Letter to my Mom

Dear Mom,

Many have told me, that once I became a mother, I’d understand you better... and I kinda blew it off. I’m pretty good at seeing things from other people’s shoes. But... I can admit, I was wrong. 

I just “get it” a little more than I could before. Now I picture you so clearly, sitting in your wooden rocking chair, nursing your little babies at all hours of the night. The house dark, silent, and knowing how dad liked to save on heat… it was probably quite chilly too. 

You gave us everything you had. Your body, your energy… your every last nerve, you gave to my sisters and me. Starting with 9 months of sharing your body with another life, (Not to mention the indescribable pain of natural birth! Which you did THREE times!), followed by months of sleepless nights! But it only starts there. It’s really about all of the tiny moments that come after that. The countless times that moms put themselves second. It’s really hard, but moms do it happily. 

I understand now, that part of you leaves your body and then becomes someone independent of you. Suddenly their hunger, their comfort and needs become more important than your own. So when that tiny baby grows up, and goes through a “14 year old rebellious stage”, ouch, that has got to hurt and hurt really deep. I have said sorry for that a thousand times, but I know I can’t say sorry enough. :) But I also know, you have forgiven me.

You are my hair stylist, human spell check, wedding florist, birthday event planner, dad translator, and biggest fan. You were the first to know when a boyfriend was bad news, and the first to know that Abraham was the one! I am proud to say, “Mom, you were right!”

Motherhood is hard and often thankless. So, thank you mom. Thank you for all the times I forgot to say thank you.

I love you,

Sarah

Work Life Balance and Mom Guilt

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to share a little bit about what it is like to be a working mom. In particular, what it was like as a new mom, and a stay at home business owner. Ironically many working moms now find themselves working from home as well, and can see the perks and the challenges that come along with it, first hand.

As my world came to a stop, and I gave birth to our little boy, life outside my emotional cocoon kept going. The e-mails and phone calls kept coming.

I received an email while I was at the hospital, in labor. Someone asking for information about family photos. I send these types of e-mail responses all of the time, so I tried to reply. But I just didn’t have the ability to focus… even between the mid-level contractions. So, I put my phone down, knowing that because I didn’t respond right away, I wouldn’t book this job.

At home with a 2 week old, emotional and sleep deprived, with stitches almost healed… I returned a missed call.( A woman was asking about doing a photo session in a few months.) I got her voicemail, so I gave her some information and explained, “I just had a baby, I am taking some time, but I’ll get back to you in further detail as soon as I can.” … but she just kept calling!

And there I was, faced with a new equation to balance. How do I give this perfect new life all of my love and attention while keeping up with the busy wedding season, and continue to uphold my standards for my clients.

Questions in my head: How soon can I be healed up and carry my camera equipment? What will a 12 hour work day be like when running on little to no sleep? How will I feel to be away from my baby for the first time? Will he take a bottle? My son wants to nurse every hour, and I have editing and emails piling up… Should I have closed shop for a few months?

Mothers know, that “mom guilt” is no joke. I would look at him sleeping in my arms, and say, “I could never be good enough”. That is truly how it feels.

But! In my opinion I have the best case scenario. I get to be a stay at home mom AND do what I love for a living! So if my tiny baby has to share my lap with my computer sometimes, that’s fine. If he has to learn to play on his own a bit more so that I can get work done, I will have to forgive myself. And if I didn’t take any maternity leave, it is only so that I can make this life work, and be with him as much as possible!

So to all the mom’s out there who ask themselves how they will do it, or if you are doing the right thing... You are doing an amazing job, and you are enough.

You might also like “If this Bunny Could Talk”.

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Your "Mug" Shot

The comforts of home… like not needing pants, or drinking a cup of something warm and delicious, from your favorite mug. :)

What might the mugs in our cabinet say about us? Would a photo of our mug collection be an metiforical portrait of ourselves? Does our mood affect what mug we gravitating towards?

