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May, 2012:

2012 MVP Yam Scram

May 30th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
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For those new to the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon , the weekend events actually begins on Saturday with the YAM Scram , the youth running festival for children ages 4-12. Kids can join in on a 1/2-mile, 1-mile or 2-mile run and all participants receive a medal, t-shirt and goody bag. It’s a great event, which celebrates Burlington’s Youth Advocacy Month (YAM), and over 700 children participated.

If you see any pictures in the following slideshow that you’d like to order, or want to check out all 325 images, click HERE. photo enlargements are available to order right from my website.

KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay 2012

May 29th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
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This was my second year shooting the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon for RunVermont. The weather this year was perfect and the photo opportunities were endless. There were plenty of smiles and laughs from seeing the runners who dressed in costume, spectators with funny signs, kids cheering on their parents, and the parade of cute dogs!

There were also moments that brought tears -like the five Vermont Guardsmen who ran to honor American service men and women, and the two female runners who provided inspiration as they ran the course, each with the use of only one leg. I choked up when I saw the “Team Zeke” relay team, who ran to pay tribute to Zeke Kassel, the 16-year-old CVU student who died this past winter in a car accident on his way to school. (Zeke, I hope your spirit could feel the love!)

My marathon coverage ended at 10:45 however, as I needed to get to Southern Vermont for a wedding, so the talented Jennifer Kiewit (who is my second shooter at many weddings) covered for me for the rest of the day and made some great pictures to complete the narrative. Below is a slideshow that incorporates both our work and recaps the fun and emotion of the day:
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If you’d like to see all 500 photos from Sunday, click HERE. Photo enlargements can be ordered online right from the gallery.

(For Jen’s work, visit http://jkiewitphoto.smugmug.com/)

Katie and Barbie’s E session

May 25th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
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CUTE doesnt even begin to describe this couple. I mean, Katie and Barbie? Even their names are sweet! You can’t help but smile when they smile and giggle when they giggle. And, in photographing their Engagement session last week, we all did alot of smiling and giggling!

Accompanied by their two large (and strong!) dogs, the couple came over from New York and we attempted a leisurely stroll and portrait session in Oakledge Park. Ha ha. NOT! Their babies were a bit of a handful, but we had some fun and made some great pictures, and everyone was happy.

I’ll be over in Lake George to photograph Katie and Barbie’s wedding in August and I don’t think the dogs will be attending, so I’m happy that they got to have their day in front of the camera. I’m looking forward, however, to doing some beautiful portraits of this couple, when they aren’t being pulled along by 200 pounds of playful puppy energy!

Enjoy the slideshow!

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If you’d like to see all of Katie and Barbie’s engagement photos, just get the password from them and then click HERE

Holli and Corey’s E Session

May 15th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
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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 Corey’s hometown, which consists of a tiny general store, the site of Tunbridge World’s Fair, and then countless 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 than the groom 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! Stunning! 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 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)

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!)

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!