European & Summer Travel Dates for Anniversary Sessions

I am BEYOND thrilled to share some upcoming travel for this summer!! The biggest (and MOST exciting) is our 10th wedding anniversary trip to London & Edinburgh in just a few short weeks!!! I can't even believe I'm typing that!! While this will be my third trip to London, it will be Dave's first and I can't wait to share this incredible city with him. Then as the second part of the trip, we BOTH get to experience Scotland for the first time!! We both share Scottish heritage so this trip will be especially meaningful for us plus we cannot wait to experience the beauty of the Highlands. 

While traveling in the UK next month and I would LOOOVE to shoot an Anniversary Session -- if you're celebrating an anniversary or it's a while since you've been in front of the camera together, I'd LOVE to hear from you!! I have two specially priced Anniversary Sessions available for London on either July 16 or 23 and Edinburgh on July 21 in the early morning.

Then following our trip abroad we will be in the North Conway area, a gorgeous and scenic area of New Hampshire. I will be opening one session on August 4 for a deserving couple at a special rate. If you are in or will be traveling to the Lincoln/North Conway area I would be honored to help you celebrate your commitment with an Anniversary Session!!

Anniversary Travel Dates

London July 16 or July 23

Edinburgh July 21, early morning

North Conway area August 4

Want to learn more about anniversary sessions? Click here to find out why I love these sessions and why I think every couple deserves to celebrate their love in front of the camera. 

Interested in booking your own anniversary session? Email me to learn more and find out about my special summer and fall offerings!!

A Fireman and A Cupcake

This past weekend we celebrated Jonathan's third birthday with a BBQ at our home. It was an especially beautiful spring day (are rare treat this year with our cold and rainy weather!) with lots of food and outdoor fun. Dave has a large extended family, many who make the journey to our house and ever year our yard is filled with kiddos, bubbles and lawn chairs. It makes my heart really full. 

This year we celebrated with firetrucks, one of Jonathan's favorite things. As I watched him try to blow out his birthday candle in his new fire chief jacket, I was reminded of just how fast time goes. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital? I knew that this day would come quickly but it's a whole different thing when it actually does. 

This week I found myself in conversation with a fellow entrepreneur and new Mom. We chatted about the struggles of balancing work and home life and what it looks like to run a business while also growing your family. I'm three years into that balance and have found it to be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences. It's a balance that needs to be filled with grace, patience and compromise. 

The things that I wanted three years ago for my business have radically shifted all because of this cute fireman. It's hard to describe what it looks like to have a business that you are incredibly passionate about, one that you have poured your heart and soul into, while also raising a child who has stolen that same heart, become your everything. It truly is an art of balance. 

One of my favorite entrepreneurs and fellow Mom is Joanna Gaines. I fell in love with her driven spirit and love her family years ago when I discovered a little known show at the time called Fixer Upper. It's been amazing to watch as she and her husband Chip have continued to radically grow their business, positively influence their community all while keeping their family at the forefront. She wrote a blog post several years ago that has always stuck with me.

"For those of you who are working moms and struggle to find the balance between loving your job and loving your kids, I feel your pain. We have to let go of the guilt and rather than feel burdened about missing out, we need to celebrate the fact that we are doing what we were made to do." - Joanna Gaines

You can read the full post here, I guarantee that it will encourage your heart. If you're a new Mom, Mom for several years or a business owner who dreams of expanding her family some day, take heart. I believe that there is room for both. With a lot of patience, grace and compromise. Your focus will shift, your priorities will change but you will still chase after your dreams and raise beautiful babies. It's hard and it can be scary but that doesn't mean it isn't worth the sacrifice and effort it takes to raise children and build a business that matters. 

Rebranding Part 1 : Why The New Look?

When I shared with people that I was in the process of rebranding over the winter often the first question I received was, “Why? I love the look of your current brand!” And I did too! Tara of Stupendous Design had created a beautiful logo and look and feel that had served me well for almost five years. So why change? 

