First Year | A Family Portrait Collection

When I think about this sweet family, three words immediately come to mind.  Loving, dedicated, and genuine.  I sat down with this beautiful mother back in March over coffee and we caught up after several years of not seeing each other, even though we live in the same town!  We graduated from the same college and knew each other through mutual friends.  She and her husband wanted family photographs to celebrate their son's first birthday and all winter I've been looking forward to meeting and photographing him.  I was excited to be able to document a day celebrating their first year of parenthood...the journey, the joy, the love...such an important time in their lives.

This husband and wife team have hectic travel schedules, full-time jobs, and somehow they manage to juggle it all...it was so important for me to give them a memorable sunset session together.  I loved seeing them slow down for one night to laugh, play, sing, and dance together as a family.  There were several times we all just busted out our dance moves, hysterical!     

And can we talk about this cutie?!  This little love instantly stole my heart.  Seeing everything through his eyes was so special.  How interesting the grass was or the silkiness of the petals of the flowers, he was exploring and crawling all around the open field.  Holding his parents hands as he tried to walk and yes, he will be walking soon my friends!  The best part was when his parents kissed, he got SO excited and absolutely loved seeing them together—it was priceless. 

Love filled the air this night.  I left feeling so whole and having so much respect and gratitude for everything these amazing parents do each and every day to balance life, always putting family first.  They are such a loving family who have a ton of fun, keep things real, and who laugh together.  I am lucky to have shared in such a special experience with them and am happy I was able to reconnect with this beautiful mother and her sweet family.

Here are some of my favorites from their session!
xoxo

 

 

 

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 Anne is a Connecticut based natural light photographer specializing in family, children, and engagement portrait photography.  To learn more about booking your portrait session, please contact Anne at annemariephotographyct@gmail.com

  

Tea for Two

This past weekend I wanted to do something special for my mom to celebrate her birthday and Mother's Day.  Something different that I knew she would appreciate and enjoy—it has been a busy couple of months and it was refreshing to have some quality time together. 

I surprised her with an afternoon treat to Tea Roses Tea Room in Cromwell for lunch.  My mom has the best sense of humor and her laugh is so contagious, so you can only imagine some of the jokes we told pulling up to the Tea Room as she was trying to guess where we were going.  We walked into their adorable gift shop and were led to a smaller, intimate room in the back where we were invited to sip on their exclusive tea and enjoy our afternoon together.  On our table was a three-tiered tray for tea sandwiches and savory treats, beautiful china teacups with matching saucers, and tiny sugar bowls with miniature spoons.  We felt like royalty! 

After our “high tea”, we poked around the gift shop.  My mom picked out a very unique turquoise blue vintage cocktail hat with a feather and birdcage netting for me to try on, very Duchess Kate-esque.  After learning a 90 year-old woman custom made it, I knew I wanted to buy it as a fun way to remember our day.     

My mom and I had such a nice day together laughing and enjoying this special experience.  I know how fortunate I am to live close to my parents and even though we spontaneously get together for dinner or pop in to say hi, it isn't often enough my mom and I carve out time with just the two of us to sit and relax together. 

I know we will be back, hopefully we will make this a new tradition.  In the meantime, I will keep rocking my cocktail hat pretending to be Kate Middleton! :)  

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 Anne is a Connecticut based natural light photographer specializing in family, children, and engagement portrait photography.  To learn more about booking your portrait session, please contact Anne at annemariephotographyct@gmail.com

Noank Village Boatyard Engagement | Nina & Russell

Because when I’m with you, the weight of the world seems less and the quiet moments in your arms are the ones I dream of when we become husband and wife.  It’s you and only you I want right by my side as the days turn into nights and months into years.  It’s with you and only you I choose forever.  They chose each other to walk through life together, laughing and holding hands.  And in each other’s arms is exactly where life just makes sense.  Nina and Russell’s love story is one of magical timing and knowing their paths were meant to cross in that very moment.

They laugh about how many social events they attended for mutual friends not even knowing the other existed.  Well, Russell definitely noticed Nina but you know what they say about timing?  It’s everything!  So after years of being at the same functions and never crossing paths, Nina hesitantly decided to go to an event where Russell happened to be and it was THE night their stars finally aligned.  The next day, Russell convinced Nina into going out with a group of friends and they hit it off right away.  Nina caught Russell’s eye from the beginning and through a little perseverance, it wasn't long before Nina realized the genuine, charming, funny guy Russell was.  Or maybe, just maybe, it was their first date at a local restaurant followed by the romantic performance by Louis C.K. where Nina knew Russell was right for her :).  

Russell proposed to Nina in the living room of their house.  Nina had just gotten home from a long day at work and walked in to find the living room completely transformed into a beautiful fairy tale with candles and roses scattered throughout.  They enjoyed a quiet night together toasting with champagne and calling their friends and family to share their exciting news!  

Back in December when we shot their Holiday Portrait Session to announce their engagement, it was freezing outside!  This time, it was the most gorgeous, picturesque spring night.  The Noank Village Boatyard, in Groton, CT was the perfect location for their engagement session.  This very special place of meaning was where Nina’s parents once docked their boat and all her childhood memories are at this boatyard and around this small New England town.  It is her place of peace and comfort.  The weathered boards on these docks hold so many fond memories of summertime cookouts and endless nights out on the water. And now, the same boards hold new, beautiful memories as Nina and Russell danced across them as the sun was setting.

Their love is pure, their hearts are gold, and most importantly they bring out the best in each other.  Nina’s classic, timeless beauty and Russell’s laid-back, dapper style was the perfect combination for such a fun session, not to mention their beautiful chemistry!  We ended the night toasting to their future and I held back my tears as I thought about their story and the happiness that awaits them in the months and years ahead. 

Nina & Russell- it has been such an honor to share in this special time with you both.  Cheers to creating many more beautiful memories together for you to treasure forever.  The best has yet to come my sweet friends!

Here are some of my favorites from their session!

xoxo,

anne

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 Anne is a Connecticut based natural light photographer specializing in family, children, and engagement portrait photography.  To learn more about booking your portrait session, please contact Anne at annemariephotographyct@gmail.com