Lisa Manchester Photography - Hardwick Vermont Baby,Child, Family Portrait Photographer

Before and After - Child Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2012-02-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a simple snap shop turns into a most beautiful portrait! That was the case with these little beauties. My dear friend Amy invited me over to see their new baby bunnies a few months ago, so I brought my camera along. This is her lovely little red head holding one of them. The light is always gorgeous in this house! I hadn't planned on doing any serious portraits. Just some snaps for a friend. So, I didn't bother with a custom white balance, cleaning faces, moving hair out of the eyes, or moving distracting background elements out of the way.

Here is a before and after. The before is pretty much straight out of the camera (SOOC), except for the crop. Since it was "just a snap shot" it required a little more work in post processing than an image that was intended to be a portrait from the beginning. But it turned out lovely, and will make a beautiful wall portrait in their lovely home.

hardwick vermont photographer | vermont child photographer | bunny red head | before and after

Angel Sneak Peak - Child Photographer Montpelier, Vermont

2012-01-29T17:07:00.000-05:00

Here's a little sneak peak of a Valentine's Day Petite Mini I did yesterday. This little angel's mommy brought these wings in for their session. What a little sweetheart he is! More to come....

montpelier vermont photographer | vermont child photographer | studio photo session | valentines day |angel

Beauty - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2012-01-26T20:17:00.000-05:00

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

hardwick vermont photographer | vermont portrait photographer | vermont child photographer | outdoor photo session | black and white

Vermont Snowfall - Family Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2012-01-22T12:59:00.000-05:00

The snow was falling so slow and beautifully this particular morning. So I grabbed my camera and stuck one foot out the door, and shot some photos. I'm allergic to snow, but I think it's realy perty. *wink*

hardwick vermont photographer | vermont portrait photographer | vermont family photographer | outdoor photo session | snow pictures

Sweet But Tough Little Red Head - Vermont Child Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2012-01-21T11:38:00.001-05:00

This is my dear friend Amy's little red head. She's a little ball of spunk and sweetness all rolled up into one. I love these shots of her I took over the summer. They portray her so perfectly. She's a tough little Taekwon-Do fighter on the outside, but simply the sweetest little girl on the inside. Life is good when your a little girl. Running through fields so carefree. I miss those days, don't you?

Valentines Day Sweet Petite Mini-Sessions! - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2012-01-13T20:55:00.002-05:00

It's always hard for me to move right into Valentines Day after Christmas. It seems like I just took the tree down, so to think of the next holiday after the craziness of November and December just doesn't seem right. :o) Anyway, I'm excited to announce these super cute mini-session!

Your children will have the most unique Valentines Day cards to hand out to their friends at school or day care. Or just to send out to family. There are 3 card styles to choose from for both boys and girls. A little something for everyone!

This great deal takes place for only one day, and space is limited. So, don't wait! Contact me via my contact tab, or give me a call to schedule your session today. 802-745-8877.

Card 1 Boy

Card 1 Girl

Card 2 Boy

Card 2 Girl

Card 3 Boy

Tori - Senior Portrait Photographer Barre, Vermont

2011-12-14T16:15:00.003-05:00

Tori wanted some special photos to give as Christmas gifts. She isn't actually a senior yet, but our portrait session was much like what I would have done for a senior. I love the way her images came out. They have that urban feel to them. Just what most seniors are looking for!

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Stocking Stuffers!!!

Looking for a nice stocking stuffer? My boutique notecards are on sale right now. Buy one, get one free. These usually retail for $16.00 per pack. Each pack contains 4 unique floral designs and 4 parchment envelopes. Plus, receive a lovely complimentary bookmark in each pack.

Please contact me to purchase.

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Gift Certificates!!

Also, one day left for my gift certificate special! For every dollar you spend, receive $1.25 value! These make great gifts any time of the year!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

The Lapierre Family - Family Portrait Photographer Greensboro Bend, Vermont

2011-12-02T10:56:00.002-05:00

The Lapierre family took advantage of a Christmas Mini-session this year! We were able to shoot their portraits in their beautiful back yard because they practically live down the street from me. :o) I'm honored to know these sweet people, and it was also an honor to photograph their beautiful family!

greensboro bend vermont photographer | vermont portrait photographer | vermont child photographer | vermont baby photographer | vermont family photographer

Precious - Newborn Baby Portrait Photographer St. Johnsbury, Vermont

2011-11-22T09:59:00.001-05:00

Eleven days new and so very sweet, tiny, and precious. I love this time, and I love watching a new family soak in the moments that are so fleeting. What a treasure to have lovely heirloom portraits that capture these moments forever. These are the moments when snapshots are sometimes not enough.
It was a pleasure to spend time with this sweet family. Baby R is a treasure, for sure, and I hope I have the opportunity to watch her grow up!

Prettiest little rosebud - Newborn Portrait Photographer St. Johnsbury, Vermont

2011-10-14T12:32:00.002-04:00

It's always an honor to be the photographer someone chooses to create their first family portrait. I had that honor yesterday with this sweet family you may remember from her maternity session this past summer. Baby "R" was so very sweet and scrumptious and looks like a doll. I love those first few weeks. There's just nothing like it. Here are a few sneak peaks for you. More of their session from yesterday will be posted soon. For now, enjoy your baby fever. :o)

Fall Mini-Sessions! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2011-10-05T11:38:00.002-04:00

Fall is such a beautiful time of year, especially here in Vermont! It's a great time to have your custom holiday portraits done, and Mini-Sessions are just the ticket! I have limited sessions available for a limited time only. Outdoor AND studio session available. Call me today, or use the contact tab above to inquire about or book your Mini-Session!

