Archive for July, 2011

Crooner Approved | Upcoming travels & sessions

July 29th, 2011

Prints by the talented & delightful Steven W of Delovely Arts.           Tomorrow marks my 2 year anniversary of life in Boston. I can safely say that this place feels like home now. The vibe of the city is a perfect compliment to where James and I are personally at in life. [...]
 

Prints by the talented & delightful Steven W of Delovely Arts.
 
 
 

    Tomorrow marks my 2 year anniversary of life in Boston. I can safely say that this place feels like home now. The vibe of the city is a perfect compliment to where James and I are personally at in life. The positives far outweigh the negatives, but it is even within those faults that i sense my love for this new home. I still love the changing seasons, even after 2 brutal winters. I welcome/prefer the walking and public transit, though I’m proud of how well I can maneuver the city by car (which involves a healthy balance of fist shaking, eye-rolling, and actual driving), and don’t mind my time on the 95 (which is just 95 here, can’t shake my Cali verbiage). The most difficult hurdle is the 3,000 miles between me and so many people I love. Donations of flier miles or private jets are always appreciated. ;)

    Yes, I can officially say that Boston has joined my group of favorite cities in the country, thus forming the holy trinity of locals that have stolen my heart.  I’ve left my heart in San Francisco, strayed right through the very heart of NYC, and am so thankful I’ve shipped up to Boston (whoa). Yes, I just tossed Dropkick Murphys in with Bennett & Sinatra. We apparently lack the crooner love ov-ah he-yah.

   All of that said, I’m excited to share that this fall I will have the opportunity to spend time in all 3 wonderful cities, as well as a few more stops throughout my beautiful home state of California!  :) I am thrilled to get a bit of time to wander the cities alone and engage in my favorite pastime: capturing the dramatic collision of people and architecture … preferably ninja-style.  However, I would love to connect with those who have requested portraits the next time I came to town!  My (rough) itinerary is listed below.

Empire State of Mind

September 9-11.

Also, in celebration that ALL couples can now marry in NY, I am running an “It’s About Damn Time” promotion. :) Any  NY couples to book an engagement/family session, or a wedding package, will receive 20% off of the final fee. Booking needs to occur by the end of 2011, session/wedding needs to take place between Fall 2011 and December 31, 2012.  Connect with me below for more information!

California Love

November 19-21: San Francisco
Nov 22: Oakhurst
Nov 23-24: Bakersfield
Nov 25-Dec 1: Orange County

Hopefully someday soon I can run the same promotion in CA. Come on sunshine state, get on the ball. ;)

If you would like to meet up in any of these locations for a session, a cup of tea, and a chance to catch up, you can connect with me by scrolling to the bottom of this post and clicking on those hand dandy buttons. I look forward to it! For now, I’m off to daydream about the things I love about these cities besides the art & the people: Brunch & Tea at Alice’s Tea Cup, Gilroy Garlic Fries (if I can’t make it to Giants Stadium, I WILL track them down), and chai latte’s from Alta. Oh sweet calories, be mine.

Cheers,

Briana

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Second Nature | Shang Chen | Ocean View Inn

July 27th, 2011

Welcome to the first of my Second Nature series. I primarily work as a lead photographer, but I highly value taking the time to work as a second shooter or an assistant when possible. Transitioning my business from California to New England has thankfully given me the opportunity to work with many talented local photographers [...]
 

Welcome to the first of my Second Nature series. I primarily work as a lead photographer, but I highly value taking the time to work as a second shooter or an assistant when possible. Transitioning my business from California to New England has thankfully given me the opportunity to work with many talented local photographers this season, and I look forward to sharing that.  I chose to title this series Second Nature because it explains exactly why I value these experiences:

1. The art itself is second nature to me. I have a deep innate desire to photograph the world around me, both professionally and personally. Second shooting and assisting allows me more opportunity to do what I love, and (especially in a time of transition), to stay sharp. I am continually striving to better my craft, and there is no better way to do that then get out there and push yourself! Also, I LOVE seeing other artists in their element. I believe we can learn so much from our peers and love to take advantage of the learning opportunities presented through assisting. Some photographers take the time to teach or share, while others you can simply learn from through observation. Both are excellent ways to learn. I always leave these weddings completely inspired.

