When I woke to the crashing sounds of thunder, and flashes of lightning, I couldn’t help but worry for my wonderful clients Jane and Justin.  Though WE are more than happy to photograph weddings in the middle of blizzards and even torrential rain, it’s a bit different when it is YOUR wedding and YOUR big day.  As the rain fell all morning, we kept our fingers crossed that the weather would clear.

We arrived at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport Maine just in time to see the sun tentatively peeking out from behind massive storm clouds, and with bated breath… we hoped that the good weather would hold just long enough for Jane and Justin to be married.

In classic form, our friend Tim “Superstar Coordinator” Ames and his amazing team at the Nonantum had everything perfectly prepared for an outdoor wedding… or if need be, an equally beautiful option inside.

With a little bit of luck, the rain held off, and the ceremony began…

The wedding party carried the chuppah to the oceanfront ceremony site.

Jane walked down the aisle with her dad.

Justin saw Jane for the very first time.  She looked incredible, and his expression shows it!

Jane’s uncles watch intently, as Jane’s father “gives her away” to Justin.

The rainy weather was gone, just in time for an outside wedding at the Nonantum!

A seagull overseeing the ceremony from it’s perch atop the Nonantum Lighthouse (good eye J-bird!!)

Looking through the shoulders of the groomsmen and her groom, Jane looks so happy!

A common occurrence at a Nonantum wedding, President Bush made a brief appearance aboard his boat.

Trailed by the U.S. Secret Service.

The Big Kiss!!

After walking back down the aisle, they couldn’t help themselves for one more.

If you ever wanted to know the secret to keeping kids entertained during the group photos… just do this with them!

The first dance.

You’ll have to see the complete photos… but lets just say that the cake cutting was not as predictable as you would expect.

Tearing up the dance floor.

Ahhh… the chair dance.  Justin wasn’t liking this one so much.

Jane gets a special dance from a friend.

An adorable moment on the dance floor, as Jane’s brother gets a smootch from his wife as their daughter looks on.

Another “adorable” moment…

All in all, we all had incredible luck as the severe weather passed through a few times throughout the day.  The guests stayed dry, the party raged on into the wee hours of the night and we were very lucky to be there and document the beauty of their day.  Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming and having us.  We had a wonderful time!

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View the complete photos online here:  www.brianwedge.com

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VENDORS:

Ceremony / Reception Site: The Nonantum Resort, Kennebunkport, ME (Tim Ames coordinating… one of the very best in the business!!)

Flowers: Minott’s Flowers

DJ:  DJ Scott Elias (Mixxed Entertainment)

Cake: Anna Gershenson

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Photography:  Brian Wedge Photography

When Caroline and Stuart contacted me to shoot their New York Yacht Club wedding in Newport, Rhode Island, I was happy to learn that we had a few things in common.  They are competitive sailors in the J/105 fleet in The Bay Area living right near our San Francisco, California studio and I, as a self described boat geek (I hold a 100 ton Captain’s license and went to wooden boatbuilding school in Newport), always love photographing at Harbor Court any chance we get.  I knew pretty quickly that I would thoroughly enjoy them and their wedding celebration at The NYYC!

What I didn’t know then, was that Stuart was an Aussie who had also been a member of The Royal Perth Yacht Club!  To those that haven’t been involved with yacht racing, that may mean nothing… but it’s the equivalent of a New York Yankee getting married in Fenway Park.  You see, the New York Yacht Club dominated the America’s Cup racing scene for 132 years, until 1983, when in Newport, Rhode Island… Australia II sailed into town and stole the Cup from under our nose.  It’s one of the great stories of sport (read more about The America’s Cup here), & a moment in history that I remember like it was yesterday.

Stuart and Caroline’s wedding was everything we could hope for: filled with thoughtful details, beautiful moments and most of all, two people who truly love and enjoy one another.  The one exception was that once again, the weather gods decided to test us (see the NYYC Blizzard Wedding here), but like all great sailors, the wedding party was up to the challenge.

Caroline walking down the aisle with her dad (wearing her mom’s 1968 wedding veil).

Stuart sees Caroline for the first time in her wedding dress.

The ceremony was held at The Emmanuel Church, a beautiful and historic building in Newport.

The details in the church were everywhere and hard to ignore!

Caroline puts Stuart’s wedding band on.

