November 18, 2008
Awhile back I had a quick mini-session with Kim, Doug, and mischievous little Ramsey in the little green space between the North End and the Boston’s financial district. Kim’s a fellow photographer, and we started off four years ago together trying to figure out what the heck to do with a speedlight.
Whenever I am trying to relax a kid and lose the cheese factor, I ask everyone to make a “very serious face.” Ramsey’s reactions to Kim and Doug are hilarious, to say the least. As you can see from the last photo, that little technique works like a charm almost every time.
I like this one best of the group shots, because it’s the perfect moment of Ramseyness. Let’s face it, the girl, like most her age, is a bit random. She alternates between playing shy and playing stage manager when someone new is around. I love the randomness of kids. They are always my favorite shots.
What a pleasure it is to photograph for friends.
[ more images here ]
(HIGHLIGHTS: crazy fisheye shot up into the sky, Doug’s faces,
and Ramsey’s little squishy smiley face when they lifted her up in the air.
Also, look at the way she looks at her daddy.)
Posted in personal, portraits 
2 comments »
November 17, 2008
Feedback from recent boudoir sessions:
Hey Rachel!
I ended up giving him the bpix as a belated birthday gift. He absolutely loves them, and still can’t believe that they were taken in our apartment. His jaw nearly dropped when I pointed out the kitchen table as part of our many settings!
He looks at the pictures every day. In fact, the black and white close up you had taken of me in the polka dot dress is currently sitting on his desk at work. Two of the 5×7s are on his night stand & dresser. We still need to figure out what to do with the outrageous 8×10 of the black and white full length shot of me on the table! That image is extraordinary! It’s breath taking.
Thanks again for helping me to surprise him. You made me feel so comfortable, and at the same time…be able to help me recreate one of his many fantasies.
The only catch is that he wants input on my next session! He’s so spoiled!
Wow! There are some incredible shots here!!! [...]
I love them, and I’ll let you know soon which book and which photos I’ll go with for his most original Christmas present ever!
Hehehehe!
THANK YOU!
Rachel,
Thank you! All I can say is WOW. You were so good at making me feel comfortable and it shows. Also, the lighting and composition is just great. Thank you for putting so many into black and white for me. I think [two specific images] are just phenomenal (if I do say so myself). [...]
After seeing these photos, I’m really hoping you hold mini-sessions every year so this can be an annual gift for hom… and I’m also pretty sure that I’ll be able to convince some friends to come with me next time.
Posted in accolades, boudoir respond with comment »
November 16, 2008
Today is the last day Ali and I will both be in our current house together during daylight hours, so we took advantage of this adrenaline to sort through boxes in anticipation of our move north of Boston.
I’ve collected quite a few wedding-related books over the years. Anyone want any of these?
Email rachel@mergeweddings.com with your mailing address and which books interest you.
Posted in random links 2 comments »
November 15, 2008
First, I am overjoyed to be finishing up my final wedding for 2008. I’ll be second shooting at least one more time this year, but second shooting is like putting the cake in the oven, then eating it when your best friend is the one who shopped for and bought all the ingredients, then measured out and mixed for you. Second shooters get to do all the fun stuff, maybe crack the eggs and lick the spoon, and the other person does most of the hard work 
Anyway, it is a joy to present the images from Cadence and Jesse’s amazingly heartfelt Newport, Rhode Island wedding. I LOVE RHODE ISLAND WEDDINGS! It’s a bit of a hike from Boston, but there’s something magical about that tiny state. Ali and I went out to Newport in March to hang out with Cadence and Jesse to see if I’d be a good fit to shoot their wedding, and one look at the outtakes from that session will tell you we all had a good time. I love and appreciate their quirky personalities and the way they are so different from one another, but so stable together.
Their friends in the wedding party were fun to hang out with, too. The girls loved working the camera and the guys talked to me about their top secret jobs with the gov and also about their beards. (Those of you who end up receiving our Christmas card this year will understand why I have a fondness for beards.) This wedding seemed to be full of happy people and loving couples. If you look through the dance photos, you’ll see that everyone was just having a good time.
Another interesting thing about this wedding is that I ended up shooting black and white for most of the day. Black and white images are powerful, but only really work work if your subject or emotion can stand alone. In this case, there was a strong storyline throughout the day and this is communicated through the images.
I loved this wedding; I love these people.
A quick word about the venues. Cadence and Jesse chose to see each other and do photos right before the ceremony so they could spend more time with people later, so we did a lot at the historic hotel where the girls got ready - Hotel Viking in Newport. The wedding took place in Cadence and Jesse’s home congregation - Channing Memorial Church (U-U) in Newport. Channing, dating from 1880, is beautiful - they just redid their flooring and have some wonderful stained glass.
The reception was at Bittersweet Farm Restaurant in Westport, MA. At first I was confused by the open loft layout, seating most of the guests up in the rafters. But my favorite images of the day came from shooting up there. Bittersweet Farms is a warm venue with beautiful grounds.
