Maine Family Photographer:: The Neys

Reminder: Family photos aren’t always about kids running around on a beach. They are also for those without human babies, for those with love for the larger fur babies.

Meet Adri and Damian and their sweet crew. Adri planned this photo shoot knowing they were on borrowed time with some of their larger, furry, family members. I’m so glad she did, and that we got this shoot done before another calendar year came to a close, as the following year had them saying goodbye to more than one of the amazing creatures we captured during our afternoon together.

Family photos can be with whomever is your “family.” A pack of animals, a community, a club, a group of friends. It can be people who live under the same roof, but are not connected by genetics or marriage. It can be people who live nowhere near each other but have always been there for each other. It can be whomever is important to you on this wild ride known as life.

And that’s a pretty cool thing.

Maine Family Photographer:: Sawyer Family

Fall family photo time is almost upon us! It’s pretty much my favorite time of year. And since I have apparently forgotten to blog (or maybe HOW to blog..?) for a pretty decent stretch, I thought I should get it going again with this family from our time together at a local farm...

This crew is always so fun to have in front of my camera. Plus, they all have ridiculously good smiles. Well, I’m still working on getting the little one to smile as much as the others do. We’ll get there eventually!

We found the perfect spot that gave us shelter from the sun, had almost no other humans around, and was full of things to entertain a curious toddler. I love watching kids in nature, and seeing what will grab their attention. It’s what I’m always looking to capture, and maybe it helps remind me to also slow down and appreciate the outdoors more.

Thank you, Brent, Lisa, Poppy, and Sonny! Looking forward to the next round with all of you…

Maybe I’ll even get it on the blog before one of you starts Kindergarten :)

From The Archives:: Max

My Nephew and his friends are pretty great humans. And if i’m being honest I miss going to events and seeing them either on stage or at parades or getting an award for being good at things. And of course, my archives are FILLED with photos of him, but I picked this one for this project because it seemed like during this time hearing from a teenage voice was also important. These months of covid craziness and lack of structure have been challenging, but it seems no matter your age there are things that people are suddenly getting to do where they wouldn't have had the time before. Like enjoying nature despite being an indoors person most of your life. Or getting to a Black Lives Matter protest with friends.

The activism I see in Max, his friends, and my friend’s children inspires me. It gives me hope. And that is something we need, especially lately.

The night they were all inducted into the National Honor Society.

Max || High School Student.

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things? Prior to COVID, a lot of my life revolves around school, and now it seems like such a small piece of it, maybe because I’m spending significantly less time doing work or even thinking about school. I’ve also been able to get back into nature, which, with my busy schedule, is something I’ve never gotten to do before.

2. What has been most challenging? I’m such an extroverted person and I’m really used to seeing people all the time and being in constant contact with my friends. This disconnect has been hard, but I’ve found other ways to communicate with them.

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share? Like I said earlier, I’ve been able to reconnect with nature over the past few months. I’ve gone on dozens of nature walks, with friends and family. I’ve been finding time to do things that I wouldn’t normally be able to do, and I’ve actually been enjoying it.

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward? The only thing that I really enjoy is that there are limits of how many people can go into stores. Going into stores is so much less stressful when there’s less people. I also like how food services are using free delivery lol

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again? I want to have a sleepover with my friends, and go out to eat, and just go on spontaneous adventures again.

6. Anything else you want to share..? I guess the only thing that I’d want to share is that a lot of people don’t know what the Trump Administration is doing to our health care system right now. They just repealed Obama Administration protections on trans people that banned doctors from denying care to trans patients, in the middle of a pandemic, and I think a lot more people should know about it.

****

Well Summer is here! As of tomorrow Max will officially be a Senior. Here’s hoping to slightly less interrupted year for the class of 2021! ❤️❤️

From The Archives * Gab of Mad Gab's

We are in strange times. And it seems like every day is a new adventure, a new challenge, a different step in what we can and can’t do. I am in the boat that we have both an obligation and an opportunity to be better citizens right now. This is our chance to slow down down and also step up. Listen to the experts, maintain social distance, find new ways of connecting and new ways of living our day to day.

But, no joke - I know that’s not easy!

