Julia's Blog

Nancy and Jason at Boston Public Garden

2009-11-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

We lucked out with one of the last, best days of autumn for Nancy and Jason's engagement shoot in Boston last weekend. The only downside...we had to share the public space with thousands of others doing the same:) This was one of my favorites...looks like we had the space to ourselves here....

Claudia and Martin's Wedding in Manchester, New Hampshire

2009-10-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Claudia and Martin gathered friends and family from all over the world to celebrate their wedding day here in New England on what was a gorgeous autumn day...although according to the best man's toast, it was a tad warm for wearing their woolen kilts :)

This image will go into my all time favorite file. I always love the anticipation just before the ceremony begins. Here is Claudia peeking inside the church, with beautiful light surrounding her...

Martin waiting at the altar as he sees Claudia for the first time...

Their first kiss outside the church, autumn light streaming through the leaves and the piper in
the background.......

One of the highlights of the reception at the Bedford Village Inn was the Highland dancing. Usually, its just the bride's dress that is flowing in the dancing photographs, but in this case, Martin's kilt adds to the image....

Ashley and Michael in Rye, New Hampshire

2009-09-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Ashley and Michael's wedding on a gorgeous summer day...why can't the summer last just a little bit longer here?

Arriving at Rye Congregational Church...

The bride chose this location...I have to confess that oftentimes a location that seems photogenic isn't really very good for making pictures of people. But this one was. In fact, I think I'd like to hold on to it as a loosely kept secret. Thanks Ashley!

The entire wedding party on the beach in Newcastle, New Hampshire...

This is my favorite portrait of the bride and groom as they make their way back to the reception at the Wentworth by the Sea....

Kirsten and Chris in Portsmouth

2009-08-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

At noontime on their wedding day, I heard the tv weatherman proclaim that August 8th was the best day of the summer. Has to do with a combination of sunshine, cool breezes and dewpoint. I would say that you are very lucky indeed when the date you have chosen for your garden wedding is considered the best of the summer, wouldn't you?

Kirsten and her bridesmaids walk from the Sheraton just up Market street to the site of the ceremony at the Moffatt Ladd House.

A great image of Chris during the ceremony just after Kirsten has walked down the aisle to join him in the garden.

I loved working in the garden at the Moffatt Ladd house. The colors are perfect here with Kirsten's lovely bouquet from Betsy at the Flower Kiosk!

Recessional back to the Sheraton for their reception. I swear I did not know August 8th was the 40th Anniversary of Abbey Road until after I had taken these photographs!

Betsey and Nate in Rhode Island

2009-08-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to spend a beautiful Saturday night photographing a wedding in Tiverton, Rhode Island recently, just down the road from the studio of my talented friend, Serena Charlebois. I have always thought that this area is a very special place to live, but now that I have photographed there, I have come to the conclusion that there "is something about the light" in this part of Rhode Island.

What a beautiful location for their ceremony. The sun was setting behind this magnificent tree just as Betsey's father escorts her to her groom...

I love the way the setting sun highlights the color of her dress in this image...

My favorite portrait...

In real life :) Betsey is a designer. Did I mention that she made her own dress? It was perfect!

Kathryn and Jay at Wentworth by the Sea

2009-07-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

This simple but elegant dress reminded me of a vintage style from the 1930's glamour era...a little toning of the image adds to the effect

The bouquet was striking...a great contrast to the simple lines of the dress...

The lovely bride...

Handsome groom...

With the Wedding Party...

The happy couple on what was a gorgeous summer sunshiny day!

Daniela and Paolo in Tuscany

2009-07-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but the item I am most happy to receive in my mail box (or email box, as it were) is a party invitation.

So how awesome is it to receive a party invitation that reads...."Join us for dinner and dancing under the stars in Tuscany" ?

Twelve years ago, I photographed Daniela and Paolo's wedding outside Boston. They then began their life together in Tuscany and are now the parents of twin boys Dante and Luca, residing in Florence and in the countryside during the summer when the boys are out of school. They celebrated their 40th birthdays this year by giving a party in Tuscany and inviting their friends from the states to spend the week at their Villa Gabriella in Castellina in Chianti.

