Sometimes weather poses the biggest challenges during a photo shoot. With this one, we actually had to cancel it twice due to the crazy rainy May we had here in Maine.  We almost bailed the day we got these images because of thunder and potential tornado warnings.  And then Miss Shay climbed up on the sea wall and I saw the first photo below and knew it was time to get out the camera.  We spent the next hour getting sandy and having fun dodging waves and taking pictures.  It was as much fun as you would expect a photo session on the beach with these sweetie pies would be.

Sarah and Tom are getting married at the end of June and wanted to do a little photography practice run before the big event.  Finding time in their busy schedules — and waiting for the rains of May to end — meant pushing back the shoot to my last possible free weekend before their wedding date.  Sarah suggested we shoot at Two Lights Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  Two Lights has so many different locations that it’s kind of a photographer’s dream spot (minus the rogue waves and snakes).  There’s a pond, wooded paths, blossoming trees, cliffs, crashing ocean waves, striking vistas … We could have been there all day and not exhausted the possibilities.  I love so many of these images, and I am so thankful to Sarah and Tom for letting me put them in so many different spots.  Can’t wait for their wedding up at Taconnet in Belgrade Lakes!

Two weeks ago I had the honor of photographing five amazing women at Salisbury State Beach in Massachusetts.  We were there to shoot promotional images for ReRe Pareo (hand painted silk scarves, sarongs, and pareos).  Sure, it was a bit chilly to be wearing bathing suits and flip flops, but the sun was shining and the sand was warm on our feet.  And I had on a nice woolly coat so I couldn’t really complain.  It was a great afternoon, and I can say without a doubt that these are some of the most fearless women I’ve had the pleasure of photographing.  Not too many woman want to have their pictures taken, especially when wearing a bathing suit.  But these ladies went for it and did whatever we suggested.  To say I was impressed would be an understatement.  Many thanks go out to these gorgeous models for working every inch of silk and beach!  Without their trust the photos would never have come out so well.  Thank you, models!

About a week after the shoot I received the following from Susan, the woman wearing the straw hat in the photo below.  As I read her note I kept thinking of how I was the fortunate one to have had such willing and fabulous models and that it was I who should have been writing thank you notes.  I guess it was just a love fest that day…  Here’s what Susan wrote:

“I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what a pleasure it was seeing you yesterday.  Your help and support with the photo shoot was amazing.  Your ability to make people feel at ease as well as making them feel ‘beautiful’ is truly a gift.  The shoot was so much fun and you were certainly at the core of that.  Thank you for making me feel beautiful!”

I am very fortunate to have a custom designed silk scarf from ReRe Pareo.  I told Marie the colors of my bathing suit, and she created a gorgeous piece to put on my beach hat.  If you are interested in finding out more about these beautiful one-of-a-kind hand painted silk pieces, please contact Marie at rerepareo@comcast.net.   There is a ReRe Pareo Trunk Show at The Red Pepper Gallery in Chester, CT on June 25 from noon to 3 PM.  ReRe Pareo will be at the Summer Traditions Art Festival at the Brewster Academy in Wolfboro, NH July 22-24.  You can also find ReRe Pareo at the Bedford Craftworkers Guild Shop.  Check their site for hours as it is a seasonal shop.