Champagne Dreams: WE DID IT! One Year in Business!

I honestly can’t believe it! We are celebrating one WHOLE YEAR in business! And I use “we” because it’s not just me. This is truly a team effort and would never have been possible without all of YOU, my incredible clients, for trusting and booking with me; and my husband and babies for helping with gear prep and research, and managing the bubble machine!

Though it started off with being laid off from my day job, this has truly been a dream come true. We started building this business after I was laid off from my day job (I was designing a magazine for an agency, and due to budget cuts, it stopped printing.) My husband and I sat down, talked through our fears, and decided ultimately to give this fledgling business a chance to flourish. And flourish it has.

At the beginning of the year, I had no idea what kind of goals to set. I first set a goal of 23 photoshoots for the entire year. With the support of all of my clients, we quickly surpassed that goal in only 6 months!

When I did the Just Off Glen podcast, the host, Christy asked me what success would look like for me. I said I wasn’t sure, and I would be happy just to be able to pay the bills.

As word of mouth began to spread, more graphic design and photography bookings came my way, and when the first check arrived, I had to sit down because I had tears in my eyes. It was working.

Building a business has taken every ounce of my soul and energy, in a beautiful way. Often, my husband and I sit up and talk through photoshoots and logistics after the kids have gone to bed. We are truly all in this together.

As the one year mark hits, I am overwhelmed with emotion—humbled and deeply thankful. I am now so busy I am booking months ahead, and I couldn’t be more grateful! Cheers to the first year in business, and I can’t wait to see what the next year holds!

Julianne & Joseph | Mother and Son Graduation Session, Glens Falls NY

This was an incredibly special session to celebrate the graduation of mother and son! Julianne completed Graduate School and Joseph graduated from Preschool; they wanted to celebrate together!

My own son, Kaiser, is the same age as Joseph, so it was so much fun running around and giving him fun running ninja prompts! His sweet energy made the whole session so much fun!

This is a family of champions, as our last tree farm session together was absolutely freezing, and this one was hotter than Hades! But we had so much fun at both, and I can’t wait to capture them again in the fall!

Scotlander: Brewery Branding Session with Team Headshots | Argyle, NY

This brewery branding session with team headshots at Scotlander Brewing in Argyle, NY was something of a dream for me. If we’ve just met, there’s nothing I love more than beer and photos (in that order!) Okay, and my kids and husband, too.

Having the chance to combine those loves and serve a team as awesome and kind-hearted as “The Sarahs” at Scotlander made for a session that I’ve been dreaming about since I started my business.

We aimed for an early evening golden hour session, just before the sun set. I instructed them to bring a pint each of their most colorful offering for a rainbow cheers—they didn’t disappoint!

Truth be told, we ran this session like a rookie fraternity hazing when I would instruct everyone to cheers and chug. They were dutiful and it made for one of the most fun sessions this year to date!

Thank you, Scotlander, for making my beer and photo dreams come true! I can’t wait to come back in a few months for fall family session of Photos and Pints! Stay tuned for more details!

Granville Block Party

We walked the stroller down the street past Slate Town Brewing and On The Rocks to the sound of music in the air. The kids felt it, and the energy grew as we drew closer.

Living in this beautiful small town has a special energy about it—you run into people and catch up in the middle of the street as you go about your life. It wasn’t always this way for us; though we’ve lived in Granville since 2010, we’re new compared to the families who have grown their roots here for generations. We’re so proud to be raising our two babies here, and so thankful for all of the connections we’ve made since we’ve been here.

The sun began to set on the party as the children ran about and danced with reckless abandon in a way that us adults wish we could bottle up and reproduce for ourselves. Families gathered to catch up and small businesses joined together to build each other up.

It was an incredible summer day in the town of Granville, and we’re so thankful to Brenda Ross and everyone who put so much energy into this special event! We’re so proud to live in our sweet town!

