SMD Photography

My blog has moved...

2010-08-15T12:37:00.001-04:00

Actually, I've merged my website and blog to a new "blogsite" at www.sarahmduganphotography.com...come on over and take a look!

I am SO honored...

2010-02-02T19:55:00.007-05:00

I wanted to say a BIG welcome to my newest bride: Jennifer Scott. With the help of USO-New England, I was able to offer a complementary wedding photography package to a couple involved in a 2010 deployment. Not only has the USO been able to help with Jennifer's dream dress courtesy of Vow's Bridal Outlet in Watertown, but they were also there to connect me with Jennifer as well! In August, I will have the honor of photographing Jennifer at her wedding that has been 5 years in the making. I hope this will be able to express at least a fraction of the gratitude I have for both Jennifer's husband and his many Army deployments and for Jennifer for providing the strength and support that allows him to do his job.

I'm looking forward to working with you and your hubby, Jennifer. As we were saying in conversation earlier today, I'm also on board with the sentiment that your long-time-coming wedding is one that is most definitely meant to be.

I would also be so honored if the people that are seeing this post via my website or my blog to please consider a gift, even of $5 or $10, to the USO/USO New England. They really do such wonderful things for our troops and their families and can always use your help.

A more laid-back time of year...

2010-01-17T19:26:00.003-05:00

Well, in some ways. In New England, with our cold, winter weather, weddings are sometimes less frequent...sometimes. I just photographed a wonderfully intimate wedding for Tim and Lauren at the Wayside Inn last Sunday and in February, Sarin and Jeremy have asked me to photograph their wedding at Zukas in Spencer, MA.

For the most part, though, this time of year is one spent mainly in front of the computer: there's taxes and business plans, searching for new equipment and research into bridal trends. To me, it's not enough to master the photography part of a wedding; it's important to know what's going on in the entire industry so I can be as helpful as possible to my brides and grooms. Stacks of wedding magazines are starting to form on my desk - which used to completely freak out a former boyfriend of mine, LOL! - and websites are beginning to fill up my bookmarks folder on Delicious. I will try to share some articles with you all that may be of help, like this one:

Photography Tips - from brides.com

There is also a wonderful article by Kim Forrest about negotiating with your vendors in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Brides Boston...if you can, it's a good read to check out.

I plan to post some images of Lauren and Tim's event later this week...until then, here's a tease:

A Thought During the Holidays...

2009-12-23T17:16:00.004-05:00

First, the happiest of holiday wishes to all of my brides, grooms and their families. Here's to the joy of the season and hope in the new year.

Second, a thought to those who aren't able to spend time with the ones they love this year. As many of you know, I have a very strong feelings about our brave men and women who serve us in so many ways through the US Military. Please take a moment to give thanks for so many of them who give so much that we may sleep in peace this holiday season.

For those that would like to show they care, please consider a donation to a cause close to my heart:
I hope to be working with USO New England in the upcoming year; keep an eye on my blog for more information about my upcoming project with them.

Happy Holidays to everyone...

Now that I've taken a sufficient time off from blogging...

2009-11-28T15:14:00.014-05:00

UGH! So sorry to be absent from the bloggersphere. It's about time to catch up on some of the events from the fall, then.

First up: Gretchen and Greg from October 2009 at Misselwood in Beverly...oh my word what a lovely couple, both inside and out. Gretchen's dress and shoes made me drool! And Greg was so sweet, gifting her the prettiest diamond necklace.

I'm having the hardest time editing the pictures down to just a "few" for the blog...there are even MORE on Facebook. When you take a look you'll see what i mean:

Although Greg and Gretchen were getting ready at the same hotel, I spent most of my time with the ladies...

All that getting ready was worth it, though. Gretchen was STUNNING!!

But Greg was NO slouch...what a handsome guy!

Then came time for the big reveal. Gretchen and Greg had decided to see each other before the ceremony, creating a wonderful, romantic and personal (well, with me there too - LOL!) moment between the two of them:

One last stolen kiss, a couple of last minute adjustments with boutonnieres and then we were ready to go...

Can you imagine that the day before it was pouring rain? We did something right for such a beautiful day...

I kept teasing the two of them while taking pictures...how DID they get such a good looking wedding party?! Did they secretly hire actors instead of asking their friends? Nope...they were all this good looking! Between the setting and the people, I was thoroughly stunned.

A quick bustle and another stolen kiss (there was LOTS of kissing) and then we were off to the party part of the evening.

Whoooo-hoo!

I was so envious of them...they were so lucky to be able to share with their grandparents. I think this will be forever one of my greatest regrets of not being able to do the same with my own grandparents.

The cutting of the cake...

And in true G&G fashion...

All in all, an amazing time. Thank you for being a wonderful end to a busy season!

Caitlin and Jeff

2009-09-02T22:39:00.008-04:00

Caitlin and Jeff had a wonderful wedding this past Saturday at Fruitlands in Harvard. Even an uninvited guest by the name of Daniel couldn't dampen everyone's spirits!

I was able to arrive a couple of minutes early and photographed this BEAUTIFUL bouquet that Caitlin carried down the aisle. I loved the detail of blue pins on the ribbons...yes, her "something blue"!

