WHEN TWO HEROES GET MARRIED | CHAMBERLAIN FARM, BERKLEY, MA

Meet Mike and Jennifer.

 
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Earlier in the day, Mike received his lapel flower — and I call it that because I cannot spell BOUT-IN-EAR without really trying hard. So when he received his lapel flower, something special was attached to it - his late mother’s wedding band and a copy of his parents wedding announcement beside it. When Mrs. Lori Diogo passed away from cancer, the world lost a light.

She came back that late September day. Their outdoor ceremony was backlit by the most beautiful rays of sunlight, it was clear that someone special was with us.

Both Jennifer and Mike are heroes, working countless hours as hospital nurses, caring for the sickest and neediest of patients. They selflessly spend hours on end in harms way and to me, that makes them heroes. At this moment, in the current crisis we are in, I want to remind them and all of you of one of the most beautiful days of 2019. Please enjoy the photos of the most emotional wedding day — I cried THREE times.

We have known Mike and his family for quite some time. My brother, Timothy, went to school with his sister, and I was a grade below his other sister! Mike (the groom), Tim and my husband Mike enjoy golfing together, when their busy schedules allow. We were so very honored to be the two in charge of capturing such beautiful memories.

 
 

It would be remiss to not comment on the amazing speeches — Jennifer’s maid of honor shared a very heartfelt speech that brought both laughter and tears to our eyes. And Mike’s best man/brother in law brought with him two groomsmen as hype men and a cue card holder for the perfect, hilarious and meaningful toast.

Oh what a night!

Let’s talk about some of the awesome vendors that helped it all come together for them:

Venue - Chamberlain Farms | Flowers - Lovely Things Floral | Dress shop - Carmen’s Fashions | Bakery - Nancy’s Bakery | DJ - FB Events, Frank Baptista | Videographer - Video by Jamie | Mens Suits - Main Street Formals


Associate photography with HOLP - totally worth it! | Somerset, MA wedding

Meet Tammy and Ben.

 
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B.U.

College sweethearts.

Gorgeous.

Fun.

Absolutely amazing at wedding planning.

 

When it came time for Ben and Tammy’s wedding day, we were so lucky to have an amazing associate photography team for them. We have three go-to lead photographers on our associate team and a handful of trusty second photographers.

Please. Look at these amazing images and notice just how worthwhile our associate photography team is. Mike and I still meet up with you for your engagement session. We do all the editing for you. We design your albums. We are your main point of contact. We set up a timeline with you. You still get all the HOLP service we give all out couples. On your wedding day, a team you’ve met before will join you as you celebrate and document your day.

Not that I like it better than photographing a wedding myself, but editing a wedding I didn’t photograph of people I have grown to love is SO emotional. I laugh and cry. I scream for Mike to come see the moments they caught. I literally well up with pride.

See for yourself. They’re amazing.

 
 

julia + scott | a providence renaissance wedding, part I

I’ve known Scott since he was born. Literally. My mother (and I) attended his mother’s baby shower when I was a wee lass. He and I spent our childhood butting heads like mad,.. constantly. And then we both grew up, and he is family. A cherished cousin I will always love.

It was a very happy day when he and college sweetheart Julia got engaged. Quick trivia - Scott first brought Julia around the family on June 26, 2010… as a date to my wedding! As soon as Scott and Julia began planning, they wanted to know what dates I was available so they could coordinate our openings with their venues. Talk about feeling loved!

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Scott and Julia hired me for all their events, including their wedding shower, their rehearsal dinner and their wedding day. Their wedding day began as Scott got ready in his childhood home. Mike was able to catch all the emotional and fun moments, especially when Scott dribbled a soccer ball in his parents’ back yard, fully dressed… much to his mother’s dismay!

I began in Providence, at the Renaissance Hotel, with the ladies. Julia and her girls were getting dolled up by Makeup by Trinity Kizer, and hair by Vanessa Nogueira. Julia chose ladies from her childhood, her high school years, her time at college and from the family she was joining to stand with up with her. They made the morning a time of laughter and joy.

It’s safe to say that Julia’s flowergirls will have lots and lots of photos for their scrapbooks - they were the picture of perfection, and not just because they’re two of my favorite girls in the world. (The brunette is my brother’s daughter, and the blonde is my “niece.”)

The traditional Catholic ceremony was held at St. Michael Church in Fall River, Massachusetts, the same church where Scott had received all of his Holy Sacraments thus far. To say that Scott was choked up with emotion when he saw his future wife walk down the aisle was an understatement!

The music was elegant and instrumental, as Scott’s cousin from Portugal played their favorite selections on violin. The theme of family is everything continued, as aunts, uncles and cousins took part in the most important part of their ceremony. Mass was concelebrated by the pastors from both Scott and Julia’s parishes, with both gifting the couple with a Papal blessing.

To say that it was a beautiful ceremony is an understatement. I will share photos of their wedding day up until their ceremony here. I’ll post their portraits and celebration photos in part II.

Definitely the worse wedding photographer blogger lady

It’s official.

I am officially the worst wedding photography blogger lady on this earth. I think I probably managed to squeak by with ZERO blog posts last year, but this year, New Year, New Blog-Rules.

I’m going to make it a goal to post at least one a month, and when I set a goal, I crush it, so I’ll then post two a month. Over achiever, that’s all.

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Last spring, our boy received his first Holy Communion, and we had an absolute blast celebrating his day. Because I feel like I could be a part time event planner and coordinator, I’ll share lots and lots of photos of his day here in the coming weeks. It was the most special Mother’s Day ever!

To review, I’ll make it a point to blog once a month this 2020, and try to crush that goal by doubling it. I’ll share photos from weddings that touched our hearts, engagement sessions that make us happy and photos of our family milestones.

In other words… I’ll try to be as awesome on paper as I am in my head.

xo | Shanna (Mike says hi)

First Communion Portraiture

As the parents of a little boy preparing for his First Communion next year, it is something we hold near and dear to our hearts - capturing children as they prepare for a major milestone. Here is a look at some of our favorite images from the past few seasons. Every year, we take a minimal number of First Communion sessions and look forward to doing so this year as well. 

Mary + Al | Kinney Bungalow, Narragansett Wedding

Sitting here in our office, cuddled under blankets, we choose to throw it back this (almost) Thursday to a beautiful Fourth of July wedding to warm us up a bit!

Mary and Al were married in Narragansett a few years back at the beautiful Kinney Bungalow in Narragansett, Rhode Island. When I think back to beautiful weddings, with exceptional details and beautiful moments, theirs shines in our memory.