Brent and his family met me for headshots at Wickham Park today and of course it started to rain, but I think we got what we wanted.  Brent is an actor and he has some really exciting stuff happening and needs to update his headshot by tomorrow.

So would you mind telling me which is your favorite?  I say #1  and second choice is #3.  What do you think?

I haven’t had a chance to post my beach photos yet.  This is as far as I’ve gotten and honestly, it makes me want to load up the car and go right now.  Throwing all responsibility to the wind to just have fun.  Gee, that actually reminds me that I used to be spontaneous at one time, but such is life.  It will come around again, I hope.

I posted this today to remind myself that this is the week I am supposed to slow down.  Relax and smell the roses.  And yet this insatiable urge to just-get-one-more-thing-done-while-I-can, bites me in the rear and off I go.  So tomorrow is the day.  The last session will be done tomorrow and I will stop for the week, well, at least until Thursday.  And then, back to the hamster wheel.  But we won’t talk about that yet.  For now, I’ll just stick to pretending that life is just one big lazy day in the sun – with sunscreen of course.

As usual, I had an amazing time at Brimfield this July. Yes, it was hot and it can make people a lotta miserable, but it did nothing to dampen my spirits, cuz I love me some Brimfield!

Every year I go armed with a list, and every year, I don’t stick to it.   This year was no different.   But I tracked down a french glass door for my studio, a vintage baby scale, a blue suitcase, vintage glasses, a parasol and a cow hide.   And still was under budget.    That’s a good prop day.

In a seemingly unrelated story, I want to tell you a little diddy about my deceased grandmother on my father’s side.   What does this have to do with Brimfield you ask?   Well, lots actually, but you’ll have to be patient if you want to make the connection.

My grandmother on my father’s side was very old.  When I say very old, I’m talking, old as dirt.   She actually lived to be 108 and hooray for her and me, because maybe that means I inherited her longevity.  Frankly, I hope that’s where it ends, because she was not a very nice woman.   And if I have to inherit anything at all, age would be all I would like, thankyouverymuch.

She appeared, to everyone else, to be very a very nice woman.  She was doted on by many, honored, because of her age, her birthday that fell on Valentine’s Day and because she lived to be the last immigrant to come through Ellis Island.   Big hoopla there.   However, to me, she was the mean old lady that put up both hands and pushed me away, at my ripe old age of four.  The infraction?   I put both hands on her lap to ask her a question, but that’s a story for another day.

Every year, the newspaper would do a story about my grandma and ask her, to what she attributed her old age and every year she would reply, “I never smoke or drank and I always lived a clean life.”  Secretly I believed it was God giving her additional years to repent for her bad behavior, but I digress.

One year, the one I remember with a small, but intentional smirk, is the year a young reporter knocked on the door of my grandma’s apartment to get her annual birthday story.   I guess my grandma was not in the mood to give out her story that day and she was downright rude and nasty to that poor reporter.   She left such a bad impression, that the reporter went right to her typewriter and wrote up an article about my grandma and her mean temperament!  How would you like to see that about yourself on page four?

Honestly, for me, it was justice served up fresh on a big plate with all the trimmings and parsley to chew, because I believe that eventually our bad behavior smacks us down in one way or another and I guess it was just her day for a heaping helping of “what comes around, goes around.”

And believe me, I’ve had my share of smack downs and there’s many more to come I’m sure.

OK Hallie, I have read the story and I have been patient, but now please tell me what this has to do with Brimfield?

Well, since you asked so nicely! WORD OF MOUTH IS EVERYTHING!!!!!

What!?  I don’t get it.  Well, think of it this way….it is approximately thirty years later and you have just heard the story of my mean grandma and her bad behavior.    Thirty years people! That is a long time to be remembered for something bad.  Think of every president that has ever done something stupid…ehem…Bill…cough…Clinton.  OK, we won’t go there, but where I will go is to a booth at Brimfield today.   And thankfully, I am not vindictive like the reporter.