So, I’m here with a new photo project. A dip into my archives and a reach into people’s current lives to see how they are doing, coping, adjusting, and if there are things they hope stick around as we try to start to move forward. The community of people my camera and I have spent time with are proving to be extra awesome on the human scale, so I am going to share their stories. Or small chunks of them.

If a pandemic teaches us anything, it may be who we can rely on when things get weird. The people who are trying to work and be good humans and do the right thing are the ones I want in my corner on any given day.

First up, Gab! Owner of Mad Gab’s and big time hugger, high energy problem solver, and feeder of all the people who enter her world….

Gabrielle Melchionda, owner of Mad Gab’s Inc.

Name: Gabrielle Melchionda
Occupation/Business: Mad Gab’s

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things?  Having my crew work remotely or not at all. It’s very lonely and quiet, and on some days I feel like I did in my 20’s when I was a one-woman-show.  (except I’m almost 50 now, so I get tired way easier). I went from being on high-alert-disaster-recovery focused, to high anxiety, to calmer, focused, and determined. 

2. What has been most challenging? Not being able to hug people I love, and feed them. 

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share? Yes! So many!  I have found a space for gratitude that feels significant. I’m appreciate inside, and quiet, despite my extrovert nature, I have re-discovered puzzles, and I’m cranking on my book! Also, like many small business owners, I feel like we’re all in this together. Most of the other disasters we’ve survived were ours alone, but in this moment there is solace in knowing we are all going to work through this together and somehow we will figure it out. 

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward? I am excited to continue my local farm delivery service, and morning self care ritual. 

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again?  I’m excited to share space, have dinner parties, and hug. (see #2)

6. Anything else you want to share..?  I want to share this: I believe that in spite of all the horrors and realities of what we’re going through, this is an involuntary pause that we can look at as possibility and promise, and I believe we will find our way. If we embrace what we are given, find gratitude and kindness, we will get through this, and perhaps, become better versions of ourselves.

Having been to Gab’s place for dinner, I can say without hesitation that the world is a better place when you can meet in your friend’s kitchen and leave with a full belly and full heart.

Thank You, Gab for all you do and share. I’m honored to have you kick off this project! And looking forward to gathering around a table with you over eats and ‘all things welcome’ conversations.

xo ~ jb

You can follow along with this project on Instagram @judybeedlephotography :)

Make a Smoothie, Call Your Mother.

Anyone else out there a list person? Anyone as nutty as me and enjoy making lists with as many colors as possible? I have a ceramic mug filled with my colorful pens, and as I sit each morning to write I pick a pen based on mood. Isn’t that what everyone does?

My To-do lists lately are shifting. I’m sure I am not alone. And they have a different feel as right now I am not facing as many things on deadline, but still need to get things done. And need to keep some sort of focus and a splash of hope. I have recently decided that with this shift in our daily lives my everyday list is: write | move | learn | read.

SO, today I sat with my coffee and my jar of pens and my journal getting these items in there, and I wrote down ‘But first, make a smoothie and call your mom.’

One of the good things happening lately is people in my life just picking up the phone and calling or Face timing. We seem to have stopped that. Well, many of us have. A text to check in is great, a face to face conversation to know your people are doing ok / or they aren’t sure right now if they are ok but they are trying, is actually making my day as we navigate this new normal that feels very far from anything normal. So, friends, make your healthy breakfast and call your mother/brother/father/nanna/friend/trusted colleague. Share a laugh or an idea or feedback on their project, check in, say hi to their pets. It’s a thing that will help us get through these strange days.

And while you’re at it don’t forget to hydrate, create, and stay home as much as you can!

In Times of Uncertainty, CREATE.

I haven’t known what to say lately. I have half written blog posts sitting unfinished. Then things got a little crazy and our cities and towns are in a holding pattern and people are being forced to stay home. Simple, mundane tasks now need to come with a strategic plan and a dose of caution. So my blogging silence has become even more so.

I have watched others panic, others adjust, new ways of working being implemented. The hardship and uncertainty getting to so many, and yet making us all better somehow. At least that’s my hope.

