One of the things Andy & I love most about our jobs is the connections we make with our clients, who really feel more like friends.

Being entrusted to document a day as important as a wedding is such an honor, but when a family calls us back again to do the same for a brother or a sister, it’s overwhelming and so completely validating. We just love it!

This is going to be our fourth year photographing Leigh and her family. In addition to Leigh, the family consists of Mom-Terri, Dad-Alan, big brother-Ryan and his lovely wife-Anette and their new little lovebug-Dillon, and sister-Randi, all of whom live scattered across the country. Every year, they drop what they’re doing and come to Cape Cod to spend the Fourth of July together in Chatham.

Each year since meeting them, they have asked us to document their time together and it has become something we look forward to with a mix of excitement and nervousness….it’s not easy coming up with fun & new things to do with the same group every year. But, it is a challenge we accept gladly and with happy hearts.

The first year we photographed the family, Ryan, had just…as in the day before our meeting with them…proposed to Anette, and we were super excited when we were asked to photograph their wedding the following summer. Click HERE to see their beautiful love-filled celebration.

Right from the start, we fell in love with this warm, wonderful family and after Ryan’s wedding, we secretly hoped we might have the chance to be there when Leigh and Randi also said, “I do!”

Happily, Leigh felt the same as we did and now it’s her turn to walk down the aisle. We couldn’t be happier about the wonderful man with whom she’s chosen to spend her life. We first met Zach at Ryan & Anette’s wedding. At the time, he & Leigh were very new in their romance, but watching them together, I remember thinking that there was something special brewing between them, and as it turns out, there was.

Leigh & Zach will say, “I do!” this summer in Boston. They chose to do their engagement session, aka love session, on the MIT campus where they first met. They are both graduate students finishing up their final semester….lots to celebrate this summer.

Andy & I hadn’t really had the opportunity to check out the MIT campus before, but it is gorgeous and there were so many fun nooks for photos. We started out in the Sloan building, where they both have most of their classes. Here are a few of our favorite moments from our time together…

I just loved the architecture of the Sloan building. It’s angular and modern and very fun to photograph…particularly with a super cute couple perched on its balcony.

Different photographer, different perspective…

We snuck into one of the classrooms for a few photos of our two smarty pants….

Just a little light reading…

Loved the glass windows in some of the conference rooms….how fun is this?

This is a contender for favorite of the day…Although Leigh & Zach are very serious, dedicated students, they’re also really fun, silly and self-proclaimed “goofballs” so capturing them having fun together just feels right!

Awww…

Even better….

Does Leigh have some gorgeous eyes or what? And, how about Zach’s chiseled profile….no pressure, but you guys are going to make some beautiful babies!

Hummunah hummanah…another fave of the day…

We toured a bit more of the MIT campus, before heading down to the school’s boatyard for a fantastic view of the city skyline.

Just as the sun poked through the clouds for some dramatic lighting…

Goofing around…

MIT’s very recognizable class ring, known as the Brass Rat…Like most MIT students, Leigh & Zach are very proud of their class rings and say they are one of the most recognizable rings in the world. Cool!

Loveeeee this next one. They both look so beautiful and so completely content!

Love is…strolling hand-in-hand with your best friend!

Followed by a good snog.

As sexy as that previous photos is, and as much as it can make the heart go pitter patter, this next one is full of love and makes my heart smile! it is soooo Leigh & Zach, in every way!

A quiet moment before calling it a day….

After our super fun session, we headed to one of Boston’s newest hot spots, the Island Creek Oyster Bar, to meet Leigh’s folks, Terri & Alan, for dinner. It was so great to see them again and catch up. All in all it was an excellent afternoon filled with lots of laughter, kisses and great conversation. Big thanks to Terri & Alan for a fabulous dinner and a heart-felt thank you to Leigh & Zach, for sharing your school with us and for giving us an inside peek into the very special love you share. We can’t wait to be there with you when you say, “I do!” later this summer.  Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Our 2011 wedding season kicked off a few weeks ago in the nicest of ways. We truly could not have asked for a sweeter couple to start with than Jess & Christian.

We first met these two last year, after they flew up from Virginia to begin their wedding planning. Right away, we knew we wanted to work with them. They are sweet, playful, kind-hearted, full of love for one another and all about having fun! Even the story of how they met was fun! Click HERE to see their love session and read more about these two sweethearts.

