Kristina & Jimmy's Wedding Day Slideshow

I've been hard at work all week editing images, designing albums and planning the arrival of Samantha Warren Weddings. As a result, I've been admittedly a bit remiss in posting. Therefore, I thought I'd share this to satiate my loyal readers. Enjoy Kristina and Jimmy's wedding slideshow. And again, much congratulations to Kristina and Jimmy for a wedding weekend beyond words (which is why you have to watch the show, that fyi, takes a few moments to load).

I Do: Kristina and Jimmy in York

Who: Kristina and Jimmy
What: Weekend-long seaside ceremony and celebration with 100 closest friends and family (including nearly two dozen children!)
Where: The elegant York Harbor Inn and the stunning seaside Hartley Mason Reserve directly across the street from the inn.
When: Saturday, May 24, 2008
How: Maggie Sotero dress from Portland's Andrea's Bridal, makeup and hair by Saundarya Salon and Day Spa in Wells, ceremony by the lovely Julie Draper, and DJing by Clark Sillery of Fred Pappalardo Disc Jockeys.
Why: As best man, Jay expected his primary wedding day responsibility (besides the toast) would be keeping the groom's jitters at bay. "But Jimmy had none," Jay reported to the 100 or so guests gathered last night for an intimate evening of dinner and dancing in the York Harbor Inn's ballroom. And why should he? Anyone who has spent a second together with Kristina and Jimmy knows that besides being an insanely attractive couple, the two just fit so well together.

Longtime friends who met in San Diego before becoming much more, the couple recently relocated to the East Coast where Kristina works in pharmaceuticals and Jimmy has every guy's dream job of being a video game tester. They just bought a fantastic house outside of Boston (of which I am quite envious as it has the most beautiful gleaming copper kitchen) and enjoy completing crosswords together on the train on the way into work. You just have to smile when you hear all the ways things have just fallen into place for them as they become a couple, then homeowners and then husband and wife. Fate, life, luck...whatever you want to call it just seems determined to bring them together. Case in point: Thursday night, Jimmy's friends took him to a Red Sox game to kick off his bachelor party. And who else could be found in Fenway that night? Kristina of course, who was there as part of a work retreat. (Yeah, she worked through Thursday this week, which I think is just another indication of how calm and confident they were coming into their wedding day - and also how awesomely organized Kristina is!)

It was such an honor to be a part of such an important day in their lives together. Here is a look at some of the moments I saw unfold...

The day for the boys (and DeeDee) began with bocce on the beach...


Why Holly, the maid of honor and sister of the bride, had to have her hair set under this dryer was unknown to me (and I think her as well). But it made for a funny shot, champagne and all!
Ok, I'll admit it! I was a little jealous when I saw the flower girl's fantastic wand, glimmering with glitter.
Kristina in her gorgeous gown, looking across the street as guests gather at the ceremony site.
The bride and her father share a quiet look at the end of the aisle.
Jimmy was simply glowing!
Have you ever seen the Men's Warehouse ad on television? It brings me to tears every time...the line at the end of the advertisement is "When everyone is looking at her, she'll be looking only at you." And I thought of that yesterday, as Kristina smiled up at him. I know how much she was looking forward to this day, and I am so thrilled, knowing it was every bit as perfect as she envisioned it.
The first kiss. See how genuinely gleeful Julie, the officiant, is. I am so glad I recommended her to Kristina and Jimmy. She is my favorite officiant because of her warmth and kindness. Like me, she feels a true connection to her couples that is clear here.
After the ceremony, Kristina and Jimmy walked together to this bluff overlooking the beach, and they just stood there for several minutes looking out as the wedding party and their guests collected behind them. I don't know what was said between them, but it was a moving (and beautiful) moment for all there.
The wedding party. Loved the tan suits and navy dresses.
Kristina and Jimmy needed no direction when it came to capturing them as a couple. Instead, I urged them to enjoy these lone moments of solitude together and stepped back and capture their interactions with my long lens. Beautiful and very real.



A delicious favor- mini jars of jam from nearby Stonewall Kitchen.