So, while I have a backlog of jobs to blog, my ongoing lovebutnotalways relationship with blogging is at another crossroads. A reminder that we photogs don’t always need to be showing what we are getting paid to do. We can share other things. Real life. Feeling uncertain. Business mistakes. Camera experiments. Images that don’t align with our current business or brand (many will not agree with me on this, but it’s ok for us to loosen the reigns every so often). I am here, working from home (which is my normal) but feeling a little isolated at this point and trying to make sure I don’t fall into a funk. Every image I want to share on the insta shows something we are not supposed to be doing right now, and I wobble between is this a thing I should be sensitive about and not share or is this a thing I should share with the reminder of hope for things we will get back to? YES. Both.

So, maybe this is the time to blog fun, happy life moments. Or images I love but don’t know where they fit in with what I do normally. A time to share and work on my craft/style/vision. This is a scary time for so many of us, but the artists are here to remind you that creating will help you through it. Creating whatever it is that brings you a slice of happy or calm or focus or even control (because that is what some may need right now) and it helps shift your brain and use parts you don’t always use in your everyday, working, living, cleaning, provide for your family kind of way.

Today I feel like I need go share some COLOR. Maybe another day it will be some gritty Black and White…

This photo of my nephew is what grabbed my attention today, both for the colors and for the feel. Plus, it’s so very Max.

Last year when the Neph hung out with friends for his birthday. Will they get to do that this year? Maybe on Zoom…

Be good to each other. Take care of you. Find a place to put your focus and let’s see what good we can put out into the world. We got this!

365 Photo Project {September}

September. Do you remember? Of course I do, because I have the photos. Otherwise, I would likely forget much of it.

As September rolled around, I’ll admit I was feeling unsure about continuing this project. Lots of little things and distractions and excuses and some days where my heart just wasn’t in it. And that can be hard when you are trying to push yourself and grow creatively. But there are other days when I can’t wait to see what I get with my camera. So, life balance. But September marked that point when I thought it’s possible I should be done with the 365 round 2. But I’m still here, still chasing light, still sticking my camera in people’s faces, still seeing how I can push and learn this mirrorless camera, still documenting people living life. A handful of days where I forgot or didn’t want to shift gears from whatever I was doing or was actually bored by what I was capturing are really just those points that help push you further, rather than stopping in your tracks.

Besides, September is pretty much a favorite for us Mainers. I’m still wearing flip flops. But also a scarf. Still jumped into water when I could (and still might in October). Still making potholders with the niece, and seeing the Neph on stage. Still laughing with friends and trying to find new details in my house and trying to get more human interaction/less time in front of a screen (hard in this line of work, in this day and age). And putting in the quiet work to get me to some shifts as we head into a new year in a few months. So, September you seemed to go by in a blur, but also seemed to stand still at times. Either way, I’m always glad to see you.

9/1. Our last hoorah weekend at my pal’s camp.

9/2. Everyday things that grab my eye.

9/3.

9/4.

9/5. Reminder to look up sometimes.

9/6. Friend Birthday shenanigans in OOB.

9/7.

9/8.

9/9. Our sidewalk apple tree went crazy this year. But mostly just dropped apples to the ground.

9/10. Got a new book to read.

9/11. Alison. She and I met at a photo conference a few years ago. Then her family packed up their lives and moved to Portland. So we try to get together to eat food, drink drinks, and talk about life. And sometimes laugh about the terrible hashbrowns neither of us could manage to eat.

9/12. Paige. I used this moment to play with some B&W editing and I love some of the tones not just in her face, but around the rest of the image. Taken with the Nikon Z6 (as are many others in this post/project).

9/13. Potholder mayhem.

9/14. Met this human at an event. I could relate to many of her facial expressions.

9/15. Sundays & potholders & snacks. LET’S DO THIS.

9/16.

9/17.

9/18.

9/19. The Totally Awesome Vegan Food Truck at Portside Real Estate’s Annual Autumn Equinox | Maine Audobon | Falmouth, Maine.

ps, they live up to their name!

9/20. Agents of Change Conference | Portland, Maine.

9/21. Floating day!

9/22. Delivering Smiles (aka home made potholders) to friends. And this goodbye hug.

9/23.

9/24. Took the Neph to a college fair, so naturally we took a photo under this sign. But in fairness I wanted the better light.

9/25. Home.

9/26. A fractured tooth no longer lives in my mouth. So here’s a selfie of my laying around with an ice pack on my face.

