New Hampshire Family and Senior Photographer Carey Hough

Fun, Bold and Spirited Photography for the Young and Young at Heart

Water | Gilford Children Photographer

So I may have gotten the blog circle date wrong…oopsies.  Well for your Wednesday viewing it’s this month’s theme: WATER!

Being a Lakes Region photographer I get the opportunity to shoot around water a lot – which is fantastic because lakes, oceans, and streams are some of my favorite, and I believe most beautiful, places to have as a backdrop for images.  For this one though, I really just wanted to capture some candid time with Adam and one of his best friends we’ve made since moving up here.  “A” and her family have been fantastic friends and so welcoming, and for a good chunk of the summer we’ve enjoyed playing and hanging out with them on Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford.  Here’s just a few candid and unposed moments of kids being kids and really enjoying the cool and fun that the lake brings!

Don’t forget – I’m getting my feet “wet” with a new seasonal newsletter designed to bring you tips, fun info and promotions (and please let me know what you’d like to see in the future!).  Sign up now because the first edition is set to go out any day now!  Also keep the circle going and “splash” on over to the blog at Julia Russell Photography and see how she took on the water this month!!!

What’s New? | Gilmanton NH Photographer

I hope everyone has enjoyed the summer!  The hustle and bustle of enjoying the warm weather and sunshine always takes a toll on the Hough household – we don’t know the meaning of “Lazy Summer Days” here.  Since moving to the Lakes Region we’ve made some great friends and have had lots of fun with them going on hikes, swimming in Lake Winnipesaukee, and picking summer fruit – to name just a few of our fun activities.  My energy level has also taken a toll, in part to some exciting news that I can now share…

That’s right!  We found out in early May, which is why things have been quiet around the blog and business.  Now that I’m over the most  of the early pregnancy symptoms I can function like normal human being again!  It goes without saying that we are completely over the moon with this news!

Speaking of news – I am about to launch my quarterly newsletter, “Behind the Lens”.  It’s a great way for me to share with you what’s going on for promotions and events, some tips for improving your own photography, spotlight on the products I offer, featured photography sessions and maybe a recipe or two!  Please sign up here to check it out!  The first edition is going out later this week and will feature the information on this year’s Mini Sessions!!!

Back in March I wrote about KRide (check out the post if you missed it) and I’m happy to say that Martin and I both completed the 25-mile ride in about 2.5hrs.  It was a great ride, a great day and I’m hoping to be able to ride it again next June.  I had said then that anyone who donated $50 or more to sponsor me for the ride would be entered into a drawing for a complimentary session and 11″x14″ print.  I’m happy to announce that a few people did take me up on that offer, and the lucky winners are Peter and Heather Hodgson!  I’ll be in touch to set up details soon Peter and Heather!  I am still so very thankful to everyone for their contributions.  We ended up raising $7,524 as a team this year – an incredible amount that will do such good!!!

Check back tomorrow for the August blog circle featuring some fun lake pictures to celebrate “Water!”

Beautiful Mama and Kids! | NH Children’s Photographer

Well our vacation went wonderfully and we had a blast in sunny and bright Florida visiting with my brother and his family.  We of course did all the touristy things (Ocean!  Disney!  SeaWorld!  Titanic: The Experience! – hey my father-in-law loved it).  I also got the chance to meet up with my good friend Laura while we were down there and help her out with some head shots for her Mary Kay Business (and note…that after sun stuff they make is amazing I would learn a couple days later when I got one heck of a sunburn!).  I can’t get over how gorgeous Laura is.

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to snap a couple shots of her precocious and very talented daughter J while I was there.  I swear this girl has more poses than Tyra Banks.  We just let her have fun and pose and do exactly what she wanted – which is my favorite way to photograph children to get those genuine looks, smiles and emotions!  Just a few below (though I swear I ended up with more shots of J than Laura!):

And of course we had to get little M in on the action – poor thing was just not feeling stellar that day.  Hopefully we’ll get a few more of her in a couple months!