And, to an outsider, this special mug might not look like much. Just as we might walk past someone and not think much. “Oh thats just some lady.”, or “Thats just another business man.” But to the people who know and love them, there is so much more that what meets the eye.

Personally, my mood and drink of choice dictates what mug I will grab from the cabinet. Take this mug for instance (The black and white one in photo, with engineering facts on it, that I don’t even understand!) … Why might I love to drink from this mug?

It’s a mug from my dad’s old job. He used to work for an engineering firm, and he had to put up with a LOT of crap at that job. So this mug is a powerful symbol to me. When I need to get work done, push through, stay focused, and not mess around… I choose this mug. It reminds me of all that my dad sacrificed for his family, and how hard he works day in and day out.

He is a “no excuses” kinda guy, so this is my no excuses kinda mug.

During these times of quarantine, I have been gravitating towards this mug (see below). My husband and I picked it up last May, in Paris, at one of our favorite cafes. We were on our baby moon. :) To me, it reminds me of that very different time a year ago… wandering the streets of Paris, with nothing but excitement and questions about what our life as parents would be like, and who our little baby would be. It is playful and care free… it is sweet.

So I asked some friends to send me their “mug shot”. Each drinking vessel has a story that is personal and unique. Without trying too, our mug is a window into who we are, at home, with our guard down, enjoying the comforts of home.

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Marcos

I had to look up “firmament” haha. It means heaven or sky in regarded to a tangible thing.

“First, that top blue layer firmament . That color seems to resonate with me on a cellular level. I see it and am instantly and pleasantly charged. Blue in the mystic sciences is associated with manifestation, throat chakra. The throat is considered the bridge between the physical and spiritual dimensions, if i recall. :)

That dirty tan and sexy blue, pair well in a complementary union. Sand and water. We are made of those elements and more!

Next was the shape of the mug, its geometrics :). It has an octagonal body with a circular top. Love the way it feels in my hands. I sip from it like how i think a Zen Master sitting on a river bank would sip from it. :)

I have no idea what the kanji on the cup mean.”

Jade

“Here’s a mug that I received from a patient last week. Little did she know that I was going through a very stressful week with my boyfriend’s whole family diagnosed with COVID. And I was out still seeing a lot of patients from all over, even some that’s been exposed to COVID. So her gift was a breath of fresh air amongst a cloud of doubt. A reminder that my work makes a difference. I use her mug everyday when I do my documentation at home.”

Rosa

Rosa told me that this question was easy. And her answer warmed my heart!

“My favorite mug. It’s 20 years old. My son gave it to me when he was 4, for Mother's Day. ❤ The edges are very worn in.”

Jolene

“Sometimes I can’t believe that I spent two years of my life living in Malaysia. The experience was already 6 years ago, but it feels very much like yesterday.

When I think about moving back into my own place, I think about taking this mug with me and drinking in warm memories of a special time of my life.”

Kim

I made this little mountain goat special for Kim. :) And it is so fitting that she is the only one who photographed her mug outside, because my dear friend is ALWAYS outside!

“This one is from my sister when I visited her in Hawaii, so it means a lot to me. And I love to pair it with my mountain goat tea ball.”

Lopa

The part at the end made me laugh! :) Love it!

“This mug holds a lot of love, hope, and encouragement for me. It’s a reminder to experience life slowly, fully present, with heaps of self-care—all while inhaling the gorgeous aroma of tea!

It’s one of my very favorite material objects in my home, and woe be to the one who leads to its demise! Just kidding. (But not really…) Here’s to more and more love, peace, and presence every day. <3”

Andrea

I am totally jealous that I dont have this mug. And now have to look into this amazing work.

“This mug resembles a character made by one of my favorite creators, the Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. I grew up watching his works - which are technically classified as a “kid’s genre” but are also a mix of magical realism, urban fantasy, and really enforces the importance of caring about our impact on the earth.