2. The expectations of a second shooter or assistant are fitting with my nature. I am a huge supporter of inclusiveness and team work.  I view other photographers as part of a community to support, rather than competition. I am very proactive, independent (when needed), and have a desire to be as helpful as possible.  I love building community, and I believe to be able to do that simultaneously with creating art is a huge blessing.

3. I love the reality check that comes with the experience. Taking my needs out of the picture and spending many hours focusing on how to best support someone else is not only educational, but humbling in the best of ways.  Perhaps it’s my background in event planning, or working with children, but I do not think twice about schlepping bags, grabbing water, carrying trains, etc. I do it with a smile on my face…because I love what I do.

I recently had the chance to assist the absolutely fabulous Shang Chen. I adore her, from her funky flowers right down to her black Chuck Taylors. ;) . Shang is currently in a transitional year herself, and I’m so sad she won’t be a local much longer. Shang is not only a brilliant photographer, but she is  also kind, thoughtful, laid-back, and completely personable.  Watching her interact with her clients is so fun and natural. While I was not there to photograph, Shang was amazingly generous and gave me the freedom to bring out my camera whenever my assistance was not needed, and even took the time to talk shop with me. It was greatly appreciated!

I had a wonderful time at the wedding of MengMeng & Shawn, which was held at the beautiful Ocean View Inn in Gloucester.  The lovely ladies at From Hair to Eternity  not only did a gorgeous job with hair & make-up, but had everybody laughing during preparations.  I loved the sweet nature of both MengMeng & Shawn. Their attitudes were simply a dream. Shang puts a lot of time into her beautiful blog posts, so please head over to her blog!  You can see her images and thoughts on the day here.  I’ll close with a collection of my favorite images of the day.


Shang, thank you so much for the chance to work with you!  It was an honor. :)

 

Cheers,

Briana

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Music Monday | Fleetwood Mac

July 25th, 2011

  Dreams   Rumours is an album that I especially like to bring out in the summer. Mid-morning. Particularly on vinyl. When Glee had an episode centered around the album, I was skeptical, but when Will was excitedly shared that he had Rumours on vinyl, and April asked “who doesn’t?” I got a good laugh. [...]
 

 

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Rumours is an album that I especially like to bring out in the summer. Mid-morning. Particularly on vinyl. :) When Glee had an episode centered around the album, I was skeptical, but when Will was excitedly shared that he had Rumours on vinyl, and April asked “who doesn’t?” I got a good laugh. However, I think so many people do for a reason. Playing it on CD almost doesn’t feel wrong.  This album has been discussed so much that there is really nothing new that I can share.  Instead of trying to expand upon the thoughts of the brilliant rock critics before me, I’m merely  going to listen (with a cup of tea) and enjoy a few moments of peace before I start my busy week.  Please join me…and share what one of your favorite summer albums are!

 

Cheers,

Briana

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Four

July 20th, 2011

He wandered into the living room as I flipped through our wedding album, and made one simple comment: I’m surprised how easy marriage has been. I smiled, because I knew what he meant. Life itself has not been easy. Our lives together have not been simple. Early on there was the typical learning curve, the [...]
 

He wandered into the living room as I flipped through our wedding album, and made one simple comment: I’m surprised how easy marriage has been. I smiled, because I knew what he meant. Life itself has not been easy. Our lives together have not been simple. Early on there was the typical learning curve, the struggles to compromise, differences of opinion to maneuver.  We have been bulldozed with financial hardships, debilitating health concerns, and the harsh reality that hard work and integrity are not always valued by others. There has been joy, fun, and adventure as well, but life as a whole, including growing together as husband and wife, has been immensely challenging at times. That’s fine… I like a worthwhile challenge. ;) The easy part? It is the choice. The choice to love. The choice to stay committed. If I could name one constant over these last four years, it would be the confidence in the choice I made on my wedding day.  I think I do at least one celebratory mini-dance a day. :) An anniversary calls for more than a display of my sweet muppet moves, so here is a peek at how we chose to celebrate:

 

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Fellowship & fireworks on the Promenade in Portland, ME

 

Camping & cooking at Rangeley Lake. We kept it classy with the wine canteen.

