I was wrapping up a phone call with a bride about photographing her 2012 wedding when she asked if I could give her some references.  It’s not something I get asked very often so I reached out to my former clients to see who would be able to help me and this bride.  The response was immediate and enthusiastic.  Thank you to everyone who offered to speak to the bride about working with me.  I’m not sure how many she contacted, but one friend and happy client, Jenn S., forwarded me her referral email.  It blew me away that Jenn would take such time and care to describe her experience working with me.  I asked her if I could share her words with you here.  I was truly humbled to read her kind and generous words about me and my work.  I often feel like I am the lucky one to land such amazing clients — it’s gratifying to hear it goes both ways.  Here is what Jenn had to say (the questions are from the bride, not me)…

I’ll try to answer your questions as best as possible but my quick rundown about Amy is this…she is unbelievable (in the best possible way)! I actually worked in the industry for a while for a number of different photographers and the biggest problem with many photographers is that their ego gets in the way of them doing their job. Amy is amazing at her job but she’s not trying to be a part of your wedding, she’s there to capture it. She knows exactly what she’s doing and never questions herself (this is not true for many photographers). I’ve seen wedding photographers get very pushy and demanding as if they know so much more about what you want than you do and as if their job demands attention (very annoying); Amy is nothing like that. That being said, if you did need help with anything, Amy would almost certainly have the perfect answer. So, to answer your questions…

How was your experience working with Amy? Awesome. It was the easiest decision when it came to my wedding planning. I actually called her first to find out when she wasn’t available so that I didn’t bother trying to get married on those dates.

Would you use her again? Absolutely. I’m actually pregnant with my first child and am hoping to get her to photograph the baby once s/he is born.

Was the online proof gallery easy to use? Did you like the way she touched up the pictures (if she did)? The online gallery was super easy and useful. I’m from MD, my husband’s family is from MA, and my mom’s side is from the UK so it was great to be able to share those images with everyone. She delivers a great product. I didn’t actually ask for any touchup work but I know that if she can’t do it, she’s part of a huge photography community of people who are happy to help.

How did she take the shots? Was she unobtrusive? I actually had people coming up to me after the wedding telling me how great she was. She helped me plan out a schedule and then I didn’t think about it anymore. She got more shots than I hoped for and there are ones that to this day (3+ years later) still make me tearful. I actually didn’t know she was there (she wasn’t an obtrusive presence) but when I wanted to ask her something, she was instantly available.

Did you like your photos? See the answer above…I love them! You have this vision in your head of what you want/expect because of other weddings you’ve seen but nothing compares to seeing your own wedding photos and honestly, you will not be disappointed. There will be photos that you couldn’t have imagined asking for are so thrilled she got them.

Did you have any problems? If so, how was the problem resolved? There were no problems with the photography at all. Actually, my husband’s face broke out the morning of the wedding and Amy had the makeup artist come and “fix” his face and the pictures never showed anything. The best part…I knew nothing; I was in complete oblivion. Amy fixed an unforeseen problem (not her problem either) to make my wedding day better.

Why did you select Amy? I’d seen a lot of her work and love her style. Also, I trust her and knew that she had my best interest at heart.

What should I know about Amy? Amy loves weddings, loves them. The hardest thing to do as a vendor for any event is to care about the event as much as the client does. When it comes down to it, it’s probably the most memorable event you will have up til that point and if your photographer is just doing a job because they can, it shows in the final product. Amy genuinely enjoys being the photographer at a wedding. For that day, she is your biggest fan and will do what she has to do to make sure you get the photographs/memories that will make you happy.

I don’t often book weddings on both Saturday and Sunday of a weekend.  But sometimes I get a call from someone with whom I really connect and I know there’s no way I can say no.  This is what happened when I spoke with Jessamyn about her wedding plans.  A small seaside affair seemed like a perfect way to spend my Sunday afternoon.  Of course, it helps that Jessamyn is genuinely as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  Groom Tom? Well he’s the kind of guy who thinks a 50 mile bike ride on his wedding day makes complete sense.

When I arrived at the house they had rented, I got out of the car and my jaw hit the ground.  The view was spectacular.  The weather was perfect — warm and sunny and not a hint of humidity.  The vibe was decidedly chill and low key.  Tom and his brother relaxed on the porch sipping home brewed beers and enjoying the ocean view while Jessamyn and the other ladies busied themselves with attaching the veil and selecting jewelry.  The tone for the day was set in motion in the early stages of wedding planning, and their vision of a calm and easy wedding came to be.  Family circled around as Jessamyn and Tom exchanged vows and rings.  Hugs and laughter was shared.  And did I mention the cupcakes yet?  Wow.  Everyone insisted I have one.  Sure, twist my arm.  The last thing we did that day was hop in the car for a short drive down the road to the beach where Jessamyn’s family had spent so many summers.  As the summer sun set on us I think we all turned a bit introspective and were thankful for all the beauty and joy around us that day.

Thank you, Jessamyn and Tom, for giving me an amazing cupcake afternoon.  Your wedding reminded me that once you strip away all the pomp and circumstance, it comes down to the two people at the center of the whole thing.  And if they are something special, the day is, too.

Below are some of my favorite images from the day.  Check out the slideshow for more.

The awesome cupcakes are from the Cumberland Baking Co. (at the Cumberland Farmers Market).  Dress is Monique Lhuillier from Madeleine’s Daughter.  Hair and make up by Jennie at Akari.  Flowers by Caroline Snell at Snell Family Farm.  Wedding ceremony performed by Trish Neault.   Dinner by Maine Lobster Bake Company.  Beer by brother of the groom and brewmaster extraordinaire, Greg Norton.

There’s a reason why June is a popular month for weddings — all you have to do is take a look at these photos to see why.  It was beyond a perfect day for a wedding in Kennebunkport.

Jo and Joe are high school sweethearts who traveled up to Maine from Long Island for their wedding.  The ceremony was at the gorgeous St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and the reception was at the historic Colony Hotel.   Reverend M.L. Agnew kept the groomsmen entertained with tales of his NFL days while the ladies rode the trolley to the church singing along to “Chapel of Love.”  After the ceremony Rev. Agnew graciously allowed us to photograph in the usually off-limits area around the home on the church grounds.  Then we took the trolley down to the beach in front of the Colony for some beautiful photos amongst the sea roses and sand. Jo and Joe were great sports, happily jumping on a rock wall or perching on washed up tree trunk or whatever else I came up with for photos. When we joined the guests, cocktail hour was well underway on The Colony’s relaxing lawn and porch.  It was such a beautiful day that everyone was slow to go inside for dinner and dancing.  Inside they found elegant tables and the jazzy tunes of the Delta Knights Band.  Jo and Joe kicked off the dancing, and the dance floor was soon crowded with some of the best dancers I’ve ever seen at a wedding.

It was a true pleasure to be a part of Jo and Joe’s spectacular day.  Many thanks to them and to their friends and family for graciously welcoming me. Best wishes to the bride and groom for a lifetime of happiness and love.

Below are some of the highlights from the day.  To see more, check out this slideshow.  Friends and family, please contact the bride and groom about accessing their online gallery to see all of the wedding images.

This wedding would not have been the same with these great local wedding professionals : Pam Green at The Colony, the ladies from All Seasons Salon & Day Spa, the awesome Delta Knights, the creator of that exquisite peony bouquet, florist Blooms and Heirlooms, and James Stiles from Maine Wedding Films.   Bride’s dress is by Demetrios at Macy’s NY.