Like Miyazaki’s animations, this mug appears to be light hearted. But, when you take a closer look, it’s function actually provides us more ways on how we can better take care of ourselves and the world around us.”

Ana

“They're are both really special to me. The one on the left was given to me by me best friend, when she asked me to be her maid of honor. The valentine's mug, my mom gave me 18 years ago, after finding out I didn't get anything in school. ( I was a transfer student, so I had no friends yet.)”

Allison

Her collection is in storage at the moment, but she still has this one at her apartment.

"It's from the Barn, which is a really cute breakfast restaurant in, Adamsville RI. It's literally in an old barn. I used to meet my Dad there, and we would go check out the antiques next door! They always had homemade jam that was outrageously good.”

My Dad

I am so happy that this is my dad’s favorite mug at the moment. It was a Christmas gift from my son (he was 4 months old at the time, hehe.)

I am not one for mugs with sayings on it, but this one was just TOO perfect for my dad! Truly, if he doesn’t know how to fix it, I don’t know who else we would call.

I hope when he drinks his morning coffee from it, he knows and feels appreciated for his many talents and never quit attitude.

Photoshop

Most of you know me as a photographer, but I also have thousands of hours of experience as a photo retoucher. “Retouching” is altering/enhancing photos in Photoshop. Many call it, “photoshopping”. :)

I have done photo retouching for BMW, Benjamin Moore, Cambridge Paving Stones, Net-A-Porter, and over 5 years at Barneys New York.

The Difference Between “Editing” and “Retouching”

All of the photos that my clients receive in their online gallery are “edited”, however they are not “retouched”. The “editing” process is when I check each photo for overall quality, exposure, crop, and color balance. “Retouching” is always available, but optional, and most of the time not needed. Common reasons for retouching include: removal of unwanted objects/people from background, smoothing skin, filling in hair, lessoning frizz, whitening teeth, accentuating features, and sliming down areas.

Original, How it looks right from the camera.

Edited, after processing the raw files and making any needed adjustments to light, color, and crop.

Retouched, using Photoshop to alter the photo as desired.

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Check out a few before/after retouching examples. The difference is in the detail, so it’s best to view on desktop or iPad.

Viewing examples on mobile, not recommended.

She isn’t a model, but she is tall, naturally beautiful, and has a perfect white smile. I loved her headshots! However, we are our own worst credit, so I retouched her pictures to her liking, while keeping her totally natural.

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An example of what I would call “light and natural” retouching. If you can’t tell exactly what is different, that is a good thing! It’s not about changing how a person looks, just elevating their natural beauty in a subtle way.

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Retouching is great for vacation photos too! :) I believe this photo will make the most sense to fans of the show Outlander. But I think you all would agree, it looks better without all of the tour vans and the friendly traveler in red.

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The groom forgot to take his sunglasses off his head? No problem!

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The designer wanted to have an image of their sweater in a different color, that wasn’t yet available to be photographed. So I changed the red sweater to a black and white one!

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Things don’t normally look like they do in the magazines, when they are on set. Lots of photoshop and retouching goes into making suits look tailored and smooth.

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Cleaning up power lines and unwanted reflections in windows can make a big impact on a photo. Also that car parked to the right… bye bye!

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A classic headshot with some light retouching to smooth skin, reduce shine, make hair look fuller, and slim down just a touch.

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Photoshop fun doesn’t end there!

One of my favorite projects wouldn’t have been possible without this incredible program! I personally don’t have one single tattoo, my alter ego however, is coved in them! :)

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Alter Ego you ask?… Yeah, we will see if I go more into that one day. ;)

Cherry Blossoms

One of my favorite times of the year for portraits of all kinds, are when the Cherry Blossom trees are in bloom.

While we are all doing our best to put life on hold, spring has showed up in full force, with flowers and trees blooming almost a month early! New Jersey hasn’t had a real spring in years it seems. We went from snow to 90 degree weather over night. But this year spring is here, in all her glory.

