March 25, 2019

Andrea + Scott | Boston Dog Lovers Spring Sunrise Engagement Session | Boston and New England Engagement Photography

March 25, 2019/ Lorna Stell

Andrea and Scott decided on a sunrise session—It worked for their schedule, it makes for BEAUTIFUL light as you’ll see below, and if you want to run around the city and not have tons of people or cars in the background of your photos, sunrise is always the way to go. Since the weather and the light were working so well, I got a little experimental with some of their photos too!

All in all, we had an amazing session starting at Northeastern, then walking around the Boston Public Garden, and then after an outfit change we stopped at Acorn Street in Beacon Hill and wrapped up over some coffee at a nearby cafe. It was jam packed but had all the variety our hearts desired!

March 18, 2019

Katelyn + Joe | St. Patrick's Day Topsfield Commons Spring Wedding + Album | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

March 18, 2019/ Lorna Stell

Where do I even start with these two?? Katelyn and Joe are so easygoing, down to earth, and super fun to be around. Their wedding day was such a joy and I can’t wait to share everything with you! You might remember the story of how we met in the blog post about their engagement session. It’s only fitting that the three of us first met in my favorite boutique shop in Wakefield (Sweetbay), where we all live. You might also remember that their engagement session was during a heat wave…So of course to keep all things fair, their wedding day was in the 20s, windy, and snowy. 😂 One of my favorite things about their day was that they made the most of it being St. Patrick’s day, which is so fitting with Katelyn’s Irish background. My kinda girl! 🙂

After the wedding and after the honeymoon, Katelyn and Joe and I all got together at a coffee shop to talk about how they want to remember their wedding day many years from now, and what photos they can give as prints to their loved ones. They decided to order an album, which I pre-designed for them and then we customized together to make sure it was perfect. They also got some prints for themselves and to give as gifts. Since the album is a huge part of their wedding story and includes all the best highlights, I hope you’ll enjoy seeing some samples of it here and get your wheels turning about what your own wedding album could look like!

March 11, 2019

Olga + Albion | Whimsical Quincy City Hall Summer Micro Wedding | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

March 11, 2019/ Lorna Stell

Olga and Albion’s petite wedding (as I call weddings with just the couple and a few guests) was at Quincy City Hall on a warm day in July. I seriously love the intimacy and personal feel of city hall weddings, and this was my first one in Quincy. Olga and Albion live in Massachusetts and are Eastern European. They tended to be very serious in front of the camera, so my goal was to sneak in as many photos as possible when they made each other laugh, which happened often since Albion is a goofball! That being said, I also love sprinkling in those moody portraits to the mix as well. The portraits from this wedding are some of my favorite of all time!

March 04, 2019

Noel Herbal Skincare | Somerville Small Business | Creative Entrepreneur Lifestyle Portrait & Product Photography

March 04, 2019/ Lorna Stell

Noel Herbal Skincare, based in Somerville, MA, was founded by Shannon Curtis who has been an esthetician for over 15 years! Shannon and I first connected through a Facebook group where she shared that she had some big dreams for her business, and she was working on learning how to brand and promote her work. I have always been fascinated by branding, and Shannon and I connected over the value of visual imagery when it comes to upleveling the overall perception of small businesses.

This environmental portrait session we did together created the perfect imagery for Shannon’s website, Instagram, online shop, emails, and more. Anywhere you market yourself, you can use your custom photography!

February 25, 2019

Ice Castles New Hampshire | Boston & New England Adventure Landscape Travel Photography

February 25, 2019/ Lorna Stell

2019 has been MY YEAR—In many many ways, but not least of the reasons being this was FINALLY the year that I got to visit the NH Ice Castles myself! My husband and I have been into “experience gifts” the past few years, so this year my gift was this trip to the Ice Castles. We had been planning this for weeks and I even snagged a couple pre-sale tickets! I can say from experience it makes for a great day trip date! And the timing was perfect since a usual day in my life in February includes…being inside for 24 hours straight. 😂

So, we suited up, got our car playlist ready, and made the 2 hour trip north! Here’s what we found when we arrived (and scroll to the end to see my tips for planning your own trip!)

October 02, 2017

Yunsoo + Won | Intimate Cambridge City Hall Autumn Micro Wedding | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

October 02, 2017/ Lorna Stell

Yunsoo and Won’s wedding was a beautifully simple and incredibly heartfelt one. There was nothing to distract them from each other—Once the door to their private room closed and their ceremony started, it was just the two of them, the City Clerk, and me! While I do love the excitement of weddings with lots of guests, I love more intimate affairs just as much (if not more)! Having a quiet few minutes to commit the rest of your life to the one you love is always so special. I think for many couples, it allows them the physical and mental space to soak up the moment, and process the emotions and thoughts that come with stepping into a new phase of life. In short…City Hall weddings are super sweet and I love them (especially this one)!

