Doubly Happy: photography

Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Up and Running

Sorry I've been neglecting this blog the last two weeks. I have been preparing to launch officially my new photography venture. As of now, said venture is launched!

Please check out the brand spanking new blogsite for Doubly Happy Photography.

I'm excited to hear what you think!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Happy Weekend!

After the torrential downpours of last weekend, it's finally sunny and beautiful here in Boston. Here are a few shots from my walk around the Commons today.

Hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Behind the Lens: Jamaica Plain Portrait Shoot, Part II

This weekend, I also dragged the very lovely G from Cambridge to my neighborhood for my Jamaica Pond shoot.

Unlike me, who wouldn't voluntarily go hiking any place except for the mall, G is an up-for-anything nature girl. She just got back from a two-day kayaking trip down the Mississippi River to benefit the Friends of the Mississippi.

Since she's a bona fide tree-hugger (she went to Forestry School after all), it seemed only natural -- no pun intended -- to shoot her frolicking amongst our urban forest.

But this nature girl is capable of some spectacular ANTM-style modeling as well. Check out that full-on Tyra pose she's rocking standing on the rowboat (appropriately named Queen "B") below.

Our photo session took place on a dark and cloudy day, so I didn't quite catch the "magic hour" light I'd been hoping for. But I love how the photos turned out, and I'm excited to keep learning how to work with light, posing, and composition.

Thanks for coming along with me on this educational journey!

Behind the Lens: Jamaica Plain Portrait Shoot, Part I

As you know, I've been trying to build up my inchoate photography portfolio. Even though I'm a total amateur with my camera, a few very generous and patient friends have volunteered to let me ~~experiment on them~~ take their portraits.

This past weekend, my friends A and G joined me for a frolic around our beautiful Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Here are some of my favorites of A from this super fun shoot.

We started off on my street, which is so verdant and lovely this time of the year.

I particularly loved shooting A in the wild tangle of lavender in front of the Taylor House, a charming bed and breakfast. Isn't she gorgeous?

We then traipsed over to Jamaica Pond, where we found my favorite photo prop ever -- a rowboat named "Cookie Ship." A is an amazing baker, so it was total kismet that we happened upon this boat.

A beautiful summer day . . . my favorite neighborhood . . . a super photogenic subject . . . what more can a photographer want?

Monday, August 1, 2011

Behind the Lens: Cambridge Portrait Session

Long-time readers of this blog might remember my friend Alisa, who is a brilliant professor as well as one of the most stylish Bostonians according to the Boston Globe. (Stuff Magazine also recently recognized her fabulous style.) Last weekend, I managed to convince her to do a portrait shoot with me, and I'm so excited to show you the results!

I wanted to capture Alisa in her natural surroundings, so we braved the 90-degree heat and took a stroll around her charming Cambridge neighborhood.

We started out in her own backyard. Here she's rocking an Anthropologie maxi dress with an African-inspired print. How gorgeous is she with the sunlight softly streaming down on her?

I love a good ramshackled house and half-fallen wall.

Alisa's neighborhood consists of adorable, quirky wood-framed buildings with lots of character. Like her, the area has great soul.

The local park was filled with kids playing in the water fountains -- it was a balmy day after all. But somehow my model managed to look cool and sophisticated. I kind of hate her.

I love this series of photos I took of Alisa on the swings.

It captures her personality so perfectly!

But she's not just fun and good looks. She's a professor, after all! And she brings a book with her everywhere, even on a fashion shoot.

After frolicking around her neighborhood, we took a short trip over to Memorial Drive, where she stopped traffic with her fiercest Pam Grier pose. (Seriously, random tourists stopped to have their photos taken with her! I guess they must have thought she was a celebrity.)

Guys, this hot property is available. Gals, be on the lookout for her fashion and style blog, which will debut soon.

