Lara Kimmerer - photographer

rosemary and wine

Peter and I do our best to eat a home cooked meal most nights.  We actually do a very good job I'd say.  I enjoy turning the radio on after a long day, pouring a glass of wine and beginning the cooking process. Peter usually comes home during my prep and he begins doing any dirty dishes I've created (or ones that are left over from the night before...*a dishwasher will be amazing one day*).  

I really enjoy making dinner.  I think I'm extra good at timing everything out so that all dishes are finished cooking at roughly the same time.  Because I'm good at this - I tend to be a little overbearing in the kitchen.  When Peter makes dinner, I'm usually banished to another room - I end up taking over otherwise.

Last night I had a shoot that went later than planned.  I had asked Peter to make dinner - his choice. I figured I'd come home to an amazing pasta dinner or trader joe's meal (which I love!).  As I walk in the door to our home I smell something wonderful.  I figure it's from one of the two other apartments in our building.  As I open our door however I'm incredibly delighted and surprised to find the delicious smell is wafting from our kitchen!  He even bought a bottle of wine, which was lovely to have at the end of my long day.

Peter, I've known you for 12 years now...I'm happy to know that you still can surprise me.  (especially when it's tasty food.)

voila...roast pork with apples, carrots, onions and sweet potatoes.

bit by bit...

I'm managing to edit the oh-so-many images I have waiting for me - which means, you'll soon have many more photos to see!

This weekend was my last wedding of the year - and what a wonderful wedding to end on.  Kelly Jo and Brian were married in Newport, RI and celebrated at OceanCliff on a gorgeous (and a bit brisk) November afternoon.  OceanCliff had a fire burning when we arrived, which was much needed after taking photos at Breton Point.  I'm excited to share them - right after I share their engagement photos.

I'll be posting photos soon - until then, here's a photo Peter snapped of me while I was photographing Brian and Kelly Jo.

Johnny Jump Jumps | aka: Hot Dog Johnny's

When I was young one of my favorite people in the world was my Papa - he's still at the top of my list - possibly tying for first.  He was an extremely strange man, which made him all the more endearing to me. In the last years of his life he befriended a squirrel in his yard.  He would tell us that the squirrel would come up to the door, knock - and wait for some food.  Papa was prone to telling tall tales, so we grouped this story with the others.  Sure enough though, one day I was sitting in his living room and I heard a knock on the door.  Papa went to the door and gave the guest a piece of bread.  He named the squirrel "pete" - after my Peter.  Peter says he knew he was accepted into the family when Papa named a squirrel after him. I moved into Papa's house after he died, and pete would still come when called.

This is not a post about a squirrel however - this is a post about a wonderful place introduced to me in my childhood, that I still get excited to visit to this day.  Papa was a fan of lottery tickets.  He would travel far and wide to get them.  He also didn't like the water at his house and would bring lots and lots of jugs to fill at natural run offs.  On our quests for lottery and tickets and water we would stop for food. One of my favorite spots was Hot Dog Johnny's.  It's been located on rt 46 in Buttzville, NJ since 1944 - and the building hasn't changed much sine 1945.  You should read about it's history here.

The hot dogs are quite tasty - especially with mustard and a pickle - and the fries are some of the best I've ever had.  My favorite though, is the birch bear - served in frosted mugs.  

I can't remember why, but Papa started calling the place Johnny Jump Jumps - and it just stuck.  That was how we referred to it for years.  Papa used to befriend the older women who worked there and would often give them lottery tickets when we stopped in.  I think I was a bit embarrassed when I was young, but looking back now - I think he was so great.  He wasn't afraid to be who he was - a bit odd, but incredibly friendly.

My brother, Graham, moved to Boston this week.  While I was home helping him get ready to move, we decided to take a trip up there.  I think of Papa and miss him every time we go.

and a photo of Papa at my college graduation.

I'm off for a mini-vacation this weekend.  When I get back I have a many things to share including a wedding, engagement session and family portraits.  see you next week!

Small World - The Avett Brothers in Northampton

I had been feeling a lack of concert going in my life when, back in April, I purchased tickets to see The Avett Brothers in Northampton for last night.  I knew the concert was the night after Jen and Jeff's wedding on the Cape.  And, I knew we'd be driving back to Boston and then a few hours later getting in the car to drive to Western Mass - but I didn't care.  This is a band I've wanted to see live for quite sometime.

They did not disappoint at all.  What a great show!  And, their fans are possibly the rowdiest bunch I've seen in a while.  The energy was amazing.  While we were waiting for them to come back out for an encore the entire balcony was bouncing - not just the people, the balcony itself.  I already have tickets to see them this October in Boston.