Returning down the aisle as husband and wife.

They were so excited right after their wedding!

Stuart & Caroline have a moment on the way to the reception.

A shot overlooking Newport Harbor illuminated by headlights.

Entering the reception… so happy and beautiful!

Caroline & Stuart’s first dance as husband and wife.

In the mirror, you can see Caroline’s dad leading a toast to the two of them.

Stuart’s toast came with a bit of a surprise… he confessed that he had walked down the aisle carrying the boxing Kangaroo flag… a replica of the one flown by Australia II when they took the America’s Cup in 1983!

Their beautiful rings… on Jack, the boxing kangaroo.

Their reception was beautiful… lots of dancing.

When the band played a song by Michael Jackson, this woman took advantage of the gentlemen’s white gloved formal dress wear , and did her own impersonation!  Nice work!

Leaving the NYYC illuminated by sparklers & surrounded by friends.  An end to an amazing evening.

A touching moment: Caroline’s dad makes eye contact with her and waves goodbye as they drive away.

Before heading into Newport for the after party, Caroline’s sister and boyfriend create slow shutter speed art with their sparklers.

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Want to see the complete wedding photos?  Just click right here to see them all!

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Caroline & Stuart!  Thanks so much for having us at your wedding!  We were honored to support you both… and had a blast seeing how much fun everyone had.  We will be looking for you on the waters of San Francisco Bay… or at the very least the next time we’re at Sam’s in Tiburon!  Thanks again for being so welcoming, it was wonderful to be there to document your day!

Vendors:

Ceremony: Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Reception:  New York Yacht Club (thanks Julie… you’re the best!  We love working with you!)

Florist:  Sayles Livingston

Stationer:  William Arthur

Band:  The Cords

Makeup: Robin McAloon

Hair: Frank Antonio Hair & Makeup

Cake:  Creative Cake Comapny

Dress:  Alvina Valenta

The Apple Orchards of Clark’s Cove Farm.

Elizabeth’s wedding and engagement rings.

Jack and Elizabeth did not disappoint!  Near her family’s home on The Pemaquid Penninsula, she had found Clark’s Cove Farm and Inn… a truly incredible spot that was both large enough to accommodate all their guests, and intimate enough for a tented celebration that was elegant and beautiful.  Though I’ve photographed around the world and all over New England, Clark’s Cove Farm was a welcomed discovery.

A trail of lanterns led guests from the cocktail reception to the tent.

Back in March, Liz and Jack met me for dinner down in Washington, DC to discuss their plans.  Their objectives were simple: they wanted a great celebration with all their friends and family… but they didn’t want something that was overly formal or uncomfortable.  Jack was a fellow Bowdoin grad as well, and between the two of them they were bringing over 200 guests to their celebration!

As inspiration, they showed me their save the date card (above) which was a photo of the two of them on top of Maine’s highest peak with the sign Photoshopped to read their wedding date.  Very creative!  They told me that night that they wanted their wedding to be natural, beautiful and fun.

What a great reaction by her bridesmaids!

Liz is a no fuss kind of girl.  Beautiful, smart and organized?  YES.  High maintenance, no…  not at all.  As such, I wasn’t surprised at all when she went from “hanging out with friends in jeans” to “gorgeous bride” in about 15 minutes.  I don’t think I’ve seen someone get ready that quickly in my life.

When we arrived at Liz’s family home, we found taped to the door a note to the deliverer of some lost luggage who “saved a wedding” by delivering the ties for the groom and groomsman.  Rest assured, the ties arrived in time…

“You saved a wedding.”

Elizabeth’s engagement ring.

Liz’s sister Heather doing the heavy lifting.

At St. Patrick’s Church, Jack sees Elizabeth for the very first time.

The fir planked ceiling of St. Patrick’s church.  Beautiful detail.

The embrace.

Elizabeth and Jack exited the church to the sound of a bagpiper… a family tradition.

They drove away in their parent’s antique MG.  Beautiful car… but the emergency brake was stuck!!

Off to the farm!

Liz runs right out of her shoes…

Beautiful.  Timeless.

Arm in arm, they jump a soggy spot to return to the reception.

Our old friend and guest Thomas… teaching his new son what it’s like to catch air.  Must be in the genes.

Bouquet on the seat of the MG.

