Last summer, we were asked by our friends Alyssa & Barry to donate a portrait session to a fundraiser auction they were hosting in Boston to raise money for Parkinson’s research and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

We hadn’t seen Alyssa & Barry since we photographed their fabulous Chatham Bars Inn wedding four years ago and so were understandably shocked to learn that Alyssa had been diagnosed with the Parkinson’s in 2005, just a year after she & Barry said, “I do.” We were saddened by the news and eager to help in any way we could. We, of course, happily agreed to donate a session and crossed our fingers that it would bring in a respectable bid for the foundation.

They are once again back at the fundraising and hope to raise another $50,000 as they each prepare to run the November 2 New York City Marathon. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Team Fox website.

Two weeks ago, we finally got to meet the caring and generous family who bid on our engagement session at last summer’s auction – Kathy & Dave and their two adorable children, Hailey & Grayson. We met this gorgeous family just before sunset at their stunning ocean-side home in Orleans. It was one of those perfect fall afternoons here on the Cape, the sun was warm, the sky crystal clear and this particular part of the Cape feels as untouched as it gets. We even saw a couple of seals swim past. It was a perfect day and we had a fabulous time photographing and playing with this wonderful family. Here are a few of our favorites from our time together:

Here Grayson hitches a ride from his mom as the family heads to the beach. I just love this photo…the composition, the colors, Grayson’s adorable little sweater. To me it just screams love and family and all the best things of which our childhood memories are made!

Hailey leads little brother Grayson through the beach grass. Love the flare, love the feel, love their little blond heads! Love it!

I like to call this one…Run Free, for all the obvious reasons. Ah to be a child again!

Grayson has a little alone play time. Check out those rosy little lips. Too sweet!

Little Mr. Independent following his own path. The beach has 4WD access…not exactly sure how I feel about that, but it did make for some cool tracks in the sand for Grayson to play in.

We don’t usually say whose photos are whose (Mostly because we like to keep Matt guessing! One of our friends/grooms from this summer apparently makes a game out of trying to tell whose are whose. We loved hearing that! So fun!) but this one I REALLY wish I could say was mine! I love love love it!!! I think it’s just such an interesting and unique composition. Nice one Andy!!! You rock baby!

Hailey is such a great big sister. Here she gives her little brother some lovin’ which he seems to relish! So sweet!

And here is the happy family for a more traditional portrait…

We ended our time together with a fun family silhouette.

Thank you so much to the Pattison family, who thought enough of our work to bid on our session and donate to a very worthy cause. Kathy, Dave, Hailey & Grayson we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of you a little. We hope you enjoyed our time together too and that we were able to make some new family memories together! Thank you too to Alyssa & Barry for thinking of us and for allowing us to be a part of such an important cause. Alyssa, you are in our thoughts and prayers and we look forward to hearing how you do at next month’s marathon! You Go Girl!!! xox Chris & Andy

Last year we had the pleasure of photographing the fabulous Boston wedding of the seriously adorable duo…Michelle & Dan. These two lovebirds quickly jumped into family life and the result is their crazy-beautiful little girl, Mackenzie, who has the most happy, friendly, smiley little spirit. We had such a blast with her and it was no surprise because we had the same experience with her parents when we first photographed them!

Dan & Michelle are such happy, loving, fun, warm, down-to-earth people and it’s obvious their sweet little apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

We met our friends a few weeks ago at one of our favorite Falmouth beaches, where we also happened to photograph their engagement session almost two years earlier. It was like coming full circle for us, only this time around was even better because Mackenzie was there too.

Here are some of our favorite photos from our time together:

Meet Mackenzie…is she sweet or what? We adore this little lovebug!

Getting snuggle time from daddy…oh the joy!

It’s funny…Mackenzie was very interactive throughout our session, but she took just a quick break to get some lovin’ and reassurance from her mom. I love this photo…I love how Michelle’s hair is blowing in the wind, how she has her hand on Mackenzie’s head, but mostly I love that you can see in Mackenzie’s eyes how safe and loved she feels and that there is no where she would rather be in that moment than right where she is. If you’re truly blessed, your life is an accumulation of moments just like these.

