Susan Ruddy Photography

My new Photography Prop - Twig Fence

2012-02-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

Ok so I am always looking for cool new props for the studio. In a couple of weeks I will be featuring live bunnies and rabbits for one week for portrait sessions. I have been trying to think of some great props for the shoots. I thought a twig fence would be a great natural looking prop and could be used for many types of shoots so I went into the woods behind my house and found lots of twigs then got my husband out with his tools to do the cutting and putting together of the frame. My daughter even got in on the action, helping drill holes and pound nails!

After the frame was built, we had to weave the smaller twigs in and out until we had the look I was hoping for. Here are a few pictures of the fence put together, then some in the studio with some props.

I am so looking forward to using this prop in and out of the studio!

Bunnies, chicks and babies oh my!

2012-02-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

Easter is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate than a portrait session with real bunnies and baby chicks! I will be offering portrait sessions from March 3-11 featuring the little fuzzy guys. All sessions will take place at my studio located at 281 North Main St, Mansfield. Call 508-942-5668 to book your appointment today.

Valentines Day

2012-02-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

Well it is Valentines Day, a day fill with love and romance. Today is the the day that many guys ask their girls to marry them. I have always been a romantic although I never felt the pressures that Valentines Day often carries. If you were to ask me when I was a little girl if I thought that I would get engaged on Valentines Day I would have said no. Well, 20 years ago, in a beautiful hotel in Saratoga, NY, my husband proposed to me! I remember the day well. I was working at Fleet Bank in Troy, NY. Dave and I both lived with our parents so we wanted to get away for the weekend so we went to The Gideon Putnam for a romantic weekend. Even then, I never thought it would happen on Valentines Day. We ate dinner at Pizza Hut (Hey we were young!) then listened to Van Morrison's cassette tape (wow do those even exist anymore!) on the trip to Saratoga. We were married the following February - not Valentines Day, and have been married for 19 years. To me, I don't need lots of extravagant gifts for Valentines Day. I already have the best gift I could ever possibly receive, my sweet husband! I don't think he could ever top that gift!

So to all of your wonderful couples who got engaged on Valentines day previously or maybe tonight is your special night, Happy Valentines Day! Even if you are not in a relationship right now just know that your soulmate is out there somewhere waiting for you! Who knows, maybe someday I will photograph your wedding!

Our Engagement Photo

Us today

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Class of 2013 Studio Rep

2012-02-07T05:48:00.000-08:00

As spring is getting closer, it is time to start searching for the studio's Class of 2013 Senior Reps. I will chose up to 4 students per school and they will receive 25% off of any package and custom designed cards to hand out to friends. As other students bring them back to me, you will earn free prints and gift cards. Any of your friends who bring in a rep card, you will get credit and they will receive free prints. I would like all sessions to be completed sometime in May, this will give you plenty of time to give cards out to friends before school is over.

Call the studio today 508-942-5668 to secure your spot as a Senior Rep for Susan Ruddy Photography

Mady and Jeff are Married

2012-02-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

Ok this wedding soooo over due. Mady and Jeff were married back in the fall at the Tirrell Room in Quincy, MA For some reason, blogging has taken a back seat for my business. So without futher ado, here is the wedding of Mady and Jeff.

Jeff and Mady are an adorable couple who were referred to me by another couple (yay I LOVE referrals!) There ceremony was outdoors in the beautiful gazebo which was actually built by the father of one of the guests. After the ceremony we were able to do the formals outside which is rare for October in New England. The party got started right away and everyone seemed to have a great time!

Here some of my favorites from the day! Enjoy!

We Won the Brides Choice 2012 award!

2012-01-18T12:36:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! For the fourth year in a row Susan Ruddy Photography won the Brides Choice award. We work very hard every year to create amazing images for our couples and once again it has paid off! Thank you to all of the lovely couples who gave us great reviews. If you are a previous bride and have not given a review, I would really appreciate it. You can go to www.weddingwire.com

Thanks again, and I look forward to another great year providing amazing images for my 2012 couples!

Denise and Raul are Married!

2012-01-03T05:24:00.000-08:00

After taking a LONG break from blogging, I am finally back on track. What better way to start than with an awesome couple! I met with Denise and Raul last spring for their e-session in Boston and was very excited for their wedding this fall. They are such a fun happy couple! Denise kept me laughing all day! She was ready not nervous at all, just ready to start the wedding! They were married at Raffael's in Walpole, MA at their gazebo. We did a first look before the ceremony so Denise and Raul could enjoy their cocktail hour with guests! Here are some of my favorites from the day!

Congratulations Denise and Raul!

Lisa and Keith's E-Session

2011-11-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

Today I met with Lisa and Keith at Roger Williams Park for their Engagement Session. It was a beautiful day and we had a blast. These two are so adorable and have a great chemistry. I loved working with Lisa and Keith!

Here are some of my favorites!

Ray and Kimberly's E-Session

2011-10-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I met with Ray and Kimberly at Roger Williams Park to do their E-Session. We hit all of the great spots at the park even though there were about 4 wedding parties there and another engagement session! After the park we went to Prospect Park overlooking Providence to get a sunset. Even though the day was cloudy we got a great sunset!

