Archive for the ‘lifestyle’ Category

For Guy & Shannon, Lake Winnipesaukee is home.  These waters are brimming with memories of care-free childhood and blossoming love. This year, their past and future were joined together on a fateful canoe ride. Floating peacefully, Guy proposed to Shannon, and her response was a promise to much more than just marriage. It was a commitment forever rooting them to the lake. This will one day be the place they can teach their children to swim.  Their grandchildren will drive over the bridge and point out where their wild elders took a sunrise jump into brisk waters, while they were still caught up in young love.  The lake is a part of them, and their loving legacy will be a part of the lake… forever.

Meet Guy & Shannon:

If someone had to ask me my favorite job of the season, I could point to this weekend without  batting an eye. I knew from the moment Shannon connected with me that it would be a grand experience. You may recognize these two from a prior post… Guy is the brother of my equal parts glamorous and endearing past bride Danielle, and Shannon was the bridesmaid expertly lacing  up her stunning gown. I was already dying to work with them, and when Shannon shared with me her vision for this session, my delight was uncontainable. James and I traveled up to the Taylor Cabin for a mid-week session, and we were able to spend time sharing life & laughter over meals, drinks, and gorgeous sunsets.  I swear, this is how life should be!

We started our double session with some good ol’ fashioned Americana. The kind people at Weirs Beach Drive-In let us sneak in for a snuggly session, complete with dog model extraordinaire, Lady! The evening wrapped up with some healthy competition at the local arcade.

The following morning, the crew woke up at the crack of dawn. Our brave and sleepy couple took off in the truck, and “Mama T” & I hopped into the boat for a drive across the lake. The water was smooth as glass.  We came together at the aforementioned bridge where Guy & Shannon literally took the plunge! No cup of coffee can provide a jolt as strong as jumping into the cold water from great heights. Hand in hand, they came down squealing, bobbed up grinning, and held each other close once they made it onto the boat.

After a break for breakfast, we headed back onto the water. This was a calmer journey.  Paddling off in “the” canoe, they recreated their engagement.  This is where both confirmed there was nobody else they would rather share their love and their life with. Except Lady, of course.

Like any good lakeside lover knows, no special occasion is complete without s’mores. In a way, this treat sums up their love perfectly. Sweet. Fiery. Simple, yet substantial.  Their patient approach to the fine art of marshmallow roasting is a tasty parallel to the time and attention they invest in their own relationship.

Love is messy. Love is playful. Love takes our subtle differences and melds them together to create something deliciously perfect.

Guy, your enthusiasm for life is contagious, and I believe that your attentive love and deep respect towards Shannon sets an example for all men. Shannon, you are a beautiful soul. Your joy and your kindness continually blows me away. Together, you can (and will) do anything your hearts desire.

This post is lovingly dedicated to the late, great   Jeff Taylor .  Shannon’s father was a huge part of this shoot. He played the role of chauffeur, heckler, tour guide, and most of all, Proud Daddy! His laughter and his winks brought an added joy to the day.  The memory of his fine balance between encouraging Guy to “kiss her good” and then warning him “ok, that’s enough, Mister” will always make me laugh. Many images where Shannon is looking off and laughing are directly related to his antics taking place just out of the frame.  The picture below is a behind the scenes image from one of those moments. Shannon and Guy were distractedly laughing, and I turned to find him rolling on the ground  with Lady, and just loving every minute of it.

My time with him was brief, but that was all it took to see that he was greatly loved… and that he loved greatly. He was taken away from his family and friends far too soon, but he will be so fondly remembered. Like his children, his legacy is tied to the lake, and his spirit will live on in it’s refreshing waters.

Cheers to you, Jeff.