“Groovy Kind of Love” was taken at Kristen and Jason’s beautiful wedding last September. It won the “Member’s Choice Award”, the “Kodak Gallery Award” and a “Court of Honor.” Congratulations to Kristen and Jason for this award winning moment!

Andy and I made a digital wedding album using Tonra and Sean’s lovely wedding images and titled it “An Autumn Wedding.” We won the honor of the “Vermont Wedding Album Award.” Congratulations Tonra and Sean for helping us to win this honor three years in a row!!

The rest of the images were blue ribbon winners….

Andy created a fun engagement session album with images from session with “Valerie and Jason” in Burlington last fall. 

Andy and I created a digital wedding album with some of our favorite images from Bina and Andy’s wedding.  The judges loved the colors on this one!

“Wonderland” was taken at the Tunbridge Fair.  It was an outtake from the Vermont Vows/Well Wed shoot that I was involved in last fall.

“Young at Heart” was a grab shot from the Tunbridge Fair shoot above.  I was immediately smitten with this wonderful farm woman’s sparkly eyes. 

“Attraction” was from a photo safari that I took with the Vermont Professional Photographers’ on a sunny day last June.  There was an award given to the highest scoring print from that day.  This one scored an 80 which won a blue ribbon.  But Terry Norris won the award with his image “Burning Bales.”

Bina and Andy’s wedding celebration at Shelburne Farms was the most grand, colorful, and unique Andy and I have ever had the honor to photograph.  Bina and Andy along with their friends and family, the energy and the team of vendors were simply amazing and we felt so fortunate to be a part of their festivities!!

Their ceremony was so beautiful and and included some traditions we are familiar with, but also had elements we were unfamiliar with.  Bina described it like this: “We designed our own ceremony, fusing traditions from the East and the West, and selected the poems and songs with our friends and families’ help. We wanted the personality, wisdom, humor, and honesty that a great friend could provide, and that’s why we chose Martha. We also wanted the parts of traditional weddings we most admire and that most represent our love to be part of the day!”

Bina has the most gorgeous eyes!

Bina holds hands with her Grandmother in a very touching moment.

We had time for some fun photos with Bina + Andy, their wedding party and their loved ones before the ceremony.  It was important to them to attend most of their cocktail time, which many couples want these days.

Some beatiful details from the day…

Andy and his guys make their way down to the ceremony location by the lake.

Bina’s Father + Mother walk her down the aisle.  You can see why Bina is so beautiful!!

A little guest watches from the aisle.

I loved this part in the ceremony when the guests were asked to hold hands. 

Almost married…

The newlyweds!!

The celebration begins!

Bina’s sister and the rest of the bridal party stole Andy’s shoes and wouldn’t return them until he performed a song for each shoe.  It was hilarious!

I was obsessed with all of the beautiful henna hands!

 More lovely details…

We took a few minutes before dinner for some relaxed portraits.

The clear tent was perfect as the beauty of the Coach Barn was still visible.

The toasts were full of emotion.

The guests were treated to a pretty sunset and sparklers by the lake.

A sparkly kiss.

A couple more quick photos at sunset.

Bina dances with her father. 

There were some really fun props from the photobooth, so of course we had to snap some photos of the silliness happening as guests waited their turn.

The newyweds have some fun on the dance floor.

Up and away!

The parting shot.

For more fun, click here to view their wedding slideshow!

On Sunday we dropped our kids off for the first time at a sleep-away camp, called Camp Billings, where they’ll live for TWO WEEKS!  That’s two weeks without hugs and kisses and giggles and snuggles!  Brutal.  But since you always have to look on the bright side, our son reminded us, “Now that you don’t have to worry about us, you can get more work done.” Don’t you love a kid’s perspective? So while they are making new friends and having all sorts of great new adventures, we are working like crazy! We are also taking some time to have a few fun dates and get some exercise. So I think it will be a good two weeks for everyone. 

My friend Patty and me with the girls by their camp home.  It was comforting to know the kids would be with their pals from home.

Signatures of past campers on the girls’ cabin fence.

Walking over to the boys’ cabin.  Notice the boys are not in sight.

Max gives his big sister a hug. 

Andy can’t squeeze Summer tight enough!

Waving good-bye to Mia’s mom, dad and brother.

The Williston pals.

Baxter and Will with a cabin mate.  Baxter is giving me the *enough photos, you can leave anytime* look. 

Boys!

Does this look like the face of a kid who will remember to write to his parents? hmmmm….

One last smooch for Summer!

 Lucky has been a bit depressed since Summer’s been gone.

Since we can only communicate by letters…imagine how exciting it was to find this in the mailbox today!!  But guess who hasn’t written yet.  I suppose it’s a sign that he’s having the time of his life!

The guests of honor: Bina + Andy!

The guests partook in an Indian dance called raas garba. Notice the guy on the bottom left taking a photo. :)

Cute.

Andy + Bina are very talented musicians as well!

Go Bina!

The little fans.

Bina’s brother-in-law put together a very entertaining slideshow. 

I love this one!

Bina’s father won my heart. 

Very colorful!

Bina’s beautiful mother.

Ice cream from the Ben + Jerry’s cart was a huge hit!

The food from Taste of India in Middlebury was so delish!

Lovely smiles!

A few colorful details…

For more sangeet fun, CLICK HERE to watch their slideshow!

Grandfather was an amazing man.  He was truly devoted to his family, particularly the love of his life, my Grandmother Phyllis.  As a professor and an inventor he was passionate about the environment and worked up to his last days on making the world a better place.  He and Grandmother traveled the world many times over and they enjoyed sharing stories about their great adventures.  He loved music and the arts and too many things to list here.  He was always busy!  

Grandfather was so full of life, curiosity and energy and we were all sure that he would easily live to be well into his hundredth year.  Unfortunately, he  had a tragic accident, that had nothing to do with his age, as he was out on a surprise mission to buy my Grandmother tickets to a show for Mother’s Day this year.  He passed away on Mother’s Day.  It broke our hearts.   

 These photos were taken at a family reunion on his 90th birthday at Asilomar, California. 

You’re always in our hearts Grandfather.  Life is so beautiful, but so fragile.  Live it to the fullest!

p.s. My beautiful Grandmother has her own blog, called Granny Smith, with her wonderful writings, photos and life observations.  You can check it out *HERE*!

p.p.s. We’re off to a wedding today, but I’ll be posting photos from Bina + Andy’s sangeet + wedding in the next couple of days!! xo

Here are a handful of photos from a local swim meet this season and a few from the state finals this weekend. 

Summer takes off… 

Summer and her pal Mia.

Baxter (or Bax-stroker as we nicknamed him this summer )

Honestly, this kid eats A TON!!

Summer

My pal Patty timing the races.  Something all the parents are encouraged to do…and after two seasons I am practically a professional timer.   

Baxter and his pals goof off between races.

Baxter

Summer has some fun with a friend.

Summi!

Go Team Edge!

The water droplets fly as the 18 and under girls wait for their turn on the relay.

Baxter’s coach, Melinda, chats with him following a race at the state finals yesterday.

Always chilly.

I took this photo from very far away as spectators had to watch from the bleachers.  Good thing there was natural light in the pool area. 

Baxter finished 3rd overall in the state meet today in the 25 yard backstroke!  Worth being chilly for?  You bet!

To see some photos from the kids’ swimming last year *click here* and scroll down a bit.

Next up on the blog: Bina + Andy’s Wedding!!