I can't wait to shoot their wedding Next July!

Heather and Brian are married!

2011-10-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Heather and Brian had an amazingly beautiful day. We started at the beach with guys then went to Heather's parents house. Heather's adorable dog was waiting patiently for her to get dressed! We then proceeded to the church, which I had worked at before and absolutely loved the ceiling! After the ceremony we went to a family friends amazingly beautiful home for formals then it was off the The Nantasket Beach Resort for the PARTY! It was such an amazing day and We had a blast working with Heather, Brian and their friends and Family!

Congratulations Heather and Brian, thanks for letting me share your special day!

Pet Photography ~ What really goes into getting a great shot!

2011-09-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Pet photography, it is a new craze and I have jumped on board. I have always been into pet photography but never really tried to do it. My family and I recently got a puppy and I have been having photo shoots with her at east once a week. People look at her photos and tell me that I make it look easy. All of the pictures they see are great.

After doing another shoot with my Rosie this afternoon I decided to show all of the "out takes". Most dogs do not want to sit still, and want to chew everything. After photographing my neighbors dog a few weeks ago, I learned a few tricks. The first is never try to take the photos when the dog first arrives. I have the best luck if I wait a half an hour. I have also learned to give the dog a prop to chew (while moitoring constantly of course!)

I will show the good shots first then show the "bad" ones.

So here is the a good one, after about 15 tries we got her to look, now here's the not so good one

Here's another good one

and another not so good one ~ she was trying to escape!

Again, my little sweetie looking like she just sits there all day ~ yeah not so much!

What a sweetie right? well it took 5 minutes to get her to look at me

So now you can see all the work that goes into getting some great shots your your furry friends. The key is lots of patience, treats and fun props for them to chew on!

Becky and Mike are married!

2011-09-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have been looking back at my blog posts and realized I never blogged this amazing wedding! Becky and Mike are the sweetest couple! Becky was so calm and relaxed, and Mike is always pretty calm! The day started off with rain but they didn't let that bother them. After the ceremony we did the formals in the church and all of the sudden it stopped raining. We ran outside and got some great shots before it started raining again! Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Best of luck Becky and Mike!

Puppy Love!

2011-09-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

Recently, my neighbor wanted to get her dog's picture taken. (to replace a picture I have the front window of my studio ~ dog parents can be just as competitive as human parents! ) Bella is a Little lady and we had a blast trying to get her to cooperate. At first she was petrified, I think it may have been the table. After a while we get her to behave and proceeded to torture her with lots of props! I am a huge animal lover and would love to do more pet photos. Although it is more challenging that photographing humans, it is so worth it! Enjoy some previews of Bella's session!

Announcing a new service for Brides ~ Gift Registry!!!

2011-09-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

So we all know the economy is pretty pathetic right now and it is getting harder and hard for these young couples to afford everything they want for their weddings. Unfortunately, one of the first things that gets cut is the budget for the photographer. I am not just saying this because I am a photographer, but also as a former bride. My husband and I were on a very tight budget, (paying for everything ourselves) but I made sure my photos were taken by my top choice of photographers. I am not saying everyone needs to do that. Let's face it there is an abundance of great photographers today. I have had quite a few brides, reluctantly, opt to go with a less expensive photographer and then regret it.

After thinking about it, I decided I would start offering a gift registry. I include an engagement session in all of my packages so we take some photos from that session and create cards for the couple to hand out to friends and family. Many brides even put them in their shower invitations! In many instances, it allows the couple to get a more expensive package that they though they could not afford!

There are no additional fees to use this service. Your guests simply contact me to purchase a gift card and they receive a nice card to give to you!

I would love to hear feed back about this new service.

Sean's Senior Session

2011-08-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

Sean's Senior Session as the start of my crazy week of 6 senior sessions in 4 days! Sean was a little uncomfortable at first (like most boys, I think!) But we talked him through it! I started him off across the street from my studio, the light was awesome and I always wanted to use that brick wall! We finished up in the studio, I had a great time working with him!

Cally's Senior Session

2011-08-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

I shot Cally's senior pics today at Borderland. After shooting 4 session there this week, I was happy to find a few spots I have never discovered before, including a cool wooden door! Cally was so easy to shoot, she looked perfect in every shot!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Two for one! Erica and Jess's Senior Session

2011-08-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

Today, I met with Erica and her friend Jess at Borderland to do their senior portraits. It was great doing the girls together, they were both relaxed and we got to do of them couple together. I just love doing the senior session at Borderland, there are so many great places to shoot. After this upload I am back at Borderland to shoot another senior session!

Emily's Senior Session

2011-08-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

So this summer has been filled with lots and lots of senior sessions! I just love working with high school seniors, especially the kids have known for years. Emily has been my neighbor and friends with my daughter since they were in kindergarten and first grade! I was so happy that she wanted me to do her senior pics. We went to the location that she had her Bat Mitzvah at a few years ago and used the beautiful garden there.

