TURKEY . + . ENGLAND = THANKSGIVING IN THE UK!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!




IT IS ABOUT 1PM IN ENGLAND AND I AM GETTING READY TO STUFF MY TURKEY AND HAVE THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR ABOUT 7PM!

IT HAS BECOME A TRADITION THAT ON THANKSGIVING I COOK A BIG DINNER AND WE ALL SIT DOWN AND CELEBRATE THE AMERICAN HOLIDAY. IT IS SO NICE THAT THE BRITS CELEBRATE THIS DAY WITH US....KIND OF IRONIC SINCE WE BROKE AWAY FROM THEM ON JULY 4TH HA!

THIS YEAR IT IS EVEN MORE EXCITING BECAUSE OUR DINNER HAS GROWN AND I NOW WILL BE COOKING FOR ABOUT 7 OF US! I CANT WAIT TO SHOW YOU MY TURKEY!

HAVE A GREAT TURKEY DAY!

CARLA . + . STEVE = GOOD LUCK IN RUN!

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BIG GOOD LUCK TO STEVE AND CARLA ON THEIR 5K RUN TODAY!





CARLA CALLED OUT STEVE TO RUN A 5K TODAY AND ALL THE MONEY THEY GET WILL BE DONATED TO THE PORTRAIT HOUSE!

WHAT A GREAT CAUSE!

BEST OF LUCK YOU 2!

PUB . + . BEER = 10 POUNDS WON!

So vacation here is more of relaxing and hanging out. No site seeing.

So Tuesday night we decided in the rain to go out for a pub crawl. We started up at the Spread Eagle...how funny is that name for a pub? Well once we got there they had quiz night and we ended up staying. Okay so.......The point of the story is at the end of the night you buy raffle tickets to try and win the british pounds by playing a game of high low. Well my numbers came up and I told Rob to go play. Well guess what Rob Won 10 POUNDS!

Here is Sherman and Gaz upset at Rob for winning the pounds!

GYM . + . TRAINER = WEIGHT LOSS?

Well about a month ago I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that one thing I have neglected all summer is me!!! Yeah I took vacations and did some amazing things but I have forgotten about my health. So in September when I went to the doc for a checkup he was like uhhhh Nikki......you need to take care of yourself better.

So in a mission with my best friend Lonzy we joined a gym ( a new one for me) and started to take pilates. Dedicating at least 2 days a week! But that just was not enough for me so...... I hired a TRAINER!!! I have set a goal to lose at least 25 pounds...most people are saying where am I gonna lose it but believe me I can. My first weight in will be on December 5th with a goal of 5 lbs!

I cannot believe how hard this is not only is my trainer Merle is kicking my ass and I am sore every day but....I have to learn all over again how to eat right and not eat like crap. The hardest thing for me is the food...see with weddings on weekends and being late in studio you tend to eat whatever is around but now I have to think about it and paln ahead!

So being here in England is not helping with all the beer! So I have been running or walking every day since we have landed to try and not gain a pound. I got on the scale but not to sure if it is reading the same as mine from home but it says I am down 8 lbs.! Well see really on Dec 5th what I have lost.

Anyhow below is a pic of what my goal is to look like..........

WE MADE IT = ENGLAND!!!

So after a long cramped flight and a quick stop in Amsterdam we (Rob and I) made it to good ole Manchester, England. We are actually staying outside of Manchester in this little tonw called Kersley which is by Bolton.

Last night was our first night out and I already feel like I am back home again! We hit up the good ole Barracuda and then to Reflex ......which is one of my favorites for it is an 80's bar....all 80's!!!! One thing that amazes me is that here in England ...well at least in Bolton they love the Hoff!! The have all these photos of him and last night at the bar they had underware of him!!!

Hey by the way get a load of what the UK people love hearing from the Hoff its his own music video!!!!......



Well below is a photo of the group....Rob went to Uni with all of these guys!!



By the way all photos of England are on my PS Camera not professional

PHOTO . + . BOOTH = FUN 11.03.07

Well I am winding down and trying to get as much editing done before I leave tomorrow afternoon for ENGLAND!!!!

But i have to post something about my 110307 wedding!

So I am going to post the photo booth!

This is the first time Missy and I have attempted it and it seemed as if it was a big hit!

With out any futher waiting the Photo Booth!!!


Wait a quick pic of Missy (my new awesome photographer!!), Tim (the video guy) and me......(left to right)!


P.S. THERE IS A SURPRISE SHOT AT THE END!

