Birthday Celebration | Jim Fest 2014 | Harvard Faculty Club, Cambridge MA

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of capturing Professor Jim Anderson’s Birthday Celebration at The Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge, MA. After a long day of talks and presentations these folks still had the energy to celebrate!  Not only was this a celebration of a birthday but of the leadership and collaborations Professor Anderson has formed and encouraged over the years!

These are a few of my favorites from the evening and I can’t say enough kind words on how lovely it was to be a part of the night. Happy Birthday Professor Anderson!

Sarah & Ryan | The Henderson House | Massachusetts Wedding Photographer

Sarah & Ryan wed at the gorgeous Henderson House in Weston, MA.

The details were soft and classic. From the same six pence Sarah’s Mother wore on her wedding day, to lacy touches on the invites and bouquet,  it was clear in even our first conversations that a lot of thought went into the entire day and no item was too small.

Both Sarah and Ryan surrounded themselves with their closest friends and family and I was certain they had fun on their mind.

As everything unfolded for the day I was in awe of how stunning Sarah was and inspired by how Ryan looked at her as she became his wife. Absolutely beautiful.

Another successful wedding day in this memorable season!

Once again, I thank Cheryl for second shooting and making the day run smooth.

Chantal & AJ | Pinehills Golf Club | New England Wedding Photographer

The wedding season is in full swing. Earlier this month I documented the nuptials of Chantal and AJ. At the final meeting with Chantal where we went over the wedding details I knew it was going to be fun! And Fun it was!

While some grooms may just put their seal of approval on things, AJ put his stamp on this wedding… Can we all say “Harlem Shake”…. Good. Also, handmade wine holder centerpieces…. yep, check!
Chantal put her heart into this with all the details and THE most perfect burlap bows I’ve ever seen!

As I edit these photos I can’t help but smile…. I mean Chantal’s smile is awfully contagious… you try and look at these and not smile… and let me know how it goes… ha ha ha ha.

With all the love and support of family and friends these two had a day to remember. I’m really thrilled to have been their and watch these lovely individuals become united!

I also want to take the opportunity to thank my two shooters for the day… CoCo and Cheryl were on it all night long! And they captured me in the act…. ha.  Thank you Ladies!

A couple typical moves I make on the wedding day to get the shot… ha.

Francesca’s Quinceanera | Boston-based Event Photography

Francesca turned 15 this month and wanted to embrace her Hispanic roots and celebrate becoming a woman! When I met with Francesca it was clear that she is a talented, mature young woman and that this even was very special to her and wanted it to be special not only for herself but for her family too!  Francesca’s Chambelan, Jason, was also by her side for all of it and was good at making everyone smile!

The day itself started out a bit rocky with some crazy amounts of rain and an enormous traffic nightmare, but that did not stop any of us from having a good time and somehow Mother Nature decided to work with us eventually.

Oh, and at the reception, there were some of the best mashed potatoes with brown gravy that I’ve had in a long, long time.

 

The Pink Wedding | Michelle & Mike | New England Wedding Photographer

Michelle and Mike got married.

On a beautiful day in June, I had the extreme pleasure of capturing their I Do’s. There are a couple of quotes that will stick in my mind from these two….

One was during our last meeting, while scarfing down fried ravioli Mike said “There is gonna be A LOT of pink”… and I thought, well, sure, okay… I like pink and silently chose my pink dress to shoot the wedding in! And I’m happy to say that the level of pink throughout the wedding day did not disappoint! Ha.

The second quote was right after Michelle had finished all her final preparations …. I was getting ready for the tear-jerker of a reveal between Michelle and her Dad… when all of a sudden I hear Michelle declare “… this Bitch is ready to get married…” the room burst out laughing and everyone was ready to make that declaration a reality!

What was evident to me from the beginning planning stages to the last dance of the night is that, while Michelle and Mike are one of the most organized and thoughtful couples I’ve worked with they also have a wonderful sense of humor and know exactly where and when to use it! Also… Go Bruins!

On a side note: This was the wedding where I heard the summer hit “Blurred Lines” for the first time and will forever blame them for the fact that I can’t get enough!

On a second side note, I’d like to virtually High-Five Amy Oman for stepping up in a big way and second shooting with me for this event. Thank You!

 

Wishing you all the best!!! Congratulations!

