Karen Pike Photography

Holli and Corey’s E Session

May 15th, 2012

Holli and Corey are gearing up for their wedding at the end of June in Queechie, where Holli was raised. Corey grew up in the nearby town of Tunbridge and they actually met in 1995 as incoming freshman to Hartford high school. The couple were just friends in high school, and then Holli went off to college and Corey joined the Marines. Eventually, though, Holli and Corey reconnected on Facebook. Fate? They were engaged on September 17, 2010-the day before Holli turned 30. How great is that story!

Last week I drove to Tunbridge to meet the bridal couple to do their E session. I was already familiar with Holli’s family, having photographed her cousin Laura’s wedding a few years back so I was excited to meet them and spend some time getting acquainted. They took me on a tour of Tunbride, which consists of a tiny general store, the site of Tunbridge World’s Fair, and then countess picturesque covered bridges, cow pastures and vistas (though it was way too foggy to actually see them!).

It was easy to see that Holli and Corey are as comfortable together as, well, old high school friends and they were so fun to photograph because of their easy, loving rapport with each other. Normally, the bride-to-be is a little more relaxed and trying to get her fiance comfortable. In case, though, the tables were turned a bit and Corey kept trying to relax his sweetie and make her laugh. Definitely, by the end of the morning, Holli was learning to find her inner supermodel and enjoy her personal paparazzi! And what a smile on this woman! Both of them.

I can’t wait to the wedding and the opportunity to photograph them again-this time on Holli’s home turf of Queechie. I have no doubt they will both look stunning and and their celebration will be filled with joy! Congratulations, Holli and Corey. Enjoy this slideshow of your E session and I will see you soon!

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If you’d like to see all of the pictures from Holli and Corey’s engagement session, please click HERE (and don’t forget to ask the couple for the gallery password)

Posted in: E sessions, Photo Potpourri.

Lora and David’s E session

May 14th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

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I love when I’m contracted by a Boston couple to photograph their wedding, especially when I get to meet them on their “home field” to do their engagement portrait session (an excuse to visit my family in Boston and write off the mileage ).

Lora and David live in Allston and one of the places they love to visit is the Minute Man National Historic Park. We first met at a coffee shop in Concord and spent some time getting to know one another. I learned that they met in a “Movement for Theater” class at Skidmore College and they describe themselves now as the “annoying cute couple” at a Boston area Biotek company (how they got from the theater world to the biotek world is a longer story).

We had a great afternoon exploring the park, crossing the Old North Bridge (historic site in the Battle of Concord, the first day of battle in the American War of Independence) and seeing the Minute Man statue, erected by Daniel Chester French in 1875 (Yup, this is part portrait session blog post and part American history lesson!)

It was so easy making sweet, loving pictures of this couple. Lora and David aren’t shy about touching and showing each other mutual affection. It was fun watching them together, seeing how they look at each other, hold each other, breathe in each other’s air. They play nice!

It’s only about a month or so until I’ll see Lora and David again to shoot their wedding at the gorgeous Basin Harbor club and I hope this slideshow gets the buzz started for them and their family. Congratulations, you two and enjoy these last few weeks before you share your wedding vows and celebrate your union!

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Click HERE If you’d like to see all the photos from Lora and David’s Engagement portrait session. (You’ll need to get the password from the couple first!)

Posted in: E sessions.

Kentucky Derby Gala 2012

May 6th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

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One of my favorite non-profits in Vermont is the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington. It is an amazing organization, with an annual enrollment of 250 full time members and serving more than 1,000 community youth and families through their outreach and activities. I love their mission: To inspire and enable community youth, especially those who need it most, and to help these kids realize their full potential. Go team!!!

I volunteer to photograph their annual winter fundraiser, ONE FASHION EVENT but , in the past, I have always had a conflict on the date of their Spring fundraiser- A Kentucky Derby Gala (and I mean GALA) held at the Barn at Lang Farm in Essex Junction. This year I was free!!

