This is a story about life long friends who over time found their true soulmate in each other. Surrounded by a multitude of many high school friends and family this young couple exchanged vows and rings at a truly elegant and beautiful location. This wedding held a soft spot in my heart as they grew up in Wilbraham and went to the local high school. It was wonderful to see so many friends and acquaintances on this special day. I wish you both many, many years of wedded bliss and as always…..sprinkled with a little fairy dust and a dash magic! Congratulations!
Northampton, MA / Engagement / Jose & Carrie
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
This little saying reminded me so much of Carrie & Jose. It was refreshing to watch a couple have so much fun and make each other laugh through their entire session. I can only imagine how exciting their wedding is going to be. Enjoy our little tour through downtown Northampton ending in the place where it all started.
Quabbin Reservoir / Engagement / Emily & Tony
Well, It’s wedding and engagement season<3 What a fabulous year when I can photograph a sister’s wedding then another sister’s engagement session and then another wedding in 2016. Life is definitely good and even better when shared with this particular family. I’ve decided that Emily should have been an art teacher. She came supplied with signs, props, a dog and thankfully a finance for her engagement session. I have to say, fun was had by all including Emily’s dad who was the caretaker for McKenzie..the dogs…photo debut! Enjoy Emily & Tony’s engagement blog as we venture through Quabbin.
Twin Hills, Longmeadow, MA / Wedding / Brian & Bethany
Saturday, May 9, 2015 turned out to be one of those first spectacular spring days in New England. After a bitter cold winter we were fortunate enough to have sunny skies and warm weather. What a perfect day for Brian and Bethany to tie the knot at Twin Hills Country Club. Brian’s grandfather officiated the ceremony and they were surrounded by the love of many friends and family to witness their marriage. I wish you both a lifetime full of love, happiness and a little bit of magic.
The Garden House, Northampton, MA /Wedding/ Adam & Allison
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart”
Adam and Allison had a lovely wedding surrounded by a multitude of friends and family at The Garden House in Northampton. I started this blog with a quote because this couple created a unique love jar of hearts for their ceremony. One heart was read by each during the ceremony and placed for safe keeping inside their jar to be read at a special time. How appropriate to start this blog with a quote on hearts. It is my wish that every couple enjoy their magical journey. For every once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.
The Harding Allen Estate, Barre / Engagement / Nate & Kelly
I had the pleasure of photographing Nate & Kelly’s styled vintage engagement session at The Harding Allen Estate. Nate decided at his wedding interview that he would love to do a session like this for his engagement pictures. Kelly, not so much but we swayed her to our way of thinking and she rocked her outfit and style to fit Nate’s vision for these pictures. I would also like to send my sincere thanks to Carmen for allowing us the use of his facility. He was nothing but kind and generous allowing us the use of both the inside and outside grounds. It is always a true pleasure to work at this Estate. It is a stunning location and always has top notch service all around for not only the food, but as a venue site for weddings and functions.
Castle of the Knights, Chicopee / Wedding / Derrek & Alyssa
As I was thinking about how to write this blog I began looking for quotes on love and patience. Alyssa explained to me that she and Derrek had been engaged for quite sometime. It seems that the mantra for the wedding day was “Finally”. I found this little quote which I thought was extremely appropriate and lovely.
“The beauty of marriage is not always seen from the very beginning…but rather as love grows and develops over time.” —Fawn Weaver
Congratulations Mr & Mrs Santucci…..FINALLY:)
Fountain Park, Wilbraham / Wedding / Brian & Jadig
Brian and Jadig got married in a fashion that was both very private and intimate. Surrounded by immediate family and officiated by Brian’s grandfather they said “I Do” in the red barn in Fountain Park. The barn is presently under construction and looks to be a fabulous venue location once it is completed. Both the bride and I fell in love with the rustic charm and unfinished walls while under construction. We couldn’t have asked for a more charming location for this sweet wedding. Many wishes to this young couple as they start their new life together.
Boudoir Photography / Karen Geaghan Photography
So, after a full day of shooting boudoir photography yesterday, I began thinking about the “whys” of this type of photography. It seems to be a growing trend in the wedding market as a replacement for engagement pictures. I also shot a model I have used for many years and we began discussing a valentines promotion for a boudoir shoot as we were photographing. She had mentioned that many of her friends were looking to have this type of photography done. I obviously began thinking about why a client would chose to have a boudoir session, not from my perspective as a photographer, but from the prospective of a man and a woman. From my perspective, I LOVE having a woman feel beautiful. I love when they look at their images and state, “wow, I look like a model”. I would like to feel that way as well if I was on the other end of the camera.
I chose to ask men about their perspective of these images. I was told, it is a gift she won’t give to anyone else…so it makes it very unique. It means we are truly special. I was told it makes a man feel great and they knew those pictures were a gift for them and them alone. It was something to be shared just between two people so that made it very cool.From a female’s perspective, I know as a woman…not as a photographer…that this is something I would do for only a special somebody. I would be giving that someone a part of myself to be shared with only them. A very unique gift…something very precious and personal. It would be a total and selfless act of love for the other individual.
Another perspective that gave me pause…in our daily lives we are so caught up with being a career person, a mom, or any sort of care giver that we forget what it is like to feel and act like a woman. We are so caught up in the running here there and everywhere and taking care of everyone else….that we forget to take care of ourselves. We forget to be the woman that we truly are. Our husbands, partners, boyfriends, whatever don’t care if we have had a child and aren’t a size zero. They don’t care if we are having a bad hair day. They don’t care if we forget to put on makeup and wear sweats running out the door. In their eyes we are beautiful inside and out. What better way to say “I love you” than a gift that is just for them and them alone.
This truly has me smiling as I write this. I like everyone else want to feel beautiful… I want to be told how special I am…how beautiful I am to that special someone. I enjoy this type of photography. I enjoy being the someone that women know can help them be and look their best. I love the light in their eyes when they view their images knowing I have made them look and feel like a model for the day. Happy Valentines Day to all the women out there. May you always take a moment each day to think of this blog and feel like the empowered woman that you are. xoxo
Please contact me at karen@karengeaghanphotos.com to ask about my Boudoir pricing and my current Valentines Day promotion.
Wisteriahurst Wedding, Holyoke / Chris & Lindsay
There is always a little something magical about a snowfall. Lindsay wished for a little snow for her wedding day this past Saturday. I was so excited when I heard the upcoming forecast which predicted just that. How perfect can it get? Snow for a January wedding. Just what every girl who plans a winter wedding desires. I was so disappointed for Chris and Lindsay when I woke up on the morning of the 3rd expecting to see a dusting of snow and saw grass. Well, I figure, we live in New England, and yes, anything is possible with the weather! We began our wedding at Wisteriahurst Museum and lo and behold all the little angels began working their magic and it began snowing right after the ceremony. Congratulations Chris and Lindsay. May the magic of every snowfall touch your lives and hearts!