Sam & Scott's Wedding Weekend Slideshow

I just got the sweetest email from Kyle (my husband). He had just finished watching Sam and Scott's wedding weekend slideshow and he wrote: "I can not imagine watching that if I were them. Maybe the song helped it for me too but that is the most amazing series you have put together. I swear I saw some of the frames move like in Harry Potter. I love you and your work." His words totally made my day, and I know this slideshow will make Sam and Scott's!

The Knot 2007 Real Wedding Awards

I've been meaning for weeks to enter a few of my summer 2007 weddings in The Knot's 2007 Real Wedding Awards. And tonight, I finally got a free moment to enter two, though I may add more later in the weekend if I am rendered housebound by the snowstorm that's on the way. The winners will be featured on The Knot- the holy grail of wedding planning- and one couple will win an African safari.

The pages for the weddings I entered can be found here (Kelly and Pat's seaside celebration at Sebasco Harbor Resort- see screen capture above) and here (Abby and Ethan's wedding among the lupines at Saddleback). I'd love it if you'd go vote for them (though I most admit the voted rankings are pretty arbitrary because you can vote for your own weddings or against someone else's as much as you'd like so you stay high in the rankings).

A FREE Wedding!!!! You Gotta Check This Out!

Sebasco Harbor Resorts in Phippsburg is one of my favorite wedding venues. I adore how it offers both coastal and wooded settings on a single property, and their attention to detail from what I've seen is impeccable. You may remember Kelly and Pat's wedding that I photographed there in late September and what a fantastic fall wedding it was (my favorite shot from the day is above)!

Well, now like Kelly and Pat and thousands of other couples who have had the privilege of saying "I Do" at Sebasco, you can have your wedding there as well - for FREE!!! The resort is holding a contest where you can win a Pure Maine Wedding, valued at $25,000, for 200 guests in 2009. In addition to the ceremony and reception site, dinner for 200, and a rehearsal dinner sunset cruise for 24 people, the giveaway includes lodging for the bride and groom on their wedding weekend, spa services for the bride and groom, golf for the wedding party (for up to 40 people) and heck, even a cake! If you are interested, you can visit their Web site for more information, and all the entry details (entries, in the form of a two minute video essay are due by September of 2008.)

Wow!!!

Help Pick the Colors of the Business Formerly Known As I Do Click Wedding Photography

Which color combo?
	Swatch 1
	Swatch 2
	Both stink- I'll email you
pollcode.com free polls

I feel like Prince or P.Diddy (I mean, Puff Daddy, Puffy Coombs, Sean Coombs, whatever!) with all the talk of rebranding and name changing. In the poll at right, it seems Samantha Warren Weddings is winning out, but I Do Click always seems to be (successfully) playing catch up (I wonder who out there keeps voting for it- I know it isn't me because I actually never vote in my own polls). As much as I like the sound of I Do Click and appreciate the multiple meanings the moniker has, I fear "click" seems to trivialize the complexity of the work I and other talented wedding photojournalists are doing. "Click" sounds like something anyone can do, and I certainly don't believe that is the case with my work. And of course, those with dirty minds see something entirely different in the name, especially when it is written in certain fonts... Tres naughty!

With the prospect of changing the name, I am also considering a color makeover (and then comes the new Website and blog). I love the black and blue I currently employ, because it's classic and speaks to Maine's beautiful summer blue skies, but it was pointed out to me that those might not be the best wedding colors (for obvious reasons) and that I should maybe rebrand myself as more feminine to appeal more to brides. But I want to connect with couples, which includes brides and grooms, so I am in a bit of a color picking pickle. The purple is one of my favorite shades (and the color of our bathroom walls) and I think it is elegant, especially when paired with the white. I'd be interested to see what you think....

P.S. Blogger doesn't translate colors totally accurately, so to get a true sense of what the black and blue combo look like, click on the image of the swatches (it's actually exactly like the black and blue you see used on this blog.)

It's Official: Fairbanks Farm is On the Market!!!

I didn't know whether to smile or cry when I saw the sign this morning! After two years of talk, last night, we finally put our John Hancock on a contract with our Realtor and today, the sign went in the yard meaning Fairbanks Farm is now on the market! Also made official today is that I will never be a professional real estate photographer! What a challenge it was photographing our home for the listing shots, especially seeing the snowbanks are double the height of our cars. And, because our house is an old one, the rooms are fairly small, meaning you need a very w i d e angle lens (like the one on my B & H wishlist) to get truly realistic shots that show the room's details and dimensions.

It's with severely mixed emotions that we listed the house. We love our home and our community, but we also long to live in a bit more populated area, closer to other things we love including some of our dear friends, great eats, ballparks, the beach, and the airport! Looking at houses in southern Maine has been a HUGE stickershock for us... you don't make much in Farmington, but it doesn't cost much to live here either! If you saw what our house was listed for, those of you who live outside of Franklin County would think it was a typo, but alas, it's true. I was hoping we'd be able to list it for more, but the Realtors we met with had trouble finding a comparable property to it. Nevertheless, it's been a great investment for us, and it's the place where we got married, so what more can I say! Even though it's not big and only had one bathroom, it's one of the hidden gems type that you have to see to believe. It's an incredibly charming home with a yard that cannot be beat (including a ceder-fenced in backyard lined with bricked-in gardens that have never required a second of tending), so we will see what happens now that it's officially for sale.