The tables were simple, yet elegant, with pink flowers and votives.
This dessert took the cake. Instead of the traditional wedding cake, the couple opted for an ice cream sundae bar, complete with homemade hot fudge sauce, brownie bites and a bowl of cherries. The guests were delighted, including these two- Stef and Christy, who live in South Berwick and who Kristina connected me with when Kyle and I were considering moving there. They were incredibly helpful in providing us an insider's eye on the community, and I almost felt guilty not moving there after their glowing and thorough guidance.
Some intimate moments from an emotional first dance.


The dance floor was tiny, yet packed! Congratulations Kristina and Jimmy. It was a pleasure spending the day with you and finally getting to know you in person after months of emailing. The day was all I had expected and more! I look forward to seeing you again soon, and wish you a relaxing honeymoon to San Diego.

China Disaster Caught in a Wedding Lens (from NYT)

Usually I put wedding related news stories in the "nuptial news" section of the blog's sidebar, but I thought given this New York Times story's currency, I'd give it it's own post. Puts into perspective the threat of wedding day rain drops. Truly stirring imagery.

Workshop in Kennebunkport, Part III

I've been a bad blogger! And for that, I am very sorry... I am still playing catch-up from a five-day Farmington hiatus (hence the reason I skipped this week's installment of the Tuesday Tease). Last Wednesday through Friday, I was at the workshop in Kennebunkport that I've previously blogged about, and then on Friday night, a gaggle of us girls beat it down to Boston for the weekend to celebrate my good friend Diana's bachelorette party.

The weekend was a delight: massages and makeup at the fab Luxe Beautique on the North Shore (fyi: if you are a Boston-area bride and need a makeup magician, go to Amy at Luxe- she is amazing!), a sunset tour of the town via stretch limo (Diana squeeled when she saw it pull up) and dancing and drinks in the North End. And the key lime martinis at Caprice Lounge on Tremont Street were so scrumptious, I've been busy making them at home (vanilla vodka, splash of pineapple juice and splash of Rose's lime juice) since my return. What fun we had! I am so looking forward to Diana's wedding in June and seeing my new friends again!

Girlfriend getaways are the best, but after five days away from home (I think my longest stint away without Kyle since we've lived here), I was ready to return. Throughout the week, I've been busy working on Stephanie and Brian's slideshow, images and album as well as getting ready for my wedding this weekend in York (which I cannot wait for). And, Kyle started his new job on Monday, so I've been trying to be wifey- I baked cookies, packed him lunch (well, that lasted two days) and even did laundry (which I've been blessed to have Kyle take care of since we started dating as I've always been a full-time student).

As a result, today was the first day I've had more than a minute to look through my images from the final day of the Kennebunkport workshop. I am going to share a few with you here. Just to recap, the first day of the workshop we shot on the water, then we spent Thursday inside at a swank pad reviewing our work and discussing compositional strategies and then the final day (Friday), we had a short shooting session in an old (and very dark) New England barn. Now granted, I don't expect to be shooting brides in barns anytime soon (though I do have a rustic barn wedding in October) but it was a great exercise in playing with little light and space (imagine 16 or so photographers, our instructors and two models crammed into a full barn). I must also admit I was exhausted and charred after two intense workshop days, so it was also an exercise in endurance. The resulting images are very dramatic as we were experimenting with drastic darkness and light. My favorite is the one at the top of this post that was taken from outside shooting in through the tiniest - I am talking maybe an inch tops- opening of the barn doors. Here is a peek at what else I came home with...

















Isn't amazing that these shots were all taken in a single small barn? Do you like them?

Workshop in Kennebunkport, Part II

When you start your day with a drive past the Bush family estate on Walker Point, you know you are in for a most fabulous day. With my sunburn still singeing, myself and the other workshop attendees and leaders headed off to what was undoubtedly the nicest home I've ever been to for a day of critiques led by the Davids (Beckstead and Murray). The house was insanely beautiful- the kind you'd see in those interior design magazines you gush over at the day spa. In fact, you may see it there soon as a photographer and a writer from a home design magazine were actually there working on a piece while we huddled up in the media room for an intense marathon of image gazing and gauging.

