Disclaimer…I’m going to be showing a whole lot of hometown lovin’ in this blog post. It does not mean I don’t love my other home of Boston or the people there, because I do! More than anything! But there’s just something about going back home to the place you grew up that makes my heart happy, especially in the summer when Canandaigua happens to be it’s prettiest. And I love love love that I have a job where I get to capture it in all it’s glory. I love that I can literally leave my house 5 minutes before I have to be at the location I’m shooting at and still get their early enough to photograph the handful of deer that just happen to be nestled in the bushes near the stream you are photographing. I love that I can literally leave the keys in the ignition of my car that is full of all of my camera gear while I’m shooting and not think twice. I love that the random kayaker that is paddling back and fourth in the lake behind the couple you are capturing happens to be your childhood friend and yells, “Hi Janelle!” between shots. And I really love that the bride I get to shoot happens to be someone who I’ve know since she was four. Four! (Does that make our relationship really special, or does it just mean that I’m really old?)

I ran into Caroline recently when I was home for Easter and she told me a few details about her wedding, which happens to be taking place at Esperanza Mansion where both my sister and I drooled over when we were venue shopping for our own weddings. Knowing the setting would be gorgeous and the couple absolutely stunning, it had crossed my mind that shooting their wedding would pretty much be my dream job, but I had assumed they had found someone else to photograph their day and didn’t linger long on the thought. I was so thrilled to open up my email a few days later with an inquiry from sweet Caroline asking me to be the lucky one who got to take their pictures. Now I mentioned that I’ve known Caroline for years, but seeing her all grown up with her fiance, Keith, makes me so happy. And while I looked at her through my lens, I still saw that same little face I remember from way back. I can’t believe she is getting married!

Caroline and Keith had two requests for their engagement shoot, they wanted to take pictures by the lake, and wanted to incorporate Keith’s love of baseball in the shots. Other than that, they gave me free reign to drag them all over Canandaigua to take pictures of them doing whatever I wanted. I love that they were up for anything…literally anything. Like when I said, “Hey Caroline, can you shimmy down this muddy cliff covered in dried leaves in your little flip flops to take pictures down by that stream?” or “Keith, is it cool to make you pose for pictures in front of the high school baseball game that’s going on right now even though I’m sure I’m mortifying you?” or “Stand over here on this rickity dock that may fall in the water because the best light is behind you.” They are the best and I last night was so much fun.

I’m going to tell you how great Keith is in a minute but I’m not going to wait any longer to show you the future Mr. and Mrs.

My little Caroline. Isn’t she adorable?

And off to the field for some baseball inspired shots.






 OK, I have to tell you about Keith. I am never quite sure how the guys are going to react to getting their picture taken and I usually have to walk a fine line between getting the shots I want and not completely driving the guy crazy. Keith was such a champ. He was up for everything! And the way he looked at Caroline and naturally hugged her or tucked her hair behind her ear without being asked made photographing these two a cinch.


And we ended at the place I first met Caroline all those years ago.  It just felt right to be back at Canandaigua Lake with her for these pictures.

I mean…the cutest.

Guys…I had so much fun. Thank you for being so easy to shoot and choosing me to be the lucky one to be with you next summer! I cannot wait!