Imagine walking outside on one of those bitter, windy, bone chilling, winter days… It is so hard to imagine that the earth will ever thaw, or that you could ever walk outside in just a t-shirt and not freeze to death. But then somehow, spring arrives, and you can smell the ground again. This to me is one of lives greatest pleasures. And those pretty little flowers are proof that we made it, and warm summer bliss is ahead of us!

There is something otherworldly about cherry blossom trees when they are in bloom.

And what makes them so special, is they are only in bloom for a very short time. Before you know it, those pretty pink petals are floating down to the grown, and new green leaves emerge.

This too shall pass my friends!

Preparing for Birth

Birth is profound, and life changing. Birth is natural, and a woman’s body is perfectly designed to nurture, deliver, and nourish her baby.

I didn’t take any birth classes, but I sure as hell did my homework! All of those tools came in handy, from breathing techniques to music playlists. … And, with the incredible support from my husband, we were able to safely, and naturally, deliver our healthy happy baby boy.

I am NOT offering any medical advice (duh), just sharing what worked for me. :)

First I asked myself: When do I feel the most afraid or weak, and what has helped me through those times? And, when do I feel the most powerful, the most sensual, the most alive?

I knew I wanted a natural labor, and word on the street, it was going to hurt. Our unique experiences in life shape our relationship to adversity. Tapping into how my brain is wired, helped me to know just what would really help ME, when the going got tough. The more you understand what clicks in your mind, the more you can call on times that you got through something you thought you couldn’t, the more you can prepare and the more you can communicate your needs to your partner and birth team.

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Just Breath:

Number one thing that I found helped me through pregnancy, and all stages of labor, was breathing! Check out this awesome video to learn helpful breathing techniques. I reference these types of breathing below.

Affirmations:

I put together a list of my own affirmations that really clicked with me. I read them throughout the day, while meditating, before bed. (Examples are: I trust my body. I can birth fearlessly. It’s okay to feel pain. My baby is safe.) Look into HypnoBirthing if you feel this will help you. Also you can listen to this free meditation in the months or days leading up to delivery.

Also check out my dear friend Lopa, of Purandhri Hypnotherapy. She is a clinical hypnotherapist, who specializes in empowering woman through birth and so much more.

Early Labor:

My water broke at home. I was SO EXCITED!!! I could easily breath through these contractions and tried to sleep, shower, and relax. (But I was way too excited!!) After 12 hours of mild/random contractions, my midwives told me I should come down to the hospital. (Your midwife/OB will tell you, but this video also talks about when you should head to the hospital.)

What Helps: Keep things normal (haha yeah right!), and stay home as long as you can. Watch TV, use relaxing breaths, a warm shower, cuddle, nap, eat some snacks, hydrate.

How Your Partner Can Help: Stay with her, encourage her to relax. Take care of a few last minute things at home, like taking out the trash (so that she doesn’t feel tempted to do it). A massage wouldn’t be so bad either! :)

Hard Labor:

Okay, whoa! This is not fun anymore! Your body has to transform (dilate) in order for a baby to come out, and that process is intense! Admitted into the hospital, I was hooked up to monitors and had an IV port in my arm, that was definitely annoying. Labor tubs were not available at the time, so I took 2 really hot showers with the lights off. My husband put on my meditation playlist, and that was NOT cutting it! Soothing music at the moment was the most irritating thing imaginable!!! We switched it to my dance playlist, and I moved through the pain!

What Helps: Use relaxing breaths between contractions, and J breaths during contractions. Find an affirmation that really connects and gives you reassurance and strength. Keep moving, and try different positions. (I have heard people like to use a birthing ball, but for me that was terrible, and dancing, or leaning on the bed or shower walls helped best.) Use tub or shower if available. Give into the pain, don’t try and make it go away, ‘cuz it won’t :)!

