Drum roll please………By a mere ONE vote, Shaleen Revotski is the winner of our Bello Plastic Bag Photo Contest. Congratulations Shaleen!

Shaleen is the photographer behind the fabulous image below (Image #4). For her efforts (both behind the lens and in rallying the troops to cast their votes) Shaleen has won a complimentary Bello portrait session here on Cape Cod. Yeaaah!!!

A great big thank you to Shaleen and all of our kickin’ photographers for taking the time to get out there and shoot plastic! Thank you too to everyone who voted! You all ROCK!

This was such a fun contest for us! I don’t think I’ll ever look at a plastic bag the same way again! Stay tuned as we hope to sponsor another contest in the not-so-distant future. So, keep your cameras handy!

Happy shooting!

What do you get? LOVE!!! And, in Pam & Erik’s case, lots of it!

On Wednesday, we had the pleasure of photographing Pam & Erik, two former college cheerleaders who “flipped” for each other and haven’t been able to let go since. They flew in from Tennessee to spend a few days getting things squared away for their wedding, which will take place here on the Cape later this summer.

If ever there was a couple to epitomize the expression, “opposites attract,” these two are it…at least physically speaking. Erik is a big guy…a very big guy. Pam is pint size. Pam is super energetic and outgoing. Erik is more low key. She is from the north; he is from the south. But, it is these differences, coupled with their love for each other, their dedication to family and to helping others (they’re both going to be doctors) and their silly, carefree way that make them a perfect fit!

We met at Pam’s family’s gorgeous 17th century home, where the wedding will take place. We did a few shots over looking the pond and Pam & Erik even showed us some of their stunts. Then, we headed to nearby railroad tracks for something a little different…and sexy….hold tight for this one! Here are some of our favorites from the day:

This one was really just a happy accident, a stolen moment before we were ready to start. I love the swing…it just screams, “kids and summer,” to me. And these two really are just big kids.

Cozying up under Pam’s tree, planted by her parents the year she was born. So sweet!

Seriously….could they be any sweeter or sexier together?

I just LOVE this shot Andy got!!! I just love the way the light is reflecting off Pam’s sweater onto Erik’s face and also the lines of their bodies and the expressions on their faces. Even the way Pam’s hair is hanging looks perfect to me.

Showing us their moves…I think I’d squash Andy if by some miracle he could somehow hoist me over his head like that! And they made it look so easy!!!

Cuddling by the pond…

At the end of their road, their neighbors own this really cool farm, with horses, and chickens and everything…not the Cape Cod most people think of when they come here. But, it’s very cool nonetheless! We just loved all of the fresh new green leaves on the trees and the way the light filtered through. And with the old farm tools scattered around. It just felt so romantic, and like taking a step back in time. That sounds cheesy, I know, but it really did.

And here’s where things heated up! Seriously, is she stunning or what?

Somebody call Vogue, they’re missing two of their models!

Heading off into the sunset…

Thank you Pam & Erik for being such a blast, for keeping us laughing and completely inspired! We were already excited for your wedding…now we can’t wait!!! And to Pam’s mom, Wendy, it was so nice to meet you! Thank you for the tour of your family’s beautiful home! The love that has been shared there hangs from every beam!

Big hugs, Chris & Andy

We get to meet such amazing people doing what we do. Matt & McCall are no exception. McCall is a PR executive and Matt is a pilot. In addition to having really cool jobs, they are also a funny, sincere, totally in love, fun-loving, very sweet couple and we wanted their engagement session to reflect all that they are.

Like a lot of people, they mentioned being nervous about having their photos taken. And, while Andy definitely knows how to work BOTH sides of the camera, I tend to be a bit photogenically challenged, so I completely get the whole photo-nerves thing. We thought it might help if we took them somewhere that felt a little familiar. So, we headed over to a tiny air strip not far from where we live. Matt & McCall completely rocked it and in addition to having a lot of fun together, we also got some amazing shots. Here are a few of our favorites from our time together:

We loved this old tin hangar and decided to play on the concept of flying…We all had a hard time not completely cracking up while doing this, especially since we made them do it a few times…okay several times. Check out the vertical lift!

After aerobics, we decided to take things down a notch and the mood got a bit more tender….

The planes were so cool…next time we’re going for a ride!

I think this one belongs to Snoopy.

Luckily the rain held off until we finished our session, but the cloud-filled sky definitely provided a dramatic backdrop.

A little smoochin’…

Behind the old hangar we found this great rusted wall…totally love it!

Are they adorable or what? To us, these photos really capture their personalities…Oh, and seriously, have you ever seen eyes like McCalls? They matched her sweater and were completely mesmerizing!!

They really wanted to get some quintessential Cape Cod photos in too, so we headed to the beach to get some sand between our toes.

And ended with a walk off into the horizon. I just love the fisherman in the background and the flatness to the sky. We really do live in such a beautiful corner of the world.