Meet the Family… Michelle, Dan & Mackenzie. Seriously, could they be any cuter? And I tell ya, it’s rare that you get a one year old sitting that comfortably and contently for a photo. Mackenzie was a photographer’s DREAM!!!

Couldn’t you just eat them up?

Laughing with mommy as daddy makes some funny faces off camera…

Check out these baby blues….Move over Gerber Baby, there’s a new cutie in town and her name is Mackenzie!

Getting a helping hand, Mackenzie practices her walk….What I love most about this photo is Mackenzie’s little pointy finger as she holds her mom’s hand. It’s just precious to me!! Ohhh, and that little whispy curl of hair on the back of Mackenzie’s sweet little neck! LOVE IT!!!

And here mommy helps her take a few steps toward daddy….check out the happy determination in her eyes and the serious drool on her chin. If only every moment of life could be filled with that much simple joy!!!

I see you….

Playing a little peek-a-boo…

Mackenzie seems to love the camera almost as much as it loves her. Here she turns around to see where Andy & I are as she heads to check out the other side of the beach with mommy & daddy in her new Birthday outfit. I call this one, “Are You coming?” Simply Precious!!!! Don’t you think?

I know we’ve put a lot of photos of Mackenzie’s blue eyes in this post, but I couldn’t resist one more…especially in her new birthday outfit.

And finally….The many faces of Mackenzie. Be prepared for some oohs and aaaahhhs…it doesn’t get much cuter than this!!! It’s tough to pick, but if I had to choose my favorite shot from the below collage it would be the pout face in the bottom left. Andy’s is the eyelash shot with the smile, right side, third down. Which is your favorite Mackenzie face?

Big thanks to Michelle & Dan for continuing to trust us to capture your most precious life moments. It was so great to see you both again and to finally meet Mackenzie. You two sure do make beautiful babies. Mackenzie is such a lovey!!!! We hope to do this with all of you again next summer, when Mackenzie is walking and talking and really showing off that sweet little personality of hers! Thanks again for a fabulous afternoon!!! We love you guys! xo Christine & Andy

Weddings are our thing, for sure. There is just something incredible about being there with a couple and their families when two worlds collide in love. The day itself is almost always guaranteed to be filled with good food, hoppin’ music, lots of laughter and oodles of love. And to think we call this work!

Well, after almost six years of photographing amazing couples on an amazing day, many of our Bello family members are now returning, asking us to photograph the next amazing stage in their lives….babies. Or in the case of our dear friends Tracy & Will….that intimate, vulnerable stage right before babies….pregnancy.

If ever there was a poster child for what a perfect pregnant woman looks like, Tracy is it! Being an aerobics instructor certainly hasn’t hurt things, but Tracy is just one of those women men can’t help but look at and women wish they could be. She is gorgeous. And pregnant….well, she is like motherhood personified. With hottie Will at her side, these two are a smokin’ hot mommy- & daddy-to-be couple for sure!

With this being our first real pregnancy session, we decided it would be best to shoot Tracy & Will where they are most comfortable…in their home. So, we drove up to Boston with a trunk full of gear to set up a mini studio in their adorable Boston apartment. Our very good friend Sue Asaro (who does amazing portraits by the way) was kind enough to lend us a bunch of studio lighting so we could create some pretty fierce photos…our favorites are a bit more exposed than we felt comfortable sharing, but take our word for it, they are killer!!!

Oh, and just for the record…we did one pregnancy session several years back with our very FIRST wedding couple….Keira & Cory. They were our first…and you know what they say…you never forget your first. But, fast forward six years and we have a lot more experience to bring to such a sensitive session. (Keira & Cory now have 3 little lovebugs~Brogan, Jack and the newest edition to the family, baby James! We love you guys!!!)