It also proved a lovely backdrop for her and Jeff's rings:

Her dress was simple and elegant with the most amazing bustle. I believe she bought it at Madeline's Daughter in New Hampshire.

After the ladies arrived, it was time to get Caitlin in her dress and put on the finishing flourishes....

Oh my! WOW! She looked so lovely. And even tropical storm Daniel couldn't dampen that smile...

Jeff was a dish as well. The complement each other so well, in so many ways.

There were a couple of quiet moments before the ceremony where I was able to photograph the cake. It looked so good; I'm still kicking myself that I wasn't able to have a piece!

The caramel apples were a fun favor and proved to be another great backdrop for the rings.

Then it was showtime! It was so touching to see Caitlin coming down the aisle and well up with emotion.

The vows were equally as loving and personal...

After the ceremony and while we were shooting formals, the staff at Fruitlands in Harvard, Massachusetts did a wonderful job "flipping the room" in a moment's notice.

The dances were just like this couple: simple, elegant, loving with a splash of humor! I love the picture of Jeff and his mom with her little kick!

Congratulations you two! I hope you're enjoying your honeymoon around New England.

Time to catch up! Ben and Shanna...

2009-09-02T21:43:00.007-04:00

I have two, new, wonderful events I must tell you about! First up: Ben and Shanna.

Ben and Shanna met while students at Medway High School while in the Drama Club and affections blossomed. After time apart, they reconnected several years later and true love was still there. Fast forward to August 16th in Cohasset, a very warm Sunday afternoon...

Shanna's dress was beautiful! I was thrilled with her fun choice of shoes...

Shanna looked amazing. Her poise throughout the day was amazing (more on that in a bit). Ben was nothing to sneeze at, either.

The Red Lion did a great job of setting up and trying to keep everyone cool. It's a good venue to photograph at with all of the interesting angles that can be had.

Our portrait session went wonderfully; Shanna and Ben are SO in love and it shows in all of their pictures. Then was the first dance...see what I mean about the angles?

Even during the cake cutting, the kissing didn't stop!

I loved this picture of some of Shanna's girlfriends dancing. It reminds me of "Charlie's Angels" for some reason.

Of course Shanna and Ben couldn't let their guests have all the fun dancing; they quickly broke out their "saucy dancing" for all to see (their description, I swear!).

The garter and bouquet was too much fun. Sometimes these get awkward, but the two of them made this so fun and entertaining!

Now, I had said earlier, that Shanna showed great composure during the day. That was because her dad ended up with a bad nosebleed right before the ceremony and had to take a trip to the local hospital, missing most of the day. Although he was feeling under the weather, he rallied and made it to the reception later on in the evening. Shanna was floored...and they were able to have their father-daughter dance at last.

Best of luck, you two! This wedding was a blast!

Some 'sites I've come across...

2009-08-06T11:22:00.003-04:00

Hello there! Just thought I would scribble off a quick post to share a couple of websites/blogs I've come across in the past couple of days...

First, an article from Seattle Bride in response to people deciding to sacrifice their professional photographer in the name of budget (NOT you, of course, kind and devoted readers!)...please feel free to pass it along to any of your peeps that are thinking of going the "Uncle Bob" route.

Second is a great reference for the "alterna"-bride: Once Wed. I know when it's my turn, it's going to be in heavy rotation in my browser...

Enjoy everyone!

Amy and Chris

2009-08-02T20:15:00.007-04:00

Two beach weddings in a row? Boy, am I spoiled! A couple of weeks after my Martha's Vineyard event, I was lucky enough to photograph Amy and Chris's wedding at the Nahant Country Club. I really enjoyed watching these two get married; they complemented each other so well.

I began my day meeting up with Amy in the bridal prep room upstairs from the ballroom...once again, I had the chance to photograph a great dress!

The flowers were beautiful as well. I was so impressed with how well the hydrangeas held up; they're notorious for wilting away...

Her junior bridesmaid and flower girl were wonderful under pressure. They had manis and pedis just like all of the "big girls"...the little one was given a lipstick to put on and she WORKED it!

Amy kept looking at her dress. The back was her favorite...

Finally, it was time to dress and pull it all together...

And she turned out PERFECT! The thing is, i loved photographing this woman. She had the most expressive face. Every single moment it was lit up with all different versions of joy...

A quick detail shot of the rings before the beginning of the ceremony...

I love the next two shots! I didn't realize I had caught this until I was editing a few days later. The smile on the normally reserved Chris's face and then the small wave...I loved it!

These smiles did not leave their faces the entire day.

Amy and Chris had requested that the three of us go up the street a couple of blocks to the beach to do some photographs. What a great idea!

Amy had also asked to do one of my (more infamous) ring shots...and they did, with FANTASTIC attitude!!!

A few wedding party shots...

Then it was up to Chris and his "posse" to "work it" in some guys' shots. Between the cigars and the sunglasses...these boys had Rat Pack inspiration written all over them!

On to the party and the jubilant introductions and first dance...

I enjoyed the Best Men speeches. Tex, the man below, alluded to something about Chris luring Amy in with promises of poker lessons...except Chris didn't know how to really play poker. Seems to have all worked out very well anyways.

