photography by melanie mauer, your moments remembered

links added!

http://thepreppywedding.blogspot.com/

http://www.lilydarby.com/

http://www.patternandpaw.com/

http://www.muji.com/

http://matthewmeadstyle.com

http://www.whiteport.com.au/

http://portovert.com

Fantastic Toast!

We came across this toast on Emilie Duncan's fabulous blog -- it's the best!  Original, funny, and full of music theatre references -- could it get any better?!?!?

enjoy!
-Laura

thurgood

this amazing mom, erin, and her son drove in from indiana for this session.  what a *huge* compliment.  she sent all sorts of sweet fan mail before and afterwards that made me blush and it was so fun to celebrate this happy occasion of having a new son.  thurgood you were perfect - i can't wait to see you again!  warmly, -melanie-

there has never been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between a mother and a son. [ author unknown ]

she's two

i'm so in love with spring - it's delightful how annually it continues to surprise me with it's wonderfulness.  it's completely faded from memory how last year, we went through the same ritual of shedding the sweaters, opening the windows - hmmm, spring amnesia, I like you.  we've loved the evening walks the recent weather has encouraged and yesterday it dawned on me it had been a while since i posted personal pics...so much has happened!  audrey woke jason up on his birthday (st. patricks day) wearing a green striped shirt and green pixie cut wig, we had amazing red velvet cupcakes (merci, grandma!) at said toddler's birthday soiree and we're sure that there's nothing quite so entertaining to a household as a 2 year old.  jason, cancel the netflix subscription - there's a hilarious, confident, 'learns 2 new words everyday' toddler in the house.  -m-

trish + shea

i so enjoyed getting to know you two - it was a lovely preview to the wonderful day we'll have soon in may at your wedding.  trish, thanks for pulling a couple strings to go the the spot for the last image pictured - what an amazing place!!  i'm so enamored with you both!  warmly, -melanie- 

i have learned not to worry about love; but to honor it's coming with all my heart. [ alice walker ]

weekend getaway

if you need a little weekend escape destination, try Wallace House Bed and Breakfast - it's in covington - just cross the river to spend a day (or two!) in cincinnati.  visit the newport aquarium in the morning, then head on up to ikea or catch a reds game.  just be sure to wake up hungry the next day because the dining room breakfasts are delish - my favorite is the baked french toast, my darling hubby loves their eggs benedict - either way, you'll be happy!
take care,
-Laura

great (green) wedding website! - guest blogger: laura

even weddings are going green!  here's a great website we've found for the environmentally-conscious bride: portovert.com: The Gateway To Greener Weddings.  they've got tons of inspiring articles, pictures, even a guide that lets you search by location and service/product.  being motivated (all too often) by my stomach, i was drawn to the pages on food and beverage -- gotta love these cupcakes by miette!

another website worth a visit is http://fabgreen.com - they've got really cute DIY projects -- but green! (the site can be slow to load, but is worth the wait)

hope you've enjoyed our green(er) april!
take care,
-Laura
(the beaming owner of a new *prius*!!!)

the griffiths

loved working with this wonderful family and getting to know them better - these girls had me at hello!  so happy and sweet!  brooklyn (the little girl on the bottom) just *couldn't* stop smiling!  what total fun!  -m-

the happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home with my family.  [ thomas jefferson ]

molly + chad

as a couple, i really want you to see a reflection of your relationship when you look at the images from your engagement session.  i hope that you'll be stunned by how lovely it is to be pictured with the person you love most beside you.  and sure, if you have to fight the urge to wallpaper your home with them that's good, too :) 

molly and chad, you kept me laughing as well - thanks for a great time.  anticipating your wedding with great pleasure!  -m-

in the spirit of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. [ kahil gibran ]

tres chic - guest blogger: laura

is how i feel walking out of kroger or target with my reusable shopping bags!  they fold up pretty small, so i keep one in my purse and one in my car.  these are from Peggy's Gifts and Accessories on Clay Ave and   givesimple.com sums them up pretty well:

Murval Foldable City Totes

The Murval Foldable City tote is one of the best ideas we've ever seen. Now that we know both plastic and paper bags are bad for the environment, we try to always have a tote at hand. Murval Foldable City Totes are ideal! If you kept one in your car, one in your desk, one in the stroller, one in your suitcase, you would always be prepared to tote everything, and just say no to disposable bags. It folds up so easily to 8"x4", but expands to a roomy 15" x 15" by 4" with just a flick of the velcro. Perfect for lunch, small shopping trips, and even wet items. If you’re planning a summer vacation, and need a beach tote, this is the one. Give Simple offers the Foldable City Tote in Black and Ivory Wallpaper, Pucci inspired Insomnia print, Giraffe or Zebra. Look stylish and stay organized.

next time you're trying to think of a useful and practical gift, consider giving 5 reusable bags (you could tuck a sweet little note inside each one that they'd find as they started using them.

take care! - Laura

p.s. next week - weddings go green(er), too!

quote of the day

the fish family

so, sweet claire (in the middle), gifted a friend with a portrait session and then arranged another for her siblings as a gift to their parents - how thoughtful, i thought! 