Best of luck Emily for a great senior year!

Baby "A"

2011-08-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to catch up with Kristi and Dave today to photograph their 1 week old son. He is the sweetest little boy, and was so cooperative. Hopefully we tired him out so he will sleep a little more tonight! We had a blast and got to do everything I had hope to capture! Enjoy!

Hayley's Senior Session

2011-08-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh ~ I just LOVED working with Hayley!!! I knew I would, she is one of my daughter's best friends so I knew how fun she was, not to mention stunningly beautiful! We started off at Luciano Lake Pearl in the parking lot. Yes, I said parking lot, they had this beautiful garden in the back of the lot that is out of the way. After that we went to some train tracks in Foxboro then to the Chateau in Norton by the lake. The great thing about doing weddings is you find great spots to do photos that most people wouldn't even know existed!

Hayley was so easy to work with ~ and of course all of the guys who drove by loved looking at her!!!

Julia's Senior Session

2011-07-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

We shot Julia's Senior Session at my favorite place ~ the beach! We went to Scusset Beach and I fell in love with this beach. There are so many places to take photos and it is just breath taking! We had a blast, Julia is a natural, she is a beautiful girl inside and out! I could have taken her photo all day long!

Monica's Senior Session

2011-07-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Monica graduated this year but never really had senior portraits taken. We went to Borderland and walked around and took photos at a number of different spots. Monica was so easy to work with, and so photogenic, I don't think there was one bad photo of her!

Best of luck in college Monica!

Tom and Ali are married!

2011-07-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Well I am a little (a lot actually!) behind on my blogging. Tom and Ali were married in early June at the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth. They had an amazing day the weather was beautiful! Ali walked down the aisle escorted by her dad to the song Marry Me by Train ~ it was so beautiful! The ceremony was beautiful. We had fun with formals at a few different spots on the grounds then into the party! During the reception, Tom was outside with their son looking at birds on the grass when the bird actually let him pick it up. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Of course I got photos of that!!

Congratulation Tom and Ali!

Jen and Paulo are Married!

2011-06-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

What an amazing day Jen and Paulo had! They got married at Spring Valley Country Club, which is absolutely beautiful! The sky was beautiful, it wasn't too hot or too cold.

Jen looked absolutely beautiful, her gown was gorgeous! She had a beautiful flower pinned to the front and loved it so much she had a flower replicated for her cake. Montillios did a great job! Jen also LOVED the back of her dress, which had buttons going all the way down, I had fun getting creative with that! I also got to take a photo I have been dying to take for a long time! They had a band Java Jive, they were amazing! Well, I took Jen Paulo and the band outside for a creative shot! I set Jen and Paulo up as if they were dancing and had the band with their horns playing. I loved the way they came out!

I just loved working with Jen and Paulo, they are such a sweet couple and have a great family!

Here are some of my favorites from the day! Congratulations Jen and Paulo!

Kathleen and Dave's E-Session

2011-06-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

I met Kathleen and Dave over the winter after I was recommended to them by a previous bride. We hit it off right away and I am so glad, they are such a fun couple! I had so much fun working with them at Sarah and Tommy's wedding a couple of weeks ago and again at their E-Session! I am really looking forward to their wedding next summer!

Sarah and Tommy are married!

2011-06-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

I met with Sarah and Tommy a little over a month ago to go over all of the details of the wedding. When Sarah told me how many brides maids and groomsmen they were having, I was in shock. They had 10 on each side. My first thought was why so many? Well as I watched them all interact, I understood. It seemed as if everyone really got along and were great friends. I had the best time watching them. It was a huge wedding but it was a great night. Everyone seemed to have a blast.

They started the day getting ready at the Four Points Sheraton, then took a Trolley to St. Catherine's Church. After the ceremony, we headed to Bird Park for formals and then back to The Sheraton for the Reception in the Tiffany Ballroom.

It was great time and truly enjoyed working with them!

Congratulations Sarah and Tommy!

Vania and Ray are married!

2011-05-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

What is it they say at the end of the rain there is always a rainbow? Well Vania and Ray sure got their rainbow. After 9 days straight of rain, They got the most beautiful amazing day for their wedding! It was gorgeous, almost 80 degrees out!

The ceremony was at a gorgeous church in Fall River, I love the old churches with the high arched ceilings! From there we went to a few different places for photos. Then it was off to the reception at Rachel's Lakeside in Dartmouth. The bride was beautiful and smiley, not appearing to be nervous at all. The bridal party was awesome, no complainers just happy people :) The reception was a hit with everyone have a great time on the dance floor!

Here are some of my favorites of the day!

Congratulation Vania and Ray!

Ali and Tom's E-Session

2011-04-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Last week I got the chance to do Ali and Tom's E-Session at Oakland Beach In Warwick. It was absolutely FREEZING!! Poor Ali had a short dress on but she dealt with the cold and looked awesome doing it!! After the beach we went back to my studio and did some shots there. I had the best time with them, they are such a fun couple. I can't wait til their wedding in June!!!

