Author: Jay Reiter

Maeve – Massachusetts newborn photography

August 10, 2014

One of the best compliments I get is when I’m asked to shoot newborn photos of a couple whose wedding I photographed.

It’s a great reality check on the fact that my clients were very happy with their wedding photos. Such is the case with three-week-old Maeve, the daughter of Gerard and Scarlett. I swung by their house this afternoon and was greeted to the sight of one of the cutest infants ever!

Usually newborn photography is a real test of the photographer – there’s no such thing as any commands – the child will look where ever they please, will cry, smile, sleep and do what they want. You just have to understand that they have all the control – the best you can do is work with the light and be flexible and laid back. I think that may be why some photographers cringe at the thought of a newborn photo session.

I like the idea of the subject having all that power – it’s no different than my days as a photojournalist. The job is to document not direct . . . it really is a great way to work.

So here is Maeve – hopefully the first of a number of photo shoots I’ll do with her.

8-10-14 Maeve Tannetta 8-10-14 Maeve Tannetta

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Lizzie and Tommy – New Hampshire wedding photography

July 29, 2014

Tamworth, New Hampshire is a sleepy little town tucked away in the White Mountains – sleepy, that is,  until you discover it.

Upon finding it you’ve stumbled upon one of the prettiest areas of a state that is overflowing with pretty areas – and it is a perfect place for a wedding.

Tommy’s family has been coming here for years and years and a few years ago his sister got married here. I was so excited when Lizzie called me about shooting her wedding. My excitement wasn’t wasted! She and Tommy are an amazing couple, very comfortable with each other, allowing the other to have space, freedom and interests that they then bring back to the relationship.

The wedding could only be described as country chic – full of class with a down-home rural New Hampshire flavor. Met a whole lot of new people, reacquainted with  others from Gusty’s wedding, was treated to a huge full moon, fireworks display and exceptional band, Sweeter in stereo.

No other words for it than to say a perfect day for a great couple! Here’s a few photos from the event.7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding 7-12-14 Lizzie and Tommy Wedding

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Torunn – Massachusetts child photography

July 6, 2014

Starting to revert more and more to Black and White – it’s where I started and where I keep returning. There’s just something so honest about black and white – you don’t get lost in the color, your attention is forced into the content and composition of the photo.

In this day and age of filters, presets and canned actions the craft of imaging feels lost in a sea of one-click adjustments. It feels nice to look at images in a simpler way though I think black and white is really much more complex.

Take Torunn, for instance. Her blond hair and red shorts pull your eye away from the feeling of the pure innocence of a napping child. There’s certainly a time and place where color really adds to the information, but for the most part I think it detracts.

Torunn is the youngest daughter of the head of the textile department at Charles River Arts Camp ( my home away from home in the summer). She – like her Mom – is a super high energy never-stop-for-a-break kind of kid.
The other day she finally ran out of steam – much to the surprise . . . and delight of her babysitter.
I was threatened with my life if I woke her while shooting – I was very careful!
Now if I could figure out how to load that Tri-X film into a digital camera! Just imagine, the speed of digital combined with the quality of film.
Nirvana indeed.

Torunn

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Kendrick – NH senior pictures

June 26, 2014

Generally I don’t start shooting senior till late summer/early fall. The combination of teens wanting maximum tan and a healthy dose of procrastination conspire to create a crush of photo sessions close to yearbook deadlines.

What a treat to get to do a shoot in June! Kendrick is a renaissance kind of guy – serious student, has a plan for the future, competitively swims the butterfly and individual medley and is a surfer. The location was a no brainer – off to the beach. It was kind of a beautiful day, only thing missing was a few clouds in the sky to add some visual interest, but you just can’t have everything.

We spent a couple of hours meandering the beach, shooting this and that, trying different combinations of clothes, talking and just having fun. That’s an essential ingredient to a senior shoot – if it’s not fun the pictures won’t be as good as they could and probably won’t reflect who the young adult is.

Here are a few photos from the shoot.

6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO 6-22-14 KENDRICK RUBINO

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Tiana – NH child photography

May 3, 2014

I, like so many other people, am aware of how quickly time passes, but nothing makes it so evident to me than when I photograph children.

In late November I photographed Tiana, the daughter of one of the great tattoo artists of New England, Phil at Tattoo Junkies in Newmarket.

Last weekend I went over to Phil’s to copy some of his painting for him, and while there I saw Tiana. Now almost 6 months old, I barely recognized her from the infant I had photographed in November. Could this really be the same little girl?

The paintings would have to wait – the fast passage of time had it’s hook in me, and Tiana was the only subject I could photograph.

A little time with her, I finished the paintings and jumped in the car to drive home, thinking to myself I’m glad I act so young – because time flying by makes all of us older by the day.

tianablogJRR_4657_pp

 

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Spring…finally – NH landscape photography

April 13, 2014

I spend a lot of time in the woods with my dog. He needs ( and deserves ) to get out and run daily – he just was never designed for a leash and 6 feet of non-freedom. And the truth be told, I kinda need that freedom too. Being in the woods is where I release the pent up stress, frustration and aggravations that can build up.

He and I frequently go to the “rail trail”. It’s a recreational trail that has snowmobiles in the winter and bikes and runners/walkers the other three seasons. It’s also an attraction for people who want their dogs to get off leash as well as a wildlife haven.

A week ago I was still walking on ice and slush and the beaver pond/swamp was iced in. Yesterday it was all mud…and ice out. It’s officially spring!

Two great blue herons wading the shorelines and a beaver working out the rust from an ice bound winter – and an almost full moon at dusk. No gloves or layers needed- and a week or so before the mosquitos hatch though I suspect the ticks are already crawling around.

But the best part – the peepers calling so loud you can’t hear yourself think, the surest sign that winter is over, a sound so delightful it keeps you up at night. It’s a fleeting moment – the peepers are only active for a week or so, but it’s like the best dessert ever.

Spring – yes!

moon in swamp

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Winter’s Icy Grip – NH landscape photography

March 24, 2014

Winter just won’t let go this year – it’s March 24 and the temperature is supposed to be down in the single digits again tonight. Damn cold walking the dog this morning, bundled up like a Siberian refuge and wishing the dog would hurry up!

Went to Heron Point this afternoon with the dog, thinking I could walk carefully and do some photos in the woods. Fat chance – the path was shear ice, way too slippery for a pair of newly replaced knees. One slip and it’s down the bank into the river.

Gave up on accessing the woods, but was able to get a path to the river with its glorious ice. The Lamprey River is tidal, so there’s a constant push and pull on the ice floes, and what little warm weather we’ve had hasn’t served to melt much. The result, ice shoved up against ice. Wondering what it looked like before I was able to get back out into nature.

Did manage a few photos – and will probably get back again before ice-out.

3-24-14 RIVER ICE 3-24-14 RIVER ICE 3-24-14 RIVER ICE

 

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Mikey – NH portrait photography

March 7, 2014

It’s last second scramble for yearbook pictures time at school, so suddenly my equipment is at school daily and I’m doing head shots of students who weren’t here for school picture day. One student wanted me to photograph him…how could I say no?

I enlisted two other students to hold a piece of black cloth – one had it wrapped around the side so it would prevent the window light from bouncing back and filling in the not-lit side of his face.

A conversion to black and white, minor skin retouching and…Mikey!mikey

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Looking back – editorial photography

February 27, 2014

Two days ago I had the privilege of speaking to a photojournalism class at New Hampshire Institute of Art. Preparing was hell! How do you boil down 35 years of news coverage to 50-100 images? Some of the major events like the Attica prison riot happened before they were born. (more…)

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