Giving is Awesome!!!

I know this holiday season is coming up fast and furious for ya'll, but I just wanted to let everyone know about a project I am participating in started by Kristen Kalp from Essential Imagery. It's called Giving is Awesome. The basic gist is to nominate someone who TOTALLY deserves some beautiful custom portraiture of their family, but just can't swing it financially. And, whoever nominates the winner gets a little somethin'-somethin' for themselves, too! Read on for more details....

(and just because posts are boring without pictures, here's a picture of Lee....)



Here's the deal:
You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1000 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $250 credit towards a portrait sitting of their own. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home on the Cape does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Massachusetts. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : nancy@nancygould.com.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Cheers!
Nancy

charlie and his new little sister courtney

that's right, more adorable children coming your way! I got to see baby Courtney when she was just 7 days old!! She looked just perfect, and her big brother Charlie was an absolute doll. Here she is!







little hands...

and little toes...




Kristine looking pretty awesome considering she probably only slept a total of 4 hours in the last 7 days!



and this is

my 

absolute

favorite.

Congratulations to your growing family!!!  She's beautiful!!

little miss brooke

I love when I get news that former wedding clients of mine are expecting!  Val and AJ were clients of mine from 2006, when we had our initial meeting I was pregnant with Lee, and when she came to pick up her final album I had just had Jonah!  She has always been super sweet, and even given me baby presents for the kids, so of course I couldn't wait to meet Brooke.  She was soundly sleeping in Grandpa's arms when I arrived....

Her room is adorable - think she has enough stuffed animals?







This picture just cracks me up - hello dahling!

Love the baby bums!







Daddy love....

family's in town!

So, i'm a little backed up on blogging, but I'm making progress! Last week I did a family portrait for MaryJane who had her sister's family visiting from Colorado. When everyone is spread out like that, it's nice to get a picture of everyone together when you can! "Gramps" was nice enough to add my name to the driveway when I got there...



The newest edition to the clan spending some q-t with grandma.






Here are how the tuckered out cousins arrived...


They totally rallied and we got this great shot of all 11 of them!


We wanted to get a shot of the new big sister holding her little brother, but she kept wanting to flop down on the grass instead. That's ok, we can work with that!

sleeping kate

So, a few weeks ago I photographed wee baby Kate when she was just 8 days old. I designed some birth announcements for her, which I think turned out pretty darn cute - have a look.


We had an amazing little shoot, but I was a little bit sad that I didn't get any sleeping baby shots. Since they live right around the corner, I brought my camera along when I dropped off the announcements. This time one of her big brothers, Jack, was there. He was very proud of his Red Sox shirt, and told me Big Papi was his favorite player.


Ok, so she wasn't TECHNICALLY sleeping....but I think the picture is sweet just the same.

hello baby kate!

Lucky baby Kate was born on 7-7, and I got to meet her just 8 days later. Here she is with mom, Brigitte...



Correct me if I'm wrong, but I swear this is a smile!!





I just love her sheets!!! Brigitte already has two boys, so she had a lot of fun with all of the girly stuff at Pottery Barn!








little tiny diapers!


Kate giving us the signal that we're done!!


I couldn't resist getting a few more feet shots while she was eating. Adorable!

welcome baby brendan!

So after meeting super-handsome Sammy last year, I was thrilled to meet his younger brother Brendan! The proud parents are 2004 wedding clients, and it was great to see them (or at least Meghan and her mom!) again.



So, most photographers have a hard time getting anything except "sleeping baby" shots with such tiny babies, but not so with Brendan. At 13 days old (and with a full belly), he was wide awake and perfectly content. I love this shot.


And how perky and happy does Meghan look? I definitely don't remember looking that fantastic when Jonah was 2 weeks old...




Big brother Sammy even got in the action, this was right before/after a little kiss. Brendan almost looks like he's smiling!


Being a big brother is HARD....


OK, so....a disclaimer here. I realize that this is not the super-sweet baby calendar type picture, but I love it for a very specific reason. When you bring your little baby home from the hospital, they cross their eyes A LOT the first few weeks. They are still learning how to control their little eye muscles. Now, you would think as a mom that you would remember this, but you forget! In fact, I totally forgot how much Lee and Jonah used to do it until I saw Brendan doing it. So, I just love that this captures a moment in time which goes by faster than you can believe.





Now HERE'S the super-sweet calendar picture....


Congratulations, I'm so happy for you guys!!