9/27. More found things that catch my eye.

9/28. About to see the Neph in Matilda | Lyric Theater | South Portland, Maine.

9/29. Hula hoop dance off with the niece.

9/30. Lazy time.

So another month down, another shift into another season. I feel like October is going to be pretty great. And not just in front of my camera…

😁🎃

365 Photo Project {August}

August. What even was that?

An interesting month, I guess. Kicking off with surgery to put the broken hubs back together again, humid and/or rained out photo shoots, crafty fun times for this Aunt (and the broken Uncle), a handful of plunges into water, news of a local favorite restaurant closing, ice cream, silliness, good conversation, plotting, some Netflix binging, and way more time with the hubs than pretty much ever.

Some Summer moments, but also the feeling that Summer disappeared while we were driving around to appointments, grocery shopping, sort of adulting, and watching six seasons of The Walking Dead. Some days where I didn’t feel like I had my heart in this project because my brain was needed elsewhere. Other days where I felt like I was definitely putting in the effort to continue to grow at my craft. So, a month like no other in some ways, yet like so many months in other ways.

August 1 / Scott Surgery day and the day I didn’t pick up my camera. So here is a photo from another day I the broken guy diaries.

8/2. 1st day of surgery recovery. This was my view for a large portion of the day.

8/3. Band in a barn.

8/4. Niece visit to entertain the healing broken guy. Instead she took his scooter and rode around the house.

8/5. One of those ‘waiting for a client to show up’ photos.

8/6. Pool Time. Same pool I spent my Summers in as a kid. Back in my day floats were not allowed! *please read that in your best old timey voice*

8/7. Post Photo shoot view.

8/8. Crafty fun times with this one. We started our potholder party fun times that we plan to continue for roughly until the world runs out of potholder loops. Oh, and I painted her nails.

8/9. That’s handy.

8/10. Broken guy wanted some plants, so I stopped everything to get him to a plant place :D

8/11. Brothers.

8/12. Tacos! And this tasty beverage.

8/13. Scooting around like a pro.

8/14. Check up day!

8/15. The day we ‘mailed smiles’ which is our new thing based on our potholder party fun. Assemble packages, write notes, add glitter to some, hit the post office, then hit the pool! But this image won for the day, even though there were 20 others I also liked.

8/16. Summer Fest turned into Hula HoopALOOOZA for us! So fun.

8/17. Wall in my office.

8/18. Got to hang with these friends ❤️

8/19. The lawn needed mowing. The lawn mower wouldn’t start. The broken guy got a part and got it fixed. Then stood on his crutches trying to get me to mow the way he likes. I can guarantee you it didn’t go his way. 😁

8/20. In the yard.

8/21. Another play date with this one. She brought ALL HER GAMES.

8/22. Sebago Lake.

8/23. CAKE!! Last Supper at Silly’s with these pals.

8/24. Lake day with some derby pals and we stopped for ice cream.

8/25. Broken guys is healing. This photo actually shows progress, even if it doesn’t look that way.

8/26. Happy Hour and people watching with my pal, Gab.

8/27. One of those 365 moments where I love the shift I see from my regular work, even if it doesn't grab other people the same way.

8/28. GLITTER and a laptop.

8/29. Having out after the first day of school. I added some of the glitter to her nails…

8/30. Another fun afternoon in the pool with the Niece and then she sat right in a super good spot of sunlight and we chatted about snacks and other things.

8/31. Camp with my super long time pal and her daughter. There is always a little September sadness at their camp. This year it’s more since this may be our last time here together. I know of a good camp for sale if anyone wants to buy it and let me hang out with you!

A lot can happen in a month, as this project continually shows me month after month. But when you are hurt, have surgery, can’t drive or work, looking back over a month’s time is also pretty crazy. Broken guy made serious progress from August 1 to the last day of the month, making us both feel like we are over that hump. Or at least the worst part of it. Which is great since technically the best month of the year is now here!

Bring it, September.

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Celebrating Day 21 of 21

Well. Here it is. Day 21. Day 21 of a challenge to blog for 21 days. Yikes/Wow/Yipppeeee!

Celebrate the things in life. Like getting your license. Or blogging for 21 days.