Perchance any potential buyers see this post (email me and I'll connect you with our Realtor)... the house is a circa 1890s cape with gravel driveway, two attached barns (in excellent shape and one even has a threehold outhouse in it that was used until the late 80s), fenced-in backyard, garden, woods all around so private, back deck. Inside lots of color and natural light through new thermal windows! Partial basement with brand new (like in the last three months) washer and dryer. Large renovated kitchen with built in cabinets, dishwasher in tiled island, new appliances and shiny copper faucet. Living room with tin ceiling and lined with book shelves (imagine reading by the flickering wood stove of the enameled Jotul). Upstairs includes large bedroom with sky light and two closets (one reach in/one walk-in)and a wall of built-in clothing cupboards; small guest bedroom; office with built-in desk, window seat, and sky light; and newly-renovated bathroom (it's a deep purple with white trim- yums!) with pedestal sink, Pottery Barn cabinets and recently tiled (cocoa color) floors. Situated on a little under .5 acre, just one mile from downtown Farmington, 45 minutes from Sugarloaf and Saddleback and less than two hours from Portland. And get this- we pay only about $500 a year to heat the entire house, and I like it toasty! As I type this, I wonder why we are leaving :(

View from the front- look how tall the snowbanks are!
Our kitchen, which is the room I most love. It's large enough for those who love to cook, and had lots of natural light yet still has an intimate feel for wine and chats over the center island (seen at right). Notice in the back right corner- that whole dark wall is all built in cavernous cabinets.
A closer shot of the sink- it's iron with a new copper faucet. The espresso machine at left is where Kyle's morning magic happens!
A fisheye view of the living room, which is incredibly cozy!
Go little wood stove, go! This thing kicks it! Two cords of wood a year and maybe 150 gallons of kerosene in the monitor heater and we keep it hot!
With all the built-in bookshelves, this house is a readers delight. I remember when we moved in, we thought we'd never fill them. Now, three years later, they are overflowing!
Look at that little thing crank out the heat!
And a parting shot of the pad. So many memories.
I'll keep you all posted on our buying and selling progress!

I Do: Samantha & Scott at Saddleback

Earlier today, my friend Emilie left a comment under the post on Sam and Scott's post-shoot in which she referred to them as I Do Click's Signature Couple. I've now photographed them three times (engagement, wedding and post-wedding shoot) and the image from their engagement shoot has become an iconic one for my business, as it was featured on my blog and newsletter headers, and was the splash page shot on my Web site for much of 2007. I guess in that sense, they really have become I Do Click's Signature Couple. But now having spend the better part of two days with them in photographing their wedding and post shoot, I see Sam and Scott as the face of I Do Click not just because of the images I took of them, but because of the people behind the pictures.

Sam and Scott are everything I look for in a couple. They are active, astute and plain awesome to be around (even though I was exhausted on Sunday morning after shooting two weddings, I couldn't wait to meet up with them again). They are passionate, playful and not afraid to poke fun at themselves. They are frank and funny. And they are madly in love with each other, their families and the world around them. In essence, they embody the traits I hope others see in me!

Sam and Scott are also great clients because they planned a wedding that was reflective of who they are. They ski and snowshoe and love being in the mountains, so even though beach weddings are beautiful, they knew a winter wedding at a ski lodge in Rangeley was the best match for them. They also kept in close contact with me in the 11 months since they booked me, letting me know how their planning was progressing and always expressing excitement over my images and ideas. And perhaps what was best is that they trusted me. Knowing their love of the outdoors, I knew it was critical they had wedding shots of them as husband and wife within Mother Nature. But their 5:30 p.m. winter ceremony wouldn't allow for an outdoor shoot and Sam and Scott were insistent on not seeing each other before the wedding. When I suggested a post-shoot, Sam emailed me back within hours happily agreeing and thanking me for coming up with a solution so they could get the images they wanted. This is a great example of a couple and photographer working together toward the best results. Their faith in me empowered me with confidence and control and for all these reasons and many more, they are truly representative of the I Do Click experience!

Now enough motivational mumbojumbo! Onto the images.

When Sam and Scott asked for a winter wedding, they really got it. The two weeks before they arrived, we got dumped on here in the western Maine mountains almost daily, rolling out a nice white carpet for them and their guests, many of whom came from much warmer places, like Arizona and California. And even though there were blue skies for much of Friday, as Sam got ready to leave for the church, the snow started coming down and the squalls picked up. Me and all of the bridesmaids headed down to the church a few minutes before Sam and we waited, and waited and waited... Turns out when Sam's dad was driving them out of the driveway, they got a little bit stuck in a snowbank! I wish I'd been there to photograph that (or at least help push) but as I hear it, Sam was about as cool as they come, grabbing her dress, hopping down out of the SUV and telling her dad to get in the passenger seat of another car they had there so she could drive them to the ceremony! Welcome to Maine in February!

The wedding got off without much delay, considering, and was about as beautiful as they come. Every detail, from the cake (decked out with snowflakes) to the table names (after the couple's favorite ski resorts) reflected their winter wedding theme. Together for more than six years, Sam and Scott had always described themselves to me as best friends and their connectivity on their wedding day and in my other meetings with them reflected this. I simply cannot write enough about these two. It's been such a delight for me (at times getting misty, or giggly or sometimes both at once, which is a downright mess) to take a peak through their images to find a few to share with you here...