So, when the day finally arrived for Jess & Christian to say, “I do!” we were super excited…excited to get back to shooting regularly, but mostly excited to be a part of their special day….and oh, was it special!

Weather forecasters had been calling for rain all week and things were not looking good in the days leading up to the wedding. But, as if on cue, as soon as we pulled into the parking lot at the Wequassett Resort, the clouds parted and the sun came beaming down, warming the air and urging flowers to open. You couldn’t have asked for a nicer spring day.

Here are a few of our favorite moments from Jessica & Christian’s incredible, love-filled celebration…

I love how serene and beautiful both Jess & Christian look in these individual moments before the ceremony…

I just love the above photo of Jess. There is such a quietness about her beautiful eyes that pulls me in, so I decided to pull in for a closer look. Love this crop, perhaps more than the original. What do you think?

Meanwhile, across the Wequassett property, Christian puts the finishing touches on his vows as Jess’s super sweet brother, Josh, also finishes getting ready. Jess & Christian did something we’d never seen another couple do before during their ceremony. Rather than reading their vows aloud for everyone to hear, they took a moment and moved in close to one another. And, looking directly in each others eyes, they whispered their vows to one another. It was such a beautiful, intimate moment….as if no one else in the world existed except for the two of them. I admit, I shed a happy tear or two (okay, more than a few).

After a few finishing touch ups to her make up, Jess puts on her veil and is ready to go. LOVELY!

We LOOOVE when couples take time for a “first look.” It’s such a sweet opportunity for some lovely photographs, but more than that, it helps put any nerves at bay and the soon to be married couple has a chance to take in the moment and absorb the hugeness of what they’re about to do. I just love it!

Andy killed capturing the emotion of the moment in this next shot. Oh, how this photo makes my heart smile…so big!

Do you think they’re ready to go say, “I do!”…..uhhhh, I’d say, yes! Oh, the joy!

A fun moment with her girls…

I love the pride in Christian’s smile as he walks to the spot where Jess will come take his hand and pledge her heart to him.

Joy radiates as Jess & her brimming-with-pride dad, Jim, make their way to the ceremony.

Jess’s Aunt, Aileen, performed a very heart-felt ceremony that was punctuated with happy tears and moments of laughter.

The moment before the kiss…looove this!

Same moment from a different perspective…Hallelujah for having two photographers!

Following the ceremony, we stole Jess & Christian away for a little alone time and some intimate portraits…This next one is contender for fave of the day…

Loveeee…

Same moment, different perspective…again, I say, “Yay!” for having two photographers!

Jess & Christian had a big canvas with paint markers for their guest to leave messages of love…such a fun idea…

Jess is like me and looooves herself some details. So, Jess…these are for you!

First dance…LOVE.

Christian’s niece wraps up in her Nana’s dress for a little warmth & comfort….so sweet…like J&C’s beautiful sugary flower adorned cake.

I love this stolen moment of Jess & her girlfriends as they chat during dinner…

A moment to reflect on the day’s events…and snuggle….Dreamy!!!

A big thank you to Kalson and the rest of the crew at Wequasett for always being such a pleasure to work with. Thanks too to DJ Keith Lemire for providing the perfect soundtrack to a perfect day! Thanks to Lisa George & her team for making some already gorgeous girls look their best. And, our thanks wouldn’t be complete without a shout out to Lilac Flowers and Delicious Desserts for giving us lots of great eye candy to photograph. But, as always, our biggest thanks go to Jess & Christian and their wonderful families and friends for inviting us to be a part of such a special day. J&C…hopefully by now you know how much we adore you and how much it meant to us, knowing you trusted us to capture your wedding day…and all of the love & joy that surrounded you. We hope these photos bring you as much happiness as you have brought to our lives!

Big love & hugs, C&A xo

Nearly two years ago, we photographed MaryHelen & Kurt’s AHH-MAZING Hyannisport Club wedding. It had all of the ingredients for the perfect day….great weather, delicious food, gorgeous details, the company of close friends & family….and most importantly oodles of love & laughter.

So, when MaryHelen’s mom, Helen, called us to say her three children were coming home and could we stop by and take some photos of the kids & grandkids, we were thrilled to get to see everyone again. MaryHelen is the youngest of three. She & Kurt live in Rhode Island, and her brother, Andrew, lives in California with his wife & son, and her sister, JoHannah, lives in New Hampshire, with her husband and three kids.