Fashion Friday! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2011-08-29T11:47:00.001-04:00

I know it's not Friday, but since I'm behind in my blogging (and because it's my blog and I can if I want to), I'm just going to shake things up a bit and blog two Fashion Friday posts....in the same post!!!! *gasp*

Also, be looking for my Fall/Holiday Portrait Special coming soon!

We fared Irene well. We live up on a large hill, so we were fortunate not to get any flooding...or even a single tree branch down. But the lower part of our town did. I'm praying everyone is ok and the damage is minimal.

Happy Monday, everyone!

She Glows...- Maternity Portrait Photographer Craftsbury, VT

2011-07-25T16:04:00.001-04:00

Pregnant women usually glow. I don't think I ever did (wink), but usually when I see a young mommy awaiting her first bundle she glows. This young mommy is the epitome of just that characteristic! She was beaming with joy and is so apparently excited about this sweet baby! So is her husband, who was so patient while I shot a few hundred shots of his beautiful wife. :o) This is a time in their lives they want to remember and savor. What better way to add to the memories than lovely portraits? They'll have them for a lifetime. Enjoy!

Sweet Birthday Girl! - Child Portrait Photographer East Montpelier, Vermont

2011-07-08T16:36:00.001-04:00

This was a birthday session for sweet little "R". Her mommy put a lot of work into setting up these locations. I can't take credit for any of it. She sells these sweet pennant banners on Etsy. You can find them HERE.

The "M" Family - Morrisville, Vermont Child and Family Photographer

2011-06-25T14:50:00.001-04:00

I came from a family of three girls, so this session was pure sweetness to me. Plus, their mother is my friend. Plus, I have three girls, too. Plus....these girls are just so beautiful! I love that they all wore coordinating dresses! We had a slight breeze, which was wonderful for this session. Three lovely girls on a beautiful day...perfection!

Beauty - Maternity Photographer Craftsbury Commons, Vermont

2011-06-22T16:24:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of spending part of my day with the "H" family of two...soon to be three. :o)
This is just a tiny taste of more to come. Not sure how I will ever narrow down the final proofs!

Fashion Friday! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Northeast Kingdom, VT

2011-06-17T08:49:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! Here's your June edition of Fashion Friday. The weather is still come and go here in the Northeast Kingdom, but I'm still hopeful that the summer will bring nicer weather! Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Fashion Friday! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Northeast Kingdom, VT

2011-05-23T09:03:00.002-04:00

I totally spaced on Friday and forgot to put up a post for Fashion Friday. So pretend today is Friday, mm..K?

Beauty In My Backyard - Child Portrait Photographer Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-05-20T15:26:00.001-04:00

Despite what others say, I love dandelions. When the grass gets too long, I get beautiful bouquets of these hearty yellow flowers from several children. I just taught my two little girls how to make crowns with them, like I did when I was a little girl. They had fun today playing in the yard with them...right before it started to rain. Which means I get to look at them for another day, at least. My big guy, Alex, started to mow shortly after this photo was taken, but he had to stop. :o)

Fashion Friday! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2011-04-21T21:15:00.001-04:00

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the weather cooperate so we could wear these outfits?! :o)

Mother's Day Mini-Sessions!! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Wolcott Vermont

2011-04-15T08:46:00.002-04:00

It's that time again. What do you get for that special Mom in your life for Mother's Day? When was the last time you gave her a beautiful portrait of the ones she loves most? Now's the perfect time to do just that.
All you pay is $79 and you get a 30 minute portrait session, 1 8x10, 2 5x7's, 8 wallets (of the same pose), and web sized digital files of each pose you purchase for online sharing. Feel free to contact me for any questions, or to book your session.

Sugar on Snow!! - Family Portrait Photographer - Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-04-04T17:06:00.001-04:00

Sugar on Snow is a Vermont tradition that goes way back. I'll be honest and admit that a) I'm not a Vermonter. And b) I don't actually know the history behind this tradition. But it's probably one of my favorite things to do here! I'll share how we do it.

First of all, the cast of characters. We have the hot maple syrup, which is poured in small amounts onto the snow (which is actually shaved ice in this case), a plain unsweetened donut to dip into the hot maple syrup, dill pickles to cut the sweetness, and some Vermont apple cider to wash it all down.

Here, Anna has poured a little too much syrup onto the snow, but who cares. It still tastes great. When it hits the snow, it thickens into a sort of candy. And man, is it good.

Here on the left you can see my experienced Vermont friend, Arlene, does it correctly. Once the syrup thickens on the cold snow, you can pick it right up, roll it on your fork and eat it. Then you take the plain donut and dip it into the warm maple syrup goodness.

What better way to cut the sweetness of the maple syrup than to eat a dill pickle! It sounds yucky, but I assure you the flavors compliment each other. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this. Mmmmmmm.......

And what do you do if you have eaten all the snow, donuts, and pickles, but you still have syrup left? Well, you drink it, or course!!

And what do you do if you run out of Sugar on Snow altogether??? Well, you cry, of course!

Or you can get a maple creemee!!!

Here's the boiler where the magic happens. It's quite steamy in there, so I couldn't get a good shot of the syrup in the boiler. But boy did it smell good in there!

Here are the different grades of syrup they make. My favorite is the fancy grade, but my husband likes the medium amber. Since I didn't grow up on this stuff, it has taken me a long time to warm up to it. I mostly like to cook with it (maple glazed port roast, anyone???). But occasionally, I'll do THIS. :o)

The steamy hot goodness coming from the top of the sugar house. Mmmmmm....... Sugar on Snow. A wonderful Vermont tradition I'm blessed to be able to share with you.

