As I get older, so do my younger cousins, (my first cousin's children.)  My cousin's daughter, texted me last week asking me if I can take her engagement pictures.  I have a policy in placed now, I no longer do family weddings, engagement, family or any other type of pictures.  It's really hard to mix business with family.  As much as my heart desires to take all my family's pictures, it has not worked out in the past for me.  It was a hard decision to make.

As I read her text, I couldn't believe what she was telling me. Her wedding photographer had taken engagement pictures of her already, but she disliked them. He took only 15 pictures and out of 15 pictures she liked one.  On top of that, she wanted to do a picture guest book and 15 pictures was not going to do it. I texted her back and said I would discuss it with my husband, since we said we weren't going to do any family pictures.  When I spoke to Dave, I told him how bad I felt for her. I love my younger cousins who are now young adults, finishing school, getting married and starting their lives. I texted her back and said I would do them for her.  She was so happy!

I decided to take them to Harkness Park in Waterford, CT, one of my favorite parks. We spent 2 hours taking pictures.  They were exhausted, but so happy.  I was happy myself and to be able to see my lil' cousin with a big smile on her face, filled me with such joy and love.  This was the first time I got to spend time with her fiance and was happy to see she was marring a wonderful man who loves her and takes care of her like a princess.  Here are some of the pictures I took.  I'm glad to report that she is absolutely in love with her pictures. This make my heart glad and filled with joy.  I just want her to be happy and have the best wedding she can ever imagine.

















Especially these! There skin tones do not look like this in the pictures I took. Just here on the blog. :(


They were so exhausted by the time we finish the session. They literally shouted out with glee. LOL!

On July 20th, we had a Photographer's Picnic from one of the groups I belong to.  At these get togethers, the plan is to pair up photographers so they can take pictures of each other's families.  Since photographers are the ones always taking pictures, they tend to forget to take formal pictures of their own family.  I didn't want to participate because with this particular group I belong too, I look up to all of the photogs.  They are the best in the business!  I have to admit, I felt so intimidated and I didn't want to "mess" someone else's family pictures because my pictures are not as awesome as theirs.  I was relieved when everybody got paired off and I was off the hook.  Well, my relief did not live long. A photographer and his girlfriend came a little late and they had no one to be paired off with.  The all so wonderful Eric Foley said to me. Go, go with Stephen and his girlfriend and take each other's pictures.  I pleaded, but lost my case.

I have never been so nervous at a photo shoot! My mine went blank and all I keep saying; "I'm sorry you got the short end of the stick."  Here are the awesome pictures he took of David and I!  We love them!

Pictures by Stephen Wang of Stephen Wang Photography.