Happy Holidays from Carol Lundeen

I invite you to join me in doing the Snoopy dance of joy as we say goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009, and I challenge you to spend more time doing the things that mean the most to you. Think about it: what experiences would you most value next year? What will you do to make it happen?

Jen and James' Wedding at the Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston

Jennifer Macauley and James Anderson, lovers of French cafes, bivalves, and each other, married at historic King's Chapel in Boston on December 6th, 2008, followed by their elegant celebration at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Jen glowed and flowed all night in her one-of-a-kind Daniel Faucher gown bedecked in Swarovski crystals and James couldn't take his eyes of her. While they're off having a ball on their honeymoon, here are a few of the best images for the rest of us to enjoy:

View Jennifer and James' wedding slideshow

Julie Matta and Scott Murray's Newburyport Wedding

Julie and Scott's wedding day footsteps on the streets of Newburyport added their own stamp to the history of this fabled New England town. The preacher was running late, so Scott's brother stepped in to do the honors...or was it planned that way all along? View some of the day's images:

View Julie and Scott's slideshow

Jocelyn and Jake in a Sword Fight at their Mechanics Hall Wedding

Well, they didn't really have their first fight during the wedding, as far as we know, but Jake did have to fight to the death to get his new wife back, as she was kidnapped during cocktail hour. Jake was near defeat in the brutal fight, on his knees, and without his weapon, when Jocelyn came to the rescue, knocking out the enemy with a surprise blow from behind. The reunited couple then flowed into their first dance, and history was made forever. View some of the best images:

View Jocelyn and Jake's slideshow

Carol and Andy's Wedding at the Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Cod

Carol and Andy have found what they've been looking for -- each other -- and it was worth the wait! The warmth of their connection, and those of their friends and families, kept everyone warm on a cool, damp wedding day at the Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. See some of their best wedding images:

View Carol and Andy's slideshow

Alicia and Leslie's Wedding at Ballroom Veronique

Gargoyles, ghosts, and guests gathered to celebrate the vows of Alicia and Leslie at the Veronique Ballroom on Halloween night, oh yes, and a human birch tree too. You never knew which characters would cross your path next at this marvelous masquerade ball. Check out some of the images:

View Alicia and Leslie's slideshow

Lauren and Bob's Wedding at the Cohasset Golf Club

Lauren and Bob, you got the perfect, sunny (although windy) October day to celebrate your wedding, congratulations! You look quite delightful and comfortable together, and your family and friends rocked the night away. To view some of the best images of the event, use the link below:

View Lauren and Bob's slideshow

Jane Crudden and Bruce Carson's Cape Cod Wedding

Jane Crudden and Bruce Carson hardly felt a rain drop as they sheltered each other in love on their wedding day on Cape Cod. Their Chatham location resonated with meaning, as it was kind of the cottage that Jane's mother had always dreamed of, and Jane's dad played in the Cape Cod baseball league nearby. Jane and Bruce's parents, though not present physically, were very much part of day and would have been honored, delighted, and so proud of the two of them. I welcome you to have a look at some of the best images of the day:

View Jane and Bruce's slideshow

Andrea and Jeff's Boston Harbor Hotel Wedding

Andrea and Jeff's wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel was a real reflection of the love and joy they share in their relationship, and the details they chose really honored their true and best selves. Take their first meal as newlyweds, for instance. While their guests were savoring grilled swordfish and filet mignon, Andrea delighted in a grilled cheese sandwich, and Jeff a bulging lobster roll. Of course I got a shot of that. Wanna see some of the best images?

View Andrea and Jeff's wedding slideshow

Alison and Paul's Wedding at Atlantica, Cohasset Harbor Inn

Well, the tropical storm blowing through didn't stop Alison and Paul from having a blast on their wedding day. They danced between the downpours and their faces must still be aching from all their laughing and smiling. Check out some of the images at this online slideshow:

View Alison and Paul's slideshow

Caroline and Creighton's Wedding at Milton Academy and The Country Club in Brookline

Caroline and Creighton's wedding at Milton Academy and reception at The Country Club in Brookline was both rich with tradition and modern with delightful details. View some of the best images:

View Caroline and Creighton's slideshow

Kara and Michael's Cape Cod Wedding at the Wequassett Inn

Kara and Michael, you rock, literally! With diamonds in your bouquet, a perfect summer day at the Wequassett Inn on Cape Cod, and most of all, your families and friends gathered to witness and support the beginning of your married life together -- you've got it all -- congratulations!

View Kara and Michael's slideshow

Remembering Jeanne and George Shapiro

My mother-in-law, Jeanne Shapiro, passed away a few weeks ago. She's lived quite a few years now without her long-time husband (and father of my wife), George Shapiro. In their day, it is said, the dance floor would clear when they stepped onto it, thrilling their friends and fellow dancing pals.

