Dreaming of Flight...

One of the things I promised myself this year was that I would pick up some strictly creative projects just for myself to keep the creative juices flowing and have some fun! I came up with the idea of building a pair of wings a la Leonardo Davinci and having someone perched to fly.  As I was building the wings the perfect quote presented itself and that was enough of a sign for me:

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”

Here are the fruits of my labor! Enjoy!

A look back to the beginning

Okay so this wasn't the very beginning it was more like halfway back, but it was around the time I adopted my own daughter so it seems like a lifetime ago.  Every year, especially this year, I feel like I have grown and emerged as a better photographer.  If I show you the very beginning I am sure you will agree!  This however remains as on of my favorite newborn photos that I have done.  I love the softness and the delicate look of the image that ties in with the delicate baby.  This baby is 3 years old now!  My how time flies!

The Princess and The Pea: Fine Art Children's Photographer

So this photo shoot appeals to me on so many levels. One, I love staging fairy tale or ethereal photo shoots. Two, I love working with children.  Three, I love being with my child. One of my creative projects for the year is to recreate some of the real Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Lucy and I totally got into the Princess and the pea idea!  To see some of my other children's photos view my gallery.

Spring has sprung!

I had a blast this weekend! Working with kids is my favorite thing to do and this little girl made my day!  She is such a little character and so sweet.  When I suggested that we have fun and start playing she jumped right in and had a blast.  Just take a look!  If you want to see more of my work with kids view my Children's Gallery!

Little Red Riding Hood! A Creative Shoot

After coming home from doing the Rapunzel Photo shoot, Lucy said to me, "Mommy, I want to do that!".  Well she didn't have enough hair for Rapunzel, LOL but she makes a stunning Red Riding Hood!  See some more of my children's photos!  

Winter Portraits with their besties

This winter has been cold and brutal with the snow!  This two dolls added some light and warmth to a cold day.  I am so glad they came to brave the chill with me.  Want to see more cutie pies, look at this gallery!

When life gives you snow...make snowmen!!!

We have been hit hard here in the Northeast.  No one is venturing out for much.  It has been one storm after another and more snow expected on Tuesday!  For sure we will make it to the snowiest winter on record for Boston.  There is so much time left in winter, how could we not. But we are New Englanders, we need to teach our kids to be tough when it comes to snow!  So we had a blast today playing in the snow and then brought some more inside to  play kitchen with snow and food coloring.  Then the ultimate was our snow volcano!

Here are some pictures of the fun!  Check out some more of my artistic children portraits!

Beaches and Family Reunions: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

This has been the perfect summer for beach photos! It has been sunny and not too hot, just a nice temperate climate that really makes people feel comfortable and at ease taking photos. This year I have had a lot of family reunion type photos.  I have had so much fun meeting people and getting to know them while taking their photos.

These are just a few from one of the last family reunions I was lucky enough to be a part of!

Beach Mini Sessions: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

It's getting a little colder out and I am reminising about those nice warm beach days and some of the great families I met through my beach mini sessions! Enjoy a few summer days with me won't you!

Saving memories: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

What better way to save memories of the good times that you had this summer with your friends and family then to bring a photographer along!  I have had more calls this summer to join the party and capture the moment and I have loved every second of it. This family get together was so much fun!

Photo tip of the week: The fundamentals of portrait posing: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

If I had a penny for every time someone has said to me, "I don't photograph well", I would be a rich woman.  Now I am not saying that we are all Salma Hayek who would look beautiful dressed in a paper bag, but I think that a lot of bad pictures have to do with bad posing.  The goal of every photograph is to accentuate the positive and downplay what people do not like about themselves.  Part of understanding that comes from taking a lot of portraits and learning what looks good and part of it comes from talking to your clients about what they are happy with and what makes them insecure.  Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

1. Change perspective:

• Stand on a chair
• Lay on the floor
• Hold the camera above your head.
• Use things around you to change your perspective

2. Close, Close Close

• Break the ice, make people laugh
• Make a photo more intimate

3. Get at their level and take candids in their environment:

• Play outside
• Sit on the ground or a chair

4. Side over the shoulder most flattering angle

• Need to be at eye level in most cases
• Avoid photographing down someone’s shirt!
• No Mug shots
• Turn person slightly to the side and have them look over their shoulder; that is the most flattering for all body types.  And don’t we all have something we don’t like! I have never posted a photo on Facebook that I have not photo shopped!

5. Chin Down

• Photographing underneath can increase stature as you saw but make sure that people are keeping their chins down or else you will end up with what I like to call the double chin effect!

Happy Shooting!

