Lara Kimmerer - photographer

Procuring a Christmas Tree

This weekend we made the trip back to NJ to spend Christmas with family. Saturday was our day to find our tree. The first 5 years of my life we went to a place that had the trees already cut. The Christmas I was 4 years old I was big into A Charlie Brown Christmas.  When we went to pick out our tree I wanted to get one that was practically a branch.  My parents wanted a "tree" tree of course, so I proceeded to writhe on the ground and cry hysterically (so my mom tells the story). I believe we purchased both the nice tree and the Charlie tree. What great parents!

The last many years we've gone to cut our tree ourselves. We've gone to a few different places - some that have since closed. The place we've gone on and off over the years, but have been to the last couple is Glenview Tree Farm in Blairstown, NJ. It's great - and wonderful - and perfect for Christmas tree choosing - especially with a blanket of snow covering the ground. Before the hard work of choosing a tree - Peter, Graham and I went to (The New) Blairstown Diner for a hardy NJ Breakfast.

And then it was on to the business at hand!

Isn't it beautiful?

Graham was in charge of the toboggan for carrying the tree down the hill.

again...beautiful!

We had some fun with the snow while searching for the perfect tree.

We found it! - Peter was in charge of cutting it down, Graham held it in place, while I took photos!

This is George - the owner of the farm.

Our tree - off to its new home.

**I'd love to photograph you and your family and friends choosing your tree next year. Give me a call as the season approaches to schedule your shoot.

The Brothers Woodhouse

I've been a busy bee and have been neglecting this lately.  Weddings have been edited and posted, wedding albums have been designed and ordered - and I've been meeting with 2009 wedding clients as well. All of the couples I've met with have been great and I'm very excited to work with them next year. Be on the look out for engagement sessions as next year progresses.

Along with all of that - I've also had some shoots. Last Sunday I met the Woodhouse Brothers at the BPL. I photographed Melissa there before her wedding - it's a great backdrop for photos. Doug suggested going there, which I was all for. Doug (the one with lots of hair) and his two brothers have not had a portrait taken of them in years (i mean - years!). I've been privy to the last photo they really have of them together and Doug towers over his two younger brothers.

For Christmas they collectively decided to have photographs taken for their parents. All three of them are Eagle Scouts! Their parents were actively involved in Boy Scouts when the guys were younger, and continue to be involved. To honor their parents' dedication to them and to scouting they decided to wear their Eagle Scout pins - which I think is just great!

we had some fun jumping too.

Photographs with Santa - and a Holiday Stroll

For all of you in the Boston area - make your way down to the South End on Wednesday, December 4th and have your photo taken with Santa (or you child's - or why not both)!

Santa will be visiting the Holiday Stroll from 4-5pm at 46 Waltham Street. The photo session is complimentary - and the images will be available online in a password-protected gallery for you to view and purchase. 

The Holiday Stroll is a lot of fun! There will be tasty treats and beverages, as well as many great deals in the shops located on Waltham Street, Shawmut Avenue and Union Park Street. Come on down and say hello - to me and Santa!

Nancy and her boys

Last weekend I had the great pleasure of photographing my cousin Nancy's two boys. Her oldest is 2.5 and her youngest is 6 months. Photographing children is always interesting. Sometimes they're really into it and other times not at all. The 2.5 year old wasn't against having his photograph taken, but he certainly could think of better ways to spend his Sunday. The youngest was just content to be around all of us - especially his mom. He just smiled the entire time I was there.

i love photographs of kids looking at their moms - especially ones with the mother's hands.

baby argyle - so cute!

so he wasn't too into it, but i do love this pose.

