April

I'd like to start this out by patting myself on the back for actually getting this up on time - so yeah, go me!  April has been such a positive month.  Spring is here, the wedding season kicked off (it's pretty phenomenal so far, by the way) and it feels like everything is just sort of falling into place, you know?  There are a lot of really exciting things on the horizon, but you're just going to have to wait until the May post to be filled in a little more on that... ;)

In the mean time, here's some good food, pretty places, adorable pups and some other snapshots from this month.  Enjoy, and happy April!

• Suzette.
• Grilled Asparagus, by yours truly.
• the High Line.
• Virginia Beach.
• Breakneck Ridge.
• George Washington Bridge.
• Max's on Main.
• Rocco.
• Bryant Park.
• Point Pleasant.
• Beacon.
• Home, Sweet Home.

And in case you missed them, here's March, February and January of my monthly snapshot project.

Tania & Kurt | New York, New York

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Spritzenhaus 33 | Brooklyn, New York

I was shooting with Jas on Saturday and, as we took a break during the cocktail hour and I stuffed my face with freshly rolled sushi (#reasonsilovemyjob), we started reminiscing about the old days.  More specifically, we were discussing how ambitious (read: insane) we once were with shooting weddings.  We used to shoot every weekend for months, often shooting several events in one weekend.  One time, we shot three weddings in three days.

Shooting a wedding is very physically demanding.  Or, at least, for those of us who generally tend to forget that we're a human being with physical limitations because we're so caught up in getting that sweeeeeet angle, then yes, it's hard on our bodies.  I don't know how I ever shot three weddings in three days and actually woke up from the week-long coma I slipped into afterwards.  Just kiddinggg... it was five days, tops.

There are a lot of photographers out there who shoot multiple weddings every weekend of the year - and some of them even turn out consistently beautiful work!  But for me, these days, I like to throw all of my energy and creativity into just one wedding on the weekends.  Last year, if I had a free day after a wedding, I could almost guarantee that I was laid out on my couch in a catatonic daze, computer precariously balanced on my lap next to my dog, who is so supportive of my laziness, by the way.  This year, I'm trying to break that habit and actually stay awake during the free portion of my weekends (have a life).

Sunday Funday developed accidentally after three Sundays in a row of staying in New York (whattt!)  and planning really fun activities with friends.  The first was spent hiking Breakneck Ridge (my fav Hudson Valley hike).  The next weekend, Nicole and I spent Sunday at the Inner Wall in New Paltz, where I released my inner twelve year old.  And yesterday, we relaxed with the physical activity already! in favor of drinking beers, eating thirty-six bavarian pretzels (thanks, Corbach!), and playing ULTIMATE Jenga at Spritzenhaus 33 in Greenpoint.  It was kind of really awesome and perfect and I was even more thrilled because BETSI showed up and I hadn't seen that girl in WAY too long.

Anyway, here are some photos I actually took, because hey! I take pictures of my life now too!  And here is a haphazard collection of notes and observations on said photos:

• Spritzenhaus has a ton of games of Jenga laying around and the Jenga pieces have all been written on by various patrons of the establishment, which I love.  Some of the messages are sweet, some are hilarious, some are potentially offensive and some are just really silly.  Below are some favorites.
• If you happen to stop by Spritzenhaus, you should get a bratwurst with curry ketchup on a pretzel bun and dedicate that meal to me, because I cannot pass up a good German meal.  It's just how I roll.
• Ultimate Jenga is when you stack two Jenga games together, making an extra tall tower that isn't particularly steady to begin with.
• I'm going to start incorporating the pose in the second to last photo into photo sessions and name it something like "the showcase" and I'll probably win loads of awards for it.  Thanks, B.
• Sometimes when I reallyyy laugh (last photo) my nose scrunches up.  This is a trait I've inherited from my Mom.  We also have identical feet and crooked smiles.  I find all of these qualities we share super fascinating and awesome.

the Facebook

My old Facebook page is back in action.  Check it out for updates, pretty pictures and sneak peaks from recent shoots.

And you're still welcome to friend or follow me here, if you'd like.

a small reminder.

When catastrophe strikes, it is so difficult not to let darkness cloud your view of the world.  It is so important, through the graphic images and grievous reports, to see the good all around.  We will witness scattered tragedies throughout our lifetimes, but it is up to us to take notice of the love and benevolence that surrounds us every day.

I heard about the events in Boston yesterday while I was sifting through photos that I've taken at weddings throughout the years.  I'm including a handful of them here.  I hope they serve as a small reminder of the immense amount of love and joy that lives in this world.

 My heart is with you, Boston.

March

Oh hey, here's some photos from March! ...almost two weeks into April, which, you know, I'm totally doing on purpose and not at all because I've been driving up and down the east coast and working (welcome back to wedding season!).  Doing these posts of various snapshots throughout the month has been kind of awesome.  In the past, I've really neglected using my camera for every day photos, opting instead for my iPhone.  I'm so glad I've made a change.  Documenting the every day has given me such a better appreciation for my surroundings.  I've stopped taking some things for granted.

Like those Georgia sunsets.  To be honest, I have spent the past seven years loathing Georgia - which is nuts, because once upon a time, I spent the majority of my summers there, and the majority of the rest of the year missing it.  But after spending nearly a year living there in college, it left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  It's only saving grace was that a good portion of my family members live there, and, well, I'm obsessed with them.  Lately though (thanks to this little project) I've been framing photos in my mind along that familiar drive, and each time it gets a little less daunting.  I've really started to appreciate the farm land, as flat as it may be, and the tall trees that line that vast sky.  It's kind of amazing, how tall those trees are.  One of these days, I swear I'll finally stop and photograph one of the dilapidated barns nestled among the rows of cotton.  And on my next trip down, I'll stop at that farm stand my grandma used to take me to; maybe pick up a couple of fat, ripe tomatoes for sandwiches, just like she used to make them.

I sound really positive about Georgia, don't I?  I think that's pretty great considering that the time in March I spent there involved everyone I know, with the exception of my mom and I, coming down with a pretty nasty super virus that had been making it's rounds.  I must have gone through entire bottles of soap and bleach in an attempt to avoid getting it and/or passing it on to mom.  The idea of her coming down with it caused a lot of stress among my sisters and I (and I'm sure her too), but we managed to spare her!

On the back and forth between Georgia and New York, I've been stopping in Virginia to break up the drive.  I mostly stay near the coast, but I've managed to make a few trips inland to visit some of my favorites near the capital.  Meg, Addie and I spent an afternoon walking through Alexandria and I was blown away by it.  It's such an incredible little city to visit with so much history and color.  I was delighted to see racks of rentable bikes for touring (which also made me a little homesick for Hamburg).  It's a place I'd love to venture back to and explore more thoroughly.  Also, we ate at BGR and, while Poppy's still tops my list when it comes to burgers, BGR held it's own.

Later in the month, we celebrated Sean's birthday by the beach with seafood at Catch 31, Busch Gardens (we somehow ended up with season passes?  I'm not complaining), some rainy day Cinebistro and a homemade salted caramel cake that I managed to transport painlessly from New York - no small task!

March, thanks for the good times.