I was lucky enough to meet these two back in 2011 (thanks to our friend, Penney!) and was so thrilled when they chose us to photograph their wedding day.  I instantly knew we’d have a great time working together, but seriously they made my job easy this day because they are so darn cute together!  Rachel is a natural beauty and she has this incredible smile (as you can see)!  Dan is such a gentleman and has such a fun and easy-going personality.  It was pretty clear how smitten he was that day playing in the snow at the beautiful Ogden House in Fairfield, CT.  I love their rockin’ 70′s blanket too! ;-)

We headed over to Southport (a section of Fairfield, but the local historic district near the water) and used the old train station as our backdrop for some of the photos.  Soon after, we needed to warm these two up so we headed on over to the Delamar Southport hotel, where one of our favorite restaurants is located.  If you haven’t heard of it yet, it has gotten rave reviews since it opened and it is known for it’s seasonally inspired, farm to table menu.  Bring your friends and family, because it is something special!  Many thanks to Artisan Restaurant for allowing us to cozy on up at the bar, sample some delicious food and cocktails, before we finished up our photo shoot around the hotel and restaurant.

Stay cozy and warm this Valentine’s Day, and remember… “All you need is love. Love is all you need.” – The Beatles

I visited Caroline on a cold winter morning, and we snuggled with her soft blankie during these photos.  She was content just playing with her toes and being the precious baby that she is.  Serious at times, or giggling and blowing bubbles at others, but I just had to share this serious set below because it made me want to stop time for a minute.  Peaceful baby.

We miss you already little Caroline, and send hugs and kisses to your brother and parents too!

While looking at rings, Beth found one that she loved, and told Scott it was the type of ring she would like when the time came.  :-) Scott ended up buying the ring the next day…

About a week later, Scott surprised Beth with a proposal after work in their apartment one night.  It was intimate, private and romantic, and little did she know…that there was more to come.  He had secretly planned for Beth to have the next day off (with the help and permission of her bosses) so she could go to her home state of Connecticut to share the great news with her loved ones and celebrate the day with them!  He knew just how important they are in her life.

So many of Beth’s memories growing up include her home town of Fairfield, CT, so we visited some of the local favorites on this glorious day in October.  We took advantage of the warm sun at Jennings Beach and strolled around town by the Fairfield Museum and History Center.  Can’t wait to capture your wedding day memories this May, so let the festivities begin!

There are a few things that these two love… 1) football 2) their favorite TV shows and 3) wine.  They enjoy going on hikes and picnicking with a favorite bottle of wine or going wine tasting, so we decided to enjoy a warm autumn weekend and sample some wines at the Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery in New York.

So how did they get engaged?  Here’s the story.  Rob contacted a teacher that Christine works with, and had her hook up the smartboard while Christine was in a meeting.  When she was done with her meeting, Christine entered the empty classroom and noticed that her smartboard was all lit up and in child-like handwriting it said “Will you marry me?”  As she stared at it (in shock), Rob walked in through the doorway all dressed up and got down on one knee and proposed!

Aren’t these two adorable together?  You wouldn’t know it from these photos, but they braved the busy scene here with hundreds of others surrounding us at the winery this day.  There was live music and an event going on, so we had to sneak to the sides of the fields and try our best to get some privacy and intimate moments.  It was such a beautiful location, and we had a great time sampling their wines and ciders too!  (If you have a chance to visit, try their pear cider with pizza from their wood burning oven. Yum!  They use farm fresh and local ingredients too.)  We can’t wait until Christine and Rob’s wedding at the Falkirk Estate later this year!

These two are an example of another successful eHarmony couple!  They got engaged almost a year ago, and began planning their rustic, fall wedding in Connecticut soon after.  There were two things that Kristin knew for sure about her wedding attire, 1) she would wear some leopard print (of course!) and 2) she would have a very long veil.  She picked the perfect shoes for incorporating the leopard print, and her veil stole the show early on in the ceremony when she was walking down the aisle with her Dad.
Kristin and Justin love going to wineries together so they wanted to incorporate that wine harvest feel into their decor, so they used wine bottle corks to showcase their place cards.  They chose The Barns at Wesleyan Hills for its rustic beauty, and they would play up the fall theme with pumpkins, leaves, candy apples, and colors of brown and taupe.

