Portrait of a New Hampshire Shoemaker

This was a story I shot over a couple of months, and finished up during my last few days at the Concord Monitor. It ran in the Sunday paper about two weeks ago. If you get a chance, I strongly recommend you the Mathews' studio in Deerfield, Nh. Besides having gorgeous property and a workshop straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, Rob and Barbara are lovely people who I am happy to call my friends. Enjoy.

How to Survive a Romanian Wedding (Part 6)

One of several wedding traditions: a chicken smoking a cigarette. I don't know if this is Romanian or Transylvanian or specific to Fagaras, but Ana (who has a bird phobia) was repulsed by it.

Wedding dance in the spot(ted) light.

Cuties.

Ana's parents, being happy and adorable.

Photographing the token cute kids.

Watching the traditional folk dance performance.


This was taken around 5 a.m. Ana's parents and brother look appropriately joyful and exhausted.

How to Survive a Romanian Wedding (Part 5)

Ana saw this picture of her dad and immediately said, "Oh, you have to show that to my mom. She loves seeing my dad happy." My heart still melts when I think about this.

Just a couple of shots from the religious ceremony in the Brancoveanu Monastery - Sambata de Sus...


Newlyweds, for the second time today. Hitching a ride in a horse-drawn carriage to 12-hour banquet reception and dance party!

How to Survive a Romanian Wedding (Part 4)

Awkward picture of an awkward moment as we formed a tunnel and waited to congratulate the happy couple.

Totally worth it, though. Have you ever seen two happier, more beautiful people?

Time for a few snapshots in the courtyard of the citadel.

Again, letting the other photographer take charge. Everyone looks great.

And then a caravan to the monastery for the religious ceremony, complete with ribbons and lots of honking horns.

How to Survive a Romanian Wedding (Part 3)

Mircea arrives with the boys! There is dancing in the driveway.


It's time to leave for the civil ceremony. (Note:I was more than happy to be second-shooter.)


They're not married yet in this picture, but they're about to be...


At long last! One ceremony finished. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Lupu.

More Wedding Prep

That's Ana's dress on display next to the first of several courses of cookies served throughout the day. These, along with Romanian wine and moonshine, were breakfast.

Safia and Christianah squeezing in a few snaps in the cookies room before the crowds came.

Anca texting away.

Ana's dad watches as her mom does some last-minute primping. Her hair looked beautiful all day. Don't let her tell you any different.


Ana's grandmother would never let her forget to eat.


...The groom hasn't even arrived yet. I have so many more to show you.

How to Survive a Romanian Wedding (Part 2)

How to Survive a Romanian Wedding (Part 2): Have good hair.

This is Christianah doing Ana's hair before her wedding. It continued to look gorgeous for the 20 hours that followed. That's a killer combination of natural beauty and skill, if you ask me. Congrats, ladies.