Real Talk: that wasn't easy. I’m trying to think about the pros and cons of this challenge. But it’s probably simple: Cons were 1) it was a lot of work, 2) there were so many days where I simply didn’t want to or had no idea what to blog about, and 3) for me it’s a CON when I start to feel like it’s too much MEmeMe HI look at ME. I’m a little weird about that.

But the PROS of course were I made the time, buckled in, created content, and I DID IT. Now there is actually more work out there and not just on hard drives. More stories shared. And for me, it’s worth it to get to share things that aren’t always about professional work.

Nephew.

Neighbors.

I have times when what I am photographing for people is not my story to tell, not really my thing to share first.. Head Shots for professionals starting a new job or rebuilding a brand (not my story to share before they do!), Images for an organization working on their website and needing to put the imagery out to the world when they are ready (so get the images for them, and let them share when things are ready for the world to know about them), and lately some work that is sensitive because it involves humans trying to get established after many hard months of uncertainty. So many things I don’t share on the blog, but maybe can eventually when the timing is right and whatever dust needs to settle does.

Dinner with friends/ celebrating birthdays.

But I liked sharing little snippets of life and small moments in photos. I’d like to think I will continue to feel free to do that. I’m also hoping that from now on when the calendar says BLOG, I will find the time to do it. If I’m smart, I’ll also be better about prepping for blog posts ahead of time. A thing that as a photographer should be part of our workflow. Being human is a funny tale in being imperfect. And I can tell you many, many tales!

Sawyer wants to show me his fort upstairs.

Because in addition to sharing photo jobs, and the ongoing 365 project, there are thousands of life moments that may not get seen because they weren’t a thing for pay or they didn’t make the cut for a single photo on a certain day. But life unfolds in front of my camera on a daily basis (even if some of those days are WAAAAY less exciting than others). There is joy and laughter and uncertainty and fatigue and victory and good food and self consciousness and exploding confidence and quiet moments of thinking to capture and possibly share. It doesn’t always have to be for pay. It can be simply to document, and maybe to spread happiness and a little humanity.

Ice cream on a cold day with Molly and Kristina.

I have a project I am currently really proud to be part of. But I can’t share until they do. I want to promise to do so when the time is right. Because capturing people who love their people and love what they do is definitely a thing we could all use more of.

After School time with the niece and my mom.

There is a belief that people photograph what they are most afraid of losing. I photograph humanity. Even if it’s on a small scale of my family/neighborhood/community/friends/local business owners and non profit organizations. Maybe this challenge helped me see that a little clearer.

So my day 21 features a few photos that didn’t make the cut this year in the world of 365 photo project 2019, but that I want to be seen and shared. Little slices of life, that seem like not much at the time. But when seen with others, it’s a good reminder that these little human moments and exchangers are what end up being full of all the good.

And I’m up for that.

Pool buddy.

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Summerfest

If there’s one thing my niece is used to, it’s me following her around with my camera. I have been doing a photo a day project since the first day of 2018, and a photo a week project in 2017. So, that’s a lot of months of me always showing up and having my camera. And often turning it towards her.

I recently went to SummerFest, so of course the camera came out. I never thought about it much before, but at this outdoor celebration of Summer it occurred to me that perhaps at times it might look like she has her own personal photographer following her everywhere.

But how can you not want to photograph this face or that balloon hat?

So, here are a handful of photos taken with the new Nikon Z6 as I followed my niece around while still learning what this new camera can do…

Darts!

We said hi to our pals Hello Newman.

So after glitter tattoos, darts, a train ride, pony ride, saying HI to Hello Newman, kettle corn and fried Oreos, we found some hula hoopers and took turns with their extra hoop. Which was ridiculously fun and also a great test for the new camera and to see what I can get it to do.

Pretty much a perfect Summer night.

And I have to say, the niece has got some serious hula hoop skills!

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Another slice of Life

It’s 10:39pm on day 14 of 21 days of blogging. It rained a lot today, and today’s photo shoot needed to be rescheduled. The Niece came over and played games and laughed with the broken hubs. The Neph and I went out tonight (somewhat spontaneously) for tacos. So, it was perhaps a slightly imperfect but very good day. I’m tired and ready for bed, and this photo grabbed me as a photo to use for today’s blog post.