And if you know anyone in Boston who is in need of fresh, fun, fabulous headshots or portraits, please send them my way!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Behind the Lens: Boston Engagement Session (Favorites and Outtakes)

As you might remember, I recently did a super fun engagement shoot. Since this was my first engagement session, I was not surprised that there were a number of shots that were . . . artistically challenged. I was, however, surprised at how many of the "bad" shots I loved. I thought I'd show you a few of my embarrassing mistakes, followed by some of my favorite shots.

This shot turned out way soft -- but I love how it plays into the emotions of the moment. And don't even get me started on the heart shape made by the position of their heads!

These shots thrill me in similar ways: lens flare, lens flare, lens flare! The shot on the left was taken when my lovely couple got invited by some locals to take photos on their boat; I was shooting from the shore, and I just couldn't get an angle where the sun wasn't blasting down at me. As for the second photo, I was fixated on trying to get a close-up of their hands making a heart and didn't meter the shot properly. And the third photo was "ruined" by a random jogger -- who ended up creating kind of a cool shot; I love how wicked huge he is!

Now, for some of my favorites . . .

How beautiful is this couple? They regard each other with such love, tenderness, and good humor. It made me happy just to be hanging out with them.

And how picturesque is the Esplanade? I love how the canoers paddled by at just the right moment.

This photo is like a film still . . . and these two could easily star in their own Bollywood movie.

My super chic couple told me they dressed to complement the colors of the Esplanade. Isn't that fab?

I made a "thank you" garland for the couple, in case they wanted to use any of the images for their thank you notes. Serendipitously, my bride-to-be had chosen a yellow sundress that matched the garland! Adorbs.

We walked over to the public garden, which gave me a chance to capture them amongst the weeping willows by the duck pond. With views like this, it's easy even for a newbie like me to get a decent shot.

Finally, this was my favorite shot of the afternoon . . . an archway in Beacon Hill leading to the most magical little cul de sac. The folks who live in this fabulous spot are very, very lucky indeed.

It's such a delight to have the opportunity to capture special moments in people's lives . . . it's no wonder that all the pro photographers I know are so happy. I can't wait to do another engagement shoot!

In the interim, I'll be posting my favorite family and friends shots on Doubly Happy Photography's Facebook page. Please come by, say hi, and tell me you "like" me so that I don't feel like such a loser. ;-)

Monday, July 18, 2011

Behind the Lens: Boston Engagement Session

I did my first engagement session today! I had the pleasure of shooting in Beacon Hill and the Esplanade with the most delightful couple, who are not only beautiful to look at but so much fun to hang out with. A few teasers below.

More to come . . . .

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Maine Attraction

For several months, I worked out of Portland, Maine, one day a week. Alas, the job is over and I no longer have an excuse to make the two-hour trip to eat fries and beignets at Duckfat.

We had a chance to take a short trip to Portland this weekend, and it made me realize just how much I miss Maine.

First of all, Maine comes with lobsters, glorious lobsters. It's not a Maine picnic unless there is a lobster.

And strawberry shortcake.

My husband is a huge Hopper fan, so when he heard we were going to be in the vicinity of Cape Elizabeth, the location of some of Hopper's lighthouse paintings, he got super excited.

The Portland Headlight is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and supposedly the most photographed lighthouse in North America.

I don't doubt it. Located inside beautiful Fort Williams park and overlooking Casco Bay, the lighthouse is really photogenic. Like Gisele Bundchen photogenic.

And if the lighthouse isn't enough, did I mention there were ducks? Yes, ducks in the water and . . .

duck fat in all the food. Duckfat fries everything in duck fat . . . fries, beignets, churros. And everything comes out so crispy and gorgeous. They also have a duck confit panini that is out of this world -- it's grilled to perfection on the outside and filled with savory confit and a spicy Thai chili sauce. And let's not forget the truffled ketchup they serve with your fries. Yes, truffled ketchup. They also serve a variety of other house made dipping sauces. And all of the fried goodness comes out in a paper cone. What's there not to love about this place?

Where have your travels taken you this summer?