*If you are getting married in Iceland and need a photographer please contact me!*

Iceland is by far the coolest place I’ve ever visited, and we barely scratched the surface. From the moment we started to descend into Keflavik my jaw was on the floor. My first thought was that we were going to the moon. This is what the moon must look like! It is otherworldly, that is the only word I can use to describe it. I had prepared myself for what it was going to be like, but it was so far beyond what I was expecting and I can’t even explain how. I almost feel stupid sharing any photographs, because it simply doesn’t do the country justice. I was the most excited about Iceland, yet that is where I took the fewest photographs. Every single time I pulled my camera out to compose something I would just say to myself “this isn’t even going to look as #@$&*#@ cool as it is.” We were there while the sun doesn’t set (the last set of photographs were taken around 4:00 *am*) and now I must get back for the aurora in the winter.

I was surprised how incredibly good the food was, because I had heard before going that it wasn’t the greatest. Everything we ate was absolutely amazing. I didn’t try the shark and Brennivin combo that tourists are supposed to do, but our friend Tom did and he actually said it was delicious! We picnic-style lunched it most of the time so that we could see all we could see without wasting time at restaurants, but the couple of restaurants we went to all seemed to follow the same trend. One place would do arctic char 6 ways, another would do lamb 8 ways, and another lobster 5 ways. Each place didn’t have a variety of options, but whatever their item was that they prepared a million ways was prepared perfectly.

If you are adventurous, I highly recommend not making Reykavik your home base if possible. Reykavik was fun for our last night, which coincided with the weekly Rúntur (yes, everything in that article is true, and we totally partook), but I suggest getting out of the city! We immediately drove east until we hit Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon, and about 10 minutes past that to our bed and breakfast. There is one road in Iceland that goes all the way around the island, and everything if sort of off the main road. Of course I had made a Sigur Rós mix for the long drive (about 6 hours) from Reykavik and it was such a good idea! There is a song that is a little on the cheesy side of their work, but every time it would come on at about the 7:40 mark, something insane would be presenting itself before our eyes and tears would just start falling! I kept saying how perfect timing the scenery is with the music we were listening to, but Tom assured me that it wasn’t timing at all and that we were constantly surrounded by this almost completely undisturbed (there are a few bridges) natural beauty. Anyway, the 4 of us totally *get* Sigur Rós now.

The geology is unlike anywhere else and like I said earlier, is otherworldly. Iceland is on a rift between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate above some mantle plume which is why the mid-atlantic ridge is above ground (YOU CAN WALK ON IT! – AND I DID). There seems to be no grass or much growing outside of greenhouses, most greenery you see in these photos is moss. I have no idea why this is but clearly has something to do with the fact that it’s all lava flow. I will stop talking about this now because I am not a geologist, just super interested! One of my favorite things is that they don’t seem to have names for their mountains, but for the glaciers on top of them. Vatnajökull is my favorite because it’s so much fun to say!

tl;dr: Brenivin, great food, desolate, otherworldly, geological insanity, need to go back immediately.

Meg & Pete met 12 years ago, after their then 6 year old little brothers became fast best friends. As time passed they were always friends, their families coming together for various life cycle events. In fact, their save the date was a picture of Meg & Pete at Pete’s prom, she had jumped into a quick photo with him, and later gave the photo to him with a message wishing him great summer and that when he is done with college they can finally get married. This was back in 2005, before they ever dated! So cute!

We met up in Kennebunkport, Maine for their engagement session because this tiny coastal town holds a special place in their hearts. Meg’s family has stayed at a beautiful house overlooking the water for the last 10 years which happens to be just around the corner from the bench where Pete proposed in the middle of winter, in the dark. They took me around to all of their favorite spots, and I was happy to be there to capture their first lobster roll of the season – a BIG deal. :)

These families are joining after a long and very close relationship in August at the Bradley Estate in Canton, MA. I am so excited to be a part of this long-awaited celebration!

They were married on the same date as they met, 5 years ago on a tour bus in Boston, which also happened to be Stephen’s birthday. Everything about this wedding was so personal and lovely, and I left feeling like I had just gained so many new friendships.

I want to note some of my favorite personal thoughts that they put into their celebration. Stephen would always get a bunny cake for his birthday, made by his mum. Julie & Stephen have been making each other bunny cakes for each other’s birthdays, and since they were married on Stephen’s birthday, there had to be a bunny cake! Keep and eye out for bunnies (they are hoping to adopt one soon!) and snowflakes throughout their wedding! They spend their free time on the mountain, so they honored her with snowflake boutonnieres, and 3 hidden snowflake charms (they love the number 3) in Julie’s dress. Julie sprained her ankle on Mt. Hood just a few days before their wedding, but she still managed to walk and dance in her gorgeous heels! Stephen is a Professional Lighting Director (for some cool bands you probably listen to!), and I was spoiled with incredibly awesome lighting that you would see at one of his shows. Julie really wanted to do portraits inside this rundown building by their house that they play frisbee in frequently, so Stephen made that happen.

Venue: The Nines & Springbox Art Gallery Catering: Voila Catering Hair/Makeup: Austie Eckley Bride’s Hairpiece: Austie Cake: Piece of Cake Dress: Tara Keeley from Ania Bridal Suit: Duchess Clothier Rings: Me & Ro, Megan Thorne from TWIST DJs: Friends of Julie & Stephen Lights & Video: Seat of Your Pants Productions Sound: State of Sound Inc. Vintage Rentals: The Lost and Found Photobooth: Happy Matic Pinball provided by: Portland Custom Shop Standup games: Coin-op Games

In early March, Danny and I along with our friends Lara and Peter spent a cold rainy weekend in Provincetown. Last year we spent a cold and snowy weekend in Maine and I hope that we have started a new winter retreat tradition! Even though I will be living in Portland soon, it will be worth it to come back (or meet somewhere!) every year with these two.

It’s so nice to have friends who you can sit around a fire with and each do your own thing and not feel pressure to entertain. That is what I love most about L & P. They are very chill, like us. We spent the 3 days in a cottage on the beach reading by a roaring fire, watching Emma chase ducks in the freezing cold water, cooking amazing meals on the grill (because why not!?) and just getting some rest and relaxation. We also hiked the crazy huge dunes, went to lunch at one of L & P’s favorite spots, played dominoes, and got an awesome tour of P-town because L & P frequent this area.

I grew up in Bar Harbor, Maine and my dad was a fisherman (he’s very proud of his 42′ scallop dragger) back in the day. I have fond memories of us digging for clams on the beach when I was little. One of my favorite parts of the trip was meeting these two men who were “quahoggin’” in the sand. There’s a part of the beach where every Friday and Sunday you can dig for clams with no license. One man, Paul, was so cute I had to photograph him. I’m a little shy when it comes to asking strangers to take their photograph, and Lara just went for it! She called me down and I grabbed a few snaps of them while she chatted and also grabbed some snaps.

All of these were taken on medium format film and is a mix of Kodak Portra 800 and Provia 400 – all processed and scanned by RPL. You’ll notice some of them have a blue hue to them and those are chrome film, which is something Lara introduced me to playing with! Here is Lara’s take on our trip!