maine photographer | sharyn peavey photography blog : spring 2010

Emily & Dan are to be married next year at the Barn at Walnut Hill. Dan is one of the rare guys who wants a mini brag book of the wedding. Another exceptional quality he posesses is the ability to laugh out loud so expressively. They are easy to photograph, easy to be around.

Diane & Jorge are planning a Portland wedding this October at the Portland Yacht Service. The space is a wide open canvas awaiting to be developed into a memorable venue. I often walk my dogs down in that area and have wanted to get inside and photograph. Ah yes, soon perhaps!

Park Street School in Springfield Vermont is one of the best playgrounds I have ever been too. I photographed my cousin Michelle and her kids while I was visiting. I can remember when Alanna her oldest was Lucia's age. Oh my.

Friday afternoon I got a phone call from an old friend, Max. He asks what I am to and if I wanted to make some money that day. Flashes of movie scenes and criminal money making scams flashed through my mind and I said what do you want Max... He wanted photos of him and his new lady friend he says. Hmmm, last I knew he had a girlfriend he lived with, for 3 years. He never asked for pictures with her. My curiosity is peaked. I say sure, meet me at my house later. Of course they were late. I expected that. I had to rush because I had plans, but I did get a bit of their story. In reply to Lisa telling me they both left broken hearts behind (meaning ex's) I said, in my dramatic voice, so you crushed them... I was being 1/2 sarcastic. But heart broken people don't often call me for a shoot, so if these 2 are happy in love, how can it not be contagious. We wrapped up the shoot, and they drove off into the sunset, heading west of my house (which is opposite of the highway and downtown Freeport), and they would not tell me where they were going. Leaving me to wonder where love like that goes.

Laura & Ross are engaged to be married. They live on Munjoy Hill in Portland. They met at Fordham University. Like most couples they are not used to being photographed as a couple. A unique couple in a unique neighborhood, made for a great shoot. Made me think about relocating to Munjoy Hill, so I too can be a walk away from the East End, and ride my bike more often.

I was surrounded by more in shape people than I ever have been. I mean I have tried to drive out of NYC on the day of the marathon, while being 5 months pregnant. That was fun. But seriously, all around me were close to 300 highly ambitious and fit people. Doing more physically than I have. I am happy that the Casco Bay YMCA asked me to shoot their first triathlon. Lucia tagged along with me. Of the 1300 final images I have, she was either sitting on me when I took it, or within a 3 feet proximity. She quickly noted that there were more girls than boys. Gender identity is high on her list, being 4.

Returning home from my trip my Lucia weighs heavily on my heart. I have not been called momma 29 times in a day for too many days! This is the longest I have gone without her. While on the plane I am going through random shots over the past month. Here is a series I did of her at Grammy LeBlancs house last month. She got this lovely dress from Aunt Lillian. She discovered the drop shoulders. Then it was on to stacking paper cups in Grammy's bathroom. Next time I go on a trip, she is coming with me.

In January of this year I attended a DWF (digital wedding forum) workshop in Mystic, CT. It was awe-inspiring. The line up of speakers, fantastic. Some of the worlds best photographers in my mind. I got something out of everyone's presentation. But a reoccurring theme I heard was do you own work. Make time to make images for you. Use that time to explore your own imagination and try new techniques etc. Well that is all I needed the, green light to go and do my own thing. Somehow I needed permission, I would feel silly about it, like ok, really Sharyn shouldn't you be doing something else (albums, cleaning out the basement, office drawers calling people etc.) Well from that workshop my mind was so alive with ideas for 3 days I seriously could not sleep. Made me think, now that's why these photographer drink so much at these get together's, we have to shut our minds up somehow. From that inspiration the green light came my idea to photograph Rosie. I had wanted to shoot her with a Renaissance - mix - 1960's hair ( a.k.a. big, for anyone who knows me well, knows I like BIG hair at times ). I also wanted to use her boyfriend, for visual contrast. ( Her boyfriend happens to be a close friend of my adopted son Eddie and I have known him for over 5 years). My original idea was to use Rosie's natural looks and thick red hair to create her into a lovely object indicative of Renaissance paintings, full of light,texture and emotion. I right away emailed Kate Pannil-Siersma from Headgames, because I knew she could create what I was envisioning. Kate is an artist. I love to work with her. She was on board, bless her.
Originally the plan was to use alot of soft studio backlighting but then spring happened and I fell in love with all the colors and textures revealed from last years growth. I wanted the outdoors. I see all the twisted up grass and brush from last year as not yet gone. They are still very much alive so long as the new green doesn't push up and take over.
Then a whole other element presented itself. I received a phone call from Kara Wilbur of Sweet Love in Gardiner (ME) and the message was, if you are interested in a photographic opportunity please call me. Well I honestly didn't pick up her message from the office phone until days after she left. ( I neglect the office phone on occasion and think solely about my iphone). I called her up curious to see what this project was. It didn't sound like she was trying to sell me an ad. When I spoke with her she gave a very doubtful pitch about her new high end second wedding gown shop with tea room in downtown Gardner. She wanted photos to hang in her shop.She didn't think I would be interested. But, I was ! We talked a bunch that morning and I asked her if she needed photos for her business too. She did. We planned out to meet up when I was driving to my parents in Liberty the following Friday. I got off the phone and realized, wait, her dresses could be perfect for my Rosie shoot that Sunday! I called her, she was down with it. She arrived Sunday with a bag of gowns. And this is what we got.

Dresses: Sweet Love, Hair: Kate from Headgames Salon, Jewelry: Intrikate Designs

Donna Kim had been inquiring about new head shots for her business THE PERFECT DETAILS. We have a mutual friend Joanne of Joya Beauty in Dover NH. Joanne teamed up with her favorite hair person Lena of Hair that Moves to doll Donna up. Not that it is that hard :) And the best part is Donna is one of the funniest people I know. We met 6 years ago at her first wedding which happened to be here in Maine. We have since had other weddings together and I look forward to working with her again because she is on task. Love the new purple on your site Donna.