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What a fun night, great food by Catering By Dale, an amazing silent-and live-auction ( I was outbid on a couple of items I wanted, but probably for the best!) and, of course, the Run for the Roses-the one hundred and thirty-eighth edition of the Kentucky Derby, shown three large screens!

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The 200 attendees watched as I’ll Have Another, Going off at 15-1 odds, passed the front-running Bodemeister in the final stretch and crossed the finish line to capture the 2 million dollar prize!

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And, along with the excitement of the race came Mint Juleps and Big Hats-Lots of BIG HATS.

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The real highlight of the evening, and the reason why everyone was there, was a performance by kids from the Club, Singing a song about what they want to do ONE DAY. It was joyous and inspiring and, with the help of the staff and volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club, I know these kids can reach their goals and fulfill their dreams.

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So, loads of fun and now… lots of pictures:

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Photo enlargements available on my website and all proceeds from prints benefit the club, so if you see a picture you like, buy a copy!

Posted in: Community Events, Photo Potpourri.

Turning 50 and the Grand Canyon

Apr 30th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

6 comments

50. Just a number, right?

It is -until you turn 50 years old and then it feels like much more. 50 means five decades, half of a century, middle aged. Old.

Last month, I turned 50 and to celebrate (or mourn) the event, I planned a 3-day backpacking trip with my partner and 17-yr-old son down into the Grand Canyon. Many people asked me why I wanted to work so hard and why didn’t I choose a week on the beach of Tobago or Hawaii. But I knew that I needed to prove to myself that I could handle a hike like this and that 50 may be defined as half a century, but it DIDN’T mean that I was OLD.

So, on April 20,the three of us flew to Phoenix, rented a car and head to the Grand Canyon. Having never done more than day hiking, I hired a guide from an awesome company, Centerfocus, and along with him came the backpacks and gear, food, medical bag and an emergency phone that connected to the ranger station in case I needed to be airlifted out of the canyon! I mean, come on, there was a sign at the trail head that scared the pants off me. It said: “It is optional to get to the bottom. It is mandatory to get to the top.” Gulp!

Our guide, Zack (pictured above in the bottom left square), turned out to be a “nice Jewish boy” from my hometown of Newton, Mass. and attended my high school (25 years later, of course). He was fantastic-smart, funny and a self proclaimed geology geek who loved explaining to me what every rock was that we picked up along the trail. And he cooked! He also taught us about pacing, keeping hydrated and never letting yourself get HANGRY (hungry and angry). Zack’s food motto: When hiking, lunch should begin just after you finish breakfast and end just before dinner. And in heeding his words, we all did great and had a ball.

With a 30-lb pack to carry, I labored for weeks about how much camera equipment to bring, and settled on just a D300 body (sans drive) and an 18-200 f4.0-5.6 lens. Bingo! With that, I made hundreds of gorgeous photos and never felt like I was carrying any extra weight. Shown below is my favorite heart-shaped prickly-pear cactus. I had chosen a heart as my “symbol” for the journey (something a friend always says to do, to see how many times the universe gives you a wink along the way), and throughout the trip, I stumbled across numerous heart-shaped rocks, cactus, leaves, etc. It really was a trip all about love!

It was a truly incredible, life affirming trip, including seeing some of the most beautiful views we could ever imagine. Pictures simply do not do the Canyon justice. You have to go there to really appreciate its magnitude and extraordinary beauty. One statistic reports that 85% of Grand Canyon visitors don’t venture more than 500 feet from their car or tour bus. What a shame for them. They just don’t know what they are missing!

We hiked Hermit’s Trail to Monument Creek to the Colorado Rapids and then back up. Along the way, we connected with fellow hikers (including three BEE KEEPERS from Tucson actually heading to Vermont this summer for a bee convention!), ate enough GORP to last me a lifetime, saw my first ever Rattlesnake (a little too close to David!), slept under the stars and waded in the Colorado river! Wow.

Most importantly, I made it back up to the top! 4,700 feet elevation river to rim- 20 miles in 3 days. And I never felt better, stronger or happier.

50? Just a number.

Happy birthday to me.