So, without further ado….here are a few of our favorites from Tracy & Will’s session:

“Opportunity Knocks” – We thought this was kind of funny! The article was actually talking about the current housing market, but it works!

Snuggling up on the couch…is there a better way to spend a Sunday morning?

A couple of buns in the oven….again, we thought this was kind of funny. They’re actually banana bread loaves and Tracy isn’t having twins as far as she knows, but still…it works. And again….Sunday morning, cuddled on the couch with the delicious smell of banana bread baking in the oven….this day just keeps getting better! They even broke out their finest Tiffany’s china for us. We love these two!!!…almost three!

We decided to really get cozy and move into the bedroom for some more snuggling shots. Before starting Bello, when we had A LOT more free time, Andy & I spent quite a few lazy Sunday mornings snuggling in bed for hours. I really think there is no better place in the world than under a down comforter, enveloped in the arms of the one you love. I imagine that place becomes even sweeter when there is a baby snuggled up inside you, sharing that moment.

More snuggling…

We tried something a little different with this next shot. We superimposed Tracy’s ultrasound photo over the image. It’s really subtle, but kind of a cool effect, don’t you think?

A little silhouette shot of Tracy by her back door. I love the contrast of Tracy’s curves and the lines of the blinds in this one! I told you she’s GORGEOUS!!!

Next, we turned their bedroom into a studio. Their apartment fortunately has really high ceilings, and it was still a tight squeeze. But, you’d never know looking at this image. How cute are they? Seriously!

After getting a few more shots with the black background, we moved the studio into the livingroom for a lighter perspective…

1+1=3 to be

Dad’s-to-be don’t often get as much attention as their mommy counterparts, so we thought we would wrap things up by turning the attention to Will….Looking into his eyes can’t you just feel the love he feels for Tracy and his unborn baby? Love it!!!

Thank you again Sue, for helping make this session happen for us. You Rock!!! And, a great big heart-felt thank you Tracy & Will for inviting us to share in such a special and intimate time in your lives. We knew from the moment we met you both that we wanted to be a part of your lives long after you said, “I do!” So, thank you for keeping us a part of your family! We hope to be there watching and recording your little lovebug(s) as they quickly grow and change and become what we are sure will be incredible little people.

You two are amazing together and we have no doubt that you will be incredibly loving, attentive parents. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy journey. We hope these photos serve as happy reminders of this special time long after your children are grown! With big love, Christine & Andy xoxoxo

Melisa & Tony have been there with us almost since the beginning. We photographed their amazing Ocean Edge wedding in September of 2004, just one year and 18 wedding after first starting Bello. So, when they asked us to take some photos of their 1-year old son Rocco, we were so excited! We hadn’t seen our friends in a couple of years and were really looking forward to meeting their little lovebug. And, oooh, was he a lovebug. Even with remnants of a cold and lingering ear infection, he was still a bundle of joy!

When we arrived Rocco was still napping, which gave us some time to catch up with Melisa & Tony and get a tour of their very cool new house. We weren’t surprised the house was hip and had loads of character, since Tony is an architect and Melissa works in textiles.

We snuck into Rocco’s totally adorable room to grab a couple of quick photos of sleeping beauty…check him out! He sleeps like my dad says I used to…butt straight up in the air. Seriously? Does it get any cuter?

A close up of little Rocco’s sweet face…

Love this colorful mobile above Rocco’s crib….

Rocco wakes up and wonders who all the people are in his room. Hey Dad? What’s going on? (I love his sleep face, rosy little cheeks! That’s the side he was lying on. Too cute!)

Well, since you’re here…let’s play…(I think he might be a photographer in waiting….he loved playing with the lens caps)

Time to get dressed…How amazing are those eyes? And whenever I see baby skin I just want to nibble somewhere! They are just so delicious!!! And so perfect!

Kisses for Dada…

Playing with flowers outside…The curiosity of children at life’s simplest things just makes my heart smile.

Here I come…

Is he yummy or what?

