Vanessa + Étienne // Québec, Québec Wedding

What can I say about these two. Words can't even describe the abundance of love and emotion that was present on this gorgeous summer day in Québec. I can tell you that from the moment we got there to the moment I packed my bags and left I was overwhelmed with the joy that these friends and families shared with Vanessa and Étienne, and their two little loves, Jack and Victoria. 

I am not kidding when I say that I cried multiple times throughout the day. The love between these two is a very special kind and I am beyond honored and privileged to have been chosen to capture this special day for them and their friends and families. 

Il n'y'a pas de mots pour décrire ces deux amoureux. Il y'avait tellement d'amour et d'émotion présent en cette belle journée d'été à Québec. Je peux certainement vous dire que du moment où je suis arrivé au moment de mon départ, j'ai été touché profondément par la joie que ces amis et familles ont partagé avec Vanessa, Étienne, et leur deux enfants, Jack et Victoria. 

C'est vrai quand je dis que j'ai pleuré plusieurs fois pendant la journée! L'amour entre ces deux est unique et je suis tellement honorée et privilégié d'avoir été choisi pour capturé cette journée magique pour eux.

Un gros gros MERCI à mes deuxième et troisième photographes; Melanie Vallerand, et Ariane Piché-Morin!!!

Jamie + Steve // Calais, Vermont Wedding

On a Friday afternoon in late June I packed up my car and hit the road for a tiny little town just outside of Montpelier, Vermont to photograph Jamie and Steve's rustic, DIY wedding! 

I was meeting my good friend and second shooter, Jason Langevin at a little airbnb cabin in this quaint woodsy town of Calais, Vermont about four hours from Quebec City. I knew the weekend was going to be epic when the last thirty minutes of my drive was on straight up dirt roads.

Jamie and Steve's day began at a family friend's home about four minutes from where we were staying(everything was within four minutes of everything). Jamie and her bridesmaids were out on the patio arranging the bouquets in between their hair and makeup.

Steve and his groomsmen spent the night at a sweet little lake cottage(about four minutes away) and spent the morning eating hot dogs and drinking beers before heading over to the Old West Church(again, four minutes away).

This church was incredible! Built in 1825, it is a perfect example of an 18th-century New England meeting house with it's cubical pew arrangement, elevated podium and entouring second floor balcony. It screams New England charm! The reception was on a local neighbors property(four minutes away), up on a large hill overlooking the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

It was breathtaking. The entire day. From start to finish.. the weather, the flowers, the hair, the dresses, everyone breaking into song and clapping during the ceremony singing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the pickup trucks, the view, the hilarious speeches, the food, the friend who brewed his own kegs of beer for the event, the mason jars, the library cards as seat assignments, the paper cranes, the plywood stage, the dancing, the band, the cupcakes, the gray clouds that came rolling in as the evening went on and ended the night with a massive storm, but most importantly: the PEOPLE. 

Thank you Jamie and Steve for trusting me to capture this very special day in the story of your lives. I feel so honored to have been able to be there to witness the crazy amount of love that surrounds you both. Your families and friends are living proof of the love that you share and I wish you many many many more years of crazy dancing, laughing, amazing friendships, and joy together. Something tells me you won't be lacking any of it.

xoxo

bride's dresses: Gallina for David's Bridal, groom's suit: Pronto Uomo for Mens Warehouse, invitations and menus: Jamie Connor and Rachael Clark, Flowers: Lisa Flloyd and and Debbie Clark, paper cranes: Jamie Connor and Emilie Connor

thank you again Jason Langevin for coming with me to second shoot this awesome day! xo

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

Stony Creek Brewery (aggressively laid back beer)

I spent a weekend in New York City a couple of weeks ago to second shoot a wedding with the beautiful and talented Julia from Julia Elizabeth Photography. (I can't wait to share a few of those images with you!) The sunday that I was to come back to Connecticut, my brother called me to invite me to meet him and his new restaurant partners at the Stony Creek Brewery in Branford, CT as they took a tour of the place and tasted a few of the beers that they will be carrying in their new digs in Unionville, CT: Cure! (I will be sharing more info on this as well in the coming weeks!!!)

So I took a slight detour and in lieu of taking the Hutchinson back to Farmington, I hopped on 95-N and battled some Sunday afternoon traffic to make my way to meet them. And am I ever glad I did, this place is gorgeous! The staff is incredibly attentive and cool, and, most importantly, the beer is awesome. 

If you live in the NYC or CT area and like beer, you need to check this place out.