kml photography - Kate Murphy Lowenstein

I met this couple at the Megansett Yacht Club on Saturday for their engagement pictures. It was here that Chris proposed and Caroline said "yes" so I thought it was a great spot for their engagement pictures.

Chris and Carrie were so fun to work with and I know their wedding this Septemeber will be a blast! First of all because they are so fun to be with, secondly because all they do is laugh together, and thirdly because the Marsels will be there (see Rachel and Josh's wedding below and click on their name for the link to their site).

As I shot the first frames Carrie got the giggles and they joked that it was just like Pre-Cana. They so reminded me of Andrew and I and how I could not stop giggling in birthing class before Quinn was born. They laughed through the whole session and looking at their pictures I couldn't help but smile too and think of some quotes about laughter...

A couple that laughs together, stays together.
Laughter is the best medicine.
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~e.e. cummings
Laughter is an instant vacation. ~Milton Berle
When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other. ~Alan Alda

The giggles.


A little more serious.








This is where the wedding planning began - in the parking lot. After a trip to the hardware store the two came down to the Yacht Club where Chris was ready to propose. When the parking lot was a little too full and there were too many people milling about, he proposed to her in the car. She had no idea that it was coming!





Thanks Chris and Carrie for a fun shoot! Can't wait for the wedding!

On Friday evening I met this family across the river from where my parents live. It's kind of a joke really, because for some reason (that I don't really know of) there has been a long-lived rivalry between residents of the two sides of the river. As a kid, we were teased by and had rocks thrown at by the kids on the other side (we teased and threw rocks too).

Later, my husband and I bought a house across the river. I enjoyed many jogs around the block at Tahanto (or maybe I didn't really enjoy them, but suffered through them). I also have fond memories of walking my puppy on the beach every day while pregnant with my first child and taking lots of pictures there. I was looking forward to going back to photograph on "the other side".

The husband of this family was a summer resident there and it's likely that me and my brother and sisters threw rocks across the river at him (but I assured him my rocks never made it all the way across). So we joked about that and I'm glad I had the opportunity to photograph him and his awesome family.

Here they are...I love the green backdrop against Mom and daughters gorgeous red hair!


The mom never stopped smiling the whole time during our session. I just love the how she looks at her husband here with her brilliant smile.


Shooting into the sun with an SLR camera can create a lens flare. Of course this is a bad thing when you are trying to photograph a family at sunset, but here I thought it looked cool.


My father could only dream of a daughter with hair like this! (of four of us, none of us had red hair like he did)




Group hug!

On Friday I photographed these 5 puppies in the studio. How cute are they! Now I would in now way shape or form call myself a "dog" or "pet photographer" (nor do I aspire to be one), but I couldn't resist offering to photograph my neighbors Bernese Mountain Dog puppies.

It's not that I don't like dogs - I do (I have one of my own)! But photographing dogs is hard work! Yes, children are too (especially between the ages of 18 months to 3 years), but I love kids, feel like I can connect with kids and love capturing their innocence and expressions. I have to admit, photographing these puppies I'm sure was a lot harder for Sue, their owner. She had to be the puppy wrangler and that was definitely the tougher job that day!

I can't believe we actually got them all to sit (finally!)


Too cute!



Look at the size of the paws on this one! And his cool eyes...


Aww!

I am finally getting around to posting some images of a shoot last Sunday! I have an excuse - I was actually awaiting a second session with this family. I had offered the second session since I was unable to get some shots with the little ones in the group. Sometimes this happens... and as a Mom, I can fully understand (and sympathize)! Anyway, to make a long story short, we were unable to schedule another session with the kids, but I am posting a few that I did capture from the day.

Here's the whole clan.


And you may recognize these kids from picture on my website from last summer!


And here are the twins. Can you believe these two are twins?

It's not often I do a studio shoot during the summer, but I've been doing more than ever this summer! Normally I limit my studio shoots to 1-2 people as my studio is tiny (or cozy, as I like to call it), but yesterday I embraced the coziness of my studio and shot these 4 awesome kids.

I still haven't posted images from the wedding I shot on Saturday, but I couldn't resist posting this studio shoot (I still haven't made it through the hundreds of images shot at the wedding!). The kids jokes about being Gap models - but seriously...they should be!

The whole gang...






The kids had a great time making each other laugh, giggling and being silly. I thought they were hilarious and had a great time shooting them!

Ann-Marie and Greg got engaged this May and pulled off a spectacular wedding in just two months! It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of it on Saturday.

It was a steamy hot day, but the wedding and reception couldn't have taken place at a better spot here on Cape Cod overlooking Oyster Harbor at the home of the groom's brother. It was a location I'd been to before - just last Septmeber when brother Pat and now sister-in-law Meghan were married. There was a cooling breeze, a fantastic view and a "it-can't-get-better-than-this" feeling.

