Category Archives: Fun Stuff

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Utopia

May 13, 2009 – 3:37 pm

I am just back from Utopia, aka Burlington, Vermont. I was visiting Bryan who is building a Sugar Shack for the Rock Point School. They are actually calling it the Taj Ma Sugar Hall, because it is way to fancy to be called a shack.  It’s his community project for the year.  The kids help, it’s a traditional community hand raising.  Very cool!

But back to Utopia…Do you know that Burlington does not have black flies?  That’s right no bugs at this time of year.  Did you also know that there is a campground on the bike path about a mile from downtown?  I don’t know why I’ve ever stayed in a hotel there.

Now, I don’t know if Rock Point would host a wedding.  But it would be the perfect place.  They also house the Rock Point Summer Conferences which has an outdoor chapel, 3 private beaches, very rustic cabins and the whole campus right next to the campground and a stone’s throw from the Hilton and all that.  If you are looking for a Vermont wedding venue, give them a call.  It never hurts to ask.

Here’s a snap shot of the view from Battery Park. Those mountains are all undeveloped!!

[caption id="attachment_708" align="alignnone" width="800" caption="Cell Phone Image - please excuse the poor quality"][/caption]

And here is Kyra on her first camping trip!  We stayed in one of the cabins - so it’s “Kamping” with running water, flush toliets and electricity.  But she slept in a sleeping bag!

[caption id="attachment_707" align="alignnone" width="800" caption="Cell Phone Image - please excuse the poor quality"][/caption]

Hope everyone is having a great week!!

-Thea

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Career Day at Kearsarge Regional Middle School

April 12, 2009 – 5:33 pm

My commercial photographer friend, Charley Freiberg and I were invited back to Kearsarge Regional Middle School for another year of career day.  Guess we didn’t scare them off last year.

We have a bit of a routine now.  They have questions they have to ask, like did you go to school to do what you do and how much money do you make?

We tell them they don’t need to go to school (although both of us did) and the teachers cringe.  Then we tell them we don’t do it for the money we work for quality of life.

I don’t think they get that part, but I think it’s important to say anyway.  When did making a living become a monetary value anyway?  I enjoy the life I live, but I don’t make much money.

I also tell them how good it feels to get that perfect shot and they seem to get that.  I get paid in perfect shots, I suppose.

Then we do the photoshoot, which is the real reason they show up.

It was great fun!!  Hope to do this every year!  Until a student comes back as a client.  That has to be the cut off.

-Thea

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A few Vermont engagement shots

March 20, 2009 – 11:14 am

I’m super excited for Caitlin & Mike’s wedding this July!  They’ve picked a fantastic venue - The Mountain Top Inn in Chittenden VT.  Very beautiful spot with lots of Vermont charm!

I met them a couple weeks ago at the Inn to do some planning and take some winter wonderland engagements

This is my homage to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - probably one of the greatest movies ever.

How’d I do?  I tried snow angles too, which was fun but may be not as clever as I was trying to be.

How about the face on the tree? 

This is going to be a great wedding!

-Thea

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Introducing Greener Photography

December 4, 2008 – 11:17 am

Many of you have noticed that I have fallen behind in my blogging.  It’s not that I haven’t been shooting.  I’ve been photographing a lot of babies lately, not just my own, and just shot a wonderful wedding at Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence, RI (photos to come).

And it’s not that I am a new mom. Although that is busier and more wonderful then I ever anticipated (also photos to come).

Now what has really diverted my attention is the Non-Profit Organization Greener Photography I started with photographer, Dawn Tacker. Dawn and I “met” through an on-line forum because we shared a similar interest in the environment.  We were both looking for ways to offer the most eco-friendly products to our clients and run the “cleanest” photo businesses we could.  We were frustrated that there was no single source of information that would just tell us what to do.  So we started that source.

One thing led to another and it has spiraled into a huge and incredibly exciting undertaking!

I hope all you photographers out there will join. It’s free and you get to use our beautiful logo in your advertising material.

We are completely open to any and all feedback.  The site and direction of the organization is very much a work in progress.  Please let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have!

Happy December and remember to enter the contest below!

Thea

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Top 20!!

September 1, 2008 – 2:15 pm

Thank you all who voted for your favorite image last month. The contest was entered and the results are in and you picked a winning image!!

This photograph taken at the Hellenic Center in Ipswich placed 18th in the “Kids Being Kids” category of the 2nd Quarterly Wedding Photojournalism Association (WPJA) Contest. The WPJA is a wonderful international organization of the world’s best wedding photojournalist. It is an absolute honor to be in the top 20 amongst the steep competition. View all of the winning images here.

Thank you again for helping me pick my best work!! I will certainly be asking your advice in the future!!

-Thea

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Vote on your favorite image!

July 17, 2008 – 12:59 pm

So the deadline for the 2nd Quarterly Wedding Photojournalist Association contest is coming up. I try to enter these contests, but I’m really not very good at picking out winning photos. I know that you are all better then I at editing my work. I’m also terrible at picking out the appropriate category. Silly I know, but I often find 2 or 3 categories that I think apply. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Here are a few of my recent favorites. Please email me your choice or leave it in the comments section.