TBT: Me and my sister: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

So clearly this is not a picture I took but I just love having fun Throwback Thursday Posts! My sister and I are twins.  We are very close which is not true of all twins or all siblings unfortunately.  When she gets pinched I don't feel it.  I can't read her mind.  Often though we are on the same wavelength.  You can call it a twin thing or just chalk it up to being raised in the same family.  I am very proud of my sister and all that she has accomplished.  You probably so my previous post about her business, Archiplicity.  She has been designing residential and commercial buildings for 18 years.  She also rock climbs and scuba dives.  She works hard to make sure that her friends are taken care of and gives a lot of herself away to make sure that others are happy.  Today I celebrate my twin!  I also would love to give a shout out to my friend Ed Nute who took this picture of Jenny and I when we were little.  I won't call any of us out by saying how long ago this was!

TBT: Love my cousins: Professional Photographer South Shore Plymouth

I love sorting through and finding old photos of me and my family.  I also love restoring them for other people.  This is a great picture of me, my sister, and my cousins Adam and Jennie.  It reminds me of the fun time we used to have spending part of the summer in PA with them.  Unfortunately age has not been kind to the corners of this photo but lucky for me I know how to fix that!  I hope you are enjoying throwback thursday as much as I am!

Small Business Shout out of the week: Oceanside Animal Hospital: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

I have been trying to support and sing the praises of local businesses around me every week and this week is no exception.  This week I want to tell you about another great place, Oceanside Animal Hospital. Oceanside Animal Hospital is located in Sandwich, Massachusetts at the corner of Tupper Road and Route 6A. They are a new full service animal hospital and retail boutique.  This is where I take my dog, Charlie and my sister takes her dog Max.

The level of care and compassion at Oceanside is the best that I have ever had.  I feel comfortable and confident that my pets are always getting the best care.  I can tell you as a pet owner that I have definitely not always felt that way.  In fact, I have had a handful of really bad experiences with other places.

Oceanside treats their patients and owners like family.  They are warm and caring and their level of care and attention to their patients is fantastic.  If you are looking for a vet, this is the only place I will go.  Oceanside can be reached at Phone (508) 744-3838 Email info@oceansideanimal.com and website http://www.oceansideanimal.com

Photo Tip of the week: Capturing kids pictures: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

One of the hardest things to do is to take a great picture of your kids.  I have a few tips to make that easier: 1. Pick their best time of day for pictures whether you or hiring someone or taking them yourself.  I find that for most kids that is morning.

2. Make sure your kids are well fed.  Also bring snacks, drinks, and treats to make things easier.

3. Play and interact while you are taking their pictures, it brings out the bright side of their personality.

4. If they are having a tough time, give them some time to reset.  Whether I am taking pictures for other people or myself I find that this comes in handy to change the mood.  I am more worried about getting the right shot than about the time on the clock.

Happy Shooting!

This Past Weekend's Beach Session: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

The season is now in high gear and I am having so much fun.  I have been having so much fun meeting new people and reconnecting with people I have photographed before.  This is my second session with V.  Her first session was her cake smash session and it is so much fun to see how much she has grown and what a beautiful little girl she is.  She is also so amazingly sweet and fun!  I loved spending time capturing her and at one of her favorite places...The beach!

Beach Mini Sessions are coming June 21, 2014 only $99: Professional Photographer South Shore Plymouth

So I am so excited my mini sessions on the beach are almost upon us!  I just got another sign up yesterday!  It's going to be so much fun!  If you have not yet heard, mini-sessions are a smaller more compact session.  For $99.00, you will receive a 30 minute session, 8-10 digital images and one 8x10 print from your session.  Although most people typically think of this as family photos I have all different groups coming, families, couples, maternity photos, and a group of long time girlfriends just to name some.  I still have sometime available if you are interested, Call now!  508-244-4073 or email me at kathy@themirroredimage.com

Throwback Thursday: The first day of the rest of my life

So last Thursday was my 4 year anniversary with Dave.  So technically this post should have happened last week, but my dad took precedence :)  This is the first picture Dave and I ever had taken of the two of us by my very good friend Laurence when we were with her in Metz, France.  The funny thing is that I knew then that we were meant to be together.  So did Dave.  He went back to Colorado and told everyone that he was moving to Boston.. her didn't know when but he was.  This was the beginning of many of the great things that have come my way..Dave and Lucy..the two best things that ever happened to me!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Spring is here! Let's celebrate by remembering one of our favorite weddings!

I can’t believe it is 2 years since this great couple graced our doors!  We loved working with Katie and Justin.  They were so nice and so easy to work with.  We are so happy that they were so lucky to find each other and to have a beautiful baby boy to celebrate spring with themselves!  We should all celebrate spring and family today!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: T&J's Fall Wedding

I am a little behind on my posting and my new year's resolution, a little early, is to ramp up the posting of our work on our social media site.  We had a wonderful time at this wedding and there were so many cool touches that T and J put together themselves.  Definitely consider some of these for your own wedding if you are connected to them.  I hope you enjoy these as much as we enjoyed taking them.