How Your Partner Can Help: Squeeze her hips and/or put counter pressure on lower back during contractions to help with pain. Offer sips of water. Don’t be offended if she doesn’t want you to touch her, or if she is short with you. Reassure her that she is safe, and her body is strong and doing great. This video shows lots of different ways to help her manage pain naturally.

Transition:

Transition is the hardest part for most (and it definitely was for me)! This is when a woman dilates from 8-10cm. Contractions are back to back with no break between. This stage is when self doubt can really creep in. I personally felt that I couldn’t see, hear, or speak… it was all consuming. (This is a great video with a doula that explains the transition faze in full detail.)

What Helps: Just breath, just keep breathing, and know that YOU WILL get through it. Use the J breath, and don’t afraid to be loud! If you feel the urge to push, and your medical staff tells you you are not ready, use short controlled in and exhales (this is explained in the video linked above).

How Your Partner Can Help: Okay, time to take over. She needs you now more than ever. Stay calm and be strong. Remind her to breath. Remind her that it is almost over. Tell her that she can do this!

Pushing:

For me, this was the best part! Finally! I could do something to help end this… and meet our baby! :) I pushed for 17 minutes, but it only felt like 3-5 min. Sure it hurt, but nothing would stop me at this point, anything was better than what I just experienced. My midwife was here now (she was delivering other babies but thankfully swooped in just in time.) and she was able to tell me when to push.

What Helped: Again, breath! I was using a J breath, and I am sure that people from down the hall could hear me, haha. After the first push the midwife asked if I wanted to feel the head. I was very unsure, but so glad she made me feel, it was the biggest motivation!

How Your Partner Can Help: Hold her leg, or hold her hair. Be in the moment with her, and keep encouraging her to push! Remind her that she is about to hold her beautiful tiny baby!!!! And maybe get your phone ready for pictures?

Meet Your Baby:

No one needs advice here… just enjoy! You did it!

Everyone’s birth story is unique and beautiful, this was only my experience. If you would like an e-mail with a list of these links and many more. Or if you have any questions…

Photos I had the honor of taking, of a beautiful birth.

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And to all of the Mommas out there who have to give birth without their support partner do to the Corona Virus…. I send you all the love and strength I have! …. Women are strong, our bodies are AMAZING and resilient. But, that doesn’t mean any woman should have to face birth alone. I know I am not a medical professional, and I understand that the situation with COVID-19 is serious, but I feel that this is wrong, inhumane, and unnatural.

WHO study that shows the importance of a support person during labor and birth.

Love Will Persevere

This affects everyone. It might affect us differently, but in some way it is making it’s mark on our lives. And that is one of the beautiful and horrible things about this situation.

While some children are rejoicing because they don’t have have to goto school, some parents are pulling their hair out. Medical staff and essential workers carry on knowing their job is more risky but as important as ever. Hundreds woke up to find themselves unemployed, while others put their grinding commutes and business attire on hold, and work from home.

Small business owners are holding their breath as their livelihood becomes more and more uncertain. But we just take it one day at a time, and know that we are not alone, and there for sure are people out there who have it much worse.

As a wedding photographer, I can’t help but feel for the couples who have to put their dreams on hold, or come to terms with a new version of their perfect day.

On Friday I was walking through a park with my husband and our little one, as we witnessed a very small and quick wedding ceremony. I watched the bride’s face closely as I often do when I am shooting weddings. Is she stressed, is her mind wandering, is she happy? And she truly seemed so happy. She was glowing! I don’t know what her wedding plans were, if family and loved ones couldn’t be there, if she lost a lot of money. But in that moment it seemed like all was right in the world, she was marring the love of her life, and all the details, the fancy food, the flowers, just disappeared from their minds.

It was a beautiful reminder, that all we need is love.

A quick cell phone pic of the wedding we saw in the park. Congratulations to these two!

If This Bunny Could Talk!

I had to hold back tears when I unwrapped this soft little bunny, and gave it a hug for the first time. My sister Amanda, hand made it for my son before he was born.