[ artist select images here ]
[ all wedding photos here ]
Posted in clients, destination, wedding 1 comment »
November 15, 2008
[ wedding selects - more soon. ]
Here’s to you, Nana!
Posted in clients, destination, wedding 1 comment »
November 14, 2008
We were blessed with awesome weather two weekends ago for the family sessions we did all day out in Franklin Park. We spent 30 minutes with each family, and I was so pleased to get such charming images in such a short timeframe. Big thanks to everyone for showing up on time and to Grace Benson for her assistance all day long.
Aside from formal family portraits during weddings, I do not consider myself a family photographer - that takes special patience and a skill set I have not yet developed! That said, the holidays do present an excuse to do some extra portraits by request. I have a few families I love to work with every year who appreciate my quirky and fun family sessions.
[ photos from family portrait sessions here ]
This is a great opportunity for me to remind you that TOMORROW is the cutoff date for most print orders for holiday 2008 delivery. Those families who are just receiving their proofs this week have until November 20 to make card and print purchases.
Wow! Feedback already:
Hey Rachel!
We LOVE our pictures…I have to tell you I wasn’t so sure how they would turn out based on Abby’s post Halloween sugar crash, but once again you captured the best parts of her, and our family. I love looking at the pictures of the 3 of us from the engagement session, the wedding, and now these…you caught our transition to a real life family on film, and I’ll forever treasure the images!
Posted in clients, portraits respond with comment »
November 14, 2008
What a wonderful year of fearless bridal shoots for the JUXTAPOSITION project. Public gratitude to all of you who followed through on the photo sessions and introduced us to wonderful new locations around Boston. And many thanks to those who assisted for the shoots - whether it was styling the women, carrying bags, or rocking the reflector. My life is richer for the experience with you.
We’re looking forward to putting together a wonderful JUXTAPOSITION coffee table book and gallery show for 2009… let alone the Vanity Fair-esque tableau shoot.
juxtaposition001 :: lindsey [ link ] Worcester, Burncoat Middle School
juxtaposition002 :: tiffany [ link ] Boston Sand and Gravel, Chinatown
juxtaposition003 :: carol [ link ] the Fells, Winchester rail station
juxtaposition004 :: marilyn [ link ] George’s Island, Fanueil Hall
juxtaposition005 :: melissa [ link ] West Boylston, Old Stone Church
juxtaposition006 :: brittany [ link ] Frankin Park Zoo
juxtaposition007 :: sarina [ link ] L’Espalier, Newbury Street
juxtaposition008 :: kristen [ link ] Fenway Park, parking lot
juxtaposition009 :: deanna [ link ] Canobie Lake Park (Salem NH)
juxtaposition010 :: gwen [ link ] Lanes ‘n’ Games, FACES, Alewife
juxtaposition011 :: colleen [ link ] Wellesley College parking garage, bathroom, cemetery
juxtaposition012 :: mikki [ link ] Boston North End
juxtaposition013 :: rachael [ link ] Salem MA waterfront
juxtaposition014 :: lindsay [ link ] Cambridge MA, Boston MA
juxtaposition015 :: sarah [ link ] Sudbury MA old grist mill
juxtaposition016 :: jill [ link ] Dover MA
juxtaposition017 :: carrie [ link ] Newburyport MA waterfront, fire station, leaves
We’re available for fearless bridal shoot commissions in 2009. Please contact rachel@mergeweddings.com for more information or to reserve your date.
Photograph above courtesy Jimmy Song. Thanks Jimmy!
If you were a part of the JUXTAPOSITION project, I would love to hear your thoughts about the overall experience in the comment section.
Posted in fearless bridals 4 comments »
November 14, 2008
So, session seventeen almost didn’t happen! We went back and forth on scheduling a few times, there were styling appointments to change and fire house schedules, and my week was booking up fast. Luckily Carrie was able to get everything straightened out and we were able to have a fun session in Newburyport involving the Fire Station, fire trucks, and the gorgeous autumn leaves. I pretty much love every image from our shoot. Check out the full gallery to see Carrie rocking the purple crinoline under her dress.
Carrie’s vivacious side really came out in the session, then when we got into the truck her sexy side came out as well. Carrie’s husband is one of those hot, responsible fire fighter dudes… and the guys at the station were great about letting us climb around in the trucks.
JUXTAPOSITION.017
recent bride: Carrie
photographer: Rachel Hadiashar
location: Newburyport MA (Fire Station, waterfront, Oldies Marketplace
styling: unknown
assisted by: moms
[ artist selects here ]
Posted in fearless bridals 4 comments »
November 12, 2008
This is from the area in NYC around Canal and Broadway. I was in town for a photo conference and we had just met up with Sacramento wedding photographer Sarah Maren, who was buying “Prada.” They walked away with brightly colored soft leather bags, I walked away with this haunting image.
camera: Lomo Fisheye (35mm)
Posted in personal, photos 1 comment »