"M" 's photo session

2011-04-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

"M" came into the studio today along with his cousin "G" - I posted her session earlier. He was not quite as eager as his cousin. We did manage to get some really cute shots. Doesn't he have the cutest dimples?

Here are my favorites from the day!

Baby "G"'s session

2011-04-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Today I had a great session with the cutest, happiest little girl! Baby "G" was so easy to work with, which always makes my life easier! Here are some of my favorites from the session.

Seriously, isn't she the cutest little thing ever?

Baby "B"

2011-04-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Lynda and Brian brought in their adorable little boy. When they arrived at the studio, Lynda warned me that he was cranky and the session might not go well. Well after a few minutes talking to him he was putty in my hands! I absolutely loved working with him and the images came out great!

And I saved my favorite for last!

First Baby Session in the new Studio!

2011-04-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of photographing Maddie, a baby of Kate and Kevin whose wedding I photographed a couple of years ago!

What a sweet baby! I just loved working with her. She was awesome. There is just something special about photographing a baby for a couple you have worked with before.

Here are some of my favorites.

What every photographer wishes their wedding clients knew

2011-03-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ok so, I have done 3 weddings so far this season and pretty much after every wedding I am always thinking about how each wedding could be better.

When a couple gets engaged, the first couple of things they set are the date, the ceremony site and the reception. Sometimes, photography is one of the last things to get done. While most people think that photography is something to add, it really should be one of the first things planned.

Everyone wants beautiful pictures. Some people cannot afford a great photographer and that is ok, it is about making the best of what you have. The first thing I would say is determine if the photos are important to you and if so what you want them to look like. Many people want a certain photo, lots of sun or sunset yet they don't plan the timeline accordingly.

After thinking in great detail I have come up with a list of suggestions for couples as they plan their wedding.

1. Before you decide on your wedding time, talk to your photographer about what you want to see in your photos and how to get that look. I had a bride look at some of my photos and fell in love with photos with lens flare but their ceremony was at 5pm in October and there was no way to recreate that look unless they did a first look.

2. When choosing your reception site really look at the space. If the room is very dark, chances are the photos are not going to come out great. Is there a designated space for photos, are there lots of mirrors (FYI - mirrors really mess with flashes), are there colored lights - I had a wedding last weekend with green, red, yellow and orange lights over the dance floor - the pictures on the dance floor are tinted different colors.

3. If you are having an outdoor ceremony have it early morning or late afternoon. Mid day is the worst time to photograph outdoors and there will be tons of shadows on peoples faces :(

4. Leave enough time between the ceremony and reception to allow for pictures. When you think of all of the photos you want to capture and the amount of people that involves, if there is not enough time the photos that suffer are the ones of the couples. I love to get creative with the couple photos and if there is not enough time to capture those and the family photos, the couple photos are the ones that get cut.

5. Forget the receiving line. I know it feels like it is rude to cut that but if you plan your day out right, you can get everything done and join the cocktail hour with your guests. If you have 100 guests at your wedding and you figure about 30 seconds with each guest (most people definitely spend more than that) that is 50 minutes in line. That definitely cuts into your formal pictures as well as at that point all you will want to do is be in that limo with your honey basking in the glow of your new marriage :)

6. Consider doing a first look. I know it has always been taboo to see the bride before the wedding but now it is pretty acceptable. It decreases the nerves, it cuts down on the time you need to spend after the ceremony for formal pictures.

Hopefully this post will give all those couples out there planning their weddings a little help in making the decisions for your day!

My New Studio!!!

2011-03-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

So I decided to take the plunge and open a photography studio! I found a great space in downtown Mansfield. It has plenty of space for a shooting area as well as a meeting space to meet with new clients.

The meeting space to view samples and images from clients events.

A view from the front door!

A view from the back including the shooting area.

The studio will be open April 1st and for the month of April all portrait sessions will be 50% off!

OMG - I haven't blogged since November!

2011-03-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

Ok So I have literally done no blogging since Thanksgiving! There wasn't much going on and I actually lost my blogger password! So I am back, and won't leave the blog for so long! The wedding season started for me in February. I will blog those weddings as well as everything else that is starting in a few weeks! Looking forward to everything that 2011 has in store!!

A day to give thanks

2010-11-25T07:26:00.000-08:00

Well it is that time of year again, the holidays are here and with them comes what seems like a million things on our to do list. Every year at Thanksgiving I like to remind myself of all of the wonderful things that I have to be thankful for. So here goes

1. My Family - My husband and 3 children - Emily, Alex and Olivia when I look at them I see everything that is great in my world!

2. My dogs Cadbury and Willie aka my boyfriends! These guys always love me, always get excited when they see me - what is better than that!

3. Flowers - aside from my family and dogs, flowers are my favorites. It doesn't matter what color, what variety - I love them all! I love my gardens, there is nothing better than driving up to my house and seeing my flowers. It just amazes me there there is something so beautiful in this world!
4. Music - I love just about every style. Music is food for your soul - the louder the better. I am the girl who sings in her car and doesn't care who see! I crank it while doing housework, it makes it go faster! Justin Timberlake will always be my favorite!
5. Chocolate - need I say more?!?!
6. Summer - anyone who knows me, knows that I would take 90 degrees all year long! 7. Funny movies - I love the laugh, laughter is another kind of food for your soul!
8. My niece and soon to be goddaughter Juliana Elizabeth!