The niece has this hooded blanket thing that says Princess across the top and the back. She throws it on her when she comes home and is done with her day. I so feel that right now.

If they made this in my size I would likely have one as well, and throw it on after a productive day. But maybe with a different word across it.

And with that I need to be done with the day and head off to get ready for whatever tomorrow is going to bring….

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: I Aunt Pretty Hard

If there is one thing you should know me (how can there only be 1?!?) it’s that I am the fun Aunt. Maybe even the best Aunt. People tell me that every so often, and it’s probably the one compliment I accept easily. I know I am good at this thing known as Aunting (so hard). Plus, I always have fun when I hang with my Niece and Neph. Because they are both fun & FUNNY. At least I think so.

We wear heart shades, take selfies, dance, sing, watch roller derby, go to the movies, eat ice cream, shop, and laugh. And, they let me photograph them, introduce me to their friends, and tell me about their lives.

And without meaning to, they sometimes remind me to slow down, dance or laugh it out, and not let some stuff get to me.

So, yes I get to be the fun Aunt (and maybe the crazy Aunt, depending on the day) and that probably tells you plenty about me. Feel free to judge me accordingly.

And we love to use the hashtags #heartshadesquad and #auntingsohard. Feel free to join us in either or both!

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Day 9 of 21

I guess it’s a Kettle corn for dinner kind of night. Because SUMMER and an outdoor festival that had ballon hats, glitter tattoos, fried Oreos, and hula hooping with the niece to a local 90’s cover band. Then I came home and had another ‘OH YEAH I need to blog’ moment. Because I made a deal with myself.

It’s Friday. It’s past 9 pm. So, while I organize some blog posts for another day, I also need time to edit them and narrow down some photo choices, and I find myself needing another blog post of s single life moment. It’s definitely this one. This Summer moment with friends. This time by the water where people unwind from their week, enjoy the air, the view, and the conversation, the water, and the street corn our friend made for us.. So, this photo reminds me of that content feeling after a day by the water with friends.

A moment I hope to repeat again soon.

I’m not ready to talk about the winding down of Summer. So I won’t. :)

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: A 365 Outtake

It’s past 8 pm and I haven’t gotten to today’s blog post.

*GASP!*

The Niece and the Hubs getting ready to beat me at Hangman.

But that’s what happens on a full day when you didn’t prep ahead of time. Or it’s just a reminder to get some things done early. I’ll try to remember that in the future.

No promises, though. :)

Today the niece and I sent some fun mail to some people who may not know it’s coming. We made things and wrote cards together, then headed to the post office with hopes of making some people smile. Yesterday the ankle injured hubs got his cast off, and is moving on to a boot with crutches, and then eventually walking again.

So, it’s been a productive few days.

I came home, sat down to blog, scrolled through some images, and chose this photo of these two. Seemed like the right fit after today’s goodness.

And now I’m going to crash because I feel that kind of tired where words are not coming easy…

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Summer Moment

This human and this Summer moment on this Lake in Maine.

Which could be a moment happening multiple times in multiple places. I didn’t pick this image on this day for my 365 Photo Project, but I keep coming back it. This is my niece, on the 4th of July on Thompson Lake. But it could be any child by any body of water on any given Summer day.

Which is one of the many things that make photography so great.

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Maine Roller Derby & Names on a Jersey

Roller Derby. A full contact sport on roller skates. So welcome to day 4 of blogging every day for 21 days as I celebrate these athletes and encourage you to do the same.

As you likely know, the US Women’s Soccer team won yet another World Cup this year. And you may have noticed a surge in people wearing jerseys with the names of their favorite soccer players on the back. I was loving reading about this, watching the inspiring videos, seeing the photos, and feeling the feels.

Progress for women in sports, when most of us know that women have been doing amazing things as athletes for years but rarely getting the seat at the table or the spot on the television. So, I’m here to remind you that right in your own backyard, whether that backyard is Portland, Maine or any other city wherever you may live, there is likely this awesome sport happening where unpaid athletes train hard and dedicate hours of their time to play a sport on roller skates and you can go cheer them on.

And maybe one day we’ll see kids walking around wearing jerseys with the names of their favorite roller derby player….

