Michael Blanchard Photography

The Police at Fenway!

My friend Kristen took me to see The Police performing at Fenway Park last night!  I've never been to a concert at Fenway before, nor have I ever seen the Police perform, needless to say the combo was excellent!  Despite my "young-ness " and lack of knowing more than four Police songs, I still enjoyed seeing them.  Kristen bought the tickets months ago (which were really great seats in right field) and actually forgot all about them - until yesterday!  She called and we went! 

Most of the day was plagued with thunderstorms and downright gross weather.  Luckily everything cleared up and cooled down by night before the concert began.  It was really great being outside and at Fenway for a summer show.

Kris.

Sting taking the stage.

No flash required ;)

During Roxanne... "Put on your Red Light!"

Photographer note:  Like a dork, I brought my star filter to pop on and get a few shots with an extra 80's feel!  (I think it worked.)

After the show we visited our friend Murph who is a bartender at Who's On First.  What do you know - she was wearing a police hat!

Don't take her for an impostor, she had a gun too! 

Kris & I.

A Few Images From Summer

We took Tater Tot to the carnival a few weeks ago.  I don't think he knew what was going on, but it was cute to watch him wonder what the deal was.

Kristen was there hanging out with Laurie's son Tommy.

My Brother's friend Jeff also has a boy the same age as Jason.

And to the beach (Craigville, Cape Cod).  Thanks for carrying the bags Shan!

Shannon & I.

Carol & I.

She was being a shark.  I had no idea.

Remember the part in Ace Ventura no.2 when Ace is eating the asparagus and goes "Do I have something in my teeth?!"  lol I was trying to re-create... with sea weed!

A shot from my Aunt's camera.  We rolled in the sand before running in the water.

It was a bit strange setting up a tripod at the beach but I'm really glad I did, I love this shot of us!

My Grandparents.

Shannon got lots of junk at the outlets, lol.

My Grandmother Evelyn is a self-proclaimed HUGE JFK fan!  She's followed the Kennedy's for years.  Likewise, I am also fascinated by this family, and watch anything Kennedy when it's on tv.  When I visited the school book depository museum in Dallas I bought this photo book by Jacques Lowe, JFK's family photographer.  He is definitely one of my favorite photographers, and I really like this book - so when I saw it in a store I grabbed a copy for my Grandmother so she could add it to her collection.

(From the family archives) - This is a picture of JFK jr. & my Grandmother (right) when she met him at a wedding down the Cape, about 10 years ago. 

Logo ByBobbi!

I shouldn't be giving away my best kept secret, but oh well.  My friend Bobbi out in Indiana is not only the most amazing photographer, but also exclusively dabbles with graphic design!  I've been subtly hinting at my need for a new logo, and she finally caved.  What a friend!  Here is her awesome creation (shown with my Bellagio glass ceiling photo).

Here is a link to some of her other designs - ByBobbi.

Annual 440 Team Photo

Manny Connerney, the coach of Newton's American Legion baseball team for the past 34 years, had me to do their annual team photo today. 

Crashing Liz's Wedding! (sorta)

One of my sister's good friends, Liz Rice, got married over the weekend.  After I shot my wedding in N.H., I stopped by the Rice wedding in Danvers to see everyone.  It worked out great because another Michael couldn't make it, so I got to take his seat.  (Thanks for letting me stay Liz, the filet was excellent!)  I took a bunch of snapshots... here are my favorites.  (As always, there is a link to the rest of the photos at the end of the post).

Liz and her Father Bill.

Carol and Kelly.

 

Liz's mom Terry Rice.

Lisa shakin it.

My fam - Maureen, Joe, Carol & Michael (me).

Did you know flowers are edible?

My parents.

Meg & I. 

We were surprised to find eachother here, lol!

Bridesmates Enza & Melanie.

Kelly & I.

Me with Lisa C. & Kelly.

Lauren, Lisa, & Carol.

Nicole & I.

Nicole's a photographer in L.A.  We'll be working together soon ;-)

The girls + the groom, Pasquale.

Enza & Kevin.

Nicole & Carol.

Carol & Liz.

Click this link to see more photos - Liz & Pasquale by Mike Blanchard.

Lindsay & Eamonn

The Groom helping their Son suit up before the big day!

I love this one.

Door shot x3.

Eamonn is a Lieutenant in the Navy, so he appropriately got married in uniform.  It was nice to photograph a couple both wearing white for a change.

Lindsay's Aunt & Uncle were at the wedding from Florida.  They are photographers back home.  She does the video & he does stills.  It's not easy shooting a wedding alone so when I saw these guys I was very happy they came!  I'm sure they got some great stuff behind my back ;)

Crazy for bacon wrapped pineapple toothpicks!

Eamonn's half brother & his wife.

I took their pre-wedding photos a couple years ago, and the family remembered me!

