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I had the beautiful honor of photographing a most vibrant wedding this past fall – vibrant in color and in love! The marriage of Heidi and Simon at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Chatham and celebration at Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, MA. It wasn’t just a wedding, but the melding of two cultures – two families who have grown to love and respect each other across an incredible distance. Heidi first met Simon while in Uganda with her choir. They’ve made it through more than just a long distance relationship, but one that was dealt the additional obstacle of technology and limited connection. So when I say “honor,” I truly mean it was an honor to be the one to capture the day when they were finally able to be together.
It was a blast walking in the door to see my great friend, Emma Jocelyn of Eden Skin Care & Make-Up – working her magic as always. Heidi and her bridesmaids looked stunning surrounded in shades of purple!
The beach at sunset! This was my first time at Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, but the location offers a nice variety of places to explore for photos. Sneaking out for 10-15 minutes of that glowing light is easy while the rest of your guests are munching away on dinner.
Erin from Cape Cod Celebrations was on hand to ensure a smooth schedule and perfect details. I found I was always looking up to see her at the most perfect moments!
Heidi and Simon could not have been a sweeter couple to work with, always so thoughtful in their ideas and communications. They reached out with the biggest smiles and hugs when we first met in person on their wedding day. I will definitely hold them close to my heart as they head out into the world and bring ever more people together through those same bright smiles. Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into their day! Brian McGurk & Christine Nakyeyune | Cape Destinations
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Lindsey and Kevin picked the sweetest Camp Kiwanee in Hanson, MA for their wedding day. If I could photograph summer camp weddings forever and ever, I think I would! Actually, one of the first weddings I ever photographed was at YMCA Camp Burgess on Cape Cod. What perfect examples of open celebration! I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Lindsey for several years now, and she has so sweetly sent me a few messages along the way to let me know that when that special day came, she wanted me there. There’s nothing more incredible as a photographer. While dozens of engaged couples reach out to ask my rates each year, my true hope is to personally connect with a solid few – to become friends in the months before, and to stay friends for years after. Add to the fact that I arrived at Lindsey’s childhood home to realize she’d grown up in a home I can see from my very own childhood home’s upstairs window, WHAAAAT?? Lindsey and Kevin fit together. There’s no better way to say it. This is a love that’s beautiful to photograph! She knows her way around a camera herself actually… but Lindsey sure does okay in front of the camera too, am I right? A stunning beauty.
Camp Kiwanee, thank you for your fantastic backdrop, all day and all evening! Lindsey and Kevin – already a happy family of four with their sweet dogs – are now expecting a BABY! Congratulations, you love birds!! Venue: Camp Kiwanee | Flowers: The Tangled Web | Hair: Solstice Day Spa | Make-up: Amanda McCarthy Beauty | Invitations: Phrosné Ras | Catering: The Chef’s Table | Dessert: Veronica’s Sweetcakes | Music: First Class Band | Ceremony: Our Lady of Hope | Dress: Maggie Sottero | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Suit: David Donahue | Calligraphy: Lauren Hooper | Number Holders: Beaucoup | Embroidery: friend of the couple Still on a complete high after playing hookie this week for a Valentine’s hike of Mount Monroe in the White Mountain Presidential Range!
Photographer pal Alexandra Roberts sent me a text on Sunday night: “free Tuesday by any chance and wanna hit up the Whites? Looks like there will be a break in the storm that day!” How TRUE that was! This Tuesday, February 14th turned out to be THE day of the winter. Gorgeous sunshine, zero wind, and fresh powder up to our thighs/hips/shoulders!
But that’s not all! As we were suiting up in the parking lot (after leaving Cape Cod at 4am to meet Alex in Somerville by 5am), three more gals pulled up to the trailhead. Each of us having left from entirely different destinations that morning, somehow we all met to hike Mount Monroe up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail at the exact same time on a Tuesday morning! Granted they had all planned to meet, but Alex and I hadn’t even decided on a mountain until an hour earlier in the drive. Fate is a crazy thing. We basically latched arms immediately and fell in friendship love. We hiked the entire way up and down together – about six hours – taking turns breaking trail, falling on our bums, and filling the ravine with laughter.
There was soooo much snow! We relied on our snowshoes all the way up to the AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut before switching to crampons for the final steep crawl up Monroe. Mount Washington was gleaming in the sunshine next to us, and we could see backcountry skiers across the ravine near the Cog Railway route. When it came time to head back down below tree line, we sat, fell and slid down (three different methods, trust me) on our butts much of the way. No matter what turn the hike took over six hours, it just never felt like work. I had a permanent grin across my face all day!
What was also kinda eerie and cool was that we were the ONLY five people to hike this somewhat popular route all day, and the next day’s snowstorm would completely wipe out our tracks. It’s like it never happened, yet… I’m not sure five women have ever had a more perfect Valentine’s day together! Much love to Alex, Elizabeth, Whitney, Kimberly and trail dog Katahdin! (disclaimer: my actual Valentine was very sick on the couch all day, poor guy)
One of my back-to-back flights this past fall and winter took me to Moscow, Russia for about a week at Christmas time!
I was in the city to photograph and socialize (ie. blab all over social media channels) a few important meetings and events… namely, a VIP reception and auction at a gorgeous mansion, a press conference and a visit INSIDE the Kremlin – right to a meeting in the presidential library! The whole week included working with celebrities from both the U.S. and Russia, as well as my organization’s CEO and of course several key leaders from the Russian government. But mostly I just wanted to share all the CHRISTMAS with you! Man, does this city know how to Christmas! The decorations were gorgeous and plentiful. I used the opportunity to walk around with my brand new Sony a6500 camera when I was “off-duty”.
This was my first time traveling outside of the Latin alphabet. I admit it was extremely difficult for me to decipher a restaurant from a cell-phone store – literally – so as a result, I had no food and no SIM card! Three final photos were captured with my usual Canon 5D Mark III, if anyone’s keeping score – I was walking through Red Square again after one of our events. I’ve since changed my Sony lens to a 28mm because of the cropped sensor, so I’m able to get a wider view while traveling, hiking and just general on-the-go photography. Point there is that I’m now snapping MUCH more every day – I’m loving the Sony a6500!
I took off for the airport at 2:30am the following Saturday morning, speeding off to the Hedman family Christmas in Connecticut on the same day! But don’t worry – that’s just the way I like things. More globe-trotting in 2017! Freshly home from about 11 days of travel, including a few days in London before one full week in India. The India portion of my trip was to visit my organization’s (the International Fund for Animal Welfare, IFAW) wildlife rescue and rehabilitation project in Assam and Kaziranga National Park. Absolutely incredible stuff, face-to-face with baby elephants and rhinos (and leopards!) who will soon grown strong and confident enough to be released back into the wild. Other than bottle feeding, human contact and voices are at a minimum around these magnificent creatures. The center is not open to the public.
Textiles such as scarves and blankets were my favorite to indulge in. While the majority of our travels showed extreme poverty, there is still a vibrancy to the Indian culture at every turn. Laundry drying on the highway guardrails, women crouched in the tea fields, children begging on the streets – all in beautiful prints and colors.
It’s such an honor to be able to travel the world with my camera, and to share images and experiences from these cultures. Don’t forget to join me on Instagram at @staceyhedman!  courtesy of akshardham.com |
