Best of 2012

I wanted to post a bit of a year in review with some of my favorite photographs from this year. I had many opportunities in my first real year of business and I thank my wonderful clients from the bottom of my heart for making this possible. I've chosen a few images from my favorite sessions below!

My Holiday(s)

I had a fantastic holiday this year. I got to have three Christmases all over the country (and the world!), and celebrated a snowy new year in western NY. Here are some of the best photos of my month!

I took some photos of me and Shea for our holiday cards, which was definitely a challenge because I'm missing a part of my tripod! I ended up rigging a desk into a makeshift tripod and using a remote trigger to take the pictures. Poor Shea had to have quite a bit of patience with me... I'd say the work paid off though!

We are lucky enough to get to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. This Christmas, we went on my first ever cruise, and got to visit Jamaica, the Camen Islands, and Mexico. It was a celebration of Shea's grandparents' 50th anniversary, and it was amazing. It also meant I missed Christmas with my family for the first time, but we made up for that a few days later.

Shea and I had our own Christmas the 22nd, right before we were scheduled to leave for the cruise. I made eggnog and lots of goodies for breakfast. I got him a pair of Heelys and 23 and Me, and he got me some goodies from our local letterpress shop, Gus and Ruby, and some tools that I'll need in the a  cappella group I recently joined!

After our Christmas we headed to Texas to leave on the cruise! It was a 7 day trip and there was an excess of sun, sea, and food. I paid a pretty penny for some internet time to FaceTime my family on Christmas morning. 

After the cruise we headed to western NY to have another Christmas with my family. 

We are now back home in New Hampshire ready to start a new year!
I hope your holidays were just as wonderful.

Barbara and Jeremiah- A Beautiful Winter Wedding

I was lucky enough to shoot this gorgeous December 1st wedding. It was a perfect day, with snow gently falling into the evening, which made for a wonderful atmosphere. Please enjoy this teaser slideshow, and be sure to watch in HD! 

Holiday Gold Leaf Candle Holder DIY

I had a lot of fun with this project! It's very easy and an inexpensive way to spruce up your home for the holidays.

Supplies:
Gold leaf kit
Hurricane glass
Candle
Pine needles/ evergreen foliage

1. Gather your supplies. This doesn't take much gold leaf at all! I got a very cheap glass and candle from the Christmas Tree Shops.

2. Paint on the adhesive where you'd like to apply the gold leaf. Wait until it has dried somewhat but is still tacky to apply the gold leaf.

3. Press on the gold leaf and rub.

4. Carefully peal off the gold leaf.

5. Get your pine needles out!

6. Insert the needles between the candle and the glass, distributing evenly all around.

7. Seal the gold leaf.

You are all done! Light and enjoy. I made two of these and I love them!

My Wedding

As some of you may know, I was married on September 8th! It was a beautiful day and we chose a wonderful photographer to document it, Todd, of Come Together Studios in Syracuse, NY. I plan to do a more comprehensive post when I get all our wedding photos back, but for now, here is the teaser video Todd put together for us!



Alyssa & Shea from Come Together Studios on Vimeo.

Thanksgiving

This year Shea and I headed back to Le Roy, NY to celebrate thanksgiving. There was plenty of delicious food, and it was great to see family. 

After dinner we played quite a few rounds of "Slambang" an intense game of multi-hand solitaire!

The next day we drove to PA to see my mother's side of the family and my cousins' children!

We got back around midnight last night, very full and happy to be home. It was a wonderful thanksgiving. I hope yours was just as nice!