The reception was at a winery in New Hampshire called Zorvinos.  I was excited when I heard this for the photo ops!

A surprise visit!

I just played Marvin Gaye's - Heard It Through The Grape Vine while adding these... not sure why though ;)

The wedding party joined.

This little guy totally reminded me of  Tater Tot (see previous blog posts), don't you think?  Same age & hair color!

Lindsay's engagement ring... and grapes, of course!

Wedding bands. 

Last week I bought a 50mm macro lens which was something that had been missing from my army of equipment. These photos made the purchase totally justifiable!

First dance.

Eamonn & his Mom.

My favorite.

The cake was made by one of the guests at the wedding who is the owner of a cake shop in Salem. It was perfectly fitting for the wedding, and, was one of the tastiest cakes I've ever had - seriously. The frosting was truly amazing.

Apparently the sun-sets in New Hampshire are way better than the ones in Boston. I rarely ever seen anything as great as the one during the ride home.

Riley Family Reunion - 7/7/07!

The Riley's are pretty much my second family.  I can't think of a more entertaining bunch of people, who by the way, are always up for a photo!  Marla, one of the Riley Sister's, recently lost ninety pounds! This get-together was actually in celebration of her achievement & was a surprise.

Shannon with the sign she made.

Waiting and watching...

Here she is!

I forget the reasoning, but this family does this thing with their nose that is pretty hysterical to watch!

The big portrait we took, which I'm glad we did outside!

The girls insisted I get in the photo, and when they say IN the photo, they mean it!

Thanks for the photo Mary!

I even got to do the nose thing too!

Shannon & Jessie.

 

"K-Bobs"

Mary, Shannon, & Myself.  (Mary is my Aunt, and god-mother, and Shannon, who you know from pictures, is my cousin).

Shannon borrowed my camera for a few minutes. I really like this one she did of her feet.

And this one... Maybe she will assist me someday?  (When she is of legal working age, of course!)

What party would be complete without a pinata??

She nailed it on her first try.

Wearing glasses that fell from the pinata.

And... they had a water ball fight.

"Step Away from the Cake!"

A neighborhood dog dropped by.

Lenore, getting her revenge.

Lenore here happens to be a photographer herself!  I love this one.

Ladies in Red... on Newbury St.

It didn't take me long to convince Stephanie and Michelle to put on their prom dresses & meet me for a photoshoot today.  It was random but we definitely had tons of fun.  The girls enjoyed being chased by the paparazzi (Me) while the rest of Boston was wondering who the heck they were! 

Photographing them in red dresses makes you see red everywhere.

I see Anna Nicole when I look at this picture of Stephanie.  Maybe it's the glasses?  I'm not sure.

Fierce.

I love this one.  The pedestrian's shirt says "Very Nice How Much?"

 

I snuck in one...  Nice shot Sellke!

You know, just hangin out on the stoop...

Standring Family Portrait on The Cape!

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Standring

NO PEAKING!

Sincerely, your children ;)

I was thrilled when my sister's friend Maura (right) called me to do her family portrait!  These pictures are classified because they are actually a gift to their parents for their anniversary.  Location:  A private beach on Cape Cod!  Unfortunately, mother nature wasn't cooperating, and we had to deal with a few minor gusts of wind... (see hair below) 

This is the shot where I resorted to eating grass to get the little ones to look here, lol.  Totally worth it!

Meet Bridgett, she means business. 

I love that she is just watching in the corner here.

Anything for a photo!  They were total good sports about it.

Waving to Uncle Hal!

Maura and her Niece.

 

Dad makes her smile when JimBo can't.

Awesome hair pal!  Almost as crazy as mine...

Maura & I (wind whipped!).

Mom & Dad back at the cottage.

One with the whole fam.

Wedding Crashing on 7-7-07!

Did you know that 7-7-2007 was one of the top dates for weddings held EVER?  I was bummed that I wasn't shooting any of them... but that didn't mean I couldn't go to any!  (You see where this is going, haha).  I proposed the idea to Allison, who is such a great sport.  I knew she'd be up for it.

We walked around Boston Common before heading to the hotels.

I did Allison's sr. portrait last year too.  By now she knows what to do.

Taken by a tourist from San Antonio!

Not yet a model ;)

Walking through Copley.

At the Fairmont Copley hotel.

We even brought a wedding card!  True professionals.

Fixing my tie before we go in...

Tying her $490 kicks, lol.

Relaxing...

BROWN-VOLO wedding! 

It was a very nice (Italian) wedding that we hung around for a while until some girl asked me to take a picture of her and the bride, and the bride asked "Whose boyfriend is he? How do we know him??"  LOL!  Time to go...

Outside of the wedding reception.

And to the Sheraton...  (Notice the guy in the back, lol).

Natalie & Brian's wedding.

The music was a little weird (a Russian wedding I think), but we had fun!