I also enjoyed Amy's dance with her father; the song was written and recorded by him specifically for her. VERY sweet...

I had so much fun getting to know the two of you and photographing your day. Thank you so much for allowing me the honor of doing so. Cheers!

Leah and Joe

2009-08-02T19:05:00.009-04:00

Hello all! I know it's been a while, but MAN, have I been busy! Between weddings, teaching summer school and two grad level courses, time really just got away from me. Now is the moment to catch up; first, a short entry about a wedding I had the honor to photograph at the end of June. The setting was quite picturesque: Martha's Vineyard. The ceremony took place at the Federated Church in Edgartown, followed by a reception at the East Chop Beach Club. It was so lovely...even the weather agreed with the couple, presenting them with a rainbow over the reception site.

Leah's dress was a stunner, even on the hanger...

It was her smile that really lit the pictures up, though. Her eyes were fantastic!

Being on the Vineyard, I went with the seaside theme in the pictures...

And I wasn't alone with that. The cake and the centerpieces also reflected the New England island/beach theme. Yes, those are REAL sandcastles! Leah found them online.

The beach club provided a great backdrop for the pictures. I couldn't resist using the lifeguard station while photographing Joe and his groomsmen.

All of the bridal party members were quite fun-loving. The maid of honor had tons of fun singing along during the reception. I wanted the bridal party's pictures to reflect that.

I loved that Joe and Leah were game for some extra time together to take some more pictures. How could I not ask; look at that sky!

I can't wait to get back to MV as a civilian. I had a wonderful time, you two! Congrats and best wishes with your marriage.

Sorry for the delay folks!

2009-07-10T21:37:00.005-04:00

Oh my, it's been awhile, hasn't it. Sigh...that's what happens when life gets in the way. Both my every day life as a teacher (with summer school starting) and my alter ego wedding photographer self have been quite busy over the last few weeks! 3 weddings in 4 weeks...yup, I'm busy alright! You know what, though? I am having SO much fun with my brides and grooms!

Take Stephanie and Brad from my June 20th event; I just found out they were married in the same place where her parents were married. In fact, it seems much of the wedding involved friends and family, from cousins and siblings as part of the wedding party to Brad's uncle and his wife officiating the ceremony. All in all, it was a ball!

I will say the flowergirl and junior bridesmaid were a bit wary of my large camera; I can imagine it must be very intimidating for kids to have a stranger pointing a large camera with a huge flash at them. Still, I was able to capture a few unscripted moments...

Brad surprised Stephanie with the addition of his fedora...I think it made the tux, don't you?

The two of them were so affectionate and loving, but they still had A LOT of fun that day. They knew how to work a photo shoot for sure...

That's right Stephanie, give me "ATTITUDE" honey! You go girl...

I had so much fun watching the two of them dancing away on the dance floor, including just enough "kitch" in their steps to keep us all laughing away. You two were so much fun to photograph...I wish you both nothing but the best...cheers!!!

PHOTOBOOTHS!

2009-06-21T09:52:00.002-04:00

Last night, at Brad and Stephanie's wedding, I had the great luck to work with Nanette Kenney of Photobooth Favors. She and her services were spot on!! If any of you folks need a photobooth for your event, she should be your first call.

Stay tuned for outtakes from Brad and Stephanie's event at the Coachman's Lodge in Bellingham in a few days...

Cindy and Troy, June 30th

2009-06-14T16:04:00.008-04:00

Hello all! So sorry for the delay between posts. I have a TON of stuff I've been editing, both "fun" and "work" related. I wanted to make sure I posted this event ASAP, though. Cindy is a former student of mine who married a couple of weeks ago; it was very sweet and very poignant, having known her as a young girl and now as a woman.

Her mom, Sue, kept a rambunctious flower girl occupied while Cindy prepared. That Hannah was a handful, but so cute! After Cindy put on the finishing touches, we started some formal portraits. She made a beautiful bride:

Troy, her husband, is quite the handsome guy as well. FYI, this was about 1/2 way through the reception and he still looked like a million bucks!

It was quite breezy that day and we had a heck of a time wrangling her veil, but there were a couple of shots where it worked to our advantage, like the one below, with Cindy looking a bit pensive...

I LOVE this one of her and the flower girl...

After finishing with the ladies, it was off to St. Charles in Woburn to photograph the guys. They kept me on my toes but were so photogenic:

Soon it was showtime and Richard, Cindy's dad, was walking her down the aisle in a church flooded with late afternoon sun...

Husband and wife...

Then to steal a moment or two after the mass...

We managed to wrangle everyone for a bridal party photograph in front of the church, per request of Cindy's mom and dad...I like it!

Cindy and Troy decided upon thank you cards rather than an engagement session (they had a longer engagement) and we decided to have some fun with it:

Their first dance was to "Be Mine" by David Gray, one of my favorites. Even with the tears in my eyes from missing my someone special, I was able to photograph some very sweet moments between the two of them while they danced...

Congrats you two! You have some wonderful examples in your family of lovely marriages...I hope yours is just as fantastic. Cheers!!!

