I met the Kate pretty quickly after moving to Maine, and she was such a gracious, welcoming person that it was extra exciting for me to be able to photograph her family.
The girls personalities translated so perfectly in these images.
Their home in Bath, Maine was an Ah-Maze-Zing backdrop for their family photos. Everything was in full bloom, the trees, the plants, the fairy garden.
Check out their photo session here:
You know how it goes right? You schedule your photo session, you pick the perfect outfits, and you are full of ideas on how your family should behave. But when you arrived, your daughter skinned her knee, your son was shy, and you just want to scream, “we are trying to make memories here people!”
What if you let go of all those expectations?
I am here to tell you, that it is time to give up your idea of what traditional family portraits should be.
What if your photos could be more than just portraits? What if your photos looked like a dream, felt like a memory?
There is so much more to your family than perfect smiles, and there can be more to your photos than just perfect exposure.
In my favorite images of my own kids, from this past year, not one of them have the children looking right into the camera with the perfect smile (which don’t get me wrong, I love.) But each image tells a story. They have a feeling. They take me back to that moment in my mind, and I am there with them again.
Isn’t that what the gift of photography is about? Reliving moments. You could have an actual “save” button for your minds eye, if you just give up perfection and embrace documentary photography.
For the past several months now, I have been visiting Birth Roots here in Portland, Maine. I have had the opportunity document their newborn class called BUDS.
If you aren’t familiar with Birth Roots, you need to be. Their mission is “Birth Roots provides a community space where new families come together to build connections, share diverse ideas, and strengthen their parenting muscles so that we move together toward a thriving, family-centered society.”
Every.Single.Time I visit this Birth Roots I think “where was this when I was in this stage of my life?” I can’t think of anything that could have been more beneficial to me as a new mom, than a community of supportive women, and the wealth of knowledge that they teach.
I sneak in at the end, just as the new moms are have some social time, and quietly snap a few photos of them as a keepsake to this special class.
Being inspired by the wonderful woman at this organization has been a blessing to me since I arrived here in Portland, Maine- and getting to photograph these adorable newborns is such a bonus!
This past weekend I got a chance to volunteer for Maine Doulas No Child Wet Behind Event.
So they are pretty awesome.
Last week I found the coolest little restaurant here in Brunswick. It is right around the corner where I live in the Landing (the old base.) I have seen signs for it, but they are pretty new so I hadn’t had a chance to try it until recently.
It’s called New Beet Market, and as soon as I walked in, I was smitten. First of all, the light. Oh the light. The design is just beautiful, and the photographer in me had to talk with the manager, cause you know, indoor locations in Maine are a necessity.
But as soon as I met Jamie (the managing partner,) I knew I wanted to blog this place, because the mission statement of this restaurant is like nothing I have ever heard before. They are owned by Seeds of Independence and profit from the market supports the charity! Their profit goes to directly to supporting them, and other local programs like Family Focus, YMCA, Pathway, and Harpswell Coastal Academy. They even employ students as part of their studies, and they are also offering a CSA pick-up location for Cultivating Community’s Fresh Start Farm
So basically as Jamie would put it “this restaurant takes a lot of people who really want to help kids.”
And the cherry on top is the vast majority of their food is grown locally.
So yeah, a woman on a mission I can totally get behind.
Jamie’s favorite thing about New Beet Market is that it is not only a restaurant, but an actual market where you can purchase local produce. If visiting she recommends you try the Chicken Salad (flavored with cranberry shallot relish.)
So go there. Enjoy breakfast or lunch on their outdoor patio, cause hello, SPRING!
LOCATION:
25 Burbank Ave, Brunswick, ME