The sisters rocking out.

The Worm: You knew someone would have to drop it into their routine.  Nice work.

It was just wonderful to be able to witness such happiness and obvious love between Jack and Liz.  It was an honor to be there to document the story of their day, and to share in the celebration.  Thanks for having us!!!

Want to see the complete wedding photos?  They’re all right here: www.brianwedge.com

Details:

Ceremony Site:  St. Patrick’s Church, Newcastle, ME

Reception:  Clark’s Cove Farm, Walpole, ME

Caterer: Red Plate Catering

Band:  Soho (This is the second group we have LOVED who is being represented by Nightshift… keep it up!)

Florist:  Alda Stich

Stationer: William Arthur

Dress: Paloma Blanca

Pies: Chase Farms

“Be the change you want to see in this world.”  -Gandhi

Gandhi said and did many wonderful things, but those words specifically have inspired with me for years and years since I first read them.  Though we’re far from perfect, my wife Malia and I have tried hard to build an environmentally and socially responsible company.  We often chat with clients who are surprised to hear the lengths that we’ve gone to stick to our core values… and to support those non profits who are promoting positive change in this world.

At the repeated request of more than a few of our clients and our colleagues, we thought we would share a bit about what we’ve been up to… why we’re actively supporting certain organizations… maybe even inspire a few folks to join us… and to remind everyone out there who is doing good in cyberland that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.  These “tough times” are hitting charitable organizations harder than any other sector of the economy, so they need our help!

Here’s our most recent attempts to be that change we wish to see… with our time, with our money, our expertise and with our actions.

Last year we donated over 10% of our profits to charities and non-profits.  Some call that tithing, others call it corporate responsibility, we just call it contributing to the common good.  We have committed in writing through a group called 1% For The Planet to make that same level of contribution every year.  They review our end of year tax documents, and they independently hold us accountable to our agreement.  The third party system of authentication is very important to us… we want folks to know that we’re committed to improving the world we live in, and not just exploiting a cause because it’s fashionable.

We operate our business out of a sustainably built (LEED Design) boathouse studio that’s a passive solar, super-insulated, reclaimed/recycled material based space, that is a joy to work out of and to meet clients at.  We’re very proud of the end result because of it’s low impact on the environment, it’s beauty and the fact that we built it ourselves with the help of our friend Bevan Harris.

We also donate over two weeks of professional photography services to non-profits who would otherwise be unable to afford such a  high level of creative investment.  It’s been an absolute joy to get to know these local, national and international non profits… and to “tell their story” in ways that help them further their mission.

Everyone always wants to know… where specifically did all that money go??  Who is benefitting and why?  Here’s the short answer for the past 12 months:

The Lance Armstrong Foundation:  Most folks know by now that our family has endured the hell that is cancer for the past three years as my sister, Lea, was diagnosed with leukemia.  Our support has ZERO to do with Lance Armstrong as an individual or as a celebrity (though I ran the Boston Marathon on his team, and he did seem like a nice guy)… it has EVERYTHING to do with the aggressive actions of the non profit to motivate/support research for survivors in their time of need.  We think cancer sucks, it infuriates us that it devastates so many people’s lives and we believe that there is power if we unite to destroy it.  We believe that cancer should be eradicated across the board… so we don’t fund individual types of cancer research nor age groups of cancer… though we have a special hatred reserved for breast cancer which took my aunt’s life, and leukemia which my sister battled with a bone marrow transplant and knocked back into whatever hole it emerged from.  My anger towards cancer is another reminder that I’m not Gandhi, but when channelled that frustration has been very helpful as we raised over $11,000 in 2008 alone.

The Surfrider Foundation:  I grew up near once-filthy Boston Harbor… so I’ll first say that many of our coastlines are cleaner now than they’ve been in a long time.  But we live on the edge of the ocean, our studio is on the ocean, we play and harvest food from the ocean… and the Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.

The View From Our Boathouse Studio…

Cancer Community Center of Maine:  This is a great organization that was available to us when we dealt with cancer.  The Cancer Community Center provides a warm and friendly place where adults living with cancer, their families and friends can come together in a comfortable, caring setting to build social and emotional support as a complement to their regular medical care. 

