It’s been a busy month, and I’m excited for this check in!

What I’ve Been Up To:

August seems to be when my brain switched into summer overdrive. For the first time ever, Redlen won’t be at home all day long with me; he starts Kindergarten in a few weeks!

I think this transition has me trying to soak up every ounce of summer. We’ve played at the beach twice, attended pool parties with friends and cousins, licked up multiple ice cream servings, picked raspberries, baked, cheered on Drake Maye and the rest of the Patriots at training camp, and hosted some friends over. And tonight (if you’re reading this as soon as it’s posted), we’re headed to Boston Lights at the Franklin Zoo. This is our third trip to the lights, and the first time that we get to go in warm weather!

August was a quiet month for photography commitments with just a single epic proposal and a stunning Lake Winnipesaukee wedding. I’m extra grateful for the way my schedule worked out this season.

The wedding at Lake Winnipesaukee kicks off my fall marathon to the end of the season. I have 6 weddings in two months, mini sessions, engagement sessions, and I’m even attending a wedding as a guest! Plus, sending my first born off to school for the very first time. I will need all of the extra coffee; thank goodness pumpkin spice is already out.

In between all of the fun, I’ve been still squeezing in my office hours, dutifully editing away my backlog from the spring and early summer. I’m only a few more days away from finishing up my last wedding, which is perfect timing for the next batch of photos that will be gracing my screen for the fall.

Before, gaps in my schedule outside of the off season used to make me panic. But after facing Lyme disease in the family earlier this year and wanting to spend more intentional family time, these pockets of peacefulness are so welcome. Photography truly is the best job ever, and I’m so grateful for how well it allows me to serve clients and still be with my family.

What I’ve Been Reading

It always seems that when I type out a new monthly update I’m just starting a new book. I’m only a few chapters into The Black Orchid by Loreth Anne White. This was an Amazon First Reads option. If you have Amazon and don’t utilize your free First Reads choice, you absolutely should! Sometimes the options are hit or miss, but who can complain when it’s an added perk?

The Black Orchid is about a cruise ship disaster. If you’re already thinking Titanic, your head is going to the right place. But instead of ice bergs, think the Aegean Sea. And if you’re a literature buff like me, that reference will already have you thinking of Odysseus. But even if you don’t get there yourself, White makes it clear that she wants you thinking of The Odyssey. There are multiple references (hello, Skylla and Charybdis in chapter one) and then The Odyssey is outright mentioned, so it’s clear the author wants you to make the connections. I’m intrigued, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

What I’ve Been Watching:

It’s Big Brother all day, every day, or at least what feels like it. Big Brother is already a demanding show due to it airing 3 days a week. This year, every other Friday they also have a “bonus” episode that you actually do need to watch to get all of the info.

So it’s been a lot of Big Brother in the evenings, along with podcast recaps during the day to keep up with the live feeds. There’s a little over a month to go, so I’ll try to keep up even when weddings are back in full swing.

What I’m Excited About:

The best part of the month! I always encourage everyone else to look at their calendars and become excited, too! And if you genuinely don’t have a single thing to celebrate in the next month, this is your invitation to change that.

-Part 2 of parent training for Redlen’s new school! This got a mention last month as well as it spans both months, technically. The first day is for new parents to the school, and the second day is everyone. I’m excited to meet our new community!

-A Ciao Roma engagement session. I’m so excited for this one! It will be a bit moodier than most of my photos, but I’m very excited for all of the North End treasures we’ll have. I’m thinking Italian food for dinner afterwards will be a must.

-A Granite Links wedding day that I’m associate photographing!

-Our church’s annual retreat at Sandy Island on Lake Winnipesaukee! There’s a lot of trips to Winni this year, but I love it! And this retreat is always an amazing time.

-An Ipswich Countyy Club for one of the most adorable couples. They had some romantic fall engagement photos last year that truly captured the essence of New England, and it has such a soft spot in my heart. I can’t wait to celebrate with them!

-My second Wychmere Beach Club wedding of the year! This couple is also so sweet, so I’m excited to celebrate with them!

-A bowling networking event. I don’t think I’ve bowled since before 2020. Will it freak me out a little bit? Yes. But I’m just going to pack some extra hand sanitizer. And I’m excited to make new connections in the wedding industry.

-THE JONAS BROTHERS! Am I fully grown, married, a mother, and a business owner and going to see the same band that I geeked out over in middle school? Yes. I’m not ashamed! Dillon is going with me for the first time ever. We’ll see how that goes. I don’t know if he’s fully prepared for what a Jonas Brothers concert is like.

-Second photographing a Windvian wedding.

-A Cape Cod engagement session with my very first international couple. This is a big milestone for my business, and I’m so honored that couples from quite literally all over the world trust me with their memories. Pinch me!

Until next time,

Christine