Archie and Sylvie’s Gloucester MA Engagement Session

Back in 2013, I was shooting at a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard during Blizzard Nemo, and everyone who attended that wedding was stuck on the island for the weekend. That is where I met Archie. The bride and groom were mutual friends to Archie and I, and by the end of the weekend, all the guests had become fast friends. I was so honored, and excited, when Archie and Sylvie, his fiancé, reached out to ask me to photograph their wedding in August.

These two are so laid-back and easygoing, and I loved traveling up the coast with them. For their engagement session, we started out at the beach in Manchester and then ended the night with the most perfect sunset at Eastern Point Lighthouse in Gloucester, MA. The sky was on fire—it was absolutely gorgeous!

Archie & Sylvie, you two are a dream, and I’m beyond excited to photograph your wedding next month. Can’t wait!

Pay it Forward Project ~ Chris, Rylie and Dylan ~ Rhode Island Family Photographer

Back in May, I ran a contest to give away a free photo shoot to a very deserving person. At the time, I posted to social media to explain the contest:

“So it’s finally May (almost) and the weather is nice and people are starting to come out of hibernation and… wait for it… it’s my birthday month! So for my birthday, I want to pay it forward and do something nice for a deserving stranger. So, please, help a girl out!

I want you to nominate someone you think is deserving of a free photo shoot with me. Is it a family member? A friend? Your hairdresser? Your mechanic? An individual or family in your community who constantly gives to others and never asks for anything in return? I don’t know… you tell me!

Tell me why you think they deserve this. Lay it out for me… spill your guts and gush away on why you think this person/family is so wonderful.

See what I did here… I’m paying it forward, but now you’re paying it forward too… isn’t this fun?!?

And by “free photo shoot” I mean the whole sha-bang… soup to nuts!

Share this post on your own timeline so we can get the word out and more awesomely deserving people can be nominated. Paying it forward feels good… so let others in on the action.

Message me through FB or email your nominations to diana@dianapozzi.com. The deadline to nominate someone is 11:59pm on May 13. I will announce the winner on Saturday, May 14.

Alright….. let me have it!!”

After that, the nominations came rolling in. I had such a hard time choosing the winner that I finally formed a committee and had other people do the dirty work for me. Out of all of the nominations I received, Chris was chosen as the winner for a portrait session with his two kids, Rylie and Dylan. His sister, Nina, was the one who nominated him.

Chris was chosen because he’s an amazing dad, raised two totally awesome children (I can vouch for this—they could not have been cooler and kinder than they were during our photo shoot!) and has been through quite a lot over that past few years. Dylan is off to college at West Virginia University in the fall, so the timing to get some awesome family photos before this next chapter in his life started was perfect.

Chris was thrilled when he found out he had been chosen. We corresponded through phone calls and emails for a few weeks leading up to the shoot, and every single time, he reached out he thanked me again and again. He truly appreciated the whole experience, and I’m so happy it went to someone who genuinely appreciated it.

This shoot was SO fun. Really. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I had never met Chris or his kids before but gosh, they were so wonderful. Rylie and Dylan were so kind and sweet, and you can just tell they’re good kids and that Chris just adores them. My favorite photos are the ones where they’re just laughing and couldn’t keep it together. They were laughing and cracking each other up and just really enjoying themselves. Those are the ones that I think really capture their personalities.

Having gone through this entire experience over the last two months, my heart is so very full. I encourage anyone reading this to pay it forward and do something nice for someone else this summer. And I don’t mean pay for the coffee of the person behind you in line at Dunkin Donuts (although that’s nice too!). Sure, it’s nice to give money to deserving causes, but sometimes it’s just better to give your time instead. I assure you, you’ll get more out of it than the person receiving your nice gesture ever will.

Thank you, Nina, for taking the time to nominate your very deserving brother, and thank you, Chris, for being you and allowing me to capture this moment in time for your family. I hope to see you again soon!

Pam & Chris ~ Rooftop at the Providence G Wedding

Pam and Chris were married on April 16^th, with a ceremony and reception at the Rooftop at the Providence G.

Pam and I went to high school together (Go Shamrocks!) and reconnected at our high school reunion (I won’t dare say how many years it’s been). Pam was filling me in on her life and said she was engaged and getting married in Providence a few months later. It’s funny how things work out sometimes, and once again, the magic of Bishop Feehan brought people together.

On the day of the wedding, my second shooter, Nicki Pardo, and I arrived at the Hotel Providence to do a few getting-ready pictures of Pam and Chris—and Gus, their pup—before the first look. Chris jumped in the car with me, and we headed down to the Providence River to get him situated for the first look, while Pam’s father, David, drove her over in his 1911 Model T Torpedo. Pam couldn’t stop laughing when she arrived because there had been a bit of road construction going on in downtown Providence that afternoon—which meant traffic was rerouted down a path that forced Pam’s father to drive the Model T up a hill. They ended up getting stuck, and a group of strangers had to push them up the hill. Pam thought the whole thing was hysterical.