A Different Wedding Story...

2009-05-28T19:15:00.003-04:00

I adore photographing my young couples. Their enthusiasm for life and all the promise the future holds for them is infectious as times. The unjaded quality of young love is fresh and always brings a smile to my face. To be starting out together and have a whole (and hopefully long and exciting) life ahead...

This is not one of "those" stories.

I was shown this article in Yankee Magazine; it's about an undying and unforgotten love given another chance to blossom. It is a story that shows how sometimes a second chance at true love leads to a love much sweeter and much more precious. It shows how two people who are meant to be found a way through all the obstacles given to them by life and still ended up together, hand in hand at the end of it all.

The final paragraph says it all: So give this story to anyone you know who's planning a wedding. And if the arrangements are keeping them awake, tell them about Kirsten and Tim. They want everyone to know that months later, after the wedding where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, the only thing that really had to be right was. They'd found each other again.

I'd love it if all of my families would think of that when some of those little things, like the shade of the frosting, don't go quite the right way. Remember, the only thing that REALLY needs to go right is finding (or re-finding, in some of our cases) each other and committing to that wonderful journey together, hand in hand, as each others' loves, partners and best friends.

Nicole and Kevin - May 2nd, 2009

2009-05-17T21:07:00.006-04:00

Hello all! Just thought I'd update my blog with my most recent wedding from a couple of weeks ago. Nicole and Kevin are a lovely young couple who know how to have fun. They made the perfect choice of celebrating their wedding at Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA. Alyson and her staff made sure the day went smoothly; I think they even managed to clear the skies and bring out the sun for these two.

Nicole was so adorable. This was my favorite from our time together...

Nicole had the most lively, most boisterous group of girls as her bridesmaids. The got themselves ready at Zukas in the bridal suite. This gave them a clear view of when the guys arrived:

Nicole's dress was beautiful. The bodice had the popular corseted back, which Nicole carried off well...

Soon enough, it was showtime. I tell ya, they couldn't have had a prettier setting or more perfect weather!

Justice of the Peace Arthur Tatro performed a sensitive and lovely service...

And the folks at Zukas did a wonderful job putting a gorgeous reception on. Crown Bakery in Worcester did the most adorable cupcake cake...

I'm not quite sure of the story behind this ice sculpture...I do know the groom and his groomsmen are quite the sportsmen...

The cake cutting went very smoothly...both were "behaved". Nicole loved the cake!

Good luck to the both of you (and congratulations on the happy news!).

Stephanie and Jeremy - April 18th, 2009

2009-04-29T19:51:00.008-04:00

HOLY COW! What a way to start off the 2009 season! Stephanie and Jeremy's wedding was nothing short of a spectacular party. I kind of knew what to expect, though, having known her father for years; Ralph is quite the character and was warning me for months prior that the crowd at this event would be lively, to say the least...

I was so excited to see this shot; I was able to make it match the one in my mind's eye...

And then there was the dress, and OH did Stephanie know how to work that gorgeous creation!

Just loving the depth of field on this one:

A zip up...

and then Stephanie began to work that dress and give great attitude...she photographs like a dream.

See what I mean?

I couldn't find one bad picture, one bad pose in the lot...

It was so lovely to see Stephanie's and Ralph's relationship...she's a total "Daddy's Girl".

And what would a primo wedding be without the handsome groom and his posse? That's the lucky man, Jeremy, in the middle:

One of the nicest things to see was that the two of them not only loved each other, but also that they LIKED each other. They were all smiles to each other all night....

Put the two gorgeous people together and BAM! you get some great portraits. The Westin in Waltham, MA provided a perfect backdrop for their pictures:

Probably my favorite of the night:

That Ralph was NOT leaving the dance floor...

And did I mention Stephanie knew how to work that dress?

Thank you so much for giving me the privilege of photographing your day. What a way to start off the season!

One of THE BEST engagement stories I've read...

2009-04-07T12:57:00.003-04:00

I love following "rock star" wedding photographer websites (yup, they DO exist). One of my favorites, Jessica Claire, just got engaged and blogged about it on her website. In addition to a fantastic story, she also has some amazing photographs of the event. You see, rock star wedding photographers tend to hang out with other rock star wedding photographers - I guess they travel in packs - and she was fortunate enough to have her friends present for the event.

Enjoy the link!

http://www.jessicaclaire.net/ (the April 6th entry)

A Saturday at the MFA Boston

2009-03-22T13:49:00.005-04:00

I decided to go into town last Saturday and take a peek at a photography show at the MFA in the Herb Ritts Gallery. It was quite good, although I became much more interested in the MFA's surroundings than the exhibit itself.

I often give my photography classes assignments that focus on certain Elements of Art or Principles of Design. While out last Saturday, I decided to "put my money where my mouth is/was" and tackle some of those ideas. Below is what I came up with using my point-and-shoot Olympus (I call it my Dugan-proof camera because it's so tough) and enhanced with my "Totally Rad Actions" set:

NEW for the 2009 wedding season!