You see, I always take pictures at Brimfield, it is eye candy.  Let’s face it, it is a hodge podge of beautiful treasures that goes on forever.  But today, I was standing at the edge one of my favorite booths taking a picture of the beautiful items and merchandising, when the owner of the booth came along and barked at me, “NO PICTURES!”  “Wha?” I said. “NO PICTURES!” I just stood there, completely taken by surprise.

I then said, “I’m sorry. Why do you not want pictures taken?”   Her very snippy reply was something along the lines of, “This is my booth and I don’t want you benefiting from it by taking pictures.”   She then emphatically barked at me that I am supposed to ask first.   Then went on to say that I could take pictures to put on my blog as long as I give her credit, while handing me her card.   Her rude behavior went on for a minute longer and I complied, but was truly disgusted at her tone and actions.  It’s not always what you say, but how you say it.

Now, I tried to go on to make pleasant conversation to clear the air, but I never took another picture.   By that point, the bad taste was already in my mouth and I don’t care how nice her booth was, or if she had the best merchandising on the earth.   After stopping there many years in a row, this will be my last.

Now, I could go on and talk about copyright and asking permission, which is important if you are photographing people, or works of art, or plenty of other things.  As far as antiques go, at a public event, I’m not so sure.  I do know that I could spend an entire day trying to find the booth owner to ask permission, so I doubt that line of action is anywhere in my near future.  So I will continue to photograph and take my chances, knowing that most booth owners are very kind and appreciate the word of mouth, which I am all too happy to give…. to those who are kind, friendly, or just have great stuff, such as Melissa at Nesting On Main, or Jen at Morning Glorious Vintage.

But wow.

Now imagine this. What if, just what if I was somebody important from Better Homes and Gardens, or some other magazine that was looking for a top Brimfield vendor for a feature story?   Well, I’ll tell you what, she would have been screwed, that’s what.   Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Word of mouth goes two ways. It can benefit and it can damage. I probably won’t tell someone if I have had a mediocre experience where I do business. But I can say for sure, if someone goes out of their way for me, I am going to talk about it and likewise, if I have had a bad experience, I am going to tell everyone I know to watch out. And what I want my customers to know… I value each and every one of you and I know that you have lots of choices for photographers.  And thank you for choosing me.  I value the relationships that I make with you and that is top priority for me. When you take the time to recommend me to your friends and family, that means a lot. It means that you think I have served you well and you are happy with our relationship and the service you have received. I take that very seriously.

Now to lady at the booth, I wasn’t the only one you threw out.  Some got way worse treatment than I did, so I’m not complaining,  just making a point.   Fortunately for you, I’m not like the reporter that told my grandmother’s ugly secret to the town.   I hope tomorrow you have a better day and if you don’t ever get there,  maybe it’s time to retire.  Customer service, may not be your bag.

And to grandma, even though I still tell this story and many others, I do it with humor and well, I forgave you long ago.   I hope Jesus did too.

Now it’s time to go find some aloe for my sunburn.  Toodeloo!

Smelling the roses seems to be a thing of the past these days, at least in my life.   Even though I try to spend the time enjoying the simple things, the hours just roll by so quickly and at the end of the day, my to-do list seems like it’s twice as long as the day before.

I long for my children to experience the things I did when I was a child.  Like eating a fresh picked cucumber on the front steps, garden tomato sandwiches, catching fire flies and playing tag until long past dark.   Making a wood raft for the stream by our neighborhood railroad tracks and the sound of crickets just outside my bedroom window.  Where did the crickets go?  I don’t hear them anymore…maybe they’re too busy also.

I know I desperately need to find better balance, not only for my children, but for myself.  So in the spirit of true desperation I have planned some slow-down-to-smell-the-roses activities for next week and yes, I realize that attempting to slow down while planning activities sounds like I’m spinning my wheels in the wrong direction, but they are relaxing activities, meant to remind us of what life should be like.