The images seen here were all taken this winter at Happy Wheels Skate Center in Portland, Maine and feature members of Maine Roller Derby. You can find more info about the league here

A Challenge: 21 Days of Blogging {day 2}

Sometimes we get in ruts. Sometimes can happen more frequently for some of us creative types. I may be in one now, but also not really. Things in my life have shifted the last few weeks, and my focus is a little more broken up than normal. So, I got up to write before I started my work day and realized I simply needed a challenge for myself to get out of a little weird stuckness.

Stuck over a a simple thing: Blogging. I do it then I don’t. I have past blogs I never transferred to this newer website. Images and stories and all the SEO stuff no longer visible. I have things to say, stories to share. But I blog infrequently, so it then ends up feeling like a chore. And then sometimes that makes things feel forced.

So, this morning I took some time to write while having my coffee and the next thing I know I made an agreement with myself to take on a 21 day blogging challenge. Blog daily. For 21 days.

Apparently, there is some scientific evidence out there explaining why it takes 21 days of doing something everyday to make it a habit. I have done this before when I kicked off my 365 photo challenge in 2018 - I started the year with both the photo challenge and following a 21 day habit building worksheet. One could argue that it must have worked since it’s now August of 2019 and I’m still photographing every day.

There is something about blogging and having to find original things to say about a job i’ve been doing for years. We can’t all keep saying this is the best photo shoot ever and still sound and feel sincere. However, truth be told that is how many of us feel after our photo sessions. I know I for one feel alive after shoots. I still have some occasional nerves beforehand, almost always have a blast during, then feel awesome after. But, it’s harder to get that emotion to come through when you are blogging about it months later, and I think that is where I might be right now. It feels insincere to try to muster up those feelings when I have waited far too long to make the blog post. If I was a better blogger I would be writing more in the moment. Perhaps.

But the stories are still there. The images waiting to be shared. Sometimes you just need to sit down and get things done. A few years ago I agreed to blog every day for a month (but again, that blog is not here haha) with a fellow friend. She cheered me on, even checked in on days when I was late. The possibility of blogging daily may seem daunting on one side, but for me what I like is the chance to share smaller posts, freedom to share personal work, little bite size chunks of a blogsnack, rather than a 5 course meal of this big event and all the best moments. The number of shoots I have sitting in folders and not on this blog!! Ugh. SO, yes take it in smaller, life size, easy to digest chunks and just get sharing!

So, that was a long way of saying welcome to my 21 day blog challenge! Which, for accountability’s sake kicked off on Thursday, July 8 (when I finished/posted the 365July photos). Join me if you wish! Readers and other blogging types welcome….

365 Photo Project {July}

July. The time of year we Mainers live for. Personally I don’t live for the heat too much, but do live for the time of year when jumping in the water as much as possible is a thing that can happen.

This July was a little different than others. I kept my calendar lighter than normal, and took some time off the week of 4th of July. Then my better half fell off a ladder, and things shifted. So, we are a few weeks in to healing from a fall - no driving, no working, not able to put weight his right foot. So, there have been doctor appointments, paperwork, casts, surgery, a lot of sitting, binge watching The Walking Dead, and simply trying to heal. So, this July delivered a bit of a curveball, and has changed some of our daily routines.

But there was also a trip to New York with my brother and nephew, a mini college reunion, a World Cup win for Women’s Soccer (!!), time by lakes, ponds, oceans, and pools, gathering with friends for food and conversation. So, a disruption of normal routines, but still lots of good life stuff and camera time.

Here are a few of the daily winners as life played out in front of my camera…

7/1.

7/2.

7/3.

7/4.

7/5.

7/6.

7/7. World Cup WATCHING!

7/8.

7/9.

7/10.

7/11.

7/12.

7/13.

7/14.

7/15.

7/16.

7/17.

7/18.

7/19.

7/20.

7/21.

7/22.

7/23.

7/24.

7/25.

7/26.

7/27.

7/28.

7/29.

7/30.

7/31.

So, July felt like a weird month, yet still a good one. I came home from a trip and the next day the hubs had surgery, so healing part two started almost 3 weeks after the initial injury. it’s a weird thing to have your life be forced to a slower pace, but there’s also something in there that may be good somehow. Maybe that’s gratitude.