Exploring, kayaking, & sipping tea with a good book.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Moore experience without a dance party, or James excitedly bringing out the janky fisheye. The highlight: James saw his first moose. Now if we ever meet Brian Reagan, we can officially tell him while it wasn’t a flock, we have seen moosen… in the woodsen. ;) A few downpours helped confirm our tent was in fact waterproof. Silver lining: ample time for afternoon naps. Bliss.

 

 

James, thank you for cherishing our relationship as much as I do. For making the choice so easy. Again, and again, and again.

 

Cheers,

Briana

 

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Music Monday | Celine Dion… that’s right. Celine Dion

July 18th, 2011

To Love You More     I tweeted my love for this song yesterday, and was challenged to prove it… so here we go.   My tastes do tend to fall more within the rock/singer-songwriter/folksy circles, but I consider myself more of a music connoisseur than snob.  If it’s good, I like it. Plain & [...]
 

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I tweeted my love for this song yesterday, and was challenged to prove it… so here we go. :)   My tastes do tend to fall more within the rock/singer-songwriter/folksy circles, but I consider myself more of a music connoisseur than snob.  If it’s good, I like it. Plain & simple. A vocal background really gives me no choice but to love this song, and beyond that, respect the talent. :)   Randomly enough, I have a strong connection to this chest pounding Canadian songbird. The nostalgia her records produce is uncanny.  As a child, I begged my mother NOT to play her Colour of my Love cd for the umpteenth time,  yet whenever I hear that album I am happily flooded with memories of my home, our blue mini van, and the moment we realized the cat was in fact still on the roof as we drove down the highway (it lived). Her Titanic anthem was overplayed, but redeemed in college. When it echoed off the stone walls of John Wayne Airport as I was picked up at the airport, my midterm crazed friends singing dramatically out the windows, a tradition was born that is more powerful than any iceberg.  This song particularly grabbed me. I am admittedly a sucker for any song that includes the violin. It’s impossible not to sing along when  hear it… I have tried. Seriously, I have been present when this plays in public and I get antsy trying to adhere to social norms and not belt out the melody. It’s by far my favorite cheesy power ballad of all time.

One more confession:  I have seen her live. What started as a joke in the quad went much further than we ever thought it would. When the opportunity arose to see her during the final year of her Vegas stint, we took it. We went. We sang. We possibly wore tiny Hearts of the Ocean. Hands down, within the top 5 dorkiest moments of my life. However, I was completely blown away by her performance, as well as the ability to hit her chest that many times without any permanent damage. Ow. I walked in laughing, I walked out Team Celine. For-ever. ;)

 

Cheers,

Briana

 

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Prologue: Future Fans

July 14th, 2011

Follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong. – The Sandlot
 

Follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong. – The Sandlot



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Lemon and Lavender Feature

July 11th, 2011

 Molly & TJ were featured on Lemon & Lavender. Check out the full post here!
 

 Molly & TJ were featured on Lemon & Lavender. Check out the full post here!

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Music Monday | A Fine Frenzy

July 11th, 2011

      Rangers Singer-songwriter Alison Sudol chose the perfect professional moniker, as I was certainly whipped into a very fine frenzy upon my initial experience with her music a few years back. I connect deeply with her style, in fact, I think if I had to sum up my personality through music, I would [...]
 

 

 

 

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Singer-songwriter Alison Sudol chose the perfect professional moniker, as I was certainly whipped into a very fine frenzy upon my initial experience with her music a few years back. I connect deeply with her style, in fact, I think if I had to sum up my personality through music, I would direct people to her alums. Her sweeping orchestrations and playful arrangements tap into a wide array of emotions and responses to her world. Haunting. Thoughtful. Classic. Whimsical. Exuberant. Enchanting. Sassy.  Fresh. This young lady doesn’t limit herself; there is an hones in her lyrics that is refreshing, her commanding voice is empowering, and her talent is simply undeniable. If her strong follow up to this original album is any indication, she should be with us for years to come.