In addition to being the most gracious party hosts ever, they are an amazing couple to photograph. Daniela is one of those special people who is as beautiful on the inside as she is outside. And she gets more beautiful with each passing year. And you know what I love about Paolo? He adores her...and he's not afraid to show it. That's an Italian thing, men are not afraid to show their feelings and express emotions. We photographers love that!

Here's a portrait of their beautiful family by my husband, Jay Goldsmith:

Arriving at the Party.....

Me and my handsome husband!

Party was on top of the wall...what a great location on a beautiful summer night...

Attempting to blow out the Candles on their birthday cake!

Baur B&B in Piedmont

2009-07-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Those who know me, know that I have traveled a fair bit throughout Italy. Most all of the major cities and noted regions, plus a few that are not so well known (yet). But earlier this year, if you had said to me "Piedmont" , this is probably what would have come to my mind:

Yes, a blank slate. Kind of like my home state of New Hampshire. "New Hampshire? Isn't that between Vermont(rolling green hills and cows) and Maine (rocky coastline and lobsters)?"

Anyway, thanks to Diana's ability to paint a picture with words in a simple post to on online travel forum, Jay and I made out first trip to Piedmont to stay at the Baur B&B in Acqui Terme. I could go on and on about all the amenities, but all one has to do is read the reviews in Trip Advisor...its all true. So let me emphasize these two points. Diana's ability to make you feel relaxed and at home, even though you just arrived in a foreign country without any sleep or luggage. And what's in it for the guys? Micha is a font of knowledge, not just of wine, but of...sports. One of my happy moments was sitting on the terrace with a glass of local wine & cheese and fresh fruit, taking in the view of the piedmont hills on a long summer night...and in the background, I can hear Jay and Micha talking about the Celtics and Jo Jo White. I doesn't get any more "at home" than that.

Anyway, Jay and I did some photographs for them during our stay, here are a few:

This is my favorite of Diana and Micha. The best photographs are the moments captured in an instant. A more personal portrait

This is the "professional" portrait that says welcome to our Inn...

And this is how I will remember Max. Ever hopeful and ready to play with a couple of guests who are allergic to dogs...

Christine and Jerry at Arrows Restaurant

2009-06-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

It was a beautifully sunny day in June...I love the light as it wraps around Christine's dress and veil as she arrives....

She has a most amazing and infectious smile!

The ceremony took place in the garden at Arrows. The hydrangeas made a beautiful accent here.

Jerry and his brother Scott react as Christine comes down the aisle with her dad...

Excellent form on the dance floor to the music of the Beantown Swing Orchestra!

Kirsten and Chris on the Marginal Way

2009-06-09T14:10:00.001-07:00

Chris proposed to Kirsten on the the Marginal Way in Ogunquit. So that's where we made some engagement photos last week. Click the link to see a brief video of some of the images!

Take a peek!

Art Around Town Friday June 6th!

2009-06-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

OK, Summer's finally arrived. I guess its time for me to shake off the winter and start blogging again. I figure I'll start off with a notice of a Not to Be Missed Event in Portsmouth. My talented and handsome(see profile pic) husband Jay Goldsmith is having an exhibit of his latest work in Palladium Printing at the Kennedy Gallery in Portmouth.
The actual Palladium Process is quite complex, so you'll have to visit the gallery where, in addition to the prints, you will find a booklet that explains it all to you.
It's also a great opportunity to take part in Portsmouth's Art Around Town.

Winter Wedding at the Taj Hotel

2009-01-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

Ellen and Anuj brought their families together,from all over the world, for a celebration of their wedding at the Taj Boston.

Ellen escorted down the aisle on her father's arm...

Anuj waiting for Ellen at the altar...

After the ceremony, they stopped for a quick portrait on the staircase...

In less than an hour the ceremony room was transformed into an elegant reception...

First Dance to start their celebration....

Tricia and Mark's Autumn Wedding

2008-11-20T11:37:00.001-08:00

It seems to me that as the climate changes our New England autumns are getting longer. This fall was quite spectacular with foliage lasting well into November. Tricia and Mark married on the 1st of November and there was still so much color for the outdoor photographs.

Just married and leaving St Brigid's Church in Lexington:

The reception was held at Smith Barn at Brooksby Farm:

It was extraordinary to be able to work with such beautiful color in the orchards:

Cara and Jessie in York Harbor, Maine

2008-11-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

Cara and Jessie married on a spectacular fall day in New England.