Funny story:  As I made my way to the bathroom before they came on stage - I was walking through the crowd and looking to see if I knew anybody.  I usually see someone I know at the Calvin Theatre, but not anybody I would expect to see from the area.  I noticed a guy's profile that reminded me of someone who was in Jen and Jeff's wedding.  A moment later I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was Sara(h), Andrew's (the profile I recognized) girlfriend, asking me if I was the photographer from the wedding the day before.  I love stuff like that!

This is a shot of the intersection of Main Street and Pleasant Street in Northampton.  It's one of my most favorite spots to cross the street because hardly anybody uses the crosswalks.  Most people go diagonal.  I really think the town should paint diagonal walkways.

Hope your Monday is going well.

Jen and Jeff - Lobsters by the Sea

As soon as Peter and I arrived back in Boston from Scott and Lacy's wonderful, wonderful wedding weekend (will post more about that soon) - we got straight to work on a project we were putting together for Jen and Jeff.  The "project", which I will be dedicating an entire post to soon, has been in the making for quite a while.  It started as an idea I had for Peter and I to do together - a combining of the two things we're most passionate about - which also happen to be the two things we've pursued for our careers.  When I told Jen and Jeff about it over dinner the night of their engagement shoot - they were very excited about it - and very much wanted to try it out with us.  

After hours (and hours) of hard work - Peter and I were able to see the final product being debuted in front of Jen and Jeff's closest family and friends.  The reactions we received were well beyond what we were expecting. 

Being invited to the rehearsal dinner, which was an honor in itself, not only allowed us to see the final product of our efforts, but we also got to eat lobster! - one of my favorite meals.  And...we ate them by the sea.  

The rehearsal dinner, hosted by Jeff's amazing parents, was held at Jeff's great Uncle's home, on the beach, in Osterville, MA.  The weather was breezy and overcast, but like Jeff's father said - it was a clearing wind - which meant the next day would be beautiful.  He was right.

There were many little girls running around.  While the adults were outside having cocktails, the girls were inside watching Annie.  A part of me wanted to sneak away and watch Annie with them - one of the many movies I watched over and over (and over) when I was little.

More photos are on the way.  

Family and Friends:  If you'd like to be notified when photos are ready, please sign my Guest Book.

Lacy and Scott - almost their wedding day!

I feel as though just this week I had recovered from Kara and Bryan's wedding - and now we're off to Virginia for more wedding celebration fun.  Peter and I were honored to be asked to be in Lacy and Scott's wedding party.  They were originally going to only have a maid-of-honor and bestman, but then decided to have two more people - and we were them!  We're proud to represent their friends from Boston - and the life they've created together in Massachusetts.

Once again, I'm very excited to dance - especially in my navy blue dress - that I absolutely love.  It has pockets!!  I found heals to match the dress perfectly - the only thing is...they're 3 inches, which - while not that bad (I secretly love wearing heals, but hardly ever do), certainly won't be on my feet the entire night.

These are a few additional photos from the engagement shoot I did with them back in March - hence the cute redish noses.

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I traded a camera for my dancing shoes

We had a wonderful, wonderful time at Kara and Bryan's wedding.  Everything went as planned.

The getting ready portion of the day was so calm.  While two people were getting their hair and make-up done, the rest of us played Bananagrams - seriously, what a great way to spend the morning before your wedding - especially for a girl who LOVES games like Kara.

When the photographer showed up things got a little hectic.  I never realized how just my presence changes the mood.  Suzanne and her 2nd shooter were great - it was just the knowing that they were there that changed things.  

After a few photographs it was off to the ceremony.  The maid-of-honor, Julie, and I sang our songs, which went very well without much rehearsal with the guitarist.  The ceremony was filled with many tears of joy. It was wonderful.  

Peter's speech was perfect.  It had just the right amount of humor - and just the right amount of sentimentality.  People came up to him the rest of the night to compliment him. 

I'd venture to say it was the best wedding I've ever been to.  That probably has something to do with the fact that I was in the wedding party, but really, it was great.

The rest of the reception was filled with me dancing.  I love to dance!  The band/dj were amazing.  The singers would come out onto the dance floor and really get the crowd going.  At one point it seemed that every guest was dancing.  Such a great time!

So, I stuck to it, I didn't bring a camera with me.  How freeing that was - to just live in the moment and not feel compelled to capture every thing I saw before me.  I traded a camera for my dancing shoes.

These two photos are from the rehearsal.  Look how happy Kara's dad looks.  

And this one is just so cute.