After the first look with the Providence skyline as the backdrop, we headed over to the Rooftop of the Providence G for some family photos before the ceremony. We also grabbed some portraits of just the two of them on the roof and in the ballroom before the guests arrived, and Pam and Chris managed to get tucked away to practice their first dance one last time.

They held a beautiful ceremony also on the rooftop. Chris walked his mother, Debbie, down the aisle, and Pam’s father gave her away. Pam’s mother, Nancye, did a reading. The ceremony was short and sweet, and the two of them didn’t stop smiling the entire time.

As the guests arrived, they picked up lapel pins as their favors to wear for the night, and after the ceremony, they mingled on the roof for the cocktail hour with fire pits going on during the exceptionally warm April night. Pam and Chris wanted to have a laid-back feeling for the day, so there was no assigned seating. The guests mingled with each other around cocktail tables and low-top tables as well as funky furniture that went with the 1920s vibe. Then, they headed downstairs to the ballroom, where the guests were all given champagne.

The ballroom had been transformed into one big Roaring 20’s party. It was a black-tie affair, complete with wingtip shoes, lapel pins, flapper dresses, and lots and lots of feathers! It was AWESOME! The ballroom was dripping in black, gold, and white décor, and it was so unique and fun to be part of.

As soon as Pam and Chris were introduced, they immediately went into their choreographed first dance, and they nailed it! Pam also danced with her dad while Chris danced with his mom. He later danced with his grandmother, who he is especially close to. You can tell by the way she looked at him and that sparkle in her eye that their relationship was truly special.

The rest of the night was one big party. The food was excellent. The band had the dance floor packed all night, and Chris and Pam had the time of their life. Towards the end of the evening, we whisked Pam and Chris away for a few minutes to get some fabulous nighttime shots in downtown Providence—and those shots ended up being some of my favorites of the night.

Pam and Chris, I’m so happy it all came together and you allowed me be a part of this most memorable day. Congratulations to you both!

Vendors

Bride’s dress: Nicole Miller

Bride’s Shoes: Modern Love, Providence

Accessories: Hair Comb-Alexandria’s Bridal, Capelet- BHLDN

Hair: Caitlin Doris, Impulse Salon, Providence

Make-up: Christopher Stark, Nordstrom, Providence

Groom’s Custom-made Tuxedo: 9 Taylors, Boston

Groom’s Custom-made Shoes: Rancourt & Co, Lewiston, Maine

Flowers: John Orton Flowers and Events

Lighting: Ormonde Productions

Rentals: Quality Rental, RI

Caterer: Pranzi

Lapel Pins/Favors: Franklin Rogers LTD –  Providence, RI

Event Planner/Officiant: Sandra Burke Medeiros

Transportation: 1911 Model T Torpedo, driven by David Loving

Band: GQ & The Lady

Calligraphy: Meghan O’Brian   

Accommodations: Hotel Providence

Furniture Rental: Uniquely Chic Vintage Rentals

Rehearsal Dinner: Garde De La Mer, Providence

Jesse’s Senior Session | Rhode Island Senior Photography

It was really special for me to get to do a senior session for Jesse James Pozzi. He’s my oldest nephew and basically the coolest kid on the face of the planet—although his brother is pretty cool too.

Let me play the role of proud auntie for a minute to tell you how awesome this kid is. The last week has been rather exceptional for him. He turned 18 and graduated from Seekonk High School, where he was nominated as the “friendliest” kid in his class for their senior superlatives. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, and he received the STEM Award with Distinction for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and math. He’s a talented artist and musician, an excellent skier, and he can kick my butt in tennis.

Academics aside, he’s just a good person…and he’s got a true, touching smile to boot. He’s funny and kind and sweet and really fun to be around. He’s the kind of person you want your own kids to be friends with. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s going to move mountains when he goes to Framingham State University this fall to become an elementary school teacher. How lucky his soon-to-be-students are!

Best of luck to you, Jesse. I love you so much and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you!

xoxo,

Auntie Di

Wicked Tulips Flower Farm Family Session

I was so excited to head out to the Wicked Tulips Flower Farm in Johnston, Rhode Island, with these amazing ladies. Rhian and Rory were so much fun to work with, and I loved getting to spend my day with them.

This tulip farm is just about the coolest place ever! They have a show garden that is ridiculously gorgeous as well as a pick-your-own area where you can create your own little arrangements. It was the perfect backdrop for little Rhian and Rory!

