Category: portraits

Jack and Zoe – NH portrait photography

October 22, 2015

This is Jack…and Zoe.

Jack is one of my all-time closest friends, a kid I met while I was teaching photography at an arts camp in Massachusetts. He had this innate curiosity about just about everything – that and a great eye for art and a knack for photography – well, you can figure the rest out. He quickly started turning into a phenomenal photographer.

Not only that, but he thought I was a pretty decent photographer that he could learn from, so we started hanging out. That was six years or so ago…and a friendship that has grown in breadth and depth with each year. We went from being counselor and camper to counselor and counselor, he’s now my second shooter at weddings, and it’s a treat to go out and just shoot with Jack.

He’s probably going to get a swelled head if he reads this, but oh well!

He was so intent – on his photography, on playing and producing music, on doing mostly bizarre things with computers, on studying his butt off – that he never seemed to have time for romance or relationships.

Imagine my surprise when he suddenly was hanging out with the cutest – and incredibly interesting girl, Zoe.

This past weekend we met up after they had scoured Northern New Hampshire checking out the fall foliage – and on a cold and blustery New England day I did some portraits of them.

Here’s one I’m particularly fond of.

j and z blog

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The Potter – MA portrait photography

October 4, 2015

I am an extremely lucky person – I have met and photographed some simply amazing people along the way, but few as incredible as world class potter and close friend Elizabeth Cohen. Her pottery inspires me – as it probably will you, check it out at http://elizabethcohenpottery.com/ – and she and her family are among the most grounded folks I know.

A month ago I traveled to see her to photograph her children and to do a family portrait. After those were shot, Elizabeth asked if I might do some of her…but not in her studio.

Here’s one of the photos from the shoot, one that, at least for me, travels deep into her soul. Tell me if it strikes you that way, is it more than just a portrait of a person?

2bwsep38-30-15 Cohen-Pratt portrait375

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Linden- Fashion photography

December 30, 2014

Long time friend ( and second daughter) Linden needed some photos for her college portfolio – she’s bound and determined to be a fashion designer. If my opinion is any indication, she’ll realize that goal!

We met the other morning – mild for late December in New Hampshire, but still bone-chilling cold if your portfolio consists of clothes designed either for New England summers or anytime in the Southwest.

She gritted her teeth ( and we took breaks so she could grab her jacket and warm up) and did a photo session before she ran off to visit relatives in Maine.

Hard to decide what I liked the best, but the prom dress – which she wore to her prom last year – is incredible.

Watch for her – she’ll be big time some day soon. Here’s a few photos from the shoot.

12-27-14 Linden clothing design 12-27-14 Linden clothing design 12-27-14 Linden clothing design 12-27-14 Linden clothing design 12-27-14 Linden clothing design 12-27-14 Linden clothing design

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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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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.

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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.

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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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Happy Thanksgiving -Tiana – NH infant photography

November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving is simply one of the best holidays – no pressure to buy gifts, surrounded by family and exceptional food, a lazy day ( unless you are without a dishwasher), a day to take a walk, a day to reflect on being thankful.

Two very good friends – Phil and Trina had their first child three weeks ago – and have no doubt what they are thankful for today! I spent part of yesterday hanging out with them and shooting photographs of newborn Tiana. (more…)

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