The critiques were both constructive and complimentary, and I was impressed by everyone's imagery. Jaws dropped, souls were stoked and I came back to my quarters for the night, eager to get a camera back in my hand so I could challenge myself even further. Much discussion centered around how to use the images taken during the workshop... Some planned to put them on their wedding websites in hopes of showing clients what was possible and to inspire the imagination. Others opted to put their best shots in a site section devoted to fashion or editorial work. I am still undecided. As I said yesterday, these were models, there were makeup artists, designer dresses and we had eight hours to shoot, when I usually have eighteen minutes!

For now, I'll just display the images here for your enjoyment. When my new site launches later this summer (just signed the contract for the design today!!!!!), perhaps I'll have a special gallery for work I've done in forums like this workshop. BUT... if these captures captivate you, I'd strongly recommend you consider blocking a few minutes off at your wedding for a quick fashionesque shoot, or scheduling a post-shoot (also known as a "Trash the Dress" or as my friend, Kate Mefford calls them, "Unbridled Sessions"). This special shoot can include both the bride and the groom (or just the bride if she wishes) for a post-wedding (day after or even weeks/months/years later) fun, free-form shoot that can take any direction you'd like- perhaps some fashion like this or some more romantic shots as well. (And, you don't have to be one of my clients to book me for one of these sessions.)

As I look at these images I took yesterday, I can't stop thinking how much I wish I had shots of me looking like that! If you thought the same thing (about yourself of course- it would be kind of creepy to have shots of me on your wall), let me know.

In the meantime, here are some of my other shots from yesterday. Some I like for the light, others for the scenery and some are just plain funny- showing the chaos of a workshop style shoots with lots of eager photographers. We'll be shooting again tomorrow for a bit, and I'll likely post those early next week when I return from my weekend adventure. Again, if you are interested in these kind of shoot for yourself (or ever with a few close girlfriends), do let me know. I had so much fun and would be thrilled to try it again!








A couple of shots of some photographers at work...

You may remember this shot from my previous post (yesterday). This was one of the images during my critique that the Davids picked as their favorites, and they suggested a black and white treatment... you like?

Workshop in Kennebunkport, Part I

It's almost midnight (and I've been up since 5 a.m.) and I am boiled redder than the dogs you find in a steam tray at any true Maine convenience store. Despite my languishing lids and torched skin, after a full day of shooting, my creative side is energized in a way it has not been in some time!

I am in Kennebunk for the rest of the week to attend the Shoot With Beckstead workshop, led by visionary David Beckstead, who sees art in places that up until now, I would never have even thought to look in. David Murray, a perennial winner in the WPJA's quarterly contests whose work I have long fawned over is hosting the workshop, and he and his wife Linda have been kind enough to put me up for the week. I am most grateful for their warmth, and their inspiration both as people and as professionals.

A workshop for a photographer like me is a giant playground. Free from the pressures that for me, make weddings such a wonderful rush (weather, time, etc.), a workshop provides time to play, a chance to challenge myself and my equipment, and an opportunity for feedback from those who are foremost in the industry.

Today, we spent around eight hours - mostly on the water's edge- shooting in Kennebunk/Kennebunkport. There are about 15 of us, so it took me back to my newspaper and pr days, when you're shooting alongside so many others, elbows up! That said, everyone sees things differently: we're all facing the same thing, but we are all seeing something different! Though I wouldn't feel comfortable putting the shots on my Website because we were working with models and I pride myself on my photojournalistic style, I thought I'd share some eyecandy with you here. The girls were gorgeous, and generous with their good humor and patience. And, seeing it's the first time in a while I've shot with bright blue sky, I got a bit carried away. Let me know what you think...I don't think these are my best shots by any means, just what connected with me when I was editing over pizza and red wine tonight!

I'll try to check back in over the next few days and let you know what I am learning, but you can't imagine how full these workshop days are! It's quite an adventure. And, I have a very fun non-work weekend in store that I'll tell you all about on Monday. Those of you trying to reach me on email, know I am out of the office and will return your inquiry as soon as humanly possible. Goodnight- I am off to find some aloe!

