Kristen and Fred are special. I knew that from the very first, very thoughtful correspondence that Kristen initiated. At that time, I had just posted about Jenny and Matt and about how I could relate to being a band nerd. As a former classical musician and currently a visual storyteller, I can very tangibly relate to what it means to dedicating your life to your art. When I finally met Fred and Kristen for this session at the Belmont commuter rail station (their choice of location!) all of my suspicions were confirmed. These two are so in love, so goofy, and so wonderfully snuggly you can’t help but walk away with a huge smile. They’re very different people, but so great together. The kind of friends you know you will have for life.

Kristen and Fred met at a chamber music festival after he had made a series of calls (french horn teacher, to students, to student’s friends) to find a replacement horn for his ensemble. And the rest… well, they’re writing that story right now. Planning a fabulous wedding in western Massachusetts, they’re choosing to invest in things that are important to them (photography and a live band!). It should be an amazing celebration of their families and their very special love for one another. Oh!! And ps Matt, Fred knows you!

Posted in clients, engagements 4 Comments »

Just a little note to let you know I am headed back into the big badass world of NYC tomorrow for PDN Photoplus Expo. This trip involves some pain…. getting up to catch the 7:30am bus, traveling light without my camera (!) or computer (!!), and braving the NYC masses. Luckily, a stop at Rice to Riches is on the itinerary.

• Today I had some fun kickin’ it old school with local photographer Ashley O’Dell. Ashley hooked me up with some soul food mac and cheese from a café owned by a church somewhere in Dorchester, then we went out to my top secret place of amazingness with the abandoned zoo at Franklin Park to trade portraits with holgas.
• Aimee and Adam’s private residence wedding selects are here.
• Gwen’s juxtaposition session selects (Lanes n’ Games bowling alley!) are here.

See you at the end of the week. I won’t have email or internet access for the next two days, then I’ll be playing major catch up on Friday all day.

Posted in clients, travel schedule No Comments »

I was just going back to grab a file from Cadence and Jesse’s engagement session on March 30 (brrr!) and saw the funny outtakes. My husband was along with me for the session (I love Newport RI! I made him take me on a date there after the session!!) and even got some images of all three of us.

These guys are super funny engineers with top secret work projects - can’t wait to shoot the wedding next weekend in Newport!

Posted in clients, destination, engagements 2 Comments »

couple: Aimee and Adam
date: September 20, 2008
ceremony: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (South Windsor, Connecticut)
reception: private residence
photographer: Rachel Hadiashar
second photographer: Jen Ing

[ artist select images here ]

[ all photos here ]

Posted in clients, wedding No Comments »

We met up with Gwen and her mom at a place I have been eyeing for awhile now. You know near that one rotary at Alewife, where there’s an eccentric-looking burned out nightclub called FACES?

We started the session at Lanes and Games, since Gwen loves bowling. What a fun and interesting place to shoot. Luckily, Meg was able to come with me for the shoot, because lighting in there was tricky. The owner and employees at Lanes n’ Games were really fun to work with and helpful. I think we must have been the most interesting thing the guy at the counter had seen in awhile, because he was getting a kick out of a bridal shoot in a bowling alley!

We got a wonderful range of images inside the alley, then outside with the blue wall, then out at the burned-out club.

Big props to the Lanes and Games employees for letting us use the building as a studio for a couple of hours. We love you Lanes and Games!

bride: Gwen
photography: Rachel Hadiashar
assisted by: Meg Belanger, and Gwen’s mother
location: Alewife (Cambridge, MA) - Lanes and Games bowling alley, FACES
hair and makeup: unknown

[ artist select images here ]
[ full gallery here ]

Posted in clients, fearless bridals No Comments »

Today I am headed out to shoot a wedding with photographer Nick Hamawi out at Habitat (Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont MA)! Some of you know how much I love this place as a small wedding venue. It’s fantastic, hidden away in the woods, and even has a touch of punkish classic.

Meanwhile, my husband misses hanging out! If you’re a regular reader of photographer blogs you would know that September-October is a super intense time for us, as wedding season calms down but our burnout rate gets high - trying to speed through processing weddings and sessions, finishing albums before the holidays, and fitting in the extra family sessions as people prepare for their holiday card.

I’m preparing for another working trip to NYC next week for a photo shoot, photography conference, and to meet up with Sacramento wedding photographer Sarah Maren who is one of my favorite people in the world.

Here’s the queue of work that will be processed in the upcoming week if you’re waiting to see your session:

1. A + A wedding
2. Gwen bridals
3. Boudoir girls (you know who you are)
4. Kristen Fred e session

Others will be processed after next week!

Posted in boudoir, clients, personal, travel schedule, wedding No Comments »

I’m headed to an apple orchard in Stow MA on Monday, October 20 and looking for a young girl who I have not yet photographed between age 5 and 14 for a test shoot in the apple orchard. This session may be used as headshots or just fun portraits with the beautiful trees. A parent would be required to be present at the shoot, and sign a model release. Time is negotiable based on your school schedule, but my preference would be for a 3:00 session.

Please spread the word if you know someone who might be interested.
Email rachel@mergeweddings.com for more info or to sign up!

Casting Call details

Who: girl, age 5-14 years - must be accompanied by parent (who will not be in shoot)
Logistics: Monday, October 20 at Carver Hill Orchard (address below)

Session fee: $250 (waived due to my specific request for test shoot)
Model release: parental release required
Included: online proof gallery from photo shoot, 8×10″ fine art print of your choice from the session
Photographer: Rachel Hadiashar

Carver Hill Orchard
Brookside Ave
Stow, MA  01775
(978) 897-6117
www.carverhill.com

Posted in clients, portraits, travel schedule 3 Comments »

another fun outtake from Amanda’s senior session.

I kind of wish we could put this one in the yearbook. ha!

Posted in clients, photos, portraits 1 Comment »

Saturday, November 1 is mergeweddings client appreciation day! So if you hired me to shoot your wedding in 2007 or 2008, I’ll be doing a series of complimentary mini family portraits in Boston.

Who? wedding clients of decenturbanweddings/mergeweddings (2007/2008) and their children/pets
What? Family portraits; 20-30 minutes each
Location? Larz Anderson Park or Franklin Park
Fee? Complimentary session, but with a $50 session reservation fee that becomes a print credit you can use for cards or prints.
Why? Celebrate the last days of autumn, have an excuse to spend some time outside at the park with your spouse, get a head start on your holiday cards!

(a personal favorite from a family session in 2007)

I am taking December off, so November is the final chance to do a portrait session. I love that this time off at the holiday season forces me not to procrastinate or otherwise put off sessions and ordering cards…

If you hired me for another type of portrait session (boudoir, engagement, or headshots) any additional spots will open up at the mini-session $225 rate. Email to get on that waiting list (rachel@mergeweddings.com)

Posted in clients, portraits No Comments »

Hey Rachel -

Wow. We LOVE our wedding photos — we spent an hour and a half looking at them last night! We couldn’t believe how well you captured the the spirit of our celebration and our guests. Our wedding was anything but traditional, and we felt lucky to have an artist like yourself there to document it all.

And you are such a blast to work with! So many of our guests commented on how you fit right in with everyone, and made them feel perfectly comfortable. You’ve got a real knack for blending in to capture the unplanned, uninhibited moments, AND the artistic direction to pull off uniquely composed group shots. What a dynamite combo!

And the fake mustache pics? Downright laugh out loud!

Thank you for being such a perfect part of our hoop-la!

Erin and Jared

Posted in accolades, clients, destination, wedding No Comments »