A lot can happen to a person in five years. I went from newbie business owner to first time Mom, moved to a new town and entered my thirties. There was a lot of transition within these past five years and simultaneously, growth. I wanted a coherent brand that represented the person I am today and clearly communicated the direction I desire my business to go. 

I am a mix of many things : photographer, entrepreneur, Mom, wife. I’m passionate about family, celebrating connection and encouraging woman who are growing their business and their family. I feel that the new brand is a beautiful mix of the things that make me the artist I am today.

One of the best compliments I have received from our launch two weeks ago is : “It’s just DEB.” Hearing that makes my heart swell — we worked hard to choose colors, design elements, images and words that clearly communicated what this business stands for. To receive feedback that we’ve done just that makes me so proud. Really, Kathryn did all the hard work -- I’ll forever be grateful for what she created here.

Next week in Rebranding Part 2 I’ll be sharing some of the details behind the new look, including the very personal and sentimental meaning behind DZP’s new logo!! Thank you again to everyone who has shared their support throughout this process, it's been incredibly encouraging!!

Website Refresh

I'm SO excited to share the new and refreshed look for Deborah Zoe Photography!! We've been working hard over the summer to bring a refreshed look to the website with new content, pages & galleries!! With this refresh comes a whole new way to experience DZP including multiple wedding & portrait galleries, FAQ's, investment information and lots more!!

A full branding overhaul (YAY!!!) will begin this winter and I cannot wait to start that process!! Until then I wanted a small refresh to reflect all the amazing changes DZP has experienced over the past several years!! I encourage you to take time to explore the new layout and features including new pages like Travel, My Family & Investment, I'd love to hear what you think!! 

So pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink and explore the refreshed Deborah Zoe Photography website!! Enjoy!!

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Mark Your Calendars!!

Introducing Winter Mini Sessions

Time to Mark Your Calendars!! I'm delighted to share with you that DZP will be offering Winter Mini Sessions for the first time EVER this month, only a few short weeks away!! Perfect for your Holiday cards, updated family portraits or just because, mini sessions are an excellent way to capture your family & loved ones in a relaxed and fun setting!! For the very first DZP Mini Session event I have partnered with the amazing team at Les Fleurs & the beautiful Peirce Farm to bring you a styled session in a beautiful wintry setting!! I'm delighted to be partnering with two of my favorite wedding industry professionals and beyond excited to be sharing the stunningly beautiful Peirce Farm with you!!

Want more deatils?! Check them out below!!

Where : Peirce Farm at Witch Hill, Topsfield, Massachusetts

When : Sunday November 22, 2015

What : A 20 minute portrait session

Investment : $150 session fee with $50 gallery credit

Don't miss out on this rare opporunity to be photographed with the people you love in a beautiful setting!! Mini sessions have been and will continue to be a rare offering with DZP, so don't miss out!! If you'd like to sign up and secure your time slot, please email deborah[at]deborahzoephoto.com. 1o slots will be available on a first come, first served basis. 

Currently Available Sessions :

1:00pm-1:20pm

To book your session email me today at deborah[at]deborahzoephoto.com!!

2015 Styled Winter Mini Sessions with Deborah Zoe Photography.

North Shore Doings : Whim Dinner at Smolak Farms

Oh hooray, I actually thought I had lost these images, but I found them hidden away on my computer. Thanks to the busy wedding season, sometimes personal images don't get the attention and care that they deseverve, so they get lost on my computer. But I found them!! And so a post that I was supposed to share all the way back in July is comin' at you this September...who doesn't love a little bit of the summer in the fall?!

This past summer Dave and I had the pleasure of attending a Whim Dinner at Smolak Farms in North Andover. We chose the farm to table experience to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary and it was the perfect choice!! It was an incredible experience of fresh food, great company, delicious wine and dinner under the stars. It was a fun treat to have chef Matt Mahoney of The Butcher Shop come out to explain his culinary decisions and how each dish was made from produce at the farm. It truly allows you to really enjoy each bite knowing the passion and thought that went into each dish!! Plus we enjoyed the best company of people from all over the world, it certainly made for interesting conversation!!