OK, TIME FOR THE SLIDESHOW:

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end” – Ursula K. LeGuin (American writer)

(Quote borrowed from the Centerfocus website)

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Posted in: Photo Potpourri, Pike Family Album.

Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah

Mar 26th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

1 comment

Rachel celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on March 17 at Temple Sinai in South Burlington. It was a beautiful service, after which her family hosted a delicious luncheon catered by Susanna Keefer. Later that evening, a dinner and dancing reception was held at the Burlington Hilton , with Top Hat Entertainment helping to make the party memorable.

All eyes were on Rachel when she showed off her amazing talent as a dancer during the evening.

The Bat Mitzvah girl got a little help from her family at the end of the candle lighting ceremony.

There was so much love and emotion flowing throughout the day’s celebration. If you’d like to see a recap of Rachel’s extraordinary day, watch this slide show!

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If you’d like to see all the photos from Rachel’s celebration, please follow this link (but you’ll need to get the password from the family!) RACHEL’S PHOTO GALLERY

Posted in: Bnai Mitzvah.

Mira’s Bat Mitzvah

Mar 24th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

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Mira celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on March 10 at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue in Burlington. Family and friends gathered at the Saturday morning service and Mira read the Torah portion she has studied most of the year. Since photography is not allowed at the Temple on Shabbat, I met the family on Friday to photograph Mira looking proud and lovely up on Bema, followed by family portraits.

This was actually a tag team approach to documenting this celebration. Since I was already booked to shoot another event Saturday night. my uber talented second shooter, Jennifer Kiewit, took over to photograph the Saturday evening party at the Burlington Hilton. Mira’s friends and family gathered for a beautiful Havdallah service and then the dancing and merriment which followed.

I hope you enjoy this slideshow, recapping Mira’s glorious celebration with her family (to the GLEE cast rendition of “Time of My Life”)
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If you’d like to see all of the photo from Mira’s Celebration, you’ll need to get the password from the family, and then follow this link: MIRA’S PHOTO GALLERY

Posted in: Bnai Mitzvah.

Happy 10th anniversary, Gillian!

Mar 23rd, 2012

by kpikephoto.

8 comments

I’ve loved you since the first time we met (and then did portraits of you and James). You are my muse, my best friend, my passion, and the one I choose to spend the rest of my life with on this earth.

We have so many places to visit, so many celebrations to share and, I’m sure, many small rocks to kick out of our path as we continue on this journey together.

Will you be there? Then that’s all I need.

You had me at “Hello”.

Please take 3 minutes to journey back with me over the last 10 years (12, actually!). I love you with all of my heart, Gilllian. Happy Anniversary, honey.

Posted in: Photo Potpourri.

ONE Fashion Event 2012

Mar 14th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

3 comments

About 400 people came out to Higher Ground Saturday night for the annual ONE Fashion EVENT to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington. In it’s 6th year, the event featured 19 local retailers, 28 designs by children from the BGC and over 130 community volunteers. This was the third year I donated my services and once again, it was one of the highlights of my winter.

The night was nothing short of a lovefest for the organization and what it brings to the community and the children it serves. The kids were so excited to be on stage, to model their designs, and to be a part of the show. Their smiles make the whole night and every penny donated worthwhile.

I hope this slideshow captures all the great enthusiasm and energy from this event. It was such a wonderful night!

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There are hundreds of photos from this event available to see and order and all proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club!! Click HERE to see the full photo gallery.

BGC Director Nancy Cathcart gives her thumbs up at the end of the night!

Posted in: Community Events, Photo Potpourri.

Winter is A DRAG ball: Cowgirls & Aliens

Feb 13th, 2012

by kpikephoto.

2 comments

Winter is never a drag in Vermont, when you have this event to look forward to each February! A benefit to raise money for the Vermont People with AIDS Coalition, it is always a Sell Out Event at Higher Ground and it is always the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Of course, the “clothes” are outrageous and and creative and often a bit naughty! I mean, it IS a DRAG BALL, after all! The host is The House of Lemay and they really outdid themselves this year! (below, they perform on stage at the Ball):