First, look at these gorgeous deep autumn colors:

Cara is dressed and ready for church:

Newly married and heading to the beach for some pictures:

Beautiful soft light on Stage Neck Beach, and even the wind is cooperating by gently blowing in exactly the right direction!

Their reception took place right across the street at the York Harbor Inn. Here's a romantic moment from the first dance:

Phillies and Red Sox in World Series!

2008-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

OK, it would have been great, but Tricia and Mark will have something else to celebrate on November 1st...their wedding! Let's hope the Phillies can pull it off, for Mark's sake....

Seaside wedding in Guilford, Connecticut

2008-10-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Its always a thrill to discover a beautiful new place, not so very far from where you live. I've lived in New England all my life, but never had been to Guilford, Connecticut. Not only is it visually charming, but its the kind of place where you could procure, depending on your mood, either a cappucino and a croissant or a regular coffee and a jelly donut. And they'd both be really good. No starbucks and dunkin donuts on this main street. But I digress.

When I saw this dress on the hanger, I knew it would be a good day...

Shannon, before we arrived at the ceremony site...

What a beautiful location for the ceremony at Garrett's family's home, and the weather was perfect...

A few images of the romantic couple, just moments after they were married...

Man on Wire

2008-10-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw the film, Man on Wire about the french artist Phillipe Petit and his daring, amazing, unfathomable and beautiful walk between the Twin Towers in 1974. I first became aware of this event after reading a compelling story about it in The New Yorker in 1987, and I have carried it around in my head, marveling on it thoughout the years. What he did in the name of self expression was extraordinary. I highly recommend this film.

Pip and Tanna, Gloucester, Massachusetts

2008-09-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

September 15th, 2001 was the day of Pip and Tanna's commitment ceremony and reception in Portsmouth. Sadly for me, I was already booked with another wedding that day. I was really touched, then, when they called me to photograph their wedding in the State of Massachusetts on their 7th Anniversary! They decided to have a small ceremony at Fort Stage Park, and it was a gorgeous early fall day.

Their "honor attendants" Dirk and Delius didn't seem to mind putting on a tie for the big day...

Pip and Tanna said their vows in a quiet spot in the park that overlooks Gloucester Harbor

The rest of the human portion of the wedding party: Mike, Shannon, and baby Henry!

Cat and Duncan's Wedding at Beechwood

2008-09-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

I knew Cat and Duncan's wedding would be a classy, elegant affair. They both have a fabulous sense of style. They are a great couple. And the wedding was held at Beechwood, in Hampton Falls New Hampshire, a private estate, and one of the most beautiful homes in New England.

Just before the ceremony, I love the light here

All the flowergirls following Cat through a garden path to the house

Duncan, as he sees Cat walking down the aisle

After the ceremony, I love their expressions
The wedding cake was made by Cile Burbidge, whose design work is on display at the Peabody Essex Museum's Wedded Bliss Exhibit

Sunday at Castle Hill, Ipswich

2008-08-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

The weatherman predicted it: A perfect day...no chance of rain. And so it was for Adina and Ian on August 17th. Here are a few of my favorite images featuring the drama of light and shadow....

A Beautiful Saturday in Portland, Maine

2008-08-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Kate and David continued their lucky streak by landing a beautiful day for their outdoor ceremony by the sea in Portland, Maine. Here are a couple of my favs:

I love the colors and softness of this getting ready image...

And the way the light lit up her dress and veil as she arrived for the ceremony....

It's only fair that the gorgeous groom gets some face time, too!

The Sun Shines on Kate and David

2008-08-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

That's right...the sun came out for Kate and David's e-session on Tuesday. They must have brought it with them from the West Coast! Here they are looking cool and relaxed...they undoubtedly have all the details wrapped up for the wedding this Saturday! If you'd like to see a quick video from the session in Ogunquit, Maine, click here.

Garden Wedding at Home

2008-08-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Sonja and Therman have spent years nuturing a family and a garden in Stratham, New Hampshire so it was appropriate to celebrate their wedding vows in the garden with family and friends all around.

The sunlight during the ceremony was beautiful

Sonja wanted a natural look for her gorgeous bouquet:

I love this dress!