If you're looking for a fun and unique experience in your own backyard, check out Whim Dinners!! They are held each summer but space is limited, so you'll definitely want to plan ahead. Here's sneak peek into all the delicious goodness!! Enjoy!!

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Fall Travel Dates

Find Deborah Zoe Photography Near You!

I'm excited to be sharing that I will be traveling to Georgia, Texas & New York this fall!! While I've been to Texas and Brooklyn before, this will be my first time in the Peach State and I can't wait to experience some southern charm!! Any travel tips for Atlanta, Austin or Brooklyn? What are the must sees? Favorite coffee shops? Best restaurants? I'd love to read some of your best travel tips!!

I'm also delighted to share that I'm now booking a select number of anniversary & portrait sessions during my travels and I would love to connect with you!! If you've been wanting updated portraits with someone you love and will be in Atlanta, Austin or New York this fall, now is the time!! Details below : 

Atlanta/Rome, Georgia

October 5th - October 8th

Austin, Texas

October 25th - October 30th

Broolyn & Manhattan, New York

November 14 & 15

For booking details use the contact tab in the menu above or email me at deborah@deborahzoephoto.com. 

Family Portraits in the Berkshires by Deborah Zoe Photography.

How cute are these three?! I can't wait to share their adorable family session in the Berkshires later this week!! For now enjoy that toothless smile!!

The Cole Family

Celebrating A Legacy

This past weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to New Hampshire to visit with dear friends, Dave & Anna, who were ending their month long vacation in the States. Living aborad means that they have little opportunity to see their family and friends who live in the States, so when they have the chance to make it happen, it's a big deal. To make it even more interesting, Anna is one of 9 siblings with 26 immediate family members. Getting everyone together in the same state at the same time? A VERY BIG DEAL.

I was honored to be asked to photograph this amazing family and celebrate the legacy that Anna's parents have created together. It can be easy to overlook the impact just one couple can have in the world, but not with this family. Anna's parents started with just two and have multiplied to 26. Their roots have crossed cultures, barriers and challenges. Their love has multipied in the most beautiful of ways. 

Bev & Auke are one of the sweet couples who are a part of this family's legacy. Newly engaged, (Auke is from the Netherlands and was visiting during this epic family portrait get together!) we snuck them away for a mini engagement session. Nothing says New Hampshire more than some beautiful golden light dappled through the forest trees. Oh, you know I was in photographer heaven!! And c'mon, how adorable are these two?!

Thank you to this amazing family for inviting us in and allowing us to be witness to this incredible legacy. Here's to you!!

New Hampshire engagement session by Deborah Zoe Photography.

New Hampshire engagement session by Deborah Zoe Photography.

New Hampshire engagement session by Deborah Zoe Photography.

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Happy Anniversary To Us!!

9 Years of (Mostly) Married Bliss

I can hardly believe that I am typing that today we celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. It seems like yesterday and an enternity all the same, that we were standing in front of our family and friends, sharing our vows and being connected by a string of spit after our first kiss. (That's a VERY true story, captured by the video in the balcony... :-0).

9 years of marriage. Sometimes I feel like that means we should be experts at this marriage thing. After all, we've had almost a decade of experience of what it looks like to be a Husband and Wife. While we are FAR from experts, we have grown tremendously in this wild ride called marriage. Today Dave surprised me with 9 pages of photos from our last 9 years together. I overheard him telling our son that Mommy & Daddy have shared much together these last 9 years and it's entirely true.

Recently I stumbled upon this blog post and I couldn't agree more with every word. Brooke writes :

"I was writing about love the other day, how it changes over time. How you think it’s supposed to be one thing, and then you think it fails you because it’s something else. Love is funny that way, it can be so fluid, because suddenly it will flourish and becomes the fulfillment of everything, the completion, the water that blurs the paint between the two and makes it a masterpiece."

