It’s always a delight to have the opportunity to photograph people you have met at another wedding. Jake is the younger brother of Dave (of Rima-Dave, Inc.). I had a chance to meet them at Rima-Dave’s wedding almost exactly one year ago.  Now that Jake and Amy are officially engaged, Rima and Dave gifted them with a portrait session. Since Amy and Jake are both teachers, we had to wait until we could coordinate a time that would work with everybody’s hectic weekday schedules.

I really wanted to do a shoot at one of the schools, but they weren’t so into that idea. Then their idea to do our portrait session at a movie theatre (Jake looovvves movies and used to work at a theatre) didn’t pan out, as we ran into ‘corporate policies.’ I still wanted to sneak one in even if it involved actually going to a movie, but we shifted gears and decided to go for Hannah Williams Playground in Wayland MA instead.

I have to admit that I was a tiny bit skeptical. There are some places that people think are going to look better in photos than they actually do. My wedding list of portrait no-nos includes:

• next to a lake or other body of water
• in front of a fireplace
• near any sort of flowering shrubbery
• anything having to do with a gazebo

and call me grumbly, but I kind of thought I was going to have to add to my engagement session list of no-nos with this playground idea. BUT, this playground was not only AWESOME, but it brought out Jake’s playful personality. It was a ton of fun to shoot through tire swings, around castle-wood structures, and in the beautiful tree-thick park next to the play structures. Good call, Amy!

It’s a pleasure to be able to learn about all of these unique locations and special places in the Boston area. There’s a whole lot outside the city that I have yet to explore. I’m looking forward to my next adventure with amazing people.

[ artist select images ]
[ full gallery here ]

Posted in engagements 6 Comments »

belmont commuter rail station engagement session

[ artist select images here ]

[ all images here ]

Posted in clients, engagements 5 Comments »

We have one last opportunity to get in on a reduced rate Boudoir hotel session this year*! We’re planning a special day of mini-sessions in Boston on Sunday, November 2.

These are unlike our other sessions and aimed specifically at giving a special gift of one or two photos to your man for Christmas this year, whether you are married or not yet. These mini holiday sessions are ideal for women who have been through a full boudoir experience with us previously, or bold women who are up for some hilarious and fun photos. Since each session is so short and lacks the normal ‘warm up’ time, this holiday mini session is probably not for girls on the shyer side who are hesitant about the idea of boudoir… you should schedule an individual session with us for lots of time and attention.

Here are the details:

• Session fee of $125 includes light styling during the shoot.
• Location: hotel in the Boston area.
• One outfit for the shoot.
• Each session will be 20 minutes long (you can buy two slots if you want an extra ‘look’).
• Session fee includes a sexy 5×7″ holiday card with the image of your choice.
• Seasonal wear and holiday trappings are highly encouraged. We’re bringing some too!
• Email rachel@mergeweddings.com to sign up for a slot between 12:30 and 6pm.

*We’re still taking a limited number of individual sessions, with the full experience (2 hours, 3-4 outfits, lots of photos and lots of attention) until November 15. Email for scheduling and be sure to ask about the full mergeweddings boudoir experience!

Posted in boudoir, engagements No Comments »

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 »

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 »

I was so pleased when Jenny emailed me to schedule an engagement session. She and Matt chose to do photos around Harvard (where they both work) and the footbridge where he proposed to her. We had a great time playing in the early evening light, exploring the angles of their love, and laughing about the silliness that ensues immediately when one begins wedding planning. We had common history in that all three of us have spent a good portion of our lives lugging around an instrument for fun… with all the theory, inter-ensemble crushes, scales and arpeggios, marching band uniforms, and sheet music drama that entails.

Also, I was impressed by how endearing they are together when they snuggle close and give each other little kisses.

Now, you know that when two French horn players get together, there’s going to be a party that is not to be missed. (Did I just say that? Yes, I did. I know because Rachel and David from August last year were the epitome of two horn players getting together)

Who here thinks Jenny and Matt need to get me to Hershey Pennsylvania to shoot their wedding next year?

[ more photos here and here ]

Posted in clients, engagements 3 Comments »

Since Allissa and Seth are getting married this next Sunday (!) (another Rhode Island wedding), and they’re as busy as I am lately, we ended up having a super quick session… 10 minutes! Seth seemed a little bit shy from the camera at first, but he’s an awfully handsome man. They’re really in love.

[ more photos from the quick session here ]

Posted in clients, destination, engagements 4 Comments »

If had to choose only one photo to take during this trip to San Jose, I would want it to be this one:

Anita, Haady and I snuck away from the wedding for a few minutes right as the light was ending on Friday. This is the perfect moment - the wind that picked up her hair, the look of happiness and contentment they have together, and the soft muted tones from the very special light.

Posted in destination, engagements, ethnic wedding, personal, portraits, wedding 1 Comment »

What an honor to be here with Beth and Dave as they prepare for their married life. Everyone is stressed out and excited and yesterday about 25 people spent 5 hours decorating the art gallery where the reception is to be held. I don’t usually see the back end of weddings, so the amount of detail work and small tasks actually astounded me. Luckily these English folk stop for a tea and cookie break… or else I might have fainted!

Anyway, I got a chance to spend awhile with Beth and Dave in the park the other day. We took some fun photos together. Here are some of Dave’s favorites.

[ my favorite 20 photos here ]

[ many more photos here ]

Posted in destination, engagements, photos, portraits, travel schedule, wedding 3 Comments »

I am so excited about Aimee and Adam’s wedding in Connecticut in September! They have this fabulous area behind their house that will host the reception, and the church where the ceremony will take place is literally a few houses down the road.

I did a sexy little photo session with them (and their pets!) on my way through CT a couple of weeks ago. The birch tree in the photo above has such a cool story - Aimee’s mom and dad picked it up from the side of the road as a sapling on a roadtrip through Canada when they were newlyweds… and now it is this huge and beautiful tree in their yard! This is a family of fierce loyalties and local roots.

[ more photos here ]

Posted in clients, engagements, wedding No Comments »