2009-03-07T22:18:00.004-05:00

As many of my friends and clients know, I treated myself to a new iPhone before Christmas. I love having my portfolio always available at my fingertips; I REALLY love how gorgeous the image quality is on its screen. I must confess, I'm now hooked! In fact, I'm now SO hooked, I have decided to include a new option for my 2009 clients who book a package with me:

Clients that book a package that includes a printed proof book now have the option of choosing either a printed book OR a personalized iPod Touch with all their digital images loaded and ready to view!

What a great way to share images of your day with friends and family! Please feel free to contact me with questions about this option for your wedding photography.

How I Spent My February Vacation...

2009-03-07T19:16:00.008-05:00

Whew! I've finally had some time to do some light editing to the pictures from my February Break and thought I'd share...

The above 21 buggers are the great kids I was lucky enough to spend my break with. We flew from Boston to Germany and then travelled by bus down to Innsbruck, Austria, where we set up "home base". I really can't call it a vacation; I was still in "Ms. Dugan" mode for most of the time. They really are a wonderful group of teenagers. I feel they were great representatives of their high school and of American teens. However, boy, do they have a LOT of energy! Thank goodness I had 3 other fantastic teachers that wanted to go and help out.

We had the most FANTASTIC tour guide; her name was Angelika Mair. I highly suggest inquiring about her travel guide services if you're planning a trip. We stayed at the Grauer Baer right near the center of the old town, which was not too shabby, not too fancy...just right for a group of well-behaved teens. They seem to cater to the business segment, for the most part.

Yup, that's me and my travelling gnome, Cedric, on the slopes of Axum Lizum, outside of Innsbruck, Austria. Those first runs in the Alps brought real joy; however much of the trip was very bittersweet. Some of it was brought on by the recent loss of my grandfather; Grandpa loved this part of the world and spent much time in nearby Germany.

The picture below is a great example of why, several times during the week, I had the thought "HOLY COW! I'm 'boarding the Alps!"

I don't know...Cedric seems pretty at home in this part of the world. Europe, in general, seems to agree with him (and ME!). Here he is posing in front of the Olympic sign at the top of Patscherkofel, also outside of Innsbruck.

I also had some time to stroll around the streets of Innsbruck, a small city. Although I had been there before, it was still easy to find small vignettes that I had missed prior.

We were quite fortunate to be able to take a few day trips while there. By far, one of the coolest things to see was Venice, Italy during Carnival. We were there the week before Ash Wednesday, so the festivities were picking up the pace. The boat ride in was lovely, though a bit cold...

One of the neatest things to view (and, of course, take pictures of) were the people dressed up in these elaborate costumes wandering St. Mark's Square.

The kids are already talking about next year. Although I don't think we'll make it back to Europe in 2010, 2011 is not that far away and another trip may be in the works for then...we'll see.

Keeping Your Archives Current...

2009-03-01T21:35:00.003-05:00

It's so important to archive your images correctly. CBS News had a fantastic article on this today:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/01/sunday/main4836569.shtml

It's no longer just enough to keep a second DVD in a safe place. Often, in addition to multiple DVD copies of files, I strongly suggest to my brides and grooms to keep copies of their files both on an external hard drive and on a separate place online (like shutterfly or kodak.com).

I like the idea of looking at your images on every anniversary as the files are once again archived. Maybe there will even be a warm and fuzzy thought about your photographer in there as well!

My Grandpa Dugan....

2009-02-08T18:26:00.003-05:00

grandpa and me
Originally uploaded by sarahmdugan

This is my Grandpa Dugan. This picture is from Christmas time when I went to visit. My Grandpa, my last grandparent, passed away this afternoon at about 3pm from a stroke suffered Thursday night/Friday morning. He was 85.

I wanted to share a little about my grandpa, because he, like most of my grandparents, was very special to me. He was a World War II US Army veteran; it's been only with my recent relationship that I've been able to grasp what that means. When i was little, he used to sing me a song "Oh the eagles do fly high..." that I would sing constantly (because that's what little kids do) much to my mom's chagrin. He would also read me "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe...unusual I know, but I loved his voice and those words, nonetheless. Although there are some who may feel he had his shortcomings as a father, I always felt he was one of the two best grandfathers ever, the other being my Grandpa Thibault.

I hope I made him proud of me. I wonder about that. I'm the oldest of all the grandkids and I have always felt a responsibility towards that.

I envy my brides and grooms that are able to have their grandparents participate in their important day. When I was younger, I often had thoughts about my grandparents and how wonderful it would be to have them there when I married. It wasn't meant to be, I guess.

Take a moment this evening and tell a grandparent or parent how much you love them...I am grateful for the visit Grandpa, Sig and I had at the beginning of January.

(edited to add his obituary)

2009-01-24T12:45:00.001-05:00

I'm also on LinkedIn and am always looking for new professional contacts:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmdugan

I'm on Facebook...

2009-01-23T21:29:00.001-05:00

SMD Photography now has a spot on Facebook! I would love it if you'd all be a fan...

Jennifer and Patrick

2009-01-23T20:10:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in blogging, folks. My other life as a teacher got in the way over the last few weeks with mid-year exams and all...

However, I wanted to make sure to show off some images from my year end wedding on December 28th in both Newburyport and Hampton Beach.