Surprise Prospect Mountain Proposal! | Lake George, NY

It’s rare that Karl and I escape for a date night, but thanks to Grandma and Grandpa we made it to Lake George on Saturday! We started the day off location scouting and taking a few promo photos for each other (by the way, if anyone ever asks me what my idea of a perfect date is—this is IT! Followed by a few craft beers at Adirondack Brewery, of course.)

We made it to the top of Prospect Mountain, and I stood posing awkwardly in front of the epic view, when I heard “oh look! Someone’s getting engaged!”

Luckily, I had JUST purchased my 70-200 lens which captures distant moments intimately! My heart started racing excitedly, and I whirled like a photography ninja to catch the couple, surrounded by their friends, embracing after she said yes!

I tried to give them some private space, but I knew I’d regret it if I left and didn’t offer to take a few photos for them! We captured just a few, and then I left them to enjoy their day. We left for lunch and a few beers, exhilarated at the beautiful moment we just witnessed. To my delight, the new bride-to-be found me through my website and emailed to ask if she could purchase the images. I responded that I was SO happy she found me, and I was delighted to send her everything I had at no charge.

What an incredible day! I doubt we’ll ever top a Lake George date night with a magic surprise proposal on top of Prospect Mountain! Congratulations to the newly engaged couple! We are OVER THE MOON for you!

Move It, Mama: Fit4Mom Queensbury/Saratoga Grand Opening Class!

I try to keep it together during photoshoots, but this one felt particularly special. Beth originally reached out and asked me to capture the grand opening class of Fit4Mom Queensbury/Saratoga, and I immediately felt a connection with her. Her babies are similar in age to mine, and it feels like our objectives align with one another. When I realized that Kaiser would be out of school during this time, I reached out to Beth to ask if she’d mind that I bring him. Her enthusiastic response made me tear up: she said he was absolutely welcome, and that he could ride in her double stroller with her own son! What a deeply kind thing to do, from one mama business owner to another. It felt so meant to be that we connected and acted as a true village today, helping each other take care of the kiddos while she conducted her grand opening class for Fit4Mom Queensbury/Saratoga, and I captured it for her.

The weather was questionable, as it always is, and we lucked out to arrive to Hovey Pond Park in Queensbury, NY to lightly cloudy skies that burst with sunlight sporadically throughout the class. Kaiser hit it off with Parker, Beth’s son, immediately, and they bonded over their joint love of firetrucks while Beth’s mom so kindly strolled him through the class.

You could feel the beautiful mama energy as everyone greeted each other warmly, helped open pouches for other kiddos, and high fived each other as they went through the class itself. It literally brought tears to my eyes; there is something deeply special about mama camaraderie that happens when we join together to become a village and support each other. The entire reason I started this business was to build a better work/life balance for my kiddos, and today, with the help of Beth and her mom, I felt that dream become a reality.

If you haven’t checked Fit4Mom out, the class itself was so much fun! They’ll be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:30. I can’t wait to go back and join as a participant next time!

Eli & Emersyn | Summer Family Photoshoot in Granville, NY

This photoshoot was nothing short of magical for all of the reasons! It was supposed to thunderstorm, but it managed to hold off for a few hours and we had beautiful, late-morning sunlight in Granville. It was the first of the summer, and my sweet bubble assistant, Kaiser, joined me to help entertain the babies—he did a great job!

Almost most importantly, I had the chance to capture Eli and his new baby sister almost exactly one year after their maternity shoot! Honestly, to get the chance to watch your babies grow is one of the biggest reasons I love what I do. (Scroll to the end of the gallery to see the side-by-side of sweet Eli, one year apart!) Building a relationship with my clients also helps us all get to know one another, and we all look forward to seeing each other year after year! It also helps us all feel comfortable because we know each other! And if the kiddos have high energy and want to run around, you know I’m easy breezy and we go at their pace! I love more than anything the opportunity to grow in my relationship with my clients and their kiddos. Eli and Emersyn, I can’t wait to see you again next year!

Photoshoot #23! Spa Studio Team Headshots | Glens Falls, NY

It felt meant to be that the 23rd shoot of 2023 was a set of team headshots for my dear friends at the Spa Studio Adirondacks. We have been loyal clients of theirs for years; they are deeply talented and just all around wonderful humans!