August 28, 2017

Nick + Kristen | Woodsy Belmont Summer Maternity Session | Boston and New England Portrait Photography

August 28, 2017/ Lorna Stell

Maternity sessions are always a treat! It’s heartwarming to see new soon-to-be parents on the verge of BIG changes—Exciting, scary, but ultimately a new phase of life that they wouldn’t trade for the world.

Kristen and Nick were the epitome of this! Ultimately, they seemed so ready for their new baby girl, and ready to take on any challenge that came their way, because they’re the ultimate team. It really was completely MY honor to be able to spend time with these two and document their love. They are so caring, supportive, hilarious, and never hesitate to compliment the heck out of each other! Let me tell you, you can never give too many compliments to your spouse (in my opinion anyway)!

These two live in Framingham, and wanted to have their session in the Greater Boston area in a location with lots of greenery. Locations with variety are like gold to me, and I managed to find this lovely spot with an open field, tons of ivy and trees, TWO stone staircases and a stone wall, and gorgeous spots to catch the sunset peeking through the trees! So much variety for nature lovers!

August 21, 2017

Katelyn + Joe | Summer Sunset Lake Quannapowitt Wakefield Engagement Session | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

August 21, 2017/ Lorna Stell

Katelyn and Joe are high school sweethearts and have lived in Wakefield for years! They started dating on the night of Katelyn’s senior prom (SO cute) and the Wakefield High tradition is for the students to walk around the common by Lake Quannapowitt in their gowns and tuxes for the town to see and send them off. So, we incorporated all kinds of pretty areas and town landmarks near the lake into their session to commemorate the beginnings of their relationship! AND, we did it during the “golden hour”—Usually sunrise or sunset, and in this case, sunset—So all their photos have a dreamy, golden color. Golden hour sessions are my favorite, and you’ll see why once you start scrolling!

August 14, 2017

Phoebe + Jeffrey | Joyful Cambridge & Boston Massachusetts Spring Micro Wedding | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

August 14, 2017/ Lorna Stell

This was one of those wedding days when it was so clear that the couple’s friends and family, along with their faith, were the most important parts of the day. Phoebe and Jeffrey are friends of another couple whose wedding I photographed (blog post coming soon!) and I was so glad to get to meet them and document their day!

We met in the afternoon at Le Meridien in Cambridge for family formals and a couple’s session. The hotel’s rooftop garden was the PERFECT spot with plenty of space (and easy to get to from inside the hotel, where everyone stayed warm in between photos). This was a surprisingly chilly April day, but you wouldn’t know it from all the smiles!

April 25, 2017

Sam + FJ | Romantic Mountain Top Inn and Resort Vermont Autumn Wedding | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

April 25, 2017/ Lorna Stell

Is there anything more romantic than professing your love for your favorite person surrounded by gorgeous mountains? Sam and FJ probably think not! ;)

I was so honored to photograph this drop-dead gorgeous couple and their wedding day last November! You might not even realize this was a late autumn wedding since there was still so much green around—And lots of greenery definitely makes for a happy photographer!

I first met these two in Somerville as all of us have spent lots of time living there, but I absolutely love that they decided to get married in Vermont! They picked the perfect venue—Mountain Top Inn and Resort—Which has the most gorgeous mountain view, indoor and outdoor locations for ceremonies/receptions, and a view of a lake outside as well.

April 10, 2017

Why You Need Self-Care To Have The Wedding Day Of Your Dreams

April 10, 2017/ Lorna Stell

How would you feel over the next few months if you planned like crazy, had very little time to relax or do anything for yourself, and then your wedding day came and you never felt like you could soak up how amazing it was because you felt fried?

Now…how would you if you had time to plan your wedding AND take time just for yourself, you felt physically more relaxed and emotionally more calm and positive, and had the wedding day of your dreams too? Feels better, right? That’s what I want for you, and I believe that self-care is the ultimate way to make that happen!

March 27, 2017

Jessica + Thomas | Classic Cambridge and Lyman Estate Massachusetts Summer Wedding | Boston and New England Wedding Photography

March 27, 2017/ Lorna Stell

Jess sat down on my couch a couple months after getting that ring on her finger and said something to the effect of, “I really want you to be one of my bridesmaids. But I also really want you to be my wedding photographer. Is there a way to do both??” I had heard stories of ambitious photographers doing this before. I had also heard the well-meaning warnings of, “Don’t do it, you’ll regret not being able to be present for the day.” The thing is, Jess and I have this trait in common where if we really want something, we’re kind of stubborn about it and always look for the ways to make it work.

June 13, 2016

Classic + Modern Boston Public Garden, Beacon Hill, and Downtown Coffee Shop Sunrise Engagement Session | Jessica and Thomas

June 13, 2016/ Lorna Stell

When my alarm went off at 3:30am, I remember a brief period of my night-owl brain asking, “Why did I do this to myself?” After about 10 minutes passed and I could truthfully say I was awake, I remember my creative brain (who also loves people), asking, “How AWESOME is this going to be?!” I felt the tingle of nervous excitement as I confirmed with myself for the third time that yes, I did have everything I needed. This was the morning of my first ever sunrise engagement session with some soon-to-be newlyweds, and OH MAN was it worth it!