Cheers, jenn

For more information about me shooting your wedding day, email me directly at jennaltonphoto@gmail.com

Breakthrough Springfest 2013 | Boston Area Event Photographer

Last week I learned two things. First I learned that there is event space available at The Moakley Courthouse in Boston.

Second, I was introduced to another organization in the Boston area that is doing some spectacular work for the youth in the Greater Boston Area.

Here’s a snippet from their website :

“Breakthrough Greater Boston (BTGB) is a year-round, tuition-free academic program that serves middle and high school students in greater Boston.”

Their event brought in lots of supporters and they were treated to a colorful ambiance.

There were fantastic prizes in the raffle as well as some wonderful big ticket, live auction items.

Around every corner I found guests conversing and socializing….. and just having a good ‘ol time.

The students and teachers also had a couple of stations to show people some of the ideas they have been learning about!

They all did such a great job!

Some delicious food was served and it was almost time to start the program.

Last minute discussion among a couple of the speakers…

… and then it was time for the program to begin…

The teachers and students got the crowd involved and energized immediately!

Elissa, Executive Director, had many thanks and praise to announce to the audience.

And the audience’s participation was phenomenal.

The testimonials from current and former students were moving.

And based on Kayla and Kevin’s stories at the podium, it is clear how much Breakthrough is making positive changes in young people’s lives.

As the night wrapped up and people grabbed a sweet and a souvenir… I reflected on how it was a great honor to meet so many wonderful people at Springfest 2013. Breakthrough is an organization truly worth knowing about and worth saluting for all of their accomplishments thus far.

Kuddos to you Breakthrough! You put together an amazing event!

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Is your organization hosting an event? Contact me directly for more information about Event Photography Coverage for your next event. jennaltonphoto@gmail.com

“Where the Wild Things Are” Baby Shower | Boston Area Event Photographer

Kelcie and Veronica are expecting in a BIG way….

Twins.

And their friends threw them this amazing baby shower with a “Where The Wild Things Are” theme. After seeing how wonderfully this event was pulled together I have requested that a party be thrown for me this year and these folks organize it…. ha.

Guests were treated to scrumptious food and sweets… All from local shops in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale.

Everyone had a hand in final decorations…

…while not everyone was a natural, eventually it all came together.

Sharing these milestones with expectant parents always brings me joy.

These ladies are so beautiful inside and out.

The excitement shared among their friends is a true indication of how anticipated the arrival of the wee ones is already!

Even the littlest guest got into the swing of things.

The gift opening was extra personal, as each guest was asked to bring their “favorite” book from their own childhood. There was no shortage of stories and laughter.

I adored the favors that everyone got to take home with them.

Congratulations Kelcie and Veronica! I hope you had a blast and that I will get to meet those two babes very soon….

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Do you have a life event coming up? Contact me directly at jennaltonphoto@gmail.com to find out more and book yours today!

Katie & Mike | Love Will Keep You Warm | New England Area Wedding Photographer

I’ve been waiting for Katie and Mike to return from their honeymoon to post about their wedding. Welcome back you two! I hope you had a blast!

I have to also say right away, that I have never felt as included as I was during the planning process. I was kept informed the whole way through and really I just felt like I was part of the family. Not only that though, when I arrived the day of the wedding… a small cheer went through the house and I got a small tear to my eye! Thank you Katie, Mike, Mary-Jo, Matt, Sarah and ALL the rest! You are truly amazing!

I squealed a little when I saw Katie’s shoes. I mean how darn cute are those little details.

And I got extremely excited when I saw how the rings looked against the veil.

Katie had all the support of her family and friends. Whether there were nerves at work, it didn’t show one bit.

I love the little glance Katie gives into the church before Matt walks her in. So so so sweet.

I can’t get over how happy both Katie and Mike were. They definitely made my job easier with smiles this genuine!

Things only got better after the ceremony. Despite the cold, Katie and Mike braved the temps and we had an awesome time in Gloucester and Stage Fort Park!

But seriously, you have no idea how cold it was! Either their formal wear was warmer than they appear or these two must have been generating some magical wedding day heat! Ha!

I fell in love with this stone building right away. Katie looked stunning against the rough textures.

Ummmm…. GQ much Mike? Ha! Looking good!

Always laughing, always smiling, always in tune with one another…

Immediately after this shot we all took cover and got warmed up for the rest of the party!