If his bunny could talk, it might say…

“You were so small, and I blinked my eyes and now you are bigger than I am! You are getting so strong, and soon you will be dragging me by the arm on so many adventures.”

A few months later, I placed baby Amir next to his bunny, and was shocked at how small he was compared to it. Each month I photograph Amir with his bunny, and it shows not only how he is growing in size, but where he is at developmentally. He recently turned six months old, and I could no longer get him to stay still or lay on his back.

I have now added a photography package called “Milestones”. So that parents can capture their teeny tiny new born, their awakening 2-4 month old, their sitting and smiling 6 month old, and their cake smashing, wobbly walking one year old! Each of these chapters in the first year are so special and unique from one another. It is almost like a new person emerges with each phase. I recommend that parents choose an item for us to photograph their baby with, and that object will tell a story! … You were once tiny, then you grew, and grew, and grew! :)

Contact me for more info on Milestones photo packages!

If you enjoy this post, you might also like, Please Don’t Grow.

Small Green Steps

A few years back I took the first steps in actually doing something about the amount of trash I create. This year I made it a personal goal to go farther.

You might notice that trees, leaves, and natural light are common themes, as you scroll though my website.

So it only makes sense that I do my part to take care of this beautiful green planet.

Below are some of the things I am doing to cut back on plastic and live a little more sustainably. I have a long long way to go, and welcome you to share your tips and tricks with me!

Be Prepared While on the Go

• I always keep a set of bamboo cutlery in my bag, now I never need to use plastic when I am out on the go. I am a HUGE fan of Wahi Hawaii, because their products are affordable, and make it really easy to go without single use convenient plastics. (Muse Coffee Co. proudly sells their beautiful bamboo straws.)

• When ordering takeout, (and I am still getting the hang of this one) remember to say no extra sauce packets or cutlery. Sometimes they toss in handfuls of ketchup or soy sauce, 10x more then anyone would use, and most of the time it goes right in the trash!

• I love my Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug! It seals shut so you can toss it in your gym bag, diaper bag, fancy bag… and not worry about spills. PLUS, it will keep your drink hot or cold for a really long time! So if you forgot about your cold brew until 10 hours later, not to worry, your ice will still be ice!

My Tips for Bringing Your Own Bags

• This one is pretty obvious, but can take practice to remember to bring them. In the beginning I would always forget my bags at home/in my trunk. So keep them in your car, in your passenger seat, where you will see them.

• I prefer canvas bags that you can carry over your shoulder. They are great for lugging heavy things! You can load them up, and fit larger items like a watermelon. Because they are over the shoulder, you have two free hands to deal with your child, car keys, and coffee. :)

• If you are only picking up a few things… Just carry the stuff!!! I always say “No thanks”, when they place one bottle of kombucha in a plastic bag. Come on people!

Tiny Steps (They might not seem like much, but it’s a mindset!)

• Loose leaf tea, instead of tea bags.

• Bar soap, instead of soap in plastic bottles.

• Never buy trash bags, use all the paper and plastic bags that you find lying around.

• Buy Used/ Donate. Also, just try to buy less! Less is always more in my book! :)

• Buy in bulk and share with friends and family. (Also still working on this!)

• Buy milk in reusable glass bottles, that you can return for $2 each! The milk tastes better too!

• Wooden toys, instead of plastic.

• Shop for whole ingredients/produce, to avoid having to buy so much packaging.

• Make your own cleaners and room sprays. For amazing tips and recipes check out Brown Thumb Mama.

• Bees wax wrap and reusable bags/glass containers, instead of plastic wrap and ziplock baggies.

• Use water from your rice, instead of expensive hair products! (Check out the Blog!)

What I am Working Towards

• There are some great new products out there, like bar shampoos and toothpaste tablets that are zero waste! But, so far I have not tried them, because the brands out there are cost prohibitive. But I am keeping an eye out!

• Buy ALL of my meat and eggs directly from a local farmer!

