It's always bittersweet to move away from a beautiful place... especially when it involves leaving behind the ocean. But, I am thankful the Brown family chose me to spend some time with them at one of their favorite beaches -- Plum Island -- just a couple of weeks before they packed up to head out. Even if it did mean doing a couple of u-turns and a little bit of pleading for a parking space! Best of luck to this sweet family on their next adventure!

For those of you who know me well, you know that I love it when a plan comes together... When the Community Health Foundation at Anna Jaques Hospital had a vision for its ad campaign to raise money for the renovation of all 12 patient rooms in the birth center, they called me to help make that vision come to fruition. (To say I was honored is an understatement!) Trouble is, I was leaving for vacation four days after the phone call and they needed the finished product before I left. Yikes!

But, somehow, I knew I could make it happen. Thanks to the ever-informative, always-comes-through-for-me online forum of the Greater Newburyport Mothers and Families Club, I was able to locate a pregnant couple within hours, schedule a shoot the next evening and edit and hand over my images before embarking on my 24-hour road trip to Florida. (That's a plan that didn't come together quite as nicely, but we'll talk about that another time!)

I absolutely love the finished product and am thrilled to play an ever-so-slight role in helping this tremendous community hospital meet its goal of providing new, more comfortable and aesthestically-pleasing rooms for new mamas and their little ones. While I haven't personally given birth at Anna Jaques (I had my boys in FL before we moved), I have held the tiny hands of many of my friends' newborns during their first hours of life sitting in that hospital and I know it holds a special place in the hearts of many of my clients and friends. 

                This is a photo of the postcard that the Community Health Foundation mailed out featuring my image.

Lucky for me, I also met a fantastic couple that evening. They brought a huge smile to my face when they told me they had planned their evening around meeting up with me, grabbed an early dinner in downtown Newburyport (ahhh, life before kids!) and were so excited for just a "couple" of photos after we finished up the ad shoot.

The couple quickly learned that I don't really have the ability to take a "couple" photos.  Especially when we had such a gorgeous evening. I literally think they wanted me to stop... Oops! 

Thanks you two for helping my plan come together! And thank you to the foundation for trusting me with your project!

It goes without saying that the two boys to the left are my world -- they are the reasons for pretty much everything I do. Thankfully, they have been very understanding (as much as a four- and six-year-old can be) this year as I made a leap back into doing something for me. I officially started Harmon Weston Photography in 2011 after getting settled in Massachusetts, but it really wasn't until 2013 that I had a grasp on what it meant to run a business and help support my family. It has been the hardest and best thing I have ever done and completely humbling to be let into the lives and families of so many of you!

So, in honor of that, I decided to do a run-through of some of my favorite images from this year. I shot more than 100 sessions in 2013, from families to newborns to maternity to high school seniors to corporate and events. My motto has always been -- "I will try anything once," and that applies to my photography as well. I remain quite sure that I am content not shooting weddings, but who knows, that could change in 2014. I love smaller events and have even found -- through working with several local businesses -- a special place for marketing/promotional photography. 

I am so excited to see where the next year will take me and HWP. I have grand plans to attend at least two intensive workshops, continue to add to my gear and stalk as many photography blogs, tutorials, forums, etc. as humanly possible. There are so many talented photographers I have come in contact with in 2013 and I can only hope to continue to learn from and grow with in the coming year! 

Please accept my sincere thanks for trusting HWP this year. I am so thankful for returning clients and can't wait to meet so many of you in the future! 

{DISCLOSURE: these photos are by no means the "best" or most technically sound images I've taken this year, but rather just some of the ones that have grabbed my attention in one way or another -- everyone has their favorites, right?!} Enjoy and Happy New Year!

The timing couldn't be better... It's as if I was waiting for that PERFECT session to launch my blog so that the first post would be meaningful and not only reflect who I am as a photographer, but more importantly, as a person. The beauty of it was, these two events just happened to coincide: a session with a very special family and putting the finishing touches on my website and blog. 

Meet the Wagner family: I have known Susan through the Newburyport Mother's Club for a while now, but it wasn't until the day she posted one very profane word to her Facebook page that I REALLY got to know her. That day, Susan was reacting to her husband's diagnosis with colorectal cancer. I couldn't picture Susan using that word - ever - but I immediately fell in love with her the day she did. She and her family are, as she describes, an open book. Her emotions were raw and real and I knew I just had to convince her to let me capture photos of them.

Turns out, it didn't take much convincing. In Susan's words: Family pictures are important in the best of times, and at the onset of a serious illness they become so much more. She wanted photos and so many people wanted to help make it a special occasion for Susan, Steve and their two beautiful little girls.

So I, along with a slew of Susan's friends and a couple of very helpful local businesses, went to work. Lively Kids, in Newburyport, outfitted the girls in the most adorable dresses and accessories. The Fashion Bus Stop, in Amesbury, helped Susan with her wardrobe, and John Farley Clothiers, in Newburyport, dressed Steve from head to toe. The day of the shoot, Interlocks Salon and Day Spa, pampered all four Wagners with hair and makeup. After all was said and done, the wonderful folks at Anchor Stone Deck Pizza treated the family to lunch!

It had shaped up to be exactly as I envisioned. A relaxed family, a beautiful day, wonderful memories... 

They have thanked me numerous times, but I don't think the Wagners know how grateful I am to them for allowing me to play this role at such a vulnerable time in their lives. They are in for a long road with Steve's diagnosis and treatment, but Susan and the girls are so incredibly strong and awesomely in love with Steve, I know they will make it through this. I pray every day for Susan's continued strength and great attitude. Steve -- I know you already know this, but you are surrounded by three very special girls in your life!

Thank you again to everyone who helped make this week special for the Wagner family. I hope I did you proud with the end results! Till the next time, Wagner family, keep loving and keep fighting!