Kirsten & Dave: An Anniversary Session in the Outer Banks

This summer I fell in love with the Outer Banks.  Specifically, Hatteras Island and the little village of Avon.  

In July my husband and I went on vacation with his sister and her husband.  They happened to be celebrating their five-year anniversary, so of course that was the perfect opportunity for us to plan a sunset session at the Avon Pier!  I mean, just look at that pier.  Who wouldn't want to shoot there?!?!

Kirsten and I were roommates, and we first met 8 years ago when we started sharing an apartment in the Boston area with a few other girls.  The four of us quickly came to call ourselves the "Stepford wives" because we all loved baking, family dinners, house decorating, hosting, and wine nights at home.  Now we joke that I was Kirsten's wife long before I ever married her brother, Jeff.  ;o)  

But back to Kirsten & Dave.  Kirsten & Dave are the absolute sweetest couple, and they are so perfect together.  At one point in the evening I commented how natural they were in front of the camera, and she told me, "Of course!  Tell me to make out with my husband and we're all good!"  They cuddled up together, told jokes, and just made it an easy and relaxing evening for the four of us at the beach.

Jeff was there, too, and he definitely photobombed us a time or two while taking his job as assistant/camera gear pack-mule very seriously.

When I told Kirsten I had the perfect dress for her session, I was thrilled that she was as excited as I was to try out a few styles of this infinity wrap dress.  The color was perfect with the sand & surf, and it looked amazing on her.  I am officially hooked on the classic style that a long gown gives to any session, and you will definitely be seeing more dresses like this in our sessions!

Happy 5 years, Kirsten & Dave!  Thanks for an incredible vacation together!

A Sparkling Anniversary Session in Charleston, SC

Make it happen. That was one of the underlying themes of the November Creative and Heart Conference in Charleston, SC.   This was a conference for the creatives, the boss ladies, the hustlers, the small business owners, the entrepreneurs, and the big dreamers.  One of the (many!) things I loved about C@H was the opportunity to connect with so many other creatives from across the country.  Not just photographers, but artists, planners, crafters, designers, and more!

One of these lovely ladies was Erin of Erin Padgett Events.  She is the owner and lead planner of a boutique event planning company in Charlotte, NC, and her bubbly personality and sparkling spirit truly shine through in her work and in her everyday interactions with those around her.  This girl truly makes it happen every.single.day.  She just opened a new office space for her business, and she is an inspiring boss lady with big dreams!

Erin & Jonathan were the cutest!  They arrived to Charleston just in time for their sunset session at the College of Charleston.  This location was a photographer's dream come true.  The Spanish moss blanketed the Spanish live oak trees above our heads.  We were surrounded by old brick pathways, colorful houses with wooden shutters, wide porches & winding staircases.  So many stunning options for this couple's photos!

I just adored the old columns of this building, and I love how we incorporated the clean lines into their photos.  And look at Erin's adorable expression!  See, I told you -- a sparkling personality!   ;o)  These two were playful and so in love the entire session, and I love these moments that we captured for them during their visit to Charleston.  Such sweethearts!

The light that night set the sky on fire, and it sparkled through the tree tops in the most beautiful way.  I always adore some good bokeh in my photos, and this location did not let me down!  Seriously, now.... can I just move here?!?!?!?!

Erin & Jonathan, thank you for such a fabulous session together!  I truly loved capturing your relationship on camera, and I'm thrilled to share these beautiful memories with you.

This wasn't the only photo shoot I did while in Charleston!  Click here to see a colorful family session at Rainbow Row in Historic Downtown Charleston with another photographer's family!

Are you celebrating a special milestone with your significant other?  Ask me about our anniversary sessions, the perfect way to document your love for each other!

*****Do you live far from Boston?  Would you love to do a destination photo session with Nicole Starr Photography?*****

I'm always up for a little adventure, and I adore traveling and exploring beautiful places.  I have a handful of faraway visits planned for 2016, and I would love to come to your city or town!  Let me know and we can create some beautiful memories for your family!

A Rustic Sunset Engagement Session | Boston Wedding Photographer

Happy fall, y'all!

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There's a crispness in the air, crunchy leaves underfoot, and pumpkin-everything everywhere.  I'm finally ready to embrace the season!

I love summer.  I live for summertime.

But there's something so cozy about sweater weather and baking season, so I'll take a few weeks of fall while I can enjoy it!  After all...

This amazing couple is getting married later this month, and I can't wait to capture their stunning and unique wedding on camera.  With a rustic and laid-back style, we met at The White Barn Farm in Wrentham, MA for their engagement session.  It's a local farm with a cute little farm stand that they visit on the weekends, and I was thrilled to capture their session here.  When I pulled up I met the owner ("Call me Gram"), who invited me in, showed me around, and told me to make myself at home.  What a sweetheart!  And that was just the beginning...

It was the perfect late-summer evening with just a hint of fall in the air.  A sparkling sunset and an adorable couple that was up for anything made for a stunning session together!

Love this stunning portrait!  Won't Courtney be a beautiful bride in a few weeks?

The best sessions are when couples (or families, or children) feel comfortable and act naturally, cuddling up together, laughing together, and just enjoying their time without worrying about what the camera is doing at that exact moment.  I love that we were able to capture those real moments of love between these two.  When you look back many years from now, THIS is what you want to remember:

Courtney & Michael's dog, Wilma, is a bit of a puppy celebrity among their family and friends.  She is HUGE, but seems to think that she's a tiny little lapdog.  This dog literally weighs more than I do, and she pulled me across a field (very ungracefully with my camera swinging from my neck!) as we were setting up this shot.  Somehow I didn't expect her to pull that hard and I imagined that it would be simple to pose her at a different angle... Nope!  However, I couldn't help but laugh as I scurried across the field to catch her and it took 6 hands to finally get her back for this shot.

You wouldn't know it by looking at her here, would you?  She loved the camera!  Such a little model!