The Jane Goodall Institute:  I grew up in a household of strong women who broke through social barriers and did things that they “weren’t supposed to do.” For example, my sister and wife were ridiculed as the first girls that played boys baseball in their respective hometowns, my mom was a weirdo in the 1960′s who consistently did things that were typically reserved only for men.  They did things before their time, and so did Jane Goodall.  Besides inspiring girls to live their dreams, the Jane Goodall Institute “advances the power of individuals to take informed and compassionate action to improve the environment for all living things”… how can you argue with a mission statement like that?

The United Way:  The United Way funds so many different community based organizations it’s amazing.  My direct connection: I learned to sail at a Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Boston.  The experience changed my life forever.

The Leave No Trace Center For Outdoor Ethics:  We’ve been around the world to some incredibly special places, and can’t help but notice that we are sometimes loving our environment to death.  Low impact wilderness travel is an essential skill that is often forgotten or ignored as we tromp through the our favorite backcountry spot.  The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.

Red Rocks, Nevada

The Access Fund:  The Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment.  They’ve done wonders for climbers over many years in spite of a relatively tiny budget and staff.  

Pro Peninsula: Pro Peninsula strengthens individual and community efforts to protect the natural environment throughout the Baja California, Mexico Peninsula.  One of the world’s last truly wild places, the Baja California peninsula is a unique yet threatened environment. Strong environmental organizations are needed to promote social awareness and participation in order to counter the relentless threats to the region’s environment, while at the same time promoting sustainable development alternatives.

The Kokua Hawai’i Foundation: Kokua in Hawaiian means “help,” and the Kokua Foundation supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawai’i.  My wife, Malia, was born and raised on Oahu… and it’s still our home away from home.  The Kokua foundation’s mission is to provide students with experiences that will enhance their appreciation for and understanding of their environment so they will be lifelong stewards of the earth.

“Our hometown beach”  Lanikai, Hawai’i.

Though we continue to assist other organizations like the Nature Conservancy, National Public Radio, The Portland Museum of Art and The American Lung Association in smaller ways, the organizations above have been the focus of our major efforts in the past year.  Thanks to everyone who has harassed us for so long to share the extent of our involvement… we hope it helps, and we appreciate the support of numerous clients who encourage our efforts.

We’re all in this together, we’ve been inspired by other 1% For The Planet Companies who have made certifiable commitments.  Our hope is that others out there might read this and be inspired to act in a way that contributes to the greater good.  The downturn in our economy means that our efforts are even more important, and we have a unique opportunity to step up and support the causes we believe in.

My guess is that there’s not too many places in the United States east of Alaska where you can go dogsledding and enjoy ocean views during your trip.  Luckily for me, two old friends from Outward Bound invited me up to the Camden, ME area for a day of dogsledding.  (Alright, I invited myself up there… but what are friends for?)

Aimee and Ben are wonderful folks with a family of 14+ “sled pets” (sled dogs) who have lovingly developed an incredible relationship with each of them.  If you have never been dogsledding… go… go right now.  It’s akin to skiing deep powder, to sailing on an old wooden boat, or catching a perfect glassy wave.  It’s quiet, it’s pure and utterly beautiful.

What I loved most about dogsledding was the enthusiasm and unique personalities of each of the dogs.  They absolutely adored being out the trail, and while the tuglines and sled are being setup, the dogs are barking, whining, jumping and moaning… as they know they’re getting ready for a team run.

Ben & Aimee built a carrier for their pickup truck… that the dogs try to jump into on their own.

The cedar chip lined nest…

Taking the sled off the top of the truck… with the dogs supervising.

In anticipation… the howling begins.

The barking too (one of the sweetest dogs… looking pretty tough here).

Then the jumping and lunging… to say that they were patiently waiting would be a lie.

Finally… the team is underway.  The roar of the barking and whining falls silent immediately… and is replaced by the unified effort of the team.  Quietly gliding through the woods is spectacular.

It’s pretty amazing to see animals working together… like a single organism moving through the woods.  Quiet, heads down… focused effort.

Coming down a steep hill… Ben’s standing on the brake.

I just love the look of that dog in the back… intense, exhausted and moving.

Climbing up the hills.

A small, beautiful little cabin we passed… the perfect place to get in from the cold and have hot cocoa.

After the run, the dogs are pampered with food… and some “doggie gatorade” to rehydrate them and get some additional calories back into them.