9. The fact that I get to do something that I LOVE and get paid! Photographing weddings, children or families, it doesn't matter I just love capturing LOVE - it doesn't get better than that!
10. That I get to work from my home.
11. The Kindle - I "borrowed" my daughter's Kindle and I just LOVE it! This little tiny device holds all of my books and can fit in my purse:)
12. My Mother - I was able to photograph her a few months ago and it was as much a gift to me as it was to her. She has always been there for me and she is my biggest fan!
13. My sisters - Jennifer and Elizabeth, since the birth of my niece I was thinking about all of the tips and tricks that made my life as a mother easier and most of them came from my sisters, they guided be to be the best mother I could and I am forever grateful.
14. My Dearest friend Peggy - she is always there for me, we have a blast together laughing until our stomachs hurt. I can't wait until December to see her!

15. My underwater camera case - I got this for a workshop I did in Cancun but had fun with it with my kids in our pool!

16 Rainbows - who doesn't like a rainbow?

17. All of the couples and families who have trusted me to capture the special occassions of their lives.
18. Cozy blankets
19. Fireplaces
20. Tea - there is nothing better to relax or soothe you
21. Christmas decorations
22. Christmas movies - My kids and I love watching them year after year!
23. Referrals - clients who love my work and share it with their friends yay!
24. Cozy slippers and Jammies - I can't have enough they are always on my chrismas lists!

There are so many wonderful things in our lives and it is easy to over look them when life gets hectic. So today on the day we give thanks for everyone and everything special in our lives, take a moment to stop and appreciate everything you are thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a happy and blessed day!

A Tribute to my Mother

2010-11-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

For a few years now my mother and I have been talking about doing a portrait session of her. She lives in Upstate NY and I live in Massachussetts which makes it very difficult to get together. It is very difficult for her to come her to visit me. She spends her days taking care of her boyfiend, he is on dialysis and she deoes it at home everyday. It is very stressful and she can't get away because she is the only one trained to do it. So needless to say our time together is limited. She came out here a couple of weeks ago for the day and we got to some photos.

Every person, especially women, hate the thought of getting older. We are so critical of ourselves and never see ourselves the way other people do. I was so excited to be able to show her what I see when I look at her. To me, my mother is the most beautiful women in the world.

My mother taught me how to be a strong confident woman and that the most important thing is to ALWAYS be a lady!

I love you MOM!

Heather and Chris are Married!!

2010-11-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Heather and Chris are the cutest couple! I met Heather at a bridal show last year and was so happy that we got to work together. We did their engagement session over the summer and we had a blast! they are just such a happy easy going couple!

We started off at Heather's sisters house and from the there the ceremony was at St. Mary's in Franklin with the reception at Mansfield Holiday Inn. Heather and Chris were on the dance floor all night!! I don't think I have seen a dance floor this packed in a long time!

Congratulations Heather and Chris!

Why you should choose a professional photographer

2010-10-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, thanks to Facebook, I came in contact with an old high school friend. He looked through my info and photos and saw that I was a photographer and then contacted me regarding his wedding photos. His 10 year wedding anniversary was coming up and he wanted to surprise his wife. They didn't have the money for a professional photographer so they had a family friend take some photos at there wedding. Needless to say, they were awful. Not only were they grainy and poorly exposed, they were just not very well thought out. There was one with a man's back in the picture. He wanted me to fix them as a gift to his wife for their anniversary.

Unfortunately, they were beyond help. I suggested that he do an anniversary shoot with his wife instead. I cannot stress enough how important your wedding photos are. At the time, it may be easy to think that friends will take plenty and that it is more important to have a nice venue or flowers. After the wedding, the flowers will die, they cake will be eaten the only thing left 5, 10 or even 50 years later are the pictures. If you are considering foregoing professional photos, I hope these photos will help you realize how important a
great photo is.

Here is the picture that my friend sent me, I am sure that now he wished he had hired a profresssional photographer!

Rachel and Jesse and Married!

2010-10-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

Rachel and Jesse got engaged on 9-9-09 so it was very fitting that they got married on 10-10-10. You could not have asked for a better day for a wedding, the sun was out it wasn't too hot or too cold. When I arrived at Rachel's parents house, everyone was happy and having a great time. No nerves just excitement. We got a ton of pictures done and then headed to the church which was amazing. There was so much detail in this church and it was the brightest church I think that I have ever seen.

These are Rachel's earrings laying on her grandmothers handkerchief.

After the church we headed right to Wedgewood Pines for the formals and the reception. What a beautiful venue! there are so many different places to do photos, we had a ball!

These were homemade Italian Cookies

Congratulations Jesse and Rachel! As one of Rachel's sister's said in her speech - maybe there will be a baby on 11-11-11?