The farm is only open for a little while in the spring, so we had to make the most of the rainy day during the session while we still had the chance. But it worked out perfectly! Neither Rhian nor Rory cared all that much that it was raining. In fact, Rory actually enjoyed the mud, and they had a ball! Besides, the rain showers and clouds actually made for great light.

Thank you, Schlitzer ladies, for spending the afternoon with me—and for the fabulous parking lot picnic we had post-photoshoot. You know I can’t resist bakery pizza!

Mary & Jamie ~ Wedding at The Black Dog Tavern

Mary and Jamie were married on a beautiful fall day with a ceremony at the Black Dog Wharf  and a reception at the Black Dog Tavern on Martha’s Vineyard.

I started out the day with Mary and her bridesmaids at Owen Park Beach across the harbor from The Black Dog to grab a couple group shots of Mary and her ladies. It was especially exciting because Mary’s family made the trip up from South America for the wedding!

We headed to the Black Dog Wharf for the ceremony, and Captain Bob (Jamie’s father) picked up the girls to shuttle them over to the ceremony by boat. Mary’s mom and dad were waiting for her to walk her down the dock (aisle) to Jamie, and Jamie’s brother, Morgan, married them. Mary & Jamie had their friend Joe Keenan sing a song that was personal to them during the service. It was a full family affair!

It was freezing outside on the beach, but it was clear that these two just didn’t care. We grabbed some amazing photos on the beach at the wharf after the ceremony, and then, at last, everyone headed to the tavern to get warm—but not before I walked the docks with just the two of them. The light from the setting sun was just perfect, and none of us cared how cold it was in those moments.

From there, we headed to the Black Dog Tavern, where the festivities were already underway. The guests were all in full-on party mode—friends, family, it didn’t matter; everyone was related that night. The band was great, and guests who knew how to sing or play an instrument could just mosey on up and join the band for a song or two. That was just awesome!

Add to that the heartfelt toasts given by the family members, and the night was filled with emotion. Every time I looked over at Jamie and Mary, I could tell they were deeply moved by what everyone had to say. There was dancing and hugging all around, and it was simply wonderful.

Jamie & Mary, thank you for allowing me to be part of this amazing atmosphere of love and life! I loved being part of your wedding—congratulations to you both!

Mullaney Family | Cape Cod Family Portraits

I love telling the story of how John and I became friends. I photographed a wedding on New Year’s Eve of 2014, and John was the videographer. We hit it off instantaneously and became fast friends.

Then, a few months later, John asked me to photograph him and his kids, and I just thought I was the luckiest photographer ever! I mean, c’mon, they’re the cutest family in the world!

It was so fun to just hang out with them and capture them doing their thing. Just kids being kids—that goes for John, too. I especially loved the images of the Jace and Sally running up and down the road covered in autumn leaves, but my favorite is probably the one of John hugging his son and daughter in among the tall grasses. So much love!

John, thank you for your continued friendship! I cherish these memories, and I’m so pleased that you have trusted me to help capture you and your kids!

Michelle & Brendan ~ Salem Winter Wedding

Michelle and Brendan were married on January 17^th, with a ceremony at the First Church in Salem and a reception at Turners Seafood. It was a perfect winter wedding.

I started out the day with Michelle and the ladies while my second shooter, Nicki Pardo, was with the guys. Michelle and Brendan had opted not to have a wedding party, but their closest friends were with them all day, from start to finish. Michelle called Jen and Mary her “soul sisters,” in addition to her actual sisters: Kim, Kaite, and Becky. Meanwhile, Brendan called his boys his “brothas from anotha mutha:” Harry and Chris, plus his real brother, Terence.

Brendan waited for Michelle in the park across the street for a first look. We got some quick shots of the two of them before the sun went down, and then we all hopped on a trolley to the church.

Michelle’s dad walked her down the aisle, but the real memorable moment of the ceremony was when the newlyweds skipped down the aisle after the ceremony as the organist played “We’re Off to See the Wizard.” It had just started snowing as everyone exited the church and somehow that snow added the extra element of magic to the day.

After the ceremony, Michelle and Brendan were adamant that they didn’t want a sit-down dinner. They wanted people to be mingling and dancing, and so they booked the entire second floor at Turners Seafood and just got a lot of heavy hors-d’oeuvres. As soon as they arrived at the reception, they went right into the first dance—they were determined to keep the energy up!

Michelle danced to “Piece of Shit Car” by Adam Sandler with her dad, and it was absolutely hilarious. Her sisters were the backup dancers and singers. That moment, I think, really sums up Michelle. There are happy brides, and then there is Michelle. She brings it to another level, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a photo where she isn’t absolutely beaming.