I made this portrait of them about 12 years ago, when I first met them in their Florida home. I hope this image will remind many family members and friends of the love and life Jeanne and George shared together, and resonate with their presence for all time.

Babies galore!

Babies, babies, babies! As you know, they change fast, each and every day, in fact. Isn't it time you had Carol come over for a house call for a fresh set of images of your little one? Grandparents will love it, and if you ask them nicely they may make it a gift for themselves and you. Carol recommends a session every three months during the first year, then once or twice year thereafter. Call (617) 327-9254 now (or during nap time) to schedule your session!

By the way, my custom framer, Kathy Skarvan of AvaArt, also makes house calls. She's very personable, has very clean, contemporary taste in framing, comes to your home with samples and to evaluate and recommend options that will work best in the spaces you have in mind, and finishes the job by coming to your home to hang the piece(s) for you, saving you the hassle of at least two trips to the framing store and the frustration of figuring out what to do, all for no more money than retail frame shops.

What are you waiting for? Call Carol today to schedule your session!

Jennifer and Mike's Newport Wedding at Belle Mer

Jennifer and Mike set out to have a fun wedding and they totally pulled it off. There were smiles as wide as the world all day and night, and Belle Mer was the perfect location. Check out some of the best images.

See Jennifer and Mike's slideshow

Cara and Ian's Cape Cod wedding at the Wequassett Inn

The Wequassett Inn was the perfect setting for Cara and Ian's elegant, casual Cape Cod wedding. Ian sported a Tennessee orange bow tie, and Cara glowed with love and emotion all day long. Check out a slideshow of some of the best images!

See our slideshow!

Moira and Rob's Wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Moira and Rob's wedding at Boston College, where the couple met, and reception at the cool waterfront of the Boston Harbor Hotel was an elegant city affair as hot as the day was, well, summery hot. But a cool breeze has been blowing since, and I wanted to share with you some of the best images of the day. Check 'em out:

View our slideshow

Becky and Dave's Wedding at the Wequassett Inn, Cape Cod, MA

Becky and Dave's Wequassett Inn wedding on Cape Cod was so sweet and sentimental. And there was a bit of magic when they were stopped from exiting the ceremony by a column of U.S. Marines bearing swords. Congratulations you two! View a slideshow of some of the best images.

View our slideshow

Carol appears on The Learning Channel premiere of "Running of the Brides."

Wow, what a happy scene of friends, family, fellow photographers, and neighbors coming together to watch Carol's moments of fame on The Learning Channel premiere of "Running of the Brides." Whether you were able to attend the premiere party or not, thank you so much for your enthusiastic support! Here's the scene in our back yard, enjoying the show while eating homemade pudding and other yummy desserts. It felt like a perfect summer evening, and it reminded some of going to a drive-in movie in the old days, only better.Allison and Rob said, "Carol is the best. She captured our wedding exquisitely, and has become more than just our wedding photographer. We're so proud of the many awards that she's won for her work. It was great fun being part of her official screening of "Running of the Brides." We cheered every time we saw Carol on the screen. She's not only a fabulous photog, she makes a mean chocolate bread pudding and flan!"Liz and Rony Solovey, whose wedding Carol photographed last year, said, "We're really happy and excited to be here, supporting Carol and sharing this moment with her. We had a fabulous wedding and we're so happy that we chose Carol to capture the day for us." Photographers, clients, friends, and neighbors glued to the tube.The shock and awe of watching so many women battling to try on so many dresses in so little time.

Save the Date: Carol to appear on The Learning Channel Sunday, June 1st, 8 p.m.

Pencil in Sunday, June 1st at 8 p.m. to witness and celebrate my Learning Channel debut on the premier showing of "The Running of the Brides." Check out my web site or read the press release to find out more. So break out the popcorn and share the joy of my national tv debut! (And remember that television schedules have a way of changing at the last minute without warning.) The show is also scheduled to air Sunday, June 1st at 11:00 p.m. and June 18th at 8 and 11 p.m.

Loving Life with Jesh de Rox

I'm speechless about Jesh de Rox's experiential photography seminar in Marblehead in May. I continue to resonate in a fresh Big A perspective of my life at large and how my imaging life stitches through it in an ever-evolving mosiac. Check out few of the images I created during class:












Thanks so very much to each and every one of you who came to class, ready for openness and sharing a profound love of life just the way it is:

Jesh de Rox
Tamara Lackey
Brittany Blando - thanks for hosting us, Brittany!
Eva Kendrick
Lauren Pauline
Jonathan Chan
Maureen Ford
Mike with Kate Rose Photography
Patti Schmidt
BFFL's Ben and Tara with HItched Studios
Nicole Polk
Seshu
Carol Lundeen

Lisa and Not Your Average Joe's Wedding

Before Lisa and Joe's Boston wedding I could anticipate that every time I called out Joe's name that four grown men with boutonnieres would turn their heads. So I thought I'd make it easy for Lisa to help me tell the Joe's apart by making this sign for her to hold. By the way, all of the Joe's were way above average.