Tuesday Tease: Installement II

Today's tease isn't nearly as fun as last week's, and for those of you who follow the blog regularly, it's practically old news. Nevertheless, I am excited to have (finally!) made the early steps toward my rebranding. And, I am grateful for your loyalty and input along the way.

So, that said. I might suggest you bookmark this. Just a thought.

I Do: Stephanie & Brian in Rockland, Part II

Stephanie and Brian's reception this past Saturday had all the elements a good party should... yummy food, generous bartenders, delicious details and moves on the dance floor that would have made even Bon Jovi blush! I mention Bon Jovi of course, because many traveled from New Jersey, where Stephanie and Brian now live, for the wedding, and whenever a Bon Jovi song (there were several) was cued up, the crowd erupted! What fun!

Toile was the theme from the invitations to the cake. I don't know about you, but there is just something about toile that I love. At once chic and cool, it's a playful pattern and on Saturday, it was everywhere.


The cake was so stunning, it was a bit nervewracking to actually cut into it. But with Oreo's awaiting inside, how could they not!
I love this capture from the first dance. Brian looked so content- as if he never wanted this exact moment to end.
Stephanie's little sister Danielle gave a simple and sweet toast that had everyone tearing up (even me).
Stephanie had told me she was looking forward to the father-daughter dance. She savored every moment of it!
Stephanie (nice bling!) sneaks a peak at the comments left by guests in their sign-in scrapbook. It was a touching and thoughtful tribute assembled for the couple by bridesmaid, Britt.
Talking to guests about the honeymoon. Speaking of which, Stephanie and Brian, I hope you have the best trip to the coast of Italy. Please eat everything in sight (you earned it after all that dancing), make sure to take a swim in that awesome azure ocean and relax knowing your wedding was every bit as wonderful as you dreamed it would be. Ciao!

I Do: Stephanie & Brian, Rockland, Part I

Who: Stephanie & Brian
What: A wedding, of course!
Where: St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Rockland and The Samoset Resort in Rockport
When: Saturday, May 10, 2008
How: Makeup by Nordstrom Skin Care in downtown Rockland, DJing by Greg Powers and fabulous toile cake by Sweet Sensations Bakery in Rockport.
Why: Six years ago this weekend, Brian took Stephanie home to meet his parents for the first time. Even in those early days of their relationship, both say they "just knew." And yesterday, Stephanie, who admitted to me she had been buying bridal magazines since 1999, was escorted down the aisle of an intimate, coastal community church by her dad. "I don't think he would have given her away to anyone else," Stephanie's little sister, Danielle later told me.

Stephanie and Brian are the reason I love what I do. As much as Stephanie worked to plan her dream day (it was worth every moment- I swear), I think the hardest part of the process was spending nearly an entire day apart from Brian before the ceremony. Not because she had to be with him, but because she wanted to. I can't say enough about these two as individuals, as a couple, or about the day when they became husband and wife. I can't wait to show you the slideshow from their ceremony and celebration, but until then, here are some shots to share. More coming tomorrow!

It was blustery, but beautiful as the day began with nine holes of golf. Here, a foursome that includes the groom tries to sink the putt on the Samoset's storied third hole.
Brian tries to get out of the sand trap. I know he'll be a better husband than he is a golfer!
I am not sure if Stephanie needed any blush- she's been glowing all week!
From the bridal suite, Stephanie could look into the lobby where Brian and the guys were waiting before heading to the church.
Brian was grinning as he waited for his bride.
Stephanie had warned me the church was low on light but what was streaming through the stained glass windows I thought was brilliant.

During the receiving line, Brian kept fiddling with his ring.
Brian (at front) and the groomsmen.
Stephanie was stunning. Each image of her is more beautiful than the next!
A few of Brian and Stephanie. There were just so many to choose from!


I didn't get home last night until well after midnight, so I am going to hold off on posting images from the reception until tomorrow so I can catch up on some long overdue R&R. Check back tomorrow!

Tuesday Tease: Installment I

Leading up to my logo's launch, I was going to give you a one-a-day hint to build the buzz a bit. But seeing how impatient you all are (!I love it!), I thought I'd further fuel the frenzy by posting a clue every week until the big reveal. I'll call it the Tuesday Tease! Here is your first hint.

