BOSTON CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER

Jennifer found me through one of my clients for whom I shot one of my favorite sessions.  If you’ve been in the studio, you know that I have a vignette of BW framed prints from that session, as well as a sample BW album.  To say I really liked that family and session is an understatement.  So when Caroline referred Jennifer to me, needless to say, I was thrilled.  Jennifer and Alexander live in a wonderful home that is not only filled with beautiful books and photographs and art, but also with love.  They are a pair, that (pardon the Jerry Maguire pun), completes each other.  Much to my delight, when we finally decided on a session date, it was Saturday of Greek Easter, and of course, Jennifer is Greek!  What a treat, so wonderful to know that Alexander has a Yai-ya and Pappou… and that we’d both be celebrating with an overload of wonderful family and food the next day.

So here are my favorites, not all my favorites because that would be the entire session, but enough so that you understand that this too will be a session that will make me incredibly happy, and undoubtedly end up somewhere on my sample wall, along side Caroline!

I’ll be totally honest when I tell you that I came up with the idea to interview Stacey after I’d had a cocktail or two.  It was Saturday night, the entire house had gone to bed, I’d called my sister, I’d sent out a few very random emails to people I hadn’t spoken to in a while… and then I connected Stacey to someone who is going through almost exactly what she went through a few years ago.  So while I’d love to say “maybe I shouldn’t mix up berry drinks all by myself at late night,” it ended up doing some good as I was hopefully able to provide a resource to someone who might need it.

Let’s be honest, no one ever, ever, ever wants to have the message delivered that says “you’ve got cancer.” But when the call is made to a young mother, and it’s about her husband, it’s impossible to fathom.  It’s not my experience, and I don’t live it… but I’ve had the privilege of knowing Stacey as she’s gone through it. And I can tell you that from the outside looking in, she is tremendous.

Because of this connection, and that I owed Stacey her slideshow, and because she has her “Marathon Walk” to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute coming up (more info and donations here), I thought it would be an awesome time to check in and chat.

For those of you that don’t know Stacey, or this is your first time hearing her story… she is a young mom of adorable twins.  Her husband Joey was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme when she was two months pregnant and he passed away when the twins were six months old.  She works full time and “on the side” she runs her late husbands HVAC business.  She never sleeps, she has boundless energy, and she’s a very funny girl.  She sort of makes me look like I lay on the couch eating bon-bons all day.

I pulled up a few images to go with the post… they are both happy, and sad, but either way, they are so, so important. [Please be patient, the first slideshow might take a minute to appear].

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It’s been 2.5 years since Joey passed away.  And while it’s your life, not mine, I can’t decide if that time has flown, and if it feels like a lifetime ago or if it feels like yesterday.  How does it feel to you?

Some days I feel like it was years ago another life that I had. And, then some days when I have time to “think” about what happened or see an action or smile in my children’s faces and see their father and I feel like it was just yesterday that I lost him or when I have a dream and wake up and reach for my cell phone and want to call him and can’t, it feels like it just happened.

Tell us the back story… you found out you were pregnant and found out he had cancer all within a few days of each other.

Joey and I had been trying for about a year to get pregnant. I found I was pregnant and when my levels were so high, we went in June for an ultra sound and found out we had twins…  On a Monday we found out it was cancer, few days later twins, and then a few days later brain surgery. To this day it’s all surreal and I truly don’t recall a lot of what happened or how it was delivered to us….. it was just like walking through a fog. Actually, the majority of my pregnancy is a fog because there was only one focus and that was Joey.

Joe was able to spend six months with his children, then he passed.  How do you keep him alive for them?

We talk about their father and have photos of him on the walls and in their rooms. I try to continuously tell them about their father and how strong, smart and brave he was and that he loved them very much. And, just recently showed them our wedding video. And, remind them constantly that he is always watching them from “up above, in heaven”.

Was there a particular milestone or time amount that passed that made you think “I can do this?”

I can tell you that “not doing this” was never an option. I knew from the diagnosis and the failure of several treatments that his health was not good and that we were on borrowed time and I had to make this work for us. God was taking one, but leaving me with two precious jewels that I had to take care of and be there for; there was no choice.

The twins are 3 now… and are beautiful and happy and well-adjusted… what has been key to making this happen?

Getting us to 3, we’ve definitely had ups and downs and lots of tears, but I think by keeping Joey’s memory alive and talking about him, Joey’s family staying involved in their day to day lives, my mother whom moved in to support me and the kids, and reminding them that we are a team and we get through things together has helped us to get where we are.  I also think that when they ask or cry or say they miss there daddy by acknowledging their feelings and just saying “I do too,” and “yes this is not fair” helps them not feel alone.

What do you do on the days you just can’t get out of bed?  Or for you, on the days that you can’t sleep for even one minute (as I know you are always awake!)?  How do you push through?

