Vermont Family and Children Photography. Autumn Landscape.

Welcome to the BEST season for family and children portraits. It’s gorgeous out. So beautiful, that with every edit I am bursting at the seems with happiness. I sound ridiculous, I know, but despite the rain; it’s been PERFECT lighting for all my portraits sessions.

These are the best moments and why I LOVE MY JOB!!!

If that did not melt your heart…

Yesterday’s sessions took the cake. I met these two little angels…

What would happen next was unrehearsed and all them… being them…

Of course… what would a Vermont family shoot be without a few cows in the frame…

There are so many lovely moments, hard to pick out my favorites! However, my last family of the weekend… their shoot would have been rained out if not for their fun – positive – spontaneous attitudes! This is what you get when working with a family that won’t let a little rain get in the way…

iPhone Photography. Clouds. Vermont Landscape.

“EEEK!!!”

That would be my reaction when I am looking out my window or driving around Central Vermont (or really anywhere with a great “sky-scape” perspective of the world above.) Today has been one of those days where the sky “spoke” to you, if you listened.

The clouds where not just beautiful, cool and expressive. They were SPECTACULAR! I mean S.P.E.C.T.A.C.U.L.A.R., and then add a few explanation points!

The first photo from the day was on my iPhone4; I was coming home after a few errands, and drove RIGHT past the entrance to my road because I knew if I just went up the road a little bit further… I could get THIS photo!

When I pulled over to take the shot, had no idea I had an audience, you know, when you have that feeling someone is watching you, turned around, and two kids sitting on a rock where like, “huh???” I waved. Hopped back into the car. Practiced my three-point-turn, and back to the house so I could take THIS photo with the Canon 7D/70-200mm at f13/320s.

It was terribly difficult to keep my head out of the clouds ALL day. The best views were to the West and it continued to build and build. I had to fight the urge to bail on work and literally just drive around taking cloud and sky photos. The struggles of living in Central Vermont. Like I’ve said before, “hate me,” but you too could live here! At least visit!

So, I “struggled” through my day, teased and tormented by the beautiful world above me, when it was time to take a short drive to my friend’s house. Little side note: I am an awesome “chick-sitter.” Before your imagination runs nutty on that one, my friends have chickens and I’m looking after then while out of town.

At any-rate, I could not resist. I faught the urge to shoot till after all the young chickens were safe and sound in their home, went out into the middle of Warren Common Road and with my iPhone, took THIS…

To be frank, though I am happy with this little photo, it still does little justice to the visual experience in-person. Generally speaking, the sky is always beautiful in these parts of Vermont, but it’s not everyday where the clouds just scream,”LOOK AT ME,” like they did today. I do feel a little bit behind on my work-list, but that will be there tomorrow, today’s clouds are already gone…

Beautiful Gardens. Beautiful People. Warren Vermont.

Eeek!!! ANOTHER beautiful day in Central Vermont. Hate me. However, you too could live here… just saying!

I basically woke up with the camera in hand this morning. Had an original mission that was defunked (not sure that is a word or not… but it sounds fitting for how I was feeling.) At-any-rate, the light was all wrong for this morning’s plan A.

However, it was going to be a beautiful day to shoot SOMETHING. Clear air in Vermont = perfect blues and greens (unless you are so excited about the landscape you forget to re-adjust your white-balance from plan A because you are now onto plan B which requires a totally different setting…I also started shooting before finishing my first cup of coffee.)

I head back home,  drank TWO cups of coffee and before I knew it, it was eleven o’clock. What does that mean? It means Kingsbury Market on route 100 is open for business!!!

Plan B = give my other favorite local market my photography love!! Whoop! So I did…

I don’t even know where to begin, minus the part where my eyes are a little sore – shooting on bright sunny days through a very powerful lens can be a little hard on the pupils…

Lets start with the amazing  team of people behind this place, and I know I am leaving folks out, but only because I have not met them yet! My first greeting is by Agela, a wealth of foodie info but when you stop by, ask her about cheese! She sends me off to play in the gardens where I meet Aaron, who is on his way to pick fresh Roman tomatoes…ooo.

That led to a lovely discussion on how the folks who travel from all over to vacation in the Mad River Valley have very little knowledge of how rich we are in agriculture, never-mind the accessibility of farm fresh produce they could easily bring back home with them. This topic is going to be further discussed in a later blog. Talking with Arron inspired me to just go farm-photography-crazy!

I head back inside to pick-up a few items for lunch, and behind the scenes is Aaron’s wife Suzanne. She’s this beautiful dynamic women and hope everyone who comes through can meet her! I personally am on a mission to get a portrait of her and hubby Arron. Lovely couple. Lovely farm. Lovely picture!