And this one is to show how sweaty I got.  (kara's behind me.)

After the wedding we spent a few days in New Jersey. I sat on my dock, read a book, went swimming - just took it all in. I know I've shown this view before, but it just calms me. This is the view I woke up to everyday for at least 18 years. Just looking at it in a photo has the ability to put me at peace.

Another post coming soon...

Kara and Bryan - almost their wedding day!

Peter and I will be heading home to New Jersey tomorrow for Kara and Bryan's wedding on Friday. We're both very excited for all of the festivities.  

I'm looking forward to singing during the ceremony.  I was a music major in college and don't often get to use my voice - other than during our long car rides back home.  Peter's the best man, which means he gets to give a speech - I'm also looking forward to that.  And then of course, the dancing!!!

I'm excited to not be the photographer - and instead be photographed.  Some of my favorite shots and moments of a wedding day happen while the bride is getting ready.  The anticipation of the day is very palpable and the conversations between the bride and her mom and her bridesmaids are some of the best I hear all day.  I'm glad I get to be a part of it from the opposite side of the camera this weekend. I'm also interested to see if I will be able to turn off my photographer's mind and not constantly see shots that I should be taking.  Kara and Bryan chose a very capable photographer (Suzanne Sutcliffe), so I'm pretty positive I'll be able to ignore all of my photo thoughts for the day.

The most fun though will be seeing Kara and Bryan married.  

Last spring I did an engagement session with them.  These are a few more photos from that day.

this was taken the night Kara and Bryan asked us to be in their wedding.

*fireworks! and a picnic (not in that order)

This was my first July 4th in Boston.  I've managed to live here for a number of years and not be around for the fireworks.  I either went home for the fireworks on the lake (oh, how miss them) - or found myself doing something else - like last year:  check out this post.

This weekend we went to Larz Anderson Park in Brookline for a a picnic dinner (very yummy!) including a very fresh salad made with veggies from Kelsie's coworker's CSA - the broccoli was so good; an incredible potato salad - also made by Kelsie; sandwiches made on olive bread from Clear Flour (one of my favorite places on earth, no...but really) with hummus, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers and spring mix - jointly made by Lacy and me; and the piece de resistance - apple pie by justin and nora.

We were there for quite awhile waiting for the fireworks.  It was freezing!!!  man.  I was about ready to go home and watch them on the tv.  My favorites were the ones that looked like small colorful balls all going off at once.  

my *new* logo

I've been planning to get a new logo for quite some time.  I finally made a move in February when I met with Jessica Sutton.   Jessica was very patient with me.  I had absolutely no idea what I wanted - all I knew is that I wanted a change.  The other thing I wanted was an icon.  We went back and forth with a few ideas.  The months went by - consumed by my indecision.  And then it was spring.  With spring comes Lilac Hunting Season.

When I was younger my mom would take me lilac hunting.  Often my friend Amanda would join us as well.  We'd wait for dusk and then either take a walk around my neighborhood and look for abandoned lilacs (usually those on properties where the owners didn't show up until the summer season began) - or we'd take a drive and look for them.  I think my favorite was taking a drive.  We'd end up on very back roads in overgrown fields on abandoned properties, where a house was succumbing to the ivy and weeds.  

The smell of lilacs makes me "feel" home - they smell like my mom.  My mom is no longer around.  She died 3 years ago.  I've learned, and still am learning, how to go through my day without her constant presence in my life.  She was my compass.  I knew who I was by seeing myself through her eyes.  Without her around I've discovered how strong I am - and how to trust myself.

My mom was a photographer too.  She started her own business before I was born, but decided to not pursue that dream after a few years.  She had so many passions - photography, writing (she was very witty), gardening, her children - I really could go on and on.  From the moment I was born I had a camera in front of me.  I grew up looking at my mom's photo albums.  Her and my dad's life seemed so exciting and fun - and her photographs were beautiful.

I would not be a photographer if it weren't for my mother's constant support and encouragement.  She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she never let me give up.  After she died I knew that photography was the only thing I wanted to do for a career.  I want to document people's lives - the everyday moments - and the not so everyday moments.  I want to capture the glances that not everyone sees.  I want to photograph a field of grass and be able to feel the calm of that moment over and over.

To keep my mom's energy close to me I decided to incorporate a lilac into my logo.  As soon as I saw the finished product I immediately knew it was the right decision.  And, I'm sure Jessica was relieved that I'd finally decided on something.  Thank you Jessica!

Here it is - what do you think?  

This is for when I need something a little shorter - like a watermark for my blog posts.

These are from last year - and it's the first official use of my watermark!

thank you my mom.