So… if you get a chance this winter, and you’re anywhere near Camden, Maine… take a trip with Aimee and Ben.  It’s an incredible way to see our coastal mountains, to stave off cabin fever, and to have a low impact, eco and family friendly adventure you won’t soon forget.  Their “Blockhouse Pursuits Sled Dogs” can be reached at 207.763.4105, and they do half day and full day trips that are just incredible.  Tell them Brian sent you and you’ll get free extra dog kisses from each of the pups!

BLOCKHOUSE PURSUITS
Aimee Leclerc and Ben Hoops
189 Heal Road
Lincolnville, ME 04849
Phone: (207) 763 4105

ben’s cell (207) 975 2546

aim’s cell (207) 542 0608

Penobscot Bay is my old stomping grounds, and is an incredibly special place.  Back when I was a full time Captain with Outward Bound, I did laps around Vinalhaven island on every conceivable kind of boat possible, in all varieties of weather, and with a wide range of friends and students aboard.  Penobscot Bay is where we completed numerous adventures and started even more.

The happiness…

It’s not surprising then that I was completely thrilled to be back in The Fox Island Thoroughfare heading to Vinalhaven to shoot a wedding weekend.  The weather was perfect, the families were amazing, and more welcoming than we could have ever expected.

Getting ready for a bear hug… the best greeting ever!

Rose and Cam are incredible people and hosts.  Never before have I had a client RUN across a field (and I mean run) to bear hug me at our first meeting.  I soon discovered that Rose’s amazing energy and constant smile were gifts that she shared with everyone in her life.  Cam was equally sweet and happily took folks across the bay repeatedly throughout the weekend (thanks Cam for not running full speed to bear hug me… it’s ok, really).

Squeezing in for the 30+ buttons.

Holding back tears…

Rose came down the isle (foreground) and Cam teared up.  Very sweet.

It was wonderful to spend time with two people who so openly adore one another, their families and their friends.  Their home on Vinalhaven is a truly spectacular location, but this weekend, it’s beauty was certainly elevated by the love and respect displayed during this wedding celebration.  It truly was an honor to spend so much time with all of you!

Ceremony complete… they took some time on the dock to themselves.  Nice Flemish Coils whoever did that.  We appreciated it!

And some time on the porch…

Their hilarious and wonderful first dance.

Cam defies gravity…

Rose crowd surfing.

Unstoppable.

The merriment of the reception.

Notice that none of these feet are on the ground.  These guys danced so hard the floor shook.  We had to cut the cake early because of concerns that it would fall over (not joking).

The incredible fireworks display.  No injuries reported.

The whirling, spinning mass of family and friends beneath the tent.

Thank you so much for having us!  We loved meeting all of you and spending the weekend at your wonderful house.  There’s a mooring and a cold beer waiting for all of you the next time you sail through Harpswell!

Want to see more?  The complete photos are available here.

Vendors:

Catering:  Belle Fete (great job Lori).

Band:  Jenny Woodman Band

    As many folks already know, my Boathouse Studio is literally an old boathouse, on the edge of the sea… and I teach classes on the water often.  When I teach private trips, we go out and “cover” the coast… usually by boat, capturing photos of wildlife, lobstermen, seaweed harvesters and our wonderful tideline communities in general.  We’re photojournalists… and capturing the story is what we do best.

    Jeremy called me about a month ago with a plan to take a “fake” photography trip with his girlfriend Robyn.  It was “fake” because they were not there to learn professional photography tricks, nor gain photo access to the “real” Maine.  Jeremy hired me to take them out by boat to an uninhabited island, and to photograph them while he surprised Robyn with his proposal.

    How creative is that?  It made my day.  I’ve never had the honor of capturing an engagement as it happened, and I very much appreciate the trust that Jeremy placed in my hands to capture this special moment!  It was a true privilege to be able to unobtrusively photograph (with a VERY long lens) such a meaningful juncture in their lives.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Want to see the complete set of photos?  They’re all right here: www.brianwedge.com

Want to see the complete photos?  They’re all here:  www.brianwedge.com

    I’m dedicating this post to my sister Lea, who is still recovering from her leukemia / bone marrow transplant and is dealing with a host of annoying, frustrating and necessary restrictions.  Today was a tough one for her.  She’s doing well, but she wants normalcy.  She wants to play in the sun, swim in the ocean… and be a little less thoughtful about her lack of an immune system and health in general.  Who could blame her?  She’s been patient long enough.

