I am clearly laughing at something Robert Norman just said!

My big guy Jack Bibbs

Jack just loves to make fart noises and was demonstrating his skill

During the unveiling Jack couldn't tell me enough that 'this is SO BORING Mom!' Like a thousand times! Thanks big guy! It was his and Georgie's first year coming... and maybe their last! ;)

Hartford Housing Authority head Alan Green with his wife just moments after they saw his portrait

Sandra Stern, another one of the nine is wiping away what I hope is a tear of joy!

Hyacinth Yenne, who is one of FIFTEEN kids...! Checks out her portrait

Little Miss Georgie Picklepuss tries to get my attention during the unveiling - I was on the other end of the restaurant

Donna Berman, who is head of the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, gets some back patting after her portrait is unveiled

Here Donna is taking it all in...

I just can't stop smiling and laughing all night, it was so much fun to see everyone's reactions

The man, the myth, the legend...MAYOR MIKE himself!

Krystyle doing her weird one eyed willy thing while she shoots


Miss Harris talking to who?? Probably Mr. Herzberger!

Miss Freckles herself, Kim Romano!

Our good buddies Nicole & Jennifer of recent wedded bliss fame came by and spent the evening with us all... I can only imagine what Mike was telling Jen


The Marantz's in full effect!

ahh yes, Miz Dini! ooot OOOOOT!