Lovely Frames! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Greensboro Vermont

2011-03-16T16:29:00.001-04:00

Lisa Manchester Photography is now offering these lovely frames by The Organic Bloom. There are many beautiful shapes, colors, and sizes to choose from, and will look beautiful on any wall in your home. For more information, please Contact Me.

The Kurtz Family - Family and Newborn Photographer Wolcott Vermont

2011-03-09T13:57:00.001-05:00

Sweetness, joy and love. That's what I felt spending time with this family last month. Their 20 month old toddler couldn't not have been more adorable. And their new baby boy, just 9 days new at the time, was soft and yummy. This is a large share, because there were so many I wanted to show, but I did narrow it down a bit. :o) Enjoy!

Fashion Friday! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2011-02-18T15:47:00.001-05:00

It's the February Edition of Fashion Friday here on the blog! Fashion Friday editions simply give you an idea of how to coordinate your outfits for an attractive portrait session.

Week 5/52 - Child Photography Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-02-08T10:07:00.001-05:00

I realize I'm a week behind on my 52 week project. I'm sure it won't be the last time I miss a week. Anyway, I did take some photos of our dog Isabelle last week, but failed to post one. Maybe I'll get around to it later today or later in the week.
This weeks photo is of my 6 year old. She has incredible eyes and eyelashes. I couldn't resist capturing her pretty face in the incredible window light a few days ago. Wish I could borrow those lashed for a day or two. ;o)

Week 3/52 - Family Portrait Photographer Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-01-23T14:39:00.001-05:00

I love photographing flowers! It's been awhile, so I thought it was about time I did another floral. These carnations aren't the ideal flower to turn into art, but it's what I had around the house at the time. They were intended to go to the cemetery for mother in law, but they never made it because of bad weather. So, I clicked away. If you would like to see some other florals I've done, just go to the categories tab above and click on Florals. :o)

Fashion Friday! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2011-01-20T15:48:00.001-05:00

Fashion Friday posts give you great ideas on how to coordinate outfits for yourself or your family to make your portrait session the best it can be. I'll post them at least once a month, but sometimes I'll throw a bonus one in there, just for you. :o)

Because She's Mine - Family Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2011-01-19T16:43:00.001-05:00

My children are my favorite subjects to photograph. Hands down. Nothing at all against my wonderful clients. And perhaps I have mommy goggles on. But I think my wonderful husband and I have the most beautiful children. And they are always so willing to be my photography ~~victims~~ subjects. I'm so very thankful!

Don't forget! There's still two days of Valenitnes Day Mini-Sessions left with room to book yours. And I'm running a great deal on sweet Valentines Day Cards for those who book a Valentines Day Mini-Session. Don't miss out!

Week 2/52 - Child Portrait Photographer Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-01-15T14:58:00.002-05:00

"See, Mommy? I'm so cute." It's a new thing my baby boy says. He started out saying "pretty" instead of "cute". But we corrected him and he was fine with it. And he IS really cute. So cute, in fact, we have to kiss him multiple times a day and give him a good squeeze and pinch his cheeks often, too. He's only 4, so he doesn't mind, but in a few years that will all change. :o( Why do they have to grow up so quickly? Those big brown eyes....they just melt my heart.

Valentines Day Cards and Bookmarks! - Family Portrait Photographer Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-01-14T14:41:00.004-05:00

If you haven't seen my Mini-Session Special I'm running just for Valentines Day, Click HERE to get the details. Along with your mini-session package, I'm also going to offer some custom cards and bookmarks at a reduced rate. This offer is only valid with the purchase of a Valentines Day Mini-Session. I have several colors and themes to choose from, and all text can be changed to whatever you would like. For more information or to book your Valentines Day Mini-Session, go to the Contact tab above and send me a message today!

(Image below is not displayed to scale)

All That Snow! - Family Portrait Photographer Northeast Kingdom Vermont

2011-01-12T14:41:00.001-05:00

I don't like snow. Oh...it's pretty to look at. And yes, my children love to play in it. My husband loves to snow mobile in it, But I just like to photograph it. And maybe watch it fall from the sky from the inside of my warm house. Other than that, I really don't have much use for it. :o)

Today it's really coming down. I don't think it will stop anytime soon. It's a gray, icky, snowy day in Vermont today. But it's nice to look at. From inside my house. Or in a photo. So, here ya go. Stay warm!

Valentines Day Mini-Sessions! - Professional Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2011-01-10T10:57:00.003-05:00

Who's ready for a Mini-Session?! Valentines Day is just around the corner. Wouldn't your sweetheart love a beautiful portrait of you? Surprise him or her with a custom portrait! Mini-sessions are fast and come with a small package of images to share (with the option to purchase more, of course). No need to change outfits or drive all over creation for the shoot. We choose one location (indoor or outdoor, your choice), and I'll shoot for about 20-30 minutes, and you'll have around 5-10 proofs to choose your prints from. I'll also include one web sized (and watermarked) image for you to share on Facebook. No sneak peaks till after Valentines Day, so your surprise won't be spoiled. ;o)
The images below are from my lovely daughters own mini-session with me. What are you waiting for? Let's have some fun!

UPDATE: Click HERE for some great Valentines Day bookmarks and cards!

Week 1/52 - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2011-01-08T19:34:00.001-05:00

I tossed the idea around to do this photo a week project, but thought I skip it this year. But after seeing this gorgeous sunset this evening, I thought I would share it as day one. I know I'm technically late for week one, but I'm going to call this week one....well....because I can. :o)
I'm sure this won't be the last of the sunsets or sunrises. The colors sometimes are so brilliant! And I love how the light shoots up right through the middle! Gorgeous! Enjoy.

The "B" Family - Family & Child Portrait Photographer Woodbury Vermont

2011-01-08T11:37:00.001-05:00

The "B" Family are friends of ours, and I had the honor of coming into their home in Woodbury to do their Christmas/Family portraits. They were ever so patient with me as I struggled a bit with my off camera lighting, which I was still getting used to at the time of this shoot. But I think we ended up getting some nice shots for them to share with their family and loved ones for the holidays.
Mom (Cassandra) has a wonderful food blog called Cooking With Cassandra. Check it out for some great recipes and cooking tips!

Beautiful Family - St. Albans Family Newborn Child Photographer

2011-01-06T09:02:00.001-05:00

The "C" Family was one of my most favorite family's to work with in 2010. The weather could have been a tad warmer, but it didn't stop us from heading out the door and across the street to play in the leaves to get some beautiful shots. Their 3 beautiful children were a dream to photograph, and so photogenic. And newborn baby "C" could not have been sweeter if he were coated with sugar!
This share is a bit heavier than my usual shares, but I just could not narrow it down to just a few. So, I shared just a few of my favorites.

So What if it's Snowing! - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-12-30T17:39:00.002-05:00

So who wants to get some Valentines Day portraits done? So what if it's snowing outside? Put on some red and let's get out there in the snow! Surely, that special someone would appreciate a beautiful custom portrait of you, right?
Christmas is over and we're looking ahead to Valentines Day. It's only a month or so away. I'm booking into January now and that's the perfect time of month to get your Valentines Day portraits done. Contact me for more information!

This is my sweet little baby girl. She got a new red coat before Christmas and it came with a cute matching hat. It won't fit her for long, and there's not another baby girl to pass it down to in my family. :o( So, I thought it would be a great time to capture all of her cuteness while wearing it, enjoying the snow today.

So what if it's snowing! You can still get beautiful images outdoors if the light is right.

Rachel - Senior Portrait Photographer Woodbury, VT

2010-12-27T16:13:00.002-05:00

Earlier in the fall I had the privilege of photographing my daughter's best friend. She's a lovely senior that has been homeschooled most of her life and is now attending a local tech school for her senior year. We walked around her house, and up and down the street she lives on and got some nice light and landscape. But the highlight of this portrait session was when her dad pulled out his fancy Model A! What a great prop! Wish I could have one in my back yard for other senior shoots. :o) As requested by her parents, I edited one of the images with Rachel next to the Model A into one with a vintage and weathered feel to it.

Merry CHRISTmas! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2010-12-24T19:44:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a Christ filled Christmas. And thank you for making my first year of business a success. I appreciate everyone who allowed me the privilege of capturing your most precious moments for you, and I look forward to working with you all again! May the Lord richly bless each of you this Christmas and always.

Something Pretty - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2010-12-20T10:10:00.002-05:00

I'm no landscape photographer, but I love to capture the occasional landscape. ~~Unfortunately~~ Fortunately, I live in Vermont, where the landscape is quite beautiful, especially in the winter. As much as I love to stay indoors in the winter, I must force myself to step out and snap a few shots of where I live. Breath taking....and I'm not just talking about the cold air and frozen nose hairs when you take your first breath outside. The sky is so blue, the clouds so puffy and soft, and the snow covered balsams...picture perfect.

I've lived here for 9 years and I'm still adjusting. But I must admit, I'm blessed to live in such a beautiful place. It's beautiful all year round. This photo is of one side of our property. Basically, when I step out of my house and look to the left, this is what I see in the winter.

What To Wear - Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick VT

2010-12-11T12:40:00.002-05:00

Here's another What to Wear suggestion for your family. Coordinating the colors of your outfits makes for amazing portraits. Some families like to wear all the same colors. For instance, I just ~~shot a family~~ did portraits for a family who wore all black tops. I've done families who wore colorful clothing, but everyone had purple somewhere on their outfits. All the boys can wear the same sweaters, and all the girls the same dress. The possibilities are endless, really.

If you need help choosing outfits for your portrait session, I'm happy to help. It can be done over the phone, or you can bring several outfits you are considering to my house and we can go through them together!

Fresh is Good! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2010-11-30T16:42:00.002-05:00

My dad gave me this sweet photo of his mother and her brother. I'm not sure of the year, but I'm guessing early 1920's. You can tell they had been playing outside in the dirt, as their knees, faces and hands are dirty. I'm not looking to go into the photo restoration business. This was very time consuming and my fingers literally ached when I was done. I suppose I didn't have to do it all at once, but it was hard to stop. I was having fun! Anyway, please don't send me your old photos to restore. I just wanted to share the sweet outcome of this fun project. Enjoy!

Tim & Amanda - Wedding Photographer Hardwick / Glover Vermont

2010-11-19T17:43:00.004-05:00

Over the summer I had the privilege of shooting a wedding as a second shooter for my good friend, and very talented photographer Sammi, from Around The Bend Photography. Sammi and I had a wonderful experience working together and I hope we find more opportunity to do so in the future!

Here is a sampling of some images I captured from the ceremony. The light was perfect that day and it was a beautiful ceremony even with all the bugs and the humidity summer brings. Enjoy!

Mini Accordion Albums - Family Photographer Hardiwck and Wolcott VT

2010-11-17T17:05:00.003-05:00

Aren't these the sweetest things? Mini-accordion albums make the perfect gift for loved ones, or just keep it in your purse or on your desk as a brag book. They measure 3 inches by 3 inches and have 2 sides. Each one is custom made just for you with your favorite images from your portrait session. I have several template designs for many different occasions.

Here's the good part. If your order is over $300 you receive 2 complimentary mini accordion albums!

Contact me for more information!

Heartbreaker - Vermont Child Photographer

2010-11-12T11:59:00.002-05:00

He's #3 in our 6 pack. Our 10 year old teddy bear. He has always been bigger than average, but he never takes advantage of his size. He has big brown eyes that will melt just about anyone who stares long enough. Me included. This photo was the result of me asking, "Hey, Sweetie, come over her a minute and let me test out my new lighting equipment". My kids are usually ok with having mom practice on them constantly, but sometimes they run. This time, my heart melter willingly obliged. Wish I had also asked him to put a nice shirt on. But who cares what he's wearing, right? Those eyes. They melt me.

Print Cropping Information - Vermont Family Photographer

2010-11-06T11:08:00.004-04:00

The "C" Family - Saint Albans, VT Family and Newborn Photographer

2010-10-31T17:54:00.004-04:00

It was such an honor to be invited into their home to capture photos of their new baby boy, and their two other beautiful children. I even got a few shots of their fur babies! It's always a thrill for me to photograph a new baby, but this sweet little boy was so content....and quite alert in the beginning of our session. At just 2 1/2 weeks old, he was already aware there was more to his world than mommy, daddy and milk! :o)

The two older sweet children were complete gems and had a lot of fun out in the beautiful yellow leaves for part of our session. Stay tuned for more of their session in the near future!

Seniors - Senior Photographer Woodbury Vermont

2010-10-28T15:19:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to post a sneak peak of some recent seniors I ~~shot~~ photographed a few days ago. It's not too late for seniors to set up a session. As long as the weather is good, I'll ~~shoot you~~ take your picture. :o)

A Crisp Vermont Morning - Vermont Family Photographer

2010-10-28T10:46:00.002-04:00

I love waking up to such breath-taking beauty. I had to run and change the lens on my camera, and in doing so, I missed the most beautiful pink streaks in the sky!!! But it's beautiful even without the pink!

Last weekend we had many friends from our church come over and help us split and stack our wood for us. I believe the last count was over 20 cords of wood was what was brought in. We have over 30 put up for the year. Our furnace is an outdoor wood burning furnace. We load it once a day during the summer (heats our hot water) and 2-3 times during the cold months. It's more work than burning oil, but it's a lot cheaper! By next fall, most of this wood will be gone and we'll be back at it again....cutting, splitting, and stacking.

Pretty in Pink - Newborn Portrait Photographer Wolcott, Vermont

2010-10-21T09:56:00.003-04:00

Baby A was 10 days new at our session. She had the most beautiful skin for a newborn! I honestly did not have to do much touching up on her at all. She wasn't much interested in sleeping for the session, except for a for 10 minute cat naps here and there. But what a darling, she was. Her mommy was very patient with me while she waited for her images to be processed. I was caring for my mother in law, who passed away the end of September, and I tried to juggle both editing, family, and mom, which made for a long wait for her images. I delivered her beautiful print order yesterday! Thanks for being so patient with me, Melissa!

Beautiful Eyes - Family Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2010-10-20T19:04:00.003-04:00

Twenty one years without glasses only to find out she's far-sighted! I'm so glad her constant headaches will go away, and she can see now! Glasses are such a fashion statement these days. And they're expensive! So, choosing the glasses you'll wear every day, I'm assuming, can be tough. I think she made a great choice, and maybe one day she can buy herself a few more pair to coordinate with her outfits.

A Little Miracle - Newborn Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2010-10-08T22:09:00.007-04:00

He was 3 weeks old for our portrait session, weighing about 6 lbs. He wasn't even 5 lbs. at birth. This little miracle was such a joy to photograph. His parents grinning from ear to ear and beaming with pride for their sweet new little boy.

I love each newborn session I am blessed to be able to provide. It gives me a chance to ~~pinch~~ ~~squeeze~~, hold and sniff the heads of these sweet little ones. You would think that a mother of 6 has had her fill, but I do beg to differ. :o) Each new life is a gift from God and each one so very special and precious.

Thank you, Jessyca and Justin, for allowing me the opportunity to capture such a special time in your lives.

Did you know you can have custom birth announcements made from your baby's portrait session? Here is a sample of a 5x7 single folded birth announcement. They are fully customizable. For more information and prices, please contact me.

This is the outside:

This is the inside:

**Some of the information on this announcement has been changed due to copyright protection**

The Morse Family - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick VT

2010-07-25T15:34:00.003-04:00

It was a pleasure chasing these cute little boys around my yard for this session. Sandboxes, swing sets, and people chasing them......what more could any little boy ask for?! Right?

The C family - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2010-07-14T10:47:00.007-04:00

Such a sweet family to work with! The C family, along with the mom's sister and her little boy, who were visiting from out of state, have such a beautiful family and the children were all so pleasant and a pleasure to work with. We were blessed to have a beautiful piece of property to work on from a dear friend of their family. It was an amazing and memorable experience. Thank you! Enjoy!

I would love to be able to take the credit for this last image, but it was the idea of Mrs. C herself. She requested this pose for her blog header! :o)

Dave and Amy - Wedding Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2010-06-28T15:20:00.002-04:00

This may have been a small wedding, but the hearts of these two are big! Dave is my brother in law, and Amy is my new sister-in-law! It was an honor to shoot these portraits for them and to see a big part of our family all together again.

Dave and Amy, thanks for allowing me to be a part of your special day. Enjoy this sneak peak! Your gallery will be up soon. Hugs!

And Baby Makes 3! - Newborn Portrait Photographer Hardwick VT

2010-06-14T01:23:00.010-04:00

This is the long awaited overdue family / newborn session I've been promising. Baby L is such a sweet little boy! And he's so blessed to have been born into such a loving family with a big brother and a big sister! He slept through most of it, but was angelic while he was awake. He was even nice enough to give us a little smile.

