Rachel Halsey Photography ~ Photo Blog

I met Kristyn through work a few years ago.
She is vibrant, beautiful, and always has a smile on her face. She is animated and so fun to be around.
When I first met Brandon, I knew right away that these two were so in love. You know how there are some couples where you can just tell those things?
They’re definitely one of those couples – so cute and adorable and oh-so-in-love ;]

We met up in York to document their love for one another.
Kristyn told me that she and Brandon just don’t have too many photos together.
I can assure you Kristyn, we fixed that problem! ;]

I told them to “just do their thing” and these two made my job nearly effortless.
They are adorable when they walk together, they are adorable when Brandon kisses Kristyn’s cheek, they are adorable when Brandon makes a funny face and gets Kristyn to laugh.
Are you sensing a pattern here? ;]

Brandon and Kristyn,
You guys are the best! Thank you for making my job so fun and so easy!
{And thank you also for looking like Calvin Klein models, hehe.}
I am so glad that you had me document this beautiful and precious time in your life.
Looking forward to documenting lots more of you two!

Lots of love to you both!
Xo!

I had the great pleasure of working with Newmarket Mills Yoga last month and I have to say – this is an extraordinary group of women.
Everyone was so lovely and kind and we had such a wonderful, relaxed time during our shoot.

If you are not familiar with the new Mills of Newmarket, you need to check out their site ASAP!
~ Adorable stores, delicious ice cream, a great restaurant, and an unbelievably beautiful yoga studio!
Check out their class schedule to see if there is something for you!
(Abbie and I can’t wait to check out the beginner’s class one day in the very near future!)

To all of you lovely ladies from Mill Yoga ~ thank you SO much! You were so wonderful to work with and I enjoyed myself immensely.
Even if I had never been interested in yoga before – you all would have convinced me ;]

Each of you has such beauty and strength and it is just so inspiring! It was a joy/privilege to document that in each of you.

Looking forward to seeing you again in the future!

Yay! I finally get to share another shoot of the most precious little family – the Tolleys!
This time around I am SO happy to finally formally introduce brand new miss Lydia Katherine!

Lydia decided that her birthday would be on April 23rd (which I personally think was a fabulous decision on her part… I’m sure Rach agrees!) and she had a head full of beautiful dark hair and the most perfect little nose… seriously! Look at that cute little thing!

Matt and Rachel, it is such an honor to be able to photograph so many different seasons of your life.
I remember photographing Anna when she was barely walking… and now to see her as a big sister seriously could bring tears to my eyes.
Your family is so precious and I am so thankful for all of you.

Anna, you are an amazing big sister!
Your auntie Abbie pointed out to me that you and Lydia have exactly the same difference in age that she and I have.
That fact makes me SO happy because as most people know, Abbie is one of my best friends in the entire world ;]
She is my cheerleader, my secret keeper, and the person I want to talk to when I’ve had a bad day.
I have no doubt in my mind that you and Lydia will be the very best of friends.
Seeing how much you love your little sister is amazing to me… You will be such a wonderful example for her for so many things!

Congratulations to the Tolley family and I wish all the best for you as you embark on the adventure of being a family of four.
I know that you will do such an amazing job and make a lot of people envious (like really, how is a family this good looking?) ;]

Lots of love to each of you!

Mini Sessions are some of my favorites! It’s a fairly quick, painless (haha), and affordable option to get some quality family photos that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

You can see some of the photos from our fall mini sessions here.

Email me to book your spot – spaces are filling up fast!

rachelhalsey@gmail.com

Laura and Purujit live in New York. They hired me to shoot their June 2013 wedding before we ever met, but I knew even then that I was lucky to be working with these two.
Laura described to me the style she was looking for, the feel for their wedding day, the location, everything.
She described friends and family and lots of laughter and love.
She described northern New Hampshire, a secluded spot with an amazing group of friends and family who will be joining in the celebration of these two and the greatest gift in the entire world: love. These two have found it, and every word describing their beautiful life and story and plans for this celebration, were just filled with love. I was beyond excited that Laura had contacted me.

Laura and Purujit actually already had a wedding celebration this past December – in Bangladesh! How amazing is that?? Laura showed me some of her wedding photos and they were absolutely stunning. As you’ll soon see, these two are pretty ridiculously photogenic. I love that they are having multiple celebrations so that they can share this amazingly joyous occasion with as many friends and family as possible. I love being married… marriage is such an awesome thing – shouldn’t it be celebrated as many times throughout our entire lives as possible?

Laura has the sweetest laugh in the whole world and Purujit looks at her as though he’s never seen anyone more beautiful (I mean, look at her – I’m not sure I have either!). They are so in love and it is so undeniable. I wasn’t feeling too well the day of our shoot, but watching these two left me with a perma-smile on my face for the entire shoot. They are just too perfect.

