Every year our church has a picnic in August – and of course I took my camera along this year.

The kids collected apples and then I arranged them in stacked piles – mostly because I LOVE organization. One of the deacons in the church and I got into a conversation about geocaching – something that I didn’t know existed.

This baby bird was at the base of a tree by then pond – I thought at first he was injured but as soon as I took the lens off him the first time – he jumped up and stumbled off toward the water. I don’t think he liked having his picture taken.

At Tanglewood – they have a pavilion with an old fridge and stove in the back – I LOVE the old appliances.

Every year at the Troy Fair and Tioga County Fair – NCA has a booth with peach shortcake – and LUCKILY there were leftovers. Make sure to get to one of the fairs next summer and have some shortcake – SO GOOD.

Another beautiful sky …

The cermony ended with the bride and groom taking a ride around town in the back of the old FORD truck. We stopped on the way to the reception on a hilltop to take some bridal party shots.

I LOVE the shadows in this shot.

Tyler and Julie were arriving at the reception as I was taking some shots of the cake – WHAT A SHOT.

Julie could not keep the smile off her face all day …

PM – my assistant for the day.

Kudos to PM for thinking up this shot.

The sun was shining right through the cake cutting – and I thought this shot was so cool with the rays coming right through the kiss.

Julie had charms hidden under the cake for the bridesmaids – friends – and family. The girls all pulled them out together and then Julie read what they each mean. I thought it was such a unique thing to do.

Julie and her dad.

Tyler and his mom.

Holding the bride for ransom – instead of a dollar dance – such a cool idea.

Shield your eyes …

I hope the tuxedo rental shop has some good detergent – those ring bearers had TONS of fun playing in the dirt.

Such a beautiful day for a wedding.

Tyler and Julie – I had a GREAT time at the wedding – thank you for trusting my vision and for being up for some crazy ideas. Thank you for allowing me to capture this memory for you. May God bless you richly in your marriage.

It never fails that I cry at weddings. I love the vows and the looks that the bride and groom give each other. I love capturing memories of that day for the bride and groom to look back on and tell their kids about. This wedding was no different.

Some of my favorites from the first half of the wedding pictures –

I photographed a wedding Saturday in Canton – and PM came as my second shooter. The weather was beautiful, the church was beautiful, and the bride was BEAUTIFUL.

Here are the moments PM captured throughout the day –

She used the fish-eye lens while hanging out in the balcony – then she got creative with the next two shots –

We had a great time and I didn’t even feel like I was working – which is how I KNOW that THIS is what I am supposed to do – I LOVE THIS JOB.

Mara – you were a GREAT help and I had so much fun – and you caught some GREAT shots.

Friday night we went to the Tioga County Fair with PM and Clarice. The demolition derby was the event of the night and we thought – why not – it’ll be fun. And of course – I had to take my camera. Usually I enter pictures in the Troy Fair and the Tioga County Fair – but this year we were on vacation both Saturdays for drop off and pick up for the Troy Fair – and then I had a wedding both drop off and pick up days for the Tioga County Fair – and seeing as how I am digital now and took over 25,000 pictures the first year I had my camera – I couldn’t pick just a few to enter.

This baby goat was so sweet – and so soft.

PM and Clarice – excited for the derby.

It was a fun night – other than inhaling about 2 packs of secondhand smoke – and the sky was AMAZING at the end of the evening.

my best friend.

On July 5th – Jared and I went along with PM on a tubing run down Pine Creek. She had wanted to check it out for a RAY activity but wanted to do a test run first. It’s a good thing we did. The creek isn’t too high in July – not too high at all.

We parked PM’s car at Tiadaghton and then took Chuck to Ansonia and parked her there. I had put my car keys in PM’s car so that we didn’t have to carry anything on the creek – the short trip it would take. We left at 4 and figured maybe it would be 7 when we got to Tiadaghton – according to Google – Ansonia and Tiadaghton are 9 miles apart.  I got the GIANT tube while PM and Jared got tubes that were a titch too small – and we started our journey down the creek. We thought that the water would be moving much faster and swifter than it was – PM eventually just started to lug our behinds down the river. I could have kicked myself for not buying an underwater camera to take with us. She got in the giant tube and pushed while I sat on the back and held onto Jared with our deflated raft pulling us along. WHAT A SIGHT. Jared lost both his sandals in knee deep muck but we decided that we would probably have to walk a bit down the road so he might need them – he found them after a disgusting search. God bless PM for lugging us down the creek. We got out at 7 and figured we might need to hike it a while. After two miles – we think – we saw a sign that said Tiadaghton 4 MILES – OH NO – FOUR MILES !?!?! – we watched a park ranger drive by and hoped he would stop with no luck – so we kept going – but GOOD NEWS – the ranger came back and asked us what we needed – we asked how far to Tiadaghton – he said GET IN – the 4 miles marker was right – THANK YOU GOD – for sending that park ranger. We were exhausted – PM more so – since she did most – wait – ALL – of the dragging.

Before the adventure began – ALL SMILES.

After the adventure ended – PM went home and crashed.

It was a FUN trip and the best part – we are all still friends.

The first 3 seniors to book sessions with me get a free 11 x 14 print of their choice. I have new packages ranging price and prints. Jot me an email at dcbarden@gmail.com for more details. I have two sessions left for the free offer but lots open for senior pictures.