B . + . M = Downtown Fun!

When I first met B and M I was so excited that they booked with me. Not only did their wedding sound like it was going to be a blast but.....they have a wedding right around VALENTINES DAY!

I love to do winter weddings!!!!!!!

They are so romantic with the chill air in and the candles lit....maybe a warm toasty fire????? What even makes this wedding coming up more special is .....maybe there will be SNOW!!!!! SNOWY PICS YEAH!!!

Anyhow M had called me to set a time to meet for a shoot and both him and B chose downtown Hartford. I have not been there lately for an emgagement shoot so it was exciting to be back. One reason it is so important to the two of them is the first time they realized their friendship would be more was at the Pigs Eye Pub! So this shot ment alot to both of them!

Well guys I had a blast and I can't wait till the wedding day!





LOVE the colors in this one and their expressions!!!

Another two that are favorites!


A detail

This one is so funny to me......I LOVE shooting at the new Civic Center!!!!

M . + . A = LAUGHTER

One of my favorite things to do is the "getting to know you" sessions....aka engagement photo shoot.

Alot of clients question why I like to do them and include it in ALMOST ALL my wedding packages. Well other than the initial consult I will probably not see you until the wedding day. By doing this shoot I not only get to know you better but learn how you photograph as individuals and together as a couple. It also puts you more at ease on the wedding day.

See my point here is this session was a perfect example of why I do the shoots!

I have not spoken to or seen Michele and Ashley since the initial consult. Michele called and was like "hey can we setup the shoot"!

So we decide to meet in New Haven on the most perfect warm day....it was just an odd October day.

I had such a blast not only did I find out more about the two of them and what they like to do but I realized the 2 are sooooo funny! we were laughing the entire time. I also learned that these two laughing is the true them and reflects so much in the photos.

So next time you think the engagement or getting to know you session is not important think about it again.....plus it is so much fun!

Check out how much fum M. + . A are having!!!



LOVE this one!!!



We found this chair outside very random and this one is a fav!

RED SOX FANS AHHHH!!!

J + C = I HAVE A SISTER IN-LAW!

So in between clients today I managed to edit my brothers wedding photos of the ones I got.

I cannot believe it that my little brother is married!

it is very odd.....its kinda like when you were little and would dream about your wedding day (if you are a girl). You always know that the day is coming and then it arrives. My Brothers wedding was like a dream.....I knew it iwas happening but is it really real?

Anyway I am very excited that my brother has found the one person he wants to be with FOREVER! Now I have a new sister and to me this means alot. I have no sisters...the closet to a sister I have is my Best Friend Lonzy. SO now I have 2 sisters.

Well enough gossiping about this below are a bunch of photos I took through out the day but I cannot wait to see Kari's photos of the day. Especially the ones she took of the 2 of them in City Hall in Hartford!

Beware there are many!!!

At The Salon


The dress

The Shoes love this shot I used her mother table cloth! wait till she sees this shot ha!

I LOVE this moment of the first time her dad saw her!

The Flowers

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!


Candace and Me-......MY NEW SISTER!


This one a Groomsmen caught of us with my camera

The Boys!


The Happy Couple

The First Dance


Mom and jon


Me, Mom (in red) and Aunt Helen

My Dad (in the tux) and His Brothers

S . + . G . = Wild Italian Venazuelan Party

What a wild day this wedding was!

Stef and G tied the knot on October 19!

This wedding was a windwhirl day litteray! If anyone can remember this day was the day we got the worst rain and wind for the entire month of October! But Stef was such a good sport about it I mean what are you going to do?

This wedding was even more of a treat for me for I photographed Stef sister Melina's wedding 2 years ago! So it was such a treat to see Melina and TJ once again!

One thing that I love about Stef and G is their nationality backgrounds. They are both Italian but Stef is also Venazuelan (I hope i spelt that right). So you always know that there is going to be good music, dancing and a wild party. And that is for sure what happened that night. Even when I left at 11:30 the party was still going on hard and everyone was dancing away!

Thank you Stef and G for having me be a part of your special day!


THE FLOWERS


THE SHOES

I LOVE THIS SHOT OF STEF

DOWN THE AISLE TO GET MARRIED!

HOW CUTE ARE THEY?


STEF AND G


LOOK HOW GOOD G LOOKS!

LOVE THESE TWO OF THEM!


AND THE FIRST DANCE


TO CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS VIEW THE SLIDESHOW BY CLICKING HERE!