mom was so in love and so i got to meet with them to plan the cutest silk-covered box of the images, images for the wall...it was so fun to meet someone just as into pictures as i think *I* am! 

often children are uber-recorded when they're little and it's just so nice to see photographs of them as adults as well.  loved how sweet they were - and instantly felt a connection to what they were doing.  -m-

my methods - guest blogger: laura

rather than throw out all my current household cleaners, i'm replacing them as they run out with more environmentally-friendly ones (like method )- nine times out of ten, i find something i love from method (omop floor cleaner, candles, laundry detergent).  i like their colors, scents, and simple packaging.  i would be remiss if i didn't give a shout-out to mrs.meyers as well - her lavender countertop spray always has my kitchen smelling lovely!

next week: pics of my too-cute shopping bags from Peggy's!

take care,
Laura

wyatt

i'm woefully behind in blogging portrait sessions (first priority is always *proofing* so blogging takes a back seat pretty often!) but definitely working to catch up so you can take a peek at all the fun we've had!  here's wyatt @ 6 months...who i'll actually be seeing again tomorrow!  so fun! 

believe me, i know what hard work it is to get ready for sessions...it totally surprises me that anyone does it sometimes! and yet, when i see images like this, i think wow - as meaningful as it is right now, how much more will it mean as he grows.   so, when you're in the midst of trying to figure out *what in the world are we going to wear*, think about the end result...and that we're building a collection of images as the years pass.  a visual record of your beautiful family.  show up looking cute and i'll take it from there :)  photo stress be gone! :)

with heather, mike and wyatt - although i love so many of them, this simple one of them on the lawn with a gorgeous tree in the background is probably my favorite!  keeping my fingers crossed that the raindrops stay away (or at least hit mid-day) tomorrow!  -m-

p.s. to help with the 'what to wear' question, we've got a great new guide to help out!

a baby overwhelms us with its lovableness; even the smell stirs us more deeply than the smell of pine or baking bread. what is overpowering is simply the fact that a baby is life.  [ bill cosby ]

halie + hudson

isn't this little guy so sweet?  i was so delighted to see this wonderful family again.  and baby hudson was soooo mellow! gratefully, i get to see him again soon because he got a gift certificate for a session from a friend to celebrate his 1st birthday!  isn't that such a sweet and useful gift? 

warmly, -melanie- 

going green(er) - guest blogger: laura

this year i decided to do a few little things around the house to try to make less of an impact on the environment.  after the first of the year i bought a stack of 12 white washcloths to keep under the sink, and a tiny little basket to sit behind them.  now instead of using paper towels to wipe off the countertop and clean little messes, i use these and toss the dirty ones in the basket (i still have paper towels for any huge spills). 

in honor of earth day, i'm going to share my attempts at going green(er) each friday this month - please share your tips in the comments section! 
take care, - Laura

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. - margaret mead

quote of the day

stacie + justin

a fun part of what i do is seeing what sort of person someone picks to marry and love forever - stacie obviously picked someone who will have her laughing till she's 97.  justin is always joking, so so funny - and tells a story in the best way.  he had me on the edge of my seat with his recent chance enounter with sean combs in beverly hills. 

totally looking forward to their wedding - just sad i have to wait till august! this image from their engagement session at the family's lexington home is one of my favorites of the year.  this is what i think love feels like :) 

stacie & justin, i'm so happy you're coming all this way for your wedding - you two are remarkable and i can't wait to see you again!  -m-

maybe the instant just before the kiss was the best of all. [rick moody]

cooper

isn't this guy a cutie?  those grins!!!  i love the chubby cheeks and chubby legs that babies have at 6 months!  and he cracked me up with his push-ups...a real one!  straight legs, up on his toes - this little guy is so ready for crawling!  the session was a sweet surprise for dad and father's day - what a smart, 'with-it' mom!  karen was a wonderful bride and to see her with this little guy in her arms will have me smiling the rest of the week.   -m-

bellasera

cute and reversible pinafore via etsy store bellaserababy -m-

no email :(

hi wonderful clients! 

we're currently experiencing some email woes ('good friday' was not-so-good on the email front!!) so please contact us by phone 859-552-3686 until it's straightened out (any emails sent since friday after 8am have not been received).   apologies for any inconvenience!  warmly, -melanie-

p.s. as a work-around we *can* get mail sent from our website contact form at melaniemauer.com so feel free to use that in addition to the phone :)

update: we are very happy to report email is back! 

quote of the day

honeymoon idea - capri

still trying to figure out a honeymoon or anniversary spot – look no further!  i remember seeing this hotel a few years ago when I went to capri with my grandmother and recently saw it featured in a magazine.  it's such a dreamy place -  lots of darling walks to take, swimming in the warm tyrrhenian sea (it’s so salty you float effortlessly) and the best coconut gelato!  rent a boat for the day and cruise around the island!  (i'm not much of one to travel to the same spot over and over again - always up for a new adventure - but if i *had* to pick a place, it would be capri) -m-

p.s. a cute dress for summer (in white) and a sweet sweater (also in white). 

megan + andres

i woke up so happy to get to see megan and andres marry this particular saturday!  it was the first wedding of the year and as always a complete privilege. 

the day was perfection and i loved megan's choices on the menu & flowers that reflected chile. it's sweet to see recorded in her full set of images how treasured she is - her dad's expression during the ceremony & first dance got my cheeks wet during proofing :) megan & andres, without sounding too sappy, your love for each other was so much fun to be around for a whole day - when i see how fully you've committed to one another (not to mention moving across the earth), i'm inspired.  -m-

ceremony: central christian
reception: idle hour country club
floral design: patrick howard
cake: martine's  859-231-9110
dress: carolina herrera (SO beautiful!)

click image to enlarge

there is no remedy for love but to love more.