The Saddleback base lodge, from the outside, and in.
Sam and Scott, who currently live in Denver Colorado, are skiers, hence the reason they got married at a ski area. Her footwear for her weekend wedding included her Uggs, her ski boots, and her heels!
Another shot of the shoes, this time from the back. I love their high lines.
Sam getting prettified (as if she needed it) while confirming some final wedding details with Scott over the phone. I love how you can see all the ingredients that went into getting Sam ready from lash curlers to lunch!
I said it before and I'll say it again. Sam's blues are breathtaking!
I thought it was so cute how Sam and Scott kept in touch all day. Her ringtone for the week was the Wedding March! Here she is on her final phone call with him before heading to the church (via the snowbank). Look how radiant she is!
This was the first time I've shot a wedding where the bride and I shared the same name. However, it was a bit confusing knowing which Sam was being called. So, Sam the bride jokingly told everyone they could call her "Princess" for the day, which was hilarious, because she's about as down to earth as they come. But she certainly looked the part.
Final adjustments...
Sam is lucky to have two fathers, her biological dad and her stepfather. She's so close to them both that she decided to ask the two of them to escort her down the aisle, which resulted in a very poignant processional. I love this shot of them right when they reached Scott: notice her stepfather handing her a handkerchief.
Even though I knew I'd be doing a romantic post-shoot with them two days after their wedding, it was still important for me to get some shots of Sam and Scott on their wedding night. After we'd done the family formals in the church, I held them back for a few minutes to get some images of just the two of them. A few people stuck around to watch me work (who am I kidding: they really just couldn't take their eyes off Sam and Scott), including Sam's grandmother, who came in for a quick shot.

Sam was downright giddy when she saw her cake from New England Couture cakes for the first time. It looked, smelled and taste scrumptious. Even looking at this image now, I want to just stick out my hand and take a fingerful of frosting. It's edible from top to bottom. Can you believe Scott's dad drove it all the way up from South Portland and kept it in once piece, despite the frostheaves. Impressive!
And finally, the first dance.
Sam and Scott are having a reception for their friends back in Colorado next weekend, so I hope to have their entire wedding slideshow up by then. And scroll down for some hot photos from their snowy post-shoot. Congratulations!

I Do: Alison & Keith at Spring Hill

Alison and Keith were married Saturday in an intimate ceremony at Spring Hill in South Berwick. I spent the afternoon with Ali and her girls getting ready across the state line in Dover, NH and was struck by how assured (and giddy!!!) she was to marry Keith. It seemed so right, that she wasn't a bit stressed (she even worked the previous day nearly right up to the rehearsal dinner). Once I saw Ali and Keith together, I knew why. The two were so affectionate with one another, and both beamed nonstop when they were in each other's the presence. As a result, the day was a delight for them, their guests, and me! Take a look...

Keith gets some help straightening his tie (and a playful punch for luck) from his son, who also served as his best man.
Alison and Keith told me they envisioned their wedding day being like a family reunion, with those dearest to them coming together to celebrate and catch up. When I walked in to the room where Alison was getting ready in Dover, NH and saw this bed packed with her brother, her best friend and her nieces as they waited to get their hair done (well, not her brother), I knew the couple's vision had come to be.
Alison is a sneakers girl (she even wore them from the hotel to Spring Hill, so slippers seemed like a functional yet fashionable wedding shoe selection. They are stunning in their simplicity.
I love these next two shots of Alison right after she got into her dress. As any bride or former bridesmaid knows, there are always a few finishing touches to getting the dress to look just right...
And then that joy that comes across the bride's face when everything is in its perfect place and she realizes she is ready to go!
Julie Draper is my favorite wedding officiant because she infuses the ceremonies she leads with her tenderness and warmth. When Alison and Keith asked me to suggest someone to lead their ceremony, I knew she'd be a good match for them. I love how at ease she makes her couples (and their photographer). Here she is brushing away a tear from Keith's face so he didn't have to let go of his bride's hands.
Overcome but with the lips still of limits, Keith leaned in to give Alison a kiss on the neck.
Alison and Keith had originally scheduled their ceremony for 5 p.m. But they also had told me they really loved being in nature, and wanted their images to reflect that. According to the sunset calendar, I knew the sun would have already gone down by the time their 5 p.m. ceremony was finished, so they moved it up by two hours so we'd have a few minutes of good light left to sneak outside for some shots. I love the way they are looking at each other here. They needed no prompting.

When we headed back inside for dinner, I loved the way the setting sunlight played on the tables.
Keith's mom is very close to Alison and Keith. In fact, it was Keith's mom who Alison was with when she discovered her dress. You can see how elated she was when Alison and Keith were announced: she was simply delighted!
Alison and Keith didn't take their eyes off each other all day, and the first dance was no exception.
Alison had told me that Keith was an insanely talented dancer. She was right! Check out those moves. Congratulations Alison and Keith! I cannot wait to hear where Keith took you on your surprise honeymoon, Alison. Did you really have to jump out of a plane?

Samantha & Scott at Saddleback Ski Area

Breathe In! Breathe Out! Breathe In Again!

I am finally catching my breath after a wildly wonderful weekend that included two weddings (one in Rangeley on Friday and Saturday in South Berwick) and today, a fabulous post wedding shoot in the snow at Saddleback with Sam and Scott. You may remember Sam and Scott from their engagement session in Farmington last winter (in fact, you can see one of the favorite shots from the day up top on the right of this blog's header). They've only gotten more beautiful with (eng)age and after spending two more days with them, I adore them all the more (and wish they didn't live so darn far away so we could hit the slopes together).

The last three days are a bit of a blur, and I hardly know where to begin blogging. But seeing tomorrow's forecast calls for rain, I figured I'd first share with you some sunshine-streamed stunners from today to start the week off on a bright and beautiful note. And I am still trying to find the words to describe the magnificent weddings I witnessed on Friday (Sam and Scott) and Saturday (Alison and Keith) so later in the week, I'll bring you images and introspection from those ceremonies and celebrations.