What simple pleasures do you miss from your childhood?

I had a small impromptu session with family friends last night and was honored to meet little Winston Macgregor; possibly the most loved baby on the entire planet.  I sure can see why.

Thanks for letting me spend the evening with your beautiful family; I had a wonderful time!

Deanna and I met purely by accident through my (best…yes I know you’re reading this Jodie) neighbor and it just so happened she was looking for a CT newborn photographer to take pictures new baby girl.  So we put our heads together to figure out what we could do for a session….we had several things working against us, the first was,  Delaney was not a newborn any longer, but was reaching six weeks old.  The second, I am right in the middle of constructing a natural light studio, so our locations were very limited.

Deanna had absolutely no natural light in her home and neither do I, so we decided we would give it a shot outdoors.  If you live in New England, you know what a risky choice that is these days.  We rescheduled only three times..ehem….But we did it!  It took us a little longer than expected and the circumstances were WAY less than ideal, but since Deanna is THE MOST PATIENT WOMAN ON THE EARTH and I thrive on problem solving,  it was all good.

Thank you Deanna and Delaney!  You are the best.

I love this little man, and if you’re this cute, groupies just come with the territory.  If your real good acting, they won’t put you down.

Honestly, I think he’s practicing for the future because the ladies really dig him….especially me!

I just had an awesome session with Tejas; he was looking for a CT photographer to take photos of him to send back home to his parents in India.

We decided on Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT, because I just love the light there as the sun is setting.  Mostly, I just love the carousel, but that’s a discussion for another day.

We had a great session and Tejas clued me in to all my questions about Indian culture and promised to send me a list of his favorite local Indian restaurants.  My favorite dish in the whole world is Chicken Tikka Masala, so I will be anxiously awaiting to see where he sends me!

Thanks Tejas…I had a fabulous time!

I never in a million years thought she would be conceived.  I had a miscarriage six months prior and the circumstances were not good.  I was devastated by the loss and eventually came to accept there would never be another child to hold.  It was a very hard pill to swallow and for a time I was eaten up with grief, but as usual, I threw myself right into work because there is little room or time in my life for self pity.

But God obviously had other plans.  His sense of Humor caught me very much off guard.  He gently reminds me the minute I start making my own plans, I am definitely not the one in control.

Much to my surprise, Isabelle was born in June, 2005.  It was the happiest day of my life.  That was, until my in-laws saw her and rained on my parade when they didn’t believe she was related to them in any way.  Funny now, but then, I wasn’t laughing.   She was very swollen and actually had thick black curly hair that actually resembled a Jheri Curl.  But who could blame them, if I hadn’t seen her birth, I probably would have wondered myself.

But today, there is not a doubt to whom this lovely little French beauty and Irish tempered girl belong.  And I wouldn’t trade her for anything in this world.

Happy birthday, my beautiful baby girl….I love you with all my heart.

Amy had her heart set on doing a beach shoot this year and she couldn’t wait.   Every time we spoke, she told me how much she was looking forward to our session.  So the planning began to pick the perfect beach location and we eventually decided on Watch Hill, RI.  The weather was supposed to be perfect on this day; sunny and dry, with not a cloud in the sky.  But then again, we’re in New England…guess we should have known the weather sometimes changes quicker than you can blink.

We got to the beach and set up at 5:00 pm and I started taking test shots and checking my histogram and settings.  We were there for just about 15 minutes, (about 7 minutes of actual shooting time) when heavy fog started rolling in.  It was as if someone flicked a light switch;  there was sun, then there was not.

I kept shooting; making the best of the decreasing light, until finally, about forty minutes in, we had to stop because the fog was just too thick and the little man started getting cold.

Fortunately, I was able to get some pretty good shots, despite the fog and one very fast two-year-old. Even though his legs are shorter….I assure you, he is much quicker!

Thanks Amy and Chris! It was fun day despite the crazy weather.