[henry david thoreau]

quote of the day

.
.

.

.

.

i was feeling like it might be fun to have some handwritten quotes on the blog - consider this the first of many pulled from my journal.   -m-

4 quirky things...

some links to check out:

snippet and ink: great inspiration boards (always very well executed but the thing I appreciate most is that they list desciptions of each photo so if there's a pretty bracelet, they'll link to the source)

a blogger who must dream about red velvet cupcakes as often as i do (via Laura, mmp office manager)

way cute diaper bags - love the cream shoulder tote!

okay, and last but not least, i was tagged by whitney at dare to dream (who i have yet to meet but look forward to doing so someday) to list 6 quirky things...but you know how everything you do seems normal to YOU?  So, I've come up with four, if Jason reads this post I'm sure he can chime in with an additional 2.

1 - i go to bed at 10:30pm (when i can), it's a little geriatric for my age but I'm SO much better with a full night's rest.  i don't think i've ever pulled an all-nighter. oh, and i wish we all napped.  do i sound lazy?  i work really hard, i'm just a girl who enjoys her sleep :)

2 - i actually like to organize

3 - i have zero sense of direction unless I have a huge land formation to guide me - ie: mountains.  but in kentucky, i'm lost as can be.  so much so that if I'm in a really unfamiliar area and traveling at night, i'll occasionally mapquest/google maps the return route just so i don't have to do any computing about which way to go in the dark...i know, it's sad.  but i have a wonderful crutch, Jason :)  when we were in munich a couple of years ago and turned around, he relied on me to decipher subway terminology.  it was literally the *first* time i'd been any help getting us somewhere.  sometimes we'll come to an intersection (way outside of town) and he'll ask, "which way do you think we should turn?" and 8 times out of 10 i'm wrong.  i'm settled with the fact that a sense of direction just isn't a skill you can really learn. 

4 - i don't think there's anything more entertaining than soul train from the late 70s.  the dancers are wearing brightly colored lyra from head to toe or suits and the dancing is well...aerobic!  arms are going every which way - it's crazy!  as an intro to those who haven't seen it, at the end of soul train the dancers form a line and a pair of dancers dance down between them.  that has *got* to be the best two minutes on TV...outside the ballet, i have never seen men kick like they do on soul train runway!  and confession, audrey learned how to kick her leg *because* of soul train.  we have a runner on the floor in our bedroom and I scoop audrey up and we do our soul train moves till we reach the end while she giggles in sheer delight.  forget thomas the train, she likes the soul train, too.

have a great week everyone!!  -m-

back from north carolina

february has been unusually full this year - typically it's just spent bundled up and sending out valentines day cards/working on my business plan for the year but this february I went to two photography workshops and they were so much fun! 

made so many new friends.  a big thank you goes to wonderful Laura (the amazing mmp office manager) for holding down the 'email' fort so i could go and learn and jason (my wonderful husband) for watching audrey while i was away.

image 1- my digs in bald head island for the week - my bedroom was the 4 large windows on the left side of the house...totally dreamy! 

image 2 - me...i went to this cute cabin that had been used in location shoots for j crew and ll bean...so darling on the inside and out.

image 3 - critique #1, believe me, it's a challenge to make a great image when there are a ton of other photographers around - i'm more of a 'let's get to know each other and warm up to one another' photographer so it was a fun stretch to make an image super fast like this. 

image 4 - critique #2, as part of the workshop we had a couple shooting times and while everyone else was trying to get the couple's attention, i noticed how cool they looked from the waist down.  the whole island is dreamy and this was over by a beautiful old lighthouse.      

so, your too happy photographer is back, totally recharged and so excited for 2008!  we've got portrait sessions booking in august already so if you have an idea in mind, jot us a note, we'll talk and get yours on the calendar. -m-

photo of me by: shannon montez (my new sweet friend in california)

quote of the day

publication review: Real Simple Weddings

Filled with fresh tips and ideas, melanie and I both felt like this was more of a planning guide than the typical magazine resource (hence the price – $12.95).  Real Simple always knows how to get down to brass tacks, giving fantastic resources and links to everything a bride really needs.  Here are some of the featured guides we especially liked:

www.realsimple.com/askyourplanner

www.realsimple.com/weddingstress

www.realsimple.com/invitationetiquette

www.realsimple.com/weddingbeauty

www.realsimple.com/somethingblue

www.realsimple.com/welcomebaskets

have a good time poking around their site - i know we did!

warmly, -laura & melanie-

emma & avery

 

a fantastic children's designer! -m-