Birchblaze, Author at Birch Blaze Studios

Carrie Fisher…Debbie Reynolds…Mothers and Daughters

As we get ready to say goodbye to this crazy year of 2016, I’m struck with how many icons of my youth I’ve watched melt away. I feel the weight of this year continuing its descent right to the very end like a giant thumb turning and rubbing out any vestige of its targeted foe. After hearing the news yesterday of my very first big screen crush, Princess Leia, that is to say, Carrie Fisher, passing…today came the dizzying news that her Mother, mid-century starlet Debbie Reynolds had succumbed to what one could only assume, a broken heart. The weight of losing her beloved Daughter simply too much for the 84-yo moviestar. We don’t normally post photographs taken by other photographers, but in my search to somehow make sense of, or perhaps at least better understand the impact of this kind of tragedy on a family I came across an uncredited photo so hauntingly beautiful…and at the same time so poignant, so touching, I had to share it. This incredible black & white image doesn’t even show faces, but its documenting of the Daughter-Mother bond is so powerful and heart-wrenching, particularly in light of what has now transpired. Chilling. The photo so perfectly demonstrates “the art of real,” and the reason that no matter how we feel about ourselves we must allow ourselves to exist in photographs. Rest in peace Debbie and Carrie…

Carrie Fisher watches her mother, Debbie Reynolds perform. May they both rest in peace. (Photographer unknown) — A very young Carrie Fisher watches her mom, Debbie Reynolds, on stage at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, 1963 (photographer unknown).

Sarah’s Smile {new hampshire creative senior photographers}

From what we’ve gathered, senior pictures and senior portrait sessions are not quite as big of a thing in New Hampshire and Maine as they are in other parts of the US. But NH & ME do have a lot to offer in the way of gorgeous backdrops for senior portrait photography. For lovely Sarah’s senior pics we found some breathtaking mountain scenery along with some incredible waterfalls and came up with some of the more classic imagery for her yearbook photo, but then we took it up a notch and got creative, for which Sarah and her Mom were completely onboard. Besides being a hoot to work with, she made our job easy and worked it like a pro! Congrats, Sarah, on your final year of high school (woot-woot!) and thanks for choosing Birch Blaze Studios!

Mountain Family Lifestyle Session {nh creative family photographers}

We had a gorgeous day to hang out with Jill & Jonathan and their little guy recently in the White Mountains of New Hampshire for their family lifestyle photography session. I can’t think of a better place or way to document a growing family and preserve beautiful memories. There is still time to book your family session while we still have some color in the trees, click the Contact link above to get in touch today to discuss your family session!

Vaughn & Co. {nh white mountains family photography}

The art of real. Studio portraiture can be amazing and we hope to do some this winter. But what says more about your life and your family, a posed photograph in a studio or what we refer to as a lifestyle photograph? You and your loved ones interacting, having fun, being who you are…but having it captured artfully. Shivani, Steven & little Vaughn were so much fun to work with. Vaughn is such a happy little guy, and obviously quite photogenic :) What a great way to document a Family vacation to the White Mountains of New hampshire, or anywhere, really. Don’t let these precious moments slip by…kids grow up so fast it makes your head spin! Give us a call today (no matter what time of year) and let’s get the ball rolling to capture the art of your family!

Postcards From Vacationland {maine family photographers}

A vacation in Maine is a prime time for lots of family photographs. And family photographs taken while on vacation often become favorite milestone markers of all the great memories we collect over the years while relaxing with our loved ones in our favorite vacation spots. As you’ll see in this post, vacations are a great time to commission a family “lifestyle” photo session. Beautiful surroundings, everyone relaxed and in a good mood…the perfect recipe for wall-worthy, professional family photos. We had a great time recently capturing a few of Adam, Melissa, and John’s vacation memories in Lovell, Maine, at the Pleasant Point Inn, which is also where Melissa and Adam were married. So don’t forget to capture the “real” memories of your family’s good times and don’t miss out by always being the one behind the camera…let Birch Blaze Studios photograph the whole gang!