We opted for an outdoor style with natural lighting and the introduction of a bit of nature to accent their style.

Erica, Sharon, and the rest of the team were wonderful to work with—following my gentle prompts with laughter and love, which shows in the photos!

They’ll be attending the wellness retreat I’ll be photographing later this summer, and I can’t wait to capture them again!

Sandi & John’s Wedding | Gables & Gardens | Granville, NY

This one is special, folks. I woke up the morning of Sandi and John’s wedding vow renewal at Gables & Gardens teary-eyed and emotional. 10 years ago, I was an equally hot mess as I watched my sister walk down the aisle. I’ve been privileged to witness their love grow and evolve through the years: through loss, through moving to a new state, through having a baby. It has been such a wonderful journey, and I am so honored to have been able to have them in our lives all of these years.

These two purely radiate love. You can feel it in the air when they’re around each other, through the way they laugh and snuggle, and act like complete goofballs when I tried to give them a serious prompt (just wait for that blooper reel! It’s coming!)

Watching them renew their devotion to each other was deeply inspiring for me, and since it was a private ceremony, I am so honored to have snuck in under the guise of being a photographer in order to spy on this sweet ceremony.

Sandi and John, it is truly an honor to witness your deep love for one another. Thank you for trusting me to capture your incredible day! Cheers to so many more years together! I love you both to the moon and back.

WE DID IT! Photography Business Goals: 23 Photoshoots in 2023!

WE DID IT! When I was laid off in January, and my husband and I sat down to discuss making my photography and design business my full time job, I had no idea what this year would look like. I set a goal of photographing 23 photoshoots in 2023, and I honestly had no idea how long it would take to get to that point. I bought this bottle of champagne and told myself that I would pop it when we reached our goal.

My friends, we are in June—halfway through the year—and I am SO thrilled to say that we just hit 23 photoshoots!

Our twenty-third session was meant to be: team headshots for one of our favorite fellow women-owned businesses (and dear friends of ours who we have known for years!) Erica, Sharon, and the rest of the team at Spa Studio Adirondacks. (Sidenote: if you are looking for professional spa services, you must go see them! They are wonderful and talented humans.)

For most of the year, I didn’t know who would be lucky number 23, and when I realized it would be Spa Studio, it felt deeply meant to be. I’m so thrilled to have gotten the chance to celebrate with them!

This goal would never have been reachable without all of your support. Thank you for the public and private messages of encouragement, the friendship and mentorship of my fellow photographers, and those of you who held my hand and believed I could do this from the beginning—even when I wasn’t sure myself. WE DID IT! And I do mean “we”.

What’s next? I turn 40 in February, and now we’re going for 40 photoshoots before 40! Who’s with me? Let’s do this!

Toddlers are in-tents: Camping in Quechee, VT

Every year, we take our first camping trip for Karl’s birthday in Quechee, Vermont. Looking back, I’m impressed that we were so brave: we first took Kaiser camping when he was 6 months old! Now, the kids are 5 and 3, and for the first time I was able to appreciate the small ways that things were a bit easier this year.

It was our first trip with everyone in big boy undies, and let’s just say I’m sure the neighbors got quite a show, with everyone dropping their pants in the forest. (Hey, we’re in survival mode these days, and we’re doing the best we can! Insert facepalm here.)

Despite the challenges that potty training two kids on a camping trip brings, they got along better than expected, they enjoyed their first smores (a rite of passage!) and the nature and fresh air did us all a world of good. We came home refreshed and excited for our next camping trip!

Scarlett’s Spring First Birthday Session | Granville, NY

When a friend once described her longstanding relationship with their family photographer, it was like that scene from the Notebook where Martha tells Noah that now she has something to look forward to after seeing he and Allie together. I knew that’s what I wanted to build with my own clients.

My dream is to serve families year after year, getting the chance to watch them grow, maybe even frequently enough that the kiddos remember me.