All-in-all, my plan B was a home-run, but there is a moral to this story. The best photos of the day, all of which are on my fan page, has to be these last two, which drive home points from yesterday’s post…

To go with items I picked up yesterday from East Warren Community Market, and additional items I collected from Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier Vermont (a trip I make about once to twice a month for gluten-free specialty items I am unable to get in the Valley.)

Everything INSIDE my Udi’s gluten-free multi-grain bread is grown at Kingsbury Market and bought either there or East Warren (I live in the middle of each.)

Lunch was LOCALICIOUS!! Mmm… my new fav word from the folks at the Vermont Fresh Network. (I am in ownership of a green t-shirt with exactly that scrawled across the front!)

Ahh! Before I forget, a shout-out to Agela who suggested the Raspberry Rhubarb Ramble I paired with my veggie-sammy = FABULOUS!

Local fare. Local photography.

Locally Grown. Locally Farmed. Keep it Fresh!

Fresh. Local. Beautiful!

I crave Saturday like I crave fresh locally grown everything! On Saturdays I get to do what I love freely = eat locally and photograph locally (many of the times at the same time!) If you’ve been reading from the beginning, you’ve surely picked up on my passion for local Vermont fare. This time of the year, it’s simply silly to eat anything else.

I’m an accidental veggie-chick (story for another day,) but right in the Mad River Valley you can get EVERYTHING you need for balanced and extremely healthy diet. I just sort of find myself taking more photos of the gardens, but I really should go visit the farms that supply my local market with it’s milk, cheese (oh yah!!,) and meat.

Below are a few photos from today’s visit to East Warren Community Market (truth be know, I’m here everyday!) It’s so gorgeous out back, can not think of a better way to spend part of my Saturday! I also enjoy chatting the ear off of store manager Ashley! Thanks to her, this beautiful landscape is going to be our backdrop to a fundraiser we are planning in Fall.

SAVE THE DATES: Columbus Day Weekend Family Portrait Days, October 8th and 9th. More details will be posted on my Fan Page and at the Market.

TGIF. Reflections. Central Vermont Weekend is Here!

TGIF!!!

I can hardly believe a week ago from right now I was playing in Blueberry Lake with my bestest gal-pal and her two little girls chatting about our plans for the weekend. A lot has changed in a week…

For starters, it’s NOT 100+ degrees out. In-fact, it’s cloudy, rainy, and a touch on the cool side, but still plenty warm! Personally, I love it! I had a portrait shoot earlier in the day and the low hanging clouds and dampness made the greens pop. The diffused light and the subjects sun-kissed complexion made for a great session…

Sorry, teasing about photos I am not at liberty to post…

I am also jumping around, it’s Friday after all and not sure about all of you, my brain does not always work in a linear pattern on Fridays. Ok… that may not be true for only Fridays…

Who cares, it’s Friday and Central Vermont weekends rock! If you are kicking around these parts be sure to swing by the Waitsfield Farmer’s Market between 9am -1pm! It NEVER disappoints!! Last weekend had the groovy dude below pulling me into one of his tricks!!! The little girls loved it! Me… well… think I’ll stick to my day job!

Airplanes. Kids. Central Vermont.

Fascination.

Do you ever recall a time when you where just so fascinated by what was outside the window you just stood there like these too little darlings? These two little girls, 5 and 2, are my unofficial nieces. Otherwise known as my best-friend’s daughters. They are captivated by the planes taking off across the way with the gliders in tow. Every-time they heard the sound of the plane they’d run over to the window in hopes of catching the take-off.

The youngest, still working on her words would point out the window shouting, “air.r.r.r.r.r…plane!!!!!”

The cutest thing eva!!!

So, what does the world’s best Auntie Jenn do? She takes the girls to the air.r.r.r.r.r…port!!!

Watching the planes and gliders take off at the Sugarbush/Warren Airport turned out to be their favorite activity of the weekend! I have to admit, it never gets old even when you are not 5 or 2 (so NOT telling you my age!)

We were fortunate, it was not a very busy weekend for glider-launching, but just hours before it was time to go home, the little ladies got their wish! They were awe-struck by the whole event, which was far more interesting up close than from the window of my studio!

Miss Avery, the youngest was the most excited see the planes. Imagine when she visits them next, she’ll have the “r” sound all sorted out and shouting out, “AIRPLANE!!!” with perfect clarity!

I’m very fortunate to have something as cool as an airport with gliders, among other things taking off right across the way. While we waited, was able to do a full photo-shoot of my dearest friend’s angels in what has to be one of the most gorgeous backdrops.

