MEDAL OF HONOR

Whew!!!!!!!!!

This week has flown by!

First I know you have all been in suspense about last weekend! Rob took my away snowboarding to Killington, VT! We had an amazing weekend of riding and snow! It was so relaxing until...my GPS got stolen right out of my car!!!!!!! Someone over night slim jimmed my car and took the time to rummage through it and find my hidden GOS and swipe it!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! They did not even take our boards WOW!!!!

Then I returned and yesterday I had an amazing seminar to attend to given by Mike Colon and Bob Davis! My head is still buzzing with ideas from yesterday! I highly recomend looking up the workshop they are giving and if you get a chance go!!!!

Now to the title of my post! Tuesday afternoon my Nana calls me to tell me that the state of CT is coming over to award my Papa a medal of honor for serving in WW II!

It actually makes me proud to say that Papa has served our country during the time of the war. It also makes me sad to see the State coming in now ......when he is elderly and very sick with dementia......... to come and give him this award. I guess better late then never.

So naturally when Nana and Mom called me I grabbed my camera to go document this occasion!

PAPA I AM SO PROUD OF YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THANK YOU!


LOVE YOU ALWAYS --NIKKI


PAPA HIMSELF...... OH HE WAS IN THE NAVY!



MOM AND PAPA READING THE MEDAL


DAISY NANA'S CRAZY DOGGIE!!


NANA AND PAPA-------- THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED 61 YEARS!!!!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

Well once again the V-day is here for all you lovers in love!

Rob and I usually don't celebrate the V-Day but this year we are....... we both kinda feel this day has become a hallmark day!

Now this weekend was planned a long long time ago.... it actually is my christmas gift from Rob....


Can you guess by the photo what we are doing?????




Here is another hint if you haven't figured it out yet.......


It will be cold and snowy and a sport is involved.......

Okay we are going SNOWBOARDING!!!!!!!

Some of you might not know that snowboarding is one of my FAVORITE things to do in the winter...... pull on the long john's a warm hat and head down the mountain where all your troubles go away! Since we have been together Rob has learned to snowboard and this will be our 2nd big trip to a mountain for a long weekend. I am anxious to leave which will be about 4pm TODAY!!! FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND!!!!!! I will tell you when we get back where we are going.....

Okay now here are 2 photos from a couple of weeks ago when I took Rob to Butternut to get his "riding" legs on!




This one of Rob cracks me up cause as much as he thumbs riding down he does have a good time ha!




HAPPY V-DAY HOPE EVERYONE HAS A LOVEABLE DAY!

ALBUMS OF LOVE!

SINCE IT IS WEDDING OFF SEASON IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL MY BRIDES ARE WANTING THEIR ALBUMS.

THIS IS THE 2ND PART OF MY JOB THAT I LOVE! I LOVE AFTER THE WEDDING SEEING HOW THE ALBUM TELLS THE STORY OF THE DAY. THE PHOTOS THE BRIDE AND GROOM CHOOSES AND HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. SO IN LEIU OF LOVE THIS WEEK I THOUGHT I WOULD POST ANOTHER ALBUM DESIGN FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE COVER




SOME OF MY FAVORITE PAGES








TO VIEW THE ENTIRE LAYOUT CLICK HERE!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!!!

Well my first wedding of the season was here this Saturday, February 9th!

Barbara and Mike had an elegante wedding at The Riverhouse ...which I love to shoot at! Robin, the banquet manager and her staff are so kinda and always making sure EVERYTHING is going right!

I have to say Barbara was in such good spirits on her wedding day seeming that we ran about 30 min late from the begining. But no worries the ceremony was beautiful and all the guests were having fun! Todd for the Powerstation had the dance floor packed all night long!

Thank you Barb and Mike for having me be a part of your special day! I look forward to many more days with you two!

Below are a bunch of my favorite photos from the day!

DETAILS THE EARINGS I LOVE THIS SHOT!