A Football Inspired Wedding

2010-09-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jen and Jim are the Ultimate Patriot fans, so of course, their wedding wedding would take place at Gillette Stadium! The ceremony was in stands and we did formals on the field and in the stands. Jen had to run around barefoot on the field and by the time we were done, her feet were blue! Everything about this wedding said football fans! They had a lighted ice sculpture that was a Lombardi Trophy, instead of a guest signing book they had a Patriot Football Helmet for everyone to sign, the had Pt Patriot there for guests to get their photo with, and they changed into their matching jerseys at the end of the night.

Congratulatiions Jen and Jim - Go Pats!!!

Becky and Mike's E-Session

2010-09-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

Becky and Mike are getting married and June of 2011 and wanted to get their engagement pictures done while the weather was still nice. Becky decided to go to Stonehill College because they both graduated from there. We me pretty early in the morning and it felt like school wasn't even in session! Luckily we finished up before the rain started!

Becky and Mike are the cutest couple and I can't wait to shoot their wedding nexgt June!

Danielle and Patrick are married!

2010-09-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

Danielle and Patrick were married Labor Day weekend and it was an absolutely perfect day! The ceremony was held at St. Mary's in Mansfield with the reception at The Mansfield Holiday Inn. Their wedding included all of their family. There were lots of kids, all of Danielle's nieces and nephews. It is funny as we were taking the formals they kept saying :this is just like prom!" They are high school sweethearts and had their prom at the Holiday Inn. They are such a cute couple and I loved working with them!

The beautiful flowers were done by Judy's flowers

Congratulations Danielle and Patrick!

Emily's Senior Session

2010-08-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

It was bittersweet for me, shooting my daughter's Senior Pictures last week. I was thrilled to do them, I love thaking photos of her, she is easy to work with and she is very photogenic. But there is a piece of me who sees the little girl I bought home from the hospital 17 years ago! It is so hard to believe that in just a few short months she will be graduating from high school and leaving the house (pardon me while I wipe my eyes)

We had a great day and we did the shoot with her friend Briana (her pictures were posted previously). We went to a few different places and seeing as she lives with her personal photographer, we will probably do more before it is time to hand in her choice for the yearbook.

It is hard to pick your favorite when you are partial to the subject but I tried anyway. Here are my favorites.

Best of luck for a great senior year to all 2011 graduates!

Briana's Senior Session

2010-08-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

Briana has been friends with my daughtger since we moved into our house almost 12 years ago so when she asked me to do her senior portraits I was pretty excited! I knew she would let me do whatever I wanted and she is absolutely beautiful! We started off in my backyard then went to some train tracks and ended at a local reception site that has a great flower garden in the parking lot.

I still can't believe that this is the same little girl who spent so much time at my house! We had such a great time, I may have to have her model for me more often.

Looking for Maternity and newborn models

2010-08-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am trying to expand my portfolio a little so I am looking for some expenctant or new moms to model for me with the photos to be used on my website. In return you will receive one free 8x10 of your choice and there will be no sitting fee. I am looking for pregnant women from 32 weeks up and newborns upto 1 month. Anyone interested please send a photo of yourself to susanthepicturelady@yahoo.com along with your availability.

This is a limited opportunity so if you are interested email me soon!

Heather and Chris's E-Session

2010-08-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

For Heather and Chris's engagement session, we went to Arnold Aboretum in Jamaica Plain. I had never been there before and was pleasantly surprised when I got there. It is like a photographers dream! There are beautiful trees, cool steps, lots of different flowers, and a beautiful pond, what more would you ask for? The only thing better than a a great place to shoot is a great couple to work with! Heather and Chris are amazing! So fun and easy going. I just LOVED working with them.

I can't wait for their wedding in October!

Lauren the Rockstar

2010-08-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

I was recently back in Upstate NY visiting family and had th chance to do a senior shoot with my beautiful neice Lauren. Lauren is an aspiring singer so of course I had her bring her guitar! We just went to a local school and shot away. I am so happy with how they came out, she is just gorgeous!

I think we definitely go some that would make a great album cover! Check out her song on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qu2OWDaAhw

Frankie's Senior Session

2010-08-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Frankie is one of my daughter's best friends and happens to be stunning so of course I was psyched to do her senior portraits. She is a natural beauty and I LOVE taking pictures of her! She also happens to be one of the sweetest kids you will ever want to meet! I set up my back drops in my yard and we got started. We did a combination of formal backdrops and natural settings. I think they came out great.

I had a blast working with her as usual, maybe someday I can do her wedding! ;)

Sherrill and Brenden are Married!

2010-07-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sherrill and Brenden were married at Saphire Estate in Sharon. Sherrill was very calm and relaxed even helping the girls with their dresses before getting in her own! The ceremony was short and sweet and with plenty of time for formals before the reception started. They had a lively crowd so we got some great party shots. We snuck out for a luttle while to do some shots on Lake Massapog then back to the action!

Congratulations Sherrill and Brenden!

