This blog has moved!!!

I am very excited to announce my new blog. All of the content found on this blog has moved to a new home. Please visit my new blog where I will not be posting regularly, and be sure to update your RSS feed. Thanks!

Blog: http://www.mccallisterweddings.net
RSS: http://www.mccallisterweddings.net/?feed=rss2

Jenna & Peter: A Harrington Farm Wedding

This past October I got to spend a glorious Fall day with one of the sweetest couples ever, Jenna and Peter, at Harrington Farm in Princeton, MA. Jenna had contacted me only a few months before their big day, so like many of the couples that I work with who come to NH for their wedding day but live elsewhere, I did not get to meet them prior to booking. But, we did schedule a meeting before the big day, and at that moment I knew I was really going to enjoy this day. It was made even better by a blue bird sky.

I love day time weddings in the Fall. They generally start much earlier than summer weddings because of the shorter days. So, I arrived around 9:ooam -- a little early still -- to have some time to walk around and enjoy the morning while photographing the farm...



While walking around, I spied Jenna and her mom arriving...


Here's Jenna greeting some of her family and friends as they arrive to help her get ready. Everyone on this day was greeted by this warm smile...


I stole a few of her things to capture some details...


But did give them back so that Jenna could get dressed, of course...



Down the hall, Peter was getting ready. With no groomsmen or bridesmaids in their wedding, Peter was "in and out", eager to get downstairs to greet guests...


Back in Jenna's room, she was pretty much ready to go too, but more eager to watch as everyone made their way down to the garden for the outside ceremony. "That seems like more people that I thought..."


The farm was surrounded by Autumn fire -- i.e. foliage -- and the ceremony location, along with the rest of the farm, was decorated in the burnt oranges, reds and browns of Fall...


A shot of the ceremony location from my walk around earlier in the morning before everyone arrived...


At the appointed hour, Jenna and her father made the long walk from the farm house to the ceremony...


And it was no surprise to see who was most excited to see the bride...


She seemed pretty happy too...


An exchange of vows and rings...


Sealed with a kiss...


Done deal! Always an exciting moment...


Following the ceremony we took a few minutes for family pictures, and then a few more for some portraits of the newlyweds...


Jenna's flowers were by the Flowering Vine, and they looked amazing...



Several of my favorite images of the day were taken in the large field in front of the farm. The sky was amazing, and the Fall colors popped. A little bit of a breeze even helped with Jenna's veil, though mostly tied it in knots!


Finished, we all made out way back inside. Here are a few of the lovely Fall details...




Welcoming the new Mr. and Mrs.!


And their first dance. I love the expressions during the first dance...



Toasts...


A little moment captured during dinner, and their beautiful Fall cake...



Their reception was a little more relaxed than most evening events, so although their was music playing, more time was spent socializing than dancing. As the day drew to a close, we snuck outside for a few more pictures, this time accented with snow flakes. You've got to love New England. Of course, now February, I thought we'd have had a few more of those snowflakes. It seems to be the winter that never happened!


Thank you Jenna and Peter for having me along to document your day. You both were so gracious and open to me. Congratulations, again!

2012 Ice Fest Face Off

A couple of weeks ago I was psyched to be photographing the Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival's Face Off mixed climbing competition again. Always a fun event, it's great to watch some of the region's strongest climbers go head-to-head on a completely manufactured, and somewhat silly climbing route. I mean, how often do you find yourself hooking your way up door hinges and PVC pipes? In the context of a mixed climbing competition, however, anything goes, especially anything that makes it more entertaining!

The two routes that competitors would battle over were set by my good friends Jim Ewing of Sterling Rope and Josh Hurst, two of the strongest mixed climbers in the northeast. Below, competitors Janet Bergman and Bayard Russell eye the route...


Prior to the comp kicking off, Canadian uber-climber Will Gadd ran a lap on the wall and then gave one of the best climbing presentations I have seen in a long time...


A couple of thank-yous by International Mountain Climbing School owners Brad White, below left, and Rick Wilcox. Then MC Freddie Wilkinson kicked things off...


One of the first climbers up was my friend Hillary. After a few moments spent energizing the crowd, Hill set off...


Silas Rossi kicked things off for the men, pulling down on the first PVC pipe...


Elliot Gaddy of IMCS putting up a strong effort, along with Lindsay Fixmer of Fox Mountain Guides...


Majka Burhardt pulling hard...


Women's winner Janet Bergman crushing...


Peter Doucette, also of IMCS, working his figure-fours...


Andrea putting up a strong showing, and Bayard Russell eying the first PVC pipe...


Men's winner Kevin Mahoney making his way across the foam "ice" feature, headed for the log, on his way to the win...


Congratulations to all of the Face Off climbers for putting your outstanding efforts and entertainment. Thanks also to the Ice Fest organizers for having me once again.

Peek: Chris & David's Portsmouth Wedding

Just a quick frame from Chris and David's wedding in Portsmouth tonight. More to come...

Wendy & Ben: A Dream Away Lodge Wedding

Tucked away in western Massachusetts is the wonderfully eclectic Dream Away Lodge. I have to admit, coming up the drive, knowing that I was on my way to a wedding, I made the assumption that I was 100% in the wrong place. The Dream Away just isn't your typical New England wedding venue. I mean, there's a neon Coors Light sign in the front window! But, no, this was the right place. And, it only took a minute to realize what an amazing venue the Dream Away is! Unlike anywhere else that I have photographed a wedding, this is an absolutely unique and fabulous place.

The first weekend in October I traveled southwest to Becket, MA for Wendy and Ben's wedding. The weather was not looking inspiring for their outside ceremony -- it looked like rain and was pretty cold. None the less, the rain held off and we enjoyed a great day in the Berkshires...





I met up with Wendy in the cabin out back while she was getting ready...


I was immediately greeted by one of the most engaging and warm smiles that I'd seen all year. And we got to see a lot of it all day long...



While I was finishing up with Wendy, David took a few minutes to photograph Ben before he left for the ceremony...


It seemed like the sun was going to try and come out, so it was off to the ceremony for us, which was a short walk up the hill behind the Lodge...


A fun moment captured between Wendy and her parents...


A great smile also from Ben as Wendy approached...


The ceremony took place on top of a small granite outcrop in the woods. Their families were seated on rustic benches, wicker chairs and I think even a sofa or two. Guests gathered around this mostly standing-room ceremony under the canopy of green...



Sealed with a kiss and the breaking of the glass!


Then a little walk through the woody path lined by twinkle light on our way for a few portraits...


I mentioned Wendy's smile, right?


Typical wedding venue decor, no?


I love the main bar with it's colorful light panels...


Out back was a tent with the dance floor. There were a couple of fire places outside the tent to keep the chill at bay, and the details inside were rustic, whimsical and colorful. Here's a few...




Before everyone went in for dinner, we took a few more portraits by the pond before it got too dark...


One of my favorites...



Then it was back to the tent where the party was just about ready to get started...


But not before a few toasts...



And Wendy and Ben's first dance...



Let the dancing begin...


Ben surrounded by friends...


Friends who can cut loose...


Love this moment late in the night...


And I'll wrap things up by the bonfire...


Thank you Wendy and Ben for having us out to your wonderful and unique celebration. Special thanks to David for joining me on the journey to western Massachusetts, and for taking over at the wheel around 2AM when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer!