A Year in the Life – Gretchen’s Maternity Session

One of my favorite things in this business is when I have the opportunity to document not just the first day in the life of a new family, but also as it begins to grow!  Gretchen & Justin pretty much got pregnant the minute they got married ;) and now I get to photograph a Year-in-the-Life of their first child!!  I’m so excited to watch this little cutie grow up!

The first session in a Year-in-the-Life Package is usually a maternity session.  The maternity session is a chance to document the beauty and craziness that is pregnancy.  I think pregnant women are so lovely!  I hear so many women talk about how they feel fat and gross when they’re pregnant, but honestly, I think they are amazing and beautiful.  I mean, there’s a teeny tiny human being growing and living INSIDE of them!  That’s AMAZING!  The first time my sister was pregnant, we would just sit around staring at her belly exclaiming in wonder, “there’s a PERSON in there!!”  Come on, it’s a wondrous miracle!!!  As you can tell, I’m fascinated by the whole thing and I LOVE to take maternity photos, when moms will let me :)  I’m so glad Gretchen is such a good sport!

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Comparing “Buddha bellies”

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Gretchen, thank you so much for stepping out in front of the camera, and Justin thanks for playing along!   I love you guys!

Justin & Gretchen’s Wedding!

Just before the holidays, I posted a little sneak peak of Justin & Gretchen’s Wedding. Well, I’ve gone through the 5,000 + images we shot on the day of the wedding and have finally finished editing my favorites! There were so many images I loved, it was hard to narrow it down :)

We started the day at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel. This was the view from Gretchen’s window…


The dress was breathtaking and had so much fabulous detail!


A little detail of the shoes


Gretchen was SO excited!!


I loved the look on her Mom and soon-to-be sister-in-law’s faces when Gretchen was finished with hair and makeup


Getting into the dress, with a little help


Gretchen, you’re so beautiful!!


Time to get married!


I love the look on Justin’s face when he sees Gretchen for the first time! Many thanks to my fabulous second shooter, James from The Feds for getting this shot!


Some of their friends sang during the ceremony, and just about everyone was crying


another great shot by James



vows


After the ceremony we headed outside for some portraits by the Harbor




again with the gorgeousness!


Gotta love the aviators!


After the portraits, we headed over the Chinatown for the reception! I caught this shot on my way into the restaurant…


The Tea Ceremony



It turns out my favorite image of the first dance was taken by James. He caught a guest’s flash in the background and it totally made the shot! I totally love it!


Gretchen’s Dad looks so happy!


Chinese weddings have this fun tradition where the bride & groom, the entire bridal party, and all the family go around to every table and toast each guest. It’s so chaotic and wonderful!




They finished up the night with karaoke and dancing! That’s my kind of party :)


Gretchen & Justin – thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your day! It has been so wonderful getting to know you guys over the last year and a half. I cannot wait to photograph the first year of your new baby’s life!!!!! (yep folks, these two are expecting a honeymoon baby ;) Congratulations once again!!

Justin & Gretchen’s Wedding – Sneak Peak!

Justin & Gretchen got married earlier this year at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel here in Boston. The whole wedding isn’t quite ready yet, but they wanted a few photographs in time for Christmas and I do what I can to make my brides happy :) So, here are just a few of their favorites to tide you over until the rest get up on the blog…


Merry Christmas Justin & Gretchen!! :D

And keep the comments coming folks! Only 2 days left to help orphans in Zimbabwe by leaving a comment :)

Gretchen & Justin’s eSession

I’m back! Back from a great vacation, and back to work! I’ll post vacation photos eventually, but my wonderful clients are coming first – starting with Gretchen & Justin!

I met Gretchen & Justin at their place in Medford a few weeks ago. We hopped in the car and headed to a local pond to spend some time getting to know each other and taking some photos. Just like many of my clients, Gretchen & Justin felt a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera, and worried about being “unphotogenic.” Well, looking at these photos – you can’t tell at all! What did I tell you guys, huh? It’s your job to be YOU, and it’s my job to make beautiful photographs of YOU! I think it worked pretty well – what do the rest of you think???





See! You’re beautiful!!!





and adorable :)



and romantic



and hilarious!


Gretchen & Justin – it was great hanging out with you guys! I’m really looking forward to your wedding in October :) By then, I bet you’ll feel completely relaxed and confident in front of my camera from the start – that’s what these eSessions are for, after all!

Spring Mini Sessions 2016 – Lake Quannapowitt

Spring Mini Portrait Sessions at Lake Quannapowitt - Wakefield, MA. Photography by Krista Guenin - Krista Photography www.kristaphoto.com

Once or twice a year, I offer Portrait Mini Sessions for those families who want updated portraits, but perhaps don’t have the time or the budget for a full session.  I keep them limited to clients and friends I’ve worked with before, who have a good understanding of my style.  It makes these quick 15 minute sessions go so much smoother when we already have a relationship!  This year, we wanted some pretty Spring colors, so we ended up shooting in the old cemetery at Lake Quannapowitt, in Wakefield MA.  It was BEAUTIFUL!

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The Great Giveaway

Earlier this summer, my church GENESIS held an event called The Great Giveaway.  This was our way of reaching out and blessing the community of Woburn.  We’re a very new church in the area, and thought this might be a great way to meet our neighbors.  We basically had a HUGE yard sale where everything was given away for FREE!  Hundreds of people came and almost everything was taken by the end of the day (what wasn’t taken was donated to Salvation Army).  It was the coolest thing!  People could not get over the fact that everything was free, and that there were no strings attached.  It was so fun!

We spent HOURS going through all the donations, organizing everything, and then putting it out in the parking lot.  There was a TON of stuff!!

The Great Giveaway

People were lined up at the entrance for hours waiting for the event to start.  It was so cool to watch them run when we opened the gates!

The Great Giveaway

THOUSANDS of items of clothing were given away!

The Great Giveaway

The Great Giveaway

Just for fun, I shot some film with my Holga :)

The Great Giveaway FILM

The Great Giveaway FILM

Leg Warmers!!

The Great Giveaway FILM

And this guy found some roller skates, and rolled away on them – and they even matched his shirt!  He was so excited! :)

The Great Giveaway

there was face-painting for the kiddos

The Great Giveaway

and a bouncy house!

The Great Giveaway

Even Justin, Gretchen & Chloe came :)

The Great Giveaway

I am so blessed to be part of this community!    I definitely hope we do this again next year :)

A Year-in-the-Life: Chloe’s 1st Birthday Party!

Wow, time really does just fly by, doesn’t it?!  It seems like it wasn’t that long ago Justin & Gretchen were getting married!  Since then they’ve gotten pregnant, had a baby girl, had lots of photo shoots of little Chloe growing up, and now she’s officially a year old!!!  To celebrate, they threw her a party complete with cake smashed in the face and lots of laughs – and once again I got to be there to document the fun!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

So big!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

First of all, the 3 pigtails she’s got going on are adorable.  Secondly, look at how sweet that face is!  And third, I think it’s hilarious how much she loved that card (more than the present even)!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Blowing kisses!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

not quite walking…  I love Gretchen’s hand in the lower left of this shot.  Giving her a chance to stay up by herself, but definitely ready to catch her at the first sign of falling.

Chloe's First Birthday Party

1st Birthday Princess :)

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Chloe's First Birthday Party

What’s this deliciousness?!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Once you have cake all over you, your best bet is to just wash off in the pool!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Dads always know how to make their girls laugh!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

And every little girl needs a fabulous & adoring AUNT!!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Chloe's First Birthday Party

trying to walk some more…. I love the toes, the little thighs, the shadows (especially the hand reaching out to grab)!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

You’re too cute, Chloe!

Chloe's First Birthday Party

Gretchen & Justin (and Chloe) – thank you!  You guys are the best!  It’s been SO fun to document this crazy & wonderful year for you!!!!  It’s hard to believe it’s over already, and I won’t be coming by your house in a couple months for another shoot ;)  But, I’m excited to stay connected with you and see how your family continues to grow and change over the years!

To view more of my favorites from this shoot check out the album on Facebook!

Chloe’s 8-Month Portraits

Hello little blog!  How are you these days?  Oh, neglected, huh.  :(   That’d be my fault…  I’m sorry!  Things are really picking up though, and I promise I’ll be taking much better care of you from now on – starting now!!

What better way to get back into the swing of things, than to share some photos of darling little Chloe!  We’ve been doing a Year-In-The-Life series and when she turned 8 months, it was time for another session.  She just keeps getting bigger and bigger, and boy is she CUTE!  Look at her!

Pink Baby Portraits

She’s got a great laugh!

Pink Baby Portraits

Oh, those EYES!

Pink Baby Portraits

Pink Baby Portraits

Pink Baby Portraits

Daddy likes her with a bow in her hair ;)

Pink Baby Portraits

I love the chaos of this photo – kids, cats, and teddy bears

Pink Baby Portraits

Chloe had just started standing up in her crib at in the morning, so we had to document it!

Pink Baby Portraits

I can’t believe this cat was up for this!

Pink Baby Portraits

And a few portraits with Mom & Dad :)

Pink Baby Portraits

Pink Baby Portraits

Gretchen & Justin – it was a pleasure as always to see you guys!  Hard to believe that Chloe’s going to be a year old soon!  Keep in touch and let me know when to set up our final session in this Year-in-the-Life!

Baby Chloe at 4 months – Year-in-the-Life

I am really loving these Year-In-The-Life photo sessions!  It is so fun to capture all the changes as a child grows over the course of her first year on this earth!  It’s pretty amazing, actually.

You may remember baby Chloe, who was born to Gretchen & Justin last summer.  Well, she’s just growing and growing, and we had some time right around her 4-month birthday to capture some new images.  This may be my favorite age…somewhere between 3 months and crawling is the sweet spot.  They’re adorable and chubby, they have personality and expression, they can handle being moved around and will put up with a lot of photo taking, and they can’t get away!  And Chloe proved to be all of those things…

3 Month Baby Portraits

oooooh, she’s too cute!

3 Month Baby Portraits

haha!  Love this one!

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

The next few images were taken with my Nikon 105mm micro lens – it let’s me get in nice and tight!

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

Some fun with Mommy & Daddy

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

And then it’s back to sleep…

3 Month Baby Portraits

3 Month Baby Portraits

Gretchen & Justin – I hope you guys are well, and Chloe’s enjoying her first Boston winter!  Thank you for having me into your home yet again.  Chloe is adorable, and I can’t wait to see how much she grows by our next session!   :)

A Year In The Life – Chloe’s Newborn Session

Well, it wasn’t long after Gretchen’s Maternity Session that little baby Chloe came along!  I was able to get over to the house just a day after she came home from the hospital.  I love little newborn babies because they’re SO tiny and cute!  And Chloe was no exception :)

Newborn Portraits

Look at those little fingernails and tiny toes!

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

They decorated her room in Winnie The Pooh!  Eeyore was always my favorite…

Newborn Portraits

I think this was the only second I actually saw her eyes

Newborn Portraits

Of course, that meant that I had woken her up, and she did not like that one bit!

Newborn Portraits

But swaddling her back up into a little baby burrito made her happy again :)

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

I love the look on new parents’ faces – some combination of awe and wonder and joy and concern (and maybe trepidation)

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portraits

Justin & Gretchen – Congratulations!!!  Chloe is precious!  You two are going to be such great parents, and I’m so excited to document this next year as Chloe grows with you!