angel wings at twilight

I am part of a facebook group called Art Winds where we have monthly themes that we use to create works of art in various mediums of our choosing. This month was 'feather'.. I was full of ideas, and yet continuously found myself lacking the time to execute any of them. I had pretty much abandoned the thought of completing something for the group before March 1st. But then last night I was pulling into the parking lot at my brother and sister-in-law's condo for dinner and a sleepover party, as I noticed the orange sun setting through the bare trees and realized I had my camera in the back of the car. I ran inside.

'Ally! Do you have any feathers??'

'Hmm let me think.. wait, yes! My angel wings!'

'OMG. Do you want to dress up as an angel and go run in the woods with me for a few minutes while the kids are still asleep???'

'Ummmmm, obviously.'

So she changed, and we snuck out of the house into the woods across the street. The air felt warm on our skin, and although the earth was still cold, it smelled different.. it was as though we could smell winter saying goodbye, and spring making it's way slowly back to us. The light was so soft and it lingered, as if to keep us outside longer.. as if it didn't want us to go. We ran through the leaves, laid in dirt, and laughed the whole time. And it wasn't until the light was completely gone that we decided to head back inside.

These are the moments that feed our creative souls, that connect us to other creative spirits, and that keep our imaginations alive. I am grateful for last night, and for my beautiful friend for always letting her imagination run wild with mine, and for this really cool group of artists pushing each other to create; without reservation, unapologetically, for the sake of art, just create. 

Jamie + Steve // engagement // Montpelier, Vermont

On my 34th birthday, Mathieu and I drove down to Connecticut with our girls to spend the weekend with my family and close friends. On our way down we stopped off in Montpelier for a quick evening engagement shoot with this gorgeous couple, who also happen to be the winners of my Wedding Giveaway Contest!!! This was the first time we were meeting, and I couldn't be luckier to have them as my clients. They were so easy going, and their adorable dog Mocha was just an added bonus. What was supposed to be just a thirty minute shoot turned into over an hour as we kept chatting and discovering sweet little allyways and cafés down State Street and onto Main.

Our session ended on a green between two buildings where Mathieu, our girls, some of our mutual friends and their daughter were all eating pizza and enjoying the warm spring evening. After a little more conversation, we said goodbye and walked back to the car. Mathieu looked up and noticed something on our windshield. 'Oh man, did I get a ticket??' He asked out loud. It was almost  dark now, so it was hard to tell what it was on the car. As we got closer, we noticed there was a bouquet of flowers stuck under the wiper!

'Awww babe you got me flowers for my birthday! You're so sweet!!'
'Ummm, no actually I didn't.'
'What do you mean?? haha you're joking right?'
'Ha! No, I wish I could take the credit, trust me!' was his response.
'Well if you didn't, who did? Dayna and Scott?' (These are friends of ours who were there also with their daughter..) 
'No, it couldn't have been them. They didn't walk back this way.' Mathieu confirmed.
'So you think it was Jamie and Steve??'

As we got into the car I shot Jamie a text and sure enough, she responded with a 'Happy birthday.' How sweet?? Such a simple little gesture can make someone feel so special. I seriously couldn't have asked for a better birthday evening.

This is why I am drawn to photography. I am so privileged to be able to be a part of such an incredible time of people's lives.. the gratitude is immeasurable. Needless to say, I could not be more excited to photograph their sure to be swoon-worthy wedding day next month!

For now, some sneak peeks from this sweet Vermont evening in late April.

Bienvenue au Monde Béatrice!

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited into this beautiful family's home to capture some of the early moments of their third child and only daughter, Béatrice's life as the 5th member of the family! Safe to say, as always, they stole a little piece of my heart while I was there. They were so much fun to photograph! Elyse was so relaxed and collected as her husband Alexandre ran around with the two boys Léonard and Hubert. It was all so natural and I really was able to get a sense for who they are as individuals and as a family. 

These are the kinds of sessions that keep me passionate and grateful for having photography in my life. These are real memories frozen in time and I am always so honored to be chosen to give these gifts to people. 

Merci tellement Elyse, Alex, Léo, Hubert, et la petite Béatrice d'avoir m'invité chez vous. Cette journée était autant un cadeau pour moi que pour vous.. xoxoxo

bonjour charlotte.

You won't remember this, but I will.. your sweet baby smell, your soft breath on my face, your tiny little fingers wrapped around mine. When life feels like it's spinning out of control and you start walking.. or driving.. or even walking down the aisle someday, I will close my eyes, and remember us. just. like. this. ❤️

paola // baby belly

I was 26 years old when my girlfriend Paola had her first child. A beautiful baby boy. I remember the day like yesterday, my mom and I went to visit her at the hospital together. I was wearing vintage 70's leather heels I had bought just north of houston in NYC, a white tank top, shorts and suspenders. He was so tiny and I was so nervous, I remember feeling so insecure holding this little human being in my arms, like I would break him. But I didn't. I fell in love instantly. He was just beautiful.

And then only a  little over a year later, she had her second child, a chubby little girl. My dear friend Mary and I went to see her at the hospital together. I was wearing a colorful striped wool sweater from the Gap with a pair of BDG jeans and my frye boots, and we were a little more confident this time around holding babies.. her adorable fat cheeks had us mesmerized.

Last month we took the kids to the beach, packed a few pretty dresses and around 6 pm we whipped out the camera and took some incredible photos of this beautiful woman at the end of her third pregnancy. We laughed so hard we cried. The camera almost got devoured by the ocean(a few times). And at one point I actually thought Mathieu was going  have to come in to rescue us.. but we survived and we have the pictures to prove it.

Any day now, my girlfriend Paola will be having her third child. I can not wait to meet this little boy or girl. I wonder what I will be wearing...