Of course, this will put some serious pressure on me and my dynamite designer, but we're pretty tough chicks. And this also means I need to get my act together and call J about getting the site started. Hopefully he's recovered from his tropical getaway :)-

Our Passover Story...

Passover is a Jewish holiday celebrating the Jews' exodus from Egypt and thus, their liberation from a life of slavery under the tyranny of the Egyptians. If you aren't familiar with the story, here is the short version: the Jews were slaves in Egypt, God finally responded to their plight by sending 10 plagues upon the Egyptians (fun stuff, like lice, locusts, boils, etc.- I cannot believe I am writing these words on a wedding blog). The final plague was the killing of the first-born of every Egyptian. Jews would be spared from this, by putting a drop of blood on their doorpost, and God would know to pass over their house (hence the holiday's name). The plagues were effective, the Pharaoh let the Jews go and freed them. As they fled, he had a change of heart, sent his soldiers after them, and it was then Moses parted the Red Sea and the Jews escaped into Israel. It is suspected that Jesus' last supper was actually a Passover seder, so that's an interesting connection. Again, this is like the Cliff Notes of the Passover story, which actually takes several hours to retell (though our family has streamlined things a bit).

Passover is one of my favorite holidays, the food is tops (especially my mom's melt-in-your-mouth brisket, my aunt's matzo ball soup and the cheesecake I make) and the company is the best. Over the years, the size of our celebrations has ebbed and flowed. Some years, we'd cram nearly 40 people into the living room. This year, it was a more manageable 10, including my grandparents, who always come up from New York (which is why I think I love this holiday so much). I especially appreciate the ritual of it all –both familial and religious– and I think the messages of hope, peace, and faith conveyed during the ceremony, which is led by my Uncle Dennis, are most applicable today.

This was the first year I thought to bring my camera to document the festivities. It certainly made everything go by much faster. Here is what I saw:
The seder requires dedication (and that you've eaten a big lunch). Even though all this yummy food is within your reach, you can't dig in until the service allows it, which can take a while. While my uncle leads the service, we follow along in the seder book. As you notice, we are not very patient: we use the Concise version!

The seder table, set for ten. This is the first time our seder table included an orange, which represents the role of women within the Passover story.

This is the seder plate. Each food upon it is symbolic, for example, the horseradish (at top right) represents the bitterness of life under the yoke of slavery, while the charoset (that apple chutney looking stuff in the top left corner) represents the mortar Jewish slaves used to build storehouses in Egypt.

There is lots of wine at Passover. If you follow the seder exactly, you would have drunk four goblets worth! I tend to stick mostly to grape juice to keep pace. One of the cups of wine on the table is for Elijah... I'll admit I am a bit confused about the whole Elijah thing, but apparently, he is a prophet and we open the door for him and leave a cup of wine on the table for him in hopes he'll come, which will signal that the Messiah is coming behind him. (Like I said, a little fuzzy on this (I am not very religious)but I think the detail on this cup my parents have for this part of the service is stunning.)

I think that "yarmulke" is one of the coolest words ever. It's pronounced ya-mu-ka and it is the skullcap Jewish men wear on their heads at a service. Though Kyle isn't Jewish, here he is wearing one while he listens to my grandfather.

And another yarmulke shot- I love how it matches those funky faces on the wall and also the stripes on Kyle's shirt. Maybe he is a better dresser than I give him credit for!

My grandmother lights the candles as the start of the service.

Kyle follows along in the seder book.

A reading inside the seder.

My uncle holds up a piece of matzo- this is the unleavened bread which shows how quickly the Jews fled Egypt when they were freed- their bread baking on the rocks didn't even have time to rise!

Passover in our family is never boring, one because of the company (I'll get to them soon) and two, because it is very interactive. A fan favorite it when we put drops of wine on our plates, one for each of the 10 plagues. Some use their spoons. Others use their fingers (and therefore the wine never makes it to the plate, usually landing in his mouth or on the white tablecloth).

Enough blood and boils... let's get to the people who make this holiday so great:
My beautiful grandmother.

My mom, wearing her queen crown.

My aunt is always smiling.

My uncle, who just celebrated a birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday.