Enjoy! ;o)

What To Wear - Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick VT

2010-06-08T10:16:00.000-04:00

Celebrating Beauty! - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-06-05T11:39:00.003-04:00

It's so nice to have green grass and nice weather here in Vermont. It always seems to take forever, and as I look at other photographers images in early spring from other parts of the country, it's hard not to get a little envious. But it's finally here for us Vermonters.

These photos of Anna were taken last week in our back field. The light was so pretty as the sun was going down. It's hard not to run for my camera sometimes. And it's always nice to have a cooperative and agreeable subject, too.

Popsicles! - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2010-05-28T10:26:00.004-04:00

In Vermont, it seems we're the last ones to get the warm weather. This past week has been like summer. Beautiful sunny, hot days....which of course, requires plenty of Popsicles in my house...which means tongues and lips that look like the colors of the rainbow.

I love it!

Have a blessed weekend, everyone! Enjoy life!

I've Been Chosen! - Child Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-05-21T11:10:00.003-04:00

If you know who Ree Drummond is (aka The Pioneer Woman) than you probably know what a great blog she has! She has a photography section of her blog where she posts great tutorials and a few photo challenges. Well, the theme for her most recent challenge is "Happiness". So, I sent in a photo of my 6 year old laughing. It's one of my favorites! And Ree chose my image to be in the first of 5 groups she will choose winners from!!!!

She will choose one photo from each group as finalists, then choose a winner from those. What are my chances of my image getting chosen, really? All of the images she chose are fabulous. It's just an honor to have one of my images among them.

You can view the post HERE to see all of the other images in group one. Mine is the 6th one down.

The Pugh Family - Family & Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2010-05-14T09:09:00.005-04:00

This family is dear to my heart. It was a privilege to have them over to do some family portraits for them and catch some cute and candid moments (especially of mom and dad). *wink*

This is their 20x20 collage. This can easily be mounted on a standout board and hung on the wall with out a frame. The background colors can be customized to any color, or perhaps a nice pattern and color that coordinate with your decor. What better way to show off your lovely family!

What To Wear - Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick Vermont

2010-05-07T14:16:00.004-04:00

The Laramores - Family, Maternity, Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-05-04T17:16:00.002-04:00

Our friends, the Laramores, allowed me to photograph their growing family in the last week of her pregnancy as they were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their 3rd blessing. The kids were lively and excited that day, so getting these great smiles was a cinch! The dog even got in on the fun!

Little Levi arrived a week after these shots were taken (just a few days ago!), and I can't wait to do his newborn portraits!!!

Sugar & Spice - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-04-29T09:25:00.003-04:00

I have 3 little girls...OK, 2 "little" girls and one very tall, 20 year old, not so little anymore, girl. Erika is 6 and all about little girly things. I'm glad I was able to capture her sweet personality in these images from our little mini-session together.

I've ordered this collage in a 20x20 to hang on our wall. Collages can be custom made with any color background or embellishment, and can be mounted on styrene or many other types of hard mounts.

Loveliness - Child Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-04-26T17:46:00.002-04:00

I'm neck deep in processing right now, and will have some great images from some recent family sessions to share soon. And since I haven't posted any photos in awhile, I thought I would throw this sweet image of my 6 year old, Erika, on here while I get the other images processed.
I never get tired of taking photos of my children. They are hilarious sometimes, and, well...beautiful, in my opinion. They make my job (as a photographer) most enjoyable.

Red Heads - Child Portrait Photographer Hardwick Vermont

2010-04-09T15:02:00.006-04:00

I love these beautiful kids. They belong to my dear friend, Amy. We had beautiful weather all day long....until, of course, they came over for their mini-session photo-shoot! It began to slowly sprinkle, so we had to make the mini-session, a mini-mini-session. But I was able to get some great shots in such a short amount of time. It helps to have such beautiful, photogenic subjects!

Mini-session slots still open. Contact me for more information and to book your session today!

What To Wear For Your Mini-Session! - Children's Portrait Photographer Hardwick VT

2010-04-05T16:38:00.000-04:00

I still have some mini-sessions opened. The dates are coming up fast. If you missed the announcement you can read it HERE. These mini-sessions would also be perfect for a Father's Day gift for that special Dad or Grandpa in your life.

Here is a What To Wear Guide for children. Perfect for these spring portrait sessions.

Mother's Day Mini-Sessions!! - Family Portrait Photographer Hardwick, VT

2010-04-01T15:26:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day will be here in no time! I don't know about you, but I always struggle to think of the perfect gift to buy my mother and my mother-in-law. Something they never have enough of are beautiful portraits of their grand-babies that can be framed and displayed on their wall for all to see.

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What To Wear - Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick Vermont

2010-04-01T08:22:00.003-04:00

It's the beginning of another month. Time for a What To Wear sample!

The weather is clearing up, finally, and we're beginning to see some green and buds on the trees. Contact me to book your photo shoot. Also, be watching for a mini-session offer coming up sometime this week!

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Another Floral

2010-04-01T08:15:00.005-04:00

These kinds of images relax me. They make me feel like nothing could ever go wrong. There is such beauty in a flower, isn't there? Simple, but breath-taking.

Textures I used are from the Florabella Collection. (Bombay, Ginger, and Worn Linen). You can't go wrong with Florabella Textures and Actions. I heart them ALL! :o)

More of Baby A - Newborn Portrait Photographer Hardwick, Vermont

2010-03-22T11:12:00.001-04:00

I initially posted Baby A's sneak peak portraits HERE. With recent jury duty and other things this mom of 6 has to keep up with, I haven't had a chance to do anymore editing of this fantastic photo session until last night. Here are a few of the other photos from Baby A's session.