ANOTHER DETAIL OF THE FLOWER GIRL


BARB & MIKE SAW EACH OTHER AHEAD OF TIME OFR AMAZING PHOTO TIME AT CITY HALL IN HARTFORD!






BARB LOOKED ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!


THE CAKE BARB DESIGNED!


MY FAVORITE CANDID OF THE NIGHT!



TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE WEDDING DAY CLICK HERE FOR A SLIDESHOW!

THE WEDDING ALBUM OF CORY & MIKE

Most client get to see my album design during consults or wedding shows....but I have decided to start posting some recent designs that I have been working on for the past couple of months.

One is Cory & Mike's!

When I meet with all my clients I explain to them that all my albums are CUSTOM! Which means no 2 albums are the same from the layout...text...designs or even photos of course!

Below is an album that I have been working on for sometime now and finally in the final stages!

Here are a couple of layouts!

The COVER



SOME PAGES




To view the entire album design CLICK HERE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUG!

Last night was a BLAST!

My photography group I belong to PUG had our 1 year anniversary!

About 1 year ago Justin and Mary asked if I would host or 1st meeting for PUG...my response was YEAH!!!!! 1 year later and about 35 members consistantly PUG is still growning strong!

So in celebrating I help the PUG PROM! Ha! Paul even came equipt with prom folders and printing out photos like we are at a prom. We all dressed up prom style and had a blast just hanging out and parting up!

Check out how much fun we had!


THE GROUP!


MISSY AND I HAVING SOME FUN!!!!





THERE IS A TON MORE AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM YOU CAN CHECK OUT Studio FOTOS BLOG!

BOOTCAMP HERE I COME!

So many of you know that back in November I started to train with a personal trainer with hopes and dreams of losing weight and getting toned. Well it has been going good to date I have lost 10 lbs and 4 inches off my belly area.....the area I am trying to shed off!

But here is the kicker of my losing weight. My trainer Merle from Big Sky decided to coach a bootcamp. And my excited self decided to sign up for it! But the kicker is I just realized that is for 6 WEEKS!!!!!! That's right 6 WEEKS for 5 DAYS a week with the trainer and 3 other poor souls who signed up for this craziness. But Merle says that at the end of the 6 weeks which will be right before WPPI in Vegas I should lose at least 10 more pounds!

MY GOAL WILL THEN BE REACHED!

So here it is a challenge...and i am directing this towards one of my past Grooms KJ.........and or anyone else that wants to join in.....OKAY the CHALLENGE!!!!!!

KJ:
LOSE 10 OR MORE I WILL GIVE YA A DISCOUNT ON YOUR WEDDING ALBUM! CALL ME AND I WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH!

To MY BRIDES THIS YEAR:
IF ANY OF YOU CAN LOSE 10 LBS WITH ME I WILL DO A FREE PHOTOBOOTH AT YOUR WEDDING!

TO ANYONE THINKING OF SIGNING WITH ME:
ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF $100 OFF YOUR PACKAGE OR A FREE PHOTOBOOTH AT YOUR WEDDING!

What you have to do is just let me know your start weight take a photo on your dig cam or phone email it to me and then at the end of the 6 weeks your end weight! You have to be honest now!!!!!!!!!!!

i hope someone takes the challenge with me...leave a comment if you are thinking about it or email me at nikki@nikkinicolephoto.com

PS BOOTCAMP START MONDAY AT 9:15AM THERE IS ONE SPOT LEFT IN OUR GROUP IF YOU WANT TO JOIN!


good luck!

THE WEDDING OF T . + . M = GOOD TIMES!

A QUCIK RECAP ON TANYA AND MARKS WEDDING......WELL ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO I WAS LIVING WITH MY BROTHER AND MARK. .....OKAY LET'S MAKE THE STORY SHORT.......TANYA WOULD COME OVER TO DRINK WINE AND LONG AND BEHOLD HER AND MARK STARTED TO DATE. I THINK IT HAS BEEN 3 YEARS LATER AND NOW THEY GOT MARRIED!