It must be difficult being an only child and having some attention taken away from you by a younger sibling (well, i should know i guess - but i don't remember being really upset about it. i'm sure my mom would have some stories to tell to the contrary). Nancy keeps telling her oldest that soon his younger brother will want to play trucks with him. He just needs to get a little bigger. Even though he isn't crawling yet (as of the photo at least) - he does seem to be very interested in what his big brother is doing.

this wasn't set up. i love this moment.

this is a photo of my two cousins and me. there's basically a year between each of us. stacie's the oldest at 4 years old (on the right) - nancy's the youngest at 2 years (in the middle) - and i'm in the middle at 3 years (on the left). i specifically wanted to find this photo because nancy is the age of her oldest son now. man - we were cute - don't you think?

little anecdote: we spent a lot of time together when we were young. i also think we were a tad bit competitive and we often wanted what the other one had. one day my mom was watching all three of us. to prevent potential arguments from occurring she went out and bought 3 of the same exact water coloring book, the same exact cup to hold the water, and the same exact color brush. she sat us all down - and what did we do? we began pointing and saying that we wanted the other's things. my mom proceeded to yell (in a warm motherly way of course), "but they're all the same!" here we are a few years later with what looks to be very similar looking cabbage patch dolls.

It is strange to begin seeing friends of mine from when I was little having children of their own.  But it's also really fun!  Especially when I get to hold a baby!  

Steve and Raelyn

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of not only photographing my friend on his wedding day, but getting to be a guest at a wonderful wedding. Steve and Raelyn are my good friends from college. We went to Drew University in Madison, NJ - a great school and a beautiful campus. For obvious reasons - including the beautiful grounds, they chose to have their ceremony at Drew. After the ceremony we all went down the road to Bretton Woods in Morris Plains. The food was delicious and the hot cider was tasty too.

But...I'm getting ahead of myself. The day began with me spending time with Steve and his best man (who later gave a speech that left not one dry eye in the room) while they got ready. Steve and Raelyn had the very talented Desiree photograph their wedding. While Desiree was with Raelyn I got to hang-out with Steve. This was the first time I've spent that long with the groom while he prepared for the day. Not surprisingly, they have it much easier, but not any different on the nerves. Steve was just as nervous and excited as any bride I've photographed, but instead of having hair and make-up to distract him - he had his tie and shirt to iron.

love this one.

putting on the coat - the equivalent of putting on the dress. i love steve's flourish!

heading to the ceremony.

These are a few from the reception that I snagged. 

me and steve

i love the mood in the next two. steve and raelyn both look like 1940s movie stars.

I had a great time dancing with friends - and seeing people I haven't seen in a long time - and eating and drinking - and just being a guest at a wedding.  thank you, you two.

Thanksgiving and other things

Once again I've been driving all around and I am just now starting to catch up with everything. Last week I had the honor of speaking in the Alumni Roundtable at Hallmark Institute of Photography. I graduated in 2003 and it was interesting recounting the path (with the many detours) my life and career have taken since then. I really had a wonderful time listening to everyone else on the panel. We all have had such different journeys, which is what makes photography so great. I hope that my contributions to the discussion were worthwhile to the students in the audience. If any current students are reading this - thank you for having me! 

The next day I drove home to Boston to begin the Thanksgiving pie making. My Grandmother was a dessert expert. She would make (in my memory at least) ten different deserts - cakes, pies, cookies - a smorgasbord. I make two pies - apple and pumpkin, but...with a homemade crust, which is the only way to do it.

I feel very connected with my Grandma as I'm making the crust.  It would be wonderful to make them with her and talk and listen to her tell stories.  Losing the voices that make you "you" is sad, but I make sure to think of them often.  My mom always prepared the apples - mostly because I'm not very good with the knife wielding. So, this year I was careful and felt she was helping me along the way to not cut myself. 

Here's a little hint that I picked up somewhere (maybe Real Simple): If you don't have a rolling pin handy - use a wine bottle. It works really well, especially if the bottom is curved in a little.

This is my piece (mmmm...), along with icebox cake that my cousin made. My Grandfather always loved his icebox cake. Dan continues with the tradition, which is great because I get to eat it!

I have a very small family. These are my 3 cousins and my brother and me - probably around 1992. Yes, I'm the only girl. When I say this now my Aunt gets upset, but you know what I mean, right? It would have been fun to have some girls around when I was younger. No one was really up for Barbies.

**Actually my closest second cousins are girls. They'll be in a post soon - along with some very cute kids.

And this is us now - minus David. If he knew this was on here he would most likely be very happy that he left before I had thought to take the photo.