We’d like to give a shout out to the guys over at the Cape Cod Flying Service for letting us hang out by the planes. To McCall & Matt we extend a great big thank you for being so much fun, and for making our job not only easy, but also a total joy! You guys are so sweet and we can’t wait to be there with you when you say, “I do!” We’ll see you in a couple of months and look forward to meeting all of your friends and family! Big hugs, C & A

Okay, so we like to think we’re pretty humble and aren’t prone to boasting…at least not when anyone is listening (lol). But, we had to share this. Check out this incredibly sweet e-mail we got from the lovely Catherine Howe, designer and owner of the very chic Beadiful Jewelry.

“Hello Christine and Andy,

Thank you for your kind e-mail, what a treat to hear from you! I am infatuated with your stellar work. I was introduced to your phenominal work and website by Sandee, who is a total doll, as you know.

I appreciate you taking the photo of my bridesmaid rings and including them on your blog. I have updated my website’s loading page and Products page with a cropped down image of the photo and provided both your company’s name and website for the credit. Hopefully this helps point some new clients your way!

Someday, I would love to have you both photograph my wedding. Your work is truly sensational!

Thank you again,
Catherine”

Now, when you go to her website, the first thing you see is our image. Is that cool and totally flattering or what? We’re so honored! Thanks Catherine…You ROCK!

This weekend, we had the pleasure of being there to bear witness as Sandee & Matt took the plunge and said, “I do!” It was an afternoon of love, laughter, and lots of happy tears!!! Sandee & Matt are such warm, loving people. They are that couple, the one who you can just see 60 years from now sitting on a park bench as happy and connected as they are today. And, if you have a hard time believing true love exists…these two will instantly make a believer out of you!

We left the sandy shores of Cape Cod early Saturday afternoon and headed to the Boston Harbor Hotel for their ceremony & reception. What a fabulous location, with views of the harbor and a great city park out the front door. A highlight of the celebration was an emotional video by Black Tie Video featuring interviews with Sandee & Matt, mixed with photos from their childhood and footage from the start of the wedding day. The video was shown just before Matt & Sandee were introduced into their reception. Looking around watching people’s reactions was such a treat! Even the hotel staff members were grinning from ear to ear. Great job Mike!!!

Here are some of our favorite moments from their special day!

Matt shows off his wedding gift from Sandee…a sweet Rolex! Nice one Sandee!!! And Matt didn’t do too bad either, getting Sandee some gorgeous diamond earrings. According to Sandee, she told Matt that he had to get her diamond earrings because he makes fun of her driving….apparently, she gets too distracted by her engagement ring! Something tells me Matt may now be equally distracted.

Sandee gets cheeky and shows off her bling while her bridesmaids show off their Beadiful Jewelry wedding gifts. Designed by Catherine Howe, Sandee had these gorgeous rings and matching earrings made for her bridemaids. So sweet!

Is she beautiful or what?!!

Getting a little help from her friends…

Matt prepares to see Sandee for the first time…You think he’s excited?

And here’s Sandee’s reaction to seeing Matt…

There were a lot of happy tears, especially from Sandee, but this is my favorite weepy photo taken during their ceremony….Can’t you just feel the love?

And here’s some portraits we shot of the happy couple:

A couple of fun street shots…

Is her dress gorgeous or what? Love the way the wind is taking it in this one…

Here they hide in the doorway before being introduced as their guests watch the video. I think one of their cousins spotted them just before this photo was snapped. What a great moment!!!

And here are just a few details from the day:

Thank you to Nicole from the BHH for keeping us on track and helping to make sure everything ran perfectly! Thank you too to Janet Finnocciaro and her sister-in-law, Carolyn, from Fino Flowers in Melrose for giving us so many beautiful arrangements to photograph! Big props go out to Priscilla Bridal for Sandee’s Spankin’ dress and to our good friend, Julianne Mahoney, of Flair Bridesmaids Boutique for making Sandee’s sister and friends look so sassy!

But, our biggest, heart-felt thanks go out to Sandee & Matt. Thank you two for inviting us to share in such a special day in your lives and for welcoming us with such open arms and open hearts! We hope to be there hanging out with you on that park bench 60 years from now reminiscing about your amazing wedding day and all the years in between!! We love you guys! xoxo Chris & Andy

While it certainly seems hip to “go green,” that wasn’t what inspired our recent post about plastic bags.To be honest, I just got really frustrated one day when I tried to grab something I needed from underneath the kitchen sink and couldn’t because I had to fish through a sea of plastic bags.

I’ve always felt too guilty just throwing them out after emptying the contents I bring home from the supermarket. So, I stuff them under the sink and we reuse them when we can. Lately, though it’s not just the bags under our sink that drives us crazy. Driving down the highway or walking through the city it’s hard not to notice those little polluters covering the ground like a rustling plastic blanket or snagging like forlorn ghosts on bare tree branches.