I never know what is going to happen when the Bridal Party enters the reception and this time was no exception. I wasn’t surprised that everyone brought their own personal twist to the entrance. And because Katie and Mike are sports fans the “football play” by the groomsmen and bridesmaid should have been on my radar and yet… it was the spiked flowers that shocked me to no end. Mostly because I had no idea a bouquet could explode in such a fashion. Oh boy… I’m sorry for any florists that see this. All those beautiful flowers.

Even if some of the crowd was still in shock the room exploded when the Newlyweds were announced, kind of like when the Celtics hit the floor at the Garden! Ha!

This was a first for me… Personalized Cornhole boards used as the guest book. So so cute!

With multiple food stations, everyone was able to find something they wanted and man was everything delicious. I could have eaten every option at that pasta station. Mmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm… but I digress.

Above is one of the Junior Bridesmaid’s showing off her artwork that she did especially for the Bride and Groom! How adorable!

Parent dances are always a treat!

After all the formal rituals, the dancing commenced…. For Reals…

The DJ even got all the ladies in attendance on the dance floor for a few songs!

And as the night came to an end this was my final shot! How freakin’ cute are these two!!!!? Ha.

Congratulations again Katie and Mike! As I’ve already told you, not only are you some of the finest clients I’ve had, I also consider you my friends! May you always find warmth in each other as you did on this special day!

Thank you also to my spectacular Second Shooter, Jess Hallett! Jess, you are ever so special to me!

If you are planning your wedding, now is the perfect time to contact me to find about more about Jenn Alton Photography. Email me directly at jennaltonphoto@gmail.com

Emily & Matt | Fruitlands Museum – Harvard, MA | New England Wedding Photographer

I fell in love. The first phone call with Emily made me giddy. And frankly, when I met her and Matt it was all over with. I was head over heals. There are those days, those weeks, those moments when you feel so fortunate to be a part of something big and Emily and Matt’s wedding was one of those for me.

We started at Emily’s Parent’s home, where all the ladies were getting ready. I quickly saw that my instincts were correct… Emily and Matt had paid attention to every detail. I love the little wooden tag with their initials for the wedding bands.

I loved their bathroom and had a bit of a field day in there…

This a new favorite ring shot. I love the reflection and the colors of the bands and the clean light that was falling on their rings. I also love the fact that Emily’s Grandfather gave them his band right after they got engaged. Little things like that just make me so happy.

What else makes me happy is that Ginger, Emily and Matt’s dog, was available for the getting ready portion of the day.

Now here is where things get tricky… Emily’s brother’s name is Matt too. But I’m sure you can keep the two straight… Brother Vs. Groom. Before Matt headed out to meet up with the Groom and his other Groomsmen, Emily wanted to see him. I love Matt’s expression here and I also love that their Mom is in the reflection in the glass door. So sweet.

I caught up with Matt and his Groomsmen at a local hotel… and they had these great barns/sheds in the back, so we used those for a few group shots… these guys were so much fun…

Before you knew it… it was time to head over to the ceremony/reception site at Fruitlands Museum.

I’ve been dying to photograph a wedding here and it did not disappoint.

Okay, remember that we left Emily back at the house getting her makeup finished… well, now she was all ready to slip into her dress… And she was a show stopper…

I have heard that she is getting all sorts of compliments about how she looked… and there is no doubt in my mind that she deserves every one of those kind words.

Va-Va-Voom!

Admiring her bouquet!

Emily and her Mom before the ceremony. Such genuine support and love.

Emily received this bracelet from Matt moment’s before this shot… Isn’t it beautiful?!

The Bride’s Bouquet was stunning.

And then it was time. Emily and her father made a statement as they entered.

And after all the blessings and loving words from family and friends they sealed their promises to one another with a kiss.

I’d say they were happy!!! Let the fun begin.

Emily and Matt had a signature drink for the day and we had a bit of fun with that…

And check out Emily’s manicure. So cute.

Oh Yes! These two were so adorable!

As the light was dipping we ran around and grabbed some of my favorite portraits of all time.

Ummmmm, yes!

All the textures, buildings and structures were a perfect backdrop.

And well, the adorableness that was, Emily and Matt’s Wedding continued straight through the night…

Are you in love with them yet? I mean, seriously!!!