I love this shot. You can just feel the pride Melisa & Tony have for their little lovebug, and the joy he brings to their life. And, even though Rocco was sick, you still get a feeling for the little Mr. Independent that he is…

1+1=3

I just love the way the light is streaming over Rocco’s face in this one. And the purity in his eyes. Love it!!

This is kind of a funny series. If you’ve ever owned a pet and then had a baby, you know, as does your pet, that when baby comes home, the ranking of your pet in the family hierarchy suddenly changes. And sadly for poor kitty, the change is not in his favor. Can’t you just see what he’s thinking?

A little snuggle time to end the session…

Thanks Melisa & Tony for inviting us into your lovely home. We had such a great time reconnecting; we were just sorry Rocco wasn’t feeling in top form…poor little guy!! We love you guys and thank you so much for being such amazing supporters and cheerleaders for us. You two really have been there with us since the start and you will always hold a special place in our hearts! We love you and can’t wait to watch Rocco become the cool little person we know he will be! xoxo C&A

Late last month, we got a call from Terri, an architect & photographer from Boston. She was interested in getting some information for her son, Ryan, who was getting married, although he hadn’t actually popped the question yet. The family was coming to the Cape, as part of their annual July 4th pilgrimage to the Wequassett Inn in Chatham.

Ryan, Terri told us, would be asking his girlfriend, Anette, to marry him while here on the Cape. In anticipation of a “yes” and since the couple lives in San Francisco and would only be here a short time, we had arranged to meet. Terri thought it would be fun to do a family portrait session while the whole family was together. Ryan’s two sister, Leigh & Randi, were also down on the Cape to celebrate the holiday and, fingers crossed, the engagement of their brother.

We checked in with Terri the day after the family arrived to see what happened with Ryan’s proposal, and….happy news….Anette said, “Yes.”

So, we got together at the Wequassett, where the family was staying, and where Anette & Ryan will say, “I do,” next summer. It was a perfect day….the sun was shining. It was hot, but not too hot…and everything fell into place perfectly. Terri, her husband, Alan, Ryan, Anette, Leigh and Randi were all so warm and welcoming and definitely up for some fun. We started slow, with some shots down on the beach to get everyone warmed up and then things got jumping. Here are some of our favorites from our time together:

One big happy family…

Happy feet…(Alan was the only party pooper who didn’t want to take off his shoes…but we still love him!)

A family that laughs together, stays together…

Sisterly love…

Alan & Terri share a giggle…We asked them to take a moment and just look at each other…normally this makes people smile. In Terri & Alan’s case, it made them crack up. Love it!

And here’s the happy couple. Say hello to Ryan & Anette. Do you think we’re going to have any trouble photographing these two? Uhhhh….NO! Gorgeous! And so sweet!!! We’re so excited for them and can’t wait till their wedding next September. Yeah!!!

We’ll hopefully be doing an engagement session with Anette & Ryan during their next visit back East, but we thought we’d grab a few photos of the happy couple basking in the glory of their very new engagement. If our few minutes with them during the family session are any indication…we’re going to have a lot of fun with these two!

One of the secrets to a good marriage is laughter…looks like these two are off to a good start:

Who would have thought a little friendly chicken fight could result in such a great portrait?

More family time…

Hmmm…think Anette is happy about her engagement? What a beautiful smile!!!

And to cap off a wonderful afternoon we asked the family to try something a little different and jump for joy….They didn’t hold back….Brilliant!!!

A different perspective….love it!!!

Thank you so much Terri, Alan, Ryan, Anette, Leigh and Randi for being so much fun and for making us feel instantly comfortable (as soon as Alan came out of the shower in just a towel, we knew we were going to have some fun with your family!)

Ryan & Anette a big congratulations to you both. We can’t wait to get to know you both better over the coming year and to be there with you when you pledge your love & your lives to one another with all of the people who care for you most, there supporting you and cheering you on! Savor every moment…this is a wonderful time!

With hugs and warmest wishes, Chris & Andy xo