I HAD THE HONOR OF NOT ONLY BEING THE PHOTOGRAPHER....BUT I WAS ALSO THE GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER...IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

NOW THE SCOOP:

TANYA PLANNED THIS WEDDING SO ELEGANT I DO HAVE TO SAY. FROM THE AMAZING BOND BALLROOM TO THE BAND SHE CHOOSE FROM LONG ISLAND CALLED THE MARK TOPEZ BAND! THE GUESTS WERE HAVING FUN AND THE BAND ROCKED THE HOUSE!

AS TANYA BEST PUT IT...."IT WAS SO MUCH FUN I WAS ON A HIGH FROM JUST THE DAY!"

I THINK SHE DESCRIBED WHAT MOST MY BRIDES FEEL ON THEIR WEDDING DAY!

BELOW ARE SOME AMAZING PHOTOS THAT MISSY AND I TOOK THAT DAY!

FIRST MISSY'S PHOTOS THAT I LOVE!

LOVE THIS ONE OF TANYA BEFORE THE CEREMONY...SHE LOOKS SO CLASSIC!


WHAT A MOMENT MISSY CAUGHT WITH HER PARRENTS!



THE EXCITED COUPLE!


LOVE THE ELEVATOR!


AHHHHH THE SHOE SHOTS......I AM IN LOVE WITH THESE 2!


SMASHING !






FOR THE SLIDESHOW OF THE DAY CLICK HERE!

FREE STUFF?????????

OLD ROOMMATE . + . FRIEND = A WEDDING!

WHERE DO I EVEN START?????

WELL ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO I WAS LIVING WITH MY BROTHER AND MARK. .....OKAY LET'S MAKE THE STORY SHORT.......TANYA WOULD COME OVER TO DRINK WINE AND LONG AND BEHOLD HER AND MARK STARTED TO DATE. I THINK IT HAS BEEN 3 YEARS LATER AND NOW THEY GOT MARRIED!

I HAD THE HONOR OF NOT ONLY BEING THE PHOTOGRAPHER....BUT I WAS ALSO THE GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER...IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE. YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN BELOW!

THERE ARE MORE PHOTOS TO COME BUT I HAD TO PUT THESE UP FROM THE PHOTOBOOTH!

OH THESE ARE A COUPLE OF THE ONES THAT STOOD OUT NO PARTICULAR ORDER!

HERE IS MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE WITH BABY RINALDI DUE IN FEBRUARY!!!!








ROB AND I HAVING A LITTLE FUN...ROB IS FRIENDS WITH MARK THATS HOW WE MET!



WITH OUT FURTHER WAIT THE PHOTOBOOTH!!!!!!!!


FOR THE SLIDESHOW LINK CLICK HERE!!!!!!

stay tuned for more photos later in the week!

NEWPORT . + . BRIDES = LA BELLA BRIDE SHOW!

SO THE TITLE OF THIS POST IS A REPEAT BUT IT IS WHAT WENT ON THIS WEEKEND!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON MEGAN AND I HEADED UP TO NEWPORT FOR THE FIRST BRIDAL SHOW OF THE SEASON! SATURDAY NIGHT WAS THE COCKTAIL GALA MEET AND MINGLE WITH THE VENDORS. AS YOU CAN SEE I CAUGHT UP WITH JUSTIN AND MARY FOR A DRINK OR TWO.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT WAGNER

HERE'S MARY, MEG, ME AND JUSTIN (LEFT TO RIGHT)

IT WAS A GREAT SHOW IN ALL! I GOT TO MEET ALOT OF GREAT BRIDES AND CHAT WITH SOME WONDERFUL VENDORS!

THE NEXT BRIDAL SHOW WILL BE JAN 19-20 AT THE CT EXPO CENTER! COME SEE MISSY AND I AT BOOTH # 924!

2008 . + . DESTINATIONS = ?????

WOW! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT THAT 2007 IS GONE AND 2008 IS HERE!