 

Earth Day | NH Photographer Blog Circle

April’s round of the NH Photographer Blog Circle is here at last!  Previously we focused on “What Love Looks Like” and our favorite recipes.  This month we are celebrating nature and Earth Day!

Since we’ve moved up here, I have truly appreciated the calm and tranquility of our surroundings.  I love the mountain view as I look out my windows every morning or play in the early evening with my son.

 

Now that it’s Spring I look forward to exploring the area and seeing all the riches Nature holds for us.  I thought I’d share one of my favorite nature poems since Earth Day is such a fitting occasion.

Lines Written in Early Spring
by William Wordsworth (1798)

I heard a thousand blended notes,

While in a grove I sate reclined,

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran;

And much it grieved my heart to think

What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,

The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;

And ’tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:–

But the least motion which they made

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,

To catch the breezy air;

And I must think, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

If such be Nature’s holy plan,

Have I not reason to lament

What man has made of man?  

Now head down to Manchester photographer, Erika Follansbee’s blog to see what she found in nature this month!!!

KRide 2012, I’m not an event photographer (clearly) and a raffle!

At this very moment I am excited, nervous, anxious and a little bit nauseous.

Before you ask, (I’m looking at you Mom), no, I am not pregnant.

I’ve just registered for the 2012 Katelynn’s Ride (aka KRide), a bicycle ride in memory of 11 year old Katelynn Battista of West Springfield, MA who lost her battle with cancer in 1997.  Since 2001 the ride, which features 10, 25, 50 and 100 mile loops, has raised $1.4 million for cancer research – outstanding!  It’s also a great day for families, since there are kids’ activities, entertainment and a nice big barbeque!

This is not my first year with KRide, though it will be the first year I am riding.  Back in 2002 I volunteered as a cheerleader alongside my BFF Amber and our friend Jill Monson.  We picked the last corner of the route to cheer on the riders and encourage them that they were almost there.  I am tearing up now just thinking about how amazing it was to see all those people riding for such an amazing cause.  Last year I was once again a cheerleader, but this time it was in honor of my sister-in-law’s nephew, Adam.  Adam was diagnosed at 16 months of age with the same cancer that Katelynn had.  At 20 months of age he had a life saving bone marrow transplant at the Dana Farber Institute.  I am extremely happy to say he is now 7 years cancer free and will be 9 years old at the time of the race, June 3rd!  Here are some pictures from last year’s race and apologies for the quality.  I am not an event photographer, especially when I can’t control the harsh mid day light like below.  What can I say?  I’m a control freak.

Adam’s Animal’s 2011Dan Williams (co-founder, along with Kim Zachary, Steve Stark and the Battista Family) counting down the riders.

This year, for the first time, I am riding.  I ride in Katelynn’s memory.  I ride in honor of Adam and his continued health.  And I ride so that one day no child or family will ever have to suffer or worry about this horrible disease. Right now my plan is to ride the 25 mile course and I have a fundraising goal of $500.  I know the economy isn’t exactly peachy right now, and everyone is feeling it, but if you can help me – donating whatever you can even if it’s $5 – it means that we are that much closer to making this thing history.  How amazing would that be?

But I’ll do one better.  I want to raise more than $500…I’d love to raise $1000, $1500, even $2000!  Anyone who is able to donate $50 or more to the cause will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary portrait session and 11″x14″ wall print, session to be held this Fall 2012 in either the New Hampshire Lakes region or the Western Massachusetts region.  Drawing will take place August 2, 2012.  Your gift is tax deductible, you’re helping a fantastic cause and you might just get an amazing gift yourself from your donation!

You can donate online through my personal fundraising website here: http://www.active.com/donate/kride2012/careyhough or if you’d prefer to send a check, please email me carey@careyhoughphotography.com and I will be in touch on where to send it.

Thank you – and hopefully I don’t end up like my brother at the end of the race last year.