• Grow more of my own food… We live in an apartment, and there is only so much I can grow on my fire escape! :) (Don’t worry, its totally up to code.)

Let me know what ideas you would like to try, and PLEASE share your tips with me!!

It's Like a Protein Shake for Your Hair, Bro

I gotta give a shout out to my sister Vic for this one! Who discovered this on her journey to reconnect with her natural goddess curls!

So, I want you to try and picture me standing in my kitchen trying to explain to my husband why he should dump this mason jar of cloudy water on his head… Haha! He tried his best to entertain me.

Me- “So there is this mason jar, its got rice water in it. Next time you shower poor it on your hair and wait about 3 minutes before you rinse. Then you can condition… It will make your hair stronger and healthier.”

Husband- “Sounds like your sister is selling you snake oil.”

Me- “But its FREE!” :)

Okay! I’ll get to the point!

Basically you soak rice in water as you wash it, then you take that starchy cloudy rice water, and you poor it on your hair after you shampoo. Just let it sit a few min, then rinse, and continue with your conditioner as you normally do. I was SHOCKED at the results after just one wash. My hair was so much softer, shiner, and my scalp was less dry. What!?

(Pro Tip: Don’t let the water sit out because it will start to grow funky stuff. Keep it in your fridge.)

(Confession: I never used to wash my rice, because I was lazy, but now I do just to get the water for my hair.)

If you want more info, look it up. My sister gave me the short hand, and I just ran with it. But hey, it works!

If you try this…

Please let me know your results! :)

Destination Wedding, Jamaica

My husband and I watched the palm trees blowing in the breeze and asked each other, “Why are we going home tomorrow”? Lesson learned! When I am flown out to a tropical island to photograph a destination wedding, stay longer! Stay much MUCH longer! :)

These cold winter months in New Jersey have me dreaming of that warm Jamaican sunshine, fresh papaya, and the hot crispy grilled catch of the day! Add some Coca Bread to that too please! If you are looking to get married in Jamaica, the food and the stay at the Hyatt in Montego Bay was outstanding! 

Okay, OKAY! Enough about the food Sarah! Let’s talk love!

What I loved about this wedding was that despite some things not going exactly as planned, the day was perfect, and the bride and groom never lost sight of why they were truly there. Their vows were misplaced by the staff, so they spoke from the heart, and it was spontaneous, raw, and so real! And perhaps my favorite First Look of all time, was when the groom saw his two beautiful daughters all dressed up for his wedding day! … Were there tears? Oh yes, there were tears! :)

Please Don't Grow

How can your heart grow bigger and break apart all at the same time? Just have a baby, and watch them grow.

My friend Jenn said it perfectly,

“Parenting is a continual process of letting go and welcoming the new”.

Having a baby is the perfect metaphor for time passing. No matter how tight we hold them, and no matter how deeply we look into their eyes, we cannot hold onto time.

Perhaps that’s why I love photography so much.

It is the closest thing we can do, to hold onto time. To at the very least, take a little trip back into our memories.

Haven’t we all tried to stop time? Like, when we were on a date, young and in love, and we knew it had to come to an end, but we just wanted to kiss in the parking lot a little bit longer. Or when on vacation, and the sun and the breeze mixed together in a way, that just made us want to melt into the waves, and never ever worry about real life again!

Children remind us just how quickly time is moving… It already feels like a dream that we felt that first kick inside our bellies. Before we know it, that moment of holding their helpless newborn body to our chest, is a distant memory as well.

“It goes so fast”, EVERYONE tells you this, but still …it’s so so fast. It’s almost too fast to bear.

As I fold up the onesie that was once too big, but is already too small, I say to my baby out loud, “please don’t grow”. But of course, I don’t really mean that. Watching our little ones grow is a one of life’s greatest blessings. But I know, one day, when my little baby is a grown man, I’ll pull that tiny onesie out of the box… I will fall to my knees, press it to my face, and my heart will break and fill with gratitude all at once.