A new life is so precious and these first few newborn weeks are so fleeting. I'm so glad I was able to capture some of these moments for her mommy and daddy.

Week 11 - Mysterious

2010-03-15T18:07:00.000-04:00

I love this image of Anna. She looks so mysterious. You can't see what she's looking at, and it's dark. What is she thinking? Where is she?

Happy Birthday, Mark! - Child & Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick VT

2010-03-15T16:57:00.005-04:00

Saturday was Mark's 4th birthday! Since we have so many March birthday's in our family we decided to celebrate by going swimming. It's a rare treat for us. Here is my baby boy with his wonderful daddy as they played together in the pool. Mark had a great and exhausting day with all of his brothers and sisters (another rare treat these days!).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARK!!! We love you, baby boy.

Happy Birthday, Anna! - Child & Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick VT

2010-03-10T21:14:00.003-05:00

Our daughter, Anna, turned 8 today! She received a cute pair of cowgirl boots as a gift, so we decided to dress her up like a country girl and get some birthday portraits. Here's our baby girl....uh...or, not so baby girl anymore. :o(

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNA! We love you so!

My First Born - Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick, VT

2010-03-08T10:21:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to post this photo of my first born, Elyse, and her new doo! I love it! I have hair envy!

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Week 10 - Oranges

2010-03-08T08:51:00.001-05:00

This just makes me think of summer...which can't get here soon enough!

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What To Wear - Family Portrait Photographer - Hardwick VT

2010-03-01T10:45:00.001-05:00

I'm going to be posing a What To Wear guide at the beginning of each month. These are just suggestions for what to wear for a photo shoot. Spring will be here soon!

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Week 9 - Frozen Waterfall

2010-03-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

This is just a small waterfall in a nearby town. I love the aqua blue colors under the ice. So pretty.

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Baby A - Newborn Portrait Photographer - Hardwick Vermont

2010-02-27T15:19:00.001-05:00

This little sweetie was already a month old at the time of this photo shoot. She was wide awake and very alert for such a young baby. But she was quite sweet and content, and such a pleasure to photograph. This is just a sneak peak. There will be more to share in a few days. Enjoy!

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Week 8 - My Favorite Model

2010-02-22T14:57:00.002-05:00

Anna. She's always so willing, and always ready. Her eyes are what draws me in. I love them. I couldn't decide on which edit to post, so I posted both. I love the clean fresh look of this one. It just makes me want to take a big deep breath of fresh air.

But I'm really loving the dreamy vintage distressed look lately, too.

Which one do you like better?

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Photo Challenge - Hands-On Fun!

2010-02-22T08:22:00.000-05:00

There's a photo challenge over at I Heart Faces. The theme is "Hands-on Fun".

These hands belong to my beautiful daughter, Elyse. She has been playing the piano since she was 10 or 11. She's 20 now and is a very talented pianist. I love listening to her play!

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More of Baby Z - Newborn Portrait Photographer Hardwick VT

2010-02-20T10:34:00.001-05:00

I posted some photos of Baby Z in this post, but wanted to share the rest of them.

Day 44 - Sisters

2010-02-15T21:54:00.000-05:00

Elyse, our 20 year old, had some sister time with Anna and Erika. She did their hair and put lip gloss on their cute little girl lips. They just glowed for hours.

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Day 43 - I'm Watching You....

2010-02-12T21:41:00.002-05:00

I could watch my kids do nothing all day long. That doesn't happen very often (the kids doing nothing part), but when it does, I just stare at them like the moment I first saw them. Today, as Anna sat quietly watching a movie this afternoon, I sat on the floor of the living room just staring at her beautiful eyes. "I'm watching you...", I said, trying to get her to look at me. She knew I was trying to snap a picture and she was trying not to look at me, and trying not to laugh. All I had to do was say it one more time. "I'm watching yoooouuuuu...". Then she did it. She looked at me. And grinned. :o) I love it when that happens.

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Day 42 - Sunset

2010-02-11T21:25:00.000-05:00

So glad I got this shot today. I seem to stay behind on my photo editing lately and I hadn't gotten a photo today. We get many of these beautiful sunsets. I don't always capture them, but I'm going to try harder to run for my camera when I see them. They only last for a few moments, but they can be sooo breath-taking!

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Day 41 - Boys will be boys

2010-02-11T21:20:00.004-05:00

Mark is our mischievous child. Aren't they all at one time or another? Anna (our 7 year old) was decorating a princess wand I gave her from my Melissa and Doug inventory and she left out these jewels. They were calling Mark's name, so he did what any 3 year old would do. He stuck them to his face. But look at him! Isn't he cute? Instead of peeling them off and wagging my finger in his face and saying, "No No!", I kissed every inch of that sweet face and sent him on his way. Anna never noticed.

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Day 40 - Melissa and Doug Toys!

2010-02-11T21:14:00.001-05:00

Look at these cute toys! So colorful! If you've never purchased Melissa and Doug Toys for a child, now's your chance. I use to sell these toys last year on e-bay, but stopped when the fees ate me alive. So, in order to clean out my closet and get this stuff out of my life, I'm selling all of it for what I paid for it as an authorized Melissa and Doug retailer. That's wholesale prices, baby! You won't find these things any cheaper unless they are used or stolen. Everything is new and still in their packages. I am happy to ship your order and will only charge you actual shipping charges (no mark ups for handling or packing materials).

If you are interested in an inventory list to see what's left and how much you can get them for just drop me an email. vermontbaby@hotmail.com.