I was so fortunate to capture Scarlett at six months, and again yesterday just after her first birthday! Our spring session was full of sweet baby snuggles and giggles that reverberated through Granville. I can’t wait to see this sweet girl and her beautiful mama again!

Spring Vermont Engagement Session | Rachel & Todd

I drove up the dusty dirt road with my windows down, into the sparkling, early spring sunlight. I followed Rachel and Todd into the field where they’ll be married in September, surrounded by the Green Mountains of Vermont.

There’s a magic in the air that can only be felt in Vermont— it was punctuated by the pure, authentic love shared by Rachel and Todd. They walked in sync with each other, laughed easily, and snuggled without prompting; a photographer’s dream!

I always come prepared with gentle posing prompts to help my couples feel comfortable in front of the camera. Rachel and Todd barely needed them; they nuzzled naturally and shared the most genuine connection that was such an honor to bear witness to.

In September, we’ll meet again in this field, surrounded by their loved ones and the familiar sight of the majestic mountains of Vermont as they’re joined in marriage. I can’t wait to be a part of their special day!

Take Me Home, Country Roads: John Coleman Musician Portrait Session / Glens Falls, NY

We parked at the trailhead of a new location I hadn’t photographed at before, walking with the quiet comfort that being in nature can provide. The sunlight filtered between the leaves, and the sounds of Wagon Wheel floated around us as John played and I captured.

John is one of the most talented people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in my lifetime—both as a musician and a designer. If you haven’t heard him play, you should!

I drove home from our session with the windows down, filled with contentment. I tried to remember what day of the week it was: it felt like a Friday, but it was Tuesday. It’s been a long, tough winter after losing our kitty, but this warm, spring portrait session reminded me how thankful I am to have this job.

How to Find the Right Photographer for YOU

My life isn’t perfect, and it makes me feel less alone when yours isn’t either!

One of the mamas I had the honor of capturing recently pulled into the parking lot and rolled down her window with an exasperated sigh. Her two-year-old had thrown up in the car on the way, ruining the outfit she’d so carefully picked out. Her other two children plugged their noses from their carseats. She was very newly pregnant, to boot.

“We got this!” I put down my camera, pulled wet wipes out of my own car, and together we got them all ready to rock. It turned out to be one of my favorite photoshoots we’ve ever done.

When you’re looking for a photographer, it’s important to make sure you not only love their work, but you love THEM, too. Your experience is so much more than just your final photos.

I’ve been on the other end when we had our own family photos done, and I know how stressful it is picking out outfits, making sure everyone is fed, dealing with car tantrums on the way; all the while trying not to stress and ruin your own outfit.

When you arrive, you want to be greeted by someone who feels like a friend and helps your entire family to have a calm and enjoyable experience. It may feel chaotic to you, but for your photographer, it’s capturing pure childhood joy. It’s okay to relax and let them run around—toddlers gonna toddler, as they say. (Who says that? Nobody. I digress.)

Tips for finding your photographer:

1. Friend request them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram! Do it, we don’t mind! Do they share funny cat memes and hilarious photos of their own children melting down, making you feel like you’d want to be friends with them? Or do they put out a vibe that makes you feel judged and nervous? Trust your instincts. You’ll find the perfect photographer for you!

2. Google them. Reviews aren’t everything, but they can help paint the picture of what it’s like to work with them.

3. Check out their website. Read their “About” section to get a feel for their personality. See photos of THEM. Also, you want to know who you’re meeting up with in the middle of a park with your children! It’s like a blind date, and you want to feel comfortable.

I love when a client requests me on Facebook, and I get to see the funny and sweet things they share. It makes me want to be THEIR friend, and I look so forward to meeting them and capturing their family! Because here’s the honest truth—I’m a mama of two small boys, the back seat of my Honda Pilot is a dumpster fire, and when you arrive to your session feeling like a hot mess too, it lets me know I’ve found my people.