Wooden lanterns decorated the tables along with the candy apple favors adorned with leopard print ribbon, and up above lights were strung over the dance floor with hanging paper lanterns.  It all came together beautifully and Traci (and crew) at The Barns made sure that every detail was perfect!  They also took such good care of me and what a yummy meal, thanks all!

One of my favorite parts of the reception is capturing all of the emotion during the first dance.  This one had lots of emotion and happy tears.  You could just tell that Kristin felt blessed to have found Justin and that this was the happiest day of her life!

K+J, Thank you for choosing Afterglow Photos to capture these memories for you, and for trusting J+M who sent you to us.  :-) It was truly my pleasure, and I am so happy for you two!  Here’s a peek at the slideshow we’ve created for you, hope you’ll enjoy!

Vendor Details…

• Dress – The Plumed Serpent
• Beauty – Amy Fiordelisi from Dana Barton and Company
• Floral Designs – Just For You Flowers
• Officiant – Janet Lee Kraft
• Venue - The Barns at Wesleyan Hills
• Coordinator – Traci at The Connecticut Wedding Group, a division of Pavilion Catering
• Music & Entertainment – Marty Q
• Paper/Invites/Favors – Cristina’s Design Creations
• Cake – Kim’s Cottage Confections

Cheers! – Sarah

I do however, like the idea of wanting to be better and embracing our flaws, and allowing ourselves to make improvements throughout the year.  I also think that it is a great idea to take stock of our lives and to map out our daydreams or goals (personal and professional) and figure out how to make them a reality whenever possible!

Many of us are fully aware that we have untapped potential that exists within us, but finding out what that potential or talent is can be the hardest part.  Then you add on the fact that you have a family or people who count on you and who require your time, also makes it hard to find that potential when the work and life balance is like a see-saw going back and forth (or up and down) with only 24 hours in a day.  Sound familiar?

So, this year I decided I want to find my potential.  I want to grow and learn, and continue to live a life in balance.  I find that as my kids are getting older it is easier to do this (find some time for me, to gain some clarity, work on my potential).  So I am holding myself accountable to these items.  Not just in 2012, but going forward.  Here are my goals to help grow my business and myself personally, and to help find my potential:

1. Set up a customer relationship management system – A web based system to help provide better customer service and keep on top of tasks and to-do items.

2. Delegate more – Writing out lists of tasks and find someone to do them other than me.  In other words, find an intern stat!

3. Make marketing my business more consistent – Determining the most effective strategies and add them to my routine tasks.

4. Clean up the website – Make some edits, optimize pages and blog, add new features, etc.

5. Learn new photography skills – This year I want to focus on off camera lighting, for the reception, for portraits – all of it!  My days of being just a natural light photographer or on camera flash girl are limited!

6. Get my creative juices flowing – I want to start photographing more landscapes for art prints, nature and the seasons for framing, or for display in galleries or retail shops.  Often I see great series of images and wonder, why haven’t I done something like that?  Just do it already!

7. Read some books – I want to get offline more and get into some books more.  They can be business related or for fun, but I think it is good to clear your head of all of the distraction and to give in to a good story or concept.  Lord knows I haven’t picked up a book in years!  (I blame it on having babies and working too much, yikes.)  Enough is enough.

8. Learn to paddle board and be fearless! – I’ve been talking about this for the last year with my girlfriends and husband, and this is going to be the year!  Usually I have to make sure one of my babes isn’t drowning when we are at the beach, but this year they are a little older and one can swim (basically), so that means more time for Mama to have fun!

9. Travel to a new place and find new inspiration – I have always dreamed of going on a mission trip, so I am going to start researching some worthy causes and destinations.  I’ve always wanted to go to a third world country, make a difference and photograph the experience, the people, and the journey.  If I can’t afford the mission trip this year then I’ll put the groundwork in to start saving and mapping it out for the future.

10. Start a personal photography project – I decided a few months back that I felt passionately about a woman’s “reinvention”.  Partly because it happened to me and well, I know so many others going through the process as well.  This reinvention I’m talking about is when a woman finds herself closer to mid-life (30s and 40s) and for many different reasons has started on a new path, new career, new chapter of life that can be scary, exciting, and fulfilling.  I hope that by sharing these personal stories and photographs it might help to inspire other women who are faced with the mid-life reinvention challenge themselves, and allow them to move forward with their dreams, potential and vision for their life!  If you know anyone who has found themselves in this reinvention phase, please connect us at sarah {at} afterglowphotos {dot} com as I’d love to work with them!