What a beautiful description of marriage, a watercolor masterpiece, the blending of two separate lives into one. Our paint strokes don't always blend together, our masterpiece is still a work in progress. But everyday another stroke comes together and completes another part of our painting. When we step back to admire our work it's hard not to be impressed at just how far we've come while also being humbled by how far we have to go. There is beauty in the process. Often this is where the art truly lives, not in the completion of the painting but in the journey to uncover it.

Happy Anniversary Babe, as our dear friends say every year for their anniversary, "I'm so glad I hitched my wagon to yours!"

Below are some of our images of our wedding day, captured on film before it was cool :-P

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Rediscovering My Inspiration

My Photography Heroes

Recently I was scrolling through my Pinterest boards and stumbled on an older board I had created years ago titled : Photography Inspiration. Within I had pinned images from Vogue, film and other sources. I had also pinned images from some of my photography heroes. I sat engrossed in this board and the images it held for hours, remembering the feelings these images and their creators had stirred up in me from a very young age. 

For almost as long as I can remember I wanted to be a photographer. I loved a good story and I loved how photography could be used as a powerful tool in story telling. As a wedding photographer it can be so EASY to simply look to the wedding industry. Where are the trends, what are other photographers doing, what should I be photographing, often forgetting there is a world completely outside of the wedding photography industry where people are changing the world through the images they create. As a photographer it is vital to inner creative to see the images of photographers who are pushing, stretching and changing the world through their craft. Taking that back to my wedding work, telling a beautiful story and hopefully pushing, stretching and changing the world through my lens. 

I'm not sure any of these photographers ever photographed a wedding (maybe they did!) But what I do know is that they changed the course of my life. They unknowingly have stretched me in ways I could never have imagined. These are the photographers who have inspired me daily and who, through their powerful bodies of work, keep me ever striving to tell a powerful story through photographs. 

Dorothea Lange

As a young girl, as young as 8 or 9, I remember seeing the works of Dorothea Lange and being transfixed. She was able to depict an entire epidemic in her Migrant Mother portrait and through a singular frame, helped to change the course of life for thousands. There are several other frames that Lange took of this iconic Migrant Mother and yet only a single frame was selected, becoming her iconic work. Just a powerful example of how one image can encompass all.

Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange.

(above, Dorothea Lange)

Mary Ellen Mark

By the time I was in middle school, through the encouragement of my parents I signed up for a photography class. During this class we took a field trip to view an exhibition of Mary Ellen Mark. It was an image from her Indian Circus, though I can't remember which one, that changed my life forever. This trip and Mark's work, soldified in my being the importance of photography as a tool to document stories while honoring the lives of others through my camera. It was a fundemental moment in my life. While my work is nothing like Mark's, her influence in how and why I  became a photographer was paramount.

Mary Ellen Mark, Indian Circus.

 (above, Mary Ellen Mark)

Richard Avedon

The work of Richard Avedon was first presented to me during my early days of college. As an art major I was lucky to attend  university directly across the street from one of the best art museums in the world, the Museum of Fine Art. On a daily basis I could stroll the halls of this historic museum free of charge. Vincent Van Gogh was regular stop on my visits, but there were others who sparked my inner creative, one being fashion photographer Richard Avedon. I've always had a love for the iconic portrait, and Avedon is known for his creative and sometimes outrageous portraits of celebrities, models and every day people alike. His work challenges me, makes me feel uneasy and inspires me to push my craft further, always. 

Richard Avedon.

(above, Richard Avedon)

James Nachtwey

James Nachtwey is my favorite photographer. To this day I cannot look at his images for less than several minutes, often becoming entranced in the subjects and stories told within a singular frame. I remember being introduced to Nachtwey's body of work during a VII presentation while at college. It was his body of work that solidified my desire to become a news photographer and tell stories with my camera. And while my life has taken a much different turn photographically, his imagery still holds this truth for me : photography is vital. photography is important. photography can change the world. I will forever be grateful to Nachtwey for using his gifts as a photographer to share the stories of others, for helping to shape my world perspective and to remind me to always honor those who are placed in front of my camera. 