Kacey and Doug are Married

2010-07-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Kacey and Doug were referred to me by Kacey's best friend Deirdre, whose wedding I shot a couple of years ago. I loved working with Kacey and Doug, they are just the sweetest couple you ever want to meet! the ceremony was super short - like 10 minutes, and it was in a church! I guess the priest wanted to get home before it got too hot!

After the ceremony, we headed to Wachusset Country Club for formals and the PARTY! The country club provided a stunning backdrop for the formals. It was a bit hazy that day because of the heat but the pics still came out amazing!

Congratulations Kacey and Doug!

Underwater Trash The Prom Dress

2010-06-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

So Prom season is over, the dress was amazing, now what? Do you give it away, sell it or put it in the closet? Before you send it to the dry cleaners think about an underwater photo session. I did a sample shoot with my daughters the other day and WOW! They came out awesome! I started off with my younger daughter and she wore her father daughter dance dress.

After we finished, I got my older daughter a laced up in her prom dress and the fun began. She was very nervous but I convinced her to get in. She was awesome and did everything I wanted which is unusual for a teenager ;)

Her boyfriend was there also so we got him in a few too!

If you are looking for a different kind of photo shoot or just want an excuse to wear that dress again, consider hopping in the pool!

By the way - her dress dried perfectly, it looks like it just came back from the drycleaner!

Providence Workshop

2010-06-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I attended my first local workshop. I have done others before but never this close to home. It was run by James Hazelwood, a Rhode Island Photographer and was held at the PRovidence Biltmore. I had an absolutel blast! I met some other photographers and got to work with some of the most beautiful models I have ever seen! There were four models, Liane, Casha, Daria and Collin. One guy and 3 girls, he had a tough job!!! Here are some of my favorites from the shoot. It was so hard to choose!

Some Tips To Make The Wedding Day Go Smoothly

2010-06-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have been checking out a lot of blogs and tweeets lately. I am seeing lots of posts on how to make the day go smoothly so I decided to add my two cents ;). Here is a list of suggestions that I have found that can make or break a timeline.

1. When planning the timing of the main events, ceremony and reception give a little bit of time in between. Most couples start the cocktail hour of the reception right away. While it is convenient for your guest, it usually means rushing the pictures and you don't really have any time to relax and enjoy the cockatil hour. I am finding many brides that I sit down with want to take part inthe cocktail hour and I definitely try my hardest. I am known for getting the formals down fairly quickly but when you add into the mix the fact that most brides are late in getting ready and we don't get many pics of the bride and her family before hand.

3. Make sure that the area for pictures is clean. Whether you are getting ready at your apartment, your parents house or a hotel making sure the area where you are getting ready is tidy not only makes the pictures come out better but it also saves time. If it is too cluttered I have to take time to move things around or search for a better area.

2. As I briefly mentioned above being on time is so important. The time before the wedding I get lots of candids of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready as well as some formals of them together as well as the bride alone and the bride with her parents. If this can all get done before hand that frees up some time during formals. If you are running behind it affects the whole day, the ceremony starts late, then the pictures end later than planned so the reception starts late and before you know it you party time is significantly cut down.

3.Skip the receiving line. while it was definitely expected 10 or 20 years ago, most people don't mind if the couple skips it. This eats up 30-45 minutes. If the church is not air conditioned your guests are standing ina hot and humid church and for some of the older guests it is very hard to take. Not to mention that the Bridal Party will be standing at the church doors probably in the hot sun. Most couples walk around the reception to talk to guests any way so skipping it would not be rude at all. The other problem with the receiving line is that the guest all stand around and it becomes difficult for the couple to focus on getting pictures taken.

4. Get rid of the garter and bouqet. Although it is fun for the bride and groom, many gets are shy and don't want to stand up there for everyone to see that they are single! It really doesn't affect the timeline of the day but by doing this you are loosing about a half an hour of party time!

5. Although it is great to have a 5 or 6 course meal, it really eats up a lot of time. I have done weddings where there were either 5 or 6 courses and the ceremony started late, the bridal part kept disappearing so pictures took forever and by the time everything was doen they had less than an hour of dancing! I would have been very disappointed if I was the bride.

6. Instruct family and friends ahead of time to stay with the bridal party for pictures until your photographer releases them. I have done weddings that the bridal party kept disappearing when they were needed for pictures so we stood around waiting. My goal is to get the pictures done quickly and efficiently. Talk with your photographer about the order that the photos are taken. It helps in preparing your bridal party and family. I personally do the formals in this order - parents and grand parents, bridal party, then bride and groom. I feel that starting with the biggest amount of people and dismissing them as I finish really works well. By the time I am down to just the bride and groom, everyone is gone the couple can relax and we have fun and get some great shots.

So the bottom line is that you really need to spend as much time on the timeline as you did for the rest of the planning. If you take the time to plan it out everything will go smoothly and you will be relaxed!

I love receiving comments so if anyone can add to this feel free! Thanks

10 things to do Before the Wedding

2010-06-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

I saw this article on a Wedding Wire page and decided to share. Most of these may want to be done on a different timeline. I can't imagine a bride having time to do all of this the day before the wedding but some of it like getting nails done, talking to bridesmaid that can definitely be done.

