Breakfast with Santa

I love my (weekday) job! I work at an early learning center that is full of fun and wonderful families. We held our annual Breakfast with Santa where there were lots of crafts, vendors, face painting, yummy food and SANTA! I took the photos with Santa this year. It was so fun and Santa was wonderful- so patient! Thanks to all that attended and great job to the hard working staff who made this event happen!

 {Dr. Daycare staff!}

Eric & Brad

These two guys asked me to help surprise their mom with a Christmas present she would be sure to love. I won't lie when I say that I love to hear that someone shed a few tears from the pictures they're given- so I was happy to hear the reaction they got when mama opened them up Christmas morning! I even loved to hear right from her how much she loved them. She did a fantastic job on raising two wonderful men!

Luke is five!

I love, love, love New England. I especially love the snow in New England. Most people don't but I do find some fellow snow-lovers around me. I loved the fact that this family asked me to take their little ones five year old photos with hopes their would be snow on the ground. And what do you know- it snowed the day before! 

A day of reflection

I had a personal day from work today. Believe me, it is SO needed when you work in a classroom with 21 2 year olds. I wrapped a few presents and laid under cozy blankets while watching the snow fall outside. There is something about this time of the year that make its even more comfortable to snuggle up and enjoy a lazy day. This is one of my most enjoyed times of the year and it makes me reflect on life a little more and be thankful for the traditions that surround me.

  

    {Oh, Christmas tree...}

 {Cozy, cozy, cozy}

 {Perfect touch of mistletoe}

    

{I love anything red- especially Poinsettias}      {This Santa has gone up for over 20 years}

{Such a perfect light snow. I am so lucky to have such a beautiful yard}

{Did you know this weather is a perfect cooler?}         {Beautiful sight}

NBX Cyclocross 12/7

Cyclocross. Have you heard of it? If you have, you know its one of the best sporting events to ever watch. If you haven't, get yourself to the nearest race ASAP. It is a bike race consisting of muddy wooded trails, sandy beaches you have to run through with a bike over your shoulder, logs to get over with your bike once again, over your shoulder, running up stairs, through leafy paths, over small barriers or jumps, and around the sharpest turns that make you think someone HAS to be going through that tree. And they didn't do just one lap around. Oh no, that would be too easy. So heck why not do four? It is madness. I could never do it- but my father does. But that is something you must understand. The man is crazy. He hikes mountains in the dead  freezing cold of winter, kayaks like a maniac, rides his bike to the farthest places (ahem...like California) just for...fun? He can do a mean downward dog, and sprint a football field faster than the Roadrunner himself. And guess what? He is all MINE! I'm so proud to call him my dad, and when I hear people on the sidelines cheering him on I make sure I yell "Go Dad Go!" just a bit louder so they know that Dave "Spungie" Fagnant is my dad. I am so thankful to have been brought up around these types of sports for the last twenty-one years. This Cyclocross series was two days long. Saturday he fell off the loop a bit (but who doesn't?) and then Sunday was a different story. The maniac won the Rhode Island State Champs. I'd like to say I'm surprise- but I am so not. Here's to another win dad. Cheers!

 

{Great job to NBX for putting on another fun race weekend! Always awesome races.} 

Hannah is a...senior?

My little sister can stop getting older now. Literally every time I think about her being seventeen and a senior in high school I cry. I can't stop once I start either. I feel like I just walked over to the football field with my class to get my diploma, so how is she already getting hers!? I am not a fan of change. Nor am I a fan of watching Hannah  drive away in a boyfriends car, work and make her own money, choose if she feels like hanging out with me that day or not, go to her last spirit week, go to her last Friday night light football games, think about the quickly approaching prom season, write her final senior essay and especially apply to colleges. Crap. Does every big sister get this way or am I just an emotional basket case? Either way, I am so very proud of her. She is stunningly beautiful, so talented and has become an extremely hard worker. No matter how many times I want to tackle her to the ground for taking my beloved scarves, I love her with my whole heart. She will make a mean cop one day- so watch out people! 

Hannah let me take her senior portraits. I was so honored and so excited to be able to do this with her. They're going up here a little late but nonetheless it is worth the wait!

Happy first Christmas M!

It is not often you find a group of people at a workplace that you miss when you are home or move on your own new ways. But, I was fortunate enough to find a lovely group of ladies that I made great friendships with. Missy is a former coworker and the last time I saw her she was an adorable eight months pregnant. Now her little beauty is 3 months old! It's so great to see her as a mama! How time flies. Here is their family Christmas session from today!

A crisp morning at Lincoln Woods

I love Lincoln Woods. It's a beautiful spot in the spring, summer, fall or winter. I chose this location for the family because of the beautiful trees and water. Some people shy away from outdoor winter sessions but let me tell you, there is just something about the beautiful bare birch trees, luscious pine trees, and icy lake that can take your breath away. Not to mention, Mom coordinated everyone so well it made the photos even nicer! This family has so much love between all of them it made me smile the whole time. I even smiled while editing! Caution: it is SO contagious!

Family sessions in the past...

So, I want to get some of my past family portraits up here. Bare with me- it will never be this disorganized again! I just simply couldn't let some of these beautiful families not be seen!

 { This was my first ever family shoot. Look how much they love their mama! }

 { Little O was a lovie of mine at the learning center I teach at. Fabulous family. }

 {Miss A was also in my learning center. Isn't she beautiful? }

 {2 kids, 5 grandkids and 5 great grandkids. Grandma will be so happy to get this!}

{I love this Bruins loving family. B & B love each other so much it melts my heart}

{ Sometimes a 2 year old has a different plan- so roll with it!}

What on earth am I doing?

Hello world. Am I doing this right? I am SO not a tech-y person. I don't know what 4G is, I have the worlds crappiest HP laptop and I can hardly figure out a GPS. So why I decided to make a blog is beyond me but I have given it a shot! My hopes are to share my pictures and spread my name to take photos of bits of peoples lives. So, here goes!

Who are ya?

 My name is Lauren. I am a Boston Bruins hockey fanatic, a Rhode Island beach dweller, a Dave Matthews Band lover, a toddler teacher and I am the chick behind the camera. I have loved pictures since I can remember. I am a picture freak actually. I take pictures of everything...literally everything. (I may be one of those annoying people who post their amateur hour food pictures thinking it is some 5 star restaurant entree- sorry!) I take a picture of the sky whenever there is a pretty coloring, I take pictures of signs that seem to have a special meaning, I take pictures of every personal moment at a party, I take pictures of  trees that look like they could come to life. I love to be the person standing in the background. I think it is the best spot to be. I get to see everything happening that many people may not notice. And I love to have my camera in hand for it all. I have scrap books upon scrapbooks of the ugliest disposable pictures from when I was so cool in fifth grade posing with my then friends. Pictures glued down to glittery paper cut out with scissors that make zig-zag borders. I somehow became a little more sophisticated and upgraded to the "photo books" when I got my  Nikon point and shoot in high school. Still tacky, just not glued. One day I decided to open a credit card (woops) and bought myself my beloved DSLR. I had no clue what I was doing, and I'm pretty sure I still don't! Okay, maybe I have gotten better since day one but I continue to read books, watch videos and research photography techniques. What first started with taking pictures, like simple nature around me, brought me into portrait photography. That is now my main focus. I am so happy and honored with the response I have gotten I decided to "go for it" and take everyone's compliments and suggestions to start up my own little business. So, here I am photography world!

{ The picture that started it all }