Unfortunately, none of the spouses were able to join us for the session, but we had a great afternoon reuniting. In fact, a little too good of a time, as the kids seemed more interested in playing with us than having their photos taken. Still, we were able to get them in front of our cameras for a few sweet portraits. Then, we just sat back and documented the family playing & interacting together. Here are a few of our favorite moments from the day…

Meet sweet Katherine. She is the oldest of JoHannah’s lovely children.

Thomas is next in line and is the biggest baseball fan I’ve ever met. He was wowing us with his impressive memory for important statistics…

And, fun-loving Matthew, the youngest of the three and Andy’s new playmate.

And, we can’t forget Emmett, Andrew’s very sweet son.

Pig pile on daddy…

I love this next one and how all three of JoHannah’s kids are engrossed in their own entertainment…

Nothing says fun like bubble time…

Emmett’s expression kills me in this next one. Oh, the concentration. Too cute!

And, of course, we can’t forget the newest addition to the family….Moose, MaryHelen & Kurt’s new puppy….that’s right, puppy! Moose is going to be huge!

Grandma Helen gives some special cuddle time to Emmett.

While JoHannah snuggles up on the family dock with her three lovebugs…

Fun time with the cousins…

Love is….good times with your siblings!

Or a little alone time with mommy…

Grown siblings share a giggle…

Lovely Helen and her wonderful children….we adore you guys!

Thank you Helen for inviting us back to your home. It was so great seeing all of you again and catching up. We hope you enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed spending the afternoon with you. You have a lovely family and we’re very grateful that you’ve once again entrusted us to document all of you together! Looking forward to seeing you all again! Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

….almost as much as we love Paul & Rachel!

Mondays aren’t typically my favorite day of the week. But, yesterday got a whole lot sweeter when a most unexpected box full of love arrived on our doorstep.

I had gone out to check the mail after a long day in front of the computer. As I walked back from the mailbox, I spotted a small package on the porch. I wondered to myself if Andy was ordering more toys for his guitar…he’s started taking lessons and is quite excited about it, so packages filled with books, picks, a music stand, guitar stand and some other things I don’t know the names of have steadily been showing up on our front porch.

This package, however, wasn’t for him….well, not only him. It was for both of us, and the return address was one I didn’t recognize…Levain Cookies. The packaging tape had LOVE written on it. I immediately liked the look of this!

Like a kid at Christmas, I ran in the house and searched the junk draw for scissors. No luck. So, I grabbed a knife…I mean there were potentially cookies in this package, right? I didn’t want to waste a second. And, here is what I pulled out…

Now, I was dying to know who could have sent this little treasure box, so I checked the postcard…

And here’s what it said, “If your photos were cookies….this is what they’d be. They’re THAT good. Thanks, Rachel & Paul.”

I heard myself say, “Awwww,” outloud after I finished reading the note. We truly do have THE best clients….wonderful couples and families who not only welcome us into their lives with open arms & open hearts, sharing with us one of the most special days in their lives, but they treat us like this and make us fall even deeper in love with this incredible job we have. And, not because the work is glamorous, because it’s really not…we spend way more time in front of our computers than we do behind our cameras. What we love most about our work is getting to meet and document the lives of wonderful people like Rachel & Paul.

Ironically, I’d checked the mail earlier that day because we’d forgotten to get Saturday’s mail. And, Paul & Rachel had already sent an incredibly sweet note that read, ” Christine & Andy, We just wanted to say thank you for the incredible job you did photographing our wedding. We know that you realize how important these memories are to us and to all of your clients, it clearly shows in all of your work. From day one it felt like we were with old friends and we feel so lucky to have found you. We truly appreciate all of the care and attention that went into the beautiful photos you took. We hope our paths cross again and please let us know if you’re in NY. We’d love to say hi. Yours, Paul & Rachel.”

Honestly, the sentiment in that note was more than the thanks we needed. So, to find the cookies later that day was just over-the-top sweet!

Here’s a closer look at just how sweet….