Click here to check out the slideshow of some of the best images!

Have a great honeymoon, you two!

Cold feet?

Have you ever walked barefoot into a vernal pool in spring? Let me tell you, the water is cold, and the soft, wet leaf litter creates curiosity for the feet with each step. But venturing in is oh so rewarding if spotting globes of salamander eggs can make your day, as it did for me recently at the Great Blue Hills.

While I was there I got to play with my camera and reflections of trees, glorious sunlight, and yours truly bouncing off the surface of the pool.

Shown on the right are more than a dozen globes of eggs stuck to a single underwater branch. Reflections of the sky and trees add to the mystery and magic. In the lower right you can see an oak leaf that gives you an idea of the relative size of everything. I'll be going back to this pool every few days to have the thrill of watching the little salamanders grow and eventually throw themselves into their own water world. Happy trails!

Hanson!

Hanson Fong, thank you! Thank you for sharing the photography secrets and lessons you have learned and practiced over a career of study with the master photographers who came before you. You are truly a master of the craft and I'm honored to have spent a week with you at the New England Institute of Professional Photography at the Ocean Edge Resort last week. I've just got to ask, what's next for you, King?

Sarah and Joe!

Dear Sarah and Joe,
I can't imagine a better way to launch the wedding season than to have had the honor and joy of photographing your wedding on Saturday. Thank you so much! You two were so incredibly sweet and happy together, surrounded by so many of your most loved ones.

Joe, has she given your eyeglasses back to you yet?

Slideshow of images:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW!
N.B. This slideshow is a work in progress and I'm working with Sarah and Joe to finish editing the images. Please keep checking back to see the latest version, and please refresh your browser and empty your cache to be sure you're actually viewing the latest edition -- thank you for your understanding and patience.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW!

My biggest fan

So, I bought a new camera the other day and was messing around with it at my desk. I couldn't wait to take my first shot, so I pointed it at myself, and voila, I had the joy of discovering that my biggest fan has always been there backing me up and keeping an eye on me at work -- talk about a fresh perspective!

Carol's Top Wedding Photography Do's and Don't's

As the wedding season approaches I wanted to share my top advice for preparing for the big day. This advice appeared in Brides Boston magazine last year. Check it out! Click here for a larger view.

Featured in Bride and Bloom Magazine!

Sara and Jason's elegant Cape Cod wedding is featured in the current issue of The Bride & Bloom Magazine! Their wedding was at the Poppy Tent at New Seabury, aka the Popponesset Inn, with eye-popping flowers and decorations by Kate Parker. The cake was Something Sweet, all right, by Michelle Bohigian, and we swung the night away to the sound of Beantown. Their photographer was Carol Lundeen, of course!

VIEW SARAH AND JASON'S SLIDESHOW

DOWNLOAD PAGE ONE OF THE MAGAZINE FEATURE
DOWNLOAD PAGE TWO OF THE MAGAZINE FEATURE
DOWNLOAD PAGE THREE OF THE MAGAZINE FEATURE
DOWNLOAD PAGE FOUR OF THE MAGAZINE FEATURE

SEE MORE OF CAROL'S WORK IN WEDDING AND TRAVEL MAGAZINES

Helping Hands

In preparation for the annual convention of the Professional Photographers Association of MA this month, several members volunteered our gloved hands for a day to process entries to the print and album competition. Hosted by Nancy Green and led by Russ Price, we had the honor of handling the best images of the year and the pleasure of enjoying Nancy's homemade chicken soup. Special guest visitor Sally Saniuta, Nancy's mom, joined us for lunch and cheered us on for the afternoon. (That's me on the left).

Got Moose?

Earlier this month I got away for a wintry weekend in NH with few women photographer pals. We went out snowshoeing in Lincoln Woods and what to our wondering eyes should appear but a young moose who had a close encounter of the pink kind!

Sitting down with Mitche Graf

All-around smart and funny guy, speaker, author, and photographer Mitche Graf shined at his February seminar in Boston. Carol attended and had the pleasure of chewing that fat with Mitche and other local photogs after the presentation.

Carol says, "This is the third time I've attended one of Mitche's seminars. I'm a fanatic because he's one of the best at tracking the super fast-changing world of photography. He goes on tour and invests time listening to the pulse of local photo communities, and the extensive knowledge he shares keeps me on top, too."

Lauren and Bob Rock!

Yesterday I had such a blast with Lauren and Bob on their engagement shoot. We strolled through a meadow overlooking a salty cove, adventuring through the mud and poison ivy. They found a special stone that was a keeper -- ask them to tell you the story about it -- and check out these pix!

Welcome to my new living room!

Hey, Everyone, welcome to my new virtual living room. The paint is still drying, but please take you shoes off, get cozy, and enjoy your visit!

And see what's up on the Carol Lundeen Photography web site when you have a sec - thanks for visiting!

Carol