Before Nicki and I left for the night, we whisked Michelle and Brendan away for a few minutes to get some shots in the snow. By the time we left for the night, there were at least 5 inches of snow on the ground and it was a total winter wonderland. What a perfect way to end the day!

Michelle, I’ve known you for the past 15 years, and I just have to say that it was so, so awesome to see you like this. My heart is bursting with happiness for you and Brendan!

Vendors

Bride’s dress designer: David’s Bridal

Hair and make-up: Toni Lyn Mimmo #Beautybytonilyn

Groom’s tuxedo/suit designer: Men’s Warehouse

Flowers: MyWoollyMammoth – Etsy (Holy Amazing!)

Caterer: Turner’s Seafood

Cake: Turner’s Seafood (cupcakes)

Jeweler (rings): Jared

Cape Cod Family Session on Cold Storage Beach

I LOVE this family! They are silly and fun and just love the ba-jesus out of one another, so it was guaranteed to be a great session when they all came together.

I went to photography school with Jaimee, so when she called me up to ask me to do an extended portrait session with her entire family while they were vacationing on the Cape this summer, I was honored.

Because they were visiting my area, they asked me for suggestions as to where to do the shoot, and I was quick to respond with Cold Storage Beach in East Dennis, MA. It is hands down my favorite beach on the Cape, both for portrait sessions and for a good ol’ fashioned day at the beach. It’s perfect for everything!

So Jaimee and her family showed up ready that evening for a fun photo shoot. The sunset that night was ridiculous—it looked like the sky was on fire at one point. And the people were absolutely lovely. I particularly liked the picture where everyone was jumping. The jumping was actually their idea, and who am I to argue with a family who wants to jump?!

After the shoot, we headed across the harbor for dinner at the Sesuit Harbor Café. If you’ve never been, you are seriously missing out. It’s a great spot with great food, and the view can’t be beat!

Thank you to the Lefebvre/Waters/Green/Kramer families. It was a blast to hang with all of you! Let’s do it again sometime!

Lauren & John ~ Boat House Wedding

Lauren and John were married on October 3^rd, with a ceremony and reception at the Boat House in Tiverton, RI.

I used to work with Lauren way back in the day, and we got to be very close over time. I got to know John really well, too, and he just might be one of the funniest people I know. So when they asked me to photograph their wedding, I was so happy. They are so relaxed and easygoing that I knew they would be fun to work with.

Lauren and John were married in the middle of Hurricane Joaquin, a category 4 hurricane that brought wind and coastal flood advisories to Rhode Island. Luckily, it went further east than expected, and it wasn’t a direct hit. The weather gods were on our side, and it worked out perfectly that we were able to snag a few pictures outdoors on the dock and the lawn as well as for the first look between pockets of rain.

On the day of the wedding, they both got ready at a cute little waterfront house down the street from the Boat House. They snuck around all day and managed not to see each other until their first look out on the dock just a few minutes before the ceremony, and I’m so glad that worked out.

They planned to do the first look but were running late. John was already at the Boat House, and I called him to tell him we were on our way, and he said, “I want to do the first look. Let’s do it.”

I got off the phone and told Lauren, “John really wants to do the first look. We’re going to do it.” She’s so laid back that she just said, “Great, let’s do it!”

Of course, it meant that the ceremony started a few minutes late, but the first look was absolutely perfect. The rain stopped, the wind took pity on us, and we got some amazing images. All the guests were inside enjoying themselves, and it was such a small, intimate group that nobody seemed to mind the slight wait.

During the ceremony, which was short and sweet, Lauren’s mom and dad walked her down the aisle, and then everyone mingled together for cocktails and conversation. I managed to grab some quick portraits outside with John and Lauren and their families before the rain came back, but not before I got some shots of just the two of them out on the pier.

Once we lost daylight, we headed inside for an enchanting first dance as well as heartwarming toasts from the best man, maid of honor, and Lauren’s brother.

One of my favorite things about the reception was the cakes. One of the first times I met John, we talked about our shared love of Gregg’s cakes, but John took that love to a whole new level when he bought at least 10 cakes—all different kinds—for only 40 wedding guests! I’ve never eaten so much cake at a wedding—it was fantastic.

Thank you again, Lauren & John, for honoring me and asking me to be part of your wedding. I will always continue to cherish our friendship, and I look forward to seeing you two grow in your futures together.

Vendors

Ceremony/Reception: The Boat House (Tiverton, RI)
Bride’s dress designer: Allure
Hair: Cassandra Marie Broccoli – RI Wedding Hair
Makeup: Nelse Karini – Makeup Artistry
Flowers: Cherryhill Flowers (Johnston, RI)
Cake: Gregg’s
Jeweler (rings): Bartone Jewelry
Band/DJ: Kevin Herchen
Stationary: Minted.com