Jen and Pat are part of the McDonough family; I believe this is my 4th wedding with them. In a lovely happening, Jen's sister is married to Pat's brother, so I believe that it makes the 2nd wedding for her family I've shot as well...sigh, I've just confused myself!

As usual, the brothers toasted the groom with heartfelt and poignant words...

Those McDonough boys clean up real well!

Pat is a lucky man; his wife is a beauty!

And, like many other weddings, there was much dancing by all. The first dance was very lighthearted...

Although it was cold and dark, we were still able to create a couple of romantic photographs. I liked the mood of this one in particular...

Thank you for including me in your day, Jen and Pat...enjoy what looks like to be a very happy marriage!

To all my clients and vendors...

2008-12-23T19:28:00.002-05:00

Thank you all for such a wonderful and successful year! The happiest of holidays and best wishes for your new year.

Cheers! - Sarah

Late fall and the holidays...

2008-11-23T21:52:00.002-05:00

So now is the time of year where things get busy again, yet not with many examples of pictures to blog about. Late fall is a time for holiday orders of prints and albums, plus meetings with potential brides and grooms for 2009. Having just invested (heavily!) in a new lens that I was anxious to try out, imagine my surprise and pleasure when I received an email...

This is Cassie; she is my friend Jana's baby girl. Jana and Chris asked if I would stop by to photograph this sweet thing for a holiday card. I have to confess I was a tad nervous; I don't have children myself and don't do a lot of work with babies and toddlers. This shoot put me outside my comfort zone, for sure! Plus, with Jana being one of my best friends, it was extra important to me to do a great job.

How can you NOT make her look good?! I call the one below her "coy" one...

Of course we needed to have mom and dad join her...

And Sadie, their black lab...

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to the holiday card Mary's designing for you. Even with all of Sadie's silliness, it was tons of fun. Thanks guys!

October 17 at the Spencer Country Inn

2008-10-23T18:21:00.004-04:00

Whew! A had a "local" wedding this past weekend, which was kind of a treat. Katie and Steven chose the Spencer Country Inn as the location for their wedding and reception. I have wonderful memories associated with the place; my mom is from Spencer and I've spent quite a bit of time there throughout my life. There's even a picture of my great-grandmother (Memere, as we called her) on the wall of the restaurant part.

Katie and Steven have an adorable daughter and spirited little boy. Her daughter and the junior bridesmaid helped out with my ring shot:

Katie was in such good spirits and so animated while she finished up her makeup...

The next two shots were what a photographer loves to "get"; Katie's step mom arrived at the house to see her all done up and putting on the finishing touches. Her reaction is priceless!

We managed to snap off a couple of photographs of Katie and her daughter prior to the ceremony...then they were whisked off out of the guests view.

The afternoon light during the ceremony was just perfect.

After some family shots, I was finally able to take the two of them aside for some quiet time alone...well, as alone as you can be with a photographer following you around! I was so grateful to Mother Nature for providing us with such a vibrant and beautiful sunset.

Evidently Katie loves to sing and serenaded her new husband with a song at the end of the evening. I should have asked her if she Karaoke'd. I have so little knowledge about nightlife out here in Worcester.

Thank you for including me in your day. Best of luck!

My October, continued...

2008-10-23T17:50:00.002-04:00

After Jean and Shaun was a couple I've mentioned before: Jenn and Kevin. It was a lovely Sunday that finished with a delicious dinner at the Top of the Hub. The sunset and the view was amazing; it was so neat to see Fenway Park all lit up from the top of the Prudential.

Jenn was so fun to photograph! I LOVED her birdcage veil. She was more than willing to have a little fun with the camera, as you can see from the picture above. I also enjoyed photographing one of my students, Joe, throughout the day. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of him...

Jenn and Kevin mentioned they are a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera (I can sympathize, because I am, too), however they just don't take a bad picture!

A stolen moment...

Jenn and Kevin were so thoughtful to their guests; they rented two trolleys so that they wouldn't have to drive in the Boston traffic (that was made worse by the Red Sox game). I loved the photo ops the interiors provided. The bridal party was great about egging them on...

It was still a bit surreal but very rewarding seeing all of these former students as well adjusted, successful and happy adults. They mentioned it was a bit weird for them to call me by my first name; I insisted after a few "Miss Dugan's".

Looks like Kevin was trying to help his neice brush up on her Texas Hold 'Em skills...

I think this is my favorite shot of the evening; it sums up Jenn and Kevin's relationship perfectly! They have such a great outlook and such a lovely sense of humor! Good luck to the two of you! I hope Montreal was fun.

The month of October...

2008-10-23T17:03:00.007-04:00

Oh my! Where did it go? My goodness! I know I've been a bit lax keeping up my posts on events and moments in my life...Well, now it's time to catch up, since I'm home sick nursing this awful cold. First up is my event from October 4th, Jean and Shaun's wedding.

That's Jean, above. Isn't she a dish? The wedding and reception was held at the Clarion Hotel in Hull. I thought they did a wonderful job with the reception room. The florist created some beautiful arrangements (Natural Surroundings in Hull and Canton; the designer was Von).

At first, Jean, Shaun and the bridal party were confused as to why I said "Hold up a moment..." and started drawing in the sand...

