Dash and Geoff. Where to start with these two...

I have known Geoff for many years - we were both leaders at Camp Belknap together - actually, we both ran the Middler division as DH/ADH. He is one incredible person... truth be told most Belknappers are. I remember him talking one day about this girl he was seeing and he was just totally on cloud nine because of the fact that she 'got' camp. He was really into her and as any person who has been to Belknap can attest, the true test of whether a relationship is going to work or not is the 'camp test.' If she gets it, she's a keeper. If not... uh... thanks for coming out.

So I already knew Dash was going to be 100% cool and, indeed, I was proved correct. Our session began with a hike up Rattlesnake with their puppy, Harlow. I listened to stories about how they met, sickness, teaching abroad, their days at Colorado College, Dash's marine work, and Geoff's Peak Organic life... Rattlesnake is a really cool short hike that provides a stunning view of Squam and most of the rest of the Lakes Region. From up there, we could actually see the island that they'd be getting married on. Quite beautiful. When we got done with the hike we took a ride out onto Squam in the whaler that Geoff used to propose to Dash and visited the Church Island [Chorcura Island]. All in all it was a pretty wonderful day.

Spending time with my clients  and preserving their daily lives is something I cherish so much. I constantly see beautiful and varied connections of all sorts - the shapes and forms that love takes is truly breathtaking. It is small and subtle and grandiose and loud and crisp and soft and everything else. It's reinforcement of all the good things in this amazing world of ours.

seek the joy

Natalie and Brian live in Boston in the first LEEDS Certified building, which was where I met them for their Together Session. We spent a little time there hanging out and then walked along the Harbor Walk and into the North End. Brian is one of the Improv Asylum guys, so naturally, we went over to the theatre to hang a little bit. AND Natalie actually has her own custom handbag company - Natalie Therese. Go check it out, she does some incredible work. :]  These two are really quite something.

One of my favorite things about these two is how content they are just to be in eachother's company. I guess sometimes it can be a sort of assumption for people that hang around couples in love all the time, but for some reason when I was with Nat and Bri it just felt so incredibly strong. They were so happy just to be there. Those of you who have shot with me know that I don't give a lot of direction. Barely any, actually. I really try to let a couple's love, relationship, and personality shine without putting too much of my stamp on it. After all, when grandchildren look at these images they aren't going to know, or even care, about the photographer - what's important is that I have been truthful and honest with my subjects and told their story without embellishment or commenting on what I feel like their love should look like. I never want to end up in a situation where I am creating a story. I am just telling a story. In this case, the story of what it felt like to be surrounded by the beautiful love of Natalie and Brian one random day before they got married.

seek the joy

eric