I have to admit, that I took these photos after tearing into the package and checking out the bootie. And soon thereafter…devoured half of the chocolate chip cookie. (Had to share with Andy, it seemed only fair.) Let me just say, however…. if he wasn’t home, I might not have been so generous. It was crazy good!!! I’m talking, Mmmmmm-I-don’t-care-if-this-ends-up-on-my-thighs-pass-me-another-GOOD!

Tomorrow, I have my sights set on that chocolate peanut butter little mound of love!

Are you drooling yet?

Each cookies weighs 6oz….crazy good!!!

Pass the milk….here I come!!

Paul & Rachel, you guys are wonderful! We feel exactly the same as you…that right from the start it felt like you were both old friends. Being there with you at your wedding was so wonderful. I’ll never forget your special dance, dedicated to your dad, Rachel. When those stormy skies opened, the clouds parted and the sun shone through, I lost it. I knew it meant your dad was surely there, smiling down and giving his blessing to both of you and your incredible wedding day. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for allowing us to bear witness to that and thank you too for being as sweet as those crazy good cookies!

Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Our first love session of the new wedding season took us to Boston and the picturesque back streets and alleys of beautiful Beacon Hill, home to high school sweethearts Heather & Jesse.

Right from our initial meeting with them, we immediately liked Heather & Jesse. They are unassuming, kind, gentle people who obviously care very deeply for one another.

I remember during that first meeting, Heather shared with us that she had lost both her mother and her brother. Her brother’s death was very recent and in collecting photos for his memorial service, she realized how important photography was to her. And, she told us, it was why she & Jesse decided to hire us to capture their wedding.

I remember holding back the tears as Heather spoke….tears for Heather’s profound loss and tears of gratitude for the faith Heather & Jesse were placing in Andy & me.

Photography has always been something I have loved…ever since I was a young girl and my dad let me play with his Canon manual film camera. I remember the excitement I would get when he’d let me hold that heavy body and look through the lens. More importantly, I remember the overwhelming feeling I would get when he’d step back and point the camera in my direction…..I felt loved!

Photographs are our way of telling the people we photograph that we care about them…that they are important to us and that the moments we share together are worth remembering. I love that about photography. And when our couples/families open up and share with us personal stories that speak to how important photography is to them, I feel a kind of joy that takes me back to those afternoons when my dad looked at me with love and pride in his eyes and would take my picture.

Although it is easy to see the affection they have for one another, Andy & I hope that Heather & Jesse feel the affection we have for them when they look at these images.  So, without further ado, meet Jesse & Heather…

Heather & Jesse’s apartment is off of this alley…it is such a cute spot and feels a bit like being somewhere in Europe, with all of the exposed brick and streaming ivy. I love it almost as much as I love how these two look when they snuggle…

Hi cuties…

Hummuna hummuna…

Private way, for a private moment (well, private if you don’t count the two photographers stalking the streets with cameras)

Beacon Hill at it’s finest…

You’d never guess from this next shot how uncomfortable these two are sitting on the bumpy cobblestone road…oh how we love our couples and the lengths they’ll go to for us!

I love this next shot and the sheer joy written all over Heather’s gorgeous face as she looks in the eyes of her best friend…

Another fave…

You know I say it all the time, but there really is no better place than right here….in the arms of the one you love!! Ahhhh….

When Jesse smiles it’s hard not to smile right along with him…

A favorite neighborhood flower shop of our happy couple…

As we headed down to the water, we had to take a minute to capture this great little nook…

But our favorite spot of the day had to be here…looove the light and loooove the color….of course it doesn’t hurt having an absolutely adorable, totally-in-love-couple to photograph!

Be still my heart…

Loooooove this one…definitely a contender for favorite of the day…

This one is for you, Heather & Jesse, because we know it will make you giggle….again. Just before this moment was captured, the fancy pants guy in the leather jacket & hat had apparently stopped to take a photo of Andy & me photographing Heather & Jesse…not sure why, but it certainly cracked up our happy couple and that made for this fun photo…Thank you Mr. Fancy Pants!

Quiet moments and the joy they bring…

A great big thank you to Heather & Jesse for spending the afternoon with us and most especially for welcoming us into your lives with such warmth & openness. Although our heart aches for you, Heather, and for your family over the loss of your brother, we cannot begin to tell you how very much it means to us that you & Jesse trust us to document this special time in  your lives. We promise to capture your wedding day with our eyes and our hearts wide open! And we hope that you might find that out of something terrible has come something wonderful. Big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo