July 20, 2015

Boston Lifestyle + Professional Portrait Photography | Kari O'Briant

July 20, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Happy Monday, friends! Have you ever heard of music therapy? If not, then you're in for a treat today!

Kari is a music therapist, and believe it or not, we met in college when we both went to Radford University in Virginia! After Kari and I had both graduated in our respective years, we both moved to Massachusetts unbeknownst to each other! We reunited up here not long after I arrived, and I'm so glad we've been able to keep in touch and have more fun times together!

One of those fun times includes the one where she emailed me and said she wanted new headshots, and I don't think I could have said yes any quicker! However, I didn't want these to be stale and boring, full of fake smiles and flat walls, so we decided to take a trip to Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain and play around (literally) with her guitar. You'll see lots of big smiles in Kari's photos, and that's because I kept asking her to tell me about her puppy, Reshi. Worked like a charm, and made us BOTH happy!

Visit the full post to learn more about music therapy, and to read a glowing review from Kari after she received her photos!

July 13, 2015

6 Reasons Why Working With A Professional Photographer Is The Best Next Thing For Your Blog

July 13, 2015/ Lorna Stell

It would be so easy to make a huge to-do list for a blogger who's just getting started called "1001 Ways To Create An Amazing Blog." I'm not here to do that today though. I want to suggest tackling one thing to build your blog's online presence, and make it a more beautiful place that readers love to hang out in. The one thing? Photography.

Which brings us to our list of "6 Reasons Why Working With A Professional Photographer Is The Best Next Thing For Your Blog." Read on to learn about The Gorgeous Factor, The Professionalism Factor, The Legit Factor, The Service Factor, The Quality Factor, and The Collaboration Factor!

July 06, 2015

Wholehearted | On The Chopping Of Hair and the Fear Of Change

July 06, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Friends, I have something more personal to share today than the most recent photo work I've been doing. It's about my hair and my intense fear of change. Read on to learn more about my hairstyle changes through different phases of life, and the emotional journey I went on as I worked up the courage to get a pixie this summer. Before and After photos and tips to get prepared for your own haircut included!

June 29, 2015

Boston Fashion + Style Photography | The Cubicle Collections, Chapter Three

June 29, 2015/ Lorna Stell

For this portion of Jackie's Fashion + Style photo session, for her blog The Cubicle Collections, we paid a visit to the Boston Public Garden, and it was a lovely day for it, let me tell you! The slightest breeze and some warm sunshine really brought Jackie's outfit to life and made these colors pop! Be sure to visit The Cubicle Collections to read about why Jackie wore these particular pieces together, and to find links to where you can get them for yourself. The top especially was a bit out of her comfort zone, so I'm very excited that she decided to face her fears and totally work this outfit!

June 22, 2015

Boston Fashion + Style Photography | The Cubicle Collections, Chapter Two

June 22, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Although I do love being around green leaves and blue skies, Boston's cityscape blended with the minimal color palette and clean lines of this outfit speak to my heart. The opportunity to make urban-centric portraits like this was a big motivator for moving to the Boston area!

This whole ensemble includes quality brands like Rag & Bone, Nine West, Cole Haan, Rebecca Minkoff, H&M, Marc Jacobs, and BCBG. These are all such chic brands that this portion of our photo session was begging to have more of an air of serious confidence. Us Lady Bosses mean business, and so do our outfits! Sometimes the best way to refocus your confidence is to dress the way to you want to feel.

June 15, 2015

Boston Fashion + Style Photography | The Cubicle Collections

June 15, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Today I have more Fashion + Style inspiration to brighten your afternoon, thanks to the impeccable style of Jackie, the ladyblogger over at The Cubicle Collections. Jackie writes about fashion and lifestyle for the 9-5 working girl. She is such a wealth of knowledge with all kinds of tips, tricks and resources, and I'm so glad she writes for women in the corporate world in a down-to-earth way! Jackie and I strolled the streets of Boston finding some of the prettiest and most interesting spots to help showcase the outfits she styled for her blog. We didn't have to work too hard since it was a BEAUTIFUL day and city felt so alive! In this post you'll see the Paramount Theater, Brattle Book Shop, and Boston Common. Enjoy, and be inspired!

May 18, 2015

Boston Fashion + Style Photography | Chic Coles, Chapter Six

May 18, 2015/ Lorna Stell

This session was photographed right next to the Zakim Bridge. Urban textures juxtapose grass and trees (much like the rest of the city), and allow for so many different "look and feel" opportunities for styled sessions like this. I love when all you have to do is look around to find inspiration! Read on to see more Winter-To-Spring style!

May 11, 2015

Methuen Day In The Life Family Session | The Casiello Family

May 11, 2015/ Lorna Stell

In this post you'll see: interactive book reading, silly faces and big smiles, snuggles with mom, dad playing with his kids as all good dads do (holding kids up in the air, flipping them around, and letting them climb all over him of course), a paper crown, and special appearances by the family cat. I'm so grateful to have been able to capture these sweet, loving moments of home life for this family that welcomed me in with open arms! Enjoy A Day In The Life of the Casiello Family!

May 04, 2015

Boston Fashion + Style Photography | Chic Coles, Chapter Five

May 04, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Melissa had the great idea of visiting the area around the Zakim Bridge. Even though I have lived between Cambridge and Somerville for about 3 years, I had never actually been under the bridge, so I was excited to explore! As it turns out, it's architecturally a very interesting space and and I think it paired well with Melissa's navy and white with pops of accent colors. This outfit is a perfect "winter-to-spring" ensemble! Feminine yet simple and modern, it's the perfect outfit for a day in the city.

April 27, 2015

Charlestown Fashion + Style Photography | Chic Coles, Chapter Four

April 27, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Melissa styled a fashion, product and accessory photo session in late March for her blog, and personally, I had a blast helping it come together! I always love seeing what textures and colors she groups together for our styled sessions. As a girl who is not always super girly, it always inspires me to think outside my own box! Click through to see vibrant floral heels, the perfect rugs for New England apartments, skincare and makeup kits from Trish McEvoy, and a lovely spring dress!

April 20, 2015

Charlestown Fashion + Style and Food Photography | Chic Coles, Chapter Three

April 20, 2015/ Lorna Stell

So excited to share with you all another collaboration between Chic Coles and I! Melissa had the great idea of pairing an outfit with a smoothie, and on a day that's overcast or chillier than you'd like it to be, a smoothie (and dressing for what you WANT to feel like, not what you currently feel like on said dreary, overcast day) is the perfect pick-me-up.

April 13, 2015

Watertown Day In The Life Family Session | Sisters Are Forever

April 13, 2015/ Lorna Stell

I'm so so glad I got to spend my afternoon with these inspiring women, and so thankful they totally spoiled me with fancy beer and cookies and hours of conversation. This session was extra special because these two don't often get to have a restful weekend afternoon together in the middle of their busy lives. I love that this photo session was a way to provide that!

April 06, 2015

Methuen Day In The Life Family Session | Sneak Peeks

April 06, 2015/ Lorna Stell

I got to spend a recent Saturday with a family at their home in Methuen, and can't resist sharing these sneak peeks from their Day In The Life session!

March 16, 2015

Charlestown Fashion + Style Photography | Chic Coles, Chapter Two

March 16, 2015/ Lorna Stell

Melissa and I are at it again! This week's fashion post is a different take on the classic New England style. If you have ever felt like a schlub trying to pull together something semi-presentable to cover your body with for weekend errands while still rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, this outfit inspiration is for you, dear reader!

March 09, 2015

Charlestown Fashion + Style Photography | Chic Coles

March 09, 2015/ Lorna Stell

I'm very excited to announce that Melissa and I are teaming up to bring you some lovely visions of Boston-inspired wardrobe ensembles to inspire your own, while we highlight our favorite spots around the city. Melissa is inspiring me already to expand my own personal style, usually composed of color blocking, edgy textures, and lots of black. If you enjoy the photo story below, please pay Melissa a visit at her blog, Chic Coles, to see more and to even pick up some of these pieces for your own collection, including the makeup she used!

March 02, 2015

Boston Event Photography | Boston Ballet Ball

March 02, 2015/ Lorna Stell

It was my absolute privilege to have the opportunity to photograph the Boston Ballet Ball this year alongside the talented Liza Voll! I can easily say this was the most fun, exciting, and beautiful event I have ever photographed. Gorgeous gowns and decor, amazing live music and dance performances, a live auction for a great cause, and a killer party to top off the evening. Truly an amazing night not to be missed!

February 23, 2015

Melrose Day In The Life Family Session | Mom + Daughter Cupcake Adventure

February 23, 2015/ Lorna Stell

These two are such an amazing duo brimming with love. I had an amazing day with this mom and daughter at their home in Melrose capturing their little antics and sweet moments together! Little Ruby did impromptu gymnastics and showed off her treasured makeup kits for me, and she and her mom Christine baked cupcakes and tramped around in their snowshoes before everyone's fingers got too numb from the cold.

February 02, 2015

A Day In The Life | Watertown and Melrose Sneak Peeks

February 02, 2015/ Lorna Stell

I have started offering Day In The Life sessions this winter and it has been so awesome to see the results and experience hours at a time in clients' homes. So far they have included lots of baking, in-home gymnastics (seriously), getting dressed up, and snowshoeing, among other things. Here are some sneak peeks from two of my recent sessions to warm the heart on this freezing day! Enjoy!

January 26, 2015

Boston Event Photography | 80s Yoga with The Good Ones

January 26, 2015/ Lorna Stell

The Good Ones hosts monthly events which I'd highly recommend checking out if you are looking to meet new and interesting people in Boston and discover new hangout spots. Here are my favorite shots from the afternoon of 80s Yoga at South Boston Yoga!

January 19, 2015

Somerville Small Business | Inkwell

January 19, 2015/ Lorna Stell

This is Becka Schuelke, the craftslady behind the loveliness that is Inkwell's hand painted wooden signs. She scours the earth for wood planks and gives them new life in the form of adorable home goods, and is darn good at it. Becka is also a brilliant graphic designer (who made my wedding invitations and programs)!

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