That’s just fine with me. ;)

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Breugem Family | Boston Lifestyle Portrait Photographer

July 9th, 2011

If asked to describe Joanna in one word, the answer is simple: Pillar. This description spans all of the usual phrases: Pillar of character, of strength, of community, and so forth. Joanna provides essential support to so many, and asks for so little in return. I first met Joanna many years ago, and after one [...]
 

If asked to describe Joanna in one word, the answer is simple: Pillar. This description spans all of the usual phrases: Pillar of character, of strength, of community, and so forth. Joanna provides essential support to so many, and asks for so little in return. I first met Joanna many years ago, and after one afternoon, I walked away thinking “this woman can do anything”. So far, she has lived up to that passing observation. Seriously, if I were tapped to recreate the We Can Do It poster, she would be my modern Rosie the Riveter. She is married to Mark (an Army Ranger who is elite both on the job and at home), and together they are fabulous parents to four (yes, four) lively children. As a family they have lived all over the country, and beyond. She thankfully is an avid blogger, allowing those of us who love and respect her vigor to keep up with their escapades.

My encounters with the family are few and far between, and up until now the timing has never been right for us to come together and document any part of their lives. With Mark away, Joanna opted to drive up to the area to visit friends, so we seized the opportunity for a quick session! With 8 fast feet and 4 individually charged psyches, we opted to forgo the usual portraits &  just let the children run free. Our time was organic, chaotic, and dynamic… I wouldn’t expect anything less. :)

Come frolic with us:

 

 

Did I forget to mention Joanna’s impeccable taste? Because if I don’t, it’s a crime. Look at these perfectly coordinated outfits. The colors. The textures. The shoes. It’s like working with wee J Crew models.   My heart melted the minute they bounced out of the mini-van.

 

 

I love Annie’s eyelashes. She was so comfortable around the camera & her sweet spirit came right through.

Weston was full of ideas for creative individual portraits… I caught this grin just after his best ninja pose. Mattie is observant and cautious. She took her time opening up, and while I managed to get a few great giggles, I thought this expression best represented her thoughtful personality.

  Clara Beth loves to sing, and performed an impromptu concert for me right on the lawn. This girl has serious star potential.


 

This is my favorite image from the day.  It perfectly captured their spirit.

 

Joanna… it is always a pleasure. :) I hope our next encounter is sooner rather than later!

 

Cheers,

 

Briana

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Music Monday | Bon Iver

July 4th, 2011

  Minnesota, WI   Happy 4th of July! I’m not a huge fan of patriotic songs, so instead, allow me to share a taste of what is sure to be the soundtrack of my summer. Choosing just one song from this album was extremely difficult, and I wish I could simply stream the length of [...]
 

 

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Happy 4th of July! I’m not a huge fan of patriotic songs, so instead, allow me to share a taste of what is sure to be the soundtrack of my summer. Choosing just one song from this album was extremely difficult, and I wish I could simply stream the length of this masterpiece & bless your sweet ears with all 40 beautiful minutes.I feel as if I can’t do a better job describing this album than Kevin Farr’s review: “He took time on this album, and it shows; the location-based song titles create a mosaic of Vernon’s adventures, each track symbolizing a place, state of mind and concept which was explored… Each song is strong and can stand alone but when all of the tracks (and even the album art) are explored in their totality, the true magic of Vernon’s uncommon and truly authentic sound comes to life”.

I am a visual person and as I listen to this, I wish I had more experience with video so I could one dare share what passes through my consciousness as this plays. Snapshots and blurs of summer bliss, warm evenings, intermittent gentle breezes & powerful winds, expansive fields, reflections upon still lakes, the charm of fireflies & the awe of fireworks. I snagged this album just in time for my vacation. We leave tomorrow for 3 days of camping on a lake in Maine. Perhaps I can capture enough to set a good slideshow to this song. On that note… I’ll be MIA until Friday. :)

Cheers,

Briana

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