2007 WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR!

LOTS OF INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENED HERE:

MY "AWESOME" OFFICE ASSISTANT MEGAN CAME ON TO HELP ME ORGANIZE AND KEEP MY FEET ON THE GROUND HERE. IT WAS AT FIRST SOME GETTING USE TO BUT NOW I CAN'T THINK OF HER NOT BEING HERE!

I ALSO HAD A NEW PHOTOGRAPHER JOIN THE TEAM IN LATE OCTOBER! MISSY IS HERE AND I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER AND SEE WHAT 2008 WEDDINGS BRING!

I WAS ALSO VERY BLESSED THIS PAST WEDDING SEASON TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO DESTINATION WEDDINGS. I GOT THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL WITH SOME OF THE BEST BRIDES AND GROOMS TO SOME EXOTIC LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS YEAR I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PHOTOGRAPH IN ARUBA, IRELAND AND GREECE!

THERE ARE STILL MANY PLACES I WOULD LOVE TO PHOTOGRAPH IN:

SPAIN
GERMANY
AUSTRALIA
JAMAICA
CABO
LAS VEGAS

OR EVEN ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.A

SO, IF YOU OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT IS PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT!

I JUST ALSO WANT TO GIVE A BIG BIG THANKS TO ALL MY CLIENTS FOR MAKING IT SUCH A WONDERFUL YEAR AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEARS CLIENTS AND WHAT 2008 WILL BRING!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!


-NIKKI NICOLE

NEWPORT . + . BRIDES = LA BELLA BRIDE SHOW!

MARK THE DATE DOWN FOR THIS WEEKEND SUNDAY JANUARY 6TH!

I WILL BE DOWN IN NEWPORT THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FOR THE LA BELLA BRIDE NEWPORT WEDDING SHOWCASE!

THERE WILL BE A COCKTAIL GALA ON SATURDAY TO MEET VENDORS AND BRIDES IN A MORE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. THEN ON SUNDAY AT BOTH HOTEL VIKING AND THE BELLE MERE THERE WILL BE THE WEDDING SHOWCASE EXTRAVAGANZA!

SO COME ON DOWN ENJOY A COCKTAIL OR TWO AND STOP BY AND SAY HI TO ME!

OLIVIA . + . 9 MTH = LAUGHS

I SAW THIS PHOTOS AND I JUST COULD NOT STOP SMILING!

WHAT A LAUGH.....AND EXPRESSION!

OLIVIA CAME IN RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS FOR HER 9 MONTH SESSION AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BIG SHE HAS GOTTEN! JUST 3 MONTHS AGO I WENT TO DO HER 6MTH SESSION ANS SHE WAS BARLEY SITTING UP AND ONLY KINDA LAUGHED! NOW SHE EVEN HAS HER BOTTOM TEETH! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HER 1 YEAR SESSION BRINGS IN MARCH!

PAST BRIDE . + . BABY = BABY NICHOLAS!

I FEEL BLESSED EVERY DAY THAT I GET TO DO WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING!

I ESPECIALLY LOVE IT WHEN PAST BRIDES & GROOMS CALL ME UP TO TELL ME THEY HAVE HAD A BABY!

CARA AND MIKE CALLED ME UP TO TELL ME THE GOOD NEWS AND WANTING TO COME IN FOR A SESSION!

ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS TIMES IN LIFE IS HAVING A NEWBORN AND CAPTURING THAT TIME IN SPACE. THERE IS SOMETHING SO PRECIOUS ABOUT A NEWBORN..THE SOFT SKIN....THE INNOCENT EYES.....THE SMALL HANDS AND FEET. WHAT IS EVEN MORE SPECIAL IS THE BOND BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD. THAT IS WHY MY NEWBORN OR EVEN 3MTH SESSION I ALWAYS INVOLVE THE PARENTS. GETTING THE INTERACTIONS AND THE INNOCENCE OF THE CHILD.

SO LIKE MANY THE FEW DAYST BEFORE CHRISTMAS CARA AND MIKE CAME IN WITH NICHOLAS.

BELOW ARE A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITES:

love this face how could you not!






out of all the family shots i love this one.....it is all about the connections being made!