The Lewis Family

Allow me to introduce you to the lovely, warm, fun-loving, cheerful and beautiful Lewis Family, who I had the honor of photographing in Cohasset this past weekend.

I met Suzanne, one third of the Just Us Gals, at this event and was excited to meet her mom, sister and boyfriend as well as the latest edition to the family: French bulldog puppy Pierre, who is just the cutest lil' guy!

Photographed at the end of summer while the grass was still green, the water still sparkling, and the shade of the trees telling stories that would make Autumn jealous....

Boston: H. Bloom

If Spring hasn't sprung enough for you already in Boston, soon H.Bloom, known for the most luxurious of flower arrangements, will be servicing Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, starting on June 11.

By using their app, it makes it easier to order flowers or other luxury gifts (in Boston, these will be treats from L.A. Burdick and cookies from Tatte), with their floral subscription service allowing you to set up recurring (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) flowers or gifts to be delivered to your home or office.

Best of all, subscription deliveries are free!

Photo courtesy of H.Bloom.

Boston: Boston Marathon 2013

Yesterday tragedy struck close to home.

It's unsettling to think that bad things can happen anytime, anywhere.

Lives were lost, so many brutally injured and the rest are in shock, that a city, just trying to host a marathon, can't do so in peace.

I was supposed to meet Danielle yesterday at the finish line at 3pm, and was talking to Ana on Twitter about doing the same.

I was hesitant to leave the house, taking longer than usual to get dressed, dilly-dallying in the weirdest way, which is strange, because I'm always up for photographing events in the city and normally would have been out much earlier.

I was half an hour late, I got there at 3:30pm, wondering why so many people looked distraught, some crying. I wondered why everyone was on their phones. I wondered why there were so many ambulances and cop cars racing by, more than average for a marthon, I thought. Then I overheard someone say there were two explosions at the finish line.

I'm so thankful that both Danielle and Ana are safe, and that those we knew who were either running or volunteering in the area are also okay.

I'm so touched by all the family and friends who reached out via phone, text, email and tweets, even Instagram friends who reached out, and I thank you for your thoughts and concern.

We continue to mourn those who were killed and pray for those who are injured. Boston is one of the strongest cities that I have come to know since living here, and I know that we will be able to persevere.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Hello Molly!

I had the honor of photographing baby Molly, recently. There's nothing like capturing the innocence, beauty and fragility of a new baby. Molly had just turned four months old at the time of this shoot and was a professional superstar! Her lovely Mom was a delight to work with, singing tunes that, I admit, I've been singing all week!

So, say "Hello!" to Molly! (And to Buddha, who came to play!)

Thank you to Cara and Molly for a wonderful photo session!

Boston: Blogger Meetup at the ICA

Last night I met up with some Boston Bloggers at the ICA in Boston, in the seaport district. The ICA is a beautiful structure completed in 2006, airy and minimalist in its style much like the art it houses. Some of the works were particularly interesting such as the paintings by Sue Williams, which I think we may have enjoyed a little too much!

Then we were off to Anthony's Pier 4, a charmingly old and nautically inspired resturant on the water. Reminded me very much of Toronto's similarly named and decorated, Pier 4 Storehouse. Can't speak for the food but I liked that they had Earl Grey and that too, loose leaved! Also the service was friendly at the bar!

Here are a few captures from the evening, with Emily, Sarah, Anna, Aubrie, Danielle, Clair and Melanie.

Some via Instagram.

Boston, Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel: Dress for Success

I had the honour of capturing the Dress for Success luncheon on Friday January 27 held at the historic Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.

Dress for Success is an incredible organization which provides professional attire, career guidance and network support to women looking to find work. This year marked the 11th year of empowerment of 6,800 women.

The event was emceed by WCVB-TV's Shayna Seymour, with speeches by event co-chairs Rosalin Acosta and Lois Cornell, Chair of the Board of Directors, Jacqui Budd and Executive Director Kim Todd. The auction part of the luncheon was conducted by John Terrio of AuctionKnights. Awards honoured Boston's First Lady Angela Menino, Rick Condon and Jacqui Budd and were presented by Co-Founders Enith Levine and Nancy Schneider.

Over 400 guests were in attendance, including many of Boston's familiar faces such as NECN anchor Bridget Blythe, Wanye Budd of Goodwin Procter, Dan Kramer and Annette Goubeaux of Neiman Marcus, Kristen Daly, Tara Goodwin Frier and Margrette Cardone Mondillo from Goodwin PR, amongst other sponsors and supporters of Dress for Success.

Thank you to Kim Todd and Emmy Whitney for the opportunity to cover this fantastic event!

Boston: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum opened a new wing on January 19 and I was there to capture the spirit of the day. Loved spending time in the gorgeous and retro Richard E. Floor's Living Room.

One of the highlights was meeting artist Cesare Pietroiusti and taking part in his workshop which took place in the Claire and John Bertucci Education Studio. The artist's project is the production and distribution of free drawings - 3500 to be exact. Using varying mediums (from salt-water to tea, coffee and ink) the idea is to create a work of art that you leave behind for someone else to take home the following day. Each sheet of paper had a different condition on the bottom. That day it was:

"The holder of this drawing commits to give it away, three months after having received it, to a person of their choice who lives south of them"

The medium of the day was dark Boston beer, how perfectly. And at the end of the day I was so happy to come home with both coffee and salt-water art created earlier this week. I loved how the adults and elderly who took part in the workshop sat at the tables in child-like wonder playing with the medium, totally engrossed in the whole process. I certainly spent a long time in

The 2nd floor's Special Exhbition Gallery is absolutely stunning with it's magnificent high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. A wonderful place to have work exhibited, to be sure. I also sat in on a fun performance in Calderwood Hall, the new space for acoustic events.

The gorgeous exterior and beautiful brightly lit Cafe G complete the new wing.

It was my first time visiting The Palace, the original Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum which opened back in 1903. Photography was not allowed which allowed me to really immerse myself in the iconic works of art as well as be enveloped in lavish antiques and their history.

I could have been there longer, and I was already there the whole day! :) Time flew by, it's a mesmerizing place to be in Boston.

Boston: Celtics vs. Raptors @ TD Garden

I went to my first ever basketball game tonight at the TD Garden (many people don't know that TD stands for Toronto Dominion) and it was extra special because it was the Boston Celtics vs the Toronto Raptors. Whaa-!

We had spectacular seats and were surrounded by green jerseys, hats, balloons and other memorabilia. It was hard not to cheer on the Celtics, but there was no booing for the Raptors from us! The Celtics won 96-73.

The best part of the night? Likely the drummer outside North Station who had a whole audience dancing to his tunes and us bopping home.

MLK Weekend: Provincetown, MA

As it was our first MLK weekend here in Boston, we decided a day trip was in order. Onwards to Cape Cod, we drove. Destination: the tip, mainly: Provincetown, MA.

Although it was a blustery cold January day and almost everything was closed until the Spring, we enjoyed walking around, eating some fudge and ended up having dinner at a fantastic little restaurant on the water, watching the sunset.

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