Family Session - Augusta, Maine

Working with families year after year is always such an honor. It’s amazing to see how much kids grow and change in a year and I love capturing their unique personality in the stage they’re in.

I met this family at the Viles Arboretum in Augusta, Maine and we wandered around, shooting as explored the beautiful grounds. This family also always brings their sweet pup which I love!

Orchard Ridge Farm

I first visited Orchard Ridge Farm during one of their summer music events and loved the community vibe the owners were creating. My daughter loved running around with the chickens, petting the kitten and goats and eating all of the yummy food they serve.

I visited the farm again on a crisp fall morning and was stunned as I walked around. The views and peacefulness were surely something special. If you're in the greater Portland area, I’d recommend checking out their farm trails, food and local goods. They have amazing breakfast (fresh donuts & bagels!) and their trails around the farm are open to the public.

Location: Orchard Ridge Farm, Gorham, Maine with branding done by Girl That Designs

Family & Maternity Session - Falmouth, Maine

When scheduling photo session, the weather is one of the most uncontrollable factors. Most people find themselves dreaming of photos in the golden hour light but I’m here to say that these overcast days ALWAYS turn out to be some of my favorite sessions. The muted light and focus it puts on you and your family is so special. Sure, there’s magic in the afternoon or early morning light but don’t sleep on the foggy, overcast days!

I met this family at a local spot and we wandered around letting their son play and explore as we went. I had so much fun shooting this session and love the final images I provided this family!

Family Session - New Castle, NH

What an amazing 2022 season it was! I’m so grateful for the amazing families I was able to work with in 2022 and am finally taking sometime to reflect back on some sessions, starting with this New Hampshire session.

I met this adorable family on an unseasonably warm fall day at a beautiful location in New Castle, NH. This little girl had so much personality and was such a joy to work with. I think I’ll let her smiles tell the rest of the story…

Family Session - Freeport, Maine

I can’t say enough about how sweet this family was! All of the girls were so goofy, adventerous, and fun that it made this session a breeze! We explored a park in Freeport, starting on a beach and then adventuring down a trail a bit to the perfect fall scene. There was a fallen tree that the girls loved exploring and it was a great spot to hang out and casually snap some family and individual photos!

Thanks to this family for such a great, laid back session!

South Portland, Maine Proposal

I sneakily followed this couple out on the jetty at Sprint Point Light in South Portland to capture his proposal. These two were visiting Maine from Rhode Island for a weekend getaway and she was so shocked by his proposal! There really is nothing sweeter than a thoughtful proposal that even includes a photographer. After she said yes, we adventured around the area and took some more photos so they could always remember this special day!

White Mountains Family Hiking Session

I hit the trail with this adorable family for their family session. Early rain cleared out leading to a beautiful day in the mountains filled with snow, sun and even a few rainbows. I am so lucky to get to work with adventurous families like this one and love tagging along to capture families outside on everyday adventures. This family is expecting another baby in the spring so it was so special to capture one of their last hikes up to Tuckerman’s Ravine as a family of three!

Family Session - Rome, Maine

We had hoped for a golden hour and peak foliage for this session but ended up with a moody, foggy day. Although we didn’t get the sunshine we had hoped for during this session, the fog added an amazing effect. Between the adorable baby, sweet family and their old Land Rover, we were able to still get some magical shots! (Also, as a warning: these photos have inspired my husband to start looking at buying an old Land Rover and may do the same to you!)

Cliff House Family Session

Ashley and her family traveled from Montana to Maine to celebrate her Grandmother’s 90th birthday at the Cliff House in York. This family was so fun and we ended up soaking in a beautiful oceanside Maine sunset while taking photos. (Also, I wish they could style me and all of my clients because their outfits were all amazing!)

Maine Family Orchard Session

Let the fall sessions begin- my favorite time of the year to shoot! I met Miranda several years back in a photography class and have keep in touch via social media since. When I had the opportunity to take photos of her sweet little family, I was so honored! We met at Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Maine on a mostly overcast evening and spent the session laughing, exploring and chasing her adorable daughter around the orchard. It was such a fun evening and I LOVE these photos!

Portsmouth Mother & Daughter Maternity Session

I had so much fun during this maternity mother and daughter session. We let Lina just explore the gardens during this shoot and it resulted in some of my favorite shots. It’s important to me to let kids be themselves and show their personalities during sessions; I believe these are the little moments you’ll want to look back and remember as a parent!

Mount Lafayette & Franconia Ridge Trail

I re-visited one of my favorite trails in the White Mountains this week with a friend. We hiked up Old Bridal Path, summiting Mount Lafayette first, traversed across the Franconia Ridge and descended Falling Waters Trail. On the way up, we stopped briefly at the AMC Greenleaf Hut. If you hike this trail during their open season, you can check out the hut and even buy a fresh baked good (pro tip: bring cash!). We then summited Mount Lafayette, traversed across the socked in ridge line to Mount Haystack and Mount Lincoln before starting our downward climb back to the car. Towards the bottom of the trail, we checked out the waterfall which is always a welcome quick pit stop. Even on a Monday, this hike was still very busy and we passed a lot of day hikers and also a few Appalachian Trail hikers. We were hoping for a sunny, clear day but ended up in the clouds for most of the hike. It was still fun to crush almost 10 miles, catch up with a friend and spend time outdoors!