Spring Family Photos and Waking Before the Sun | Glens Falls, NY

I left the house before the kids woke up (which is saying quite a lot, since they awake before 6am these days! We just started using the OK to Wake Clock, and it’s BEGINNING to work. Fellow toddler moms, I know you feel this.) The unseasonably warm Spring weather refreshed my soul, and I was invigorated with the energy of a new season, and the prospect of not having to wear a coat for these photoshoots!

The families that I photographed were so sweet, and the kids were full of the incredible energy that only the first warm weather of Spring can infuse! They were a joy to capture. We put the bubble machine to good use, and channeled a “Wheels on the Bus” vibe. Pro tip: bring your best friend and her kids to your photoshoot to help you entertain yours! This was the first time I had two families of best friends together, and it was beautiful to see them all helping with each other’s children!

It was such an honor to capture these incredible families; thank you Kate, Melanie, Hillary, and Erin for inviting me into your lives and allowing me to stop time for a moment. Here’s to the start of Spring photoshoots in Upstate NY and all of the incredible moments we’ll capture together!

Paul & Rene Leonard: Granville Wedding Anniversary Photoshoot

The day started off with a surprise mid-March snowstorm, and as I drove to Paul and Rene’s home in Granville, NY, I knew they’d be up for the challenge! Paul and Rene are two of the kindest people I know, and we are honored to consider them friends, as well as the people we trust to take care of our babies through their daycare business, Exploration Acres.

As we walked around their gorgeous log cabin home with the snow cascading down around us, they shared their captivating love story with me. The truth is, we see each other every day when I drop Kayden off, but to get the chance to spend this time with them and learn more about their story was incredibly special.

One of the things I love most about this job is that I am invited into people’s lives to capture their most precious moments. Paul and Rene’s anniversary happens to be the same day as my Kayden’s birthday: March 12th, the day after our photoshoot, which feels deeply meaningful. Cheers to this incredible couple and congratulations to them on their anniversary!

Capturing the Music: Aaron Hahn at Scotlander Brewing

For a Saturday in March, the day started off in a beautiful snowstorm and ended with sun peeking through the clouds. It was the perfect day to spend capturing Aaron Hahn and his beautiful wife, Veronica. He sauntered in with a gentle cowboy swagger, and his energy matched the cadence of the music he and Barry played. Laughter and friendship filled the room with joy, and a good time was had by all as I captured this event in Argyle NY. We can’t wait to go back for the next event!

Pink Boots Society Collaboration Brew Day | Walt & Whitman Brewing Saratoga Springs NY

Stina from Slate Town Brewing and Lily from Bolton Landing Brewing

Celebrating International Women’s Day with the ladies of the Pink Boots Society Upstate NY chapter was the perfect place to be today. What an honor to be immersed in the talent, skills, and kindness of these incredible women! We bring vastly different backgrounds and knowledge base in the brewing industry, and it is uplifting to bear witness to the support and encouragement no matter what you bring to the table.

It’s always a bit daunting walking into a social situation where you know noone, and once again, I was welcomed with open arms (and delicious beers!) as together we brewed the Pink Boots Society Collaboration Brew hosted by Walt & Whitman Brewing in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Thank you all so much for inviting me in to capture the magic!

Adirondack Brewery Barrel Fest | Lake George NY Event Photography

The snow cascaded down, coating eyelashes and falling into our tasting glasses, giving a magical overtone to photos of this year’s Barrel Fest event at Adirondack Brewery in Lake George NY. I got the opportunity to combine two of my loves: beer and event photography! We ran into some old friends and made some new ones too!

The roaring palette fire made a warm, exciting centerpiece enhanced by the fireworks. Friends gathered to taste the incredible barrel-aged beer offerings from Adirondack Brewery, Mean Max Brew Works, Speckled Pig Brewing, Battle Hill Brewing, Artisanal Brew Works, Bolton Landing Brewing, Thousand Islands Winery, Chatham Brewing, Common Roots Brewing, Northway Brewing Co., Founders, Fidens, Raquette River Brewing, Mill House Brewing Company, and many more.

Cheers to another incredible year of Barrel Fest!