wee baby rory

My dear friend Karen just had her second baby girl, and I was delighted when I finally got to meet her!!! She made her appearance on Christmas Eve at home (planned), but about two minutes before the midwives arrived! Well done Karen & Todd, way to go on the DIY!

Without further ado....here she is at the ripe old age of 5 days old -



Oh the humanity!!!



with daddy, the baby whisperer...




angel baby....


I don't know how she does it, but Karen just looks absolutely beautiful after having her babies. So happy and literally glowing, even prettier than on her wedding day!


Hello! I'm Rory. You will now love me to bits.

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

miscellaneous....

hello there!
i have a bunch of little things i've been meaning to post, but none of them were really business-critical so i've been procrastinating. anyway, if you are bored, here is a short video of my kids at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester. It was a really fun place and I highly recommend it if you have kids and will be headed out that way. They are shopping at a mini-Wegman's where the kids could fill their carts, man the bakery counter, and ring up the groceries.

We made the 6-hour road-trip out there with the kids to see my good friend Mary from NESOP. I wish I could say that I got some great pictures of her and her adorable new baby while I was there, but we were far too busy chit-chatting, and also keeping my kids from destroying her house and torturing her dog.
more randomness to come....as well as some pictures from a november wedding!

Antonio's pizza watch out - you have some competition!

My mom's group had a field trip last week to Hooray for Books in Hopkinton. They do really cool classes there with cooking and books. Mary Murphy had her pizza hat on and was being very entertaining for all of the kids...




My kids decided to do their own thing for a little while....

My friend Kristen's son Luke, it is physically impossible to take a bad picture of this kid!!!



Lee was being very serious.






The best part was the tiny pizza boxes they had, aren't they adorable??

Thanks Mary, we had a great time!!

how awesome is this????

hello everyone! i know that I know have four anxious families waiting for their sneak peaks, and they are coming VERY soon, I promise. In the meantime, check out this KICK-ASS picture that my niece took for her freshman high school photography class:



the assignment was a "faceless portrait". rock on megan!!!!

Nick and Stephanie || The Tirrell Room || Quincy, Massachusetts

Before starting his own business, my husband was an instructor for the carpentry program at North Bennet Street School in the North End. When he stopped teaching, he hired one of his former students, Nick, to come work with him. Nick is working for himself now, and we were so happy for him & Steph when they got engaged. We wanted to attend the wedding as guests (what a concept!), so Meghann and Kelly did all the shooting for this one.

Stephanie got ready at Nick's mother's house just a few blocks from the church, so she walked there led by bagpipers!

I was having a hard time just sitting and watching the ceremony without a camera.  I love when the bride and groom lean in to have a little private chat during the ceremony, and I was so glad when I saw Meghann catch it.




I tried to stay out of the way while they were shooting the formals, and they had a great time shooting the bridal party in this yummy light on the grounds of theTirrell Room.











I have never seen a male guest, or any guest for that matter this determined to get a centerpiece!

As you know, I loooove having my picture taken...here's one of me & Stephen

Flower girl & ring bearer sharing a dance - adorable!

The cake was delicious - I actually got to eat some!!!!

Kelly was very excited because I never let her shoot the rings, and now she finally got them all to herself.

They were doing Irish step dancing - look how perfectly in sync they are!  Their toes are the exact same distance from the floor.

As favors, they gave bulbs to plant.  I better remember to plant mine before it snows!


Gary Titus was the DJ, and kept everyone on the dance floor happy.








Congratulations you guys!  Stephen and I are so happy for you.

Melissa and Chris || Chatham Bars Inn || Chatham, Massachusetts

Ok - part three! I just had to share a few pictures from Chris and Melissa's "Bon Voyage Brunch". They had it at the lovely Chatham Bars Inn. This place is near & dear to me, because it is where I met my husband. He was a bartender....I was a waitress....the classic American love story. Not a bad place to work when you are killing time between college and the real world. And by the way - today is our 7 year wedding anniversary!





Check out all the cuties!!




I love how Melissa had the perfect white dress for each day!

new wheels

Just thought I'd share a couple pics of my new baby Rabbit. I loved, loved, loved my Jeep, but the gas mileage was not-so-great, and even though I have two kids, they're little, and I honestly don't cart around that much stuff to justify the bigger vehicle.





Doesn't it look adorable in front of the studio?

a little relaxing on cape cod....

We had some time to go down the cape recently, and had gorgeous weather. I also had Arnold's, Sundae School ice cream, and Villa Pizza, so how could that be a bad trip???




So, one of my MOST challenging subjects is my daughter Lee. I think she's beautiful, but she tends to make these wacky faces that make it difficult to get a traditionally great picture of her....here's a few examples....