James Nachtwey.

(above, James Nachtwey)

It might sound like much of who I am as a photographer was shaped by my education and it was. But I don't believe that you need to be trained as a photographer to understand the importance of inspiration in your own work. It is so easy as a business owners to be swept up in running a business that we can often forget that taking time to be inspired in our own photographic work is equally as important. It can be as simple as starting a board on Pinterest, cutting out pictures from a magazine or heading to your local Barnes & Noble and browsing through the art books. Taking the time to be inspired by the work of others, outside of the wedding world, is paramount in stretching and challenging ourselves in our craft.

How do you find your inspiration? What fires you up? Who or what has sparked your own photographic journey? I love to know!

Travelogue : Charleston

The City That Has Stollen My Heart

I had been told that we would love the city of Charleston but I was not prepared for just how this city would steal a piece of my heart. But then again, Charleston has a way of doing that...with it's southern charm and inviting personality Charleston is a place that's hard not to love. 

From the minute we landed to the very end of our trip Dave and I fell head over heals for the Holy City. Our first part of the trip was spent relaxing on Folly Beach at one of the most amazing B&B's...EVER. If you ever have the chance to stay at Regatta Inn you simply must. Inviting, cozy, relaxing. It was the perfect start to our trip and an incredible introduction to the Charleston area. Our second part of the week was spent at the delightful City Centre. The owners are incredibly friendly, knowledgable and hopsitable and made our stay in Charleston unforgettable.

I have a deep affinity for Charleston. Perhaps it is the romance or the charm or the brightly colored homes. Whatever the reason, I know that I must return to this beautiful city soon!! If you are getting married in or around the Charleston area, please email me! I would LOVE to photograph your wedding or engagement in this beautiful place! (Special rates available.)

Our trip to Charleston was purely for vacation but I thoroughly enjoyed bringing along my camera to capture the beauty we discovered. It's exactly as you would expect, filled with pastel colored homes, palmetto trees and spanish moss. What's not to love?!

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Pink pastel homes abound, be still my pink loving heart!

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston is known for it's beatiful window boxes, they were stunning!

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

The courtyard of our charming B&B.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

After a few days spent exploring downtown, we decided to head out to the countryside and explore the magnificant Boone Hall Plantation. Did you know they host weddings here?!

Boone Hall Plantation by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Boone Hall Plantation by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Boone Hall Plantation by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Boone Hall Plantation by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Boone Hall Plantation by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Boone Hall Plantation by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

The handsome hubby:).

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

I mean can it be any more picturesque?

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Charleston, South Carolina by Deborah Zoe Photography.

Thank you Charleston for our incredible stay...I cannot wait to return!

Charleston, South Carolina

DZP Is Coming To Charleston

After Dave and I returned from our family vacation in April we immediately started to plan a mini getaway to South Carolina. Call us crazy, but when you're a wedding photographer and every minute of your summer and fall are planned, there leaves very little room for time to jet away. We've been dying to have an opportunity to visit the charming city of Charleston so when the chance came we grabbed it!! We head off this weekend to eat all the food and take lots of pictures! We'll be traveling without the babe and while you KNOW I'm going to miss Jonathan TERRIBLY, Dave and I are pretty excited for a few days together (read : sleeping in).

I've been wanting to visit Charleston for quite some time now...the historic charm, the quirky character, the GOOD FOOD, it has all I could want in a city and more! I can't believe we're actually going, it's going to be wonderful!! Of course I couldn't head to a city as charming as Charleston without opening up the possibility of a portrait session!! If you or someone you know will be in the Charleston area and is interested in a portrait session, let's get connected!! 

Travel : Charleston, South Carolina

When : Sunday May 24 - Tuesday May 26

What : A portrait session in the Charleston area

deborah@deborahzoephoto.com

(*Session is for any couple celebrating an engagement or anniversary)

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Has anyone visited Charleston before? What are the must dos? Where should we eat? (Really that's the most important part;)). I'd love to read your best Charleston tips in the comments!! See you down south!!