Sam and Scott are skiers and as a result, a winter wedding at Saddleback Ski Area in Rangeley couldn't have been more fitting. Maine natives who now live in Denver, Colorado where Scott is a rep for Elan skis and Sam is studying towards her Masters in forensic psychology (aren't those two of the coolest careers you've ever heard of), the couple's love for winter in the mountains was on full display in the details that made up their wedding day.

But winter in Maine means early sunsets (around 5 p.m. this time of year), and because Sam and Scott definitely didn't want to see each other for photographs before their 5:30 p.m. ceremony on Friday, I suggested we schedule a post wedding shoot for today so we could showcase the natural splendor of winter in Rangeley in their wedding images. They eagerly agreed!

Though some refer to this type of shoot as a "trash the dress", there was so much white stuff in Rangeley that there really wasn't anything to trash it on. And besides, it was awfully chilly and Sam and Scott were exhausted from a long weekend of celebrating, so rolling around in the snow was out! Instead, we opted for a more romantic and relaxed session at Saddleback's base area, where Sam and Scott were ohhed and awed at (and even hugged by a few random well wishers), and rightfully so! Don't they look amazing?

We did the first few shots at Loon Lodge, this majestic old lodge on Rangeley Lake that I had suggested to Sam and Scott when they asked me where to stay in the area. (My in-laws' sporting camps on nearby Mooselook are closed in the winter, or I would have recommended them of course.) I am so glad Sam and Scott and their wedding party had such a great experience there! I love the lodge (it's where Kyle and I first celebrated our engagement with our parents a few days after the fact) and am already looking forward to going back there this August to shoot Leslie and David's wedding.

When we got up to Saddleback, all eyes were on Sam and Scott (and jaws were on the snow). I love that you can see the skiers on the lift gawking.
It was a bit breezy, so we tucked in behind this lift shack to get out the wind.
We even managed to find some Elan skis resting on the rack outside the base lodge. Of course, we had to include them. When I got home, I looked up the word élan to find out it means: panache, sparkle and style, among other things... all perfect words to describe Sam and Scott.
The two have almost identical blue eyes, which makes for some sexy stares!
Warming up by the fire inside the lodge. I love the warmth of this image. Come back to the blog later in the week for coverage of Sam and Scott's actual wedding day. I don't want to gush too much but see how gorgeous this couple is here? Their entire wedding was that breathtaking!

I wish them and their guests safe travels as they all head home to Colorado, Arizona, California and beyond. And a special thanks to Kyle for his assistance as my chauffeur for much of the weekend. He didn't wear the little black hat, but he looked oh so handsome (and I didn't have to tip him)!

Happy Valentine's Day: Sweet Secrets Revealed

Happy Valentine's Day!!! In between meeting with the Realtor (and getting the house ready for the Realtor), keeping an eye on Nikon who can now (thanks to all the snow we've had) scale the backyard fence, a planning board meeting tonight for Kyle, and me getting prepared for a weekend wedding triple header, we've barely had time to celebrate! Usually, I am the patron saint of gift giving, but considering how chaotic things have been these past few weeks, I totally blew it. Kyle on the other hand totally nailed it! He replaced my beautiful new boots from Cole Haan that Nikon had destroyed on the way home from Freeport, and got us a gift certificate (for a couples massage!) to my favorite Portland relaxation paradise, Akari. Thanks, babe. After this weekend, I am really going to need it!

The results from the Sweet Secrets contest are in. And the secret: well, the secret is that there really isn't one. Each couple -whether they've been married for five months or 55 years- has their own strategies for success (and their own ways of defining that)! So then, the secret to lasting love, it seems, becomes finding someone who shares the same relationship values as you. For Kyle and me, those values are family, freedom to be ourselves and to be open about what that is, and faith in each other as individuals, as a couple and as parents to two of the craziest canines. We don't just forgive and forget. Instead, we make mistakes, we analyze, we analyze some more, and then we grow together and have a good laugh at how ridiculous we sometimes (ok, often...) get.

But Sam, what about the Brownies? Well, I am getting to that! One of the many blessings life has bestowed upon Kyle and me is that fact that all of our grandparents (eight between us) are still alive, still sharing their wisdom and well wishes with us, and all still married, after more than 50 years. That more than 200 combined years of marriages between them and I think that's marvelously inspirational! And so it was them I turned to for judging the contest entries. And because each relationship is distinctive while being durable, we have three winners as a result! In addition to sharing the advice of the winners, I'd also like to introduce you to some of the judges here.

My maternal grandparents are a hoot! They live in NYC, and they've been married now for 52 years. Kyle and I count them among the coolest people we know! They live life loud and fast, yet are incredibly graceful and generous. My grandmother is the most elegant woman you will ever meet. She is from Israel, speaks eight languages and last year kicked kidney cancer right to the curb! My grandfather has this booming voice that sometimes I swear I can hear all the way from New York. When he walks into a room, everyone takes notice. He doesn't disappoint! He has an iPhone, and text messages me.

Being the quickmover that he is, my grandfather likes to keep things short and to the point. For this reason, he chose Andy's advice. Here is what Andy, one of my grooms (see his slideshow here) from September, wrote:"I've found (and my dad - who's been happily married for 35+ years - will back me up on this) that the key to a successful marriage is just one, very heartfelt phrase: 'Yes dear. You were right; I was wrong. I don't know what I was thinking.' This, of course, is always said by the husband and NEVER the wife." In addition to this advice, my grandfather added you should never go to bed mad at your spouse. I think it's funny that he didn't say never go to bed angry, he just said never go to bed angry at your spouse. Well played!