We met up at Odiorne State Park (in Rye) for this shoot, and it was one of the best locations ever. The last time I shot there was in the spring, and it felt like a totally different place. I love when that happens. Also, I love that these two prefer their beverages out of adorable anthro mugs, and that quilt? Laura said she’s had it since she was little. I know, it pretty much can’t get any cuter. This is it, people ;]

I want to add, I normally choose a more equal ratio of color to black and white photos for the blog… but for this shoot, I was so in love with the colors! Laura’s sari and Purujit’s punjabi were a photographer’s dream! I absolutely adore the colors against the winter backdrop. Thank you to both of you, you guys made this shoot so personal and so fun and I can’t wait for your big day in only a few short months! xoxo.

These images are some of my favorites.

~

Well, 2012 wasn’t my year for blogging… but what’s new? ;]

As I look back over the past twelve months I am extremely overwhelmed – mostly with extreme gratitude.
2012 brought a lot of new changes… and a lot of things have stayed the same…
I am still working full time while juggling a growing photography business.
I am so excited to think that one day I will be able to devote 100% of my day to my business. This past year has been another year of growth and promise and I’m happy to think that I am one year closer to doing photography full time.

Thank you to my AMAZING friends and family… but especially to my wonderful clients.
I couldn’t even think of following this dream without you… Your patience and understanding are invaluable… and your trust in me is amazing.
As I was looking through my sessions from this year, I was so overwhelmed with thankfulness for the amazing clients I have had the experience of knowing and working for. I look through your photos and I am reminded of memories and relationships – it really does feel like looking through photos of dear friends.
I guess in a way, that’s exactly what it IS.
You have made it possible for me to follow my dream and I am so grateful that I am the one who has gotten to preserve these precious memories for you.

My hope is that years from now, when you or your children or your grandchildren look at these photos of you – they also will be overwhelmed with gratefulness. Gratefulness that there was such an abudence of love – and also that it was important enough to be documented. This gift will live on forever and we will never know what kind of impact it will have.

So thank you again. I wish you all the happiest of New Years and I hope that 2013 brings even more love, laughter, and great memories to you and your loved ones.
I hope that this year will be filled with even more photo sessions… more love, more weddings, more babies, and more family… This life we’ve been given is such a gift.
Let’s document more of the love in our lives so that we can stop time for just a moment…. and we can be thankful.

And now – some of my favorites from the year….

Families:

Couples:

And last but not least, we experienced some pretty amazing weddings in 2012!

Of course, individual blog posts of all these amazing sessions will be coming… some day ;]

Until then, continue keeping up with me by visiting my Facebook Page.

Exciting things are coming… I am already in the process of putting together a plan for another day of mini sessions this winter… I am a firm believer that there should be more photos of families playing in the snow together!
If you are interested in recieving more information about these mini sessions, please email me at rachelhalsey@gmail.com or leave a comment on my Facebook page.

Lots of love to everyone… and a very happy 2013, too!

Tim and Jenna got married on one of the most beautiful afternoons in all of September. They tied the knot in Jenna’s home church in Maine and afterwards we were able to take some photos at the Hamilton House in South Berwick. It was absolutely breathtaking and I couldn’t have imagined a better location. There were flower gardens surrounding the water… and up on a hill, there was a big old barn. Yep. I was a happy photographer.

Simple and sweet was the theme of this wedding with wonderful friends and family members helping out with just about everything. It was certainly all a labor of love – and a beautiful one at that :]

Jenna and Tim are now living in New York as newlyweds. I wish the both of you all of the love and happiness in the world! xoxo and big hugs to you, my friends!

~

I realized today that I don’t blog about my sweet husband nearly enough.

He is truly the reason that I have the freedom to do what I love.

He is my best friend, my better half, and the love of my life forever.

Thank you, John, for being amazing.

I love you down to my bones :]

And thanks to the amazing Christina for my all time favorite photo:

Welcome to another edition of

Introducing:

Concetta’s Closet . . .

Right in the heart of downtown Newmarket . . .

If you haven’t been here yet, oh boy, are you missing out ;]

The BEST place to find amazing

Deals on high quality vintage clothing and accessories.

Seriously.

My apologies for the belated photos . . .

I need to go in and update these with all of the

New GORGEOUS summer dresses that have

Made their way into the store :]

This place is so full of amazing treasures . . .

I have yet to go into this store and

Leave empty

Handed.

That’s how amazing it is.

And now the woman behind the

Amazingness: Dana!

I seriously love love love this girl. She is

Funny and amazing and

OMG does she know her vintage!

Isn’t she the cutest thing?!?!

Okay so here’s the deal:

Go friend Concetta’s Closet on Facebook

And then check out her Etsy shop

(Everything she has in her store she lists here – how convenient is that?!)

And don’t forget to check out all the

Details about the free photoshoot that

I’ll be giving away soon!

so many more to come…