    Lea: we will travel the world again, and when we do… let’s dance badly.   Your time is coming.  Hang in there!  I love you!

    Click on the play button to start the video (I recommend going FULL SCREEN).  After you get the video going, click on that weird star shape just to the LEFT of the word VIMEO to make it full screen.

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The Fog, The Smiles… The beautiful Newagen Inn

They met salsa dancing… and WOW… they were amazing!

A final moment with her dad before walking down the isle.

After a week of non stop fog, the coast of Maine needed a little change.  What Mother Nature failed to provide, Laina & Galileo delivered in spades.  Gorgeous flowers, fantastic colors, one of the most amazing bands… and did I mention the salsa dancing… yes, the salsa dancing was so inspiring that it even made me (the 6’4″ clumsy Norwegian) turn to my wife and say “maybe we should go take some lessons!”

Laina’s sister holding back tears…

Only a pair of dancers could pull this off so gracefully!

Look to the left of the photo… how many family members are in tears?  Very sweet!

Galileo gets the girl!

Laina’s family is from Maine, and Galileo’s family from El Salvador.  Their celebration was a true union of souls, of families and of cultures… with bilingual ceremony, program cards and toasts.  It was one of the most thoughtful and inclusive celebrations ever.

It’s official!

The reflection off the dock pump house.

Thanks for having us!  We loved getting to know your families and your friends… and thanks for the dancing tips!  We need them!

Venue: Newagen Inn (Jason was wonderful, GREAT attitude, magically making things happen all day!)

Wedding Coordinator: Jan Wilk (A.K.A. “Mom”)

Band: Hector Cuevas & The Boston Latin Band (Amazing.. amazing.. amazing)

Paper: Signed, Sealed & Delivered

    Most recently, they featured our work with Carolyn and Drew… two WONDERFUL folks (with incredible families) who were married last September at Cindy Lang’s Field in Martinsville, ME.  We had been to the oceanfront farmhouse many times before with the LL Bean catalog photo shoots, but it’s always special to return for a wedding.

     From a photography perspective, Carolyn & Drew’s wedding had everything we dream of: thoughtful details, gorgeous locations, and a stress free celebration complete with horse drawn wagons, oceanside lighthouses and simple elegance.

 CONGRATULATIONS DREW & CAROLYN!!!!  Your beautiful wedding was a joy to celebrate with you!  Christine and I look forward to seeing you both again this summer!

To view the complete wedding photos from Carolyn & Drew’s Featured Martinsville Wedding click here.

Location: Cindy Lang’s Field, Martinsville, ME

Catering: Swan’s Way, Camden, ME

Looking For Rain

It’s a great experience, and one that I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy for 7 years… but I’ve NEVER done it with my crazy friends Ben, Leslie, Amanda, and of course the amazing and talented Christine.  To say it was “different” trip this year than in past seasons was an understatement.

Feeling good (because we haven’t yet started day 2)

I was a bicycling medic again which is why I get to wear the snazzy oversized red shirt.  My jersey paled in comparison to Ben’s undersized circa 1992 bike shirt complete with multi colored cactus and geometric spines.  Ben was the darling of the Trek… and his years of smoking (irony?), overeating and utter refusal to train actually paid off in spades.  He was incredible on the bike, and even more so in the rest stops, doing deals on his cell phone until the market closed on Friday.  Frightening… and amazing.

Helmet Stripes

Speaking of frightening… guess who forgot to put sunscreen on their bald head?  The brilliant medic.

Hypothermia sets in: Is it over?

The trip was fantastic, and I highly recommend it: http://www.mainelung.org/Events/Trek/

Leslie, Ben and Amanda have been our friends for years, and it was wonderful to spend time with them becoming hypothermic in the rain, laughing, and gorging on more food than we will ever “burn off” while riding.  We survived, and so did all my patients!!!!

Back to normal.. or as close as we get to normal.

  Very soon, you’ll be seeing another logo displayed near ours… one that indicates our recent membership in a fantastic organization called 1% For The Planet.  We’re one of the very first companies in Maine, and the very first photographer in this state to make this commitment.  By joining, we’re dedicating 1% of our entire sales before ANY deductions are taken (not just 1% of our profit), to be donated to organizations who are helping protect and improve our natural environment.

