Brian and Corinne, 5.14.11

As a photographer, attending a friend's wedding is an interesting dynamic. On one hand, you want to party it up and have a good time, and on another you literally do not know how to put the camera down in order to do so. You don't want to get in the way of the hired photographer, but you also feel the need to still capture all the details and important moments. Personally, I aim to do it all. :)

A few weeks ago my husband and I attended Brian and Corinne's wedding at the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland. You may remember them from their engagement shoot last November. The wedding was simply stunning, and I couldn't stop myself from taking pictures as we went through the evening.

Of course, it also means I can't crouch down in the middle of the aisle during the ceremony, but I was able to snap this adorable shot of them walking back as husband and wife.

After the ceremony the bridal party headed to Portland Head Light on a chartered trolley. My husband was the officiant, so we were able to tag along!

And of course, no wedding trolley is complete without champagne. Lots and lots of champagne. (Doesn't my hubby look so handsome?)

I loved the flowers Corinne chose for her bridesmaids and her own bouquet. Tulips are my favorite, and these bouquets were so simple and pretty.

Back at the Eastland, Brian and Corinne danced to Brad Paisley's "Then."

And, seriously, how awesome is this cake?!

As luck would have it, Corinne's graduation from her Master's program just happened to be this same day. She (smartly) decided that her wedding would be more important to attend, so her parents surprised her with her diploma, which they traveled to New Hampshire to pick up, and then had matted and framed. 

 

Another very special moment of the evening, was when Brian sang to his mother. She is in a wheelchair, so in place of the traditional mother and son dance, he sang "It's Your Song" by Garth Brooks. I really don't think there was a dry eye in the house. 

And then the dancing began!

I love the reactions of the boys in the background on this one.

Brian and Jim have been friends for several years now. I know Jim felt incredibly honored to be the one to marry Brian and Corinne. We're very lucky to have the two of them in our lives.

Brian and Corinne, I am so thrilled you have found each other. Corinne - thanks for bringing such a light to Brian. You really do complete him, and you guys are so lucky to have each other. Thank you for allowing Jim and I to be a part of your day!

Memorial Day, 2011

I meant to post this earlier today, but the sun was shining, it was a perfect 85 degrees outside, and I was thrilled to be outside with my family to celebrate this Memorial Day.

It still was important to me though, to write this post, and to post it today, even though there are only a mere 2.5 hours left to it. On Saturday, I was in Boston, shooting Laura and Preston's engagement photos. I used to live in Boston, and haven't been downtown in awhile, so I thought I'd go a bit early, feeling lucky for the opportunity to be in the city with my camera.

I stepped out of the parking garage on the Common, and was just about to cross the street into the Public Garden when I looked behind me and gasped, (actually it was more of an "ooooooooooooooh!" Just ask my husband who was on the phone with me at the time. I think I might have actually hung up on him, I was so excited). On the hill of the common were thousands, and I mean thousands of American flags. I simply could not resist.

It was amazing. I learned that they were placed in memory of fallen Massachusetts service members. There were so many, I couldn't stop taking pictures.

I was so amazed by the whole thing that I spent most of my free time just looking at it. It was simply breathtaking. The last shot I took was of this yellow rose, attached to one of the flags towards the front. I wondered who placed it there, and who it was in memory of.

I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day. I also hope you took a minute or more to stop, remember, and thank those who have given their lives for our freedom, and also to the service members and their families who are currently serving our country.

Laura and Preston, Just a Tease

Today I ventured to Boston to take engagement pictures of Preston and Laura. We could not have asked for a better day on this Memorial Day weekend as we explored the Boston Public Gardens and Boston Common. Here are a few teasers..I loved these two and I'm so excited for their late fall wedding later this year!

More soon!

Please Help - Sales to Benefit Tornado Victims

Maybe I'm just getting older and more aware, or maybe my eyes have opened up a bit more since having my daughter eight months ago, but for whatever reason, the recent devastation caused by multiple tornadoes across the country is simply eating me up. I can't go down and sift through the rubble, and help families piece their lives back together, but I can do my part to donate funds to help those who are in so much need.

Starting today, and through Monday, May 30, I will be donating 100% of the profits from any of my scenic prints to the American Red Cross in the name of tornado relief. It doesn't matter the size of the print, framed, matted, or just plain, I will not make a penny off of these sales.

Here is just a sampling of some of the prints you can purchase through my Etsy shop:

Sunshine at the Pond

Buoy

Coastal Fall

Edison's Reel

Sandy Path

Mariner's Knot

Peaceful Lake

Seaside Fence

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

You can also pick from any of the pictures on my website. Just email me at kristina@kristinaobrien.com to place your order for any print not listed in my Etsy shop. 

All of these photos are printed in a professional lab and framing and matting are available.

I'm very hopeful that together we can send along a helpful donation to the American Red Cross. Please pass this along to your friends and family, and keep the victims of these horrible storms in your thoughts and/or prayers over these next few weeks.