I was surprised that Kyle's paternal grandparents didn't pick Andy's advice as well, seeing they live by "Yes Dear" and at my bridal shower, that's the advice his grandmother gave me. But they didn't. We are extremely close to Kyle's paternal grandparents because Kyle grew up living on the same property as them and ever so often, we make the two hour drive to visit them on a Sunday afternoon. We love sitting in their living room, which Grammy keeps at sauna-like temps, and simply shooting the breeze, about books and the birds and everything in between. They've been married now for 60 years, raised six kids and we just get such joy watching their tenderness.

Kyle's grammy picked Kysa's advice, which is "The secret to a great marriage is communication. It may sound so simple and so obvious, but it's the plain truth. Several years ago I was speaking with an acquaintance, who joked that the secret to her marriage was that they never spoke. It startled me because to me, it was a sure sign of a crumbling relationship. Sure enough, a few weeks later, her husband announced he was leaving. So, my husband and I make it a point to communicate about everything, from the hairball our cat coughed up to the credit card statement to our newborn's super cute smiles to where we want to be in five years. It is nothing fancy, and certainly not the only thing that a marriage needs, but it is a good solid foundation to a happy marriage."

Kysa booked me in November of 2006 to shoot her brother's wedding in Bath. She was the matron of honor, and sent her entry along with a thoughtful note telling me how often she reads the blog and how much she enjoys looking over Tyler and Bobbi-Jo's wedding images. Her email was incredibly sweet and I am happy she took the time to share her advice, because I agree with it wholeheartedly and Kyle and I live by it. We talk about everything, which sometimes drives Kyle mad, but results in us feeling so much more empowered in our marriage to make smart decisions (or indecisions).

So while we're dolling out brownies, better make it three batches! My Aunt Lynn is one hip lady! She and my mom are thisclose and as a result, we are very tight as well. She is cautiously adventurous and quite cool, always calling to talk about the latest movies or pick my brain about the state of the media. She listens to Kanye West, loves Madonna and plays the drums. This summer, she made a float of all the garbage she'd collected on the road in her neighborhood, and marched in a parade to advocate recycling. She loves the blog, and emailed me yesterday with her vote and given that I too LOVED!!! the one she picked and that I was probably going to send the person who wrote it some Maine goodness anyway, I decided to make Maile my third winner.

Maile is this fierce Texas portrait photographer I met at DWF in Florida. Given my inner nerd, if it hadn't been for her and Kate, I most likely would have never left my room, let alone stay up in the lobby bar until after 2 a.m. having the time of my life. Maile is a mom of three and runs Relish Photography, which given my obsession with pickles and verbs that go va-vaoom, is just about the best name for a photography business ever! I'd steal it for myself, but I like her too much! Maile's logo includes a cupcake, so I hope she or Kate (whose new studio is above a bakery) will get me back by sending me some sweet southern cake comfort.

Anyway, what she said is this: "My secret is corny and cliché, but TRUE. Marry your best friend. The one you that makes your day feel incomplete until you get to tell them all about it. And make sure they’re funny. A lifetime of not-laughing would be a death sentence." I, a professional writer (and photographer!) could not have better characterized the way Kyle and I coexist. Sometimes, I talk right over him because I am just so excited to see him and spill!

So, three winners: Andy, Kysa and Maile. I'll be emailing you next week to get your addresses and get you your brownies from Simply Divine Brownies. And to my other entrants, thank you, thank you, thanks. Your advice engaged and inspired Kyle and I (we especially liked the entry from Emilie, who sent along the 60 reasons her family had compiled as to how her grandparents had lasted 60 years - there is always beer in the fridge, was just one of the gems that got us laughing, and thinking of ways we can be a stronger couple).

Now I must tell you about two judges whose votes were not counted and that's because they refused to vote! I must admit that at first, this annoyed me, but as I thought about what their explanations, I become so proud of my parents!!! They were married for 20 years and divorced the summer after I graduated from high school. They have since remarried and are now happier than I have ever seen them. Each on their third marriages, my parents who remain best friends (yeah, it's a bit weird- the four of them all go on vacation together), are now in a place where they can admit they don't know the secret to making love last, but that they still haven't given up on the search (in this, I think they've maybe found it.)

Now I know a story about divorce on a wedding blog may seem a mismatch to some. But...In accepting that even though they love each other more than life itself, they couldn't survive as husband and wife and then making a decision to remain close confidantes, my parents are writing perhaps the greatest love story I know, in its own way. I love my step-parents for who they are, but I respect them more than I ever can convey for being supportive of my mum and dad's dear friendship.

I am proud of my parents. My mom admitted pointblank she "isn't one to talk" about sweet secrets. "Perhaps," she said, "the key is to marry for love and goodness of fit, since without one, the other is meaningless."

Meanwhile, my dad wrote that good advice is easy to say but "really, really, hard to do." That said, being my dad and all, he had to impart some wisdom, and this is what he said: "NEVER break the bond of TRUST" once it is broken it can never be repaired. Maintain your DIGNITY and RESPECT for others and be KIND, HONEST & TRUTHFUL (it should never hurt if you don't break the bond of trust) and finally live everyday as if it is your last." The following day, he followed up with this bit of advice that really resonated with me: "I told Martha about what makes a relationship work and she added- spend as much time together as possible without smothering... and downsize and make sure you really need a new Rolex or would it be better to work less and love more- and enjoy the moments together." I like it!

I have to say I learned quite a bit during this process (as you can tell from the length of this post). What I was most reminded of is the importance of connecting with your family, even if it is over email! I still remember one Thanksgiving when I was about eight, my parents had me interview all the senior members of my family. I still remember those talks, even though some of the people I spoke with are now gone.

We are always so busy talking about day to day things (how's the weather, don't catch cold, do you have a fur jacket? - is a recent example from a conversation tonight with my grandparents), that we rarely ask the real questions we've always wondered (or should be wondering) the answers to. At contest winner's Andy's wedding to Katie, they displayed a book they had made filled with interviews they'd done about love and marriage from all their family members. What a wonderful way to begin a marriage! In asking, we learn ourselves, and celebrate the relationship we so respect. How flattering it would be to be asked "I admire your marriage. What is your secret?"

Happy Valentine's Day.

Angela & Troy: Slideshow

My previous post was intended to introduce Angela and Troy's engagement slideshow as well as a few favorites from Friday, but in talking about the troubles I've been having with image color in Blogger, I got sidetracked talking about our potential pending move. But enough about that... you are here for the photographs! You can watch Angela and Troy's slideshow with their requested song above, or (in fullscreen) by clicking here. And, here are a few more favorites from the shoot.

P.S. What do you think of that color purple used in the first slide? (Hint, hint.)

I am loving this old school tone on their images... so romantic and adds a nice bit of warmth (which us Mainers definitely need right now).




Congratulations on your engagement and one-year anniversary, Angela and Troy. Your wedding is going to be stunning, and I cannot wait to meet up later in the summer for a post-wedding shoot!

Much to be thankful for...

Today was a mixed bag really. I worked from home, and literally spent the whole day doing house related stuff. In the morning, I looked online at real estate listings (which simply confirmed my affection for the house we looked at this past Saturday). And this afternoon, I cleaned and cleaned and am still cleaning- which kind of sucks- in preparation for a visit from a Realtor later in the week (and also so I can be organized for this marathon weekend I have coming up: two weddings, two different parts of the state, two days. And don't forget a post-shoot on Sunday!) Add to that some general frustration over the fact that my spellcheck on Blogger is broken, that Nikon ruined the Cole Haan boots I had coveted for months and finally purchased on the way home from Freeport and that I am seriously sun deprived (cannot remember the last time I saw it) and I was feeling rather glum today.

But then several clients bestowed upon me some small acts of kindness that made a big difference, and left me feeling so very blessed! In no particular order, they included:

•Having read on this very blog that we were potentially moving to South Berwick, one of my darling brides (who has helped me in a pinch before with a !yumyum! pickle recipe) had two of her good friends who happen to live in that community email me with insider insight on living there, including the best places to eat, shop and explore (and a kind warning to avoid the swans in the river because apparently, they are quite cheeky!) It was incredibly thoughtful for her to make these connections with us and got me really enthused about the possibility of moving there. Thank you, Kristina!

•I stumbled across one of my bride's blogs and just had such a fine time reading about her and him and their planning together. She's an out of state bride who I haven't yet met in person, but through her writing, I feel like I know her and even better, that we're an awesome fit for each other! What's more is that one of her entries was all about me, why they decided to book me and how my work made her feel, and in this, she said just the kindest things that made me blush and get all giddy and totally forget about my busted boots and the stress of planning a move. Much thanks, Emily!

•The mother of one of my clients had emailed me a few months back thanking me for my coverage of her daughter's wedding. In her email signature, I saw that she worked at the Maine State Housing Authority. Well, we got our loan to buy our current house through their first time home buyers program (excellent if you are petrified and broke but deadset on being a homeowner). Its 4.7 percent fixed interest rate was a godsend to us, but the loan has conditions, including penalties if you sell within nine years. Well, it's been three years and we've been a bit nervous as to the penalty we would be hit with and have had an impossible time trying to nail down what exactly that would be. Well, I emailed her on a whim last night to see if she could refer me to the right person in her office to speak with so we could get this all figured out before we decided on a listing price. Within 12 hours, she'd written back, connected me with the right person, and complimented me on the recent media coverage I Do Click had received. It goes to show that you never know who you are going to connect with and what impact they'll have on your life as a result of that meeting. She didn't land me a huge job or introduce me to a rock star, but that connection she helped me make is going to give Kyle and me a lot more clarity and confidence with this house selling and buying process. Thanks, Kathy!

•And last but not least, Angela and Troy (whose engagements I shot on Friday) just sent along this unsolicited testimonial, writing: "We am so impressed! I can't stop staring at them. You did an amazing job, and yes you are right....they are HOT!!! I had a few of my friends go on your site to check out the slideshow and I have received nothing but compliments. They keep asking....'Is she photographing your wedding?' Now I'm disappointed I don't have you photographing our wedding....but at least we will have you for the post shoot/trash the dress!!! We can not thank you enough...now we have to decide which ones to actually use for the guest signature frame, and around the reception, etc!!! We had so much fun during the shoot. You can't tell that our feet and hands felt like they were going to fall off!! HAHA :) I truly believe that it was because of all of your guidance and expertise that our pictures turned out fabulous. We went through all of the pictures last night, and were unable to come up with 'one' favorite....they were all amazing. It's too hard to choose which ones we want to use. I just love the one you posted with us kissing....that is definitely a keeper. I will absolutely brag you up to any bride-to-be that I know. You are amazing. I can't wait to work with you again for the post shoot/trash the dress." Thank you, Angela and Troy!

Not a bad day after all. And in addition to putting a smile on my face... these four things (as well as super sweet e-Valentine's Day card from my dad) also reminded me that it doesn't take expensive or extravagant benevolence to turn someone's day around. If you suddenly are struck with the idea to do something kind for someone (call, compliment) just do it! It will make their day, and yours!

I Do Destination Weddings!!!

As of Friday, I am officially listed on the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) pages for New Hampshire photographers. I decided to do this for several reasons, the foremost being that New Hampshire is geographically closer to me than many of the places in Maine I shoot, and will be MUCH closer if we make the move to southern Maine. I actually shot my first wedding ever in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire and this summer, have weddings booked in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, so I am willing and thrilled to travel around New England.

And beyond!!! I am also pumped (there is just no better word for it) to announce that I am now included on the list of destination wedding photojournalists that cover the Caribbean (sounds nice right now, huh!) and Europe. You can read my little destination wedding bio above.

It's been a dream of mine for a while now to begin marketing myself to the burgeoning destination wedding market... Since I started my business, about 80 percent of my couples have been coming to Maine to have me photograph their weddings (well- not just for me, they also like the scenery) and as a result, I figured I am certainly used to coordinating coverage with a couple from afar, so why not travel too! If you or someone you know is planning a destination wedding, do contact me. Couples can pick any of my current wedding packages, and simply pay the additional amount for my travel including airfare and accommodations. (It actually could be more affordable and a better style match for you than a local photographer!)

And, any couple who books destination coverage before April 15 will receive a post-wedding shoot (trash the dress) or three hours of rehearsal dinner coverage as a thank-you for getting me started on my way as a worldwide wedding photographer! Passport is current!

On the Move???

I realized this weekend that Blogger, this software I use to make this blog, doesn't show the colors in images as they truly are- it kind of washes them out. How frustrating! This is just one of the many reasons I am pumped to be getting a new blog soon. However, no new blog until I finalize the new name, the new colors, the new logo and the new Website... all things I am working on, rather slowly. (Seems like Samantha Warren Weddings is the winner!)

It's a thrilling time for me and my family (Kyle and the kids), both professionally and personally. Lots of changes are afoot! We are strongly considering (as in met with a local realtor to soon get our house on the market) a move to Southern Maine!!! On Saturday, we looked at a house we are now officially in love with in South Berwick. It's nearly 200 years old, charming as can be and like us, imperfect in ways that somehow make it all the more ideal! When we got out of the car and introduced ourselves to the awesome realtor Mike (seriously, he was so helpful), he asked us if the kids were coming in or staying in the car. We said kind of flippantly, "Oh, they'll stay in the car. They'll be fine." And then he asked "Oh and you brought your dogs." Kyle and I almost died! (We have no kids, despite my mother's best begging.) Anyway, it's a busier than usual time, and it's been emotionally and (and soon it will be financially) overwhelming as we consider where to go from here.

We adore Farmington... we have our mini-farmstead here (affectionately called Sam's Pickle Patch) with its garden, brightly-colored walls and snowbanks halfway up the windows and Kyle and I have become rather entrenched in the community: he's on the planning board and budget committee for the town, and we are both active supporters of United Way as well as other various groups around town. We have the numbers to all the restaurants in town (which isn't that many) programmed into our cell phones, and we know everyone when we go to the grocery store.

Yet Farmington is so far, from everything it seems to us. Many of our friends live in the Portland area, and as foodies in training, we'd love to be closer to a more metropolitan area where there are great eateries, as well as more cultural and career opportunities (and an airport). Kyle grew up in South Berwick, and the house we looked at there was about 35 minutes or so south of Portland. We'd like to be closer to Portland proper, but finding an old cape in the Old Port (or with 15 minutes) has been a challenge. And this would put us closer to Portsmouth and Boston, as well as many of the weddings I shoot and the clients I need to meet with. But of course, the housing market down there is crazy comparatively, so we've been dealing with sticker shock. Sometimes, we wonder if it wouldn't just be so much easier to stay right here (after all, so many people retire to Farmington or move here to raise their families, so maybe we should take the hint) but like most good things in life, you need to take chances and push the comfort zone! Nevertheless, we are excited (and anxious) about our future. And, if anyone is looking for a charming cape in Farmington, do let me know. Have I got a deal for you!!!

I Do Engagements: Angela & Troy

Last week, I got a call from Angela, who had heard of me through her friend Mark, the fab florist who I had appeared on the radio show with. Angela and her fiance Troy already had booked their wedding photographer for their July nuptials in Newport, but after seeing my work and hearing about my style, they decided they had to have me photograph them- twice! Yesterday, we met amidst the !!!fourth!!! (but not last) snowstorm of the week for an engagement session in Bangor's Cascade Park. (We'll meet up again after their wedding for a post-shoot -also known as Trash the Dress.)

Angela and Troy were incredibly passionate yet playful with each other, and patient with me as we meandered over the snow and through the the park. And, it was just cold enough out to be perfect snuggling weather, ensuring that the results were hot! I told Angela (who I discovered in yet another "it's a small world after all" moment had been one of my stepfather's students at UMO) that I'd post a few shots on the blog today to give her an idea how the images came out. We're off for the day (looking at houses in the Portland area), so here are just a few of the many keepers. Many, many more to come!





We've gotten so much snow lately that I wanted to include that in the images. This fence post played the perfect weatherstick.

Just a Reminder: Sweet Contest!

Don't forget the I Do Click Sweet Secrets contest. The entry deadline is Friday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. and the prize will be oh so delicious.

!!!FINAL DAY OF SWEET SECRETS CONTEST!!!

Today is the deadline for entries in the Sweet Secrets Contest!
I currently have six -yeah seriously, only six- sweet secrets submissions which means if you enter today, your odds of winning (statistically-speaking and all) are quite good. I know (well, I am seriously hoping) that more than six people have read the blog since I posted the contest nearly three weeks ago and I know that all of you have meaningful marriage/relationship advice, or you wouldn't be looking at a wedding blog! (And for those of you who are newly-engaged, I know everyone and their brother has been giving you advice, so send it along and score some sweets out of it and inspire a fellow blog reader with a good idea.) The deadline is tonight!!! (But I won't be sending the entries out to the judges until Sunday.)

And while we are on the subject of contests, I must alert you to an !!!AMAZING!!! contest my friend and fellow Maine photojournalist Jennifer Stone is having. Now seeing I offer post-wedding shoots, I know I maybe shouldn't be sending potential bookings to be a part of this hot trend to someone else, but I know Jennifer (who is just the sweetest) would recommend me at the drop of a hat if she was already booked for the day. And, I know the end result of this contest will be stunning.

Get this... She is giving away a Day After session to the couple with the best proposal or how-you-met story. (I think Kyle and I are going to enter.) I would love to hold a contest like this, but if only six people enter a contest to win yumyumyum brownies, I don't hold out much hope that I'll get very many to win tasty photos! The deadline to enter is Tuesday, so get on it.

And while I don't know Kristina Carter of Vrai Photo (based outside of Chicago), she is a good friend of my good friend Emilie Sommer, whose cool calculator I definitely respect. Anyway... Kristina is giving away complete wedding coverage to a couple who is planning a green wedding that will have the least impact on the environment. Her deadline is this Sunday, Feb. 10 at 10 p.m. CST, so get moving (head over to her blog or click the link above for contest entry requirements.)

Wow... my brownie contest seems kind of lame now...

Two Words: Snow Day!!!

It's been snowing here in Farmington nearly nonstop since the weekend, and it continues to come down. I've been watching the school cancellations crawl across the bottom of the screen for three days straight, and because none of the classes I teach or take have been canceled (making for very slow drives between here and Orono), I finally decided to take a self-imposed snowday today! I spent the morning chasing Nikon around the living room with a camera, and now we've settled on the couch to watch the latest Harry Potter movie from Netflix. I wish I could get some better shots of all the snow we've got but everything outside our door is just white, white, white and so still (and I am too cozy by the stove to venture out and get creative). Incredibly peaceful, yes! But photogenic, not so much.

So, I'll simply bring you some shots of the pooches enjoying their snowday... Funny story about those two while I am on the subject: This past weekend, Alder had several episodes where she decided not to keep her dinner down, most notably on the kitchen floor at the house of our good friends Jon and Kelsey up in Rangeley. (So much for convincing Kelsey they are ready to have a dog!) After the third time in as many days, Kyle called our friend, Gina, who works in a vet office and breeds the jovial Jack Russell Terriers (which I am obsessed with).

Well, long story short... Kyle is now cooking Alder chicken and white rice at dinnertime each night, and serving it to her twice a day, along with some whole milk Stonyfield yogurt. And so as not to offend Nikon's little feelings, he's been on this new all natural, homecooked diet as well. As our own stomachs rumbled last night and the dogs' chicken and rice boiled away on the stove, we just had to laugh more at ourselves than anything (though I will say they've been especially energized this week, and as always, adorable!) Don't you think?




And I had to save the best for last: True Love (and not that unusual)!

First 2009 Inquiry!!!

I received my first inquiry for a 2009 wedding earlier this week! It just goes to show it's never too soon to begin arranging the most important details of your day. I looked back through my books, and realized I booked my first 2008 wedding this same week last year. And, ironically, it was for the exact same weekend in June of 2008 that the 2009 inquiry is for.

It's also never too late! As of today, I have more than 20 weddings booked for 2008, with the season kicking off with not one but two weddings (and a post wedding shoot to boot) next weekend. That said, because I have a handful of weekends where I am doublebooked (a wedding on Saturday and Sunday for example), I still have many prime summer Saturdays available so if you are interested in having me photograph your wedding, do contact me right away. I am available to shoot weddings anywhere in New England and beyond (some place warm sounds especially nice right now). If by chance I am already booked for your date, I have a great network of photographers who have a similar style, and I would be happy to make a recommendation.

Real Maine Weddings Viewable Online!

Real Maine Weddings, the new magazine which featured one of my weddings and included shots from two others (including one on its May cover) is now viewable from front to back online. You can virtually flip through the magazine (I am on page 9, 14, 15 and 16) by clicking here, or by visiting the magazine's Web site. Of course, the online viewing doesn't truly convey the quality of the magazine (the photos are crystal clear and oh so glossy in the printed version) but you can get a good look at the content and hopefully, be inspired!

Super Tuesday!!!

Who has your vote?
	Hillary Clinton
	Barack Obama
	Mike Huckabee
	John McCain
	Mitt Romney

I am watching the Super Tuesday returns come in with great attentiveness. I am a huge political junkie and very active politically in my community (I will actually be a delegate to my state party's convention), though I keep my politics off the blog and out of my business. To me, it matters not who you endorse, but that you are engaged in the process!

I was saddened when ABC News said that only 12 percent of my fellow voters under the age of 30 participated in Super Tuesday voting. The newscaster asked what incentives needed to be offered to encourage the youth vote to turnout: she suggested maybe offering iPods. I so value political participation that I even considered offering print credits or entering clients who could prove to me they caucused or voted in the primary in a contest for a free engagement or post shoot. But I eventually decided against it, because I think the "reward" for political participation is far greater than a single object. Instead, it's a priceless stake in a future we helped to create.

In my mind, voting is a privilege and making informed political decisions is our duty, and one I don't take lightly and hope you don't either. You should see my bedside reading stack. I have books by Hillary, Obama, McCain and have orders into Amazon for Mitt Romney's lesser known tome about his experience saving the Salt Lake City Olympics. I encourage my students, my clients and my friends and family to get informed and get involved. I encourage you to get started by participating in my poll here and if you aren't sure who you should support, check out one of the many candidate calculators, like this one here, which matches you with a candidate based on your stance on the issues that matter most.