My stepdad, who converted to Judaism several years ago.

This year, we were lucky to be joined by my friend Moshe, who is a graduate student from Israel in my department.

I love this shot of Kyle.

My grandfather is a man who is larger than life and thus is hard to capture in just one image. I am his only grandchild and I adore him. He always sits across from me at Passover, so I was able to get some shots that really captured his infectious personality. Can't you just tell how much fun he is?




As we always say at the end of the service: Till next year!

Catching Up...

Even I have to admit the irony: It's been over two weeks since I've posted and of course, my last post was about I Do Click's blog was featured in the Maine PR Journal, where I went so far as to offer the blogging advice that one should blog regularly to best engage their readers.

The reason for my absence (though inexcusable)is quite simple: I've been CRAZY BUSY!!! I wanted to just check in today with an update, and a heads up on all the thrilling things I have coming up...

As loyal blog readers know, I am currently working toward my Master's degree in Mass Communications at UMaine. Nearly 35,000 miles of commuting later, I will be graduating this Friday (though I'll be still working on my Master's thesis over the summer) with a hooding ceremony at the college's Alford Arena. And, it just so happens that Friday is also my birthday, so it will be a day of riotous celebration, ending with dinner at Ichibon, a favorite sushi place of mine (in Bangor, of all places). It's been a mad dash to the finish, which has detracted from my blogging time. I put the finishing touches on my thesis prospectus only last night, and sent it off to the three-person committee I will be defending it before on Wednesday (keep your fingers crossed for me please).

The end of the school year means I am also nearing my tenure as a media writing instructor for undergraduates. I've been buried under papers and email excuses for the past few weeks, and have also been writing letters of recommendation for students and helping them find internships and summer jobs.

And, I am working on a really fun article for Mainebiz right now, which I'll definitely be sharing when it is published later this month as I think you'll all enjoy it.

Though our house still hasn't sold, I am happy to announce that Kyle has been offered an exciting new job!!! A huge relief after weeks of mass resume mailings and hair-pulling and certainly well deserved. He'll start in the Augusta office while we still live here in Farmington, and hopefully transfer to their South Portland office when we move down that way. Apparently, CMP is planning a massive new transmission line that will span the state, and Kyle will be part of a small team of environmental specialists getting the project permitted in each of the dozens of towns the line will run through. I am !so! proud of him for landing this huge opportunity, though I'll really miss the family that we've formed at his current company, Main-Land Development.

We are hoping our house does sell sooner than later, as we've spent the past few weekends checking out houses in Portland and we're really excited about the options down there. I'll keep you posted.

Of course, though I've ignored the blog, I Do Click, err... make that Samantha Warren Weddings (soon, soon) has been top of mind. I am !pumped! to announce that my graphic designer friend Jenny and I finalized my new logo late one night last week, and I can't stop staring at it. I am really eager to share it with you, but I am going to make you wait until my new Website and blog launch this summer (though my May and June brides will get a sneak peak through our post-wedding correspondence). You are going to love it!!!

And while most sane people would take a vacation or just chill out a bit post graduation, I am going to be doing what I love most: shooting a wedding that I expect to be emotional and exquisite on Saturday at the Samoset in Rockland. I've been corresponding with Stephanie and Brian for months, and I am so looking forward to meeting them on Wednesday and then photographing them and their loved ones on Saturday. And next week, I am spending three days in Kennebunkport where I'll be attending a workshop led by two hot, hot, hot wedding photographers: David Beckstead and Maine's own David Murray, who is a photographic genius (he was one of the WPJA's top five photographers in the world last year) and a genuinely nice guy.

So, that's a quick (well, not really) rundown of what I've been up to for the last two weeks. In amongst those more noteworthy events, Kyle and I have both been sick, our daffodils have finally bloomed in the front bed and the patio furniture is finally on the back deck, I've made two batches of homemade sorbet from scratch (one a grapefruit champagne sorbet and the other, strawberry lime), I got major haircut (eight inches off), Kyle put on a fantastic birthday dinner for his mom, and Alder and Nikon have been giving our vacuum a serious workout. We also had a delightful Passover celebration with my family and I'll post some images from that later today.