Anyway, I stick with it long enough, and I'm able to get something...



Jonah on the other hand.....the camera loves him.


We went out to Coast Guard Beach in the evening (much less crowded, and very pretty light!). Stephen and Jonah checked out the surfers. Stephen used to own the Pump House in Orleans, and is hoping that Lee & Jonah will be surfing with him soon!






I can't wait to get back down to the cape this weekend to shoot Catherine & Kevin's wedding at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee. Their family is so fun, and not only will there be past clients there, but clients from this coming summer, as well!

lee

So, I am a little behind in sharing some photos from David's Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, but I just had to share my new favorite picture of my daughter, Lee.

looking fabulous!

So, some of you might remember in a previous blog post I mentioned being tempted by a spring makeover special from Katrina Hess. Well, my sister was in town, so as a birthday treat for her, we went down to Newbury Street and saw Katrina!








Here are our "befores":







Katrina recently expanded her space, and it was so fun to sit side by side and learn from her. She went through everything step by step, and had us do some things on our own so we would be able to do it ourselves.



Here is the lovely Katrina, I get the feeling she ALWAYS looks fabulous....



Here are our "afters"!





She also gave me this super-cool sample of blotting wipes, so I'll have them in my bag if anyone gets too shiny this year!
We had a great time - thanks Katrina!

what i'm listening to right now....

ok, i have some catching up to do with the blog, but i just had to share this if you haven't heard it already - it's matt weddle covering Hey Ya -

new kicks for jonah

Just a few more entries for the fabulous/not-so-fabulous contest to go! But I just had to share this first....

Ok, I'm not entirely sure how many of you are actually interested, but I just got Jonah some new shoes, and I'm sorry but they are just the cutest. He looks like a little skater kid!

The snow is finally receding and it's getting a bit warmer, so we ventured out for a bit yesterday. I'm glad someone is getting some use out my my exercise ball, because I'm certainly not!


Last night I was lucky enough to meet a few friends out for drinks at Lucca in the North End. I wish I had a fabulous picture of my yummy cocktail to share, but I left my camera in the car. My husband and I used to live in the North End, and we were there when Sean and Matt opened it. Stephen even built the mirrors hanging in the main dining room! After Lucca we headed off to Regina's for some Pollo Pesto and Sausage Cacciatore pizza. Yum and yum. Some of my clients are from the North End, and I always tell them how much I miss going there!


**note - I made it home from the North End (not speeding) in THIRTY FIVE minutes. see? Southborough isn't that far away!

ahh....a mini-break!

well, our very good friends Kelly and Joe were nice enough to watch Lee & Jonah for the weekend so Stephen and I could get away. We stayed in Portland, Maine, stopping off in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on the way there and back!

I just love both of these cities. I scored a great vintage coat and handmade hat at the Odd Gallery on Market Street. They have a slew of vintage clutches if anyone is in the market for one!



Then it was off to Portland!



After lots of walking and shopping, it was our pleasure to sit and relax with Steve at Vignola for some delicious cocktails and fabulous snacks.




We had dinner at Street & Company, and then a fantastic breakfast at the Porthole Restaurant the next morning. (Okay, so it was 11:45, but technically STILL morning!)


It was so nice to get away, even if just for a couple of days! Now if only St. John's was a two hour drive..........

fun at home with the 200mm...

so i had a weekend with no weddings, no bar mitzvahs, no conventions......so of course i pull out the 70-200 to get some pictures of the kids. i usually don't use that lens to shoot inside the house, but it was really fun!
lee was serious about coloring...

always a photographer......never a guest.....

not anymore!

As many of you know, one of my very dear friends got married last october, and i was very happy to attend strictly as a guest! I had been looking forward to this all season. It's not easy watching everyone dancing and having a great time every weekend and not being able to join in! My associate photographers took care of all of the photography, and as expected, did a fabulous job!

The ceremony was in the very beautiful Cathedral of the Pines in New Hampshire, with the reception at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner, MA.
Kelly and Joe make such a great couple, and we are all so happy that they found each other!!




Her nephews were so adorable!!










I loved Kelly's invitations & place cards, everything was aqua and brown.




Yup, that's me on the dance floor at last! My husband Stephen was there, and it was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy the day!

Me & all my favorite people!!!!!

Kelly's dad was a madman on the dance floor....



Congratulations Kelly & Joe!!! Sorry that it took me so long to get this up on the blog, but I'm glad you are enjoying all of your pictures.

finally.......spring!!!

I am so excited for this fabulous weather. We have our first wedding of the season this Saturday on the North Shore with the reception at Hamilton Hall, and it looks like it is going to be beautiful. I shot a wedding there last October before Halloween, and they did a great job.