Take a Walk With Me November 9, 2009

“And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?” — Mary Oliver

At first, it looked like a place gone to sleep for winter:
hues of brown with shriveled leaves and fields abandoned by most birds
except for snow geese and a few ducks. And then, the magic happened. . .

Click on the link to take a fall walk with us: http://mimspeak.com/ArtBooks/FallWalk/

For Alice, who always inspires us to enjoy nature and to just be.

A HOWLing Good Time November 5, 2009

What’s not to love about a gathering of pooches?
Add the twist of some Halloween costumes and you’ve got a barking good time.
A few photos from the Boston Center for the Arts’ Howloween party.
Thanks to all the wonderful people and their pooches who participated!

Kevin, the gorgeous greyhound racer gone long-legged turtle. Such a sweetie.

Animal Rescue League of Boston brought the adorable Hazel, who is looking for a good home.

 

Trudie, the cutest jail bait I’ve ever seen.

Who needs a costume? Lasar puts on his most soulful face.

Minnie and Radar: Two of the most gorgeous and well-behaved Greyhounds I’ve ever met.
Such manners, such elegance!

Addison embraces her inner pumpkin.

Riley, an incredibly fun and fast-moving ball of fur.

Gracie takes her job seriously as assistant to Rebecca,
the H1N1 nurse

Kili enjoys his devilish role!

Stay tuned for more photos!

To see more of Mim’s dog portraits, visit: http://mimspeak.com/DogDays/

Eagles & Butterflies September 9, 2009

Spent an amazing weekend in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, celebrating Belle & Breton’s wedding. What a sweet, wonderful, beautiful, and fun couple! They did it right: Friday night clambake, loads of time with family and friends, gorgeous settings, a 6-piece band, fantastic food, and hours of wild dancing. Even some butterflies & and an eagle visited to bless the occasion. Since I have so many photos to edit, here is a sneak peek before the wedding. Stay tuned . . . I will be posting more (and the full gallery will be online in the next few weeks).

Belle & Breton (Bill & Judy, and Hatzy) . . . congratulations on a spectacular celebration!

More to come of the ceremony, the lovebirds, and the party!

Boys, Boyz, Boys! July 29, 2009

I had a wonderful time this month, in the milliseconds when the rains stopped, visiting some super fun, warm and welcoming families. Recently I had a week of BOYS, two families each with 2 boys. And BOY, did I have FUN! We ran around ALOT. I dodged munchkin trucks being driven by mad munchkin drivers who got a kick out of chasing me down. I fell once while running backward with my eye glued to the viewfinder, shutter firing, trying to dodge a puppy running with her playmate friend. Note to self, when using a wide angle lens, subjects are closer than they appear. We went out on a boat, had a pillow fight, blew bubbles, had tickle fests with moms and dads, and oh, so much more. Suffice to say, we had a BLAST. Here are two books from my week of boys.

I delight in knowing that not only will moms and dads and grandparents and the kids themselves enjoy these books & photos now, but they will have a life of their own as the kids grow. . . looking back when they are in college and then parents themselves and they share the books with their own kids who will be thrilled to see and smile with their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents in these glorious at-play moments frozen in time.

Click on the links below to see each slideshow book:

A Summer Day with Jonathan and David

Jonathan loves to fish.

WHAT did David catch?

See the full book slideshow: http://mimspeak.com/kids/SummerFunwithJD/

At Play in the the Park with Oscar and Travis

Oscar is an expert bubble maker!

Travis is an expert bubble breaker!

See the full book slideshow: http://mimspeak.com/kids/OscarTravSlideshow/

Please contact Mim to schedule your September and October Family Sessions!

Romance is Alive and Well July 13, 2009

YES! Romance is alive and well. The evidence: Breton and Belle.

Another ART of LIFE moment with Mim Adkins Photography.

Please take a minute to read their story
[click on the link above to read Breton & Belle's slideshow storybook]:

Breton & Belle's Engagement Story

Note: the slideshow storybook takes a few seconds to load. ENJOY!

An Artful Monday June 15, 2009

On this overcast New England Monday, I’m reminded of a cool winter day when Pratt and I set out to enjoy a  Maine visit where he would create one of his site-specific sculptures and I would help. What I discovered is how methodical he must be. Repetitious step by step, as is the case with creation of all things. Survey the site, choose and gather materials, create the pattern, repeat the pattern. And, so in gearing up for my work week, I must do the same.

 

 

It was a winter day and I got cold and wandered off. He stayed on task.

 

 

After he finished the sculpture and cleaned up the site, we circled around it having a look from each vantage point.

 

 

And then we enjoyed the fruits of our labor.

 

 

Wishing you a gloriously inspired and productive week.

 

Woodland Faeries June 2, 2009

 

As I walked through the woods,
I happened upon a woodland faerie.
She was wild and elusive and fast.

 

At first she didn’t notice me
so I followed her along the path where she climbed onto a rock.

 

I watched her as she daydreamed while
the sun kissed her skin and the wind whispered in.