We’ll just keep doing things one day at a time, sort of like this project….

365 Photo Project {June}

It’s only July 8th as I sit down to write this blog post and already June feels like it was forever ago. I did a thing this past week for July 4th - I took a semi vacation! There was just so much water to be jumping into and people visiting and offices not holding regular business hours and any other things to help me lose my focus. So, I mostly checked out, and though I meant to do this post several days ago I am glad I tuned out for several days because I think I needed it. So, when I look at these photos from June it already feels like awhile ago because I am climbing out of my little tuned out staycation time warp.

June showed up and then Summer decided to finally get here. It brought sun, rain, out of town visitors, good food, live music, a few late nights, laughter, sweat, dancing, goodbyes, splashing around in water, and people doing awesome things to help and lift others. So, again a pretty good month! And again, thankful for daily photos for the reminders of the good moments that otherwise may not really be remembered because they seemed so simple at the time.

Here is a glimpse at how my camera and I saw June….

6/1.

6/2.

6/3. Maine Roller Derby Practice | Portland Expo | Portland, Maine.

6/4. Nabil and Scott reunited | South Portland, Maine.

6/5. Spry in my kitchen.

6/6. Walk to ice cream with Lisa.

6/7. Happy Birthday to this guy!

6/8. PortFringe rehearsal | South Portland, Maine.

6/9. Hanging on my brother’s back deck and the Neph needs help with his tie.

6/10. Home.

6/11. Midnight hola hooping because need to get my photo for the day!

6/12.

6/13.

6/14. Last day of school for the Neph. He wore his No Colon Still Rollin shirt which is one of the many reasons why he is an awesome human.

6/15. PRIDE PARADE! Portland, Maine.

6/16. These cute neighbors.

6/17. This delicious meal | David’s Restaurant | Portland, Maine.

6/18. Reggie | PortFringe | Portland, Maine.

6/19. Neighbors.

6/20. At Portside Real Estate’s annual Rooftop REcharge to benefit Girls On The Run | Portland, Maine.

6/21. Bayside Rooftop | Portland, Maine.

6/22. When Hello Newman and Maine Roller Derby cruise around Casco Bay together | Portland, Maine.

6/23. Sometimes I put on the ancient nifty fifty and find things to photograph at f 1.8.

6/24. This Summer’s Pool buddy got new goggles.

6/25. Some friends visited from NYC, so I photographed her daughter, Lila, while we waited for a table at Eventide | Portland, Maine.

6/26. Lying around waiting for class to start | Tula Studios | South Portland, Maine.

6/27. Brother and niece and my new mirrorless camera | Scarborough, Maine.

6/28. Summer floating friends | Auburn, Maine.

6/29. My dad would have been 79 on this day. So, food and family silliness is how we choose to honor him on this day | Sinful Kitchen | Portland, Maine.

6/30. Fan weather

{Personal}: An LOL Birthday

My niece recently had a birthday. She’s now 7. A few weeks ago there was a small celebration that involved photo booths, fashion shows, cupcakes, unicorns, all things LOL, a ridiculous amount of noise, and me somehow getting trampled by a bunch of giggling kids.

So, that was fun.

So once I got out of the trample pile, I was able to get back to the task of taking photos and watching my family try to navigate this level of energy with a birthday girl who doesn’t do well with loud noises. One friend decided it would be funny to have a food fight, so naturally I laughed and hoped it would happen for photo sake. But instead she just got frosting on her nose and giggled about that.

Eventually we went outside, they ran around, and had these handful of sweet moments that I’m glad my camera was there to witness/capture. These are the kinds of images that need to get printed. The snapshots of life and celebrations that you can look back at for years. I know they will want to remember who was there, how they looked (those missing teeth!), but also that very awesome jean jacket with those fantastic patches.

Photos! Or it didn’t happen. Right?

(Not really, I know. But PHOTOS so you can remember what happened :D )

So, this is not just a post about the niece having a birthday party, but a reminder to capture these moments in life (or hire a professional to do that so you can enjoy and be present) and the final piece of getting your photos printed! It’s important. For many reasons. But only having your life stories in photos on disks and hard drives and phones is not enough.

Trust me.

Friends. xo