Cat and Duncan in Portsmouth

2008-07-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

Cat and Duncan are lucky enough to have their own place in downtown Portsmouth, so that was the location of their engagement session. They stopped in for a drink at the Victory Restaurant the night of the proposal, so of course we had to do the same for our shoot. And just to keep things interesting, here's a 30 second music video of some of the other images

The Big Party

2008-07-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

Renée and Dan have been together for quite a few years now, and have brought together both their families: children and siblings, and all their friends. So when it was time to tie the knot the wedding invitations announced it as "The Big Party". And it was.

Renée arriving at church (always one of my favorite images from a wedding)
Dan about to enter the church with his son Ryan as best Man...
There were alot of happy faces after the ceremony. Champagne flutes were ready as family and friends came out of the church.

Everyone was treated to food, drink, dancing, and a perfect day in downtown Portsmouth!

White Mountains Wedding

2008-06-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank Alita and John for asking me to photograph their wedding at an AMC lodge in the White Mountains, even after I came clean and freely admitted that I'm not exactly what you'd call a "nature girl"

John giving the ceremony a thumbs up as guests follow them back to the lodge:

Moments after being married:

Great Opportunity for a Portrait this Summer!

2008-06-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

My husband, Jay Goldsmith, portrait photographer extraordinaire, is working with the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition on a great fund raiser this week. They will be sharing a booth at Portsmouth's Market Square Day in downtown Portsmouth this Saturday (June 14th). For a $99 donation, all of which goes directly to the NHBCC, you will receive a portrait consultation, a photographic session, and your favorite image, finished and matted, ready for framing. That's a $450 value! Its a great opportunity to have a portrait made and donate to a great cause at the same time. I think he's the greatest, of course, but you don't have to take my word for it. Here's a sample of his work...or pay a visit to his website.
Hope to see you there this weekend!

Alita and John

2008-05-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Alita and John caught the last of the spring flowering trees at Prescott Park Thursday night. Their wedding is in just a few weeks at the Cardigan Lodge in Alexandria NH!

Shannon and Garrett E-session

2008-05-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

Weather turned out great this weekend for Shannon and Garrett. Good thing, too, since they drove all the way up from NYC. Looking forward to the wedding in September!

1st Wedding of 2008

2008-05-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd start the year off on a personal note. My stepson, Jake Goldsmith and his fiancee Tara Smith combined an intimate wedding with a transatlantic adventure. Seven family members and one close friend left Fort Lauderdale, spent 7 days at sea, and finally visited 8 Mediterreanean ports. Here are a few of my favorite images:

Here they are on deck...April 19th was a gorgeous day at sea, but a bit windy
Loved the architecture of the ship and the crisp blue and white:

Glen and Bev Smith walk their daughter down the aisle:
Jake, waiting for Tara, with his sister Anna Goldsmith and family friend Frank at his side:

The recessional:

Tara is an only child, so her mom got a little emotional:
And finally, because the photographer never gets in any of the pictures, here's a photo of me and my handsome husband after the ceremony:

The Other Half

2007-05-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

You know, it occurred to me the other day how many photographs we take of the bride and how few we take of the groom. Being someone who appreciates a good looking, welldressed guy I thought I'd post a few of the groom for a change. I hope David's not embarassed for the attention here...

Oh, and just in case you were wondering...Jessica is also a looker...

Spring arrives (sort of)

2007-05-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

My wedding season has officially started for the season with the wedding of Ellen Loyd and Andrea DeBenedettis. Now the calendar said it was April 28th, but it kinda felt a little more like March. And the groom and his family were all here from Italy. Southern Italy. But the Loyds (and, of course, the italians!) are a very, very enthusiastic group. They braved the New Hampshire spring weather, and we were able to get some beautiful outdoor portraits by the sea...

Love this still life of Ellen's shoes and dress...

Ellen...ready to get married!

A wedding day portrait at seaside...

A Portsmouth Romance

2007-02-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

I photograph lots of couples all throughout New England (and sometimes the world..) but every once in a while, its nice to work with a couple who met and fell in love right here in my adopted home town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Since it was sunny and about 65 degrees, I suggested we meet in the center of Portsmouth to begin photographing. That's when I learned that Jon and Demaris met for the first time at a downtown club. We walked around, made some photographs, had a cappuccino, and photographed some more. I noticed a spot where the light was soft and beautiful where we made the images shown. They told me that we were in front of the restaurant where they had their first date , and right across the street from their first kiss. Our session that day was kind of like a Ouija Board-some invisible force gently pulling us into the perfect spaces for making some meaningful photographs.