Hiking Essentials for Spring Hiking in New England

Here are some of the essentials I am currently packing for hikes during the spring shoulder season in New England. It can be tough to pack for spring hikes because you can experience 70 degree temps at the base and below freezing temps at the summit. It’s also very common to run into ice and snow in the higher elevations as winter tends to hang on in these areas well into the traditional summer months.

This post contains affiliate links.

  • Black Diamond Trekking Poles - my husband and I both love our Black Diamond Trekking poles. The dreaded snow packed monorails that are left on the trails become a balancing act at times and these poles can really come in handy. The Black Diamond poles are super lightweight, adjustable and can accommodate snow baskets for spring hiking as needed

  • Bug Net - any brand will do in my opinion! I haven’t found one to be much better than the others. I’ve only actually worn the bug net 2 times but I was SO happy to have it the 2 times I really needed it. It’s a questionable fashion statement but sure beats getting eaten alive :)

  • Bug Spray Wipes - I usually spray myself at the trailhead if I know I’m going on a buggy trail but these wipes are a great option to pack to re-up as needed while on the trail.

  • Katahoola Microspikes - these seem to be the go-to Microspike and I can see why. They’re easy to put on and off, provide great traction and allow me to walk up icy trails without any doubt.

  • Osprey Packs - I love all of my Osprey Packs, especially my Stratos 36! Their packs are lightweight, have integrated rain covers, have great storage and are super durable!

  • Vasque Boots - I recently got my 2nd pair of Vasque boots and may never buy another brand again. I’m OBSESSED with how comfortable, durable and lightweight they are. The two models that I use regurarly and can personally recommend are the Breeze and Talus (shown in photo below)

  • Hat, Mittens, Neckup - lots of brand options here too! In New England, you’re likely going to need these layers on a spring hike. I will say that I love my Hestra mittens; they are expensive but my hands were always frozen before getting them so they were totally worth it in my opinion! Skida and L.L. Bean products are also shown below and are great options.

  • Z Foam Seat - I got my Z seat from Amazon for less than $20. It’s allows me to sit on a warm pad instead of freezing rock or wet/icy ground. I would highly recommend grabbing one of these!

  • Other Staples that I always bring in my pack: Medical kit (pictured below), a paper map, CamelBak bladder/hose, an emergency blanket, extra socks (love the Darn Tough brand), lighter, extra roll of medical tape and packable rain pants. I also bring additional layers (depending on the forecast) such as a rain layer, puff, etc.

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Cobscook Bay State Park

My husband and I spent 3 nights camping at Cobscook Bay State Park this June. During the day, we also explored Quoddy Head State, hiked and visited the town of Lubec. This area borders Canada and is usually a short drive over the bridge but, due to Covid, the border was unfortunately not open.

We arrived at our campsite in the middle of a CRAZY rain storm (what else is new!). After getting completely soaked while setting up camp, we were happy to relax and take in the ocean view that our campsite had once the fog lifted a bit later.

We hiked the Cutler Coast Trail which is one of my favorite trails in this area. I tracked portion that we opted to hike as 6.70 miles. I would rate it moderate (note: hiked at 7 months pregnant!). There are also options to make this trail a bit longer (closer to 9 miles) and the trail also has some great backcountry campsites available (first come first serve!). I would recommend bringing bug spray and maybe even a bug net if you have one because the trail seems to get VERY buggy during the summer months.

I hope to keep visiting this area and bring our daughter back here for a trip once she is born. I visited this area frequently as a young child to visit my Grandmother who had a house in Lubec. It’s always fun to walk by the house (which can now be rented on VRBO!) and reminisce about childhood memories while making new memories!

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Keene Adventures

Keene, NH was my college town and will always have a piece of my heart. I had the best weekend visiting friends, leaf peeping and going on sunrise hiking adventures.

White Mountain Sunrise

Sunrise hikes are hard when you live about 2 hours from the mountains but, with the sunrise times getting later, this is the best season to set out for a sunrise hike. The 2:30 AM alarm clock, long drive and morning headlamp hustle up the mountain is always worth it. We spent the morning above tree-line watching the sunrise as we made coffee and some breakfast. Since we hiked up in the dark, we got to enjoy the foliage the whole hike down and also found some icy patches.

Baxter State Park

I recently got to spend a late September weekend in Baxter State Park to hike Mount Katahdin. We brought our A-Liner camper and stayed at Roaring Brook Campground. The foliage was just starting to pop and the crisp weather was perfect for hiking. We hiked up the Helon Taylor to Knife’s Edge up to Baxter Peak. We then took the Saddle Trail over to NW Basin Trail to summit Hamlin Peak. We took the Hamlin Ridge trail back down to our campsite. After 12 miles on the trail, we enjoyed a fire and well deserved beer back at camp.