How I Got My Start| ME & NH Newborn Photographer

By Sarah York

Should I contact her?  No, I shouldn’t bother.  But I really want to!  Maybe just ask her to chat over coffee?  No, why would she want to chat with me!?  She’s like this super awesome, ridiculously amazing photographer.  Gaahhh!  But I really feel like I should!  No, I’m sure she’s too busy!  This is silly….

That’s the back and forth argument I had with myself last spring.  Photography has long since been a passion of mine and thanks to my hubby gifting me a nice little DSLR (and my children being able to slightly fend for themselves for short stretches of time) I was really getting back into it.  Knowing I would need to head back to work in the next year or so, I was debating heading back to the social work field, in which I have my degree and a lot of experience, or taking a leap of faith and pursing something I love! I was asking daily which direction God wanted me to go.  I kept coming back to this notion of asking Erin to chat with me so I could pick her brain about how she went from mom with DSLR to pro-photographer extraordinaire!

Well, short story long… I finally just asked her to have coffee with me.  To my surprise, she quickly said yes!  (turns out it was her slow season and she REALLY is just a real, lovely, down to earth human being like the rest of us!)  It was great to hear her story and ask all of my questions.  At the end of our convo, she randomly blurted out, “Ya know I’m really looking to retire from my newborn photography.  I could mentor you and train you and then you could be my newborn photographer.”

I think I had a small stroke right there on the spot.  When I recovered from that,  inwardly I was leaping up onto my chair, fists clenched in the air, jumping up and down in true Tom Cruise, crazy person fashion.  Luckily, I kept my cool and said something like, “Wow, that sounds amazing.  I’ll pray on it and think about it.” (That’s totally made up.  I have no recollection of words that actually formed in my brain or came out of my mouth.)

Later, Erin divulged to me that she had not planned to say that or make that offer to me but that the words kind of just fell out of her mouth.  NOT EXACTLY a super vote of confidence in me… but I totally didn’t care how it happened.  I was gonna run with it and super pray she didn’t ever come to regret it!   

I’ll spare you all of the crazy cool details that “just worked out” and “fell into place”(Nothing is coincidence in my view!).  The rest is pretty much history!  I started shadowing, then assisting, then taking some shots, quickly moving on to doing discounted practice shoots on my own with Erin assisting, and then to doing shoots on my own. What Erin and I thought would take a year or so’s time to accomplish has happened in a matter of months.  We’ve both said many times that God is in this and when He’s in it, its on His timetable, not ours!  It’s clear to me that I’ve found my passion.  But I’ll let you judge for yourself and let the pictures do the talking!  

I have to pinch myself from time to time when I think about how it all came to fruition and that I get to get paid for doing something that brings me so much joy!  If I’m fortunate enough to photograph your precious new bundle, know that it comes from a place of true gratitude and I count it as a true privilege!

 

Newborn Twins | Maine Newborn Photographer

There are two emotions that flow through me when I receive an email inquiring about photographing newborn twins: fist pumping delight, followed immediately by terror. It’s a rare treat to photograph newborn twins, which is part of the reason it’s so exhilarating, wonderful, and scary…sort of like riding a bull or jumping out of a plane. Only cuter. Much cuter.

That being said, these sweet little ladies couldn’t have been any more perfect.

..and where two babies are gathered, two photographers shall also be gathered. Big props to Sarah for her magical baby whispering, design, and photography skills.

 

A Rainbow-tastic Wedding

When I met with Emily and her mom about her wedding plans, I couldn’t contain my joy over her rainbow themed wedding. Rainbows are a promise from God, so needless to say, I am a HUGE fan of rainbows and color and all things happy. It was sort of meant to be that I would photograph the most rainbow-tasic day ever.

I photographed Emily’s sister’s wedding a few years prior, and it was such an honor to be a part of another monumental day for this family.

There are so many wonderful, unique details about Emily’s wedding, but probably the most touching was that she designed her own wedding dress and incorporated the lace from the sleeve of her mom’s dress and these 5 flowers from her mom’s dress.

Emily had also significantly altered the back of her dress to showcase her tattoos.

..and much to the dismay of the bridal shop (which I believe Emily enjoyed), Emily also made her dress t-length. I mean, how else was she going to show off her custom wedding Converse All-Stars?

Emily proudly wore a colorful neckless, which was the first piece of jewelry that Jeremy bought her, paired, of course, with the 2nd & 3rd pieces, her engagement ring and wedding band.

With one last squeeze from her four sisters, she was ready to venture off to meet her groom for their first look.

and the rest of the party..

and Jeremy’s best man earning that title..

And soon enough it was time to go and get married..

So off they ran..with some motivation

Emily’s mom and dad also got to have a special first look. Her mom knew that Emily had incorporated parts of her wedding dress into her own, but she had not seen the final design until this teary moment.

Friends and family gathered together and signed a tapestry for the bride & groom

Nieces walked down the isle with warning signs and a Pokemon

The ceremony incorporated a knot tying tradition, with a colorful rope that was woven by Emily & Jeremy.

Dancing happened..

..and donut-dinosaur cake smashing also happened

..and finally photos of husband and wife, alone together at last.

And THAT, friends, is how you pull of a rainbow, dinosaur, love-filled, wedding.

 

 

 

 

How I lost 30 pounds in 3 seconds

This morning I was thumbing through pictures on my iphone when I came across a series of images my daughter took this past weekend while we were dropping our son off at college.  I had to laugh at myself because…well…this..

The first frame, I was in the moment, no actual photography thoughts, just sort of like “aw take pictures of us”.

Then I gained consciousness, “what the heck am I doing, one simply does not relax in front of the camera. Especially when one is 44 years old and has recently added 10+ pounds to her stature. Game on. Thumb, find the pocket! Arm. Bend it!”

The iPhone kept snapping. “Dang. I’m not ready. What leg am I standing on? No, not the front leg!  Weight to the back! Big booty: back leg bends, smaller body: front leg bends. We are currently in smaller body mode. Shift now damnit! I said NOW, before this thing ends”

So yeah, that’s how I lost 30 pounds in 3 seconds. And how you can too.

Always choose a professional photographer to take your picture, it’s our job to know how to pose you so that you look your best. Though you can take this little trick with you wherever you go.

You’re welcome.