Your harshest critique is welcome! Thanks for playing.

1. Ceremony.

2. Kids being kids.

3. Kids being kids.

4. Reception? Humor? It made me laugh when I saw it.

5. Reception?  Emotion?

6. Getting Ready?

7. Kids being kids.

8. Creative Portraits?

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Solarfest, Forget-Me-Not Farm, Rutland, Vermont

July 15, 2008 – 7:42 pm

We took the weekend off from weddings this week and headed to the Western Vermont boarder for Solarfest at a premiere eco-wedding destination, Forget-Me-Not Farms. It was one of the most inspirational and beautiful festivals I have ever been to.

The whole festival is run off of solar power and includes, music, food, workshops on everything sustainable, every eco-vendor you can imagine and tons of kids activities. Solarfest is not your typical hippie fest. It is progressive, but I found it even a bit conservative at times and very, very family-friendly. Bryan and I take note of anything family-friendly these days.

I went to two incredible workshops, one informative and a few way too techie for my taste. I saw a wood-powered SUV, a solar-powered school bus, a solar-powered car that you can build yourself, an awesome clothesline, very cool composting toilets and found out about a program in NH to give you money back on solar panels. All very cool stuff. I could go on and on and will if anyone wants to hear more. I just wish that they had already set the dates for next year so I could mark out that weekend on my calendar. I do hope to go to this every year!

Here are some quick pix, taken with Bryan’s point and shoot. I didn’t bring the good equipment camping.

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We’ve been published!

June 8, 2008 – 2:55 pm

I’ve had photographs published before, but this is the first time that I’ve been published for writing!  Check out the top ten tips for planning an eco-chic wedding in New Hampshire.

Here is a little excert:

Are you getting married in New Hampshire because of the beautiful landscapes, rolling hills, stunning lakes and quaint communities?  Most people, who get married here, do so because of the environment.  So if the environment drew you to your wedding venue, then how are you going to use your wedding to protect that environment?

This is something I think about everyday.  As a New Hampshire wedding photographer, I exploit the natural environment every day of the week.  I use the landscapes for backgrounds, the sun for beautiful light and vegetation as props.  I feel that makes me personally responsible for ensuring the preservation of these resources.  My business has been configured around this philosophy.  If you care about these things too, then I’ve got some suggestions to green your New Hampshire wedding.

What do you think?  I would love to hear your comments.

-Thea

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Our Little Alien

May 2, 2008 – 2:42 pm

This morning we got to look into my growing belly.  I must say it is pretty remarkable.  There is this little being developing inside of me and it’s pretty much all there - just really small.

It has a big head, two hands, two feet, a funny shaped body, legs & arms, a strong heartbeat and the most flexible spine I’ve ever seen.  It’s just wild.

We did not find out the sex because we couldn’t come up with enough reasons to…but in case we change our minds the tech printed out a picture and put it in a sealed envelope, labled “gender.”  What an amazing temptation it is knowing we could just open that envelope and know!  Any bets on how long we’ll make it?

Well here is a picture of the little alien.  Not the best reproduction so don’t feel bad if you can’t make anything out.

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Sept 27, 2008

April 24, 2008 – 8:27 am

Every year the last weekend on Sept. is a very popular weekend to get married in New England. It’s harvest time, it’s not too hot, not too cold, usually dry - perfect for a wedding. This year is no exception. I have gotten so many inquiries for Sept. 27 - I can’t even tell you. Yesterday I received one of the most flattering inquiries of my career. I had to share:

Hi Thea-
happened upon your site last weekend and have been been sneaking peeks during my workday ever since. I am completely delighted by your work! I feel entirely inspired by your photos, and I so appreciate your commitment to living/working green. We’re planning a wedding in raymond, maine this september - it’ll be a fun & funky gathering at a summer camp- and we’d love love love if you’re available (and interested!) Any chance 9.27.08 might still be open for you? If so, I so look forward to talking with you!!! If not, know that your work has truly moved me- I’ve been a little intimidated by the whole wedding planning process- but the energy and genuine emotion in your work has sparked a fire-thank you!
Very best to you,
Ali

Wow!! I have been turning away brides in droves for this date, but this one was especially hard to be unavailable for. The thing is, is that I won’t be shooting a wedding on Sept. 27 and that is hard for me. Weddings have been my life for a while now but this year the tides are turning.

This harvest weekend, I will be (hopefully) recovering for my first ever experience with childbirth and getting to know my first born. That’s right, I am pregnant and due in the end of Sept. What a different way to spend the Fall then I have grown accustomed to. Sept. has always been my busiest month and this year will be no exception, except in a whole new way.

Now if you are getting married in Sept. don’t hesitate to email me - I have some wonderful photographers to refer to you, so don’t stop the inquiries - they still make me smile.

Happy Spring!

-Thea

ps. anyone want see a belly photo? It’s growing let me tell you. I’ll see if I can pull something together this afternoon.

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