Leah and Shawn Engagement Session | New Hope PA

Oh what a lovely evening for an engagement session. The weather was nearly perfect especially after this brutal hot sweltering summer. I was so excited to finally meet Leah's fiance Shawn. Shawn was very laid back and when you least expected it extremely funny. I tried to catch him chimping to the camera a couple of times but he proved to be too quick. I was glad we were able to finally get the e-session in before their October nuptials. Between my schedule and Leah and Shawn renovating their home and the start of the school season right upon us (Leah is a teacher) coordinating was extra tricky.

I had a great time chatting it up with Leah and hearing about her teaching and working on the house. I was floored when she said her kindergarten class had no concept of a film cameras when she read them a story about a boy that found one. (Are we really that old?) She had to bring in film and explain to them that film needs to be developed and how people used to wait for their pictures to come back from the shop. WOW!

Here are my some of my favorites from their shoot and I even created a slideshow :O 

So enjoy and look for more of the beautiful Leah and laid back Shawn with their October wedding. Can't wait!

Leah and Shawn Engagement Session 8.27.10 from Nicole Young on Vimeo.

Revamping my uniform | Fashion Finds

I am a girl who LOVES to wear dresses. However, dresses aren't always practical to shoot in. So for the past couple of weddings I have been rocking a basic black blazer, simple black trousers, and a plain v-neck white tee. Oh yes and least I forget my Danskos. The ugliest shoes on the planet but when you are on your feet for 8-10 hours comfort wins out over fashion. But pants aren't my uniform of choice. And when I came home from this past weekend's wedding I had made up my mind that I was going to get some nice comfortable dresses. I want to feel feminine and feel like I look pretty when I work. I still have to wear black but darn it I want to look good doing it.

The past couple of years I have made two conscious decisions with my fashion choices :

1 - Stay true to your style regardless of what is trendy. I love classic clean cut pieces or romantic soft and girly. Well these may be opposing looks they truly are a reflection of my personality. I want to be Grace Kelly on some days and on others I want to Vivian Leigh from Gone in the Wind.

2. Shop with independent artisans as much as possible. Support small business owners. I have found that custom items are 99% of the time as well made as mass market retail products and usually a fraction of the cost. Not to say I don't covet Tory Burch and Tracy Reese like other girls but for everyday wear I am  just not that wealthy.

I found these lovelies from my favorite etsy sellers, and purchased them in black. 

Lirola - Soft Cowl Dress In Elegant Taupe With Secret Garden Belt -Bundle Listing

                          

heartmycloset - VERA lady chic pencil dress with contrast custom made all sizes

If you are a bride go check out these two sellers they have fabulous items that are perfect for engagement shoots, showers, or rehearsal dinners.

So next time you see me at your wedding I will be rocking one of my new lovely uniforms. Now on to some cute comfortable shoes to go with.

Recapturing Childhood Exuberance

A couple of weeks ago when I went peach picking with my friend Courtney and her niece Mia we commented on how Mia is able to show so much exuberance and excitement over such simple things in life. And naturally our question was "At what point did we loose that childhood exuberance and excitement over life?". When did we stop taking so much pleasure in the simplicity of the every day acts of life?  When did we let work, money, stress, material goods, etc cloud our everyday happiness? Mia was doing nothing more than eating a lollipop and was able to evoke a smile, no a roar of such raw joy and happiness that it almost made my ears ring.

It has taken peering through the lens of a camera to uncloud my vision and to start to be aware of the beauty of the things around me. Things that I take for granted. Things that are ordinary. Things that are so simple yet can spread a little joy and light if we only open our eyes. 

So here is to finding that childlike spirit that we once all possessed and gave us the ability to roar with joy and exuberance over something as simple as a lollipop.

New Hope E-Session Sneak Peek

I was a busy girl this weekend.

I got to hang with my October wedding couple Leah and Shawn. Leah is super sweet and oh so pretty, and Shawn is very laid back and will sneak the funny one liners in when you least expect it.

So looking forward to their October nuptials.

More to come.

Those Captivating Eyes - Sneak Peek Family Session

Those eyes could melt anyone's heart.

More to come .....

Fruits of Summer

It is that time of summer that I love : when the fruits of summer are ripe, juicy, fresh, and begging to be picked. Late summer into early fall is also when I do all day/night canning and baking extravaganzas. I believe in cooking and baking with fresh ingredients whenever possible. Some things I just won't make unless the ingredients are in season like my peach cobbler. I REFUSE to make it with canned or frozen peaches, so its only made in late August/early September. Once it's gone, it's gone. Hence I freeze it for winter and around January when our supply is running low that is when my husband and I are in all out war over who is going to get the last container.

My recipe is fairly simple and I am proud to say its my very own. The measurements are approximations. I cook without measuring 70% of the time. I season by taste. So pardon me if the measurements for the filling aren't exact. After honing the recipe for years I just know the right amount to add. If you really have a question about it shoot me an email and I will gladly share tips.

(And I was a bad photographer and didn't take pics of the final product. I was too busy stuffing my face.)

Yummy Peach Cobbler

Filling 

Fresh Peaches Sliced (About 4 cups) 

2 packs of gelatin (I believe it’s the equivalent of 1/4 cup)

At least 1 teaspoon of cinnamon ( I added more but it is to your taste)

At least a 1/2 cup of sugar (Also more if you want it sweeter – I think I put in 3/4 a cup)

Topping 

2 cups of Flour

1 cup of sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup of milk

1 stick of butter 

1 tablespoon of baking powder

- Preheat oven to 350

- Blend filling ingredients all together and set aside.

- Sift all dry ingredients together. 

- Melt Butter and add milk to it 

- Slowly stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Batter will be thick.

- Pour over peaches in dish. 

- Bake in oven till knife comes out clean from center. ~50 Minutes

The Union of Emily and Jack | Media, PA

Right before I left for vacation last month, I had the opportunity to second shoot for Heather O'Mara Photography at the wedding of Emily and Jack. Emily and Jack's wedding was a challenge because we were smack dab in the middle of a heat wave and the heat index that day was well over 100. Everyone was running to get the the nearest air conditioner as quickly as possible. But Emily and Jack and their whole bridal party were real troopers as we did outside portraits at the Paxon Hallow Golf Club. I loved Emily's choice of blue and yellow for her bridesmaids and I want to have one of their dresses for my own wardrobe. And she had two of the cutest ring bearers I have ever seen. So spiffy with there converses and little ties.

Many years of love and happiness to Emily and Jack.

And thanks to Heather for allowing me to be her wingwoman ;)