I can not wait for them to visit me again this Fall. If I were you, I’d be planning your own trip this way. The airplanes were the highlight, but between swimming at Blueberry Lake, the Waitsfield Farmer’s Market, and river walking along the Mad River Path – which is scratching the surface – the girls had a great weekend!

SO MUCH TO DO! I really should be photographing it all… suppose I should get to it!

I. Love. Cheese. Especially Vermont Cheese!

I recently found myself at the Annual Vermont Cheese Festival held at Shelburne Farms. This is a good place to land if you LOVE cheese, however, I have to note I am apparently not the only cheese lover out there (shocker…) The place was so packed I have to apologize to all those venders I sort of just waved at, as I was not able to get within reach of their delicious samples (picture a very very sad face…)

Luckily I live in the heart of cheese country and have been fortunate to taste many of the varieties. However, there was one I had never heard of and stole my heart!!

If you have not, you must seek out Vermont Farmstead’s Spiced Edam Cheese = O.M.G.

This being a more personal post with very little to do with photography. I have to add that there were almost as many cheese eaters as there where professional shooters. Made me wonder… could a photographer make a living photographing cheese??? I’d like that. As long as I could eat it after the shoot!!!

East Warren Community Market Farmer’s Market. Part One!

Good things come in twos – right? Well, this is going to be blog one of two because I am SO EXCITED about the collection of photos from today’s inaugural East Warren Community Market’s Farmer’s Market, there is no way I can cover it in one post.

For starters, I have to add that today’s temps were well into the 90s and comparable to those in places like Texas?!? I can tell you that is NOT why I and many other folks moved to Vermont. Personally, I’m a snow-flake…

At any-rate, the farmer’s market. I digress, it’s so hot and humid I can barely think straight, let alone put words together, but I have to share this photo right away!

Hoops Vermont is this amazing company who makes amazing hoola hoops that inspire people of all ages to dance about, and this lovely lady was twirling to the music. I was watching, mainly because I am awful when it comes to the hoola hoop – when I saw the shot… The picture I really really wanted to end my day on.

That would be the picture above!

I asked her to do it again, laid on the ground and paired her silhouette with the wild sky-scape over the Green Mountains. I could not get home fast enough to edit and share! Though, this is one shot of an entire collection that includes an amazing group of  artist, musicians, gardeners, culinary wizards, pony rides, face painting, and I’m sure to be missing something.

Hence, why this is part one of two!! Back to editing the rest! Whoop! So excited!

iPhone Photography. Perfect Sunday Afternoons in Vermont.

Those already reading may have figured by now I am a silly over my iPhone4 and the creative images one can create. They would also know I am rather passionate about supporting all things local and Vermont. The next thing they should know is all perfect Sunday afternoons should end with a nice glass of red wine!

Before I made it to the glass of wine and my spiffy shot of the sky above reflecting in it, I was munching away on a lovely pint of blueberries picked a few towns south of Warren. The bottle of Izze soda pop seemed quite fitting in my warm studio. An impromptu trip into the town of Waitsfield easily lured me to the local Creamee stand and one of the BEST maple creamees in all over Central Vermont!

It’s been one FINE afternoon!

All three photos shot with the Camera+ application and a final finish in the Instagram app. I’ve got my own little iphone work flow – mini version of my everyday, but loads of fun! I find the real craft is figuring how to shoot it in Camera + first with an idea of what crazy app/filter I will use afterwards. I imagine what I want the final picture to look like before I actually take it, with exception to my iPhone cloud photos, which I do not do anything to except add a border.

Happy shooting!

Warren Vermont. Local Photography. Hot Summer Afternoons.

I take pictures almost everyday. It’s my job. I LOVE my job. However, even when you love your job, you need a little break.

Ok, so I still take pictures when I take my break, but this is different! I swear! I’m not being told what to take a picture of…

We are having an absolutely AMAZING summer weekend in Central Vermont. Amazing. Hot afternoons, but a cool mountain breeze that brings the temperature down by the time one calls it a night. It’s perfect.

It’s on weekends like this I HAVE to escape the studio and take ride to ALL my favorite local markets. In particular:  The East Warren Community Market at the corner of Roxbury Gap Mountain Road and Warren Common Road (I’m telling you this because if you come through, you MUST stop and tell them Jenn says,”HEY!”)

I buy local produce and TAKE PICTURES as I go. Most of the images below are from the Community Gardens behind the market, but the day’s strong contrast between the sky-clouds-mountains encouraged me on maybe a three mile loop of a drive, there are more, but here are the top few I thought readers/visitors would enjoy the most. The rest can be found on my facebook page.