You might also like, “If this Bunny Could Talk”.

Wedding Photographers Don't Just Take Pictures (Part 1)

Oh, you thought I take photos of peoples weddings? Well, I do!

BUT, I also…

The list of things I have done at weddings that didn't involve cameras, is a long one! Wana hear a few?!

- I physically dressed the mother of the bride while she was freaking out about not being ready.

Haha yup! Poor Momma was so stressed out about her daughter’s big day, that everyone was waiting for her to get dressed, - and the bride just about HAD IT! She was too busy asking about what table Aunt Someone was seated at, and folding dirty socks. … I closed the bedroom door, placed my hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and said “It’s a big day right!? You ok? Well, it’s time! :) We need to get ready, so we can enjoy this amazing day!” And then continued to physically help her out of her clothes, and into the Mother of the Bride dress. “See, all done! You look fantastic, now let’s GO!” :)

- Give a Groom a hair cut.

“Why didn’t you get a hair cut?” asked one of his groom’s men. “Does it look bad?” the groom asked… The guys were all a few beers deep, but they all kinda agreed, “Yeah, it looks like you need a haircut dude”. I gave my friend Brandon a haircut once in high school, and I was the only sober adult in the room… So, it appeared that I was the most qualified person for the job! And, I am proud to say I did a pretty damn good job! No pressure right? It was only the guy’s wedding day.

- Drive the bridal party to the venue (in 3 separate trips) after their limo broke down.

I wish I could say that this was the only time that a limo broke down on a wedding, but it had to have been the third time? The thing about limos is they can hold a lot of people at once, the thing about my car, is that it was drivable! Haha! … So I took 3 trips and eventually got everyone from the park where we took photos, to the Venue. Thankfully both locations were in Mountain Lakes, so the turn around time wasn’t bad at all.

 - Keep the father of the bride company while he was quite emotional about letting his little girl go.

This one was easy. A memory that I truly cherish, and think of as a highlight of my “job”. I remember thinking to myself in that moment, as I was sitting in the living room of a complete stranger having a heart to heart…. this is the best job ever. Who else gets to have a front row seat to the best day of peoples lives!!?? Wedding days are magical, emotional, and not just for the couple. I was so thankful that could be there for him. Happy that he felt he could open up to me. He was showered and fully dressed about 2 hours too early! We talked about life, his fondest memories of his children growing up, and how hard it is to let them go.

- Be responsible for the Bride's wedding night undies.

Nice right?! … At a wedding at the Boathouse in NYC, a bridesmaid came up to me and handed me a nice white (clean) pair of panties. “Can you hold onto these? The bride wants to change into them later in the night, but doesn’t have a place to put them.” Yes, of course! Thats what this handy camera bag is for! :) So, I slipped those silky lacy undies into the pocket of my camera bag for safe keeping. After the ceremony and some portraits around Central Park , the package was discreetly delivered to their rightful owner.

- And OF COURSE, bustle MANY dresses, put on many veils, fix falling out up-dos, and pin on ALL of the boutonnières. 

I am practically a stage mom! :) It is those little odds and ends that any respectable photographer must become a master in. I am happy to lend a hand for all jobs big and small. The list goes on forever: Tuck in bra straps, cut the tags off dresses (I always have scissors with me), tell someone if their underwear can be seen through their dress or not. It reminds me of the good old days in the dressing room of my dance recitals. A lot goes into looking and feeling our best, and I am happy to make it all happen for them.

This is only part one! Stay tuned for part two!

Oh Hey!

I’m dusting off the old blog!!

Looking forward to sharing some thoughts, fun stories, and inside scoops with you all!

xo

Sarah

Bringing the Past to Life

You can probably guess that I was not the photographer who took these photos! However, I am responsible for digitally restoring them. A little love in Photoshop goes a long way for those old family favorites. 

Before and After

Colorisation

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog! I hope to get to know one another!! 

-Sarah