  I was so happy to hear that my Alma Mater, Bowdoin College, is awarding an honorary degree today to Yvon Chouinard… an icon of responsible businesses, the founder of Patagonia Clothing Company and one of the creators of 1% for the planet.  I’m very proud of Bowdoin and their commitment to The Common Good.

  Here’s a great short video on Chouinard and 1% for the planet: 

  We’re proud to be looking beyond the photos we create to support the people and causes we believe in.  And we’re just getting started.  We hope other companies will follow our lead, and learn as we have that making commitments to the common good are a necessary and responsible business decision!

  Contributing to our community is one of our most important core values… and though our clients love the beautiful images we create, we also know that it “matters” HOW we do business.  I’m just thrilled that our business is growing by leaps and bounds every month… and that we’re staying committed to the causes that mean so much to us.

  What goes around comes around.  Thanks for YOUR support!

Anyway, one of their main characters is obsessed with sailing in Maine… and they saw some of my work in a few magazines and thought it would be a great fit. How cool is that? I think it’s as close as I’ll ever get to being in the movies… so look for these images in a few months when the movie premieres!

   They’re still some of my favorite venues if for no other reason that they usually span several days, and as a professional “storyteller,” there’s ample opportunity to get to know everyone and cover every element of the weekend.  Here’s an example of one such wedding I shot at The One and Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  It was named “Favorite Destination Wedding” by theknot.com:

   Luckily, many of the great clients I work with create wedding weekends in that same spirit regardless of location.  Their “destination” weddings may be a few states away from where they live, or in their adopted home city.  The same elements of celebration, thoughtful activities and beautiful locations apply.

   It’s a wonderful trend that I’ve delighted in noticing.  Families are increasingly spread all over the globe and the weekend wedding celebrates not only the wedding day, but the friends and relatives that make the couple who they are.  When I shoot in Maine, a schooner cruise, lobsterbake or sea kayaking trip is common.  In Napa, it’s wine tasting, horseback riding and hot air ballooning.  

   Wherever your wedding is and whatever your interests are, taking the time to share your special place with those you love goes a long way to solidifying your location as a destination… regardless of the distance.  Even if your wedding isn’t far from home, check out a recent book we collaborated on that features our work.  It’s filled with ideas that are sure to inspire!

NOTE: The goof ball above is NOT ME… it’s the very talented Art Director Greg (last name withheld to protect the innocent).

I recently worked with LL Bean during their photo shoot for the Summer 2008 catalog in Bar Harbor and Brooklin, Maine.

It was with GREAT delight that I learned that one of our locations for the week, was at EB White’s saltwater farm.

For those that don’t remember, EB White wrote Charlotte’s Web… you know, the one about Wilbur the pig and the SOME PIG spider’s web? Anyway, I love EB’s work and I was lucky enough to get to know the current owners of the farm.

They were kind enough to take me through the barn, show me some of the contraptions that EB built (he liked to build complex ways of holding open doors, discouraging chicken escapes and otherwise existing on the farm). Anyway, I remembered reading one of EB White’s essays about his dog Fred. He said that Fred was restless.

In a later essay, after Fred had passed on to doggie heaven, he wrote that Fred’s grave was just like his life: restless. As I wandered through the farm exploring the overgrown paths and imaging the life of EB and Fred… I stopped just past the giant “Farm Sized” compost heap and found Fred’s original grave marker still refusing to stand straight.

A few excerpts from EB White to enjoy:

Some day when I’m out of sight, Travel far but travel light!

Stalk the turtle on the log,

Watch the heron spear the frog,

Find the things you only find, When you leave you bag behind; Raise the sail your old man furled, Hang your hat on the world!… Thank God you’ve always doubted, The gifts you’ve never flouted; … Happy in the perambulation, Work no harder then you have to, Do you get me?

lines extracted from The Fox of Peapack 1938 “Apostrophe to a Pram Rider,” e.b. white

Also… And with tiller in hand,I’ll feel again the wind imparting life to a boat, will smell again the old menace, the one that imparts life to me: the cruel beauty of the salt world, the barnacle’s tint knives, the sharp spine of the urchin, the stinger of the sun jelly fish, the claw of the crab.