Getting a bit "romantical"....

I told Beverly at the Clarion that I would send along some images. Hopefully this one will make the cut:

Congrats folks! I hope the honeymoon went well...

Misselwood

2008-09-29T19:53:00.003-04:00

Just a short "shout out" to all of the Misselwood brides and grooms I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. Thank you so much for stopping by for a chat about my photographs. Also, it was very nice seeing all of the other Misselwood vendors again. I am looking forward to working with ALL of them at one point or another.

Hello all....sorry for the delay!

2008-09-29T19:35:00.007-04:00

Where has the time gone!? This always happens at the beginning and end of every school year. It's always a whirlwind, balancing the classroom and weddings...I think I've found my balance for the moment though.

I just wanted to take a moment to show a couple of pictures from my September 13th wedding of Kristen and Devin. That's Kristen, above...you just can't take a bad picture of this girl! GORGEOUS!

Of course a gratuitous "bling" shot...

A stolen kiss outside the church...

The boys were a little camera shy, but really stepped up to the plate when I asked them to give me their coolest "GQ" pose:

I love this shot of Devin. He wasn't real gung-ho about the dancing, but was SO good about obliging his bride.

It was an honor folks. A "thank you" for the staff at Christina's in Foxboro; you made my first event there very comfortable. Oh, and a special thank you to Tim and BlueLine...it was a blast, as usual.

A rare-ish treat!

2008-08-22T20:40:00.005-04:00

Last weekend i was able to go to a wedding...as a "civilian"! It was so nice to actually see the event unfurl before my eyes and not a camera lens. This doesn't mean i didn't bring my own camera - OH NO! Not only was I able to bring 2 cameras (one was a point & shoot), I was also able to bring along Cedric, Jon's and my travelling gnome that accompanies us to most events. See his flickr set of travels here. Cedric even has a following; Meghan had emailed me the week before to make sure he was coming along. so, of course, I had her pose with him:

and then Tony graciously took this pic of me and Cedric...

It was nice to have some bubbly and hang out with my friends at one of these things for a change. Mary, Julie and I absorbed the sunset...

Of course, the wedding photographer in me kicked in at this sunset and I mentioned to Meghan how nice it would be if her photographer got some pics of them frolicking in the sand with it in the background. And, of course, I tagged along for a couple of shots...we almost missed it! Then ac/dc came on and it was all over but the dancing for Meghan and Alex.

Wedding Wire

2008-08-17T22:25:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone! Just wanted to point out a new icon added to my blog over to the right; Wedding Wire is a site I came across while crusing Martha Stewart's wedding section. They have a great range of vendors and post comments from past customers. Feel free to give it a try!

Courtney and Kevin, August 9th, 2008

2008-08-13T17:29:00.003-04:00

I was lucky to have the opportunity to photograph Courtney and Kevin's wedding and reception. They were a wonderful couple who were game for anything I threw at them...

I really liked this particular shot...what was so wonderful about it was that it was rather spontaneous; Kevin often did this for Courtney...

Our "unconventional" ring shot...

With the exception of the small snafu with the town of Pembroke (and a small ecoli outbreak), the evening went smashingly! HUGE props go out to Tim Kane and BlueLine Entertainment for keeping everyone grooving on the dance floor!

Ann and David at the Hawthorne

2008-07-30T20:18:00.005-04:00

(My FAVORITE image from the weekend...)

This past weekend, I was fortunate to photograph Ann and David's wedding in Salem, MA. First, a HUGE thank you to the always professional staff at the Hawthorne Hotel. As usual ladies, it was a pleasure.

Now on to the beauty of the day:

Isn't she DELISH!?

We ran into a small snafu; normally, brides use the park next door to the Hawthorne for their "formal" shots and portraits. Unfortunately, there was a hippie-earth-day type festival in the park, which nixed that idea. Fortunately, the girls at the Hawthorne arranged for us to use a private property owned by the Peabody Essex Museum for formals. I believe this worked very well, don't you all?

Montillio's did the cake...yummy.

They were wonderful dancers...just the right amount of laughter and happy tears...

The best man's speech was great! He talked about the first time many of them met Ann; it was at a pub near the Boston Garden before a Celtics' game. Below are the notes for the speech. The favor, shown off to the right, was a matchbox; they met on Match.com. That's, like, my 3rd or 4th one this year!

Thank you, Ann and David, for including me in your day!

June 28th, Amy and Jack

2008-07-17T20:42:00.005-04:00

I had the great fortune of photographing another of the McDonough clan. I have photographed Kathleen, the oldest of the siblings, and Stephen, a fantastic history teacher who is a co-worker of mine at Woburn Memorial HS. Jack, the youngest, was married 2 1/2 weeks ago in a lovely ceremony at St. Charles in downtown Woburn. Amy is a wonderful complement to him.

She adores him, too! Her sisters and I just had to say the name "Jack" and she would break out into the widest, most wonderful smile.

This is one of my favorite shots of the day:
As with the other times I've spent in the presence of, a fantastic time was had by all, with some good natured, rowdy fun all around.

Thank you Amy and Jack!

New Logo...

