Connor | Senior Year
Connor was such a great sport about having senior portraits taken. For girls it is a total blast, they love it and they can't wait to see the pictures. For guys they could pretty much take it or leave it. But Connor was easy going and totally put up with me trekking him all around Tuck's Point for his portraits. My favorite is the 3rd one down. How about you?
:)Tabitha

Seiden Summer Vacation
For the Seiden's first three children I did portraits close to their first birthdays at their Manchester home. For their fourth little one Scooter, they decided to have me do their family session again but this time we scheduled it around their summer vacation here on the North Shore. They moved out to Wisconsin and will be vacationing here to catch up with friends and family each summer. It was so special to me that they made sure this was a part of their trip. And I can not wait to see them all again next year!
;)Tabitha

First Day of K
We sent our little man off to his first day of kindergarten today. It was all good until our little girl realized she wasn't going with him. And when he saw how sad she was he cried. Not scared of going to his big new school, just full of compassion for his little sister. Larry and I weren't expecting that and it crushed us!
Bittersweet.

Helene and Åge | A Norwegian Wedding Story
The setting was in the hometown of Helene and Åge, Saudasjøen Norway. Helene is my second cousin and when she was a teenager she visited the United States and told me that one day she was going to hire me to photograph her wedding. She knew eight years ago that Åge was going to be her groom! How sweet is that?!

Helene's father Per Inge is a budding photographer. He gave us a tour of Sauda the night before and we decided on six very diverse settings for portraits the next day. I was in heaven. Helene and Åge were enthusiastic, photogenic and wonderful to work with!

I was so appreciative to experience the customs of a Norwegian wedding. The setting was perfect in the fjord of Saudasjøen. The Sauda church was quintessential Norway with beautiful carpentry and the mountain scene surrounding it. Though I could not understand a word of the Norwegian ceremony I was touched by the expressions and the glorious sound of the brass horns and organ.

Their family and friends came together and surrounded the couple with helping hands, homemade desserts and lots of love. They wrote songs about Helene and Åge and sang them while Helene's Uncle Svain played the accordion throughout the dinner. The meal was delicious and very local. The traditional lingonberries and assorted berries atop the crème brulée were hand picked. We ate reindeer tenderloin. I asked over again if it was really reindeer because I could not believe how much it tasted like filet mignon!

The party continued into the wee hours as the guests moved into the lounge where dessert and cognac were enjoyed. The desserts in Norway are the best I have ever tasted. And they look like a true baker made each one. My favorite was the Kvæfjord cake A.K.A. "The World's Best Cake" made by Aunt Lina.

They danced until 3AM to their live Saudasjøen band. They rocked out to many American classics and had their own Norwegian folk music to make it a perfect homegrown wedding celebration. At the end of the evening delicious soup and bread was served because as Bjorg the mother of the bride said "Åge always likes to have a little soup before bed". Hospitality like I have never seen can be found in Norway. And they really know how to celebrate their loved ones.

I want to thank my mom June Jacobsen (who is an incredible photographer) for joining me on this wonderful adventure. Thank you for assisting me and for giving me such an amazing tour of Norway! I love you. And a special thank you to Bjorg and Per Inge who invited us to their home and shared their Norway with us. Tusen takk! - Tabitha






































Some of the special details that made the day:
Wedding dress: Florida from designer La Sposa
www.splasposa.com/entrada.asp

Bridal shop: Belle Amie, Bergen.
www.belleamie.no

Veil with pearls: A gift from Camilla (brides sister in law), she wore it when she got married to Øystein (brides brother) in december 2009.

Shoes Paige from Rainbow Club.
http://www.rainbowclub.co.uk/collection.htm?brand=Rainbow+Club&productID=123&Accessories

Jewelry: Bella Donna, local store in Bergen

Crown: Hand-crochet by Bjørgs sister Torild Skåre in 1980. Bjørg (MOB) wore it when she got married to Per Inge (FOB) 30years ago.

Hair and make-up: Kirsti Solland

Flowers: Karianne Bøyum, Brides good friend from Bergen. She has been working with flower-arranging in 12 years (and she is only 28-years old). My bridal bouquet were designed by her, she put some stars in it because I always have been fascinated by stars, and the flowers was my favorite color -blue. +Some creme roses because I love roses!
The flower-arrangements on the tabels were: hydrangea, wanda orchids and heather.
Hege (MOH) and Bjørg (MOB) decorated the church.

Grooms Suit: Rune Tonning Casual Black Silk by Moods of Norway
www.moodsofnorway.com/

Shoes: Frogner Lace Black -Turquise by Moods of Norway
and socks from Moods of Norway :)
http://store.moodsofnorway.com/no/products/man-shoes-pensko/frogner-lace-black-turquise/

West and cravat: Wilvorst

Shirt: Stenströms (from Sweden)

Cufflinks: Bella Donna, Bergen

MENU:
APPETIZER
Scallops gratinated with garlic and colbert butter. Served with julienne vegetables and scampi.
White wine: Chapelle du Bois blanc

MAIN COURSE
Tenderloin from deer. Served with mushroom stew, bacon brussels sprouts, asparagus, herb sauce and au gratin potatoes.
Red Wine: Dom Dinis Reserva

DESSERT
Creme Brulee with chocolate and Baileys
Served with raspberries and currants from our garden. And blueberries picked by the bride and Ingrid in Nordstøldalen (the mountainside where Klara and Nils -my grandparents have an old cabin)
Coffee besides

Wedding cake by Hilde Eliassen, confectioner in Bergen.
The cake was designed by the bride :)

First Dance "Sønnavindsvalsen" ("South wind") by Rita Eriksen.

Table Decor stones from different peaks around Sauda that Åge and Per Inge (FOB) found and carried down from the mountains. And on top of them, large white candles decorated with monogram.

Butterfly place cards from etsy.com

Åge and Helene did the layout on the invitation, church program and dinner program.

Desserts: Gifts from family and friends.

Norway
A week ago I returned from a two week trip through Norway. I spent the time road tripping with my mom who many of you know is a professional photographer and she is 100% Norwegian. We had an incredible time thanks to our kind and adventurous relatives Per Inge and Bjoerg who took us to many of the most treasured places in their country. We also visited with other friends and relatives and it is the only way to experience Norway's culture and incedible hospitality and of course their desserts! I want to share so much more from my trip with you all but I suppose the best way for me to do this is to say click the play button and enjoy this mini peak at the beautiful country of Norway. Coming soon... Helene and Åge's Norwegian Wedding.
Tusen Takk!
Tabitha

Crunchy Granola Mama
Jennie Cudmore of Crunchy Granola Baby invited me to her place last week to photograph prenatal portraits of her and her guys. We talked about her upcoming home birth that my camera and I are excited to be a part of. Did I really just personify my camera? I think I did. Well my cameras and I are going to be spending a lot of time together in Norway for the next couple of weeks, and I am hopeful that Jennie's baby plans on staying cozy inside until I return. I am only a little serious of course because we don't really tell mother nature what to do. But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!
:)Tabitha