I'm Back....

2007-01-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

OK, I know, I've been a bad blogger. Things kind of got away from me when the wedding photography world came into its critical mass in the fall. I'm going to try to make a new beginning here with some current work, starting with Maria and Miguel's e-session. We were scheduled for the end of December, and I was more than a little worried about Miguel, whose family is from Colombia, and our New Hampshire weather. Especially concerned when he showed up with just a sweater and scarf. But he had his lovely fiance Maria to help keep him warm. That, and the fact that he's lived in London for years. If you've ever been to England in the winter and seen the locals sitting outside in a pub garden, drinking an ale, in their shirtsleeves, you know what I mean. Maria and Miguel were both great-posing on a windswept New Hampshire beach with no complaints!

Kerin and Dave

2006-09-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful Saturday in New England for Kerin and Dave's wedding, and, by the way, I don't think I have ever seen a bride who more joyously lived in the moment the whole day long.

Here's one of my favorite photos of them looking very elegant and happy, taken moments after they walked down the aisle...

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Jessie and Mark

2006-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Jessie is a very stylish woman and she's not afraid of color....lots of it, in fact.
The cake and table arrangements were lovely and surprising...

The bouquets were deep and rich, along with the wines from the local vineyard...

It was a lovely gathering of family and friends for a celebration among the apple trees...

Kara and Bob

2006-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

You never know what the weather will bring you on your wedding day. Kara and Bob's day started out on an interesting note as the ocean fog rolled in and President Bush's visit caused some delays in Kennebunkport. But the sun came through for a beautiful Maine day.

The colors were lovely...

The Groom was affectionate...

And the Wedding Party was adventurous enough to climb out onto the rocks for a good photo-op!

If you'd like to see more images from Kara and Bob's wedding, click here...

Confessions of a Wedding Photographer

2006-08-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

OK. I admit it. I love doing the portraits of the bride and groom before the ceremony, when everyone is fresh and the anticipation is high. Then the rest of the day just flows...Jen and Joe really planned it right. A simple outdoor ceremony. Then straight to Clay Hill Farm in Ogunquit, where-get this-they enjoyed hanging out at their own cocktail hour! Dinner and serious dancing followed.

Jen waiting for Joe...

Joe sees her for the first time in her gown...

The first wedding day kiss...

What a gorgeous couple!

A Tuesday Wedding

2006-08-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here's the plan. You gather 28 of your close family and friends together and head north to the state of Maine. You exchange vows and rings on the cove. Then you head down the road to Arrows restaurant. You are greeted with champagne and stroll down the path to charming tent where you dine on food that was harvested from the garden just a few feet away. I do believe this may be what they had in mind when they created the state slogan, "Maine. The Way Life Should Be."

If you'd like to see more of the images from Rebecca and Tony's wedding, click here....

Jennifer and Josef

2006-07-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing an e-session for Jennifer and Josef in Ogunquit. Maine is a special place for them-its a favorite weekend getaway and they were engaged at one of Ogunquit's romantic restaurants, Gypsy Sweethearts. We began with some photographs on the rocks at Marginal Way and finished up at Gypsy's. Looking forward to the wedding in just a few weeks. If you'd like to see more images, click here....

Sondra and Taso's Wedding

2006-07-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sondra and Taso picked the perfect spot for their wedding on July 16th. The weather everywhere else was hot, hot, hot, but not by the sea in York Harbor, Maine. They gathered their families around them and had a lovely outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour, followed by a luncheon at the Dockside. To view more of the photographs, click here!

Rachel and Dave's E-Session

2006-07-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening I did a fun e-session with Rachel and Dave in Portsmouth. Because they were engaged in Portland, we used the bridge to Maine as a backdrop to some of their images. And then there's ice cream. Ice cream is(one)of my summer indulgences, so I was thrilled when they mentioned it, too. So after doing some nice portraits we headed over to Annabelle's on Cere's Street and finished up there. Sweet!

If you'd like to view a slideshow of their images, click here
And special thanks to Addison Groove Project for supplying the track to the slideshow!