2008-07-05T19:25:00.002-04:00

Hey all, what do you think of the new logo? A HUGE thank you to Patrick Carey (brother of my good friend Meghan, owner of Beantown Hounds) for designing it. I first saw his work when Meghan sent me her "save the date" card for her own wedding. It was SO fresh and different; I knew he was the one to help me design my logo.

My favorite parts are the swallows. I love how they represent love, fidelity and loyalty as well as a safe return home.

Michael and Keri

2008-07-05T18:47:00.008-04:00

Hello all! Sorry for the delay; with the four weddings I had this month and the end of the school year, time just got away from me. I loved shooting this wedding! And, yes, the dancing was all that I was hoping for. It made me want to go out and take a dancing class...immediately.

This wedding also gave me a chance to break out my new toy: Boutwell's Totally Rad Actions, sets 1 & 2. Oh my word, I LOVE THEM! I finally am able to make the images I photograph look like the images in my head. Since I've taken to the actions like a kid on Christmas day, I'm refining my technique fairly quick. One of my favorite things about the actions are their quirky and inventive names, like "grandma's tap shoes" and "sparta". The effects are just like they sound.

Here's to taking my work to a whole new level!

My Civilian Job

2008-05-29T19:11:00.003-04:00

So, as I have mentioned previously, I am an art and photography teacher at Woburn Memorial High School during the week. Photographer and Art/Photography Teacher work so well together. I love being able to show my kids how what I am teaching them not only can be used in the "real" art world, but also can help to make them a working artist. At left is an example of the "hands on" approach I like to take in the classroom. We're creating a human value scale with blue, by the way. I love bringing some silliness into the classroom to keep the kids on their toes. I find singing Queen songs and show tunes also allows me to bend them to my will....LOL!

Maria and Joel

2008-05-11T14:54:00.003-04:00

What a sweet couple! And, BOY! did they all love to dance. It was nice to be in Brookline for the day; the brownstones with their flowers coming out were such a lovely backdrop. We decided to take advantage of them for some of their formals.

Although Friday was not the nicest weather, Mother Nature threw us a bone and Saturday turned out sunny and cool. Thank goodness there was no Sox game; traffic would have been unbearable!

Lindsay and Stephen - 19 April 2008

2008-04-22T18:13:00.005-04:00

What a beautiful day up here in New England! Luckily, I had a couple that matched the weather; Lindsay and Stephen made for quite the picturesque couple....so adorable! It was a fun afternoon wedding at the Providence College Chapel and the Lake View Pavilion in Foxborough, MA. The priest was so warm and welcoming to the guests; many guest commented on how well chosen he was as the officiant.

I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Lake View. They were wonderful people to work with and really embraced a team approach. The dessert table was "to die for"....very yummy.

Two new couples...

2008-04-10T17:14:00.003-04:00

I am so excited about the two couples I have booked within the last couple of weeks...

First up: Jenn and Kevin.

This couple makes me feel old.

It's not their fault; that's what former students do. They graduate and grow up. For those of you who don't know, I'm a fine art and photography teacher at Woburn Memorial High School (my civilian job...I turn into a photography superhero on the weekends). Jenn and Kevin are former students of mine. I remember Jenn as a freshman in my Art Experience class all those years ago. Now I have her youngest brother in photography. I am so honored and flattered they want ME, "Dugs", to photograph their day in October. I want to make sure I give them the most special documentation of their day. And yes, I am pretty sure I'm going to cry...

Second: Keri and Mike

I am so excited to see this couple's reception! They dance competitively, so I'm guessing the first dance is going to be fantastic. June 1st is going to be quite the feast for the eyes (and my camera). Plus, Keri's a teacher and a redhead, just like me. I know we're going to work great together.

With the weather getting warm, weddings will be happening again. Stay tuned for my April 19th event at Providence College chapel and Lakeview Pavillion in Foxborough.

why would a photographer need a blog?

2008-03-29T21:30:00.000-04:00

talent and professionalism are very important when it comes to hiring a photographer. but, there's another item to look for when hiring your all of your wedding professionals:

PERSONALITY!

this is so true with your photographer, especially! do you want someone who can make you laugh and get the best looking expression out of you both, or do you want someone who makes you feel like brad and angelina being stalked by those awful paparazzi? i felt that, although my webpage showcases what i can do professionally, it really doesn't tell you all anything about my personality. hopefully my funny, slightly geeky, laid back stress-wise (but not professional-wise) personality comes through a little better with these posts. i love photographing weddings. i love it when the bride sees how beautiful she really is; i love it when i see that look of surprise that happens in the bride and groom's eyes right after they say i do; i love showing my work to others and hearing them say "wow!". despite what my students say, i am a HUGE romantic at heart. i still get giddy at "princess bride", i still get butterflies when jake shows up to see samantha in "sixteen candles", and i still cry when prince henry gets down on one knee to propose to danielle in "ever after". i am a true sap if there ever was one. i'm really looking forward to this season. i have so many different types of weddings scheduled over the next few months. i'm getting excited for my first one in two weeks at the red lion inn on the south shore. should be a wonderful winter wedding. of course, i'll keep you all posted!