 

Suddenly, she caught me watching.
She didn’t run . . .  so for a moment I hoped we’d be friends.

 

Then the moment passed and she hid herself.

 

And with one last look, she disappeared back into the woods.
 

 

Thanks to the Wall family for inviting me to capture their ART of LIFE.

NOW booking for June and July family sessions! Contact Mim for special discounts.

Pets: On love and loss, laughter and life March 24, 2009

Last week when Rowser, one of my cat companions, fell ill, I thought about my relationship with him and tried to imagine our home without him (not a happy journey). Thankfully, we’ll have more happy days together. 

How joyful, dear, important and present our animal friends are in our lives. They comfort us, give us many laughs, teach us much about loyalty and patience, offer steadfast companionship, invite us to play and snuggle OFTEN, and insist we join them IN the moment. 

My next Day of Portraits fundraiser is April 18. Please mark your calendars, sign up if you don’t yet have fun, artful portraits of your beloved pet(s), and PLEASE spread the word by sharing this posting. In these challenging economic times, homeless cats and dogs are facing more challenges with increased abandonment and big financial cuts to shelters. 

I dedicate this moment to dogs I have photographed who are no longer with us. Kudos to their people for giving them such great care and happy lives and for participating in the fundraiser. BIG thanks to MSPCA-Angell and the Animal Rescue League of Boston and other shelters who tirelessly offer brave support to homeless and abused animals.

Here’s to you Emma, Betty, Rangeley, Homer, Axel, and all the other amazing pets who have graced our lives.

[If you can't see the full photo frame, please widen your browser window]

In remembrance of few wonderful dogs I've had the honor to meet.

To sign up, email Mim: mim@mimspeak.com

For more details, visit: http://mimspeak.com/LOVE/

To see more of Mim’s pet portraits, visit:

http://mimspeak.com/DogDays/

http://mimspeak.com/DogDays2/

http://mimspeak.com/peeks/catface/

http://mimspeak.com/peeks/cats/ (starring Rowser and Romeo)

Please share this blog link with anyone you think might enjoy it, and please do leave comments below.

From the Earth to the Moon and Back February 25, 2009

Mom asked me recently: “Do you go to church, honey? I worry about your spiritual self.”

I don’t go to church, but I realized I meet the divine often when I walk in the lush moss-covered woods, inhale salty beach air, drive through the desert alone, stand in the quilted quiet of fresh snow, and dive into clear lake waters.” There are so many others I could name.

God and angels, heaven and the divine, blessings and prayers live everywhere.

When I manage to stop, when I can be quiet and still, I find them. 

Mim Adkins Photography | From the Sublime Series | Earth to the Moon

A Special Valentine Session February 18, 2009

Before I spent Valentine’s Day with my own family, I had an early morning session with little Lettie (16 months) and her mom. My daughter Juliette set the tone for the day when she awoke at 5:45 a.m. to surprise me with a Valentine breakfast of waffles, whipped cream and chocolate-covered strawberries. Who could have anything but a great day after that?
 

When I arrived at Lettie’s house, she was friendly and oh-so-sweet. She cheerfully followed me around—so curious about this new person carrying a contraption that lit up. I asked her lots of questions: “Can you please help me by holding this camera piece?” and  ”Is this YOUR very own chair?”. Lettie  jumped into each play activity with gusto and made funny inquisitive faces when she didn’t understand what was going on. I laughed and smiled during the entire session.

Lettie at play with her mom in their home.

Later during the edit as I looked through our many interactions and Lettie’s kaleidoscopic range of expressions, I cried a little with both joy and a sprinkle of bittersweet emotion. It’s no secret why I love photographing kids. It’s not really the cuteness factor because that is a given. They are complete naturals in front of the camera and exquisitely beautiful. It’s more that each session spent with a child gives an infusion of wonder and warmth, joy and hope. They are just who they are: curious, goofy, trusting, sometimes serious, purely joyful, refreshingly open, unselfconsciously affectionate, and oh-so-REAL.

    

Lettie at home with her mom.

 

 

It’s unfortunate that as adults we are exposed to more disappointment, grief, stress and frustration than children, but we are taught to water down, diffuse and repress our responses. I remember once seeing a toddler in a rain coat walking down the sidewalk stomping her feet and yelling as loud as she could. And I thought, “That is PERFECT. If only we could all react that way.” Sometimes when I’m really angry, I imagine myself as that little girl just letting it all out. During these sessions I dive in and let the cascading emotions wash over me. I soak it all up like rays of sun in winter. I am cleansed and restored.

Soak it up. . . here are a few moments with Lettie in her very own book (click on the cover to view the slideshow). A big thanks to Claire and Lettie for such a lovely and fun Valentine morning!

Lettie's Book

Mother’s Day is around the corner! Email Mim about her new session rates starting at $250.

See  more of Mim’s kids sessions online: 
http://mimspeak.com/babies/

http://mimspeak.com/peeks/kids/