10 Things To Do The Day Before Your Wedding By Carla ~ December 1st, 2009 ~ Wedding Planning

The day you have dreamed about since you were a little girl is just one day away and you have a million and one things are racing through you mind. The squeamish, overwhelmed, and excited feeling you are experiencing in the last hours leading up to the big day is all completely normal. You know that there is soo much you need to do before you finally can step into your gorgeous dress and head down the aisle. Here is a list of a few reminders that might help you to ease some of your stress and stay calm and collected before the hectic yet exciting day.

1.Make sure that you have your wedding dress steamed and pressed. There is nothing worse that walking down the aisle in a wrinkled dress.

2.Do a last minute check with all the venues you will be using. Contact your reception venue and church to verify any last minute scheduling plans. If you have a wedding planner, this will be taken care of by them; however if you do not you will want to make sure you do just a quick check up.

3.Meet with your photographer and make a list of shots you would like him to be sure and get. That way you will know exactly what you want and you won’t miss any great candid moments.

4.Get your nails done. Make an appointment for the day before your wedding to ensure enough time for them to fully dry without smudging. This will also give you the perfect opportunity to sit down and relax for an hour or two. If you don’t normally go for the spa chair, treat yourself this time for a little extra comfort and pampering.

5.Break in your shoes. Wear your wedding shoes while you are at home to wear them in.

6.Set aside a time during the day to get together with all your girls to go over any last minute details and remind them of times and locations for the next day. It might be a cute idea to treat them all to breakfast or coffee and this is also a great time to give them their gifts and let them know how much you appreciate all their dedication and patience.

7.Eat well! Stick to fruits and veggies and try to stay away from really salty foods to avoid bloating. Also be sure to drink lots of water to keep you hydrated.

8.Try and get some packing done for your honeymoon! Do not stress about this since you have other things to worry about, but getting a little bit of a head start will help.

9.Don’t forget about your man! Make sure you communicate with him and last minute details so that he is aware of where you are getting ready to avoid any crossing paths on the day of the wedding.

10.Most importantly make sure you go to bed early the night before and get a good night’s sleep! The last thing you want is to wake up on your wedding even more frazzled because of lack of sleep.

Tips for an amazing engagement shoot

2010-06-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

Engagement session on the horizon? I have put together a list of suggestions to help the pictures come out amazing!

• Girls, get a mani and pedi. This is my #1 thing to do for any shoot. Your hands and ring are important, and there's nothing that ruins a shoot more than no mani and pedi! Guys a fresh hair cut and shave goes a long way!

• Consider having your hair professionally done before the session begins. Make sure your make up is fresh and bring a make up bag for touch ups. Also bring a comb and brush. Use lotion on your hands, and make sure your hands and nails are well-manicured.

• If Murphy’s Law reigns supreme, and you break out or have blemishes, don’t worry, go light on the cover up. Photoshop is a photographers best friend and can eliminate most blemishes.

• Bring an IPod with speakers. Music helps most people relax.

• Bring at least two outfits, maybe one casual, and one more formal and dressy. I do love it when people really think about this session, and go beyond the call of duty by getting something really exciting for the shoot. This is one of the few times that you can go all out. A nice pair of sexy heels always make a girl feel great.

• When choosing clothes, try not to make them to contrasting. When one of you is wearing white and the other black, it’s hard for a photographer to keep all of those colors intact, because they are so far apart. So, choose colors that are more similar, and clothing that does not steal attention away from you.

• Try to pick a place that is really cool to shoot. If you can’t think of one, or don’t have that very special place, your photographer should be able to help you decide.

So, the "cramming for a test" version:

• Get a mani and pedi beforehand.

• Wear the same or similar colored clothes in the style you're used to.

• Push your face slightly toward the camera.

• Relax your hands at whatever position you like and is comfortable.

• Smile with your eyes first.

• Relax, relax, relax!

If you’ve already done an engagement shoot, what are your tips for fellow brides-and-grooms-to-be? If yours is still coming up, are there any questions you’d like answered?

Mary and Nick are Married!!

2010-06-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I photographed Mary and Nick's wedding. They are an absolutely adorable couple. They were both so happy and easy going, I could have photographed them all day! We started off at their home doing formals of the bridal party.

After formals it was off to the ceremony. The ceremony went beautifully, mary and Nick were glowing and did not appear to be nervous at all. After the ceremony we did a few shots of the toast and some silly shots in the hummer limo before we left for The Publick House.

The formals were done at The Publick House in Sturbridge where the reception was. This wedding party was so fun and into just about anything. We really got some great stuff!

The following are my favorite from the reception. Mary's dad wrote a song for Mary and had the band play it. In the middle of the song he handed Mary off to Nick (I was tearing up!) and went to the mic and starting singing the rest of the song. By far the most amazing father daughter dance EVER!!! The other one is of Nick and his Mom for their dance. You just feel her love for her son in this photo!

It was a great wedding and I am honored to have been part of it. I truly love every wedding I am a part of and feel blessed to have this job! Congratulations Nick and Mary!