There was so much dancing and fun, I don’t even know where to begin… but I do have to share the bouquet toss and the last dance.

Emily and Matt had planned their getaway with a sparkler exit. And sparkle they did!

Weeeeeee.

Congratulations Emily and Matt! I see a sweet, loving future for you both. Thank you for having me as part of your special day! Cheers!

Venue: Fruitlands Museum

DJ: Ryan Foley,  DRT Mobile Entertainment

Flowers: Hallie’s Garden

Catering: Fireside Catering

Hair: Blonde Salon & Spa

Emily & Jason | Marblehead Marriage | New England Wedding Photographer

The ring that started it all….

Emily and Jason’s wedding brought together friends and family for a day of fun.
They had a lot of help in the planning process and it’s safe to say that it turned out to be a classic affair and everyone was all smiles.

No detail was overlooked. From hand-painted portions of their invitations to the jewelry and personalized hanger, everything was just as it should be.

I fell in love with the lacy detail on Emily’s dress. And I wanted to make sure you could all see the intricate patterns.

And while all the girls were getting ready, Emily’s dad was at ease preparing for the rest of the day.

He looks so relaxed, while the big question upstairs was about the “Something new, old, borrowed and blue?” Let’s just say that the laughter was hard to ignore.

Emily had a beaming smile and kept things light with her laughs and sense of humor.

Gorgeous!

The lovely ladies were all ready as the limo arrived.

And as I reached the church I was happy to find my second shooter had the guys all set as well. And let me just thank my second, Jess, for all her hard work that day. Everything goes so much smoother having her around. Thank you!

Jason and his groomsmen indulged me for a couple minutes.

And then Jason waited for the arrival of his bride….

… and arrive she did. Proud dad and daughter moment!

Emily and Jason were totally in tune as they sang along with all those present to “Marblehead Forever”.

NAILED IT! I love these two!!!

And after a great ceremony, these newlyweds got to ring the church bells. How fun is that?!!!!

Emily and Jason’s friends and family provided well wishes during the receiving line.

All the while I cornered the couple’s limo driver and he was brave enough to let me get this shot with the Limo reflected in his sunglasses.

And then we were off to Crocker Park for formals. It was a race against time as a storm was heading our way and we made it just in time… and utilized the clouds to our advantage in the photos!

We finished our formal photos at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Last time I was here I was lucky enough to utilize this staircase as well. But now there is this amazing blue mural by Michael Lin.

I could have stayed there for hours photographing these two! It’s totally worth a visit!

But as with any event, it was time to continue the planned festivities.

The fall theme was intricately woven throughout the room.

This guest was so fun… she high-fived everyone. Here Jason’s parents were welcomed to the reception in style.

After the standing ovation that Emily and Jason received, they smoothly transitioned to their first dance.

I love this little glance that Emily gives to Jason during the dance. I think they’re having a good time!

I love the subtle moments that you get to see between two people in love…

…. other expressions are less subtle. Ha ha ha…

So synchronized…. did you two practice?

Among the beautiful things the bride was wearing that day, was her Grandmother’s ring… I got an opportunity to really appreciate it’s fine detail during the reception. Man, I love rings.

And soon after that, the dancing really got going. The Junior Bridesmaids were the first to show their moves on the dance floor!

But it did not take long to get everyone moving.

Limbo? What do you think…

Two Thumbs Up.

And those not on the dance floor were socializing… until the next event… which Emily excelled in…

Bouquet Toss.

I wasn’t sure what this look was for… it did look a bit mischievous to me… but even so, I wasn’t ready for…

… the EXTREME height that Emily was about to throw that Bouquet. Damn Girl!  ha ha ha… But eventually it came down and was claimed.

Jason had a quick pep session before the garter removal. The concerned look was fleeting because after he completed his task the antics continued…

Maybe I go to too many weddings, because I’m always shocked when the recipients of the bouquet and garter don’t know what they are in for next. But clearly, Emily is enjoying what’s about to happen….

Scandalous!… ha ha ha…

As my time came to an end, the party continued and I heard later that the parents, guests, bridal party and Emily and Jason had an amazing evening celebrating!

Congratulations again Emily and Jason!

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Videographer: Softshell Productions

Live Band: Mark Greel Musical Services

Venue: Peabody Essex Museum

Catering: Hawthorne Hotel Catering

Church: Old North Church, Marblehead