I hope this day finds you warm, lazy, healthy and loved. Whoever you spend your day with… friends, family, pets, humans…whoever, relax and ENJOY!

We’re trying a new recipe I found on Blog Nosh. It’s a little scary, because there are only TWO ingredients – pumpkin and spice cake mix. Easy enough, but we shall see! 20 minutes in the oven, two ingredients, healthy goodness? Who could ask for more!

Try it, we are!

Just a little reminder…Christmas is coming! It’s just around the bend. Are you ready?

Happy Thanksgiving!

All images ©Susan Dodd.

Eryn and her friend Meghan seem to keep finding themselves in front of my camera. Or, more accurately, they put themselves in front of my camera. Hey, it’s fun to pose. We did our first session right in the middle of the day when the sun couldn’t have been any higher in the sky – not the best for portraits; so I promised them I’d do another session. Well, this time they “forced” me to run over to the the middle school right at dusk – or should I say ONE minute before complete darkness!!!  

Actually, though, it made for an interesting look. They are so into it, aren’t they?

We had Eryn’s Sweet Sixteen party this weekend. I rented a sweet suite at the Homewood Suites, and Eryn and 5 of her closest friends and I hung out! It was great fun. The girls swam, ate, played games, watched the olympics and basically had an awesome time. The suite was gorgeous, and I highly recommend doing this for a special birthday party.

Late Saturday morning, just before checkout, I did some “hotel room” photos. We didn’t have much time at all – only about 15 minutes – but I managed to get a few memorable images.

Eryn and the girls (just 5, one had to leave early), but here they are…..
Meghan…Brooke…ERYN…Rachel…Meredith

Silly…

This is Rachel. She and Eryn have been friends since they were born..well, pretty much! Aren’t her eyes spectacular?!

Brooke! So beautiful! She and Eryn go way back and it was so awesome to have Brooke with us for the party!

Meredith. Naturally beautiful, and beautifully natural in front of my camera!

Meredith and Brooke. They didn’t even know each other before the party, but I thought they looked great with their long hair, so I put them together. Simply stunning!

And this last one…Eryn and Meghan. We did these photos a little while ago, but I never posted them, so here is one of my favorites..

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography.

Today my daughter, Eryn, turned 16. That’s right, 16 years ago, on this day, I gave birth to my first beautiful daughter. It’s so unreal how time just flies, but I have enjoyed every single minute of it! Eryn has been my assistant since I started my Cool Pets business, so many of you may know her. She has an amazing way with animals and is a huge asset to each session. Whether she is beside me helping to get my subject’s attention, or off keeping one, two or three dogs busy, while I’m working with the fourth dog, she is always there. I love our sitting adventures, and wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Mostly, I wouldn’t trade her for anything.

Eryn and I recently headed out to do some fun photos. I wanted to experiment, so off we went to the railroad tracks. Here are some of the results, along with a not so recent image.

Then and now..

Not sure of the exact date of this photo, but I think Eryn was only a few months old. We were on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey – one of our most favorite places at that time, and my husband, Derek, snapped this.

And, now, all grown up and beautiful.

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography.

Here are a images that only belong together because I shot them during the famous EHF week. They didn’t make it into the first presentations but I really wanted to share them.

First, we have Bojo, in the lane.

Then the incredible and adorable Safia. She was rockin’ her hat. It was really her idea to put it on. I loved it!

And, then we have Alexa. I think, in this photo, she looks like one of those old time glamorous movie star ladies…gorgeous, sophisticated and, of course…sexy.

All images ©2008 Susan Dodd Photography.

Alexa is an art student. She is also someone that I see each year on our annual vacation to East Hill Farm. So, I have known her for 10 years now. She has grown into an incredibly beautiful woman. Alexa is very down to earth and just a really special person. She has done some photography in her schooling, so she has spent time behind a camera. I think she does pretty well in front of it also!

I had envisioned a couple of these images but didn’t really know who would be the subject. I think Alexa was perfect! It was a beautiful evening with a lovely, warm sunset. The light was absolutely amazing!

We had to kick a few kids off of the volleyball court to get the sand shots!

I also know Alexa’s parents very well. They are all just the most wonderful people you could meet.
Alexa and her mom are anxiously awaiting the post of these photos, so without any further delay…

Here she is..

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography.

I have known Kim for about 10 years now. We met at the farm, that’s right, East Hill Farm. Have you heard enough about this place yet?? Anyway, I consider Kim to be one of my closest friends, yet we see each other only once a year. It is an amazing relationship, really. Kim and Violet live in Massachusetts, and we, in Pennsylvania. It’s about an alphabet away…without the “i”. Ok, that’s an inside joke.

Every year, I photograph Kim and Violet for their annual “farm Christmas card.” Well, this year, I think we all outdid ourselves. The farm was in perfect form, and Kim and Violet were absolutely gorgeous.

I have to say, my time photographing Kim and Violet is always amazing…as are the images, I think!

And, this last one. Looking at the image on the back of my camera, Kim thought it looked like an album cover. I think so too. Ok, guys, better get started writing your songs!!

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography

As I mentioned, we just got back from our vacation. For the last 10 years we have been vacationing in the same location…the amazing East Hill Farm!

EHF is in Troy, New Hampshire. When we first visited the farm in 1998 we never dreamed that in 2008 we would still be going there; or that we would not want to stop going there! One of the things that makes this place so special is that we are not the only family who has been going there for many years. Yes, it is an addiction…but a good one. During our week at the farm we have met some of the most wonderful families. And we have watched their children grow, just as they have watched my daughters grow. Because, you see, the same families go during the same week every year. Of course, there is change, families drop off, new families come on board, but many of the people we met 10 years ago, are still there today.

We met Caitlin and her family our very first year. Caitlin’s family has been going to the farm for over thirty years (or more – I need correction on that number!) This year, I photographed Cait and Jill along with their dog Bojo…aka “Mr. Bojangles.” It was such a blast walking around the farm with them finding cool spots for photos. From the side of the chicken coup, to the lane that goes up between the cow pastures, to the crazy paint splotched wall outside of the rec room…locations are overflowing at the farm!

Thanks Cait and Jill for spending the evening in front of my camera! I know you’ve been anxiously awaiting the results!

Here are some of my favorites!

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography.

It’s been a while since my last post. That’s because we’ve been on VACATION!!! Every year we head up to MA and then on to New Hampshire for our vacation. More on that part later. First, while in Massachusetts, I finally met and visited with Katie Untalan. If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, you might remember my mentioning Katie in my very first post when I hinted at the possibility of having some photos to share after our vacation. It was so great to meet Katie and her husband Chris, and their amazingly adorable daughter, Safia. I have lots of great photos to post, but wanted to put these two out right away.

Hope you enjoy this little teaser. Much more to come!

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography

Today was the last day of my daughter’s team gymnastics camp. The girls have worked really hard all week, so it was time for a little fun. I didn’t take many photographs, however I did try to capture the mood and spirit of the evening.

Of course, there was a dog…Hershey. She wanted nothing more than to fetch, fetch, fetch, and then fetch some more. With a little coaxing, I managed to get her to pose for me.

There were also some pool shananagins. You certainly can’t have a party full of gymnasts without a little bit of throwing, flying and splashing. I love everyone’s expressions, even the girls who are watching.

And, finally, there were some cool girls laying in the grass. Well, actually, I asked them to lay in the grass. You know me, I just love that dramatic look!

All in all, I think everyone had a wonderful time.

All images ©Susan Dodd Photography