June 06, 2016

Somerville Small Business Product and Lifestyle Handmade Jewelry Photography | Linkouture

June 06, 2016/ Lorna Stell

Whenever I get to work with fellow entrepreneurs and creatives and see their success, I feel like such a proud mama! When you own your own business AND you’re a solopreneur, sometimes it feels like it takes forever for all the pieces to fall into place and for everything to work together seamlessly for you to achieve your goals. As a photographer and someone who does their fair share of shopping online, I can say that cohesive visual elements and imagery make a huuuge difference in the perception of a product! Having seen the “before and after” of Linkouture’s imagery, I can say that Bev's new photography for her business works wonders for showing off the quality she’s capable of creating!

May 16, 2016

Boston Winter To Spring Fashion + Style Photography | Fashion On The 4th Floor, Chapter Five

May 16, 2016/ Lorna Stell

Diane and I have been doing her sessions in Somerville the most, but this outfit was the first we featured in Boston! Ever since I discovered this building, I’ve been dying to shoot in this little hidden gem of the city. So so glad it worked out this day! Sure, we could have just as easily taken photos on any city sidewalk, but isn’t this big white room with gold features just magical?

If you couldn’t tell from looking at my Rebranding series, this building is SO me. Big, bright spaces that feel airy and energized, along with marbled, metallic, and organic details, not to mention a huge skylight up above (not pictured I’m afraid)! It reminds me a bit of a museum. Anyone else feel right at home in high-ceilinged, modern museums with marble floors?

May 02, 2016

Rebranding: The New Logo

May 02, 2016/ Lorna Stell

Never in my life have I ever had a crush on a typeface. Until this year.

We both know modern is totally my style, but I also wanted to bring in something that spoke to sophistication with a touch of luxuriousness. I love my usual minimalism, but I wanted something with a little more “oomph” than that. Believe me, it’s hard to put words to something visual that doesn’t exist yet!

April 25, 2016

Rebranding: Making A Moodboard

April 25, 2016/ Lorna Stell

I remember thinking over this past winter, “Oh man. Rebranding is so intense. My designer and I have to work together to figure out how to express who I am and what I do in ONE logo. Just one. Not only that, I’ll need to visually “brand” everything in my business cohesively, from my business cards, to my packaging, to my website…where do we even start??”

I’ll tell you, friends. It all starts with assembling a launch pad. In the case of branding and visual design, your launch pad is a moodboard!

After assessing why I needed to rebrand and who the new brand would be for (a.k.a. my Dream Clients—you guys!), it was time to begin thinking about how to express all that in a visual way.

April 18, 2016

Rebranding: That "Me Too" Moment

April 18, 2016/ Lorna Stell

I recently decided to create a survey and call up some of my portrait clients from 2015. I didn’t get to chat with every one of you sadly, but those of you I did get to talk with taught me SO much. I am so grateful for the time you spent sharing your thoughts with me and showing me what’s most important to you in life. I ended up asking you about everything from what your dream house would be like, to what you're most often frustrated by, to how you want to be seen by others (Seriously. We got DEEP and I cannot thank you all enough for sharing these things with me)! I discovered some amazing things, which my Dream Clients all have in common, that made me feel so elated and encouraged! Read on to learn what I discovered!

April 11, 2016

Rebranding: It's Happening!

April 11, 2016/ Lorna Stell

Here’s my deep, dark secret: I designed my current logo myself, somewhere around 2011, when I was a senior in college studying studio art with a concentration in graphic design. Seriously. If you know me personally, you might be totally surprised if you haven’t heard that before because I would NEVER touch a design project today.

I share all that to say, I have learned SO much lately about the true worth of hiring a creative expert. Not cutting corners when you have the choice to invest in something great, that will elevate your experiences in life and business. Choosing to trust a creative business owner to do what they do best. Choosing to focus your energy on the things you do best, rather than trying to wear ALL the hats, and fumbling around with the ones that don’t fit quite right.

I am done trying to “make it work” myself when it comes to my branding, because while I have learned so much through this process, I am totally not a branding expert! The awesome part is, I got connected with someone who is!

February 01, 2016

Somerville Winter Fashion + Style Photography | Fashion On The 4th Floor, Chapter Four

February 01, 2016/ Lorna Stell

Diane from Fashion On The 4th Floor has been killing it with the great winter styles! The last time I wore a denim skirt was probably about a decade ago, and I cringe to think of those days, but Diane makes it look GOOD with the retro boots, classy sheer plaid, and faux leather vest! Her long necklaces are perfect for adding an extra sophisticated touch. This session was SO her and she brought the energy!

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