happy holidays!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday and relaxing with friends and family! This year has been a little different than we planned - my youngest has been sick since last Thursday, and my husband was sick for a few days, too....so things didn't really go as planned. We had to cancel plans to get together with friends, and couldn't have my family over for Christmas dinner. As a matter of fact, we're about to dig into some Chinese take-out.
That being said, I haven't had much time out in the studio to go over the nominations for my Giving is Awesome portrait donation. I will go over them and make my decision as soon as possible, but tonight it seems like my older child also caught the bug, so I can't say a specific date right now!

Hope everyone is healthy and happy wherever you are!!!

Cheers,
Nancy

Deb and Bill || Hawthorne Hotel || Salem, MA

I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season and is ready to get pounded with snow this weekend! Luckily, the snow held off for Deb and Bill's wedding a few weeks ago.






This is one of my new favorite pictures....





The ceremony was at Holy Armenian Apostolic Church the same church where Bill's parents got married, it was really beautiful, even in on a cold day with no leaves on the trees!



Married!!






We did a few pictures on the common, even though it was cold & dark!  I love the giant stone gazebo there.





Heading back into the hotel - isn't this just a classic picture?  I feel like it could be from 100 years ago.  Although, maybe there weren't tiny string lights 100 years ago, but you get the idea.

Christine Turner from The Hawthorne Hotel made sure everything looked perfect.


Cake from Montillio's.








I decided to hang out with Deb & Bill while they were waiting to be introduced since they were being so cute. Did I mention how smitten with each other they are? It's adorable, and also makes it really easy to take great pictures. Here they are practicing their first dance moves.

























I know it's hard to imagine what with the pretty chandelier and high ceilings....but the song playing here was The Search is Over by Survivor.  Apparently it got vetoed as their first dance song, but I think it's adorable and they clearly enjoyed dancing to it at the end of the night.


I would also like to give a big shout out to Lynne Valeri from Video Design. I don't have any pictures of her here because she is super-stealth and totally respectful when I'm shooting. Love that.

Welcome back from Hawaii Deb & Bill, can't wait to show you the rest!!!

Giving is Awesome!!!

I know this holiday season is coming up fast and furious for ya'll, but I just wanted to let everyone know about a project I am participating in started by Kristen Kalp from Essential Imagery. It's called Giving is Awesome. The basic gist is to nominate someone who TOTALLY deserves some beautiful custom portraiture of their family, but just can't swing it financially. And, whoever nominates the winner gets a little somethin'-somethin' for themselves, too! Read on for more details....

(and just because posts are boring without pictures, here's a picture of Lee....)



Here's the deal:
You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1000 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $250 credit towards a portrait sitting of their own. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home on the Cape does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Massachusetts. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : nancy@nancygould.com.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Cheers!
Nancy

miscellaneous....

hello there!
i have a bunch of little things i've been meaning to post, but none of them were really business-critical so i've been procrastinating. anyway, if you are bored, here is a short video of my kids at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester. It was a really fun place and I highly recommend it if you have kids and will be headed out that way. They are shopping at a mini-Wegman's where the kids could fill their carts, man the bakery counter, and ring up the groceries.

We made the 6-hour road-trip out there with the kids to see my good friend Mary from NESOP. I wish I could say that I got some great pictures of her and her adorable new baby while I was there, but we were far too busy chit-chatting, and also keeping my kids from destroying her house and torturing her dog.
more randomness to come....as well as some pictures from a november wedding!