Sleep is a pastime favorite — looking forward to teenage years and dragging them out of bed!   I used to worry about everything. But, now to survive the day, I’ve learned not to worry about the future just get through today and what needs to be done. I take numerous deep breaths through out the day.

Describe a perfect day.

A perfect day….  I’ve slept at least 4 hours, the twinettes awake easily to get dressed; lunches packed, and back packs together so Gram can get them out the door by 9:30 to go to school. I begin with a decent ride to Boston via Route 1 South by 7:45 to make into work 9 and then I get my perfect commute home and am with kiddos by 6:30 so I can have some day light to play with them before bed time.

I traveled Europe for 2 months by myself.  I was in the Philippines for a short time.  I LOVE to cook.  Neat freak.  Love love the theatre.

Stacey, thank you so much for being so candid… and for the honesty and going back to those days.  You are an amazing lady and I am so glad I know you.  Here are you latest images, from our awesome beach session… best light I’ll get all year! [Watch this one full screen!]

I am fairly certain that it must seem like I don’t work based on my blog activity.  But I promise I do.  It’s just a catch-22.  When I am slammed, I don’t blog.  When I am just moderately busy, I don’t blog.  But I wanted to share these images because I really, truly adore them.  And I also really truly adore this family.  I met Michelle not last Christmas, but the one before… maybe it was November?  I can’t remember, I just know that I did a follow up in January or February, so it must have been around that time.  I digress.  At that time, there was just little James.  And it was one of my most favorite sessions, because honestly, who can argue with a big blue-eyed boy who just sits and smiles?  Not I.  And Bob was laid back, participating like a good guy because he knows how much this means to Michelle (like Owen knows when it’s our turn!).  And Michelle is just awesome.  She is so put together, and works her tail off, and always looks great… and she has about a million plates spinning in the air and handles it so well (far better than I ever did when I was pregnant, had a toddler, and was still juggling Corporate America).  And now they are expecting number two!  I cannot WAIT to meet this baby.  I have a guess at what it will be — and you know, there’s a 50% chance I am right!

So we shot this at my studio. It was supposed to be a mini session, but I have such a hard time keeping it mini when my clients are like old friends!  I think Michelle was a little confused when she walked in… what’s this big white room… where’s the studio part?  It’s evolving, but I can still shoot and have it turn out exactly as I like.  It makes me so happy that on a rainy Sunday, I can still eek out a natural light session in there!

So until we meet the babe, here are the other three!  Let me know what you think!

One of my very favorite things about newborn clients is that I am on the “first to know” list when a baby is born.  I actually get a little giddy when I get the email. Another beautiful baby has entered the world.  One of my next favorite things, is repeat clients, who have come back to me over the years.  This family is one.  When I was just starting out, I shot this big brother’s newborn session.  I still remember him being such a beautiful baby, and I used him for so many displays.  As he grew up, twice photographed him along with his BFF (well, their moms are BFFs, so I made a generational assumption there).  So when I heard the good news that he’d be a big brother, I did what I do best.  I immediately lost the email.  Luckily, this mom knows me well, and cuts me slack (as all my awesome clients do), and I was WELL prepared and expecting their “our baby is here!” notification.   And finally, another favorite thing is when clients come and hang out with me in my studio.  It’s honestly just like family.  I am so happy there, warm and cozy with the winter weather.  A little movie action on the big screen.  An adorable baby.  Coffee from the market.  Life is good.

So these guys did not disappoint.  Everyone who has peaked over my shoulder has agreed… they are a gorgeous family.  Thank you so much… I am so truly grateful that you are my clients…and now friends.

And what a birthday it was!  What luck for me that I was invited to photograph a spectacular one year birthday party for an adorable little girl… with gorgeous parents… and a Who’s Who in Boston guest list.  As you know, I have a strict rule of not partaking in festivities [food and drink] while I am working, even when graciously invited… but honestly, when I got home I said to Owen “Let’s make Bellinis!” [and you know he gave me a confused look].  The food and drink and decor were to die for.  All of this can be credited to Andrew Anderson at Ilex Designs (props to his amazing floral designs as well as party planning skills!).

To set the stage, when you stepped out of the hallway, it was done up to the nines as a jungle theme, courtesy of Balloonantics.  It was stunning and put all the kiddos [and adults!] in a jungle mood before they even arrived at the party!

Once in the party, you were greeted by amazing visual stimulation, again, courtesy of Andrew… and custom linen designs for Ilex by Be Our Guest.

And food that you just could not pass up.  The food and drink [Max Ultimate Food] was exquisitely coordinated to compliment every aspect of the event with delicacies like duck mini-burgers, Tiger Paws, Safari Sandwiches, Jungle Sticks, and Monkey Tails.  DID I MENTION THE BELLINIS?

But all this aside, the MOST important element of the party, was the beautiful birthday girl, her family, and her friends.  She is truly loved!