My 3 favorite Creative Camera’s & Lenses for Unique Wedding Engagement & Newborn Photography

Creative Lens

Lensbaby Spark

Approx. Cost $90, available for both Nikon and Canon mount.

This cute little lens doesn’t work the way traditional lenses do. You push and tilt it to alter focus and achieve the somewhat fish-eye look you’re going for. It takes some getting used to – but once you figure it out, it’s the perfect thing to add some fun to your sessions.

Photograph by Boone Speed, Images from Lensbaby

 

Film Camera

Lomography Diana F

Approx. Cost $89

One of the most popular Medium Format film cameras on the market. You can pick it up at any Urban Outfitters store across the country pretty much. It’s a great every day camera if you like shooting film and it doesn’t break the bank. It also gives all images that wonderfully vintage vignette effect that I love so much.

Photograph by Unknown, Images from Lomography

 

Just for Fun

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8

Approx. Cost $65

Cute and portable, the Fujifilm Instax line has replaced the almost forgotten Polaroid. As someone who loves the convenience of digital photography but longs for when everyone printed their photos instead of just posting them on Facebook – this thing is a dream! The film can get a little expensive if you use it constantly, but if you only break it out for special occasions (like a wedding reception where you have the guests take a selfie and write the couple a note on the back!) it’s a wonderful little gizmo.

Photography by Yasumasa Yonehara, Images from Fujifilm & PhotoJoJo.

The Return of the Sparrow – Hallie Abacherli Studios Branding

I’m sure it’s not a secret that over the past few months, as well as relocating my business to Providence, RI, I’ve been working on a bit of a rebranding. I’ve settled on my colors, fonts and been slowly reworking all of my marketing materials and client correspondence to reflect my new esthetic. Overall, its been a positive – overwhelming – experience. Everything about my brand speaks more to me as a person, a photographer and my business as a whole.

However, something was missing.

And I couldn’t put my finger on it until today.

My sparrow.

My original logo included the outline of a sparrow. The same sparrow I have tattooed on my ribs. Sparrows represent joy, inclusion, and creativity – among other things. It was always a perfect symbol for my style and still is.

So I’ve decided to bring it back. It is officially part of my logo, brand and identity going forward.

Our 10 Favorite Wedding Venues in New England for Photography

Where you choose to get married is a HUGE deal! It sets the tone for the entire event. If you pick a wedding that screams classical, traditional elegance – putting mason jars on the table with wildflowers might not really work. Just like getting married in a vintage Dior dress might seem odd at a barn.

So in order to help out all those brides to be… here are my top ten favorite wedding venues in New England.

Please note: These are in no particular order

Alden Castle – Brookline, MA
The Wannabe Princess
Alden Castle, located just outside of Boston, is the perfect venue for every little girl or boy that dreamed of being a prince or princess. With stunning chandeliers and an actual ballroom – you can’t get more royal than this.
Tips for Guests: Bring your a-game! This isn’t the dress from the back of the closet kind of venue. Take advantage of the environment – its the perfect opportunity to wear a floor length gown worthy of the Oscars red carpet.

Edgewood Manor – Providence, RI
The Simple Classicists
Edgewood Manor, located minutes from downtown Providence, has all the elements of a classic. The reception hall is roomy and bright and offers traditional charm and a formal environment.
Tips for Guests: Take the gondola ride! I mean short of going to Italy, where else can you do that?

Inn at Mystic – Mystic, CT
The True New Englander
The Inn at Mystic is a perfect combination of everything you love about New England. The venue itself is a luxurious mansion set a top sprawling hills, on the water, surrounded by trees… Like I said – true New England.
Tips for Guests: There’s a horse drawn carriage on the grounds. Yeah, you read that right.

John Peters Estate – Blue Hill, ME
The Outdoorsy Types
John Peters Estate is a stunning brick building situated in the exact kind of atmosphere you’d expect from Maine – beautiful fields on the water.
Tips for Guests: Wear long boots or high pants if the wedding is during the warmer months, big fields with high grass attract ticks – and that is NOT a favor you’d want to bring home from the wedding.

Willowdale Estate – Topsfield, MA
The Elegant Romantics
Willowdale Estates is known for their “tent” weddings. The set up is beautiful and elegant in a semi-traditional way, but a nice alternative for those not ready to getting married in the woods or a church.
Tips for Guests: If the wedding is in October – try to stay for the fair. The Topsfield Fair is a great time for everyone – animals, food and live entertainment.

hree Chimneys Inn – Durham, NH
The Rustic Retreaters
Three Chimneys Inn is rustic, charming and VERY stereotypical NH. This little inn is tucked away in Durham – home of UNH – and has amazing food!
Tips for Guests: If the wedding you’re attending is at the beginning or end of a school year – book your accommodations early! Parents hog the hotels to help their kids move in on campus.