Yes, I'm advertising. On my blog. Because it's my blog and I'll advertise if I want to. *wink* :o)

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Day 39 - Dreamy Bouquet

2010-02-09T17:48:00.002-05:00

This is the flower arrangement that I got the lilies from for this post. I'm having a lot of fun with these dreamy effect and textures. Flowers are so pretty to photograph anyway.

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Day 38 - First Born

2010-02-07T22:17:00.001-05:00

This is our beautiful baby girl. Our first born princess. She's not really a baby any longer. She's 20 now. But I'm her mom and I'm allowed to call her my baby, even though she's 5' 10 1/2 " tall and looks down at me when we stand next to each other. But that makes her great to have around when I need something from up high. She's also a big help to me with the little ones and around the house when she's here. But she is also a good friend. I enjoy my time with her immensely, and since she's a full time working woman now, those times are not nearly as often as I would like.

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Day 37 - Scenic View

2010-02-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

There's a pull off in a town near here where you can pull your car into and look out at this beautiful view. I didn't have a zoom lens on my camera so this is the best view I could capture. I'm not a snow person, but it does look beautiful on the mountains.

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Day 36 - Sick Friend

2010-02-07T22:05:00.000-05:00

I would rather post a different photo. But on this day, I went to see a dear friend in the hospital. She is the mother of this beautiful baby, born about a month ago. Mama's had a rough go of it with some health issues after his birth. Now, she's back in the hospital with some blood clots in her lungs and some other issues. Thankfully, they are allowing her to keep her baby in the hospital with her because she's nursing. I'm praying my dear friend is home soon and back with her other 4 children and husband.

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Day 35 - Hola!

2010-02-04T17:01:00.003-05:00

Just a cute juicy face that I managed to capture smiling today. He wasn't looking directly into the camera, but I'll take it. He was playing dress up with Erika today and after she dressed him all up in "princess" clothes, I asked her to put something for a boy on him instead. Much better. Except for the girly scarf on his shoulder.

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Day 34 - Deep Thoughts

2010-02-04T09:41:00.001-05:00

A lot of thinking. A lot of concerns. Tough heart wrenching decisions this day.

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Day 33 - A Gift of Flowers

2010-02-02T16:17:00.001-05:00

There's a flower shop near the office my daughter works in. Today, the sweet owner brought some flowers to my daughter. Not for any reason. She's just sweet that way. So, I pulled a few of the lilies out and took a few shots. I love flowers. They just light up a room and make me feel happy.

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Day 32 - Hand Rail For The Littles

2010-02-02T16:10:00.000-05:00

This is about the best addition to our house we have ever done. A few years ago my friend Jerri, who has 13 children, posted some photos on her blog of the second hand rail they added to their stair case so that the little ones could safely go up and down the stairs. It was a fabulous idea, so we did it. It's wonderful. The little ones are able to navigate their way up and down the stairs easier when they are toddlers because they can reach the rail. And we've had very few stair mishaps with the littlest family members since installing this beautiful thing.

And here's an action shot with our 3 year old to demonstrate how this high tech piece of wood works.

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Day 31 - My Favorite Mug

2010-02-02T15:59:00.000-05:00

My good friend, Arlene, gave me this mug for Christmas. I know it's just a mug, but I LOVE IT!! It fits my hand perfectly and makes my coffee taste better. OK, not really, but I have used it every single day since receiving it. And I love what it says. It's just so me....and it's so true. And if it ever breaks, she'll just have to buy me another one.

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Day 30 - His Hands

2010-01-31T11:29:00.002-05:00

These are the hands of my hard workin' man. As I look at this photo I think of all the things these hands have done. He has built, taken apart, and repaired jet engines. He works on our vehicles. He has cut down hundreds, if not thousands, of trees, and cuts our firewood. He has built huge structures and small structures. These hands are strong. But gentle enough to deliver several of our babies. Soft enough to caress their tiny heads when they needed comforting. Secure enough to hold their hands as we all walk together, and empty enough to hold my hand at the same time. Quick enough to catch them when they fall. Firm enough to remind our children to be obedient, yet not too firm because they call out for him at night when they have a bad dream.
This time, he's building me a pantry for my birthday, which is in March.

I love these hands.

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Day 29 - My Baby

2010-01-31T11:11:00.000-05:00

This is my baby. I don't care what anyone else thinks. He's simply adorable. As I watched him sitting on the kitchen floor playing with his favorite stuffed toys I couldn't help running for my camera to try to capture the view I had. I wanted it etched into my brain. He has beautiful skin, luscious eyelashes (all of my boys do), and yummy kissable cheeks. And his sweet baby lips....is there anything better? OK....so, I have my mommy goggles on. I don't plan on taking them off. I don't think a mother could love a little boy more than I love this one. :o)

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Day 28 - Cold and windy

2010-01-30T23:36:00.000-05:00

Here's Anna while playing outside in the wind and freezing cold. Sometimes I wonder if kids can feel the cold. There are days I think it's just too cold for them to go out and they go out anyway and never want to come in. Then there are days when I want them to go out because the sun is shining and it's nice, but it's like pulling teeth to get them out the door. On this day, I could hardly stand being out there. My fingers were frozen and my ears were stinging. Yet, Anna just let the brisk wind blow her hair and she didn't even bat an eye.

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Day 27 - Sweet nothings at the chicken coop

2010-01-28T17:18:00.000-05:00

My honey is romantic. That's all I'll say about it. I don't want to embarrass him. But he is. When he built our chicken coop back in 2007 he etched this for me into the cement he poured for the stoop. We don't have chickens at the moment and we haven't had them for about a year, so I haven't been out to the coop in awhile. But the snow has melted enough in the past few days so it was there for me to see when I went out on a photo walk in my yard. If we ever move, I'm taking it with me.

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