The bride arrived a few minutes late after being at the hairdresser a little too long, but in plenty of time. The groom arrived fashionably late. The guests, however, were VERY late! This was a first (apparently the bus driver did not read his itinerary)!

As the bride and I awaited her guests and the boat that would take us to her groom, I snapped some shots at the Oyster Harbor Country Club. There was an event going on that evening and the staff was prepping. As Ann-Marie stepped out to use the ladies room, the staff whispered about how they thought she was probably just a model to do some shots for the Club. Yes, she did truly look like a model, but I laughed as I knew that Ann-Marie isn't really a girly-girl model type. In fact, this was her first time in heels (OK, she may have been exaggerating)! But she did truly look like a model.



Ann-Marie is an avid golfer so we took her onto the links for a few shots. Just take a look at that swing!


Soon afterwards she and I boarded the vessel that would take her to her groom.


This cool shot was captured by my assistant for the day, photographer Amy Hayes (click on her name for more info). Thanks Amy for a great job and for helping me out!


Post-ceremony bliss.


There were 21 kids in Ann-Marie and Greg's wedding party (that is, if I counted correctly), but the two most important ones, Greg's son and daughter are pictured here. Happy family.


Thank you to Ann-Marie and Greg for a fabulous time and for sharing their special day with me. I wish you and your new family all the best!

Last Tuesday I was thrilled to see Mrs. M back in the studio for a follow-up pregnancy shoot. I had shot her 1st pregnancy session in May when she had a lovely little bump (see post below). Now she is nearing the end of her pregnancy and the bump has grown into a perfectly round basketball. Maybe if I had looked this good during my pregnancies, I'd have another (but I didn't and I am done!). I think I am almost as eager as she is to find out the sex of this baby!

Perfectly round


Compare this shot with the one I shot a couple months ago!


Mrs. M., I wish you a speedy and pain-free delivery and a healthy and happy baby! I can't wait to meet him/her and look forward completing your baby album with images of your baby!

And speaking of babies, congratulations to friend and fellow photographer Elizabeth Horne who gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Friday. CONGRATS!

I met this fun (and happy) couple at the beach Sunday evening. It was their first time visiting this side of the Cape and they loved it! Well, who wouldn't?!

They were a real pleasure to photograph! I barely had to direct them - they just had a great time with each other and I was able to stand back and capture it. Usually during an engagement shoot, the groom-to-be is anxious about having his picture taken. Not in this case! Bill was very comfortable in front of the camera, had a great big smile and great dimples.

This couple is joyfully expecting a baby in December and have planned a wedding in the groom's out-of-state hometown in August. Unfortunately I won't be there as they say "I do", but I am happy to have met this wonderful couple and look forward to a pre-baby shoot this winter.





I was photographing them "prom style" when I realized his hands were in the shape of a heart over her growing (but barely showing) belly. Perfect!


We went over to Bowerman's beach and the beach was clear when I was digging their wedding date in the sand. Of course right as I started shooting this family decided to play in the water directly behind us! I considered taking them out (by the magic of Photoshop), but in the end I decided to leave them as it wouldn't matter how many people were behind this couple it's still just about the two of them.


I asked Mary Ann and Bill to walk down the beach so I could get the classic shot from behind. Soon I realized their reflection in the water was even cooler.


Here they are having fun strolling the beach on a beautiful evening. I love the colors! With that beautiful sky and aqua water it almost looks like we're in Bermuda (too bad we're not)!


Don't worry, he didn't really throw her in!


Thanks to Mary Ann and Bill for a fun shoot! Best wishes for a happy wedding!

On Thursday I had the pleasure of photographing these cousins at Chappy Beach. It was both windy and buggy, but the kids endured and I got some great shots!



Here are each of the kids on their own.
Most of the time, boys are the toughest to photograph. Not in this case! This little guy was all smiles!

This little girl was not too thrilled to have me photographing her at first, but when she broke out of her shell she was a little model.

The oldest one of the group pictured below asked, "why did we have to hire a photographer to take our picture?" (clearly she wasn't too thrilled either). But in the end she said, "that was fun!" I guess I won her over after all.

The light immediately after the sun disappeared was ideal. I love this shot!

On Saturday, July 5th Katie and Kevin married in Mattapoisett. It was a gray, foggy day, but thankfully the rain never came as the weather forecasters had predicted except for a few sprinkles before the ceremony.

The bridesmaid's bright lime green dresses and the men's vineyard vines ties helped to brighten the dreary day. But nothing made it feel more like a perfect summer day than the gorgeous flowers by florist and designer Chad Michael Peters.