Slater Mill – Pawtucket, RI
The History Buffs
Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI was the first cotton mill in the US – it’s even been designated an historic landmark.
Tips for Guests: Make a weekend of it! The Mill is always running special events like Poetry nights, readings and even Paranormal Investigation nights.

The Chanler – Newport, RI
The Timeless Dreamers
Perfectly timeless and overflowing with old time elegance, The Chanler is a beautiful place for a wedding. Completely renovated in the early 2000’s, the Chanler offers top class amenities and old world charm.
Tips for Guests: Plan for traffic for summer weddings – Newport is an incredibly popular vacation spot in the summer months for out of towners.

Trapp Family Lodge – Stowe, VT
The Rural Charmer
Sprawling on a mountain side – the Trapp Family Lodge is the ideal setting for a wedding year round, but especially in the winter.
Tips for Guests: Winter wedding – bring your ski’s! Stowe has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in New England.

Alyson’s Orchard – Walpole, NH
The Hipster Classics
While getting married in an orchard with mason jars on the table has become the epitome of Hipster chic as far as weddings goes – Alyson’s Orchard is my personal favorite on this list. (I’m renewing my vows here in June!)
the apple picking is fabulous, the reception hall is stunning and the staff couldn’t be more accommodating.
Tips for Guests: Try the apple sangria. Seriously.

I’m back…

So I slacked on posting for the month of April. I was doing so good for awhile but this past month has been crazy.

I underwent surgery about 3 weeks back that has left me, my business and my life in general off track and kind of sluggish. I’m getting my energy back and refocusing the business for the summer. I’ve mostly spent the past few weeks cuddling on the couch with this little monster.

And I have to say, she is the best medicine when you don’t feel yourself.

 

Sam & Bobby: Sneak Peek

 

#100happydays

 

follow me on instagram and join in on #100happydays… what makes you happy?

 

 

My World.

This is Remy. She’s my entire world.

Some of the Best Easter/Spring Photos

When most people think kids and Easter Photos, THIS pops into their heads:

I’d like to show you some of my favorite Easter photos.

 

Easter Photo Contest – New England

So I have decided to run an Easter Photo Contest. I will be giving away one of my “Adventurous Collections” (a $350 value!) to one lucky winner.

To enter: just like or follow us on one of our social media feeds (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) between now and midnight Saturday, March 22nd. I will then select one lucky person and announce the winner on Monday, March 29th.

The Prize:

“The Adventure Collection”
2 Hour Session at a Location of your Choice
Props provided for artistic images
​4 Gift Prints 8×10 or Smaller
​CD with 20-25 Images

Easter Photo Session Ideas

Spring is around the corner and Easter is quickly approaching. It might be over a month away, but for those that send out Easter cards – now is the time to take those photos! Whether you’re planning on sending out photos of you and your family or just of your little one(s), I’ve got some great ideas to get you started!

Cute Easter Photo Sessions Ideas for You and Your Family

Couples
A cute photo of you and your significant other can be a great keepsake for friends and family any time of year. Pick a warm(ish) day and dress like its spring!! These are “spring time” photos after all. No one wants more shots of you in your parka. Try buying one of those $5 bouquets of flowers at the grocery store. Ladies, putting one behind your ear will bring ideas of warmth. Gents, one in a blazer pocket? Do cute couple things like you see in engagement photos. Her head on his shoulder. Your silhouette against a sunny sky. Etc.

Kids: Ages 3+
Get some helium balloons in pastels, bubbles, and a basket with some plastic Easter eggs. Kids with any of these props end up making great photos. Whether your photographer stages the shot or lets your kid do some improve – your sure to get some heart melting images perfect for an Easter card.

Babies: Under age 3
Depending on the size of your little one, laying them down inside a big enough Easter basket or having them sit up in one – is ALWAYS cute. Snuggle up newborns with a bunny toy. Let toddlers throw the green “grass” from the basket into the air like confetti. Or let them eat a pastel colored cupcake. They might end up messy, but it’ll be totally worth it.

Regardless of what you end up doing, you won’t regret it. One of the number one things I hear from my clients is that they wish they had invested in more professional photography of their kids. And it doesn’t have to break the bank! Stay tuned – I’ll be running a special Easter Contest in the coming weeks!

A few things to keep in mind when taking photos for a holiday:

• It will most likely take up to two weeks for the photographer to get the proofs to you so you can select an image for your cards.
• Most greeting card printers take an average of 2-3 business days for processing and 5-7 business days for shipping.
• That means about 2 ½  weeks before you would even get your cards. Then another 2-5 days for them to get to your recipients.
• And everything I said above… does NOT include Christmas. Christmas is a whole other animal and photos should be taken at least 2 full months in advance.