I’m not worried about how long these goals will take.  I just have to keep moving, one pigeon-toed foot at a time in the right direction.  Hopefully then I will be in a better place than I was last year, and a slightly better photographer and individual as well.  ;-)  I keep reminding myself of this quote I once read and have scribbled on a post-it note, “Life, like each new year, is a gift. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.”  Keeping in mind that it’s always about the journey – not the destination.  Please hold me accountable to these, and if you’d allow me I’d love to take you on the journey with me! xo, Sarah

Much like a bride-to-be and her family, I got to taste test foods and meet with these creative and highly sought after vendors to see what they were all about.  It was so much fun and I couldn’t wait to bring them to you via the blog! The photos below introduce you to Everthine Bridal Boutique and Ambiance Luxe Wedding Designs.  Chelsea (from Everthine) and Erica (from Ambiance) were so sweet and they both have a great eye for detail! I was so sad to miss Everthine’s recent Grand Opening soiree, but I am going to be stopping by to swoon over all the gorgeous dresses very soon!  Ambiance (you’ve definitely heard of their work before) recently rebranded so take a minute to look at their new site design and please consider them for your event planning!

This vintage decor reminds me of my very elegant Grandmother (Vera), and the fabrics, lace and china make me want to get married all over again but hire these ladies to style me and take charge of all the details!!

I was thrilled to finally meet the fabulous Josie from Beneath The Gown, and I quickly snapped a photo of this bridal robe and “something blue” that she had on display! Don’t you just see yourself wearing this pre-wedding… and on the honeymoon, while having breakfast in bed?!  Changing topics, the savory and sweet details below also come from the master chefs at the hotel, from Take The Cake in Guilford, and Given Fine Chocolates & Indulgences in Madison.  All of them absolutely delish!

If you are looking for a shoreline venue for your wedding, corporate party or event, The Madison Beach Hotel comes complete with a swanky bar area, one ballroom (making it private and intimate), a bridal suite for prep, hotel rooms for guests, and it overlooks the Long Island Sound during sunset!  Here’s a peek at some of the creative floral displays and table decor by Bakes & Baldwin Floral Company in the ballroom with up-lighting provided by Rob Alberti Event Services.

A very big thank you to Beth from the Madison Beach Hotel for her wonderful work on this event and for being one of the kindest in the industry to work with.  It was so nice to meet all of the new vendors mentioned here, there were many others (friends and colleagues) that we know well, but I wanted to introduce my clients to a few new people to help with their searches.  Cheers to all of the brides and grooms-to-be that came out to say hello to Afterglow Photos, and we hope you have found your perfect vendor matches for 2012 and beyond!

So, for those of you like myself, who would rather sip your latte or glass of red wine while shopping at your leisure in your fuzzy slippers, knowing that you are going to get a good deal without the pressure… this one’s for you.

This week I am offering 50% off a few of my services, your choice!  Tell your girlfriends, parents, spouse {hurry up and share this link on Facebook, Twitter, email} … as this is the gift that you’ve been wanting to give yourself anyway.  Update your artwork and family heirlooms this holiday season through the New Year!  Enjoy one of the following:

1) Winter or Spring Portrait Session Fee at 50% OFF {Newborn, Family, Engagement, Corporate or Personal Gift Certificate for use in February – April 2012. Regularly $250 / Cyber Week Special $125}

2) Personalized Custom Framing & Art Consultation at 50% OFF {See examples below for what your wall areas could look like with my help in 2012! Regularly $250 per on-site consult. / Cyber Week Special $125 for first hour}

3) Buy a Canvas Get One FREE {Feel free to mix and match your photos from our wedding, event or portrait session, and multiple sizes to choose from. Please ask for guidance in choosing the right photos as canvas images will wrap or stretch around product and I would be happy to assist you. Available for 12/25 delivery.}

Contact me at sarah {at} afterglowphotos {dot} com and include your purchase choice, contact info with delivery instructions and details, and I will send you a secure Paypal payment link and answer any questions you may have.

This offer is valid through Cyber Week which ends at midnight on 12/2/11. Thanks and Happy Holidays!