Combined, Katie and Kevin have 10 nieces and nephews. They were all so cute and couldn't resist taking shot after shot of them. I may have taken more images of the kids than the bride and groom (I'm sure Katie and Kevin won't mind). Here is one of the flower girls practicing in the backyard before the ceremony.


Here they are at the actual church ceremony. Check out the guests in the pews - they are hysterical because the little cutie on the right is not throwing the petals on the floor, but directly at the first couple of people in the pew beside her. Too cute!


After the ceremony we headed down the street to Shipyard Park for their formals. Here are all the bride's and groom's nieces and nephews.


I took a few quick shots of the bride and groom before we headed over the bridge to the Brookside Club in Bourne.


And a few more at the Brookside Club.




The tables were absolutely stunning!


And a fun (and yummy) cake by Delicious Desserts in Falmouth.


After a great meal, the Swinging Johnsons got the dance floor rockin' (and singing)!


The kids had a ball on the dance floor and everyone enjoyed watching them.


Thanks to Katie and Kevin for a great time!

Although I have yet to post images from the wedding I shot on Saturday, I couldn't resist posting some from today's shoot(s). First I had 6.5-year-old G. in the studio. His brother was in last Tuesday (see below), but this was G.'s turn to visit his grandparent's on Cape Cod and spend the week going to hockey camp. He is a funny kid! Although he says he wants to be a vet when he grows up, I think he may be an actor (plus he was scared of my dog when he arrived).

These images were supposed to be in B&W for his grandmother, but I just had to post one in color as he has the blondest hair and bluest eyes! He looks a little devilish in this one.




Too cute!


It was a sunny, hot day all day long and in the evening as I was prepping dinner, I looked out the window and out of nowhere it was gray and dark. I figured I better rush out to my photo shoot before the rain came. Luckily that never happened, and although it was gray, foggy and windy I got some great shots of these seven grandkids. Not to leave anyone out, I am posting one shot of each of them.

Here is the youngest.


This boy's mom wanted to make sure I got him smiling - can't get a bigger smile than that!


The only brown-eyed one in the bunch. Great smile!


This one wanted to lay in the sand.

I couldn't resist getting a bunch of this little girl. She has such gorgeous blue eyes and the sweetest look on her face. There were others I loved, but this one made me smile.

As you can see, all the girls were dressed the same and so were their dolls. So sweet!

This boy is the oldest of the bunch. He decided he wanted to lay on the rocks. I didn't know I'd be photographing a model!


All the kids I photographed today were really great - it was a pleasure!

Thursday evening I met this beautiful family who was up from Miami visiting Cape Cod for their first time. The wind at Chappy was whipping and the tide crept up on us fast, but they were all good sports and we managed to wade our way out of the tidal pools at the end of our session.

Beautiful family.

Happy baby.

This little girl was just so cute. The poor little one was freezing during the shoot and she had the funniest look on her face. Here I got her with a genuine smile.

Here is the oldest of the threesome. She is a little model!

Three girls.

I hope to see this family again next year when they return for their Cape Cod vacation!

Tuesday I photographed G. in the studio and a family of four on the beach in Brewster. It was a great day and lots of fun for me!

G. came in the afternoon with his grandmother after a morning at sailing camp and before going to play golf. Frankly, I was a little nervous about this shoot as last year when I shot he and his family on the beach I had a tough time getting G. to smile (granted it was about 6am and I was having a hard time smiling myself!). But G. surprised me and from the moment I started shooting he was all smiles! In fact, I think he may have been my easiest subject all year!

This was the first image I shot - what a great smile!

I loved this one - a little serious, but very "him" in my opinion.



I look forward to photographing his brother next week in the studio and his sister later on this summer.

Later in the evening I traveled down to Brewster to shoot this lovely family on vacation. We had discussed shooting at Paine's Creek where I have shot before, but the mom had worried that her little boy may be too distracted by all the people there and had warned me several times that he wasn't going to be an easy one to photograph! "He hates to have his picture taken!" she told me. I never would have guessed. I arrived thinking he was going to be very shy and just run away from me, but when I met them at the house he immediately told me about his day at camp and the bugs he and his friend had collected - "even a tarantula", he said.

We made our way down to Sea Pines beach down the road from where they are staying. It was a lovely beach and hermit crabs aplenty! The lighting was great, the kids terrific and we had a group of onlookers as the sun was setting.

Here's the boy who Mom said wouldn't have his picture taken...Great smile!

Here he is racing his dad.

Cute family.

Here's little sister - I love the blond hair and blue eyes on this cutie!


Happy 4th of July!

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