One day at the beach last summer, we noticed a few bags stuck in the tall beach grass, and even one in the water, floating like a drunken jellyfish. So, we took a few photos. And then we thought, hey, let’s post these on our blog, thinking to ourselves, “I wonder if these bug anyone else as much as they bug us?” And then, when it seemed we weren’t the only ones annoyed by plastic bags popping up in places they shouldn’t be, we decided to hold a “Down With Plastic Bags.”

We asked you, our faithful blog readers, to submit photos of plastic bags you saw in places where they shouldn’t be. We admit, we didn’t get quite the response we had hoped for, but a few of you did submit some images and we wanted to give you props for your efforts, so, we thought we’d post the photos we received.

Here’s where we need your help again…

We’re asking you to take a minute to vote on your favorite photo using the comments section below. The entry that receives the most unique votes will receive a complimentary Bello portrait session here on the Cape. Don’t worry, we won’t make the winner pose with plastic bags!

So, please let us know what you think. Voting will end on Saturday, May 24th and we’ll announce the winner on Memorial Day. Only one vote per computer will be counted, so no cheekiness please!

Reusable bags rock! They hold way more stuff! Check out these cool sites: Reusable Bags and One Bag At A Time.

ENTRY # 1

ENTRY # 2

ENTRY # 3

ENTRY #4

ENTRY #5

ENTRY #6

ENTRY #7

Sadie made here way home on Thursday. My sister, Kim, and her family couldn’t be more excited, and simultaneously scared silly! Here’s an e-mail Kim sent around after settling in:

“The day has finally come! Our sweet tiny Sadie Abigail was finally released from the hospital 10 weeks, 5 days, 12 hours and a few minutes after she came into this world. She is now 6lbs 12oz and is just utterly divine. Her big brother Cal came around after he declared that he, “Needed to be alone for a while,” and headed upstairs quietly to absorb all that was upon him. It’s almost surreal to have her here now but we are so ready to enter this new exciting phase of our lives.

We will be laying low for a while due to her weakened immune system but when she’s ready we hope to reconnect with each of you. We say this with all sincerity, we could not have gotten through this without all the love and support you’ve provided.

With much love,

Kim, Eric, Cal and sweet Sadie

Xo”

Here’s a little collage we put together using photos Kim & Eric sent us from Sadie’s trip home. Pretty great photos, don’t you think! I’m not sure we could have done any better!! Enjoy! And thank you all for your love and support! I am convinced that all of that love being spread really helped get her home early, and most importantly, safely! So, thank you!

Okay, so I don’t have a photo to post with this, but I just got a call from my sister and the hospital has released little Miss Sadie Abigail! She is on her way home as we speak! I’m just so excited I’m beside myself! I’ve asked Kim to take a photo and e-mail it to me…her first moments of freedom. I’ll post it as soon as I have it!

YEAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone for your loving well wishes…I’m sure they’ve helped get her home so quickly! And for those of you new to the blog, Sadie is my niece, who was born Feb 22, 3 months early at just 2.5 pounds. She has had a bumpy road, filled with weeks in intensive care, being hooked up to oxygen & feeding machines, several blood transfusions, a spinal tap and painful eye exams to check for retinopathy. But, today, she is 6 pounds 12 ounces. She is free of all machines. She is heading home in the loving arms of her family. And all is right with the world!

Ashely & Patrick are the kind of people who you just want to be around. And be around often! Aside from being really sweet individuals, they are also an incredible couple…kind, loving, funny and with a gentle easiness about them that instantly makes those around them feel completely comfortable.

We recently had the pleasure of spending the day with Ashely & Patrick in Boston’s North End. Patrick is a huge Red Sox fan, and we had initially planned to shoot our engagement session around Fenway Park, but with it being Marathon weekend, we decided to hit the other side of the city and started out at Christopher Columbus Park. These two claimed to be a little nervous, but in no time at all they were looking like pros in front of the camera, letting down their guard and really having some fun with it!

Here are some of our favorites from our time together:

Walking through the narrow streets of the North End…If there had been laundry hanging between the buildings and an orange, white and green flag instead of the ol’ red, white & blue, I would have sworn we were in Italy!

This is my favorite shot from the session. We saw this sweet little old man, who reminded me of my grandfather…tennis balls on his walker and everything, and I had to get this shot of them walking past with the old boy watching them as they went by. Seriously, check out the Members Only jacket…that’s only going to mean something if you were old enough to remember the 80s! Classic!

Dancing in the streets…awwww, are they cute or what? Okay, okay, I admit it…we asked them to do that. But, tell me they don’t look like they’re loving it!

We found this killer blue garage door to use as a backdrop. It surprised us a couple of times and opened…which actually helped get some great reactions…

You don’t find many cobblestone streets here on the Cape, so we had to take advantage while in Boston…

A great big thank you to Ashely & Patrick for being so much fun and for being open to try anything. You guys ROCK and we can’t wait to be there with you on your special day. We have a feeling there is going to be a lot of love circling around you both and you can’t find a more perfect backdrop than than for great photos! xo Chris & Andy